The Halfling woman pushed a pair of large, round glasses back onto her nose with her index finger. The glasses were decorated with arcane script, Dink recognized them as mana-sight glasses. They were how the woman was able to easily identify his draconic origin.

“Master Tavia! What are you doing here?” Lady Estra asked.

“Journeyman Estra, as a representative for the Arcane Academy, you should conduct yourself with poise. I'm an elder on the Woman’s Council here in Chiset. We received news that a Halfling man was disgracing himself inside the House of Worldly Delight. As that is an unusual occurrence, we came to investigate,” Master Tavia replied.

“Halflings always unnerve me…” Dink mumbled to himself.

Master Tavia's appearance was contradictory to her age and status. It was the same for the other Halfling women behind her. They appeared to be children no older than ten. The only indicator of age was the colour of their hair, which ranged from white to a steely-grey colour. Master Tavia’s hair held the most colour remaining. It was a sandy brown with streaks of grey that she displayed with pride.

The starry patterns on her robes were an extremely fine small print arcane script. They were currently glowing as she channelled mana through them. Using them as a focus to suppress the two draconic bloodlines in front of her.

“Ugh, what’s all the noise about?” Axion grumbled, holding his head as he propped himself off the concerned catgirl’s lap.

“About time that you woke up. This isn’t the place to be taking a cat nap,” Dink said with a smug smirk.

“What did I miss?” Axion asked, looking around in confusion.

“You just got knocked the fuck out,” A spectator in the crowd called out helpfully.

“I guess that makes you the winner. I’m a man of my word, the Myconid is yours,” Axion said while climbing to his feet.

Axion nodded in the direction of the discarded cage containing the mushroom creature. It was resting on the floor nearby, as the Myconid slept peacefully with a contented smile on its face. Master Tavia noticed the creature, activating a spell with a casual gesture. Dink’s expression became tense as the cage was picked up by a subtle gust of wind to be carried toward the mage, hovering in front of her at eye level. Master Tavia leaned close to peer through her oversized glasses to inspect the unassuming monster.

“The trade of creatures from the Expanding Woods should be restricted to the Arcane Academy. They’re dangerous,” Master Tavia commented with a pointed look at Dink. “This appears to be the cause of the chaos here. It’s been fed a highly concentrated amount of mana that’s amplified its usual ability. The strain has exhausted it. Here you go, you are still the rightful owner.”

Master Tavia ignored Dink’s devilish glare, tapping an index finger on the cage, and sending it floating toward him. The magic supporting it suddenly disappeared when it arrived in front of Dink. He reflexively caught the falling cage before it hit the ground.

“This is inappropriate, Halfling. I don’t care if you are a master of the Arcane Academy. You are interfering with the administration of punishment for breaching the High-Elven House Accord. There are many of my peers who would frown upon such behaviour,” Chazrick interjected, pulling the belt taut between his hands with a snapping sound.

“I am not preventing anything aside from the destruction of property. By all means, administer your punishment. I’m not here for Journeyman Estra. It’s the Goblin claiming to be a Halfling that interests me,” Master Tavia replied indifferently with a dismissive gesture. “Now, Goblin, tell me why you claimed to be one of my race. Why not choose a Gnome or something more believable? Perhaps you did so with the intention of creating a scandal?”

“Hey! Mmmph....” a drunken Gnome in the crowd objected loudly. Before he could continue, one of his more clear-headed companions clamped a hand over his mouth.

“Apologies for my companion’s outburst, master mage. We want no trouble with the Arcane Academy,” The companion spoke. The drunk Gnome was struggling as their companion dragged them toward the exit with a flattering smile. It was apparent that the drunk Gnome’s tongue had a habit of causing trouble for himself.

“I’m still waiting for your response, Goblin. As you can see, a Gnome would have been more appropriate for you to impersonate,” Master Tavia said while ignoring the pair’s departure. Grin grinned in response to her question. He had been waiting for this opportunity.

“I invoke the sacred right of welcome,” Dink simply replied, causing Master Tavia to momentarily frown in confusion before her eyes opened wide in shock. Dink’s neck began to itch as a large amount of mana began to gather in response to his words.

“I hope you understand what this means. If you cannot prove your friendship to the Halfling people, the spell will kill you where you stand. No one has been granted the qualifications to invoke the right of welcome in centuries, not since the…” Master Tavia paused as she prevented herself from speaking the name. “I will have no choice but to accept the consequences from the House of Worldly Delight for breaching their sanctuary,” Master Tavia stated with a grim expression on her face.

“I understand,” Dink replied.

I hope it’s still there. Otherwise, this was a bad idea. It’s a gamble. But after all, that’s what the House of Worldly Delight is renowned for.

An arcane Sigil manifested in the air between Dink and Master Tavia, signifying the activation of a World Law. The lanterns in the room extinguished, only to be replaced by a ghost light illuminating the room an eerie green. The wind began to circle Dink, beginning at his feet, lifting him upward, causing confused murmurs among the spectators.

The Halfling women watched with solemn expressions while Dink felt Lady Estra and Murkuk’s reactions through the bond. He could clearly feel their confusion and trepidation. It changed to alarm as blood began to seep through the pores of his skin at the centre of his brow.

A single droplet of blood flew from his brow into the World Law. The effect was immediate, the Sigil hovering in the eerie light mutated to become the shape of an ornate sword. It was formed from a void that absorbed all light that touched it.

The majority of the Halfling women frowned as they struggled to recall who the symbol belonged to. Only Master Tavia recognized it, she was staring at Dink with unblinking fear.