Evan stepped away from the counter, the weight of the coin pouch heavy in his hand while the system credits sat quietly within his interface. The navigation map remained faintly visible at the edge of his awareness, the route to the bank marked clearly among the network of streets. For a moment he stood there, taking in the flow of people moving through the reception area, then turned toward the exit.
As he stepped out into the open air, the morning had settled fully into the town. Traffic moved steadily along the wide roads, and groups of people crossed between buildings with purpose. The scale of Dornhaven felt more apparent now that he was beginning to move through it with direction rather than observation. Evan adjusted his pace and followed the route highlighted in his interface, letting the map guide him toward the Empire Bank.
Evan followed the marked path at a steady pace, his attention shifting between the faint map in his awareness and the streets unfolding around him. The roads here were wide and well maintained, bordered by clean stone walkways and lined with buildings that rose several stories high. Glass-fronted shops reflected the morning light, while overhead displays cycled through notices and advertisements in crisp, shifting text. People moved with purpose in every direction, their clothing varied but practical, blending modern cuts with materials he did not fully recognize yet.
As he continued, the character of the district shifted gradually. The concentration of government buildings gave way to more commercial spaces, larger storefronts, and structured plazas where people gathered briefly before moving on again. A few smaller kiosks stood at the edges of intersections, selling quick meals or drinks to passersby, while uniformed personnel remained visible at key points, maintaining quiet oversight. Evan kept moving, letting the steady flow of the town guide him forward as the route in his interface led him closer to the Empire Bank.
The buildings ahead grew more uniform as he approached the financial district, their façades marked by clean lines and deliberate symmetry. Signage became more subdued, replaced by polished metal plaques and etched lettering that carried a sense of permanence rather than advertisement. People here moved with the same steady purpose, though their pace felt more measured, conversations quieter, exchanges more deliberate. Evan noticed several individuals carrying slim cases or using handheld devices that projected faint data across their surfaces as they walked.
The map in his awareness adjusted slightly as he neared his destination, the highlighted route narrowing toward a broad structure set back from the street. The building stood with a quiet presence, its entrance framed by tall columns and wide steps that led up to a set of reinforced glass doors. The emblem of the Valryn Empire as well as 'Empire Bank' was etched above the entrance, subtle but unmistakable. Evan slowed slightly as he approached, taking in the scale of the place before moving forward toward the bank.
Evan stepped up the wide stone steps and pushed through the glass doors. The interior was bright and spacious, lit by a combination of natural light from high windows and evenly spaced overhead fixtures. Rows of counters stretched along one side of the hall, each attended by clerks working through transactions with quiet efficiency. The floor was polished smooth, reflecting the movement of people as they crossed the room, while subtle lines embedded in the stone guided visitors toward different service areas.
He paused just inside the entrance for a moment, taking in the layout. A central desk near the front appeared to handle initial inquiries, with a short queue already forming in front of it. Beyond that, smaller counters were arranged in sections, each marked by discreet symbols that likely indicated different types of services. Evan adjusted the strap of his pouch and made his way toward the central desk, waiting his turn as the people ahead of him finished their conversation.
When the desk cleared, Evan stepped forward. The clerk behind it looked up, her expression attentive but composed. "How may I assist you?" she asked.
"I'd like to open an account," Evan said. "I was told I could do that here using my registration credentials."
The clerk nodded once and directed him toward a designated section. Upon hearing his request, the clerk there said, "Please present your registration identification."
Evan focused inward and summoned the registration card the same way he had before. A brief flicker of light formed in his hand and resolved into the thin metallic card. He placed it on the counter, sliding it toward the clerk.
She rested her fingers against its surface, and the band at her wrist activated with a soft glow. For a moment her attention shifted as she reviewed the linked information. Then she gave a small confirming nod. "Identity verified," she said. "We will proceed with account registration."
She tapped a sequence across the band at her wrist, and a faint panel of light projected just above the counter. Lines of information arranged themselves into a clean form, sections labeled for account type, access permissions, and transaction limits. The clerk adjusted a few fields with practiced ease before angling the projection slightly toward him.
"This will be a standard personal account under imperial jurisdiction," she said. "It will be linked to your registration credentials and compatible with Arcnet transfer. Please confirm acceptance." She indicated a small symbol at the bottom of the projection.
Evan studied the projection, then reached out and pressed the indicated symbol. The panel responded instantly, the fields locking into place before dissolving into a brief pulse of light. The confirmation passed through his system interface with a subtle clarity, marking the account as active without any interruption to his awareness.
The clerk nodded and withdrew her hand. From beneath the counter she produced a slim, rectangular card with a faint metallic sheen and a narrow strip along one edge that caught the light. She placed it on the surface in front of him. "Your Empire Bank card," she said. "It is linked to your account and your registered identity. You may use it for Arcnet transactions throughout the Empire and other authorized regions."
Evan picked up the card and turned it slightly in his fingers. It was lighter than he expected, its surface smooth except for the faint strip along the edge. When he held it for a moment, a small acknowledgement flickered within his system interface, confirming the link between the card and his account.
"If you wish," the clerk continued, "you may deposit your current funds now. Physical currency can be converted and stored in your account immediately." She gestured toward a recessed section of the counter where a compact intake slot and a small interface panel were built into the surface.
Evan loosened the cord on the pouch and tipped a portion of the coins into his palm before feeding them into the intake slot one by one. The mechanism drew them in smoothly, sorting them with soft metallic clicks that were barely audible over the ambient noise of the hall. A small panel lit up beside the slot, displaying the denominations as they were processed and converted.
Within moments the panel dimmed and a confirmation appeared in his system interface, the value of the deposited coins added cleanly to his account balance. Evan tightened the pouch again, leaving only a smaller portion of physical currency with him. The difference was immediate. The pouch felt noticeably lighter, more manageable, and the convenience the receptionist had mentioned earlier made a great deal more sense.
The clerk reached forward and slid the registration card back across the counter once the transaction completed. Evan took it, and with a brief inward focus the card dissolved into light again, merging seamlessly back into his system interface. The motion felt more natural this time, less like a trick and more like a tool he was beginning to understand.
"Your account is now active and linked," the clerk said. "You may use your card for transactions or access your balance through your system interface. For most transactions, a simple tap or authorization through your system interface will be sufficient. If you require assistance, any branch within the empire will be able to assist you." Her tone remained calm, the explanation delivered with the same practiced clarity as before.
Evan inclined his head in acknowledgment. "Thank you." He slipped the card into his pocket and stepped away from the counter before stepping aside to clear the counter for the next person, taking a moment to orient himself within the hall before turning back toward the exit. The process had been straightforward, far simpler than he had expected. As he moved out of the bank and back into the steady flow of Dornhaven's streets, the weight of coin was gone from his pouch, replaced by numbers in a system ledger and a card in his pocket.
It was a small step.
But it was the first time since arriving on Varethis that he had begun to feel less like a displaced survivor and more like a resident of the world.