The excitement didn't last.
It never did.
"…Alright," Sora stretched his arms as they walked. "…first mission—food, then sleep."
"…Wrong order," Johan replied.
"…Huh?"
"…We find a place to stay first."
"…Why?"
Johan glanced at him briefly.
"…Because this isn't the kind of place that lets you wander freely."
Sora frowned.
"…You're overthinking it again."
But even as he said it—
His eyes drifted.
To the guards.
To the tags around people's necks.
To the way no one moved without purpose.
"…Yeah…"
"…Maybe not."
They stopped in front of a building.
Simple.
Clean.
An inn.
"Two rooms?" Sora asked, already stepping forward.
The door opened—
A bell chimed softly.
Inside—
Warm light.
Quiet chatter.
Orderly.
A woman stood behind the counter.
She looked up.
Her eyes immediately went to their necks.
"…Registration tags?" she asked.
Sora blinked.
"…Uh…"
"…We just got here."
"…Then you should have them."
Her tone wasn't rude.
Just… firm.
"…We came through the gate," Sora said.
"…They let us in."
"…Entry is not residency."
Silence.
"…You need a temporary or citizen tag to stay," she continued.
"…No tag—no room."
Sora stared.
"…You're serious?"
"…This is Varkhast."
Johan stepped forward.
"…Where do we obtain one?"
The woman studied him for a moment—
Then pointed toward the door.
"…Registration office. East district."
"…Open until the second bell."
"…Miss it, you wait until tomorrow."
Sora sighed loudly.
"…Of course there's a process…"
They stepped outside again.
"…See?" Johan said.
"…Told you."
Sora scratched his head.
"…Yeah, yeah… you win."
"…Let's just get this over with."
The east district was different.
Less noise.
More structure.
Buildings aligned perfectly—
like they were measured.
At the center—
A tall structure stood.
Marked with a single symbol.
A chain.
"…That doesn't look welcoming," Sora muttered.
"Next."
They stepped inside.
Rows of people.
Quiet.
Waiting.
Behind a long desk—
Officials.
Writing.
Recording.
Watching.
Sora leaned closer.
"…Why does this feel like we're about to get judged?"
"…Because we are," Johan replied.
Their turn came faster than expected.
"Name."
Sora blinked.
"…Sora."
The official didn't look up.
"…Full name."
"…Just Sora."
Pause.
The official finally raised his eyes.
"…Origin."
"…Travelers."
"…That is not an origin."
"…Then we don't have one."
Silence stretched.
"…Purpose of entry."
"…Passing through," Johan answered.
The official's gaze shifted to him.
Sharp.
Evaluating.
"…Step forward."
A familiar glow appeared.
Aether scanning.
Sora stiffened slightly.
"…Again?" he muttered.
The light wrapped around him—
Then faded.
"…Stable."
Then Johan.
The glow touched him—
And once again—
That slight flicker.
Gone in an instant.
"…Stable."
The official wrote something down.
Then reached below the desk—
Pulling out two thin metallic tags.
"…Temporary registration."
He placed them on the table.
"…Wear them visibly at all times."
"…Duration—three days."
"…Violation will result in detainment."
Sora picked his up slowly.
"…Detainment…?"
The official didn't answer.
"…Next."
They stepped outside again.
Sora stared at the tag in his hand.
"…This is insane."
Johan had already put his on.
"…It's efficient."
"…It's controlling."
"…Same thing," Johan said.
Sora exhaled.
Then—
He placed the tag around his neck.
"…Feels like a leash."
Johan didn't respond.
Because he understood.
As they walked—
A commotion broke out ahead.
"…Wait—I didn't—!"
A man struggled—
Two knights holding him down.
"…No tag," one of them said coldly.
"…Please—I lost it—!"
"Violation."
No hesitation.
The man was dragged away.
Just like that.
Sora froze.
"…They didn't even listen…"
"…They don't need to," Johan said quietly.
"…The rule was already broken."
Silence followed.
Heavier this time.
"…Johan…"
"…Yeah."
"…Let's not mess up here."
"…We won't."
But Johan's eyes shifted slightly—
Watching.
Calculating.
Because this system—
Wasn't just strict.
It was precise.
And anything precise—
Had a pattern.
From a distance—
Someone observed.
A knight.
Standing still.
Unmoving.
His gaze fixed on them.
"…Temporary tags…" he murmured.
"…Outsiders…"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Interesting."
He turned—
Already walking away.
"…I'll keep an eye on you."
The system had accepted them.
But only for now.
And in Varkhast—
Even permission—
Could be taken away.