The Southern Gate [POST HERE FIRST]

Vain strolled alongside his friends, polishing a peach on his shirt. He'd picked the luscious fruit from a farmer's tree on the way in, and was looking forward to enjoying it. Deciding that it was clean enough to eat, he lifted it to his lips and sank his teeth into the soft flesh of the peach. Immediately, the sublimely sweet juices of the fruit flowed into his mouth and he let out a soft murmur of delight. An errant droplet snaked its way down his chin, but he wiped it away with a smooth, deft stroke. The incubus chewed, eyes serenely closed, for a few seconds before swallowing and letting out a sigh of pleasure.

"Ahh...that was lovely. I'd even dare to call it divine. These Isranian farmers really know their stuff. Would you like to try it, Violet?"

He turns to his friend, raising the fruit to her mouth. The peach still only had a single bite marring its otherwise perfect form, revealing the glistening yellow flesh within. A few drops of juice clung to the side, glittering like gemstones in the sunlight.

"Go on, have a bite! It's good!"

The Sniper moved quickly through the Isran farmlands, eventually coming to the gates of the Free City itself. She looked up at the huge city as she approached, even she could not help but be in awe of Isra's majesty. She made her way quickly through the gates, it was not close to nightfall yet and she wanted to make her destination before then. As far as she could tell from the map she had procured from that drunkard, it shouldn't take her more than half an hour of additional walking once she was in the city proper.

The captain manning the southern gate was one of the newer officers - young and fit, he was in the prime of his life and a hero amongst the ranks for his bravery in the Plaza. As he watched the knights approach, he waited until they reached a point not far from the gates on the cobbled road before stepping forward and speaking stridently, with a proud and strong voice.

"Halt, sir! Dismount and identify yourself!"

The guard recognised the older man as a knight, likely of distinction to be afforded a personal banner and a retinue, so he was aware he must be respectful, and considering that they had gotten in past the external guards, he realised they just pose no great threat, however they were still required to declare their presence in the city.

Lamina and Biggs eventually come to a road... following it long enough, they begin to make contact with a few travelers, learning of both the tournament and of the city-state, Isra. Knowing she was out of money and home, she felt simultaneously cursed and blessed that the only thing the gods could seem to come up with for her next scene in life, was another arena.
Hopefully, there would be some cash to be won...

Sir Finch did not dismount, but he did identify himself.

"Officer, I am Sir Eli Finch of Nocastle, the castle that Lady Naoki was so kind as to give to my Lord, Dr. Frankeneblin. If you would be so kind as to come down here, I can hand you the paperwork identifying my knights and I as citizens of Isra."

He held out a hand with a stack of papers in it, and should the guard descend he would be handed the papers and see that they are, in fact, the paperwork he claims.

"..Really..? You will do that for me..?"

She looked up at him with a joyous smile. For the first time, Biggs saw Lamina happy. She had been quiet, distant, and even cold at times... but her ribbon, her bangles, the beads and feather in her hair... to replace such good-luck charms, simple as they were, meant a lot to her and her confidence to win. Her recent practice matches went well, but something just hadn't felt right. So when he offered her a chance to fight with a ribbon again, it was as though the sun had just shined through storm clouds.

The captain of the guard paced down the road to the knight, who,had not dismounted, he noted, taking the documents from him and quickly checking through them.

"Very well, sir. Apologies for the interruption. You may carry on through the gates now." The captain handed the papers back to Sir Eli before turning and making his way back up to his post.

"O-oh, should I have gotten down then?" Already Oddic was learning. He hoped he would be able to retain all the lessons he was about to learn in the near future.

And, he wondered, exactly how powerful was Sir Eli to not have to do as the city guard asks?

He took a deep breath, and joined the departing party of wolves and men.