As Alyndra led Michael and Gaya towards the imposing gates of the Silver Citadel, two guards, their armor gleaming under the light, stepped forward, blocking their path. Without a word, Alyndra simply flicked her wrist, producing a small, silver card that shimmered with a faint, ethereal light.
One of the guards, his expression impassive, took the card and walked towards a strange device—a cube crafted from polished gold, its surface etched with intricate runes that pulsed with a soft, blue light. He swiped the card through a slot on the cube's surface, a soft chime echoing in the still night air. The cube beeped, a green light flashing on its surface. The guard, his expression unchanged, returned the card to Alyndra.
"Are these humans with you, Young Miss?" he inquired, his voice flat, devoid of emotion.