Chapter 1.1

“… attention all passengers. We will soon be arriving at our destination. Please be sure to check all baggage for arrival, and ensure no items are misplaced before departure. We repeat…”

Pointed ears twitched as the intercom buzzed with a message, a head almost concealed by a large hat glancing about among the crowded space.

What looked like any ordinary café lounge, previously filled by idle conversation from its many denizens, was now filled with activity as people rose from their seats. Many picked up luggage near them, others hurried to finish their meals or down drinks. And others made way towards the large glass panels that allowed the bright light of the afternoon to come in.

“We’re almost there!” Feeling a rush of excitement, pointed ears bouncing again, the sole occupant of one of the many tables rose from her seat to join the crowd.

A red mantle flared as the girl approached the glass, casting light over her features as she found a spot right at the front. Her features appeared youthful, almost ethereal in nature, with the almost parchment white skin of one more prone to indoor study than outdoor ventures. Emerald green hair spilled from beneath the large, pointed cap atop her head, a messy fringe creating a natural frame around dark violet eyes.

A smile split her thin lips as she joined the crowd looking out from the large windows, hands covered in half-gloves eagerly pressing to the glass so she could take as close a look as possible. Her luggage thudded to the ground next to her, rattling the folded up, gem-topped staff atop the bag.

Stretching out underneath the crowd was the vast, deep blue ocean, rolling about into crests of waves. And beyond the open sea rose a massive, shining city.

The visible docks teaming with sea ships coming and going from below and rising up from other areas of the gigantic port being other ships that carried into the air to either depart along the ocean or over the buildings of the city itself.

From the port stretched the miles and miles of structures to follow; towering high-rises that glimmered from the polished glass marking their varied constructions, to the stretch beyond of smaller buildings of varying purpose, and even further out along the stretches of road and highway leading out of it to various industrial buildings and plots.

“Wow!” The girl let out in sheer amazement. “It’s so different from the cities in Vanira.”

“First time seeing a Lagunan city? Thought I recognized that amazed expression. Another Alf caught by wanderlust, eh?”

The Alf turned at the voice that spoke, spotting a young man approaching her from behind.

His features hinted towards a half-Alf. Nearly as slim of features and body as herself, yet with that extra bit of sturdiness to hint at another line of descent, alongside the short, pointed ears poking out from between his messy locks of bluish-black hair.

She’d dare say the young man was quite the striking sort, almost textbook in looking as if he could be some young fair-faced hero on the rise yet bearing the same almost unnaturally pale skin as she despite clearly looking far more well-traveled telling by the faded scar marking his right cheek bone and nicked left eyebrow.

The heavy, dark blue coat he wore gave the light sounds of shifting metal alongside the rest of his attire, equipment light enough not to impede movement yet sturdy enough to take more than a few blows from something. The weapon hanging from his back told of plenty, the curved grip of some kind of sword peeking out from above his right shoulder.

Yet what stood out to the Alf girl the most were his eyes. They were a shade of crystalline blue she had only ever seen once before in her life. Bright, clear like a gemstone, and one could almost swear those irises shifted and flowed as if they were made of water.

“Ah, well…” The Alf’s face flushed a bit as she caught herself staring, the young man chuckling. “Indeed, it is my first time leaving the forests. But what was it from my expression alone that told you of such a thing?”

“Mentioning Vanira for one,” remarked the young man, “But make enough trips to and from this place, and you see faces like that a lot. First timers ain’t hard to pick out of a crowd. And you, Miss Alf, were making the exact textbook expression of a newcomer to our fair city by the sea.”

“So…” The Alf took a moment to scan over the young man’s equipment again. It made his profession all too obvious. Gear clearly made for rugged outings and potential combat, the pack slung over a shoulder, and the various pouches visible on the belts under his jacket and around his waist. “That would make you a Freelancer, wouldn’t it?”

“Ahaha, the profession that obvious, is it?”

“Well, not everyone casually walks around in light armor with a weapon on their waist.”

“Says the little lady with a folded-up staff on top of her luggage,” the young man’s snark earned him an amused smirk from the Alf, who chuckled as she picked her items up. “Meaning you didn’t up and leave the forests for no reason at all, especially if you picked a rowdy place like Laguna to come to first.”

“If you’re looking for a job offer, unfortunately I’m not a future client,” chuckled the Alf, turning back to the window as the vessel began to lower. “Though… I do have plenty of reason to be here, if you must know.”

“I see,” said the Freelancer, “Well then, how would the newcomer like a guide to the fair city. Free of charge of course, I doubt you need a bodyguard.”

“Ohh? Is the dashing young Freelancer trying to impress the Alf lass he just met?” She said, earning a laugh from her conversation partner. “Hmm… though a guide to my destination would be helpful. I mean I could just use a guide spell but…”

“You’re worried that kind of spell would just get you mixed up, right?”

“Ahem, a bit. I’d rather not risk getting lost in a city I’m unfamiliar with,” the Alf admitted, the Freelancer humming.

“Makes sense,” said the Freelancer, and as the ship rocked a bit from landing, causing eyes to turn forward once more as it made landfall at the port, he chuckled again. “Let me give you a proper welcome, Miss Alf, to Clearharbor: Laguna’s Jewel of the Sea.”

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If the Alf had thought the view of the city from an airship was something impressive, seeing how towering it truly was as she left from the port with her newfound companion truly put into perspective the kind of place it was. The way the buildings towered leagues above her, only surpassed by the traffic of coming and going airships, to how once on the ground even the horizon seemed lost by the stretch of urban infrastructure that overtook her vision.

And all around them, wandering the stalls of the port market or making their way further in were people of all kinds. People of all heights, sizes, and shapes. Some who towered over the crowd, those small enough to vanish within it as soon as you took their eyes off them. Skin tones from pale peach, chocolate brown, to exotic greens or ashen tones, even a few in red or blue and more.

“So many kinds of people…” breathed the Alf, “Definitely different from Vanira.”

“Well Laguna is a trade city after all,” the Freelancer chuckled. “You get people from across the world in places like this. Freelancers like me, merchants, trade-workers, airship crews, business-folk, so on and so forth. If there’s a vocation, you’ll find someone who does it here in this city.”

“Clearly. So… where is it I’ll be finding my destination?”

“Well, that depends on where your destination is,” With that remark, the Freelancer stepped off, waving for the Alf to follow him. He led her first to a large board within the market area, one flashing with many a digital sign as people milled around it and browsed its content. The main section of the large board was a detailed map of the city itself, a glowing segment marking the docks district the port was found at.

With a quick motion, the Freelancer drew an object from his pocket, slotting it into one of the open ports of the board frontal kiosk. The front side of the object flashed for a few seconds before the Freelancer withdrew it, a holographic screen appearing above its front as he tapped it with a thumb. When he caught his Alf companion staring, he chuckled and pocketed the item.

“Never seen a Deck before?”

“I mean I’ve seen them,” answered the Alf, “But never so close. We don’t use those devices in Vanira.”

“Well, if you’re gonna be spending time in Laguna, you might want to get ahold of one,” said her companion, the Alf humming as she looked back to the board. “So, where are you looking to go?”

“Uhm… wherever the Freelancer halls are,” The Alf sighed as her companion gained a smarmy look, earning another clear of her throat. “As you’ve perhaps surmised, I left the woods for some… particular reasons. Reasons that involve joining the Freelancers. I was told by… a family member it was the best path to find what I was looking for.”

“Looking for something eh?” The Freelancer hummed. “As good a reason to become one as any really. Well then. That means you’re gonna want to head to…” he raised a hand to the map, scrolling along it until he reached a district further into the city, “right here: the oh so creatively named Guild District.”

“Couldn’t have done something fancy huh?” The Alf mused.

“Most of the districts here are similarly named. Practicality over being fancy is the way of Clearharbor… and Dynoriaths in general really,” The Freelancer set his Deck into the board again, the Alf watching as its screen updated with a copy of the map, now displaying a route that would get them to the Guild District. “Simple as. Like I said, you’re gonna want to get one of these things. Used for all kinds of reasons in cities like this.”

“Noted,” the Alf hefted her bag across her shoulder, adjusting her hat as well, “So, shall we be off then?”

“Just follow me.”