Cassian found himself in a rare open space on a chilly afternoon. The fog still lingered, keeping the sunlight from fully illuminating the city, while the already congested skies of Magisteria added to the gloom.
Since arriving, he had only seen narrow, crowded streets, but here, the road was wide enough for two carriages to run side by side, though it was just as packed with people as any other part of the city.
People bustled in and out of buildings, attending to their daily tasks, while Cassian searched for one particular building where he was supposed to begin working. As Lady Katherine had informed him the previous night, the letter that arrived in the morning confirmed it. The favor Katherine had asked of someone had come through, and Cassian was now enlisted in the city's law enforcement unit.
It was official—he had been admitted, though at the lowest rank: constable. Cassian wasn't thrilled about it. The law enforcers he'd seen the day before were also constables, which meant he would have to wear the same unattractive uniform.
Fortunately, the unit he was joining didn't require him to wear the uniform. He could show up in his regular clothes, as long as they were neat. That was a small win in an otherwise less-than-ideal situation.
Cassian stood in the middle of the open space, his eyes scanning his surroundings as he took in the bustling activity of the city. With a sigh, he glanced down at his shirt and pants, smoothing them out with his hands, checking for any creases. It wasn't exactly an outfit that screamed authority, but at least it was tidy enough.
Satisfied with his appearance, he straightened his back and began making his way toward a building up ahead.
In front of the building, a few black carriages were stationed, immediately catching his attention. These were no ordinary carriages—they were made of metal, sturdy and grim, with only small windows just big enough to slip a hand through. The entire structure was sealed, and the only entry was a locked door at the back. It was clear these were not meant for ordinary passengers.
From one of the carriages, a group of law enforcers, dressed in their official uniforms, roughly pulled restrained individuals out. The prisoners, shackled at the wrists and ankles, were shoved forward with little care, the enforcers treating them like nothing more than cargo. Cassian watched the scene, his lips tightening in a frown.
Cassian's frown melted into a smile when his gaze landed on a blue-haired man standing by the prisoners, sword at his waist, looking just as out of place as Cassian felt. "Julius," Cassian muttered, heading toward the man who would be his sword-fighting instructor from now on.
Julius turned, surprised to see Cassian with his red hair neatly combed back, though a few rebellious waves still made it look slightly tousled. "You're here…" Julius remarked, his tone carrying a hint of surprise.
Cassian nodded and asked, "Lady Katherine mentioned you'd be the one teaching me from now on?"
"Yeah, lucky you, huh? Learning from me," Julius said with a wide, proud grin. "Even if your brain's a bit muddled, my teaching can turn you into one of the top young masters in the city, on par with the geniuses at those universities." His narcissism was something Cassian knew he'd have to tolerate if he wanted to improve, but it was a price he was willing to pay.
Cassian smiled back but didn't want to spend the day listening to Julius praise himself. He glanced toward the building and asked, "Do you know anything about this special unit we're joining?"
Julius shook his head, his tone turning a bit frustrated. "No idea. My father-in-law forced me into it, said if I want to stay in the city, I have to join. He's the same one who made me your teacher."
Cassian was surprised. Someone who could force a 7th-circle warrior, and a narcissist at that, to do something had to be incredibly powerful. And the fact that Lady Katherine had also asked a favor from this man, who arranged for two strangers to join the city's law enforcement in just a day, hinted at someone with significant influence.
Curiosity got the better of him, and he asked, "Who's your father-in-law?"
"Someone strong..." Julius replied with a smirk, surprising Cassian. Julius had never referred to anyone as "strong" before—at most, he'd call them "decent." But Julius didn't elaborate, instead brushing it off as he continued, "Now, forget about that. Let's see what we've gotten ourselves into."
Soon, they found themselves inside the bustling building, filled with people coming and going. Some appeared to be aristocrats from their fine clothes, while others were thugs and burly criminals who glared menacingly at the law enforcement officers. It was a lot for Cassian to take in, and before he could process it all, someone tapped lightly on both his and Julius' shoulders.
They turned to see a woman dressed in the standard law enforcement uniform. Unlike most, hers wasn't adorned with many flashy accessories, except for a few bright stars on her shoulder and a colorful ribbon pinned to her rather full chest.
As Cassian glanced at her face, he noticed signs of aging—wrinkles at the corners of her mouth and eyes, with streaks of gray hair neatly combed into a bun. The look gave her an air of wisdom and authority.
"What business do you two have here?" the woman asked in a commanding tone. Cassian, still busy observing her closely, noticed that her eyes were as gray as her hair, complementing her almond-toned skin. He had to look up to meet her gaze, as she was as tall as Julius, who smiled and responded, "Well, we're new recruits for the special unit in this department.
I'm Julius Rasaec, and this is Cassian Ven Dyke." He pulled a letter from his pocket and handed it to the woman, adding, "We're a bit confused about where we should be or what we're supposed to do. Could you assist us, my lady?"
"Commandant Sher," the woman corrected, glancing over the letter before handing it back to Julius. Seeing his confused expression, she clarified, "Call me Commandant Sher. Detective Rasaec, use rank to address yourself and others from now on within the force."