Sun Radiance Alliance, southern province, Green Elm City.
This small city bordering the southern frontier had recently seen a surge of people as the war in the Crimson Blood Empire spilled over. Fighters, merchants, travelers, and refugees gathered here from all directions, filling its streets and alleys with noisy chaos, dragons and fish mingling together.
Amid the crowded stream of people, a slender figure hurried along with her head lowered, weaving through the throng at great speed.
The woman wore a broad, gray-black bamboo hat, its brim pulled low to conceal most of her face. Her figure was slender and graceful, her steps hurried. She glanced back from time to time, her movements subtle and wary, while her eyes beneath the hat held lingering worry and unease.
She seemed to be hiding from something. Although she moved quickly, every motion was exceedingly cautious, as though she feared exposing some flaw.
After passing through two bustling streets and confirming that no one was following her and no unusual aura lingered behind her, she finally breathed a faint sigh of relief. The taut lines of her body slowly relaxed.
She looked around, then hurried into a small trading house by the street. When she emerged a short while later, she held an elegantly shaped silver Communicator with simple markings.
Apparently unfamiliar with such technological products from the land, she handled the Communicator somewhat awkwardly.
Her fingertips brushed over it as she experimented repeatedly. Only after a long while did she gradually work out how to operate it, lowering her head to compose a short message in fits and starts.
Once the message was finished, she tapped lightly with a fingertip and successfully sent it.
Seeing that the message had gone through, the expression on her face relaxed a little more. The next