Beta Town.
Wander Bar hall.
A guest in a black cloak passed through the bustling crowd, walked to the counter, took out a long, narrow Parchment Scroll, and handed it to the Multi-armed People attendant behind the bar.
A hand extended from behind the attendant, picked up the scroll, unfolded it, and brought it close for a careful inspection. Its gaze lingered on the tiny Seven-pointed Star emblem at the end of the scroll.
"The key is correct. Here is your item. Please keep it safe."
Having finally acknowledged the mark on the scroll, the attendant took a black wooden case from beneath the counter and pushed it toward the guest. "Would you like a glass of Siren Rum?"
"No, thank you."
The guest's low voice came from beneath the hood. He took the wooden case, turned, and left Wander Bar without hesitation. His billowing cloak resembled a raven spreading its wings and plunging into the night, vanishing into the deep shadows at the street corner in the blink of an eye.
The cloaked figure passed through winding alleys, skimmed across the murmuring Silent River, and followed the edge of the Guardian Formation out of town. Without disturbing the Patrol Team on the streets or the magical creatures in the river, he eventually disappeared soundlessly Deep within the Silent Forest.
The Silent Forest beneath the Night Veil was anything but silent.
The next day would be Jingzhe. Insects awakened from deep within the humus greedily drank in the breath of spring, while Treant Saplings and bats emerging from their burrows slaughtered these newly awakened bugs with abandon beneath the cover of darkness. By the water stood kappa with disks atop their heads; beneath the trees lurked Spirits in Red Hats; and Huodou with eyes like burning coals traveled in groups