Back in the fox-kin city, Central Tail...
"Hmm...but what about Nina? I wonder how she'd feel about you taking Ilina's last name...marriage may prove quite dangerous for you." (Zara)
I roll my eyes, quietly blaming Alara for Zara's newfound capacity for awful humor.
"I doubt Nina will care...I don't even think Elder Dragons use family names." (Mizuki)
Zara gives me a skeptical look.
"What if she does care?" (Zara)
I frown, unimpressed with the tedious 'what if' banter, but I consider her question nonetheless.
If the elves really do expect me to take Ilina's family name like I suspect, but Nina doesn't want me to do so for whatever reason...truthfully, that puts me in a tight spot. In the end, I suppose it would depend on Nina's reasons for opposing the suggestion.
If I'm wrong, and Nina actually has a family name of her own that she'd rather me take, that'd be a quite reasonable objection. But, it'd be blatant favoritism to take Nina's family name instead, and it'd also risk antagonizing the elves. In that case, I'd probably just compromise and take both their names – either hyphenate, or make Nina's family name my middle name, and Ophelle my last name, so it doesn't cause too much friction with elven customs. If Nina objects to that, I'll just have to explain myself and try to appease her another way.
If, however, Nina objects to me taking Ilina's family name for any other reason, I don't think it'll be good enough to dissuade me. I could empathize with Nina thinking it's an unfair privilege for Ilina, and see her maybe suggesting the two of them taking my family name as an alternative. However, my Bond with Nina could be categorized as at least as much of an unfair privilege – I don't think the debatable favoritism of taking only Ilina's family name outweighs dismissing all of Ilina's cultural expectations.
So, while I'd consider some ways of appeasing Nina – letting her take my old family name while Ilina and I maybe use it as a middle name, or offering her the Ophelle name, too – I would still choose to take Ilina's family name and hope Nina understands my reasons.
So, no matter how I look at it, I see myself taking the Ophelle name in some capacity. I sigh and shrug at Zara.
"I guess I would still take the Ophelle name, but I'd do my best to reach a compromise with Nina, too." (Mizuki)
Zara chuckles.
"Fufufufu...getting an Elder Dragon who loves you and looks down on everyone else to compromise. As I said, a potentially dangerous marriage for you." (Mizuki)
I frown disapprovingly at Zara, but I don't refute her words either, instead letting us fall into silence. As we walk, I just admire the city around us in quiet contemplation – cute little fox-kin children running around in their robes, tons of foreign smells and spices wafting from food stalls all through the streets, enough vendors with souvenir trinkets to make me feel like I'm in a mall back on Earth. And of course, an endless stream of fox-kin glances flicking between me and my collar, their lips twisting into amused, mocking smiles. As if to rub salt in the wound, some of them even wave at me condescendingly, like I'm a cute pet, causing Zara's expression to tighten hilariously. Honestly, her reactions keep me from being too irritated.
We eventually reach the inner wall, spotting a large, metal door within it – an entrance to the city's Sanctum. As we approach, I notice two guards standing by the gate watchfully. They're wearing the samurai-like armor that I spotted from the air. However, from up this close I can see that, much like many other things today, I'm not sure the armor is distinctly Earth-inspired, just similar enough to trigger my paranoid, uncultured brain.
But nestled on the guards' hips...
Are those katanas!?
At first, the realization nearly causes me to trip in shock – Percivil told me that he's been all over and never seen anyone else carrying one. However, after a moment I realize that probably makes sense, given what I've learned.
For one, the fox-kin have only had their cities open to visitors for about a decade or so. I don't know exactly what the timeline of Percivil's youthful wanderlust was, but I'm reasonably confident that he hadn't visited demi-human lands in the decade before meeting me. So, in order for him to see one of these katanas, they would have had to diffuse out of fox-kin cities and into his frame of reference through other means.
That brings me to point two.
I haven't seen the katanas anywhere else in the city – not for sale, not with residents, and not even with the normal guards – just on these special Sanctum guards, the Daima. Ergo, katanas may be a prized, tightly regulated weapon of the fox-kin. Something that a non-fox-kin traveler Percivil could encounter in Elmesia wouldn't be able to obtain for themselves.
As I finish parsing such thoughts, Zara and I arrive in front of the stoic fox-kin known as Daima. Their eyes snap to us, and their hands casually drift to their sword handles with a synchronization that almost seems performative.
"Access to the Sanctum is restricted to high-level fox-kin and their guests. State your business or depart." (Daima 1)
I glance at the Daima that spoke, then look at Zara expectantly. She steps forward, addressing the Daima with a polite nod.
"Greetings. I am Elder Zara Zuki, leader of the wolf-kin. I have journeyed here to request a diplomatic meeting with your Council." (Zara)
The Daima's eyes study Zara with mild interest, before he looks at the other Daima next to him. He speaks in a language that, while comprehensible to me through Azazel's blessing, is distinctly unfamiliar to my ears. Fox-kin native tongue, presumably.
"What do you think? {foreign tongue}" (Daima 1)
"Looks more like a child than an elder to me, and she's shown up unannounced with no other wolf-kin. Plus, she's got a human with her. See if she can verify her identity somehow. {foreign tongue}" (Daima 2)
The first Daima nods subtly at the second, then fixes Zara with a skeptical glare. I, having been privy to this 'secret' conversation, try to keep my face placid enough to hide my irritation at their words.
"Can you prove your identity?" (Daima 1)
Zara raises her eyebrows, but nods. She reaches into her pack, and produces something that looks vaguely like an ornate chess piece, as well as another of the emblemed tokens she gave me for access to the wolf-kin settlement. She raises both for the Daima to inspect, gesturing at the chess piece then the token.
"This is the official seal of the wolf-kin, held only by me, our Elder. This is a token for distinguished persons, granting authority second only to the Elder among my people." (Zara)
I raise my eyebrows at her description of the token. All I knew was that it'd grant me access to their settlement while they're in isolation. I had no idea she was basically deputizing me with it as well.
The Daima's eyes narrow, scrutinizing the items. He glances back at the second Daima.
"The items bear the same crest, one that seems appropriate for the wolf-kin, but I have no idea if they mean what she claims. {foreign tongue}" (Daima 1)
I nearly roll my eyes...like, no shit numb nuts? Short of dragging you guys all the way to the wolf-kin settlement to have hordes of them vouch for her, what better proof could she provide? I guess she should have come with a diplomatic escort to vouch for her, or literally any other wolf-kin, but...well, hindsight is twenty-twenty.
The second Daima glances between the first and Zara thoughtfully, before addressing his partner.
"Agreed, I'm still suspicious. The girl really should have a procession if she's a proper leader – why would her people let their ruler travel all the way here alone? Besides, Head Teyla is the only Council member available right now, and she's far too busy to bother with potential nonsense. I say we just tell the little girl that all of the Council members for Central Tail are on a diplomatic visit to North Ear for the next two weeks. Tell her to come back then, with a proper diplomatic escort. {foreign tongue}" (Daima 2)
The first Daima nods, then looks back to Zara, his demeanor professional.
"Unfortunately, all three of Central Tail's Council representatives are away for the next two weeks on a visit to another of our cities. I hope you understand, given the lack of advanced notice on your part. However, we will pass along your desire to meet when the Council members return, Elder Zara. If you are willing to make another trip here at that time, with a diplomatic escort, I'm sure that your request will be promptly accommodated." (Daima 1)
Zara's expression flickers with disappointment, seemingly oblivious to the truth behind the Daima's cordial words.
"I see. Then, who is the highest ranking fox-kin representative available to meet with me today? I'm afraid there are certain things that can't wait to-" (Zara)
I clasp my hand on her shoulder, cutting her off. She glances at me expectantly, surprised by the interruption. However, I'm busy staring at the second Daima...the jackass that seems to be calling the shots, with zero interest in accommodating Zara. My lips twist into a smile that's not really a smile, more than a little annoyed at his handling of the situation.
I understand their suspicions – they're reasonable – but they didn't even give her a chance to address them. They're just writing her off as a little girl and dismissing her with a bold faced lie, polite though its delivery may have been. At the very least, even if they're skeptical, shouldn't they run this request by someone in authority? Just a thirty second interruption to let this Teyla person make the decision for themselves...is that so much to ask? I don't think so.
I narrow my eyes at the second guard, focusing on emulating the language that I've heard them speaking in. I think that should get the point across nicely...
"Elder Zara is exactly who she claims to be, I assure you. She came here alone because she's more than capable of defending herself, and because she didn't want to take manpower away from the wolf-kin's redevelopment efforts. I kindly insist that you bring her request to Council member Teyla directly. {foreign tongue}" (Mizuki)
Both Daima immediately stiffen, any of their levity evaporating as their eyes lock onto me. Zara glances at me apprehensively.
"Mizuki...what did you just say to them?" (Zara)
I smile reassuringly at her.
"Just mak-" (Mizuki)
My words are cut off by the sound of steel sliding across leather, and I glance back at the Daima. They are both now leveling their katanas towards me, blatant hostility in their eyes. My eyes widen in shock. This seems...excessive, as a response. Was I not extremely polite with my response, given what I heard them saying about Zara?
"Human...how do you know the Sacred Tongue? Explain yourself immediately, or die." (Daima 2)