The teleportation array pulsed softly as Pramit and Lyria stood before the Chakma border gate, surrounded by armored guards. The soldiers' eyes were sharp — nobody entered the Chakma Clan without permission.
"Place your hand on the Verification Orb," said the lead guard.
Pramit yawned, rubbing his eyes. "Yeah, yeah… let's get this over with."
The moment his palm touched the orb—
✨ Light exploded.
Not just one mark — seven clan symbols flared across his body in glowing gold, spiraling up his arm, neck, and chest. The orb vibrated violently, flickering with all colors of the seven clans.
"W–What the hell is this!?" a soldier shouted, stepping back. "Multiple clan symbols!? That's impossible!"
Even Lyria froze, eyes wide. The magic in the air felt divine — overwhelming — until suddenly the glow faded, leaving only the Chakma clan symbol shining faintly on his hand.
The orb dimmed. Silence.
Everyone stared at him.
The lead guard coughed, uncertain. "It… seems to be a glitch."
"Glitch?" another soldier hissed. "There's no such thing in a divine identification orb!"
Pramit scratched his head lazily. "So… can I go now?"
The guards exchanged glances — suspicion in their eyes. They knew something was off. No one from the Chakma Clan left the city without a permit. No merchant record, no exit slip, no escort.
"Pramit Chakma," the captain said slowly, "you have no travel record, no pass, and yet you appeared outside the border during a lockdown. That's… not normal."
Pramit blinked. "Maybe I took a nap and walked too far?"
The guards didn't laugh.
Lyria tried to step forward, but spears crossed instantly. "Both of you are under arrest for illegal departure and breach of clan security."
Pramit sighed as they cuffed his hands. "Ah… so much trouble. I just wanted to sleep."
The orb flickered again for a brief moment — a faint shimmer of divine light that no one noticed this time.
Pramit didn't really understand what was happening.
One moment he was standing at the gate, half-asleep.Next moment, his hands were locked with magic cuffs, and two Chakma soldiers were walking him forward.
"This is seriously annoying…" he muttered.
Lyria walked beside him, arms crossed, clearly unhappy."I told you to answer properly," she whispered."I did," Pramit replied. "They just didn't like my answers."
The guards didn't speak. Their badges — the Chakma clan symbol — shined faintly on their chests. Every step echoed inside the stone corridor as they moved deeper into the inner area of the city.
People stared.
Some whispered.Some pointed.Some just looked confused.
A Chakma clan member being arrested inside his own city was not something you saw every day.
They were taken into a clean but cold room. No chains on the walls. No torture tools. Just a table, chairs, and a glowing stone fixed in the center.
"Sit," one guard ordered.
Pramit sat immediately. The chair was comfortable. That was good.
The captain entered a moment later. His face was calm, but his eyes were sharp.
"Pramit Chakma," he said slowly. "You left clan territory without a permit. You re-entered using an external teleportation array. You carry no travel card, no merchant pass, no escort record."
He paused.
"Explain."
Pramit blinked."I… walked?"
The room went silent.
Lyria covered her face with one hand.
The captain sighed. "You walked two hundred kilometers through monster land. Without registering. Without escort."
Pramit nodded. "Yeah. The cave was quiet."
One of the soldiers twitched. "That's not an answer."
The captain raised a hand, stopping him. Then he looked at Pramit again — carefully this time.
"There is another issue," he said. "During verification… the orb reacted abnormally."
Pramit tilted his head. "It did?"
"Yes." The captain leaned forward. "For a moment, multiple symbols appeared. Then only Chakma remained."
Lyria froze.
"That should not happen," the captain continued. "Ever."
Pramit scratched his cheek. "Maybe it was sleepy."
No one laughed.
After a few seconds, the captain straightened."Until this matter is clarified, you will remain here. This is not punishment. It is protection — for you and for us."
He looked at Lyria.
"You too. As an outsider involved."
Lyria opened her mouth. Then closed it. "Understood."
The guards moved to leave.
As the door closed, Pramit leaned back in his chair."…Do they have beds here?"
Lyria stared at him.
"You almost caused a political incident," she said.
Pramit closed his eyes."Mm. Wake me up if it becomes a war."
And just like that, he fell asleep.
Lyria didn't know whether to scream… or laugh.