SWNOVELXO Chapter 12: Identity
The guards of the Silverfein family, especially those deployed to roam around North Sword City, had a special ability to detect the presence of those who didn't have any pass slip. In fact, it was only because they had no other choice but to develop it.
For some reason, throughout the family's history, they had always hated infiltrators. Even if they wanted to stop them at the gate, they weren't trained for observing but for field tracing and active orders. That was why, as much as possible, Diana wouldn't waste time at a post but would instead actively search for infiltrators.
It seemed foolish at first, or maybe it was rooted in tradition, but this practice had made the guards of the Silverfein family sensitive to those who were unwelcome.
"I sense one here," said a guard clad in silver armor with a stern and rugged face as he approached a young soldier trainee. "Come here."
The young soldier rushed over, lifting his armor, which was slightly unfit for him.
"Can you feel this?"
The young soldier paused, pressing his fingers to a mysterious orb as he clenched it. He then felt a spark, sensing a difference and anomaly in the surroundings.
'Amazing… this is what it means to be a guard! Though, I still don't understand why they hate guarding at the entrance when they have a better chance of filtering people. The kingdom had no other choice but to send them since they would leave their post and kill anyone without a pass slip.'
Despite his rumbling thoughts, the young soldier was still amazed by the tool and how a simple piece of parchment had a special essence surrounding it.
"What should I do, sir?" he asked.
Taller than him, the guard adjusted the young soldier's head and gazed at a nearby kid. "You see him? Inspect him. He doesn't have any pass slip."
The young soldier nodded and, following the command, immediately approached a kid who had covered himself with the hood of his cloak. Learning to keep vigilant, he poked his scabbard at the kid.
"Hey, show me your pass slip," he authoritatively announced, deep inside, he was smiling. 'This is really amazing! The authority I hold has lightened my mood.'
The kid hesitantly faced him. Seeing his appearance, he tilted his head as he felt his heart move. 'A beggar? I thought there weren't any beggars here. If the senior finds him, he will surely be punished!'
Horrified by what might happen, he couldn't continue his thoughts and pushed the kid aside. "Don't look behind me. Go ahead, hide from here." The kid then turned his back, slowly moving away from him. He sighed in relief for the kid's safety.
"Hey! What have you done?!" the senior guard called to him. He turned back, smiling from ear to ear.
"Sir, he has a pass slip, but it was torn. I ordered him to go to the entrance and ask for another one."
"So that was the reason I couldn't find any hint of the pass slip from him." The guard nodded. "Let's continue."
The young soldier took one last look at the kid's back before turning away to follow his senior.
***
'I almost died there.' Walking away from the two guards, Vonn's eyes remained wide, and his heart was beating fast. 'If not for that young guard being lenient and sympathetic, I might have lost my life.'
'I forgot to get the pass slip! It is important here since Diana knows whom she should protect. Because of how important the city is to her, she made sure to put a flaw in the city's security to lure in those with bad intentions without letting others know the purpose of the pass slip. In fact, it isn't about the pass slip, it's the essence of the special parchment paper.'
'By knowing that they infiltrated, she can easily punish and capture them. Fuck! Why did I forget that Diana knew about monsters disguising as humans and that they don't know anything about the pass slip? This was information passed down by her predecessor—almost a vision of the future that she must be wary of to protect the people in a unique and flawed way.'
The purpose of that system wasn't just to recognize infiltrators but to identify those who followed her rules. Those who were willing to bring a pass slip, or even wear it as an accessory, were deemed willing to obey her rules. People who followed a simple and unassuming rule were under her watchful protection.
Realizing his mistake, Vonn went straight back to the entrance, lowering his head as the gate guard noticed his return.
"So, how was it? Is the city scary without the pass slip?"
Vonn opened his palm. "Give it to me."
The guard's expression visibly changed. "Calm down there. You must pay a toll or show your identification."
"Identification…" Vonn bit his lower lip. Behind his hood, he was hesitant to do what he had planned. Having no other choice, he lowered his hood, revealing a few strands of his grey hair that appeared almost white, along with some dirt.
As soon as the guard saw the unique hair color, which belonged only to that specific noble family from the neighboring territory, he bowed his head.
"I apologize for not recognizing a member of the Prestige Clan."
Vonn nodded and then returned his hood. "So, do I still need to confirm my identity?"
The guard shook his head. "I don't have any authority to question your quiet visit. You may enter and have this." Vonn received the pass slip and immediately went back into the city, disappearing from the gate guard's sight.
As soon as he reached a safe location, he stopped and exhaled nervously.
'That was too close… Thank goodness the Prestige Clan wasn't still known as the traitors to the kingdom and the Silverfein family. They must be dealing with it internally at the moment.'
Recalling a specific event in the novel, he remembered the reason why the second young master was executed a year later. It was because the Prestige Clan fought back and never surrendered. Their tenacity made the kingdom worry that any descendants, along with those who had distinct features, should be executed to cut their roots.
Some had already died, but they were still unknown to others.
All that would be publicly announced a year later when the problem with the Prestige Clan peaked.
'It was also the time when Linn was thrown away and became a disciple of a hidden swordsman. That's when the main story unfolded, and the second young master's character became just a part of history but also a trigger for a small arc in the novel.'
Some time later, Vonn continued on his way to the other end of the city. Along the way, he found a few items that he thought could help him in the future.