The Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint

Pipi the Poison Draghorn was flying high up in the sky with Juana and Vivian riding her.

The rain has long stopped or perhaps in this part of the region it wasn't raining.

Vivian was behind Juana with her arms locked around her waist tightly because this was her first time riding a Draghorn or experiencing such a ride and didn't want to fall off. Back in her previous world, when it came to traveling in the air, the only experience Vivian had was riding an airplane.

Their destination was the Third Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint located down south which divides the Northern and Southern Continent. And if Vivian were to travel through land via a carriage, it would take her almost 4 weeks -- and this was assuming no hiccups happened.

Vivian turned her head to the side and looked under.

This…

This is definitely not safe…

The seatbelts are a total joke…!

If she were to describe it, she couldn't even call it seatbelts because it only wraps her thighs and lower waist. And if she were fat or overweight and the Draghorn decided to fly upside down, she would no doubt fall.

But still…

So this is what it's like to fly riding an animal…

It feels so free…

Ever since she arrived in this world, which has only been around 3 months, all she did nothing but work, train and sleep.

I was so caught up with a lot of things that I forgot that I was in a fantasy world and there are other things worth experiencing that can't be found in my previous world…

She shook her head mentally.

No…

I'm all alone in this world…

And I also carry too many secrets…

I don't have any time to sit idly and enjoy…

But still…

I guess it's nice to experience such things once in a while…

***

10:52 a.m.

"Sister Inquisitor! We're almost there!" shouted Juana.

Since they were riding an animal and flying up in the sky without any protection to shield themselves from the wind, it muffled their hearing and they had no choice but to talk louder if they had to communicate with each other.

Vivian turned her head and gazed upon what seemed to be the Third Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint.

A dark expression appeared on her face.

What the hell…?

This is the place…?

The Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint was a long and high wall located in the northern region of the Great Plains of Stanza where the Northern Continent and Southern Continent are divided.

The First Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint was located in the east by the sea and the Ninth Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint was located in the west and also by the sea. However, when it came to the Second up to Eighth Inner Stanza Border Checkpoints, it was in the middle of the desert with the Fifth Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint as the main Inner Border Checkpoint. And all these Inner Border Checkpoints were inter-connected to one long and high wall with a distance of a couple of miles from each other.

Looks like a small barracks…

The border checkpoint was surrounded by a rectangular wall and had two exits, the Northern Gate and Southern Gate, which connected the two with one straight road. And within the walls, there were a couple of buildings on the side of the road connecting the two gates.

"Sister Inquisitor! Can you activate your [Halo] to signal our descent?!"

Vivian knitted her brows behind her Inquisitor Half-Mask.

I forgot about this…

Air Units must provide an agreed signal when asking permission to land on a place…

For the Temple of Priest members, it's their [Halo]…

Is it safe to use mine…?

"Just use yours!"

Hearing Vivian's answer, Juana's eyes blinked a couple of times behind her helmet. She doesn't understand why Vivian refuses to use her [Halo]. But after remembering that Vivian was an Inquisitor, was quite powerful despite her age and also can be a bit violent, she didn't dare to argue.

"Okay!"

Vivian leaned back as the golden ring appeared on Juana's back. And as Pipi flapped her wings before slowly descending from the sky, she noticed several people waiting on the ground.

I can see Priests, Knights and Guards…

When Pipi finally landed on the ground, Juana deactivated her [Halo]. Vivian got off first and then Juana, while some Guards quickly approached to assist in unloading the luggage strapped on Pipi.

Vivian turned and went over to the people who were waiting for her.

When she got to them, she took out a letter from inside her armor and then saluted.

"I am Sister Inquisitor Monad of the Inquisitory Division. I've received official orders from the Holy Crusade that I am to be the Inquisitor of the Third Inner Stanza Border Checkpoint," she said and presented her letter.

A Priest in his late 20s dressed with brown long hair in a White Cloak and a burly Knight with orange hair and a thick beard in his mid-30s wearing a set of armor stepped forward.

The Priest saluted and then received the letter.

"Welcome to the Third Stanza Border Checkpoint, Sister Inquisitor Monad. I am Brother High Lieutenant Lennon of the Infantry Division and the commanding officer of the Priest Squad assigned here. I pray to the God of Light that had a wonderful journey coming here and I also look forward to working with you." 

The Knight saluted in a Knight's salute.

"I am Knight Captain Edgar and the commanding officer of the Knights and Guard Squads assigned here. On behalf of the Knights and Guards, welcome to the Third Stanza Border Checkpoint, Priestess Inquisitor Monad."

"Thank you for your warm welcome, Brother High Lieutenant Lennon and Knight Captain Edgar. I'm pleased to meet you both and I look forward to working with all of you."

"Please allow me to introduce you to the rest of the key personnel, Sister Inquisitor," Lennon said and led her to the rest of the people waiting to meet her.

All the Inner Stanza Border Checkpoints except for the Fifth had 5 Priests, 5 Knights and 15 Guards, making it a total of 25 personnel. However, since Vivian was only meeting the key personnel, there were only around 10 people.

A Priest in his mid-20s with long blonde hair saluted.

"I'm Brother Lieutenant Anthony of the Infantry Division. It's a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to working with you, Sister Inquisitor Monad. May the God of Light watch over you."

Vivian saluted.

"Likewise, Brother Lieutenant Anthony and may the God of Light watch over you as well."

A Priest in his early 20s with orange hair saluted.

"I'm Brother Sergeant Finley of the Infantry Division. It's a pleasure to meet you and I look forward to working with you, Sister Inquisitor Monad. May the God of Light watch over you." 

"Likewise, Brother Sergeant Finley and may the God of Light watch over you as well." 

A knight in his late 20s with long blue hair saluted in a Knight's salute.

"I am Knight Lieutenant Lamont of the Knights Squad. It's an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you, Priestess Inquisitor Monad."

Vivian saluted in her Priest's salute.

"It's also an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you as well, Knight Lieutenant Lamont."

A female knight with long and straight gray hair in her early 20s saluted.

"I'm Knight Sergeant Arabella of the Knights Squad. It's an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you, Priestess Inquisitor Monad."

Vivian saluted.

"It's also an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you as well, Knight Sergeant Arabella." 

A pale-looking male knight with green hair in his late 20s saluted.

"I am Knight Trevin of the Knights Squad. It's an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you, Priestess Inquisitor Monad."

Vivian saluted.

"It's also an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you as well, Knight Trevin."

A tanned-skinned male knight with pink hair in his early 20s saluted.

"I am Knight Garcon of the Knights Squad. It's an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you, Priestess Inquisitor Monad."

Vivian saluted.

"It's also an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you as well, Knight Garcon."

A man wearing leather armor and in his mid-20s saluted.

"I am Guard Captain Marcel of the Guard Squad. It is truly an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you, Honored Priestess Inquisitor Monad."

Vivian saluted.

"It's also an honor to make your acquaintance and I look forward to working with you as well, Guard Captain Marcel."

Vivian let out a deep sigh of relief internally.

Finally…!

Done…!

That was so tiring…!

Vivian wasn't really familiar with the politics regarding the Knights and Guards but she did learn a couple of important key points during Basic Training and the Training Course about their system.

The Kingdom Knights are divided into 3 divisions -- Supremes, Knights and Guards.

At the bottom were the Guards.

For the Guards, there are no requirements to join other than two things -- be at least 15 years old and have a Class. 

During their service, they will be issued to wear a set of leather armor. 

Regarding their ranks:

Guard Captain Guard Lieutenant Guard Sergeant Guard 

And once they reach the highest rank, Guard Captain, they can be promoted to a Knight.

For the Knights, the requirements are no different from the Guards. However, the only difference is that Nobles can start being a Knight right from the get-go without having to start at the Guard division.

During their service, they will be issued to wear a set of plated armor. They are allowed to customize it as long as it doesn't differ too much from the standard appearance.

Regarding their ranks:

Knight Major Knight Captain Knight Lieutenant Knight Sergeant Knight

And lastly were the Supremes. This is where Vivian is confused because of the heavy politics along with the long and complicated history.

First of all, each Kingdom and City has its own Kingdom Knight Chapter, just like how the Temple of Priests has its own Chapter Temple for each Kingdom and City.

However, unlike the Temple of Priests where all Chapter Temples are interconnected through something similar to a religion so their bond is stronger, the Knight Chapters are connected through politics.

For example.

Luxen City and the Heisen City used to be rogue settlements that got elevated into cities and are now subsidiary kingdoms shared between the Twin Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom.

The Iron Kingdom used to be an independent kingdom but was subjugated and is now a subsidiary kingdom shared between the Twin Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom.

The Orion Kingdom used to be a small town under the Holy Kingdom where women who didn't want to become anything but a baby factory for their families and wanted to live a life according to their will would seek asylum or refuge to. And now, it has become a kingdom but is still under the Holy Kingdom.

The Verglas Kingdom used to be an independent kingdom but was subjugated and is now a subsidiary city of the Twin Kingdom.

The Azatea Kingdom is a subsidiary kingdom shared between the Twin Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom.

The Marbleam Kingdom is an independent kingdom that shares a diplomatic relationship with the Holy Kingdom but has a complicated relationship with the Twin Kingdom.

The Ghram Empire is an independent kingdom that maintains a vague relationship with the rest of the kingdoms but prefers to keep to itself.

And this was just the kingdoms in the Northern Continent and their basic politics.

In regards to the Supreme Ranks:

Supreme Commander Supreme Major Supreme Captain Supreme Lieutenant Supreme Sergeant

And if Vivian were to describe their main purposes in layman's terms:

The Supremes are like the Cardinals of the Temple of Priests but for the Royal family of the kingdom they represent. They are different from the Duke, Marquise, Count, Viscounts and Barons who represent the kingdom's Nobility. 

But just like the Dukes, Marquises, Counts, Viscounts and Barons who are bound to the DG International Laws due to the Physical and Magic Force and also the political authority that they wield, the Supremes are no different. They also can't act freely without thinking of the consequences of their actions.

The Supremes also spend most of their time in the Royal Palace of the kingdom they represent to guard the Royal Family. It was like how all of the Cardinals were staying at the Temple of Priest Palace in the Holy City with the Light Saint.

And to become a Supreme, one has to be part of the Nobility. However, due to politics, those who didn't come from an Aristocratic Noble family can only climb up to the Supreme Captain rank. A prime example of this is the former Supreme Captain of the Luxen Kingdom, Ronaldo. He was loved by the commoners because he came from a Commoner background and was hated by the Nobility, particularly the Aristocratic Nobles. But now his reputation went to a nosedive due to his betrayal.

And as for the Knights and Guards assigned at this border checkpoint, Vivian has no clue what Knight Chapter or kingdom they're specifically from. All she knows is that they're under the banner of the Twin Kingdom's Knights Chapter, just like how Vivian and the other Priests here are under the banner of the Holy Crusade for the Temple of Priests or the Holy Kingdom.

However, she was now starting to be able to differentiate accents. In fact, she could now catch the accent of someone from Luxen City, and a little bit from Heisen City and the Holy Kingdom. 

Lennon turned to Finley.

"Brother Sergeant Finley, could you please escort Sister Inquisitor Monad to the Priests' building and show her her room?" 

"Yes, Brother High Lieutenant," Finley said and then turned to Vivian. "Sister Inquisitor Monad, please follow me. Your luggage will be sent by the Guards."

Of the three groups here -- Priests, Knights and Guards -- the guards have the lowest social standing. And the Guards without any officer rank are basically the serfs in this location because there are no other personnel here aside from the 5 Priests, 5 Knights and 15 Guards.

"I see. Thank you," said Vivian.

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Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

By the way, I posted some Chapter Drafts at P-a-t-r-e-o-n. And to view them, you can read them at…

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There, you will have access to the Chapter Drafts for $5 a month.

Please note that the chapters posted there are only drafts. So when those said Chapter Drafts will be published here, there will be some edits. They also involve a few secret outline notes/details that I won't publish here because they contain spoilers or dispel some of the mysteries. And at the moment, Chapter Drafts 273-277 are posted there.

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Thank you once again and I will see you in the next chapter.