She filed the observation away for now, saying nothing. There would be time to address it later if necessary.

Leon didn't wait for Loriel's protests to finish. He simply stepped off the edge.

Gravity claimed them for exactly two seconds before Leon's control over the wind element activated. The air itself became cushioned, creating an invisible platform that slowed their descent gradually. It wasn't flying—more like controlled falling, the wind resistance increasing steadily until they touched down with barely more impact than stepping off a single stair.

Seraphine landed gracefully beside Leon, her movements fluid and practiced. She'd done this enough times that the transition from air to ground was seamless.

Loriel, on the other hand, immediately collapsed to the ground the moment her feet touched earth. Her legs had turned to jelly, her face was burning with embarrassment, and her heart was pounding for reasons that had nothing to do with fear of heights.

"Are you okay?" Leon asked, genuine concern in his voice as he looked down at her.

"It's nothing!" Loriel scrambled to her feet with jerky movements, refusing to meet his eyes. "Completely fine! Just needed a moment to... adjust my balance! That's all!"

Her voice was too high, too fast, too obviously flustered. But Leon simply nodded and turned toward their destination.

They traveled toward the city at a moderate pace—fast enough to cover ground efficiently but slow enough not to draw attention. The journey took roughly half an hour, bringing them to the outskirts of the settlement as midnight approached.

The city walls loomed before them, tall and imposing even compared to the fortifications around the gate they'd left behind. Guards were stationed at regular intervals along the top, and magical lights illuminated the main entrance with bright clarity.

Leon stopped them at a distance, observing carefully.

A checkpoint controlled access to the city. Guards in uniform—different from those at the gate, these ones wearing darker colors with silver trim—were methodically checking each person who wanted to enter. They examined documents, asked questions, and occasionally inspected belongings or packages. The line moved steadily but deliberately.

Security was clearly taken seriously here.

"We need to figure out their entry requirements," Leon said quietly, his eyes tracking the patterns. "We can't just walk up there without knowing what they'll ask for."

Seraphine studied the checkpoint with tactical precision. "We could use force. Break through quickly enough that they can't mount an effective response."

"Too much attention," Leon replied, shaking his head. "We're trying to observe and learn about this domain, not announce ourselves as hostile threats on day one."

Loriel fidgeted nervously beside them, wringing her hands. "I could... I could try using my status again? Tell them you're my slaves?"

Both Leon and Seraphine turned to stare at her with identical expressions of flat disbelief.

"Maybe not," Loriel amended quickly, her voice small.

Leon's enhanced vision focused on the checkpoint procedures, analyzing every detail. Guard rotations—they changed every hour. Weak points in the wall—several, but all monitored. Patterns in questioning—they asked about the purpose of the visit, the duration of stay, and the profession.

Documents were clearly important. Most people presented some kind of identification or travel papers.

We have none of that, Leon noted. Which means we need either forged documents, a convincing story, or an alternative entry point.

His spatial awareness extended outward, mapping the city's perimeter. The walls were tall but not impossibly so. Guard coverage had gaps—small ones, but they existed. Sewers are probably connected to the outside for drainage.

Options. There were always options.

"We wait and observe," Leon decided. "Learn their patterns. Then we'll decide on our approach."

The city gates stood before them, illuminated and guarded—their first real obstacle in the middle domain. Behind those walls lay everything they'd come for: information, resources, challenges, and the path to greater power.

But first, they needed to get inside without creating problems that would haunt them later.

Leon settled in to watch, patient and calculating, as midnight deepened around them.

As they observed the gate, Leon analyzed the security with methodical precision. Guards lined the top of the walls in regular intervals—at least twenty visible from this position, with likely more on rotation. The city was heavily fortified, taking its security seriously.

But what concerned him more was the strength of those guards. Leon's enhanced senses picked up their mana signatures clearly. Most of them are Journeyman rank. This city isn't taking chances.

He ran through options in his mind. Direct confrontation was possible but stupid. Sneaking past would work for him—he was confident in his abilities—but the others were a different story.

Seraphine, still at Apprentice rank despite her recent power boost, didn't have the refined control necessary to slip past Journeyman-level perception. Her lightning and light affinities were powerful but not subtle. And Loriel? Leon simply didn't trust her capabilities. She felt stronger than Seraphine on paper, but her tendency toward panic and mistakes made her a massive liability in any situation requiring stealth or precision.

I need a different approach.

Leon turned to face both women. "Here's the plan. I'll store you both inside my dimensional space, infiltrate the city alone, then release you once I've found a safe location inside."

Loriel's face scrunched in confusion. "Dimensional space?"

"It's a perfect plan," Seraphine said immediately, cutting off Loriel's questions. Her tactical mind had already seen the elegance of it. I hadn't even thought to use the dimensional realm that way. So clever.

Loriel opened her mouth to protest or ask more questions, but both Leon and Seraphine were already moving. Her approval clearly wasn't needed or wanted.

They retreated further from the gate, moving back until they found a large rock formation that would shield them from any guard's line of sight. The stone was weathered and ancient, easily three times Leon's height and casting deep shadows in the moonlight.

Loriel still looked confused about why they were hiding behind a rock when they were already so far from the gate.

Leon didn't explain. His hands moved with practiced efficiency, channeling mana through pathways he'd used countless times before. The air before them shimmered, reality seeming to fold in on itself, and then the silver-white portal tore into existence. It swirled with dimensional energy, stable and waiting.

Loriel's eyes went completely wide, her mouth falling open in shock. He can create portals?! Actual portals?! I didn't even know that was possible! Is this what Holy Son level power looks like?!

"Let's go," Seraphine said simply, already stepping toward the swirling gateway without hesitation. She'd been through this portal dozens of times now, comfortable with the transition between dimensions.

Loriel hesitated for just a heartbeat, staring at the impossible gateway before her. But she trusted Leon—trusted him more than she trusted her own understanding of what was possible. She followed Seraphine through, and the portal swallowed them both.

The moment they were inside, Leon collapsed the gateway. The silver-white energy imploded soundlessly, leaving no trace that it had ever existed.

And Leon didn't wait even a second longer.

He pulled the Cloak of Mild Invisibility from his inventory and threw it over his shoulders, activating its enchantment immediately. The artifact's magic settled around him, bending light and perception to make him harder to see.

But Leon didn't stop there. The cloak alone wasn't enough—not against Journeyman rank opponents who'd been trained to watch for infiltrators. His illusion affinity activated, layering additional distortions over the cloak's existing effect. Light bent around him more completely now, his form blending seamlessly with the environment until he appeared as nothing more than a slight shimmer in the air that could easily be mistaken for heat haze.

I could have used illusion on all three of us and walked through together, Leon thought as he began moving toward the gate. But I haven't tested how well my illusions hold up against Journeyman rank perception. No point taking unnecessary risks.

As he moved, he engaged more of his abilities. Wind affinity activated subtly, ensuring the air around him didn't shift in noticeable ways. Even the most minor disturbance could alert trained guards. And ice affinity kept his body temperature regulated—infrared detection wasn't common in this world, but thermal differences in the air could still be sensed by skilled awakeners.

Every detail controlled. Every variable accounted for.

Leon approached the checkpoint with measured confidence. His eyes tracked guard positions, rotation patterns, and blind spots in their coverage. Not that he needed blind spots—his concealment was working perfectly.

As he drew closer, not a single guard glanced in his direction. Their eyes passed right over his position multiple times, seeing nothing but empty air and a stone pathway.

Good. It's working even better than expected.

Leon positioned himself near the guard who was checking documentation from incoming travelers. Not too close—within five meters would risk detection even through his illusions—but close enough to observe clearly.

Bronze metal cards. That's what everyone was presenting. Each card had information inscribed on its surface about the holder's name, profession, rank, and home city. On the reverse side, a spiral square symbol marked them as official identification. The guards examined each card briefly, sometimes asking a question or two, before waving people through.

Identification system. Standardized. I'll need to remember that design if we want to forge documents later.

But Leon also noticed something else. The clothing. Almost everyone wore practical outfits—light armor over simple tunics and pants, designed for movement and utility. Nothing ornate. Nothing flashy.

Leon glanced down at his own outfit. Aristocratic design. Expensive fabric. Clearly tailored by someone with refined taste—Seraphine had picked these clothes for him, wanting her man to look distinguished.

This will stand out like a beacon the moment the illusion drops. I need to change.

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