Leo stood before the navigation terminal in his expanded viewing room. The crude blue screen of his novice days was gone. A pillar of solid silver inscribed with glowing golden runes replaced the old interface. Jasmine stood beside him in her practical leather armor.
"Are you certain we should enter the marketplace without an escort?" Jasmine asked. She adjusted the strap of her runic javelin. "Captain Alden can assemble a squad of heavy infantry in five minutes."
"A squad of mortal soldiers will only draw unwanted attention," Leo replied. He pressed his palm against the silver pillar. "We need to understand the new economy before we announce our military presence."
The spatial tear ripped open in the center of the marble hall. It did not glow with the basic blue light of the tutorial z
