While Ophiuchus was poor, Peace was in a relatively good area, so the people and buildings didn't entirely reflect that notion.
In fact, Peace in the tattered cloak and what could only be described as rags stuck out like a sore thumb. He was often the subject of stares and people's conscious avoidance.
Speaking of the people…
As Peace shuffeled along, he couldn't help but notice that, while the majority of the people around were humans, he had seen a being of every race except his own. He'd seen beastmen and beastwomen, dwarves, gnomes, barbarians, and even lizard people. And, well, he'd seen an elf, but it was a single Day Elf, not a Night Elf.
Even then, the Day Elf seemed to be hiding herself as if she'd face some sort of ridicule if her identity were exposed.
In any case, Peace had successfully navigated around Ophiuchus and ended up at the storefront of a weapon shop.
Peace lurched forward, then pried open the door and slipped inside, only to find the clerk at the front face-first with a trail of drool escaping from his lips.
Peace slowly opened his mouth to speak, then stopped.
'C-can I speak their language? Will I get found out if I speak?!'
Peace breathed in heavily and then looked around the empty shop, vacant of any other customer, weapons lined along the walls and sitting in barrels.
Peace gathered his courage and spoke slowly, but with a strange authority.
"Excuse me…"
A moment later, the man jolted up and began to rub the back of his eyelids.
"Ehwah?"
Peace feared for the worst, but he knew there was no going back. And, somehow, he also knew the words coming out of his mouth were not his native language… no, they'd been formed into different sounds and made to convey his meaning.
"Hello?"
The groggy man yawned, then slowly opened his eyes.
"Ye— Argghhh!"
The man fell back off his stool and disappeared behind the counter with a crash.
'Uhh…'
A couple more crashes were heard behind the counter before the man reappeared with a crude sword in hand, pointed at Peace.
"Get back, you foul fiend!"
'What's going on?!'
Peace stepped back while the man inched the sword forward and screamed:
"I was there three years ago! I know what you are!"
Peace raised both his hands and presented his palms.
"Sir, what are you talking about?"
The man, scared out of his mind, shook while slowly shuffling toward the door.
"Don't play dumb! I see your red eyes and white hair! You're a remnant of the Night Parade! I don't know how u escaped capture for three years, but I know you're corrupted trash!"
'Night Parade? Three years ago?'
Peace delved into all the knowledge of the Immortal Citadel he knew, yet nothing floated to the top of his mind.
Was this how he was going to die? Was he going to be mistaken for some monster? Was it even a mistake? He did wake up in the body of a beast after all. Had he somehow traversed the Corrupted Lands and taken the body of a Night Elf and just lost those memories? Was he truly a monster who housed itself in a Night Elf's body?
Then his status screen would be different, no? However, it stated nearly the same thing it had previously.
Questions beget questions
'Nothing is making sense!'
Peace looked to his left and stared into the flat side of a polished steel sword, probably the highest quality weapon in here. He saw his reflection for the first time.
Indeed, just as the man said, he had red eyes, which were heavily accentuated by his dark skin, making them stand out even more. Then, he also had silvery-white hair that swept back and fell just above his shoulders.
But, he also took note of all the minor cuts that littered his face that he hadn't noticed before.
The man thrust open the door and begged Peace's attention. Then, he looked out and screamed.
"Help! Help! One of the demons has returned!"
In an instant, a cascade of screams filled the streets as three guards in full knight attire quickly rushed into the shop and surrounded Peace.
'I'm so dead…'
Peace, still with his raised hands, gave a pleading look to the guards who stared at him with expressionless eyes that peered through the grated helmets.
One of the guards slowly muttered.
"It is one…"
That particular guard was shaking while brandishing his sleek sword and facing off against the defenseless Night Elf.
'Something! Anything!'
Peace needed to think, he needed to think! Why were these people afraid of him? Why was his appearance something to be scared of?
Peace had often made his characters Night Elves; they were his favorite to play, but… in the character customization screen, was there an option for red eyes? No, no, there wasn't. And, you could only give your character white hair if they were older. And, even though he was in the body of an elf, he could tell he wasn't old by any means.
Peace shielded his eyes and fell back on his ass as one of the knights began to bring his sword down on him.
"Wait!"
The knight all of a sudden halted his attack and stared at Peace. Then, he flipped up the visor of his helmet and revealed an intensely confused expression.
"Huh? You… what are you?"
The knight lowered his sword and looked back at the terrified shop owner who cowered in the corner.
"I don't think this… Actually, I don't know what this is… It's not one of the corrupted, I think? We should bring it in for questioning."
Peace shook a little, then fought his nerves. He wanted to ask a plethora of questions, but he knew asking the wrong one might lead to his death. If he was seen lacking common knowledge he'd be labeled a Jinn and executed. So, all he could declare was…
"I'm not a remnant of the Night Parade."
While he had no idea what the Night Parade was, there was obviously some tie from his appearance to them.
The guard with the visor flipped up, who appeared to be the leader of the trio, sheathed his sword, and easily lifted Peace by the arm.
"The inspector will be the judge of that... You're coming with us."