ã€ŠNEMO: Into the Depthsã€‹


 Prologue

    He held up the lifeless head by its smouldering hair, fresh blood pouring out of the cleanly cut neck stump, curdling as it fell to his feet.

    It was done. He had lost control for a second, but it was done.

    Fire raged around him, crackling furiously, trying to warn him about the danger it carried. As the rain continued to fall through the breached bunker ceiling, laying it bare to the town that was at its mercy for so long, putting up a feeble attempt to quench the inferno. The scent of devastation lingered¡ªa nauseating blend of melting flesh and stone, and boiling blood.

    His eyes remained fixed on the charred remains of the man who had inflicted so much pain upon him. The once menacing face was now obscured by burnt skin that formed the imprint of a hand. He let go of the severed head, watching it plummet to the ground, to rest with its body. Its shredded clothing revealed a chest adorned with scars reminiscent of lightning strikes. Limbs were missing, blood trickling from the remnants of muscles and nerves clinging desperately onto the ripped-apart shoulders and knees.

    His mind played back the moment he had fulfilled his revenge, trying to get him to relish the sensation, but his mind was stuck to the moments that preceded it, when he had carved through the horde of people standing in his way. The storm above mirrored the turmoil within him, a turbulent clash of regret, sorrow, and the bitter taste of revenge fulfilled. But unlike the storm, it ceased with a simple thought. He was tired.

    Ready to stop fighting?

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    The voice within him asked, and he answered by raising his sword, the blood-soaked blade pointing backwards till it hovered above his heart.

    Do it, you coward, release me from this prison.

    The voice screamed out. And for once he was happy to comply.

    Yet, the sound of shifting rubble interrupted the moment. There was still someone alive. Unacceptable. Alexander posed his sword upright and advanced toward the source, tendrils of shadows lifting the debris from his path. The sound came again, enough for him to pinpoint the source, and the rage that had guided him this far found some kindling in himself to blaze again. The shadows went to work, destroying and sweeping aside any rubble in his way, till he was standing above a rock blocking a trapdoor from opening up. An escape tunnel. Lightning hummed through his blade as a hand made of umbra removed it.

    The trapdoor swung upwards, smoke blocking his view of the coughing figure that stumbled out. He pointed the tip towards its head, about to stab it, when the smoke cleared. He stopped, the sight sending a shock that paralysed him.

    It was a girl, no older than fifteen, an outlandish sight in the den of criminals. His mind tried to make up excuses why she would be there, none of them were good. She was injured, quite heavily, the cuts and bruises on her soot-covered skin were old, but a piece of wood had embedded itself in her stomach.

    ¡°Please¡­¡± Her voice trembled as she spat and coughed out blood whilst she stammered, ¡°There are more¡­ my brother¡­ and the rest¡­¡± Each word seemed to tear at her fragile frame.

    In that moment, he did not know why, and would never know why, but something in Alexander¡¯s tired sinking mind overwhelmed the rest. ¡°Where?¡±

 Chapter 1: Planned to Perfection

    The last rays of the setting sun hit the tips of the castle towers. A rarity that age had left behind, especially in the Kingdom of Luminae, a remnant of when it was once divided between the old guard and the new. Alexander patiently waited, his outstretched hand poised to catch the final touch of sunlight, wriggling under the warmth of the setting sun. Perched on the rooftop of a nearby bakery, he observed the imposing walls of the castle, about twenty metres tall, but age had not been nice to it. Some bricks were jutting out, and his eyes worked to carve a path to the top.

    Getting up to his feet, he walked towards the edge right before the wall, peering down at the moat encircling the fortress. He could jump ten metres with some amount of effort, but twelve metres was a significant span to cover, thankfully there was a crocodile occupied body of water to break his fall. Alexander took a deep breath, moving back a few steps away from the edge, and took out a spare knife. Jumping on the balls of his feet, he psyched himself up before he launched himself forward, sprinting towards the edge and leaping at the very last moment.

    Sailing through the air, his legs bracing themselves for impact. With a muffled thud, he landed on the wall, his hand gripping onto a protruding brick, his knife sliding into a crack in the stone. Pain reverberated through his bones, but he continued onwards, jabbing the knife into the smallest crack he could find, securing it in order to use it as a platform. He jumped from it, hands clasping onto holdways worn into the rock, making his way surely to the top, keeping any further daring to a minimum. The climb was uneventful, till he was just about to reach the walkway above, when the metallic crunching of armour reached his ears, becoming louder with each passing second.

    He peered through an arrow slit, spotting a guard in shiny iron armour jogging towards him. The darkness of the dusk allowed him to readjust his grip to the surface, his hand wrapping around his dagger, ready to strike at a moment¡¯s notice. Judging by his armour, the new guard had been hired for extra protection for tomorrow¡¯s procession. Meaning it would be a bit harder to get into the castle, but it also presented him with an excellent opportunity, and some things to think about that night. As the sound faded away, carried only by the wind, Alexander could finally set foot on solid ground once again, his eyes tracing the guard towards a tower a few ways up the catwalk.

    Silently, he trailed the guard as the sky transitioned into a mesmerising mix of orange and purple. Arriving, he saw the guard struggling to move a crate, by the sounds of which had to be filled with something metal-y and sharp. Alexander silently walked up behind the crouching guard, his right hand crackling with purple lighting, collecting on the surface of his skin, waiting for the right moment.

    The guard heard the slight hiss, turning around in a feverous panic, his hand already reaching for his sword. But before he had a chance to unsheathe it, he found Alexander¡¯s hand on his mouth, the electricity collecting within his aggressor flowing completely into his body, overwhelming his senses. His body convulsed for a bit, his screams muffled, but the pain only lasted for twenty seconds, and the guard slumped to the ground unconscious. It had taken longer than usual, but damage on the armour could not be afforded.

    Alexander dragged the guard into the darkest corner he could find, with a flick of his hand even darker tendrils covering up the sight. Within moments, he left the tower adorning the sparkling armour above his usual clothes, unsurprisingly very loose over his muscles. He put on the helmet as he sprinted down the tower¡¯s spiral stairs, snatching a loose torch to light the way in the dark.

    He had learned the layout of the castle grounds when he had visited the city a few years ago, during a quite vivid stint in a wandering circus that was on a heist spree. The knowledge allowed him to easily avoid most of the patrols, and when he encountered a stray guard, he just stammered out some words till they left him alone, delaying him only by seconds as he made his way towards the ¡®garden¡¯. It took about five minutes, till he stood in front of the entrance.

    The belittling designation of ¡°garden¡± failed to capture the true essence of the wilds that he had to venture into. It was a meticulously tended woodland, the size rivalling the castle it was a part of, cared for by the Earl¡¯s family for over a century, and now a tool in order for him to do what he had to.

    So far, so good, but luck has never been your ally

    The entrance to the forest was marked by two ash-white trees whose branches dropped down to form an arch. Veins of blue coursed through their bark, sparkling under the light of his torch, matching the rhythm of the stars above. As Alexander crossed the threshold, entering their domain, the leaves above seemed to bow in welcome. The towering trees whirred past him as his feet carved a path through the natural labyrinth, turning on a dime, following what he had learned. It would¡¯ve confused anyone who wandered into the garden, but Alexander just ran, his mind sure of the track to the forest¡¯s heart. In a few short minutes, he saw his goal, a thicket of Firewood trees.

    The person who first discovered a Firewood tree was not lauded for their creativity. They had dark brown bark, with fire-red leaves that made him reminisce about the sun, and even this far from them, he could see the slight shine of the inflammable, translucent sap that flowed within. The trees themselves bore a fruit that consisted mostly of water, but it did not help their notoriety for catching fire with a single spark, and that was exactly why he liked them.

    As he walked towards the grove, he winced, knowing the chaos that was about to occur. Kicking off the trunk of the lowest tree in the thicket, his hand snatched a fruit from its branch, crouching beside the roots with the ripe flesh in one hand, the other pulling out a spherical metal device. He twisted the apparatus, popping open the outer layer, revealing a web of machinery inside, with a slumbering infant ifrit, or when of their lesser cousins, at its core. Alexander placed the orb gently on the ground, digging a small hole besides it, burying the fruit within, covering it with moist soil, so that something could survive.

    He held the orb in his hands, pouring his mana slowly into it, causing it to hiss and whir as he ramped up the action, his energy bringing it to life. Worry crept over him, the noises from the orb starting to become more erratic, the metal groaning against the influx, but after a minute of sustained mana infusion, it fell silent, its layers becoming one once again. He again held becoming a perfect sphere, before throwing the orb onto the crown of the thicket, making sure to make enough noise to scare any animals that may have been nesting there. Spinning on his heels, Alexander faced the direction he came from, turned roughly fifteen degrees to the left, and ran.

    Five minutes whizzing past the rainbow bark that made the forest, and he reached the castle grounds once again, facing a newly installed steel fence. The fence posed no issues, even while lugging twenty kilograms of armour, which was quickly removed, as he followed the map he had etched in his mind. He already knew he was towards the rear of the castle, but he had to make sure he didn¡¯t accidentally scale the wrong wall.

    Soon he reached his goal, cracking his knuckles before his fingers wrapped around the bricks that could support his weight. He kept up the ascent till he reached an open window, a warming sight on a day as cold as it could be in the summer, and as he climbed into the castle¡¯s quite expansive attic, he had a moment to think. Plopping down on an old dusty chair in front of him, he was glad to take a breather, pulling out his copper pocket watch to count how long he had to wait. It had only been ten or so minutes since he started, and now he had another twelve to go.

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    As he settled into the chair, he heard some floorboards¡¯ creek, probably a rat or even a rust eater, common in the older cities, but he had to be sure, but his sleep-deprived mind was against the idea. Yet, he focused his attention, concentrating his mana into a singularity beneath his chest, nurturing it, feeding it, before he released a wave, much like the echolocation of a bat. As his mana returned, some as strong as it left, others weaker after bouncing off a variety of things, it allowed him to visualise his area. More importantly, he felt something tall and humanoid to his right, and worse of all, it seemed to be moving towards him. Sighing, Alexander straightened in his chair, crossing one leg over the other, clasping his hands in his lap, and intertwining his fingers.

    As calm as the day he died, the words painted the clearest picture he could afford, ¡°If you¡¯re trying to stab me, I would strongly advise against it.¡±

    <hr>

    Elyza stood over the unconscious guard, contemplating whether to kill him or not, lest her quickly closing window of opportunity ceased to exist. She had tracked the financier slave trade to this town, and this had to be its end. She paced the shed, her mind racing to think of something, hay crunching under her boots. Slipping in with the delivery was the only way she could think of, and the man had complicated things immensely. Fortunately, but not known to her yet, the approaching footsteps made that crucial decision for her. Lifting the guard, armour and all, Elyza plopped him into the crate she had sneaked in, and ran towards the back of the shed.

    She found a hatch to the roof, pulling herself up through it, scanning the Earl¡¯s castle for a way in, and her eyes spotted an open window. Elyza didn¡¯t think why that was, only that it would lead to her slicing the earl¡¯s throat ever so quicker, the thought motivating her to jump into a cluster of bushes which broke her fall. As she tried to get up, another guard ran past her with the unconscious one on their back, and she immediately fell flat to the floor, only standing when she was sure that the coast was clear. Sneaking her way towards the open window, hiding whenever she heard any sound even remotely close to one of a footstep, she pulled out a rope from her pouch as she neared her way in.

    A three-pronged hook was attached to one end of her rope, showing its age, rust creeping through the metal. She let out a slow sigh, her brain busy in calculating the power and angle, spinning the hook in her hand, before tossing it over the castle. When she felt the hook land on the roof, Elyza pulled, waiting for it to catch on something. As soon as it did, scaling the building was relatively easy, almost reaching the window, when she felt the rope become slack for just a second. Scrambling to slip through the window, she managed just before the prongs on the hook gave way, sending the rope tumbling below. Elyza glanced down as she caught her breath, only to see a small rust-eater grab the fallen hook and run, pulling the rope behind it.

    Looking around the attic, most of the stuff she spotted was covered with cobwebs and dirt, having been left and forgotten. She walked around through a maze of crates, trying to find a way down, glancing into the boxes. Some of them held antiques, some were just filled with junk, matching the stale air that was packed with dust, causing her to wheeze lowly with each breath. Finally, she spotted a door. Her hand reached out to grab the door¡¯s handle, but it hesitated, and Elyza didn¡¯t know why. Her revenge would be over if she continued on, yet something, some forgotten part in her mind, stopped her.

    The creak of wood echoed through the attic, shifting Elyza¡¯s attention completely. Walking quietly back toward the open window, she pulled out a throwing knife from her pouch, using the myriads of crates as cover as she got closer to the window. She peeked over a corner, trying to spot what had made the noise, and spotted the emerging moon throwing its light through the window, and in its centre was a figure sitting on a chair.

    Elyza wanted to get closer, but as soon as she put her foot forward, a deafening creak bellowed throughout the attic. Her heart was beating faster than ever as she sank into cover, thankfully not making even more noise. She glanced at the figure once again, distinguishing the silhouette of a mysterious black cloak., they hadn¡¯t seemed to have noticed the noise, just sitting there silently. Approaching again, her movements shrouded in darkness, her knife slowly raising in anticipation, she froze as the silhouette shifted.

    The figure straightened itself, looking in her direction, peering into her eyes as he announced,¡°If you¡¯re trying to stab me, I would strongly advise against it.¡±

    Elyza stopped dead in her tracks. The voice sounded crisp and clear, they were sure of where she stood, but she did not answer, instead studying him intently. She could guess that the figure was a man, and that he was at the younger side, but his voice revealed decades of experience. He noticed that she had stopped, getting up with both hands in the air, showing that he was unarmed.

    ¡°Since you haven¡¯t stabbed me, yet, I¡¯m going to guess you¡¯re still thinking what to do next,¡± he said, speaking softly. He approached Elyza with hands still held above his head, adding as he presented one to her, ¡°May I propose we try to talk things out,¡±

    Elyza''s mind faltered, the rational part of her mind telling her to stab him, however her gut wanted to hear him out. His hand dangled in the air for a few more seconds, before he withdrew it, sitting back on the chair, remarking, ¡°Suspicion or bafflement at my behaviour, either is understandable.¡±

    The figure crossed his legs, ¡°My name¡¯s Alex, and I¡¯m an assassin. Now, your turn,¡± he proclaimed, waiting for a response. Elyza¡¯s knife lowered, still ready to strike, yet now she was interested in the conversation with a man who had easily revealed what many would think of as their darkest secret.

    Alex continued talking, ¡°I¡¯m willing to bet the world on the fact that we¡¯re both here to do the same thing. But I¡¯m sure we have different reasons to¡­ confront him¡± pausing for effect, ¡°Mine is the job, but yours¡­ Yours is¡­ revenge, right?¡±

    Her mind went into panic mode, trying to think of ways he could possibly have known. He must have met her before, but she would¡¯ve remembered him. Her face betrayed her thoughts, as a smug grin spread over Alex¡¯s face.

    She spoke with feigned flatness, ¡°How¡¯d you -¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I can¡¯t read minds, as far as I know. Your ears are also visible through your hood. And I''ve heard enough rumours about the Earl¡¯s opinions about non-humans to know what horrors he must¡¯ve made you suffer, directly or indirectly,¡± He exclaimed, his voice full of faux care.

    Elyza cleared her head, taking in a deep breath before responding, ¡°Then you know what I must do, so if you try to give me a speech about how ¡®revenge is bad¡¯ or some other philosophical bullshit.¡±

    ¡°Oh please,¡± Alex chuckled, ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me. I know some of us won¡¯t be able to rest till we finish the job,¡± approaching her, ¡°So, how about I help you reach him quietly, and then, if you feel like it,¡± extending his hand once again, ¡°You hear what I have to say.¡±

    Elyza thought about it for a moment, the deal sounded too good to be true, but as far as she could tell there wasn¡¯t a shred of dishonesty in his words. She didn¡¯t want to trust a human, but the burning desire for revenge within her heart ultimately overshadowed her cautious instincts as she took his hand and shook it.

    It caused the man to smile softly as he pulled out a pocket watch, remarking, ¡°Great, Now we just have to wait for nine more minutes.¡±

 Chapter 2: Fulfilment

    Alex watched the crescent moon rise as the Elf¡¯s footsteps echoed through the attic, growing more anxious with each passing second. He knew what she was feeling at that moment, being so close to her goal yet having to wait. But Alex had been working on this plan for a week, and nothing could throw a spanner in the works. Not even partnering up with an Elf that he met in the attic of his target¡¯s castle.

    He probably should have been a bit more cautious around someone who had tried to stab him five minutes ago. Confronting a red-haired Elf with penetrating green eyes in the darkness had been unnerving, not to mention the fact that she towered over him by two inches. But something about the Elf convinced Alex not to immediately knock her out. Maybe because he saw potential in her, or that something about her reminded Alex about himself.

    Do this afterwards.

    ¡°Why are we wasting time?¡± the Elf¡¯s impatient voice snapped Alex back to the present.

    ¡°Can¡¯t tell you.¡± Alex replied. Her frustration was evident as she grabbed him by his collar

    ¡°I know that you¡¯re anxious, but there¡¯s no reason to get physical,¡± Alex calmly responded, before slipping out of her grip.

    ¡°I don¡¯t fully trust you, either,¡± He continued, brushing the dust off his clothes, ¡°But you¡¯re right. It¡¯s been long enough, so let¡¯s go kill an Earl.¡± The Elf¡¯s body exuded relief as she started to move towards the door that was at the back of the attic.

    ¡°Not that way,¡± Alex exclaimed, knowing that he was grinning like a maniac as he motioned her to follow him. Alex made his way to the other side of the attic, through the stacks of painting, jewellery, chandeliers, and other antiques, noting anything that seemed stolen or out of place. Soon he reached his destination, with the Elf in tow. Alex could feel her doubts about his sanity as he pressed his back onto a blank wooden wall.

    ¡°What¡¯re you standing there for, come on,¡± motioning her to do the same, which she reluctantly did. ¡°When I say so, push your entire weight on the wall,¡± Alex instructed, and with a tap on the wall, they did exactly that. The wall just stood there, unwilling to move in spite of their efforts, but Alex felt it cave.

    ¡°Move a bit to your right,¡± Alex instructed once again, and the Elf did so hesitantly. And with another tap on the wall, they started to push once again. But this time, a faint mechanical click echoed from behind the wall, and it finally gave way. The faux wall fell, and the Elf stumbled, but Alex quickly grabbed the edge of the passage and her arm, preventing them from falling. He looked back to see the already small chamber that had revealed itself further narrowed into a tiny passage, presumably weaving through the walls of the castle.

    Alex pulled the Elf to her feet, motioning her to follow behind as he squeezed himself into the passage. He considered himself a pretty lean guy, yet Alex had to hug the moss-covered stone walls to move through the escape route. They both shuffled through the passage, the stench of rotten wood wafting through the air, the passage gradually dipping downwards. He followed the passage as it made a left, then a right, and suddenly stopped. The Elf bumped into him, not realising he had stopped. Alex touched the wall in front of him, noticing the familiar feel of lacquered wood. A singular ray of light was illuminating his surroundings, coming from a hole in the wall.

    Alex whispered back to the Elf, ¡°We¡¯re here,¡± signalling her to remain quiet as he checked his watch. It should have started by now. Alex peered through the hole. Just as he was told, the passage connected to the Earl¡¯s study room. His vision was met by a large portrait of the Earl as a young, blonde knight on a horse adorned one wall. But Alex needed only to look to its left to see the facade that the painting was depicting.

    Time had not been good to Reginald Hastings, the Earl of Bakelv. He was sitting on an ornate chair, hunched over the table, furiously scribbling on a piece of paper till satisfaction, shabbily stuffing it into an envelope afterwards and tossing it onto the pile of others. Alex had met the man once before and was just as disgusted by him then as he was now. Suddenly, the door to the room violently swung open as a castle servant rushed in.

    The Earl bellowed at the servant, ¡°WHAT?!¡± without waiting for a response, immediately diving into writing another letter.

    ¡°Sire, the guards are reporting that the Garden has caught on fire, should we send some to handle it.¡± The servant meekly replied.

    The Earl seemed to freeze entirely, muttering something to himself, before barking out, ¡°No. Order the guards to secure the perimeter, and the servants to put out the fire. They actually think they can trick me.¡±

    ¡°Sire, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s wi-¡±

    ¡°GET OUT!¡± the Earl said furiously, launching a paperweight at the rapidly closing door.

    I¡¯ll be damned, it actually worked.

    The Elf must have noticed the giant smile adorning Alex¡¯s face as she pulled Alex back from the peephole, whispering, ¡°What is going on?¡±

    Alex could see the anxiousness on her face, knowing that she was so close to her revenge, but he had a priority. ¡°Promise me you will do exactly what I tell you to.¡±

    The Elf reluctantly nodded her assurance, and Alex whispered, ¡°Whatever happens, you will not kill him till I tell you to,¡± observing her for any sign of opposition.

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    There was a hint of it, her gaze darting towards the door, her face tensing up as if she was about to burst through, but it disappeared as fast as it came. Satisfied, Alex shifted his attention back to the wall, trying to feel for a groove or a notch. His fingers ran over an indent, whose path formed a panel. He carefully pried at the panel with his nails, releasing it out of the socket and uncovering a row of books with their pages facing him. He saw a wire emanating from within a book¡¯s pages. Alex passed the panel to the Elf and gestured her to move back till she was cloaked in darkness. He carefully pushed the book, causing the wall to pop open.

    It only took him a few seconds to get adjusted to the light and when he did, Alex almost lost it when he saw Hastings¡¯ face. But Alex remained poised, walking up to the Earl and quietly took the chair in front of him. Alex waited for the Earl to regain his cognitive abilities, putting his feet on the table.

    Seeing this action, Hastings¡¯ entire face turned red, his lips parting to scream, ¡°G-¡± only to be pre-emptively cut him off by Alex mimicking the Earl¡¯s own penetrating voice, ¡°GUARDS!¡±

    Instead of the sound of well-trained men marching through the halls, the only sound that reached Hastings¡¯ ears was of the wind blowing outside. Knowing that, at the moment, he was at the mercy of the person sitting in front of him.

    Hastings¡¯ sighed, ¡°Who are you and how much to make you go away?¡±

    Alex simply stated, ¡°Sire¡¯s head would be sufficient,¡± staring into his eyes to observe his response. And what a response it was. Gone was the angry pompous little man from before, being replaced with the slimy scum Alex remembered, as he saw panic and terror fill up the Earl¡¯s spineless body.

    ¡°At least that was the plan,¡± Alex remarked, getting up from the chair and moving to inspect the bookshelf where he appeared from, ¡°But someone looking for you changed it at the last moment.¡±

    Hastings¡¯ let out a huge sigh of relief, ¡°The church hired you, didn¡¯t they? Thank Mercury,¡± putting on his shell once again, continuing, ¡°You should learn how to treat your superiors, lest your sharp tongue meet the blade. Honestly, they keep on choosing worse and worse messengers.¡±

    Alex blew the dust off the books, looking back at the Earl, who was now leaning back on his chair. ¡°I volunteered.¡±

    ¡°What? Cease these games and just give me the message.¡± Desperation crept in with his voice.

    ¡°Considering our history, I¡¯m not shocked you don¡¯t remember me. I''m no one compared to you,¡± grinning as he uttered the last word. Alex watched as the gears in Hastings¡¯ brain started to slowly turn.

    ¡°Nemo.¡±

    ¡°See? You¡¯re not as dumb as people say. They thought you should know that someone will attempt to murder you today.¡±

    Hastings remained silent, so much so that Alex thought he had accidentally killed him due to shock. He pushed against the bookshelf, checking to see its sturdiness as he waited for his response.

    ¡°How much did they pay you?¡± Hastings uttered. He was failing to keep his composure.

    Alex replied,¡°I¡¯m not allowed to say, and my contract doesn''t involve assassination.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll triple it,¡± Hastings responded.

    ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m not killing you today.¡±

    ¡°My ears work perfectly. The money¡¯s to hire you as a bodyguard.¡±

    Alex thought about it for a moment. A bit of extra coin never hurt him, ¡°Alright. If you can pay me right now, that is.¡±

    Hastings pointed to his portrait, adding, ¡°The combination is 7-8-9-99. Empty it.¡±

    Alex walked over to the painting, pulling a knife out of the shadows and using it to gut the drawn earl. The canvas parted to reveal a gilded safe embedded into the wall. He rotated the dial to the combination, turning the handle easily. He scanned the contents of the safe, which varied from watches to gems, but only one thing caught his eye. A plain emerald necklace was strewn carelessly among the riches, and it pinged somewhere in his memory.

    The Earl was starting to get impatient, ¡°Is it to your liking or not?¡±

    Alex closed the safe¡¯s door, pocketing the necklace and walking back to the bookshelf, ¡°Yes it is.¡±

    ¡°Good, then help me get out of this city,¡± hastily getting up from his chair, grabbing the envelopes on the table.

    Alex thought for a moment before simply exclaiming ¡°Sorry, I have other plans,¡± pulling the book down to reveal the concealed passage once more, ¡°You can kill him now.¡±

    The gears of the contraption creaked back to life, the sound quickly being followed by the sound of wood breaking on bone.

    The Elf had moved faster than anything Alex had witnessed before. Hastings dropped to the floor, conscious but dazed, blood seeping through his hair. The Elf appeared from darkness, and the look on her face sent a chill down Alex¡¯s spine. It was not one of anger, but something much more calm. She had replayed this moment hundreds of times in her mind, and the Elf walked like she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

    The Elf shoved the table aside, giving Alex a better view of the show. She knelt next to the Earl and started slowly, plunging a knife into Hastings¡¯s huge gut. It would be surprising if it hit anything important, but it had the desired effect. Hastings¡¯ mouth opened to scream, yet nothing came out. The Elf pulled out another, using it to slice both of his Achilles¡¯s tendons, all the while staring into his eyes as they begged for mercy. She stood up, giving the Earl some hope, only to crush it along with his left shoulder with the heel of her boot. She stepped over him as he writhed in pain, and stomped on his other shoulder with an even harsher snap, allowing Hastings¡¯ scream to escape.

    But her demeanour changed as the Earl screamed. Alex recognised the look on her face. Gone was the meticulous behaviour, being replaced with pure anger. The Elf pulled out another knife and used them both to make Hastings¡¯ gut into a pincushion. In and out, the knives went, each time taking with them a piece of the Earl. But slowly the anger faded, as did the thrusts, and Hastings¡¯ screaming stopped.

    The Earl was silenced as his own blood filled up his lung, slowly choking him. But Alex was more interested in the Elf, who was looking at Hastings¡¯s body as it went cold, having finally achieved her revenge. Her anger was replaced, not with happiness or relief but with a look of oblivion. As he watched her, Alex realized why his mind had compelled him to help her.

    Almost like she reminds you of someone.

 Chapter 3: A Perfectly Reasonable Proposal

    As the earl¡¯s life ebbed away before her eyes, Elyza couldn¡¯t help but feel a mixture of emotions swirling within her. The memories of her mother¡¯s radiant smiles contrasted sharply with the grim reality unfolding before her. She had dedicated herself to seeking revenge against the earl, meticulously planning, infiltrating, and positioning herself for this very moment ¨C the moment when justice would finally be served.

    However, now that it was done, Elyza couldn¡¯t shake the emptiness that had settled within her. But a voice stopped these thoughts from turning inwards.

    ¡°Are you okay?¡± Alex¡¯s voice carried a mixture of caution and concern as he cautiously approached Elyza.

    Elyza looked over her shoulder at the man who had said nothing as she, frankly speaking, brutally murdered a man right in front of him. And just as she expected, Alex approached Elyza with a look of concern. Taking her silence as an affirmation, the look quickly switched to one of relief.

    ¡°Good, because I¡¯m not about to lift this body on my own,¡± Alex said, pointing towards the Earl¡¯s body, holding his other hand out to help her get up.

    Elyza grabbed his hand, ¡°We should leave.¡±

    ¡°Not yet,¡± Alex¡¯s voice remained steady as he bent down and grabbed the Earl¡¯s lifeless feet. He motioned Elyza to grab the other side.

    Elyza hesitated, vocalising her confusion, ¡°Why? He is dead. Was that not why you were hired?¡±

    Alex let out a resigned sigh, releasing his hold on the Earl¡¯s feet. He turned towards Elyza, weariness etched on his face. ¡°Look, my plan¡¯s a bit convoluted,¡± he admitted, striding towards a nearby desk and exerting effort to push it back into place. ¡°I don¡¯t want to waste time explaining it all right now.¡±

    ¡°Just follow my lead,¡± Alex added with a final pull, ¡°And we¡¯ll be out without anyone even knowing we were here.¡±

    Right on cue, the room¡¯s door burst open. Within milliseconds, Elyza was ready to lodge a knife in between the interrupter¡¯s eyes. Yet, a firm grip on her wrist arrested her movement. Even more surprising was that the hand belonged to the Earl. The anger she had felt for the man has dissipated, replaced by a perplexing mix of astonishment and confusion at his unexpected survival.

    The butler that had just entered seemed oblivious to the dead body on the floor behind them, as he panted out his words, ¡°Sire, the fire¡­ in the garden¡­ has stopped burning,¡±

    Elyza scanned the room, trying to figure out what was going on. The portrait of the Earl appeared unmarked, the tear vanished, and the bookshelf had returned to its original position. The room revealed no sign of anything that had happened mere moments ago.

    Yet something seemed off. The edges seemed to be slightly blurry around everything. Everything except the person standing in front of her. Elyza looked down at the ground behind her, where the Earl¡¯s lifeless body lay, the blood on his lips slowly drying.

    ¡°I would think it should have, since I told you to do so,¡± the earl commanded in the same voice that had screamed bloody murder a few moments ago.

    ¡°Well, sire, the fire actually stopped on its own, before we even reached the garden,¡± the butler replied.

    ¡°You should be glad that it did,¡± the earl responded, looking aimlessly at the documents on the desk, his mannerism perfectly encapsulating how the man laying below behaved.

    ¡°Of course we are, sire,¡± the butler responded with a bit of relief in his voice, his eyes moving towards Elyza, his mouth opening to ask a question.

    ¡°Do you have children?¡±

    The butler was taken back from the earl¡¯s question, ¡°Yes, sire.¡±

    ¡°Then I suggest you forsake my company, and leave if you wish to see them again,¡± And with that the butler closed the door with a courteous bow.

    As soon as the door closed, the room returned to what it was. But Elyza did not notice it at that moment, her focus on the initiator of the events that lead to her mother¡¯s death. Before she could once again embed a knife in the earl, the earl¡¯s form began to dissolve, transforming into mist and revealing Alex at its core.

    Elyza must have looked baffled at his sudden reveal, as Alex insisted, ¡°You know what? I think you¡¯re right,¡± moving towards the door and locking it, ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here.¡±

    Sheathing her knife, Elyza found herself grappling with the surreal nature of her day. As she opened the window, poised for escape, Alex posed an unexpected question, ¡°Just a quick question, have you eaten anything in the past 6 hours?¡±

    Elyza thought about the eccentric question, knowing not what to do with it, except answer honestly. She shook her head, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Perfect, then this shouldn¡¯t be too much of an issue,¡± Alex¡¯s unsettling grin accompanied his response, as he snapped his fingers.

    Everything seemed to move in slow motion, as shadows erupted from the floor, surrounding Elyza. Her attempt to draw her knife was thwarted by the tendrils that restricted her movements, compelling her downward. Panicked, trying to resist, darkness encompassed her, when suddenly the floor gave away, and into the shadows she went. Yet, a moment later, the shadows started to push her back up, the tendrils relaxing their hold, retreating back. The gloom surrounding Elyza gave way to moonlight, as she faced a brick wall, her hands reaching towards her knives.

    A fleeting moment of tranquillity was shattered by the delayed impact of the events her body had undergone. She felt her stomach curl up, attempting to escape from her mouth. Thankfully, nothing came out, but it did take Elyza a minute or two to catch her breath.

    ¡°You alright?¡± Alex asked gingerly as he leant on the wall.

    Elyza tried to stand straight, barely able to get her words out, ¡°What happened?¡±

    ¡°Basically I teleported?¡± Before pausing as if in thought, ¡°Yeah, teleported us outside the castle, through a dimension of shadows that I, in some manner, have control over, and in doing so, I had to pull you through it, temporarily transforming you into a shadow in the process¡± Alex responded swiftly, as if he had rehearsed this explanation.

    ¡°OK,¡± Elyza replied, still struggling to cope with the rapid change of position, ¡°But why did you warn me beforehand?¡±

    ¡°Would you have believed me?¡± he replied, tossing a small bead at her, ¡°Besides, I wasn¡¯t going to risk a knife in my back.¡±

    Elyza caught the bead, ¡°What is this?¡± examining the sphere wrapped in paper.

    ¡°Medicine I made to help with the motion sickness,¡± Alex said moving towards the exit of the alley they had appeared in, ¡°Pop it in your mouth and suck on it till it¡¯s gone,¡± motioning to follow him.

    While caution might have dictated a more careful approach, Elyza¡¯s desire to escape the relentless nausea overrode her instincts. She unwrapped the green bead and placed it in her mouth without hesitation, a small voice in the back of her mind whispering a warning about poison.

    As the bead touched her tongue, it released a burst of herbal flavours that distracted her mind and eased her queasiness. It tasted remarkably similar to the balm her mother used to make. The taste faded as she followed Alex out of the alleyway.

    Even after sundown, the town was bustling, the moonlight with the help of the light poles illuminating the street. Elyza looked to the left to see Alex holding a door open, motioning her to enter first. There was a sign above him that read ¡®The Flourished Pint¡¯.

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    She recognised the name. It was a famous tavern for travelling adventurers. A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she stepped into the establishment. At the very least, they would be in a public place.

    The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, mingling harmoniously with the scent of beer. Even at this early hour of the night, the tavern seemed abuzz. Alex squeezed past her, lightly tapping her shoulder to follow.

    They walked towards a conspicuously empty table at the corner of the room. As Elyza settled into her seat, the sound of the drunken crowd seemed to drown out. Alex joined her, pushing back his hood to reveal his face, the first time she had seen her collaborator¡¯s face.

    Elyza¡¯s gaze fixated on memorising every single detail about him, should the need arise. He looked tanned, and his jawline was at the same time soft and sharp. His shaggy black hair was slicked back just enough, so they didn¡¯t fall on his black eyes, while his ears peeked from his hair, tapering slightly toward the top, just like hers. What looked like leather armour covered most of his white shirt. He looked like all the stuck up adventures Elyza had encountered during the year, except for his cloak. It was absolutely pitch black, attaching discreetly to his armour, its form almost elusive, rendering it nearly impossible to know what lay beneath.

    ¡°If you¡¯re done, may we move on?¡± Alex quipped, arching an eyebrow, implying that her observation had not gone unnoticed. He placed both his hands on the table, a gesture that prompted Elyza to mirror his stance.

    ¡°Let¡¯s start from the beginning,¡± Alex said grinning, ¡°I¡¯m Alex, an assassin for hire, among other things. I¡¯m half-human, and I may or may not entertain the notion that I''m the most remarkable being to grace this world.¡±

    Elyza sighed, she had made a promise to hear him out, ¡°Elyza. Forest-elf.¡±

    ¡°Well Elyza,¡± He continued, ¡°Why do you want to kill yourself.¡±

    ¡°Well -¡± she started before Alex cut her off, ¡°After you achieved your revenge, after that brief moment of ecstasy at finally doing it, killing the person who caused you so much harm, you felt empty inside. It¡¯s as if all the actions you took, all the sacrifices you made, all the people you cut off, in the end they were all meaningless. Some forms of revenge help you grow into someone new, be it better or worse. But revenge like ours, they just make us feel like everything would be better without us.¡±

    His words resonated deeply within Elyza, capturing the essence of her emotions. Alex¡¯s expression remained unchanged, yet something in his eyes told Elyza that she wasn¡¯t the first to feel like this.

    ¡°And?¡± Her mind was already made.

    ¡°And I don¡¯t want anyone to give into that hopelessness, that emotion is exclusively for me,¡± Alex replied with a touch of sarcasm, ¡°So I want to provide you three options; I leave, leaving you to your course; you hang around with me for a day more, having the best time possible, before you off yourself;¡± pausing to stretch his back, ¡°Or you could work with me, granted after some considerable training.¡±

    Elyza wanted to laugh off the last option, but somehow, be it his words or his idiosyncrasies, he had wormed enough curiosity in her mind to at least hear him out.

    ¡°Why would I want to be an assassin? Killing anyone if given enough money to do so. Having absolutely no morals, the literal scum of the earth.¡± Vocalising her thoughts without any restraints.

    ¡°Harsh,¡± Alex looked surprised at her change of demeanour, ¡°But warranted. Technically, being an ¡®assassin¡¯ is a generalisation of the work I do. It''s better defined as, well, helping people by removing those that plot to harm them. A benevolent yet eccentric rogue.¡±

    ¡°Call it whatever you want, you know what you are,¡± Elyza rebutted.

    ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a form of trust,¡± Alex replied, a chuckle tugging at his lips. ¡°But the world isn¡¯t that black and white, and¡­¡± closing his eyes to think, before letting out a huge sigh.

    ¡°And, it¡¯s easier to show than explain,¡± Alex added, a smile returning to his lips. He gestured discreetly to someone behind Elyza. ¡°How about you remain by my side for another day? Take the time to decide.¡± He trailed off as a barmaid approached their table.

    Elyza knew that he was just trying to distract her, but considering the day she had gone through, she just wanted to drown herself in food and beer.

    She turned towards the barmaid, letting a fake smile crawl across her face, ¡°I want 5 pints of beer and whatever is causing this place to smell so good,¡± pointing towards Alex, ¡°He¡¯ll be paying.¡±

    The barmaid quickly jotted down her order before turning towards Alex, ¡°And for you?¡±

    ¡°Nothing for me, thanks,¡± Alex answered, reaching into his pocket, ¡°Just a quick question? Is Kush still renting rooms?¡±

    The barmaid nodded her assent as Alex to pull out a gold coin, ¡°Great, here¡¯s payment for my companion''s food and lodgings,¡± placing it in the barmaids hand, ¡°And here,¡± Alex added, revealing the other that he was palming, ¡°Is the payment for saving me a table.¡± smiling as he gave it to her.

    The barmaid happily accepted her payment, trying to stifle the smile that had appeared on her face as she walked away to get Elyza¡¯s drinks.

    ¡°Well,¡± Alex said, his tone lighter than before, slouching back into his chair,¡°Questions?¡±

    Elyza didn¡¯t want to talk any more. But she understood that this would be the best opportunity to get the maximum amount of information out of him. There was something about him that was troubling her.

    ¡°Why did,¡± Elyza began, just as the barmaid arrived at the table with her drinks and pie. She placed them in front of Elyza, who paused briefly to acknowledge the service, before turning her attention back to Alex. ¡°Why did he call you Nemo back there?¡±

    Alex, seemingly anticipating the question, didn¡¯t hesitate to respond, ¡°Because that¡¯s how he knows me. It is the name I work under. My actual name was problematic for various reasons, so I chose ¡®Nemo¡¯. Someone told me that it means ¡®no one¡¯, and I thought it would be fitting.¡±

    ¡°You worked for him,¡± Elyza grabbed a pint, downing it in one go, letting its bitter taste temper her mind from anger. She must¡¯ve made a terrifying face, as Alex quickly contended, ¡°Not in killing anyone, I just stole something for the family seven or so years ago.¡±

    Elyza¡¯s eyes narrowed as she probed further, ¡°Is that why you saved me? Because you felt bad that you let him become a monster?¡± as she gulped down another pint of beer.

    ¡°Really?¡± Alex riposted, clearly annoyed at the accusation, ¡°He was a middle-man. I was hired by his wife to steal back a painting. Met them for barely a minute,¡±

    ¡°As for why I helped you,¡± He continued, reaching towards her pie, picking up the knife next to it and starting to spin it between his fingers, ¡°If they allow it, I prefer to not kill every single person I meet. Thankfully for you, it appeared that aligning myself with you would be the optimal way towards my goal. So, I decided to not knock you out. That, and the fact it would be too much work.¡±

    Elyza was torn between her desire to learn more about Alex''s past and her growing curiosity about the proposal he had mentioned earlier. Elyza reached for another glass, making Alex comment, ¡°If you¡¯re planning to drink yourself to death, I would appreciate it if you informed me beforehand. I¡¯d like to save some coin on your accommodations¡± to which she responded by guzzling down the beer.

    ¡°Right,¡± Elyza began as she stifled a burp, ¡°If I choose to work for you, what exactly would that entail?¡±

    ¡°We would technically be working under a guild, but primarily, you¡¯ll be working with me on various assignments. Our clients may range from nobles, churches, kingdoms, and even the organisation itself. It¡¯s not dissimilar to how adventurers choose tasks from request boards. You¡¯ll be assigned a rank, and certain assignments will become available to you based on that rank. However, if you¡¯re tagging along with me, you won¡¯t have to worry about that. I have certain special privileges.¡±

    Elyza probed further, ¡°Such as?¡±

    Alex shot her down instantly. ¡°Can¡¯t tell you until you accept.¡±

    ¡°Fine,¡± Elyza relented, downing her fourth pint. ¡°If I am to be working for a guild, does that mean I have to worship the guild¡¯s deity?¡±

    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡±

    Elyza began to clarify, ¡°You know, like how the Merchant¡¯s Guild worships Hermes, or Njor¡­¡± before Alex¡¯s finger was on her lips, silencing her. He had reached over the table to do so, his eyes darting around in panic before calmly returning to a seated position.

    ¡°What the fuck was that,¡± Elyza exclaimed.

    Alex flashed a sheepish grin. ¡°Ah, well, you see, for some strange reason, whenever any divine beings¡¯ names are mentioned around me, they tend to take notice. And at the moment, I am not on speaking terms with many of them. So, I would appreciate it if you don¡¯t mention any names.¡±

    ¡°You talk as if you¡¯ve met them,¡± Elyza remarked with a stifled grin as she worked on finishing her last pint. She was able to ask a question between sips. ¡°You¡¯ve been mentioning this ¡®training¡¯ of yours for a while now. But you haven¡¯t told me what kind of training I have to undergo.¡±

    ¡°I would love to answer that question,¡± Alex began, before pulling out his pocket watch. ¡°But it seems like my presence is required elsewhere. I suggest you finish your pie, go upstairs, and get some rest. Tomorrow is set to be another eventful day.¡± And with that he dissipated into his own shadow.

    Elyza eagerly dug into the savoury meat and potato pie, savouring every bite., ordering another five pints for dessert. As she downed her tenth glass, her senses became hazy, and the next thing she knew, she found herself standing before a luxurious, inviting bed. The mere sight of which, caused her exhausted body to collapse into the fluffy mattress. She didn¡¯t dream of anything, instead getting a preview of the death she so yearned for.

 Chapter 4: An Accidental Kidnapping

    The day started with a bang. Elyza shot up to her feet, her senses immediately on high alert to face the danger associated with the noise. Despite the grogginess that clung to her, she could make out a projectile hurtling toward her, raising her hands in a bid to intercept it. The object slipped between her arms and hit her squarely in her face. It bounced off her harmlessly, allowing Elyza to catch it in its rebound. It was a small bread roll. She glanced up to see Alex standing nearby, hand over his mouth, attempting to stifle his laughter.

    Alex inhaled deeply, his expression shifting to a somewhat more serious one, ¡°Your clothes looked old and tattered, so I got you some options,¡± he gestured towards a heap of clothes behind him. ¡°Wear them, don¡¯t, it doesn¡¯t really matter much. There¡¯s a bath downstairs if you want to clean up. Just be at the execution on time.¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s an execution this early in the morning?¡± Elyza quizzically asked, still half-asleep.

    ¡°Early?¡± Alex said, pulling apart the blinds of the room¡¯s one singular window. The sunlight flooded Elyza¡¯s temporary lodgings, momentarily blinding her. She held up the bread roll to shield her eyes as they struggled to adapt. Alex continued as he opened the window, ¡°I guess you¡¯ve only been napping for a good thirteen and a half hours.¡±

    He moved towards the door, adding, ¡°Be at the town square in thirty minutes, and make sure to deal with any business you have left. Remember, you¡¯re either dying or coming with me today. I have to prepare for something, so I¡¯ll be on my way.¡± Alex declared as he ducked into the hallway. As she listened to his dampening footsteps, Elyza considered going back to sleep, but instead took a bite of the bread roll and stretched.

    ¡°And try to keep up with the prisoner afterward!,¡± Alex¡¯s voice declared from outside the window.

    She didn¡¯t know who he was talking about, but Elyza¡¯s weary body discouraged her from inquiring further. Even after a single day of hanging out with Alex, she felt as if she had become immune to his eccentricity. She started to sift through the pile of clothes, quickly finding a faded green shirt and paired it with some brown pants. But they fit her surprisingly well.

    Walking out of the building, Elyza¡¯s senses were ambushed. A multitude of smells attacked her nostrils, as the talking, murmuring, and whispering of the river of people overwhelmed her. It seemed like the town had transformed overnight. Stalls flanked the crowded street, many of them selling some kind of food. It seemed as if everyone was moving in the same direction, towards the castle, and considering what Alex had mentioned, must be where she had to be.

    The longer she followed the crowd, the more her stomach growled, the fragrance of the salty and sweet pastries making Elyza salivate. Till one stall made her stop. It was selling some kind of rolled up pastry with what looked like a slice of cheese on top. She concluded, with this most likely being her last day, there was no reason for her not to gorge herself. But the main problem was that she was dirt poor.

    Rummaging through her fanny pack, she heard a faint jingle of coins. Reaching into her pants¡¯ padded pocket, she pulled out five silver coins. Elyza reminded herself to thank Alex, as she handed one coin to the seller, getting four of the rolls in return. She had expected them to be savoury, but the soft, slightly peppery dough combined with the surprisingly sweet cheese made them utterly irresistible and ensured that they were demolished within minutes. Elyza made it a point to visit every food stall she passed on her way to the execution site.

    The crowd thickened as Elyza approached the Square. She easily peered over the sea of people and saw a guillotine at its centre. It had been set up on a wooden stage, looking ominous against the backdrop of the towering castle. Her ears perked up as they recognised the clatter of hooves growing louder. Elyza turned around to see a carriage being escorted by an entire regiment make its way through the street. The crowd started to pull Elyza aside, parting to form a path for the ten or so cavalry. The carriage they were escorted looked more like a coffin on wheels. The only opening was at the back of the carriage, a small barred hole in the reinforced door

    The guards quickly established a perimeter around the stage, their presence pushing the crowd backwards. One of the horsemen gave some sort of signal that prompted the coachmen to respond with two resounding thumps on the carriage.

    With a creaking groan, the door of the wagon swung open, revealing three fully armoured guards. Among them, one knight held a firm grip on the prisoner, who, in their plain attire and with a wooden rack obscuring their face, didn¡¯t look worthy of the forces that surrounded them. Forced onto the stage, the prisoner¡¯s head was placed onto the stock, and with a motion, the executioner locked it in place.

    Soon enough, the drawbridge of the castle lowered, and a regiment of guards emerged, marching toward the square. Elyza¡¯s keen eyes noted that among them was a paladin, distinguishable by the intricately crafted armour that adorned their form. As the knight took centre stage, the murmurs of the crowd dwindled to whispers.

    ¡°We have gathered the good people of B?kelv here today to witness the execution of Liliana Hastings,¡± the paladin declared with a commanding presence. ¡°She stands accused of leading a group that conspired against the temple of Juno and interfered with the personal affairs of the Earl.¡±

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    The gleaming blade of the guillotine rose ominously, as the paladin turned towards the prisoner, ¡°Confess your sins, or carry them into the Fields.¡±

    ¡°HALT THE EXECUTION!¡± a guard came charging from the castle gates, his urgency evident in every stride as he pushed through the crowd. The entire regiment around the execution formed a wall between him and the stage. The paladin addressed the interrupter in an annoyed tone, ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡±

    The guard, gasping for breath, hastily explained, ¡°Captain, I have urgent news from the Countess.¡± With a swift nod from the knight, the guard was allowed to pass. The guard wasted no time climbing up the stage, his eyes briefly locking with Elyza¡¯s. She didn¡¯t need to hear their hushed conversation to know what news the guard carried. The paladin¡¯s demeanour quickly changed, ordering the executioner, ¡°Get her back into her restraints,¡± As the executioner unclasped the prisoner¡¯s head, groans emanated from the crowd. But those groans were soon drowned out by piercing screams as an arrow hit the guard with such force that he tumbled off the stage.

    The entire square erupted into panic, with people desperately trying to flee the chaos. The paladin fought to regain control of the situation, barking orders to his regiment, ¡°Cavalry! Spread out and find that archer. You three!¡± He pointed towards the waiting knights, ¡°Get her back to the dungeon and take that guard with you. The rest of you, control the crowd!¡± The knights wasted no time in following their orders, swiftly grabbing the wounded guard and the bewildered prisoner, then barricading themselves inside the carriage. With a flick of his reins, the coachman sped towards the city¡¯s gate, stopping for no-one as it cut through the frantic crowd.

    Elyza understood why Alex had said to try to keep up. Amidst the chaos, with people stumbling over one another, there seemed to be absolutely no way through the crowd. The chaos of the Square had seeped into the horses, their riders struggling to keep them calm. One such horse was refusing to move, and that meant an opportunity. Elyza quickly made her way towards that horse, deeper into the Square, finding it easier to fight against the flow of people. She pushed her way towards the back of the skittish animal, making sure to keep out of view of the horseman. And with one slap, the horse panicked, rearing up suddenly, much to the surprise of its jockey. As the rider tumbled, Elyza quickly moved to grab on to its saddle before it dashed off.

    Trying to get onto a panicked horse is hard enough, trying to do so while it weaves through a street packed with people may be the hardest thing Elyza had ever tried to do. With a superhuman effort, she hoisted herself onto the saddle just in the nick of time, and kicked the horse behind the stomach, narrowly leaping over a stall.

    She tried to keep control of the terrified horse as she galloped through the street, the images of the stalls and the voices of the people blurred together, nearing the carriage with each second. The sensation was electrifying, and Elyza could feel her adrenaline surging. As they approached the city gate, the carriage came into sharper focus under the shade canopy of the flanking trees.

    The carriage was still booking it, yet Elyza was catching up to them fairly easily. She started to slow the horse down, recognising that, even with her adrenaline-fuelled mind, trailing them silently would be the best option for now. The two parties continued venturing deeper into the forest road, before the carriage suddenly swerved down a long overgrown forest path. The horse came to an abrupt halt at the crossroads, refusing to take another step. Elyza tried to coax it forward, but it wouldn¡¯t budge.

    ¡°Alright,¡± Elyza sighed, dismounting from the horse. She decided that it would be easier to chase the carriage on foot than to argue with the creature. She feared that she might have lost their trail by now, but only a few minutes had passed when she spotted the carriage parked on the side of the path. Elyza approached the carriage cautiously, as its coachman was tentatively approaching the bolted door, silver fumes leaking from its barred hole.

    The coachman unlocked the door, his hand gripping his sword¡¯s hilt tightly. He was about to open the door, but Elyza¡¯s next step landed on a twig, causing it to snap. The coachmen turned around at the same time as the door swung open. Two hands emerged from the dust-filled carriage and dragged the coachmen behind them. Elyza expected to hear him scream, but only the slight rustle of leaves reached her ears. Elyza took out her blades, ready to face whoever stepped out of the carriage. She did not imagine that person to be the wounded guard, a hand covering his mouth and nose while the other balanced the prisoner on his shoulder.

    The guard gave her a thumbs up, ¡°Thanks for the assist.¡±

    ¡°So it was you.¡± Elyza¡¯s hunch confirmed, she sheathed her blades, the silver mist inside the carriage starting to dissipate, along with Alex¡¯s disguise. The only thing that could¡¯ve hinted that he was the same person was the armour that remained.

    Alex set down the prisoner, removing the bag over her head, before picking her restraints. Elyza peered into the carriage, and saw the limp bodies that it contained, ¡°Did you kill them?¡± She asked

    ¡°No, they¡¯re just sleeping,¡± Alex answered, removing the armour he adorned. Elyza gave him such a look of scepticism, that he clarified, ¡°I know that I¡¯m sarcastic to a fault, but they actually are just sleeping. I drugged them.¡±

    ¡°And the girl, you were supposed to kidnap her?¡± Elyza said as she went to work unstrapping the horses from the carriage.

    Alex thought for a while as he removed his greaves, ¡°Huh, I guess she would consider this a kidnapping,¡± waving the thought aside, he added, ¡°Whatever,¡± and lifted the girl on his back, ¡°Are you done?¡±

    ¡°Yes. There is another horse at the crossroad. We could take it.¡±

    ¡°First, answer me truthfully,¡± Alex declared gravely, ¡°Have you eaten anything in the past six hours?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t -¡± were the only words Elyza was able to get out before shadows surrounded her once again.

 Chapter 5: Never give a Fork

    People always seemed to fare better the second time around, at least according to Alex¡¯s theory. Not many of his friends were willing to do it again. So when they emerged out of the shadows, Alex wanted to see Elyza¡¯s reaction. And his theory was right. Instead of retching up her breakfast, she only seemed a bit disoriented, her forest green eyes momentarily unfocused.

    She continued on with her sentence, ¡°-you dare do that again.¡± before sitting down on the ground to regain herself. Alex gently set down the girl on the bed behind Elyza before helping her up.

    Elyza questioned him, ¡°Where are we?¡±

    Alex responded instantly, ¡°A safehouse.¡±

    ¡°Okay,¡± Elyza, still sounding a bit sceptical, ¡°And what are you supposed to do after you ¡®rescued¡¯ the prisoner.¡±

    ¡°First, you¡¯re going to help me catch some fish.¡± Alex replied, dragging her outside the shack. The sun hung high in the sky, the river Fabru lazily flowing through the glade, its pristine water almost clear as air. Stopping at the river bank, Alex reached into his shadow, as Elyza wondered what he was doing. His fingers rummaged around in the dimension, trying to remember where he had stored them. After a while, he felt two wooden sticks wrapped together.

    Alex asked Elyza,¡°You¡¯ve fished before, yes?¡± who nodded in affirmation. Alex grinned as he pulled out the two fishing rods, handing one of them to her, ¡°Good, because it''s been a long time since I have,¡± plopping himself onto the soft grass.

    He motioned her to follow his lead, as he cast his wire into the river, the ripples disturbing the many beings roaming around the bed. Elyza remained standing as she cast her line as well.

    ¡°Why are you doing this?¡± she asked, her tone a blend of curiosity and intrigue.

    ¡°Fishin?¡± Alex replied in a tone equalling hers, manufacturing a fishing hat out of shadows and placed it on his head.

    ¡°Waiting.¡± Elyza replied exasperated, as she tried to reel in some sort of eel, ¡°Who even hired you? Who wants to kill the earl and rescue his niece.¡±

    ¡°I could tell you, if, let''s just say, you were my partner. But since you are unequivocally not, and since my client is someone of a ¡®higher¡¯ social status, I can only divulge that they¡¯ve chosen to delay their arrival to ensure they aren¡¯t tailed and to eliminate any suspicion,¡± Alex rattled off, as he waited for a bite.

    Conversation seemingly ended afterwards, both of them enjoying the tranquillity of the river. The critters in the water seemed to steer clear of Alex¡¯s hook, avoiding it as if it were the plague, though his companion¡¯s bait had been far more enticing to them. But with each passing minute of stillness, Alex¡¯s mind yearned for something more, his body mirroring its protests. Though he had gotten used to the feeling, it didn¡¯t stop him from loathing it.

    Thankfully, his companion seemed to be of the curious sort. After her fifth failed attempt to land some dinner, she bluntly asked, ¡°Are you an elf?¡±

    Alex was astonished at her accurate deduction. If one were to place him next to his mother¡¯s relatives, they would have never arrived at such a conclusion. The only visual hint of his elven heritage was his slightly pointed ears. But heritage not being a touchy topic, he replied with a smile, ¡°Yes. Half of one in fact. I do believe that is something we both share common ground on.¡±

    Elyza didn¡¯t respond immediately, possibly contemplating if she should tell the truth, ¡°What gave it away?¡±

    Alex proceeded cautiously, ¡°Other than your hair being an unusual red for a forest elf, mostly just a gut feeling. That and the fact that you aren¡¯t wearing any sort of clan insignia,¡± he explained as he reeled in his line. Alex stored his rod and stood up in the same motion, deciding that it wasn¡¯t his day,¡°Some of them can be a bit¡­ too traditional.¡±

    Elyza nodded in agreement. ¡°Is this all you do?¡± she inquired, her tone reflecting her previous question. ¡°I thought you were supposed to be some sort of¡­¡± trying to find the right word,

    ¡°Altruistic?¡±

    ¡°¡®Altruistic assassin.¡¯ It seems to me that most of your time is spent loafing around."

    Alex simply smiled as he reached towards the ground, ¡°For jobs such as this, patience is a necessary vice. Not every single one of my days are spent overthrowing kingdoms, fighting monsters, or cleaning up idiots.¡± Tendrils appeared from his shadows, carrying with them his bow, and a singular arrow. Grabbing both, he continued, ¡°It is not as if I wait around for someone to ask for help. Most of my time is spent investigating strange phenomena and ensuring they aren¡¯t connected to something sinister. And if they are, I do what is necessary to stop them from coming to fruition. Along the way, I try to help as many people as I can, because why not, I¡¯m already here, aren¡¯t I?¡±

    Elyza attempted to interject, but Alex carried on, ¡°The reason I was visiting that city over there,¡± pointing towards the direction of Bakelv, ¡°Was because of a rumour that a growing slave trade, led by its earl, had connections to a disconcertingly big religious organization. I got sent here to confirm the rumour, and while I was planning his death, my client contacted me.¡± He drew his bow, aiming at the river, and waited, ¡°I hope that answers your question?¡±

    Elyza went quiet for a moment, before abruptly commenting, ¡°You love to hear your own voice, don¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t?¡± Alex said, letting the arrow fly. It pierced the water without a splash, striking an over curious fish investigating Elyza¡¯s hook. He quickly waded into the river, wanting to reach the fish lest another reach it before him. Pinned to the river bed, the arrow had gone straight through the forelle¡¯s eye. Alex removed the arrow, a grin etched across his face as he presented the catch to Elyza.

    ¡°Nice shot.¡± She commented as Alex made his way back to the riverbank. In his hand, he assessed the weight of the fish, deeming it more than enough to feed the three of them. With a nonchalant toss, he returned his bow and arrow to the depths of his shadow. In return, tentacles carrying logs emerged, placing them in a shape similar to a log cabin till it reached two feet in height. And now came the part that Alex dreaded. He closed his eyes for a moment, preparing himself for the ordeal to come.

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you know how to gut a fish?¡± he asked Elyza, to which she replied with a single nod. ¡°Good.¡± He said, tossing the trout to her, ¡°This may take some time.¡± His focus had shifted on to his greatest challenge ¨C Creating a flame.

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    Alex sat down next to the unlit campfire, uncertainty gnawing at his mind. Today could be another day where he failed, but he still wanted to try. Cupping his hands together, he focused his mana into them, like countless times before. Sparks erupted from his palms, congregating into a ball of electricity in the centre of the two. Gradually slowing the flow of mana caused it to dissipate safely. This outcome was expected, but it wasn¡¯t what he was working towards.

    Alex calmed himself for another attempt, this time trying to call upon something else. Manipulating lightning was natural to him for as long as he could remember. However, recent events had led him to question the limits of his elemental affinity. Calling upon fire strained his body and mind, but he dismissed the feeling as soon as he felt a familiar tug. This was the moment where his attempts before had fallen flat. But he kept a hold onto that latent power, trying to drag it out. Alex¡¯s heart skipped a beat as he started to smell smoke, struggling to remain calm as he opened his eyes. And what he saw was¡­

    That his fingers were slightly smoking. No fire, no flames, not even a burn mark. Frustration took over Alex, having gotten so close this time. His emotions boiled over to anger, slamming into the ground as hard as he could.

    ¡°You need some help?¡± Elyza¡¯s voice weaselled into his mind, but Alex paid it no heed. Instead, he channelled the growing anger into his hand, the latter outstretched towards the pile of wood facing him. He tried to feel for that tug again, but with his mind unfocused and driven by the diminishing anger, he lost restraint. Lightning erupted from his hand, striking the kindling. It took Alex a third of a second to wrestle control back to him. But it was enough. The campfire started to blaze to life. His anger was quickly stamped out by annoyance.

    As he rose to his feet, his gaze fixed upon Elyza, Alex couldn¡¯t help but notice that she had managed to set up another campfire already. He sighed, his annoyance being replaced by embarrassment. ¡°How long did it take me?¡± he inquired, his tone tinged with chagrin.

    ¡°20 minutes,¡± she replied, casually tossing another log to feed her fire, continuing flatly, ¡°Creating fire is quite a difficult task.¡±

    ¡°First time I¡¯ve heard a hint of sarcasm from you.¡± Alex noted, kicking dirt onto his campfire. ¡°But to preserve my ego,¡± He said with a grin, ¡°it¡¯s time to partake in my favourite hobby,¡± pulling out a small table from his shadows, ¡°How do you like your fish cooked?¡±

    <hr>

    Alex pushed open the door to the cabin, carefully balancing a plate of poached fish in his arms. He approached the sleeping silhouette in the room, about to wake up his rescuee, but a slight movement caught his attention, making him stop.

    He spoke as purely as he could, ¡°Before you get any funny ideas. I am carrying a plate of delicious and piping HOT food, that I will have no qualms spilling on you.¡±

    There seemed to be a moment of hesitation, but the girl relented. Sitting up straight, she allowed Alex to set down her plate of food next to her. He settled down on the other side, making sure to keep his distance.

    ¡°Just to clear things up,¡± Alex said, keeping his tone civil, ¡°It has been pointed out by an acquaintance of mine, that this may seem like a kidnapping to you. Especially since the last thing you remember would be smoke filling that carriage. It is unlikely that you may believe me, but I was hired to rescue you.¡±

    He waited for a reaction, but she kept silent, so he continued, ¡°Not by the group I know you¡¯ve been supporting, may I add. They do pose a pivotal part in why I revealed myself to you, though. I could¡¯ve infiltrated your cell and left you with your family,¡±

    She finally spoke, her voice laced with scorn, ¡°What family?¡±

    ¡°Not him, dumb-dumb,¡± Alex replied, pulling out a fork from his shadow, handing her it. ¡°To put it simply, I need to contact that group to exchange information, and it would be appreciated if you can help schedule a meeting between us,¡±

    Liliana accepted the utensil, responding with a single word, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Alright,¡± he said, understanding her reluctance. ¡°Also,¡± he added, pulling out the necklace he had discovered in the earl¡¯s vault, ¡°Does this look familiar? To be honest, I didn¡¯t know why I took it in the first place, but then it clicked. I remembered seeing your mother wearing this the last time we met,¡± he said, dangling it in front of her.

    That was a mistake. Without any hesitation, she plunged the fork into Alex¡¯s hand, surprising both of them. Alex didn¡¯t think she had it in her, so the daring move caught him off guard. But Liliana was undoubtedly much more confused. Crying out in pain or striking back would have been the expected responses, yet Alex just looked at the fork impaling his hand with an almost casual indifference. His composed response momentarily froze Liliana.

    Alex sighed and, with a slight smile, raised his hand with the fork still embedded in it. ¡°You know how tricky it is to sterilise something covered in blood,¡± he remarked. ¡°Be thankful my heart stopped pumping years ago.¡± Another fork emerged from the shadows, handing itself to Alex, who then placed it next to the plate, ¡°I understand why you did¡­ this,¡± pointing to his hand, ¡°But if you do it again, I¡¯m not giving you another one.¡± He placed the necklace in her lap before strolling out the cabin as if getting stabbed was a daily occurrence.

    It was a trick he had picked up from his early years, the ability to temporarily desensitise part of his body so that, if attacked first, he had a brief moment to focus on either escaping or fighting back. Alex let out a shaky breath, cringing at the pain that was to come. Slowly, feeling started to return to his hand, and it felt like it had caught on fire. He focused past the increasing discomfort, trying to figure out if any prongs had gone through his hand, or more importantly, if they had struck bone. Slowly starting to move his fingers, he winced in pain with each movement, but that proved to Alex that all was fine, except the fork was still stuck in his hand. Taking in quick breaths, he pulled it out as fast as he could, and almost instantly blood started to seep out of the wound.

    He sat down near the dying, smouldering campfire, facing Elyza as she hungrily picked her plate clean. Pulling out a small bottle, he poured the clear alcohol onto his hand, washing the blood away. A pained grunt involuntarily escaped his lips, drawing Elyza¡¯s attention away from her food.

    Staring at his bloody hand, she connected the dots, ¡°I am guessing she did not want to talk to you,¡±

    ¡°No, she did not.¡± Alex replied, pulling out a leather tool bag which haphazardly stored a variety of vials, the liquids they contained mimicking the colours of the rainbow. Trying to change the topic, he asked,¡°How¡¯s the fish?¡± as he pulled out a strip of stark white cloth to dress his wound.

    ¡°It was good,¡± Elyza answered, and a sense of pride welled up inside him. Silence followed the exchange, as Alex tried and failed horribly in wrapping the bandage using only his right hand. After five minutes of watching a grown man struggle with a strip of cloth, Elyza finally broke the silence.

    ¡°I¡¯ll help you,¡± she told him.

    ¡°That¡¯s not necessary,¡± Alex tried to protest, but Elyza didn¡¯t hesitate. She crouched in front of him, extending her hand, and Alex had no choice but to relent.

    ¡°Strange wound,¡± Elyza observed as she began to skilfully swathe the wound. ¡°What did she do, fork you?¡±

    Alex sighed and responded,¡°Yeah,¡± waiting for some witty remark.

    Instead, Elyza seemed impressed, remarking ¡°She¡¯s resourceful,¡± as she finished bandaging his hand. Alex moved his hand as much as he could bear, testing the constraints of the cloth.

    ¡°Thank you, you¡¯ve possibly saved me from having to cut off my hand.¡±

    Elyza settled back in her spot, asking, ¡°Just tell me how much longer this is going to take, unless this is your plan.¡±

    Alex stood up to stretch and checked his watch. ¡°You¡¯re right, this is getting ridiculous. They should¡¯ve been here by now. Let me see if I can-¡± Before he could finish his sentence, Alex felt the illusion surrounding the area shatter. ¡°You know how many times this has happened? Just as I complain about someone being late, they show up,¡± he said, looking towards the direction of his guests.

 Chapter 6: Elyzaéˆ¥æªš Answer

    Emerging from the cover of trees, four knights appeared, forming a protective square around Alex¡¯s client. She was dressed in all black, possibly in mourning for her husband, but most likely to keep up appearances. Alex flipped up his hood, covering the top half of his face in shadow.

    Alex turned towards Elyza, who had risen, her eyes telling him that she anticipated a fight. ¡°Do you have a mask?¡± he asked, to which she nodded. He gestured to her to cover her face and continued, ¡°Stay here and don¡¯t do anything suspicious. The sooner we finish, the sooner we move on to my actual plan.¡±

    As he started to walk toward the approaching group, he noticed that the captain of the city guard was one of the women¡¯s escorts. As a precaution, not to waste any more time, he cast an illusion over his face with a flick of the hand. He felt the magic creep over his face, constantly changing his features.

    Another mask for the collection.

    Alex pushed the thought towards the back of his mind, storing it with the rest of his unwanted-s. He didn¡¯t have time to dwell on its meaning, either; the knights drew their swords the moment they got in range. Alex pre-emptively raised his hand to stop Elyza from drawing hers. He stared at the black-clad women, his tone laced with concern as he said, ¡°I know we both are from different parts of the world, but this is generally considered a threat in my country.¡±

    The Countess remained silent, the captain seemingly speaking on her behalf, ¡°Do not play games with us. You were hired only to rescue Liliana, yet you saw fit to kill the Earl. Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t see through your treachery? I should have your head right here,¡± stepping forward in an attempt to articulate his threat.

    ¡°The Earl¡¯s dead? My condolences to the Countess,¡± Alex replied, bowing to his client, maintaining the same tone, ¡°But I swear on my life that I took no part in his death.¡±

    ¡°Do not lie to me, Nemo,¡± the captain growled, trying to use his gigantic stature to intimidate Alex.

    Yet Alex stood his ground, addressing the Countess through him, ¡°If, milady, believes that to be the case, why don¡¯t you use that trick of yours to prove that I¡¯m being dishonest.¡±

    So be it,¡± The Captain relented, taking a step back while muttering a chant under his breath. Circular runes started to appear in the air as the chant continued, with Alex acting as their centre. As the chant neared its end, the runes started to merge into one, creating a circle of magic that emanated the power of the goddess. As the circle finished its construction, the Captain commanded, ¡°Under the gaze of Lady Veritas, speak the truth lest you face her wrath.¡±

    ¡°Shoot,¡± Alex replied, completely unbothered by the spell.

    ¡°Did you kill the Earl?¡±

    ¡°No, didn¡¯t feel like it.¡± Alex said, his voice steady and devoid of emotion.

    The Captain tensed up, bracing for the spell¡¯s reaction. But nothing happened. There was no great pillar of flame, no noose wrapped itself around Alex¡¯s head, and the spell didn¡¯t fracture or explode; it simply dispersed, its purpose fulfilled.

    ¡°What.¡± The Captain finally broke through his shock, ¡°How is this possible? I know you lie, yet¡­¡± His words trailed off as his mind scrambled for an explanation.

    ¡°Well,¡± Alex responded by clapping his hands, ¡°This was a nice break from my norm, but I¡¯m afraid I have somewhere to go, so I¡¯d like to request my payment.¡±

    Something seemed to have clicked in the Captain¡¯s head, as soon enough his sword was at Alex¡¯s. ¡°This is one of your illusions, isn¡¯t it.¡± accusing Alex, the latter unfazed by the blade at his throat. Thankfully, someone other than him realised what was prime to occur.

    ¡°Enough, Gertrude,¡± the black-clad lady finally broke her silence. She continued, not letting Gertrude defend himself, ¡°I allowed you to check your theory, and it was false. Don¡¯t delay my reunion with Liliana because of your ego.¡±

    There was a delay in Gertrude¡¯s action, but he sheathed his sword. He closed his eyes, and they opened, his entire demeanour had shifted. Gertrude was handed a roll of paper, and he presented it to Alex, saying, ¡°This contains most of the locations you requested.¡± Alex quickly opened it and scanned through it, finding that most of it matched up with the papers he had previously lifted.

    The countess¡¯s question reminded him where he was, ¡°Sufficient?¡± Alex nodded, so she issued orders to her escort, ¡°Make sure Liliana¡¯s okay. All of you.¡±

    The rest of the knights looked uncertain, and Gertrude voiced their uncertainty, ¡°Countess, I cannot leave you alone with him,¡± But one look from her made him start walking towards the shack, and the rest of the knights reluctantly followed.

    After they were sufficiently out of earshot, the Countess turned to Alex and asked, ¡°How is she?¡±

    Alex motioned Elyza to come over, then spoke, ¡°She¡¯s a bit dazed, which I may have something to do with. No visible signs of struggle, which is a good sign. May have to work on her trust a bit, but other than that she should be fine.¡±

    Relief washed over the Countess¡¯s face as she expressed her gratitude, ¡°Thank you, Nemo. I don¡¯t know what I would have done if I let that monster hurt her.¡±

    Alex responded with a sly grin, ¡°Shame, you would have been a spectacular fight, milady,¡± and he followed the jest with a playful curtsy bow. The Countess left to care for her niece. Alex turned around to see Elyza give her wide berth.

    Elyza opened her mouth, ready to say something, but Alex beat her to it, ¡°Now I can finally attend to the girl leaving us behind on this mortal plane.¡±

    She sighed in response to his antics, ¡°Yes, let us see your grand plan.¡±

    Alex smiled, readying himself to shift, ¡°I¡¯m going to do it again.¡±

    Elyza sighed even more deeply this time, giving her reluctant approval, ¡°Fine, if I have no other choice.¡±

    With a mischievous glint in his eye, Alex retorted, ¡°Oh, you always have a choice,¡± as he visualised the location they needed to go. He commanded the shadows to envelop them both, and almost instantly, they found themselves being pushed out of the shadowy realm.

    Taking in the view of Bakelv from atop a nearby cliff, a couple of kilometres away from the shack, Alex staggered forward as he took a step. He was surprised at how much mana the transport had actually taken. While he quickly recovered his footing and the expended mana, the sheer amount that was consumed was peculiar. The thought excited him, knowing there were limits to his magic he hadn¡¯t known before. But at that moment, Alex needed to convince a person who seemed just as stubborn as he was.

    No one, other than him, had ever used or wanted to use his particular method of teleportation this many times in such a short period. Even when he had company, he made an effort to restrain its use. Turning to Elyza, he noticed that she appeared, well, fine ¨C relatively speaking, at least. Her face still bore traces of unsettlement, which quickly turned to confusion, seemingly realising the same fact.

    ¡°That was not as bad as before.¡± Elyza started, looking at her hands as if unsure if they were hers. ¡°Why?¡± her tone quickly shifted to a more accusatory one.

    Alex shrugged nonchalantly, ¡°I don¡¯t know. My best guess is that I¡¯m getting better at breaking your body down.¡±

    This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

    Her brow furrowed at his choice of words, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®breaking my body down?¡¯¡±

    Alex waved her question aside with a dismissive hand, ¡°Semantics, dear. Now if you can just take your seat,¡± gesturing behind her, towards the table he had prepared that morning.

    ¡°How did you get this up here?¡± Elyza said, sounding more concerned than before at the concept that he somehow dragged up a table suited for a banquet up a cliff.

    ¡°Again, semantics,¡± Alex remarked, pulling out a chair and sliding it behind Elyza, catching her off guard as she plopped down into it. Pushing her to one end of the table, he snapped his fingers, and the show began. Numerous arms emerged from the table¡¯s shadow, each bearing a plate of food covered with a cloche. They arranged everything neatly on the far side of the table before retreating and allowing another set of arms to do the same. With another snap, the cloches vanished into thin air.

    ¡°Oh,¡± was all Elyza managed to say, astounded at the feast that had appeared in front of her.

    Alex had already begun his explanation, ¡°Each plate contains, frankly speaking, poor facsimiles of all the memorable food I got to experience during my travels,¡± gesturing towards the table, ¡°But considering the time constraints, I¡¯m quite proud of this.¡±

    Elyza was trying to listen attentively, but Alex could tell otherwise. He simply pulled out two bottles of wine and a single glass, placing them before her. She nodded, her appreciation.

    ¡°Well, I couldn¡¯t possibly let you die before you experience the full abilities that I possess,¡± he replied. Walking towards the other end of the table to his seat, he added, ¡°Just wake me up when you¡¯re ready to talk. I haven¡¯t slept in three days.¡± With that, he closed his eyes, put his feet up on the table, and let the embrace of sleep overpower him.

    For what felt like mere moments, Alex lost himself in the tranquil expanse of his thoughts, only to be jolted awake when the table bumped against his legs. His eyes fluttered open, getting greeted by the mesmerising sight of the sun about to set in front of him. Two hours had passed since his last waking moment. Turning his gaze towards his waker, he had expected at least half of the food he had prepared to still be left. To his astonishment, however, every single plate lay completely barren

    Focusing on the culprit, Elyza was now enjoying the view with a glass of wine in her hand, keeping her thoughts well-guarded, her green eyes reflecting the orange light. She gulped down the glass, solemnly gazing at the view.

    Elyza asked, ¡°I severed the head of the snake, how are you planning to deal with its festering body?¡±

    Alex cracked a smile in response to her profundity. ¡°Never imagined you getting so metaphorical when you get drunk,¡± he remarked, to which she just glared at him till he answered seriously, ¡°I have a friend in the Royal Army, who¡¯s already moving to deal with the remnants of the late earl¡¯s organisation. I¡¯ve also sent her a list of their suspected hideouts, so the matter is expected to be taken care of by the end of the week.¡±

    Elyza narrowed her eyes in response to his answer. ¡°The same Army under whose protection it emerged in the first place,¡± she remarked, her tone full of scepticism, ¡°Do you truly believe they can handle it effectively?¡±

    ¡°Never in a million years,¡± he agreed with her doubts. Still, Alex pressed on, saying, ¡°But I do trust my friend will be able to.¡±

    Elyza poured the remaining wine directly into her mouth, letting out a burp before remarking, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s hear it.¡±

    ¡°Hear what?¡±

    ¡°Your speech?¡± Elyza replied, ¡°I know you¡¯ve got some sort of argument loaded up in your head to try and convince me not to kill myself.¡±

    ¡°Oh yeah, that would be useful right about now,¡± Alex admitted, continuing, ¡°Till my mind finishes formulating said speech, let me ask you, why haven¡¯t you yet?¡±

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t believe you truly want to die, especially because you¡¯re sitting right here with me,¡± Alex answered, enjoying the view of the city below them.

    Elyza appeared taken aback by his conclusion and leaned in, her expression a mix of curiosity and surprise, ¡°Explain.¡±

    ¡°Well, first of all,¡± Alex began, ¡°The fact that you chose to even hang out with me, being a huge red flag in itself, suggested that you hadn¡¯t entirely made up your mind about doing the deed.¡±

    He paused, glancing at Elyza to gauge her reaction, but receiving none he continued, ¡°And then there¡¯s the matter of you following my instructions, which you had no good reason to do so. Except, if I may theorise, if you were trying to find an excuse to delay your ¡®inevitable¡¯.¡±

    Elyza remained silent, her eyes locked onto his as she absorbed his words, ¡°And the convincing evidence for me, Elyza, was the fact you woke me up. You could¡¯ve just had your fill, thrown yourself off this cliff, and I would not have had any way to stop you. Yet you woke me up, even when you knew what kind of conversation we were going to have.¡±

    Alex concluded softly, ¡°So, by deduction, I can with some certainty say that you, or at least a part of you, wanted to have this conversation to prove to yourself that you weren¡¯t ready to die.¡±

    Elyza seemed deep in thought, pondering his words, or she may have been searching for a way to prove him wrong. Nevertheless, Alex knew he shouldn¡¯t have said so much, yet the words kept coming to him.

    ¡°All of what I¡¯ve said is just me assuming things about you because I have no clue what else to do. Our circumstances are bound to be different. The reason I was able to step back from the edge was because of a principle that came to me when I was ready to take the plunge. But you may not share such a principle. Maybe you could be convinced if I told you about the friends you might never have the chance to meet, the foods you could never experience, the joy you might feel when you help another, or the justice you could never inflict on those who¡¯ve harmed others.¡±

    Alex went silent for a moment, allowing his words to linger in the crisp evening air, thinking, ¡°If you genuinely believe that death is the path you want to take, then I won¡¯t stop you. The choice has always been yours, and it¡¯s not a choice between joining me or embarking on a journey to the Underworld. It¡¯s one between life and death. You may choose to walk away from my kind of life and start anew. I¡¯d rather have someone I know to be ¡®good¡¯ out there, rather than them rotting in a hole underground. Either way, it¡¯s your life to pen.¡±

    ¡°In fact, here,¡± Alex said, tossing a small black bell to Elyza. She caught it effortlessly, without even looking towards him, ¡°Whenever you need to get out of a sticky situation, ring that. It¡¯s like a giant lighthouse in the deep stretch of darkness, to guide me to you, to help a fellow lost soul. Whatever decision you make, I¡¯ll keep my word.¡±

    Alex did not know if his speech had got through to her, or if it was just noise, but there was nothing else he could do. He decided, instead, to enjoy the best part of the day, letting his eyes capture the magnificence of the sunset. They both found solace in the tranquillity of the moment, silently appreciating it.

    Alex knew exactly how much time it took for Elyza to respond, because the final rays of sunlight accompanied her actions. She tossed the black bell back to Alex, who caught it with a sigh.

    ¡°Well,¡± Alex said, ¡°I tried.¡± He cracked his knuckles, standing up, ¡°How do you want to do this? I can offer both simplicity and spectacular,¡± a smile etching itself across his face.

    ¡°Congratulations,¡± Elyza replied, her response causing momentary confusion for Alex.

    ¡°What?¡± he responded, looking around to see if he was being observed, ¡°Was this some kind of weird initiation to a secret society? Cause this has happened to me before.¡±

    Elyza appeared to disregard his joke, continuing, ¡°Your speech worked. While I may not have a compelling reason to live, I also lack a reason to die. So, I have decided to work with you until I find a reason for either.¡±

    ¡°Oh, alright.¡± Alex muttered, before perking up quite quickly, ¡°Totally knew that would work. Never had a doubt to the contrary.¡±

    Elyza couldn¡¯t help but let out a light chuckle, her gaze shifting to the stars above. ¡°Thank you.¡±

    Alex smiled, ¡°That¡¯s the first of many to come, partner. Let¡¯s just hope you survive training.¡±

 Chapter 7: On to the Other Side

    As the carriage gradually came to a halt, Alex gently shook Elyza¡¯s arm, coaxing her to wake up. Elyza blinked away the haze, wondering why he had dragged her to Surasho, a village at the fringes of Luminae. It was so inconspicuous that most maps didn¡¯t even bother showing it, yet he had chosen it for her training.

    It was for that exact reason that Alex liked it. A village that he could bring his clients to disappear for a while, a safe haven of sorts. It wasn¡¯t only he who called it that, so many high ranking individuals visited the leftovers of the previous empire that the villagers themselves had changed the name to ¡®Surasho¡¯¡ªroughly safe-haven when translated. They even had an unofficial rule: ¡®Never reveal who had passed through.¡¯

    However, Elyza¡¯s chance to explore the village would have to wait for another day. Without warning, Alex agilely leaped off the moving carriage, signalling for Elyza to follow suit. They disembarked before even crossing into the village territory, finding themselves amidst a sea of evergreen. The carriage, used to the kinds of Alex, continued on its path.

    ¡°Come on, this way,¡± Alex beckoned, as he ventured into the forest.

    Elyza¡¯s scepticism started to show, ¡°Why endure two full days of travel only to end up in a forest identical to the one surrounding Bakelv?¡±

    ¡°Oh, ye of little fate.¡± Alex responded, his smile wider than it had ever been before, gradually quickening his steps.

    Elyza released a resigned sigh, already second-guessing her decision, yet she trudged on through the verdant sea. Following Alex, who seemed to navigate the forest with the whims of his mind, erratically switching direction every few minutes. The deeper they ventured, an unsettling sensation began to stir within Elyza.

    With each step, the feeling intensified, morphing into a warning. A voice in her mind telling her to turn back, that the path she was on would lead to her demise. Initially dismissible, it was quickly growing louder with time, slowly drowning out her own thoughts, battering against her mind. Two minutes into the unnerving ordeal, Elyza started to grow anxious, feeling as if it would never go away. Her pulse quickened, her breath becoming shallower, sapping away her energy. Elyza surged forward, clutching Alex¡¯s arm desperately before her strength gave way, falling to her knees.

    Although Alex was accustomed to this peculiar sensation, having bypassed it through teleportation in the past, he had intended to guide Elyza through it. But he had gotten distracted, thinking of what all he had to teach her. When she grasped his arm, he returned to the present. Alex kneeled down with her, trying to get her to focus on him.

    With gentle reassurance, he spoke to her, ¡°Listen to my voice, the feeling inside you right now, that anxiety, it¡¯s fake, it isn¡¯t you. I forgot to prepare you beforehand, sorry about that, but I know you can power through. That voice is something you will encounter regularly on this path, telling you that there is no way through this, that this is the end. But as long as you breathe, there will always be a chance to overcome it. Breathe, focus, calm your mind, and think. If only for a few minutes.¡±

    Elyza absorbed his words, closing her eyes to shut out the disconcerting forest. She fixated on the memory of the sunset over Bakelv, and she contemplated. Why would her mind, after all she had faced, be afraid of a mere forest. When her eyes reopened, Alex could see a new type of determination within them, no doubt one to prove that voice wrong.

    ¡°I¡¯m feeling better,¡± Elyza asserted, rising to her feet.

    ¡°Good. Try to stay close,¡± Alex advised as he resumed walking, heading towards where the feeling was the strongest. True to his word, they only had to travel for five more minutes.

    They came across a strange barrier in the middle of the forest. It seemed to stretch for miles and reflect the way they were coming from, but didn¡¯t reflect the duo¡¯s reflection. Gazing through it induced a peculiar sense of vertigo, the surface mimicking the fluidity of water. The unsettling nature heightened as the barrier seemed to recoil, avoiding the touch of Alex¡¯s hand.

    Turning towards Elyza, Alex bowed with a theatrical flourish. ¡°After you.¡±

    Elyza was unequivocal. ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Come one. It¡¯s safe; just don¡¯t resist when you touch it.¡± Alex argued.

    ¡°Not resist what?¡±

    ¡°The pull.¡± Alex responded, but he could see on her face that she wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Fine,¡± he relented, ¡°I¡¯ll go first. Don¡¯t wait too much.¡±

    The barrier, despite its initial evasion, yielded as soon as Alex made contact. It latched onto him, pulling him into it. The whole barrier rippled as if someone had thrown a pebble in a puddle. Now, it was Elyza¡¯s turn. She cautiously approached the barrier, reluctant to touch its surface. But her determination to prove the voices wrong, motivated her to at least reach for it. As her arm extended, the barrier reacted erratically, causing her to hesitate. Her hand hung in the air, but before she could muster her resolve to touch the barrier, a hand burst from it, and grabbed a hold of hers.

    Elyza¡¯s yelp of surprise echoed through the air just before she was whisked away through the barrier. It felt as if she was at the bottom of an ocean, and the next moment she could feel the sun on her skin. As she opened her eyes, Elyza found herself under the blue sky, unobstructed by the shade.

    Before her stretched a vast sea of grass, a tranquil meadow hidden within the barrier. Amidst the green expanse stood a peculiar sight ¨C a cottage nestled by the side of a pond. Beside her, Alex, who, despite it being his abode hundreds of times, still marvelled at the sight.

    ¡°Alright, that¡¯s enough dilly-dallying. Let¡¯s get you settled,¡± Alex declared, strolling towards the house.

    ¡°This is your house?¡± Elyza inquired, jogging to catch up with him.

    ¡°Technically.¡±

    ¡°Technically?¡±

    ¡°Well, the last owner disappeared. He was some kind of reclusive magus. Seems he used this place like a testing ground.¡± Alex explained.

    ¡°Did you¡­¡± Elyza started, carefully choosing her words, ¡°¡­make him disappear?¡±

    ¡°First, stop hesitating; I¡¯m an open book. And second, how dare you imply something I was definitely hired to do,¡± Alex retaliated, adding, ¡°Never found him, just a note telling me to take care of the house.¡±

    The explanation would¡¯ve sounded strange coming from another person, but Elyza was expecting something much worse. Following the cobblestone path, they reached the cottage. Crafted from dark oak and meticulously lacquered to accentuate its rich colour, the door swung open automatically to welcome its owner, and Alex graciously held it to welcome Elyza, who looked perplexed at the house¡¯s autonomy.

    ¡°Oh, you haven¡¯t even seen anything yet,¡± Alex remarked at her expression. ¡°You¡¯ll be staying in the guest room,¡± he continued, and the second door in the hall swung open, ¡°Keep all the stuff you don¡¯t need on the bed and join me outside,¡± he instructed as he stepped out.

    Following Alex¡¯s instructions, Elyza stepped outside to find him in the process of setting up a wooden training dummy. As she approached, she noticed an array of wooden weapons scattered on the ground. Alex, aware of her presence, began to explain, ¡°Here¡¯s the plan. I have six months to teach you everything I expect you to know. Today we are going to finalise what your limits are, and then I will teach you how to push past them. The day is still young, so let us begin.¡±

    ¡°I know you¡¯re good with knives, but it¡¯s always good to have variety,¡± Alex added, gesturing towards the weapons on the ground. ¡°So, choose your weapon.¡±

    Elyza surveyed the sparring instruments laid out before her¡ª a short sword, a long sword, a spear, an axe, a pair of daggers, a flail, a baton, a war hammer, and even a scythe. Instinctively, she grabbed both the spear and the axe, while Alex selected the long sword, the remaining weapons sinking into the shadows.

    ¡°Which weapon are you better with?¡± Alex asked. Elyza shrugged, not knowing herself. Alex decided to take matters in his own hands, surging forward as he swung the sword down at her. Forced into a split second decision, she dropped the axe, using the spear¡¯s shaft to block the blade. Alex immediately fell back to increase the distance between them.

    ¡°We end this sparring session if you can either score a hit on me, or if we¡¯re still here by eleven. So, come at me.¡± Alex commanded, throwing his cloak behind him. Elyza did not advance, instead assuming her stance as she back-stepped. Alex shot her an approving smile before dashing towards her.

    <hr>

    Elyza jumped over Alex¡¯s slash, retreating upon before thrusting her spear into his shoulder blade. He sidestepped the attack, seizing the shaft, attempting to pull her towards him, or at least throw her off balance. But Elyza kept her footing, using her strength to swing both spear and opponent overhead, aiming to slam him into the ground. Alex let go at the crown of the arch, rolling as he landed to break his fall. He got up to his feet, as quick as he could, barely able to parry her next thrust.

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    Elyza retreated once again, frustrated that whatever she did, his guard couldn¡¯t be broken. But an idea popped up in her head. She readied herself to receive Alex¡¯s attack. After being forced to defend for the majority of the session, Alex knew she had some sort of plan churning in her brain when she went defensive. Nevertheless, he readied the long sword, holding it up above his head. There was no doubt in Elyza¡¯s eyes, she was ready to receive the full force of the attack, so Alex swung.

    But his setup was a diversion, the attack coming not from above but from the side, catching Elyza off guard. Swiftly stepping back to narrowly avoid the first slice, she found herself facing a relentless barrage of attacks. Alex was moving so fast that it seemed as if she was facing two swords. She had predicted that his stance was deceptive, even Alex knew that such a straightforward attack, even at his full strength, was never going to work. The speed of the slashes, however, was unprecedented. There was no foreseeable way to deflect or defend against them, but Elyza wasn¡¯t planning to. It appeared as if she was dancing through Alex¡¯s slashes, making sure to move backwards as she dodged them.

    When the moment was right, Elyza swung the shaft, blocking a slash. Immediately, Alex fell back, anticipating retaliation. Instead, she fell back, the spear raised in one hand, perfectly balanced. With a mighty toss, Elyza hurled the wooden stick at Alex, who instead of just dodging it, tried to catch the spear in an attempt to show off. Alex shifted his sword to his ¡®off¡¯ hand and tried to catch the spear mid-air. However, as he grasped the shaft, he found himself almost pulled along with it. Yet, while he was able to maintain his footing, Alex had to spin on his heels in an attempt to reduce its momentum.

    Standing with the spear in his hands, a trace of confusion lingered in him, questioning why Elyza had seemingly discarded her only weapon. Before he himself could dissipate the confusion, that thought was quickly answered when he looked to where Elyza was supposed to be. He expected to see a red-headed elf baked with sweat, kneeling on the ground, devastated that her plan hadn¡¯t worked. He did not expect to see the same elf up in the air, about to wedge an axe into his neck. Alex fell back, desperately trying to avoid the swing. Slamming the shaft into her gut, he expected her to withdraw like the numerous times she had before. Elyza absorbed the blow, knowing that this was her last chance to tag him. She savagely swung at his legs, prompting Alex to flip over his head to regain balance. Seizing the opportunity, she aimed a kick at his chest and¡­ Connected.

    With a great thump, Alex landed on his back. He clutched his ribs, as sweat streamed down his face, making his hair stick to his forehead. Covering his eyes from the sunlight, he congratulated Elyza, ¡°Good kick.¡±

    Collapsed on the grass, Elyza¡¯s body struggled under its weight, groaning as accumulated bruises made their presence felt, ¡°Did I pass?¡±

    ¡°You did. Can¡¯t wait to see how you hold up when we do it with actual weapons.¡±

    Elyza, now on the verge of exhaustion, sighed, ¡°Of course, another test.¡±

    Alex chuckled, attempting but failing to rise. ¡°I¡¯m going to test you in everything, but don¡¯t worry. You only have to win against me two more times. Once with actual weapons, and the finale, where I get to finally flex my fingers.¡±

    Elyza, strangely determined, responded, ¡°Alright, if that¡¯s what it takes.¡± Her mind was already set to see his ¡®training¡¯ through to the end.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure anyone has actually beat me on their first try, not without using magic. Speaking of which,¡± he added, falling through his shadow, emerging above Elyza. Looking down at her, he continued, ¡°Let¡¯s see what you can do.¡± offering her a hand up.

    She declined his help, getting up on her own, even though every small motion made her muscles ache. Elyza¡¯s head throbbed as she stood on her own to feet, arguing against any further movement. She felt like her brain was full of needles. Suddenly, a canteen appeared in front of her.

    ¡°Drink up.¡± Alex offered, shaking the canteen, and Elyza could hear the melodious sound of water within. She yanked it from his hand, emptying the whole thing in one swig. The liquid tasted sour, but it felt like it was spreading throughout her body as it gave her energy.

    As she returned the bottle, she asked, ¡°What is this?¡±

    Alex unveiled his secret with a nonchalant admission, ¡°Just water, albeit with a dash of lemon juice,¡± as he strolled back to the training dummy. Elyza followed him back to the training dummy, stopping ten or so metres in front of it. It was made out of broken logs, with an angry face being etched into the one acting as a head.

    ¡°Let¡¯s see if you know your bases,¡± Alex continued, ¡°What are the general classifications we use for magic, or spells, or whatever you may call your spectacular abilities?¡±

    Elyza racked her mind for an answer, causing a memory lost in the vast depths of her mind to emerge. Trying to piece the answer from the fragments she could remember, she replied, ¡°There are three, I believe? Evocations, or Incantations, one of the two; then there¡¯s Magic Circles.¡± Alex could see the strain she was in trying to remember the last category, ¡°And the last should be Blood Magic?¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re technically correct, the best way to be correct,¡± Alex conceded, ¡°but you seem to be using the old names. Presently, most academics prefer Spoken magic, Runic magic, and Innate magic. Most academics, as you can see, are extremely bad at creative nomenclature.¡±

    Elyza questioned, ¡°Why does it matter?¡±

    Alex, wearing a perplexed expression, replied, ¡°Knowledge is always important,¡± he said, adding, ¡°Though this was mostly for me to gauge how much I need to teach you, but we¡¯ll get back to it later. Tell me, what kind of magic are you proficient with?¡±

    ¡°I am able to control the wind to a degree.¡±

    ¡°Show me.¡±

    Elyza focused on the air around her, trying to feel for its natural flow. Gradually, she asserted control, preparing it for the next part. She jumped, and the air rushed it to where she used to be, propelling her to escape the grasp of gravity. But the wind started to lose speed, and inevitably gravity caught up with Elyza. As she fell towards the ground, her head still facing the sky, her hands reached towards the ground. She knew where she was about to land, she had made sure that her jump was straight. As Elyza neared the earth, wind started circling beneath her, creating a barely discernible reverse-vortex, pushing against her to slow her down. The whirlwind intensified as she neared, until her feet hovered just a metre above the ground. Then, it ceased.

    Impressed, Alex marvelled at the jump, a staggering twenty metres into the air. That type of movement would be beneficial in the future. But he knew that wasn¡¯t the only thing she had in store, ¡°Spectacular. But I was hoping for something more offensive in nature. Something you could demonstrate on my friend over there,¡± gesturing towards the dummy.

    ¡°Okay,¡± Elyza responded, aiming her hand towards the target, and uttered the words, ¡°llafn gwynt.¡± Air coalesced before her, taking the shape of a blade that surged toward the dummy with a resounding boom. The strike separated its head before disappearing. A hand, made of shadows, suddenly appeared, catching it mid-air.

    Approaching the levitating head, Alex scrutinised the cut. It started smooth, but became much more jagged as it moved deeper into the neck. It also only seemed to have a range of twelve or so metres. While there was room for improvement, the speed of her cast was staggering.

    ¡°Show me the rest.¡± Alex instructed, placing the head back upon the dummy¡¯s shoulders, binding them together with shadowy ropes.

    ¡°I cannot,¡± Elyza confessed.

    Puzzled, he asked, ¡°What?¡± quickly adding, ¡°Please tell me you know more than one spell.¡± desperately wanting to be right.

    She explained, ¡°That chant is the only thing my mother taught me, at least regarding wind. She insisted it would help in hunting, and I never saw a reason to learn more.¡±

    Alex pinched the bridge of his nose, ¡°So, you haven¡¯t actually tried to learn any more, not that you¡¯re incapable.¡± Elyza nodded, much to his relief, stating, ¡°I¡¯m genuinely impressed you were able to get so far knowing a single spell.¡±

    He was ready to end the day, already quite satisfied with her abilities, when a realisation dawned on him. Alex continued, ¡°You also just said, ¡®at least regarding wind¡¯. Meaning, wind isn¡¯t the only thing you can manipulate.¡±

    Instead of saying anything, Elyza aimed at the dummy once again, this time concentrating more intensely as her mana flowed out of her hand. Green arcane energy etched itself in the air in front of her palm, forming itself into a magic circle. With the circle complete, she visualised the target area, extending her influence until she felt confident to execute the spell. Uttering, ¡°Tarraing.¡± The grass under the dummy suddenly grew, wrapping around the wooden target and yanking it towards the earth. The strain caused its leg to snap, rendering it incapable of standing against the powerful pull. Gradually, Elyza ceased channelling mana into the spell, releasing the grass¡¯s grip until the broken dummy lay defeated on the ground.

    Elyza knew the type of magic she had used was stronger than what most others could do, but observing Alex''s face, she felt like she had done a godly miracle. Mouth agape, and a smile that could frighten a toddler plastered on his face, he suppressed his excitement to confirm, ¡°That was Druidic Magic, wasn¡¯t it?¡±

    Confused by his enthusiasm, Elyza replied, ¡°Yes¡­ Granted, much less powerful than what my mother could cast. Why do you ask? I am certain it is not that uncommon.¡±

    ¡°You would certainly be wrong.¡± Alex explained, his demeanour becoming more animated. ¡°Sure, technically speaking, Druidic magic is not exceedingly rare. However, most who say that they can use it, generally mean they have chlorokinesis, which, for various reasons, is not the same. True Druidic magic is usually restricted to Nymphs and their descendants, or individuals who have undergone lifelong training. This has become increasingly rare, as many of them tend to manifest chlorokinesis.¡± his mannerism became more eccentric the longer he talked.

    ¡°And?¡± she replied, still not understanding his enthusiasm, ¡°There is not much difference between the two. Every one in my village is able to control plants.¡±

    Alex dismissed her comments with a wave. ¡°You¡¯ll see the difference between them soon enough,¡± he stated ominously, before continuing, ¡°But you must be pretty tired. And I need to steal some things. So, I say let¡¯s end today earlier than planned. You can get acquainted with the house in the meantime.¡±

    With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Elyza to stroll back to the house. She took the view in, as the wind played with the grass, causing it to shimmer as sunlight danced upon its blades.

 Chapter 8: Everybody hates Tests

    Elyza was walking through the forest she grew up in. The trees were covered with moss, giving out an ethereal and unnatural green glow as the few rays of the sun that got through the cover of leaves struck them. She relished the crunch of the leaves under her with each step. Elyza felt at peace for the first time in a while.

    Then the ground started to shake, lasting for a short while. Though accustomed to the occasional tremors in the vicinity of the forest, something about this one felt off. The shaking came back, unnaturally stronger this time, refusing to end. The ground, once stable beneath her feet, started to splinter, as if the very foundation of the planet was unravelling. Her body seized up, as the ground cracked open, and the once familiar terrain transformed into a chaotic maw, consuming her whole.

    She woke up in Alex¡¯s guest room, her sweat soaked into the bed, which seemed to be gently swaying side to side. But her still slumbering mind thought that the dream was coming true, so she burst out into the hallway, trying to get out of the house before it became her coffin. As she rushed toward the door, she entered the combined kitchen and living room to find Alex calmly seated, sipping from a cup. The sight of him, calm in such a situation, sent enough of a shock to her system for her mind to wake up. The wood under her feet was solid, unmoving. There was no earthquake.

    Alex had spent the better part of the night visiting all the friends and acquaintances he knew, ¡®borrowing¡¯ an assortment of items essential for Elyza¡¯s training. All the furniture pushed to the periphery, an array of spears, axes, and intricate mechanisms scattered haphazardly. The dining table was stacked with columns of books, some from the house¡¯s own library, some from Alex¡¯s personal collection, some stolen from various institutions. The cumulative effect of multiple trips and frequent teleportation left Alex physically drained. As he completed his preparations, the first light of dawn began to paint the sky in shades of blue. So, he instructed the house to wake up its guest, brewing some tea to relax himself in the meantime.

    As soon as he sat down with a cup, Elyza ran into the room, panic evident on her face. They both looked at each other and after a moment, her demeanour shifted back to normal, realising where she was. Knowing the reason for her behaviour, Alex chose to not acknowledge it, greeting her normally, ¡°You¡¯re finally awake. Would you like a cup of tea before we begin?¡± Gesturing towards the mess in front of him

    Elyza cleared her throat, trying to get the early morning gruff out of her voice, before replying, ¡°Yes, I would like that.¡±

    Motioning with the cup towards her room, Alex continued, ¡°Good. Do you want to change into fresher clothes while I pour you one?¡±

    ¡°I do not own any other apparels.¡± Elyza confessed.

    Sighing in response, Alex, uncertain of how to elaborate, cryptically said, ¡°Just check inside the cupboard.¡±

    Elyza followed his words into her room, opening the cupboard facing the foot of the bed. As she opened its doors, she was met with rows of clothes, ranging from vibrant multicoloured cloaks to more subdued grey-scale undergarments. A peculiar stack in the corner caught her attention, seemingly comprised of the clothes she was currently wearing. Elyza tossed most of the clothes onto the bed, uncertain about which ones would fit. However, as she tried them on, she noticed something unusual ¨C every piece fit perfectly. Feeling uneasy about the precise fit, she decided to choose the stack from the corner and returned to the living room.

    As soon as she entered, Alex handed her a mug of steaming liquid and pushed her into the centre of the room. Elyza took notice of the surrounding chaos, marvelling at the mass of weapons and books strewn about. Taking a sip of the jasmine-scented tea, she asked, ¡°What is all this?¡±

    ¡°Those books over there,¡± Alex pointed towards the table, ¡°are your study materials for the next six months.¡± He gestured to the row of weapons on the ground, ¡°These weapons are what you¡¯ll be using to spar with me. And finally, the items behind you are designed to help you discover your limits,¡± pointing towards the pile of machines, artefacts, and slabs behind her.¡°And what you¡¯re currently standing in is a circle designed to measure your affinities. So, gulp down that mug and let¡¯s get to work.¡±

    Elyza swiftly sipped down the tea, handing the mug back before voicing her doubts, ¡°I have already told you what I can wield. Is this all really necessary?¡±

    ¡°No, no,¡± he clarified, ¡°You¡¯ve told me only what you are good at. I want to know all of what you are able to do. So, chop-chop, sit down and pour some in.¡±

    ¡°Pour what in?¡± Elyza obliviously asked.

    Alex remembered who he was talking to, ¡°Sit down, cross-legged, and try to focus and circulate mana around your body. The circle will sap away some of it, and depending on its properties, the corners of the pentagon within it will glow. Their brightness will indicate your proficiency in the,¡± he sighed at what he had to say next, ¡°five base affinities that most academics have agreed upon; Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning, and Wind.¡±

    Elyza tuned out Alex¡¯s explanation once he gave her the instructions. It reminded her of a similar practice she had with her mother during her childhood. Closing her eyes, she focused on relaxing. Sensations of her own blood coursing through her body were heightened as she delved deeper. Pressure started to build up near her heart as mana built up in her body. Slowly shifting the point around as per Alex¡¯s instructions, she expected to feel something steal her power, but no sort of feeling came. Elyza wondered if she was doing something wrong.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Alex¡¯s voice seemed to corroborate her train of thought. Even through her shut eyelids, she could figure out that something bright had appeared in the room. Her eyes were blinded as soon as they opened. It took her a moment to adjust to the glow, but before she could see her own results, Alex was already announcing them.

    ¡°We both knew that Wind would be the brightest. Fire, Lightning, Water; you have minimal affinity in all of them. But the big surprise is that you should be quite decent in Earth magic.¡± Alex said, cross-referencing the glow levels with the circle¡¯s instructions.

    Elyza wasn¡¯t sure she heard him properly, ¡°Earth? That can¡¯t be right; my mother only told me I could use wind.¡±

    He seemed surprised, ¡°You¡¯ve done this before? When?¡±

    ¡°When I was six.¡±

    ¡°Mana develops with time, sometimes you can gain affinity, sometimes you can lose some, that¡¯s why it¡¯s standard to measure it at least once every five years. By standard, I mean recommended by stuck-up pricks. Truth is, you¡¯re probably not going to suddenly be able to use a whole new type unless you actively practise to do so.¡± Alex clarified, addressing her doubts.

    ¡°But I have never trained to ever use earth magic,¡± she declared.

    ¡°A theory of mine is that Druidic magic is more connected to earth than it previously was thought to be,¡± Alex lied, he knew there was no other explanation, but they had to get through a lot more, so he deflected the conversation. Walking to the table, he picked up some books.

    Hopeful, Elyza said, ¡°Are those the ones I have to study.¡±

    ¡°No, they¡¯re the ones you don¡¯t,¡± Alex clarified, dropping them on the ground. ¡°I told you already, you¡¯re going to be studying every single book on the table.¡±

    Elyza looked at the still massive stack on the table, sighing at the mountain she had to conquer, ¡°Fine, what do you want me to read first.¡±

    ¡°Oh, no,¡± Alex replied, ¡°I¡¯m going to be testing your affinity for everything I can possibly think of. Because as sadistic as I can be, even I couldn¡¯t get through that pile in six months. So, hurry up and pick up some stone slabs from behind you. We have a lot to get through.¡±

    <hr>

    Alex prepared Elyza¡¯s results as she lay exhausted on the sofa. He had anticipated this outcome; no one could be expected to stay awake after completely depleting their reserves. Surprisingly, this time, she managed to stay conscious, evident from the loud groans escaping her as her body worked to restore her mana. Fortunately, it wouldn¡¯t take as long to do so compared to if she was outside. In the confines of the house, for reasons he couldn¡¯t explain, mana seemed to be much more concentrated than it should be.

    Elyza, on the other hand, was ruing the day she had agreed to train under him. After subjecting her to tests in countless types of magic, he had her fill up some peculiar crystals with mana until she collapsed. Then he had the audacity to wake her up an hour later and do it all again. Thankfully, Elyza managed to stay conscious this time, though the downside was an overwhelming sensation of her entire body being wrung out while hot coals circulated through her veins.

    With the results now finalised, Alex could finally stretch his arms. ¡°Up and at them! Finally finished calculating your results, aren¡¯t you excited?¡± He addressed the groaning log in the room.

    ¡°Fuck off,¡± she shot back, her voice muffled through the cushions.

    ¡°So uncreative.¡± Alex joked before declaring the results anyway, ¡°Unfortunately, other than your affinity with earth, there were no other surprises that stood. You can technically use strengthening magic, although I¡¯m quite apprehensive if it would actually be useful.¡±

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    Elyza still didn¡¯t want to hear what he had to say, but she was unable to control her curiosity. Alex was waiting for a response, and took her eye peeking out from the cushion to be one. ¡°The amount of mana you can hold is quite high, especially since you don¡¯t appear to have super-absorptive blood. However, the rate of mana regeneration is only slightly above average,¡± he disclosed. ¡°Now, let¡¯s move on to what classes of spells you¡¯ll be able to fully utilise. In regard to Wind, you have the innate ability to use it ¨C you can control it naturally ¨C and use Incantations, you know, Spoken magic. I¡¯m ninety-nine percent sure attempting to learn runes for wind magic would be entirely too much work, so you¡¯re skipping that. No need to worry about Earth magic; doesn¡¯t seem to be worth it. Finally, we have Druidcraft, which is always a mix of runic and spoken magic, so I didn¡¯t actually need to test it.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Elyza interrupted his explanation, now sitting up, interested, ¡°I understand why knowing my mana capacity and regeneration speed would be helpful in training. But I fail to see the importance of testing the class of spells I can use.¡±

    Alex sighed, recognizing that explaining a concept he loathed was inevitable. ¡°Firstly, Spoken magic, Innate magic, and Runic magic, as you may have gathered, are not distinct types of magic. Rather, the three refer to what type of medium is used to transform mana into spells. They classify spells under which medium yields the most effective or, more likely, powerful version of the spell. Innate involves using your body as a medium, Spoken entails words or prayers, and Runic encompasses spells where a physical structure or item, such as a magic circle, acts as the medium.¡±

    ¡°Why call them ¡®magic¡¯ if the classifications are based on the medium of transmission?¡± she questioned.

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯d like to ask the old forgotten pricks who came up with this idiotic system the same question,¡± He replied, struggling not to rant. ¡°It is said that it was because they thought the public was too dumb to notice the difference. I mean, they are the same people who decided to replace the old system. A system, for your information, that classified spells under its magic family i.e. Fireballs would be put under Fire Magic, and not fucking Spoken magi¡­¡± He suddenly stopped, realising he had failed.

    Trying to regain composure, he continued, a hint of residual anger lingering in his words. ¡°Forgive me, I almost lost myself. While this classification system is clearly unfavoured by the younger arcanists, I reluctantly have to admit, it has some merit. It allows anyone, Once you understand what medium your mana prefers for a specific affinity, of course,¡± inadvertently rolling his eyes as he spoke, ¡°to know what spells they can quickly learn, and more importantly, excel at. So, you can focus on learning spells that are much more likely to be of use to you.¡±

    He could see that Elyza was still unsure that her being tested for hundreds of affinities was truly necessary, so in a desperate attempt, Alex pointed towards the books, ¡°Meaning, that pile over there got reduced by a quarter.¡±

    Elyza remained unconvinced, but she had another topic of conversation she wanted to get to. ¡°Why were you so excited when you learned that I can use Druidic magic?¡±

    With a knowing grin, Alex raised a finger, his other hand disappearing into the depths of his shadow. After a brief rummage, he emerged with two leather-bound notebooks. ¡°Unlike other assassins, most of my time is spent doing research, whether it¡¯s on people, the location where I have to go, or simply because I¡¯m bored. I believe it¡¯s always better to know something rather than nothing about whatever you¡¯re trying to do. You¡¯re also going to learn how to gather information as fast as you can, be it from libraries, or from people. It¡¯ll include how to recognise structural weakness, possible infiltration points, how to eavesdrop without revealing yourself, and¡­¡±

    ¡°Get to the point.¡± Elyza reminded him.

    ¡°Of course.¡± Alex refocused, ¡°After I got my ass handed to me by a Druidcraft-wielding barbarian. I tried to learn more about a type of magic I had never seen before. Problem was, once I actually started to try to study it, Every. Single. Book, that everyone said would tell me how it worked, contradicted each other in spectacular fashion. I thought, in my endless naivety, that if I started to look at historical documents, decaying magic scrolls, ancient tomes, and even paintings. Surely, I thought, one of them would have some information, scrolls, maybe even some spells I can work backwards for, or at least some records of tribes or people who wielded it. However, the more I delved into the thousands of years¡¯ worth of material at my disposal, the more it seemed that no one had tried to actually study how Druidcraft functioned.¡±

    ¡°Do you know what ¡®Get to the point¡¯ means?¡± Genuine concern emanating from Elyza¡¯s voice.

    Ignoring her, Alex continued, ¡°I was absolutely livid at the fact that I had spent actual months trying to research something that had no existing legitimate records. So, in a rage-filled madness, I swore to Ath¡ª I mean Minerva, that I would write the most comprehensive book documenting Druidcraft. Unfortunately for me, she heard me, and is now holding me to my word.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡± Elyza exclaimed.

    ¡°As a result, I¡¯ve spent years theorising what kind of spells come under Druidcraft, how they work, the magic¡¯s origins, blah, blah, blah. In short, I¡¯m pretty sure my knowledge of it is second only to those who have mastered the magic itself. However, I do have a substantial problem. My theories remain theories, because I can¡¯t find anyone who can actually use Druidcraft.¡±

    ¡°Hold on a moment,¡± Elyza exclaimed, her disbelief escalating at a revelation more startling than Alex being threatened by a goddess. ¡°In the, if I remember correctly, years you have spent researching, you have never met anyone who can wield Druidcraft magic. Forgive me, but believing a jester might be easier than accepting that.¡±

    ¡°Technically, I have met people who can wield it,¡± Alex explained, ¡°but most of them have tried to kill me. And the ones who don¡¯t, tend to be not as skilled as those who do. Add the fact that most people aren¡¯t privy to the differences between chlorokinesis and Druidcraft, and it is almost unnaturally difficult trying to find someone capable of answering my questions. I even attempted to seek out Druids themselves in the hope that they could assist me, but, for some inexplicable reason, whenever I encounter one, they¡­¡± Alex paused, not knowing how to phrase the following, ¡°¡­run away.¡±

    ¡°Run away.¡± Elyza reiterated.

    Alex threw his arms up, ¡°Your guess is as good as mine. One of them did say something about me carrying the stench of death? Honestly, I had given up any hope of actually proving any of my theories and began working purely on assumptions. Till I met you, that is.¡± Grinning as he concluded.

    Elyza became silent, trying to absorb everything he had just said. Though outlandish, there was an earnestness in his narrative that hinted at sincerity. Satisfied with his explanation, posed another question, ¡°Why do you consistently emphasise that Druidcraft and chlorokinesis are distinct? Are they not both fundamentally about controlling plants?¡±

    ¡°They are, but the way they achieve that control differs,¡± Alex elaborated. ¡°Chlorokinesis is the ability to control plants with your mind, involving no transference of mana, which technically means it¡¯s not magic. Druidcraft magic, on the other hand, manipulates nature itself, and requires the use of both spoken and runic mediums for any spells to succeed. Since chlorokinesis is a psychic ability, its limit is set by the wielder¡¯s willpower. In Druidcraft, the limit is determined by the size of the magic circle your mana can sustain and the amount you possess. In simpler terms, think of chlorokinesis as a knife and Druidcraft as an axe. Both can perform the tasks the other is designed for with proper training, but Druidcraft excels at controlling multiple types of plants simultaneously and on a much grander scale. I¡¯m talking about turning an entire forest against your enemies.¡±

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Elyza remarked, maintaining her concise manner. She had never imagined that she could wield such potentially powerful magic. The most she had seen it used for was to create temporary platforms or supports, or to accelerate their crops¡¯ growth back at home.

    ¡°Glad to see you¡¯re as excited as always,¡± Alex joked, strangely amused at her response to the hoard of information he had dumped on her.

    ¡°I have a final question,¡± Elyza stated. He nodded for her to continue, and she asked, pointing towards the mountain of books on the table behind him, ¡°How much of that do I have to study?¡±

    Alex was taken aback; he had expected something related to the previous topic. But his response shocked Elyza even more. ¡°All of them.¡±

    ¡°All of them?¡± Elyza repeated, a trace of disbelief evident in her voice. ¡°But I thought you were going to remove a quarter off the table.¡±

    ¡°I already have.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s the reduced mountain.¡± she stated, not believing it for a second. ¡°Okay. Then, what will I be studying?¡±

 Chapter 9: You always remember your first

    Elyza emerged into the glade as the sky was turning from orange to black. She had thought that crossing the barrier would become easier the more times she did so. However, even after a week of constant traversal, the persistent grip of anxiety refused to loosen its hold on her. The sight of grass lazily swaying in the wind helped sooth the uneasiness that clung to her.

    With dinner slung over her shoulder, a sizable wild boar she had tracked down. She was able to take the boar as he slept, so most of Elyza¡¯s hunt was spent skinning and draining the blood. Hunting was a daily ritual for her, a practice she was keen on preserving. When she had voiced this desire, Alex had surprisingly agreed, citing something about ¡®keeping instincts sharp.¡¯ The first week she was there, he had accompanied her hunts, often following their sparring sessions.

    However, Elyza yearned for solitary hunting, for it was a time when she could truly relax, and more importantly get some time away from Alex. To her surprise, he readily agreed, much too quickly, with the only condition being that she would be responsible for cooking her catch. Although she suspected that he might be scheming something, a week of seemingly ordinary behaviour persuaded Elyza to dismiss the thought.

    Glancing towards the spot where her lecturer had been just an hour earlier, repairing ¡®Geoffrey¡¯, a name Alex had given the training dummy to ¡®humanise¡¯ it. The dummy had endured a fortnight of Elyza¡¯s spell experimentation, held together by a precarious combination of rope and nails, barely maintaining a humanoid form. Alex was shooting arrows into Geoffrey¡¯s head, a new rope attaching it once again to its body.

    The boar on her back was starting to get heavier, prompting Elyza to consider stashing it at the house before reporting back to Alex. He had asked her to keep an eye out for anything strange roaming the forest on her hunts. With the key to the house in hand, she reached for the door handle, only to find it creaking open on its own. Immediately, Elyza knew something was wrong; the door had done so, except for Alex. She knew it was nearly impossible to force open, a memory of an unfortunate night fresh in her memory. And according to Alex, she had the only key to the house.

    She should have informed him that something was wrong in the house. But Elyza rationalised her decision to venture in alone, by convincing herself that Alex must have left the door open. Lowering the boar carcass next to the door frame, keeping the meat from touching the ground, she retrieved her spear¡ªnow snapped in half from the day¡¯s sparring session. Using the broken weapon, she carefully nudged the door further ajar, her senses attuned to any disturbances within.

    Stepping into the unusually dark house, its lights yet to flicker on in the early evening, Elyza surveyed the room, closing the door shut. Scanning the room, there was nothing that seemed out of the ordinary. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary¡ªher study pile of books scattered across the table, the sofa neatly lined with her spare weapons, and the floor adorned with her attempts to memorize Druidcraft runes. Elyza waited for something to jump out, something that would reveal what was wrong, but the room defied her, remaining still. With a sigh, she tossed the spear onto the sofa, she probably just needed more sleep. But, just as she was about to step outside, a low creak echoed from above.

    Elyza thought that somebody was on the roof, attempting to use the falling dust to pinpoint their position. Observing the ceiling, she noticed no dust descending, meaning the intruder had stopped moving. But something looked off. Alex had started teaching her how to spot illusions, mostly so she could distinguish between his and those of others. Her eyes had been trained to spot any imperfections in the foreground, any peculiar alterations in contours, discrepancies in the environment¡¯s behaviour, and even anomalies in the way dust particles seemed to float. And she was. Something was clinging on to the ceiling.

    Gradually, Elyza began deciphering the monstrous form of the creature. And it noticed, deactivating its camouflage, revealing sandy, scaly skin. Bulging chameleon eyes fixated on her, darting around as it studied her. The monster jumped down from the ceiling, towering above her as it stood on its hind legs, causing Elyza to take a step back, on her guard.

    To her surprise, it seemed to possess intelligence, as it started to barter with her, trying to sound intimidating, ¡°I¡¯m only here for your master. If you can fetch him back to the house, you can leave here with your spine in one piece.¡± He was lying. Elyza knew just by looking at him, as soon as she turned around he would attack her nevertheless. Instead of responding, she readied herself for a fight.

    The reptilian launched a punch at her face, a malevolent grin stretching across its visage as it lunged forward. The grin quickly faded when Elyza easily caught his fist. Having honed her reaction time through the spars with Alex, the reptilian¡¯s substantially stronger punches appeared sluggish in comparison. Startled that she was able to stop his punch, he tried to lunge and bite her head off. This allowed Elyza to use this lapse of judgement to grab his neck and arm, throwing him over her shoulder. The reptilian crashed through the main door, the impact shattering it into pieces, landing on the cobblestone footpath.

    Elyza rushed outside, muttering a sorry to the door as she crossed the splintered mess. Before he had the chance to get up, Elyza shouted, ¡°Morglawdd o lafnau gwynt!¡± A barrage of blades formed from the air before her outstretched hands, before surging towards the reptilian. Despite the increase in their numbers, the trade-off was a reduction in the speed of the blades, allowing the reptilian to avoid his demise. Nevertheless, his escape came at the steep cost of sacrificing half of his tail, eliciting a painful growl marked by a blend of rage and anguish. He retaliated almost immediately, his maw gaping open as his elastic tongue shot towards Elyza with the speed of a whip. There was no way to dodge it, she had to try and cut the tongue when it struck her.

    As she reached for a knife from her hip holster, a black barrier shot up from the ground, shielding her from the attack. It vanished just as rapidly, revealing the reptilian ensnared by shadowy ropes, with Alex standing in front of him. Elyza jogged up to him, still on edge, not trusting the strength of Alex¡¯s constructs.

    Alex¡¯s face remained concealed behind the same illusion he had employed during the encounter with the Countess. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but who are you? I think I would remember inviting a giant gecko to my house,¡± he mocked the restrained intruder.

    In response, the reptilian emitted a low growl, retorting, ¡°After you tortured me to the brink of insanity, after I regrew my arms from the stumps you left them as, no one would hire someone who got beaten by someone they had never heard of. I spent years searching for a person that didn¡¯t seem to exist. But after six years, you will finally feel the pain you have caused me.¡±

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t exactly narrow it down, but thankfully, there are only a few reptilians that have tried to thwart my efforts in rescuing a kidnapped child,¡± Alex responded with a subtle smile, with enough cockiness in his voice to give Elyza the urge to punch him. He added, All I can offer you is the regret that the present me wasn¡¯t the one you encountered back then. I would¡¯ve prevented years of suffering by cutting you down right then and there. In my youth, impatience often got the best of me. To be fair, I was mostly in it for the money.¡±

    Alex¡¯s deliberate taunting successfully ignited the reptilian¡¯s anger. A bit too well. The reptilian leaped out of his binding, attempting to crush Alex¡¯s face with his jaws. Reacting swiftly, Elyza moved to plunge a knife into the reptilian¡¯s head before its maw could open. But, with a snap of the fingers, he was once again restrained, this time with black chains wrapping around his mouth as well.

    ¡°I should probably kill you now. You did try to kill my friend. Unfortunately for you, though, I¡¯ve been teaching her how to interrogate someone, and you¡¯ve made things much easier for me.¡± Alex declared with a calculated calmness, getting closer as he continued, ¡°Because I know for a fact, you could not have found this place without somebody telling you.¡±

    The muzzle on the reptilian dissolved as Alex turned around to address Elyza. His smile, subdued now that he wasn¡¯t playing Nemo, he instructed, ¡°If he¡¯s reluctant at first, pull out his¡­¡± pausing momentarily to figure out his lefts from his rights, ¡°¡­right eye, and he¡¯ll get right to talking. Come back after you learn who¡¯s helping her, and anything else you can find. I¡¯ll start cooking the hog. Do you fancy a roast, or perhaps soup?" Before Elyza could respond, he decided, ¡°I¡¯ll do both.¡±

    Alex walked past her, leaving Elyza alone with the reptilian, who shouted after him, ¡°Coward!¡± She didn¡¯t witness how he responded, but whatever he did, seemed to further enrage the reptilian. The creature redirected its fury towards Elyza, clearly desperate to break free from its restraints.

    ¡°Look at you, acting like his personal pet. Do you have any idea about the horrible things he¡¯s done, the number of people he''s killed? You¡¯re being trained by a psychotic mass-murdering demon, and I¡¯ll bet he hasn¡¯t even told you his real name.¡± the reptilian spat, attempting to incite a reaction from Elyza.

    Elyza shuffled closer, intrigued by what the reptilian had to say. ¡°Speak what you know, lizard,¡± she prompted.

    The reptilian was too easy to anger, as a frustrated growl led to his words, ¡°Do not belittle me, tree-hugger. Unlike your master, I prefer people know who killed them before they die. I am called Ocul Jerrawa, son of the Agura tribe.¡± His voice carried a mixture of defiance and resentment.

    ¡°I see,¡± Elyza played along, ¡°You may call me Elyza. Now, tell me what you know.¡±

    ¡°The man who calls himself ¡®Nemo¡¯ does so to hide the fact his real name is¡­ Bob,¡± the reptilian declared, his tone serious.

    The amount of self-control Elyza was expected to have not to burst out laughing was scarcely met by her. ¡°I see. Who were you hired by, and why are they after¡­ Bob.¡±

    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

    ¡°They say he stole something from them. What? I couldn¡¯t care less. I only wanted to tear his head off. I took the contract because it paid big, but imagine my surprise when they told me who I was to kill. The contract is open, so just go inside, slice his jugular open, and I¡¯ll be happy enough to split the reward. Just let me smash his head into an omelette afterward, and I¡¯ll forgive you for throwing me,¡± Ocul¡¯s tone laced with a peculiar mix of savagery and casual indifference.

    Elyza attempted to convey an unprovoked killing intent, a sensation she had only heard Alex describe once before ¡ª ¡®an exertion of overwhelming bloodlust, of causing irreparable harm, something that should only be noticeable when you want to instil fear.¡¯ She remembered feeling such an emotion when facing Hastings, so Elyza tried to emulate it.

    ¡°It appears to me that I will be the one doing all the work, and that seems unfair. The only thing stopping me from selling you as leather is I do not know who your employer is. Let us see if we can fix that.¡± she asserted. Elyza didn¡¯t have the ability to observe her own face, so she had no idea if she had successfully expressed what she wanted. However, a fleeting look of fear, quickly concealed by Ocul, confirmed that the desired effect had been invoked.

    ¡°Think before you speak, elf.¡± Ocul spat back, ¡°Be glad my arms aren¡¯t free to rip your insolent tongue out of your mouth.¡±

    ¡°You should follow your own advice, lizard.¡± Elyza replied calmly, as she prepared to cast, fully aware of what was to come, ¡°Tell me who your master is, and I¡¯ll allow you to live.¡± She lied.

    His fury made him predictable. Elyza observed the tension in his jaw, and she cast instantly, ¡°Gabh¨¢il-a-ceangail.¡± As fast as his tongue shot out, so was it ensnared by the blades of grass she commanded. The vines pulled the tongue to the ground, covering it with dirt, and the reptilian panicked as it tried to retract it.

    Approaching Ocul, Elyza traced the edge of her knife along the length of the slack tongue, threatening to pierce the flesh. She noticed that one of his eyes, the right one, was fake, but the pupil still dilated as she got closer.

    ¡°I would prefer to cut this thing, if only you did not need it to speak. It still might get separated; people tend to clench their jaws when they feel pain.¡± she informed him. She pried open his right eyelids, both of them, to reveal a mechanical eye the size of a grapefruit, darting around in panic. A wet exhale was all Ocul could manage as he tried to protest, or so Elyza assumed. The eye was surrounded with some transparent liquid, and looking through the pupil, it seemed to be mostly made of bronze.

    She pushed the eye up, creating enough space for the flat of her knife to wiggle beneath it and attempt to use it as a lever. Pulling down on the knife, causing the eye to bulge. Gripping the bronze orb firmly, she yanked it free. There was more resistance than she expected, and as she held the reptilian¡¯s eye in her hand, she realised why. The mechanical eye had a tail, a replica to act as an ocular nerve, covered in puss and blood. Throughout this, Ocul writhed in pain as much as he could in the chain restraints, unable to scream or vocalise his agony.

    Elyza nonchalantly discarded the eye, turning her gaze back to Ocul. ¡°I trust my demonstration motivated you to talk.¡± awaiting some form of agreement, which came in the form of a reluctant nod and a feeble attempt at uttering a strained ¡°Fine¡±.

    Dispelling the Druidcraft caused the vines to withdraw back into the soil, freeing his tongue to slither back into his maw. He wasted no time spitting out the dirt that had coated his tongue, accompanied by a string of curses, ¡°You tree-fucking, knife-eared ¡­¡± and a couple of more incomprehensible insults. After allowing him enough time to catch his breath, Elyza pushed her knife against his jugular, reminding him of the situation, encouraging him to talk fast.

    ¡°After you kill him, these chains will disappear, and there would be nothing to stop me from ripping both of your eyes out.¡± He tried to threaten her, to which Elyza simply pushed the knife deeper, piercing the skin, causing greenish blood to trickle out. His tone became more panicky as he continued, ¡°If you kill me, I hope you know necromancy,¡± he stammered, his voice tinged with urgency, ¡°Otherwise you¡¯ll never uncover who hired me.¡±

    ¡°How do you know I do not?¡± Her words were carefully chosen, designed to sow doubt in Ocul''s already uneasy mind.

    ¡°Y¡­ You¡¯re an elf.¡± Ocul responded in disbelief, staring at her for the signs of a bluff, which remained stoic. Not wanting to have his body be a puppet by forces he couldn¡¯t comprehend, he finally relented, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll tell you. But promise that you''ll show me his decapitated head before you kill me. Grant me some satisfaction, so I can find peace in my next life.¡±

    Elyza¡¯s demeanour remained unchanged, providing the illusion that she was contemplating his request. ¡°I agree,¡± she lied, her voice laced with cold assurance.

    ¡°When I went to the meet-up site, there was a hooded man waiting for me. He called himself ¡®Sauran¡¯ and handed me a map to this place. I couldn¡¯t see his face, but the robes he wore resembled a priest¡¯s outfit. That¡¯s all I know,¡± Ocul revealed, seemingly accepting his fate. He wasn¡¯t showing any signs of lying, at least the ones that Elyza knew of, so she was forced to take his word.

    As she strolled back to the house, tiny spheres of light floated up from beneath the cobblestones, mimicking the glow of fireflies, illuminating Elyza¡¯s way down the footpath. Approaching the doorway, the tantalising aroma of Alex¡¯s cooking reached her senses¡ªa harmonious blend of roasted pork, tomatoes, and some others that she couldn¡¯t recognise. Stepping over the wreckage of the door, she found Alex stirring a bubbling soup in a large pot.

    For a fleeting moment, a morbid thought crossed her mind ¨C it would be effortless to walk up behind him and plunge a knife into his neck. But as quickly as the thought came, Elyza forced it out of her mind. The rational part of her knew that there was no way Alex wouldn¡¯t figure out what she was trying to do.

    Almost as if on cue, Alex commented on her arrival, ¡°Came back faster than I erwartet hatte, what did you find out?¡± He had spoken in two different languages in perfect fluency, first in Elvish and then in Latin. Elyza was in the process of learning both, so although her brain couldn¡¯t translate a small part of what he said, she understood what he wanted to say.

    ¡°In English?¡± Elyza sought clarification, and he nodded for her to continue. ¡°He says the man that contacted him was a priest named ¡®Sauran,¡¯ gave no other physical description. It is likely that the priest is part of a larger organisation after you.¡±

    ¡°Do you think he¡¯s hiding something?¡± he questioned the information, not even bothering to look behind him.

    She thought for a moment before replying, ¡°I believe his hatred of you is greater than any sort of loyalty he possesses.¡± Alex finally turned around, matching her gaze, trying to look into her, for some reason.

    Elyza held the gaze, for enough time that it started to make her feel uncomfortable, before he suddenly exclaimed, ¡°You pass.¡±

    ¡°Are you not going to interrogate him as well?¡± Elyza asked, confused, before changing her question, ¡°How do you know he does not have anything else of use?¡±

    ¡°He can¡¯t. I mean, I don¡¯t think I gave him anything else to hide.¡± Alex replied, cracking his knuckles as he tried to remember.

    ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± She immediately responded, worry filling her mind as she contemplated the possibility. ¡°Are you the priest? Did you hire him for the sole reason of using him as an interrogation subject?¡±

    ¡°No!¡± he sounded genuinely offended, ¡°I made him, I mean,¡± Quickly readjusting his statement. ¡°He¡¯s an illusion that I formed.¡± Alex said, as if it was a daily occurrence.

    Elyza was shocked, absolutely flummoxed, as she racked her brain for any signs she might have missed about Ocul being an illusion. ¡°But I could hear him breathe; he bled when I nicked him; he reacted as if he was alive. Of course, he was not generating body heat, but reptilians are cold-blooded, so I did not pay any attention to it. Unless you were disguised as him during the interrogation, how is that remotely possible?¡±

    Alex had a giant smile on his face. While she wasn¡¯t a big fan of his long-winded explanations, this time she wanted to know what he had done, and she had given him permission to go full professor mode.

    ¡°So, as we¡¯ve discussed already, illusions are generally in the form of ¡®targeted hallucinations¡¯, basically making people perceive reality differently. This includes your standard spells like invisibility, disguising things, creating fake people, entrances, traps, and other similar things. That¡¯s why they tend to break when you interact with them, what you¡¯re perceiving clashes with reality and the illusion fails. Since mana also has some density, it also feels weird when you interact with one. But with the use of certain runes you can condense it in a way for it to start mimicking certain surfaces, like skin or scales or rocks. Further, with enough time, and a lot of magic circles, you can make it so that the illusion changes when certain requirements are met. Combine these two properties together, and you can basically make anything seem real, granted that you have enough mana to form it, knowledge to make it believable, and a looooooooot of time.¡±

    He paused, taking a breath, swigged from his flask, and continued, ¡°And I mean an excruciating amount of time. That illusion of Ocul, based on a friend known by the same, took me a week to make.¡±

    ¡°That does not seem that bad,¡± Elyza remarked.

    ¡°Yes, but that was after I cheated,¡± Alex admitted, ¡°I didn¡¯t actually condense any mana. I created a shadow puppet, cast a layer above it, and connected the two, so that the illusion could influence the movement of the puppet. That took around two days, so actually creating the illusion took me five days. And it only has a lifespan of an hour max. This isn¡¯t even near the apex of what you can do with illusion magic. I¡¯ve heard of some masters of it who spend years on a spell to create individuals that didn¡¯t even know they were fake.¡±

    Elyza quickly realised he had gone off track. ¡°Thank you for the explanation. But who is ¡®Sauran,¡¯ another friend?¡± she interjected, swiftly changing the topic before he embarked on another monologue.

    ¡°Ah, ¡®Sauran¡¯ is Ocul¡¯s pet wyrm.¡± Elyza found the concept humorous, causing Alex to defend his choices, ¡°Hey, I was in a time crunch. I had to draw from my own experiences to create a plausible scenario; otherwise, I would¡¯ve done this next week. But I needed to assess your progress before I left.¡±

    ¡°Wait, is that why we sparred for four hours today? Why are you leaving? If you are going for a job, I would like to join you.¡± Elyza asked, the conversation generating more questions than answers.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have to go meet Liliana, I¡¯ll be back in a week, max. You can relax, train more, or whatever. But we can talk about the details in the morning. For now, let us feast.¡± Alex replied as he lifted the pot off the fire.

 Chapter 10: A spirited day

    Elyza''s halberd sliced through the air, aiming for Alex''s chest in a swift, determined motion. Alex had abandoned his longsword in favour of a dagger and a short sword, seeking to match Elyza''s formidable skills that had rapidly progressed in a surprisingly short span. He could no longer afford to fight at a disadvantage, a fact he had chosen to keep to himself.

    The halberd''s blade sliced through the air where Alex had stood mere moments before, narrowly evading its intended target. Alex immediately surged forward to take advantage of the opportunity. Elyza countered by swinging her halberd backward, intending to strike with the beak. Any ground she let him gain could tip the balance between victory and defeat. But since Alex was agile enough to avoid any of the ''normal'' attacks, it was also a risk she was ready to deal with. The idea was good; even if Alex managed to evade the attack, the halberd''s shaft formed a natural barrier against any retaliatory strikes.

    But that plan quickly fell apart. Alex used his parrying dagger''s curved hilt to redirect the shaft upwards, creating an opening. Ducking underneath, he moved quickly, catching Elyza off guard. Before Elyza could slide the halberd back to put the spear point in-between them, Alex struck with his xiphos. The blade barely missed her left hand, the latter quickly withdrawn to avoid any injury. The force of the blow drove the halberd''s end into the ground, leaving a stride''s distance between them. Elyza moved to retrieve her knife, but the gap had already been covered.

    He was about to pierce her chainmail with his dagger, but Elyza grabbed his left wrist with her right hand, bending his elbow to point it back at him. Alex quickly let go of his dagger, which she tried to grab as it fell. And she would''ve, if there were not a sword''s edge resting on her neck.

    "Dead." Alex smugly stated. "And I believe this also ends your coveted run."

    Elyza sighed, "I did not want another match to end with a draw. The idea had its risks but had merit."

    "That it did. Any lesser man would be dead, just like our previous twenty-two consecutive draws," Alex reassured her, though the words were dampened due to his expression. He bent to retrieve his dagger and her halberd, "It might have worked if you were more aggressive. But you ultimately lost, because you withdrew your hand from your weapon while wearing gauntlets." his tone became more critical as he spoke.

    "It was reflex," Elyza protested, grabbing her halberd back, the gauntlets feeling heavier now that she was not fighting, "I have only had them for a few days. And you know why I asked for them."

    "A real opponent would..." Alex began.

    "...have done the same. I was lucky you missed," Elyza interjected, cutting off his excuse.

    "Yes, it was luck that saved your little fingers," Alex teased.

    Elyza sighed, not acknowledging the joke. She walked away and sat in the shade provided by the wall of vines she had conjured, propping the halberd against it. They had started to flower, and she was glad that she was grateful for having kept it alive. She reached out towards Alex, and got her bottle thrown to her. Downing the water, she relished its citrus flavour, giving her mind a temporary distraction from the frustration she felt at herself. Before her mind could turn back to it, Alex appeared to her right, his head popping up from her shadow.

    "You wanna gamble?" Alex asked, in a voice that belonged in a back alleyway.

    Without missing a beat, Elyza set down her bottle on top of his head, showing little reaction. "As soon as you reveal what it does, I will be willing to roll the die."

    "It chooses something for me," Alex replied vaguely, keeping the nature of the die''s effects shrouded in mystery.

    Frustration tinged Elyza''s response, "Then why not roll it yourself?"

    "I don''t want to be blamed for what happens." He responded, a bit too ominously, "Come one. We both know it won''t cause any direct harm."

    Elyza took a deep breath, sick of his persistence on something he refused to tell her about, but was able to control her frustration from manifesting outwards. However, she was unable to stop it from affecting her thinking, "Fine, give me the die, then allow me some peace of mind."

    Alex knew that she was not in the mood for any additional statements of his, so he just gave her the die, and waited for her roll. Elyza scrutinized the eight-sided wooden dice, trying to figure out if there was some type of magical device embedded within or any runes scratched alongside the numbers. The dice appeared to be totally normal, and that worried her. Left with no grounds to object, she reluctantly rolled the die, which landed on 3. Before she could even ask what that meant, Alex swiftly snatched the die from her hands, his head disappearing back into the shadow.

    Knowing better than to fret over what he had planned, Elyza closed her eyes and tried to strategise ways she could best him. The environment seemed perfect for a nap, with a gentle breeze through the meadow, the sun lazily hanging in the sky, and a comfortably warm temperature with almost no humidity. Yet, there was a tiny part of her mind still worried about what Alex was up to, which kept her aware of her surroundings.

    The first indication of change arrived with the wind slowing to a crawl, as if it was struggling to move through something dense. Soon, even Elyza felt the heaviness in the air, the scent of rain accompanying its transformation. Glancing skyward, she saw the usual blue sky being covered up with gray clouds. After a week of picturesque weather within the barrier''s confines, this sudden shift felt almost apocalyptic, and could only mean that Alex had something to do with it.

    As she was walking towards the house, her curiosity wanting to know how Alex was able to change the weather, Elyza abruptly felt a strange resistance. It was as though she was treading through mud, the sensation slowing her pace. Looking back towards her vines, she could see a clear split between the soil surrounding it versus the sludge under her. The entire meadow seemed to have transformed into a mudflat, save for a 2-meter radius around the vine wall and the house, which showed absolutely no change. The vibrant green grass had vanished, replaced by crumbly brown dirt that turned to mud with the slightest pressure.

    Deciding that she would prefer standing back on solid ground rather than trudging back to the house, Elyza found that her feet refused to budge. She tried to pull them up with her hands, but to no avail. The only option that remained, was to abandon her boots and sprint back to the vines. However, before she could wiggle out of them, her shadow promptly swallowed her. In an instant, Elyza found herself back beneath the poison ivy wall, with Alex standing before her. Her mouth opened to ask about the weather, but he beat her to the punch.

    "I''ll tell you how I was able to do this, after our sparring session ends." Alex answered her unspoken question, smiling as he did. Elyza wanted him to explain it right there, but nevertheless grabbed her halberd. "Ever fought in mud?" he inquired as she stood before him, the halberd towering above him.

    "No." Elyza stated, not a trace of worry in her voice as she observed the field of battle, "I have, however, hunted in similar conditions."

    Just for his peace of mind, Alex gave her some pointers, "Well, there is some crossover. But mainly try to keep moving till the ground flattens a bit, and be light on your feet. You stop too long, and you will get stuck."

    "First contact, or till death?" Elyza asked, her mind already developing ways to win for either.

    "Death." Alex responded, his expression blunted, as their shadows enveloped them both.

    After a delay of a second, they both emerged somewhere in the field, a five-meter gap between them. They were both being held up with their respective shadows, which acted as a temporary ground. Both adopted their starting stances; Alex holding his weapons parallel to each other, while Elyza gripped the forward quarter and the end of the staff, both her palms and the halberd''s blade pointing upwards. Gradually, Alex''s magic shifted its mana source from him to Elyza, and the stage was set for their battle.

    Immediately Alex started to move around, dropping his stance, bouncing on his feet, causing the shadow he was standing on to dissipate. He took care to not come any closer, but instead circled around her to keep her guard up. Elyza''s gaze followed him, and so did the point of her spear, keeping her stance as she waited for his attack. But, as her mind raced to predict where it would come from, she shifted her feet, which meant that they soon stood on sinking ground.

    Alex knew this would happen. Elyza had a tendency to allow her mind to complete its thoughts before acting, a trait that usually served her well. However, it meant that she often failed to make the first move, always reacting to her opponent. However, when wielding any form of pole-arm, it tends to put you at a disadvantage. Despite Alex''s repeated reminders and Elyza''s own recognition of the need to overcome this tendency, she reverted to her usual approach in uncertain situations. And he wanted to illustrate why that was dangerous.

    Without hesitation, he surged forward, sword and dagger poised to counter any defence she might muster. A flicker of fear flashed within Elyza as she realized he had planned this. It was quickly quashed by Elyza, her mind firing up as it tried to salvage a way to win. Determined to regain control of the battle''s momentum, she moved forward, wrenching her feet from the mud, knowing she needed to control the flow of the battle.

    Thrusting her pole-arm forward thrice, each strike evaded by Alex, Elyza smoothly retracted the weapon before executing a slicing motion across his chest. However, as she swung the staff back, mirroring her earlier manoeuvre, she also slid it backward. In the ensuing attempt to deflect the halberd, Alex found his dagger being wrenched out of his hand. Seizing the moment, Elyza shifted her stance to point the halberd toward the ground, aiming to get rid of his remaining weapon.

    In one fluid movement, she flicked the halberd up, forcing him to defend. He side-stepped the strike and wrapped his left arm around the shaft, implying that he would try and pull it out of her hands. Elyza slid her halberd back using her left hand, threatening to cut his arm if he didn''t let go of the staff. Instead, Alex kept his grip, allowing himself to be pulled along and into range, exploiting the mud beneath his feet.

    With a quick flick of the spear''s point, she broke his grip. Swiftly shifting her stance, she now held the halberd horizontally in her hands, the dominant hand gripping its socket. She struck with the blunt to draw out a parry before striking using the blade from the other side. Alex blocked the blunt with his arm, sacrificing its use temporarily, managing to deflect the blade before its point could reach his torso. Elyza forcefully shoved him back with the shaft, leveraging her physical advantage and forcing him to scamper for stability as he stumbled backwards.

    Alex retaliated immediately, aiming a blow to her chest, when she slipped. Anticipating his strike, Elyza had moved into it, knowing she could inflict more damage than he could. As she did, her front foot slid backwards as she tried to add power to her diagonal slice, and she fell. Now, Alex''s strike to her chest was aimed at piercing her mouth. He tried to pull back his sword, rotating so that her face hit the flat. Instead, the motion resulted in a cut to her cheek as her face met the ground.

    Too embarrassed to rise from the mud, Elyza lay there, screaming internally. Alex helped her up, pushing her back to her knees, her face still smeared with dirt. Opening her eyes, she could see by the small tugs at the corners of his worried, panting face that he was struggling to contain his laughter. The sight was absolutely hilarious, two emerald circles surrounded with semi-wet splodges of faded brown, but through the mud he recognised the expression of ''Why did this have to happen in front of the worst person possible.''

    He pulled out a towel and a healing potion, "Do you want me to...?"

    Elyza grabbed the towel, removing large swathes of mud at the same time, but her face still had streaks of it remaining. As she handed back the towel, he tried to hand her the flask of glittering red syrup. "No." She said, pushing back his arm, which baffled Alex.

    "You got cut, I can clearly see the blood dripping down your cheek. What do you mean ''No''?

    Elyza defended her decision, "The cut is shallow, I do not like how the potion makes me feel, and during our last match I felt on the verge of winning. So, I would like to continue." Her determination resonated through her expression.

    Alex, for the first time, couldn''t argue. Instead, he pulled out a bottle of dry alcohol, the ball of cotton still wrapped around it with some butcher''s twine. Before she could protest, he started to clean her cut, which was quickly followed by a short yelp of pain from Elyza. "I could not stop you if I wanted to, but if this forms a scar, you''re going to have to live with it for a long time."

    "I know." Elyza said, staying still as he wiped off the rest of the mud.

    "So," Alex said as he finished up, "First contact or death?"

    <hr>

    After two hours had elapsed, Alex found himself sprawled on his back, gazing at the grey ceiling above. He was narrowly able to avoid the halberd coming down at his head, executing a nimble roll to the side and seamlessly flipping up onto his feet. Fortuitously, he managed to sheathe his dagger mid-air after being tossed by Elyza, so he still held onto both his weapons. However, there was no respite; she sliced then thrust in a single fluid motion, both attacks aiming for his neck.

    Swiftly evading both strikes, Alex shifted his grip on his sword to a reverse hold and promptly retreated, putting a distance of about six meters between them. As their session had continued, the ground had started to level, erasing the advantage he had once had. Elyza, adapting to the halberd''s weight and behaviour, forced Alex to rely more on feints. Yet, the more he used them, the less they were effective. Her growing confidence meant that she was becoming more aggressive. This, technically, was good news ¨C that was what he had told her to be. However, he was not the type of person that appreciated losing.

    Switching to his defensive stance, xiphos pointing towards her, the dagger acting as its extended cross-guard, Alex faced Elyza''s advance. She gripped the halberd like a claymore, the shaft at a downward angle, the blade to her left, and the blunt raised in front of her, ready to strike. It felt as if he was facing a seasoned general, and Alex forced his mind to calm down from its excitement. Her stance was full of possible openings, but he knew better than to fall into her trap, again.

    Elyza swung at his head, and as he moved to block, she quickly thrust her right hand upwards, slicing him in the stomach. Though the blade couldn''t cut through his leather armour, it did knock the wind out of his lungs. She followed up immediately with a thrust into his left shoulder, which he deflected with his xiphos. Alex retaliated, dashing forward with his dagger, feinting a stab to her gut. She was about to smack him back with the shaft, when Elyza was kicked in the stomach. Alex thought it would provide him an opportunity to end the fight, but instead, he was sent flying with a blow to his jaw, almost breaking it.

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    Landing on his knees, but as Alex attempted to get up, he felt the familiar feeling of a metal spear against his neck. Acknowledging his defeat, he let go of his weapons and sat back in the mud, signalling that he was done.

    "Dead." Elyza stated, her voice wavering with silent excitement.

    "Yup," he groaned out through an aching jaw.

    Lowering her halberd, Elyza extended a hand to help him up, and he promptly accepted. Pulled to his feet without having to exert his own strength, Alex spat into the mud, checking for any signs of bleeding in his mouth, since he couldn''t properly feel it.

    Satisfied that he wouldn''t accidentally dribble out some blood as he spoke, he formally conceded her win. "Just so I can remind you, you only won because you fought better than me, and you dared to doubt me when I said that a halberd would suit you." Alex said, rubbing his jaw, a smile playing on his lips. "But if you hoped that would shut me up, should''ve hit harder."

    Elyza smiled at his joke, feeling almost euphoric that she had bested him. "That is a shame." They both looked like they had just fought a mud elemental, prompting her to suggest, "If we are done for the day, I would like to have a bath before I show you something interesting I learned of Druidcraft as I was practising yesterday."

    "Wait for a second," Alex responded, crouching down and reaching into his shadow. She could see his arm moving, so she knew he was doing something, before he stood up again. Holding up his hand, he signalled for her to wait.

    Then the ground started to rumble, the mud they were standing on drying up before being replaced with the soil she was used to. It was as if it was rising up from its resting place somewhere deep underground. Elyza was lifted by an arm connected to Alex''s shadow as wild grass rapidly grew beneath them. She was set down shortly afterward, the vegetation blooming across the meadow. The glade resembled how it looked when she had first arrived with Alex. There was a moment of silence before the clouds thundered.

    Suddenly, rain fell, swift and ferocious. Elyza almost collapsed under its flow, relying on her halberd to stay upright. Strangely, Alex seemed to be unaffected by the cloudburst, but she soon noticed that he was using his shadow to keep himself up. Slowly, the rain''s ferocity reduced, allowing Elyza to enjoy its feeling on her skin. She took the opportunity to remove her gauntlets and clean the mud off herself. Soon enough, as fast as it had arrived, the rain stoppedl, leaving a sky as blue as could be, with only a few wisps of white clouds and the two soaked individuals as evidence of the flood.

    "Ears, got any way to dry us?" Alex asked, his hood down, his hair plastered to his face.

    Elyza closed her eyes, feeling for a pocket of warm air. Finding one, she pulled it towards them, forming a warm whirlwind around them. The air sucked out the moisture off the duo, and after she was sufficiently dry, she eased her control over it, letting it dissipate on its own.

    "Thank you," Alex said, his hair still slightly damp.

    "How did you do it?" Elyza asked, her mind eager to satisfy the question that had been gnawing at her.

    "Hmm?" Alex said, pretending he didn''t hear her question, asking his own, "What did you want to show me?"

    Unfortunately, she quickly caught on to his cunning plan, "You never pass up any chance to talk, so either tell me how you were able to control the weather, or tell me why you do not want to."

    Alex''s mind went blank for a moment before he finally responded, "It''s not that I don''t want to, it''s just... I don''t know how it works."

    "Excuse me?" was the most appropriate response that popped into Elyza''s head. The concept that he had done something without knowing how it worked seemed extremely uncharacteristic of him.

    "I mean..., I know how I made it happen; I just don''t... know how it makes... it... happen...," he stumbled on his words as he tried to explain a concept he had no grasp on. "Just show me what you learned while I try to figure out a way to properly explain what I think happens."

    Sighing, she started walking towards Geoffrey with Alex in tow, when she realised something. "Would you be willing to be the target today?" She asked, expecting him to at least question why.

    "Sure, where do you want me to stand?" he agreed immediately.

    "Just walk towards me when I tell you to." Elyza instructed and walked away. She knelt down on the grass, a few meters or so away from him, holding out her right hand with her palm facing the ground. Choosing the glyph for ivy from her memories, purplish-green energy emerged from her palm, solidifying into lines as they rushed to form a magic circle. "Greim," Elyza whispered, causing the circle to rotate, shifting its shape to follow her command. With her left hand, placing it on the ground, murmuring as she did, "C¨®ip." The grass started to weave itself into the circle above, and as they did, Elyza pulled out some ivy seeds, filling them with as much mana as they could handle without blooming. Scattering them within the grass circle, she stood up to see if she needed to camouflage it better.

    She walked to the other side of her trap and motioned Alex to approach. He already has suspicions about what she was doing, but nevertheless tried to act aloof as he neared whatever she had prepared. Stepping onto the circle, he heard a slight crack, before a ring of vines exploded from the ground. Their roots weaving into the ground as the rest grabbed every single part of his body, pulling Alex to his knees.

    He was barely able to stop himself from collapsing entirely, but there was a wide smile on his face as he struggled to keep it from eating dirt. "I''ll be honest, this is not the first time I''ve been restrained like this, although that was by choice." he remarked, adding, "Right now, though, I''m very excited that my theory on delayed reactions in Druidcraft was wrong."

    "I thought you would be disappointed that I proved your writings wrong." Elyza stated, as her hand started to rise, preparing to command the vines down. However, Alex interjected.

    "Give me a second, I want to test something out," he said.

    Attempting to dissolve himself into the shadows, the vines'' grip strengthened in response, preventing him from fully transforming. To her, it appeared as if her spell had caught a monster from Niflheim ¡ª Alex''s body temporally changing into one made of pure darkness before suddenly stopping. A realization struck Elyza; she had seen the same thing happen every time he shifted from one place to another, but it usually happened faster than her brain could perceive it properly.

    "Fuck," Alex exclaimed after another failed attempt to teleport, breaking her out of her thoughts. "Well, that''s good to know." He muttered to himself, before white-purplish electricity started to arc from him, forming bridges that charred wherever they touched the vines. The vines restraining his hands burst into flames as a sudden surge of electricity surged through them. Before long, Alex stood upright, dagger in hand, smiling.

    "Why are you so happy?" Elyza said, bewildered at his optimism.

    "I''m impressed at how fast you''ve progressed. In what ¨C one and a half months or so, you''ve gone from only knowing one spell for wind to disproving the ''leading'' expert on a style of magic. Well, that and the fact that I still have a lot to learn about Druidcraft," he explained, sheathing his dagger. Continuing, he added, "Which reminds me, I have a proposition concerning our spars from today onwards."

    Sighing, she inquired, "What do you have in mind?"

    "If you agree to it, instead of us continuing on as usual, training till you can quite handily defeat me, which wouldn''t take that long, I feel it would be more efficient to start using magic in our sparring sessions to stimulate actual battles." he replied, trying not to sound as excited as he was.

    There was a brief moment of silence as Elyza contemplated his proposal before answering, "I agree."

    Concerned at the speed of her answer, Alex added, "Just to make sure you understand what I mean; I will be allowed to use my entire arsenal from now own, meaning that you will be facing attacks such as this," he said, maintaining eye contact as he pointed his hand towards the training dummy, fingers spread wide.

    Small arcs of white electricity dance between his fingers before a stream of lighting shot out of his palm, slamming into the wooden figure. Exploding into a cloud of wooden shard, the smell of smoke wafted through the air, leaving only the blackened log it once stood on.

    "Oh no, Geoffrey!" Alex exclaimed with enough distraught in his voice to make it appear real, before quickly muttering, "That was stronger than what I was aiming for." All the while, he hadn''t looked away from Elyza. He continued, "While I usually never hit anyone as hard as I did him, it''s still an apt demonstration of my abilities. So, you sure about this?"

    Unfazed, her confidence soaring after her recent victory, she replied immediately, "I am."

    "Good," he said, grinning, "And since you don''t have a target for today, let''s make one."

    Elyza responded, wanting her curiosity quenched, "No. First tell me how you did it, then we will do whatever it is you want to."

    Walking by, he remarked, "I have the rare ability to talk while walking." Rolling her eyes, she followed, and as he turned around, walking backward, he asked, "I believe you have noticed that my house is larger than it appears to be."

    "I did, some form of dimensional transcendence, I believe." she replied, much to Alex''s surprise.

    "''Dimensional Transcendence''¡ª I''ve never heard that phrase before." he said aloud, before quickly adding, "It does fit. Where did you learn it from?"

    "I found the library. There was a book left open on the desk. I read it, and it explained how one could manipulate dimensions."

    Sighing, Alex said, "The library was supposed to be a surprise for after you read everything. Did you at least mark the page it was open on?"

    "Yes."

    "Good. So, there''s an attic of sorts in the house that was revealed to me some while after I gained ownership of it. The attic was full of some sort of machinery, I could recognise about... a quarter of the mechanisms and some glyphs drawn upon it. I thought it must''ve been the workings of the previous owner, a madman, or both, and since I didn''t know what it did, and because it looked extremely unstable, I left it alone," he explained, both nearing the edge of the glade, marked by a line of trees that separated it from the barrier behind it.

    "Until a notebook appeared in my room," he added, "Which had diagrams upon paragraphs detailing what the machine does and how to operate it, almost incomprehensible due to the handwriting. It''s capable of manipulating the environment within the barrier, not the surrounding areas, to change the plants, soil, humidity, weather, and whatever else you can think of, given enough time, of course. You have to specify everything you can, even the acidity of the soil. It is the most complex machine to be created by mortals and immortals alike that I''ve come across, anyway. Fortunately, there were pages that specified which settings were necessary for creating areas like deserts, forests, mudflats, and many more."

    "So... how does it work?" Elyza asked again.

    "Unfortunately," Alex replied, his voice tinged with frustration, pulling out a cutting axe with a blade larger than her halberd''s. "The bastard that made it never actually jotted down how it works, at least not in the notebook I found. So I have no idea how it works, what fundamentals it operates on, nor do I know what it asks for returns, because the ability to control the environment must cost something, but I found nothing of the sort." He continued, moving towards an ancient-looking tree, its bark, over time, dotted with some white fungus, the branches thick yet having lost the shine they once had.

    Surprised, she questioned, "How can you use it if you do not know what it asks in return?"

    "It did, once," he remarked, inspecting the trunk for the best place to notch it, "But I know what not to do, and until something goes wrong, that''s fine by me. After all, there''s no reason to suspect its creator was planning anything malicious, and the best way to understand something is through using it." raising his axe to strike.

    Elyza felt an overwhelming need to ask more questions, "Does that not frustrate you? Knowing that the answer to your questions will have to wait. Or have you given up ever answering them?"

    Alex lowered his axe, happy to talk some more. "I haven''t given up, just accepted that the answers will take me more time to decipher. Obviously, I have a lot of theories on how the machine works. For instance, I know for a fact it has something to do with spirits¡ª not the alcoholic ones, mind you, because I found some diagrams detailing their appearance with descriptions. And that the area within the barrier has to exist in between or in another dimension, and the house exists separately from that as well..." he continued, raising the axe once again.

    "Wait." Elyza protested, wincing as she spoke.

    Alex noticed a strained look on her face and dropped his arm. "Is something wrong?"

    "Just," Elyza said, looking better than she did moments before, "Are we in between the barrier?"

    "No. Why?" He looked concerned.

    "I thought it was just a gut feeling at first, wanting to ask you that question, but just now, it was like there was a sea of thoughts in the back of my mind that wanted to stop you."

    Confused, Alex asked, "Stop me from doing what? Cutting down this tree?" Raising his axe once again.

    Elyza again winced, the thoughts getting louder. As Alex stepped away from the tree, they returned to being a low roar, causing her to remark, "Yes, it seems that something in my subconscious is against cutting down trees."

    He went quiet, thinking, before abruptly saying, "Focus on the thoughts for a second and tell me exactly what they''re trying to say."

    Elyza closed her eyes, trying to pull the thoughts into focus, an exceedingly hard endeavour now that they weren''t screaming at her. An idea sparked in her head, and she told Alex, "Cut down the tree." As he went to chop the tree the voices immediately flooded back, allowing Elyza to pick out what they wanted to say, grabbing his arm, "I think they are trying to say, Do not let him cut down the elder.''" She relayed back to him, her words laced in doubt.

    "Are these types of thoughts common?" Alex had to ask before he started to make assumptions.

    She nodded, before asking a question herself, "Any idea where they are coming from?"

    "I have a hunch," he said, turning around and screaming, "Oh spirits of the trees, can you hear me?"

    The voices returned, not as frenzied as before, but more unified, all in agreement. She nodded to Alex, confirming his suspicions, prompting him to address Elyza, "Congratulations! You can talk to spirits!" There was a tinge of jealousy in his voice, masked by his excited demeanour.

    "I can?" She sounded genuinely surprised, "Is that something to be excited about?"

    "Well, probably? At the very least, you can understand what they want to say. And it definitely is. Even if you can''t hear what they are saying, just being able to understand them can help a lot. Especially since I can finally see if my theory that the house is operated by them holds true. Either way, I have a lot of questions, some for you, but mostly for them," he said, turning back to the trees.

    "Like," Alex added, continuing, "I know that most of the plants we grow ourselves don''t house spirits, but can you sense how many spirits may have perished by someone''s hand?"

    The voices surged once more, confirming what he had said. Elyza relayed the information, "They can."

    "That''s horrifying," he admitted, adding, "Also explains a lot. And you," addressing her, "How did you not know you could talk to spirits?"

    "I assumed the voices in my head were my own, advising me what to do. I only once doubted that when I first crossed the barrier." Elyza explained.

    "Good, you didn''t lie to me." sighing, he continued, "This has been an eventful day, and I have to clear my head, meaning I want to cook. But since we don''t have ingredients for what I want to make, I''m going to the town, and you''re coming with me this time."

    "Why?"

    "Practice." Alex said, smiling.

 Chapter 11: A Quick Heist before Brunch

    The sky hung in an inky shroud as the resonant tolling of bells echoed through the city. Last call. The pubs, their once lively interiors now dimming, spilled their patrons into the cobblestone streets. Only the soft glow of street lamps illuminated the throngs of people as they walked under.

    Chryse, nestled opposite the capital city, lay in the shadow of Mount Caelispelagus, formerly known as Hrafnafjall, a mountain whose summit pierced the clouds. Based on the structure of a honeycomb, Chryse was one of the most reputed centres of research, serving as a prestigious hub for both magical and mechanical research. Beyond its myriad of colleges, the city also boasted the renowned ''Museum of Artefacts and Automatons,'' It showcased the largest collection of magical devices, relics, and weapons that the public was allowed to view.

    Elyza had spent the last day roaming inside the museum, looking for infiltration points, trying to see where they could place guards, familiars, mechanical eyes, tripwires, and according to Alex, even the holding glyphs that they create after closing. Most of all, she had to figure out where they were holding the most powerful of the artefacts. In the last two months, he had dragged her around behind him, teaching her how to read people, how to lie to them. All the while, they helped sort out the problems of whatever town they were in, along with continuing to spar whenever they could.

    Till they reached here. Alex just told her that they would be stealing something from the museum, dove into his shadow, and that was eighteen hours ago.

    Now, she was sitting on the bench across the street from it, The bells having rung ten minutes ago, waiting. It was the perfect time to break in ¨C just between when the night owls finally went home, the bars closed, the guards were nearing the end of their shift, and just before the earliest of workers woke up.

    As Elyza perched on the bench, a bag of sunflower seeds in hand, she scattered them before the birds, acting as if it was a daily habit. Suddenly, she felt a shift in air pressure beside her.

    ¡°I can¡¯t stress this enough ¨C pets are really hard to fit into this type of lifestyle,¡± Alex remarked, his abrupt appearance scaring away the birds.

    Elyza let out an involuntary sigh, ¡°Took you long enough.¡±

    Alex simply stated, ¡°Really? How much money is left?¡±

    She muttered, trying to avoid the topic, ¡°You could have told me how long you were going to take.¡±

    ¡°I apologise,¡± he said, bowing slightly in his seat, ¡°Something personal came up during my visit.¡± Rubbing a red stain off his cloak, he asked, ¡°So, are you ready?¡±

    ¡°First,¡± she interjected, addressing the question that had been gnawing at her for the past day, ¡°Tell me what we are stealing.¡±

    ¡°WE¡¯re not stealing anything; you are,¡± He corrected her with a wide smile.

    ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Technically,¡± he added, not even trying to hide his amusement, ¡°You¡¯re only going to be replacing something I have already stolen.¡±

    Elyza went silent, grappling with what frustrated her more: him or the museum, ¡°And they have realised one of their prized artefacts has been missing for¡­ how long?¡±

    ¡°Been a month and a half,¡± he revealed, and tried to defend their incompetence, ¡°and I did put a handmade replica in its place.¡±

    Rather than exhaling her frustration audibly, she took a deep breath and spoke, ¡°If you already have broken into the museum once before, why can you not return it by yourself?¡±

    ¡°Because,¡± he drawled out the syllables in his reply, ¡°I was busy preparing things for you in the capital, and a few surprises as well.¡±

    ¡°Why were you at the capital?¡± she questioned, momentarily distracted by a more pressing concern, ¡°More importantly, what did I tell you about surprising me?¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I promise they¡¯re good surprises this time,¡± for the first time, she thought he might be telling the truth, which made what Alex said next even better, ¡°And I was there setting up things for when you register with the guild.¡±

    ¡°Does that mean?¡± Despite her best efforts, Elyza couldn''t conceal the excitement in her voice. With a confirming nod from Alex, she eagerly added, ¡°What am I returning?¡±

    He handed her what felt like neck armour, wrapped in soft silk cloth. ¡°I haven¡¯t eaten anything in a day, so I¡¯m going to find something open at this early hour,¡± he admitted, turning to her, locking eyes, and cautioned, ¡°Don¡¯t drop that, and don¡¯t leave a trace.¡± Alex began to meld into his shadow, but before he vanished, he commented, ¡°I would say good luck, but you don''t need it.¡±

    Left alone once again, Elyza unveiled the artefact, hoping it was something familiar from the museum floor. She gazed upon a rigid neck collar, made of rusted copper, its intricate designs worn down with time.

    She found herself captivated by the triangular red gem at its centre. As her hands explored the rest of the collar, she couldn''t look away from the centrepiece, its dark red hue dulling as it filled with a muddy yet glittering purplish liquid. Running her fingers along the back, she recognized the mechanism¡ªit resembled a silencing collar worn by prisoners, crafted to be impossible to open by whoever had to wear it.

    The clasp opened with a loud click, just loud enough for Elyza to realise what was happening. The gem was trying to put her into a trance, whispering unheard suggestions to entice her to wear it. Quickly covering the artefact with the cloth, she felt a calm settle over her, turning to annoyance as she reviewed her memories and realised she hadn''t seen anything like it displayed in the museum. It meant the artefact had to be returned to the vault.

    Tossing the artefact into her burlap bag alongside her other gifts, Elyza donned her dark green gloves, striding toward the museum entrance, mentally reviewing her plan of action.

    The building stood four stories tall, with additional floors below ground for experimentation and artefact preservation. Built on a small hill, the museum featured an open courtyard on the first floor. The ground floor housed an array of automatons, the first floor showcased larger exhibits, and the second floor was a trove of carefully curated artefacts.

    The first time Elyza entered the museum, she had noticed that the steps leading up to the entrance were pressurised, likely to detect anyone that had disguised themselves. However, she had no intention of using the front entrance. After being stranded, Elyza had spent an hour sitting on the bench, waiting for the museum to open its door. Between bites of an egg sandwich, she was also counting how many employees had gone in, and again when it closed for the day. Around a hundred people had entered through the main entrance, and approximately two hundred had exited. Although the museum likely employed even more, it meant there was another entrance, one not to the ground floor, but straight to the basement.

    Elyza knew precisely where it was. Approaching the stairs, she veered off the footpath before the pressure plates engaged. Staying close to the museum''s outer left wall, she made sure to avoid the gaze of the gargoyles perched above her, uncertain which of them were alive. Following the stone wall, she used her hand to guide her along, turning the corner to find the entire wall densely covered with Creepers. A single glance was all it took for her to realise they were not wild, meaning they had been planted deliberately. Surveying the wall closely revealed what they were hiding; a metal door, hidden by a basic illusion sigil. Blending seamlessly with the vines, the spell was strong enough so people who didn¡¯t know that a door was present would glance over it.

    Although it appeared to have a pickable keyhole, touching the door revealed an intricate array of magic circles imbued upon it. Fortunately, Elyza had spotted the employees were all wearing similar looking pendants that only differed in the design of the mounting of the rock. These rocks emitted a faint glow upon entering a new room, leading her to suspect that they acted like a verification system. Her suspicions were confirmed that night by a ¡®helpful¡¯ guide she had followed to a pub, along with him lending Elyza his own pendant. Holding the pink rock against the door, she felt it cool as the door absorbed the mana, swinging inwards to reveal the stone catacombs of the basement.

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    Yet, Elyza hesitated stepping into the building. She knew nothing about the layout of the basement beyond the location of the one staircase leading down to it. If the vault was hidden in the lower levels, locating it before encountering someone would be a near-impossible task. But as much of a bastard as Alex was, he had never tasked her with the truly impossible, and he was as stubborn as they came. For now, she just needed to focus on finding a way up.

    Stepping through the doorway, she felt as though she had punctured the surface of a bubble, and an idea popped up in her mind. The amulet was a part of a verification system, and if the system was still active, wouldn''t that mean her location could be pinpointed? Unsure whether her window of opportunity had just been drastically slammed shut, Elyza threw the amulet behind her along with any lingering doubts and delved in.

    The chamber she entered resembled a dungeon, shrouded in absolute darkness. The absence of any light source created a damp and confining atmosphere, and the air hung stale. With the door now open behind her, Elyza felt a gentle breeze carrying the freshness of the outside world through the corridors, gradually replacing the stagnant air. The direction of the breeze matched up with her internal map of the floors above, so she decided to follow behind it.

    Passing through numerous chambers, some evidently dedicated to the care of the museum''s stored relics, Elyza felt more and more confident that the vault, or at least its entrance, wasn¡¯t in the lower levels. Despite her senses being primed as soon as she had entered, they had yet to notice a single trap in whatever room Elyza came across. The few mechanical eyes present seemed to be powered down, contributing to the eerie stillness. But since she had not come across any priceless artefacts strewn about, it wasn¡¯t improbable that the basement¡¯s safeguards weren¡¯t as thorough as the ones above.

    Closing in to where the staircase should be, about two corridors away from where Elyza was, the strength of the breeze began to wane. Upon entering the penultimate corridor, she felt something thin break against her thigh, accompanied by a low mechanical clunk originating from behind the wall. Reacting swiftly, Elyza dashed forward, manipulating the air to form a barrier beneath her, reducing friction as she dove towards the opposite end. It allowed her to smoothly slide into the next chamber, just as she sensed something closing in behind her.

    Elyza cast a glance behind to see what exactly had happened. The walls of the corridors were adorned with stasis circles, and the way back was blocked by a shimmering, translucent barrier. While she would have loved to learn how to shatter it, someone was likely already en route to check what had sprung the trap. As Elyza got back on her feet, she noticed a small metal string hanging from her leggings, thin as a hair strand, and what had likely triggered the trap.

    She continued onwards, her eyes now vigilant for any more reflective strings, ducking into the last hallway while avoiding another wire, finally coming across the stairway, its stone steps defying gravity as they spiralled up from a central pillar. Elyza knew she had to beeline for the vault, so as she ascended up the steps, she mentally mapped out the fastest route to the presumed entrance.

    As she reached the level above, the sound of footsteps echoed throughout the ground floor, growing louder with each second. Sprinting up to the first force, she barely avoided stepping right into the gaze of a floating eye. Above the bronze clad automaton was a glowing green bat with enormous ears, a familiar, its wings flapping ferociously as it struggled to carry the eye. Her footsteps weren¡¯t as quiet as they should''ve been.

    Her hand dove into the depths of her pouch, picking out the densest seeds, before Elyza threw them to the corridor behind the bat. As the seeds clattered on the marble floor, the sound was loud enough to draw the bat¡¯s attention, allowing her to slip by it and into the room to her left.

    When she was exploring the museum, Elyza had noticed the building was shaped like an elongated pentagon, whose tip had been squashed down to resemble more of a rectangle. The chambers in both the ground and the second levels were shaped accordingly, but something was off on the first floor. The rooms at the back of the were smaller than they should¡¯ve been, and there always seemed to be a couple of guards standing around. It didn¡¯t take long to realise they were guarding something, it took even less to spot the faux patch of wall.

    Crouching at the archway into the room, now illuminated by the light from the night sky, courtesy of the open courtyard, Elyza headed straight to the patch. Its illusion was much more advanced than what she had encountered outside, but no match for her eyes. Touching it, she hoped to pass straight through, instead her palms hit the wall. It would be easy to destroy the illusion and continue, but since that would just as easily be noticed, she had to squeeze through.

    Her fingers dug in, which hurt, the congealed mana hard as solid rock, but they were able to create enough of a gap for her to work with. She focused a tiny bead of spinning air at the tip of her finger, placing it into the gap, and started to feed it. Instead of breaking the bonds that formed the illusion, she was stretching them, trying to create a hole big enough to pass through. The whipping air pushed against the magic, the mana needed to continue feeding it growing with each second, as its edges started to bloat and harden, till the gap was big enough for Elyza to squeeze through.

    As she emerged to the other side, the wall returned to normal, and she was left in a dim room with a door. The room was dingy, dirty, only meant to house the door to her right. She got back on her feet and tried the doorknob. It was unlocked, and that was unnerving. Elyza walked through the door, and into a brightly lit stairway leading down. The walls and the floor were made of metal, the walls of bronze and the floors of something coloured white. Crystals embedded within the steps gave out light that filled the constrained corridor, with guardrails leading down to a solitary vault door.

    It looked too easy, the steps too inviting. As her hand reached for the rail, it felt something, the same feeling she got whenever facing Alex. Looking closer at the steps, they appeared to be risen, pressurised. The corridor was a mousetrap, likely not disarmed because no one had crossed the barrier properly. Elyza had a simple solution. She stepped back, focused herself, and leapt. As she fell, the air around her feet started to spin upwards, creating an area of low pressure that helped to keep her afloat at the centre of a mini-tornado. It allowed her to descend down the stairs, her legs never touching the ground till she was in front of the vault door.

    The vault door, towering above Elyza, emanated a cool blue hue that seemed to greedily absorb her body heat as she touched it. Its weight and density were palpable as she pressed against it. Even if she was allowed to, it would be a herculean task to force her way through it. She attempted to push air through the door to the other side, hoping it wasn¡¯t airtight. Though subtle, she detected a faint channel that flowed through the lock.

    Drawing air from within the vault to her side allowed Elyza to visualise how the lock was constructed. It seemed to have three cylinders, which was fortunate, cracking a three digit combination was the higher end of what she could pick with some amount of speed. Leaning down for a closer look at the dial, she noted its basic structure¡ªnumbered from 0 to 99 and made of hardened bronze. It was strange. Except for the materials it was made of, the door seemed entirely too basic for the museum.

    But she was not here to criticise the security of the institution she was actively exploiting. She spun the dial clockwise till she was sure the locks were re-setted, Elyza leaned against the door, ear pressed next to the dial while she kept an eye on the dial. Rotating it counter-clockwise, she felt and heard the initial pair of clicks at 70 and 80¨Cindicating the contact points where the lever touched the gaps in the notch. Resetting the locks, Elyza started at 0, turning the dial clockwise, slow enough to still be able to feel any shifts in resistance, or hear any clink of metal under the soft clicks of the dial. She felt the points again at 71 and 79. Too far apart. Resetting again but this time starting from 2, she heard the clicks at 72 and 79 this time. Closer. She repeated the meticulous process at each interval of two till she had gone around the dial.

    The room enveloped them in silence, broken only by each turn of the dial. Elyza''s concentration was unwavering, her gaze fixed on the dial as if decoding a cryptic language. The closest the clicks got were 74 and 77, and she had felt them after starting 18, 68, and 80. The first number was definitely 19, narrowing the next two down to 68, 69, 80, or 81. As quick as her fingers could move, she entered all twelve of the possible combinations, thankfully not needing them all to find the correct one¡ª19, 68, 81¡ª and she felt the lever drop. Turning the dial one final time clockwise led to a new sound echoing through the door.

    Unaware that she had been holding her breath, Elyza released the tension with a drawn-out exhalation. Pulling on the vault¡¯s handle, it popped open with a groan, struggling under its own weight. And then her heart fell. Stepping onto the white marble floor, Elyza saw a magic barrier, placed at the end of the room, totally opaque yet bathed in a soft blue glow. The long room was lined with glass displays, each separated by a metre, and each held artefacts she had never seen before. But she could only hope that the room held the artefact''s twin.

    Swift on her feet, she roamed between rows of artefacts, searching for one similar to the collar in her bag. Some displays housed the corpses of long-forgotten creations, while others held weapons whose power emanated even through the dampening glyphs on the glass. Some were chained down with magic, and surprisingly, Elyza was able to recognise some of the items, having read about them in ¡®historical¡¯ books. Although the books were more fiction than history, her mind was vividly imprinted with their descriptions of ''mythical gear.''

    Among the displays was a Nordic axe with runes etched along its blade, its giant blade covered with a layer of frost that spread down the wooden handle. As it floated, it seemed to be waiting for its wielder to call upon it. Nearby, a one-handed long sword was held up by its blade, its hilt spreading down like wings. The blade glowed white as she neared it, and stopped when she passed it. An intricately crafted crystal skull whose shape was unlike any animal she had heard of before, and next to it was a crudely crafted compound bow made from torn parts of an automaton, both caught her eye next. Further along was the bottom half of a mask designed after a demon from Shinto folklore emanating darkness, asking to be stolen by Alex.

    Nearing the back of the room, worry grew with each step forward. Elyza had no idea how the barrier worked but knew trying to figure out would be an impossible task before somebody stumbled upon her. However, something caught her eye. At the room''s edge, next to a pendant shaped like an eye with a glowing green crystal as its pupil, was a ceremonial dress resembling those worn by a specific sect of Egyptian priests during funeral processions. The way the hieroglyphs were etched onto the dress was identical to the collar, and as Elyza stared at its copy through the glass, her mind slowly figured out a group of symbols. It read ¡®Under the guidance of Upuaut¡¯.

    Inspecting the display revealed nothing unusual. The ensemble rested on pillars with decreasing height¡ªjackal mask at the top, the fake collar below it, and a skirt with metal plates woven into the leopard skin. Elyza gingerly pulled open the glass door, grabbed her bag, and lifted the legitimate collar, the gem¡¯s words failing to win her over. Doubts lingered even after coming so far; she couldn''t believe it would be this easy. Placing the real artefact as she lifted the fake, making sure the weight on the pillar wouldn''t change, lest it be pressurised. With one final nudge, she had returned the collar to the museum. Nothing happened to signify her achievement, and if she had done everything correctly, it would be just a normal day for the museum.

    Closing the display, Elyza pulled the black bell from her pocket and shook it. As it rang, a hand seized her ankles, pulling her into her shadow.

 Chapter 12: Maximum Effort

    Elyza had fallen for it. As her halberd neared his head, Alex let himself slip on the smooth sand, avoiding her strike as lightning surged to his hand, the electricity crackling back up his arm. She had committed to the strike, her stance wouldn¡¯t allow for a retreat. Hitting the ground, Alex let go of the spell.

    The impact to her chest knocked the air out of her lungs, stunning her for a moment, her ears ringing as her nerves scrambled to calm down. Sky, sand, sky, sand. Starting to recover from the shock, Elyza realised that she had been sent flying. She stretched her limbs out to stop spinning, but when that didn¡¯t work, she forced the surrounding air to create a bubble around her. The impact sent sand flying up as she landed on her back. Her body hurt, but hearing a familiar crackle, she willed it to get up. Acting on instinct, she plucked out a clump of black beads from her pouch and threw them through the sand screen towards the noise, uttering a single word as they sailed through the air, ¡°Sciath!¡±

    A magic circle formed in front of her as the seeds burst, growing into a clump of cacti that formed a shield. It lasted for only a second before exploding into a shower of spikes, but it allowed enough protection for her to focus on her next spell. ¡°Chwipiwch gorwynt,¡± her voice commanded the sky itself and the wind followed her, whipping itself into a frenzy, creating a whirlwind in the middle of the desert. Alex wouldn¡¯t be able to see her through the dust devil, but she couldn¡¯t either. Though hazy, she did remember her halberd slip out of her hand when she got hit.

    Elyza was seething with anger; she had him on the ropes, knocking out Alex¡¯s sword and dagger from his hands. His comments through the roar of the tornado didn¡¯t help either, ¡°Why am I not surprised? One setback and you¡¯re back to cowering like a weasel.¡±

    Circling around the edge of the spiralling column, trying to figure out a way in, Alex spotted a familiar spearhead sticking out of the sand. Knowing that she wouldn¡¯t be able to sustain such a spell for much longer, and unable to resist teasing her some more, Alex said, ¡°You won¡¯t believe it, Ears, I found a halberd that looks just like yours.¡±

    That was a mistake. Now knowing where her weapon was, Elyza¡¯s anger tempered as her mind came up with a way to salvage the situation. She raised her hand, commanding the wind to meet it. From outside, it seemed that the tornado was losing power, inviting Alex to come closer, as she slowly broke her flow to the whirlwind. She was shaping the wind that came to her into a pillar, all in preparation to breathe power into it with one phrase, ¡°Gadewch i mi hollti''r awyr yn ddau.¡± The wind solidified in her hand, as the spell worked to harness it into a javelin. Its firm outer layer was unable to hide the turmoil within it as she gripped it tightly, the spell barely able to contain it.

    Elyza saw a silhouette of Alex approaching her. She spread a couple more cactus seeds in front of her, knowing that as soon as she threw it, the dust devil would collapse. If it hit him, Alex would be sent flying back, and if somehow he was able to dodge it, she could use the seeds to tie him down. Either way, she would have enough of a window to retrieve the halberd, or at least attack with her knife.

    The silhouette became bigger as Alex got closer, his arm raised in a futile attempt to keep the sand out of his eyes. Readying herself, arm stretched back, javelin level with her eyes, Elyza waited. Wind escaping from the weapon sent her hair into a frenzy, yet her eyes stayed fixed on the shadow, holding back, until her arm snapped forward. The javelin was eager to be thrown, leaping out of her hand as soon as her grip loosened enough, whining as it shot forward. Piercing the walls of the dust devil, the missile created a gaping hole behind and just as effortlessly sailed through Alex.

    Her mind blanked, the thought that she had killed him caused the world to stand still. But as the Alex in front of her started to dissolve into thin air, she noticed another standing a few metres behind. He was just far right enough from the illusion¡¯s centre to dodge the arc of the spear. Knowing she was up to something, his bow was already drawn, and as the airborne sand started to fall, Alex let the arrow loose. Still in shock, Elyza knew the arrow was coming, but her body refused to stop it. Racing towards her skull, she knew it was her loss, and as it pierced her skin, the spell activated, ripping her back to the ivy tree.

    Exhaustion, she was used to, but once again the pain forced Elyza onto her knees. Tears welled up in her eyes, failing to escape the eyelids that held them back. Her body revolted¡ªher lungs refused to take in fresh air, her stomach churned on nothing, her saliva burned like acid, yet her tongue never felt so dry, and her brain was being assaulted by shards of jagged rock.

    Pumping furiously, Elyza¡¯s heart raced to replace the stale blood coursing through her. Her body was struggling to remember how it operated. Every single time that she lost, she was subjected to this agony, and it was impossible to get used to. The form of teleportation was a cheap and effective way to keep them both away from any critical injuries, but a cruel gambit to evade death''s grasp. Her spirit felt as if it had been dragged through molten lava while being frozen completely solid.

    After a seemingly endless minute or two, the intensity of the pain subsided enough for Elyza to muster the strength to stand, her limbs feeling bloated as she lifted them. Limping towards the ivy tree, the circle of soft green grass under her stood out against the coarse sand surrounding it.

    Alex appeared next to her just as she sat down, having the luxury of taking the cleaner way through the shade of the tree. Taking out a handkerchief, he wiped a trickle of blood from her forehead, before giving her a vial to drink, all without the usual boasting that followed after their fights. He saw that it was best to keep quiet for now, so he placed her halberd next to her feet, and sat next to it.

    As she downed the potion, a numbness settled over her¡ªa physical numbness induced by the potion, and a mental numbness stemming from the sting of defeat. This loss hurt more than all the previous ones combined, solely because she should have won. Everything had gone perfectly; her plan worked, she had disarmed Alex, and he didn¡¯t have enough time to retrieve his backup. She lost because she thought she had already won. Elyza wanted to scream, but the sun was high in the sky and there was still a chance to kick his ass.

    Noticing the change, Alex, without missing a beat, playfully remarked, ¡°Surely, you didn¡¯t think I would let you beat me that easily.¡±

    ¡°Usually when one falls on their back, it is not because they intended to.¡± Elyza simply replied, getting up, her mana replenished and her body bursting with energy, courtesy of the mana potion.

    ¡°I am full of surprises,¡± he remarked, grinning as he added, ¡°Shame I can¡¯t use that again¡­ Till you forget about it anyway.¡±

    Wiping off the sand from her clothes, Elyza coolly dampened his spirits, ¡°If you even get a chance to, that is.¡±

    ¡°Those are some fighting words, considering I didn¡¯t even use the sword,¡± Alex joked, lobbing a die at her, unaffected by how close he had come to losing.

    Catching it effortlessly, she clenched the icosahedron in her fist, trying to force it to follow her will as she tossed it on the grass. A 16. An evergreen forest. A slight smile spread across her face, and the sigh that escaped Alex perfectly contrasted Elyza¡¯s badly hidden excitement.

    Retreating into the shadows without a witty remark, Alex seamlessly transitioned from the sandy battleground to the comfort of his living room. Now out of sight of his companion, he let his exhaustion catch up to him. Their earlier spar had proven that Elyza could match his abilities. Now, with the battleground skewed enormously in her favour, a loss loomed closer than ever. Yet, there was a certain calm acceptance in Alex''s demeanour, as if he had resigned himself to an inevitable outcome that was just a matter of time.

    After shaking his whole body with the vigour of a wet dog, flinging sand everywhere, Alex made his way down the hallway. As he turned the doorknob of the last door, he thought of going to the control room. The door shuddered before it let him through. Immediately, the stench of sulphur rammed into his nose, who slammed the door shut in response. The smell wasn¡¯t the problem, but the air, thick and viscous like the yolk of a rotten egg.

    Gathering himself, Alex ventured back into the yellow tinted room. Calling the space a ¡®room¡¯ would be a gross falsification. Unlike the rest of the house, the floor was solid rough cement. Dominating the space was a chaotic assortment of different metals emerging from the wall in front of Alex. The machine¡¯s crude construction betrayed the wondrous magic it was capable of. Golden pipes connected this monstrosity to the confining walls, giving the impression of a heart to the house surrounding it.

    A lone blue crystal, at the end of a chain hanging in front of Alex, fought against the suffocating atmosphere, emanating a soft glow to pierce the smog. As Alex tugged on the chain, the vents along the base of the walls creaked open. The machine stirred from its slumber with a subtle hum, pushing out the sulphuric air as it rushed to replace it with a less revolting atmosphere. Approaching the mess of wires, dials, crystals, and gears, it always felt exciting whenever he used it.

    Floating above the machine was a luminous replica of the area surrounding the house. Currently, it was showing the image of a desert, with low sand dunes covering the ground, the sand represented by yellow and the ground being represented by purple. Alex picked up the journal besides the magical rendition of his home, flipping through the worn pages, all of which were written in a variety of alphabets-some of them were known to him, some were completely alien. Since he mostly navigated through the pages using the diagrams, though, he quickly found what he was looking for.

    On the left page of the worn journal, intricate diagrams of various evergreen trees adorned the parchment, each accompanied by a set of numbers scribbled beneath. Flipping to the opposite page, a collection of numerical configurations denoted different settings. Thankfully, numbers were easier to decode, and Alex began to reset the machine. The room echoed with the unsettling shudder of the machine, as each lever pull and dial turn elicited a plaintive whine. Whenever he used the machine, it always seemed to have the urge to collapse into nothingness.

    As Alex continued the reset, the holographic representation of the desert began to shift. The sand in the projection slowly receded into the ground until all remained was a plain white plane. Following the numbers on the page, he started to put them in, making sure to do them in the order specified. With precision, he turned the temperature dial to a precise value of 8, rotated another dial until it glowed yellow, and nudged a horizontal lever rightward, the mechanism clicking with each incremental adjustment until it reached 75.

    Finally, the hatch swung open, revealing a hole that led to the depths of the apparatus. He rummaged around in the realm of shadows, looking for the right materials to put in the machine. Alex pulled out a quartz crystal, a blob of clay, a small sapphire gem, and, something even he didn¡¯t know why he had, a clump of soil, but he was still missing something crucial.

    Tossing them all in, he slid downwards, his body morphing into pure umbra as it melted into the shadow. He materialised into the dominion of darkness, the ground rippling as he rose up. Above him, reigning above the tallest of mountains, was an inescapable, indescribable darkness, as if something was hungry to destroy everything, even darkness itself. Far, far, below Alex, was a surface made of pure, white, shining light, pushing up against the shadows in an attempt to escape its prison. Its glow was barely able to illuminate the world above it, which consisted of shadows mirroring the ¡®real¡¯ world, their outlines made of dark hues of purple and blue.

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    Even looking through the cloudy ground, Alex could spot some pillars of darkness sinking down to the light as they were called upon by others. As he searched across the shadowy domain, everything in his view changed ever so slightly as their surface tried to keep true to what they were mimicking. It felt still, solemn, yet it also felt peaceful, beautiful even. Spotting the ivy tree¡¯s shadow, Alex willed the ground beneath him to move till he was under it. Unlike normal objects, living beings indented the turbulent surface of the realm, and he dived into shadows next to Elyza¡¯s, sinking towards the plane of light.

    The transition was seamless, popping out next to where she was standing, not giving her a chance to react before asking, ¡°I need pine seeds.¡±

    Elyza reached into her seed pouch, pulling out a handful of flat brown seeds, almost translucent in their thinness, and handed him some. Alex melted back into his shadow, heading straight back to the machine, his shadow there still persisting without him, and dropped the seeds into the machine. Pressing the button beneath it, the chute slammed shut, and the machine was primed. He reached for the final lever, and pulled down.

    As the machine meticulously calculated its next moves, tendrils of steam wafted off the golden pipes, hanging in the air as a silent anticipation enveloped the room. Initially, the holographic desert transformed into a canvas of clouds, a grey layer manifesting at the top of the projection. The golden pipes began to frost, emitting a low whir as the machine stirred into action. The machine started to rumble so furiously that Alex became worried that it may rip itself out of its stands again. It suddenly fell into a rhythm, humming as it worked to transform the environment, the pipes heating up as vast quantities started to flow through, causing steam to well up in the room.

    From the pristine white plane in the hologram, trees erupted, growing at an astonishing rate until they obscured the surface entirely. As rain started to fall, Alex felt the machine was stable enough that he could venture out of the house.

    Opening the door to the hallway, he was immediately hit with the much more pleasant smell of rain. Walking into the living room, he noticed the sand he had tracked in had been cleaned up, along with the window being open.

    The air felt frigid as Alex stepped out of the house, and a fog rolled through the stand of evergreens. The rain was heavy and on the verge of turning into snow, but the weather lacked the intensity for a thunderstorm. He started to pulse electricity through his body to help deal with the cold. The visibility was abysmal, yet he still pulled out his bow, knowing that he could notice Elyza before she could get in range of her halberd.

    Amidst the towering trees, Alex moved cautiously, his senses attuned to any subtle sounds that might betray Elyza''s whereabouts. However, the gentle rhythm of raindrops on the soil drowned out most other noises, leaving only the muffled echo of his own breathing. Alex was able to comfortably see a few metres through the dense fog, but anything past that range was known only to the gods.

    Despite the limitations of his senses, Alex, already en route to the ivy tree, opted for a more arcane approach. Channelling mana into his chest, he gathered a reservoir larger than ever before, focusing it into a tiny, concentrated area. Alex¡¯s body started to freeze as it found its energy being sapped away.

    Releasing the amassed mana in a controlled pulse outwards with enough energy that it made the raindrops arc ever so slightly as they fell. The pulse was big enough to cover the innards of the barrier around the house. As it returned to Alex, bouncing off every minuscule trace of mana and revealing three significant sources amidst the barren tree trunks. An ambush.

    From his shadow, Alex summoned a trio of arrows, cradling them in his left hand while preparing his bow. Crouched and poised, he flanked the anticipated ambush with silent steps, steadying his breath, on edge, ready to draw. His feet moved silently over the wet soil, finding grip wherever they landed, as he maintained an acute awareness of his surroundings, keeping a mental map of his position. Coming up on the left flank, he started to slow down, checking the trees for any glyphs as he neared. Through the trunks of two trees, he discerned a silhouette in the fog, standing alone in a small plain, prompting him to notch an arrow in response, ready for whatever lay ahead.

    Tugging back the string until it grazed his cheek, Alex positioned his grip to face the silhouette. The arrow slightly aimed to the left, while the layered metal arms of the bow strained against his muscles, the string eager for release. Alex stepped forward to get a better look through the fog, when he noticed something odd about the silhouette. Despite its Elyza-like shape, it remained perfectly still¡ªdevoid of micro-movements or any signs of life. Lowering the bow, Alex replaced the arrow with his dagger, cautiously inching forward towards the figure.

    As he crossed the gap between the two trees, a magic circle beneath his feet erupted in a violent green glow. Making a split-second decision, his body became pure electricity, and Alex exploded forward as a bolt of lightning. The air crackled around him as he streaked through the fog, rain droplets instantly vaporising in his wake. He returned to his physical form after covering five or so metres, gasping for air as he stumbled forward, muscles aching. Performing such a move without preparation bordered on suicidal, but Alex quickly steeled himself as he turned to face the motionless figure, dagger poised for a strike.

    Before he could react, a sudden impact struck him from behind, launching him towards the figure. The impact with the ivy replica was strong enough to tear through it. Rolling upon hitting the ground, Alex evaded Elyza''s downward strike by a heartbeat.

    Springing back to his feet, he deflected her ensuing thrust using the arm of his bow. Elyza followed with a rapid one-two, wielding both the blunt and blade of her halberd. Instead of trying to parry either, Alex allowed the blunt end to hit his left arm and turned his back to the blade, relying on his cloak to absorb the impact. As the blade glanced off the reinforced fabric, he melted into the shadows.

    With a wave of her hand, Elyza pushed the fog to the edge of the area. She scanned her surroundings, spotting Alex reappearing behind her, his bow and dagger missing. Shadows started to swirl in front of him, stealing the shade of the trees to feed the spiralling pillar of pure darkness that had emerged¡ªa dramatic precursor to what it was escorting, meant to instil fear in its onlookers. She dashed at him, needing to interrupt him before Alex could retrieve it, casting a barrage of wind blades with a single incantation, ¡°Llafnau!¡±

    The blades sliced cleanly through the pillar, interrupting the process but unable to harm Alex, who effortlessly slipped between them. As the column retreated back into the ground, it formed a barrier to obscure what was happening behind. Lightning appeared to crackle behind the purple wall, the sound meant to make her doubt. Aware that he couldn''t employ lightning again so swiftly, Elyza leapt through the shadowy screen, her halberd raised above her head, ready to cleave anything below it.

    In the brief moment, she caught sight of a blade, before a stream of lightning launched her backwards. Her breastplate protected her from the brunt of the attack, and the collision with a tree jolted Elyza fully back into consciousness. Using the tree as support, she stumbled back on her feet.

    The charcoal blade of Alex''s claymore seemed forged from pure absence, its crimson core glowing ever so slightly, testament to the mana that had coursed through it. He held the greatsword above his head, pointing the blade downwards, the stance defensive, yet trouble for anybody that attacked without a way to deal with it. The claymore surpassed his height, the blade¡¯s width smaller than average, its hilt wrapped with stained leather, and the guard made a ¡®W¡¯ with the blade. It looked unwieldy, yet, as Alex paced towards her, he exhibited harmony with the weapon.

    However, as Elyza raised her halberd into a similar defensive stance, anticipating his approach, she discerned a hesitation in Alex. His steps seemed unusually cautious, and his breath carried an unexpected weight. Behind the fa?ade of control he projected, she detected a flicker of doubt in his eyes. The thought invigorated Elyza. She switched her stance, opting to extend the halberd forward, pointing the blade towards Alex. Before she started her approach, she picked some seeds out from her pouch, and scattered them to reduce the area he could work with. As she began walking, Elyza manipulated the air, coercing it to rise and draw in the surrounding mist through the trees, covering the arena with a dense fog that obscured everything¡ªexcept the faint red glow of the claymore.

    Alex immediately went defensive, lowering his stance to have his blade cover the vast majority of his body. He could barely make out what was directly in front of him, but at least the rain had slowed down enough for him to hear something other than his own footsteps. Seeing something at the corner of his sight distort the fog, Alex moved his blade to intercept it, narrowly breaking a wind blade aimed at him.

    More wind blades followed, manifesting randomly around him, with no indication of Elyza''s position. A couple met their mark, but as the top layer of the mist started to retreat, he knew there was a more pressing issue. Instead of trying to avoid the coming spell, Alex held the claymore low.

    Surging his body and sword with as much electricity as he possibly could, the crimson core glowing bright as it channelled it to the rest of the blade, giving her a target that she couldn¡¯t miss.

    A spiralling spear shot through the fog, leaving nothing in its wake as it pulled in everything around it. In a feat faster than thought, faster than anyone could wield a sword¡ªlet alone a claymore¡ªAlex swung upwards, cleaving the spear in two and instantly dissipating the mist it carried.

    Now, with a clear view of Elyza, he levelled the blade with his eyes before bolting forward, covering a span of seven metres in the blink of an eye. Stepping out of the bolt, Alex positioned himself perfectly for a devastating thrust to end the match.

    As he stepped into the thrust, brambles erupted from behind, and he spotted the hovering rune too late. The brambles attempted to ensnare him, to hold him back, only to pass straight through as Alex sank into his shadow. Prematurely ending the spell, Elyza tossed a set of throwing knives into the air, commanding the wind to give them lift.

    Three Alex-s emerged behind the line of bramble shrubs, their swords poised to release a thunderbolt. But before they could, the nine floating knives shot forward under Elyza¡¯s command, each clone attracting three. Only one clone moved to deal with the self-propelling knives, giving away the illusion.

    A wall would¡¯ve been better, maybe some arms to pluck them out of the air, but Alex couldn¡¯t afford a momentary lapse of concentration. Knocking away two of them with a single swift movement, he had no choice but to allow the remaining knife to embed itself into his shoulder, thankfully not breaking it in the process. Without missing a beat, he readjusted his aim back towards Elyza, who was already closing in for a strike.

    Purple lightning danced all over his claymore, as the weapon''s core unleashed all the mana it had been storing since the start of the battle into a singular bolt that rivalled those produced by nature. The bolt crackled with raw power as it streaked towards Elyza.

    Before the spell could materialise, air melded with the standing water on the ground to create a near-frictionless surface, allowing Elyza to gracefully slide under his aim. For a brief moment, one half of her body remained dry as her metal armour creaked, pulled upwards by the movement. Even through closed eyes, it felt like she was staring at the sun.

    Her mind struggled to capture the speed of the bolt as it leapt from the blade, only registering the resounding boom that followed it. The bolt sheared straight through a tree, the blast aiding Elyza to her feet and providing an opportunity to capitalise on Alex¡¯s weakened state.

    Alex pushed his left hand to grab the blade itself, striking the staff with his half-sword to parry her first thrust. In response, she hooked his legs with the halberd¡¯s beak. Shifting his feet, he prevented them from being pulled forward, but the beak sliced through his left leg.

    Retreating his hand back to the hilt, he propelled his claymore into a heavy strike from below, knocking Elyza¡¯s halberd from her leading hand and using the weapon¡¯s weight to spin him to the side. Alex''s flawless footwork stopped his momentum on a dime as he pulled back the greatsword into control, ready to perform another thrust, when pain exploded in his left shoulder.

    Elyza seized the opportunity, throwing a flurry of slashes at him. Her hands efficiently performed the manoeuvre, undeterred by how many Alex was still able to parry, as his shoulder spewed out blood that soaked into his white shirt. His stance faltered, as more and more of her slashes made contact.

    Sparks flew as they traded blows, some of them were due to the blades gnashing against each other, but most of them were due to the claymore releasing its leftover mana. Somehow, even as his clothes were soaked with blood, Alex was able to catch the halberd in his cross-guard, using it as a pivot to slice open her right bicep. For a second, the wind shifted in his favour.

    Knocking the polearm out of her hands, he swung the sword overhead and brought it down at her head. The throwing knife flew into Elyza¡¯s palm. Dashing forward, she blocked the claymore with her right hand as it swung downwards to stop her. It sheared straight through the iron gauntlet and into her flesh, but it failed.

    She swiped his leg, causing him to fall. Before he could even try to recover, Elyza leapt on him, switching the knife to her left hand mid-air before jabbing it straight through Alex¡¯s heart.

    Passing through thin air, the blade embedded itself into the soil. Elyza flipped herself towards the pouring rain. Her chest heaved due to the strain, yet a triumphant smile adorned her face. It was done.

 Chapter 13: Kitted Out

    It had been four days since they had left Surasho, hitching a ride with a merchant crossing the border into Luminae. Alex had somehow convinced the trader to hire them both as bodyguards. The journey was quick, under the pair''s vigilant protection, the caravan had to only stop once, and that was to sleep on a real bed. They had parted ways the previous day, and after convincing a surprisingly reluctant Alex, he hired a horse for them both, and they continued the last leg of the journey on horseback

    Soon, they were barrelling through the woods, the rhythmic clopping of the horse''s hooves on the unpaved road echoing through the air. The horse navigated the terrain with ease, effortlessly galloping over any obstacles in their path, all while maintaining a full gallop. However, for Elyza, the experience was far from comfortable. Since mounting the horse, Alex had clung to her as if his life depended on it, unleashing a barrage of random curses at the animal whenever they travelled over rough ground. Fortunately, or so Alex claimed, they were on the verge of reaching their destination.

    Bursting into the light at the end of the tunnel of trees, Elyza was in awe at the scale of the Capital.

    Before her sprawled an expansive clearing, the rolling plains stretching out dramatically, yet they looked flat next to the imposing presence of Mount Hrafnafjall to the west. Vast fields of crops radiated outward from the stone walls, forming a pattern that could only be seen from afar, with people bustling among the green like bees working for their hive. The walls themselves were colossal, towering behind the field as if formed for the gods themselves. They ate into the craggy rocks of the mountain, standing as stalwart guardians shielding the castle that ascended behind them¡ªone of the few structures visible in the city''s silhouette. Even at the break of dawn, a queue of carriages awaited entry, while locals traversed the gates, bearing freshly harvested produce.

    The horse snorted, gradually easing from its spirited gallop, affording Elyza a chance to fully savour the breathtaking view. Alex''s grip on her loosened as they trotted onward, and he finally broke his silence, his tone edgy, ¡°Yes, yes, everybody has that look on their face when they first lay eyes on the city. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to get off from this lamentable example of evolution. I''ll be waiting for you at the gate; do grab some oranges if you come upon them.¡± The horse neighed in apparent defiance, and Alex gracefully descended from the moving horse, all the while flipping it off as he sunk into the horse¡¯s shadow.

    Elyza gently nudged the stirrups, coaxing the horse into a swifter trot, and it willingly complied. The clops of the hoofs, the melody of the wind, the rustling of the crop, and the chatter of the people working them, all of them melded together to form a tranquil song for her journey down the main road. A handful of farmhands, their carts nearly empty, crossed her path, and she indulged in purchasing a couple of apples for 20 bronze coins from one of them. As they passed, many bowed respectfully, and she returned the gesture, only to notice a perplexed look spreading across their faces. Elyza could have used the rare moment of peace to digest the last five months, make sense of her thoughts, where she was going, instead Elyza chose to silence her mind and relish the simplicity of her existence.

    Reaching the gate, she saw Alex waiting for her, snapping his fingers rapidly to keep himself entertained. Disembarking, she led the horse towards him, earning a teasing comment, ¡°Took your sweet time, didn''t ya?¡± he remarked, stepping to her side until Elyza found herself standing between him and the horse.

    Suddenly, all of his peculiar behaviour from the past day aligned in Elyza''s mind, and she realised a fact that seemed too good to be true. ¡°Are you¡­ scared of horses?¡± She said, smiling.

    Alex replied, oh so matter-of-factly, ¡°I don¡¯t fear them, the proper term is ¡®Loathe¡¯,¡± His words became light-hearted, ¡°And I¡¯m disappointed it took you so long to notice. We¡¯ve been stuck together for at least half a year.¡±

    Elyza simply smiled as she fed the horse an apple, her mind already thinking of ways to use the information. ¡°I needn¡¯t remind you, but you can not adopt that monstrosity,¡± he said, continuing, ¡°Firstly, because I would kill you, and secondly, we need to return it.¡±

    ¡°I recall, but I can enjoy her company till we get her back home,¡± Elyza remarked, giving the horse''s neck a playful slap, and almost as if sensing her thoughts, the horse bucked wildly.

    In response, he yanked on her arm, using her as a makeshift shield against the spirited animal. As soon as he did, Alex seemed to realise what she had done, pushing her back with the same vigour he had pulled her towards him.

    ¡°I have a pretty good memory, and you will come to regret that.¡± He said ominously, and Elyza wasn¡¯t able to tell if he was joking or not. ¡°Now,¡± he continued, a smile playing on his lips as he pointed to the horse, ¡°Grab her, and follow me.¡±

    Alex led them to a shopfront nestled into the Capital''s wall, a brief walk away from the main gate, with about twenty stalls flanking the shop, half of them housing horses. Yet, only the smell of freshly cut hay was able to reach her. Approaching the empty front desk, he pressed down on the call bell, causing threads of white, glowing mana to escape as it rang. Elyza patiently waited for someone to arrive, but after two minutes, Alex''s patience wore thin, and he began tapping the bell repeatedly.

    Suddenly, a hole materialised out of thin air, and from within it, a high, gravelly voice screamed, "I''M COMING, GIVE ME A SECOND!¡±

    The hole grew taller, yet as Elyza curiously peered through, it only revealed a murky reflection of herself. Suddenly, a pink-skinned imp with ears larger than Elyza''s and horns that rivalled said ears plopped herself onto the vacant chair behind the desk. The imp was notably small, especially compared to Elyza. Even sitting on a high chair, she couldn''t elevate her head higher than Elyza''s chest, yet her curly hair reached Elyza¡¯s chin. She wore a fake smile, blinking away the sunlight. Her back straightened, and with a honeyed voice, she began to speak, ¡°Welcome! What can I¡­¡± And then she saw Alex.

    Her demeanour instantly changed; her facade dropped along with her posture, the smile dissolving into a suppressed grimace. She spoke with the same gravelly voice that came from the hole, ¡°I was wondering where you had fucked off to, hoped my wish had come true. What do ya want, Alex?¡±

    Unfazed by her biting words, Alex happily responded, ¡°Just returning this horse. Here¡¯s the paperwork to prove it,¡± pulling out a folded piece of paper from the lone pouch he bothered to carry.

    ¡°A horse?!¡± The imp exclaimed with surprise, jerking the paper from his grip, smiling as she held it towards the sky, checking it for forgery. ¡°Did somebody take over your body? Again?¡± She abruptly slammed the paper on the desk, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Who did you steal this from, and who the fuck is she?¡± Pointing her dagger like fingers at Elyza.

    Alex responded with mock hurt, leaning casually against the desk, ¡°I genuinely hired the horse. And the person you¡¯re pointing to is Elyza, my new partner. She¡¯s the one who forced me to do it.¡±

    She glared at him, the same way Elyza did whenever she suspected him of lying. The imp''s smile widened to a devilish grin as she addressed her, ¡°Anybody who can force this man-child to do anything is good in my books. Name¡¯s Vanya, pleasure to meet cha. If you stumble onto anything valuable, I can sell it for you¡ªfor a twenty percent cut, of course."

    Elyza, feeling uneasy about Vanya''s overly friendly demeanour, managed a polite wave. ¡°I will keep that in mind,¡± she replied before asking the first thing that popped into her mind, ¡°How long have you two known each other?¡±

    Vanya chortled, her impish demeanour on full display. ¡°Too long,¡± she replied before turning back to Alex. ¡°I still have to confirm that you did, little Nemo, cause you lie as much as you breathe.¡±

    Her claws glowed with a hot pink hue as she tore a hole through thin air, shouting into it, ¡°JAKIE! YOU REMEMBER ALLOWING A DOUCHE WHO LOOKED LIKE HE DIDN¡¯T WANT TO BE THERE TO RENT A HORSE YESTERDAY? TOSS ME THE MARKER FOR IT.¡±

    A distorted noise emanated from the hole. ¡°Specify,¡± it said.

    ¡°The one with black hair that looks like an oily mess of noodles tossed in tar.¡± Vanya replied, eliciting a chuckle from Elyza.

    ¡°Fuck you!¡± Alex shot back, sounding truly annoyed at her comment, immediately raking his fingers through his hair in a futile attempt to get it under control. The imp grinned triumphantly as a thin slab of metal landed in her awaiting hand.

    Disappearing in a puff of smoke, she reappeared next to Elyza, standing on her toes to wave the metal piece in front of the horse''s nose. The slab vibrated in Vanya¡¯s tiny hands, reacting to the horse¡¯s bit, causing the horse¡¯s head to glow blue.

    Glancing at the slab, Vanya spoke softly to the horse, patting her snout, ¡°Okay, Beetroot, you can stay in any stall you want,¡± before vanishing again in a plume of smoke, materialising behind the desk. Beetroot gingerly nudged Elyza¡¯s face, nickering to say goodbye, and Elyza petted her neck in return. As the horse walked herself to the far end of the stalls, the imp pulled out a dark oak wooden box, clapping twice to regain her customers¡¯ attention. ¡°I don¡¯t want the elf to think I screw over the people I like, so pay attention.¡±

    Dropping the case onto the desk, resulting in a loud bang along with a resonant clink of coins, Vanya slid the paperwork towards Alex. Elyza hurried over to the two, as the imp broke down the terms of the contract in a monotone, her face devoid of any emotion, her voice showing no sign of her rasp. ¡°The base cost of hiring a riding horse from any ¡®Maighstir Kelpie¡¯ associated stables ranges from 50 to 150 silver per day. Since your contract was for two days, and you have successfully returned the horse within the limit, I am pleased to inform you that the security fee collected at the time of signing, set at two-thirds of the original sum, will be returned in full,¡± she rattled off the words, opening the case and placing a lone gold coin on the desk.

    Alex seemed to wait for a moment before reaching for the money. Vanya instantly slammed her hand on top of the coin. ¡°There it is,¡± he said.

    A petty grin adorned her face as she continued, ¡°However, we will be collecting the fee due to the following reason given to us by our employee: ¡®Being a shitty friend, by not telling me when you would be returning to the city.¡¯¡± Alex sighed with his whole body, clearly anticipating this, and gestured for her to continue.

    Vanya picked up the coin and slotted it back into the case, tossing it behind the desk, before she addressed Elyza, staring at her. ¡°You¡¯re exactly like he said; a strong, silent type, not because it¡¯s who you are, but because you feel out of place, and that¡¯s alright. Make sure he doesn¡¯t accidentally start a war with a god, and as a citizen of ¡®the city that connects the old and the new¡¯, trust me when I say you¡¯ll fit right in Pharus.¡± She smiled at the end, the same infectious one that Alex always wore, before ripping a hole in space and falling through it, holding up two fingers up as she did.

    Elyza processed the words, contemplating their value. Turning to Alex, who was staring at her, she said, ¡°I like her.¡±

    ¡°Of course you do, she¡¯s one of my closest friends,¡± he stated, stretching his arms. ¡°Can I ask you something?¡±

    ¡°Go on.¡±

    ¡°My hair doesn¡¯t look that bad today, does it?¡±

    ¡°¡­ I would prefer not to say.¡±

    <hr>

    Overwhelming. That was the only way to encapsulate the essence of the city.

    Having essentially lived in Chryse for a day and coping well with the noise, the people, and the unpredictability of the largest city she had ever been in, Elyza believed she could handle the Capital.

    The process of being allowed entry was relatively straightforward. Thanks to Alex¡¯s residency, she enjoyed the luxury of an expedited application to become a temporary resident. All she had to do was sign a document, solemnly swearing ''to not participate in any activities that damage the security of Pharus or its residents, or the Royal Family of Luminae. Failure to comply will lead to you, or the person¡¯s under whose representation you have been granted residence, being put on trial.''

    Never before had Elyza seen so many species at the same place. A company of orcs sang jovially as they rode with their wares, a centaur paladin with a mechanical leg walked behind, and a group of adventurers, consisting of a reptilian, a luin, a harpy, and a bakeneko, argued animatedly as they enjoyed some food. Not to mention the elves, humans, and dwarves¡ªthe crowd was as vibrant as the city around it. Despite the main road being divided into two sections ¨C a quarter for pedestrians and the rest for horses ¨C the crowd was bustling and tightly packed. It seemed irresponsible how crowded it was, even the sky was filled with those with the ability to fly darting across it. Yet, people entered and exited the crowd in a secret rhythm, rarely even bumping into each other as they walked.

    The cacophony of sounds was relentless¡ªa symphony of chatter, vendors haggling, the rhythmic clatter of hooves on the cobbled streets, the clanging of blacksmiths¡¯ hammers and the occasional street performer''s music. These clashed together to form a chaotic anthem that could never, and should never, be replicated. The air carried a medley of scents ¨C the aromatic blend of various street foods that made her stomach rumble, the pungency of exotic spices and fresh produce making her mind wander, the earthy undertones of horse dung, and not to mention the aroma of the people themselves. The smells were so potent that Elyza could almost taste them, creating a tapestry of sensations that she found hard to ignore.

    Even as she was guided through the crowd by Alex, who was quite literally lending her a shoulder, her hand grasping it tightly, Elyza was acutely aware of her surroundings.

    Colliding with a group of kids darting against the crowd, she alerted Alex, ¡°I think one of them just stole your pouch.¡±

    Alex appeared nonchalant about the theft, ¡°Did they? I hope to see him soon.¡±

    ¡°More importantly, how much farther must we travel? I am desperate to find a place to sit.¡±

    ¡°Telling you would ruin the surprise.¡± She could discern the mischievous grin in his voice even without glancing at his face. Thankfully, the longer they walked, the oppressive effect of the city started to wane.

    Her knowledge of the city was limited to illustrations in books and maps, most of which focused on its layout. The main road cleaved the city into two; the majority of the city and its people lay to the left of the road, while most temples, embassies, guilds, and the Royal Palace were situated to the right, constituting one-tenth of the capital¡¯s total area. Side streets extended out from the main road with alleys connecting them, forming a grid absent from the other side.

    It was a shame that more people didn''t talk about the city''s beauty. The paved road beneath Elyza was unnaturally pristine for the number of people travelling on it. Vivid statues of historical figures, with plaques beneath them explaining how they fought for Luminae¡¯s independence, adorned the different streets as they began. Most buildings that bordered the central road had eaves providing shade between the floors, and the architecture varied wildly per floor. It was not uncommon to find Elven designs beneath Dwarven construction, with hints of Olympic motifs. Yet, the buildings merged beautifully, following an unexplainable and hidden pattern. Anyone gazing upon the construction would realise that something extraordinary was at play.

    Elyza was suddenly pulled into one of the streets by Alex, who was slicing through the crowds with the map of the city ingrained into his head, and it felt like she had entered another city. Instead of a constant stream of people, the wide street was now a lively hub, with people talking while relishing the diverse array of street food from bustling stalls. There were no doors to these shops; customers moved freely in and out, their voices mingling with the sounds of hawkers calling out their wares as they sat with them. Overhead, strings held up drying clothes, and many residents sat on their small balconies, savouring their meals.

    As Alex suddenly stopped, Elyza, lost in the vibrant atmosphere, ran straight into him. As she looked ahead of him, he sighed, ¡°I thought I was done with this shit¡­¡±

    A commotion was happening around the shop called ¡®Cloaks and Halberds,¡¯ at least according to the sign above¡ªan insignia of a crossed hammer and a needle, with the name etched below it. There was a tall orc standing directly below it, blocking the door, looking down at someone trying to get in. Judging by the orc''s expression, he was irritated, but Elyza couldn¡¯t discern at whom. Whoever it was, they were screaming something at the orc, jabbing their finger into their chest. She tried to make out what they were saying, but the murmurs of the crowd drowned out the voice

    ¡°Follow, and try to resist punching him in the face, but be ready for a fight,¡± Alex instructed as he walked towards the gathering.

    Navigating through the crowd, they reached the centre of the commotion, allowing Elyza to hear the ongoing dispute better. ¡°¡­ and because you are housing that HALF SOUL¡­ you have put ALL THE GOOD PEOPLE OF PHARUS in danger of having the gods inflict their WRATH on them,¡± the screeching voice echoed through the street.

    Elyza emerged on the other side of the crowd shortly after Alex. Her gaze immediately drew to a dwarf standing atop a wooden box, struggling to match the towering height of an orc, only reaching up to his chest as the dwarf continued jabbing his finger into it. The orc remained silent, his face betraying no emotions. About eight guards were spectating the argument but weren''t intervening. Their armor looked extremely shabby and cheap compared to the ones she had seen at the gates, the metal already rusting around the joints, even through the paint.

    Feeling Alex¡¯s elbow on her shoulder, she sensed he was waiting for the dwarf to turn. The dwarf continued his squawking, ¡°I think the people ought to know,¡± starting to turn his attention back to the crowd. His arms flapped like a child¡¯s as he continued ranting, ¡°In the last month there have been FIFTEEN kidnappings, INCLUDING CHILDREN! Which all occurred around the homes of DAEMONS! It points to a greater conspiracy, orchestrated by these affronts to nature, trying to CORRUPT THE YOUTH! So, I urge you good, normal people to follow me and do what her parent¡¯s shoul¡­¡± The dwarf''s voice faltered as his eyes landed on them. Fear flickered across his face, eyes widening, and that was all it took to know that he had met Alex before. No one from the crowd stepped forward, but the murmuring began once again.

    Elyza had crossed her arms in an attempt to dissuade them from punching the dwarf, and she was sure Alex was smiling as he spoke up, ¡°I truly hoped that the next time, if ever, I saw your face, it would be grey and bloated.¡±

    The dwarf, his face a mask of both anger and apprehension, concealed his fear beneath a veneer of rage. With a clenched jaw, he leapt down from the makeshift podium, his stubby finger jabbing accusingly at Alex as he bellowed towards the crowd, ¡°Here is the man who has ATTEMPTED TO SILENCE ME not but a month ago!¡± He addressed Alex next, spittle flying out of his mouth as he screeched, ¡°Unlike last time, I have the support of the city to enact the will of the silent majority!¡±

    As the guards edged closer, Alex boldly approached the dwarf, shadows unfurling behind him to gracefully deliver Elyza''s halberd into her waiting hands. With a dismissive gesture toward the approaching guards, Alex scoffed, ¡°You want me to be scared of these bozos? Their armour is basically rattling itself to pieces, and don¡¯t get me started with the paint.¡±

    The guards were in range of Elyza, but she waited for some signal from Alex. A sly smirk played on his lips, ¡°Though,¡± he added with a raised eyebrow,  ¡°it is astonishing that you were able to hire more of these goons. I suppose the previous bunch aren''t in any condition to warn them, are they?¡±

    A momentary pause from the guards gave Alex the perfect opening, and with a taunting grin he began, ¡°He didn¡¯t tell you, did he? He tried to do something similar about a month or so ago. Granted, he didn''t go to the lengths of disguising those four as guards¡­¡±

    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°LIES!¡± the dwarf screamed, trying to stop him from continuing.

    ¡°Regrettably, what he says is true,¡± Alex admitted, turning his attention to the hired goons. ¡°I may have been a tad hyperbolic. The previous group isn''t dead; they just appear that way, with their broken necks and all, and that was just because they broke a window. Would you like to find out what I will do if you even lay a finger on either of us? And is it really worth it to go through all that pain for ten gold coins each?¡±

    ¡°Ten?¡± the lead goon questioned, glancing nervously at the dwarf while unsheathing his sword. ¡°He promised us one each.¡±

    ¡°Oh?¡± Alex feigned surprise, placing a hand over his mouth for added effect.

    Attempting to interject, the dwarf stammered, ¡°H-Hang on, I neve-¡±

    ¡°The last guys did look stronger, but you do have more of a number advantage this time. Well, technically not, I do have back up as well,¡± nodding towards Elyza, ¡°So, I guess you guys have a pretty good shot at winning.¡± Alex stepped forward, nonchalantly presenting his neck to the lead goon as if inviting a strike.

    His casual demeanour unnerved the lead goon, who hesitated and looked around for someone else to strike him first. A silent conversation seemed to unfold among the hired goons, culminating in a unanimous decision. ¡°We''re out,¡± the lead goon declared, shoving through the dispersing crowd as they walked away down the street.

    ¡°And at the end of it all, the snake charmer stands alone¡­¡± Alex declared poetically, bowing theatrically to meet the dwarf''s eyes. ¡°Last time, I let you go after I knocked your little lackeys out, hoping our conversation would make you reconsider your beliefs.¡±

    The dwarf''s hands clenched, shoulders tensed, face reddening as he attempted to stare Alex down. He was about to punch him. But before he could, shadows shot up from the ground to restrain the dwarf¡¯s arms as Alex grabbed his collar, yanking him up to make sure he listened, ¡°But since you obviously don¡¯t have enough space in your skull for anything else other than hate, I am going to try threatening you.¡±

    Clearing his throat, Alex''s smile faded as he began, ¡°If I ever catch wind that you''ve threatened my friend or any other daemons in this city, I will tie you to a pole, use a dull knife to cut small pieces of your skin at a time, and then steam you alive. Flayed alive, trapped in the centre of an inferno, helpless to do anything but accept your fate ¨C that would be a pretty horrible way to die. But you won¡¯t get the relief of death. No, I¡¯ll do everything in my power to make sure you stay alive, so you can experience exactly how it feels to be ostracised by others because they think you¡¯re a monster. So, I hope you use your time in jail to reflect and realise where you went wrong.¡±

    Releasing his grip, Alex allowed the tentacles of darkness to drag the dwarf into the shadows before he could respond, his rage-filled scream abruptly cut off as he disappeared into the ground. He stared at the spot for a moment, only to find himself lifted in a bear hug by the orc. Elyza would''ve reacted if not for the fact that Alex was grinning as he got squeezed between the orc''s massive arms.

    ¡°Alex! My boy!¡± The orc exclaimed, swinging Alex around like a doll, ¡°It¡¯s been too long!¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s only been a month, Kurven!¡± Alex shot back with a chortle.

    The orc gently dropped him to the ground and then turned to face Elyza. For a second, she was afraid that he would try to hug her as well. Thankfully, he extended his hand instead, ¡°And you must be Elyza. I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± His voice resonated with a deep and booming quality, like a father¡¯s.

    Relieved, she shook Kurven¡¯s hand, and her mind went to work. He stood like a giant, at least fifteen centimetres taller than her, boasting fading green skin. His black hair, braided into a ponytail, showed traces of grey at the temple. Perched atop the bridge of his nose were reading glasses with darkened lenses, almost making his hazel eyes appear brown. Wrinkles were just beginning to appear on his rugged face, especially around the corners of his mouth, next to the fangs that peaked out from his lips. His body was well-built, though his arms weren¡¯t as well-defined as a blacksmith¡¯s would¡¯ve been. Despite his strong grip, his hand felt softer than it should be for someone handling metal every day. He was wearing a long, loose red tunic that reached to his knees with a yellow pattern embroidered into it, along with cream pants, both of which were in pristine condition.

    ¡°I wish I could say the same.¡± Elyza confessed.

    The orc responded with a deep chuckle, ¡°I¡¯m not surprised. But, don¡¯t just stand there! We¡¯ve been waiting for the past four days, putting the finishing touches on your surprise.¡± He exclaimed, emphasising the last word with a wave of his hands, and opened the shop''s door for them both.

    ¡°Red up yet?¡± Alex asked as he stepped into the shop, with her following him in.

    ¡°She has been since last night,¡± Kurven answered. ¡°Though, she put up the sign, so I don¡¯t think she¡¯s going to come up till she¡¯s finished,¡± he added, ducking under the door and leaving it open for customers.

    Alex sighed, and Elyza took the opportunity to glance around the shop. It was bigger than most other shops on the street, something she hadn¡¯t noticed from outside. The left wall featured square compartments from floor to ceiling, which all held brilliantly dyed cloth and garments. On the right, a display of weapons ranged from pole arms to battleaxes. The combination of the metals used, and the intricate designs etched into the wood, made them seem otherworldly, crafted for gods. Below them were buckets which held the normal weapons¡ªyour standard swords, spears, knives, and axes¡ªcheap but good enough to get the job done. The two sides were separated in the middle by wooden mannequins that wore a variety of armours, all with cloaks behind them.

    While she was studying the design of a set of knight armour, Alex and Kurven were at the desk at the back catching up.

    ¡°I thought it would take more time for her to kick your ass.¡± The orc teased.

    ¡°Really? It took longer than I thought it would.¡± Alex replied, grinning. In a hushed tone, he added, attempting to keep his words from Elyza''s ears, ¡°I hope the you-know-whats are ready?¡±

    The mention of whatever Alex had planned for a surprise, made her ears perk up, and she soon joined the conversation, ¡°Yes, I hope they are.¡±

    Kurven simply winked at her as he headed to a door behind him and pulled a chain next to it. The trio waited in anticipation, but after thirty seconds, Kurven decided to open the door himself. The loud banging of a forge instantly filled up the shop, echoing off of the walls, stopping for a moment as Kurven walked in. Two voices murmured back and forth before a soot-covered man hurried out, standing for a moment in front of the door, sweat trickling down his pointed face. He scanned the room briefly before lunging at Alex with arms wide open.

    Alex held his hand in front of the elf¡¯s face, stopping him from wrapping his arms around him. The elf protested with a squished face, ¡°Can¡¯t I even hug my own cousin?¡± His voice carried a melodic quality as he spoke.

    ¡°Not when you¡¯re filthy, Adam,¡± Alex retorted, making sure he stayed away from the elf¡¯s grimy hands.

    Kurven stepped in and pulled Adam back by the collar of his white shirt. Holding him in place, the orc wiped the smut off of the elf''s face using a piece of cloth before handing it over to Adam, and letting him go. As the elf started to clean the grime, Elyza took a second to take stock of him.

    Adam stood about as tall as Alex, perhaps slightly shorter. He embodied the stereotypical depiction of a High Elf, featuring a sharp face, long pointy ears slightly curving upwards, ethereal gray eyes, and fair, freckled skin. Some strands of his brown hair clung to his sweat-covered brow, while the rest were tied up in a bun, displaying subtle signs of turning white. Despite his lean build, his arms appeared impressively muscular under the white shirt. He wore a leather apron over the shirt, with a hammer and tongs neatly tucked into the pockets. Beneath the apron, he sported blue pants and steel-toed boots.

    ¡°Thank you, love,¡± Adam exclaimed as he returned the cloth, proceeding to engage Alex in another hug, which was readily accepted this time.

    The embrace lingered longer than expected, prompting Alex to comment, ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± Adam released him, only to swiftly redirect his enthusiasm toward Elyza.

    ¡°Elyza! It¡¯s so good to finally meet you,¡± he exclaimed, ensnaring her in a tight hug. One palm held her neck, making the embrace an almost inescapable death grip, leaving her momentarily unable to escape. Strangely, it felt somewhat comforting.

    ¡°Adam.¡±

    ¡°Sorry, sorry,¡± the elf replied, releasing her from the hug. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment. ¡°I just got excited to finally see who I was forging my best work for.¡±

    ¡°ADAM!¡±

    ¡°Forging what exactly?¡± Elyza inquired immediately, her initial discomfort overridden by a growing desire to uncover the surprise.

    ¡°These,¡± Kurven replied for the other two, standing behind a covered mannequin. As they all turned, he pulled off the cloth, revealing the surprise.

    The mannequin was donning a bronze chest plate, whose frosted surface was barely able to hide the natural lustre of the metal. She moved closer to inspect it better, handing her halberd to Alex. Freshly forged, its surface was so smooth that it felt like running one''s fingers over liquid metal, and its reddish-brown hue was vibrant. It was crafted with meticulous detail, every contour and curve flawlessly executed, creating a seamless and visually striking piece of armour. The breastplate bore intricate engravings that were filled in with ivy green and purple paint, depicting the mythos of Yggdrasil. The life tree¡¯s roots emerged from the waist, weaving into its trunk, and rising as branches that extended up to the matching shoulder guards.

    The guards held a forest green cloak in place. At a glance, it looked identical to Alex¡¯s black one, but without a hood, only falling to the mannequin''s waist. Yet, what the cloak concealed intrigued her even more. A set of bronze gauntlets peeked out from beneath, their plain design contrasting with the radiant aura of the breastplate.

    Alex noticed her fixed gaze on the gauntlets and advised, ¡°You might want to wear those for the next surprise.¡±

    Removing her old steel gauntlets, which, after five months of diligent service, emitted creaks due to rusty rivets, Elyza handed them to Adam, who in turn left the room with them and went back to the forge.

    Unlike her old ones, the bronze gauntlets were crafted to allow each of her fingers individual movement. The rivets felt buttery smooth. The most noticeable difference was that they didn''t cover the tips of her fingers. Between the different plates, enabling fluid movement, tiny pieces of thin cloth were ingeniously placed to ensure they didn¡¯t produce sound when Elyza moved her hands. She was about to ask why Alex had told her to wear the gauntlets, when her question was answered before being asked.

    Adam emerged from the forge, holding in his hands what Elyza could only describe as the most beautiful halberd she had ever seen.

    Just shy of two metres long, with the pole head making up a quarter of its length, the halberd was a masterpiece. At the summit of the shaft, a spear point extended out from staggered folds, the polished steel gleaming almost mesmerising. However, her eyes were more drawn to the intricate design etched into the blade of the halberd. From the central point of the head, the blade curved outward like the hull of a boat, bearing the gilded image of a bouquet of poison ivy leaves along its keen edge. Mirroring the axe-like blade was a wickedly tapered spike slanting downwards, the outer curve of the beak sharpened for maximum damage. Leather straps concealed the juncture where the metal of the pole head met the wood of the staff.

    As Elyza held the halberd in her hands, the polished dark mahogany-tinted wood felt stronger than iron, and its smooth surface was perfect for maintaining a strong grip yet easily gliding between her hands. The butt of the staff was reinforced by some light steel, allowing it to double as a bludgeoning weapon. Unlike the pole arms displayed on the wall, there was no design etched into the wood of the staff.

    Switching into every stance she knew, the halberd felt perfectly balanced, and as her hands ran across the shaft, the gauntlets formed a perfect defence for them. It felt like she was the only one who could wield it.

    Elyza lost track of time, engrossed in the feel and balance of her new weapons. Only the comments from the others in the room reminded her of their presence. ¡°I¡¯m so glad she likes it!¡± one of them remarked as they watched her play with her new toy.

    The quality of the work almost made her forget that real people had crafted it. Resting the halberd on her shoulder, she bowed. ¡°From the bottom of my heart, I am thankful for you going through so much effort for me,¡± she expressed her gratitude to Adam and Kurven. Turning towards Alex, who was grinning as usual, she added, ¡°And I can not believe I mean this¡­ Thank you for surprising me.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m sorry, could you repeat that? Maybe write it down so I can carry it around with me?¡± Alex teased, revelling in the moment, before continuing, ¡°Do you honestly think the surprises are over?¡±

    Perplexed, Elyza was forced to ask, ¡°What else could you give me?¡±

    ¡°Hand me the halberd.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Because it''s too big to carry downstairs.¡±

    As Elyza let Alex store her halberd in his shadow, Kurven reminded him, ¡°Uh, I did tell you the sign is up, right?¡±

    ¡° It¡¯ll be fine,¡± he waved his worry aside.

    ¡°Do you not remember what happened last time?¡± A trace of scepticism lingered in his voice.

    ¡°Hey! I put out that fire before it could reach upstairs.¡± Alex replied, grinning as he knelt down in front of the door to the forge

    He reached down, his fingers tracing the wooden floor, before his hand stopped, pushed down on a plank, and the planks in front of it popped up. Pushing down on the other end of the plank led to a soft whirring emanating from beneath the floor, followed by the trapdoor opening on its own, revealing a ladder to the basement.

    ¡°Wait,¡± Adam stopped them, ducking back into the forge, returning again with a metal rod about a metre long, handing it to Alex, ¡°She asked me to make this.¡±

    Dropping the rod in his shadow, Alex confidently leapt into the darkness below. Elyza followed suit, sliding down the ladder like a normal person. The way downwards was similar to the passage in Bakelv, mercifully free from the pungent odour of rotting wood. As the ladder deposited them into a compact tunnel, a lone door awaited them at the far end. An ominous sign swung from the doorknob, its message blunt:¡®I can not be held responsible if you ignore this and get hurt.¡¯

    Entirely disregarding the sign, Alex kicked the bottom of the door, causing the door to violently swing open. Elyza heard a big bang echo through the tunnel, and before she knew it, he had yanked her close to him, holding his cloak in front of them, shielding them both. The noise reverberated, followed by the distinct thuds of projectiles, but nothing pierced it, and the projectiles clattered to the ground. One of them rolled beneath the cloth; it was a small metal sphere.

    ¡°FOR FUCK¡¯S SAKE, RED!¡± Alex bellowed, pissed off, letting go of Elyza and dropping the cloak simultaneously, allowing her to see who had attacked them. ¡°You haven¡¯t even met her officially, and you¡¯ve already tried to kill her!¡± He directed his ire at a girl behind what appeared to be a handheld cannon.

    The only ''demonic'' traits on the daemon were her amethyst-tinted skin and blazing orange eyes. Otherwise, she looked surprisingly ''normal.'' Her silver curls were cropped short, with the sides of her head shaved in a style tapering into her skin near the ears. Both ears were adorned with piercings, from tiny silver skulls to golden floral wreaths. Beneath her eyes were two white lines that curved upwards till they met the bridge of her slightly flat nose, before tracing its outline as they crept downwards along it. The lines then crept through her faded lips, down her chin, along her windpipe, before disappearing beneath a frankly filthy red shirt splattered with what Elyza hoped was just oil.

    ¡°IT¡¯S YOUR FUCKING FAULT!¡± The daemon shot back, slamming the cannon down on the table to her right, causing another bang as more of the spheres shot out of it, hitting a magic barrier positioned a few metres in front of the table and disintegrating into dust. ¡°Who in their right mind enters a room which says not to ENTER without even knocking?!¡± She growled.

    A tense silence hung in the air as they engaged in a battle of stares, attempting to force the other to admit fault. The mood abruptly shifted when Alex started laughing. ¡°Damn you and perfectly reasonable arguments.¡± He cursed as he stopped laughing, flinging the metal rod as soon as it emerged from his shadow,  ¡°Here, catch.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s always easier to come up with them when I deal with you,¡± the daemon retorted, catching the rod flawlessly, her scowl lingering. About the same height as Alex, she briefly glanced at Elyza before returning her focus to tinkering with the hand-cannon, as if apprehensive about making eye contact. ¡°Uh, sorry¡­ for almost killing you. Elyza, is it? I¡¯m Red.¡±

    Used to near-death experiences thanks to Alex, Elyza just brushed it off, about to speak, before the daemon cut her off. ¡°My parents didn¡¯t bother naming me, or sticking around for that matter, and the other kids at the orphanage, including that rat bastard next to you, kept calling me ¡®Red¡¯ so I ran with¡­¡± She stopped, wincing as if she had made a mistake, adding, ¡°That wasn¡¯t what you were about to ask about, was it?¡±

    ¡°I was curious about it,¡± Elyza replied, undeterred. ¡°Why did the children call you Red?¡±

    Seated on the table where Red worked on the hand-cannon, Alex chimed in, ¡°I know this one. It was because whenever she got angry ¡ª and believe me, it didn''t take much ¡ª her face turned a shade of scarlet that was so deep and that so looked unusual on her purple skin, our adolescent minds just started calling her that to annoy her even more.¡±

    Red acknowledged with a wince, replacing the cannon''s barrel with the metal rod, "It wasn¡¯t entirely¡­ undeserved.¡±

    ¡°You should¡¯ve seen her back then,¡± Alex beamed, his eyes lit with nostalgia. ¡°Even though she was younger than me, she thought she could order me around because I came to the orphanage after her.¡±

    ¡°Then why did you go along with it, fuck face.¡± Red poked him with the barrel. ¡°Off, I need to get the spell ready.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely shocked you remembered,¡± Alex retorted, grinning as he slid off the table.

    As her mind shifted out of fight mode, Elyza had a chance to survey her surroundings. The room resembled a graveyard for mechanical devices, with hanging crystals casting a direct glow over the three tables in the centre, cluttered with various tools and half-finished contraptions. Engrossed in conversation, Red and Alex cleared the table, methodically collecting every piece of metal and depositing them in a pile, while carefully storing the mana crystals in a sack attached to the table.

    ¡°Any closer to getting this thing to work?¡± Alex asked the daemon, as Elyza made her way to the opposite side of the room, avoiding stepping in any of the dark splotches on the floor. She stood in front of a bookshelf, though it held no volumes. Instead, it showcased an array of devices, ranging from transparent hollow cubes containing crystals to a baton with two small, blunt spikes protruding from one end.

    ¡°Ugh¡­ Just push that table against this one.¡± The daemon replied.

    Elyza picked up a small silver sphere that had a seam down the middle, her interest peaked. ¡°What does this do?¡± She asked, turning around to catch Red crouching under the table and pulling out a scroll.

    The daemon shot a glance at the mirror hanging above her. ¡°Elemental bomb sans the crystal.¡± Elyza twisted the two halves in opposite directions, revealing a chaotic array of machinery orbiting around an empty stand within it.

    ¡°That¡¯s the new design?¡± Alex inquired, having finished pushing the tables together. A single look from Red silenced any further questioning. ¡°Alright, I was just asking,¡± he said, gesturing to Elyza, ¡°Come on, it''s time for your final present.¡±

    She reached the two just as the scroll was fully unfurled on the table. Red secured the canvas by nailing it down with her open hand, which seemed to transform into gemstone as she slammed it down. A complex design of straight lines and circles adorned the surface. Elyza recognized that part of the scroll contained a binding ritual, and that worried her.

    ¡°What does this spell do?¡± Elyza asked, trying to make herself sound not reluctant.

    ¡°Watch.¡± With a snap of Red¡¯s fingers, the lights dimmed and candles lit up all around the room. Cold steel rubbing against her fingertips, her halberd gracefully floating up from her shadow, presenting itself for her to grasp. She obliged, sensing the shift in its weight as it ceased being suspended by the void.

    ¡°Lay your weapon upon the scroll.¡± Elyza did what she asked, placing the pole arm down so it fit between two parallel lines stretching the length of the scroll. Alex popped up next to her, holding in his hand four rings.

    ¡°Choose a vessel to inherit its spirit and to carry with you to the end of the world.¡± Red instructed.

    Alex whispered to her, ¡°Just pick whatever you think looks the coolest.¡± Heeding his advice, she selected a jade ring with a serpent gracefully winding around it. A glowing circle appeared on the scroll, and instinctively she set the ring within it.

    ¡°Pour your blood upon it so that it may be bound forever to your soul.¡± Elyza was concerned, but she still followed the instruction, pulling out her knife and grasping its blade. Holding her hands above the glowing circle, she drew the knife downward, letting her own blood spill onto the ring.

    The canvas did not absorb the blood; instead, the ring rose, releasing more droplets onto the scroll. The red liquid moved on its own, tracing the ink and seeping into it. Elyza felt her mana being sapped as the halberd started to float. Gradually at first, the halberd began to spin violently, tearing itself apart, with shards of wood and metal flying in all directions. The shards were stopped by the ring, which sucked them in, creating layers upon layers on top of its surface, concealing the serpent. As the halberd disintegrated, its outline remained, forming a brilliant glowing replica that shone intensely, temporarily blinding its onlookers. But the glow faded, and soon the spear was gone, the ink of the scroll fading as the spell ended. The ring appeared stuck in air, only for a second, before its layers were sucked into the serpent, and it fell on the desk.

    From the corner of her vision, Alex extended a health potion, but Elyza ignored it. Instead, she picked up the ring, now subtly glimmering. It was oversized for her fingers, but she still slipped it over her gauntlets and around her right index finger. The ring suddenly shrank, constricting through the metal till it fit perfectly around her finger. A sudden understanding struck her, and she instinctively knew what to do next.

    Her right hand shot up towards the roof, and with a simple thought, her halberd materialised into her grasp, as silent as a late winter¡¯s night and radiating a gentle bronze glow.

    With a clap from Alex, the room returned to normal. The flames extinguished, and the crystals shone once again. Red seemed impressed, her brow raised. ¡°She catches on quick.¡±

    Elyza noticed something different about her halberd. The once plain mahogany wood now bore a jade serpent, resembling J?rmungandr, spiralling up from the butt of the staff and stopping just below the pole head. With another thought, her halberd shrunk back into the ring, the sensation of it winding around her finger palpable as it settled.

    ¡°Interesting,¡± she declared, turning back to Alex, who was beaming. ¡°What do you have planned next?¡±

    He shrugged, acting sorrowful, admitting, ¡°Unfortunately, my bag of gifts lies empty,¡± before a grin quickly got plastered across his face, ¡°So, how about we go get some breakfast, and then get you registered with the Guild?¡±

 Chapter 14: A Relatively Lazy Day

    ¡°Did you collect your royalties from the bank?¡± Alex inquired, bored out of his mind, trying to keep it occupied by snapping his fingers as fast as he could.

    ¡°Not since¡­ last month I guess,¡± Red replied, tinkering with an elemental bomb in order to adapt it for him. ¡°Why? You need your cut?¡±

    ¡°I was thinking of swinging by the orphanage after the guild. The bank''s close to it, so I thought I''d check,¡± he replied. As he waited in the workshop, the atmosphere was as greasy, dark, and cluttered as he remembered from six months ago. After enjoying the best breakfast ever prepared by him, Alex was banished downstairs by the two lovebirds, so they could make Elyza some new clothes. According to them, Kurve could work faster without disturbance from ¡®the most distracting man on the planet.¡¯ Taking it as a compliment, he could only imagine how much Elyza was hating every second she was stuck up there.

    ¡°Hey!¡± Red commanded, finally looking up from her work to stretch her back. ¡°Did you tell her about the incident?¡± whispering the last word for some reason.

    ¡°Nah,¡± he waved her question aside, explaining, ¡°I haven¡¯t asked her about her own past, so she hasn¡¯t asked me about mine.¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you scared she could find out about it from someone else?¡±

    Alex scoffed, ¡°I know you guys won¡¯t tell Elyza, and, except goody-two-shoes, everyone who could know else is either dead, or indebted to me.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I should tell her,¡± Red mused, and an audible groan escaped his lips, ¡°Unless you can incentivize me to keep quiet.¡±

    ¡°You know I¡¯ll just get whatever you ask, so why must you try and blackmail me?¡±

    Clearly disregarding what he had said, she slammed her hand on the desk, proclaiming, ¡°I want a pet.¡±

    It took Alex a moment to process her statement, and he didn''t bother hiding his confusion. ¡°Alright? The fuck does that have to do with me? You want me to find you like ¡­ a dragon or a hellhound to adopt?¡±

    Surprisingly, she seemed taken aback, muttering, "Oh, good, you''re okay with it," before returning to her tinkering with the sphere.

    Frustration bubbled up in Alex. ¡°WHY¡¯D YOU ASK ME-¡± He nearly screamed before catching himself, taking a deep breath and continuing, ¡°Red, you know I hate it when you do this, so tell me why you asked me that.¡±

    ¡°I don''t think I will,¡± she replied stubbornly. ¡°I mean, you didn¡¯t tell me why you disappeared for five fucking months, and then when you did show up, you stuck around for a day, told me you needed me to craft a spell, and then disappeared again.¡±

    ¡°Red,¡± Alex said with a smile, ¡°And I say this with love¡ªyou absolute buffoon, you moron, you haven''t checked any letters in half a year, have you?¡±

    For a second, Red''s hands stopped working, her eyes widened, and her face shifted to a slightly darker shade of purple. ¡°Pfft¡­ of course I have,¡± she lied, laughing awkwardly.

    ¡°We¡¯ve been friends for fifteen years, and I can spot a rock lying across a field.¡± Alex teased.

    Unfortunately, a knock on the door spared her from any further ridicule his mind could come up with. Four bangs in succession, the last one slightly delayed ¨C it couldn''t be anyone other than Elyza.

    ¡°Took ya long enough,¡± Alex called out, swiftly stepping through the void to reach the door and opening it for her.

    She looked different. Her blazing red hair was braided and then tied up in a messy bun on the back of her head, ensuring it couldn''t be easily grabbed, with a few locks gracefully framing her ears. Beneath her bronze chest plate, she wore a faded purple high-collared shirt with leather pads peeking out from beneath her shoulder guards. The green cloak elegantly hugged the sides of her arms. Leather shin guards adorned her brand-new shiny black boots, which seamlessly complemented her chestnut pants. But as Alex glanced past the frosted shine of her armour, past how the colours engraved into the branches of the design eased into her clothes, he noticed something strange.

    ¡°Are you wearing foundation?¡± he asked with a curious smile.

    Elyza tilted her head downward, touching her lightly powdered cheek, and looked at it. ¡°It appears so,¡± She said, her tone indicating her obliviousness.

    Alex grinned, ¡°I¡¯ve been there, Adam has a way of doing things without the other realising it.¡± He stepped aside to let her through, commenting, ¡°You look comfortable. Everything up to your high standard?¡±

    ¡°These garments fit much better than my old gear,¡± Elyza agreed. ¡°The armour is surprisingly light and feels much more flexible than the chain mail.¡±

    ¡°Then let¡¯s get going,¡± he said, pushing her towards the back of the workshop. She didn¡¯t resist, walking along with him, till they reached the solid steel door.

    There were no visible locks on the door, no apparent way to open it, except there was. A rock, its outline slightly darker than the surrounding ones. Of course, Red hadn¡¯t made it easy to open. He pressed the button in rhythm with the melody he had learned growing up in the orphanage, silently mouthing the tune. When he finished, there was no visible sign that the door had unlocked.

    Sprawling under Pharus, expanded from the tunnels that birthed the revolution, a chaotic contrast to the meticulously crafted city above them, holding it up through sheer will, yellowing pillars connected to the statues above, along with the buildings, and quite a lot of magic. Stepping into the streets of the Lower District, Alex couldn¡¯t help but take in the smell of the city, as he slammed the door shut. It had the aroma of damp stone and wood, with hints of burning coals, and the accents of sewage, giving it some funk. The streets were peppered with lamp posts that cast a warm flow on the people whizzing underneath them, commanding carts that noiselessly glided over the three rails set up in the middle, ferrying materials, or people, to their destination. The ring of metal against anvils, the roar of forges as they were fed, the screech of carts stopping, all echoed through the enclosed caverns.

    Compared to the suffocating rush above, the underground felt like a breath of fresh air that invigorated him¡ªmetaphorically speaking, of course.

    Alex spun on his heels to ascertain the expression on Elyza¡¯s face, always finding enjoyment in them. There was amazement in her eyes, but through them, he could see some disbelief in her mind.

    ¡°Its-¡± She began.

    ¡°Incredible?¡± Alex suggested.

    ¡°¡­brighter than I imagined, and not as pungent as I was warned.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle, remarking as he started walking, ¡°You¡¯d be surprised how effective a slime based sanitation system can be.¡±

    ¡°Could you repeat that?¡± she requested, matching his pace.

    ¡°The city employs slimes to clean the sewage that accumulates within the water system and the sewage system.¡±

    ¡°Explain.¡±

    Walking around a sign warning of danger ahead, he couldn''t resist teasing his partner''s curiosity, ¡°I don¡¯t recall the way a city deals with its sewage being one of your interests.¡±

    ¡°You expect me¡­¡± She stopped as they ducked under some scaffolding, as workers renovated the buildings flanking the road. The repairs managed to blend perfectly with the medley of different architecture designs that made you think that the city had its own unique style that he adored.

    ¡°You can not just offhandedly mention that there are slimes living within the city, and they are not treated as vermin, but instead seen as helping the city.¡± Elyza argued.

    ¡°I¡¯m not sure of the details myself, but if you would like, we can go exploring the sewers afterwards,¡± he attempted to divert the topic of conversation, hoping she''d catch his hint.

    ¡°I would prefer if I never come face to face with a slime as long as I live.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯d be an achievement if you can,¡± Alex teased, turning on his heels and walking backward, eager to face her as he asked, ¡°Any thoughts you wish to share after your first hours in Pharus?¡±

    Her ears perked up like the antennas of a bee, her brow slightly furrowed, and her lips tightened, her eyes momentarily looking past him. ¡°It is noisy, congested, chaotic, and it felt suffocating as we navigated through it,¡± she began, her gaze returning to him. ¡°However, I believe I will get used to it with time, and I am excited to explore more of it. As for your friends, they seem like good people, but they still have a long way to go in my eyes before I feel comfortable around them.¡±

    He felt pride as he heard that she liked his friends,¡°Good to know your first impressions of them were positive. I¡¯m curious, how long did I have to wait till you felt comfortable around me?¡±

    ¡°Let me remember¡­ to your right.¡± With her direction, Alex moved to the right side of the path, avoiding a baker carrying a massive cloth bag holding baguettes wrapped with wax paper. As he enjoyed the slightly sweet, yeasty smell that lingered, Elyza answered, ¡°When we were moving through the forest, when I was flooded with the voice of doubts and fear, your words helped to guide me through them. That was the moment where I knew I would be able to trust you.¡±

    The words affected Alex, and he knew they did, but how was something he couldn¡¯t figure out. Nonetheless, he didn''t resist the urge to grin as wide as he could, just saying the first thing that came to him, ¡°Well, I do hold my ability to get people to trust me in high regard. Now, let me ask you something else.¡±

    ¡°What do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°There¡¯s a bakery en route to the Guild, offering the most amazing cheese puffs I¡¯ve ever eaten. If you''re interested, we could stop by for a quick snack?¡±

    <hr>

    Standing before the Guild, Alex held a piece of grease-stained paper in his hand, crushing it into a ball and letting flakes of pastry fall to the ground. It always surprised him how pristine the building appeared, bathed in rays that streamed in from the flanking stairways, casting a subdued warm glow on its marble walls. People moved in and out through pointed archways, passing under the watchful gaze of gargoyles that he knew, from experience, were more than just decorations.

    Unlike the rest of the district, the Guild had been formed not by chance, but by necessity. Constructed beneath the west wall as a way to bypass it, the building had had a makeover, both in what it did and how it looked since it was founded. The building had been carved in, but its facade was made of a combination of black and white marble. Initially conceived as the epicentre of rebellion organisation, the Guild had transformed into a pivotal hub, serving as intermediaries for the city and its people. People could issue requests that ranged from hiring workers for construction work, hiring adventurers to gather materials and kill some monsters along the way, or, more importantly, hire people like Alex. Unlike the decentralised Adventurers section of the organisation, which was divided into smaller units across the country, the Guild served as the central nexus where every ¡®reputable¡¯ assassin or thief could secure work.

    ¡°Would it not have been better if the location was more discreet?¡± Elyza questioned, wiping off the crumbs stuck to the edges of her mouth after she had demolished two hand pies in less than five minutes.

    ¡°I believe hiding in plain sight to be the superior strategy, and it hasn¡¯t failed them in a hundred and fifty years.¡± he retorted, fully knowing that it wasn¡¯t the only reason why they hadn¡¯t been discovered.

    Walking into the building, and onto the expansive floor illuminated by giant chandeliers dangling above, he spun around just as Elyza stepped in, and announced, ¡°Welcome to Domus Damnatorum Opifices, ¡®The House of Condemned Workers¡¯! Or the Guild as it''s now known.¡±

    His voice cut through the hubbub of the building, causing a few people around him to stare at the sight of him posing, the majority continuing on with their business. ¡°Why is it called the Guild?¡± Elyza asked, twirling him back forward, continuing, ¡°Calling it the House would make more sense.¡±

    ¡°The original name has some attachment to contemptible actions the Guild had planned and undertook when they acted on behalf of the rebels, so they decided to abandon it for a more neutral name,¡± Alex explained as she pushed him toward the counters that faced the entrance.

    Soon, he was guiding her to the counter he usually went to, which worryingly had no queue in front of it, except for one hulking brute standing in front of it. Fortunately, before they reached it, the half-naked barbarian stormed off, grumbling something under his breath, leaving them with a blessedly empty counter.

    As they both stood in front of the glass divider, waiting for the counter¡¯s attendant to return, he started to tap a tune on the wood of the counter. Turning to Elyza, wanting to talk, he noticed that she appeared more rigid than usual. She seemed to be forcibly straightening her back, and the tips of her ears were trembling.

    Grinning, wanting her to relax, he reassured her, ¡°No need to be nervous, Ears, registration should be simple, after all you have the greatest living assassin vouching for you.¡±

    Before she could answer, a familiar buttery voice interrupted them.¡°Well, well, well, look who¡¯s back. The only person I¡¯m happy to see still has all his arms and legs.¡± He didn¡¯t turn, instead enjoying the look of astonishment that appeared on Elyza¡¯s face when she saw who spoke.

    Dragonkin were, by definition, not a common sight in the world, but the one attending to the two had a beauty that could rival a lunar eclipse. Glowing pearlescent scales adorning their light blue skin, a mix of dragon and luin, starting from the edges of their face, blending into their fin-like ears, and moving downwards. A set of gills ran along their neck, shut close since they weren¡¯t in use, their silver hair falling freely on their folded wings, and the pool of purple that they called eyes mesmerising anyone who met them. They were more modestly dressed than usual, donning a cream shirt, a tight-fitting purple vest that matched their eyes, and normal black pants.

    ¡°A joy as always, Lati.¡± Alex greeted his friend with a smile.

    ¡°This the one you were babbling about?¡± They asked, pointing towards Elyza, which snapped her out of her amazement.

    ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you,¡± she quickly recovered, extending her hand, ¡°I am Elyza.¡±

    ¡°She has manners¡­,¡± Lati stated, trying to sound shocked, taking her hand, ¡°So you¡¯re the one he wants to replace me with,¡± but before Ears could rebuke that, they turned to him, ¡°When you said you had found a partner, I was half-expecting just a clone of you.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t find any fault in their reasoning, remarking, ¡°That¡¯s valid.¡±

    ¡°Well, let me explain how this works,¡± Lati started, shifting their attention back to Elyza, ¡°When you get registered as one of our ¡®helpers¡¯, you gain a rank that depicts your usefulness and importance to the organisation, which in turn depicts what kind of jobs you can take on, and what kind of jobs you will be given by us. Fortunately, unlike the Adventurers¡¯ Guild, you can quite definitely skip the lower ranks. Since Mr. Dramatic himself has endorsed you, the House will allow you to advance to, more or less, the same rank for the duration of the partnership¡­¡±

    ¡°If?¡± Alex prompted, knowing that there were always strings attached.

    ¡°¡­ if you are able to successfully complete some jobs, that will be chosen to test your expertise. Considering what Alex has told me, it won¡¯t take that much time. Afterwards, you¡¯ll be given joint assignments that Alex usually gets on his own, and you will only be receiving messages from the House, and reporting your findings only to me.¡± Lati finished.

    Alex sighed, dropping his head, mumbling to himself, ¡°Of course¡­¡±

    Elyza must have nodded, as Lati continued, ¡°Then, just fill out this form to the best of your ability, and hopefully I¡¯ll be done with this shit by today,¡± handing over a piece of paper to her along with a pen, their perky attitude not dropping for a second, causing him to chuckle in the process.

    Glancing over the form, she remarked, ¡°I feel uncomfortable giving so much information to an organisation which primarily organises assassinations.¡±

    ¡°Just put down your name, age, and ¡®Hired Hand¡¯ as your class, that¡¯s what I did. They just need to know who they¡¯re hiring and who they¡¯re going to pay, and both of them will be handled by Lati. We¡¯ll both be working under pseudonyms anyway, which leads me to the next point of discussion,¡± Alex explained.

    The joy in Alex''s heart expanded as he lifted his head, knowing fully that she would hate the words he uttered next, ¡°Time to come up with one.¡±

    The disappointment on her face and the slow droop of her ears only served to widen Alex¡¯s smile. ¡°Is that really necessary?¡± she questioned, suggesting, ¡°Can I choose to not have to use one, maybe we can both use Nemo, turn it into a group name?¡± There was not a sense of hope in her voice, she knew he wasn¡¯t going to compromise.

    ¡°It¡¯s fun¡­ for me, because, hopefully, nobody will actually know if either of us were involved,¡± He could¡¯ve stopped there, but he was in a groove, and he added, ¡°It¡¯s for show, to make sure we keep our killing from fully corrupting who we actually are. But mostly, because I¡¯m curious who you want to be. So rattle them out.¡±

    With a soft sigh, Elyza suggested, ¡°Omen?¡±

    He was offended, and made sure to sound that way, ¡°That¡¯s Nemo, backwards.¡±

    ¡°Ivy?¡±

    ¡°Taken and basic.¡±

    After a moment of consideration, Elyza finally proposed, ¡°Penelope.¡±

    ¡°You got that, Lati?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Lati affirmed, pen hovering over the form, a threatening drop of ink poised to stain it. ¡°Now I just need your last name, age, and, Alex, no arguments, race.¡±

    Alex grumbled under his breath some loosely connected words, as Elyza answered. ¡°I am a part Forest Elf, My family name is Kethualuth,¡± Pausing to look back at him, her gaze threatening to hurt him if Alex dared to made fun of it, which worked, continuing, ¡°¡­ and I¡¯m 27 years old.¡±

    That piece of information hit him like an avalanche, his shock overriding his self-control, looking to her for confirmation. ¡°What? You¡¯re older than me?¡± he blurted out, looking to Elyza for confirmation.

    She didn¡¯t seem as surprised as he was, ¡°Considering how you act, it should not have been a shock that the more mature person was mature.¡±

    ¡°Spoken like someone who hasn¡¯t realised that I¡¯m only two years younger,¡± Alex retorted, and her expression of shock finally matched his, which was now hidden behind a grin. Impulsively, he asked, ¡°When¡¯s your birthday?¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    Elyza''s ears perked up as she replied, ¡°The nineteenth of December in the common calendar, I believe.¡±

    Musing to himself, he mumbled out, ¡°Interesting. Six months till your next one, I need to remember that.¡±

    ¡°Are you going to tell me yours?¡±

    Before he could not answer her, the barbarian from before, barging in between them, shoving them to the side, and banging his fist against the divider, clearly having some anger issues. With a grunt, he threw some papers through the slit under the divider, his tone gruff, meant to broadcast his toughness, as he growled, ¡°Better not send me away again, sweetheart.¡±

    Alex spotted Elyza¡¯s hand curl up, and if the setting was different, he would¡¯ve let her deck the bare chested man, but a crowd may not be on their side. He tapped the barbarian''s shoulder, and informed him, ¡°Excuse me, but we were in the middle of something.¡±

    The response from the barbarian was predictably aggressive. Glaring back at Alex, he bellowed, ¡°Fuck off, twat.¡±

    Wanting to escalate the situation now that he had confirmed his suspicions, unfortunately he made the mistake of looking towards Lati for confirmation, whose expression conveyed that they were used to the barbarian. Reluctantly, Alex took a step back, and after a conversation done entirely through stares, Elyza followed suit.

    The duo waited as Lati worked, meticulously studying the forms and retrieving other papers from the drawer below their desk. Finally, they chirped, ¡°Everything seems to be now in order¡­¡± As they continued, a twitch at the corner of their mouth betrayed their true feelings, ¡°However, since you will be advancing from silver rank to gold, you will need to have a recommendation from a current gold rank adventurer who can vouch for your skill and character as a prerequisite. Please ensure you acquire the recommendation within a month, or else I will have to cater to you once again.¡±

    The muscles on the barbarian''s back tensed, his posture stiffening as knots began to appear, making the black ink lines tattooed on the skin turn wiggly in the process. He seemed on the verge of exploding, but a quick poke at a couple of the knots redirected his anger toward Alex. Instinctively, Meathead swung at him, but the movement was slow enough for Alex to step back and address him calmly, ¡°Pardon my intrusion, but now that your reason for interrupting us has been completed, I would appreciate it if you could leave and allow us to continue.¡±

    The barbarian didn¡¯t appear to be in a conversing mood, puffing out his hairy chest as he stepped towards Alex, glaring down at him, ¡°Have you any idea who you just pissed off?¡± he growled.

    ¡°You haven¡¯t introduced yourself yet, so no,¡± he admitted, casting a glance toward Elyza, who had moved towards Lati, prepared to knock Meathead out as soon as he did something stupid.

    ¡°I am Ragnar Bloodmoon, the strongest adventurer in all of Luminae¡­¡± Ragnar declared, his voice laced with pride.

    Alex was barely able to stifle his laugh, ¡°That cannot be your real name.¡±

    Ragnar''s face turned redder with each passing second. ¡°Explain quickly why I shouldn¡¯t crush your neck right here and now,¡± he snarled out the words.

    The barbarian¡¯s anger seemed to be more a product of frustration than rage, so it was still possible to talk his way out of a fight. ¡°Firstly, killing someone in the confines of the Guild would be detrimental to your application to rank up,¡± Alex started, making sure to lower his gaze and hunch his shoulders, keeping his tone civil.

    ¡°Secondly, what would that truly accomplish? Obviously, an accomplished adventurer such as yourself would be easily able to overpower a mere explorer like myself, who primarily just collects materials for a quaint little shop called ¡®Cloaks and Halberds¡¯.¡± He said, nary a change in his voice indicated his lying.

    Pausing for a moment, he continued, turning his tone sorrowful, ¡°I am deeply regretful for my previous impulsive action, so let¡¯s just mark this incident as a learning moment for me that I am thankful that you have taught me, and we can go our separate ways,¡± he managed to end his apology with a nervous smile.

    The barbarian just glowered down at him, and as much as Alex had confidence in his puppy eyes, they didn¡¯t seem to be working. Meathead stepped forward, his voice dropping to sound threatening, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem like you¡¯ve learned not to disturb your betters, let me make sure that never happens again¡­¡±

    Just slice his throat, and save some time

    ¡°I challenge you to a duel!¡± Ragnar¡¯s voice echoed through the high chamber.

    It had been a while since one of those thoughts had broken through the cell in Alex¡¯s mind, so he hadn¡¯t actually heard exactly what Meathead said. His mind took a while to process what had just happened, noticing the gaze of more and more people on him, and when it finally clicked, he addressed Lati first, ¡°How long is it going to take you to get Elyza registered?¡±

    Lati appeared checked out, reading a book with their legs up on the desk, replying casually, ¡°About an hour. Oh, and also, the Council is holding a meeting tomorrow, and they want you to be there.¡±

    Alex was internally cursing his decision to inform the House of his return from holiday, but he couldn¡¯t let it show. ¡°It seems I have some time to kill,¡± he said, dropping his snivelling act, staring directly into the barbarian''s eyes, ¡°What are the stakes?¡±

    ¡°A hundred gold.¡± Ragnar replied, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

    ¡°A bit expensive for me, so I have a compromise in mind: if you win, I give a hundred gold, however if I win, you have to go back down to bronze rank, but surely a man of your skills won¡¯t be deterred by a foolish and improbable chance of losing, right?¡± Alex proposed, his tone laced with confidence, holding his hand out for confirmation.

    The barbarian had to accept the condition, lest his ego take a beating. With a handshake, the match was set. ¡°Then it''s settled, we¡¯ll meet in the coliseum in five minutes,¡± Alex declared, a grin spreading across his face.

    <hr>

    Looking down at him, Elyza''s voice dripped with boredom as she asked, ¡°Why are you doing this?¡±

    Alex sat cross-legged on the hard red clay that formed the ground of the perfectly ellipsoid cave, whose walls were carved in a way that the limestone appeared knapped. The boundary of the battle arena was marked by marble brick embedded into the clay, with grey cement walls further beyond, guarding the spectators. The seats above were mostly empty, save for a few that had come to see a famously ruthless barbarian absolutely massacre him¡ªthe former of whom was notably late.

    He leaned backwards, falling onto his back, looking in her eyes as he said, ¡°What? You think he can beat me?¡±

    ¡°Be realistic, Mr. Dramatic,¡± she retorted, flipping him back with a kick to his shoulder, continuing, ¡°Why humour him with a fight, when you know you will win? So, just pay him the gold and be done with it.¡±

    There didn¡¯t seem a need to add his usual flair, so he just shrugged, and plainly admitted, ¡°I¡¯m bored, and fighting is a good way to blow off some steam. I mean, theoretically, since Meathead hasn¡¯t shown u¡­¡± His sentence trailed off as the barbarian walked in from the arch that faced him.

    Alex could only sigh, and Elyza perfectly encapsulated his thoughts as she saw Ragnar and commented, ¡°It is uncanny how often this happens.¡±

    ¡°I concur,¡± he grumbled out, standing up, ¡°Let¡¯s set a wager, how long is this going to take me?¡±

    ¡°For what are we betting?¡±

    ¡°Lunch.¡±

    ¡°One to two minutes,¡± she answered without hesitation, or even a moment to think.

    ¡°You insult me.¡±

    ¡°Under a minute is going to be hard to achieve, so we have a deal.¡± she said, walking toward the seats and with a practised ease, she climbed up the wall. Upon reaching the top, instead of taking a seat, she leaned against the railing,

    Meanwhile, Ragnar stepped into the circle, accompanied by a guild hand, presumably sent by Lati in order to supervise the duel, along with making sure no one died in the process. As the referee made their way to the centre of the arena to commence the match, Alex used the moment to study his opponent.

    His mind was free to run, and his eyes absorbed every detail that caught his interest. Unlike many of his barbarian counterparts, Ragnar wasn''t weighed down by heavy armour. But, the reason for its absence wasn¡¯t hard to decipher. The black ink on his chest painted a circular glyph that mirrored what Alex had seen on his hide, and it looked to be a mage armour spell. Ragnar''s weapon of choice was as stereotypical as it came for a barbarian¡ªA double-headed steel blade axe. Some glyphs smeared onto the metal using blue paint which looked a bit luminescent, blue residue surrounding his grip on the axe¡¯s wooden haft.

    Strategies started to pile up in his mind, every consequent one coming up with ways to end the duel faster than the last. Then, in a moment of inspiration, an idea popped into Alex¡¯s head¡ªso outrageous, so audacious, something that just required a bit of set-up to work.

    Alex focused on his shadow, attaching a remnant of it to where he was standing, and as the guild hand reached the centre, he created a small illusion to mask it, ensuring it went unnoticed.

    The murmurs of the sparse audience faded into silence as the guild hand raised his hands, signalling the start of the duel. The referee¡¯s voice cut through the quiet, formal and authoritative.

    ¡°The Guild has agreed to recognise the duel between Alex and Ragnar Bloodmoon, and the conditions that the two parties have decided upon. To commence with the battle, we just require the parties to accept not to retaliate against the Guild if the outcome of the duel is undesirable to them.¡±

    He gestured towards Ragnar, prompting the barbarian to respond. But before Ragnar could answer, Alex raised his hand and cleared his throat, drawing the umpire¡¯s attention.

    ¡°I hate to do this,¡± he acted a bit coy. ¡°But I¡¯m not that experienced with real duels, only participated in a couple of magic duels in academia¡­¡± stepping towards his left, and repressing his gigantic grin when Meathead mirrored his action.

    ¡°So, if you could be so kind and explain the rules we have to follow, I would greatly appreciate it,¡± he added, spinning on his heels and beginning to pace anti-clockwise in the arena, keeping his movements fluid and nonchalant.

    ¡°What would you like clarification on?¡± the umpire asked, an expression of slight unsureness creeping up his face on why the duellers were circling each other before the fight had begun.

    ¡°What¡¯s the winning condition? Do we just batter each other till the other falls unconscious?¡±

    ¡°The duel shall end when the other party is either in no condition to fight, which will be decided by me, or when either leaves the confines of the arena.¡±

    ¡°And am I allowed to¡­ commence my magic before the match officially starts?¡±

    ¡°All spells and magic are allowed after the duel begins, if I detect any mana use before it does, the match is forfeited and the perpetrator is declared the losing party.¡± The umpire answered, and Alex stopped walking, prompting him to continue, ¡°Are all your doubts resolved?¡±

    ¡°Yes, they are,¡± Alex confirmed with a grin, while Ragnar came to a halt exactly where he had been standing moments before.

    Nodding in acknowledgment, the umpire gestured towards Ragnar, who spoke up confidently, ¡°I accept.¡±

    The guild hand then pointed to Alex next, who matched Ragnar¡¯s confidence, ¡°Guess I don''t have much of a choice, do I? I accept.¡±

    The guild hand jogged out of the arena, and as soon as he stepped over the marble border, he turned around and announced in a clear and booming voice, ¡°The stage is set, the fighters ready, the duel¡­ BEGINS!¡±

    Before the word could even reach Alex, his body turned into umbra, melding into his shadow. Yet, as it did, he poured mana through the domain, funnelling it to the remnant underneath the barbarian, springing forth from his little illusion. A copy of himself emerged from beneath Ragnar''s feet as Alex sank into the domain of darkness. The sea of shadows should¡¯ve pushed him towards the surface, through the cloudy film that contained it, but as he floated up from the plane of light, there was no need to surface.

    The darkness squeezed against his skin, heavier than even cooling lava, which was strangely a familiar feeling. It was impossible to see through it without anything to shine from behind, but sight was not required. Alex floated weightlessly through the shadows, his body guided by instinct, arching back into the plane of light just ahead of where the remnant of his own should be. Lightning coursed through his muscles, charging them as he rose back into the real world, right where the barbarian was.

    Ragnar had thought that Alex would stoop so low as to stab him in the back, so when he felt something emerge behind him, he swung his axe at the clone. But when he caught sight of something coming up from the corner of his eye, it was too late.

    Standing, his hand raised, lightning crackling through his right hand, palm facing directly at the barbarian¡¯s contorting back. Unfortunately, the mage armour had already been erected, so this wouldn¡¯t hurt as much as Alex would¡¯ve liked.

    As Ragnar¡¯s pupils widened, realising what was about to happen, Alex had the biggest shit-eating grin he could muster, and he just had to add some flair. ¡°It was fun while it lasted,¡± he taunted.

    Static arced onto the surface of the ethereal translucent armour first, followed by a flood of electricity. The barbarian¡¯s feet were wrenched off the clay so fast that they still held onto some clay as he was thrown out of the arena, forming a sizable crater upon impact with the concrete border.

    ¡°FIFTEEN FUCKING SECONDS!¡± Alex shouted triumphantly toward Elyza, who remained leaning against the railing, her face expressing a mix of annoyance and impressiveness unique to only her. The rest of the crowd was still dead silent, still processing what had just happened in front of their eyes, including the guild hand.

    But the umpire appeared to be more used to unusual ends to fights, and he declared, ¡°The winner is Alex! By the way of throwing his opponent out of the ring,¡± before dashing towards the still conscious, but undoubtedly rattled, barbarian.

    Elyza jumped from the wall, air swirling around her to soften her landing. As she touched down, the circling wind picked up some clay and concrete dust that had flown up due to the impact, and when she let go of her control over it, she definitely made some fly into his face.

    But he was in too good a mood to care. Strangely, as she walked towards him, she seemed to glance at something behind him, and as he turned to see who it was, Lati popped into his view, their scales reflecting the sunlight straight into his eyes.

    ¡°Sweet mother of pearls!¡± Alex exclaimed as dramatically as he could.

    Lati chuckled at his reaction, catching themselves quickly, turning to Elyza, ¡°I have some great news. I was able to get the jobs you¡¯ve been tasked with completing faster than usual, so I would suggest looking over them and creating a plan of action. You¡¯ll have a month to complete them all, but it doesn¡¯t hurt to have one,¡± they said, offering Elyza a leather-bound file. Then, turning to Alex, they added ¡°After you¡¯ve attended the meeting tomorrow, you both should be set to start working on them.¡±

    ¡°I know, I know,¡± He let out a sigh, dreading having to deal with the ancients at the council, ¡°Don''t have to tell me twice.¡±

    Elyza peeked inside the file, asking, ¡°Am I required to attend the meeting as well?¡±

    Grumbling, Alex replied, ¡°I''m not feeling that heartless today, so no, you don¡¯t need to come with,¡± turning to face her as she flipped the file to check the documents inside. ¡°No need to be so excited, we can plan the journey out after we get lunch,¡± he advised, grinning as he interrupted her, continuing with his usual panache, ¡°And, as you can tell from my tone, I know just the place where we can do both.¡±

    Knowing where he was hinting, Lati made a request,  ¡°Ohhh, I haven''t been there since the party you held for me, you think you could snag me some quiches for dinner?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll swing by and drop them off,¡± he promised, his torso swinging around as he answered, before addressing Elyza once again, ¡°You remember the way back from here to the shop, don''t you Ears?¡±

    She was clearly curious about the place he was talking about, but her expression turned worrisome as soon Alex asked her, ¡°I do¡­ Why are you asking me that?¡± She questioned.

    ¡°Just needed to know if we should walk there or not.¡± Grinning as he pulled up on their shadows to envelop them both.

    <hr>

    Alex held the cup of liquid gold just in front of his mouth, savouring the earthy vanilla aroma, before sipping some of the chocolate-infused coffee to explore the depths of its flavour. A splash of milk was his usual go-to, softening the bitter edge of the rich flavour, but at Regina Romance, he always knew that whatever he tried would be delicious.

    The smooth caramel-y beverage washed away the tang of tomatoes at the back of his throat, a trace of the lasagna he had devoured but only a minute ago. Its taste was amplified by the majestic, albeit a bit cluttered, view of the castle walls that formed an edge of the public grounds, flowers bursting with all colours of a rainbow, and their dark green leaves melding beautifully with the grass.

    His current company was presently occupied in the polishing off some fried kraken tentacles, a delicacy he was deeply familiar with, the last in a long line of fallen beasts Elyza had devoured that day. The plates that carried them to their deaths were placed neatly in a stack beneath the table. Her face was devoid of any messiness that usually came with inhaling food, except her fingers, which were stained orange due to all the greasy food.

    Finally slowing down, Alex was presented with an opportunity to speak, smiling at the carnage in front of him, ¡°This was meant to make you regret betting against me, but I don''t think it had the desired effect,¡± he remarked.

    The words seemed to snap her out of her gluttonous rampage, meeting his gaze after swallowing her last mouthful, ¡°I believe it had the exact effect you expected it to,¡± she said, seeing straight through his words. Continuing, she added,  ¡°And I thank you for it.¡±

    ¡°I have no clue what you are referring to,¡± Alex replied with a playful grin. ¡°Now, if you can hand me those last remaining arms and pull out the file, we can see what the House wants you to do.¡±

    Wiping her hands with a towelette, Elyza reached down to take it out of her burlap sack, and as she did, he pulled the plate of fried kraken towards himself, picking up one of the two curled tentacles and taking a bite. The crunch of its coating gave way to a nice, firm, but not chewy meat. Unlike the ones from his childhood, it didn''t taste as fresh or flavourful as he was used to, but it was still quite good.

    Revealing three envelopes made of yellowish canvas paper, she remarked, ¡°These are the entirety of the file¡¯s contents.¡±

    ¡°Open one,¡± he suggested, and she did.

    Pulling out a rectangular piece of linen paper, she unfolded it and by habit, Alex immediately looked towards its top right corner. It was dipped in bright blue wax ¡ª an official request from the nation.

    He could see Elyza¡¯s eyes scanning the contract, and when they stopped, she spoke, ¡°Apparently, there is suspicion that some organisation is taking advantage of Beastmen wanting to enter Luminae in less than legal ways from the mountains to the north-east. It is a call to the people from the military requesting any information on the slave trade which is thought to be operating within the territorial bounds. The House has instructed us to locate its base, and if possible, eradicate it.¡±

    ¡°Good, I needed some live test subjects,¡± he blurted out between bites of the remaining arm. She didn''t disagree, picking up another envelope.

    This one had a dull yellow corner, a citizen¡¯s request, ¡°Someone is reporting that growing cult in their town, and are worried that they may turn violent. So, the guild wants me to go there, infiltrate the cult, and dismantle it from the inside.¡±

    As he wiped his greasy fingers, a smile spread across his face as he thought of ways to do so, remarking, ¡°That should be fun.¡±

    Opening the last envelope, she summarised the writing, holding the paper by the purple wax corner. ¡°The guild in Rexham wants someone to investigate a cave that has suddenly shown up near the town. Many of the adventurers sent there haven¡¯t returned, and they are worried that it may be a monster den.¡±

    She looked at him as if she was expecting Alex to take the lead, so he reminded her, his tone more serious than he was used to, ¡°They want to test your skill, and while I will accompany you, you¡¯re in charge, Ears.¡± He switched his tone back almost immediately, grinning, ¡°But it doesn¡¯t mean I won''t be of help.¡±

    Alex''s hand dove into his cloak¡¯s shade, focusing on not breaching into his own personal pocket within the domain of shadows, feeling around for a map. His hand struck some sort of paper, but it felt too soft, and continuing on, he finally held in his hands a heavy scroll whose edges felt just rough enough to be his map.

    Pulling it out with gusto and holding it in his hand like it contained an ancient prophecy, he used his other hand to clear the table a bit so he could roll it out. As soon as Elyza picked up the contracts, he unfurled it, a few pins tumbling with it. He turned his voice to sound like a goon¡¯s, ¡°What¡¯s the plan, boss?¡±

    Unfortunately, travelling with him for so long had given her some immunity to his impressions, but it wasn''t enough to stop a slight smile from appearing on her face as she studied the map. The mainland of the nation looked like a boot lifting up from the sea, with a cluster of islets towards the south leading to a larger island. A mountain range started from the northwest, tapering a bit as it stretched to the northeast, creating a natural barrier that separated the peninsular nation from the rest of the continent.

    The surface of the map was dotted with holes, and the paint was starting to fade. It was a purely locational map, used to plan out routes, with essential geographical features like rivers, lakes, plains, and forests dyed onto it. Most of the cities, towns, and ports were present, printed onto the canvas, and if there was anything significant that Alex had encountered, it had been marked with ink.

    ¡°I believe our primary focus should be finding the slave traders,¡± Elyza started, glancing at the associated contract, placing her index finger on the start of the northern mountains, ¡°The easiest and most common way to travel between the two nations is by sea, however, there is quite a substantial valley in between the range, so there may be an alternate route within the valley that bypasses the checkpoints on the border.¡± Tracing her finger through the route, she circled an area nearby, ¡°These towns here have a low population, so it is likely that they may have created a base there. I say we hit all of them.¡±

    ¡°The journey will take us four days at the most,¡± Alex mumbled absent-mindedly as he listened to her plan.

    Placing a pin in all three of the towns, she picked up another. ¡°Since we have to go to Rexham, it may be more efficient to route our journey through the town, as I imagine, even if the cave turns out to be a monster den, it will only take us a day to complete the contract.¡± Tacking it down next to the city¡¯s name, she continued, ¡°A day to reach the town, another to complete the contract, and then two to reach the mountains. Does that seem sensible?¡±

    Her tone indicated that the question was rhetorical, so Alex responded appropriately, ¡°Of course, Ma¡¯am. Small question, why do you want to leave the cultists for last?¡±

    She picked up the yellow cornered contract, scanning it, explaining her reasoning, ¡°The request seems to have been made quite recently, and we have to go southwest towards the coast for it. I would be highly surprised, even if there is a cult, if they would be able to gain so much influence in a week that they become a worrying threat.¡±

    ¡°You may be better than me at making plans, we¡¯ll have to wait to find out if you¡¯re better at keeping to it,¡± Alex remarked, letting his pride show with a grin. Then he remembered, pulling out his pocket watch to check if they were running late¡ªit read 13:30¡ªadding as he raised his hand to call a server, ¡°And just in time, so let¡¯s finish up here and go explore the city a bit.¡±

    Elyza retrieved her coin pouch, and asked, ¡°What now?¡±

    ¡°Well,¡± he began, a plan forming in his head for the day, ¡°We¡¯re first going to visit the orphanage so I can donate some gold, then I need to visit the bank to get some money from Red¡¯s account. After that I was thinking maybe hit the Thalia, there¡¯s a play being held that people are raving about, get some seeds from the greenhouses, and then visit the market to score some fresh ingredients for-¡±

    ¡°I meant¡­¡± she stopped him from rambling any further, clarifying, ¡°When shall we leave the city?¡±

    ¡°I would like to skip the meeting and leave tomorrow, but if I tried to, Red would strangle me to death, so I¡¯ll see how fast I can be done with it, we¡¯ll explore the parts of the city we couldn¡¯t today, maybe kill some killers in the process, and we can depart the day after.¡± Alex answered, his mood brightening as the waiter reached the table.

    ¡°I hope you enjoyed the food! Your total has come out to five gold coins,¡± the waiter declared, and the look of realisation on Elyza¡¯s face was hysterical as she pleaded with her brows to split the bill.

    Alex just swigged the rest of his coffee, which was now lukewarm, relishing it for the energy it gave him, and not for its taste, and stated, ¡°There¡¯s the regret I was looking for.¡±

 Chapter 15: Baiting with Wyrms

    Banging on the walls of the wooden wagon to alert Alex, Elyza shot a glance at the broken down coach that blocked the path forward, gesturing to the merchant sitting next to her to slow down the horses. A groan emanated from within the wagon. It had been only half an hour since Alex had handed off the chaperoning to her, and he was finally about to succumb to a much-needed nap. Lifting his weary head from the comfort of a wooden crate he was using as a pillow, he jumped out and followed behind the horse-drawn wagon as it eased its pace.

    Overtaking the wagon as it stopped, the merchant retreated into the safety of the wagon, as Alex joined Elyza as the duo walked towards the kneeling carriage, a man wearing quite fancy garments waving to them for help. He seemed bothered, an appropriate reaction to the situation, but his eyes weren¡¯t focused on the people coming to help, his gaze drifting uneasily toward the shadows cast by the surrounding trees.

    ¡°T-thank god so-someone arrived so soon.¡± the man spoke, his voice wavering dangerously, as if he was about to collapse from exhaustion, sweat trickling down his reddening face. Unless he thought the two had come to rob him, he was awfully nervous.

    ¡°What happened?¡± Elyza inquired, her gaze shifting between the distressed man and her partner, who was already investigating the intricately embellished coach.

    ¡°W-we were just passing through when w-I suddenly heard a loud crack and the whine of horses, and felt the carriage come to an abrupt halt. My driver told me that the horses had panicked and ran, so he went after them and told me to wait.¡± As he spoke, while he did maintain eye contact, he never once blinked. He was trying to seem like he wasn¡¯t lying, his posture too perfect, his words too carefully chosen.

    While the two were talking, Alex was figuring out how the horses got free. It wasn¡¯t an arduous task. The area of the U-shaped shaft to which the horses are tied to in a coach, didn¡¯t snap off, there were no wooden shards that had fallen down, they were cleaved off. And something that was even more damning, the pieces that had been separated from the shaft were still lying on the ground, with the part of the traces still attached to it.

    He looked towards Elyza, and she met his gaze, and they both came to a mutual understanding. This was a trap, a bad one at that. Without exchanging a word, they seamlessly slipped into their roles, each assuming a character to draw out, in most likelihood, the bandits hiding in the cover of the forest.

    Elyza adopted an air of vulnerable naivety, her features softening into an expression of concern and uncertainty, a rare sight for Alex, as he usually assumed that caricature. Meanwhile, Alex himself adopted an air of heavily misplaced self-confidence, his swagger exaggerated as he rejoined the group, even stumbling over the still wooden wreckage in a clumsy attempt to appear authoritative.

    ¡°Yup, definitely broken,¡± He announced, puffing out his chest in a display of false bravado as he examined the damaged carriage.

    ¡°That¡¯s a shame, I was about to lend him one of our horses so he could reach his destination,¡± she began, her voice uncharacteristically exuberant. As Alex closed his eyes and focused, she addressed the man once more, her keen gaze scanning the elegantly decorated interior of the carriage for any signs of additional occupants.

    ¡°Were you the only one travelling in this coach?¡± she questioned, peering inside the elegantly decorated area for any signs it was used to house multiple. A set of muddy footprints on the plush purple carpet confirmed her suspicions, prompting a quick glance from the man towards the concealing foliage of the surrounding trees.

    Before the man could answer her, Alex subtly released a pulse of mana, and immediately felt them return, bouncing back as they hit the people hiding in the trees. Elyza felt the wave pass over her as well, and when she glanced over, she saw him holding up a sign for eight. Turning back to the man acting as the bandit¡¯s bait, she noticed him quickly glance towards the trees, he was worried about someone hiding within the foliage.

    ¡°No, I, uh, I always travel by my lonesome,¡± he stammered, his nervous demeanour getting even worse, sweating a river, barely managing to keep his hands from trembling. They were finally about to meet the bandits.

    ¡°I guess we could let you travel with us,¡± Alex remarked, his voice going all high and mighty, ¡°Although, we may have to unload some of our cargo, unless you would be willing to pay for the lost value we would incur,¡± the words felt just as slimy as he wanted them to.

    And it began, the trap finally unfurled around them. Jagged stone walls erupted from the ground in front of them, blocking the road forward, while another set emerged from behind the two carriages, emitting a horrendous screech as the stone grated against the gravel roads.

    As the dust settled, two bandits revealed themselves by stepping boldly in front of the duo, abandoning the safety of the trees. They stood tall against the backdrop of granite pillars, their weapons drawn and ready. Four more emerged from the shadows, flanking the wagon with two on each side, their faces scrunched in an attempt to look tough.

    Of the six assailants, two were unmistakably mages, their staves held aloft alongside their daggers. While one was dual-wielding swords, holding them as clumsily as the grounds on which that fighting style was developed, another holding a gleaming spear, looking as new as the weapon she wielded. Yet another held in his hands a rusty mace, while the last one simply held up his fists, which were wrapped in leather strips.

    The last one to emerge seemed to be the leader of the bandits, a scar running the length of his face, going through his eye and mouth, the tip of his nose missing. Donning full knight armour, his left arm didn¡¯t look real, the mass not matching the right one, the shine and grain of the metal not matching the rest of the coat of mail¡ªit was mechanical.

    As the leader of the bandits approached, strutting confidently with his longsword resting casually on his shoulder, he began to speak, his voice dripping with arrogance. ¡°Look what we caught, boys! Some more benefactors to help us. So why don''t you pompous pricks relieve yourselves of your¡ª¡±

    He never had the chance to finish his sentence. With a sudden crackle of lightning, a bolt slammed into his chest, propelling him backward into the granite walls with a resounding thud. The leader crumpled to the ground, his mechanical arm sparking and sputtering as he lay stunned.

    The attack was rapidly followed by another stream of lightning erupted from Alex''s other hand, striking the mage who had stood to the right of the leader. She was catapulted into her own wall, arcs of electricity crackling in the air before dissipating into nothingness. Elyza, just as quick to react, forced the air above the other bandit to thicken till it was dense as metal, pushing down on the dual-wielding swordsman, squeezing him against the gravel till his nose bled, long enough so that he only lost consciousness.

    A tense silence hung in the air as the rest of the bandits¡¯ minds tried to catch up to what they had just seen. As Elyza nodded towards the bait to get in the coach, Alex broke the quiet by addressing the gang with a measured tone, naturally smiling as he said, ¡°We don''t have a lot of time to waste here, so if you could surrender peacefully that would be extremely convenient¡­¡± letting his words trail off so they could tell he was being sincere, and able to follow up on his unsaid promise.

    Before the bandits could fully process the gravity of their situation, the bare-handed bandit rushed forward with a bloodthirsty scream, his fists bursting into flames as he slammed his knuckles against each other. The rest of the gang followed suit, spurred on by the momentum of their de facto leader''s reckless charge. Elyza moved first this time, her hand shooting forward, calling upon the ring hiding beneath her gauntlets. With a swift motion, her halberd materialised in her grasp, its gleaming gold-plated blade shimmering in the dappled sunlight.

    The serpent that wrapped around the shaft would unfortunately have to starve, the blade remaining clean for another day. Stepping forward with practised precision, she flicked the blunt of the spear into the rushing martial artist¡¯s head, smashing the ironwood into his temple. There was a crack of bone, and the man crumpled, his momentum causing him to slide on the loose gravel road as he did. He still drew breath, but the others didn¡¯t realise that fact.

    As panic spread among the remaining bandits, Alex seized the opportunity to exploit their fear. His hand clenched the empty air into a fist. The long shadows of the wagon exploded into tendrils of darkness under his command, enveloping the two nearest bandits¡ªthe mage and the one wielding the tarnished morning star¡ªsqueezing them, causing their weapons to snap, and crushing the air from their lungs, leaving them gasping for breath. Alex dismissed his hold with a snap of his wrist, throwing them both into the trees, fortunately not going far, the impact with the trunks of birch leaving them dazed and disoriented.

    And then there was one. Neither of the two wanted to embarrass someone who had clearly joined the band of bandits in the near past, either due to either necessity or coercion. They did not need to, because as soon as the duo turned their attention towards her, she just yelped, let go of her spear, and stammered out, ¡°I-I s-surrender, I¡¯m sorry.¡±

    It looked like she was about to cry in fear, so Elyza moved to comfort her, her halberd returning to its ring form. ¡°If you have realised what you were doing is wrong, then you need not fear us.¡± she reassured her, her voice gentle yet firm, gesturing to the last bandit to sit next to the wagon. ¡°Now rest, we may need your testimony against the others, but I will make sure that they are lenient towards you, if you deserve it.¡±

    ¡°Although,¡± Alex threw out into the conversation, ¡°It would be helpful if you could lend a hand in rounding up the rest of the circus, especially¡­¡± turning around to see the bandits¡¯ leader clearly not where he was supposed to be, only his sword lying on the ground, and exclaimed, ¡°¡­FUCK.¡± He concentrated a ball of mana within his chest as fast as he could, disregarding the pain that followed, releasing it as fast as possible. Something pinged to his left, and he reacted instinctively, swinging around and drawing his dagger in one motion, ready to defend against an attack.

    The leader stumbled out of the woods, his arm wrapped tightly around a girl, a knife pressed threateningly against her throat. His hand trembled, his breath laboured from the electric shock he had endured. Alex glanced behind, expecting Elyza to be there, wanting to discuss how they would approach the situation, but when he saw no one behind him, he knew what she was planning.

    ¡°I thought you would have pride,¡± Alex remarked, turning back towards the trembling leader. He deliberately avoided the pleading gaze of the hostage, ¡°But I was clearly mistaken. Look at you hiding behind a hostage. A soldier only by looks, since you¡¯ve cowering behind another like a dog with a tail beneath its leg,¡± he spat out grinning, his tone dripping with disdain yet his face revealing no care for the girl.

    The words struck a nerve, igniting a flicker of anger in the leader''s eyes, though not enough to drive him to rash action. ¡°Here¡¯s what you¡¯re going to do,¡± he stopped, readjusting his grip on the hostage as she tried to break free, having the audacity to demand, ¡°Unhook a horse from behind you, get in the wagon, and I¡¯ll let the girl go.¡±

    ¡°DON¡¯T LIST-¡± The girl¡¯s words were cut off abruptly as the cold steel of the knife pressed harder against her skin, silencing her protest.

    ¡°I agree with your hostage, why the fuck would I trust you, because we both know as soon as you let go of her,¡± Alex stared, holding out his hand, the shadows beneath him parting to allow a claymore wreathe in umbra to rise under his command, the darkness protecting it in its journey dissolving to reveal its deep red gem core, surrounded by metal that looked like pure charcoal.

    He grasped the hilt of the sword with one hand, swinging it effortlessly to cradle it within his arms, the blade pointing to the sky, continuing, ¡°There will be nothing in the world stopping me from castrating you, and I know from the look in your eyes, you''re too much of a coward to actually follow through with your little threat.¡±

    ¡°Your little tricks don¡¯t scare me!¡± He exclaimed, trying to deceive the assassin.

    ¡°This wasn¡¯t meant to scare you.¡± Just as Alex uttered the words, his partner grabbed a hold of the distracted leader, using one arm to put him into a choke hold. The other pried the metal arm ajar, twisting the wrist so that it could not maintain a grip on the weapon it held. As the knife fell on the ground, his other arm rushed upwards in a futile attempt to do something about Elyza¡¯s grasp on his throat, his mechanical arm failing to match her trained muscles. Now suddenly free, the girl stumbled forward, before dashing towards the coach, and Alex ignored her for the time being.

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    As his accomplice lighted the man in full armour off the ground, the leader¡¯s legs swinging like a newborn baby, struggling against Ears¡¯ strength, he asked, ¡°What do you want to do with him?¡±

    She thought for a moment, with deadpan, she replied, ¡°I believe a slap would be sufficient in his case.¡±

    The leader''s face contorted with a mix of fear and confusion, mirroring the elation evident in Alex''s expression. Before he could figure out the hidden meaning behind the words, Elyza shoved him towards her partner, who just waited for him to stumble forward.

    Without hesitation, Alex raised his right hand, and brought it down as hard as possible, almost losing control and turning his palm into lightning. Colliding with the bandit''s cheek with an intensity that the world appeared to go silent as his palm made impact, erupting into a resounding thunder. The leader collapsed to the ground, stunned by the force of the blow as the echo of the slap lingered in the air.

    ¡°That looked better than last time.¡± Elyza remarked, walking over to the unconscious body, grabbing its ankles and dragging the leader towards the broken carriage.

    ¡°Eh, The angle was a bit off, had to twist my wrist quite a bit, didn¡¯t feel natural,¡± Alex mused, walking backwards knocking on the tightly shut carriage door. He called out to the people bunkering inside, his voice returning to his usual, almost on the verge of cracking a joke, ¡°You can come out now!¡±

    There was a moment of hesitation from the other side of the door before it creaked open, the bait peering through the crack with a look of contemplation on his face, still deciding whether to trust the two. ¡°Let us be, we have nothing to reward you with at the moment,¡± Mr. Bait pleaded, a kernel of doubt still in his head, which annoyed their saviour a bit, not enough to express it, but the emotion was present

    Before he could clarify his intentions, the man¡¯s daughter spoke up, her voice carrying a tone of reassurance, ¡°It¡¯s alright Father, he doesn¡¯t seem to harbour any ill intention.¡±

    Alex smiled warmly, exuding an aura of compassion as he stepped forward to address the father and daughter. ¡°Hello, I didn¡¯t get to properly introduce myself the last time we spoke, I¡¯m Alex,¡± he heard someone being dragged behind him, gesturing towards his accomplice who was busy dragging the mage behind her. Acknowledging the scepticism in their eyes, Alex continued with a comforting tone, ¡°And that absolute spectacle of an elf, is my partner in crime, Elyza. Your daughter¡¯s intuition is spot on. We¡¯re but only humble explorers travelling, who wanted nothing more but to help some fellow travellers.¡±

    By the looks on their faces, he knew that they doubted that they both were mere explorers, considering the absolute domination they had just witnessed, but nevertheless he continued, ¡°So it would calm my nerves to know that you are healthy, and if you and your daughter are willing, I would love to extend an invitation to join our journey till we reach Rexham. If not, well, there are other ways I can arrange your travel.¡± For some reason, his poorly hidden, accidental, and frankly incredulous threat, convinced the family to promptly accept his help.

    <hr>

    Rays of coloured sunlight cascaded into the room, casting vibrant hues upon the space where Alex and Elyza found themselves essentially trapped. Not by physical barriers, nor by any arcane forces, but rather by the constraints of social norms. To be fair, it wasn¡¯t that they weren¡¯t willing to break social convention, if only the one who had trapped them in the room wasn¡¯t Rexham¡¯s Guild Master.

    So they both stayed sitting on chairs whose cushions were so flaccid that they felt as if they were made of loose stones stuffed in rough wool. The room was cluttered, clearly the Guild Master had held the position for a significant amount of time, but it still carried an air of importance, if you could ignore the stale air.

    The walls boasted an eclectic array of trophies¡ªskulls from an impressive variety of monsters. Some were undoubtedly genuine, their weathered surfaces and jagged edges bearing witness to battles long past. Yet others seemed suspiciously perfect, their teeth too pristine, their surfaces too smooth. A few were clearly replicas, lacking the telltale signs of age and wear. Alongside hung depictions of past guild masters in oil painted portraits, and a few family portraits of the current Guild Master were interspersed among them. Flanking the desk beneath a towering stained-glass window¡ªdepicting the legendary red dragon of local folklore¡ªstood towering bookshelves

    Elyza sat with relative patience, her feet idly tracing patterns on the worn carpet beneath the desk, waiting for the Guild Master¡¯s return. Beside her, Alex grew increasingly restless, having already paced around the room and touched whatever was in range of his grubby little hands for ten minutes by now.

    Finally, the door swung open, and the Guild Master stumbled in, carrying a stack of papers. In his mid-fifties, his hair half grey, he was dressed in what could only be described as ''Casual Aristocracy''¡ªa white poet''s shirt, a red coat of mail, and a black vest, paired with white pants and leather boots. Clearly having dressed in a hurry, his shirt was improperly tucked in, his hair shabbily combed over his skull, and his glasses sat crookedly on the bridge of his nose, giving him the appearance of a neighbourhood grandpa.

    ¡°Sorry about the wait, you two. It took a bit longer than I would''ve liked,¡± he apologised as he settled into his chair, which was noticeably more luxurious than the ones provided to Alex and Elyza. Readjusting his glasses, the Guild Master continued, ¡°And I was surprised to learn that you were telling the truth.

    With a deep breath, he acknowledged, ¡°Please accept my apologies, Alex and Elyza, was it?¡± His tone held genuine remorse as he addressed the duo. ¡°As a representative of the town of Rexham, I, Lucian Crane, would like to extend its gratitude for helping remove a gang that has been terrorising the district for the past two years.¡±

    In a rare moment of restraint, Alex bit his tongue to prevent himself from impulsively responding, allowing Elyza to take the lead. ¡°I appreciate your thanks, and I believe my argument for Mara was sufficient to award her some leniency,¡± she stated calmly, exuding more authority than the mind

    ¡°Ah, yes,¡± Mr. Crane acknowledged, shuffling through the papers in his hands. ¡°The paladin? No, the artificer, I believe.¡± He paused, his brow furrowing slightly as he scanned the documents before him. ¡°I''ve reviewed her record. It appears she was coerced into creating weapons for the group after they threatened to burn down her workshop.¡±

    ¡°Furthermore, the reason she was present during this particular incident was because one of their members had perished in a recent hijacking. They were reluctant to abandon the opportunity presented this weekend, especially given the influx of travellers due to the annual festival in Ruvha.¡±

    ¡°It was quite fortunate that you two were the ones that stumbled across the scene.¡± Mr. Crane¡¯s tone turned sceptical, ¡°Even more so that you two were able to defeat them all, quite handily, by what I¡¯ve heard. You both came from the Capital, correct?¡±

    ¡°Yes.¡± Elyza replied, while Alex stared at her, still keeping quiet, knowing what they were going to be asked next, wanting to study how she would approach the situation.

    ¡°Why exactly are you two visiting our quaint little town? The Guild says that you two are merely explorers.¡± Mr. Crane pressed, his gaze narrowing in suspicion.

    ¡°Just a stop as we head to the coast,¡± She replied, her tone turning back to a bubbly voice as she reached out to take his hand. ¡°Me and Alex are going to visit family up north.¡± She lied, throwing the Guild Master off of his suspicions, whose expression relaxed as the conversation proceeded.

    ¡°And I saw downstairs that there was a significant amount set to be rewarded to the people who gave information about the gang,¡± she continued, her voice bright and enthusiastic, ¡°I was wondering if you could maybe add a night¡¯s stay in a local to it? Since we did catch them and all.¡±

    ¡°Yes, yes, of course,¡± Mr. Crane accepted, nodding in agreement. ¡°We¡¯ll make sure to set you up with the best room our local inn has to offer, it¡¯ll take us about an hour.¡±

    ¡°Thank you, now if you would excuse us, I haven¡¯t eaten in nine hours, and I am starving,¡± She proclaimed, and with that, she strode towards the door, Alex trailing behind her.

    As soon as the door closed behind them, he wasted no time to talk. ¡°Me and Alex, eh, the beach, what a romantic destination for our two-year anniversary,¡± he teased, earning a slight eye roll from Elyza, even though she knew how he would react.

    ¡°Let us just go and see what is wrong with the cave,¡± She sighed as she moved towards the stairs.

    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell him why we actually came here?¡± he questioned, tracing her steps, wanting to know her thoughts.

    ¡°A gut feeling.¡± her voice was quiet yet resolute.

    A playful grin spread across his face, as he admitted, ¡°Good, I thought I was just hungry.¡±

    Once they walked out of the guild, it didn¡¯t take them long to know their heading. First they went to the only inn in the town, just to inform them that they would be staying there, before offhandedly mentioning having a picnic date as they waited. The receptionist immediately forewarned them of going to a particular area of the forest, notifying them of the people that were supposedly disappearing near there. And they repeated that with everyone they met as they walked into the birch woodland, which included, a company of adventurers, a lumberjack, and some apothecaries.

    The cave was, supposedly, southeast of Rexham. After some snooping around the guild, along with some first-hand experiences Alex had had stumbling through the same woods, extraordinarily drunk, they both were making good progress navigating through the ocean of white.

    Squirrels darted between the branches of the ashen trees, while birds chirped around them, signalling the onset of dusk. They encountered traces of monsters along the way¡ªa couple of harmless slimes, a pack of dire wolves that scattered as soon as they spotted the duo, and a young rust eater whom Elyza fed an old paring knife.

    ¡°What¡¯s our plan?¡± Alex asked, his voice cutting through the tranquillity of the forest, as they stepped over a rotting log.

    ¡°Depends on what is in store for us. Although the likelihood of it being a monster den is increasing with each minute, I believe you¡¯ve noticed it as well.¡± Elyza remarked, her voice melding with the calmness of the forest.

    ¡°That everything we¡¯ve encountered is running the same way? I did, how do you want to do this?¡±

    ¡°If they''re goblins, lure them out by throwing in some monkshead seeds, if they''re ogres, we go in and block the exit. Either way, we just need to slaughter them all.¡±

    ¡°After¡­?¡±

    ¡°After we make sure they aren¡¯t capable of morality and high level consciousness.¡± She repeated what he parroted whenever they went monster hunting. It was a ritualistic exchange, yet one they never skipped. Yet she still asked her usual question even though she knew his answer, ¡°Why do you insist we do this every time we have to kill ruthless monsters.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s personal in a way. And you can¡¯t assume something is evil before you stare into its eyes, or eye, or the general face¡­ area.¡±

    And on they both went, making their own trail through the trunks, Elyza picking up some rare plants to experiment with, while Alex avoided trying to pet everything that came in ten metres of them. The incline started to increase slowly, soon they were climbing a hill, when suddenly the trees just stopped, and they emerged into a clearing before a cave burrowed into the cliff face. Trees were lying on the ground, compressing the dirt beneath them. They had been uprooted, their branches stripped of leaves, and they all seemed to have pushed away from the cave.

    The cave¡­ looked like a cave, usually dens had a few monsters loitering outside, keeping a look-out, or skinning whatever they caught, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. As they approached the entrance, the ground beneath them was scorched, remnants from campfires, both noticing a pattern scratched into the floor ¡ª three vertical lines parallel to each other. The air smelled smokey, not damp, the walls barely moist, and there was a slight breeze coming from within.

    With a nod from Elyza, Alex focused as hard as he could, and his right hand lit ablaze. He led the two into the darkness, trusting her to be his senses as he focused his entirety to feed and keep the fire alive. The fire danced in response to the soft breeze, which dwindled and flourished in a pattern, casting eerie shadows on the dolomite walls as they delved deeper into the cave. Gradually, the air grew thick and oppressive, yet the duo continued on, unaffected by the dense air.

    Then, amidst the darkness, they stumbled upon a grisly sight¡ªbones littered the cavern floor, cracked and picked clean of flesh. Elyza picked up one of the bones, examining it closely. The marrow had been completely sucked out, leaving behind a hollow husk. The stench of decay hung heavy in the air, and the ends of the bones showed signs of being gnawed on, yet there were no maggots to be found. It was as if something within the cave was starving for nourishment, leaving behind only desolate remains. All the other remains they encountered as they continued, maybe twenty to thirty bodies, were in the same state. Whatever was occupying the cave clearly didn¡¯t appreciate visitors.

    The ground gradually became more slippery beneath their feet as they progressed, the walls appearing fresher and whiter, less weathered by the elements, with dust lingering in the air. It was evident that this part of the tunnel had been freshly dug, they were nearing the end of the tunnel.

    As they kept walking, the sound of heavy breathing echoed through the cavern, matching the rhythmic flicker of their flames, and simultaneously they both realised, there was something huge waiting for them. As they neared the final curve, nearing the apex, they both synchronously called upon their weapons, Alex¡¯s claymore extending from his cloak, while Elyza¡¯s halberd popped in her hand. The duo took a deep breath, focusing themselves for the coming bloodshed, and stepped past the apex of the curve.

    ¡°You have to be kidding me.¡± Elyza bluntly stated.

    ¡°Well, thankfully it isn¡¯t a monsters¡¯ den,¡± Alex blurted out, trying to look at the positive side of things, to keep the morale up. Which was hard when they were both standing in front of a curled up snoozing dragon who filled the entirety of the chamber they stood at the entrance of.

 Chapter 16: Of Course Itéˆ¥æªš A Dragon

    ¡°I think you¡¯re overthinking things a bit, I say go in there and get it done, it won¡¯t be that hard for you.¡± Alex whispered out, sitting cross-legged on the ground, waiting at the entrance of the colossal cavern.

    Elyza paced circles around him, her mind racing with thoughts of the immense task ahead. ¡°Alex, I appreciate your confidence in me,¡± she began in hushed tones, her frustration simmering beneath the surface, ¡°But that is a FUCKING DRAGON.¡±

    ¡°You''re going to win,¡± he reassured her, his voice steady with conviction. ¡°And if it seems like you¡¯re going to lose, I¡¯ll jump in and help.¡±

    ¡°I thought we were partners,¡± She stressed, continuing, ¡°You expect me to battle a dragon on my own?¡±

    ¡°No, I expect you to win, or at least tire it out or make it believe it¡¯s going to lose so it has no choice but to flee.¡±

    As she tried to stare him down from the idiotic assumption that she could take down a beast of legend, the look of pure confidence in her abilities he had in his eyes, chipped away at the apprehension in her mind, till it was finally overcome.

    She relented with a resigned sigh, ¡°Fine.¡±

    ¡°Great!¡± Alex exclaimed, clapping his hands together with a bit too much enthusiasm. The sound echoed off the walls, reverberating until it dissolved into a low groan. Panicking, Elyza spun around to face the dragon, who was still snoring peacefully, its head shifting into a more comfortable position. ¡°What are we dealing with?¡± he asked, already aware of how deep a dragon could sleep.

    Terra Draconis were members of a species commonly known as dragons. Unlike their brethren, or what most thought were dragons, they were rarely seen flying even though they had the biggest wings of the species, preferring to tunnel underground. And one of this size would surely be mythicised as a minor earth deity. Each breath it took sent tremors through the cavern walls, as if the earth itself was bowing to its presence.

    The dragon¡¯s scales resembled rocks, and along with the natural matter, actual stones melded with the plates to form a jagged exterior crafted to protect its organic underside. As it slept, its body curled up, it almost appeared as a baby mountain, trapped in the dolomite walls of the cavern. If not for the two¡¯s prior knowledge, its red exterior, mostly composed of Jasper, would¡¯ve hinted to it being a Fire Dragon, which would be pretty disadvantageous, considering they were in an enclosed space whose walls were fireproof.

    Suddenly, the dragon yawned, giving the two a perfect view of its swordlike teeth and a maw big enough to swallow them both whole, before it slammed shut as the dragon shifted its head once again. Its head had much softer features than the rest of the dragon, its flat snout having a slight underbite, its nostrils fluttering open to take another breath, pieces of stone jutting out randomly from its skin, disrupting the head¡¯s stocky features.

    But by far the most insightful feature was its horn. A dragon¡¯s horns could tell you its age and even its gender. Unlike other dragons, whose horns were more akin to crowns, earth dragons had what could only be described as a blend of a bull''s and a rhinoceros beetle¡¯s horn. The keratin pointed forward to form a natural spade to aid with digging, and the females usually sported much curvier and bigger horns. The one snoring before them displayed some of the largest horns Alex had ever seen, and Elyza could discern from the pattern on them that she was female.

    ¡°A female dragon of the earth, has to be at least a thousand years old, and judging by the rocks, it has migrated here from somewhere else.¡± Elyza summarised, her voice no longer hushed.

    ¡°Took only a minute this time, impressive,¡± Alex professed, before quizzing her for his amusement, ¡°What does it spew?¡±

    Sighing, she focused on the dragon¡¯s mouth, trying to look for something that may unveil the nature of its breath, ¡°It can not be magma, there would be a build up of igneous rocks around the maw, and we would be able to smell acid from being this close. My best guess? It either regurgitates rocks or can expel sand, but there is a likelihood it may just not be able to breathe any element, though that would be surprising given her age.¡±

    ¡°She may be one of us.¡±

    ¡°A half-breed? Unlikely, lower level dragons rarely mate outside their family.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s the plan then, Ears?¡± Alex asked, rising to his feet and cracking his knuckles, injecting a semblance of readiness into his demeanour.

    ¡°I should probably set up some glyphs before she awakens, maybe prepare some seeds¡­¡± Elyza mumbled, absent-mindedly running her fingers through her seed pouch, trying to think which plant would be the best for restraining a colossal force of nature.

    ¡°Better do that quickly, seems like she just woke up,¡± He remarked, surging electricity into his hands, holding them an inch apart and letting it flow. A cloud of lightning jumped through the air, crackling and sizzling as it travelled, and as the air contracted in its wake, it produced a marvellously thunderous, and loud, sound.

    Instantly, the dragon''s eyelids shot open, revealing eyes that glowed with an otherworldly intensity. With a mighty heave, she lifted her weary head, unleashing a primal symphony that reverberated through the air, shaking the entire cavern with her deafening roar. It was a sound that filled the air with her sheer power and ferocity, echoing off the walls and causing loose debris to tremble and fall like rain.

    Elyza took a deep breath to calm herself before noting, ¡°You are a dick.¡±

    ¡°Yes, I am,¡± Alex remarked as she called upon her halberd, grinning as he slipped into his shadow. Moments later, He emerged from the ceiling, on a hammock crafted from umbra, in prime position to witness the battle, shouting down at her, ¡°Try to have fun!¡±

    The dragon¡¯s gaze flickered momentarily toward the shadow-cloaked figure before settling back on Elyza, identifying the elf as the primary threat. With a menacing glare, her eyes narrowed, the pupils elongating into slitted forms as her lower eyelids slid over them. Despite the anticipation, the dragon''s jaws remained ominously still, devoid of any projected onslaught.

    The dragon¡¯s jaw opened, yet it spewed nothing. At first, they both thought she was gearing up for an attack, and they were proven right. Elyza sensed the surrounding air change in pressure, and suddenly everything was pulled towards the gaping maw of the dragon.

    Air, dust, rocks¡ª even boulders¡ª were ensnared in the swirling vortex, trapped in its relentless grasp, forcing Elyza to jam her halberd¡¯s blunt end firmly into the ground, using it as an anchor to resist being sucked in.

    Wrapping one arm around the shaft, she was pushing down on her spear, leveraging it against the ground to keep her footing, as her other hand pulled out some acorns, intending to infuse some mana into them and let go. However, the turbulent air tore the seeds from her grasp before Elyza could focus.

    Yet, amidst the chaos, inspiration struck. ¡°Ymgynnull dan fy ewyllys¡± she uttered, invoking a spell to aid her control over the wind, wrestling her will upon the tempest whipping past her, stealing the faster gales to wrap around her halberd, while she used the rest of the current to form a shell around her, forming a protective shell that ripped apart any stone unlucky to touch it.

    The dragon seemed to catch on to what she was planning, slamming her mouth shut as soon as the elf took control of the situation. Her neck inflated like a canvas pouch as she readied to return all that she had ingested, but Elyza remained resolute, the spear at her side, held firmly at shoulder height, its pointed tip directed unwaveringly toward the dragon, a silent threat.

    Rage filled the dragon, her wings bursting out from their rest. There wasn¡¯t enough space to unfurl them fully, but flight wasn¡¯t the reason she was showcasing them, no, it was a display of dominance. As her wings, studded with formidable rocks, spread to their fullest extent within the confines of the cavern, she reminded the intruders why her kind were revered as forces of nature.

    At the very moment the tips of her wings grazed the cavern ceiling, the dragon''s jaw snapped open, capitalising on the brief distraction of the elf to spit out a massive boulder. It was technically not a boulder, made of pieces of whatever the dragon had ingested, but even if it was, it truly did not matter.

    Dodging would have been the safer choice, but Elyza opted for a more audacious manoeuvre. Stepping forward, she swung her halberd, manipulating the swirling whirlwind around her weapon to form and aim a razor-sharp wind blade. The blade of air shattered the incoming projectile, and the debris that remained were ground into dust as they hit the orb she resided within.

    Undeterred, the dragon shot out another boulder, and another, each attack resulting in the same outcome. A trail of dust formed behind Elyza as she inched forward, using up the least amount of mana she could with her attacks. As the size of the boulders diminished over time, she remained cautious, fully aware that the dragon¡¯s desperation was mounting with each passing moment.

    A fierce snarl echoed through the chamber, powerful enough to shake the very foundations of the room. Rather than lunging at Elyza in a blind fury, the dragon raised her left claw in a menacing display. But that just gave Elyza an opening.

    With fluid grace, she slid her halberd back, her right hand gripping the weapon at its centre of gravity, drawing her arm back, preparing to hurl it toward the dragon''s exposed right wing. As it left her fingers, she willed the gale around her halberd to aid its path, causing it to spin, and launching it faster than any person would have been able to on their own. And she wasn¡¯t finished.

    ¡°Hollti''r awyr¡± she cast, using the wind circling around her to form a javelin. With a deft spin on her heels, she unleashed the makeshift weapon, sending it hurtling toward the dragon''s opposite wing. Both projectiles tore through the thin skin of the dragon''s wings, sending a cascade of rocks showering down as they continued on their deadly trajectory, the javelin dissipating as it struck the cavern wall, while her halberd embedded itself into it.

    The dragon''s primal roar reverberated through the cavern, a symphony of pain and fury that seemed to echo off every rocky surface, and as she did, she brought both of her massive hands crashing down toward the elf.

    Four razor sharp talons came down on her, yet with the calmness of a monk, Elyza opened her pouch, hovering one hand above it while the other commanded the remnants of her spell. Barely a moment separated her attack and the dragon¡¯s retaliation, yet it felt like an eternity waiting for the claws to get close, restraining her will to jump out of the way till it was perfect. She even felt her shadow come alive courtesy of Alex, ready to pull her through if it went wrong.

    It was time. Elyza jumped, coming ever closer to her demise, air condensed beneath her feet, as her arm shot forward, the wisps of wind swirling around following it, propelling the elf backwards. The dragon¡¯s claws struck the ground, and the stone faulted as it failed to absorb her monstrous strength, the whole cave shaking violently as it took the impact, as if the hill was hit by an earthquake. Alex had to grab a hold of his hammock to steady himself, but his companion faced no such problem.

    The air beneath her feet cushioned Elyza''s landing, allowing her to slide gracefully as her boots touched the ground. With a fluid twist of her torso, she added a spin to her movement, hoping to present herself as a vulnerable target to the enraged dragon. As she slid, her hand grabbed a mix of barberry and poison ivy, feeding them her mana till they were on the verge of bursting, her mind already constructing the glyph they required.

    With calculated precision, Elyza hurled the charged seeds straight at the dragon''s wide-open maw as she completed her rotation. They sailed past the creature''s menacing dagger-like teeth, disappearing into her gaping jaws.

    In an instant, Elyza''s command rang out, a single word laden with power. ¡°Smachtnaigh,¡± she declared, her voice echoing with authority as she activated the spell. A floating glyph materialised alongside her, amplifying her mana as it surged forth.

    Within the dragon¡¯s cavernous maw, past her dagger like teeth, the charged seeds burst into life. Vines erupted from within, a chaotic tangle of brilliant red thorny barberry and deep green poisonous ivy. They writhed and twisted, racing and battling for dominance within the confines of the beast''s mouth, sprouting through the gaps in her teeth and forcing her jaws to their limit, and pushing through their own.

    As the vines surged forward, some recoiled from the dragon¡¯s maw, lashing out like serpents to ensnare her arms. They wrapped around her limbs with a vice-like grip, pinning them to her body and the rocky ground beneath her.

    Elyza had shown, if only in the confines of the cavern, the dragon was outmatched, there was no possible way she would be able to beat the elf, and the monster should¡¯ve realised that. Her wings were clipped, her breath nullified, and Elyza was clearly dexterous enough to dodge her claws.

    The best possible choice, which even a slime could figure out, was to retreat.

    Yet, as Elyza gazed into the dragon¡¯s eyes, expecting to see fear or at least apprehension, she was met with burning rage and unyielding determination. It was as if the concept of retreat was foreign to the creature, an option not even worth considering.

    Her mind, facing something acting in a way that defied her logic, reviewed the past three minutes it had seen. Despite her formidable physical prowess, the creature had made no attempt to use her tail as a weapon, nor had she moved her body in any significant manner. Even now, as Elyza stood in front of her, seemingly distracted, the dragon struggled to break through the vines, despite the fact that the elf lay within easy reach of her tail. She didn¡¯t want to use it, and that meant it was preoccupied elsewhere.

    With a sudden realisation, Elyza¡¯s focus snapped back to the dragon just as she shot a glance toward Alex, suspended above them. And then it clicked. The monster¡¯s reluctance to move was due to a fear of revealing what she was concealing to the man above.

    A snap echoed through the cavern, and it soon sounded like a firework had gone off within the space. The dragon, with a desperate ferocity, forced the vines down her throat, causing blood to spurt forth as the spikes tore through the tender flesh of her mouth, disappearing into the depths of her gut. The poison wouldn¡¯t take effect immediately, and the dragon knew it, lunging at the elf with her blood stained teeth, bloodlust oozing from her demeanour.

    She was never going to reach Elyza. Shadows erupted from the darkened rocks, almost screaming as they surged forward to protect her. Unleashed onto the unsuspecting dragon, the shadows coiled around her, tentacles restrained her limbs, smaller tendrils shooting from them to ensure that her entire body was wrapped in an abyssal embrace. It looked like her entire body had disappeared, no light able to escape the unrelenting call of the shadows, all except the dragon¡¯s head, two lone blackened hands clamping on her snout, keeping her from baring her fangs.

    Alex jumped from his hammock, only to show off, shadows beneath him shooting upwards to meet his legs, allowing him to float gracefully down with them as they sank back into the ground. He was grinning as usual, but Elyza could tell there was a bit of worry in his voice as he remarked, ¡°You figured something out, didn¡¯t ya? I can see it on your face, so c¡¯mon, don¡¯t let me stew in my anticipation.¡±

    Elyza met his gaze, her expression solemn. ¡°She is protecting something,¡± Elyza revealed, eyeing the shadowy hands that were holding the dragon¡¯s jaw shut, a bit apprehensive about their capabilities to resist the creature''s relentless struggles.

    ¡°Have you deduced what? Or are you contemplating giving me the pleasure of figuring that out?¡± Alex replied, his eagerness palpable. He wanted to finally do something interesting after sitting on the sidelines and just watching his companion beat a dragon.

    ¡°Go ahead,¡± Elyza conceded, her body yearning for a moment''s respite from the day¡¯s strain.

    He simply smiled, and raised his hand, guiding a pillar of darkness, which soon dissolved to reveal Elyza¡¯s halberd, joking, ¡°You should tie a string to this, I won¡¯t always be there to find it for you.¡±

    Fake laughing, she grabbed the halberd, and with a single thought, shrunk it back into a ring, as Alex pirouetted, his interest fully shifted to the dragon.

    ¡°Now, let¡¯s see what we have here¡­¡± he declared, his voice a strange blend of tones, pitches, and emphasised syllables that lent an unsettling air to his words. Coupled with his usual eccentricity and whatever emotion he decided would suit the particular situation, his speech had the power to unsettle even those who couldn¡¯t comprehend his words.

    The dragon, already on edge, reacted to Alex¡¯s peculiar performance with a renewed sense of panic. Air hissed from her nostrils as she intensified her struggles against his spell, her efforts proving futile against the suffocating embrace of the darkness that swaddled her.

    So futile were her attempts, or so tired was she from the battle, her struggles within his domain were akin to cotton being dragged over Alex¡¯s fingers. The panic within the dragon only increased as he leapt onto her snout, pulling out a dagger, calmly strutting on her scales, unable to be thrown off no matter how much she shook, crouching before her eyes.

    ¡°I wond~er¡­¡± Alex mused under his breath, his voice a low murmur that seemed to echo within the cavernous space. With a deliberate shift in volume, he directed his words toward the dragon, his tone carrying a blend of curiosity and condescension.

    ¡°Sorry, I was wondering why you didn¡¯t run, you absolute moron, even a rock would know you had no choice against my friend, and yet you remained, fighting an unwinnable fight.¡± He expected anger to flare up, but as he stared into the dragon¡¯s earthen green eyes, they remained stoic, as if they didn¡¯t know what he was yapping about.

    ¡°Or it may have been pride, but a lady of your wisdom would know better than to fall into its age-old trap.¡± His tone shifted to reverence, just as abruptly as it reversed, ¡°Mea~ning, your excellence, you¡¯re hiding something. It could be a mountain of gold, though this hill might be too small for your affluence,¡± he added, his tone dripping with mock concern, ¡°Maybe you¡¯re guarding some cult¡¯s base, bound to do their will, but again, why would they set up near a town like Rexham?¡± He rambled, paying close attention to the minute shifts in her eyes, and almost grinned a bit too wide when he recognised the emotion in them ¡ª a feeling of superiority that Alex loved to express whenever he knew something others did not.

    ¡°Or,¡± he added, allowing his body language to convey his realisation, ¡°You¡¯re worried about what we¡¯re going to do to the eggs your tail is currently wrapped around.¡± The dragon¡¯s eyes widened, a growl emanating from her stomach, and the wool being dragged over his hand became obsidian shards. She definitely understood him. Letting his grin grow ever larger, he jumped off of her snout, returning to Elyza, who now was the one sitting on the rocks.

    Concern spread over the elf¡¯s face, because she knew that nothing good was going to happen when her partner returned from threatening the dragon¡¯s unborn children and smiling after the fact.

    ¡°Well, to help ease your worries, here you go,¡± Alex announced, snapping his fingers. His shadows retreated as fast as they had emerged, leaving the dragon unrestrained, her jaw was now free to gobble them up.

    Unfettered by the notion of being devoured, Alex abandoned his eccentric mannerisms and spoke with a semblance of sincerity. ¡°I hope this will convince you of our goals,¡± he stated, his voice devoid of its previous inflection, ¡°and lead to a more relaxed and amicable conversation from henceforth.¡±

    The dragon lifted her head, her movements fluid and deliberate as she regained control of her own body. Her wings folded back into hiding, dislodging rocks that cascaded to the ground as the wings nestled into her hide. Suspicion radiated from her every movement as she held her head high, her piercing gaze fixed upon the duo. Her eyes betrayed the ongoing deliberation within her mind, not knowing whether to trust the two.

    Then, unexpectedly, her horn began to vibrate, the motion slow at first, producing a gentle hum that resonated through the air like the buzz of a bee. Soon, the scales on her snout joined in, emitting a sharp chittering sound that accelerated into a high-pitched whine. As the vibrations reverberated through the rocks, acting as an amplifier for the sound, the dragon opened her mouth¡ªnot to roar, but to growl. Suddenly, all the sounds in the cavern melded into a powerful, deep voice that echoed with authority.

    ¡°Tell me, you insolent child,¡± her voice rang out through the cavern, reverberating with supremacy. ¡°Why should I allow you to continue drawing breath when you dare to threaten my progeny?¡±

    ¡°Because we require answers,¡± Elyza stated, getting forward as she took command of the conversation. ¡°We were not even warned that this cave was the home of a dragon¡± She admitted.

    A low growl emanated from the dragon, prompting Alex to intervene. ¡°What my friend is trying to say, Lady¡­?¡± he began, searching for her name.

    ¡°I have been given the name ¡®Tl¨¡n¨¡huaccatl¡¯ by your ancestors,¡± The dragon declared, a slight tremor shaking the cavern as her name was uttered.

    ¡°Well,¡± he started, trying to figure out a way to pronounce her name that wouldn¡¯t greatly offend the force of nature, ¡°Empress Tlanahuaccatl, there have been reports from the neighbouring town of people going missing near the cave, and we just need to know if you had anything to do with their dis ¡ª ¡±

    Stolen novel; please report.

    ¡°Name yourself,¡± the Empress interjected, her gaze piercing.

    ¡°Of course, I apologise, mortals call me Nemo,¡± he responded, grinning slightly as he gestured toward Elyza.

    ¡°I am Penelope,¡± Elyza answered, bluntly asking her own question, stealing control of the conversation, ¡°Did you have anything to do with the disappearance of adventurers in the past month?¡±

    Tl¨¡n¨¡huaccatl¡¯s eyes narrowed, her clittering scales falling flatter as her head lowered, baring her fangs as she spoke, her voice devoid of any timbre. ¡°Why would I be interested in the lives of flesh walkers, and think before you accuse me of such frivolous acts,¡± she warned, her tone a clear warning to watch their words.

    With a regal air, the Empress raised her head above them, peering down upon the two intruders. ¡°I have noticed my cave intruded more frequently than I would¡¯ve liked, but I have not squashed any bugs under my claws in a year.¡±

    ¡°Then, whose remains have we encountered¡­?¡± Elyza bluntly retorted, her gaze unwavering.

    The Empress didn¡¯t try to mince her words, her eyes matching the elf¡¯s gaze, ¡°I found their bodies outside the cave, already dead. I find it¡­ tiresome to hunt these days, and I do not want the smell of decomposing flesh around my children.¡±

    ¡°Do you know the reasons behind their deaths?¡± she pressed further, her voice firm.

    The dragon appeared to click her tongue, or at least that was what echoed off the cavern rocks. ¡°It may befuddle your primitive mind, Penelope, but most people have enough decency to let a being such as I to rest, imagining correctly the repercussions if they disturb me,¡± Her words carried a palpable threat, amplified by the cavern under her control, her head drawing nearer to the duo as she spoke, warm air billowing from her nostrils toward them.

    ¡°Fortunately, it seems you would find good company with those that came before you,¡± the Empress continued, her tone laced with disdain. ¡°All, removing a few, dared to think they were worthy of a fight, all left when they realised they stood no chance, and I let them. I would not have chosen to nest here six months ago, if I thought there would be so many unwarranted visitors. I was delighted when they seemed to have stopped dropping by, but I¡¯m afraid it was just wishful thinking.¡±

    With a resigned air, she lowered her head back to the ground. ¡°Now leave, I grow tired of this conversation, and I trust that I won¡¯t find you two lying face down outside. Because, if I get any more intruders, I will destroy the town you came from.¡±

    Elyza was satisfied with the information she had gleaned, but one detail still nagged at her. ¡°When you found their bodies, did they have their equipment on them?¡±

    ¡°No,¡± The Empress answered, her eyes already closed, signalling the end of their conversation.

    ¡°Damn it, I wanted to ask that.¡± Alex let out a fake protest as he got up from squatting, a bit curious why his companion looked outwardly happy, a smile tugging the corners of her mouth as her ears angled upwards, ¡°What are you smiling for? I¡¯m sure you were confident,¡± he prodded.

    ¡°I was pleasantly surprised you did not make any unseemly comments in the conversation,¡± Her voice lowering as to not disturb the Empress.

    ¡°Honestly,¡± he added, playing along, grinning as he continued at his normal volume ¡°I had so many things pop into my head, just begging to be uttered, the majority of which were about her suc-¡± Thankfully, Elyza was able to shut him up with a smack to his arm.

    ¡°Keep those comments locked up in your mind, but thank you,¡± she remarked, pushing him back towards the caves.

    ¡°I told you, I¡¯m just here to follow your lead,¡± Alex declared, lighting his hand on fire once again, illuminating the path they came from, quickly, ¡°and make sure you don¡¯t do anything dumb.¡± His statement strangely caught Elyza off guard, her mouth letting out an audible laugh that contrasted her usual demeanour.

    ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan now, boss?¡± he added, his tone turning semi-serious.

    ¡°We go and see if the thing that killed the others dares to show up,¡± she calmly stated as they delved back into the tunnels.

    Much more cautious than when they had traversed the route earlier, they scanned their surroundings for any sign of change. Against his body¡¯s protests to let it stabilise, Alex pulsated streams of mana every few seconds as they walked, waiting for any indication of danger. The red flames he held flared up as the waves of mana passed through, revealing nothing amiss.

    The remains of the adventurers were left undisturbed, except for a few bones that sprouted legs made of mycelium and scurried away as soon as the duo passed through. While the air still carried some weight, its effect was lessened now that the two were heading away from the threat.

    They both waited, tense and expectant, prepared for something to leap out from the next corner. Their weapons were at the ready, poised to strike at a moment''s notice. But as the light of the sinking sun bounced off the rocks in front of them, they turned the last corner to see nothing but the golden sky. With one last burst of mana, Alex confirmed that nothing seemed to be waiting for them, the surrounding area devoid of anyone significant.

    After noticing Alex''s shoulders¡¯ relaxing, Elyza summarised the situation, ¡°Nobody is there.¡±

    ¡°Haven¡¯t felt anyone yet¡­¡± he murmured, his voice coloured with doubt, his gut screaming at him to keep his guard up.

    ¡°This gives my theory more to stand on,¡± she murmured out loud, scanning the tree line for humanoid silhouettes jutting out from the white pillars.

    Alex looked back to her, curiosity causing his black eyes to sparkle, smiling as he motioned her to continue, ¡°Elucidate.¡±

    ¡°The House received the plea for help from Rexham five days ago,¡± Elyza vocalised her thoughts, her voice steady as she organised her thoughts, ¡°even the fastest horses would take a day to travel to the capital from here. That matches up with what Tl¨¡n¨¡huaccatl noted about the declining frequency of adventurers around that time. But she''s been living here for half a year. It''s improbable that the guild was unaware of her for that long. And why did she find them without their armour?¡±

    She waited for a moment as her mind came up with a way to present the rest of her theory. ¡°Which means that someone in the guild was hiding her existence,¡± she continued, her voice gaining momentum as her thoughts aligned, ¡°and either it was the same person responsible for the deaths of the adventurers or someone else was taking advantage of the workings of the guild, most likely profiting of the equipment they looted from the bodies. Since we didn¡¯t come here from the guild, and since no one expected us to, it¡¯s unlikely that the party responsible for the killings was aware that anyone would be entering the cave. This would explain why there was such a big gap between the arrival of the Empress and the guild wanting an excavation of the cave, and why they did not know that a dragon was nesting here.¡± She concluded, her ears flattening against her head as she finished her speculation.

    Silence filled the air as Alex¡¯s mind ran over her words, trying to find anything to add to the theory, making sure there weren¡¯t any glaring holes in her logic.

    He found one, saying, ¡°Well, if she¡¯s speaking the truth, and people were invading her home that frequently, it must mean that someone high up in the guild was behind these deaths¡­¡±

    ¡°The Guild Master.¡± Elyza picked up on what he was hinting at.

    ¡°I agree, but our guts are biassed against him, so while he¡¯s a likely candidate, we need to be sure.¡± Alex cautioned, downplaying her suspicion, though his own thoughts echoed her sentiment. ¡°And might I add, any killer worth their salt would just stay here and wait for people to leave the cave-¡± His words were abruptly cut off as he felt something sharp stab into his left arm.

    Alex grew annoyed as the sensation of pain shot through his arm, a small jolt that seemed insignificant at first. But then a liquid began to drip down his arm, and he realised he had been hit by some sort of projectile. Thankfully, the reinforced cloth of his shirt prevented it from piercing his skin entirely, though it left a scratch.

    ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Elyza asked, noticing his expression drop into annoyance, his whole body turning slack.

    ¡°Just thinking of ways to kill this coward,¡± he grumbled out loud as he let himself fall on his face, adding, ¡°Play dead.¡±

    ¡°Wh-¡± Elyza could only get out the first syllable of her confusion, before she felt a sudden impact on the inside of her left knee. Something had embedded itself into the leather pad of her pants, and she too crumpled into an unconscious heap, following Alex¡¯s lead, but laying on her back.

    Both kept their eyes half-open, feigning unconsciousness as they waited for the assassin who had attempted to poison them to reveal himself. It was Alex who first spotted their would-be attacker. Emerging from the concealment of the trees was a man with a distinctive feature¡ªa leg fashioned not with a peg, but with a wooden mace. Other than that oddity, he resembled a farmer, clad in a worn-down, tattered shirt covered in dirt. A cloth wrapped around his legs and waist resembled loose pants, matching the state of his upper wear.

    But Alex¡¯s attention was stolen by the state of the man¡¯s face. The lower jaw appeared as if it had endured the fury of a relentless inferno, its once-flesh now resembling a melted wax sculpture. Strands of sinew dangled precariously from the skeletal frame, ensnared in a web of blistered skin that seemed to cling desperately to its fragile anchor. Beneath the grotesque exterior, a tapestry of deep red hues pulsed through the scarred remnants. He had been burned, but not by flames. His mouth housed a metal jaw, and the weight of the copper teeth was threatening to snap the mandible off.

    The man approached their bodies, unfazed by the sight, looking rather pleased with himself as he surveyed his handiwork. ¡°Oh, look at that armour, along with those cloaks¡­,¡± he mumbled to himself, his voice deep with age, yet as if it was being heard through a metal pipe, crouching to touch the fabric of Elyza¡¯s cloth, feeling it between his fingers. ¡°Has to be worth at least fifty gold,¡± he noted, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

    He pointed towards Alex''s face, as if talking to him, ¡°I told him that no one would be able to resist coming here, even when people knew what happened, and I¡¯m glad I saw you lovebirds head this way. This may be the most loot I¡¯ve gotten yet.¡±

    It would¡¯ve taken all of his will power not to just laugh as the man pointed to him, but Alex was more focused on creating his illusion. He had been letting his mana leak into the proximity, ever since he had fallen, and the air was just about to reach full saturation.

    Focusing his mind, he chose to start behind the crouching man, calling to his mana to create itself. Drops of mana formed, beginning to coalesce and change their density to reflect the colours that were needed, before exploding and stretching themselves into threads. The shadows underneath produced a shell for them to lay on, allowing Alex¡¯s mana to weave itself into what he pictured in his mind, sprinting across the umbra surface as they did. The process usually would¡¯ve taken longer than it took, if not for the fact he was replicating himself.

    Barely any time had passed between the man pointing at Alex, and reaching for Elyza¡¯s breastplate, when the copy tapped his shoulder. The illusion wasn¡¯t concentrated enough to replicate the touch, but the shadows that wore it were, if only for a moment. Just as its fingers brushed the man¡¯s shoulder, the assassin spun around and swung his knife at the copy, only to find the blade striking at mist.

    Before the man could comprehend why he felt no resistance, a deafening crack shattered the air as Elyza''s foot connected with his ankle. She gave him no chance to recuperate, swiftly swinging her other leg into the back of the killer''s broken ankle. Using the momentum gained, she spun herself back onto her feet. The pain caused the man''s grip to falter, and the sudden loss of his footing sent his dagger clattering beside him as his back met the rocky ground with a thump.

    The killer let out a yelp of pain, his right hand trying to reach for its weapon, but Elyza promptly stomped on his wrist, and his screech turned into a blood-curdling cry. She knew that he deserved no mercy, yet her rationality prevailed, able to resist cracking his head in two.

    Alex stood behind her, crouching to pluck the projectile that had been embedded into her knee pad, holding it up with the poison dart that had hit his arm. Both the darts resembled syringes, with feathers woven into its rear to act as stabilisers. Transparent windows stretched along their lengths, revealing the luminescent cyan liquid they contained. The poison dart that struck Alex had lost half of its poison, while Elyza¡¯s remained intact.

    Sighing, Alex began,¡°I absolutely despise poisoners¡­¡± looking down at the panicking killer, meeting his rapidly shifting eyes as he continued, ¡°I know, I know, poison is a useful tool in an assassin¡¯s arsenal, but those that only use it, are just creatively bankrupt.¡±

    As he dangled the darts against the sky, attempting to spot the impurities in the poison, trying to deduce its nature, Elyza grabbed the killer¡¯s neck with her left hand, lifting him up till his feet were dangling like an infant, his struggling grunts falling on deaf ears as she addressed Alex, ¡°What type of poison?¡±

    ¡°Mmmm¡­¡± Alex hummed as he stared at the dark liquid, which barely let any light go through it, nary anything floating in the fluid. ¡°It¡¯s really potent,¡±  Alex began, rubbing some of it off the leaking one, and holding his finger up wind of his nose. As his brain disregarded the chemical fumes that wafted through towards him first, Alex detected a slight scent of algae and something else he couldn¡¯t quite place.

    ¡°Seems to be a natural extract, and judging by how fast this dumbass thought it would react,¡± Alex continued, flicking his finger down at the killer, ridding it from the toxic liquid, which splashed dangerously close to his mouth, ¡°There¡¯s definitely some sort form of sedative mixed in with it, and since there are a lot of things that can shut down the body that quick, the only way to be sure is to test it.¡±

    ¡°Shame,¡± Elyza spoke, her stare cutting straight through the killer¡¯s gaze, his one good hand clawing at her arm, desperately looking for an escape. ¡°I would have preferred to snap his neck,¡± she muttered, finally turning her attention to the hanging man.

    ¡°Tell me who you work with.¡± she commanded, tightening her grip around his throat, offering him a chance to live.

    His futile struggle against the elf¡¯s strength became more desperate, barely able to manifest the effort to spit out his words, ¡°Kill yourself.¡±

    ¡°That would be impossible, my partner would never allow it,¡± Elyza replied, her expression dead serious, unaware that her words didn¡¯t come across as a jest. She continued, lying with ease, ¡°I hoped we could have stopped here, but since you do not know the name of your own partner, at least we can find out how you killed the others.¡± Fear filled the killer''s eyes at the notion of facing the very poison he had created.

    ¡°Hold on a moment,¡± Alex interjected, and a flicker of hope ignited within the killer. ¡°I think your arm is going to get tired if you hold him up for much longer,¡± he added, pocketing the dart filled with poison, holding up the syringe that struck him, relishing the despair that replaced it.

    ¡°You have a point,¡± Elyza agreed, hating the look of relief that flashed across the man¡¯s face. She loosened her grip and positioned her right hand below his shoulder, as if she was going to help him down.

    In an instant, she willed her spear to materialise in her hand. The butt of the spear dug into the ground, the rest shooting upwards from her hand, yanking the killer two metres into the air. His scream pierced the air, cursing the gods he worshipped. Blood dripped down the ironwood, the pole head glistening with the liquid in the dwindling rays of the sun. Its hook had punctured through his shoulder, having found a way through without cracking the bone, thanks to the angle Elyza had chosen.

    The burst of pain had energised the man, his desperation evident as he pushed against the staff, attempting to free his shoulder from the grasp of the hook. His movements only succeeded in driving the iron deeper into his flesh, each twitch causing fresh blood to trickle down the halberd. With each attempt, his breath grew more haggard, his eyes weary with pain.

    ¡°You only need to tell us who you''re working with, and all of this pain will stop,¡± Elyza implored, trying to appeal to his rationality. She sensed that he was on the verge of breaking, his mouth beginning to open. But just before his will crumbled, a flicker of resistance surged through him, and he forced his mouth shut once again.

    She said nothing, allowing Alex to step forward with the syringe in hand, which he promptly injected into the killer¡¯s left thigh, palming the dart as he returned to stand beside his partner. The poison seemed to take effect almost immediately as the killer¡¯s shoulders drooped, his jaw relaxing dangerously along with his legs, which had ceased their struggling. Only his good arm was able to move in any significant way, clawing at his throat, trembling as it massaged his neck. The sound of heaving filled the air as his lungs forced him to take in deeper breaths, as if his body had stopped listening to him.

    ¡°Damn,¡± Alex blurted out, his mind comparing the sight before him to the various cases of poisoning he had encountered before. ¡°Got it wrong, there isn¡¯t any anaesthetic mixed in. Seems to be a mix of a muscle relaxant and, by the looks of it, a neurotoxin that¡¯s affecting the heart¡¯s ability to pump¡­¡± he deduced.

    His disappointed expression turned into one of unrestrained curiosity as he walked up to the suffocating man. The killer¡¯s shadows parted, allowing dark tentacles to slither out, their wispy darkness crawling up the man, restraining his limbs as they pulled him closer to their master, in order to ensure the man stayed perfectly still. The hook dug deeper, but suffocation silenced the killer''s cry, leaving him to struggle in silence as Alex placed his hand on the man¡¯s chest.

    Alex knew exactly how much energy to put through a person to induce arrhythmia in a person. Conversely, he also knew the precise amount of electricity needed to make the experience as painful as possible while stabilising the killer''s heartbeat.

    Electricity danced across Alex''s arm, arcing from his fingertips as his mana flowed through him like a steady stream, prepared to do as his command. The charge started slow, before electricity abruptly surged through the killer, calming down for a moment before attacking his body once again. With deft control, Alex adjusted the flow of mana, guiding the pulses until they formed a perfect rhythm.

    As the lightning steadied, the man gasped for air, relief flooded his darkening face as he was finally allowed to breathe.

    ¡°Here¡¯s what¡¯s happening,¡± Alex began, using his other hand to pull the killer¡¯s head down to meet his gaze. The killer''s eyes were bloodshot and barely able to focus. ¡°I¡¯m currently allowing your heart to beat properly, while the poison is circulating through your body trying to get it to stop doing so. This means, I¡¯m allowing you to live. In around a minute or two the poison will be a tad more diluted, and your body will be able to fight, giving you the opportunity to survive. Only if I continue to power your heart, because as soon as I stop, the toxins go back to work, but this time you would be dying a much slower death.¡± He could see in the killer¡¯s eyes, how little was left in his mind to comprehend his words, so he asked to clarify, ¡°Did you get that?¡±

    ¡°Yeah,¡± the man groaned.

    ¡°Who. Do. You. Work. With?¡±

    ¡°Crane.¡±

    As soon as he confirmed their suspicions, Alex lifted his hand, the shadows releasing their grip on the man, and Elyza willed her halberd to return to her ring, causing the man to fall to his knees. Panic filled his face as he grabbed his throat, expecting to suffocate once again, but confusion washed over him when his heart kept pumping.

    ¡°You have no idea how much control our mind can exert on our body.¡± Alex remarked, grinning, crouching as he spoke, waving the half-filled dart before jamming it into the man¡¯s chest.

    ¡°Let us pay Mr. Crane a visit. I would like to end this today and hopefully get a good night¡¯s sleep,¡± Elyza stated, as the killer slowly suffocated, gasping for air in front of them. Alex cracked his knuckles and nodded, visualising the inn¡¯s reception as his shadow enveloped them both.

    <hr>

    Mr. Crane walked through the halls of the guild he managed, his posture slouched, his hair ruffled, and the top button of his shirt left undone. As the day wound down and the band of highwaymen had finally been processed and booked, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. Yet, a lingering thought remained in his mind¡ªthe couple that had apprehended the criminals. Since their arrival in his town, his gut had warned him that they would spell trouble, but they both hadn¡¯t left the inn after getting back from their picnic.

    Sighing, he pushed open the door to his study, eager to tackle the paperwork that awaited him, hoping to finish it as quickly as possible. The room was dark, only the crystals hanging above giving out any amount of light, and even that was faint, and the stained window was covered by curtains, blocking the twilight outside.

    Feeling around for the orb embedded into the wall and finding it, Crane poured his mana into it, not waiting for the crystals to brighten as he walked towards the window, slamming the door behind him. He reminisced about his youth, as he went past the trophies he had collected of the beasts that had fallen against him, glancing at their empty eyes, relishing the stories crafted around them. Reaching his desk, past the vacant chairs, the room was still dark, the crystals strangely struggling to release their brilliance. He was forced to reach for the curtains, pulling them aside to let the dwindling sun rays flood into the room.

    In an instant, the curtains pulled themselves closed, and the light crystals flickered off, causing darkness to envelop the chamber. Then, just as suddenly, the crystals flared back to life, and Crane found himself confronted by the floating heads of his past conquests. They hovered beside his desk, having left their pedestals, their eyes glaring at their killer. The shadows within their gazes seemed almost endless, as if something primordial was judging him.

    Hands pressed down on his shoulders, anchoring him to his seat as if by invisible chains. From the lone guest chair emerged a figure, his features hidden beneath the shadowy hood, which shared the unending darkness that the eyes of the skulls had, with only the curve of his smiling jaw illuminated by the surrounding spotlights.

    ¡°It¡¯s rude to keep your fate waiting, Mr. Crane, even I have to sleep sometimes.¡± the figure declared, his voice melodious yet erratic, threading the barrier between calmness and mania. As Crane tried to ask who he was, the hands on his shoulders tightened, digging into them, threatening to crush his fragile bones if he dared utter a word.

    ¡°Why did you do it, Lucian?¡± The figure''s question hung heavy in the air, his knowing gaze piercing Crane¡¯s facade of innocence. He knew. The fear in Crane¡¯s eyes was enough admission of guilt for the figure. With a grin, he added, ¡°What excuse can your mind cook up to justify thy actions?¡±

    Panic threatened to push the guild master to spew out some futile defence, but the person behind him swiftly covered his mouth. Her voice, unlike her partner¡¯s, was clear as frigid ice. ¡°Is that truly necessary?¡±

    The figure stroked his chin with a gloved hand, contemplated for a moment before grinning as he agreed, ¡°You know what? You¡¯re right. We already know that they were selling the adventurers¡¯ equipment, so I¡¯m guessing Mr. Crane did it for the oldest of vices ¡ª Greed.¡± Rising from his seat, he approached Crane, circling around his desk to stand beside him. ¡°And even if it didn¡¯t start out that way, the fact that you kept on doing it, has sealed your fate.¡±

    ¡°How do you want to do this?¡± The figure asked, revealing a syringe full of cyan liquid, the same poison that they had used, presenting it in one hand while the other held nothing.

    Crane was allowed to speak, to scream, as the figure¡¯s partner removed her hand from his mouth, but before he could, she intervened, ¡°It would be better if his family thought it happened naturally.¡±

    The figure sighed, pocketing the toxic dart, his disappointment clearly evident even through his smile. ¡°Alas, my friend is right, it would be too conspicuous if you died by poison the day we arrived. So¡­¡± He began, turning the guild master¡¯s chair towards him with a kick, helped by his partner returning her hand over Crane¡¯s mouth and twisting him towards the figure.

    ¡°¡­while I would love to see you suffer the same way you had others, it seems that fate has allowed you a simpler exit, but don¡¯t you worry, I¡¯ll make it as painful as possible,¡± The figure continued, grinning as he placed his hand on Crane¡¯s chest, and every single hair on the guild master¡¯s body stood up in anticipation.

    As Crane''s eyes widened in terror, the figure advised, ¡°I suggest using these fleeting moments to prepare what you¡¯re going to say when you reach whatever afterlife you believe in.¡±

    There was a slight crackle in the air as electricity started to pour into the guild master¡¯s body, causing it to jolt. It didn¡¯t carry enough energy that the surge of electricity would lead to his skin burning up and charring, but the threat lay not in its power to disrupt his nervous system. As the electricity kept steadily flowing, Crane¡¯s muscles started to twitch ever so slightly, but the real danger the flow possessed revealed itself when his nerves started to misfire, especially around his heart. As soon as the guild master¡¯s pupils dilated, the figures let go, and instantly Crane¡¯s hand grabbed his chest, his skin turning increasingly pale, his breath turning erratic. He stumbled out of his chair, trying to run towards the door, but the effort was too much, and his heart gave up.

    Crane fell on his carpeted floor, which muffled the last sound he would ever make.

    ¡°Well,¡± Elyza began, staring at the lifeless mass in front of her, ¡°We should go downstairs and report Tl¨¡n¨¡huaccatl residence in the cave.¡±

    Stretching his body, which was sore thanks to the guild master¡¯s lateness, Alex asked, ¡°Dinner afterwards?¡± Snapping his fingers to break his illusion, the skulls in the air dissolving along with the masking illusion that hid them on their pedestals.

    ¡°Of course.¡± she replied, and their shadows pulled them downwards.

 Chapter 17: Tapping Marrow

    As the carriage rumbled over the ancient limestone bridges, Elyza¡¯s gaze swept over the tranquil river flowing beneath, its surface shimmering in the soft light of dawn. ¡°This is not the fastest way to the border,¡± she stated, turning to Alex sitting next to her.

    They had left Rexham a day before, travelling with a farmer who was heading to his village, currently napping in the wagon. The sound of the wheels rolling over stone, their clack, melded beautifully with the roar, bloop, splash that flowing water made, creating music that Alex was busy enjoying, till his partner caught onto his antics.

    He shifted in his seat, meeting her gaze with a sheepish grin. ¡°About that,¡± he began, rescinding his legs, his posture straightening up, as he continued, ¡°I have a personal request that I need to take care of, and since we were already heading this way, I may have guided us a bit askew.¡±

    He stared at her stoic face, trying to decipher what she was thinking. Thankfully, her ears drooped as her eyes narrowed, and she asked, ¡°Would we still be able to reach the border within two days?¡±

    ¡°Definitely.¡±

    ¡°We are already a day ahead according to my schedule, so there is no reason why we can not stop and complete your request,¡± Elyza acknowledged, her ears returning to their usual slant as her eyes scanned the treeline, much more vigilant than the day before. ¡°What has been asked for you?¡± She prodded, and Alex could only sigh as he replied.

    ¡°One of my friends, eh, more of an acquaintance, has dropped off the map in the town that¡¯s coming up,¡± he began, his expression one of concern. ¡°She¡¯s a reporter, works closely with the House, though we met unofficially through her food column in the Luminae Express, has a habit of disappearing for weeks at a time.¡±

    Elyza thought for a moment before adding to her question, ¡°Is this going to be troublesome?¡±

    He shrugged, running a hand through his hair, answering after a bit, ¡°There¡¯s a highly acclaimed restaurant that was set up a short while back in the town, and I suspect that she¡¯s gone and done the thing again, got herself caught up in the excitement again, probably gorging herself. But there¡¯s been rumours as well surrounding the town, so I¡¯m a bit cautious.¡±

    ¡°Rumours?¡± Elyza¡¯s ears shot upwards, her interest piqued.

    ¡°People have a¡­ tendency to drop off the face of the earth there, or that¡¯s what others say, and even though I¡¯m wary of rumours, I can¡¯t disregard them entirely, considering I¡¯ve been part of multiple of them and I know the truth they hide,¡± Alex summarised, leaning his head against the canvas sheets of the wagon, staring at the blue sky stretching endlessly above.

    ¡°What is the town called?¡±

    ¡°Rameys¡­ I think, I might be mangling it a bit. It¡¯s a logging town, though a lot of traffic has been flowing through it in the past year, so it may be a bit more aesthetically pleasing than the surrounding towns.¡±

    ¡°Do we¡­¡± Elyza began, her lips pursing, her ears perked upwards, full of hope, ¡°get the opportunity to partake in some culinary delights of said restaurants.¡±

    ¡°Oh, I¡¯m disappointed you even had to ask,¡± he joked, grinning as he closed his eyes, wanting to get some rest while he could, and his partner understood the feeling.

    The paved road curved and bent beside the river as the caravan travelled along it, opposing the flow of the river, as they travelled on the edge of the trees. There were fewer interruptions in this leg of the journey than they encountered the day before; A fallen tree that Elyza lifted without even stopping the wagon; a goblin hunting party which Alex quickly scared off with a few thunderclaps; and a lost wolf pup that they both travelled with till its pack arrived.

    As the horses kept trotting along the path, Elyza¡¯s vigilance waned as the tranquillity of the surroundings seeped into her senses, even more so when Alex took the reins. The last time she had travelled through this part of Luminae, she had hid herself from the world, her mind still riddled with doubts about the strange assassin¡¯s reason for helping her, and whether the death of the Earl would give her peace.

    Luminae was full of forests, but each varied enormously than the others, and as they had crossed the bridge, gone were the sea of white birch that surrounded the vicinity of Rexham. The ground had become much more rugged, shrubs becoming much more prevalent along the path, being dwarfed by the spruce, pine, and cedar giants that loomed behind them. The air carried a medicinal scent, reminiscent of the potions Alex often made her drink, and the usual jostling of leaves she was used to was absent as the wind struggled to push against the colder air.

    The river, along with the cobblestone path they travelled upon, was what reminded her that they were travelling through mapped land. Boats floated down the stream, either trailing a raft made of the fallen trunks of the same trees that towered beside the caravan, or full of travellers singing songs as they sailed past the lone wagon. Almost as clear as the Fabru, the rocks formed a gradient of red and yellow at the bed, the blue hued fish darting between the viridescent stems and the white roots of the vegetation in the river, creating the illusion of a living, breathing rainbow.

    Elyza was glad that she had ignored this view when she last traversed with her partner, because now she was able to fully appreciate her surroundings. The experience was heightened by the savoury taste of smoked jerky, a simple pleasure that complemented the rolling motion of the wagon along the winding path.

    As they had crossed the bridge earlier, the sun had hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the faded mountains in the distance. But now, as they neared the end of their travel up the river road, veering off of the path, the sun had shifted behind them, its rays filtered through the clouds that attempted to obscure its brilliance.

    Elyza had succumbed to a moment of fatigue, dozing off beside Alex, a fatal mistake. He held his hands near his partner¡¯s head and commanded lightning to jump in between them, creating a thunderclap that, though significantly less deafening than his full power, was loud enough.

    She sprang into action, her halberd materialising in her hand before she fully registered the situation, before she quickly noticed Alex failing to stifle his grin as he worked to keep the horses calm. She responded by punching his arm with as much force she knew would cause as much pain as possible without hurting him.

    Alex rubbed his biceps, feeling like someone had thrown an iron sphere weighing a kilogram into it, unable to hide his grin as he adopted a faux tone of offence, accompanied by the worst posh accent he could muster, ¡°How dare you, harming another when all he did was follow social convention and awaken you before we reached our destination.¡±

    Rubbing the weariness from her eyes, Elyza stretched her arms above her head, inquiring, though her voice was slightly muffled by the yawn that escaped her. ¡°How much is left to travel?¡±

    ¡°According to that,¡± Alex began, pointing to a redwood sign that stood arching above the cobblestone road with a ¡®1 kilometre¡¯ carved next to inscriptions in bright green of ¡®The City of Rameys¡¯ in a variety of languages spoken around the area. ¡°¡­around five or so minutes, so if you could wake up our benefactor from his extended nap, that would be wonderful.¡± he ended while presenting his most amicable smile.

    With a resigned sigh, she stood up as they passed under the sign, moving the canvas hood to the side as she ducked into the wagon. The interior greeted her with stacks of crates, some appearing ordinary while others were reinforced with steel sheets at the edges, etched with freezing runes. The metal surrounded walnut planks, which carried glyphs that were carved into the wood, meant to make them heat-resistant.

    In between the columns of boxes was a dwarf cosily laying on a pair of crates, wrapped in a plaid blanket, his dirty blonde hair hanging like vines off of his hanging head. As soon as Elyza poked her head through the cloth barrier, the sound of the farmer''s snores grated annoyingly against her ears, but surprisingly the wagon still held the aroma of lavender she had noticed in the morning.

    She shook the crate beneath his head, but received no response. Undeterred, she then shook his shoulder, only to be met with an even louder snore as he turned in his sleep. Out of options and not wanting to slap him awake, Elyza rummaged through her pouch of daggers, searching for something that shouldn''t be there.

    Elyza''s fingers closed around a small cylinder of paper, and without bothering to check its contents, she snapped it in half and tossed it into the dwarf''s beard, swiftly escaping from what was about to happen.

    ¡°I believe he has single-handedly reinforced the stereotype of dwarf sleeping habits in my mind,¡± Elyza remarked dryly, her voice tinged with amusement, as a sudden sneeze echoed from behind them, rattling the wagon to its core.

    ¡°Used a capsule by the sounds of it?¡± Alex responded, grinning as he had to calm the horses once again.

    ¡°What do you put in these?¡±

    ¡°Familial secret, I''m afraid.¡± A twinkle played in his eyes, but as they stared ahead, Elyza could swear that she saw a hint of reminisce.

    The canvas sheets rustled as the dwarf poked his head through, his braided beard shimmering in the sunlight as it cascaded down to the seat. Despite just being awakened by some of the foulest smells imaginable, his voice was incredibly jolly as he greeted them, ¡°Sorry friends, I guess I was much more tired than I thought. Is it my turn to drive?¡±

    ¡°No need, friend, We¡¯re about to reach the town in a minute,¡± Alex replied, matching the dwarf''s cheeriness without a hint of mockery.

    The dwarf''s expression shifted from relief to horror. ¡°Oh, damn the worms! I¡¯m so sorry, I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d slept for that long.¡±

    ¡°Don''t worry about it,¡± Alex reassured him, the edges of his mouth tugging upwards as he continued, ¡°I kind of feel sorry for you.¡± He let his words fester in the air for fun, before confessing, ¡°we got to pet wolves while you were snoring.¡±

    The dwarf''s hearty laughter filled the air, echoing through the wagon. ¡°A shame indeed, I¡¯ll sort out the wares back there before we come to a stop,¡± he remarked before retreating back into the wagon.

    As the carriage drew nearer to the town of Rameys, they were greeted by a grand spectacle: two towering gates stretching skyward, their gilded frames gleaming in the sunlight, vying for attention amidst the surrounding wilderness. The gates stood wide open, a field of wisteria embedded into the metal, showcasing the steel beneath, inviting travellers with an air of grandeur.

    Flanking the entrance were walls, half the size of the gates but still quite imposing. Constructed from grey granite bricks polished to a sheen akin to freshly brushed silver. The structure almost acted as welcoming arms, encouraging travellers to enter and enjoy the city, to see what treasures could be found within. But the lack of any sort of blemishes, at least as far as what could be observed as they approached them, proclaimed the structure¡¯s relative infancy.

    The quiet rustling of the leaves, the melodic chirping of the birds, the hurried rummaging of the critters, even the whistling of the wind all became hushed with each second that passed, the bustle of the town slowly starting to overtake them. But Alex could smell the crowd before he could see or hear it, well, he was technically smelling the aromas of the food stalls that had been set up.

    Emerging into the heart of the town, the wagon was engulfed by swarms of people milling about the main road, weaving their way between the classical buildings that lined the thoroughfare. While the exterior of many establishments bore a rustic charm, constructed from wooden planks or entire logs, mainly spruce and pine, one building stood out amidst the quaint architecture. It stood out in the centre of the duo¡¯s view, and smack-dab in the middle of the town, where the main street split into two.

    Nestled in the centre of the bustling street, where the main thoroughfare split into two diverging paths¡ªone bordering the river and the other leading deeper into the wilderness¡ª stood proud in between the crevice was a building, which seemed to be plucked straight out of the ancient district of the Pharus. Marble columns flanked its glass door, standing tall and proud, supporting an overhang crafted from a combination of stark white marble and rich, dark oak fittings, lending the building a sense of regal grandeur.

    ¡°That must be the restaurant.¡± Elyza noted, adjusting her mask¡ªa new addition to her equipment, gifted to her by Red.

    The onyx cloth fit snugly over the bridge of her nose, falling onto her cheeks, hugging her face as it crawled back towards her shoulder. It had been formally crafted to mimic the illusion spells Alex could cast over his own features, muddling his face¡¯s contours, shifting it slightly with each movement. As soon as she breathed into the mask, the magic that the daemon had woven into it awakened, glowing a deep dark purple, the glow evolving into umbra, sapping Elyza¡¯s mana ever so slightly, like a drop in a lake.

    ¡°Reminds me of home.¡± Alex mused, flicking up his hood, surprising his companion with a nugget of his past, before he continued with a grin, ¡°Though, I would like to meet whoever decided this would be a good area for that type of architecture. It sticks out like a stinkhorn in a row of daisies.¡±

    Elyza let loose a chuckle, caught off guard, remarking under her breath, her tone laced with amusement, ¡°Does it now?¡±

    Alex didn¡¯t offer a response, simply flashing her a smile as he shouted back into the wagon, ¡°Where would you like me to stop?¡±

    The dwarf''s voice echoed from within the wagon, accompanied by the sounds of shifting boxes. ¡°There¡¯s an alchemist down the river street, an old friend, has a potion shop set up, only one in the city, you can stop by there¡­¡± Suddenly, the dwarf''s head popped out from behind the canvas divider, holding the paper cylinder in his hand. ¡°Could I ask how you came across this?¡±

    ¡°Made it, and I¡¯m not in the position to disclose its recipe.¡± he replied swiftly, flicking the reins to induce a reaction from the horses, scaring away a path for the wagon.

    They soon arrived at the lone alchemist''s shop, distinguished by a sign carved to resemble a flask hanging in front, proudly advertising the potions it sold. As the wagon slowed to a stop, the horses neighed impatiently, their hooves pawing at the newly cemented road. Stepping off the driver''s seat in unison, Alex and Elyza made their way back toward the wagon, whose ramp had already been dropped.

    ¡°Need any help?¡± Alex offered as the dwarf jumped down from the wagon.

    ¡°No, no, you¡¯ve both been too much of a help already,¡± the dwarf waved off their offer, gratitude evident in his tone. ¡°In fact, I know my payment was supposed to be the journey, but here,¡± He added, handing him a pair of intricately carved glass bottles, the size of a pinky, with shimmering pink liquid floating within it.

    ¡°What are these?¡± Elyza inquired, curiosity piqued as she swiped one of the potions from her friend¡¯s hands, holding it up against the sunlight.

    ¡°My wife and me call them ¡®Make up Potions¡¯ though they¡¯re more akin to truth potions in a way. They help develop a special connection between those who drink the pair, allowing you and your spouse to communicate more openly,¡± He revealed as he pulled out another flask, and downed its contents.

    In an instant, his arms bulged up to twice their size, turning a light shade of maroon. Panic filled his eyes as he blurted out, ¡°Not that I noticed anything wrong with your relationship, I¡¯m sure your wife and you are extremely communicative.¡±

    Alex chuckled, clarifying, ¡°We¡¯re not in a romantic relationship; we¡¯re partners-in-crime. We just implied the contrary in Rexham so that nobody would question the nature of our travel.¡±

    ¡°Oh¡­ would you like me to give you some strengthening potions then?¡± The dwarf offered, effortlessly lifting a stack of crates.

    ¡°No need, this interests me,¡± Elyza mumbled out, storing the potion in one of her various pouches, adding as she gestured toward her partner, ¡°Besides, this one turns weird whenever he uses any spell regarding the physical body, so it is for the best.¡±

    ¡°What¡¯s in these crates anyway?¡± her partner asked, tracing the groves of the carved-in glyphs of the strange wooden boxes.

    ¡°Oh, they¡¯re something my wife and I invented, some just contain some potions to sell for coin,¡± The dwarf answered, plopping another tower of crates next to him, ¡°I was hoping to get the new restaurant, Marrow, I think, to invest in them.¡±

    ¡°And what do they do?¡± Alex replied with another question, peering into the empty crate, seeing nothing outside the ordinary within it.

    ¡°It extends the life and freshness of meats and fresh vegetables, which would lead to increasing usability and preventing additional food wastage, meaning more profits. The device does this by using freezing and heat magic to trap cold air inside, and due to this fact, you could also easily modify it to trap humidity, or remove it entirely. And, may I just add, it barely uses any mana once you attach a crystal to it, only having to be refilled every month or so.¡± He prattled out a rehearsed script, stopping on the ramp for a moment as he finished, looking at his new friends, about to apologise.

    ¡°Interesting,¡± Alex mumbled out loud, grinning as he read the glyphs, ¡°A lot of scope for these things, if you want to fish for some investment in the future, come see me in the Capital, I¡¯m already willing to buy them but try and¡­ loosen up before you pitch it.¡± He advised, eliciting a chuckle from the dwarf.

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    ¡°Will keep that in mind, boyo. Well then, guess it¡¯s time for goodbyes now.¡±

    ¡°I prefer a quick and semi-dramatic exit,¡± He remarked, yanking Elyza towards him as shadows erupted around them, whisking them through the realm of darkness and depositing them back at the gilded gates of the city.

    ¡°Really?¡± Elyza quipped, her eyebrows arching as he dropped her arm.

    ¡°Drop your brow and raise those pointers, Ears,¡± Alex teased, setting off on foot. ¡°We¡¯ll be stopping by the guild house and check whether Mon was here on official business or not.¡±

    His partner quickly caught up to him, falling into step beside him as they navigated through the bustling streets. The air was alive with chatter, the sounds bouncing off the buildings as throngs of people moved about, seemingly floating on cloud nine.

    The tantalising aroma of the frying fish and melting cheese could barely overpower the salty smell of the sweat lingering in the air. As the duo pushed their way through the crowd, most of which seemed to be tourists, moving like a group of sardines, they aimed for the building with the least amount of people surrounding it.

    The guild stood as the only other establishment in the city not primarily constructed from wood. Its redwood walls were buttressed by sturdy brick arches, rising proudly two storeys tall with frosted windows. Each guild across the country boasted its own unique architectural style, designed to blend seamlessly into its surroundings and inspire trust among the public. However, despite these variations, all guilds were required to adhere to one crucial standard.

    Above the entrance of the building was an insignia filled by metal which adorned a circular piece of peltogyne ¡ª within the purple wood displayed a scutum placed over a longsword. The shield bore the royal emblem of Luminae etched into its smooth metal surface, crafted in the likeness of overlapping ocean waves triumphantly overpowering a towering mountain, a symbol of the old resistance that overthrew their overlords.

    Stepping into the guild, the room seemed desolate compared to the bustling streets outside. Only a couple of dozen people occupied the space, most of them adventurers clad in armour and bearing weapons that looked as if they were on the verge of rusting away. Some looked like they wanted to be there, and none looked at the two new additions to their small club.

    Alex swept his gaze across the room, scanning for anything that interested him, only to lock eyes with a guild hand who was staring at them with an almost exaggerated cheerfulness, something only new hires could manage. Elyza strode ahead, leading the way to the girl¡¯s desk, as her partner hurried to catch up beside her.

    ¡°Hello¡­¡± she began, offering the kindest smile she could manage.

    ¡°We¡¯re looking for someone who hails from the capital,¡± Alex interjected, sliding on his heels as he leaned over the desk. ¡°She goes by Mon, has dyed blue hair, the biggest glasses you¡¯ve ever seen, around my height, and¡­ oh, she¡¯s a lamia.¡±

    ¡°Forgot to mention that, did you?¡± his partner remarked with a chuckle playing at her lips, which Alex just waved aside as he focused on the guild hand before him.

    The guild hand¡¯s ears drooped down, folding onto themselves as they fell flat against her straight grey hair, their fluffiness contrasting with the shimmering strands. Her wide smile seemed to shrink, the edges of her mouth faltering briefly before she quickly replaced it with a forced curve. Despite her efforts to maintain her cheeriness, her facial muscles betrayed her struggle, her nose twitching, her eyebrows rising, and her jaw tensing up in unison.

    ¡°Uh, yes, I do recall seeing someone of that description passing through the guild some days ago,¡± The Great Lepori answered, her words structured in a way that the two were deeply aware of ¡ª replying while giving the least amount of information possible.

    ¡°She didn¡¯t try to eat you, did she? I told her that she couldn¡¯t do that any more,¡± Alex joked, causing a crack to appear in the girl¡¯s armour, eliciting a scoff.

    She quickly regained her composure, replying, ¡°It did not appear that she did.¡± Pausing for a moment, her mouth remained open as her eyes betrayed her struggle with what to say next. ¡°I did tell her of the varieties of activities one could participate in Rameys, which includes swimming with our marine neighbours in the Zonama, exhilarating river rafting, foraging in the woods, carpeting lessons¡­¡± She stopped for a moment, ¡°a-and of course enjoying the unique mix of cuisines available in the cities.¡±

    Alex couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that her words sounded too practised, too inviting, reminiscent of what guides often recited to uninformed tourists. Nevertheless, his suspicion didn¡¯t appear on the surface, calmly noting,  ¡°So she wasn¡¯t here on business?¡±

    ¡°I-I beg your pardon?¡± The guild hand stammered, clearly caught off guard by the question.

    ¡°Ah, I apologise,¡± Alex quickly interjected, reaching for a hidden pendant hanging from his neck. He presented the platinum-stamped oval to the receptionist, placing it gently on the desk. ¡°I¡¯m from the Pharus as well, sent here by the Guild to¡­ check up on her as in¡­ make sure she isn¡¯t in another coma.¡±

    Elyza was curious to see what was written on the pendant, a feeling that became even stronger as the girl picked up the pendant and her eyes went as wide as plates. The guild hand shot a nervous glance behind her, her shoulders tense with apprehension. It was clear she was silently pleading for someone to intervene.

    But regardless, she turned around, her fake smile a useless veneer for the fear her eyes conveyed. However, Alex could see the fear wasn¡¯t for herself, she was afraid for others. ¡°I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll pop out somewhere,¡± he added, holding his hand out so she could return the pendant.

    The girl¡¯s cheeriness morphed to relief, returning his proof of position within the guild, and he continued, ¡°And it¡¯ll give us an excuse to fuck around a bit while we find her,¡± He remarked, grinning mischievously as he tied the pendant around his neck once again, concealing it beneath his shirt. He turned towards his partner, ¡°You¡¯re hungry, aren¡¯t you Ears?¡±

    Elyza knew that he knew that there was still something the girl knew that could still help them, but she still followed his lead, ¡°I would be open for a late lunch, and I am curious about the new restaurant.¡±

    ¡°Wait -¡± The receptionist interjected, and Elyza could see the conflict within her. ¡°I mean¡­ I would recommend going to the restaurant after you¡¯ve explored the rest of the city.¡±

    ¡°If you recommend it, then we have to. Thank you for your help,¡± Alex remarked, bowing slightly as he left, his partner following behind.

    As the doors of the building slammed shut, she stated, ¡°Something felt strange about her behaviour, she¡¯s hiding something big.¡±

    He let out a snicker, remarking, ¡°We of all people are not the best to bring up that observation.¡±

    Elyza sighed, unable to bring herself to do anything but agree, asking as she started walking towards the innards of the town, ¡°Are we heading straight to the restaurant?¡±

    Her partner paused for a moment, both in his place and his words, before answering, ¡°We should probably scope out the city, see if there are some conveniently hidden entrance leading below, buy some trinkets for Red, and then go check out the eatery.¡±

    ¡°I do hope we get to at least try the food today.¡±

    ¡°No need to worry, if we don¡¯t, I¡¯ll make whatever you feel like having,¡± Alex promised, flashing a grin as he overtook her.

    As the two navigated the streets of the town, purposefully avoiding its bustling centre, they ducked into every back alley, entered every shop, stopped at every stall, and investigated anything peculiar they came across as they made their way to the shores of the river Zonama. Yet, their efforts were in vain. They tore through every loose brick, every hidden door, and even peeked into the sewers, but aside from a few hidden caches and secret clubhouses made by local children, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Nothing ignited the duo¡¯s imagination or set off their instincts.

    But they still had half of Rameys left to scrutinise under their watchful eyes, and something strange was bound to occur after an hour or two of their relative peace. And it was waiting just around the corner.

    ¡°I need to ask you something,¡± Elyza remarked, pulling Alex close to her as she whispered into his ear, ¡°Someone is following us, dark coat, hood like yours, a foot taller than me, seven o¡¯clock towards the opposite side of the road.¡±

    ¡°Noticed them when we got the fried fish; may just be some tourists travelling the same route,¡± he replied, his voice unrestrained, knowing the roar of the crowd would sufficiently muddle their words.

    ¡°I noticed someone similar when we first entered the guild, so they may have been trailing us a good while before either of us noticed them,¡± she further added, adjusting her mask in preparation.

    ¡°If they¡¯re that good at hiding their presence,¡± Alex mused, twirling a skewer stick between his fingers as he decided what to do next, ¡°They must¡¯ve made an enormous mistake, or desperation is starting to creep in.¡± The thought etched a grin onto his face, his mind conjuring up a plan that had seldom failed him.

    Without warning his partner, he pushed her into a gully splitting the buildings beside them, and she responded immediately, summoning a gust of wind to kick up a cloud of dust as they vanished into the darkness of the alleyway. The entrance of the narrow winding street was quickly eclipsed by a tall, daunting figure, peering down the confining wooden slit running into an abyss, the sun rays refusing to even grace it with its presence.

    Waving aside the dust, they began their pilgrimage to find their target, unmatched determination present with each step they took. A light glyph erupted in the air in front of their torso, giving them at least a semblance of what awaited ahead. There was nary a hint of hesitation in the figures¡¯ movement, only a peculiar jerking motion as they navigated the alley, their hands tracing the logs that flanked them for guidance.

    The light of the street behind them started to wane the further they delved into the narrowing alley, only the sound of rats scurrying between their feet keeping them company. Suddenly, from the abyss that waited ahead, emerged an elf, her face obscured by tendrils of chaotic shadows, her emerald green eyes reflecting the little light there was into spotlights that pierced through darkness to glare into their soul.

    The figure heard something drop behind them, and they had to twist crookedly within the constrained space to gauge the threat to their rear. But the figure froze as soon as they saw a man leaning against the wall, his cloak similar to theirs, their eyes immediately drawn to his radiant white smile.

    Alex pushed himself away from the wall, his grin unwavering as he addressed the figure before them,  ¡°Excuse me, but if I may just ask, what has brought you on this fine day to participate in the most rude sort of behaviour and stalk us?¡±

    No response came from the figure, frozen in time as if caught in a trance. Undeterred, Alex continued, pulling out his dagger while his partner readied a pair of knives.

    ¡°Surely you could have approached us normally,¡± he began, flipping his prized dagger between his hands, his tone calm and curious. ¡°Unless you¡¯re holding some violent and idiotic tendencies at bay. But then the question changes, and I¡¯m quite curious about it. Here is how it goes, if you knew who I truly am, then why think you stand a chance?¡±

    From within the confines of the coats emerged a voice completely incongruous with their towering figure¡ªa voice so high-pitched it would have sent dogs scampering with their tails tucked between their legs. ¡°It is he! Told you he appear soon after friend, many smarts I have,¡± the figure rambled, as the torso of the coat shot forward before the head realised it.

    Few things have ever confounded Alex till he was forced to stop and think about it, and this had rocketed to the top of his short list. The surprisingly familiar high-pitched voice infiltrated the depths of his memory, and there could¡¯ve been no other explanation than what immediately popped up in his head. However, he had a dwindling window to confirm his suspicions, as Elyza shot forward towards the falling half of the coat.

    ¡°LOR¡ª¡± was all the bottom half managed to cry out before Alex¡¯s hands slammed onto her head, using it as a springboard to vault toward the upper half. If only for a heartbeat, he felt himself floating in the air, operating on pure instinct, realising his partner may not be able to stop herself before embedding a knife in his chest. Instantly, he twisted his body, his left hand grasping the upper half¡¯s hood. His legs shot to the right wall, slamming his back into its opposite, and he stuck himself between the two, using his free hand as ballast as he yanked on the cloth, swinging the mass beneath them.

    Yet, the momentum caused him to lurch forward, narrowly avoiding Elyza¡¯s knife by a hair¡¯s breadth. Fortunately, she reacted swiftly enough to halt its descent before it could embed itself into his diaphragm. She didn¡¯t seem alarmed, or at all confused, as she glared at him hanging between the two walls through her calm green eyes.

    ¡°I gather you know these two?¡± She asked calmly, withdrawing her knives into her palms for the time being, assuming a composed stance as she gestured towards the two cloth-covered figures.

    ¡°It is likely that I do, though if wrong, at least I impressed everyone.¡± he spoke, grinning before his grip almost faltered, sliding down an inch, which reminded him of his position.

    The mass of cloth hanging from his fingers slowly rotated, its voice much deeper than its lower half, yet even shakier, ¡°Before talking, put me down O¡¯great one?¡±

    Elyza sighed as she helped the mass of cloth down, holding it under its, what seemed to be, shoulders. As she did, the hood fell, and it took her a second to understand what exactly she was helping.

    ¡°Why am I holding a goblin in my arms? And why do they seem to be capable of mostly eloquent speech?¡± She asked, staring at a creature half her size with skin tinted a greenish yellow, its ears twice the size of its skull, tied back behind his head, holding back its onyx coloured hair from drooping over his strangely smooth face. It lacked any gigantic warts, bruises, or disfigurements she was used to seeing based on the ones she had encountered before. Except for a small cut on his chin. Behind the cloak, she could see that it was wearing ¡®normal¡¯ clothes, instead of the lion cloths that goblins were usually associated with.

    She stared into the goblin¡¯s deep blue eyes, to gaze into the nature of fear that was starting to spread within him, an attempt to replicate what her partner could do, gaping into their conscience, at the very least to understand their base traits. Releasing the goblin, she turned to address her friend as he dropped to his feet, but before he could begin his explanation, he was tackled by the other one.

    ¡°LORD NEMO!¡± the goblin screamed, burying her face into Alex¡¯s cloak as she tried to wrap her arms around him. The second goblin had a more yellowish-green tint to her skin, her platinum hair braided into a tail, her gigantic ears flapping freely, her face similar to the goblin Elyza held, except with olive freckles.

    ¡°Lord?¡± Elyza remarked, before Alex gestured to drop it, grinning as he shook the goblin off.

    ¡°BLARG! My favourite disciple,¡± he responded with a smile, though his expression shifted to one of concern. ¡°What are you doing here?¡±

    ¡°Pilgrimage, drag you back,¡± Blarg smiled as she replied.

    Suddenly, without warning, he switched to Elvish,  ¡°Ich erlaube Ihnen, normal zu sprechen, wenn Du m?chten.¡± Elyza¡¯s mind reflexively translated the words for her, ¡®I allow you to speak normally, if you choose.¡¯

    Immediately, the broken tongue of the tiny goblin transformed into the most perfect Elvish Elyza had ever heard, surpassing even Alex¡¯s proficiency. Blarg¡¯s eyes narrowed as she asked, ¡°What did you mean by ¡®my favourite disciple¡¯? Do you have other disciples?¡±

    ¡°You got me, I just say that to make the other Deities jealous,¡± he laughed it off, flicking a glance to his partner to keep quiet on the topic. ¡°But, we¡¯ve been through this, I visit the town once a year, so it better be underwater or floating in the air if you¡¯re here,¡± he scolded, his tone resembling that of an elder reprimanding a younger sibling.

    ¡°Uh- I -¡±

    ¡°You missed me, didn¡¯t you?¡±

    ¡°No, Lord Nemo, I just -¡± She was about to lie, her ears drooping downwards, when Alex¡¯s stare compelled her to speak the truth, ¡°I wanted to explore the world.¡±

    Alex sighed, taking a moment to think before setting his verdict, Blarg waiting in anticipation. ¡°I understand,¡± he spoke.

    ¡°You do?¡± She questioned, a mix of confusion and elation flowing across her face.

    ¡°Of course, I hate staying in place as much as you, but I appointed you, when you all forced me to against my will, as the chief of the village, so I expect you to be responsible, and not stalking me halfway around the world, with¡­¡± he explained, turning to the upper half and realising he didn¡¯t know who he was, ¡°Excuse me, I don¡¯t recall you.¡±

    The goblin froze for a second, shocked to hear Nemo speaking to him so casually, ¡°It¡¯s Yuki, my Lord.¡±

    ¡°Nice name,¡± Alex remarked, turning back to his disciple, ¡°So you¡¯re going to tell me what all you saw that was strange in this town, if you saw where my Lamia friend went, and then I¡¯ll arrange for you to head home, and when I visit the village again, I¡¯ll appoint someone else as the chief, alright?¡±

    ¡°Two questions, would I still be your disciple, and is she another disciple?¡± Blarg rambled out, pointing to Elyza, her finger trembling with either excitement or anger.

    ¡°I am not,¡± she answered the latter.

    ¡°And you¡¯ll be my only disciple till I forget these memories.¡± her partner replied, grinning.

    A wide smile spread across the goblin¡¯s face, as she began, ¡°We met someone called Monza in Pharus while we were looking for you my Lord, saw right through our disguise. She told us that the surest way to come across you would be to work with her, thought that she would need to be saved if things went wrong here.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°She thought that people were getting abducted in the town, and Marrow was a front for the disappearances, apparently people were entering the building but not leaving. But no one from the town has reported anything officially, so she got roped in. After a week of noticing nothing unusual, she decided to finally enter the restaurant, telling us to stay put and send a notice back to the House, or the guild, or whatever you call it. That all happened a week ago, we¡¯ve been waiting in hope that you would appear.¡±

    Alex sighed, ¡°Just like her, expecting me to be her guardian deity. C¡¯mon here, Yuki, let¡¯s get you two ready.¡± He took out a note, writing something on it before handing it to Blarg, just as the other goblin reached him.

    ¡°Give this to the green one,¡± he instructed, handing the note to Blarg, before placing his hands on their heads. Then, he nodded to Yuki, ¡°And don¡¯t let this one barf over the shop.¡±

    Shadows erupted from beneath the goblins¡¯ feet and from the crevices of Alex¡¯s hands, wrapping around the green folk before they fell into the umbra, sucked into the dominion of darkness. Elyza approached her partner, whose eyes were still closed as he concentrated on making sure the dimension didn¡¯t rip his guests apart. His eyes shot open, signalling the safe passage of the two, and as he tried to speak, he staggered into the elf¡¯s arms.

    ¡°Two things,¡± he started, breathing heavily into her chest plate, ¡°Their village considers me a god due to a variety of unforeseen events, and I¡¯ll admit, that I was somewhat accountable for, and they won¡¯t believe me when I say that I¡¯m not, so I rolled with it.¡±

    He pushed himself off of her, continuing, ¡°I would not like to talk about it currently, and to buy your silence on the matter, I am ready to tell you my full name.¡± His eyes were starting to get bloodshot due to the strain of the spell, so Elyza asked the other question in her mind.

    ¡°So, you are not nobility?¡±

    ¡°Not really, and my full name is Alexander Whitlock.¡±

    The surname struck a chord in her mind, but she couldn¡¯t place where she had heard it before, so she instead muttered under breath, ¡°But you do not have white hair?¡±

    ¡°I hadn¡¯t noticed,¡± Alex grinned as he replied, his fatigue starting to become more bearable. ¡°Could I interest you in some gorgeous food, under the threat we may get interrupted before we can fully enjoy it?¡± He asked, offering his hand.

    ¡°I hope we get dessert before we do,¡± Elyza replied, taking his hand and supporting him as they both walked out onto the street.

 Chapter 18: Remembrance

    As the dark oak doors swung open, propelled by unseen hands, Elyza and Alex stepped into Marrow, a realm of culinary enchantment. Instantly, they were enveloped in a symphony of fragrances, a delightful departure from the town¡¯s pungent air. Alex led her in, their footsteps against the polished marble floor echoing as he approached the lone podium standing beneath the chandelier swaying above, its soft light able to illuminate the entire area with ease.

    Unlike most of the top restaurants in the country, many of which he had visited with Elyza, the feeling radiating through the air was of calmness, perfectionism, control. The clinking of utensils against ceramic plates, the quiet roar of people¡¯s conversation, the noise that he was used to in a restaurant, were all but muffled through another pair of doors facing the entrance.

    As Elyza joined him to wait at the podium, the doors creaked closed behind them and the one opposite to it opened in unison. The noise of its patrons bled into the room as the host slid between the doors to greet the two.

    With a warm smile, Alex extended his hand to the host, who reciprocated the gesture. Except the smile on his face seemed off, somehow feeling like every single smile Alex had ever seen, seemed almost too perfect, replicating the warmth of hospitality. The host¡¯s hand almost collapsed as he shook it, as if it was a facsimile of how a hand should feel, an imitation. Moreover, it lacked the warmth of a life, the flow of mana that was present seemed too insignificant for the man standing in front of him.

    With each passing moment, Alex¡¯s perception of the host became increasingly surreal. Every subtle movement, every nuance of expression, each breath, each tug of muscles, they all seemed exaggerated, yet oddly artificial.

    But as the seconds passed, the ¡®mistakes¡¯ became harder to spot, except, as Alex stared into the host¡¯s eyes, it felt like there was nothing behind them, as if they were a reflection in a mirror, or a hyperrealistic painting.

    Alex maintained his composure, concealing his suspicions behind a religiously practised smile. The host turned his attention to Elyza, extending a hand in greeting while delivering his message with a calm and friendly tone.

    ¡°Unfortunately, Marrow closes early on Sundays, to allow for the staff an extended break,¡± the host explained, his voice a melodic cadence, ¡°Fortunately, we have a special service before we do, and while it has just started, we can easily adjust both of you into it, if you two are interested.¡±

    ¡°What is so special about this service?¡± Elyza asked, a look of unease spreading beneath the smile on her face as well, her eyes flicking to Alex¡¯s as their thoughts aligned.

    The host''s demeanour seemed to brighten at the question, his posture straightening as if infused with a sudden surge of enthusiasm. ¡°I''m glad you asked,¡± he began, his voice tinged with a newfound vitality. ¡°We have a new four-course meal planned every weekend that utilises our edible leftovers from the week, and this week it is incredibly divine if I say so myself. And, since we would be using leftovers, we can offer you both our delicacies for a lone gold coin.¡± His smile grew as they thought about the offer.

    ¡°I think that¡¯s delightful,¡± Alex admitted, flipping a gold coin at him, which he caught without even looking at it, his eyes drawn to the glimmering circle way after his arms shot to intercept it.

    ¡°Great! May I get your names?¡± He asked, opening the ledger, hidden in the podium.

    ¡°Nemo and Penelope.¡±

    ¡°Alrighty¡­¡± The host muttered as he jotted something else along with their name into the paper, looking up as he continued, ¡°If you could follow me.¡±

    The doors into the inner chamber swung fully open this time as the two were led in by him. As soon as they stepped into the main chamber, it was like they had stepped into a grand hall. The white marble beneath them soon faded into a kaleidoscopic array of coloured marble circling around the centre of the room. Four massive chandeliers appeared to float above the tables, slowly moving in unison, radiating a warm hue for the guests sitting beneath. There was a strange scent present in the air, but neither of the two could point to what was emitting it.

    Tables adorned with fine linens and delicate tableware formed an elegant arrangement, with intimate settings for two positioned near the windows, their view obscured by heavy purple curtains. Larger tables dotted the remainder of the chamber, save for one solitary table positioned at the geometric centre of the room, the one the two were being escorted to.

    Standing lone, separated by seemingly kilometres, was a table for two people, situated in the geometrical focus of the room, and where the design in the marble converged into a focus. It was, by far, the most illuminated area in the room, and it was in view of every single other table in the room. The other guests were already enjoying the first course as the duo both settled into the silk lined thrones, which were much more comfortable than the chairs at Rexham, so they did not pay attention to the new inclusions.

    ¡°Apologise for the inconvenience, but we can bring the first course, which is a pleasant tomato soup, only with the second course, which we will be serving in a moment''s time,¡± The host proclaimed, turning the wine goblets for the two.

    Suddenly, a waiter materialized from behind the host, her presence as fleeting as a whisper in the wind. With fingers adorned in frost, she carried an uncorked bottle of white wine, pouring its contents into their waiting goblets, before walking away with the host, leaving the two to converse.

    Elyza reached for her drink, but Alex pulled the tablecloth towards him before she could grab the glass. ¡°Take this first,¡± He instructed, tossing a small sliver of paper tied with a string of yarn towards her, taking out a similar one for himself, downing the powder held within. But he didn¡¯t swallow, instead taking a deep breath till he coughed, a puff of glittering dust escaping from his mouth, and some from his nostrils.

    She stared at him, contemplated asking why he was the way he is, and then poured the contents into her mouth. Surprisingly, it wasn¡¯t as horrible as her mind imagined it to be, but it felt like fireworks in her mouth, a numbing heat rolling over her tongue after a while. The strange sensation distracted her enough for the powder to travel down her throat as she breathed normally.

    ¡°Do not swallow that,¡± Alex warned, swirling the wine around in the glass before taking a sip. Immediately, she forced herself to cough, orange dust shooting up her nostrils, clearing them immediately as they escaped from her body. For a moment afterwards, it felt like she could taste everything in the room, before it quickly reversed, settling into a slight tacky feeling in her mouth. She reached for the glass to clear her throat, and as the wine touched her tongue, the taste of alcohol was overshadowed by a burst of fruity richness, and the aftertaste of the sweet poison was gone as well.

    ¡°I gather you have a reason for this?¡± Elyza shot him a questioning glare, her annoyance evident in her gaze.

    ¡°First of all, we¡¯re working, so we shouldn¡¯t be drinking anyway,¡± Alex started, grinning, continuing his explanation, ¡°Second of all, the powder weakens the effects of particularly strong toxins, which is likely how people are vanishing around here, and unfortunately, alcohol is a toxin to our body. Thirdly, it also enhances the flavour of whatever you eat¡­¡±

    His explanation trailed off as a door at the back of the chamber swung open, unleashing an explosion of   aromas that permeated the room. A procession of waiters glided in, each balancing two plates, with small bowls meticulously centred on each dish. They moved with the elegance of ballet dancers, seamlessly diverging to attend to their respective tables.

    Their waiter, somehow, was instead carrying in one arm two bowls, her left arm busy in balancing the plate on her fingertips. With a flourish, she placed the plate at the centre of the duo''s table, twirling it for a touch of theatricality before deftly transferring the bowls to their proper places in front of Alex and Elyza. She offered a courteous bow, her voice smooth and inviting, ¡°I hope you enjoy the food.¡± With that, she retreated back into the kitchen, along with the other waiters.

    The larger bowls contained a viscous deep orange liquid, what appeared to be classic tomato soup, except it was cold, there was absolutely no heat being emitted from the liquid, the bowl itself chilled. Surrounding the smaller bowl in the centre of the platter was a bed of mixed fresh greens, dew drops clinging to the leafy vegetables, providing support to four muffins. The muffins, with bits of red chillies embedded in the eggy mixture, were encased in thin, crispy pastry that had browned to perfection. The central bowl held rings of pickled onions, speckled with flakes of black pepper.

    Alex picked up a soup spoon and dipped it into the soup, which was garnished with a swirl of cream and a sprinkle of parsley. Reflexively, he blew on the spoonful before bringing it to his nose, attempting to smell the cold liquid, and finally brought it to his lips, expecting the deep warm comforting richness of smooth tomato soup. Instead, he was met with the cold tart sharpness of fresh tomatoes, curbed slightly by the slightly bitter taste of olive oil and the burn of fresh garlic. It wasn¡¯t as smooth as normal tomato soup, having the familiar crunch of cucumbers and the slight mush of breadcrumbs, but it didn¡¯t need to be, the fresh ingredients refreshing his soul as he swallowed.

    But more importantly, there was no taste of any added chemicals in the liquid, and as he glanced at his partner, who had already gone through half of the bowl, a look of satisfaction on her face after a day of salted meats, her eyes corroborated his thoughts.

    She was the first to reach for the muffins, the crispy pastry surrounding it crackling under her touch, using a fork to lift a batch of vegetables to place upon the baked goods. As she bit into the muffin, she got a mouthful of a cheesy custard-y eggs instead of soft, dense bread, the spice of the chillies cutting through the savoury filling. The hard crunch of the flavourless pastry combined with the slight crunch of the cold tangy greens created an absolute divine texture. Yet, there was nothing unfamiliar about the taste, it just tasted like a well constructed dish. They both worked on wiping the plates clean, signing an unspoken pact to just enjoy the food for now, finishing the wine in between bites. Before Elyza could bring up the topic of toxins, they were interrupted by their waiter appearing at the table, her silent steps rivalling the table of assassins.

    The waiter retrieved the plate in the centre, with only a puddle of condensation left, replacing it with a platter that fulfilled the wants of Elyza¡¯s heart and a growing need of her stomach. Orbiting a cylinder of pink fresh salmon were paper thin slices of beautifully marbled beef, and a slightly darker purple meat, a strip of fat bordering each slice, as they acted as a plate to the onions and capers resting upon them, streaks of oil adorning the entire plate. She placed a smaller plate besides it, which held thin slices of baguettes, each toasted to golden brown perfection.

    They both reached for the carpaccio first, selecting a slice of beef to scoop up some of the accompanying dressing, before swallowing the savoury package whole. The natural umami of the beef and the saltiness of its fat melted on their tongues, giving way to the sharpness of the onion and the brine of the capers, all mellowed by the slightly sweet walnut oil. Going for the purpler meat next, as soon as it touched Alex¡¯s tongue, he instantly recognised the game-y metallic taste of duck meat, which provided a much sharper contrast compared to the beef cuts. Finally, Elyza picked up the slice of bread, using it to spoon the salmon tartar into her mouth. The salmon was remarkably fresh, its taste much mellower than the rest of the meats, which were elevated by the tiny beads of ginger in between the cubes of fish, providing a bitterness to the fish¡¯s sweet taste.

    The platter was left in the same pristine condition as the previous dishes, only streaks of oil remaining on the ceramic surface. But still, Alex was unsettled, there was no other way people were disappearing without a trace, without someone from outside hearing an altercation, except if they were knocking the guests out. And a form of toxin was the only way to do it stealthily, yet, the food was clean, and delicious, there was nothing that was being concealed by the flavour.

    Elyza shared his unsettled scepticism, her eyes mirroring his thoughts. Something felt off, there was something strange in the air, something that didn¡¯t feel right. The smell when they first entered the chamber was much stronger now, maybe a side effect of the powder, making their nose much more sensitive. Before they could dwell further on their suspicions, the waiter reappeared, gracefully interrupting their thoughts with the grand finale of their dinner.

    Their waiter reappeared by their table, her movements fluid and precise as she placed a large, flat bowl at the edge of the table, covered by a bronze cloche. She expertly balanced it, ensuring it didn''t topple, as she removed their previous plates, then slid the bowl into their focus.

    That was when the duo realised the cloche over their dessert wasn¡¯t metal, but transparent. The swirls of white smoke trapped within danced in intricate patterns, refracting light through the brown-stained glass, making it appear like bronze.

    But the most intriguing fact was there wasn¡¯t a handle to lift it off, and as the waiter placed a gravy boat next to it, the questions were building up in Alex¡¯s mind, till he finally asked, ¡°What is this?¡±

    The waiter replied with a smile, ¡°A chocolate Bombe cake covered with whipped cream, surrounded by some maple wood smoke which has been trapped with a shell of bourbon infused sugar.¡±

    ¡°Are we meant to break the shell?¡± Elyza asked, her eyes hungrily burning holes into the sugar dome.

    ¡°I think our way may be more spectacular,¡± she replied, smiling as she lifted the gravy pot and began to pour its contents over the dome. A thick stream of amber liquid cascaded down, covering the sugar shell, which surprisingly held firm under the weight. Just as the strong scent of ethanol reached their nostrils, the waiter ignited a flame from her fingertips. The flame leapt through the alcoholic vapour towards the caramel, setting the entire dome ablaze.

    All the waiters retreated back into the kitchen as the chandelier swaying above started to dim, as the sugar shells on each table burned with a mesmerising intensity, the blue flames casting a warm glow across the chamber. As the fire consumed the sugar, it gradually melted away, releasing the smoke within it, but the heat being radiated awakened something in the air, the aroma that had been in the room since the beginning started to get stronger, starting to smell of something the two were deeply familiar with.

    The smoke trapped within the dome didn¡¯t dissipate, instead multiplying rapidly, seemingly melding with the thing in the air as it rushed to smother the entire chamber. As quickly as he could, the poison already slowing down his thoughts, weighing down his eyelids, Alex reached into his shadow through his cloak, and pulled out two blue squares. He flicked one towards Elyza, who sluggishly placed it on her tongue before face planting into the table. He tried to do the same, but his body was betraying him, muscles turning lax and unresponsive, as his eyes narrowed, and the darkness overpowered him.

    <hr>

    Elyza jolted from her slumber, her mind unable to pierce the fog that concealed the events from before, memories swirling within her with things that her brain told her were dreams, but her heart knew that could not be, a disorientating mix that left her head pounding. Rays of sunlight stabbed into her eyes, streaming in from the glass hatch above her, lighting up the braided cotton wool that had been woven into a bed below her. As her eyes adjusted to the brightness, she stared at the dark ceiling above her, wondering why it seemed so familiar.

    It looked like her room back at home, the planks above her still bearing scars of when she built the shed. Her mind whirled into attention, a sudden surge of adrenaline accompanying her realisation, her senses expanding as the smell of the evergreen forest and the dew of the wafted in, the sounds of birds chirping joining them. She leapt up to her feet and bolted towards the door, slamming it open, and her muscles instantly froze, the door creaking backwards as she stared at her mother, whose hand was raised, about to knock.

    ¡°You¡¯re up already?! Saving me the trouble of slamming you into the land of the living today, eh?¡± Her mother¡¯s voice was like honey to her ears, her radiant smile sparkling under the sun. Tears welled up in Elyza¡¯s emerald eyes as she stared at her mother¡¯s similar pair. She wrapped her arms around her mother, pushing her face into her ginger hair, her fingers latching onto her shoulders, squeezing her lest she be snatched away. Her mother smelled of all the herbs under the rainbow, her hands felt like clouds as they cradled her daughter¡¯s neck, her gentleness in her touch revealing her surprise at her daughter''s sudden display of affection.

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    ¡°I thought the days of nightmares plaguing my Penelope were long gone,¡± her mother remarked, gently pulling her hands back and wiping Elyza¡¯s tears with her fingers before tapping her nose.  ¡°What¡¯s wrong Elyza?¡± She asked, worry emanating in her tone. Yet, as Elyza stared at her mother¡¯s comforting smile, Elyza¡¯s memory failed to recall why her emotions were in turmoil moments before.

    ¡°I dreamt of you dying, Mum,¡± Elyza began, her voice trembling. ¡°I dreamt of getting revenge for you, and then I dreamt of journeys with a friend.¡± The words should have been hard to come by, most dreams are hard to recall, but instead of fading away as she spoke them, the words forced themselves deeper into her mind, trying to become facts rather than be forgotten.

    Her mother¡¯s expression softened as she pulled Elyza into another embrace, ¡°They¡¯re just dreams, Penelope, they¡¯re created by us, allowing us to choose to latch onto their negatives or learn to decipher the truth they¡¯re trying to convey.¡± Her voice carried a mix of concern and tenderness, before she let go of her daughter, a twinkle of curiosity in her eyes. ¡°I do hope you had fun on your adventures, and I want to know what all you did in them. But today¡¯s your favourite day, so you can tell me about it while we pay the bees a visit.¡±

    It had been ages since Elyza had seen the hive, and as they walked through the wild grass, they went behind the main house where her mother lived, stopping by the quaint little garden she kept. The garden was a whirlwind of colours and scents, full of herbs and wildflowers from around the country, all grown and nurtured by her mother. Some to use for her apothecaries, some that she sold to farmers to help with their crops.

    Kneeling by some bee balm, which were almost in full bloom, a shimmering glyph formed from her mother¡¯s hand as she spoke the words, ¡°F¨¢s ceann beag.¡± The flowers began to bloom under her encouragement, their purple petals fanning outwards, curling open, resembling the stingers of the insects that adored to extract their nectar.

    ¡°Gather some flowers and leaves, then meet me at the hive,¡± her mother instructed, and Elyza crouched to do so as she left her to gather the bucket to store the honey. Taking out her knife, she carefully sliced the stems of the flowers and pulled on some darkening leaves, bunching them in her hand. She enjoyed the sweet citrus smell that they carried, that had hints of pepper, almost like some teas she remembered enjoying.

    The early winter air carried a dampness, snow clinging on to only the lowest branches of the trees that surrounded her home, unable to stand the warmth that came with the morning light. A cold weak breeze blew through the clearing, carrying the outros of the warbler¡¯s morning calls, yet instead of enjoying the perfect weather, her mind remained preoccupied on what should¡¯ve been a passing thought.

    Elyza had smelled the aroma of bee balms thousands of times before, but she had never compared it to any type of tea. The only tea she could remember drinking was the chamomile that her mother brewed when she couldn¡¯t sleep. As she tried to recall where she had even encountered a tea that smelled of bee balm, a memory popped up in her head, of her sitting in a caf¨¦ along with the friend from her dreams. But her mind couldn¡¯t focus on it, as if it didn¡¯t want to recall it, as if something was trying to stop it from trying.

    Suddenly, a hat fell on Elyza¡¯s head, her mother¡¯s voice grounding her thoughts immediately. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Penelope, you aren¡¯t stuffing your mouth with dirt again, are you?¡± She asked, plopping down the honey brass bucket, the cheesecloth covering it falling within it, as she knelt besides her daughter.

    ¡°That happened once Ma, and I was five,¡± She replied, her ears drooping with embarrassment as she pulled the hat¡¯s veil down as she rose to her feet, her mother chuckling as she handed over the bunch of flowers.

    ¡°I can never be too sure with you, and you¡¯ll always be a child in my eyes,¡± her mother proclaimed, scrunching up the petals and stuffing them into a bottle full of poultice. She smashed the fresh ingredients against the glass with a long pestle attached to the bottle¡¯s cork, mixing them into the mush already inside.

    They began again, walking past the garden and a bit into the woods behind it, Elyza leading this time, something in her consciousness screaming at her to protect her mother as they traversed through the trees. Her thumb caressed her right index for comfort, which felt unsettlingly empty at the moment, her mind waiting for something to pop out of the treeline, to feel the heat of a raging fire, yet those thoughts disappeared as her eyes settled on the beehive.

    She remembered making it with her mother, cutting the wood, hammering her fingers and eventually the nails. She remembered when she cared for the queen bee, when she harvested her first batch of honey, the first time a bee hugged her finger. She remembered its burnt remains, fire raging around her, her bees lying dead at her feet, she remembered her mother¡¯s silhouette. The visions were snatched from her, her mind forcing her to stare at the pristine birch house, the white wood gleaming under the patchy sunlight that streamed in through the branches of the crooked tree that stood behind it.

    She hated that tree since her mother decided this was where the bees should live, wanting the sunlight to reach them unimpeded. A longing sadness washed over her as she stared at the sight, happiness replacing it as she observed the bees travelling through and from their home. But there was work to be done. Her mother nudged her forward, handing her the bottle of poultice, which she hung on her belt, adjusting her bee hat as she walked towards the hive¡¯s home. The bees were quiet for the moment, only a few guards hovering around, prepared to sound the alarms, and sound them they did.

    Before she could remove the top of the house, they were all swarming around Elyza, but none of them stung her. Her movements were slow and predictable, the bees already knew her scent, and they were used to this process. Despite their buzzing loud enough to shake the earth, Elyza felt a serene calm among them, confident they wouldn¡¯t hurt her. She carefully lifted the first honey frame, the white wax obstructing her view through the hexagonal cells. She meticulously scanned the frame for any bees that might have got stuck. With a gentle shake, she encouraged the bees to fly off before handing the frame backward to her mother¡¯s waiting hands.

    Scraping the frame down into the cloth covered bucket, the beeswax stayed on the surface of the cheese cloth as the honey sank through it. She continued to scrape till there was nothing remaining to extract, leaning the frame besides the bucket, waiting for her daughter to hand her another. As they continued working, Elyza couldn¡¯t help but find pleasure as she worked, she had missed the song of the bees, missed her mother¡¯s company, it had been ages since she had cared for the hive, or harvested honey.

    For some reason, that thought felt wrong. Visiting the hive had been a daily occurrence, checking up on them whenever she went to hunt or forage for mushrooms, and they harvested honey twice a year. The more her mind thought about what emotions were bubbling up inside of her, the more peculiar they seemed, her mind unwilling to tell her why she missed her mother¡¯s company. They were soon returning the frames to the house, Elyza still trying to force her mind to divulge its secrets to her, which somewhat concerned her.

    As she was about to slide the last frame into position, holding it in her hands, staring through it, just taking a second to collect her thoughts, as the bees began retreating back into their home, her eyes wandered towards the crooked tree in front of her. Black rot had begun to mar the crooked tree¡¯s already sickly brown trunk, eating its way up through the roots, starting to scrape a cavity into the wood.

    Suddenly, it all came flooding back. She saw pools of blood forming among the rotted roots, flowing down the gaping hollow of the crooked tree, almost giving the appearance that the wood was bleeding. But she knew, in the depths of her heart and her soul, she remembered whose blood it was. The memory of her mother¡¯s body strung to, bound to, the branches of the tree, her limbs broken and twisted in ways that were not out of necessity but to incite fear in the ones who were forced to watch.

    It was a memory Elyza hoped she had put behind her, a recollection of her past she seldom thought or wanted to think about nowadays. An echo from her past, not unlike the picturesque setting she was currently existing in. As she stared at the sight that set her down this path, rage built within her as Elyza realised that all of this, her mother, her room, her old life, was nothing but another memory. It may have been one of the happiest days before the pain came, but the sheer fact that it was just her reliving it made the rage grow fiercer.

    She wanted to wrench the crooked tree to the ground, to eradicate what had happened there permanently from her mind. Reaching for her seed pouch, she grasped at empty air. She looked back at her belt, and there it was, where it always was, roped around a nook of her pants, just behind her pocket. The red embroidered leaves were as bright as the day she and Alex had made it. But it wasn¡¯t there a moment before.

    ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Elyza?¡± her mother asked, putting a hand on her shoulder, her voice worried about her daughter¡¯s odd behaviour.

    Her mother¡¯s touch may have broken Elyza out of her rage, or made her mind think about her current reality, but regardless of whatever caused it, a realisation emerged within her mind. The sensation of her mother¡¯s hand, the smells of her home, even the sound of the wind rustling the leaves around, they seemed too focused. All of which she could remember of her dreams, never did one thing within them feel anything other than liminal in nature, as if she was only interacting with their essence.

    But here, at the moment, her mother¡¯s hand felt as real as she remembered. Elyza felt around in the pouch as she calmly answered, ¡°Just thinking.¡± Her fingers grazed past some vine seeds, and as she dug further, she felt a loose bag of powder, her hand retreating as her fingers wrapped around it, along with some seeds.

    Tossing the seeds first, Elyza watched as they hit the soil near the roots of the crooked tree. She spoke a single command, ¡°Neartaigh agus ceartaigh.¡± A runic circle exploded in front of her mouth, a mix of deep green and shimmering purple. The seeds sprouted, sending ivy vines bursting toward the tree. The green tendrils wrapped around its trunk, their roots burrowing into the soil, and then they went to work.

    The soil heaved as the vines tugged at the crooked tree, almost as if they were uprooting it. The bark cracked and groaned under the pressure. The tree wrenched upwards, its leaves shaking gently as the hive was exposed to the sun. Slowly the vines lessened their pull, still wrapped around the trunk, some strays climbing along the bark, anchoring the ivy to the tree, hardening as they settled.

    Elyza stared at the crooked tree, seeing if she wanted to make further adjustments, when her mother exclaimed, her voice full of pride, ¡°When did you learn to do that?!¡±

    ¡°Alex helped me learn more about Druidcraft,¡± Elyza replied simply. She tossed the bag at the exposed roots, and spores discharged from within, settling among the dirt and rocks.

    ¡°Who¡¯s that? Your boyfriend¡­¡± Her mother teased, and before she could correct her, added ¡°or a girlfriend? I¡¯ve, personally, met many beautiful ladies named Ale-¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s¡­¡± Elyza interrupted her before her stipulations could go any further, struggling for a bit to find the words that fully encompassed their relationship, ¡°I can¡¯t believe I¡¯m about to say it, he¡¯s my partner in crime, a friend I¡¯ve come to trust, even though there are so many reasons I shouldn¡¯t.¡±

    ¡°I really hope that¡¯s metaphorical, because I really hope you haven¡¯t got in with the wrong crowd.¡± her mother said, raising an eyebrow.

    Elyza sighed, then uttered another command directed at the spores. ¡°F¨¢s agus banna.¡± A circle of white and purple appeared from her hands as she spoke, the runes glowing softly, pulsing, as the spores grew to follow her commands. Caps of brown popped up among the roots, as the dehydrated roots were turned into a tapestry of fungi, most mushrooms as big as her fist.

    ¡°Oh, he¡¯s nowhere near what you would imagine as a wrong crowd, Mum,¡± Elyza remarked, smiling at her inability to lie even to a possibly imaginary version of her mother. ¡°You would like him, if he ever had the chance to meet you,¡± Elyza mused, as she looked upon the crooked tree, which now needed a better name, its sickly brown trunk obscured by the fantastic green of the vines wrapped around it. It stood taller than ever before, matching its brethren, its leaves fluttering under the sun. The mushrooms would slow the rot, and aid the tree enough for it to outgrow the mould.

    ¡°You could invite him to breakfast tomorrow, it has been a while since we¡¯ve had any sort of guests.¡± Her mother offered, picking up Elyza¡¯s hat and placing it atop her own, wringing the cheesecloth full of beeswax to ensure no drop of honey was wasted.

    Not wanting to promise something that could not be, her rage dissipated as she turned towards her mother, stating calmly, ¡°I need you to do something, but before I do it, I need to ask something, and it would be better for me if you sat down.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re worrying me, Penelope,¡± Her mother began, smiling as she sat on the soft green grass, leaning against the honey-filled bucket. ¡°But if I¡¯ve learned one thing since the 24 years I¡¯ve been your mother, it''s how to worry about you.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t know whether you¡¯re her spirit, a figment of my imagination, or the culmination of my memories,¡± Elyza began, starting to pace in a circle around her mother, as the swirling thoughts in her head started to connect. ¡°It is clear, however, whatever state I¡¯m in, whoever¡¯s doing this, you¡¯re too real to be something just to trick me¡­¡±

    ¡°Elyz-,¡± Her mother tried to intervene, but she wouldn¡¯t allow her.

    ¡°So I¡¯m going to ask, maybe hoping that there is enough of you in my memories to allow me an answer, but mostly to get it off my chest,¡± she continued, crouching in front of her mother, taking her hand as she continued, trying to make sure her voice didn¡¯t break. ¡°After your death, after I¡¯d enacted vengeance on those who caused, after I tried to overco- forget my past, I still doubt if I am keeping up to your hopes, Ma, if you¡¯d be proud of who I am trying to be if you were still here,¡± Elyza choked out the words, holding her mother¡¯s hand to her cheek.

    Her mother¡¯s eyes softened, her thumb gently stroking Elyza¡¯s cheek, smiling at her, ¡°Oh, my Penelope, whatever trouble you¡¯re in, whatever trouble you cause, I know you try your best, and I know that you always tried to do the right things, so if you believe that what you¡¯re doing or what you may be doing in the future is something you want to do,¡± her mother kissed her forehead before she continued, ¡°then do not worry about what I may think, because I will always be by your side, love.¡±

    Elyza knew the words held no true meaning, but still, she was glad to hear them. She wanted to stay here, wherever she was, stay with her mother for a while longer. But the thought of others falling into the same trap fuelled her ire, and Alex wasn¡¯t exactly a patient man. She knew he would drag her out eventually.

    Clearing her throat, Elyza kissed her mother¡¯s cheek before she asked, ¡°Thanks Ma, now I need you to do something.¡±

    ¡°Of course.¡±

    ¡°Slap me.¡± She instructed with a straight face.

    ¡°Elyza¡­¡± Her mother began, giving up as she saw the determination on her face, sighing, ¡°Fine.¡± She tapped her cheek, hard enough for Elyza to consider it a slap if she was still five.

    ¡°MA.¡±

    ¡°ALRIGHT,¡± Her mother relented, sighing as she brought back her hand, adding, ¡°Just don¡¯t argue with me if it was too hard,¡± before slamming her palm into Elyza¡¯s face.

    The impact burned her cheek, almost as if it had struck her soul directly. As she looked at herself, her own body, viewing it from above, Elyza almost believed that her mother had actually done so. Whatever form she had taken, Elyza felt something tugging around her neck, a line leading up into the sky and into an invisible barrier between the bright blue above and an ominous darkness that seemed to have no beginning or end.

    Instinctively, she reached for the line, using her fingers to trace the string, as thin as a knife¡¯s edge, taut as steel as well, barely able to feel its paths. Deciding to use it as a guide to reach the barrier, she tugged on it as she floated upwards, and the line suddenly went slack. She grasped the string with both hands, worried that she had snapped it, only for it to suddenly go rigid, almost cutting her fingers off.

    Without warning, Elyza suddenly shot up towards the barrier, getting yanked by the string as it whipped in front of her. Struggling to keep her head straight as she was dragged through the sky, she could barely force her hands up to shield her face before she hit the barrier.

    It was like slamming into water, slowing to a stop before the line whipped again, forcing her through something her mind could only describe as the plane where light ceases to exist at the depths of the ocean. Her surroundings tried to compress her, pushing against her skin, threatening to crush her until she matched the darkness. Her head grew heavy as it was battered against the darkness until exhaustion overtook her, and everything went black.

    Elyza¡¯s eyes shot open, met with a dark hue of blue that burned her eyes as they darted around, trying to understand where she was. She took in a breath, and air flowed smoothly into her lungs, but it refused to be let out, her throat filling up with liquid as she tried to breathe further.

    Panic filled her mind, her limbs pushing through the viscous fluid, swinging around to orient herself to her surroundings, desperately trying to find something that could signal her freedom. Then her hand struck solid, a thunk echoing through the fluid, the surface smooth as ice. She banged her fist against the wall, hearing the sound reverberate tenfold, and felt the surface bend under her force. It couldn¡¯t be harder than bronze.

    Thinking would have taken too long; a quick doubt in her mind ran down her arm and to her ring, her halberd shooting outwards, ripping through the liquid as it struck the surface and shattered it. The liquid rushed to escape their container, dragging its sole occupant along as it poured onto the hard rock below.

    Her hands impacted the floor first, and she started to cough as soon as they did, trying to get whatever was stuck in her throat out. She hacked out blue slime that shone ever so slightly, attempting to take her first free breath only to have pain shoot through her body. Her stomach had something jamming into it from the right side, and Elyza wrapped her hand around the culprit, pulling out a shard of glass streaked with her blood, some of the blue fluid seeping into the gash.

    Flipping herself over, she gasped to clear out her lungs, trying to get her senses to give her some direction on what to do next, picking out more slime from sticking to her years. She stared at the ceiling above, till her gaze fell on the contraption that had been holding her captive. It was crafted of steel, half the front was a glass door, about ten mana crystals being fed by it, attached to the base of the pod. However, as her eyes adjusted to the light, she saw another pod above it, and two more flanking it. Nursing her wound, she sat upwards, her eyes scanning the tunnel she was in.

    A tunnel that held pods filled with people as far as she could see. A tunnel that had someone coming towards her.

 Chapter 19: Revelation

    The creature approached the unconscious body lying on the tunnel¡¯s floor, hundreds of shards of glass scattered around it, some caked with her blood. Before the creature cared for the elf coated in blue slime, only checking to see if she was breathing, they went to discern what had caused the pod¡¯s failure.

    Its silhouette kept shifting, its legs, or whatever made its lower body, not even lifting as it glided across the ground, leaving a streak of slime behind it.

    First, it touched the crystals on the base, the gems lighting up in response, some glowing much brighter than others, at least according to what Elyza could see through the corner of her eye. Second, it checked the steel holdings, feeling around for something within, and when it did, she could hear the remaining fluid being sucked away. Third, it moved on to inspect the glass, grabbing the dagger-like edges of what remained of the door without even a reaction.

    Finally, whether the creature had learned what had conspired mere moments before or not, it turned its attention to her, still acting unconscious, unsure of when to strike. It knelt beside her, hands gently probing her armour, almost as if checking Elyza for injuries. The touch was unexpectedly soft, and as it reached under her, flipping her onto her back, she had to close her eyes.

    The creature immediately went for the gash in the side of her stomach, where blood had soaked into her purple shirt. Its appendages pressed around the wound, probing to check its depth, causing some blue fluid to seep out. It took her entire will not to let out a single grunt, to resist her body¡¯s need for release, when suddenly, the pain just stopped. She couldn¡¯t feel the wound any more, moreover, that portion of her body felt unnaturally free of the slime.

    Instantly, her arm shot towards the creature''s neck, and it went straight through. Her hand cleaved through its body, which suspiciously felt like slime, but before Elyza could react, the creature leapt backwards. She flipped to her feet, expecting retaliation, only to have the slime monster melt into a puddle. Through its translucent purple body, she could see a wooden core that consisted of interlocking loops that formed a rounded triangle pyramid, or a curved tetrahedron as Alex would say.

    Her halberd sprung to her hands, and she swung it towards the ooze. The blade sliced straight through one side of the slime, the hook grabbed onto the core and went straight through. As Elyza flicked the core towards herself, the viscous fluid that made the creatures flew towards her as well, a wave of purple coming upon her, attracted to what she could deduce as the being¡¯s brain.

    She expected an attack, her halberd returned around her finger as her hand caught the core, squeezing it, threatening to crush it under her strength. The fluid flew around the core, coalescing as it reinforced the structure, but it felt inert, no sting of poison, no burn of acid. Her gut told her to stop, as the wave wrapped around the core, which drooped to form a vaguely humanoid body, but it did nothing to her, nothing to escape. It didn¡¯t try to blind her or slip out of her grasp, it simply stood, frozen, as she held in her hand its brain.

    The core began to spin its inner mechanisms, the language inscribed on the wood glimmering white, the runes causing the wood to vibrate as it spoke, mimicking a voice that could belong to any guild hand she had talked to.

    ¡°I know this seems bad, b-but unnecessary violence will not help,¡± the slime creature pleaded. The slime around its core solidified into a face that mimicked hers, causing Elyza to squeeze harder on its core, eliciting a quiet groan and creak from the wooden outer loop.

    ¡°O-Okay,¡± The being said, its face melting back into its body, ¡°That was a bad choice on my part.¡±

    ¡°Where am I?¡± Elyza stated calmly, her free hand inspecting her wound, only to find it completely healed, her fingers touching her bare exposed skin.

    ¡°A series of underground tunnels near Rameys, some of which are newer than others.¡±

    It had no eyes to stare into, no muscles to tighten, no face to study, yet Elyza could tell it was telling her the truth. So, her question changed. ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡± She demanded, squeezing on the core harder.

    ¡°Be-because we need to feed,¡± The creature revealed, raising its hand, gripping her arm, in a soft attempt to dissuade her. ¡°And it¡¯s not like we¡¯re doing anything e-evil, these people get to live out their happiest me-memories in the pods,¡± it rambled, and she could hear desperation creeping in.

    ¡°What do you feed off? Their mana, blood? What do you gain from them?¡± She pushed further, her grip on the verge of splintering the wood

    ¡°Their ha-happiness,¡± The creature quickly replied, some of its mass turning ghostly white as it dripped onto the floor.

    Elyza¡¯s mind ran across the encyclopaedia she had ingrained into her mind, her grip relaxing as she tried to search for any creature that matched what was before her. The sheer fact it possessed a sense of rationality and morality basically eliminated any of the slimes she had read about, and a majority of monsters along with them. She scoured her mind only to return with nothing, so there was only one thing left to do.

    ¡°Has someone else escaped from these pods?¡±

    ¡°No, the fluid keeps them in a state of pure bliss, aiding in the recreation of their memories, along with activating their senses when appropriate. There must¡¯ve been something wrong with your pod, or you¡¯ve just had a really bad life.¡± The creature attempted what she could only comprehend as an awkward laugh, but a calm glare silenced it.

    ¡°Where is the man that I arrived with?¡± Elyza asked, her eyes easily carrying out the importance of knowing the answer.

    ¡°Uh, well¡­¡± The creature started, a slight squeeze on the core improving its memory, ¡°Y-your name is Penelope, right? I remember when you two came last night, your f-friend had an extraordinary deposit of mana within him. Nemo, I think? He should be nearby, on my side of the tunnel.¡±

    She was about to release her grip, but before she did, her hand reached into her pouch and pulled out a walnut. Pushing the seed into the confines of the slime¡¯s core, embedding it into the mechanisms, she wiped off her hand, letting go of the creature, before asking, ¡°What can I call you?¡±

    ¡°Uh,¡± the slime stammered, clearly surprised she had left it alive. It took a moment longer than it should have to remember its name, ¡°Otis.¡±

    ¡°Well, Otis,¡± She began, walking over the puddle of goop beneath him, her voice calm as she walked past the smiling people trapped in the pods, waiting for Alex¡¯s grin to pop out suddenly.

    ¡°You will tell me how to break my friend out of whatever your group has done to him, and if you try to betray me, or try to run away, that seed within you will bloom and shatter your core into pieces in a snap.¡± She snapped to demonstrate, stopping in front of whom she was looking for, Otis hurriedly gliding up behind her.

    Alex was floating weightlessly in a similar mechanism to the one she had been in mere minutes ago, except the base of his pod held around fifteen mana crystals. Five had been shoved haphazardly into holes that seemed to have been recently bored into the metal, and all the gems were larger than hers. Predictably, he still had a grin spread across his face, his teeth appearing cyan through the fluid, yet his hair drifted around his head as if on a mind of their own, still blacker than the darkest nights. His cloak waved like petals in the wind, the void cloth glimmering purple under the slime.

    ¡°Open it,¡± Elyza gestured towards the pod. The creature hesitated for a moment before an arm emerged from within its body, reaching for the pod, and sliding beneath the glass door without opening it.

    The purple slime melded with the blue fluid, causing it to shrink towards the back of the pod, becoming much more opaque as it started to solidify, the liquid retreating back to Alex¡¯s ears as the doors swung open.

    ¡°How do I wake him up?¡± She demanded. Otis hesitated once again, to which she snapped her fingers, giving them ample motivation to answer quickly.

    ¡°Y-you can¡¯t¡­¡± Otis whimpered out, quickly adding, ¡°I mean, you could, but not from here. The machine¡¯s quite complicated, you¡¯d have to do it from the central mechanism, and even if you did, it would still take an hour for him to return to normal consciousness and wake up.¡± Suddenly, their cowardly voice found a hint of defiance, ¡°And if you choose that path, I can not aid you any further, I can¡¯t risk it.¡±

    Elyza stared at her partner, as she silently considered the option, and a random thought in her mind that he would just awaken on his own and immediately make a horrible joke. ¡°Then why was I able to wake up on my own?¡± she questioned, deciding it would be disadvantageous to wait that long in unknown territory.

    ¡°Like I said, either there was something wrong with your pod, or the fluid within, or your happy memories were tied with so much turmoil that it was impossible to fully separate them, and hence you weren¡¯t able to achieve a higher state of consciousn-,¡± Otis was rambling, when they suddenly stopped.

    ¡°Spit it out, or I will tear through this place till I find someone useful.¡±

    ¡°If I were to seal you both into the pod, there is a chance it would allow your minds to communicate, and you may be able to enter his memories and do¡­ whatever you did when you broke yourselves out of the trance.¡±

    It could have been a trap, to knock her out and capture her again, but the creature hadn¡¯t tried to escape, and she had given them various opportunities to attack. He seemed too much of a pacifist, and frankly too naive to think of such a way of escape. ¡°Do it.¡±

    ¡°I must clarify, for this to succeed and not just have you two floating in there, or even melt your mind, there must be an immense connection between you two, to be able to lay bare his memories and experience it as he would. Or, you need to be able to connect your minds psychically.¡±

    Her mind contemplated whether to take the risk or not, what path to take, whether Alex trusted her as much as she did him, when she remembered. Her hand dived into her pouch full of knives, and pulled out a vial the size of her pinky, which held shimmering pink liquid within it. She reached into the pod, her hand tearing through the solidified slime as it made it towards the farther pouch of the two that hung around Alex¡¯s belt. It felt as if her hand was wriggling through solidified beef fat, or even a mix of fat and marrow, but she persevered.

    Opening up his pouch, she felt around within it for a vial that felt similar to hers, pulling out a perfect replica of the potion she held in her other hand. She pried open the tiny cork that trapped the potion within her vial, downing the contents in one chug, as her hand retreated from the slime. It tasted like extremely strong alcohol that someone had left rotten lemons to stew in it for decades, and a hint of mint as well.

    She was grateful that the consistency wasn¡¯t as revolting as it tasted, uncorking the slime covered vial next, pulling herself up into the pod. Grabbing Alex¡¯s cheek, she opened his mouth, pouring the potion into his mouth, making sure none of it dribbled out through his lips. Tilting his head back, she gestured back towards Otis to seal the door.

    The creature slowly pushed the glass back into its place, an appendage forming from its body, sliding in between the door as it reached for the solidified fluid within. It fused with the blue slime, causing the slime to relax, the fluid cold as ice as it started to expand. Elyza waited for the potion to take effect, as the fluid rose up from her ankle to her stomach, waiting for an indication that Alex had let her in. His head slumped onto her shoulder as the slime rose to her chin, showing no signs of stopping, starting to lift the two.

    As the tide grew higher, she took in a deep breath, her mind still plagued with doubt if the potion would even work. Her head was overtaken by the fluid, her heart pounding in her chest, trying to focus on her thoughts. It started as an echo, a faint whisper in the back of her mind, before a flood of thoughts that were too unlike hers invaded her head. They were a chaotic mix of random thoughts and musings, ranging from what the best wine to pair with dragon meat to how one might raise an undead army.

    The randomness and the depths Elyza was able to gain from just noticing the thoughts could only mean it was from the abyss that was her partner¡¯s mind. They were thoughts that even he rejected himself from expressing, be it from lack of understanding, being too personal, or being too morbid. Although, as she closed her eyes, relaxing herself, trying to create an equilibrium between her mind and Alex¡¯s, she could feel something alien in the mix. Someone was observing her, judging her, notions that could not belong to her partner, or at least she hoped they did. Letting go of her breath, unlike when she awoke, the slime didn¡¯t feel as confining, and, somehow, she was able to breathe fresh air through it. Her eyes closed as darkness enveloped her, and for a second she heard someone proclaim.

    Oh, I was hoping for a plaything, well, at least I may be able to use you, Elf.

    She could not place where she had heard that voice before, but the words echoed against her mind¡¯s walls as she fell into her own mind. Appearing once again in a void, endless cold shadows wherever she looked, sans the fishing wire wrapped around her neck, fortunately.

    It was different from last time, Elyza was floating without direction, nothing trying to drag her through the suffocating sea of darkness. Looking around, there were points, directions where the memories in her head grew louder, whoever they belonged to. She reached for a point right below her, and her body obeyed, as she glided downwards, nothing seemingly propelling her towards it.

    As she travelled farther, some thoughts lost their ferocity, newer ones taking their place, but they started to become much more feral, lacking rationale behind what they wanted to do, only seeming to be directed towards causing chaos. Elyza believed them to be her partner¡¯s base thoughts, those which were basically just instinct, continuing onwards, her mind deciding that it was the best direction to pursue.

    The thoughts became more violent, more vicious, flashes of the domain that Alex controlled infiltrating her mind. Yet, it seemed much more archaic and unshackled than when she had previously travelled through it. Great monsters of umbra waited patiently on the horizon, waiting to be called upon. The domain felt like it was reigned by a primordial force, raw and untamed, an unnerving sense that only grew as she continued onwards.

    Elyza could feel herself approaching something, the shadows growing more resistant to push her. Out of the void facing her came a tiny little ball of bright radiance, yet it gave out no glow, the shadows stifling any stray rays, trapping it with no escape. A voice in the back of her head told her that Alex was trapped within, a ray of hope within his tortured mind.

    She reached for the orb, free of the shadows pushing her, slowly floating through the darkness, as a hand formed from the light, pushing through its restraints, awaiting her help. Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted, the shadows around the orb thickening, wrapping themselves around the hand, suffocating the light. Lunging for the hand, Elyza was engulfed by shadows, yanking her backwards, away from the safety of the light, tentacles suffocating her.

    Unfortunate, not subtle enough.

    And then she was sitting on a bench, under the cover of a tree, rain pouring all around her, creating a pattering orchestra that soothed her mind. Scanning her surroundings, at least through the torrent coming down upon her, she tried to. The area looked like a quaint little village, most of the buildings only a storey tall, made of stone and wood, chimneys emitting clouds of thick smoke as the residents demanded warmth. The street she was sitting beside was entirely empty, except two people standing in the middle of it, in front of a surgeon¡¯s workplace.

    She recognised the man who¡¯s back faced her, his cloak ingrained into her mind, but the girl he was talking to was an enigma. Alex had never talked about anyone like her in his past, and he loved to talk about his past, but for the time being, Elyza sat patiently, deciding it would be better to explain the situation when he was on his own.

    Sitting on the bench, she tried to ignore the conversation, not sure if Alex would appreciate her dropping into his mind as well as eavesdropping on him. Yet, her curiosity seemed to expand her hearing. Her ears perked up as she tried to listen through the deafening sound of the downpour, watching them talk through the corner of her eye.

    Alex was talking softly, calmly, his shoulders relaxed as he stared into the woman¡¯s amber eyes, who seemed to gleam as she looked at him. She had blonde curls that fell to her shoulders, framing her tan reddish-brown face, silver piercings adorning both of her nostrils and her septum. The piercings were modelled after the markings of Trivia, a polecat between two twin torches. The girl was beautiful, at least in the rain, drops streaming down strands of her hair as she laughed in response to something Alex had said.

    Suddenly, the girl leant in for a kiss, to which Alex simply covered her mouth, saying something Elyza could swear was a bad joke. A pout appeared on the woman¡¯s face, her cheeks puffing up with fake annoyance. He whispered something into her ear, and the pout immediately turned into a smile, even though she seemed to be trying to restrain herself, turning on her heels to retreat back into the hospital.

    It was time to talk. Elyza stood up from the bench, still deciding on how to approach the conversation. Surprisingly, having to convince someone that their reality wasn¡¯t actually real is something she had done before¡ªtwice, as she recalled. But the fact that it was Alex complicated things quite a bit. She needed to convince him without initiating a fight, even though that would be easier to punch him out of his mind.

    ¡°Alex,¡± She spoke over the roar of the rain, her partner still staring at the door of the building, his muscles tensing in response to her voice. ¡°I know they may seem hard to believe, but I need you to listen to my words,¡± She commanded, standing with her arms outstretched, showing that her hands were empty.

    Turning his head, he stared at her out of the corner of his eye, giving her the opportunity to continue. ¡°I am someone you will come to meet in the future, someone you can trust, someone who is here to help you. This world is a figment, a mirage, created by a pod that you are currently floating within on the outside. Be it from magic or machine trickery, it''s using your memories to create and replicate scenarios that make you happy, to feed creatures that gain sustenance through happiness¡­¡±

    If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

    Her words faltered as she realised how utterly insane the things she had been through sounded, yet she kept a straight face as she continued, ¡°I need you to think about whatever you have seen till now, Alex. Does everything not feel off, too perfect? Just follow my lead, and I promise everything will make sense in a moment. Or, if this was not enough to pique your interest, then I have other ways to drag you out of your mind.¡±

    Alex remained silent. He was thinking. His hand started to creep towards his waist, Elyza materialised her halberd in response, her senses primed for a fight. He swung around, his hand gripping something hidden by his cloak, she readied herself by wrenching control of the wind.

    ¡°The fuck were you about to do to me, Ears?¡± Alex remarked, grinning, pulling out a cup from his cloak, a snap from his free hand immediately stopping the rain¡¯s assault.

    Elyza froze, her mind trying to decide whether to believe her eyes, a single phrase encapsulating her thoughts, ¡°Why are you like this?¡±

    ¡°My parents loved me a lot which gave me an immense amount of self-confidence,¡± Alex replied, taking a sip from the cup, adding, ¡°Would you like some tea?¡±

    Realising the bigger question was clearly in front of her, she waved aside the offer, asking, ¡°When did you realise you were trapped in your mind, and more importantly, how did you make the rain stop?¡±

    ¡°Pretty quick, around a minute after I wake up? As soon as I realised whatever I ate didn¡¯t have the same punch as it did in real life, and then I wondered why I actually tasted them, thought I was just dreaming till then,¡± He replied, flicking the cup out of reality, replacing it with a glass of water.

    ¡°And the reason why I can do all of this, it is¡­ complicated, and that word is nowhere near capturing the actual situation.¡± There was visible deliberation on his face as he decided how to explain himself, walking towards her as he began to answer, ¡°Long story short, shocking coming from me, I need to have an immense amount, nearly perfect, awareness of what happens in my mind, so I don¡¯t¡­ do anything that I didn¡¯t think up. Training myself to gain that much control of my thoughts, had the neat side effect of me being able to control what happens in my dreams. Since everything around me are just creations from my memories, and they all are aimed to make me happy, they''re just enhanced dreams, aren¡¯t they? So I can create some fake memories to get whatever I want.¡±

    ¡°What do you mean by ¡®do anything you did not think up¡¯?¡± she asked, returning her halberd around her finger, taking the glass of water from him.

    He was about to say something when he froze, thought for a moment, and then simply stated, ¡°I''ve been cursed since birth.¡±

    ¡°What?!¡±

    ¡°Let¡¯s continue this after we¡¯re out of my mind.¡± Alex quickly mumbled out, immediately switching the topic, ¡°How much time did you spend in your memories, anyway?¡±

    Elyza sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose, deciding to ignore his sudden revelation for the time being, ¡°Around an hour, I broke out as soon as I realised what was going on, came right for you.¡±

    His brows rose as he remarked, ¡°Oh, I think around fifteen days have passed in my mind though, I may have just ¡®woken up¡¯ earlier. What¡¯s the situation out there? Some monsters that feed off of our thoughts?¡±

    ¡°We have wasted around a half to a full day since we got knocked out in the restaurant. And for who we were captured by? I believe they are slime creatures who feed from people¡¯s happiness, although I am doubtful about how honest the one I met is, since they seem to be collecting mana from the people they¡¯ve captured as well. A cu¡­¡±

    Alex waved his hands in front of his face, trying to get her to slow down, repeating, ¡°Slimes that feed off happiness¡­ Did the slime you meet have a core that floated around where the head should¡¯ve been?¡±

    ¡°Have you encountered them before?¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a yes¡­¡± He sighed, mumbling under his breath, holding his face in his hands, ¡°They shouldn¡¯t be on this continent, really need to check up on my contacts after this.¡±

    He shook his hair, flipping it backwards as he began, ¡°They were called Freudeschmarotzers when I came across them in the past, though I think they prefer the term Eudaimorphs these days. They¡¯re not monsters, they are shapeshifting slimes, even though the core is their actual¡­ holder of their soul? Anyways, delightful beings, many of them are actually pacifists, which make the fact that they are kidnapping people much more troublesome. So, we need to leave. Preferably, immediately.¡±

    ¡°Last question¡­¡± Elyza began, before immediately being cut off by Alex

    ¡°She was an old flame, long gone by now, by that I mean she¡¯s dead, quite heartbroken about it, but it has been four years now, and I¡¯ve made my peace with it.¡± He answered what he presumed she was about to ask, hitting it right on the head, but still he continued, wanting to cover whatever questions she had. His smile turned fake, as his eyes stared through her, continuing, ¡°I spent most of my time here pursuing the good old days, when I could act as a dumbass with no repercussions, and I thought no one would be able to follow my trail.¡±

    There was a trace of sombreness in his voice, she could tell that there was more behind what he had revealed, but there was no need for her to pry further, he would tell her eventually. So, she simply stated, ¡°Time to leave then.¡±

    ¡°Lead the way, you¡¯re clearly the expert in escaping a reality created within your own mind,¡± Alex remarked, grinning, his demeanour flipping immediately.

    ¡°We have to slap each other.¡±

    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡±

    ¡°We need to do it in a way so we hit each other simultaneously. I believe that the shock our body feels startles our mind enough for it to freeze this reality and give us a chance to escape.¡± Elyza explained.

    A blank stare morphed into acceptance after a moment of thought, Alex shifting his feet so that he was the right distance for their arms to reach one another, muttering, ¡°Alright, whatever you say boss.¡±

    ¡°Ready?¡± She asked, bringing back her left hand to the side of her head, opting to use the back of her palm, lying to herself that she wouldn¡¯t enjoy it. He, in turn, brought back his right hand, shaking his arm to loosen up his muscles.

    ¡°You want to do some practice swings first?¡± he joked, his arm going stiff, prepared to strike.

    ¡°Three¡­¡± Elyza began the count, continuing it in her mind, knowing that her partner was following along as she stared into his onyx eyes. She focused on her reflection within his pupils, aiming to plough her palm straight through whoever stood in front of her.

    The count hit one, and both of their palms flung forwards. Her cheek burned for a second, the echo of his hand slamming into her head reverberating within her skull, when, once again, the pain ceased immediately.

    Her eyes shot open to allow her to look down upon herself and Alex, checking quickly to see if her palm had connected as well. She glanced around, trying to spot him floating alongside her, but he was nowhere to be found, the bright blue sky hurting her eyes.

    She felt the familiar pressure of a wire around her neck, and as she tugged on it, it went slack before it all happened once again. The wire dragged her through the sky, towards the endless darkness that was held at bay by the blue sky, whipping as it yanked her through the barrier. The void appeared darker than before, and it still felt like she was being pulled through the depths of an ocean, a chill running down through her body, which was much more prepared to deal with the pressure of the surrounding shadows.

    Wanting to stay conscious, wanting to know how she escaped, forcing her head to stay upright as the darkness pummelled against her skin, shooting towards something, the string of nothingness seemingly speeding up in response to her resolve. She grabbed the string to stabilise herself, the wire cutting into her skin, wriggling dangerously before it completely snapped. Yet, she continued flying through the darkness, spinning around uncontrollably, swinging her arms wildly in an attempt to stabilise herself.

    And then suddenly her feet hit what felt like solid ground. Instead of feeling relieved, dread filled her mind, as she stood on a plane made of pure light, glowing dust rising from beneath her feet, the sky, or whatever she was looking at, barely dimmer than the radiant ground she stood on, neither Alex nor the pod in sight. But something in front of her was breaking the endless white of the horizon.

    Chains made of pure brightness seemed to emerge from the plane of light, creating a vortex around a woman. But the chains disintegrated before they could touch the figure, an orb of shattered pieces of light forming as a result, calmly revolving around her. Yet, she sat expectantly, her white flowing dress covering her legs.

    A crown of gold with blue gems nestled upon her pitch black hair, which cascaded downwards like a waterfall. They fell till the start of her corset, which was dyed a pastel cream, breaking up the monotony of the brilliant white silk that made the majority of her dress. Down the centre, frills ran down from the collar of the garment to the end of the frock, only parting at the breast. Purple rims flanked the strips of cloth, with tiny little onyx roses sewed to hide the connections between the different pieces of the outfit. Black roses were embroidered into the frock, but the petals held thorns, while its stem was perfectly smooth. Her entire demeanour, as she sat with her hands upon one another, resting them on her lap, screamed royalty.

    Elyza blinked to check if she was hallucinating, when she was suddenly within striking distance of the How figure. Her halberd jumped to her hand as the woman turned her attention towards Elyza, her crimson red eyes piercing straight through the chunks of light orbiting her, peering at her guest.

    ¡°Hello, child,¡± the pale woman began, her rose-red lips parted to give way to a voice sweeter than honey, slightly smiling as she spoke. She looked similar to Alex, her nose and the bottom part of her pointed ears especially, but her eyes were a perfect match for him, except for the colour.

    ¡°Be not afraid,¡± the pale woman continued, motioning her to take a seat. ¡°I wondered how my progeny is doing, we don¡¯t get a chance to talk these days, and I can¡¯t even remember the last time I had a guest to entertain.¡±

    Elyza paid no heed to her words, gripping her halberd as she asked, ¡°Who are you, and where have you brought me?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve not brought you anywhere you haven¡¯t been Elyza,¡± She spoke her name as if they were old friends, covering her mouth to hide a yawn before she continued, ¡°And call me Elina, I find that title preferable to you referring to me as the ¡®pale woman¡¯.¡±

    Her voice crept into her mind, lingering in her own thoughts, yet she strangely didn¡¯t feel unnerved. She knew she should have, the woman knew her name, and even what went on in her head, but instead she asked, ¡°You have still not answered my questions, Lady Elina; Who are you to Alex, and why have you brought me here?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m his friend since birth, the one who has been with him through his triumphs, and especially his pains.¡± Elina seemed to take pride in that fact, a blood-red smile slithering across her powdered face, before it fell, her tone growing serious as she added, ¡°And for why I¡¯ve decided to meet you, is because Alex is in grave, grave, danger.¡±

    Upon hearing the words, Elyza¡¯s mind allowed her to lend the pale woman her entire attention. She swung her halberd at Elina¡¯s neck, stopping close enough for its edge to rest upon her skin. ¡°Tell me what you know.¡±

    ¡°There, there¡­¡± the pale woman remarked, not even flinching, calmly continuing, ¡°We both want the best for our mutual friend, so how about you sit down, and I can tell you what I know.¡±

    Her terms seemed agreeable, the words echoing in Elyza¡¯s head, the blade of her halberd wavering as she shifted it. The words wormed their way into her brain, working to drop her guard, but they weren¡¯t able to stop her from noticing that the chain fragments were now behind her.

    A quick glance gave away her realisation, the pale woman lunging at her, trying to use the halberd¡¯s shaft to yank her closer. She was fast, but Elyza recalled her weapon back around her finger, dashing backwards just in time to avoid the orbiting pieces of light that hurtled towards her attacker.

    From beneath the veneer she seemed to be presenting, shadows overtook her silken gown, shooting up her hand to create claws that dug into Elyza¡¯s stomach, only for her to be halted mid-air as the chains around the two awakened. They wrapped themselves around Elina, shackling her in place, the shadows that had overtaken her fighting ferociously against their hold, infecting them with inky darkness. Those chains melted into a radiant skin over the shadows, only for more brilliant bonds to replace them.

    Slowly, the floor turned darker, the ivory sky turning with it, as a cell formed around Elina, who simply smiled as she was imprisoned once again, her radiant skin melting down her body, melding into her prison to fortify it further.

    Elyza gazed at the true nature of the pale woman. Her flowery dress was replaced with a unitard made of pure umbra, her bare legs hidden only by her thigh high boots, tendrils of shadows coming off of the cloth, falling into a cloak that fluttered in the absent wind. Tattoos of red adorned her pale purple skin, constantly shifting just like her stark white ethereal hair. Her curls floated around her crown of horns, which were coloured onyx. The white smile on her face was ignored by Elyza, who stared into the woman¡¯s deep dark red eyes. Her face now looked nothing like it did before, yet her sharp edges made her look even more stunning, almost like it was crafted by the gods.

    Her claw shrunk back into her skin, absorbed into the tattoo of a gem in the jaws of a cracked skull, etched into her palm. ¡°Ah,¡± her honeyed voice was gone, replaced with a silky growl as she continued, ¡°That¡¯s a shame. Almost had you in the palm of my hands. Annoyingly, you¡¯re exactly how he thinks you are.¡±

    ¡°Last chance, tell me who you are.¡± Elyza spoke, checking the place where the claws had stabbed her, only to find no damage to her armour, but she knew they had pierced her skin.

    ¡°Aw, has he not told you yet, love?¡± Elina¡¯s words annoyed her to no end, yet she continued to listen, ¡°It¡¯s a pretty big deal to have the Empress of Shadows, a demon feared by the gods, at least those who know better, be in a lifelong battle against him in order to take over his pathetic mortal body. I wonder what else he has¡­ forgotten to tell his dear, dear, friend.¡±

    She wanted to believe the pale woman was lying, a last ditch futile attempt to escape from wherever she was trapped, but nothing about her said that her words were spoken to deceive, and there was nothing about them that could benefit her further.

    But before Elyza could press further, Elina let out a moan of disappointment, ¡°Seems that our time is up, Erom¨¦ni, that little spat was the most I could muster in this condition, and I¡¯m afraid I have no interest in you. Ta-ta.¡± She gave an indifferent wave, as the floor beneath Elyza shattered, and she plummeted once again into the cold, suffocating darkness.

    She hoped a moment of silence would allow her to ponder, only to wake up in the pod immediately, squashing her panic before it had a chance to rise. Tapping on the glass caught Otis¡¯ attention, which seemed to be solely focused on Alex, who gave a kind wave as he held his breath. The slime created an arm that slid beneath the door of the pod, wisely avoiding touching either as the purple matter melded with the blue slime.

    As the fluid started to solidify, shrinking away from the glass, Alex was the first to react, his hand reaching forward to open the door of the pod. As it did, his other grasped the clasp attached above them, causing the glass to pop forwards. Jumping outwards, he held out his hand for Elyza who hesitantly took it, stepping down from her mould, and, fortunately, on ground that she knew was real.

    Alex began to say something, before he stopped, swallowed whatever was in his mouth, and gagged as it made its way down his body. He stopped, blinking for a moment, shuddering as he straightened himself. Shaking his head to forget the taste, he began, ¡°What did yo-¡± before he swallowed his saliva, grinning as he continued, ¡°The fuck did you put in my mouth Ears?¡±

    She tried to ignore the doubts and questions that she wanted to be answered, wanting to confront him, needing to know whether the pale woman had spoken the truth, hoping her friend was waiting for the right time to tell her himself.

    ¡°The potion that the dwarf gav-¡± her answer was cut off by the voice of the Empress ringing in her head.

    Shame, I love it when you barf your guts out.

    As soon as the words came, Elyza froze, if only for a second, but even that was too long. Alex stared at her, his gaze cutting into her, completely emotionless, judging what to do with her now. She had seen it so many times, but she never thought it would be directed towards her.

    ¡°You heard her,¡± He remarked, his voice completely devoid of feeling, and she could only nod.

    Oh, this is better than I could have ever hoped. Hello, Erom¨¦ni, we meet sooner than I expected.

    The voice echoed in her head, and she could see it echoing in his, but they both ignored her as Alex asked another question, disappointment dripping in his voice as it said, ¡°Was the reason you woke up later than me, because she was talking with you?¡±

    You know me sooo well, yet still you fall for my tricks.

    Elyza tried to squash the betrayal, the thoughts of dismay she could feel in him, hoping her voice could drown the demon¡¯s, ¡°Ale-¡±

    Shut it, you decrepit old whore, I¡¯ll deal with you later.

    Her partner¡¯s thoughts invaded her mind, and all of her understanding ceased to exist as she remarked, ¡°Excuse me?¡±

    ¡°WAIT,¡± Alex spoke as he matched her gaze, holding his hands up as he quickly added, a look of terror washing over his face, ¡°That wasn¡¯t directed at you.¡±

    The fear shifted into amusement, as he continued, grinning, ¡°I apologise, never expected you to be able to hear the conversations I have with the freeloader living in my head. To be fair, I never expected her to have enough brain cells that she could think of a way to loosen her prison instead of annoying me incessantly.¡±

    Elyza calmed down, even cracked a smile as she geared up to ask the most important question in her mind, ¡°Were you planning to tell me about the demon living in your head?¡±

    ¡°Please,¡± He countered, grinning, ¡°Obviously, who do you take me for, a priest? Was hoping to have the conversation on my own terms before Ms. Succubus decided to ruin my plans.¡±

    I WILL NOT BE DEGRADED TO THE RANK-

    Shut up.

    The duo¡¯s thoughts resonated together, Alex adding quickly, ¡°But, in my experience, that conversation tends to be better when we aren¡¯t trapped in an unknown dungeon by creatures who, again according to my experiences, are more peaceful than Lady Hestia herself.¡±

    Elyza agreed, and he took it as an opportunity to finally address the Eudaimorph in the room, ¡°So¡­¡± He began, spinning on his heels as he spoke to Otis, using her thoughts to learn the slime¡¯s name, ¡°Otis, was it? Paint me a picture of why y¡¯all decided kidnapping was the best way forward for this tribe.¡±

 Chapter 20: Release

    I remember these creatures, they''re so annoyingly pacifist, but thinking of the delightful cries I may be able to elicit out of them puts a smile on my face.

    The demon¡¯s voice rang out again in her head just as Elyza turned another corner, jarring her thoughts away from what Otis was saying. The tunnel they were traversing seemed to have no end, and each crossroad they came across appeared to loop them back to where they just came from. The only relief her mind received that they were not travelling in circles, an ambush waiting around every turn, was that none of the pods held anyone she had seen before.

    Does that man not look familiar, I think we¡¯ve been here before.

    The people trapped in the pods, and of course, the comments of the pale woman gave her peace of mind. Elyza had quickly learned that while she could communicate with the Empress, Elina was unable to perceive through her, and whatever she said could be safely ignored unless proven otherwise.

    As Otis guided them towards where the control centre was, she looked besides her, towards her partner, who had remained unnervingly quiet ever since he had suggested walking as the eudaimorph explained what had led his tribe to such desperate measures. His eyes were unfocused, staring only at the rocks he was about to step on, his mouth seeming odd without a grin playing on his lips, his cheeks shifting on their own as he continued to be in deep, and silent thought.

    It took her a while to ready herself when she realised her thoughts would be laid bare to him, and his to her, but it seemed to be all for naught. Because ever since that first slip up, his mind had been completely quiet, completely the opposite of the screaming vortex she had been in the middle of moments before.

    Pay attention, Ears.

    His voice broke into Elyza¡¯s mind, not knowing if the instruction was from the one walking next to her, or the tiny little version of him in the back of her mind.

    ¡°... and that¡¯s how we got access to these pods, courtesy of our new acquaintances.¡± The slime¡¯s voice wormed into her mind, and her head jolted towards him.

    She stared blankly at him, sighing before she admitted, ¡°I apologise but would you repeat your explanation for me? I forgot to pay attention due to a flurry of questions currently trapped in my head.¡±

    ¡°How disappointing, Ears,¡± Her partner suddenly spoke up, a grin adorning what used to be his sullen face, as he cracked his neck, turning towards their guide as he asked, ¡°Otis, may I?¡±

    The slime formed a thumb and pointed it upwards, and Alex began his explanation, ¡°A small group of Eudaimorphs separated from the main tribe that primarily reside in the continent to the west, where they originated from, for no other reason but to explore what the world had to offer, which I find respectable.¡±

    And yet you¡¯ve never returned to your home.

    Completely ignoring the pale woman¡¯s comments, he continued, ¡°This happened sometime around two years or so ago, and they travelled this country, and those that flanked it, disguising themselves as a travelling circus. They brought joy wherever they went, recruiting people who wanted more time to entertain others to bring more along their pilgrimage, until one day one of them disappeared.¡± he let the words hang in the air, waving his fingers to add as he let out an ¡®ooo¡¯ under his breath.

    You are a child.

    ¡°It was not unheard of,¡± he quickly added, ¡°One may get tired of the life they joined, to try and forge their own path, or step away and enjoy the time they have left. That is what most of the tribe thought, before they found her core drained of her soul, a sign of starvation.¡±

    ¡°They soon discovered that the happiness that once completely sustained them, no longer did so as it should, at least not to the extent it should have. Panic overtook the tribe, as they tried to gain more happiness every day, yet each passing week took more to even keep them alive, let alone thrive.¡± He sighed, before continuing.

    ¡°Nothing seemed to work, until one who had left soon after joining, one who was unimpressed with the restraint the tribe showed, returned, guiding them how to store away the happiness they didn¡¯t need for themselves, teaching them how to elicit the greatest joy in life. Through food. And when that wasn¡¯t enough, he helped them connect with some people that made these pods, for the low, low, price of a constant supply of mana, which they even gave them the crystals for.¡± And immediately, his mood changed, his grin turning from amusement to knowing, worry spreading over Elyza as his eyes turned back to the slime. She could sense anger within him.

    Alex. She echoed into his mind, trying to restrain those thoughts with her own.

    Relax.

    ¡°A heart-warming story, hinging on a coincidence with a truly considerate stranger, a messiah to be remembered in legend,¡± Her friend began, and she realised whom the anger was directed towards. ¡°If I didn¡¯t know any better, I could mirror it to a god descending to this plane to save their worshippers¡­¡±

    The words hung as Otis suddenly slowed down, allowing Alex to overtake him as he continued walking, seemingly much more interested in the words her partner was supposed to be parroting.

    ¡°Unfortunately,¡± he remarked, twirling on his heels as his steps became backwards but still continued onwards. ¡°I know a lot of gods. I¡¯ve worked for them, worked with them, fought them, killed them, even laid with some,¡± he continued, glancing towards his partner with a promise to tell her the details.

    ¡°And I have met nary a deity that helps mortals from the goodness of their hearts, many don¡¯t even have one. But, I¡¯ve met more than I would like who¡¯ve faked their generosity, or at least tried to, preying on those looking for an answer to their troubles.¡± Elyza could feel his anger rising, but it suddenly vanished, as he spoke further, ¡°I say little to those¡­ sorts, and I suspect whom you¡¯re speaking of, the saviour of your tribe, to be one of them.¡±¡¯

    The layers of Otis¡¯ core stopped moving for a second, which she interpreted as him rewinding her partner¡¯s words. ¡°We¡¯re close to the control panel, I hope?¡± Alex asked the slime, his grin switching once again to one of calmness.

    ¡°Yes,¡± He answered simply.

    ¡°Then I¡¯m guessing there¡¯s a prison nearby as well, let¡¯s have a look at who¡¯s willing to aid us,¡± he instructed, glaring at Otis as he fell behind him once again, trusting that the eudaimorph would follow his demands.

    I¡¯ve been here for sixteen years, yet I¡¯m still horrified with your effectiveness.

    The Empress admitted, as the next turn they took defied the direction they had been travelling for minutes, without a word from their guide. Elyza, for the first time, agreed with the Empress as Alex opened his mind for them to talk.

    Sorry about the silence, needed to think on my own for a while. He spoke in her mind.

    How long do you think we will be able to communicate like this?

    Blowing a raspberry, he thought about it for a moment, before replying out loud, ¡°Probably not permanent, hopefully at least. I¡¯m guessing an hour to half a day for the effects to persist.¡±

    Elyza nodded, able to hold her curiosity at bay for a few more metres of walking before the intrusive thoughts flooded her mind and into his.

    I apologise for my brashness, but which gods have you slept with and how frequently?

    ¡°Calm yourself, Ears,¡± Alex remarked, his grin wider than ever, ¡°I would be able to sense your excitement even without you speaking directly into my brain, and avoid going in there for this conversation, unless you want to be an unwilling recipient of some¡­ vivid memories.¡±

    ¡°Go on,¡± she remarked, not telling him that she was still lingering in his mind.

    ¡°I¡¯ve not slept with any gods. Well¡­ technically?¡±

    ¡°Explain yourself.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ve not slept with any gods, but I¡¯m surprisingly popular with a lot of goddesses, and here¡¯s where the technicality appears, I¡¯m also really good friends, and have had a one-night stand, with Loki, who was originally a god, but she¡¯s primarily a goddess nowadays, so I¡¯m going to consider her one. Notable deities that have decided to bed me are Loki, Kali, Alakshmi, Melopemene, Thalia, surprisingly Erato, since I¡¯m horrible at singing, Nyx, Nemesis and Philotes, Amaterasu, Imentet, Maat, Qetesh, and more who I will not name because they have asked me to. So, if I think about it, I¡¯ve slept with around fifty or so goddesses.¡±

    Slut.

    ¡°That I am,¡± He admitted, continuing on without his grin dropping a hair, ¡°even more so since that isn¡¯t including mortals I¡¯ve slept with, and that includes only six years of my life.¡±

    Elyza was about to comment on the newly learned life of her partner, when he suddenly started again, ¡°Surprisingly, Aphrodite and I, while having met multiple times and talked just as much, have never tried to fuck each other.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± she immediately interjected, not believing what she had just heard, ¡°The Goddess of Sexual Love has not once tried to sleep with you, and you have never been interested in laying the Goddess of Beauty?¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ It may be that she knows we won¡¯t be compatible, or she won¡¯t enjoy it as much. Or, the news of another goddess forcing herself on me, and promptly being hunted down and obliterated from the face of this earth, did what it was meant to do,¡± he hypothesised, his smile growing wider.

    Welcome for that, again.

    ¡°That¡­ is a lot to think about,¡± Elyza admitted, her thoughts filled with so many more questions than she started with, but her imagination was able to answer many of them, her mind given enough information about Alex¡¯s type.

    ¡°How about you, Elyza? Any notable lays in your past?¡±

    ¡°Not to the extent of yours, no. Only ten in my past.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry, with enough grit and determination, you¡¯ll get to my level sooner rather than later. Not all of us are blessed with ass-ets such as mine.¡±

    Elyza couldn¡¯t help herself but let out a laugh straight from her stomach, quickly putting a hand over her mouth, lest the bellow be heard by someone other than him.

    They walked in silence for a while, or at least in relative quiet, Alex peeking into her mind to ask if she needed any water, or fruit, or if they should take a break. She replied in kind, with questions about the demon, and some conformation to her hypotheses of his past. But soon, the floor made of brushed slabs of stone turned into loose dirt, and finally into solid, stable, cobblestone bricks. The tiny, dim round crystals that were pebbled in the walls moments before, gave way to lanterns that housed fire of blazing red, hanging above their heads. The lanterns swayed slightly, the illuminance they provided flickering under the slight, soft breeze that had started to assert itself.

    Elyza could feel the air bouncing off of the tiny irregularities in the brickwork, knowing that its growing strength was signalling the approaching surface. But as it waned, a thought to her ring brought forward her halberd as they turned their backs to the breeze. Otis¡¯ pace quickened as they delved deeper into the structure, his body gliding over the floor silently, yet leaving a trail of slime behind in his wake.

    It forced the duo to do the same, Alex flipping up his hood, and Elyza donning her mask, ducking as they followed the slime. Easily able to match their guide¡¯s tempo, their steps were even more hushed than before, their shoes muffling the sound of the ground they stepped upon, allowing them to blend into the darkness, a way to see others before they could them. But they came across none, never once had the eudaimorph slowed down upon hearing echoes in the tunnels.

    She could only assume the rest of his tribe were preoccupied elsewhere, or readying themselves for the intruders. Either way, her grip on her halberd grew tighter, as the breeze finally died out, and they finally stood at the entrance of a tunnel leading below.

    ¡°The prison¡¯s down there,¡± Otis declared, forming a hand to point down into the darkness, his orb slowly starting to move again, yet his body appeared unusually rigid for fluid, as if it had been frozen.

    ¡°You have to be elsewhere?¡± Elyza asked, knowing the answer but wanting his reason.

    ¡°I have to confirm something for myself, the person you find downstairs will be more than knowledgeable enough to guide you to the control panel,¡± He proclaimed, his core whizzing with mana as it shot back to where they had come from, dragging the purple fluid through the air behind it, leaving the duo on their own.

    I sense a betrayal.

    Alex looked at where their guide had scampered off to, his eyes narrowing as if he was following the slime through the pitch black shadows, remarking, ¡°Didn¡¯t try to stop him, I see.¡±

    ¡°Unless I am mistaken, you have eyes all the same as I do, even better, as you have repeatedly tried to prove in the past,¡± she replied, a smile playing on her lips as she stared down into the stairway into a prison, doubt floating in her mind as it would be theirs.

    ¡°Then we agree,¡± he stated, cracking his fingers by stretching them in front of his face, which caused each one of them to catch on fire as the joints popped, echoing off the stone bricks. ¡°I don¡¯t fancy going quietly into the night today, how about you?¡±

    Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

    ¡°Neither do I, but we still have to tread carefully,¡± She reminded him, stepping aside so he could take the lead down the stairs, her halberd shrinking back around her finger.

    ¡°How kind of you, if only my last partner was this chivalrous¡­¡± Alex remarked, his flaming hands extinguishing, a buzz of electricity replacing them, as the soft purple glow of the lightning that jumped across his skin lighted their way forwards in the fire¡¯s place.

    There was a slight crackle in the air as he took the first step down the stairs, his other hand trailing the wall beside him, as he started slowly, feeling out the rhythm of the staircase with his feet, only the stairs immediately below her partner illuminated by the light of his magic. Elyza followed closely behind, keeping a hand on her partner¡¯s shoulder, the other on the wall opposite to his, tracing out the steps for herself, waiting till his signal.

    Soon, ten or fifteen steps down the stairways, they met a wall stopping their way forward. As he turned right twice, he staggered forwards as his boot fell to the first step of another set of stairs, his partner yanking him backwards to make sure he didn¡¯t tumble. Lightning filled the hand in front of his face, jumping onwards as soon as he pointed it the way down. The purple stream of pure burning radiance that shot out flooded the corridor with light. It was only for a split second, but it was enough.

    Their hands returned back to their sides, and all semblance of caution in the darkness fell away, her partner the first to dash down the stairs, Elyza following close behind. She leapt two steps for every one of his, yet she was barely able to keep up with him. A snap of fingers, or slap onto the walls signalled to her if she needed to be careful with her steps, but yet they barely slowed.

    Two, four, six, the sets of stairs never seemed to stop, the darkness never once giving them leverage, but she never needed any. Finally, there was light at the end of the tunnel, the soft red glow of fire, about thirty metres down from where they had started. As soon as he saw it, her partner slowed to a stop, his elbows grinding in the flanking walls as his hands scampered to stop him from jumping into the light. She was able to slow herself just as she turned the corner, her halberd materialising in her hand as they started to creep down the final steps, barely able to fit into the corridor.

    Alex stepped into the light, his steel parrying dagger primed to surprise any guards that may be lingering ahead. As Elyza tried to do the same, her heel hit the edge of the penultimate step, and for a second it felt she was falling through the sky till her sole settled on the floor. She calmed herself down, looking up to see Alex, failing to hide a smile that had settled on his face.

    ¡°You alright?¡± He asked, sheathing his dagger into the shadow of his cloak, signalling to her to do the same. A quick nod answered him, her halberd returning beneath her gauntlets.

    Scanning the room, she could make out ten distinct cells, with a torch providing light in between every other compartment, barely able to reach the depths of the dungeons. Most seemed empty, with four lining the wall that faced the stairway, six cells to the duo¡¯s left side, and an empty space between them. Only a desk and chair decorated the room they had just entered, no guards present in their sight.

    Alex knelt down, prying a loose broken up brick up from beneath his feet, handing it to her, with a simple instruction, ¡°Let¡¯s see who all are awake, shall we?¡±

    Elyza sighed as she held the rock in her hand, deciding which cell doors to strike to make the most noise. Her shoulders dropped before she brought the brick back and hurled it towards the iron bars. The projectile shattered into a thousands pieces as soon as it struck the metal, the plume of dust that followed felt insignificant to the noise that it produced.

    The entire chamber seemed to ring out in response to the strike, a sharp, piercing echo that hung around for far longer than it needed too. Hands appeared from the darkness, well, most appeared to be hands, as they grabbed the iron bars of seven of the ten cells, trying to stop the sound and failing in their efforts.

    Alex brought his hands together, holding them ten centimetres apart, waiting for a second, charging, before letting lightning jump between them. The cloud of white purple sizzled as it leapt through the air, its crackling muffled by the distance it had to travel, but enough to pull everyone¡¯s attention onto him.

    ¡°Hel~loo, everyone, today may be your lucky day.¡± he began, his hands catching on fire so that the prisoners could see his face, at least the part that didn¡¯t fall under the shadow of his hood.

    Murmuring began to rise among his audience, which led to him having to speak louder, ¡°I¡¯m Nemo, recent escapee from one of those pods up there, and I¡¯m here to¡­ well, I¡¯ll be direct, I¡¯m here to break you out of prison, and I need only one thing from you, tell me what happened and who¡¯s responsible for the tribe¡¯s new outlook on kidnapping. Do this, and you¡¯ll be free to leave, or if you want, join us as we utterly dismant¨C¡±

    ¡°Whitlock?¡± A high-pitched voice spouted his family name from within a cell, and Alex just froze for a second, breaking his momentum. She knew that whatever the voice said next was going to be important, if not a bit embarrassing for her partner, so she reached the jail before he could.

    ¡°You know him?¡± Elyza asked, sure that there was a glimmer in her eyes, excited that there was more that she could unearth about her partner.

    But before the creature could step out of the shadows and address her, walls of shadows burst out beneath the other cell doors, covering them so they couldn¡¯t eavesdrop on them. ¡°God fucking damn it, this day is not going to be good for the mystique I¡¯ve cultivated around me,¡± Alex remarked, putting a hand to his head, grinning as he added, ¡°Elyza, Ears, I¡¯m going to need some of your life stories and secrets after this, because this is just unfair.¡±

    I know one more thing she may be interested to know.

    ¡°It is you!¡± The voice screamed again, sounding excited. An arm made of blue slime slipping in between the iron bars, forming a Neko¡¯s hand as it pawed his face, smushing his nose and cheek, feeling around for a while before exclaiming, ¡°Still butt ugly, I see, but at least your nose isn¡¯t broken this time.¡±

    Elyza could not help but let out a singular laugh, barely able to hide her snickering even after covering her mouth, but Alex didn¡¯t seem to take offence. In a fluid moment, his dagger appeared in his hand and he brought it upwards, cleanly slicing through the slimy appendage, causing it to fall.

    But before it could hit the ground, greying as it fell through the air, Alex kicked it back into the cell, remarking as it flew between the bars, ¡°I thought you were living as a priestess way up north these days, in the desert, so why are you trapped in a dark, humid, dungeon, again, Pili?¡±

    As he said the words, he pulled out a small hexagonal crystal from his pouch, tossing it into the darkness. It entered something with a pop, lighting up the insides of a mass of faded blue slime, converting it into a lantern within the cell. The light crystal floated alongside the bronze core of the eudaimorph, which looked much more arcane than Otis¡¯, some parts of it turning bluer, some appearing green, but Elyza could not appreciate its craft for long.

    The core started to spin, the fluid revolving like a reverse whirlpool, lifting the bronze mechanisms up into the air. The slime appeared to multiply, hiding the glowing sphere beneath it, waves of blue overtaking its surface, which were hidden by more, slowly starting to morph in a more humanoid body. Glowing even fainter now, through the layers of blue, its hue starting to shift, the core rose above Elyza¡¯s head, as a face started to emerge from the fluid.

    First emerged a snout, similar to one of a leopard, the nose snooping back towards a pair of piercing orange feline eyes, white whiskers emerging before the mix of grey and brown fur grew and shrank to give way to patchy human skin. Ears shot out from the sides of their head, small, round, and fluffy, puffs of fur adorning the rim of the lobes, and a massive plume of curly hair popping up from the top. This was quickly hidden by a shawl that fell and wrapped around her neck. Her hands, or paws, reached up to tuck the shawl behind her ears, as the rest of her outfit emerged from beneath her fur.

    A tail curved around the eudaimorph¡¯s torso, reaching into her stomach, which rippled as it allowed the fifth appendage inside. As it left, carrying with it the glowing crystal, everything about her solidified, fabric looking like fabric, fur looking like fur, a mimicry that even Alex couldn¡¯t achieve. And finally, there was a bakeneko standing behind the bars, slightly looking down at Elyza with her fiery piercing eyes.

    ¡°Who¡¯s this with you, a new lady friend, perhaps?¡± Her voice was smooth and sisterly, as she sat down on her knees, studying Elyza as she added, ¡°I¡¯m a little hurt, but I didn¡¯t have my feminine wiles back then, so I¡¯ll let that slide.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised to hear those words for one of Thoth¡¯s favourite mortals, allegedly,¡± Alex replied, his grin falling quickly as he added, ¡°Are you hurt? What happened?¡±

    Pili brought her hand up to hide a yawn, muttering through it, ¡°Nothing you¡¯ve not seen before, I gather. Someone from the old continent was travelling with them, and things were desperate enough for them to approach me, wanting some answers. I travelled back here, but before everyone could tell me what they suspected, a man arrived. Calling himself Ulysseus, he came dressed as a temple hand, though I doubt he has much experience as one. While I was researching the probable causes of their¡­ never before seen issues regarding the consumption of happiness, he garnered support, telling them he had a way to alleviate the issue.¡±

    Claw¡¯s popped out from her paw, using them to scratch something into the light crystal as she continued, ¡°And it worked, surprisingly, things improved, joy did what it was supposed to do before. But, as always, it didn¡¯t last. I was working with him to find out why, and how he was able to improve conditions in the first place.¡±

    She sighed, tossing the crystal back towards her partner before she continued, ¡°He spoke some nonsense about spirits and how people on this part of the continent are less capable of happiness than others, talked about how Eudaimorphs are the perfect species, capable of doing more than just making others happy. Deciding that the tribe was doing things inefficiently, he got in contact with some of his friends to supply them with the material required. But before I had the pleasure of listening to more of his dogma, he thought I was starting to fly too close to the truth.¡±

    Pili leaned close to them both as she concluded, ¡°He labelled me as one of the causes of the problem, stating that they must, ¡®forge a path separate to the old ones¡¯. As much as I¡¯ve heard from the others, he declared as¡­ ¡®Unbelievers¡¯ let us say, things have been expanding quite rapidly. At least this short bereft of responsibility gave me a chance to figure out their problem.¡±

    ¡°You know how to solve it?¡± Alex inquired, which was answered by a nod, leaving him to ask,¡°You know where the control panel is?¡± Another, yet this time, hesitant nod satisfied his question.

    ¡°Let¡¯s get you moving then,¡± he remarked, inky tentacles rising from the ground where light couldn¡¯t reach, wrapping around the bars, before Pili grabbed the bars.

    ¡°Alex, you can not kill him,¡± She declared, her eyes darkening with determination.

    Her partner simply smiled, ¡°You know first hand why I don¡¯t make those sorts of promises.¡±

    The bakeneko sighed, muttering beneath her breath, ¡°Still on about that day,¡± before she let go of the bars, conceding, ¡°Fine, but at least try, will you?¡±

    ¡°We¡¯ll see when I meet the cunt¡­¡±

    That¡¯s the spirit.

    ¡°Language!¡± Pili interrupted, her mouth starting to curve.

    ¡°You were a pirate for a decade¡­¡± Alex reminded her, the tentacles pushing aside the iron bars with a low groan, just big enough for the Eudaimorph to walk through, just as the walls obscuring them melted into the ground.

    ¡°You know first hand that judging others for the sins of their past is not always warranted,¡± she replied, arms of slime exploding from her back. Wrapping around the iron doors of the other cells, the tentacles pushed them upwards, before letting go, causing them to clatter momentarily before they settled on the ground.

    ¡°How do you know Alex?¡± Elyza threw out into the conversation, wanting her questions answered before they started again.

    The bakeneko hummed for a moment, as the slime appendages retracted into her clothes, mumbling to herself, ¡°Depends.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­¡± She began, as Alex checked up on the, now no longer, prisoners, ¡°To cut an extremely long and entertaining story that may have been adapted into a play; I masqueraded as a long dead prince and worked as a prostitute, and his¡­ ¡®family¡¯ hired our common friend to make sure everyone and everything I remotely even glanced at, forgot my existence. And they did. I would¡¯ve as well, but some memories are extremely memorable.¡±

    ¡°Yeah, that was a disturbing month for me,¡± Her partner admitted, quickly muttering, ¡°Thankfully, it would¡¯ve been worse if she knew what the prince actually looked like.¡±

    ¡°You have two options!¡± He suddenly announced into the room, ¡°Either, wait here for thirty more minutes till we deal with the situation upstairs. Or, you could go right now, taking advantage of the chaos that will be occurring in a minute or two. Alright?¡± Elyza could sense a silent conversation occurring among the prisoners. Some beelined for the stairs, but the majority shifted where they stood, opting to stay.

    ¡°Any other questions left for the cat, Ears?¡± He remarked, turning towards his partner as he tossed a potion over her head.

    ¡°No,¡± Elyza replied, materialising her halberd within her hand, clarifying, ¡°None that can not wait till later.¡±

    Shadows erupted around the three, dropping them into the inky umbra, sinking into a mass of swirling umbra, which parted to let them rise into the domain of darkness, sending a ripple through the ground as they emerged.

    Home at last.

    The Empress'' words rang louder than before, an ancient power flowing through them, but as authoritative as it was, silence quickly fell over her mind, as if the pale woman¡¯s voice had been taken from her. Beneath them, in the sea of shadows, Elyza could make out the stairs that they had taken moments before, a replica crafted from darkness. It stretched down into the light, disintegrating before it could touch it.

    ¡°It has been a while since I¡¯ve had the chance to appreciate this realm,¡± Pili remarked, holding her hands out for Alex, stating, ¡°Same method?¡±

    Her partner pushed aside the bakeneko¡¯s arms, pulling her close towards him, causing her whole form to ripple. His hands held her head in place, his palms pressing into her temples, pushing her skin aside as they sunk into her. A faint blue shine started to emerge from within the folds of the fluid as Alex looked into the Eudaimorphs eyes.

    ¡°Focus on where the control room is,¡± he instructed, shooting a glance at Elyza to come closer, before his pupils expanded over his irises, growing darker than they ever looked. The inky umbra concealed the whites of his eyes completely, but nothing about his demeanour told his partner that he wasn¡¯t in control.

    The ground started to whisper, crackling as a circle formed around the three. They were suddenly hoisted upwards, but it didn¡¯t feel like they were raised by something. Shifting her feet, the entire disk moved with her weight. They seemed to be floating, but her attention was stolen by tendrils of shadows crawling around her partner¡¯s boot. The tentacles were multiplying as they slowly made their way up his leg, solidifying when they reached the end of their life, allowing others to overtake them.

    They crept up till they reached his shoulders, shooting forward to his hands, seemingly covering it with inky darkness, softly absorbing any light that touched it. It started to convulse, as if extracting something from Pili, dragging whatever it was back with it, channelling it into the ground.

    Suddenly, the ground started to rotate, not the disk, but everything around it. Everything started to pivot around them, revolving counterclockwise, only the mountains and creatures that waited at the horizon defying the order. There was no noise, their surroundings defying logic as it turned seamlessly, but there was more ground to cover. The mimic of the dungeon beneath them commenced its climb upwards, the void that made it turned into ghostly glass as it crossed the barrier.

    Time seemed to move faster as they glided through the corridors of ghastly walls, the dungeon flipping its layout under Alex¡¯s command, almost entirely above the dark sea. Elyza recognised the path they had taken to get the prisoners, but soon tunnels she had yet to traverse whizzed past them. And then, the disc stopped and slotted back into the ground, sending another ripple through the sea.

    They were surrounded by gigantic walls, the roof of the chamber around twice her height. The ground shifted backwards suddenly, positioning the three at the end of a corridor that led into the room. Retreating back from her partner¡¯s hands, the tendrils lost their inverse glow, melting back into the ground, allowing Alex to retrieve his hands from the insides of Pili¡¯s head.

    Grimacing, he shook his head, transferring the motion down to his feet, almost shivering. His eyes opened, allowing her to glance into his usual black irises, surrounded by a pool of white.

    ¡°That was interesting¡­¡± Elyza admitted.

    ¡°I concur,¡± Pili remarked, her head returned to the face she had chosen, a soft smile adorning it as she added, ¡°You¡¯ve tapped deeper into her powers, haven¡¯t you?¡±

    Alex began to say something, stopping to swallow his saliva before he remarked, grinning, ¡°To her extremely vocal dismay.¡±

    The silence in Elyza¡¯s head was broken as the Empress wormed her way back into it.

    I have warned you many times not to lock me in there, but you never listen, do you? So, at least tell me what transpired, so I know how much to punish you when I get out of here.

    That¡¯s a secret, maybe if you behave I¡¯ll tell you.

    ¡°We need to return to the land of the living,¡± Elyza reminded her partner, striking her halberd¡¯s butt on the ground, and his grin faltered.

    Sighing, he began, ¡°You may need to take the lead when we do, Ears, cause I am absolutely knackered.¡± A snap of his fingers sank the mimic of the dungeon back into the black sea, and they soon followed it, diving alongside it, the sea pushed them past it, till the three went through the core of radiant light.

 Chapter 21: Release

    Elyza rose first, her halberd¡¯s blade scratching the steel door in front of which they had emerged, exposing the silver metal under the black paint. It was simple, only a singular keyhole below the handle, and the rocks that it rested on were embedded deeper into the floor than those around them.

    ¡°Ears,¡± Alex called from behind, his eyelids dripping with fatigue. His words slurred a bit as he continued, ¡°Do this quickly rather than quietly this time for me, please?¡±

    Sighing, she gestured towards the two to step back, picking a handful of seed from her pouch and dropping them around the edge of the door. A purple and green glyph formed beneath her hand as the seed fell, its circle vibrating and glowing as her mana used it as a funnel into the seed, the spell letting loose with her command.

    ¡°S¨¢ an¨ªos,¡± The vines burrowed their roots under the rock, wriggling under the stone to settle themselves before exploding upwards in a flurry of green. Steel bent under the force exerted upon them, shattering the bricks that struck those parts of the door, causing the entire tunnel to shudder, a layer of dust falling upon the three. Before it could even threaten to collapse upon them, the vines gave one last push to sprawl across the roof of the corridor, as the ones that caused the damage, parted for her.

    ¡°Behind me,¡± Elyza instructed, forcing the surrounding air to form a corridor of wind to clear the path ahead of her, stepping into the presumed control room in its wake.

    A wave of warmth flowed over her before Alex stepped into the darkened room, remarking, ¡°A welcoming party?! Oh, you shouldn¡¯t have, we aren¡¯t planning to stay for long.¡±

    The pushed wind was harnessed again, creating a vortex with Elyza at the centre. She wielded it to suck the dust floating in the air, and some blobs of greying slime that had been ripped from those creeping in the shadows. The room was flooded with light as soon as she let the vortex dissipate.

    Rows of hundreds of levers were attached to just as many copper pipes, beads of water sticking to the metal¡¯s surface, tiny glass rectangular windows moulded into it. The contraption stretched across the entire left wall, a gradient of orange whose brushed veneer cast a warm hue around the room. But, there would be time soon enough to study it further.

    The other half of the room, opposite to the three, was filled with what looked to be a giant brick of multicoloured fluid. Around forty or so cores, made of a variety of materials, from bones to ruby, floated within the blob, seemingly dormant. Soon they started to rotate, the different colours separating with their respective cores. Modelling themselves into the most standard guards she could think of, the Eudaimorphs parted as the door behind the small battalion opened, as a man dressed in clothes that mimicked holy silks walked in.

    His head tilted slightly upwards, looking down upon them, his nose curving down, and his teeth stained yellow. The longer she studied him, the more restraint it took not to slice him to pieces immediately, but unfortunately she wanted to know his plan.

    Alex seemed to agree, remarking, ¡°I don¡¯t think you understand the nuance between walking into a room with gravitas, versus, walking into a room looking like a man who thinks punching puppies for fun makes you a conflicted person, rather than someone who¡¯d burn a person at the stake for not letting you sniff their hair.¡±

    She did not try to suppress the grin that resulted from his comment, in addition to seeing the priest¡¯s face redden like a tomato, his eyes bulging like eggs. The smile threatened to turn into laughter as her partner added, ¡°But my services are currently occupied trying not to embed a claymore into your core. I would say I could help you in the future, but I¡¯m doubtful about it. If you have any retort, please direct them to my friend with the spear, so she can not care for the both of us.¡±

    Surprisingly, instead of bursting out a series of insults, or trying to make himself seem superior to them, the temple hand took in a deep breath and then spoke, ¡°I¡¯m surprised that anyone was capable of waking themselves from the paradise I¡¯ve constructed for them, let alone two of them on the same day. So, I find it hard to believe you¡¯re here by chance, so someone has betrayed the tribe.¡±

    The last part of his words were directed at his Eudaimorph peers, and as he spoke further with a deep and dead voice, he did not address the bigger threat in the room. ¡°See how my visions have been proven true, brothers. We now have proof that people do not change, as we see the first of the non-believers working against the good of her tribe once again.¡±

    The priest turned on his feet to gesture behind him, foretelling and welcoming another entrant to the chamber, ¡°Let us thank Otis for his diligence on spotting these three escaping after harming our generous benefactors during the trade.¡±

    Elyza¡¯s helper glided into the room almost silently, his movements too erratic for a being made of slime, Otis¡¯ core jutting forward, almost hesitating as it forced its body to move. She glared at him, and she could feel him staring back, even without any visible eyes.

    ¡°I can¡¯t believe I fell to your wiles, almost revealing m¨C¡±

    Flicking her halberd so that its blade blocked the priest¡¯s glare towards Pili, Elyza gave him some instruction, ¡°Do not speak directly to either of them, all conversation shall be done through me, any of your followers move and I slice your body in two, say something that offends me and I will crush your core to dust.¡±

    She spun the spear around her head, adding some extra spins for flourish, stopping a hair¡¯s breadth away from sending the halberd¡¯s point into his forehead. ¡°You were put up to this behaviour by someone or something, tell me who.¡±

    ¡°Have I met you before?¡± The priest remarked, trying to hide the audible gulp that came from him afterwards, continuing, ¡°I remember being warned by someone of your description by the c¨C visions that brought me here to aid those who once wanted nothing with me¡­¡±

    This is unnecessary, I have a way to extract the truth out of him much faster.

    Elyza pretended not to hear the Empress¡¯ voice, something she had been doing for a while. She stared into the priest¡¯s lifeless eyes, trying to spot the lie in his words, when Alex¡¯s voice suddenly echoed in her mind.

    Fine, drag him here for me, Ears, I can guess what he¡¯s trying to do anyway.

    Are you certain? It may cause the others to attack.

    Ah, right, restrain them before you do it then, because the pod apparently doesn¡¯t put you to sleep.

    Even his voice sounded tired in her mind, she couldn¡¯t tell out of annoyance or fatigue, although it was likely both. Starting slowly, she exerted her will onto the air in the room, commanding it to swirl around her. She kept the current close to the ground as it ramped in speed. Wisps of water were carried within the wind as the beads of moisture from the pipes were sucked into the whirling typhoon. This was when someone other than the two in the room realised what was happening, but Elyza noticed them first.

    With a single thought, the whirlpool snapped outwards, collapsing into a powerful propulsion that slammed into the battalion of guards. Their form devolved into streaks of slime as they flew through the air for a split second before being stopped by the wall behind. In an instant, the only ones left standing were the three and the priest.

    As his mimicry fell, his arms melted only to harden into blades, he lunged forwards past her halberd¡¯s blade, attempting a strike at her throat. His body distorted as his core was hooked by the halberd¡¯s blade, his arms crackling as they liquefied. Elyza swung her weapon with her body, dragging the levitating slime behind its blade, flicking the core towards her partner.

    Stretching his arm forward, Alex positioned his hand so that the core fell right into it. Faded grey fluid rushed through the air, racing to shield the core, to obscure it from their glares. But, as the slime swirled around the capsule of the priest¡¯s soul, Elyza noticed that his core looked more peculiar than the rest. It was made of interlocking peacock feathers, which were in turn carved of metal and jewels, the metal barbs pointing the opposite way. A singular dull green rock floated within it, strange considering the glimmering sphere surrounding it.

    She was able to recognise that there was a language etched into the silver metal, but could not make out what the scribbles said before it was enveloped by her partner¡¯s hand. Pushing through the swirling mess of grey with ease, his fingers weaved through the core¡¯s layers, holding it high. The churning fluid lashed out against him, using his arm as a bridge to slap his face, unable to ground itself to gain some leverage.

    Before the slime could force its way into his head, already prodding at his nose and lips, to Alex¡¯s clearly expressed annoyance. ¡°You¡¯re a bizarre one, aren¡¯t you? I¡¯ve met a lot of Eudaimorphs, some from the first generation, but nothing like y¨C¡±

    Shut up, and let me through.

    Sighing, too tired to argue, his shadow parted to allow tendrils to climb upon him, restraining the priest''s tentacles as the umbra made its way towards the core he held. ¡°Well then, whatever you are, you¡¯re still an Eudaimorph at your base¡­¡± Her partner drawled out, a glimmer sparking in his eyes just as his shadow wrapped itself around the priest¡¯s soul.

    Grinning, he added, ¡°So, I can finally test my theory of what happens when you compel one to consume every unhappy memory a person can ever have.¡±

    A sharp, metallic screech emanated from within the ball of darkness in his hand, before more tendrils leapt from his arm to smother the noise silent. Abruptly halting, the priest¡¯s fluid body froze in the air, in the midst of trying to escape the inky grasp of her partner¡¯s magic. The slime fell to the ground, not weightlessly, a tiny string of it still connecting the blob on the floor to the core trapped within his spell.

    The sphere forged from black remained eerily still in his hands. The entire chamber was devoid of sound, except for the echo of drops of water hitting stone. Elyza made sure that the few of the Eudaimorphs who awakened knew what the situation was, holding them at her halberd¡¯s point. Slowly, something started to push the walls of the prison of umbra, a bulge developing around its equator. Spikes burst out from the balls, the darkness able to restrain its force, stifling whatever was happening within, drops of ink leaking from the walls of the spells as they fell to the ground.

    The air itself aimed to slow down their descent, the drips falling slower than honey on a frigid winter night, stretching, almost reaching for the shadows beneath. Alex blankly stared at the core¡¯s prison, his entire face lax, completely unstirred. Elyza had a primal urge to check if he was still breathing, as the streaks of darkness continued to creep ever closer to the floor.

    As soon as she raised her hand, his eyes darted towards it, almost surprised to see her. The ink drops sinking through the air froze as he gained consciousness, soaring through the air to return to their place lest he notice their subversion.

    ¡°That should be enough,¡± Alex stated, as the shadows perched onto his arms slithered backwards towards their nesting grounds, sinking into his shadow, producing only a singular noise as they retreated.

    One of these days you¡¯ll fall for it.

    The core of the priest struck the rock, causing a sharp, ringing sound to echo through the chamber. Whatever was left of the bed of slime, the fluid, was unwilling to help soften its fall. So, it laid there, metal and gems no longer shimmering in the warm hue of the room, its mechanisms refusing to move.

    Shivering, almost grateful to have escaped the turmoil, the dull green rock held within the core started to glow a faint white, as the rings started to creak back to life. Slowly, the feathers started to revolve, the entire core floating as the gyration of the rings sped up. The pale slime around it was repulsed at first, trying to run away from who once commanded it, before it was sucked into the metallic sphere. Swirling around the core sluggishly, more slime started to emerge from within the core, materialising to meld into the rest of the fluid.

    A body started to form from the whirlpool, which immediately slumped over to its knees, lacking the will to stand on its own. Some Eudaimorphs stepped forward, maybe trying to help their leader up, maybe wanting to take a closer look at what was to follow, but a quick twirl of her halberd dissuaded any such efforts.

    The priest stared at the ground, fully formed, only his hair remained to harden, gasping, heaving, even without lungs, his entire body trembling. ¡°Wh-what did you d-do to me?!¡± his words rang out, his voice dead no longer, trembling with confusion. Sweat started to drip down his face, hitting the ground to add to the echo of the room.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Alex began, bowing over him as he continued, ¡°It¡¯s quite simple, actually. I connected our minds, creating an illusion around yours, as well as your ¡®body¡¯, that I could freely influence. Then, I rammed yours with every¡­ single¡­ horror¡­ I''ve either seen or felt, ensuring that you could feel everything I did at that moment. Granted, while no one is ever prepared for such an assault on their senses, even if they were, the amount of¡­ unfortunate incidents I¡¯ve endured is arguably greater than anyone should in a lifetime.¡±

    ¡°Y-you¡¯re a monster¡­¡± The priest heaved out, lifting himself up to his knees.

    ¡°Please.¡± Her partner remarked in a mocking tone, swiping the statement aside as he squatted in front of the defeated figure, tapping his forehead, ¡°I had worse things in mind for you, but can¡¯t let you become a martyr for these peaceful folks, can I? So, what do you say, Iskar? Want to live another day but free, or die like the obedient little dog you are?¡±

    ¡°H-ho¨C¡±

    ¡°Connection¡¯s a two-way street.¡± Alex remarked, winking. ¡°I scoured through that tiny little world in your head, easier than normal, considering your soul isn¡¯t as whole as you would like others to think. We both know why, most of your¡­ sources of inspiration tend to remember their mortal lives perfectly, but you wouldn¡¯t know anything of that.¡±

    ¡°I-I-I don¡¯t kn-know wha¨C¡±

    ¡°Well, I don¡¯t think you would like to remember all the failures you were, before becoming ¡®good enough¡¯,¡± her partner mumbled out loud, holding the priest¡¯s face still, staring into his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m on the verge of collapsing into a snoring pile, spells of such calibre being harnessed in such a short time tend to take a toll, even on mou. But magic just restricts one¡¯s imagination when dealing with pests, don¡¯t you agree? So, Pat¨¦ras, what¡¯s your choice?¡±

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

    Silence enveloped the room, all waiting for the slime creature¡¯s answer, who kept his gaze restricted to the rocks below him. ¡°What do I have to admit?¡± he whispered, loud enough for only the duo to hear.

    ¡°Hopefully, when you do, you will speak louder, so others can hear as well,¡± Elyza remarked, keeping her eyes on the conscious Eudaimorphs.

    ¡°Firstly, how about you tell the others why you showed up at the absolute perfect time, and how you were able to solve their problem,¡± Alex instructed, standing up to stretch his back.

    ¡°We were able to convince a youth in the tribe to carry an artefact with him. The artefact was designed to disrupt the process by which Eudaimorphs turn happiness to mana, and it worked better than our expectations,¡± The priest explained, his voice devoid of any emotion.

    ¡°A problem arose, however,¡± he revealed, finally looking up at Alex as he continued on. ¡°It turned out its effectiveness was a hindrance, the boy carrying it was unable to match its mana consumption with how pathetic the artefact turned the process. The artefact substituted the lack of energy with the boy¡¯s life force, all the while using every single drop of mana it came across. It was unfortunate, he succumbed much sooner than necessary, so the company decided to send me in. They modified my core to act as a modified version of the artefact, allowing me to control its strength and sap excess happiness to store it.¡±

    ¡°Everything was moving perfectly,¡± the priest remarked, sighing as he added, ¡°I was slowly centering the tribe to operate around me, when the company decided that there was more that the Eudaimorphs could provide. They needed a vast amount of mana, and they sent over machines to aid me, instructing me to disguise them as necessary for the tribe¡¯s survival, and in return provide them with crystals filled to the brim.¡±

    She tried to gauge the reactions of the Eudaimorphs to their great leader¡¯s admittance, a hard act to accomplish without any faces to study. Most of their cores were revolving furiously, but the best indication of their emotions was Otis, who had morphed into his humanoid form. He was staring intently at the priest, anger brewing under his pupils.

    ¡°Well, then,¡± Alex remarked, his grin growing wider, ¡°That brings us to the question we all have heard, as my lovely partner asked before¡­¡±

    ¡°Who do you work for?¡± Elyza finished his words, turning her weapon onto the kneeling monster, holding the axe above his head, ready to cleave him into two.

    ¡°I don¡¯t know¡­¡± he tried to lie.

    Not a lie, Ears.

    Alex¡¯s voice stopped her from separating the priest¡¯s head from his body, allowing him to continue, ¡°My memories are not written by me, neither can I control what I can recall, whoever was responsible for my creation made sure of it.¡±

    Sounds like my kind of people.

    ¡°Oh, you have no idea the thoughts lingering within your head, Iskar, and I¡¯m not motivated to reveal them for you,¡± Her partner stated, letting a laugh echo through the room. Addressing the beings behind Elyza, looking at Otis, he asked, ¡°I gather you had something to do with this situation? I¡¯m guessing the ¡®trade¡¯ happens somewhere on the surface?¡±

    Through the wave of relaxation moving through Alex¡¯s body, she could guess the answer her Eudaimorph friend had given him. ¡°Good then,¡± her partner continued, gesturing towards Pili, who¡¯s eyes were closed in prayer, ¡°Help her release the people trapped in their dreams while we three go on a walk.¡±

    Yanking the priest to his feet, Alex pushed him towards Elyza, who stepped aside as Iskar staggered past her. The guards that followed him earlier gave him a wide berth, ignoring him as he walked towards the exit in front of the three. The duo followed closely behind, the halberd kept aimed at his back. There were a few stragglers the three encountered in the winding corridors, some were the prisoners that had gotten lost, some were loyalists on their way to perform their daily duties. The former reacted to the sight by smacking the priest wherever they could reach, the latter either scurried away or when they tried to negotiate his release, were scared away by the duo¡¯s glares.

    Elyza could feel the air start to become lighter, the muskiness of the dungeon lost its potency the more steps they took. She could feel the breeze flowing over the bricks as it rushed through the tunnel, trying to overcome the stale underground air, carrying the scent of rain with it. The further they went, the more the walls started to display wear. Moss grew in between the cracks in the bricks, their surfaces smooth as metal.

    Soon, the grey bricks turned green as moss overtook them, but the walls then transitioned into a deep orange. Baked clay bricks started to take the place of the stone ones, seemingly replaced recently in an attempt to reinforce the corridor for some reason.

    But, as the sound of a torrent of water falling upon soil started reverberating through the passage, their pace increased. Pushing the priest using the edge of her blade, Elyza navigated for them, using the stream of air to carve out a path to follow. She yearned to smell the trees, to feel the wind in its full glory. As the bricks fell away to tunnels that were carved by water, not men, she could feel a large opening awaiting them.

    A few more moments till the outside, a few more strides till rain hit her skin. But even she knew there was still work to do. Soft cool light scattered into their eyes from the damp walls around them, before they could see where it came from, obscuring the way forward. And then, suddenly, the three stood in a gigantic cave, with at least six carriages parked on the smooth surface, strangely no horses in sight. One had been pancaked into a crumpled heap, some remains of crates mixed within it, but the rest of the carriages retained their cargo, their crew nowhere in sight.

    ¡°What have you done with¡­ our victims?¡± Alex remarked, overtaking the two, his partner busy looking out at the sea of green past the mouth of the cave, a veil of rain trying to block her view.

    ¡°I ordered them to be taken to the healers, under the assumption I would catch who had done this. I didn¡¯t expect¡­ you,¡± The priest spit out the last word with venom more vile than Elyza had ever encountered, and she had fought a poison spitting worm.

    ¡°Most never do, don¡¯t think you¡¯re special,¡± Her partner remarked, grinning as he gestured to her to drag their guest behind him. Walking towards a carriage with the aim of inspecting it, he added, ¡°But it is good to hear Otis didn¡¯t fatally harm them. Never knew what went on in his head, but at least he isn¡¯t insane, unlike you and I.¡±

    She had connected the dots as soon as she had seen her Eudaimorph friend in the control room, but Elyza was surprised her partner had revealed the fact. There was no response from the priest, if an attempt of defiance, or out of shock, she did not care.

    Alex gestured towards the carriage in front of them, asking, ¡°Ears, you recognise these? I don¡¯t think I could recognise shapes with this level of sleep deprivation¡±

    The carriages were draped with dyed orange leather sheets, attached with green rope. She could spot a pattern on the faded surface; a triangle within another, mirroring the first, their sides connected to form a pattern similar to a paper stamp, or what it was recently being used as, infinity. It was immensely familiar to her, a symbol she had seen in every single major city she had visited, and much more on the roads of the country. She had never paid attention to it, but Elyza knew what it represented.

    ¡°Primulturum, the Cyllenius family trade.¡± Annoyance crawled across her partner¡¯s face. She knew it could not be because of her answer, but this did not bode well.

    ¡°I really hope these have been stolen, or a disguise. I would pray for once in my life if these are disguises,¡± Alex muttered the last part as fast as he could, pulling a crate from the back of the carriage, which rattled as he dropped it onto the rocks. Running his fingers over the wood, he seemed to be probing for something. His hands slid just below the edges of the box, feeling the wood for some sort of irregularity, before he suddenly threw up his hands.

    ¡°My fingers are buzzing, and I can¡¯t seem to stop the electricity flowing through them, Ears. Flip this over for me, will you?¡± He pleaded, slapping his hands together to wake them up.

    As she wrapped her arms around the crate, the box almost slid out of her grip, not prepared for the lack of friction the box provided. The surface had been sanded down in a clear attempt to be rid of any distinguishing factors. But readjusting her grip, she could barely feel a pattern on the edges of the cube. A line of interlocking triangles that ran the crate¡¯s length, almost akin to warding spells etched into mausoleums, carrying the same outline as the faded sign on the carriage¡¯s covering.

    ¡°Alex,¡± Elyza began.

    His face fell almost instantly, as he muttered, ¡°Lati¡¯s going to kill me with how much paperwork this is going to produce¡­¡± Grinning, his eyes still displaying his annoyance, he turned towards the priest, ¡°I already know you¡¯re going to lie to me, but please, for the love of whoever you worship, tell me your creators aren¡¯t the biggest exporters and importers of goods in this country.¡±

    The priest opened his mouth, but before words could leave it, Alex cut him off, ¡°Stop. I¡¯d rather not give the Guild any more bias than they already have, at least then they¡¯ll give me some usable answers.¡±

    ¡°I would not trust the House if I were you, boy. My masters¡¯ hold more power than you can ever imagine, you¡¯ll rue this day forever. They will not stop till they parade your head on a stick.¡± Elyza held off her want to crush his core as the faux Eudaimorph spit out the words, noticing her partner¡¯s eyes glimmering with joy.

    You think you can stop the wind ahead of us for just a second?

    I would need some time to prepare, but yes.

    Ohhhhhh, I see what you want to do, it has been a while since you¡¯ve taken it out, so this should be interesting.

    His voice in her head was weaker than before, but Elyza was more concerned with why the Empress seemed to be supporting whatever her partner was planning.

    Gesturing for the priest to follow him, he spoke as he paced towards the cave¡¯s mouth, ¡°Firstly, Iskar, you are a mere creation, meaning I¡¯m older than you, so don¡¯t call me ¡®boy¡¯, child.¡±

    ¡°Secondly, you are not the first, nor will you be the last, of those who have warned me of their all-powerful friends, of their godly parents, of their demonic lovers,¡± Alex added, stopping before he stepped into the path of the river falling from the sky.

    ¡°Thirdly,¡± He began, turning on his heels as he stepped to the side, ¡°You¡¯re free to go.¡±

    The words caused the priest to freeze. Elyza flicked the halberd back around her fingers as she stood opposite her partner, confounding him further. She took in a deep breath, trying to map the path of the gale weaving through the forest. The wind whipped the rain into a greater frenzy as she did, against the idea of being restrained, but it still yielded the flow it wanted to follow nonetheless.

    ¡°Why?!¡± The priest shouted, knowing this to be some sort of trick.

    Elyza focused her breathing as her partner answered, ¡°I keep my word, no matter how much someone deserves death.¡±

    The priest¡¯s feet inched forwards, glaring at Alex as he did, waiting for some trap to spring around him. As soon as he stepped into the rain, fully exposed to the stinging droplets, out of the cave¡¯s protection, her partner added, ¡°Oh, now that you¡¯re free, you have till the count of ten.¡± His words were accompanied by his shadow splitting open to allow a steel bow to rise from them.

    Instantly, the priest¡¯s mimicry fell, returning back to a monster of slime, shooting towards the safety of the trees.

    ¡°TEN!¡± Alex shouted, pulling out a leather quiver from his cloak, a bunch of arrows stored within it. It was something Elyza never thought that he would bother keeping.

    ¡°Elyza? You remember that whistling arrow? NINE! Could you pull that out for me?¡± Her partner requested, keeping his eyes on the mass of slime weaving through the trunks, trying to break his aim.

    ¡°EIGHT!¡± His voice boomed as she scoured through the sheaf.

    ¡°A lot of trees in the way,¡± she remarked, retrieving out the arrow he had requested, and a normal arrow if he missed.

    ¡°Yup. SEVEN! Got to get my practice in somehow,¡± He replied, grinning as she placed the iron broadhead into his hand beside the grip of his bow. Holes carved into the tip of the arrow to produce a high-pitched noise as it sailed through the air.

    ¡°Thanks, Ears, where would I be without you,¡± Alex remarked, rotating his right arm to loosen it, storing the quiver back within his cloak.

    ¡°Philandering by what I have learned of you,¡± she replied, smiling, trying to pick out the mass of grey slime beneath the waterfall coming from the sky.

    ¡°Ye of little faith. FIVE! How strong¡¯s the wind?¡±

    ¡°If Lord Njord had spilled soup on himself, why do you ask?¡±

    ¡°Stop it in its tracks at two,¡± He instructed, taking a deep breath as he pulled on the string of his hunting bow, its layered arms straining against his. They yearned for release, curving backwards on the verge of seeming to snap, even before the bowstring grazed against his cheek. The whistling arrow, now notched, sat on the hand gripping the bow, resting against the wood as he started to aim.

    As he took a deep breath, the countdown in her head struck three, just as he shouted, ¡°THREE!¡± His voice still echoed through the forest, as he turned his hips, aiming not at the creature, but to his right. It was above where his core would be if Alex was aiming directly at the faux-Eudaimorph, who was growing increasingly smaller in their view.

    Elyza reached ahead before the countdown fell to two, and as her will spread through the forest, the wind listened. ¡°Two,¡± her partner released the arrow, letting it loose through the trunks of the giants standing above them, the entire bow relaxing with its wielder, silently returning to how it was. A scream rushed through the air behind the arrow, which whipped through it frighteningly fast, splitting any raindrops that encountered it in their fall.

    But her will could not be sustained for long, and the wind returned to its assault, pushing the arrow from its path, curving it towards the left along with it. ¡°One.¡± Alex said with certainty, as far in the distance, the monster appeared to look towards them to gauge where the arrow was coming from, trying to spot it through the trees. The arrow screamed to warn the faux-Eudaimorph, but it was too late, hitting his core with enough force to send a crack echoing through the forest, and the fluid fell to the ground without anything to hold it together. The slime would seep into the ground, aided by the rain, only the pieces of the monster¡¯s core would mark his grave, and even they would be stolen by ravens.

    Her partner did not say anything, only slotting his bow into the ground, tendrils of shadows waiting beneath him to return it to its place. Alex looked into the rain, his eyes lost in thought, when something within Elyza told her to comment. ¡°Impressive shot.¡± Instantly, he flashed a grin as his eyes filled with fabricated smugness.

    ¡°I tend not to disappoint,¡± He replied, sounding prouder than most gods, taking in the smell of the rain before he continued. ¡°What makes this? Number¡­ twelve?¡±

    Nodding, she remarked, ¡°Twelve shots, Twelve kills. At least, those that I have witnessed personally.¡±

    Twelve? Slowing down, I see.

    The demon¡¯s voice was almost imperceptible, having to focus on the tiny voice at the back of her head to even comprehend what she was saying. ¡°It appears that the potion is starting to wear off,¡± She concluded.

    ¡°Thank the fucking gods,¡± Her partner muttered through his grin, quickly clarifying as he glanced at her, ¡°You have no idea how much effort it¡¯s taking to make sure you don¡¯t get bombarded with so much, just, absolutely idiotic thoughts in my head.¡±

    Elyza tilted her head, trying to figure out a suitable reply to the remark, concluding her thoughts with the words, ¡°Thank you.¡±

    ¡°No problem, Ears. Now, any guesses on why I feel like I¡¯m forgetting something really important?¡± He asked, his eyes narrowing as he tried to discern his own thoughts.

    Waiting for her partner to answer his own question, she looked out to look at the shower falling upon the emerald forest, taking in the sight before they delved back into the dungeon. ¡°Oh right,¡± Alex remarked, rubbing his eyelids to get rid of the weariness within them, adding, ¡°We were here to rescue Monza¡­¡±

    ¡°I believe some sleep would be beneficial today,¡± Elyza remarked, smiling as she enjoyed the rain.

    ¡°I second that, As soon as we set her free, tell her what happened, ask her to investigate the Cyllenius family, get the rest of the kidnapees out of here, help Pili with ensuring the tribe doesn¡¯t pull a stunt like this again, return to the city, figure out why no one in the town¡¯s guild reported this, get some travelling accommodations for tomorrow, I will definitely collapse into a heap and require carrying to my bed and out of my bed.¡±

    ¡°It appears that today is going to be a long day.¡±

    ¡°All in a day¡¯s work,¡± Alex sighed out, falling through his shadow before dragging her along with him.

 Chapter 22: What Can Be Worse Than Ogres

    The pyre hidden in the shade of the forest blazed as a blob of fat fell into it from above. It spit out a tower of flames into the night sky, singeing the rotating animal carcass above it, a rusty broken claymore embedded through it. It was butchered horribly, strings of sinew and silver adorning the meat, parts of it charred while some still had blood dripping from it.

    Snoring echoed through the tiny clearing, stumps of trees ripped in two still littering the grass. Some hulking figures rested upon beds tied together from tree trunks, which still held their bark, no doubt to the displeasure of the two lying upon it. The rest of the camp was busy preparing their, in the lowest sense, food. One cared for the rotisserie, as others stole pieces off of the corpse on the rod, while another slaughtered the next meat for the fire. He tossed what looked to be the hind of a cow into a bucket of similarly sloppy work.

    As Alex squinted his eyes, the sight of a pair of arms beneath the mass of muscle confirmed his suspicions. Glancing across the camp, he saw a prison made of the remains of what he could only assume to be the club of ogres¡¯ past sustenance. Only one guarded it, who had nodded off as she leaned on the cube of bones, leaving the horrified and frightened humans, and one annoyed elf, without an observer.

    Slowly, from behind the cage of bones, he could barely make out a bed of ivy creeping in from the trees, wrapping around the ivory, enough mana flowing through the vines to crack the calcium supports. He could see them lift the entire cage, ensuring that it wouldn¡¯t disturb the ogre resting, allowing more to slither beneath the walls of the prison. Making a bed, they gathered beneath the captives¡¯ feet, waiting for the command.

    He pulled out a bunch of arrows, a couple more than he needed, just in case, holding it in the same grip as his bow, using his free hand to steady himself against the tree trunk. Standing almost horizontal to the bark, one foot pressing against the wood, the other wedged behind it, Alex notched an arrow in preparation for his partner to strike.

    If he had blinked, he would have missed the entire ordeal. In an instant, the bed of vines shot upwards, wrapping themselves around the prisoners¡¯ mouths, before the ivy swaddled the bewildered beings, stopping their screams and their wriggling before dragging them through the tiny gap. As they slithered back into the trees, the entire cage slammed down, jolting the ogre resting on it awake, who turned around to gauge what had disturbed her.

    Why not go down there and sow carnage, instead of cowering in the shade.

    The string shot out of his hands as Alex weakened his finger¡¯s grip, his hand already moving to grab another as the arrow darted through the air. He had already released another before the first hit the back of the ogre¡¯s thick skull, shards of bone embedding into her brain as the steel tipped projectile tore through it and onto the other side. But focusing on the first would¡¯ve given her tribe a breather, as another ogre collapsed soon after the guard, an arrow embedding itself into the second¡¯s eye.

    The next recipient was the ogre caring for the food, who lifted the rusty sword from the flame, spinning around to look for the archer hidden in the forest. His mouth opened to scream, raising the meat stick above his head, but nothing came out as two more arrows struck his forehead. The monster fell back onto the campfire, causing another tower of flame to erupt upwards, illuminating the others left. Someone yelled into the forest, trying to scare whoever they thought was firing at them, only to have three more ogres crumple to the ground, an arrow jutting out of each of their heads.

    Two were left, the two lying on the bed of trees, waking up in a rage that disguised their panic, spinning on their feet, scampering to pick up weapons to defend themselves. Releasing another arrow, Alex clicked his tongue as his target ducked at the last second, a lucky slip, leaving him with only a single arrow against two.

    Haven¡¯t noticed you yet, time to go say hello.

    I really need to find a way to shut you up again.

    Alex rebutted the Empress¡¯ advice as he released his foot from behind the tree, allowing himself to fall through the branches of the pine, trying to preserve as much speed as he could. Weaving through the wooden limbs, he stared at the two ogres, who were glancing around in an attempt to spot where the arrows were coming from, while he was busy choosing how to line them up.

    Before he struck the ground, arms of ink pried the dirt apart to allow a passage into the domain of shadows. As his body turned to umbra, sinking into the sea of darkness, his hand notched another arrow as the shadows slowed his rise towards the surface. He could not see where he was nor where he was going, but his mind and memory guided him through the warm inky fluid. Alex started to sink back towards the plane of light, commanding the sea to push him faster, forcing his body to exit the dimension at the same speed it entered.

    Lightning ran through his veins, racing towards his bow as its string was pulled back in preparation. Purple electricity arced over his clothes, between his fingers, and churned betwixt the metal layers of his bow. Even through the supposed abyss surrounding him, the snaps of lightning echoed around him, as his magic started to energise the remaining arrow, the spell completing just before he pierced the pale veil at the bottom of the domain.

    He shot out from the flank of the two monsters, neither of the ogres noticing Alex before gravity caught up to him. The last moments for them would¡¯ve been filled with a terrifying bang before everything went black. The arrow was not shot by him, as soon as he let go of the bowstring, it bolted forwards, scorching the very air itself, which crackled in its wake as it hurtled through the ogres¡¯ skulls. For a moment, he could see through the gaping charred hole torn through the two monster¡¯s heads, before they crumpled to the ground. His arrow was sticking out from the bark of a tree, a clump of metal at its end, the speed having caused the tip to liquify.

    ¡°DEAD!¡± Alex screamed into the trees, only to have his partner appear behind him.

    ¡°Ten shots for eight kills. However, I will let that slide due to the last two,¡± Elyza remarked, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile as she did.

    ¡°The rest okay?¡±

    ¡°Two were injured, I have given them some potions to treat their wounds. They are rattled, but as healthy as they will be in a dark forest,¡± She relayed, yanking out an arrow from the corpse at her feet.

    Flexing his string plucking finger to relax it, looking up at the stars he commented, grinning as he did, ¡°We can¡¯t get a single day without killing anything.¡±

    ¡°Two hours till we hit the next village in the cluster,¡± His partner reminded him, tossing a couple of arrows to him, their tips soaked with blood.

    ¡°Let¡¯s hope at least this one will be interesting.¡±

    <hr>

    The carriage was filled with snores, as sonorous as the many giants he had met in his travels. Alex had taken the reins of the carriage for now, but as Elyza leant on the canvas behind them, resting, he couldn¡¯t blame either her or their passengers. It had been a long day for them all, and probably traumatising for a few, so some rest would do them good.

    But as their snores grated against his ears, he had to squash the thought of swerving off the road to wake them all up, tilting his head upwards to gaze at the stars. He wanted to test himself if he could deduce where they were on the map, instead he found a sight to behold. The purple carpet that formed the night sky was littered with balls that twinkled on their own volition, yet none of them were able to stop the march of the orange sea from the east, slowly overwhelming whatever creatures were trapped between the stars.

    There were a few Alex remembered his mother telling him about; a sword curving towards the north, a dragon coiled around a kneeling hunter, a bear smelling for prey, and more that were not remotely close to interesting as the rest. As he stared at the line of skirmish, making their way forward for the sun¡¯s light, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of sadness as another constellation fell to it. It was his mother¡¯s favourite, Yggdrasil, the symbol of family in elven culture.

    Before his thoughts could sink to his past, which his freeloader had made sure to dredge up along with herself, his seat shifted underneath. Soon, his partner¡¯s hand shook his shoulder, Elyza¡¯s voice grounding him effortlessly. ¡°We¡¯re about to reach the town,¡± She noted, pointing past him to shift his attention into the trees. As he followed her gaze, he saw a small shrine enclosed by shrubs, carved from marble, and by its yellow shine, still cared for after a good few decades. The rock was carved to depict a dwarf with a large head featuring bulging eyes, a protruding tongue, a beard and a lion¡¯s mane, along with a pole that a giant would feel jealous of. Bes, a rare god to worship in Luminae, but as they neared the border, everything seemed to blend together, same as Surasho, so encountering his considerable length was not as surprising as what they encountered next.

    A few hundreds of metres of travelling saw the carriage finally enter the boundary of the border town, and it was absolutely barren. The buildings seemed decrepit, the houses silent as a winter¡¯s morning, the mud streets absent of any footprints, and the air felt too still for him. It was early, true, but it would be difficult to imagine that the majority of the villagers weren¡¯t involved with agriculture, and as the first rays of morning beamed above them, Alex couldn¡¯t help but grin.

    ¡°Why are you smiling?¡± Elyza inquired, scanning their surroundings as the carriage kept moving, wanting to spot his reason for amusement, the look of confusion on her face dropping as she realised what he had. ¡°Ah, it appears that this day may be fruitful,¡± She remarked, flicking her hand to release her halberd, preparing to face an ambush.

    ¡°Calm down, Ears,¡± Alex advised, pulling back on the reins to slow the horses as they started to delve deeper into the town. ¡°It¡¯s best to not count your chickens before they hatch, otherwise people go hungry,¡± he remarked, looking for the town guild¡¯s sign. It was easy, most of the shops had boarded up their windows, their signs hacked to pieces, glass littering the entrances, all except one. The mouldy spruce sign bore the emblem of the guild, but strangely the symbol of Luminae on the shield had been gouged out. The rest of the building mirrored its brethren, but unlike the rest, it still seemed operational.

    ¡°That appears promising,¡± His partner remarked, her words sarcastic yet her tone anything but.

    Oh god, she¡¯s turning into you.

    Grinning at the fear in Elina¡¯s voice, he slowed down the carriage, pulling on the reins softly so that the horses didn¡¯t make any noise, he looked expectantly at her, waiting for her instructions. ¡°I will tell our companions to stay put and not make any noises, and to expect to be startled by others. Check if the guild has been compromised while I do so, and try to not harm anyone, significantly at least, while you are in the building,¡± She quickly ordered, jumping off of the seat, using her halberd to balance herself as she landed on the drying mud.

    ¡°Roger that, boss. I¡¯ll try and save some fun for you, but you better hurry,¡± Alex replied, grinning as his mind already came up with a plan to burn down the entire building if the need arose, before his soles had even touched the ground.

    Finally, something we both will find enjoyment in.

    Sighing, he walked towards the guild doors, half his mind trying to shove the Empress back into her corner, something she fought ferociously against, throwing old memories into his consciousness to distract him. The other half was yearning for stimuli as soon as the doors swung open, his free hand flipping up his hood to shield his eyes.

    The room was impeccably clean, the floors shiny enough to eat off of, the wooden walls seemingly freshly varnished, reflecting the chandelier hanging from the roof. It seemed to be better taken care of than the main building back in the capital, not even a burst of mana from deep within revealing the truth behind its appearance. The smell of azalea and peonies.

    It was nigh spotless, all except the one man sitting in the corner to his right, who smelled worse than the ogres Alex had just fought. His boots were caked with dry mud, flies hovering around his tilted hat, an act to appear slumbering, and a rusty flail resting on his lap, positioned in a way that it would be trivial to wield it.

    ¡°What do you hrafnasueltira want no¨C¡± A booming voice screamed from behind the counter, whoever it was, they hit their head as they tried to get up from beneath a counter, the entire row of desks jolting as they did. Soon, after letting out a low groan of pain, with some annoyance sprinkled within it, the guild hand poked their head out, and froze.

    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

    Will you truly let someone of lower standing call you that?

    Did the free-loader say something just now?

    Being called a raven starver was new, but he had grinned through worse insults, so he began, ¡°Hello, I was pass¨C¡± his voice trailed off as the guild hand sunk back under the counter. ¡°ing through¡­ Is this a new way of greeting? I¡¯m a bit befuddled, I haven¡¯t been in this part of Luminae in some while,¡± He continued, his voice keeping its pitch and tone stable as he spoke the lie.

    There was no answer, just the sound of panicked rummaging, before the guild hand rose to her feet once again, looking much more held together than the flurry of dirty blonde strands that had popped out mere moments ago. Her blue eyes tried to pierce through Alex¡¯s own, picking up where they were even behind his enchanted hood, carrying some sort of message within them, but they soon shifted to the man waiting for an opening behind him.

    ¡°I apologise for my outburst, some¡­ hooligans are intent on trying to annoy me with fake requests,¡± the girl clarified, none of her words rehearsed, yet none of them true.

    How are mortals this bad at lying?

    We don¡¯t have a millenia to practise, do we?

    ¡°Ah, I see¡­ Personally, having a lot of experience with annoying guests, I understand your pain quite well,¡± Alex responded as he approached the desk, his eyes working overtime to try and discern what she wanted to tell him.

    Her eyes betrayed her elven heritage, yet the strands of wheat on her head, now tied into a messy ponytail, said that wasn¡¯t the end of her story. She seemed similar to Elyza, definitely a descendant of the continent, but in all respects she appeared to be straight from the propaganda that he had seen in the ancient libraries in his old home. But, she seemed unnaturally tall, not like his partner, the proportions of her head, body, and limbs, sending his mind into a flurry of thoughts as it tried to solve the puzzle.

    Offering his hand as his brain ran through its archives, as soon as the guild hand accepted it, he knew exactly why she had piqued his interests. Her grip almost broke his hand, before she quickly adjusted her strength to match his. ¡°Alex,¡± He responded, his unoccupied hand flipping back his hood, allowing his eyes to meet hers as he added, ¡°Forgive my curiosity, were any of your recent ancestors giants perhaps?¡±

    For a moment, her expression threatened to shift into bewilderment, but the guild hand was quickly able to mask it, about to answer, when the doors behind him swung ajar. It could only be her, fresh wind rushing into the building as Elyza stepped through the doorway. A tinge of jealousy filling his mind before it would appreciate the entrance.

    However, it was not her entrance that had sent alarm bells in his head, as the perfume that emanated through the room was so rudely overwhelmed by what Alex could only assume to be the hobo¡¯s morning breath. Sending out a pulse from within his core, as the mana returned to him, he could tell that the bum did not like the addition to the room, but he could be dealt with when the time came.

    While the hobo was distracted by his partner, Alex commanded the tendrils lingering within his cloak to move over his shirt, the inky appendages wrapping themselves around his medallion, pushing it above the neck of his shirt so the guild hand could see the glimmering platinum oval. He knew exactly what was going through her mind as she stared at the pendant.

    Confusion, analysis, recollection, realisation, and the preferred of the two possible endings, as hope lighted up her face before she dragged it back out of sight. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Alex asked, dropping the guild¡¯s medallion back under his shirt, leaning forward so she could talk in hushed tones. A grin appeared on his face as he felt Elyza stand next to him, busy in studying the guild for hidden enemies, paying no attention to either him or the guild hand, till the latter finally answered.

    ¡°Fioled, Master Alex. I am surprised to see someone¡­ from across the ocean, make the effort to visit this lonely town,¡± The guild hand remarked, sliding towards him, letting her volume fall even more as she added, ¡°Passing through, or staying?¡±

    ¡°Depends¡­ Any work that needs to be done?¡±

    ¡°The town¡¯s been in a rut since some bad actors have set up here,¡± Fioled whispered, keeping one eye on the hobo behind him, something Elyza paid attention to, rubbing her ring as she continued, ¡°Hostages, threatening to kill them all, some sort of trafficking operation by the looks of it¨C¡±

    Before she could continue, Alex started talking at the top of his lungs, ¡°Could you please tell me which mountain has the most difficult trail in the range?¡± As he finished, only the shit of a slime would think that he wasn¡¯t up to something, and accordingly, he felt the wooden boards beneath him shift under newer weight.

    Elyza had noticed it as well, shifting herself in order to block the guild hand¡¯s view of the hobo, who in turn was glaring daggers at her partner. ¡°Why did you do that?¡± she whispered, to which he just gestured for her to continue, pulling out his pocket watch to check the time.

    ¡°Well,¡± Fioled refocused herself, realising she had to act quickly, ¡°They¡¯re working through the tunnels, seems to have considerable coin behind their operation, I¡¯m quite lost on why or what they¡¯re trying to do, but I¡¯m ready to he¨C BEHIN¨C¡±

    The words didn¡¯t even have the chance to leave her mouth, his partner already having swung on her heels to deal with the attack. Elyza grabbed the metal chain of the flail, causing its head to wrap around her hand, her gauntlets deflecting its strike with a low thunk, before the mass of iron hung flaccidly in the air. Ripping the weapon from the hobo¡¯s hand, there seemed to be a desperate attempt to take a swing at his partner.

    An attempt stopped in its entirety by Alex catching the hobo¡¯s fist, flashing a grin, before a crunchy crack echoed through the room. Elyza had connected perfectly with their attacker¡¯s nose, splatters of blood soaking into the wooden floors, along with the clittering of a lone tooth, which settled next to the groaning pile at their feet.

    ¡°Fioled, was it?¡± Elyza spoke first, her voice fluidly pronouncing the local name, resting her foot on the hobo¡¯s chest, and by the heave that followed, some of her weight as well. ¡°While it would be advantageous to have another on our side, during our journey we encountered some orcs, and it would be best for them if they are seen to, as soon as possible. We shall deal with the slavers as soon as we give word to the capital.¡± She commanded, her voice carrying extra weight as she shifted some more of hers onto the bum.

    Before her words ended, Alex had already pulled out a pen and his notepad, scribbling down their location and some additional instructions. Dropping the note down into his shadow, he closed his eyes to focus on parts of the dimensions residing outside of his domain of darkness, tracing a path for it to land right into Lati¡¯s desk.

    It is in no way YOUR dimension, child.

    There was anxiety unsubtly hidden in Fioled¡¯s voice as she bargained, ¡°You don¡¯t understand, they¡¯ll dispose of them all to make sure nobody speaks against them. You can¡¯t wai¨C¡±

    ¡°Enough,¡± his partner instructed, locking eyes with the guild hand, ¡°We are just informing them where they need to send the sanitation crew afterwards. Now, take the carriage outside to the nearest village, and return in a day.¡±

    Whether defiance sprouted up within her or not, her eyes relayed acceptance, bowing her head as she spoke, ¡°Of course, Ma¡¯am.¡± Her head only looked up once as she walked towards the door. Her eyes met his, filled with hope that they would succeed, before the door to the building shut to separate her from the three.

    ¡°No need to be so forceful, Ears. She just wanted to help¡­¡± Alex remarked, crouching to his knees to take a gander at the hobo, his eyes scanning the cloth he was sporting, trying to reveal any secrets they may hold.

    ¡°We know not the strength of who we face, it is best for her and us as well,¡± Elyza defended herself, leaning over the hobo, and he could hear the smile through which the next words came, ¡°I already have you to worry about, do I not?¡±

    He clicked his tongue at her, side-eying her as he snapped his fingers next to the groaning man¡¯s ears. By the twitch that shuddered through his body, his eyes snapping open to see the two leaning over him, it meant that his ears were working, for now.

    ¡°Guten morgen, I sense we¡¯ve got off on the wrong foot,¡± he said grinning, which grew wider as his partner shifted some more weight onto the hobo, continuing, ¡°But my pleasantries are reserved for those who don¡¯t try to kill me without even telling me why.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll never talk,¡± the hobo spat out, his voice growling with fallacious opposition, but his eyes quivered as they gazed at them as they rolled their own.

    ¡°They all said that, they all failed to live up to their promise,¡± Alex mused, gently pulling the hobo¡¯s hat off as he continued, ¡°But here¡¯s the thing Jeff, I¡¯m going to call you Jeff, learning your actual name is too much effort.¡±

    ¡°See Jeff,¡± Elyza played along, adding some pressure as she spoke, ¡°We already know that there are tunnels running under the town, we know most of them will be filled with guards, the more guards we encounter the closer we know we are, and one of them will be more than willing to spill their guts.¡±

    ¡°But, instead of gutting you like my partner wishes to, I¡¯m willing to give you a chance to redeem yourself, or you could die as a spineless disfigured shit speck on the tapestry of history earlier than fate had planned for you.¡±

    ¡°No adventurer can kill without authorisation,¡± Jeff shot back, only to elicit a yawn from Alex.

    ¡°Please,¡± Alex drawled out with a grin, ¡°¡®Adventurer¡¯ is only one of my many titles, but I understand your final stance.¡±

    ¡°We are not¡­¡± Elyza instructed, her voice trailing off as she replaced her foot with the other, relieving some pressure from Jeff¡¯s chest

    Buzzkill.

    Alex sighed as he gestured to her to step back, addressing the hobo with his words, ¡°Unfortunately, my partner has decided the opposite of the voice in my head. However you fit into the organisation, you aren¡¯t important enough, or frankly, threatening enough to be deserving of death.¡±

    With a single thought, as his hand grabbed the air and pulled it upwards, inky tendrils shot up from under the floorboards with a trail of dust. The shadows wrapped around Jeff, pulling him up to the ceiling, the black ropes weaving into the dark of the wood, till he hung like a bat in a cave, tendrils covering his mouth to keep him quiet.

    Modifying his magic till the hobo¡¯s eyes were level to his, Alex pulled out an inked pen to scribble what the duo were planning to do, sticking the quill in Jeff¡¯s hair before remarking, ¡°But I''ll see to it you have a wonderful rest of your life when we¡¯re back.¡±

    He gave him a little pat on the cheek before turning on his heels as he asked, ¡°Where to next, boss?¡±

    His partner closed her eyes, stretching out her hands, causing whispers of air to rush past his ears as they followed her command. He could spot the dust between the wooden boards being dragged by the miniscule vortexes she had created to rake the entire chamber from the ceiling to the floors beneath them. The wind rushed through the room, seeking any space that let them in, anything that seemed peculiar, returning to their wielder. The gale formed a tiny pile of dust at Elyza¡¯s feet before she let them dissipate.

    She did not speak, only gesturing to him to follow, her ears stiffening as they sank towards her hair. The wood seemed not to know it was being traversed upon by others, barely releasing a creek as the two jumped over the counter. His partner guided them towards the back of the building, saying nothing till she stood at one of its corners, kneeling down to run her hand over the gaps of the boards.

    Tracing the black lines in the floor, her fingers slid beneath the wood till they stopped entirely. Elyza stood up, and instructed, ¡°Stand back.¡±

    As the words faded into nothingness, her hand flicked upwards to call upon her halberd, which materialised into her hands silently, only a low grunt emanating from its wielder as the spear¡¯s tip scratched the tapering ceiling. Backing up a bit, his partner held her weapon so that its blade faced the boards, before she hammered it straight down at the wooden floor.

    If it was real, a resounding bang would have rang through the Building as steel struck stone. Instead, the boards cracked completely under the swing, splinters exploding out from the point of impact, some embedding themselves in the beige wooden walls. As Elyza raised her weapon, he could see light seeping up from beneath the planks. Alex was given a better view of the ladder leading into the earth as his partner flipped her halberd, using the hook to move the cracked boards to one side.

    ¡°After you,¡± Elyza proclaimed, her halberd shrinking back around her finger, holding out her hand to help him down.

    Slapping her hand down, sighing playfully, he remarked, ¡°I know the drill, Ears¡­ This has the universe''s payback for giving me impeccable ears and eyes.¡±

    Kicking a piece of wood into the flickering orange tunnel bored into the hard rock, he stood over with his ear angled downwards. He raised his pocket watch to his eyes, staring at the second hand as it trudged on round the brushed bronze face of the clock, noting its each step forward. He waited till his ears picked up the thump of the hunk of wood on the bottom of the tunnel.

    ¡°What¡¯s life without a bit of danger?¡± Alex remarked after the cogs in his head stopped moving, his eyes gleaming as he gave his partner a wink, taking a step onto the absent floor and letting himself fall.

 Chapter 23: No Mercy for the Wicked

    Now.

    Too early.

    The darkness was not a problem, but the orange light that momentarily flooded his senses. His mind had to work overtime to keep his own count in focus as he plummeted down, waiting with his arms tucked close to his chest, for his brain to flip the switch.

    Don¡¯t cut it close, I want this body in pristine condition for myself.

    Such a bleeding heart you have, oh Empress of the Void.

    NOW.

    Unfortunately, her command coincided with his mind telling him the same, and his arms shot towards the sides of the hole in order to drag him to a stop. However, as soon as the threads of his shirt neared the rocks, a rogue strand struck a jagged edge of the granite surrounding him from all sides. The miscalculation had immediate effects, his velocity ground to a halt in what felt like a blink of an eye. His shirt, even with steel threads intertwined through the cloth, couldn¡¯t handle the sudden burst of pressure. The white fabric stood no chance against the roughness of the rock, and the rip would¡¯ve followed the length of his arm if the steel didn¡¯t snag it early, setting off alarms in his head.

    As fast as he was able to, Alex jerked his arms back to his chest, before the sound of his shirt tearing even reached his ears, fighting against the air whipping by them. His mind switched tracks almost instinctively. His consciousness rushed towards the darkness around him, timing it so that the faint flicker of flame wouldn¡¯t slow the spell down, making it race against his own body. Given a somewhat surprising boost by the freeloader in his mind, it delved into the shadow that he was about to be splattered against.

    It collapsed the ground into the abyss, causing umbra swirling upwards to catch their master. The portal to the void was wide enough to accommodate him, the inky sea rising to wrap themselves around his feet. The darkness exerted enough resistance to slow him down to a halt without crumbling his entire spine, the frigid pushing him back to the surface before he could fully submerge. As he rose, the slit to his domain started to mend, the shadows leaving a patch of themselves atop his shirt¡¯s torn threads, and soon he could feel his soles on rock once again.

    Thank you.

    A response would¡¯ve been more surprising. Alex touched the rip in his shirt to find an interim mend already in place. Hovering his hand over it, he stared at the cloth surrounding the black patch, trying to catch every single character it held; colour, lustour, and whatever else one could notice at a glance. Mana seeped out of his hand, floating in the air between, condensing to a mist only a fairy could appreciate before it started to layer upon the umbra.

    First, the inky fabric was concealed by a layer of white, stretching over the edges till it was flush with the cloth. Second, from the edges of the magic, threads appeared to materialise throughout, turning pale, chalky, ivory, to finally settle on a pearl that mimicked the rest of his shirt. And as it neared its end, the entire spell rippled along itself, creating crevices, shifting its lustour to match what surrounded. It all only took him a wave of a hand before even he couldn¡¯t make out the split between the illusion and the rest of his sleeve.

    ¡°Move,¡± His partner¡¯s voice bellowed from above.

    Just as he took a step forward, Elyza appeared behind him, her red hair flickering with the flames in the tunnel. Yet, as her feet shifted from the sides of the ladder to the ground, her green eyes reflected concern along with a shade of olive.

    Gesturing for him to raise his hands to make sure he wasn¡¯t bleeding, she sighed out, ¡°Why must you be this way?¡±

    ¡°The demon in my head asks that every day,¡± Alex replied, holding his hands above his head and twirling for her, his ears catching a hushed echo of a footstep in the process.

    It came from further up the tunnel, but the flickering lanterns that peppered his sight made it harder for him to focus. ¡°Boss, may I take the lead for now?¡± He glanced back at his partner, who took a moment before nodding her answer. ¡°Snuff them out,¡± he directed, delving into the tunnel before a stream of wind rushed beside him, smothering the flames trapped within the lanterns, along with giving him a slight push forward.

    As darkness filled the tunnel, his eyes widened to take as much information as they could, peering through the settling dust in front of him. His feet made no sound as he continued forward, unlike the faint echo that his ears could finally pick up now that the roar of the lanterns. Studying the path, Alex felt his partner¡¯s hand tap twice on his right shoulder, and he responded by pulling out his dagger from his cloak¡¯s shade.

    Gripping it in reverse, he held the blade low to the ground, flattening himself against the right wall, his shoulders grazing the rock as he led the way. His eyes discerned a split in the path ahead, but before he had the chance to deduce which way to align himself to, the sound of footsteps echoed through the tunnel. His ears picked up on the arriving company, meaning Elyza¡¯s warning was correctly informed.

    Slowing to a halt, his back flush to the right side of the tunnel, his dagger rose to his head¡¯s height as he neared the split in the tunnel. The echoes of the footsteps turned booming as they resonated through the tunnel, his mind focusing on the panicked breaths of the one approaching them. Whoever it was, their attempts to keep calm were clearly not working.

    From around the corner came first the point of a spear, and Alex lowered his dagger in order to embed it straight into the arrival¡¯s stomach, only to find Elyza rapping her knuckles on his shoulder. A hesitant glance revealed his partner mouthing the word ¡®bait¡¯. Sighing silently, he threw his dagger to his other hand, catching it just in time. A moment later and he would have missed the spear revealing the grip of its wielder, the weapon pivoting a bit too late to face them.

    His dagger hooked onto the spear¡¯s head, pulling it forward while his free palm struck the staff in front of the guard¡¯s grip, using it as a pivot to rip the weapon from their hand. A smart fighter would have let the spear go as soon as its centre shifted too far from their grip. Luckily, most fighters don¡¯t concern themselves with intelligence. It strained his arms, which wished that the other had just let go, but Alex doubled down, swivelling his entire body to add as much torque as he could.

    The staff snapped as it turned vertical, but the leather armoured boy still had enough momentum to slam into the roof of the tunnel. The wooden supports built into the rock shuddered as he fell down, the wind knocked completely out of his chest, and Elyza stepped over the guard to act as a sentinel for him. His wheezing did nothing to invoke empathy in Alex, who stomped on the guard¡¯s spine as he reached down.

    Pulling the slaver¡¯s arms back, he bent one so that the hand touched its own shoulder, wrapping the appendage around his leg, eliciting a groan from the guard. The other he simply pulled straight upwards, twisting it a bit more with each scream he heard, till he reached the arm¡¯s limit. The slaver¡¯s screams were loud enough to echo through the tunnels twice over, but he needed to ensure the rest of his friends swarmed towards the duo. So, with a simple but firm tug on the arm, a pop reached his ears before being overtaken by a deafening shriek, and as he let go of it, it fell limply to the ground.

    ¡°Calm down, it¡¯s only been dislocated,¡± Alex assured the now weeping man writhing on the ground, stepping back towards his partner, screams still echoing through the tunnel. ¡°What¡¯d you say, boss? Wait and entrap, or push forward?¡±

    Elyza¡¯s ears perked up, angling themselves to point towards the left tunnel path, noticing, he assumed in much greater detail, the barrage of footsteps coming their way. She calmly took out a knife from her pouch, twirling it in her fingers as she answered, ¡°Give them no chance to retaliate.¡±

    Her arm flicked forward just as he peeked to look onto her arriving victims, the knife whipping through the air, poised to embed itself into the grey rock. Elyza stepped into the tunnel just as another donning leather armour turned to greet her knife, the blade striking his stomach. The man¡¯s scream lasted for a moment, before his head was slammed into the wall behind. The addition of his partner¡¯s kick to the slaver¡¯s face, and the concussion he had surely endured, the man slid down the wall coughing out blood as he slumped to the ground.

    Pulling out another knife, she faced a bloodthirsty scream as another slaver emerged from the corner with his sword raised to strike. Elyza tucked in her back foot, shifting her weight backwards to balance herself as her leg shot forward. Her kick connected with the man¡¯s neck, hammering his head into the wall, the crack that followed not from his skull but his iron helmet. Slamming his arm next to him, she wrestled the sword from the slaver¡¯s grip, using its pommel to pummel into his head till she was satisfied he couldn¡¯t figure out up from down.

    Walking towards her first opponent, her knife was ready to strike as soon as she turned the corner. She reached for her first throwing knife, which was soaking in blood and guts, and an iron axe fell upon her. Alex¡¯s hand shot forwards to intercept the attack, wrapping around the attacker¡¯s own, yanking it back towards him. The bone bent around the corner of the tunnel with a heavy and clean snap, the hand losing its grip on the weapon. Clattering to the ground, the sound of the axe resonated with the third guard¡¯s bawl, which was cut short by his partner punching him in the face, knocking him out cold.

    He stepped in front of Elyza, in time to see more guards funnel into the lone lantern¡¯s light at the far end of the tunnel. Drawn to the screams of those before them, he noticed the slavers¡¯ eyes struggling to lock onto him, something Alex was quick to exploit. With a snap of his finger, his hand was engulfed in flame, illuminating his and only his face as he spoke, ¡°Greetings, you dastardly bastards. I hope you all don¡¯t mind that I let myself in, but I care not for your opinions or the futile attempts of winning your mind is currently cooking up.¡±

    Out from the dark of his cloak, he pulled out his gleaming bronze xiphos, as the men in front split to let through a guard clad in iron armour. Waving the double sided sword in front of the orange blaze, Alex made sure to scratch its tip on both the walls that flanked him, causing sparks to fall to his feet. As soon as the iron garb tried to speak, he immediately interrupted with his own words.

    ¡°Ah, unfortunately it seems that my blade is too long for this fight, if you give me a moment¡¯s reprieve¡­¡± Alex requested, leaning to reach his calves, aiming to retrieve a non-existent knife. As his head cleared her sight line, Elyza immediately flung forward two knives, with enough force to make the steel whistle. They cleaved the air to reach their target, unquestionably aided by their wielder, striking the armour clad man twice. One slid in between a gap in his helmet, the second shearing through the flimsy iron chestplate, embedding itself in his ribs.

    ¡°Forgot to mention, I brought company as well,¡± Alex remarked, standing straight once again, giving the shocked slavers a quick grin before the flames in his hand were replaced with a torrent of lightning flooding the tunnel, followed by an ear shattering screech.

    The purple shone so brightly that it even blinded its evoker, momentarily causing him to freeze, his partner vaulting over his shoulders to exploit the opportunity in his behest. Sight was not necessary to take a step forward, and a quick dash as his eyes readjusted to the dark was even simpler. His sight returned, albeit still blurry, as he felt the crunch of metal beneath his boot. Quickly glancing down, he saw the iron armoured slaver breathing heavily as Alex stepped off of him. He was lying next to a group of his brethren, scars etched onto their leather armour by his magic, the smell of smouldering flesh accompanying the sight.

    Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.

    Lingering on a sight in any other battle would¡¯ve been a death sentence. However, as Elyza stabbed two of the five guards not currently lying face down with soiled pants, that didn¡¯t seem to be an issue. ¡°Save some for me, Ears,¡± Alex remarked, smacking one with the flat of his xiphos, flicking the blade back to slice across the man¡¯s chest, carving the leather chestpiece in two. He slid beneath his partner¡¯s arm as she pummelled the two stabbed slavers into each other. Kicking another guard paralysed by the sudden change of their fortune, he flipped back to his feet, reaching over the keeling woman to parry an attack by her partner over her.

    Dragging his xiphos¡¯ edge down to the guard of his opponent''s sword, Alex forced it to point back towards the man. As he did, he struck the one beneath the blades, bashing into the woman''s face with his knee. Blood dripped down to stain the ground, while he pulled out his dagger, using its crossguard to wrench control of the slaver¡¯s sword. Embedding his dagger into the wall, a puff of dust shot sideways as the blade split apart the rock, the sword hanging from it.

    Through the dust Alex yanked the slaver over the coughing woman beneath, slamming him into the ground. His partner refused to give the man any refuge as she stomped on his chest. Leaving only one, who collapsed as he tapped the side of her head with his finger.

    ¡°You know, being assassins and all, shouldn¡¯t we at least try to be sneakier than this?¡± Alex remarked, retrieving his dagger from its mineral sheath, wiping off the blood before it seeped into his pants.

    Elyza flipped the two whining bodies at her feet, yanking her knives from their collars before she answered, ¡°It is mostly because of your theatrical tendencies.¡±

    Bowing to his partner, with as much embarrassment as he could muster while still keeping his grin, he apologised, ¡°I apologise, boss. This will definitely happen again¡­¡±

    As he attempted to say more, his words were cut off by a voice bellowing through the tunnel, its anger echoing through the walls, distorting what it was trying to convey. Yet, his ears still attempted to interpret the noise, and after a moment¡¯s reprieve to think over what they had heard, Alex remarked, ¡°I¡¯m seldom wrong, but even I find it hard to believe that we¡¯ve just been called ¡®stupid whore¡¯ by the rocks.¡±

    ¡°I can not argue against your hearing,¡± she confirmed his suspicions, wiping off the blood from her knives to ready them for reuse.

    No words were exchanged as he walked down the tunnel, his partner protecting his flank as they navigated the passageways. Soon they came upon another split in the way, but his gut favoured one rather than the other, ignoring the path that had been smoothed over by soles a thousand times over. The voice stayed silent, only a few grunts and the rattling of armour seeping through the tunnel.

    Turning another corner, like he had done many before, he found the passageway dotted with iron doors, at least ten of them, lanterns in front of each. Each seemed to be locked, and peering inside the ones they crossed, they found nothing of note, but suddenly, his ears perked up. They recognised the sound of struggle, muffled screams reaching them, and with them, tears dripping to the floor.

    Door number six.

    Her words were alarmingly uncaptivating for once, the facade the Empress had worn for most of his life gave way to what Alex knew her truly as. A universal force that could crush armies with a single thought. The essence of darkness herself. Her loathing threatened to spill over his mind, and for once he had no idea what had caused the sudden change.

    The door appeared to be open, the sounds starting to become more guttural and desperate with each inch he got closer. His mind was finally able to decipher it completely, his ears picking up the two different people in the noise, and he hoped that they were wrong. Taking in a deep breath, he slammed his foot into the steel door, kicking right below the handle. The door shuddered as it hit the rock wall, before ropes of umbra anchored it to the rock, preventing it from bouncing back into Alex.

    His mind was silent as he saw a slaver jolt up in the corner of the room, hurriedly retrieving the sword thrown nearby on the ground. The man shouted something at him, tugging his pants back to their place, but his attention was drawn to the girl in the corner, curling up to hold herself. He could hear her snivelling, her arms and legs riddled with deep scratches, her skin bearing numerous red patches, and her eye bruised to a point that her skin had split, dried blood where her dark circles should¡¯ve been. Her face reminded her of the last time he saw his sister, and that thought was stored deep within him, alongside his cherished memories as he let his mind fill with rage.

    But he froze, staring at the man, whose mouth was open, but he heard no words. Something recent, something he had promised himself to follow, something he knew had no chance of happening stopped him from dropping the slaver from this plane of existence. Allowing the man a moment, Alex''s mind opened up to hear his words.

    ¡°WHO THE FUC¨C¡± That was all that he needed to hear, his hand shooting forward, and in a rare display of camaraderie, his freeloader allowed him to tap entirely into her domain. Shadows erupted from his own, tendrils of umbra turning to blades, cleaving the man¡¯s sword in two, and with it, his arm too.

    He was not worthy of the relief of a scream, Alex yanking his arm backwards, causing the dark tentacles to envelop the slaver, muffling whatever noise that could¡¯ve escaped. As the shadows dragged him back, they constricted, from the bottom up, allowing only the cracks of his bones to echo through the room, and preferably echo forever in the man¡¯s skull. Forcing the slaver¡¯s knees to bend with a flex of his fingers, the two kneecaps snapping in half as his femurs became parallel to his thighs.

    Alex held him aloft, tendrils slithering out of the crying man¡¯s shadows, waiting to drag him to the depths when given the command by their master. ¡°Don¡¯t be under the false assumption that death will give you any reprieve. There is no place for monsters like you, and if you somehow manage to slip through the cracks, I will personally make you face oblivion,¡± He said calmly, his voice warbling as some of the Empress seeped through his words.

    There was no answer, at least no discernable one, through his sobs, and so, Alex put his fingers on the slaver¡¯s eyes, and helped them shut close. With a snap of his fingers, tendrils invaded the slaver¡¯s throat, towing him behind them in a procession as they sank back down into the darkness. He would drown slowly, stuck just above the plane of light, freezing in the ocean of shadows with a false, and fleeting, hope for freedom.

    ¡°Elyza,¡± Alex spoke into the room, trying to calm down his mind, wanting to focus his energy on someone who deserved it.

    ¡°Behind you,¡± His partner reassured, keeping a hand on his shoulder, and squeezing once. He felt the touch, but his attention was fully on the girl in the corner.

    Even in the darkness, he could see her eyes completely empty, staring at the floor. She was used to this, her mind retreated back into a shell, in an attempt to shield her from horror she was not yet ready to deal with. Her entirety had started to shiver, her knuckles whitening as her hands clasped her knees. The room was starting to fill with the quickening breaths, the drip of tears down her face slowing down to a crawl.

    Alex despised the idea that he was helpless at the moment to help the girl, yet he knew that it would take time for such scars to heal. He turned to his partner, kneeling to the ground to call upon a ball of umbra from his shadow, his palms bustling with electricity as he retrieved the inky sphere. Delving into his memories, he moulded the sphere accordingly, fueling the spell with his mana, and sustaining it with his lightning. It did not need to be perfect to his vision, so the layer of mist that descended upon it weaved lazily to create a barrier to the magic, a thin veil of illusion forming a jacket for the shadows.

    ¡°Go clear the path forward, I will handle the girl, she may know where the rest of the beastmen are being imprisoned,¡± Elyza muttered, holding her hands out to receive whatever he was creating. Her ears fell before perking up, her expression mirroring their confusion and amazement as Alex plopped down a tiny kitten in her arms, its wispy fur as dark as his cloak, and just as soft.

    ¡°Follow the screams, Ears, I¡¯ll make sure to keep them frequent,¡± He remarked, forcing a grin to appear as he stared into his partner¡¯s forest green eyes. As they reflected himself back at him, he saw the worry in them, and his faux grin turned real, mumbling as he squeezed past her, ¡°It¡¯s heartwarming that you¡¯re concerned about me, Ears. Just need some¡­ tension alleviation.¡±

    As he walked back through the tunnels, absentmindedly following the map in his brain, he hoped to find someone, anyone. He needed to release the lightning coursing through him, the rage, the anger, the doubts. The want to just act was greater than ever, threatening to boil over, and he could feel Elina hovering at the back of his mind, waiting for her chance to steal the reins.

    And then, at last, as he turned the last significant corner he could remember, the ground became smooth as sand underneath his soles. In front of him was a mob of slavers, who froze where they stood, clearly surprised to see him, whether that was due to fear was yet to be seen. As if they had choreographed it, the slavers pulled out their weapons in unison, and Alex couldn¡¯t help but grin.

    Lanterns lined the tunnel, and with a snap of his fingers, all but the one closest to him were swallowed by their shadows, engulfing the passage in black. ¡°I only say this because I have no other choice,¡± Alex¡¯s voice echoed off of the walls, ¡°Leave if fear of facing the other side still lurks in your mind.¡±

    There was a quiet murmur at the back of the group, before it was quickly hushed. ¡°Perfect,¡± Alex remarked, letting his grin grow long.

    His order rippled the darkness they sat in, causing strings of ink to emerge from the shade, crawling over the walls, the ceiling, and the floor, and even creeping through the air. They were called to his feet, shadows bending towards him, as a swirling typhoon of umbra stole their darkness to fuel itself. The pillar rose till its peak lay above his eyes, the inky gales becoming more feral, lashing out like whips. Yet they worked, forming a connection with the domain of darkness, and as Alex commanded it upwards, the whirlpool melted back into the shadows to reveal his claymore.

    The charcoal black and crimson red sword could not be separated by the darkness that it stood upon, only the edges of its colossal and tapered blade revealed the brilliant metal it was forged from. Its gem core gave out a subtle weak glow, struggling even to surpass the wisps of shadow that emanated from the surrounding metal. The glow was charged by lightning, as Alex¡¯s entire body convulsed with purple arcs of electricity.

    Pulsing down his arms, using his hands as a medium to feed his sword, the lightning danced across the metal, patches of the crimson gem shining as they felt the touch of his magic. The blade crackled violently, shining like the sky did as sunset, a mesmerising amalgamation of vivid orange and deep violet, before it just stopped. The lightning ceased to exist, only remnants of it jumping in between his hands as they held onto the claymore¡¯s grip, yet still he fed. Slowly, as the charcoal blade consumed the last of his spell, the core started to glow with an unmatched warmth, seemingly doing nothing but blinding the slavers, who stood frozen still.

    The charcoal blade started to burn, the jewel running the claymore¡¯s length doing what it was designed to do, relaying his mana through the sword. However, it was not pulsing the metal with lightning, instead the crimson gem was feeding on his mana, instead of dispersing it. The entire blade started to glow orange, the air sizzling as it stood ready to be wielded by him, the sound echoing through the tunnel. Dissipating the shadows it stood on, Alex held the sword in the air, taking a deep breath as he focused on sustaining its hunger with himself.

    He swung the sword to rest on his shoulders, caring for what it may encounter in the process. As the metal touched the rock that had been carved by men, it cleaved through it as if it was cold butter, leaving a trail of blackened molten goo that briefly fell before solidifying back into stone. The air filled with the smell of burnt earth, as strings of rock that lingered on the edge of his blade evaporated under the heat they faced. His cloak protected him from the gem singeing his skin entirely, the edge resting peacefully on the cloth, and his meagre control over flames allowed him to absorb the heat that it emanated.

    Alex¡¯s grin dropped as he held his claymore in front him, his feet naturally shifting to their positions in the stance, and as he spoke, his voice refused to echo off of the walls, ¡°Finally.¡±

    <u>FINALLY.</u>

 Chapter 24: Repercussions

    The girl trembled as screams echoed through the tunnel, muffled by the lengths they had to travel to reach the room. Elyza crouched to her knees, struggling as the cat made of ink tried furiously to escape her arms, wanting to make its way to the girl, whose gaze was still glued to the stone floor. Biting into her shirt made no difference, only resulting in an annoyed meow by the feline when she instead focused on approaching the corner without startling the youngster.

    ¡°Hello,¡± She spoke, forcing her ears to fall so they wouldn¡¯t stick out like the antennas of a bug, trying to curve her mouth into a slight smile. Using the voice she reserved only for her bees, she extended a shoulder to the girl with her words, ¡°Could you tell me your name?¡±

    As she offered her hand to the girl, she recoiled from it, shoving her body into the jagged walls, still not taking her eyes off of the rock beneath her. Elyza couldn¡¯t imagine what had been done to her, but as the girl crawled backwards, her hair shifted and out popped two ears, almost the same as the cat she held in her arm, except the child¡¯s were coloured a sandy brown like her hair. There was a pause as she wondered whether her partner had noticed the connection or it was plain dumb luck, before a bang shook the earth around them, no doubt Alex¡¯s doing.

    The booming sound lingered, its aftershocks still bouncing off the rocks, causing the girl to quiver as more tears streamed down her face. She could not see any other way to connect with the child, at least not while her mind had severed itself from reality. Realising so, Elyza gently placed the cat down to the floor, its legs of darkness stretching to welcome the ground, purring as a thanks to her restrainer. The sound strummed her heart, as comforting as her mother¡¯s voice, and it reached the girl as well.

    Her eyes were no longer fixed to the rocks, shut tightly instead, her breathing rapidly increasing with shallower and shallower breaths. Elyza could sense the ongoing turmoil within her, whether to return to existence and be hurt once again, or, as the girl turned her head into the wall, refrain and hope to survive within her mind forever.

    Its paws made no noise, instead leaving wisps of ink that dissipated as they rose into the air, the black cat hurriedly striding towards the child. Meowing for attention, it received none, so it nudged the girl¡¯s arm with its head, rubbing her hand with her ears. The child¡¯s hand quivered, opening a bit as it felt the strands of fur, before immediately clenching into a fist to stop herself. The cat let out a trill of annoyance, pawing at the girl to pay it her undying attention, and when refused, it nibbled on her finger to elicit a response.

    Failing to get one, the feline burrowed under the girl, crawling behind her back, purring as it rubbed against her skin. It climbed up the wall as it nuzzled the girl¡¯s face, shoving its eyes in front of hers, pawing at her cheek as the cat licked the dried tears off of it. The girl finally reacted, her hands rising slowly, wrapping around the cat''s shadowy coat, but instead of pushing it away, she buried her face into its fur.

    Her quiet and muffled sobs were hidden by the cat¡¯s deep purrs of approval, who continued cleaning her with its tongue. There was a silence as the girl shifted her body to curl up around the animal; Elyza would¡¯ve been worried about suffocation if she didn¡¯t know the true nature of the cat. She let the girl cry, to rid herself of whatever was plaguing her mind, to let it settle back on reality, to be healed enough to listen and possibly help.

    ¡°Hello,¡± Elyza began again, sitting with crossed legs as her mind raced to think of a name for the fluffy ball of ink that the girl was wrapping around her head. ¡°I know this may be a lot to ask of you, but me and¡­ Squid,¡± She stopped a sigh at her own creativity from escaping her lips as she continued, ¡°We need to find the rest, the other prisoners, and we will be able to help them faster if we had someone to guide us through the tunnels.¡±

    Studying the girl, Elyza noticed her shoulders were tense, but her eyes had finally opened, the empty look in her yellow eyes slowly being replaced with resoluteness with a healthy dose of both doubt and suspicion. Yet, now holding the cat like a baby, using a hand to support its butt, she struggled to her feet, and Elyza did not attempt to help her. Standing once again, Elyza nodded towards the girl as she gave her a way towards the exit. The child hesitated, staring deeply into the fur of the feline, letting herself get lost in the tapestry of night moulded from shadows.

    The hesitation allowed Elyza to study her for a moment, and her emerald eyes devoured every detail it could. The girl¡¯s head only reached just beneath her chest, every part of her exposed skin riddled with burn, bruises, and cuts, her back slouched forwards as her calloused and bloody hands offered her back Squid.

    Smiling, she stroked the cat''s chin, causing it to purr before she spoke, ¡°You should hang onto her, if she¡¯s anything like her owner, she¡¯ll drag us into trouble and then act superior when she gets us out of it. It''s best if you keep her with you at all possible moments.¡±

    She flicked her hand into the air, her halberd spinning out from her fingers, wind swirling around it before she caught it, slamming its butt into the ground. As the sound echoed through the tunnels, so did the air under her will, flowing through the corridors to scout ahead for unwelcome company. However, Elyza was more focused on the happiness that had flooded the girl¡¯s eyes for a second as she held the cat close to her, before it was sealed away again.

    ¡°Would you like me to take the lead for a while?¡± Elyza asked, getting a nod from the child, ¡°Left or Right?¡± The girl answered by pointing with the cat¡¯s paw the opposite direction from where she had arrived, further down the corridor lined with doors.

    Fortunately, checking each room they came across, she was only met with dark, dingy, and empty cells, the only signs of life being the scurrying of rats as they ran across her feet. But with each step they took, the girl¡¯s movements became more sluggish, flinching at the sound of the wind, the crack of the lanterns¡¯ flame. Her breathing had become ragged, grunts of pain as she moved her legs, she was exerting herself past what her body could deal with. Elyza wanted to help her, but whether the girl would drink something handed to her, or even let her come close, was a question she already knew the answer to.

    The rattle of armour wormed its way into her ears, hidden beneath her own breaths, and her instinct yanked her from her thoughts. Her hand shot sideways, halting their stride immediately. She gestured towards the girl to stay close to the ground, her voice unwavering as she instructed, ¡°Keep behind. I will ensure none can reach you, but if I am otherwise occupied, do not hesitate to use Squid as a weapon, she will probably be able to take care of any aggravator.¡±

    Delving into her pouch, her fingers delved between the different layers, diving to the very bottom, her mind subconsciously naming each variety of seed they encountered. She ignored all of them, her hand wading down to the sag in the leather, down to a sticky patch she had woven into the cloth. Her skin encountered the squished ovoids glued to the cloth, and she retrieved all of them.

    With a thought, her halberd shrunk back under her gauntlets, wind replacing the weapon, whirling around her hand as the other readied the seeds. Her soles made no noise, but the feet of the girl smacked against the rocky floor, dirt crackling under them, the sound hushing the child¡¯s panicked breathing with each inch the two crept forward.

    Elyza could hear the spattering of fire approaching further, harsher than the low murmur of the lanterns that flanked her, whose flames were soon extinguished with a wave of her hand. Nearing the end of the corridor, as it started to curve, warm light bounced off the wall opposite her eyes, the roar of torches growing louder. She stopped, crouching to let her hand trace the ground, and the air behind her followed the command. The gale crept along the rocks, rushing past her legs, carrying with it the seeds she released in its paths.

    They rattled as they hit the rocks, descending deeper forward without cracking, kept stable by the little mana she had infused in them. Rising to her feet, Elyza glanced backwards to check upon the girl, who was a few metres back, flattened against the wall, hugging Squid as hard as she could. She had to wait as the light of the torch became clearer, the clanging of iron greaves announcing the arrival of the group of slavers, as their chatter became clearer to her.

    ¡°¡­can¡¯t be just one, can it?¡± A voice spoke, louder with each second, another replying, ¡°We¡¯ll smoke however many bastards there are, probably get a bonus for each rat we catc¨C¡±

    The moment the man stepped out from the protection that the curve of the rock provided him, Elyza shot forward, knife in hand, focusing a kick through his chest. He was almost as quick, his sword flashing as it reflected the flames of the torch, held in one hand while the other aimed the blade at her neck.

    The steel found its path stopped by wood as the halberd materialised in her hand, shooting up to the ceiling, the blade embedding itself into the rock above. Its shaft clanged against the sword, the fibres of the ironwood denting the edge, as her other hand plunged the knife into the man¡¯s throat. Blood shot out of the wound, as quickly as her halberd shrunk back around her finger, freeing her hand immediately. The man lost grip on his sword, which clattered to the floor, his hand grabbing his neck to slow the bleeding, causing blood to cascade down. Grabbing his other hand, she twisted the palm till the torch fell to meet his weapon, allowing her to glance further down the corridor to analyse the situation. Her eyes landed upon a small battalion frozen on their feet at the other end, the few eyes she could see, those not hidden beneath the shade of helmets, still had not comprehended what had happened.

    Turning on her heels, she dragged the man behind her, gathering speed as she swung it round, catapulting the body towards the rest of the slavers. As it flew through the air, Elyza flicked up the fallen sword with her feet, grabbing the blade as it bounded upwards, air swirling around her. The wind whipped down her arm, swirling around the sword as she swung it forward, releasing a blade of concentrated pressure that tore through the airborne body. Guts spilled down to the rocks as the now split man fell upon his once brethren, and a few moments later the wind blade sheared through the armour of the vanguard behind him.

    Unfortunately, the spell had lost enough magic to only slice through their armour, its power insufficient to draw blood. But that was not the case for long, more blades following the first, purposely weaker this time, managing her flow of mana in order to only expose as much skin as she could. Cracks appeared in the steel of the sword as it struggled to funnel her magic properly. She could feel the weakness in the metal blade, and the slavers had noticed as well, advancing even through the barrage of magic, although it was just a few metres. The blade struck one, embedding itself into the lone warrior¡¯s eye, delving into the skull till the steel broke through the other end, the squelch echoing through the tunnel. Yet, the rest still stepped forward, even as their brethren collapsed dead.

    Elyza could feel the seeds scattered in front of her, brimming with her mana, ready to unravel, but she delayed their release till the time was perfect. The sight of her calmly pouching her knife as she stood unmoving, staring daggers into their skin as her eyes scanned each and every one of them, slowed the slavers¡¯ to a crawl. They were expecting a trap.

    ¡°Stay clear of their leaves, cover your nose when you walk through, I will attempt to keep them contained,¡± She whispered back to the girl, who was peering round the corner with her bright yellow eyes. Hiding one hand behind her back, mists of mana concentrated into lines that reflected hues of purple and green, a glyph evolving into a circle. The different layers of the spell rotated conversely as it prepared itself to be unleashed.

    ¡°Gaiste agus a mhar¨²,¡± Her voice echoed off the walls, and the seeds followed her command, bursting from their shells with a spectacular flurry. Green vines shoving whatever they encountered upwards, wrapping around most of the slavers, crushing them before they were slammed into the ceiling, causing the entire tunnel to rumble under the assault. The vines turned brown, hardening as more emerged from them, splitting into nubs that grew leaves that brandished thousands of needles on their surface. The viridescent hearts smothered whatever semblance of flesh they could find, and instantly the corridor was filled with screams.

    The shrieks lasted for just a moment, as more leaves grew to cover the slavers¡¯ faces, forming a mask over their mouths to muffle the screams. Sewing their mouths shut, the thin syringes covering the green fabric of the leaflets delivered the toxin that that had already fermented within. The leaves fluttered as the plant¡¯s victims tried to scream them away, only causing them to grip tighter as their bodies wriggled fruitlessly against its solid vines, not even groaning under the weight. Little of the skin being assaulted could be seen, and even if it could, the Gympie left no trace of its existence. The shaking did release some of the needles into the air, her eyes spotting them gleaming under the sputtering flames of the fallen torches.

    As they floated down, still carrying remnants of their poison within them, the needles posed no danger for her, but the girl was weak already. So, she extended her mind to the surrounding air, commanding it to flow forward calmly, wanting to disturb the hovering shrapnel as little as possible, pushing them to the flanking walls. They floated back from whence they came, embedding themselves into those hanging from the vine, who still fought against the pain. Their bodies trembled, their muscles contorted, the crack of bones echoing along with their muffled crying as they struggled to escape. A rogue stinger floated in front of Elyza, and as she held out her palms to receive it, it wasted no chance to sting her.

    Immediately, her skin burned, as if she had dipped it in acid. Her nerves felt exposed, lightning flowing through her muscles, trying to bend them in ways not designed to, burning whatever was remotely near to the affected area. But it was a sensation she was well acquainted with, and it failed to run up her hand, its ferocity lasting for only a moment before it became a dull throb, giving her body an excuse to energise her further.

    Letting go of the command over the air, her flow of mana halted as well, stopping the sustenance that fuelled her druidcraft. The Gympie¡¯s vines dried, yet its leaves still stuck onto the slavers¡¯ skin, their thorns latching into any pores that allowed it, still pumping into their system the remnants of the toxin. The thrashing reduced to unmotivated trembling, their brains finally succumbing to the relentless agony. There were two that had escaped the same fate, standing silently in the flickering light of the dying torches. She gave them a chance, a moment of hesitation on her part, a chance to save themselves from the Norn¡¯s ire.

    As soon as they unsheathed their weapons, they squandered their chance. Her halberd appeared in her hand as Elyza raised it above her head, and she did not need the aid of wind to catapult the spearhead through the tunnel. It hurtled through the air, unfortunately missing its mark as one ducked under the pole, but a rogue gust of wind flicked the halberd towards the other. The head of the spear tore through the bones of the man, crackling under the sudden mass of the weapon, pinning his body to the wall, the blood pouring from the cavity.

    It gave the first the opportunity to rush forward, her axe rising in one hand and the left engulfed in ice as a glyph ballooned into existence. Elyza¡¯s thoughts rushed towards her weapon, and her hand shot towards trailed them. The halberd followed her command perfectly, pirouetting back into a ring, as a funnel of wind came rushing from behind the remaining slaver, whisking her jade band back towards her. The serpent gave a weak glow as it stabilised, almost seeming alive as the ring spun towards her, before the halberd sprung from it once again. As the staff materialised into solidity, her fingers wrapping around it, the engraved steel hook snapped into existence in between the slaver¡¯s neck, ripping her throat as it carried the momentum of the wind.

    The oesophagus snapped immediately, her hand freezing as the rune lost control, the axe clattering to the ground as the hand that dropped it rushed to cover the gaping hole in the neck. She let out her last, and painful, wheeze, as her mouth opened to say something, yet nothing came out, the slaver falling to her knees, clawing at her face, trying to force herself to breathe.

    ¡°The path forward has been cleared,¡± Elyza spoke, her head turning to gaze at the girl, whose eyes were still in apt attention, unfazed by the bodies strewn about. She said nothing as the child emerged from the cover, Squid busy grooming herself, taking a moment to look around, before deciding the girl¡¯s face needed her attention next.

    Pulling out her water flask, she clicked her tongue twice, causing the cat to leap from the child¡¯s arms. Squid bounded towards her, meowing as she received the bottle, before promptly returning to the girl. ¡°Drink up,¡± Elyza advised, gesturing to do the same.

    ¡°It seems to be a search party, no doubt for you,¡± she added, her words honeyed no more after the ordeal she had, and let out a deep sigh after they faded. She had not intended to speak out loud, but it seemed her partner¡¯s habit of frequently speaking to himself had spread. At least the tiny little Alex in the back of her mind was quieter than when the Empress held influence within it, and not as prone to suggesting random acts of violence.

    Elyza looked to the girl, who was too busy emptying the lemon water her leather flask held to notice the comment, but still she felt the need to clarify, ¡°I apologise, that may have sounded bad spirited, I tend not be around children much.¡±

    The girl froze in place, swallowing the last of the liquid, Squid wrapped around her neck, warming her up. ¡°Further encounters are unlikely, and my ability to guide us further is rather questionable, could you help?¡± Elyza asked, her voice warming with each word, as soft as it could get.

    The girl¡¯s skin wasn¡¯t as pale anymore, her movements no longer sluggish as she walked towards her, wiping the dried blood off her hands with the leather flask before handing it back. Yet, the girl spoke nothing, simply bowing before squeezing beside her, returning Squid between her hands. Holding the cat closer to her chest than before, the child walked into the darkness without the aid of light, and without any hesitation.

    Elyza followed, keeping a wall of wind alive in front of the girl, a barrier to ensure she could protect her from any unforeseen encounters. Fortunately, as the two navigated the labyrinth of corridors with the flanking torches deciding to provide illuminance on their own accord, their journey progressed unhindered. However, the further they delved, the more the girl¡¯s grip strengthened around Squid, her feet struggling to tread the gravely floor beneath, her shoulders sagging under an invisible weight. There was more pain to come for her, yet she did not stop, her breath wavering as she turned corner after corner.

    Sniffing the air, her entire body rejected whatever was wafting through it, a shiver running through her spine as Elyza forced herself to take another step. She could almost see the stink, as if she was trudging once again through the sewers of the Capital, if it had somehow managed to grow even more rotten. The stench of iron and rust hid beneath the assault on the senses, an omen worse than the existence of what overpowered it, her mind already preparing itself, and her lungs steeled themselves as it grew even stronger. The girl seemed to be doing the opposite, the rhythm of her steps ascending with each passing movement, and she did not know whether it was from joy or apprehension.

    And then they arrived, to a door they had seen dozens of times before, made of steel with hinges of iron that were splattered with orange rust. It stood there, holding the miasma of scents at bay, like the seal of a teleporting gate that had tapped into a long forgotten dimension. Yet, she still reached with her hand to open it when the girl froze, shielding her eyes with the dozing Squid, who was woefully uninterested in the whole accord.

    As it creaked forward, its hinges somehow glided smoothly as if absent from rust yet also stuck  randomly as if it was made only from the orange dust. Her eyes took a moment to adjust to the dim illuminance that was being cast down by the cracked crystals that ran the length of the hall. Their blue light fought for control over the orange flames of the torches, and it would¡¯ve been preferable if they fell to the shadows as her eyes scanned the area. Through the steel bars stared empty, distant, defiant, and hopeful eyes, ranging every single hue of the rainbow. There was nothing linking them, not age, gender, species, or number of appendages. She spotted a bakeneko lying on the floor with greying and matted orange fur, a huddled family of Luins whose scales had become dried and faded this far from the sea, and the last thing she let herself notice was a kneeling minotaur who¡¯s horns had been sawed off, smashing her head into the wall.

    He was right, it is weird how they are named after the most infamous representation of themselves.

    Reaching for her pouch, her hands unhooked the bag of seeds to hold it in one hand as the other sifted through its layers. Elyza grabbed a handful of ivy stones, as those that weren¡¯t sleeping reached through the bars to beg for help, the tired ones murmuring in their native tongue, the more aware ones able to mutter a few words in that of the land. Most of them, even in elvish, multiple dialects of arabic, dwarfish, latin, and some languages she never had the chance to hear before, they all pleaded for freedom. But the girl was the priority, and as she stopped and peered expectantly into each single cell, Elyza followed, scattering some seeds at the barred doors, infusing them with mana as they fell.

    Every single time, and with every single cell, the girl put her head as far as she could in between the bars. Her yellow eyes searched with Squid riding her head, the feline¡¯s matching pair doing the same, her fur failing to blend in with the child¡¯s dirty blonde hair. She was unsure where the person she was looking for was held, but her enthusiasm remained unaffected as she raced to the next. Each time, however, Elyza could feel the doubt in her head compound, fear in her muscles she was trying to push away and failing. The girl was trying to keep her hopes up, even after seeing the bruised, battered and bloody state of the prisoners, the grey bricks of their cells caked with red and brown. Yet, the smell of vomit and faeces did not dissuade the girl¡¯s spirit, her eyes still keeping a glimmer of hope alive within them.

    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

    The farther into the chamber they walked, the more restless Squid became. She meowed at the girl, pulling her hair, nibbling her ears, even jumping down from her seat to bite the child¡¯s ankles, trying whatever she could to halt her. It was not hard to deduce why, but Elyza knew the girl would not rest till she learned of the truth, so she picked up Squid against the cat¡¯s wishes and let the girl continue, dropping the seeds of her spell behind their steps.

    The cat¡¯s breathing became more erratic as they neared the end of the row, hissing at Elyza to let her down, her claws dropping to defend the girl from something, or someone, getting closer to them. She did not budge, her hands containing the cat effortlessly with the protection of her gauntlets, Squid¡¯s claws not even scratching the surface of the metal. And as they approached another cell, the rusted and putrid door no different from those that came before, the feline froze entirely.

    Her cries were voiceless, claws retreating back into her shadowy paws, as she reserved herself to watch, just like the one who restrained her. Elyza¡¯s stomach would have dropped as her eyes adjusted to the unnatural dark of the cell, almost as if the shadows were trying to obscure whoever lay within. The darkness sustained itself for a mere moment, before retreating to allow the two to gaze upon the lone prisoner.

    A man was propped up against the back of the cell, his back hunched so badly that his own head rested in between his knees. On the wall behind him, hanging limplessly with ship nails battered through their centre were, presumably, the man¡¯s hands. The fingers had streaks of dried blood running down its skin, the ends reddened by some kind of blunt force trauma, and squinting revealed that they lacked any kind of fingernails. She could see that the wrists had been gnawed off by a dull knife, or the teeth of an animal. It also revealed to Elyza the nature of the man, with ears of a cat similar to the girl¡¯s, sliced in half, his hair a darker shade of brown, with a few streaks of grey littered in between. He lay motionless, the sway of his back, the trembling of his muscles as it was exposed to the frigid floor, all the little ticks of life were absent from his body.

    He could not breathe, and he had not taken a breath for at least four days. The man was dead, but the girl had not noticed the same, hope clouding her mind from reality. She tried yanking the door ajar, her thin fur covered arms fighting against the weight of the metal, but failed to budge it. Grabbing a hold of the bars, she dropped Squid, who squeezed in between the iron rods, crawling till she was curled up next to the body. Elyza positioned her hands next to the girl¡¯s, and pushed upwards, abusing the half hinges of the door to pop it forwards. Keeping it away from the floor, she allowed the girl space to wriggle between her and the door, resting it against the wall as the child kneeled in front of the man.

    ¡°Papa,¡± the girl spoke, her voice wavering as she patted the man¡¯s ears. Her hand quivered as it held the man¡¯s cheek, pulling his head upwards to touch his forehead with hers, she continued in her own tongue, ¡°I¡¯ve returned, papa, I kept my promise, I survived.¡±

    Her dad¡¯s head slumped to the side, falling out of her grip, his body following it, falling to the one side. The girl crawled closer to the body, whose eyes were staring aimlessly into Elyza¡¯s, its mouth propped open by a tongue drier than leather. ¡°We can finally leave, papa, go to that place you were talking about, what mama wanted us to do, you promised I would get to see the coast,¡± The longer the girl spoke, the harder it was to understand her, her throat choked by the held back tears.

    The dam finally broke, the girl falling into the corpse¡¯s arms, hugging him with all her might, nestling her head into his chest. Her voice was muffled by the ragged clothes of her dad, trying to reason against reality, ¡°Come back, we can leave, I¡¯ll be good from now on. Come back. Please.¡±

    Squid arrived at her side, only to not be noticed by the girl, yet she stayed, licking the tears off the girl as the latter tried to convince her father. ¡°I will never forgive you if you leave me alone again¡­ just come back to me. I want to leave¡­ we can finally leave,¡± The girl struggled to utter the words through her sobs, hugging the body tighter when Squid tried to push her back.

    Elyza walked behind the girl, crouching next to her as she put a hand on her shoulder, which was surprisingly allowed. She did not know what to say, her mind racing to find ways to put the girl¡¯s mind at ease, but as she looked into the man¡¯s lifeless eyes, her gaze was intercepted by Squid¡¯s. The cat¡¯s yellow eyes went from cutting into her soul to becoming almost endless to stare into, her master¡¯s voice speaking through the bottomless pupils, or just the one at the back of her mind.

    Squeezing her shoulder twice caused the child¡¯s eyes to open through her tears, and Elyza nodded to the girl, gesturing for the child to leave with a shake of her head. ¡°No,¡± The girl pleaded, hugging the body tighter, ¡°He can¡¯t be gone, he promised me¡­¡± Her voice trembled, gasping for air through her sobs, giving Elyza a chance to think.

    ¡°Can¡¯t you help him?!¡± The girl screamed at her, not an ounce of anger in her voice, only desperation.

    ¡°It is time for him, your father will be sent to a better place,¡± Elyza reassured the girl, pulling her from the body, to a furious fight that quickly gave away to almost no struggle, kissing her father one last time before she was dragged away.

    Squid meowed in appreciation, blinking slowly at the girl, who wiped away her tears, swallowing all her sadness as her face became expressionless, staring beyond the body as she stood by Elyza¡¯s side. The cat turned from a pitch black to something made from pure umbra, the same way Alex did whenever he crossed dimensions. Her outline turned from solid to melding with the background, wisps of darkness emanating from what appeared to be the centre mass of the feline. Curling up around the body¡¯s head, Squid purred with the warmth of summer, the sound echoing off the walls of the cell, its low reverberation worming its way into Elyza¡¯s heart.

    The shadows of the cell bent towards the sound, curving around the body¡¯s shadow, darkness rising around it as the floor fell away to receive it. Tendrils slowly formed from the umbra, but they acted not from the savagery and precision Alex¡¯s magic did, wrapping respectfully around its limbs, coercing the man to lay straight. Squid meowed as the tentacles finally stopped swathing the body, her eyes turning to the girl to see if she was ready. Elyza did not glance down to the child, not needing to as the cat meowed again, and the body sank into the floor, succumbing into the darkness as it descended through to the other side.

    Deafening silence lingered in the air for a moment as Squid stretched herself up, her claws popping out as she started to groom herself. The girl choked back some more tears before she joined the chorus of quiet.

    Elyza took in a deep breath, focusing on her magic that lingered in the corridor behind them, she set the spell in motion, letting her mana flow till she had the will to speak. ¡°Can you walk?¡± She asked the girl.

    Wiping the dried tears from her cheek, the girl answered, ¡°No.¡±

    ¡°Would you like me to carry you as we head back?¡± Elyza suggested, a violet and green circle forged from mana appearing in front of her mouth as her mind finalised the spell.

    ¡°Can you help the others first?¡± The sheer concern in the child¡¯s voice would¡¯ve made any god¡¯s remnant of a heart burst.

    She did not know what came over her, but for a moment, Elyza swore the tiny Alex in the back of her mind took over the reins. Her hand raised, her fingers curled into a claw, and she snapped them behind her back. The crack that flew through the corridor commanded every single seed to explode. Vines shot upwards, the sadness that filled her heart fueling them to flatten the steel bars into disks, and then they retreated back into the ground, as quickly as they had sprung.

    ¡°Do not worry about guiding me, or the others,¡± She instructed, crouching to meet the girl¡¯s eyes, adding a question that her curiosity refused to leave alone, ¡°Could you tell me your name?¡±

    ¡°Nadia. Do you know the way back?¡±

    Elyza tried to smile like her partner so often did, remarking, ¡°Our feline friend here always knows where her master is, and I am sure wherever he is, an exit is nearby.¡±

    As she lifted the girl in her arms, she shouted through the corridor, ¡°The ones that can understand me, tell the rest to follow behind, and whoever decides not to trust me, you will wake up to freedom staring at the clear blue sky.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°Follow that tunnel and then take the first right, the strong ones need to aid the weak up the ladder,¡± Elyza instructed the crowd behind her as she stared down the path not taken. She stood at the split after they had encountered the first group of slavers, yet the well worn floor of the other side of the split was hidden beneath a river of viscous red liquid. The smell of burnt flesh and blood stewing in the air threatened to wake the dozing Nadia on her back, so she created a tiny bubble of wind around them both, cleaning the air whenever it could. Squid seemed unaffected by the stench, calmly waiting for the others to leave, staring down the tunnel they had to soon walk through.

    There was a torch at the other end of the passage that gave her enough light to witness what had occurred. She could see the crevices that had been forced into the rocks, cracks mimicking the trail of lighting, and scars that had been melted into the surface beside them. She could also see remnants of bodies hanging from the walls, some whose flesh had been fused into the stone, others simply cut in pieces by their own shadows. Yet, the cat sauntered straight forward, her paws not touching the blood as darkness rose to form tiny stones to save her from wet fur.

    As the sole of her boot sank into the crimson puddle, the darkness of the tunnel flared out, the solid rock turning into a black sea as Elyza continued. It was restless, tentacles of umbra trying to force their way through. They were frustrated at their containment, remnants of her partner¡¯s domain, always dormant in his magic, waiting for their chance, but they had never been this unsettled and outward. Alex was angry, she was sure of it, but his theatrics had not stopped. Deeper into the tunnel, she stepped onto a perfectly intact skull, charred to an ashy black, before it was crushed to a fine dust under her weight. She found more, arms separated with their nerves still clinging onto it, a torso or two, more burned appendages, and two eyes hanging from one side of another split, the same path that Squid decided her creator was.

    The further she travelled, the bloodier it got, but her mind was steeled against the gore, and she needed to find Alex regardless of the state of his mind. Suddenly, Squid froze and hissed, moments before a scream blasted through the passageway, followed by some familiar cackling laughter. The sound would have woken up a passed out dwarf, so there was no doubt in her mind as Elyza instructed the girl, ¡°Keep your eyes shut till I tell you otherwise, and hang on tight, but try to not choke me.¡±

    She felt Nadia¡¯s grip around her throat tighten, but she did not know if her eyes were shielded from her partner¡¯s handiwork, and she had no time to check. ¡°Go,¡± She commanded the cat, and Squid was happy to follow, her back arching as she dashed forwards.

    Elyza took in a breath to focus herself, before she followed suit. She leapt forward, the soles of her boots hammering the floor as she cut through the air, one hand helping her navigate the corners without slowing down, the other grabbing the girl¡¯s arm to ensure she didn¡¯t fall. The cat seemed to have a boundless amount of energy, weaving through the bloody tunnels. On the other hand, she was already heaving, the extra weight on her shoulders straining her already tired muscles, yet something in the back of her mind slowed her down before Squid did.

    They came across a doorway, but the doors were further into the room, bent in half and embedded into the floor, the hinges still attached to them. A crypt would be a better designation for the chamber, the walls painted a mix of red and black, the smell of blood and flesh, both their fresh and burnt variants, were strangely cut by the aroma of ozone hanging in the air. Bodies had been piled into mass graves, many missing appendages, and some had been wrapped around the pillars that bolstered the roof of the cavern. Standing in the middle of the carnage was her partner, leaning forward upon his claymore, half of the blade sheathed into his shadow, the exposed half glowing a faint orange. He was not alone,a man hanging from his neck, kept aloft by inky tentacles that had grown from the surrounding darkness.

    ¡°¨C kill me¡­¡± The hanging man muttered out, his face bloody and an eye missing, the other staring into Alex¡¯s hood, the working bloodshot orb darting in order to meet her partner¡¯s gaze. ¡°¡­ and say goodbye to your menial attempts at saving any of those animals. Their marks will burn them from the inside if they dare leav¨C¡±

    ¡°Shut it, you knobhead,¡± Alex¡¯s voice echoed within the chamber as his back straightened to stretch, pulling out his claymore in the process. As he placed the flat of the blade on the man¡¯s cheek, the skin boiled immediately, curdling as the steel seared its image onto it, and a scream followed.

    ¡°I asked you who¡¯s bankrolling this operation of yours, and look at me,¡± Her partner remarked, using his sword to turn the man¡¯s face towards him, scorching his other cheek as Alex continued speaking, ¡°And do you really think I¡¯m not familiar with slave charms by now, you aren¡¯t even a fly on the shit stains I¡¯ve cleaned up in this world. Unfortunately for you, but fortunately for me, slavers tend to be bad at covering their trail, meaning I don¡¯t need you anymore, and I have guests to entertain.¡±

    The tentacles ripped the man¡¯s neck in half, part of his windpipe was still attached to his head as it fell to the floor, a wet thump echoing through the tunnel just as the shadowy tendrils retreated back into the floor. Before he even turned, Squid bounded towards her creator, leaping onto his cloak, swinging around with the fabric before landing in his arms. ¡°I thought you were against kidnapping, Ears? Why is the girl here?¡±

    Sighing first, Elyza kicked a pebble towards him before speaking, ¡°This appears to be a bit¡­ overkill, even by our standards.¡±

    ¡°At least it gave me a chance to blow off some steam, my mind has never been clearer¡­ and my face never bloodier,¡± Her partner remarked, wiping the bloody stains that ordained his jaw with the collar of his shirt.

    She wanted to know if he was alright, taking a step towards him, but Nadia asked her own question, ¡°Is Squid yours?¡±

    She knew Alex flipped his hood back just to make sure she could see his brow raise, grinning as he replied, ¡°Ah, Squid¡­ Of course she is, don¡¯t you see the similarities?¡± Placing the cat onto his head, her fur melding in with his hair, the cat meowed as he remarked, ¡°She seems tired after the ordeals of the day, do you mind if I send her back home?¡±

    Nadia must¡¯ve nodded, Squid blinking slowly at the girl before jumping into her master¡¯s shadow, disappearing completely into the darkness. ¡°Nadia, is it?¡± Alex inquired, not waiting for an answer as he asked another question, gesturing around to the gory mess as he spoke, ¡°You know where these guys hide their secrets?¡±

    She felt Nadia shake her head, causing him to smile as he added, ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t just happen to meet the majority of their forces here, did I? Seems to me something important is residing behind door number one.¡± He spun on his heels to point at the innocent looking door hidden in the shadows of the chamber, his cloak fluttering, and his claymore melting into umbra.

    ¡°Joining me?¡± He spoke, looking behind at his partner, his grin growing wider.

    ¡°Is it safe for her?¡± Elyza asked in return, nearing her partner as he started walking towards the door. He hesitated, his steps staggering a bit as a wave of warmth flowed over her, mist from his rising hand forming a zero to answer her question. The illusion hovering o.

    No words were exchanged as he knocked on the wooden door at the very back of the hall. Getting no answer, he reached for the handle and turned it, a click echoing through the room. ¡°This doesn''t happen a lot,¡± Alex threw out into the air, pushing the door open with ease.

    Elyza was equally perplexed, her mind coming up with the most rational explanation it could conjure up, ¡°Seems you were enough of a problem to call upon all the resources they had. I do not know whether that is horrifying or impressive.¡±

    ¡°I do specialise in both kinds of acts, so it¡¯s dealer¡¯s choice as far as I¡¯m concerned,¡± he remarked, lighting his hand on fire to add some more light in addition to the sole, dull chandelier that hung in the centre of the room.

    Her eyes scanned the room for any areas where one could hide. A war table sat beneath the glowing gems, no figurines upon it, papers, books, some rusted weapons, and a knocked over crate spilling out coins adorned it. The wood was rotten, parts of it brown from dried blood, parts of it hastily covered with red paint, and some planks having holes gnawed through them by termites.

    Looking around the room, it was filled with even more crates, towers of them, and upon them were chests, some open and some locked shut. However, as her eyes moved over the crates, she noticed some of the wooden surfaces of the boxes reflecting the light of her partner¡¯s flame in a way that neither replicated rough nor varnished planks. What was stranger was that all of them dissipated the light the exact same way, even though the crates were all made from different kinds of wood.

    ¡°Nadia¡­ Could Alex carry you for a moment?¡± Elyza asked, her mind racing as she came up with different reasons why the crates seemed familiar, different but forced to look the same. The most probable, and worrying theory it spat out for her, needed her to check the crate on the table.

    Silence followed the words, Alex¡¯s expression towards her shifting from confusion, acceptance, and curiosity in a blink of her eye, and the girl¡¯s grip around her neck tightened. But her arms unwrapped themselves from around her, allowing Elyza to shift Nadia from her hands to Alex¡¯s. He accepted the girl on his shoulder,  supporting the girl with the hand not engulfed in fiery red, helping her adjust herself onto him. The other hand kept his flames alive as he stepped aside with a wave, beckoning her to do whatever she wanted to.

    Walking around the table, Alex in tow, she reached the turned crate upon its surface, spinning the box full of coins towards her so that the silver coins spilled onto the floor. Before she turned it the right way up, Elyza felt the edges of the container, the skin on the tips of her finger coming across a familiar triangular pattern running along them. Her stomach fell in a mix of annoyance, rage, and surprise as she flipped the crate upright, the panel now facing her revealing what she had guessed. Painted in a bright vibrant orange was the pattern¡¯s base, a triangle within another, the first¡¯s edge merging into the second¡¯s, or as she better knew it as, ¡°The Cyllenius¡¯ trade.¡±

    She looked back at her partner, expecting a comment that tried to be funny, only to see his face in absolute distraught. It almost appeared to take his entire soul to reply, ¡°Do you know how much more work this means? Once is a coincidence, a misplacement of assets, twice within a week means that someone¡¯s asleep at the wheel, and unfortunately, you¡¯re working with the one who needs to find out why.¡±

    ¡°You were expecting these jobs to be easier, were you not?¡± Elyza responded with a slight smile.

    ¡°If I say no, I would think Loki herself would come kick me in the shins for a lie that egregious,¡± He remarked with a grin back on his face. ¡°All of this¡­¡± He gestured around the room, ¡°requires much more manpower than the two of us. So, how about you find out the secret way out of here, and I cook some grub for the people waiting above.¡±

    Sighing, she closed her eyes to listen to the faint breeze of the room, her body attuning to the air around her, aware of every single current that ebbed and flowed through. It was easy to locate the odd one out, there were three doors in the room, and air did not seem to use them as it left the room. She felt the air flowing towards a singular direction, some metres behind her and into the ceiling, and as her head turned towards the spot, her eyes picked up the gaps between the planks above.

    Her halberd jumped into her hand with a flick of her wrist, and with a quick tap with the point of the blade, the trapdoor fell. Down came a ladder, sending a clang echoing into the room as the metal hit the floor. She looked to where it led, only to meet pure and all consuming darkness, only the refraction of the light of the room coming off of the iron steps showed her that it didn¡¯t lead into the abyss.

    ¡°You should go first,¡±Alex suggested, his head slowly coming near hers as he stared with her into the hole dug to the surface, presumably. ¡°I have a child to take care of,¡± He said smirking, Nadia joining the two upturned heads, looking towards where the ladder led, ¡°How long do you think it¡¯ll take us?¡±

    ¡°Around three minutes, maybe more for you since you would have to tread more carefully,¡± Elyza replied, climbing the first step of the ladder, looking down at him for confirmation of the plan.

    He gave her a smile, whispering something into Nadia¡¯s ears. The girl, with some help from Alex, shifted to his back. Hands made of ink emerged from within his cloak, snaking beneath his arms to wrap around both the black fabric and Nadia, clamping her onto him. As the shadows that made the hands stabilised, he remarked, ¡°Let¡¯s do this, boss.¡±

    The climb was quick, nothing about the ladder or the path drawing her attention, the space filled with mind numbing quiet, the flow of air so stale that she barely felt it. The stillness allowed her to just put one foot and one hand after the other. It also forced her to think of what lay above, her mind coming up with scenarios ranging from just another entrance disguised as an old shack, to popping their heads out into a den of raging partying demons, the latter awakening not the most pleasant memory in her mind.

    Her partner remained unusually chatter-less, replacing his voice with a whistled tune that completely did away with the overwhelming silence. The melody stirred something within her, memories flowing through her mind in an attempt to locate it. It was so simplistic that every piece of music she could remember resembled it in one way or another. Scaling the iron steps came to an end, her hand slamming into the top of the tunnel, hitting what felt like a grate, her fingers probing through the holes only to be stopped by another solid.

    ¡°The exit is blocked,¡± Elyza informed, her hand retreating to her side to call upon the wind.

    Alex did not answer, but her ears perked up as she felt the air beneath her whip, shadows from around her partner shooting inwards to anchor him and the girl to their place. Her focus dropped to the room below, her mind focusing on the air within it, calling upon the zephyr to rise under her command. A soft breeze came first, which was forced back into the depths to meet the climbing torrent of whirling wind. Her ears popped as the pressure foretold the flood of wind that came, forcing her to tense every single muscle in her body lest she be swayed by its power. The groan of metal as it resisted the push was short-lived, the grate failing to hold the wind at bay, and along with it, sent whatever was blocking the way flying into the air.

    She was allowed a glance at what was sent airborne, and as it tumbled away from her view, she saw a flurry of white and brown, which quickly dropped to the ground. A wooden crunch followed, signalling the end of the pew. Poking her head out from the hole, she could have paid attention to the vast stretching ceiling, the shimmering stark marble columns that rose to meet it, or the ethereal light that streamed in through the stained glass. But her attention was drawn to the massive statue etched from black obsidian, its likeness matching the myths of old and the recollections of the few allowed to be graced by its subject¡¯s greatness.

    ¡°Alex,¡± Elyza began, staring at the pristine statue of Juno, the Queen of Olympus, ¡°It seems to me that, unfortunately, things have become much more complicated.¡±

 Chapter 25: A Fated Meeting

    ¡°Have you heard any more news from Lati?¡± Elyza spoke, biting into the salted meat strip she held, the touch of her saliva unlocking the explosion of spices forced within it. She looked at her partner, sitting opposite to her, his cloak cushioning the rough movement of the carriage, resting his eyes.

    His hand delved into his shadow, his brow falling to meet his nose, putting his full focus on the task, before yelping, cutting off the sound with a rageful yell, ¡°NO CAKE ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, YOU DAMNED, SCALY TROGLODYTE.¡± The words would have been more impactful if Alex hadn¡¯t started smiling halfway through them, his hand gripping onto a neatly folded paper, a small bite mark on his index finger.

    As he unfurled the paper with a snap of his wrist, he carefully read it whole before speaking. ¡°The beastmen have reached the capital¡­ around three days after we left, which is pretty fucking fast, even with a martial escort,¡± He recapped, taking another look at the paper before continuing, ¡°Most of what they told us on the day seems to collaborate with what they¡¯re telling the Guild, and Lati¡¯s taking point of getting the families situated in the neighbouring farms, with an unknown, and extremely philanthropic financier. For some reason, I also picture him as unconventionally attractive.¡±

    Even without him grinning through the last sentence, there was no doubt in Elyza¡¯s mind who he was talking about, her entire body sighing impulsively as her partner added, ¡°The orphans fall under the patronship of Artemis, but I have enough leeway with both Lady Diana and the organisation to get them settled in my own place of upbringing. Hopefully, the sea air will give them some peace, and Lady Callisto won¡¯t be too disappointed that I didn¡¯t visit with them.¡±

    ¡°Let us pray that none of them turn out as you did, especially Nadia,¡± She remarked, a smile playing on her lips as she took another bite of the jerky.

    ¡°Technically,¡± Alex retorted without any hesitation, ¡°I¡¯m not the worst person they can become, since Red was at the orphanage for way longer than I was.¡±

    ¡°Have they found any connection to the Temple?¡±

    ¡°Mmm,¡± He raised his finger, clarifying, ¡°We can¡¯t say that there exists one, yet. As far as we know, the priest was acting on his own volition, but I can¡¯t be too sure, and I don¡¯t trust anyone else to do it properly. We¡¯ll have to conduct our own independent investigation when we get back to the capital, which is saying something, since around¡­ half of Luminae worships, or at least works under someone associated with Hera.¡±

    Alex held out an open hand towards her, stopping her from devouring the last morsel of her snack, and instead sighing as she tossed it towards her partner. He caught it with ease, the meat falling directly into his mouth. His spine slammed into the carriage¡¯s wall as he settled into his seat again, a grin spread across his face as he chewed, floating a wink across the wagon.

    Elyza sighed at his flourish, her partner asking as he cracked his fingers, ¡°Anything else you''re curious about?¡±

    Her mouth had barely opened when her ears picked up the flutter of wings, her eyes jumping to the back of the carriage to see a crow peering at them. Its talons etched claws into the wooden plank as it plopped into a roost, a deep caw escaping its black beak as its beady eyes locked onto her, its head tilting to a side. It was big for a crow, its inky feathers reflecting a vivid combination of purples, blues, and dark greens, as if oil had spilled over them.

    ¡°Alex,¡± She began, her head tilting towards him as she whispered, ¡°You see that giant crow too, correct?¡±

    ¡°I believe that may be a raven,¡± Her partner replied, his hand delving into his pouch and returning with some more jerky wrapped in grease paper, tossing a strand of meat towards her and the bird.

    As it snapped up the treat, its wings unfurled to let her glance at the pointed tips, and a sigh escaped her lips as she agreed with her partner, ¡°I can not believe I missed that.¡±

    ¡°Well, we¡¯re in the middle of a forest, so a crow would be a rarity, that, and¡­¡± Before Alex could continue, the raven left their company, the flutter of its wings booming as it fell backwards and flew above the carriage. ¡°I think I¡¯ve met that one before.¡±

    ¡°You remember individual birds¡­¡± Elyza remarked, the words almost sounding normal considering who she was talking to.

    ¡°Of course not, I¡¯m not that deranged,¡± A smile sprawling across his face to match the slight one on hers, adding, ¡°I just¡­ my gut seems to be saying that I¡¯ve seen that one before, and it has mixed feelings about what comes next.¡±

    ¡°What comes next?¡± She asked, concern lacing her voice, the memories of his vague words haunting her still.

    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it,¡± Made it worse, and as she prayed he didn¡¯t say the next thing, her partner remarked, ¡°It¡¯s probably nothing, but my mind making up negative possibilities of the future, based on easily recurring patterns.¡±

    A groan escaped her, Elyza wincing at his theatrics, ¡°You know fully what this is going to lead to, do you not?¡±

    Alex let out a chuckle like when someone finally catches their grandpa¡¯s lie, ¡°Eighty percent of me says yes, the rest is currently preparing to be captured by a coven of witches again.¡±

    ¡°Does that happen often enough for you to have a plan ready?¡± She asked, her mind temporarily distracted by kernels of his past.

    ¡°If words flow from your mouth like coins from a fool¡¯s coffer, then the answer is ¨C More than it has any right to,¡± He answered, for once shame apparent in his words.

    Shaking her head, her question was cut by bangs echoing within the wagon, the farmer whose generosity they were relying upon for the day shouting back at them, ¡°This is the farthest I can take you! Just follow the other road to the town.¡±

    As their feet settled against the clay floor, the carriage had already started its journey again, leaving the two to stare at the path before them. Roots of the canopies flanking them tried in earnest to invade the road, the light brown bark making only a quarter of the way inwards, completely covered by the shade of the branches that blanketed the sky. Bright ivy green stood against the light teal, patches of milky white scattered between the maple leaves, barely any bark obscuring them, the windows allowing her to gaze at the sky.

    ¡°Do you know how long we need to walk?¡± She asked her partner, stretching her back to let her spine unwind, the soft cracks disturbing a tit from its slumber from a nearby nest.

    Alex closed his eyes, causing his face to scrunch up as he acted as if in deep thought, his head turning to one side then the other as he tried to align his mental map with their surroundings. Starting to move before revealing what he had learned, the leaves drying on the road made no crunch as he walked over them. A warmth flowing over her just as his mouth opened, ¡°Should be around five minutes, especially with no threats around¡­ for once.¡±

    And so she followed, walking with him on the side of the road, the rhythm of her steps unconsciously matching his. They stopped twice, once for her to pick up some fruit of a peach tree growing behind the line of maples, and another to let her partner pick up a bunch of flowers for his pellets of motion sickness, rolling them into a cylinder before stuffing them in his pouch. Even with the interruptions, her own count returned with four minutes in her mind, as the two stood in front of the town¡¯s entrance. They had to quickly shift to the side to let a carriage past them, their poses thankfully unnoticed by the villagers, allowing Elyza a moment to read the sign hanging above.

    Moving over the words, the image in her eyes came up with one question, ¡°Were we not supposed to go to Cornith?¡± She asked as her hand pointed up towards the words ¡®Nicaea¡¯ proudly carved into the wood and highlighted with yellow paint.

    For a moment, her partner had a look of confusion over his face, but it was quickly covered up as his mind came up with an explanation. ¡°Interesting,¡± He began, a hand stroking his chin, ¡°Seems to me that since both my map and the Guild¡¯s were created around half a decade ago, we missed knowing the town finally decided to change its name from Cornith to something more fitting after the whole revolution ordeal. It¡¯s pretty out of the way, so it makes sense they¡¯re waiting till the next census to deal with the bureaucracy.¡±

    She would have been satisfied with the answer, but her partner kept talking, ¡°But, there is a chance I read the map upside down, again.¡± Before she could roll her eyes, Alex nodded towards a building close by, people not loitering around the front this early in the day, ¡°We should probably ask the tavern over there to confirm then.¡±

    Her eyes were immediately pulled to the large crow nesting on the sign with a keg of ale painted upon it, and it took her a moment to recognise it, the moment collapsing as soon as its beady eyes stared into hers with curiosity. ¡°Alex¡­ is that the same raven.¡±

    ¡°Yup.¡±

    ¡°I do believe you will not tell me the implication of this coincidence.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯d be proven right, because the situation has become slightly more complicated.¡±

    Elyza sighed, her partner¡¯s grin turning wider as she calmly remarked, ¡°Nothing is ever not complicated when it concerns you.¡±

    Walking towards the tavern¡¯s door, the two were watched by the bird, and as Elyza reached for the handle, Alex grabbed her arm. He said nothing, his eyes more interested in the raven, squinting at it as it did the same at him. The bird spit out a cry, the sound echoing even through the busy street, but the act just made her partner squint harder at the raven, still looking for something more. As it cawed once more, he let go of her, sighing in response to the animal.

    ¡°Ears,¡± He began, stretching his arm, ¡°Try to stay out of the way, unless you think I need help, of course.¡±

    ¡°Just¡­ tell me about things that may endanger our lives next time,¡± She remarked, a thought to her hand releasing her halberd from its form and into her hand.

    ¡°Trust me, she won¡¯t be any threat to you, unless you get the eye.¡± Reaching towards the handle, he hesitated for a moment, her fingers twitching in the air, sparks jumping in between the two.

    He turned his right ear towards the door, the electric surge on his fingertips dissipating, his instruction clear as he whispered to her, ¡°Step away from the door.¡±

    Elyza did as he asked, glancing up at the raven to see if it was willing to reveal what it knew, only to find it gone. Her partner¡¯s breath rattled against her ears, only the wind unafraid of what was to come, its whispers standing out against the quickly emptying street.

    The words Alex muttered under his breath worried her, ¡°Here we go again¡­¡± but as the crack of wood flooded her mind, before she could turn to see what he had done, she saw a hammer head whose face was as big as his facing her. Surprise adorned her partner¡¯s face, yet he had already jumped far enough, his soles dragging dust upwards as he landed. His xiphos poked out from his cloak, and as he unsheathed his dagger, the sword fell into his grip, both blades raised in a defensive stance, the shorter perpendicular to the longer, aiming to guard his midsection.

    ¡°Hello again, you rat,¡± Her partner remarked with a smile, lightning jumping from his arms to his weapons, enveloping the two in a veil of glowing purple.

    His words were directed at the armour clad figure who had burst through the door of the tavern, the inky black plates that protected them, shining purple under the blue sky. They looked like a knight in shining armour, without the horse, their helm covering their face so that only the eyes could be seen. The neck of the armlet had been made to look similar to a tiger¡¯s mane, painted red to stand out against the metallic ink that surrounded it. As they lifted something hidden beneath their chestplate, Elyza saw a lotus and a chakra threaded by a copper string, bringing the bendant up to their head to pray.

    Alex seemed to give the paladin the benefit of doubt, not immediately rushing forward to capitalise on the distraction. Through the metal helm, echoed a voice that dripped with command and richness as it spoke, ¡°Greetings, you bastard.¡±

    ¡°We have the same deal?¡± Her partner asked, and as he did, the paladin rushed him. Rising in the air, the black metal of the hammer gleamed in the sun, the staff which it sat on extending to hit its mark. The weapon shattered the ground where it struck, shards of earth snapping upwards, forcing Alex to go defensive.

    As he deflected some fragments with his dagger, the paladin instantly flicked the hammer into his chest, the head finding itself stopped by his sword, the impact still sending her partner flying into the building behind. ¡°I believe this might be the day it ends,¡± The paladin remarked, her hand turning to the broken road, and the splinters of rock floated towards her, jutting together to forge spears that hovered in a circle around her.

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    Dust plumed from the point of impact, somehow the building not crumbling under the mass that had been lodged within it, but the wind of the street seemed not to falter the cloud. Instead, it creeped further, its volume increasing till the smoke smothered everything in a five-metre radius. It was Alex¡¯s doing, that much she could guess, and it was confirmed in the next second, the crackle of lightning burst through the area. It was coalescing in the centre of the dust, a purple glow swirling within it, its ferocity calming till it hummed with charge.

    ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem characteristic of you to be this overconfident, Bee¡± His voice rang out, before the lightning streaked forward with targeted intent, even her eyes that she had trained to keep up with the spell struggling to spot him.

    Yet, it was able to trace its path, and he didn¡¯t seem to be focusing on the paladin. His feet slid on the dirt, friction failing him, but he turned on a dime, appearing suddenly next to the lady. He struck with his xiphos, aiming at the few slots there were in the armour. But even with his speed, the paladin was able to parry the strike with the shaft of her hammer, yanking the rod down to catch the blade.

    She did, but shadows jumped from beneath them to grab the xiphos, as their master was pushed backwards by the accompanying tentacles. ¡°You thought that would work again?¡± The paladin¡¯s voice was playful this time, unfitting for one who had fought with Nemo before.

    ¡°The last time I used that was half a decade ago,¡± Alex rebutted, his xiphos returning to his hand, and immediately being rested on his shoulder.

    ¡°Yield.¡± The paladin commanded, all the spears surrounding her transferring their focus on her  partner, and he just smirked.

    ¡°If the old ways won¡¯t work¡­¡± Her partner remarked, flames rising around him, emanating from his right hand, covering his arm in fire. An inferno blazed up around him, forming a sphere, and it seemed to alarm the paladin, as the spears instantly shot forward towards him. It was a spell Elyza had never seen from him before, but it was a spell she knew was impossible. The grasp Alex held over his fire could never extend from his body, meaning this was an illusion.

    The sphere seemed to deflect the rocks hurtling towards him, the spears disintegrating into pebbles under the flames, but she could see his blades swatting them aside. Her eyes were already working to deconstruct everything they could see, letting her spot the inconsistencies in vision that came from a lapse in focus, and immediately something stood out. His shadow was still there, even under the onslaught of illuminance from the flame.

    It was too obvious, it had to be a red herring, and she could see the paladin notice it too, shifting her grip around the warhammer in preparation of a sneak attack. She was right, another Alex appeared from behind her, springing up from her shadow, his dagger raised to embed itself into the paladin¡¯s neck. The lady shifted her weight to twirl, extending her hammer to plough into his body, increasing her speed so that it was nigh impossible to dodge. ¡°Got you,¡± the paladin muttered out, knowing her weapon would hit.

    The head went straight through his body, which dissolved into the air, and she could envision the grin on her partner¡¯s face instantly. Both hers, and the paladin¡¯s attention shifted back towards the sphere of fire, which had dropped to allow Alex to stare her down with an arrow pointed right at her. She was proven right, a grin adorning his face, as the two realised there was no way to stop what was coming. ¡°Did you?¡±

    His finger¡¯s unleashed the string, and the arrow did not leap forward, it zapped, the projectile shrouded in purple lightning as it slammed into the paladin¡¯s chest. The girl was thrown into the same spot he had been moments earlier, and this time her partner did not let the opportunity pass by, his body turned into a bolt of lightning. Materialising back into a physical form, he crouched over the paladin, his voice flaunting his smugness as he spoke, ¡°This makes it¡­ what? Ten years of fighting, and still only one win over me?¡±

    Before she could take a step towards them, shadows erupted around her, dragging her through the ground till she stood next to her partner. ¡°You fucking, tricky, rat bastard,¡± The paladin swore, removing her helmet to allow the duo to gaze upon her face, and in turn, two orbs of purple and hazel bored into hers.

    ¡°I can control illusions, Bee, you shouldn¡¯t be this salty over something that is very easy to predict,¡± he retorted, offering the paladin a hand. ¡°Want some food, so I can introduce my new partner?¡± He gestured towards Elyza.

    ¡°Sure,¡± Bee responded, adding, ¡°Then you can tell me how slimes grow wings now.¡±

    <hr>

    As the paladin rested her helm onto the table, her amber hair fell immediately downwards, but strands of it stuck to the joints, causing some to tumble over her face. With a hand she swiped them back, allowing Elyza to fully gaze upon her heterochromic eyes, the right one revealing a circle with a blazing purple glow, and the left an ordinary hazel. Her hair settled into one intricate braid settling upon a bed of similar threads, and two miniature ones fell beside it as her hand patted them down. As a waitress appeared with their food, still having to navigate the sea of patrons, the paladin removed the chakra from her pendant, tying the loose strands into a bun.

    ¡°So, are you sure he isn¡¯t brainwashing you?¡± She suddenly proclaimed, slamming her hands on the table, her expression serious as one could be. Her purple eye seemed to flare up in its vibrancy, almost radiating, a magic circle appearing within the pool of violet, and Elyza could feel it peer into her soul.

    Alex shoved his hand in between the two¡¯s gaze, his voice devoid of any charm as it proclaimed, ¡°I thought we¡¯d discussed this before, or should I reminisce of the things better left in your past¡­¡±

    The paladin¡¯s eye returned to normal, glancing at her partner, and she could sense the decision within whether it was worth continuing. ¡°I apologise,¡± she relented, ¡°I can¡¯t help when it comes out after a stressful event, even more so whenever you¡¯re the one who introduces them to me.¡±

    ¡°When have I ever introduced you to anyone at the ire of your goddess, unless she literally tells you to ask me to,¡± Her partner shot back, a grin on his face returning with his normal voice.

    ¡°To answer your question, which I personally ask myself every day; No, I do not believe myself to be under the influence of any spell,¡± Elyza remarked, to the amusement of the lady sitting opposite her.

    Following a swell of chuckles, the paladin gave a much softer smile than her partner, ¡°An answer I¡¯ve never heard before, I¡¯m impressed.¡±

    ¡°Introduce yourselves, or I¡¯m not paying,¡± Alex commanded, receiving the food for the table from the waitress, pushing their ale jugs aside to place the plates in front of them.

    She took in a deep breath, her eyes focused on the paladin to judge how much she should reveal, and decided, ¡°Elyza.¡±

    ¡°Just as untrusting as when this bastard first met me,¡± The paladin replied, the smile on her face ¡°I am Sarah Banarjee, a paladin serving under Mother Durga, a patron of Justice, and by her word, I am tasked to track the lowest of lows that live, determine if the penalty waiting to be enforced on them is warranted, capture them if it is, and, in rare cases, execute the act of an executioner.¡±

    ¡°I see,¡± Elyza mumbled out without thinking, her mind coming naturally to the only conclusion possible, ¡°You were told to bring Alex to justice, were you not?¡±

    The paladin¡¯s eyes gleamed as she continued, ¡°Close¡­ By chance, I had picked up a bounty to aid my travels in this nation, mandirs of the Mother Durga are a rarity as is, and she is forbidden from providing any significant aid due to the rule of Olympus.¡±

    ¡°She wanted to pick the one with the most reward, but she was enamoured by one that asked to track down and imprison an unknown assassin suspected of the violent death of a priest,¡± Alex interjected, his voice going higher than normal as he tended to do when talking about his own past, a mix of embarrassment, regret, and bravado.

    ¡°Firstly, I figured out quite early that the person spotted at the scene was the one who caused it,¡± The paladin ignored his behaviour, but she was still adding to his words, ¡°Secondly, while it was indeed tedious, I was able to predict the next place the assassin would strike, and lastly, I pressured him to fight me instead of focusing on his target.¡±

    From the corner of her eye, Elyza could see her partner¡¯s jaws tense up immensely, which meant what was to come was of great embarrassment, but as his eyes turned towards Sarah, they begged to be let loose. ¡°You lost,¡± she concluded.

    ¡°Horribly¡­ with so much efficiency that it lit a flame in me to track the assassin down, and bring him to his knees,¡± The paladin admitted, taking a gulp of her ale, ¡°So, I spent two years finding the pattern of the Blot, a name created by a conspiracy theorist, till I found someone in the guild named Nemo¡­¡±

    Alex¡¯s face lit up instantly at the mention of the name, his eyes sparkling as they smugly stared at her, and Sarah completely ignored him. ¡°The name had no origin or connection, only the bare details available to even the highest members within the organisation, but the rumours around the name were more akin to a monstrous grim reaper than a lowly assassin, and the rumours all seemed to have the same message¡­¡±

    ¡°Look for me, and despair will follow,¡± he remarked, not a hint of theatrics in the words.

    ¡°Then how did you find him?¡± Elyza asked instinctively, her arms resting on the table, her entire mind interested in the story of her partner¡¯s past.

    ¡°I accidentally¡­ apologised after bumping into her,¡± Her partner muttered out, slapping his forehead with his fingers, the action being met with immediate hearty laughs from Sarah.

    ¡°I didn¡¯t always play a suave character when I was Nemo,¡± Alex clarified, sighing with his entire body, ¡°Things tended to be a lot more direct from my side, and it was still a time when privacy didn¡¯t hold that much importance to me. It was not hard to imagine myself as untouchable, and I made sure to never do that after our second interaction.¡±

    ¡°The bastard didn¡¯t even remember me,¡± Sarah interjected, slamming her mug onto the table.

    ¡°Well, I¡¯d only seen you once before, and that while you were wearing a helmet that covered your entire face. How the fuck was I supposed to know that the gorgeous stammering woman I bumped into was a paladin hunting me?¡±

    The words had no effect on her, Sarah continuing, ¡°And another duel later, determination only grew within me to bring him to justice. You see¨C¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Elyza interrupted, turning to her partner who was helping himself to the food, ¡°She knew your identity, why did you not ensure her silence?¡±

    The paladin hid her smile behind her glass, her eyes growing heavy, ¡°A question I¡¯ve asked myself multiple times throughout my relationship with him. All because of the frustrating code he keeps living up to¡­¡±

    Alex just grinned through a mouthful of fried mushroom, ¡°Think of my mercy as more of a contingency. Both our fights were pretty fun and close. She had several chances to send me to an early grave, and was the first to figure out my identity. Why shouldn¡¯t she deserve to chase after me for the rest of her career?¡±

    ¡°Things became much more complicated when I was asked by Mother Durga to seek him out for aid, and after another battle, this time due to miscommunication, we both agreed on some rules of engagement,¡± Sarah explained, resting the mug on the table.

    ¡°We don¡¯t interfere with each other''s work, unless absolutely necessary,¡± Her partner began, ¡°She¡¯s allowed to try to capture me when we first meet, and I¡¯m allowed to protect myself. Finally, if we both are at a location for separate jobs, we should probably work together, because if an assassin and a paladin arrive at the same place, things are about to become very weird and chaotic.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all that one needs to know about our relationship.¡±

    ¡°I like to think of it more as a friendship if anything,¡± Alex said with a grin.

    ¡°A rivalry would be a more suitable title for our situation,¡± the paladin retorted, snatching a skewer from his hands.

    Her partner simply smiled at her, ¡°That wasn¡¯t her opinion around¡­ four or so years ago, if I remember correctly?¡±

    ¡°Neither of us can remember that night, so stop giving your new partner any wrong ideas. Anyway,¡± Sadie scowled, changing the topic, addressing Elyza, ¡°How come someone like you gets stuck with this bag of hot air?¡±

    ¡°How come you¡¯re already hitting on her?¡± He retorted instantly, sliding over a plate that held a portion of each dish towards her.

    Elyza stifled a chuckle as she received the plate, remarking, ¡°The story of our meeting is slightly less complicated than yours; I wanted to get revenge, I met this tool on the way, and for some reason he decided to help me.¡±

    The paladin simply nodded, a smile playing on her lips as she stated, ¡°Do you ever get the feeling that every choice he makes is decided by rolling a die and then consulting a mouse palm reader?¡±

    She was unable to stop the laughs that came from being hit by that sentence, and Alex made it worse by adding, ¡°For some reason I feel myself being ganged up on right now, and I strongly suspect I¡¯ve had a dream like this¡­¡±

    ¡°I remember you growing up in the past,¡± Sarah shot back.

    Her partner did not hesitate for even a microsecond, ¡°Please direct all complaints to the demon residing in my head.¡±

    There was a brief air of peace as they both grinned at each other, Elyza stuffing herself with as much meat as she could, before the atmosphere suddenly dropped. The paladin setting down her mug as she spoke, her voice losing its joy, ¡°The Guild sent you here because of a cult, I believe.¡±

    ¡°Close,¡± Alex corrected, pointing at his partner, ¡°The Guild sent her to infiltrate the cult.¡±

    ¡°Then I have a proposition for you,¡± Sarah¡¯s eyes shifted to Elyza, ¡°I¡¯m here to capture a man accused of the collapse of an entire noble line, and has committed countless murders in the process. I have it under good and trustworthy authority that the same cult may be shielding him from people under my line of work.¡±

    She thought for a moment, glancing at her partner for his, only to be met with a shrug. ¡°It seems that our goals align,¡± Three sets of hands should lead to a faster conclusion, and she wanted to return to the Capital as soon as she could, her mind still plagued by the need to solve the connection between Juno and the  slave trade.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t even want to hear the full terms,¡± The paladin replied, downing the rest of the ale in a single go, ¡°I¡¯ve already sniffed out where they¡¯ve set themselves up, let¡¯s finish up here and then I¡¯ll guide you there.¡±

    ¡°I appreciate the help.¡±

    ¡°A friend of Alex is a dubious friend of mine, and you¡¯re the most likeable one out of the bunch. Besides, we dwarves are a rare bunch this side of the mountains.¡±

    The first words that came out of Sarah¡¯s mouth seemed similar to a line her partner would say to woo someone, so her mind almost blocked it subconsciously, and then it hit her, ¡°WHAT?!¡±

 Chapter 26: We Swear Itéˆ¥æªš Not A Cult

    ¡°Dongfang Shu?¡± Alex blurted out without thinking, tracing the path of a squirrel in the trees above, chasing after Sarah¡¯s raven, Monu. The oil covered bird glided between the branches that blanketed the forest sky, the cover shifting under the weight of the two animals, causing the shadows beneath him to ripple like the depths of an ocean. ¡°The name should sound serious, shame it has the word dong in it,¡± he joked, looking back at the two trailing him.

    His partner was buried in a notebook she had only received moments before, her entire focus on its contents, her ears perked up in her interest. She didn¡¯t even grace him with her gaze as she remarked, ¡°You are in no position to make fun of names, Mr. Whitlock.¡± Tidying her hair to emphasise her point, she accidentally muttered out, ¡°Why is your surname so familiar sounding?¡±

    How has she still not figured it out?

    He ignored the freeloader¡¯s comment, his eyes darting immediately to Sarah walking behind her, both of their eyes met on cue, his screaming silently, commanding his dear old friend to not comment if she wanted to live. The paladin¡¯s eyes returned with a question of their own, asking how come he hadn¡¯t told Elyza already, and Alex replied with words.

    ¡°What do we know about this guy, Bee?¡± His voice successfully carried his request to the paladin.

    ¡°He was the son of a general of a small kingdom, but he was still regarded as a prodigal talent with a sword,¡± Bee helped him to change the topic.

    Elyza traced something on the page under her finger, cracking the fingers on her other hand as she read, ¡°Said kingdom is on the other side of the world and no longer exists, not existing for at least six years. However, the reason most of the reports have written for its disintegration is simply ¡®internal turmoil¡¯. I fail to see how this boy could be responsible for its collapse.¡±

    Alex couldn¡¯t help but chuckle at her words, his brain too slow to catch his own, ¡°Starting a rebellion is an old favourite of mine¡­¡±

    Ahhh¡­ Good times.

    It hurt how both of them ignored the remark, but at least Elyza had to glance at him to figure out if he was joking or not. ¡°The internal turmoil was the result of the entire hierarchy of the kingdom being slaughtered in a day, and during the engagement announcement of the two most important families in the nation,¡± Bee clarified, raising her arm to call Monu down, adding to her hanging words as the bird landed on the paladin¡¯s arm, ¡°To add intrigue to the bloody ordeal is that the deaths were from cuts so clean that blades could not have made them, and without any trace of magic as well.¡±

    ¡°What caused him to snap?¡± His partner concluded, flipping through the pages to find the information before she had the chance to answer.

    ¡°It''s said he¡¯s an infamous drunk, so one can only imagine,¡± Bee answered, her mind had already imprinted all the facts of the case, her voice dropping any enjoyment it had, ¡°The strange thing was that Shu fell off the world for five years, disappearing from even the deities¡¯ sight, and he just as suddenly reappeared three years ago, massacring some kingdom¡¯s battalion. But this will be his last free day on the living plane, I will ensure it.¡±

    Alex couldn¡¯t help but smile at the words entering his ears, the opportunity to fight someone so peculiar already enticing his mind, causing him to remark towards, ¡°If you were to aid in the neutralisation of such a character, none of the many that despise me in the House could argue against your integration, and I could possibly convince them to give you the same rank as me.¡±

    ¡°Would attaining your rank mean we would be free from the demands of the Guild?¡± Elyza¡¯s emerald eyes were filled with determination as she spoke, finally meeting his own. He nodded, and she added, ¡°Then it seems we have our goal.¡±

    ¡°How much further?¡± Alex asked his rival with a grin, cracking his knuckles to wake his fingers up.

    ¡°If you¡¯re impatient, I could speed things up?¡± She replied with her own, her shoes dragging the dirt behind her, causing cracks to appear in its wake. He smiled, his mind finding enjoyment in the new experience his partner would encounter, giving a thumbs up.

    Almost instantly, the ground upon which they walked gave way, a fracture appearing beneath them, the folds of the earth stretching till they shattered. The three fell like rocks in a river, the wind whizzing past them, silencing the groan and crackling of the floor caused by Bee¡¯s spell. He could sense the darkness around him, pulses of his mana allowing him to sense all the possibilities of travel through the dimension under his control.

    MY dimension.

    Ignoring the remark by the demoness, he focused on his surroundings, allowing his consciousness to balloon outwards. He could feel the air coalescing around his partner¡¯s feet, the sound of the whipping wind reaching his ears as Elyza readied for a hard landing, all the while Sarah was cackling like a witch as they sank into the earth. His senses pinged something strange arriving, an elongated passage of shadows, big enough to take an evening stroll through.

    ¡°We¡¯re here!¡± Bee shouted through the wind, slamming her hammer down at the final hurdle, causing rocks to be crushed into fine dust. As they fell through the final hole, Alex commanded the shadows beneath to burst towards him, as both of his companions landed before him; Elyza willing the wind to slow her descent, while Sarah took the brunt of the force on her knees. The tendrils fought against his weight, attaching themselves to the soles of his shoes, and the pull of gravity to allow him to smoothly step on the solid floor.

    He looked towards his partner, who had placed two fingers upon her neck to calm down her breathing, ¡°Exhilarating isn¡¯t it?¡±

    ¡°It would be, if the sensation was not immensely similar to your ¡®Shadow steps¡¯.¡± She remarked bluntly, her halberd materialising as she held out her hand.

    ¡°Best to get the adrenaline pumping as soon as possible,¡± Bee had a tinge of defence in the back of her voice.

    Suddenly his ears received the clicking of teeth, a pulse of mana confirming the orientation of its producer. His dagger and sword came to his hands as he looked upwards, his hood shifting back to allow him to see in the darkness. Catching the faint light streaming from the tunnel above, his companion¡¯s weapon glinted into his eyes, a distracting sight if he wasn¡¯t staring at a monster hanging from the ceiling above them.

    Her slitted yellow eyes stared into his, the edges of her mouth widening to reveal teeth half the length of his dagger and just as sharp. It was definitely vampiric in nature, its skin a dull shade of brown, enough colour in it for him to know she had recently fed. There was a need to know what species she was, there were a myriad of ways to kill the undead, scanning the monster¡¯s body for hints that could guide him.

    The claws on her feet had dug into the rock, her head tilting to study him in response to his gaze, her face similar to an aunt furiously trying to mask her age. But before his mind could analyse what his eyes had gathered about the monster, she answered. Her torso split into two, the skin splitting into a web of slimy, greying tissues, the bones that connected her spine and pelvis shearing its ligament as the monster¡¯s upper body floated downwards. Wings appeared from her back, unfolding as she rotated to meet his gaze, streaks of translucent gooey crimson strings lingering as they did.

    ¡°Leave,¡± She commanded, her voice attempting to entice him, Elina stopping the words from worming into his mind with the ferocity of an overprotective nanny.

    His hand sunk into the shade of his cloak, connecting him to the partition he had made in the dimension for storage, pulling out a chunk of salt. ¡°A Manananggal¡­¡± He concluded, staring at the bottom part of the monster, his voice clear as it addressed his companions, holding up the crystal, ¡°Who wants the salt?¡±

    Sarah replied with a battle cry, her hammer rising before it was brought down on the vampire. The monster was able to dodge the clearly indicated attack, causing her to hiss as her feet tore the ceiling to retreat, her tongue lashing at his rival.

    Alex moved to strike the moment before, the guards of his dagger catching the slimy appendage, forcing its blade into the wall, slicing the skin of the tongue in the process. The attack had the intended effect, the manananggal biting off the appendage, her hands separating from her arms, dashing towards Bee as the main body did the same. It tried to bite him, her maw opening up like a dragon¡¯s, her teeth extending forwards to surround his head, but he felt his partner dash past him, the fear in the vampire¡¯s eyes and the grin on his face grew.

    Shadows erupted beneath the monster, tendrils of ink twisted in the air to wrap themselves around the monster, sliding between her skin and clothes as the spell seized its movement to freeze the monster in mid-air. She tried to gnaw him, the points of her teeth barely able to reach his face, her screams echoing through the air as Sarah battered her hands, unable to separate her body further because of his magic.

    His partner reached her lower half, Elyza crushing the crystal without any effort, letting the newly formed dust fall to the floor. A small tornado formed next to her feet, catching the particulate before it could touch the ground, carrying it back towards the stump of flesh that hung from the ceiling. However, she knew this was an opportunity, no glances being shared as he stopped the salt from curing the monster¡¯s lower half.

    ¡°Let¡¯s talk,¡± Alex instructed the monster, flicking his finger onto her forehead as hard as he could, ¡°If your brain isn¡¯t filled to the brim with bloodlust already.¡±

    She tried to stare him down, and he responded by coalescing mana above his pupils to create mirrors, stopping any attempts for the monster¡¯s gaze to breach his soul. Raising his dagger, he pricked the tip of his finger, and let his blood trickle freely down his hand, ¡°If you cooperate I¡¯ll voluntarily give you some of this luscious blood, bursting with ma¨C¡±

    ¡°I refuse,¡± the vampire declared, her hands and tongue retreating back to merge with her torso, floating into their correct, but she was still restrained from moving her lower body by the incredible pressure his partner emanated.

    The whipping of her magic still grumbled between the walls of the passageway, but he was much more interested in the monster¡¯s refusal, ¡°Elaborate, or I¡¯ll have my partner make your separation permanent.¡±

    There was a moment of defiance, before her teeth returned to their relative normalcy, her brow still furrowing, allowing him to gaze into the turmoil in her eyes, a question of whether to betray her comrades or to protect them. ¡°Release my body first,¡± She requested, and the annoyance in her voice was clear.

    ¡°Which part?¡± The grin felt warranted at the moment, but the vampire¡¯s glare spoke otherwise, so he decided it was wizard¡¯s choice, and with a wave of his hand the inky tendrils retreated to whence they came, his shadow trembling as they kept the others at bay.

    Her wings flapped a few times as she orientated herself, trying to regain a regal composure as her hands folded themselves over her stomach, speaking with the same grace, ¡°I presume you¡¯re here to capture Shu.¡±

    Alex was surprised, pleasantly so, but he ensured his face showed none of it, ¡°We¡¯re here to figure out what kind of cult you¡¯re working for.¡±

    The monster clicked her tongue, ¡°You and the elf perhaps, but I¡¯ve heard the paladin behind you ask around in the town for him.¡±

    Instinctively his brow raised, curiosity brimming beneath his tongue, a sliver of it accompanying his words, ¡°Seems a bit strange, you, voluntarily revealing what you know without further prodding by myself, that is. Has your heart shrivelled so substantially that you would easily throw your friends into the mouth of a volcano? I suppose that follows the stages of a cadaver in the end.¡±

    For the first time, the monster appeared to find a bit of enjoyment, ¡°The same reason why you haven¡¯t killed me yet, you have some use I can exploit. If you were here to destroy the cult, letting that potent blood let its scent waft through a closed space would be a death sentence if there were more of my kind.¡±

    ¡°Maybe I¡¯m just an idiot.¡±

    You realise this now?

    ¡°Maybe you are, but you were prepared to deal with a manananggal in a nation like Luminae, so I find that hard to believe.¡±

    He couldn¡¯t help but smile, it was rare to find a blood sucker who thought things through when they learned what flowed within him, but Alex wanted an answer, ¡°You¡¯re truly a rarity, however, why did my blood, called pure ecstasy by your kind many, many times before, have no noticeable effect on you?¡±

    ¡°It is because I¡¯d decided to stop consuming blood decades ago,¡± the vampire responded with no hesitation.

    There would¡¯ve been a moment of silence as he and his partner tried to process the words, but thankfully the cackle that Sarah released from behind helped accelerate the process. He looked towards his friend, catching the glimmer of the magic disappearing from her purple eye, a faint glow accumulating around the coloured pupil in its place.

    ¡°Hilariously,¡± Bee began, slotting her warhammer to her back before continuing, ¡°What the vamp says is the truth. Isn¡¯t that right, Lady Reyna?¡±

    A look of disgust washed over the vampire¡¯s face, her lips curling into a snarl as realisation washed over, ¡°You¡¯re a paladin of justice, Durga by the look of your eye, unfortunately it seems that you won¡¯t be able to cleanse the earth of us rotten undead.¡±

    Alex instantly rebutted, gesturing towards his partner to cut out her spell, the sound of salt sprinkling on the rocks accompanying his words, ¡°Hey, don¡¯t get blinded by your biases, if I did the same, you¡¯d be a pile of smokey ash, that I could sell to some blacksmith for a heavy pouch of coins.¡±

    The monster heard the crystals clitter, but her eyes reflected that his threat had pierced her armour, the lower half slowly floating downwards to rejoin its better half. As her skin weaved together once again, she stood on her bare feet, straightening her hair when she spoke, ¡°I hope you will allow my fellow worshippers the same grace offered to me.¡±

    ¡°Before we decide on any circumstantial alliances,¡± Elyza spoke, her eyes drawing scars into the vampire¡¯s back, but her voice did not convey the distrust as she continued, ¡°Since you claim to be part of the cult, you were clearly acting as a sentry for them, or at the very least a guard dog.¡±

    Annoyance tugged the edges of Reyna¡¯s eyes, ¡°We are not a cu¨C¡±

    ¡°Easy there, you don¡¯t want to get your blood pressure high,¡± Alex grinned as his partner continued, relishing the brief moment of confusion as the vampire attempted to understand the joke.

    ¡°With what we know of Shu, or what we think we know, I believe he would have been appointed in a similar position, away from the centre of where the cult must be operating,¡± She concluded, her halberd returning around her finger as she returned to his side.

    ¡°I know what¡¯s happening here,¡± The groan from Sarah almost made him laugh the rest of the words, ¡°I must congratulate you, my dear old Bee, for the first time in history a girl¡¯s going to choose you over me.¡±

    Instantly he got smacked, his partner¡¯s heavy gauntlet adding power to the slap, almost making him lose his footing, Elyza unconcerned with his health as she spoke, ¡°I apologise for him, his lapses in judgements get worse when he has not taken his daily naps.¡±

    ¡°You lose this one to death or idiocy and the deal is off,¡± Bee remarked, and he had not heard more truthful words come from her mouth before, which was somewhat worrying.

    Even your rival prefers her more than you.

    Hey, if you want to move, I can talk to her.

    It was rare that his mind was free from the Empress¡¯ voice and influence, but the silence that followed the exchange was quickly swallowed by the debate within himself. Fortunately, rationale rose victorious, and he addressed Bee, ¡°Well, then I suppose I should allow her to travel in company as safe as yours, and it would be ungentlemanly of me to deprive you of your target¡­¡±

    ¡°Do words just spew out of your mouth?¡± The vampire questioned, worry clear in her voice.

    But his partner just sighed, remarking, ¡°Do not be alarmed, Nemo here is just confirming that one requires practice to decrypt his unfiltered thoughts. He means to say that we two should go after the bounty while he¡¯ll infiltrate your cult, with your help of course.¡±

    Horror spread over the vampire¡¯s face, and he knew Bee couldn¡¯t resist the opportunity, ¡°Ah, the look everyone has when they first work with the bastard.¡±

    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

    <hr>

    The path forward was unnaturally cosy for one supposed to lead to the bowels of a cult. The rocks beneath him were soon replaced with cobbled bricks of clay, handmade lanterns adorning the flanking walls, their warm orange glow illuminating the tunnel. It had been constructed so that whoever stumbled upon it was welcomed to explore further. Unusual it was not, presentation in Alex¡¯s experience was a prerequisite for a cult¡¯s operation, enticing outsiders to delve into their world. However, glancing behind himself, still following the vampire, he expected the tunnel to elongate.

    A trick of the lights, or literally through magic, make it seem harder to leave than to take another step forward, but as comforting as it was to travel inwards, it was seemingly just as easy to stop and leave whenever he wanted. Sniffing the air, his nose could not pick anything hidden behind it, and no alluring melody reached his ears, only the footsteps of the one who led him.

    ¡°If you are not here to destroy us, why has the Guild instructed you to infiltrate us?¡± Reyna questioned, trust a forgone thing for someone of her age and affiliation.

    ¡°We¡¯re a special case,¡± Alex answered, making sure his smugness was palpable, ¡°And contrary to popular belief, the Guild doesn¡¯t only crush any cults it finds, it''s also responsible for officiating them.¡±

    The vampire¡¯s eyes darted backwards, if for a moment, quickly adding, ¡°What exactly do you aim to do? I must warn you, I¡¯m aiding you, so I can ensure the best possible outcome for those under my protection. If I sense any malice, I will strip your heart from your flesh.¡±

    A scoff escaped his lips, grinning as he spoke, ¡°We¡¯re here to find out whom you worship, how you worship, and why you worship. Most importantly, that none of your past, present, or future activities have the potential for harming life in any way whatsoever. If I¡¯m thoroughly entertained, I may even sponsor you guys to be an official religion within the nation.¡±

    He could sense the realisation and hope surge within his guide, but just to cover his bases, ¡°However, if I uncover illicit and unethical practices, whoever you worship will be powerless to protect you.¡±

    There was no noticeable indication whether his words had had the desired effect, so it was helpful when she responded, ¡°Then this will be an uneventful rest of the day for you.¡±

    ¡°We can only hope,¡± Alex remarked, cracking his fingers to warm them up while adjusting his hood so that its shade disappeared before it reached his grin. Another minute or two of walking led to him almost wishing Elina would break her silence. The hushed air caused his mind to stagnate, the darkness giving him no reprieve, boredom growing within at an exponential rate before he had to resort to snapping a rhythm to keep it at bay.

    Thankfully, just as he was about to stoop to the level of shouting insults at a random god to see what would happen, Reyna spoke, ¡°We¡¯re about to reach the main hall in a few strides, if you need to prepare yourself or ask anything, do so now.¡±

    Thousands of ideas flooded his mind, many had to be disregarded because of over the top flair, some were sneaked in by the freeloader, but one stood out from the rest. Closing his eyes, he willed his shadow to unfurl, calling upon pieces of it to rise and morph to his order. The pitch black umbra grew over his body, waves of darkness climbing him, weaving in between his skin and clothes as the spell mimicked his silhouette.

    But roaming into the room as a demon dressed in ink would be idiotic, and in response his hand rose free from commanding the shadows. He forced the sea of mana within him outwards, but not as a pulse or a string to aim his spell, instead as fine particulate. A cloud of mist materialised around him in an instant, and just as quickly sank to cover the shadows.

    The layer of illusion split into two, one resting upon his previous spell, the other sinking below it to cover his actual body. The first mimicked what the second lay upon, and the latter ensured what it masked couldn¡¯t be seen by the naked eye. It was tiring, his body growing heavier with each second as his mana was fed into two of his favourite spells, but he seldom had the opportunity to use both at the same time, and his grin grew wider.

    He stepped backwards as the illusions settled into completion, the shadow suit fully laced by the mirage of his creation, and Alex was looking at himself, his guide none the wiser. Covering his mouth with his hand, he connected it with the throat of his clone, and cleared his throat to confirm it was working. The sound came from his splitting half, but since he was near it already, it was simpler to throw his voice and have his shadow clone mimic his movements, ¡°No time like the present.¡±

    ¡°I can gather from the small interaction we¡¯ve had that you like to listen to yourself speak,¡± Reyna proclaimed, her calm eyes staring daggers into the copy, the slitted pupil filled with command, ¡°You let me speak, and me alone, until prompted. Understand?¡±

    Walking back into the clone¡¯s cover, not wanting to expend any unnecessary mana if he could help it, he answered with a thumbs up. He did cross his fingers with his hand out of her line of sight, knowing wholeheartedly he was unmatched against his own need to talk, especially when the situation didn¡¯t necessitate it. The spell reattached itself to him with a thought, predicting his moments, so the illusion did not break as he followed the vampire.

    True to her word, they soon entered an expanse, the ceiling shooting upwards to make way for what appeared to be a praying area. Benches had been carved from stone, orbiting around a smouldering pyre in the middle, wisps of smoke rising, unable to obscure his sight-line of the towering statue behind it. It had been carved from the same rock that made the benches, and as he felt the wall beside him, he was more than confident that everything in the room had been carved into the earth.

    The statue was of a middle-aged bearded man wearing a wolf-skin, the finer details lost to the skill of the carver, but he could feel the immense amount of effort in the work. In one hand, the man held a long-handed hammer, similar to Sarah¡¯s but the head was not of metal but a cider barrel, and his other hand held what looked to be a honey pot.

    As his eyes worked to study the room, his ears picked up held breaths coming from behind the benches. There were people hiding, but Alex could do nothing till his guide made the first exchange. Reyna took in a deep breath, an amusing concept for him, before she spoke, ¡°Rise, the situation is not as we thought.¡±

    The words would not have worked if she was unsure, and the confidence with how she spoke could not be garnered by a mere guardian. His suspicions were confirmed as the room was suddenly occupied by a two dozen or so glaring heads, their stares fixed onto him. Millions of ways to introduce himself, but against popular demand, he settled for a reserved wave with his pinky and ring finger curled into his palm.

    ¡°Who is he?¡± A voice exclaimed so excitedly even the freeloader living in his head couldn¡¯t take offence to the words, even more so when Alex flicked his gaze to who had spoken. The elf with a wizard¡¯s hood continued speaking, his olive green eyes fixated on him, unable to look onto his own eyes in the shade of his hooded cloak,

    ¡°Is he a new practitioner?¡± he asked, dealing with three arcane locks carved into the leather of a book strapped to his chest, before the cavern was filled with the noise of flipping pages.

    ¡°He is yet to decide,¡± Reyna remarked, her smirk betraying her surprise as to his ability to remain quiet, ¡°Be kind to him, he¡¯s asked for refuge for a moment till some things may boil over, his words not mine. Introduce yourself.¡±

    He had to play the role, so to make sure he didn¡¯t get wrapped up in his own charm, he stepped from the clone. His illusion remained stable as it hid himself from normal sight, but he could afford no time to appreciate his spell as he focused on puppeting the version of himself that could be seen. Covering his mouth with one hand, using the other to guide the action of his shadow clone, Alex sat on a nearby bench before making it hesitate as it started talking.

    ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Nemo,¡± His clone was mimicking his expressions perfectly, which made the one panicking to find something more to add even more effective, ¡°Which my parents gave me the day they abandoned me, because they thought I would never achieve anything.¡±

    ¡°Well¡­ that¡¯s quite a lot sadder than my name,¡± the elf remarked, flipping through his book before stopping and jotting something down, ¡°I was named Cillian after my grandpa.¡±

    He forced the clone to give a weak smile before speaking, ¡°That¡¯s a good thing to be named after, I like to think they named me after Odysseus¡¯ cunning.¡±

    Something strange caught Alex¡¯s eyes as the words flowed. While they all had risen from their hiding places, none of the worshippers actually looked comfortable. In fact, as he observed with each passing moment, they appeared more and more stressed, like they were trying their hardest to wait for something particular to happen.

    ¡°Is that¡­ Sucullos?¡± He made his other half point to the statue, his own eyes fixed on Cillian, his first instinct to suspect the most active person for signs of trickery.

    The elf immediately started beaming, his hands still busy scrawling something in his notebook as he spoke, ¡°You know him? I¡¯ve never had the pleasure to talk to someone who has knowledge of our lord¡¯s real name.¡±

    His reaction was genuine, but there was always a chance of a hidden agenda, so Alex made his clone continue, ¡°I was stuck in a library for a month, and it led to me having a very strange knowledge pool.¡±

    Something caught his attention from the corner of his eye, a man that was still hiding behind the stone benches, emerging from the cover wielding a gigantic braided rope, rune stones woven into the line. ¡°I would love to chat more afterwards,¡± The elf proclaimed, and every single person, except the man with the rope, dashed behind him.

    The man swung the rope around his body before wrapping it around his leg to flick it forward. Forced to dodge under the line even while being invisible, Alex didn¡¯t feel any intent directed towards him, and as he glanced back at his shadow self, he saw the aim of the attack.

    The braided threads wrapped around his guide¡¯s waist, the runes embedded within the rope shining with the glow of the sun, allowing him to read what spell they were associated with. Confusion spread across Reyna¡¯s face as she was thrown by the braided rope, the added strength of the magic almost made her seem as light as a feather. Her wings unfurled to extension as she sailed through the air, flapping furiously to regain control of herself, her voice filled with panic as she shouted, ¡°YOU FOOLS, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU¡¯RE DOING?!¡±

    The elf had clearly planned that, not even looking at the furious vampire hovering behind him. ¡°Protecting you, Re¨C Lady Reyna,¡± Cillian proclaimed in attempted heroism, the effect diminished by the voice crack, before ripping a page from his notebook and throwing it in front of him.

    He commanded his clone to go defensive, sending facsimiles of his dagger and sword to it. As his other half wielded the dull blades, Alex stood and walked around the benches to reach the group huddled around their god¡¯s sculpture, stifling an oncoming yawn with his hand. Unfortunately, his attention was on the piece of paper, and the slip of his mind forced his clone to yawn as well.

    Any other person would¡¯ve been infuriated, but it seemed the entirety of the room was focused on the piece of cotton floating in the air, which had started to unfurl to an extent not physically possible. Layers that shouldn¡¯t have existed unfolded into new blankets of the paper, till he could make out what the elf had scrawled onto it.

    ¡°Fflamau, trowch beth bynnag sy''n eich cyffwrdd yn lludw!¡± A moment of elation bubbled up inside of him as Cillian cast, the spell¡¯s similar to the base his partner used, but it was soon replaced with alarms ringing in his mind.

    The paper burned with a furious green blaze, leaving in its place a magic circle twice his height and made of ten or so layers of unstable red mana strings. The sight did make Alex step through the shadows to emerge behind the elf, his invisibility spell shimmered a bit as it crossed into two dimensions in short succession. Fortunately, everyone around him was focused on the giant, churning sphere of blue flames that exploded into existence from the magic circle. The mass of fire hung in the air for a moment, stabilising, shrinking as the inferno increased its ferocity, the ball shrinking somewhat before it was hurled towards his clone.

    The force of the spell would¡¯ve ended any other fight if it was about to hit someone as squarely as it was going to, but since his clone was stable enough as is, he simply retracted itself into its own shadow. The sight was shielded by the enormity of the fireball, along with the glacial radiance at which it filled the room, so Alex¡¯s mind was far more concerned with what to do after it hit its mark. He could end his illusion and appear to materialise behind Cillian, that would scare the other¡¯s enough for them to listen for a bit longer, but he couldn¡¯t help himself. He needed to know what the elf would do if this uber powerful attack utterly failed. There was a want to know what more options he had. There were seldom moments in his illustrious career where he could just truly enjoy the company of his thoughts.

    Moments as the fireball exploded, the room was enveloped in a blue inferno, vaporising the stone benches around it, pushing the air to its limits, compressing it till it banged, the noise adding to the eruption of the spell, deafening whoever was unfortunate enough to stand in its vicinity. The force was somewhat mitigated by Cillian throwing another page from his spell book into the air, shielding himself as it bloomed into a shield to protect those behind him. The smell of melting rocks was able to pass through, and as he sniffed the air, it almost made Alex feel nostalgic.

    ¡°YOU IDIOT!¡± Reyna screamed at the elf, her eyes reddening with anger, the heightened emotions causing her to lose control of her monstrous side, her teeth sharpening into daggers as her tongue whipped at Cillian.

    ¡°Why are you angry at me?¡± He responded, the words filled with a relatable mix of confusion and innocence, ¡°Tiffany heard his voice through the tunnel and found it similar to what she heard in the morning. If he¡¯s the same person as the one with the paladin, then he should be fine, just unconscious.¡±

    ¡°AND IF HE WASN¡¯T?!¡± The vampire retorted, somehow her cheeks turning crimson as her feet landed on the ground, betraying everything he knew about vampires.

    The elf paused, his eyes glazing over before he admitted, ¡°I¨C uh, I didn¡¯t think that far ahead.¡±

    Putting his hand over his mouth, Alex yanked his clone from its shadow before making it say, ¡°Ah, happens to me a lot more than I would like it to¡­ Didn¡¯t your mother tell you to never attempt a surprise attack without confirming it will work beforehand?¡±

    The shock on Cillian¡¯s face almost made him chuckle before catching himself, the elf flicking around to see his clone emerge unscathed from the dust plume. Immediately, he flipped through his spellbook before taking out a double page from it and throwing it towards the clone, muttering something under his breath as he did, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for using your life¡¯s work for this, Master.¡±

    For once, hesitation flared within him, not by his own thoughts but by the actions of another, the paper dissolving into a floating ball of pure unadulterated mana. The ripples that emanated through the air from it felt warm as they stirred his own mana, the magic trying furiously to form into something. It hummed, screamt, and whistled as the sphere of white shifted from fire to water to pieces of diamond. Alex had seen the sight before, spells without any visual or mental component, utilising the oldest forms of magic as a base to create ones never thought of before.

    But this was different. It was pure chaos, waiting to be restrained, growing bigger as it sapped the mana in the air, yet the elf did nothing. He was furiously flipping through his notebook, looking for something, no doubt an incantation of sorts. Shadows slithered from the dark corner of the rooms, the illusion of his clone failing as Alex shifted his focus to preparing contingencies if the orb failed, amalgamating the shades with the power latent in his domain.

    MY domain.

    We¡¯ll talk later, maybe in the presence of a therapist.

    ¡°Here it is!¡± Cillian finally proclaimed, his hand shooting forward, causing the orb of mana to streak through the room. It was too fast for even his eyes to track it perfectly, but the sphere left in its trail strings of magic that came together to form a magic circle with his clone dead centre. The layers spun violently as the mana trapped within were charged till the spell glowed as bright as Artemis¡¯ arrows, waiting to be unleashed by a couple of simple words. Excitement burst within him, his mind running through the countless ideas it had of what the spell could do.

    The elf took a deep breath, grimacing as he shouted, ¡°TESTIUM TORSIO!¡±

    Alex was on the brink of losing it completely as the circle burst into a violent white light before dissipating with its aim accomplished. Even if he was immortal, it would¡¯ve taken aeons for him to think of that as the target of the spell. Technically, it would be immensely effective against at least half of all living beings, not even gods would have a solution to it.

    ¡°How is that possible?¡± Cillian questioned, his words guided by his confusion as he saw his clone standing there unaffected by the most torturous event in a man¡¯s life.

    ¡°Oh no,¡± Reyna muttered, unaware the source of her worry was standing below her. He couldn¡¯t focus on either, Alex actively biting his tongue to stop himself bursting into incoherent cackling, he let go of his clone, letting it dissolve into inky wisps that were consumed by the shadows beneath.

    Before Cillian had a chance to react to his other half¡¯s sudden disappearance, he swung his leg at his shin, wrapping one hand around the elf¡¯s shoulder, his other retrieving his dagger. The impact forced his illusion to break, falling like dominoes from the points of contact. He swung both of them on the balls of his feet as the breaking spell made its way up his body, revealing his grinning face to the ones behind as he rested his blade at the wizard¡¯s neck. He couldn¡¯t help it, restraining his laughter as he uttered, ¡°Unfortunately for you, my balls are made of steel.¡±

    There were at least three chuckles in the crowd, the perfect reaction to his words, but now that he had instilled the fear greater than their god could hope to, it was time for some calm conversation. Flipping back his hood with his dagger, letting the blade fall into his cloak, he patted down the elf¡¯s hair, yanking his spellbook in the process.

    ¡°Now then,¡± He began, bringing the book to his eyeline, ¡°Since we¡¯ve calmed down a bit, let us participate in the second-oldest method of dealing with conflict and talk it out.¡±

    He had to be cursed, other than the demoness living in his head, there had to be some power in the universe that enjoyed seeing him climb out of the depths of chaos. As the last word left his mouth, his heart hoped to have a lax discussion, but his mind was jealous of his partner currently battling an enemy that truly intrigued him. Yet, it still prepared what was required for what was required for the questioning, and then the roof shuddered.

    A thundering noise echoed from the encasing walls, and time almost slowed down for him as his eyes gazed upon the first crack, his head turning before any other. Even as his perception sped up to compensate, the fault in the roof splintered outwards like the branches of a lightning strike. There was no time to think, to command the shadows under his control, only one choice remained to shield everyone. Fortunately, the dark corners of the room were already connected to the other side.

    Alex reached within the depths of his mind, deeper than the bellows where he put things that were on the cusp of being forgotten, extending a piece of himself like offering a hand to a hungry beast. The Empress grabbed ahold without hesitation, and his mind delved into turmoil as she warred against his thoughts. Necessary pain as the domain of darkness opened itself like a flower taking in the first rays of the day, exposing him to what was hidden beneath his small island in a sea of chaotic order.

    Time was of the essence, and a grin forced upon his face as he tapped into the primordial darkness. His muscles burning like lava ran through them, forcing the pure umbra out from the shadows surrounding him, following his hands as they formed a dome around the group behind him, covering their idol as well. The roof finally succumbed, and shards as big as houses rained upon them, barely giving him the time to push Cillian into Reyna¡¯s arms. It was easy to dodge the bigger pieces, the smaller ones crumbling under his xiphos¡¯ blade, but his attention was on what had dropped in along with the ground above.

    He saw the head of a hammer he had been on the wrong end too many times, the weapon lacking its wielder. The shine of copper and obsidian caught his eye soon after, streaks of amber and red following the two, but the golden locks didn¡¯t seem attached to falling armours. His control over the shadows behind him fell as they hurtled toward the pile of rubble that now made the floor, the darkness preparing to cushion the diving duo, his muscles burning again as primaeval mana coursed through them. It was all for naught, the stale air that he breathed dashing towards his partner, directed by her as they escaped towards the hole above.

    As Elyza¡¯s feet landed on the top of the wreckage, it allowed Alex to wrestle control of his thoughts from the freeloader. His mind encased her within the quadrant where she was currently wreaking havoc, pushing her towards the back before restricting her influence as much as he could, cutting her off from their domain. Throwing the demoness back into the depths of his mind, the cost of colluding with her made itself, unable to push her beyond the place where he sent memories to die, allowing the Empress another hold on his soul. But the benefit outweighed the strain he experienced tenfold.

    Selfish little bastard.

    The words were ignored as his partner looked over to him, her shining emerald eyes looking into his, before they darted behind him. ¡°Cillian?¡± Her voice was crisp, even as the echoes of crumbling rocks bounced off the walls.

    Joy instantly flared up within him, but it wasn¡¯t the situation for the emotion, so he gave her a smile before looking back at the elf, ¡°Oh, we¡¯re definitely going to circle back to that.¡±

    ¡°COME DOWN HERE AND FACE ME LIKE A MAN!¡± Bee¡¯s voice bellowed in the shrunken space, reminding him of reality. He dashed over towards his friends, jumping off of crumbling footholds to reach them, almost losing his footing as he saw his dear old friend¡¯s hair absolutely tattered. It had been forcefully cut by something, only remnants of her intricate braid remaining.

    Scanning her for injuries, Alex saw her holding her broken helm in one hand, cleanly cut into pieces. ¡°Help the others get to safety,¡± He instructed his rage-filled friend, snapping her out of the emotion for her to think for a moment.

    She protested, ¡°We¡¯re underground, I have the advantage.¡± Unfortunately, her eyes betrayed her true feelings in the matter.

    ¡°That means you have the best chance to get them all out alive.¡±

    She grumbled some profanities that would put pirates to shame, letting out a shrill whistle towards the worshippers, whispering as she passed him, ¡°Get revenge for my hair, or I¡¯m slapping you to death.¡±

    ¡°Hello,¡± Elyza remarked, ears perpendicular to her head, most definitely thinking of how to beat whoever had attacked, not even looking at her beloved partner.

    ¡°Hi,¡± Alex replied, the grin on his face widening, ¡°What is Mr. Shu¡¯s hiding beneath his sleeves.¡±

    A sigh escaped his lips, ¡°Easier to show you than to explain.¡± Before he had the chance to point it out, she suggested, ¡°We shall talk about my past after we deal with him.¡±

    ¡°Did you at least miss me?¡± He remarked, looking at the bright blue sky, a silhouette of a falling man blocking part of his view.

    She hesitated before answering and that was all he needed as she instructed, ¡°Don¡¯t let him land, the more open the area the better the chances.¡±

    His shadow swirled around his feet as he prepared for her call, Alex confirming,¡°Roger that, boss.¡±

 Chapter 27: A Luminaen Stand-off

    ¡°Ready.¡± Her words reached his ears, and the tiny little string holding back the swirling chaos beneath his feet snapped. Torrents of darkness propelled Alex upwards, tendrils forming to stabilise his legs so that they didn¡¯t buckle completely under the force. He had to make some corrections in the angle before he released, aiming to intersect the falling white clad man in the air. The shadows released him at the peak of their force, and the air whipped against his ears as he barrelled through the dust laden, excitement running through his muscles, pushing them to work through their fatigue.

    Electricity accompanied his enthusiasm, pulsing through his blood in preparation for what he was to command of it. His perception slowed again, for only a second this time, letting him stare at the man that now appeared to float above him, his body twisting so it would be in line with his target. Turning into pure lightning, his body exploded forward, a thunderous crackle echoing through the cavern following the bolt of purple lightning that tore through the air. He rematerialised into his corporeal form, the smell of burning dust and ozone greeting him, along with the sight of Shu¡¯s startled face.

    The remnants of lightning coursing through him collected within his palm, Alex¡¯s mana stabilising quicker now that it knew what to expect. The magic ruptured into a blinding stream of electricity, directed towards the man¡¯s chest, unfortunately not making direct contact as it was blocked by the man¡¯s sword. Still, the force was great enough that the pull of gravity seemed to disappear, Shu hurtling through the air, his body struggling to stop itself from barrelling into unconsciousness, almost reaching the ground above.

    Even if he somehow managed to regain his balance, it would do him no good. As Alex fell, his momentum finally exhausting itself, Elyza whipped by, leaving wisps of wind in her wake. He reached beside to grab a hold of her trailing halberd, catching it just below the blade, and again he was thrown upwards. She twisted her entire body, her weapon¡¯s shaft groaning as it was forced to deal with her partner¡¯s weight, flicking it at the end to catapult him into Shu.

    Before they left, his fingers sprouted shadows to wrap around his partner at the same time as the wind coming from below turned violent. It took a second for the darkness to solidify, dragging his partner behind as the wind added power to his mid air leap. Alex¡¯s body shifted mid-air in order to raise his legs above his head, his hands busy in keeping the umbra ropes stable in his turbulent wake.

    His foot slammed into the man¡¯s back, and off he went again, hurtling into the deep blue sky this time, escaping the maw of the crater. He had no time to gloat at his own accuracy, summoning as much raw strength he could muster to swing Elyza at the edge of the hole. She hit the ground, using the momentum he gave her to stumble forward, safe from the pull of gravity as he fell once again.

    Waiting was boring, especially if you had no patience for the act. Yet, Alex was forced to practise the virtue as the wind tried fruitlessly to slow his descent, made worse by the fact the airborne shenanigans had slowed his perception a touch. He was able to keep himself from the edge of total oblivion by opening the shadows where he expected to hit the fast approaching ground, along with a couple others in the shapes of different animals.

    The ringing of a bell emerged from within his mind, spreading to his ears, reverberating through his body, causing the shadows beneath to shudder in response to its call. They parted to give way, submerging him in the sea of darkness that simmered beneath everything. He wished the transition would allow him a moment¡¯s reprieve, but the pull of the bell was too strong at this proximity. His body barely slowed down as it tore through inky shadows, before being pushed by the semi-fluid liquid, rising once again into the plane of light from whence he rose.

    As his head breached the light, Elyza grabbed his hood and yanked upwards, pulling him from his own shadow and throwing him beside her. His back hit rock, thankfully the folds of his cloak softened the blow, and he sat for a moment next to her behind a boulder. Just as he was about to ask why, she pushed his shoulder, and the stone betwixt the two, and a strand of his hair, ceased to exist, as if a blade had cleaved through them.

    _Careful, I¡¯ve seen this trick before._

    It was easy to make the connection, so he asked the next question that popped into his head, the lack of dispersed mana puzzling him, ¡°How¡¯d you predict where he would strike?¡±

    Her hand went into her pouch, pulling out a handful of ivy seeds, sighing as she counted them, ¡°I can sense something arriving before it happens, a fleeting, ghostly pressure, as if some primal part within me is yelling to dodge. The blade appears to eviscerate whatever it touches, but it is only as thick as a bow string, and it takes approximately two seconds for him to ready the next.¡±

    There was determination in her voice, her ears standing straight in focus, her emerald eyes seemed to glimmer as they peeked through the new gap. She had a plan, and he requested to know his part, ¡°So, boss, what do you need me to do?¡±

    ¡°Be yourself,¡± She remarked, a smile brighter than the sky above appearing on her face, ¡°Distract him and do not die.¡±

    He didn¡¯t stop the scoff that came from the depths of his lungs, and the words rolled off his tongue, ¡°Please, like anyone has the audacity to kill me.¡±

    _Duck._

    A chill ran up his spine, his nerves freezing, reminding him of the first time he fully emerged into the domain of darkness. Yet, as much as he hated to, he followed Elina¡¯s command immediately. His hair barely dodged the slash, the boulder behind shuddering as the two halves slammed together, and a plume of dust fell upon him.

    _You¡¯re welcome, you ungrateful child._

    When you live inside a person¡¯s brain, you have a vested interest in them not dying.

    Shaking the grime from his clothes, he gestured to his partner to go the opposite way, pulling out his xiphos as a precaution. Readying himself with a snap each beside his ears, he took in a deep breath, resting his sword on his shoulders as he decided what act would work to steal the show.

    As he turned the corner, out from the cover of the now structurally unsound boulder and into a barren crater, no doubt the work of the paladin, he gave his most amicable smile as he began, ¡° Dong! Is that you?! It¡¯s been so long.¡±

    It was the first time they had stood face to face, Shu¡¯s inky eyes trying desperately to instil some sort of fear in him, staring into his own apathetic pair. He observed how the pure white clothes¡¯ shine had been muddled by dust, tears, and blood. The edges of his white robe were frayed, a scar ran from his neck to his chest, his black straight hair hanging next to, what appeared to be, four gourds strapped to his waist by red strings, and a dao sheathed opposite them. Alex was in the process of studying his opponent¡¯s clothes, when the paranoia returned, his chest filling with an immense amount of pressure.

    _Left._

    Thank you.

    He stepped to his right just as the pressure surged, hovering the tip of his sword at what he perceived to be the attack''s path. Glancing at his sword as he felt the slice hit, he saw the metal disappear instantly, as if it never existed in the first place. Annoyance swelled within him, a xiphos took time to forge, but he still had to keep his smile bright and wide, glancing at the trees behind the risen edges of the ground for a hint towards his partner¡¯s plan.

    ¡°Didn¡¯t your mother ever teach you the proper way to greet an old friend,¡± Alex said with a faux frown flashing across his face, returning the sword to his shoulder, somewhat proud that he couldn¡¯t spot her. He gingerly strolled in an arc towards his opponent, keeping an eye on the man¡¯s expressions, lest they betray the next attack.

    The threat in Shu¡¯s eyes was replaced with pain, forcing him to shake his head before retrieving a gourd and downing its content in a single swig. He threw the flask at his feet before he spoke, his words accompanied by a hollow thud and the clittering of pebbles.

    ¡°The axe does not remember the wounds given to weeds,¡± His words took a break as he stared at the blue sky, his mind absent, his focus struggling, the reverence in his speech disappearing, ¡°I am sick of people interfering with those who wish to be left alone, those that do not hurt anyone, yet who are persecuted by the likes of you.¡±

    Holding up his hand, Alex tried to explain, ¡°Unfortunately, I believe some sort of miscommunication has happe¨C¡±

    Paranoia surged again, his mind acclimating to the sensation, learning what the attack stirred within him, before the attack reached, so that there would be a bigger window to dodge. He stepped to the left, using more movement than he would have preferred to maintain his character, continuing, ¡°Please don¡¯t interrupt me, I would appreciate some cooperation while I spoke.¡±

    ¡°A cat only acts familiar with the mouse while it remains useful,¡± Shu uttered, his eyes unfocused as he pulled out the dao, struggling with grasping the hilt, and when he did the blade was stained a brownish red due to neglect.

    Two seconds had already passed but another attack seemed too far off for the man standing dejected in front of him, but Alex had a plan to follow. ¡°Speak plain, I struggle to understand elaborately constructed speech patterns.¡±

    _You are such a hypocrite._

    Oh, I know, my queen of darkness. I learned from the best.

    ¡°I do not know who you are, but I know you to be an ally of the two before, and I saw the intentions they held against me,¡± The swordsman drawled out, his voice on the verge of breaking. He pulled another gourd from his waist, swigging the liquid held while he continued, ¡°I¡¯ve sworn on what¡¯s remaining of my soul to protect those that have housed someone of my fate from the likes of you.¡±

    He could sympathise with the words, enjoyed the blue tapestry with lazily meandering cotton floating above them, not even granting Shu his attention as he ducked under another ghost blade. The sensation had barely flared before his body reacted to it, the paranoia just a whispering in the back of his mind. Contemplation ran through Alex¡¯s head, there was a way to talk him out of his drunkenness, but as his eyes rested back onto his opponent, they were drawn to the figure hidden within the trees.

    Giving out a grin that, by the looks of Shu, annoyed him to no extent, he bowed, knowing that the man¡¯s honour would not let him strike. He held the sword above his head as it descended, mana flowing through his body, collecting, coalescing, till it mimicked the power of lightning. As he rose, his grin turned sombre, ¡°I¡¯m afraid then there seems to be a need to resolve a misunderstanding, and to do so, I have to kick your pathetic, drunk, ass.¡±

    Shu held out his dao, his eyes for the first time alert to what was going on, taking in a deep breath before uttering, ¡°The path I walk is clear. Whether beneath the sun or the moon, my blade knows no hesitation.¡± He ran the edge across his palm and his blood ignited the blade, taking a step forward as he settled into a stance that had too many openings to exploit.

    Patience was necessary, Alex waiting for the first strike to come, feeding the electricity coursing within crumbles of mana to keep it pulsing through his muscles. His opponent held his stance, but as far as he knew, the spell, magic, or whatever ability he had, must have been innate in nature. The world seemed suspended, neither of the two moving, the figure in the trees frozen as well, even the leaves obscuring her standing still in the gentle breeze whispering through the field.

    Soon enough, the voice of the wind was overtaken by one emerging within him. Screaming and begging, the paranoia was a faint mumbling at the back of his mind, a chill running down his nerves, but failing to freeze them. He pushed forward, even as doubt explained that the orientation and the angle of the blade couldn¡¯t be predicted. As his back foot lifted from the ground, the electricity coursing within burst outwards, and he leapt forward, shrouded in a veil of lightning.

    _Bit to the right._

    His educated wish had proven true, Elina nudged his consciousness so that he barely weaved around the attack, feeling some tendrils of the trails he left in the air being consumed by Shu¡¯s attack. Materialising back into solid reality as the blade floated past him, he leapt again as soon as his feet touched the ground, sword extended to pierce his opponent¡¯s heart. The blade was never going to connect, but it still forced Shu to raise his dao to parry.

    As Alex¡¯s shadow touched his, the waiting darkness within exploded upwards like the jaws of a snake, tendrils of ink surrounding around his opponent so that all but one choice remained. Shu leaped backwards, the palm of his other hand engulfed in flames, attempting to form into a bolt. But, it was too late. Green vines exploded from beneath, trapping him within their confines, the ground crackling as the seeds¡¯ roots tore through it, twisting around his body till they locked him in place.

    Landing in front of him, Alex tapped the flat of his blade against his head, just as Elyza rested the beak of her halberd around Shu¡¯s neck. ¡°Good distraction,¡± She remarked.

    ¡°It''s easy for me, I distract myself every day,¡± he joked, grinning as he leant on the swordsman, taking out his dagger and placing it next to her hook¡¯s point.

    ¡°Now then,¡± He continued, turning his neck till it cracked, ¡°Shall we finally talk like civilised beings?¡±

    ¡°I have nothing to say to an honourless trickster such as yourself,¡± Shu shot back, his words drowned in dejection, his breath reeking of alcohol, pungent enough to burn Alex¡¯s nose hairs, ¡°Now do what you came for, chop down this rotten tree.¡±

    Before he could open his mouth, his partner cleared her throat, gazing into his eyes with a reminder. He raised his hand in agreement, letting her take over as she began, ¡°We are not here to kill you, neither of us nor the paladin, we are here to ensure that you face justice. Your actions in your past, especially after you joined the cult, are to be judged, but your allies will be held separate to your acts. ¡°

    Shu remained silent, what almost looked like disappointment welling up in his eyes, sighing as he spoke, ¡°May they live the rest of their lives unbothered by the likes of hunters and monsters.¡±

    _He¡¯s talking about you._

    Shush, I¡¯m listening.

    ¡°Me and my partner will be in charge of questioning them,¡± Elyza spoke in a reassuring tone, willing her halberd back around her fingers before she continued, ¡°And if you truly believe that your group is on the right side of history, then worry shall not invade your mind, and you come with us peacefully.¡±

    The swordsman nodded, and the vines that entwined him retreated back into the ground, shrivelling as his partner slowly cut off their sustenance. However, he had made a promise to a friend, shadows exploding from beneath, tentacles slithering around Shu as they locked him back into place.

    ¡°Unfortunately,¡± he began, patting the top of his head, lowering his dagger from the swordsman¡¯s neck and shifting it to the back of his neck, ¡°I have an eye for an eye policy, and you have taken something of great pride of my friend.¡±

    Grabbing his cascading hair, he pulled them taut and cleaved them in a single swing. The short hair fell around Shu¡¯s face, suiting its sharp features and providing a pleasing contrast with his fair skin. ¡°There, you got a free haircut,¡± Alex said with a grin, the inky appendages around his customer retreating to the protection of his shadow under the bright sun above.

    ¡°You and Sarah have too much pride in your hair,¡± Elyza remarked, offering her bottle to the confused man between them.

    He kept his grin as he spoke, ¡°When the goddess of beauty herself compliments your hair, you tend to take care,¡± Not waiting for any follow-up questions, he added, ¡°And it seems my unfortunate streak at maintaining some mystique about my past has resulted in meeting an old friend of yours. Would you like to tell me now, or shall we wait for the questioning?¡±

    Elyza sighed, ¡°Let us wait. Do you know the way back to town?¡±

    Alex looked at the sky, spotting a familiar raven circling above, her inky feathers giving the bird an iridescent glow in the sunlight, ¡°I hope she wasn¡¯t waiting to feast on any of us.¡±

    <hr>

    Staring at the two sitting opposite him, making sure to make them as uncomfortable as possible as his eyes gazed into theirs. It worked on Cillian, who shifted his weight on his chair, trying to find some way to make it more comfortable. However, Reyna matched his eyes without any fear, sipping on some apple cider served in a glass too fancy for the tavern whose owners had agreed to house the cult of Sucellus till judgement had passed.

    His partner walked through the door behind him, letting the room flood with sunlight for moments before all four sat under the fake illuminance of crystals lined above. Cillian tried to say something to her, but Elyza simply shifted her chair forward, shooting any attempts to initiate a conversation from him with a single glare. It allowed her partner to relax from his duty, Alex leaning back on his chair, flipping back his hood, and putting his feet up on the next table over, dropping the grim, serious expression to replace it with his grin.

    ¡°Hello,¡± She began, as formal as she was normally, her ears circling the air as they relaxed, ¡°I believe I have not yet formally introduced me and my partner. I am Penelope, and this is Nemo. We will be acting as representatives of the guild in the following conversation, so please refrain from lying.¡±

    The wizard raised his hand, anxiety creeping up his face before Elyza gestured towards him, ¡°What will happen to Shu?¡±

    This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.

    ¡°His judgement will be separated from the operations of your cult, and will be carried out by a paladin of Durga, who, in the little time I¡¯ve known her, will be giving your friend a fair trial,¡± She spoke without an ounce of emotion in her voice, meaning he had to do most of the expressions for her words, doing his best to look concerned and empathetic.

    Straightening herself even, Reyna slid her glass towards the edge of the table before speaking, her tone more regal than many of the queens he had met in the past, ¡°Ask what is required, and then we shall talk about officialising our prayers to the guardian of the source of life and the dead.¡±

    Confidence swathed her word, and as his partner¡¯s ears lowered it signalled that she saw the vampire as an equal, her formal tone relaxing a bit, ¡°First, we would formally like to inquire which deity or deities you claim to worship.¡±

    ¡°Sucellus, or Sucullos as is his old name,¡± Cillian answered, his hand late to rise as it followed his voice, embarrassment quickly spreading across his face as the excitement faded. ¡°We¡­ We worship only him.¡±

    Elyza did not pay any special attention to the answer, ¡°And have you had any direct or indirect interaction with your god?¡±

    ¡°I met him¡­ once,¡± Reyna answered, her words mixed with fondness, annoyance, and longing, something he had heard before, by many scorned and touched by immortals. ¡°The meeting is what motivated me to recommence formal worship of him.¡±

    ¡°If¡­¡± Alex inserted before his partner could ask another question, ¡°Any of us were to stumble upon Sucellus in the future, would you like me to pass on a message?¡±

    The concept must¡¯ve baffled her, taking a moment before answering, ¡°Only to return so we may speak about what the temple may develop into.¡±

    He gave her a thumbs up as Elyza continued with the guild¡¯s questioning, not even using the cheat sheet he had given her mere moments ago, ¡°What are the traditions you partake in? And along with it, are there any festivals your group has organised in the past year, within the bounds of a town or city and accepted by common society, of course.¡±

    Reyna prodded the elf trying his best to keep quiet to speak, hitting his arm with her elbow, forcing a yelp out of Cillian to make him begin, ¡°Ah¨C I apologise, I¡¯m still new. Aside from helping the townspeople care for their crops and produce, and sustain a greenhouse to try and introduce vegetables not native to the area, without turning them into invasive species.¡±

    His pace had increased with each word spoken, not even paying attention to the scribblings his partner was making in her notebook, forcing a gesture to wind it down from Alex. ¡°And¡­ Following the lunar cycle, we burn the ripest fruit available as an offering to Lord Succellus every half moon, along with enacting rituals of bloom every four months, erecting a festival to showcase the harvest at the start of the different cropping seasons. We also keep a monthly reading of the operations and finances we partake in, but not a lot attend them.¡±

    Elyza simply nodded, noting down the last of his words, before speaking again, ¡°These worshippers are free to leave whenever it may come upon them to do so.¡±

    ¡°Of course,¡± Reyna answered the statement without an ounce of hesitation.

    ¡°Can a former member back up your claim?¡±

    ¡°Ask the owners of this pub,¡± She replied similarly.

    Elyza put down her pencil in the crease of her notes, closing the book as she asked the final in the list of questions, ¡°Have you ever had altercations with beings outside the group that have resulted in blood being spilled?¡±

    ¡°Not since I have dedicated myself to following Succelos,¡± The vampire met her stare without any anxiety, or fear clouding her red eyes.

    His partner waited in silence, moments stretching to minutes, before she exclaimed, ¡°The questioning is over. I see no reason for any action to be taken by the guild, or us.¡±

    He knew Reyna was delighted, even though her face didn¡¯t show it, the edges of her mouth fighting to suppress a smile. But, Alex was more interested in her student, now hunched over the table, deep sighs of relief escaping his mouth, wiping some sweat from his brow. Just as he was about to launch into an interrogation of his own, his partner stopped him with a hand.

    ¡°Lady Reyna, the paladin wished to ask you some questions regarding Mr. Shu¡¯s stint with your cult, and I would like to reconnect with an old acquaintance, so if you would be willing¡­¡± Elyza spoke basically through her teeth, the annoyance she was trying so hard to remove from them present in her drooping ears.

    It was torture holding himself back from launching into theatrical dialogue, Alex¡¯s fingers rapping against the table waiting for the vampire to close the tavern doors. He vaulted over the table, landing backwards on the chair next to Cillian, spinning it the long way around till he could lean against the table before he spoke with the bewildered elf, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Alex, you shot my illusion with a frankly impressive fireball back down there.¡±

    ¡°I¨Cuh¨C¡± He shot a glance at his partner, getting no aid from Elyza as he pushed through his bafflement, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your name was Nemo?¡±

    _He is pitifully slow._

    ¡°I did, but since you already know Elyza, I think you know better than to contradict me in front of others,¡± Alex gave him a grin, grabbing his shoulder to emphasise his coming words, ¡°Or reveal that extremely secretive fact to anyone else.¡±

    His subtle threat was ignored completely, the elf¡¯s face lighting up as his head flicked to his peer across the table, ¡°Elyza?!¡±

    His partner sighed, and he didn¡¯t give a chance for her to answer, continuing on, ¡°It''s so heart-warming to meet a friend from her past, especially since she keeps quiet whenever it''s her turn to share stories about her village life.¡±

    Cillian seemed confused, raising his hand once again before replying, ¡°I¡¯m not from her village however?¡±

    ¡°That is exactly why I need you to tell me everything you know about Ears,¡± Alex explained, refusing to hide the excitement in his voice, to the audible annoyance from his partner.

    Groaning in defeat, knowing her past was about to be uncovered, Elyza¡¯s tone fully dry as she spoke, ¡°I do not want to burst whatever form of joy you may be deriving from this situation, but if I may just add, we have only met twice before, so the amount of knowledge he has will be quite shallow.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± The elf agreed, and the look of panic on his partner¡¯s face was warranted as Cillian¡¯s voice continued, ¡°And we only met during the festival, so I don¡¯t even know her personally.¡±

    _Even I¡¯m interested now._

    ¡°Telmevrything,¡± Alex spoke so quickly that the words melded into one, clearing his throat but not his grin as he repeated, ¡°Let¡¯s start with how she was¡­ fifteen or so years ago?¡±

    Glancing at his partner, inquiring what he was allowed to say, from the corner of his eye he saw her give him the go ahead as she buried her face in her hands, and the elf began, ¡°Well¡­ I was twelve years old when I first met her, so it would have been thirteen years ago¡­¡±

    ¡°Ah, prime adolescence. Continue on.¡±

    ¡°The different clans of forest elv¨C¡±

    ¡°Just elves,¡± Alex corrected, waving the coming rant from within to pay full attention to his words.

    ¡°Sure, well the tribes used to meet once a year to host a tournament, even though it''s mostly a discussion between village elders. The villages send their best craftsmen and warriors to gain glory, yet I met her as an outsider, a bit strange since she seemed to be local, but since a competition of skills tends to garner an audience, I didn''t think it was weird. I personally was selected for the spell crafting competition,¡± Cillian added full of pride, garnering nods from the man seated next to him and groans from Elyza.

    ¡°But I was hanging around the martial weapon tournament happening before it, and out came a girl taller than most boys I knew were her age, no name or mention of the tribe she belonged to, wielding a spare spear, and she was on equal footing with most against her, I¡¯m talking about hunters who had legends attached to their name¨C¡±

    ¡°They kept underestimating me¡­¡± She mumbled out, trying fruitlessly to stop it from continuing.

    ¡°By the time she lost, I had to run back to my own tournament, which I won third in, and was a bit disappointed I couldn¡¯t meet the mysterious warrior to ask her questions, so imagine my surprise as I stumbled upon her in the forest while exploring with my friends. They ran away as soon as she glared at them, and while I was very much motivated to run under her piercing eyes¡­¡±

    ¡°Let me guess,¡± Alex remarked, a held back plea to stop coming from his good friend, immediately being ignored as he added, ¡°You had something edible in your hands.¡±

    ¡°Damn it,¡± his partner grumbled out.

    Cillian nodded in confirmation, explaining, ¡°I caught her staring at the candied apple I had in my hand, and a trade later, she allowed me to rattle off all my questions, responding only with grunts. After that I basically followed her around, seeing what she did in the village, the fact that she never entered the boundary of the village flying completely over my head, going with her to watch the other competitions happening, hitting every single food stall and trying everything, except the ones that her own village had set up.¡±

    His features softened, his mind planning for revenge, as he asked, ¡°The extent of her ostracisation was that bad?¡±

    ¡°Blew my mind,¡± the elf agreed, continuing quickly, ¡°Not at the time though, afterwards, when I asked my parents. They were not ready for that topic this early in my childhood, so I had even more questions to ask the next year. We did the same things, mostly, I won first this time, and, of course, the incident at the end.¡±

    ¡°Intriguing,¡± the grin was back, even though the elf had to look again towards Elyza for permission.

    ¡°Well, they held the finals of the martial tournaments at the end of the day, and Elyza had somehow made it to that stage, facing off against whom, if I remember correctly, was slated to become the next elder of her village, but the current one stopped before it even started. He started shouting at her, screaming so much that I was afraid she would kill him right then and there, before another woman came from the forest, the sight of which silenced the elder completely.¡±

    His partner had finally let her eyes peek out from her hands, staring at the ground as her friend continued, ¡°The lady said a few words that I couldn¡¯t hear, but I do remember her reactions. Disappointment, anger, then immense happiness, followed by them both leaving. I followed her to ask what happened, met the lady who was her mother, and then never saw her again, since I was allowed to go to Chryse to further my studies, and¡­ that¡¯s about it.¡±

    Alex gave some nods, before remarking with the straightest face he could manage, ¡°In your opinion: How much of a momma¡¯s girl is she?¡±

    ¡°Above average?¡±

    ¡°Enough.¡± Elyza pleaded, getting up from her chair, her halberd springing from her hands to grab Alex¡¯s hood, forcing him to his feet as she took a deep breath before adding, ¡°I was pleasantly surprised to see you here, Cillian.¡±

    ¡°I never imagined I¡¯d see you this far from the forest,¡± the wizard replied, giving her the kindest smile he could muster, unable to look into her eyes as he took a deep breath to add, ¡°I heard from my parents what happened to your village, and I¡¯m too afraid to ask¡­¡±

    ¡°My mother is dead,¡± She remarked, the first time Alex had heard her say it in front of other people, but the topic wasn¡¯t one that was easily brought up in conversation.

    Cillian could only nod to the news, playing with the clasps of his spell book, thinking of what to say before the same words the duo had heard time and time again followed, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for your loss, but I hope this journey¨C¡±

    ¡°Do not worry, this rat has already given me the speech before,¡± She remarked, pulling Alex around the table, letting him slide on the floor to stand next to her as her halberd rematerialised into a ring once again, continuing, ¡°The village has already rebuilt, most of the captured returned, and my revenge is fulfilled.¡±

    ¡°Hey, don¡¯t whittle down my words with such efficiency,¡± he protested, flicking his finger at her closest ear.

    ¡°Then why don¡¯t you return¡­¡± His voice quickly trailed off, the answer to the broken question having already been uttered before.

    Elyza answered without hesitation, ¡°They never wanted me before, the death of their beloved betrayer will change nothing, so I see no reason to return to that pitiful man.¡±

    The words piqued his interest, but Alex knew she would tell her their meaning when they were granted privacy, so instead he remarked, ¡°And now she¡¯s stuck with me, a worse fate than death itself, but damn the gods, Ears can¡¯t resist my cooking.¡±

    It made her crack a smile, her ears bolting straight as he knew memories of his creations flooded her mind, remarking, ¡°It does feel that way more days than some, but I am indebted to him in some way.¡±

    ¡°Indebted?¡± he looked at her quizzically, ¡°For and to do what?¡±

    ¡°Aiding me and aiding others,¡± she answered, turning back to her old acquaintance, ¡°But tell me, how come you joined Lady Reyna, and why have you left the life of a researcher that you wished for?¡±

    A smile spread across Cillian¡¯s face, ¡°I¡¯m surprised you still remember our conversations.¡±

    ¡°You talk almost as much as the bastard next to me.¡± To those words, Alex bowed, a silent laugh growing across the wizard¡¯s face, eliciting a slap on his neck from his partner.

    ¡°I did achieve my dream, worked under by far the greatest magic researcher I could find, invented some new spells under him, polished some old ones to be more efficient, helped create some mechanical monstrosities that blew up after ten minutes. And then¡­¡±

    ¡°Either the master is dead, you inherited the position, and ran away from your responsibilities, or there was a girl, and she died, leaving you to carry out her dying wish,¡± Alex remarked.

    ¡°It was¡­ kind of both, but neither,¡± Cillian replied, scratching the back of his ears, ¡°I met a girl absolutely enamoured by botany and specifically the idea of Druidcraft, so she tracked me down and broke into my room in the dead of night.¡±

    It sounds too much like her.

    _If you meet her again, I will turn your prized dreams into the worst of worst nightmares._

    The look on the wizard¡¯s face was a mix of fear and absolute adoration as he continued about her, ¡°After my master died, it turns out immortality spells have to be differentiated between un¨Cdying and un¨Cageing. The headmasters, correctly, gathered I was too inexperienced to inherit his position, but they figured I was too far in my apprenticeship to start again. So, as a compromise, I was allowed to conduct my research study earlier than planned, and I chose to do it under Druidcraft, which meant I was under her supervision, since she is considered an expert of the field.¡±

    _Oh, no, do not tell him that._

    ¡°If you could wrap things up in a neat little bow?¡± Alex pleaded.

    ¡°Of course. When I learned of the worshippers, there was a possibility of the usage of Druidcraft, so I tracked them down for my research, and somehow I was roped into becoming the next head for all agricultural activities for them. To be completely honest, I love it. I get to care for all manners of strange plants, analyse to my heart¡¯s content, and they do pay me somewhat.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s all great, really happy for you, when¡¯s the next time you aim to meet the girl of your dreams?¡± He inquired, holding his partner from commenting on his discourtesy.

    ¡°Around two or so months? She still has some practicals to conduct, then she¡¯ll join me in my research, since studying plants under direct divine influence is quite rare in this day and age.¡± He was happy to talk more about his crush, so the conversation between the duo was unnecessary.

    What was to come was not, Alex tilting to his partner to whisper, ¡°Does he know?¡±

    Before she could answer, her friend added, ¡°She¡¯d be really keen to meet you, Elyza, I told her about the rumours surrounding our tribes and about the supposed ¡®Branches of Yggradisil¡¯¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t mention you¡¯ve met us,¡± He instructed, his hands clasped together, bowing to Cillian.

    It took him a second to process the act, remarking, ¡°W-Why?¡±

    ¡°Yes,¡± His partner added, ¡°Why should I not meet the woman? Is she one of your¡­¡±

    ¡°Even I¡¯m not that crazy my dear Ears,¡± Alex retorted, trying to find the kind words hidden beneath the ones he normally used, out of respect for Cillian, ¡°And she¡¯s what one might refer to as a fanatic of sorts for anything remotely related to Druidcraft. If you meet her without preparation, she will try to dissect everything about you and then you in the end.¡±

    After all the tales uttered from his mouth, after they had inevitably been proven true, it was reassuring to see that doubt flickered over her face before she decided it was too egregious a lie, even for him. However, the wizard¡¯s words were a nice touch, ¡°I can not not guarantee she would do that if given the chance.¡±

    ¡°Then it''s settled, this conversation never happened,¡± Alex stated, waving his hands as if he was casting an illusion, before something pinged in his mind, remembering what the next town over was, remarking with unbridled grin, ¡°Now, let¡¯s go see if Bee wants to split the fare for a dragon.¡±

    Hidden beneath her stoic demeanour, he could spot the excited child begging to know more, but the rational side of her brain won, ¡°Let us first sleep on a comfortable bed for the first time in a week, and a bath as well.¡±

    He spotted Cillian smiling with a warmth he had only seen from the oldest of his friends, and he couldn¡¯t let it go, ¡°Why the smile?¡±

    ¡°I hope me and Faeryl can reach the heights you two have.¡±

    _The name has been spoken, we must run._

    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡±

    Sighing, Elyza clarified, ¡°We are partners as in we both work as a team, not in a romantic sense.¡±

    Confusion spread across the wizard¡¯s face, ¡°But you call yourself Nemo and Penelope¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, and he calls me Ears because he is, what one might consider, a close friend, and to annoy me.¡±

    Alex raised his hand, not waiting for permission as he remarked, ¡°By default, she doesn¡¯t have many friends.¡±

    He was smacked immediately, but Cillian still continued, ¡°Aren¡¯t the names based on the tale of Odysseus and his dear wife Penelope?¡±

    _Alright, I can wait a bit more._

    The words of the Empress meant that she had figured out the connection before he had, and frankly that was more embarrassing than the accidental connection, forcing him to berate himself in silence for missing that obvious connection.

    I am a fucking dumbass.

    But his partner summed up his feelings perfectly, ¡°¡­ Well, that does explain why the inns always try to give us the fancier rooms.¡±

    ¡°I am so fucking dumb,¡± Alex repeated his thoughts.

    ¡°I agree,¡± Elyza replied, not as ashamed as he was, and there was no reason for her to be, she hadn¡¯t heard the stories since birth, but still she tried to distract him, ¡°Since this was my final task, maybe a celebration is warranted?¡±

    While it was tempting, he needed to silence his thoughts and especially Elina¡¯s predicted humiliation, and there was only one thing that could do both, ¡°After we return to the Capital, Ears. I want to drown myself in sweet and sour cider.¡±

 Chapter 28: Celebration and Preparation

    The doors were closed this early in the morning, the stretched tower of dark metal towering above her, flanked by gargoyles, one different from those that guarded the Guild the last time she had stood in front of it. Elyza stretched out her hands to push the barriers open, her nerves unwilling to push them, anxiety bubbling within her once again, not unlike how it had ten or so days ago. While it felt like months since she had stood completely free from any threats, and the suffocating crowd would not be a problem in the dusk of the day, she still felt strange entering an area associated with her partner without him. He had helped her stay focused through the noise of innumerable people, but now the concern was of being noticed from a group of few others, especially in the sprawling floor ahead of her.

    She cursed Alex, the one who had told her to wait in the Guild after landing, giving her some, but not enough, coins for breakfast while she was recovering from the ordeal of riding a dragon, before he disappeared along with Sarah to act as a witness against Shu. Steeling her nerves, she pressed her hands against the cold metal, her calves, and biceps tensing as they prepared to push the hulking doors apart.

    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her partner¡¯s voice shot in her ears, causing her to spin on her heels on instinct, the sound jarring her halberd into her hand. Before she could say anything, he put in her hand a cone that felt frigid on her fingers, and extremely thin in her hands.

    Alex took a lick from a snow heap in the paper cone, his platinum amulet resting on the folds of his white poet¡¯s shirt, waving at the gargoyles above as he added, ¡°Did you get bored waiting inside?¡±

    The smell of the powder in her hands hadn¡¯t yet wafted into her nose as she replied, ¡°I reached only just now.¡±

    ¡°Ears, I¡¯ve been gone for an hour¡­¡± A grin appeared across his face, no doubt already figuring out why she hadn¡¯t realised the passage of time, adding as he took another lick, ¡°At least breakfast was fun for you.¡±

    Sighing her annoyance out, mostly due to the fact he had guessed correctly, Elyza took a smell of the substance in her hands while she remarked, ¡°Did Sarah finally have enough of you? I thought being a witness would have afforded me some moment away fro¨C¡±

    In the middle of her sentence, her stomach overcame her muscles, pushing the sweet smelling snow in front of her mouth, forcing her to take a lick. Flavour exploded in her mouth, and her words switched to reflect the inner workings of her mind, her breath cold as she inquired, ¡°What is this?¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s called gelato, its flavoured milk frozen while keeping it moving, probably so that the crystals of ice don''t become too big or long or strong,¡± Alex murmured out, his words disregarded for the moment as she took another lick of the ambrosia, which melted into a creamy, tangy, and rich caramelly layer that covered her tongue. The smell of bitter orange floating filling her nose as she took a bite from the milky snow, her partner adding, ¡°Reminds me of the frozen treats I used to have when I was young, though that was just made from ice shavings, honey, and lemon. Milk does make it better, and I believe the flavour to be orange muddled in honey and added to some sort of caramel syrup.¡±

    The nerves in her teeth exploded in numbing pain, before the sensation was overcome by the taste of the gelato, forcing warm air into her mouth as she remembered what she wanted to ask, ¡°What is the consensus the courts reached with Shu?¡±

    ¡°He¡¯s stuck with the worst punishment known to man,¡± His grin grew wider as he slurped down the last of his treat, ¡°Since his ability or power is so unique and so uncontainable, the court decided that they needed him contained, or ¡®under supervision¡¯. Discussion began on how to achieve such a Herculean task, without putting too much stress on the nation¡¯s resources, and they figured since Bee was the one who caught Shu in the first place, she would be put in charge of him.¡±

    ¡°What would that entail?¡±

    ¡°She has a new apprentice to drag around behind her, who¡¯s activities is entirely reflective on her, and now she has to teach him how to not be drunk every waking moment, along with how to be a people¡¯s champion, or a killjoy as I call them,¡± He was taking enjoyment in the predicament Sarah had found herself in, pulling out a paper slip as he added, ¡°Also got a signed declaration that you were instrumental in capturing the bounty.¡±

    Elyza thought for a moment, using it as an excuse to keep enjoying her treat, when something clicked in her head, ¡°Is that not what happened to the two of us?¡±

    Now it was her partner¡¯s turn to take a moment, humming as he did, crumbling the cone and stuffing it in his pocket, ¡°Essentially¡­ I believe it basically is. However, we¡¯re clearly much more charismatic, and, I apologise if this offends you, made to annoy each other.¡±

    The line forced a chuckle from her, slowing her down from slurping the liquid collected at the bottom of the cone, and when the last of the ambrosia flowed down her throat, Alex snapped his fingers. A loud groaning came from behind her, and glancing gave her a view of the two doors parting for them. Her eyes spotting someone behind the guild desk waving at them, the glimmer of their silhouette under the chandeliers revealing who it was.

    Giving a polite wave back to Lati, her arm was pulled down and yanked by her partner through the entrance, hastening their pace as they crossed the barren floor. At least comparatively, only a couple of parties dotting the marble floor, others sitting around the table flanking the room. He let go before she hit the point of yanking her arm back, twisting on his heels, maintaining his pace backwards, before asking, ¡°You have your original notes, don¡¯t you? I know we technically sent the reports already, but I want to ensure nothing can stop this from happening.¡±

    Elyza pulled the string laying across her chestplate, causing the burlap sack hidden beneath her cloak to be pulled around her, allowing her to tug the bag open. Her hands instantly fell around her leather coated notebook, drawing it out, the green ribbon tucked her pencil into the layers of paper. Flashing it at him seemed to satisfy his mind, her partner spinning around again just in time to lean against the glass between them and Lati.

    ¡°What¡¯s going on, clamshell?¡± Alex remarked, giving a wave to the pearlescent clad dragonkin, his words somehow carrying the essence of his grin.

    ¡°Nothing much, chucklenuts,¡± Their perky voice wavered only at the end of the sentence, giving a grin that could match her partner¡¯s in a heartbeat. They were wearing something similar to when she had first met them, except the outfit was noticeably lacking any sort of under shirt, their blue skin on full display, speckled with pearl scales that flowed up between their vest. The vest itself was flashier than last time, curving up from the shoulders to form pointed mountains, hugging to their figure much tighter than before. However, the most flashy change was the red mascara adorning Lati¡¯s eyes, the pools of night sky popping out more, flanked by silver hair snipped into a bob cut.

    ¡°I like your hair,¡± Elyza remarked, standing next to her partner as their representative twirled to show their entire outfit, their tail floating in place as they did.

    ¡°See?¡± Lati said, puffing up their hair, adding, ¡°She knows how to treat a lady.¡±

    Alex simply smiled, ¡°I¡¯ll be sure to keep that in mind if I happen to see one. I see you¡¯ve dressed up for your adoring fans today, at the very least we reached before the prostration and biting started.¡±

    The images popping into her head were almost too much to maintain her expression, a smile appearing as she asked, ¡°Could we focus on the occasion at hand?¡±

    ¡°Of course!¡± The luin exclaimed, flicking her hand to reveal three cards, no doubt hidden behind it previously, ¡°We, by that I mean me, took some time to analyse the missions you were handed to account for the complications and the revelations that came with their conclusions to readjust how much important they turned out to be.¡±

    ¡°That¡¯s a rarity, is it not?¡± her partner remarked rhetorically, his back leaning on the glass as he clarified, ¡°Normally, the rank given to these tasks aren¡¯t revised unless there were egregious deviations in what was stated by the guild and what the actual circumstances were. Say, just for an example, it was implied that there was a monster den near a town, and it turned out to be the nest of an earth dragon.¡±

    ¡°Oi,¡± Lati exclaimed, stopping him from fishing for praise, snapping her fingers to catch his attention, ¡°We both know the only reason they bend to your demands is that they¡¯re fucking terrified of the things you might know.¡±

    ¡°Not due to the fact I¡¯m one of only eight to be graced by the position I¡¯m currently in?¡± He retorted with faux surprise, his smile returning, ¡°I mean, I know for a fact that half of them are absolutely captivated by my charm, and the rest know what I¡¯m capable of.¡±

    Snapping in realisation, they pointed at her partner, but Elyza decided to remind them once again, this time addressing her best friend first, ¡°Thank you for being terrifying.¡±

    ¡°Anything for you, my lovely Ears,¡± Alex bowed curtly before leaning against the glass again with his hands crossed, letting them continue.

    ¡°Here is the certificate for the Bronze rank scouting task, and the whole dragon incident would have bumped it into a Gold, but I decided to tread a bit more lightly since we¡¯ve faced more backlash than usual already,¡± they handed her a card, its edges painted silver, and a big fancy handwritten ¡®Congratulations!¡¯ with a little illustration of Tl¨¡n¨¡huaccatl, the earth dragon they found in the cave, burning a tiny Alex to a crisp.

    ¡°Drop it,¡± her partner remarked, a glance at him showing that he was genuinely recommending it.

    Curiosity took over, and the card slipped from her fingers. As soon as it left her fingertips, the paper ignited into a blue flame that radiated no heat at all, but the child-like smile that she saw on Lati cast warmth that rivalled that of a hearth. ¡°You can¡¯t really award the things we do in the shadows with traceable memorabilia, so it''s a way for her to show you did an amazing job, she made it herself,¡± Alex explained, grinning at his handler, but giving her a wink.

    Somehow, Lati noticed the gesture, ¡°He helped a bit. You should be honoured, even he doesn¡¯t get them that often nowadays.¡±

    ¡°Persistent excellence is hard to reward,¡± Alex remarked, earning a jab from their tail in his abdomen.

    ¡°Here are the rest:¡± Lati continued, handing out a similar card with a gold edge, on which a crude drawing of Squid had been drawn next to a ¡®Thank you¡¯ from Nadia. The sight flared up a warmth she had seldom felt within her, the feeling making it hard for her to focus on what they said next, ¡°Gold rank task of tracking down the organisation responsible for the disappearance of beastmen along the border, extra kudos by the House for dismantling the same and in turn improving relationship with the North-Eastern Coalition, the Guild is currently employing the victims till a consensus between the nations is reached. Though the disappearance of most of the organisation still worries the House.¡±

    She spotted a sly smile crawl across his partner¡¯s face as the dragonkin added, ¡°Nadia has been sent to the agreed upon location, the rest of the orphans have been adopted by the able-bodied beastmen¡± the words were directed towards Alex, and she would ask about why later.

    ¡°That is good to hear,¡± The words came from her soul, a thought popping in her head to ask if she could keep the card, before deciding to let it go and watch it dissolve into an inky mist.

    ¡°And finally, another Silver card for infiltrating Succellus¡¯ cult, and we''ve sent over a representative to guide them on the process to be officiated,¡± The last card had pumpkin vines wrapped around the reflective edge, which melted into a fine mist that gave the aroma of spices and the vegetable dotted around the card.

    Claps emanated from beside Elyza, her partner lightly applauding her, commentating, ¡°Time for the main event.¡±

    Lati lifted a small carved wooden box from beneath their desk, opening it as they placed it gently in front of her. The clinking of a chain soon followed, their hand rising with a trail of silver, a dull, brushed golden medallion weighing it down. Offering her hand, the dragonkin laid the pendant in her hand, allowing her to feel the stamped words embedded within it. As she stared at it, Elyza could easily read the words ¡®Rank ¨C Gold¡¯ printed upon the gilded metal, but she could feel something else hidden between the letters.

    Her ears must have betrayed her, ¡°The word you¡¯re looking for is ¡®House¡¯ It''s meant to match the adventurer¡¯s rank except that theirs has the word ¡®Guild¡¯ hidden within it,¡± Alex clarified, his thumb delving behind his shirt and hooking his own pendant, which looked like silver with a blue tint shining off of it.

    ¡°Gold is best, but this is better,¡± He remarked before letting the medallion fall down his neck again, that look of knowing superiority flowing over him, the same kind that could make even a priest throw a punch at it, grinning as he added, ¡°Only one holder at a time, and a total of eight in the entire history of the House. No need to bow in awe of my greatness.¡±

    Elyza sighed at his ego, gripping the gold pendant in her hand before chaining it around her neck, adjusting it so it was between her shirt and her chestplate. ¡°Not even if you were a king,¡± she retorted with a smile.

    Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

    He gave a quick glance at Lati, the latter stifling a laugh as his eyes hid the fluster rising within them, her partner quickly turning, his face faking annoyance, his eyes forced to relax as he tried to change the subject, ¡°When can the Council meet?¡±

    ¡°Ah, Mrs. Valeria has passed away,¡± They stated, some semblance of sadness in their eyes, which was strangely mirrored by her partner.

    ¡°Oh,¡± Alex muttered, rapping his fingers similarly to when he was trying to think of something to say, ¡°That¡¯s a shame¡­ Age finally caught up to the hag?¡±

    ¡°Fighting with a circus of Bruja with her granddaughter.¡±

    ¡°That is¡­¡± Her mind flipped through the encyclopaedia of monsters in her mind, settling on vampires that feasted on babies and travelled with dozens of others, ¡°Impressive.¡±

    Amazement flashed across his face, grumbling, ¡°Not bad for someone with more than, pffft, a hundred years on this plane of life. So¡­ I¡¯m guessing they¡¯ll get together only when they choose her successor.¡±

    ¡°Correct. They want to meet you tomorrow, after the Council initiates him. Appears that if the temple of Lady Juno is truly connected as you suspect it to be, they have to discuss what action to take immediately,¡± Lati relayed, her smile not dropping for a second.

    ¡°You have a¡­ name for me?¡± Alex inquired with a smile.

    ¡°Of course I do, but it is not necessary, forty percent is still good enough for them to not act against you, and you can decide when you meet the Council which path you want to take with the newbie,¡± they chirped out without any semblance of mercy for whoever they were talking about.

    Elyza had to interrupt the plans running between the two¡¯s heads, snapping her finger to catch his attention, ¡°I hope we will not be interrogating or threatening anyone today.¡±

    Alex tried to wave her unease, replying with a smile, ¡°I have plans in motion to celebrate this momentous day, Ears, and, unlike last time, there is zero chance we have to torture someone.¡±

    ¡°They also want to meet Elyza,¡± Lati added, wincing as soon as the words left their mouth.

    ¡°Nope, they can fuck themselves,¡± He responded without a second passing, still grinning.

    She was shocked by the tone of his words, sounding fiercely protective and stubbornness oozing from them more than usual, forcing her to remark, ¡°I sense there is some reason for such harsh words.¡±

    ¡°The council and I have an agreement, one written in blood long before you became my partner, I shall follow along with their request as long as they do not concern themselves with my personal life. And I consider anyone I form a partnership with to be part of my personal affairs,¡± Alex clarified, turning back to Lati, ¡°Unless I, or she, think of it to be necessary, and unless they have reason to suspect Ears of something truly malicious, they can perform elaborate acts of pleasure on themselves.¡±

    Her heart was touched by his protectiveness, but her mind ran through any rational reasons to not meet the Council, if not as herself, then as Penelope. If Alex of all people was taking precautionary measures against them, she had to know the danger they might present to either of them. ¡°I am open to meeting them.¡±

    ¡°Well then, tell them she¡¯ll be there,¡± His voice didn¡¯t indicate any ounce of surprise at her response, turning back to her, ¡°I think the farmers have set up their stalls on the street above by now, shall we buy some fresh ingredients for the lunch, Ears?¡±

    ¡°Lasagna?¡±

    ¡°LASAGNA!¡± He exclaimed at the top of his lungs, twirling his cape behind him as he walked towards the doors, causing a sigh to escape her smile as she followed.

    <hr>

    It was mesmerising to watch. Elyza had barely set the grocery¡¯s onto the dining table, before Alex had dragged Kurven and Adam from their work and tossed them into the bath together, who did not even put up any semblance of confusion or hesitance. He had also stolen a towel to use as a wash cloth, wiping any surface in the kitchen that even mistakenly could get some food on it. Saying nothing, he took out two steel sauce pots and a brazier with one hand, all sharing a magic circle engraved on their bottoms, placing them onto the stove top as his other hand gingerly lifted two cutting boards from the same cupboard.

    Her partner gestured towards her to bring the bags full of fresh produce from the market, and she did so without delay, seeing in his pitch black eyes he was fully focused. His cloak was hanging on the hooks at the entrance of the kitchen, favouring an apron patterned by green flowers embroidered upon, donning it with an air of honour, akin to a general with his coat of arms. It always seemed that cooking brought out the serious part of him, but as she saw him flip his prized cooking knife while sorting his pans, she smiled.

    Removing the tomatoes, still attached to the vines, and two cloves of garlic, she already knew what he wanted to do, but she asked to be sure, ¡°Should I start on the pasta?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Alex said, his hand removing two of the red fruit and his knife cutting them in half in a single chop, quartering them in less than five seconds, adding, ¡°Slice up some mushrooms and¡­ spinach after you¡¯re done.¡±

    He had already moved onto the next pair, swiping the chopped fruit to the corner of his board, as he began on the next. ¡°Where¡¯s the¡­¡± The words had barely left her mouth before he pointed to the cupboard behind him, whistling a tune as he continued with the work.

    Elyza returned with a container full of flour, placing the barrel next to her own cutting board. Pouring about a bit more than half a kilo of the powder, she took out four eggs from the carton, using a bowl to hold the whites as she made a crater in the pile of flour to pour the yolks into. A bang shook the counter top, her partner having moved on crushing the cloves of garlic to separate their wrapping, almost collapsing her volcano.

    ¡°Sorry,¡± he remarked, noticing her glare, smashing the flat of his blade against another group, this time much more gently.

    Rolling her sleeves till her elbows, Elyza began to break the flour bowl slowly, cracking the yolk¡¯s sphere as she pushed flour into the molten yellow. The rhythmic shudder of the workplace helped somewhat, loosening the dough, making it easier for her to bring it all together. As her fingers ran over the mass, it started to form a yellowish mound, continuing to knead it till she had moulded it into a smooth ball. She placed it behind them both, covering it with a clean cloth as she pulled out a basket of soil covered white mushrooms and vibrant green spinach.

    Rinsing the vegetables underwater was a calming sensation, the sound, and feeling of wiping away dirt from their surface as cold water ran over her fingers. Her ears perked up as the sputtering of oil crackled through the kitchen, soon turning to a roaring clatter as Alex tossed in the half of the garlic and chillies, along with a blob of handmade tomato paste he carried with him everywhere, bumping into her as he escaped the splash zone. As she returned to her chopping board with her glistening produce, she held out her hand, receiving her partner¡¯s knife as soon as her palm could.

    Bunching up the leaves into a cylinder, the blade went through like butter, aiding her to speed through turning the spinach into strips that would give a bit of crunch when they were cooked. Giving an approving whistle, Alex took a string of green and lowered it into his mouth, adding, ¡°Cut the mushrooms a tad wider, they¡¯re somewhat soft this time around.¡±

    As she cut through the rest of her vegetables, he tossed the quartered tomatoes into the golden liquid, frying them as quickly as possible, before shifting the red sauce pot to one side. Tossing into the other a thick wad of butter, he stirred the tomato sauce before tossing in salt, black pepper, basil, and his own mix of oregano to simmer before returning his attention to his favourite thing to eat. Elyza swept her greens and whites to a giant bowl, sprinkling in some salt and tossing it to draw out the moisture from the pile.

    Wiping the board clean, Adam came into the room, the sound of the door making her glance over, his brown hair still a bit damp, donning freshly pressed clothes. He waited at the edge of the kitchen, taking a sniff of the tangy aroma coming from the red sauce, his cousin busy whisking flour into the butter. ¡°Do you want me to toast some bread to dip?¡± Adam inquired, his words extra melodic after his bath.

    ¡°Yes, please, baguettes are on the table, put some olive oil on them¡± her partner grumbled out, focusing on pouring in some milk into the roux, quickly adding, ¡°Ears, chop up the CHEESE.¡±

    The seriousness of his voice made her groan, even though she knew he was doing it on purpose. Yet, she followed his instruction, retrieving a block of cheddar and two balls of mozzarella. It would be tedious to chop them normally, so Elyza focused herself, placing her partner¡¯s knife onto his board, tracing out a grid in the air, creating pressure points according to it. As soon as she was satisfied with the size of the cuts, a few taps on the board caused the grid to fall, the air shearing the cheese and dissipating as it struck the board, leaving only pillars in its wake.

    ¡°Done,¡± She stated, sliding the wood towards her partner, her stomach grumbling at the wafting aroma of tomatoes and pepper.

    ¡°Efficient as always, my hungry friend. Taste,¡± Alex retorted, grabbing a spoonful of the red sauce and holding it in front of her, allowing a taste of the almost ready tart, sweet, and a somewhat spicy dip. As she gave him a nod of approval, he licked the back of the spoon, smacking his lips in enjoyment before adding, ¡°Now go sit down and eat an orange.¡±

    She thought for a moment, realising what was missing, ¡°Should I go and call Red up as well?¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s going to whine that she can¡¯t eat it immediately¡­¡± he remarked, thinking as he stirred the cheese and vegetables into the bechamel, giving the tomatoes a stir as well, crushing them against the sides of the pot. ¡°We could test the thing out again?¡± He recommended, his words much more ominous and vague than the phenomenon they were actually referring to.

    ¡°It may be interesting to see whether it works with individuals you may consider friends,¡± she admitted, washing her hands in the sink.

    ¡°What are you two kids talking about?¡± Adam asked, one hand busy arranging slices of bread onto a baking rack, the other brushing on some garlic oil onto whatever he placed.

    ¡°Just,¡± Clearing his throat, Alex started to use his announcer¡¯s voice, ¡°We were talking about how unfortunate it would be that our dear annoying Red is going to miss the feast I¡¯m creating.¡±

    ¡°Ohhhh, that thing,¡± His cousin commented, putting the last slice on the metal grid.

    Her partner continued on with his dialogue, ¡°Too busy in creating, well, to be truthful, useful things for society, or most likely napping. If we don¡¯t hurry to wake her up, she¡¯s going to be late, and she better not complain, because I¡¯m not making ano¨C¡±

    The door of the kitchen burst outwards with almost comical timing, a purple tinted daemon standing in the doorway in its wake, hands busy drying her silver curls with a ferocity akin to a honey badger¡¯s. ¡°I smelled tomato sauce, how long will it take till I can feast like a KING!¡± She proclaimed, her orange eyes staring at the ceiling.

    Cackling like a witch, Alex had to hold the sauce pots stable as he remarked, ¡°Whoever cursed me with this power is going to get a kick between their legs and a kiss on their head.¡±

    ¡°Absolutely fascinating,¡± Elyza remarked herself, starting to peel an orange as she sat down on the table, her mind trying to comprehend and imagine how petty a deity must be to give her partner such a strange curse, and it failed to do so.

    ¡°The fuck are you two talking about?¡± Red demanded to know, the daemon accepting the slice of fruit offered by her without thinking. Returning to the door she had slammed open, Red held it open for Adam walking out of the room, before plopping down on the seat next to Elyza.

    Her partner waved his friend¡¯s words aside, remarking instead with a grin, ¡°It¡¯ll take half an hour more to bake, think you can wait that long? Or are you going to burn the place down again?¡±

    She actually shivered as she chomped down on the orange, and whether it was due to the sourness of the fruit or because of the memory the words had evoked was unclear, ¡°Let''s not talk about this next to someone whose opinion I respect.¡±

    ¡°Just left me from that grand old list, didn¡¯t ya?

    ¡°I listen to your opinions, I don¡¯t respect them, big difference,¡± Red clarified, eliciting a smile from Elyza as she swallowed a carpel of orange, enjoying the wave of juice that flowed over her taste buds.

    Alex carefully lifted a dutch oven from beneath the stove, giving her a chance to think about the fact there wasn¡¯t any real fire in the kitchen, working solely from the cook¡¯s mana. A tedious and cumbersome device to operate and take care of, substantially made easier due to the blacksmith and artificer living in the same building.

    The moment of eating fruits with those she considered friends was more moving than she thought it to be, her mind finally slowing down from the hectic events of the recent past, letting her think about the things they had done. Taking in a deep breath, staring at her partner carefully layering the sauces and rolled pasta into the dutch oven, Elyza couldn¡¯t think of an alternative path she could have taken than following him into this type of life, especially as her mind finally stopped dwelling on her past.

    Unfortunately, the man she considered her partner and dearest friend had an annoying habit, his voice causing her thoughts to ramp up again, ¡°Did you decide what pet you want?

    Red¡¯s eyes glowed with almost terrifying excitement, flashing her teeth as she opened her mouth, only to be immediately halted by Alex instructing, ¡°No dragons or wyrms.¡±

    ¡°Damn you,¡± She didn¡¯t mean the words, smiling as she added, ¡°I¡¯ve decided on a salamander.¡±

    Her mind instantly thought of the brightly coloured tiny lizards she used to find near tiny ponds that formed after the forest recovered from rainy nights, her brain still in the liminal space between pre-Alex, and post-Alex thoughts. She shook out the thoughts of her home, commenting, ¡°While I do find them immensely cute, it might not be advisable to keep one in a room so devoid of humidity or greenery.¡±

    ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯s talking about the water loving salamanders, Ears,¡± Her partner remarked, his arms bulging as his arms¡¯ muscles strained against the weight of the lasagna, pointing his chin towards her and adding, ¡°Orange me.¡±

    Throwing a slice of fruit into his mouth, she remarked, ¡°A fire salamander would make sense for you, it may even help you in your creations.¡±

    ¡°That was exactly my own thinking,¡± Red proclaimed, clearly pleased with herself.

    ¡°Most importantly,¡± She almost gave an involuntary sigh before he had even said the joke, somehow able to give him the benefit of the doubt, ¡°Since salamanders are adored for their vibrant red skin, be ready to hear me refer to you two as ¡®Red and Redder¡¯.¡±

    A bell echoed through the walls, Kurven shouting from below that he¡¯s got it, allowing the daemon to grumble out, ¡°Damn you, that¡¯s hilarious¡­¡± her eyes perked up, realising what he actually meant, ¡°Does that mean you¨C¡±

    ¡°Yes, but you have to be patient, my demonic dumbass, I¡¯ll try to see whether someone I know has come upon a batch of them. It took me ten years to actually start liking you, most bred salamanders don¡¯t live that long.¡± Alex replied, moving towards the door and kicking it open as he balanced the lasagna between his hands.

    Elyza could see the surprise in his eyes, retrieving a knife from her pouch as she leant her chair to peek at whom he had encountered. She lowered the weapon as she saw his features relax, her partner stating, ¡°Hey Mon, confirmed the timings, did you? Go take a seat, I¡¯ll pop this in the oven, and we can talk about what to do next with the rest. After destroying this lasagna, of course.¡±

 Chapter 29: Arguing with Fossils

    There were seldom things he knew that truly excited Lati. As the half luin stumbled lifelessly into the guild staff¡¯s break room, their gills accidentally opened into the dry, frigid air as they spotted the leftovers of last night¡¯s feast. The bang of the door behind also did wonders to his partner, an audible groan describing completely her pain, muffled by the table which she was failing at wrapping around her head.

    ¡°Keep it down, fish lips, not everyone can handle their liquor like you,¡± Alex remarked loud, purposely causing even more whines to emanate from his hilariously hungover friend.

    Lati silently sat down on the table, joining them in their wait for the Council to assemble, happily receiving the tiffin that he slid across. His handler had already popped open the prison of the lasagna, steam rising from the metal tin, before realising it was probably more considerate to ask his partner first, ¡°Would you like some? Something rich like this would probably help with the headache.¡±

    Elyza finally ceased her attempts, lifting her head, wincing at the light streaming down, answering as she readjusted the medicine he had given her for the hangover with her tongue, ¡°I tried to enjoy the dish this morning, unfortunately its acidity the way in is too similar to when it came out.¡±

    ¡°Don¡¯t blame my food, Ears,¡± Alex remarked, offering Lati a fork as he used his own to rip a pillar of cheesy layers from the tin, adding, ¡°Nobody told you to challenge a lamia, especially one who¡¯s a renowned foodie, to a drinking contest.¡±

    ¡°I was dared to do so,¡± She retorted as if that was a good excuse, her voice going unusually defensive.

    Chomping down on his fork, he let the harmonious mix of red and white sauce wash over him. The tart of the tomatoes cut through the richness of the cheese, the pasta, and vegetables giving him various textures to keep his mouth occupied, enjoying his own creation before remarking, ¡°Well, maybe you wouldn¡¯t have fallen for said dare if you hadn¡¯t literally downed a barrel of cider with Kurven moments before.¡±

    Lati¡¯s chuckle broke through their banter, chewing the mouthful of lasagna in their mouth before commenting, ¡°Seems like I missed a pretty eventful day. Did you win against Mon?¡±

    ¡°Barely.¡±

    ¡°We stopped, or were forced to stop at the same glass, though since she ejected the contents of her stomach first, I was handed the victory,¡± Elyza clarified, accepting his flask filled with lemon water to settle her grumbling stomach.

    Scoffing, Alex riposted,¡°A short-lived one, considering I had to teleport us both to the bathroom before you spewed into the remaining food, and comfort you through the process of emptying your stomach.¡± The words invoked unfortunate memories of the night before, forcing him to shudder as he tried to forget them.

    I am so glad I could not smell that.

    Don¡¯t you worry, I¡¯ll create a special dream to share my pain.

    You really are the biggest bastard in the world.

    Technically, I''m not.

    ¡°This is really good,¡± His handler stated, their flowery voice disappearing without the need to keep it up in the company of friends, silencing any further words from his freeloader

    ¡°Of course it is,¡± He grinned with his utterance, his mind was bombarded by the haunting of a bell beckoning him, its echo vibrating through his soul, alerting its position to him. However, there was no need for him to sink into his shadow and follow its call, it was just a message, one whose messenger would soon arrive.

    Flipping up his hood caught the attention of them both, Lati continued to enjoy their meal, but Elyza tried her best to return to how she usually was, lifting her mask in response. As she rested the magic laden cloth on the bridge of her nose, his partner asked, ¡°Is it time?¡±

    ¡°For me,¡± He replied, standing to stretch his bones, cracking his neck and fingers before continuing, ¡°You¡¯ll be called after we¡¯re done with the discussions.¡±

    ¡°By whom?¡± He was planning on timing her question to fit his theatrical tendency, but the door opened nonetheless, a guild hand refraining from entering the room, unable to study or gaze upon either¡¯s face.

    Once the man had utterly failed at studying his or Elyza¡¯s features, he beckoned, his head bowing as he spoke, ¡°Mr. Nemo, if you would follow me, the Guild Master wishes to speak with you.¡±

    Alex followed, patting his partner¡¯s red hair as a final act of annoyance before he slipped through the closing door. Fluffing up his cloak to be even more superfluous, wisps of darkness emanating from his shadow to make it flutter in unperceivable wind, he followed the guild hand. It was just a formality at this point, he could reach the Council¡¯s room, bound, blind, and deaf. But the members found it unsettling that a man trained specifically to assassinate could find their super secret meetup so easily.

    There was a specific path to follow in the innards of the Guild, one monitored by the eyes of the portraits of the many heroes that the association had birthed in the past, some of those that had formed it. It was a maze at its core, walking through a winding path, getting permission from the spirits trapped between the frames. It took a minute or two, depending on the pace the guide thought you could handle, till the door decided to reveal itself.

    The problem with a security system run entirely by spirits, important and unimportant, is that they tend to create their own biases and preferences. An issue exaggerated due to his, using the fewest words possible, strong personality, though most gelled with his idiosyncrasies. Though, as the guild hand tried to push the door open, it refused to budge, Alex clearing his throat in order to tell him to step aside. Instead of trying to open it, he dissolved into umbra, taking a short step in the sea of ink before emerging into the real world again, bypassing the door¡¯s tantrum.

    The path forward was illuminated by torches that spit out red flame, flaring as with each step he took. However, the intimidation tactics usually fall flat when you have intimate knowledge of those that hide behind them, Alex taking the more entertaining route of matching his footsteps to the beat he liked to snap on his fingers. The brilliant vermilion that flashed through the corridor was a spectacular addition to the music in his head. He soon came across the door, the door where there was a definitive boundary between him and who they expected him to be. Crossing it means Nemo takes the helm completely, the only time he was at the whims of the most creatively antagonistic and terrifyingly efficient voice in the world.

    He took in a deep breath, sizing up the stone doors, specifically made of boulders that had enough conductive material to withstand a point-blank bolt of lightning. Mist made from his mana seeped into the surrounding air, a switch of his focus turned it into a swelling swirling inky fog. His shadow opened to grant access to the horrors within, tendrils of darkness multiplying by the hundreds as they waited for Nemo¡¯s command, resting on the doors like a carpet of tentacles.

    He waited. Waited for the fog to penetrate the gaps within the towering doors, for the thousands of tendrils to fester in inaction, for his ears to catch the creaking of the wooden doors behind. A small spark in his hand exploded outwards in a blinding flash of white, streaks of purple bouncing off of the stone as the lightning stream thrust the doors ajar, the midnight fog following in its wake. Smoke produced smoke, the bottom of the room behaving like the deepest depths of the ocean, light barely pushing through it. From it rose a sea of swirling tentacles, forming a cyclone that touched the far stretched ceiling, their fervour calming only with their commander''s will.

    As they died down, melting into the dark floor, Nemo stood alone under the glaring eyes of the Council, sitting with crossed legs on a seat he had made himself. Silence swelled in the room, the air using the stagnancy to calm itself, along with the smoke disappearing into mist, his mana having expended its theatricality.

    The look on their faces is hilarious.

    ¡°Evening, my overlords,¡± He declared, his smile restrained as he added some apprehension for the newbie. Panting came from behind him, no doubt the guild hand running to catch up to the man he was supposed to be guiding.

    Their eyes said all that needed to be said, well, until their own theatrics were done at least. The man reached out to Nemo¡¯s chair to stop himself, only for his hand to melt the shadows, stumbling on his own feet, staying upright only because of a helping hand. Yanked up by the collar, he cleared his throat to regain some semblance of composure before beginning, ¡°Master Nemo has arrived.¡±

    ¡°Good job, Prometheus, can we get this done quickly? I want to meet the newbie before telling them all what I¡¯m going to do and what I need from them. He faked a yawn to get under the skin of those that despised him, and earning a silent chuckle from those already under his charm.

    ¡°Of course,¡± the guild hand replied, raising his hand to point towards the first seat. It was one of ten, all carved into the ground, rising ten metres or so from the ground, casting shadows which fell right beneath Nemo¡¯s feet, helped by the fact he had done so deliberately. Each bore the visage of a hero from the world¡¯s past, essential in the formation of the nations and organisations represented by the Council.

    ¡°From your left, sits the representative of Luin, Mataiapo Hawae, having guided the merpeople for two centuries, a spiritist of the highest order¡± There was no face to attach to the name, but he knew who was being projected in the seat, whose spirit to threaten if need be. Thankfully, the man saw him as one of his grandkids, so he bowed in his seat as the Chief¡¯s title was spoken.

    ¡°Yngvi Blae, a warrior revered by the highest ranks of the Elves and Drows alike,¡± the words caused a twitch in his smile, quickly hidden to ensure her sharp eyes didn¡¯t catch it, even worse since his aunt didn¡¯t know his heritage. Though, he could see a twitch mirrored by the one who gave him his views of the complicated history of all elves.

    Could¡¯ve sown so much chaos if I was passed onto her.

    ¡°Official of the republic of Dwarfs, Fakhr-e-Taishana,¡± He was one of the few there in person, and Nemo gave him the most respectable smile you could to a person that hated your guts, winking to add salt into the wound.

    The crack of stone echoed through the room as a panther made of metal adjusted itself into its seat, its eyes burning with a blue flame. Gears whirring as it settled, shifting its weight so as not to damage the throne any further, and the guild hand waited for it to stop moving, ¡°Through the eyes of the panther watches Lifebrether, chosen by the Orcs.¡±

    ¡°Then we have our own Guildmaster, representative of humanity,¡± A man Nemo knew all too well, the most trustworthy member of the guild, behind Lati of course, and the nature of his job meant that the trust was hard-earned. However, that didn¡¯t help him in this room. Theodorus Philetus, Uncle Theo, the reason his father was able to escape this life, and a descendant of the hero that started the rebellion, much like the one who took him in.

    The next four were purposefully without personalised titles, ¡°Then we have representatives of the West and the East, the Golden Road, the Silver Seas, and the Voice of The Ground.¡± Their faces were just as ambiguous as their names, masked by a spell that bore his own handiworks, but his eyes were trained to gaze through the illusion. It unsettled them to no end, and he enjoyed watching those that thought themselves better than others squirm, but one met his gaze.

    ¡°And finally¡­¡± The man sighed, and the grin on his face grew wider, standing from his chair and curtsying as the voice continued, ¡°Nemo, platinum rank holder, assassin.¡±

    ¡°You forgot the Greatest assassin in the world, the Grim Reaper, Fatebreaker, Faithbreaker, known also to many people as their worst nightmare, the person in the corner of their eye, an excellent lover, and for you lovely people, the Executer.¡± Nemo remarked, flicking a ball of lightning between his hands.

    ¡°That¡¯s enough of boasting,¡± The Guild Master reminded, his voice wry of anything that could make one untrustful of him, something he had been taught years before by the same man questioning him. ¡°There will be time after you brief us on your thoughts.¡±

    ¡°Simply speaking,¡± Nemo began, replacing his dinky little wooden chair with a throne that matched the rest¡¯s, forged from an even darker umbra. ¡°I have enough reason, and my own excellent instincts, to suspect the Cyllenius trade has embroiled themselves in trafficking, and a minor but significant suspicion that the Temple of Hera is involved with the slavers as well.¡±

    ¡°How sure are you that the family is involved?¡± The question came from the right side of the chamber.

    If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°Not the family, but their resources are implicated to be involved to a greater extent then they should be,¡± He corrected, his ears perking up as he continued, ¡°If not that, then the head dumbass¡¯ new initiative to franchise their name is causing problems, as we predicted it would.¡±

    ¡°Your¡­ partner¡¯s report mentioned the church attached above the slaver¡¯s was not officiated by the church, if you stand by it, why suspect the biggest religion in the world of unsanitary conduct, and conduct of such egregious ethical matter?¡± This time the voice came from the right.

    ¡°The church was not just dressed up to look like an official one, it was constructed in the same manner that every single one I¡¯ve set foot in, down to the swirl of the towers¡¯ stairs all being clockwise,¡± Nemo remarked.

    ¡°But why?¡±

    ¡°I have a few theories, but I can whittle them down quickly. All I know is, and what¡¯s troubling, is that they are purposely exploiting those not from this nation.¡± he remarked.

    The Guildmaster smiled, ¡°What do you need to scout out the trade?¡±

    ¡°Time and no restrictions.¡±

    Just once, I wish you would say a lake of blood to see how heartless they can be.

    Maybe next time, or when I have to negotiate with a family of vampires again.

    ¡°The usual then? Nothing specific?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯d rather not be indebted to the likes of the Council, but I¡¯ll drop by if the situation calls for it. After all, I know where to find you,¡± his tone carried his threat perfectly.

    ¡°Is there a reason to pursue this further?¡± A voice unfamiliar to his ears spoke, the tone ignorant of the acts of who it was addressing.

    ¡°A mass amount of Mana has been harvested, so has a lot of blood by the victim¡¯s account. Bodies were tested upon, families ripped apart, so forgive me for wanting to track down the fucks who are responsible and providing them with their own personal Tartarus, courtesy of mich,¡± The tone of his voice had turned harsh, but it would be best for the child to realise the realm of the world he had entered, his instincts forcing Nemo to add, his voice losing the charm he put through it as the words came, ¡°I recognised some of the slavers as they begged to be saved, or killed, hard to remember each plea, but I had seen a few before, back when I was tasked to handle that stint of the navy that had turned xenophobic.¡±

    There were murmuring between the sitting members, but the previous voice continued, arms pushed into the light of the gems above, impressively steady and calm for someone new to this side of the surface, ¡°It may be so, but it is still risky to go on the offensive against a company that is considered the backbone of the world¡¯s trade. If there is a chance that the organisation is uninvolved with the underlying threat, should we not be focusing on other possibilities? I may be new, and I mean no disrespect, but I have not heard anything about your activities to instil unquestionable trust that you won¡¯t fuc¨Ccause more harm than good.¡±

    There were seldom times he had been questioned on his skills so directly, mostly because there were few who knew him on the first night they met. Though, it didn¡¯t help that there was an obvious flaw in his argument, and there was a chance for him to gauge the newbie, so Nemo began, ¡°And you believe that having heard nothing about the actions of an assassin, makes them lesser than the ones famous for their killings? So, Baron, till you understand your position in this hierarchy of ours, I suggest you not question the methods of those above.¡±

    Through the darkness, gazing into the eyes of the Baron, they were unwavering. Even, as he pierced through the thin veil the man showcased to the world, they stood firm but still relented. ¡°No more questions.¡±

    ¡°But I was so enjoying your ignorant inquiries¡­¡± Nemo replied with a grin, his throne returning to a chair with a snap of his fingers, adding, ¡°All in agreement?¡±

    ¡°Master Nemo,¡± The Guildmaster remarked, ¡°I need not remind you to refrain from proceeding Council procedures without my approval. However, the question is sound, all in favour of proceeding with the presented plan of action?¡±

    There was a cohesive bang as the members struck their hands against their thrones, but his ears picked up only eight bangs out of the noise, and surprisingly one from the man he had just berated. ¡°Good,¡± The Guildmaster remarked, quickly adding to ensure he wouldn¡¯t have time to protest, ¡°Now, time to introduce your new partner.¡±

    Nemo faltered, unwilling to discuss his partner in front of those prying eyes of theirs, giving a smile as he bowed, a pulse of mana already revealing his partner arriving at the chambers. ¡°Of course,¡± Alex remarked, ensuring his eyes still displayed his loathing of them all, while hiding the worry that had surely bubbled up in them.

    He sat there, his hands propped up by his crossed legs, his ears giving him all the information that was required. Footsteps echoed through the tunnel before, growing with each second before they quickly became an undertone of the ambience of the Council¡¯s chamber, as the murmuring began again.

    It wasn¡¯t that he had never noticed the aura that his partner possessed, even when she had the confidence and the anxiety of a fox in the middle of a barren summer field. The proximity and duration of their relationship, and especially since the only thing he was focussed on was improving her skills, had nullified the effects that the members were currently experiencing.

    Out from the doors, just before the murmuring began, walked in a 1.77 metre tall elf with piercing emerald eyes. Half her face was covered with a mask that emanated wisps of smoke that wrapped around her now tanned skin, the same magic that gave his cloak its magnificent liminal fluidity. She already looked like a wandering knight in gleaming bronze armour, still spotless even after the ordeals of the past week. Her clothes freshly pressed courtesy of Kurven, her half-cloak hugging the arms of her muscle, gauntlets resting on her waist as she stopped next to him, readjusting her bun to tighten up her gleaming ginger hair.

    Elyza maintained her stoicism, tapping the side of his chair, yet he already knew what her question was, Alex remarking, ¡°I doubt they¡¯ll keep us here so long, Penelope.¡±

    ¡°Any questions for my partners will be broached through me, understand this, or I will disappear in a manner not befitting of my entrance,¡± He added, knowing that they¡¯d try to bend the restrictions any way they can.

    ¡°A reminder that you can refuse to answer any of our questions, but that refusal will not stop us from assuming your responses,¡± The Guildmaster stated, only a moment passing as the questions began flying.

    ¡°If you do not mind me asking,¡± Lord Blade began, her voice booming over all others, too deep for someone who shared his own blood, ¡°What is your heritage?¡±

    ¡°My mother was a fore¨C Elf, and my father, I have recently learned, was a Dwarf, I do not know his own heritage,¡± Elyza navigated her question perfectly, and even impressed her questioner in the process.

    ¡°How did you meet Nemo? And in turn, why did you consider partnering up with someone of his nature?¡± The question came from the dwarven representative.

    His eyes immediately started studying his partner''s reaction. It was a question he had refused to ask for a long time, even when at moments it gnawed at him mercilessly, but a part of him was afraid that even she hadn¡¯t thought about the question much.

    She took a moment, hopefully only planning out her words, but as her ears perked up, he knew she was giving it proper thought. Her voice betrayed nothing as she began, ¡°It was unnatural circumstances, nothing about which I can reveal lest you be friends with the offended party. And as for why I continue, I have not experienced any reason for the contrary.¡±

    He had to restrain himself from grinning so hard his mouth fell off, even when he knew that was one of the expected answers from the Council, but they were not done. ¡°If, perchance, Nemo was involved in something that would threaten the public or the goals of this coalition, will you be able to eliminate the threat?¡± The Baron was the one who spoke, his voice carrying some resentment, but not as much as Alex expected.

    ¡°If his actions do not follow either rational or his own morals, then yes, I would put him down,¡± There was no hesitation in her voice, and even Alex believed that she meant what she was saying. No doubt crossed his mind that she wouldn¡¯t at least give him a worthy fight if such an event came to pass.

    It satisfied most of them, the murmuring becoming whispers, but one last question came, the Guildmaster asking, ¡°What is the nature of your partnership with Nemo?¡±

    Elyza thought for only a second, ¡°A friend I can rely on.¡±

    Aw, how wonderful, she thinks she can trust your backstabbing ass.

    There was a battle of stares, something his partner seldom lost. Today was no different, Theo was forced to proclaim, ¡°Any more questions from the Council?¡±

    There was silence, and he added, ¡°Then it is finished, and with this, we bring this day to an end. May you be forgotten by the pages of history, and may your grave serve the earth in the end.¡±

    He did not wait for them to disperse, or the guild hand to guide them back out of the room. No snaps, no flair, he commanded the shadows to open beneath them, and swallow the two. The stint in the dark depths of darkness was short, willing the surrounding heavy shadows to propel them out as quickly as they dropped in. Shooting out in front of Lati, back in the employees¡¯ break room, who was truly unfazed by their sudden appearance, she stated, ¡°Vanya wants you to call her.¡±

    Before he did, he wrapped his hand around Elyza¡¯s shoulder, hugging her from the side, heaving her up from the floor with strength that even surprised his partner. Before her hand could grab onto him to ensure she doesn¡¯t fall, only to grab onto nothing as he dropped her. Landing on her feet, Alex slapped some of his pride into her spine, remarking, ¡°Fucking amazing Ears! If I didn¡¯t know who you were, I¡¯d think you were trying to cosplay as me.¡±

    ¡°Thank you?¡± She was clearly confused by his jubilation, but he waved his own explanation aside, instead putting his middle and little fingers in his mouth and blowing as hard as he could. A faint but high-pitched whistle echoed through the room, he and his partner catching the lowest of its frequency, both wincing as the noise invaded their ears. While he was used to the sound, it still hammered nails into his brain whenever he used it, but Elyza had to cover her ears.

    A hole materialised in thin air, growing slightly before two grubby thin fingered hands wrapped around its edges, pulling the dimensional hole aside for a head to pop out of it. The glowing iridescent circle briefly failed in keeping the other side obscured, letting him peer between the horns standing above the groggy face of the imp to see her bed filled with three more of her kin. The layer of translucent sea of oil reformed, and his eyes were pulled back to meet Vanya¡¯s blue tinted pupils, squinting at him with an annoyance only his dearest friends could muster.

    ¡°Busy night?¡± He remarked, grinning slightly.

    ¡°At least I don¡¯t have to spend an hour every day for my hair to still look like shit,¡± She retorted without thinking, and immediately he flicked her forehead, causing a groan of pain from his friend, who quickly added, ¡°Alright, I may have deserved that one.¡±

    ¡°Hello,¡± Elyza greeted, not surprised by the second time she had seen the imp pop out from a dimensional tear, but he did notice her glance down at the loose fitting shirt Vanya was wearing.

    ¡°Hey green, nice to see you haven¡¯t ripped his head off yet,¡± She replied, forcing a grin through her weariness, blinking repeatedly to get the sleep out of her eyes.

    ¡°Because you¡¯d miss me?¡± Alex suggested, his brow rising with the words

    ¡°Because that means she can be trusted to control herself in irritating situations,¡± Vanya remarked within a second, eliciting a snicker from his partner.

    A glance forced her to regain her composure, allowing him to add, ¡°I gather you¡¯re here about the party.¡±

    ¡°Careful¡­ Lady Minerva might think you¡¯re gunning for her position,¡± She teased, her devilish grin reappearing.

    Sighing, Alex swept back his hair, ¡°What do you want to know?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m guessing you two invites and with them two new identities, need to be high ranking to get into the missus gran announcement, can¡¯t obviously be from Luminae, but do you have any other special requirements for them?¡±

    ¡°Would be better to have them from the far east of the globe, less of a chance for any questioning,¡± Elyza suggested, her ears waving like antennas as she sat down next to Lati.

    ¡°Need them to be big wigs in transport as well, especially through the mountains of the elven nation, make them outsiders there¡­¡± he added, rapping his fingers on the table

    ¡°V.I.P and bodyguard?¡±

    ¡°Works, have her be the employer,¡± He remarked, pointing to his partner, ¡°More believable the further East you go, and she can pull off the cold, calculating look better than I can.¡±

    ¡°Wait,¡± Vanya interrupted, ¡°No disguises?¡±

    Bold.

    ¡°May need you-know-who¡¯s help in there, and I trust your ability to bullshit much more than I trust the memories of the elite.¡±

    ¡°I can speak for that, your memory is horrible as it is,¡± Vanya muttered under her breath, ¡°Anything else?¡±

    He thought of the possibilities that they could encounter, any familiar faces in the crowd that would not hesitate to call him out, ¡°That is all.¡±

    ¡°No other specifi¨C¡± She cut herself off, worrying him immensely, before quickly adding as she sunk into the tear, ¡°Got it, bye.¡±

    There was a moment of silence, interrupted only by Lati slurping loudly a spoonful of some kind of soup, gulping it down before remarking, ¡°You guys free? I wanted some company for my trip to a bakery, they¡¯re serving some new kind of pastry.¡±

    ¡°Uh,¡± Alex traced the plan in his head, his thoughts silencing as he realised where he had to go next, ¡°Ears, if you want you could go along with them.¡±

    Unfortunately, his careful wording still managed to elicit some sort of suspicion in his partner, ¡°What are you going to do in the meanwhile?¡±

    You¡¯re not getting away from this one.

    His mind raced to find a way to broach the topic in a way that wouldn¡¯t make her think horrible things about him, and then he remembered she had already seen the worst things about himself, ¡°I¡¯m going to the brothel.¡±

    She opened her mouth but nothing came out, her mind taking a second to think of the reason why, before turning back towards their handler, ¡°Could you buy me a piece, while we are away? Though I do trust him, I need to make sure I haven¡¯t partnered up with a degenerate.¡±

 Chapter 30: Unethical Sourcing

    The Lower District, just like the city it mirrored, was filled with areas dedicated to specific workforces. An area that was a forge the size of a volcano, the warehouses filled with companies that worked tirelessly to transport anything they were asked to. There was a district where people like Elyza and her partner worked, the bank district which was close to the heart of the city, the adventure¡¯s blocks filled with little locally owned shops to help support the Guild¡¯s patrons. However, while all of them interested Elyza in a way or another, be it simply how they worked, the legacy companies that operated within them, and especially the cultures that occupied, built around, and the restaurants in them, she had never deeply delved into the history of the ¡®Pandemos¡¯ square.

    The area was characterised by the use of red lanterns, which were used to smooth out and hide any blemishes of skin, almost as if the blood moon was perpetually shining upon them. As she followed her partner through the various passageways, she had to squeeze the persuasive smell of perfumes and flowery artificial oils out from her nose. Her eyes strained to see through the crowds of workers, ears overwhelmed with the music of the various brothels and the beckoning calls of those within, Alex took the lead, carving a way through. The fact that he was immune to the invitations of them all, even giving a few friendly waves did not surprise her, here was a man who had slept with goddesses, yet it still seemed to stir up some annoyance within her.

    But as his pace slowed down, and the crowd became more pompous, she soon spotted their goal. A four storied building that managed to dwarf the others around it even when it was restricted by an entire city above. Its arches, walls, and almost storey spanning windows were of a similar design to the Guild building, but not from marble, forged from a mix of stained wood and interlocking stone bricks, its windows covered by purple curtains. The lower level was open to all, allowing them to walk into the belly of the brothel without crossing any doors, customers streaming into the area through the archways. A bar was nestled between two stairs leading upwards, the corners of the floor filled with sofas where various parties were happening, served by hosts and hostesses. The middle of the room was a kid¡¯s dream, mounds of pillows littering the area, surrounding hookahs that streamed out smoke from their nozzles.

    A quick glance around and Elyza already spotted a dragon in human form, an incubus, various bakenekos, lamias, kobolds¨Cboth western and eastern, a pair of drow and elf twins, dwarves and what appeared to be three goblins in a trench coat being dragged out by some guards. Alex snapped his fingers in front of her, stealing her focus, ¡°This isn¡¯t your first time in a brothel, right?¡±

    She was actually offended, narrowing her eyes, ¡°Of course not, but you seem to have been visiting them for too long.¡±

    He flashed a grin at her, replying with a chuckle, ¡°Alright, alright, just making sure I don¡¯t have to tiptoe around you¡­¡± He looked around the room, his eyes snapping between every single face in their view, searching for something before they turned around towards the bar, holding for a second before remarking, ¡°You want a drink while we¡¯re here?¡±

    ¡°Is it not the middle of the day?¡± She questioned, studying the bartender as she did.

    ¡°Technically¡­¡± He pulled out his pocket watch, adding, ¡°It''s currently dusk up there.¡±

    She sighed, inadvertently smiling at his act as she yielded, ¡°I would like a drink.¡±

    ¡°Why am I not surprised,¡± Alex remarked, quickly moving away from her swatting reach, forcing her to follow him to the barstool, which was attended by an almost translucent humanoid made from slime. Her mind fell back a week to their encounter with the Eudaimorphs, but, even without spotting that it was wearing physical clothes, its head was lacking the apparatus that contained the soul of the monsters she had met before.

    ¡°Hello, Alex, the usual?¡± She overheard the bartender ask her partner, which earned him an immediate smack on the head, which elicited no reaction from the slime, who added, ¡°And what would the lady like to have?¡±

    ¡°Glass of scotch, on the rocks, be as generous as you can be,¡± She remarked, taking a seat next to Alex, adding, ¡°and since you seem familiar with my partner, you may call me Elyza.¡±

    ¡°Tiffany, it¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, though I¡¯m surprised that even he would bring his betrothed to a brothel,¡± The slime remarked, a sphere of ice forming in her hand, clearer than even the water from the glaciers, swirling it in the glass, before pouring two shots worth of caramel liquid and serving it to her.

    ¡°Partners in the other sense, Tiff,¡± He clarified, snatching a bowl of peanuts left unattended by the party beside them, tossing a handful of them into his mouth as the bartender took out a martini glass, three bottles, and a shaker.

    Pouring out two shots of coffee liqueur, one of tequila and three of what smelled like orange juice into the steel container, the slime remarking, ¡°With your egotistical tendencies?¡±

    ¡°Somehow, I seem to manage,¡± Elyza stated, taking a sip of the scotch as Tiffany dropped some cubes of ice into the shaker, enjoying the malty alcohol¡¯s smokey flavour and the fire burn of it flowing down her throat as the bartender started to shake the cocktail.

    ¡°Don¡¯t we all,¡± She replied, straining the liquid into the martini glass, before pushing it towards her partner.

    He took a gulp of the drink, sighing with satisfaction before stating, ¡°You two could at least slander me behind my back.¡±

    ¡°It''s not slander if we¡¯re telling the truth, Alex. At the worst, you could call this defamation.¡± Tiffany corrected, wiping off a little spill from the counter.

    He grinned as he chugged the rest of the drink in a single go, snapping his fingers next to his ears before retorting, ¡°Can¡¯t argue legality with the ex-lawyer.¡±

    That elicited a sigh from the slime, and Elyza got the opportunity to ask her friend, ¡°Is this the one we are here to meet?¡±

    The sigh came from her partner this time, and Tiffany had a grin on her face, ¡°You¡¯re here to meet the boss¡­ Been a month since the last drink.¡±

    ¡°I gave that bitch three months worth of backup, and still I¡¯m worried,¡± There was a genuine mix of fear and annoyance in his tone, but he still smiled as he spoke.

    The bartender chuckled, ¡°Good that Vic¡¯s hasn¡¯t had her break yet, she can reel the boss in if it goes horribly wrong.¡±

    ¡°That sadist would probably just watch me get drained,¡± The way the conversation was going concerned her, but before she could ask him to clarify further, Alex flipped a gold coin that landed on the slime¡¯s head, adding, ¡°Chug that last drop and let''s go into the den.¡±

    Elyza felt that it would be better to ask the questions in her mind in a less public position, so she swirled the diluted remains of the scotch, swigging it as she got up to follow. Her partner sprinted up the stairs, taking two at a time, but she was still able to reach him before he stepped onto the second floor.

    As soon as her eyes scanned the space before her, she knew that they were now under the care of Aphrodite, a mural dedicated to her painted on the ceiling, observing the acts happening under her. There was a pervasive smell of perfume in the air, no doubt to mask the acts happening under the goddess¡¯ nose, the noises muffled but still recognisable. There was a desk in front of them, ladies and lords waiting on the flanks for their companion of the day to invite them into the rooms behind the curtains. Yet, it was unattended, a single bell waiting to be rung.

    Alex gestured to her to go first, walking by her side as he winked at a few of the nobles that glanced at them, when suddenly she felt a hand caressing her waist, arms wrapping around the two. She was alarmed, inadvertently shuddering as the individual breathed lightly on the tip of her ear, giggling before their voice began, ¡°Well, well, well, you two seem like a whole city of trouble, fortunately for you, I¡¯m great at disciplining troubled children.¡±

    The words seemed to have an unnatural effect on her, Elyza¡¯s breath quickening, her chest, and face heating up for a second before her partner pushed her out from the woman¡¯s grip, and it ceased to persist, remarking with a sigh, ¡°It''s me, Yana, and don¡¯t use your charm on my friend.¡±

    She turned to look at who he was talking to and almost immediately her mind connected the face to something she had seen in the history books, ¡°Aren¡¯t you¨C¡±

    A compulsion to cut herself off overcame her words as soon as the woman brought a finger to her lips, winking her fiery green eyes as she spoke, ¡°And here I thought I had hit the jackpot for the day. Which reminds me that you still owe me from last time.¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re a¨C¡± His partner¡¯s words disappeared the same way when he finally relented to her own wishes, continuing as he handed her a gold coin, ¡°I can only envy your children whenever they want something.¡±

    The woman had already stopped listening, walking towards another pair that had caught her eyes, allowing Elyza to sneak back to her partner, ¡°Isn¡¯t that¡­¡±

    ¡°It is,¡± Alex answered her lingering question.

    She thought about it for a moment, admitting, ¡°I would guess someone of her standing would not risk being spotted here.¡±

    ¡°She¡¯s a grown deity, and neither of us are about to travel to the sea and rat her out, are we?¡± He remarked, cracking his knuckles to relieve his stress.

    ¡°Was she one of your companions in your past?¡±

    He took a moment to answer, ¡°Surprisingly, no, something about me having too high of a standing?¡±

    Sighing, she continued towards the desk, covering the distance without any other unwanted distractions, pressing down on the bell to ring it once. Her partner slid to her side, knees thudding against the wood as he stopped himself, his fingers drumming against the bell till the ringing became a high-pitched whine. She was able to grab his hand only a few seconds after he began, but not before the purple curtain that formed the wall of the desk started to part.

    A low voice began, sounding as if the entire weight of the world was upon it, its tone rising as a woman¡¯s head emerged from the curtain, upside down. The sight stalled Elyza¡¯s brain for a minute, her eyes struggling to understand why the face ahead had hair that fell as if they were part of a waterfall forged from the night, white speckling the threads. Her eyes were akin to the void, almost like Alex¡¯s, except that hers had a small sparkle of red within them, mascara making them appear more piercing than they were. Her cheeks were flushed by powder, the colour of her lips matching her eyes.

    ¡°Of course it¡¯s you¡­¡± She sighed out, continuing to move forward, still upside down, the curtains revealing more of the reason why. Her torso was draped in a shawl woven from silk, under which was what appeared to be a three-piece suit, even sporting a blood-red tie. The matching pants to the ensemble were absent as the purple screen parted to reveal a spider¡¯s abdomen, which instantly broke Elyza¡¯s brain from its impediment. As the woman¡¯s six tarsus crawled down the wall, keeping her head in the middle of both of their views, her hair fell naturally around her head, her appendages knocking against the wooden floor as she settled herself. They were as graceful and slender as the woman appeared, resting her hands on her stomach, bowing slightly to greet her.

    ¡°I apologise for his behaviour, since I know he will not,¡± Elyza remarked, bowing back to the arachnid.

    ¡°It''s part of my charm,¡± Her partner proclaimed with a grin, slipping his hand from her grip as he waved to the woman, ¡°Hey, Vic, miss me?¡±

    ¡°Yes, I did, and it''s good to see that you finally have someone to keep you on a leash,¡± The arachnid remarked with a gentle smile, turning back to her as she introduced herself, ¡°Victoria.¡±

    ¡°Elyza, a pleasure to meet you,¡± She replied, giving a courteous wave mimicking how Alex did so, a single movement with her fingers rolling around a non-existent sphere.

    ¡°I gather you¡¯re here to meet with the Boss?¡±

    ¡°Yup,¡± Alex replied, leaning against the desk with his head buried into the wood, dread filling his voice, ¡°How fucked am I?¡±

    ¡°Quite,¡± Tiffany stated, patting his head, giving his hair a scratch with her black nails, ¡°The contingency batch was emptied fifteen days after you last visited, my webs were chewed through.¡±

    Elyza slammed her palms quietly on the desk, having had enough of her partner¡¯s cryptic-ness, ¡°Explain to me what you two are talking about.¡±

    His head jerked up, his eyes staring into hers, debating whether to tell her the entire story or not, definitely from embarrassment, ¡°It''s¡­ complicated, and intimate, in a way that you may find strange.¡±

    The words worked only to pique her interest further, ¡°How so? You have talked at length about your previous relationships, what makes this one any different?¡±

    His mouth opened, yet nothing came out, his throat refusing to make any noise, which was strange, especially for him, ¡°¡­ Honestly, you¡¯ll understand after the ordeal is done, and I don¡¯t have the heart to tell you beforehand.¡±

    ¡°Then we should go before the doors burst open,¡± Tiffany remarked, gesturing both of them to follow her behind the purple curtains, Alex jumping after she vaulted over the desk. The room behind was nothing to be impressed about, stretching for the length of the building but having only two desks within the corridor. Both were stacked with paperwork, a horned man biting his nails as he did the books, paying them no attention, the other empty, and by the smell of smoke lingering in the air, whoever sat there was taking a break elsewhere. Tiffany climbed up the wall next to the spiral stairs at the very back, leaving them two to climb up the metal steps.

    As soon as her head was level with the next floor she saw a giant door blocking the supposed main chamber of the building, specks of black tarnishing the intricately etched visage of Cupid, along with his other variations, Eros, Astrild, Amor and Kamadeva, rising from a place of blood and fire. She could tell by the sheen that it was forged from silver, meaning her mind could predict whoever rested behind those doors had to be connected with demons, or even more theatrical than her partner, both uncomfortable thoughts.

    ¡°You think my scent is seeping through the door?¡± Alex asked, placing a hand on the metal, apprehensive of going inside.

    ¡°Most likely,¡± The arachnid replied.

    His eyes fell upon Elyza, holding for a moment, which befuddled her, ¡°What?¡±

    ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming with?¡±

    She almost pinned him to the door, her annoyance, and feelings of betrayal bubbling over, but she was somehow able to keep her halberd at bay. Staring back, the idea that he would want her to observe him with another woman should have led to anger echoing from her voice, but she kept calm, ¡°No, I would not want to intervene in such a private affair.¡±

    He appeared confused at her words, his eyes narrowing as if he didn¡¯t know what he was asking for, ¡°I can guess you¡¯re pissed at me, and I can guess why, but I think this would probably be funnier if I don¡¯t broach the concerned subject.¡±

    ¡°Only time shall tell,¡± Elyza parroted in his tone, gesturing at him to proceed forward.

    ¡°Alright, Mrs. Dramatic,¡± His grin almost made her smile, but she tensed her jaw to stop herself, glaring at him till he slipped into the confines of the room.

    There was a rap on wood as Tiffany adjusted her feet to be more comfortable standing still, her words flowing like she had been in the situation before, ¡°He hasn¡¯t¡­ told you what¡¯s about to happen, has he?¡±

    ¡°I gather this has happened before¡­¡±

    ¡°Yes, it has, but not with someone he cares about,¡± She remarked, a smile etching itself just as it did on Alex when he knew something she didn¡¯t, ¡°Just keep an open mind, and try not to laugh at the end.¡±

    ¡°Hey there buddy,¡± Alex¡¯s words were able to permeate the door, surprising her, but not the person to her side, Elyza¡¯s ears perking up to take in more of his voice.

    There was a gap, ¡°Magni, brother, are you feeling alright? Not planning to jump on me when my back¡¯s turned again, right?¡±This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

    ¡°Wait, Magni?¡± Elyza blurted out, leading Tiffany to chuckle, ¡°Your boss is a man?¡±

    ¡°I knew that bastard didn¡¯t tell you,¡± The arachnid remarked, her feet tapping the floor once again as she took a step back, ¡°It is highly recommended you give them a bit more room, and try to keep your visualisation to a minimum till it''s over.¡±

    ¡°I know you¡¯re thirsty, and I¡¯m willing to provide, but you need to be calm and rational, alright? So turn around, and show me a smile,¡± Alex spoke, his voice sounding more echoey and deeper into the room.

    There was a slight creak, before there was an enormously audible, ¡°Oh, fuck.¡±

    Silence followed once more, before there was an animalistic growl erupted from the room, magic latent in the silver doors activating as they shuddered, the grooves etched into the metal charging with rivers of blue mana, and as soon as it did, her partner¡¯s voice shouted as loud as she knew it to go, ¡°YOU RAT BASTARD, HOW DARE YOU DO THIS TO ME AGAIN!¡±

    She didn¡¯t stifle her laugh, and soon there was something else to laugh about, ¡°GET OFF ME, I SWEAR IF YOU RIP MY CLO¨C STOP LICKING MY HAND! I¡¯LL GIVE IT TO YOU, JUS¨C FUCK IT.¡±

    She smelled the drop in pressure, turning to advise her accomplice to cover her ears, which the arachnid had already done. The crackle of two lightning bolts boomed through the air, the building quaking through its foundation as something big slammed into the silver barriers ahead of them. The metal screamed under the force of the impact, deforming so badly that it ripped two of the hinges from the metal frame.

    ¡°Open the fucking doors, I think I have him under control, but do keep your fingers to yourselves,¡± Alex proclaimed, his tone one of exasperation, the words taking a toll on him.

    Tiffany balanced herself on her four legs, her other two tarsi slipping inside the gap between the silver doors, bending the metal with ease. The crumpled heap gave way to reveal a man wrapped in her partner¡¯s shadows, wriggling against the black tentacles restraining him, snapping his razor sharp teeth at Alex. He was about as tall as she was, draped in what appeared to be red silk pyjamas, his blonde hair cut short and slicked back.

    Her partner on the other hand appeared to have fought through a stampede, his hood pulled back, hair going in all directions except down, only for a moment, his hands combing through them in order to settle them back into place. His shirt was clawed apart, tiny slits exposing the skin beneath, patches of red dotting the white fabric, a tiny cut on his chin distracted her from the claw marks on his neck. Perking up as they caught something dripping, her eyes pulled to her friend pressing one hand into the other¡¯s palm, blood smothering the skin, with no signs of stopping.

    Instinctively pulling out the bandage she kept in her pouch, she rushed past the snarling man, grabbing her partner¡¯s hand to gauge how deep the cut was. The red that had collected within spilled onto the floor, eliciting a grunt from the wound¡¯s culprit as she ripped Alex¡¯s other hand from the palm. Blood had already started to clot in the wound, slowing down the rate at which it was being drained, but as she started to wrap the wound, her partner held up his finger, telling her to stop.

    As he looked back at the upturned desk in the middle of the room, she followed his gaze, which landed on a gilded goblet whose insides were stained red, which was soon grabbed with a hand made from its shadow. The hand flicked the chalice through the air, disappearing as soon as it did, the goblet immediately caught by Alex. Part of the base had been sharpened, but otherwise it was a normal chalice, albeit with gems stamped into the metal. She did not need to ask his reasoning, as he used the base to cut another cut into his palm, forming a cross. The blood flowed freely from the fresh cross, Alex wringing his hand above the goblet so that it collected the cascading crimson waterfall.

    Filling it till his viscous blood could spill over the edges, he gave the chalice to Tiffany, and finally allowed Elyza to wrap his wounds. As she swathed his palm, he had to shake his fatigue away before he met her gaze, allowing her to flick his forehead, asking, ¡°Was it funny enough for you?¡±

    ¡°I¡¯ll admit that, this time, it did come to bite me in the ass,¡± He grinned, his eyes fixed on the arachnid feeding the pyjama clad man his blood.

    ¡°You know exactly what I thought was happening, and you¡¯re lucky that he didn¡¯t bite anything else¡± She remarked, tightening the knot so that it caused him the most pain possible, adding as she let his hand go, ¡°I thought you hate vampires, because, and I quote, ¡®They always somehow manage to kidnap me and then try to seduce me into becoming theirs.¡¯

    ¡°I can deal with that half of him,¡± Alex replied, rubbing the bandages to soothe the pain biting at his hand, grinning as he thought of something snarky to say, ¡°And you thought I was coming to entertain a succubus, didn¡¯t you? How dare you, I don¡¯t trade my body for services, do I look like a gigolo?¡±

    Without thinking for a moment, her mind came up with only a single appropriate retort, ¡°Under certain lighting, you do.¡± Her partner¡¯s face was overcome with a mix of offence and pride at her words, but any further jokes were cut off by Tiffany.

    ¡°He should be alright for a bit,¡± The arachnid spoke, and without hesitation the shadows released their captive, following their master¡¯s unspoken command.

    His head jerked to the man who had made him spill blood, his eyes filled not with anger, but with, and she knew from experience, sadistic thoughts. He slowly turned to her as the man got up back to his feet, muttering to himself and into the room prayers and apologies, yet Alex had a smile on his face that made her scared for his attacker.

    ¡°You know the trick of mine where I force part of my body to be numb to all pain for a brief moment?¡± She sighed as she nodded, he was about to do something idiotic, and she had already readied herself for whatever was to come.

    Strolling towards the vampire, lending him a hand up to his feet, he let the man rest on his shoulder before continuing, ¡°Magni here is the one that taught me that useful little trick.¡±

    The man looked quizzically at her partner, his voice hesitating as he stated, ¡°I don¡¯t believe I was the one to teach you that?¡±

    Alex laughed as he patted his back, taking a moment to let him relax, before remarking, ¡°Of course you didn¡¯t.¡±

    His hand grabbed Magni¡¯s neck, wringing him in place, leaving no way to escape as his knee slammed into the vampire¡¯s pelvis. The impact made Elyza wince as she heard the uncomfortable squelch of organs, but thankfully no crack echoed through the room. He let go immediately, so that the man crumpled into a groaning heap at his feet, flashing a grin as he added, ¡°Thanks for reminding me.¡±

    In between gasps of air, Magni was able to whimper out a variety of expletives that were seldom spoken even a few decades before, before adding, ¡°I¡­ probably deserve that.¡±

    ¡°It may be time to cut you off for a month or two,¡± Alex remarked, offering his hand again to the vampire, which hopefully wasn¡¯t another trick of his. Magni took no time to accept his help, caressing his groin to ease the pain as he limped over to his desk, her partner lending him a shoulder, adding to his threat, ¡°But lucky for you there¡¯s a party in town.¡±

    Picking up a fallen chair, the vampire settled into the fluffy cushions, Tiffany returning the desk and the guest seats back to their place as he remarked, ¡°Knew that you would be back in town for Rufelis¡¯ engagement party for Lady Felis, too much of an opportunity for you¡­¡± He sighed out, gesturing for both of them to take a seat, ¡°What can I do for you two?¡±

    ¡°I need lists and conversation of whoever came through her with attachments with the Cyllenius trade,¡± Alex stated as he took his place.

    Sitting beside him, Elyza added, ¡°Especially any rumours about unsolicited or unsavoury actions the higher ups may have taken, or any sudden transfer of funds to any organisation related remotely to the Temple of Hera.¡±

    He looked past them both, his eyes conveying a message to the arachnid waiting behind them, the wood beneath them shuddering as Tiffany left to retrieve what they had asked for. Magni mused, his voice piercing her ears but still holding a growl that emanated through his words, ¡°I have heard a rumour from many of my staff that may be of some importance to whatever depravity you may be investigating¡­¡±

    ¡°Go on, anything that can shed some more light on the blot we seem to be chasing,¡± Her partner remarked, cracking his knuckles to stay focused.

    ¡°Can I get a kiss for it?¡± The man leaned in with the question, but it was clear he wasn¡¯t serious.

    Alex smiled calmly, replying, ¡°I¡¯m afraid Thanatos wants nothing to do with the likes of you.¡±

    ¡°Meanie¡­¡± The vampire smiled, continuing, ¡°There was an ambassador of the family that came through a while back, and while he was blowing the back of an incubus dressed up like his own son, allegedly, he was complaining about having to ferry around a bishop from across the ocean.¡±

    ¡°Not a surprise, they probably want to make the engagement look as good as they possibly can for the larger public, even if it''s with the second prince,¡± her partner concluded, but she could see that Magni had more to say.

    ¡°He came back a day or two ago, this time with a company of his peers, most as disgusting as he was, but he was complaining about how the bishop came with his own small private army, which was ¡®not part of the deal¡¯. It appears that some unfortunate disturbances have forced someone closely related to the Temple to pull some more strings.¡± The man finished, taking out a file with a few sketches hidden between written accounts, sliding the paper across to Alex.

    ¡°Are they still in the city?¡± Elyza queried, taking a few pages that detailed the resources the militia held.

    ¡°Left a day ago, fortunately not before paying this lovely building a visit,¡± the vampire revealed, turning to her partner, who was busy flipping through the pages of the document, adding, ¡°I was planning to give it to your prodigal daughter if you didn¡¯t drop¨C¡±

    ¡°Are you trying to get me killed?¡± Her partner interrupted, quickly clarifying before her halberd sprung to her hands, ¡°I do not have a daughter, I just acted as two kid¡¯s guardians for a¡­ while.¡±

    His eyes were filled with worry, but the orbs of the abyss did not reveal any malice or falsehood within them, his mouth curled into a reassuring grin, so she had no trouble replying, ¡°I believe you.¡±

    He didn¡¯t seem to believe her, quickly adding, ¡°How about we get out of this place and pay her a visit, because I¡¯m afraid this gossiping bastard might say something that even I can¡¯t lie my way out of.¡±

    ¡°Oh,¡± She did not care that he was hiding part of his past from her, she knew in her heart he would tell her anything if she asked directly, but she also knew that if she played her cards correctly, she could briefly make him regret talking so much, ¡°Is there something you are afraid to tell me? I believed us to be partners?¡±

    His eyes narrowed, there was some part of him that had recognised the trick, but he was forced to proclaim, ¡°I believe this conversation should continue in the presence of my lawyer.¡±

    <hr>

    ¡°Why are we breaking into this house,¡± She was forced to ask, acting as lookout for her partner as he picked the front door of the first room above a random alchemist¡¯s house. There was no threat to be discovered, the view out the corridor showing the tops of the Capital flooding with orange as the sun hid behind the point of Mount Hafnarfjall, when the citizens were only just beginning to return to their houses.

    Alex chuckled as the door creaked open, the lock successfully overcame, ¡°It''s not breaking in if you own the place¡­¡±

    Her head flipped back to him, Elyza¡¯s mind connecting the dots as he whistled with the swing of the wooden door, ¡°You forgot the keys.¡±

    ¡°I did,¡± he remarked with no tone of embarrassment in his voice, strolling into the flat without hesitation, flicking a switch beside the entrance to let the mana flow through the lights above. The room was bathed with a warm tone, and it was by all manners of the word ¨C normal. As she strolled in, she noted the couch whose cover was dragged to one side, a side table stacked with books and fruit beside it, a study desk shoved to a corner with a single unlit lantern above it, and opposite it a kitchen with dishes that still had remnants of breakfast.

    A single fan whined to full power above, the airflow causing some papers on the desk ahead of the couch to flutter, stopped only by a single crudely formed ashtray placed upon it. Flicking the curtains looking upon the streets to a side, he promptly collapsed upon the couch, lying down with his legs upon one of the armrests. As he did, it allowed her to explore the room a bit, but something in the corner of her eye instantly caught her attention.

    It was a corner of shelves underneath a portrait of her partner, a bit younger than he already was, standing beside two children, a boy and a girl. The girl was dressed in a coat of arms, sporting the royal colours of the military, forcefully looking stoic, the boy was dressed in a private school¡¯s uniform with a smile so big that it could rival the grin of Alex standing above, hugging both of them. The painting had been done quickly, but it had some skill put into it, yet the comfort that the image displayed between the three was what intrigued her.

    On the platforms below were certificates and awards dedicated to two people unknown to her ¨C Felicia Jester and Leo Jester. There were military awards for bravery for the girl, and a plaque with a patent for the boy, both having multiple certificates for scoring the highest in the two paths they had taken. There were also pencil sketches of the two, the handiwork identical to the scribbles inside her partner¡¯s notebook. Before she had an opportunity to ask him, the door swung open, and a woman¡¯s voice announced her entrance.

    ¡°You know today was supposed to be my day off?¡± The girl was a splitting image of the one in the photo. Her maroon eyes accentuated by black mascara like the pharaohs of old wore, two prominent bangs framing her face while the rest were tied back into a ponytail that was quickly dismantled. She wore a fringed purple skirt with a blue top over a white shirt, her lips coloured a modest light red, a plain silver necklace already showing its age adorned her neck, and a pair of crudely bent icons of Bast as earrings.

    ¡°That¡¯s why I thought you would be lounging around here, reading one of these,¡± Alex remarked without missing a beat, waving around a book with the title ¡®Running From the Sycamore Trees¡¯, adding, ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯ve picked something decent for once, Jester.¡±

    ¡°I would have, if that bastard Nemo hadn¡¯t threatened a Baron yesterday,¡± Felicia answered, kicking off her boots as she stretched her back, giving Elyza a wave as she did.

    As he got up, her partner remarked, ¡°He actually asked for you?¡±

    ¡°I would have had an excuse to refuse if someone hadn¡¯t spread a rumour about an unknown shadow following whoever tried to court me,¡± She reminded, her tone more tired than annoyed, standing in front of her partner before muttering, ¡°Get it over with.¡±

    She was pulled into a bear hug, and even though she tried to go slack to dissuade him, Alex still swung her like a doll as he added, ¡°How¡¯s your brother?¡±

    ¡°Wanting to kill himself now that he has no control over the results of his final,¡± She groaned, waiting for a few seconds before breaking out of his arms.

    ¡°With what I read, he could probably dethrone some of the professors of Chryse within a few more years,¡± He grinned out, handing her a banana before gesturing towards Elyza, ¡°I believe you two haven¡¯t properly met¡­¡±

    Her gaze met with Felicia¡¯s and her eyes were not surprised, but excited, ¡°I¡¯ve witnessed her handiwork, and I am thoroughly impressed,¡± She put forward her hand, and Elyza took it, allowing her to continue, ¡°Major Felicia Jester, a pleasure to meet the person behind the handiwork up north.¡±

    ¡°Or, as she¡¯s lovingly called, ¡®Prodigal General Jester,¡¯¡± Alex interrupted.

    ¡°You¡¯re the only one who calls me Jester.¡±

    ¡°Only due to your jolly personalit¨C¡±

    Her partner quickly shut up as she glared at him, allowing her to respond with a kind smile, ¡°Pleasure to meet someone I have never heard about, and I believe the same bastard that ruined your courting was mostly responsible for the carnage in the town.¡±

    ¡°He tries to keep his past an enigma, but he has not stopped raving about you, or at least I hope he hasn¡¯t changed partners in the past week,¡± Felicia replied in kind.

    ¡°How did you and your brother meet him?¡± She asked the question that had been bugging her mind for the past hour.

    ¡°He has a¡­¡± She looked back at her partner for confirmation, and while his face still had the grin that was always there, his answer was clear for both of them, ¡°habit of picking up strays, but I do not know what the past five years of my life would¡¯ve been without him.¡±

    ¡°You were invited to the Cyllenius party?¡± Alex remarked, his voice devoid of his usual laxity, producing the report that they had received from the brothel.

    ¡°Ah, a work visit, and of course I was, I¡¯m the prodigal General, am I not?¡± Her face was expressionless, but her eyes were burning with ferocity as they tore through the pages.

    ¡°I was planning to meet you the day before the engagement announcement¡­¡±

    ¡°But some recent updates have turned things severe,¡± Elyza finished, taking a seat on the sofa as her mind ran back to what she had read in the report.

    ¡°This is concerning, and this general appears familiar, the sketch matches the stuff of legends,¡± the Major remarked, holding up a picture of the private head of the landed army.

    The man appeared to be like any other general she had seen in the history books, and there was a part of her mind that recognised the structure of the face, and her partner summarised, ¡°Descendant, perhaps? Though after Beisptmord, I don¡¯t perceive it to be a reality.¡± The city struck a bell in her head, or at least its annihilation did.

    ¡°Problem is¨C¡±

    ¡°You can not act upon it unless provoked,¡± Elyza stated, her eyes meeting hers.

    ¡°Or you have definitive proof,¡± Alex added.

    ¡°I assume you want me to act a part in whatever plans you have?¡± Felicia concluded, placing the file on the table.

    Alex took a seat beside her, and she spoke for them both, ¡°Only if we face an unprecedented obstacle, which is unlikely.¡±

    She thought for a moment, peeling the banana and taking a bite, a few chews in stating, ¡°You find something solid in the records, and I have enough earned freedom to put my garrison to work, if you can convince the King, of course.¡±

    ¡°I may be able to manage that,¡± Her partner replied with a grin so assuring that she was unsure if he was referring to something treasonous, or embarrassing.

    ¡°Make sure that the princess isn¡¯t involved this time,¡± The Major requested, finishing the rest of her snack before adding, ¡°So we wait for the reckoning to come.¡±

    ¡°And I thought you left the theatrics back in school,¡± He grinned as he stood up, adding, ¡°Put on your shoes.¡±

    ¡°Why?¡±

    ¡°Ears here convinced me that some bribery was required for ruining your day off before.¡±

    Elyza quickly clarified, ¡°That, and I wanted to know what kind of stories you have on him.¡±

    She chuckled, muttering, ¡°I remember once where he dressed up as a clown¡­¡±

 Chapter 31: Playing Dress Up

    ¡°Wish me luck,¡± Her partner remarked, his white grin almost blinding her even under the lights that ran along the edges of the ceiling. Sitting up on the couch, his legs swung from the armrest opposite to him, meaning they very carefully avoided landing on Elyza¡¯s thighs. She looked up from the book she had forced him to carry in his shadow, ever since they left his house, for the sole reason that it was full of interesting information and tales about the heroes of old. Ever since they were waiting for the end of the week, and since they had arrived before dusk at the shop, she had been scouring for an illustration that matched the sketch of the foreign general. Something in her brain recognised who the man was, but it still needed something to recall what she knew in its entirety.

    As Alex stood on his feet, forced to stretch every muscle in his body. Most of them had been rendered unused since he had laid down on the couch three hours ago, waiting for Kurven to finish the final touches on their outfits for the evening¡¯s event. Turning towards her, he unhooked the two emblems that attached his cloak to his leather chestplate. Swirling the light consuming fabric across his shoulders, letting it flutter in the air as he did, he handled it with more care than she had ever seen from him, folding it slowly, ensuring no creases could survive. He bent down on one knee as he handed it to her, his face faking his heartbreak as he said, ¡°Make sure she lives a good life without me.¡±

    ¡°It will just be a few moments, Alex¡­¡± Kurven replied from behind the cloth screen that divided the room in half, rubbing his head as he chuckled.

    Receiving his cloak as respectfully as she could, she reminded her partner, ¡°Do not be so dramatic, and even if you get kidnapped again, I am sure it will find its way back to you again.¡±

    Grinning, he pulled his armour over his head, which had patches staining the brown surface, the stitches in the fabric leading to the edges of the material disintegrating into an orange powder, revealing the metal mesh that reinforced it. He threw it to the side without any remorse. It was time for him to replace it, something he planned to do the next day, but other than the natural flow of time, it was relatively untouched. Thankfully, they had both had a rigorous bath to cleanse, according to her partner, the stench of the commoners.

    So, while sweat had collected underneath him, no stench wafted from him, only making the white fabric of the shirt  semi-transparent, and she caught a glimpse of the scarred body beneath. She had never thought of him as healthy or well-built. The months she had spent with him, witnessing him putting all manners of things in his mouth, had made more of an impact than the little physical feats he performed. Before her mind had any more time to linger on what it saw, her partner pulled on the shirt, letting it puff so that some air would flow through.

    Shifting her focus back to meet his gaze wasn¡¯t quick enough, Alex¡¯s eyes narrowing with glee as his grin turned wider. He turned away, which gave her time to stew a bit in embarrassment before the inevitable comment came as he was about to duck behind the screen, ¡°Make sure my partner doesn¡¯t exploit me by peeking through the curtain.¡±

    Embarrassment and annoyance melded into one, and the book went flying, aimed squarely at his head. She made sure to throw it with as little rotation as possible, to ensure that the pages didn¡¯t flutter and make it lose momentum, but it was never going to be enough. Her partner clapped in front of his face, catching the book in between it, twirling it on a finger before letting it drop into his shadow. Before he followed the tailor behind the sheets, his head in the process of disappearing behind the cloth, he stated, ¡°Page number 247, Ears.¡±

    Sighing, Elyza lied down on the couch, noting the number in her mind for later, letting her body rest for a moment. Her eyes occupied the free time by glancing across the various mannequins that showcased Kurven¡¯s various outfits. She had never been in this part of the house before, and the only stuff of his she had seen before were the ones down on the ground floor. Those were woven specifically for adventurers, meant to be long-lasting and protective, but the top of the building was filled with the finest fruits of his labour. Of the mannequins, except the first, who donned the replacement clothes for her dear partner, the rest of them displayed outfits she could easily imagine emperors and empresses donning during their daily lives. There were some outfits for brides, as far as she could tell, inspired from both dwarven, and bakaneko¡¯s cultures, with hints of elven. Some of them were night gowns of both sorts, those that revealed as much as possible while leaving the important things to the imagination, and a standard pair of pyjamas, for both men and women.

    There were many symbols engraved in the designs, and the stitching was flawless to her eyes, some even holding covert pockets, and all being shown with the recommended accessorization. ¡°He¡¯s good, isn¡¯t he?¡± Her partner¡¯s voice entered his mind, and she would¡¯ve doubted if the words came from within if his face hadn¡¯t popped into her peripheral vision the second before.

    She shifted her body so she could match his gaze while her head lay flat, getting to see him with hair that was actually tied back for once. ¡°I merely did not know the extent of his skills,¡± She admitted, as she stared at his now gleaming face, freshly washed, with some amount of makeup on his cheeks and nose, and added, ¡°Is the suit to your liking?¡±

    ¡°Comfiest thing I¡¯ve ever touched, though it''s a bit tight in certain places,¡± He remarked, touching certain strands of hair so that they escaped from the clutches of the hair tie, forming a strand that rested just above his right eye. She couldn¡¯t tell why, but seeing him clean for once actually generated happiness within, feelings that were quickly expanded upon as he yelped.

    ¡°I apologise, I did not account for extra gain since I last measured you,¡± Kurven¡¯s voice remarked, clearly having stabbed her partner with a pin, as Alex¡¯s hands raised to touch the impacted area, rubbing through new black gloves he was wearing.

    ¡°How dare you call me fat! Don¡¯t you know that¡¯s considered rude?¡± He retorted with a smile on his face.

    ¡°We both know that the mass was gained around your arms, and that line only works if a woman says it,¡± the orc replied, standing up before adding, ¡°How¡¯s that?¡±

    Her partner¡¯s head dipped below the curtain line, and back up again before he answered, ¡°Perfectly cromulent, though I¡¯m surprised you know what women talk about.¡±

    Kurven¡¯s hand snapped at Alex¡¯s head, knocking enough force into him that he had to step down from whatever platform he was standing on, following the smack with a chuckle, ¡°Pick a pair of shoes, unless you¡¯re planning to walk in the presence of the king with bare feet.¡±

    She saw his head move around, parroting through the screen, bending down for a moment before pulling out a pair of boots. As he wore them, he reminded, ¡°About to be your turn, Ears, be ready, and try not to faint in my awe. It is truly a sight one can appreciate the first time they gaze upon it.¡±

    The curtains parted, the hulking body of Kurven obscuring her partner for a moment before he stepped aside while his hands shook to add flair, which she knew Alex had told him to do. It took her eyes a moment to recognise who stood in front of her, even though she knew who he was. A dark grey trench coat caught her eyes first, a mix between a tuxedo and an aristocrat''s coat, akin to the timekeeper¡¯s for the dragon riders. However, while those were seldom unfastened, no buttons connected the two halves, instead, giving way to a black tie that almost appeared to be an unending chasm floating amongst the barren and cold sky. The shoulders were pronounced, the sleeves loose but still hugging his arms, perfect for hiding an entire manner of blades, but the splash of light blue emerging for the coat¡¯s end was almost welcoming. The cloth stopped an inch before they covered his wrist, showcasing a scar that ran up to his thumb to meet the calluses that had formed, perfectly formed to ensure any weapon could not escape his grip.

    While the coat¡¯s fringes ended just below his waist, there was a drape of fabric that flared out after it, as if they were the petals of a wilted flower. It fell just before his knees, reminiscent of his cloak, the fabric sharing the lucidity of what she was holding onto, but unlike the fabric in her hands, it was set in her sight, barely moving in the air. The pants were similar to the coat, the same colour and fabric, but they had a softer texture to them, stretching down his legs. Hanging off his muscles, the cloth straightened as it fell, loosening to barely obscure his boots, which appeared to be the shoes that even nobles would shy away from donning. The black leather was moulded to mimic the poshest brogues she could ever imagine, glimmering under the light, a complete opposite to the rest of the subtle outfit. As a whole, it would function to make him appear as part of the elite while still being relegated into the background.

    It was perfect for the role Alex was meant to play, but he appeared to be one with the entire look. Elyza had only seen him as a flowy figure before, someone who you could never trust at a first glance. His personality matched what he wanted people to see of him; fast-talking, unserious, and a danger to go against because you could never guess what he would do, his normal look completely crafted to compliment his methods. But now, her partner exuded total calmness, the outfit crafted to showcase the danger he possessed, his muscles clearly defined even under the cloth. She was at awe at how fit he actually was, her mind apparently forgetting the archery he loved to practice.

    It almost seemed that he was a prince relegated to be in the supporting cast of a play, someone who would have fangirls pining after if not for his character. His face, however, was at the verge of breaking character, she could see it in his eyes, the failing resistance of trying to be a bit proper for once. The dams finally broke, and crumbled the image of a man ladies would pine for. ¡°I look spectacular, I know,¡± He remarked immediately, his grin wrapping around his face, hands delving into his coat¡¯s pockets, giving a twirl and ending it with a wink, tugging his tie a bit to loosen it.

    Sighing as she got up, a smile crawling across her face, she remarked, ¡°I knew you were about to ruin the moment.¡±

    ¡°You know me too well¡­ I clean up nice, don¡¯t I?¡± Grinning out as he took his dagger from his shadows and slotted it in a hidden pocket in the inside of his coat.

    ¡°Surprisingly,¡± She admitted, studying him in his entirety, from foot to head.

    ¡°Almost forgot,¡± he remarked, releasing his hair from its prison, a mass of black waves cascading in front of his face before he flipped them back, letting them rest in their natural flow, freshly washed and moisturised.

    ¡°How do I look?¡± Alex asked, knowing that Kurven would only point out the little flaws of the cloth, and while he loved his cousin, Adam had a tendency to please whoever he met.

    As his partner took in the rare sight and Alex stared into her emerald eyes, which looked like a pond at the start of the monsoon, a wave of warmth flowed through him. Panic filled his heart, which he squished without any hesitation, allowing himself to feel the emotions running amok through his mind. Thankfully, it allowed him to think, and when the entire building shook slightly, a bellow rising from the basement as it did, he was glad.

    Elyza, in contrast, was extremely alarmed, her eyes darting to the floor and back to him, legs spreading in anticipation for another tremor, causing him to chuckle and clear it up, ¡°Adam¡¯s just cleaning the furnace, Ears.¡±

    Her ear tips turned a minute shade of red, gathering her composure as she corrected her posture, and the feelings returned, but this time they were utterly ignored as he responded with a grin. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what he¡¯s designed for you, and it will be interesting to see what masterpiece you¡¯re going to pick.¡±

    He could see his brother-in-law blush at his words, but more importantly he could see the curiosity that had flared within his partner, and Kurven spoke, ¡°If you are ready, Elyza, I will need a bit more time with you, I¡­ uh, got a bit carried away.¡±

    She followed him past the split in the room, and Alex plopped himself down on the couch, making sure not to crush the drape behind him, patting down his cloak that lay beside him to comfort it. But before she ducked past the screen, she glanced back at him as he was brushing a loose thread from his new coat and remarked, ¡°You look very handsome, Alex.¡±

    Her tone was almost genuine, but the words caused him to smile, which he had to force into a grin as he replied, ¡°There was no doubt about it, my dear Ears.¡±

    As the curtain melded back into an unbreachable barrier, if only by societal expectations, and even though he wanted deeply to know her thoughts on the variety of outfits currently being presented to her, he made sure that anything that entered his ears left the same way.

    It was boring, having to sit almost perfectly straight in order to ensure he didn¡¯t permanently crease his clothes accidentally. He tried to snap a beat, before his ears got tired, then twirling his dagger between his fingers worked for a while before even that became monotonous. He tried to look for a book in his personal collection, rummaging in his corner of the dimension in his darkness, but none seemed interesting enough.

    Finally, as he reserved himself to correct the notes he had written for the past free days, his pencil hovering over the yellow pages of his worn out journal, his mind refused to cooperate. It was too busy contemplating what his partner would choose, too busy trying and failing to imagine her in any clothes that weren¡¯t made to be highly functional. More importantly, his mind refused to comprehend the fact that she would be acting as one of the higher ¡®class¡¯, even though he was the one who had taught her how to meld with the silver sucklers.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    You are an idiot.

    As he stared at the lined paper, Alex realised he was excited to see her choice, his mind humming with possibilities on what would be the best expression of the play they have to perform. His pencil rapped on the book, as his mind was engrossed in whatever combination of tops and bottoms she could choose, considering the requirements. So much so, that even though he saw the cloth shift in the top of his vision, it was considered not worthy enough to shift his attention to, and then Elyza¡¯s voice broke through walls in his mind in an instant.

    ¡°Alex, is the Empress giving you a hard time in there?¡± The words snapped his head upwards, and he had to take a moment to take the sight in.

    He almost didn¡¯t recognise her, her brilliant emerald eyes hidden behind a pair of red round rimmed glasses that made the orbs seem like windows into an unending void, flanked by eyelashes that curled up. Her red hair appeared to have been lit ablaze, curled to reduce the length they had but not their volume, darkening and brightening up in a mesmerising manner as they cascaded down her shoulders. Her top was stark white, on the verge of blinding him if not for the flowing drapes adding some texture to it as well as darkening the silk into a creamy colour. She donned a simple silver necklace with a single jewel centred upon it, the metal moulded in order to appear as if the branches of Yggdrasil were holding the fiery ruby captive. The bare skin exposed by the plunging neckline complimented perfectly with the puffed up sleeves that he knew for a fact she had chosen to hide her muscles. The fabric cinched at the ends, to let her pale blue fingernails draw his attention.

    As her hands rested just above her stomach, at the edge of where her top and skirt met, it pulled his eyes towards the rest of her outfit. Below her waist was a gown that hugged her legs, leaving a thigh high slit that exposed them, iridescent indigo fabric swirling into a skirt around her, almost making her seem like a mermaid out of water. She stood even more imposing than usual, aided by golden heels, which she was surprisingly looking comfortable in, walking a bit closer and bending down to meet his gaze. His eyes drifted back towards her face, noting the vivid red lipstick that was currently adorning the lips that curled into a slight smile. Her face had a fresh coat of makeup, but her freckles were still visible, which was good, they were his favourite part of her.

    ¡°If you dare to make a dumb joke, this heel is going up your nose,¡± Her voice spoke, a threat underlying the humour.

    Suddenly, Alex remembered where he was, and instantly with a thought, his grin appeared, ¡°I hope you aren¡¯t planning to steal away the King, you would be surprised how much of an iron grip the missus has on him.¡±

    She smiled, pushing up her glasses to readjust them, remarking, ¡°I gather that is your way of complimenting me?¡±

    He stood up, grabbing his cloak, barely able to match her gaze, ¡°I think only a blind person could argue that you¡¯re not extremely wealthy, and considering Lati finally gave you your reward for the work you did, you finally look the part. ¡±

    ¡°Hmm¡­¡± She hummed, striking a pose which he could see hurt her soul deeply, quickly regaining her normal posture before replying, her tone much more playful than it had been compared to stressing about the day since they made the plan,  ¡°Still have not done it.¡±

    ¡°It¡¯s supposed to be cold today, you know?¡± Alex remarked, dragging the moment further as he approached his partner, swinging his cloak over her head, and letting it rest around her shoulders, clasping it to hide her necklace for the time being. As he did, he let his mana flow into the cloth, letting it regain its formless fluidity, as well as ensuring that she would be kept warm throughout their night.

    ¡°You look beautiful, Ears,¡± he stated, and he swore that she blushed, which made his grin wider, ¡°Don¡¯t ask for what you can¡¯t handle.¡± The comment earned him a punch in the gut

    ¡°Oh¡­¡± Kurven remarked, holding a blue fur coat in his hand, ¡°Well¡­ that matches the outfit just as good. Now, let¡¯s get you two on the road, if Adam catches you, you¡¯ll miss the party.¡±

    ¡°What is our means of transport?¡± Elyza inquired, adjusting the cloak to be more comfortable around her.

    ¡°We could just¡­¡± Alex began, waving his hand below them, causing their joined shadows to expand into the real world, wisps of darkness curling around their feet, waiting to open up and consume them. ¡°But what¡¯s the fun in that?¡± He remarked, snapping his fingers to close the gate to the other side, adding, ¡°Booked us a carriage, a real fancy one. Horseless, fully running on mana, cost me about a platinum, but I really wanted to compare the experience with the Northern Isles.¡±

    Her eyes pierced through her rose-tinted glasses, and even though he tried his darnedest, she figured him out, ¡°You did not want to deal with horses today, did you?¡±

    The comment elicited a laugh before his brother-in-law covered his mouth. He parroted her, his mouth flapping as he smiled, putting both his hands to his mouth, and blowing. An almost imperceptible whine came from her partner, and the call connected, a hole appeared in the air ahead of them, but the head of the imp didn¡¯t pop out. Instead, two envelopes drifted down from the tear in dimensions, and the first thing that came from her partner was a very reserved, ¡°I do not have a good feeling about this.¡±

    He did not bend down in fear of creasing his clothes, instead using the little shadow they had to lift the parcels up towards him, plucking them from the umbra tentacles, adding, ¡°This better not be another skunkable offence.¡±

    ¡°A what?!¡± The words just blurted out from her, but Alex waved them aside, opening one of the envelopes and pulling out a plate of metal, almost as thin as paper. With it, emanated the smell of the sea, a mix of salt, as if it had sailed through its depths to reach them. ¡°This is a great fake, especially when compared to Jester¡¯s¡­¡± He commented as he handed the invitation to her, and she read the name she had to go by for the night.

    ¡°Anna Adler? Appropriate,¡± She remarked, and an audible sigh escaped his partner, who cracked a grin for some reason, forcing her to ask, ¡°Is the name familiar?¡±

    ¡°Just an attempt to get me into trouble way before I deserve¨C¡± He began, but before he could finish, his eyes fell upon his own invitation, and all the humour left his posture. His face hung on the last expression it had, pure anger filling his black eyes, ¡°I¡¯m going to have Red use that little pink pimply prick as her new target for the pocket cannon.¡±

    Kurven seemed to recognise the look on her partner¡¯s face, his voice turning down, ¡°Alex, what¡¯s wrong?¡±

    His mouth opened but nothing came out, only turmoil present on his face as he raised his hands to keep them both quiet, before taking a breath and asking, ¡°If I and Elyza were to switch outfits, entirely hypothetically, how would this suit look on her, would you need to change anything?¡±

    There was a moment as the tailor thought about the concept, remarking, ¡°Would need to choose a new pair of footwear, but it would suit her as wel¨C Oh, oh no¡­¡± He had discerned something, she herself had failed to, but Alex soon passed his invitation to her, so that she could have a look.

    ¡°The Cyllenius family would like to invite the recipient of this letter¡­¡± She began reading it out loud, trying to spot what was wrong, ¡°¡­to the engagement party of Lady Cyllenius, and the Second Prince of Luminae. We would be proud if¡­ Ms Joanne House?! Would join the celebration as the chosen escort of Anna Adler.¡±

    The whole room went silent, before Elyza broke it, ¡°I thought you trusted this Vanya?¡±

    Alex sighed, taking a moment, ¡°Unfortunately, this changes nothing.¡± The words were reassuring, but the tone in which he spoke could only be described as regret, but she had no idea how they would adapt to such a development.

    ¡°If you would excuse me,¡± Kurven began, ¡°Since you know where the shoes are kept, I don¡¯t believe I¡¯m required to be here any more. Alex, it''s not as bad as you think¡­¡±

    ¡°You¡¯re not going to be the one wearing it, are you?¡± Her partner snapped back as the orc descended the stairs.

    Elyza snapped her fingers to catch his attention, commanding, ¡°Explain yourself.¡±

    He could say nothing, silently kicking the shoes off his feet, and handing her his coat, pulling out a scroll the width of his arms from his own shadow. As he began to unravel it, handing the rolled end so that she may help, she noticed the remnants from pencil markings under the black lines painted upon the paper. The more it opened, the more complex the strokes of ink became, the smell of year-old papyrus emanating out into the air along with the stench of dried varnish, till below them lie a magic circle more complex than anything she had seen in person. There were at least a thousand layers to it, half of the half of spells she could recognise were just etched in order to stabilise the magic, but as a whole, she could recognise it as an illusion rune.

    The gears in her mind whirled into full efficiency, and her mind could only come up with one reason for a spell of such complexity, but it also argued that there was no way the man in front of her would have a spell pre-prepared for such a situation. ¡°Alex¨C¡± She began, and her voice gave away as she was face to face with her partner unbuttoning his shirt, pants already laying flat on the couch behind him, thankfully he wore garments for maximum comfort under them.

    ¡°Don¡¯t make fun of me, and don¡¯t gawk at my calves,¡± he said without even stopping, not even fazed that he was standing half-naked in front of her, stepping into the focus of the circle below, but he didn¡¯t take off his remaining clothes.

    There was contemplation within her on whether to view what was to happen, or to deflect her gaze in respect of her partner¡¯s privacy. Though, the fact that he was so unwilling to do whatever he was planning stoked her curiosity to an extent that the argument soon reached a unanimous consensus. She had to see it happen. ¡°Continue,¡± She spoke, taking a few steps back in order to ensure her mana didn¡¯t accidentally turn him into a tree.

    Taking in a deep breath, Alex closed his eyes, adjusting his footing to ensure the papyrus didn¡¯t flutter and break the spell. The paper below gave way to a brilliant blue blaze, the lines of ink sparking up into strokes of pure arcane mana, the circles within the circle spooling up as they emerged. They stopped, turned, stopped and spun again, almost as if they were performing an intricate dance, calculating as they prepared to be unleashed. Mist collected upon her partner¡¯s skin, dripping down as it grew in size, his mana forming a pool beneath him, vaporising when they touched the spell awakening beneath. The smell of ozone spread as a screen of vapour started to swirl around him, shadows shooting up from the edges of the papyrus in order to aid them in their formation. The tentacles gave way to tendrils, emerging from within the lines of magic, wrapping around her partner.

    They brought with them the particles whirling around him, weaving them into her partner¡¯s skin, covering him in a layer of pure umbra. The darkness was unstable, morphing as it sought to bend to his vision, the man in the centre, fully obscured from her sight, but she could tell he looked down at her chest for a moment as the spell ramped up. The pull of the churning mana grew exponentially, lighting up the room with flashes as if lightning was being restrained within it, and with a snap, it collapsed into her partner.

    As the mist cleared, the little that remained, instinctively, she called upon her halberd as soon as she saw the face staring back at her. There, where her partner once stood, was the maw of the Empress, with her red eyes calmly meeting her gaze. ¡°God, could you shut the fuck up,¡± the individual spoke, looking at the ceiling as they did, causing their shirt to get perilously close to revealing their breast.

    But the voice broke Elyza out of her stance, it wasn¡¯t as dangerously honeyed like it had been before, but as feminine as it sounded, she could tell it was Alex¡¯s. She took a moment to study the face of the woman, and found it a mash of the woman Elina had pretended to be, and the Empress herself, except the elfishness of the features had been exaggerated.

    ¡°Sorry, Ears, the hag was trying to be smart,¡± Alex spoke, the sight jarring as the voice came from the woman¡¯s lips, but she knew it to be him.

    As her halberd returned to a ring, the woman buttoned her shirt up, already in the process of wearing the pants, Alex remarked, ¡°What? No comments?¡±

    ¡°It¡­ is impressive,¡± She remarked, and the words rang true, her partner¡¯s mannerisms were slightly off to match the new body, ¡°But¡­ what is it?¡±

    Alex took a second, as he straightened his shirt, fixing his tie to be a bit tighter around his neck, ¡°At its¡­ simplest, the spell could just be a bodysuit over my skin, but this. This, if I may, is worse. The spell takes a month to draw up, can last for over a week, and perfectly mimics a woman''s body, externally of course. It can resist any magic that wishes to dispel it, and anything that wishes to know its true nature.¡±

    Elyza was confused, as far as she could tell, his spell could be considered a national treasure by researchers and the most guarded secret by the army. He saw the confusion on her face, and started his explanation, ¡°It''s a perfect covering, nothing can get in, and nothing can get out. Do you know the feeling of being drenched in your own sweat for hours on end, having to adjust every single habit you have in order to match the new proportions of your body? For it to work, I have to resist being myself both physically and mentally, to an extent that I would not have to if I was merely pretending to be another for an hour or two.¡±

    ¡°That seems cumbersome,¡± Elyza admitted, smiling at the evening ahead of them, handing him his jacket back.

    Swinging it over his shoulders, her partner stated once again, ¡°How do I look?¡±

    She didn¡¯t try to resist, ¡°Like the prettiest princess in the world.¡±

    Her partner grinned as he swiped a pair of flats from a cupboard, simply retorting, ¡°Just admitted I look better than you no matter the gender, dear Ears.¡±

 Chapter 32: A Noble Masquerade

    Elyza looked ahead of her, spotting the little window through which she studied the road ahead, the carriage humming like the sound of the ocean, at least within the confines of the couch box. The oak that formed the walls had a similar golden twinge to the gilded body of the machinery, the sound of the wheels on the cobble path the only indication that they were moving. That and the rolling scenery her partner was busy appreciating out the window. The evening street lights streamed on Alex¡¯s face, his faux crimson eyes staring silently as the glow of the outside, melded like a swirling cauldron of colours within it. He himself was humming in opposition to the mechanisms that propelled the two down the stone road, past the guilds, stores, and noble¡¯s houses, all dwarfed by the stretching visage of the royal castle perched into the mountain behind.

    As they turned inwards, following the road melding into another as it led further into the proper side of the Capital, not even stopping as the guards of the gates let them through due to the appearance alone, she could tell that her time to ask him any last questions was quickly diminishing. ¡°Have you done this before?¡± She asked, touching the corners of her mouth to fix any smears the journey may have caused.

    His eyes raised in amusement, the grin appearing, ¡°Break into a party I¡¯m not invited too? Lots of times, it''s my favourite thing to do when I¡¯m bored.¡±

    Elyza just stared at him till he continued, her eyes staying as still as she could make them. Readjusting his shirt, making sure it hadn¡¯t creased, before adding, ¡°Oh, becoming a woman? Not a lot, mostly out of principle, mainly because I get hit on by guys enough as I already am.¡±

    The laugh came naturally, chuckling at his words, retorting, ¡°You do not have to tell me.¡±

    ¡°Do you remember your noble voice?¡±

    It took her a moment, her mind scanning the various times she had listened to an arrogant prick talk, and the flair of Alex as he sweet talked his way out and into troublesome situations. She gave him the slyest smirk she could muster, ¡°Is that doubt I hear in your voice? I¡¯m thoroughly disappointed that you are even capable of doubting the one responsible for your livelihood.¡±

    Smiling, he bowed in his seat as he remarked, ¡°Of course, Lady Anna, my apologies¡­¡±

    ¡°What did I say about calling me that in public?¡± She spat back, her lips unable to stop curling, adding as she attempted to fully immerse herself in the character, ¡°Do not refer to me anything other than Lady Adler when we¡¯re in the presence of the peasants.¡±

    Her partner did the same, his grin disappearing, only the ends of his mouth angling upwards, hiding his radiant grin under the light lip gloss she had made him wear, ¡°Please do not refer to them as peasants in public, Lady Anna.¡±

    She clicked her tongue, settling in her seat as the carriage began to slow, the sight out the window filled with the front of a single mansion, the image of which she had seen too many times in its diagrams. It could only be described as the storage shed for the actual palace that stood opposite to it, its pillar of gothic design, with latin inspiration, shining brighter than the entire city. It was meant to seem as the perfect accommodation, but its owner seldom lived there, and its security would have reflected that on most days. However, as soon as the carriage halted completely, twelve guards appeared to ruin her view, along with a knight on horseback and two gargoyles staring with murderous intent at the mechanism in which the two had arrived.

    A guard stepped forward, walking with determination towards them, his hand raising to reach for the door, only to have it swung open by her partner instead. He made sure not to slam the door into the woman¡¯s face, opening just fast enough that it grazed the guard¡¯s nose, jumping out without giving her any heed. As he did, landing without any visible exertion, he carefully lowered the steps through the press of a button hidden in the door itself, standing to block the bewildered guard from her gaze.

    Elyza let her gaze pierce the rest of the guards as he prepared her entrance, ensuring to keep her head tilted  oh so slightly upwards so that her green eyes may look down upon their welcoming party. As her beautiful escort lent her a hand, and as she took it to aid her descent down to their realm, she could tell they did not know who to ogle at. It would¡¯ve been a problem that she didn¡¯t encounter in her day-to-day adventures with Alex, but tonight it was the only reaction she would settle for.

    ¡°Do you have the documents? I would rather be drenched than deal with this frigid city another second,¡± She commanded, readjusting her cloak as she stood waiting on the carriage''s steps, to which Alex quickly produced their invitational plaques with a flick of his wrist, the plates appearing from his coat¡¯s darkness.

    ¡°I believe these may suffice,¡± he remarked, holding them so that the guard behind him could check, and with her nod, the rest of them backed off, the gargoyles surveying them scowling in annoyance that they would escape.

    The guard touched the metal, which glowed with a subdued blue radiance, bowing as she added, ¡°Lady Cyllenius appreciates that you, Lady Anna Adler, have travelled this far for the announcement. She hopes you shall enjoy the festivities of the evening.¡±

    ¡°Really?¡± Elyza remarked as her feet finally set foot on the carpeted walkway, her gaze steady as she studied the path forward, adding, ¡°Then why has she not welcomed us herself?¡±

    Alex sighed, though she could tell he was grinning beneath his illusion, following her up the mansion¡¯s entrance as he remarked ¡°Lady Adler, please be more respectful, we cannot waste the journey here¡­¡±

    ¡°I feel as if we¡¯ve already wasted it,¡± She retorted, knowing that her words were in the vicinity of the staff waiting to guide them. As the two walked past the flanking sentries, trumpets sounded ahead of them in announcement of their arrival, the hum of their carriage growing quieter as the neighs of another, this one of a more conventional design, reached her ears.

    Her dress flowed behind her, the drapes of her indigo gliding in the empty space behind her, her partner walking beside her as they scaled the stairs. They were given a wide berth by the staff as they approached the door, which was opening well before they had appeared, the porters¡¯ waiting for them to enter, a butler standing waiting for them, already bowing. Crossing the doors, a somewhat familiar sensation of mana pulsing through her let her deduce what had just happened, the murmur and music of the crowd ahead deafened as her voice, steady as her gaze, accused, ¡°I do beg your pardon, but I don¡¯t see why a detector spell is necessary at the moment.¡±

    She could hear the shuffling of the porters¡¯ feet, clearly uncomfortable that the spell had so easily been found out, but the butler maintained his respect, clarifying, ¡°I apologise, Lady Adler, it is only to ensure your likeness has not been stolen by some miscreant hoping to sow chaos. If you could¡­¡±

    Alex handed him the two plaques instantly, not waiting for his request, pulling out the dagger he had slotted in his coat, displaying it with its hilt angled to the man as he remarked, ¡°I request that I may be allowed to hold onto my blade, for my Lady¡¯s protection.¡±

    The butler bowed with the same reverence to her escort as he had done for her, remarking, ¡°I will inform the rest of your choice, Ma¡¯am¡± glancing at their invites, before stepping aside and waving them forward, ¡°Please do not hesitate to ask for preferred items from the servers, and I hope you enjoy the evening.¡±

    Walking forward through the corridor, her heels tapping on the shining white marble floor, the murmurs of the party increasing with each second, the brass and strings of the day¡¯s musical accommodation swirling around her ears. Nearing its end, only being able to see the function through the constrained passageway as the view circled through a variety of colours, as soon as she stepped into the vibrant chamber, a harpy popped into her peripheral vision, donning a butler¡¯s uniform, with sleeves cut off so that her feathers would not be ruffled.

    ¡°Would you like to store your cloak for the night, Madam?¡± He asked, his eyes conveying the respect his beak could not, his hand outreached to receive the garment.

    She paid no heed to him, her eyes studying the reaction of those that had glanced over to see the new arrival, those whose gaze had lingered on her. The outfit Kurven had chosen was working better than she expected. ¡°No need,¡± she remarked, unfastening the clasp around her partner¡¯s cloak, letting it fall to her feet, only to have it be consumed by the bubbling shadows beneath her. She knew Alex was staring daggers at her, but the almost imperceptible sigh that she heard meant he had decided it had been necessary to establish her place.

    ¡°Please, treat it with more respect, Lady Adler,¡± Alex requested as soon as they went out of earshot of the staff, swiping two glasses off of a passing salver, swirling the golden fizzy liquid before handing it to her. The motion helped increase the number of bubbles rising from the bottom, which made its fruity smell even more potent, allowing her to taste the tartness before she could the liquid. Taking a sip, she let the aerated gold coat her tongue, allowing her to enjoy the fruitiness, while her partner formed an ¡®O¡¯ with his mouth, and swallowed the entire glass in a second.

    ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem fancy, does it?¡± She remarked, a smile on her face as she took another sip.

    ¡°Believe me, Lady Adler, you would want to do the same if you knew what¡¯s about to come,¡± Her partner remarked, a tired look in his eyes as he studied the heads that quickly glanced away under his gaze, placing the empty glass on the table whose centre was filled with blue roses. Straightening his tie, clearing his throat, he added, just before she took a sip, ¡°Jester¡¯s late, figures¡­ I will be gone for a minute, resist the urge till I return.¡±

    His words were as cryptic as ever, but as a platter of canap¨¦s walked past her, she plucked one from the plate, enjoying a bite of the crispy sour savoury bread topped with a spread of capers and what tasted like venison tartare. She swallowed the flaky pastry whole, shielding her mouth as she enjoyed the treat, her eyes noticing a man with hair as blonde as wheat, with the same shimmer of the golden crop, start to walk towards her. His sickly blue coloured eyes stared intently at her, his beard braided into a pattern too complicated to be anything other than expensive, his jaw etched like a statue¡¯s, too smooth to be a natural occurrence. She steeled her will as he approached ever so closer, flanked by a posse of nobles trying to catch his attention, looks of disdain flashing over their faces when not in view of the man.

    Unfortunately, she recognised him, or at least the traits his family was famous to have, it didn¡¯t help that there was a drawing of his father next to the previous heir of the Cyllenius, which meant she could not afford to affront him. Giving him a modest bow, Elyza began, ¡°Good evening, your Highness,¡± before returning to enjoying her wine, her eyes uninterested in the man that had flaunted over, as if he was just passing by.

    It seemed to have invigorated the arrived party, murmuring filling the ranks besides him, but with a wave of his wrist they all fell quiet, their breath held as the man began, ¡°It seems I have spotted a lustrous ruby in this crowd of pears, and one of such mighty descent! Oh, nothing but your formidable company would make me the ire of this sea of mediocrity¡­¡± He spoke with such confidence, it was akin to hearing a great poet on the peak of his field, but without any suaveness or capacity that accompanied one of such status, but the people around him looked absolutely weak at their knees.

    She sighed, mostly because of a nagging feeling in her mind that if she hadn¡¯t spent as much time with Alex as she had, the man¡¯s line might have at least stirred something within her. Removing her rose-tinted glasses, letting her eyes pierce her courter¡¯s to convey the extent of her uninterest, which she could see baffled the man, ¡°I appreciate your invitation, but I specifically travelled across the ocean to have a discussion with Lady Cyllenium, and I don¡¯t wish to upstage her announcement by being seen meandering with her about to be brother-in-law.¡±

    The Third Prince of Luminae had an intrigued look on his face, despite her best effort, ¡°You knew who I was, and still you refused¡­ Absolutely fascinating. You do then realise, refusing a prince might be seen as an insult to the entire country of Luminae?¡± He was smiling as he spoke, the threat of his words not his intent.

    ¡°One may take it as an insult, but as I am not affiliated with the nation of Dammerskorn, I am entirely capable of telling you to walk away.¡± Her words were more direct this time around, donning her glasses once again as she searched for her partner, the extended conversation pulling in more attention than she had planned to, noticing more eyes actively staring at her than moments before.

    ¡°I believe if you just ga¨C¡±

    A booming hearty voice cut off the Third Prince¡¯s words, the sound of which she had only heard once, as a recording welcoming new students to Chryse. ¡°I believe that your mother wants to have a word with you about your supposed planned celebration for your brother¡¯s party.¡± The King of Luminae spoke, his presence forming an air of untouchability around him, only Elyza¡¯s partner patiently waiting by his side, daring not to be seen by the surrounding crowd.

    He was dressed in a cloak of vibrant purple, the cloth shrouding the white fabric that he donned beneath, a toga being held up by a golden pin moulded into his family¡¯s emblem, a cascading wave overpowering a mountain, a branch of olives crafted from silver resting upon his crown. His blue eyes rested under it, his hair a deep dark brown unlike his son, and curled into a mess that kept his circlet fixed upon his head.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

    ¡°Fathe¨C¡±

    ¡°Go quick, she¡¯s already in a bad mood that she¡¯s going to lose her first son, and I don¡¯t want to get screamed at, again,¡± The King whisper¨Cshouted, loud enough for the crowd around to hear, a smile adorning his face, as if he had made the funniest joke in the world. The Third Prince wasted naught a moment as he marched past his father, taking with him the majority of his posse, though a few stragglers smelled a bigger fish to catch.

    If she hadn¡¯t been playing a character, Elyza would have spit out her own drink, instead quickly chugging the rest of the wine down to calm her nerves, giving the King the deepest bow she could muster in her dress. ¡°Your Majesty, it is an honour to be in your company, I am¡­¡±

    The man took her hand as she stood up, bending down to kiss her knuckles and her voice gave up on her, her mind refusing to comprehend the reality in which she stood, allowing the King to speak instead, ¡°Of course I remember! The correspondence we have had has been eye-opening, Lady Adler, though I am a bit disappointed with your wish to negotiate a deal directly with Cyllenium, rather than allowing Luminae to be the mediator.¡±

    The words felt rehearsed, and the reason why they did, revealed itself to her as soon as Alex remarked, his voice only reaching the two and his face stoic as it ever could be, ¡°Your Majesty, while I do appreciate your friendliness with my Lady, perhaps doing so at a party with the Queen present may invite more trouble than we can deal with.¡±

    As the King¡¯s hand retreated, a smile on his face, his voice devoid of any of the pompousness she had come to expect, ¡°Of course, Ms. Joanne, we wouldn¡¯t want my queen to get the wrong idea, if she left me the entire country might collapse in a day.¡±

    It clicked in her head, her voice almost breaking as she questioned, trying to meet some discretion, ¡°Your Majesty, if I may be too rude to inquire, have you heard of a man named Alexander before?¡±

    ¡°The name may have come up in my past,¡± The King mused, stroking his golden braided beard, multitudes longer than his son¡¯s, ¡°And, even with my lousy memory, I remember perhaps having heard of the name ¡®Elyza¡¯ being mentioned as well¡­¡±

    Her mind refused to function at the sound of her real name being spoken by a king of an entire peninsula, the leader of a nation brought together by absolutely despising being owned by a country that was an ocean and some mountains away. That feeling was quickly squashed by her, but against her best attempts another took its place, unable to comprehend how important her partner may actually be in reality. The same person whose horrible jokes came at the absolute worst time, who once she saw swallow an orange whole out of pure unadulterated spite, the man who had a special spell specifically made to cause someone to always feel a cockroach crawling somewhere around their body.

    That rat bastard, who she might consider her best friend, had enough of a relationship with the King for the latter to follow along with whatever plan he had cooked up, and do so happily. ¡°Lady Adler,¡± His voice, even layers beneath his illusion spell, brought her back to reality.

    ¡°I apologise for my frankness,¡± She stated to the King, bowing ever so slightly, her hand rising to snap her fingers, ¡°But I¡¯m too sober for this.¡±

    Within seconds, there was a server by their side, trying to avoid the King¡¯s gaze as Elyza swiped two glasses of whiskey, downing them both before the staff had even turned around. A hearty laugh followed from the King, his majesty remarked, his voice still lacking the regal nature, ¡°With what I know of your company, I¡¯m surprised you aren¡¯t an alcoholic.¡±

    ¡°Would you two please try to keep the facade up?¡± Alex suggested, his voice somehow able to sound as annoyed as he made her.

    The King smacked the back of her partner, before yanking his hand back, a worrisome smile on his face, ¡°I forgot you aren¡¯t the man I knew you to be, it would¡¯ve been troublesome if Ari saw me being this friendly with two women, even though both of you could only hope to rival her beauty¡­¡±

    Elyza was perplexed with how the man talked about the Queen, ¡°I¡¯m surprised you talk about your wife with such pride.¡±

    ¡°Are you just saying that because she sometimes pays me to tell her what you talk about?¡± her partner quickly added, his eyes narrowing.

    ¡°Can a man not marvel at the beauty of his own wife?¡± The King chuckled out, adding with a whisper, ¡°She¡¯s already moody now that Liliana is beginning boarding, and with Micheal¡¯s betrothed clashing horns with her plans, I am very close to being kicked to the couch.¡±

    However, as many jokes his Majesty made, Elyza could detect love throughout his words, his mind reflecting upon something Adam had told her, remarking out, ¡°A relationship can only work if you can annoy the other, face their anger, and at the end of it all they¡¯ll allow you to keep doing it, because they know you make them be better.¡±

    ¡°Very aptly said, Lady Adler,¡± The King remarked, his eyes scanning the crowd behind him, and she knew that he was waiting to get a glance of the one he loved. Horns blew throughout the room, the chandeliers above darkening as the one above the grand stairway in the middle grew ever so brighter, his majesty continuing, ¡°While I appreciate our conversation, it appears our time together has sadly elapsed.¡±

    A cloud of mist bellowed down from the precipice of the stairway, courtesy of a cold mana stone suspended above them, and as it settled, her gaze was transfixed on what remained. There were two of them, dressed in the calmest cyan she had ever laid eyes upon, like the sloshing waves within a cove. The Second Prince was dressed with a black coat over a beautifully embroidered blue waistcoat, golden and green threads woven into a diorama of a crashing wave, and navy blue breeches. He looked exactly like his father, but his company would have surely stolen the sight of those not trained to notice everything in their sight.

    Beside the Prince, stood Lady Cyllenium, who looked expectantly upon her crowd, even as her betrothed¡¯s gaze cast his love upon her, though she was struggling to keep the smile off of her face. She was dressed in a black open robe over a blue petticoat that reflected the depths of the ocean that flanked Luminae, her neckline filled with lace curls. A dark cyan half coat was the last of her garments, a pattern etched upon it matching the coastline of Nyxianis, the lines appearing like seaweed hidden under the surface of the sea, a golden sapphire laden necklace with matching coral earrings. They framed her grey curly hair that was woven into an intricate braid, causing her hazel eyes to shine brighter than the lights above.

    Murmurs accompanied their reveal, ceasing immediately as the lady of the evening raised her gloved hands, her voice clear and commanding, almost as if she was a general addressing her men, ¡°I welcome all to the event that shall echo through the history books.¡±

    She had to nudge the Prince for him to realise the audience they had, and immediately Elyza could sense a switch in his behaviour. Straightening his posture, his eyes filled with total attention, his voice a copy of his fathers, though a bit deeper, the weight of his words imposing, ¡°I, the Second Prince of Luminae, am proud to announce my engagement to Lady Cyllenium. This unity shall usher in a new age for the people of Luminae! It will ensure that this nation is at the centre of all trade in the region, along with increasing the reach of our influence around the globe. So, I call upon you all, to celebrate as if the world ends today! Because tomorrow, Luminae will be at the peak of all civilization!¡±

    There was a roar of approval from many in the room, louder than the cries of the crowd in a coliseum, but through the raised glasses she spotted some guests with a look of annoyance and loathing. Lady Cyllenium need only raise her hand to silence them all, her power over them made even more absolute now that the announcement had been formalised, her first words as part of royalty would be known for ages, ¡°It is a day I did not know I could ever imagine as a child, but I only wish to do well for those who have put their trust in me.¡±

    A lie would not be Elyza¡¯s choice, but there was some semblance of truth her ears could pick up in her voice. ¡°But today¡­ is a day of celebration! Let us begin,¡± It had to be rehearsed, Elyza¡¯s ears wincing as the opera began full force once again, the ceiling above exploding into a rainbow of colours, bursts of coloured sparks melting into strings of glowing light, dissipating as the chandeliers lit up once again.

    There was a moment of silence as everybody took in the sight above, before the room was filled with murmurs, no doubt in her mind that all of the discussions were around how it would affect their way of life. ¡°The amount of restraint it is taking me to not have my own grander entrance is actually worrying,¡± her partner broke character, and she couldn¡¯t help but laugh, quickly covering up her mouth with a hand lest someone see her.

    ¡°I believe it is time to introduce ourselves¡­¡± Elyza remarked, her tone returning to Lady Adler¡¯s, adjusting her dress as she stepped onto the chamber¡¯s floor, bowing as she passed the King, ¡°Your Majesty, if you could excuse us?¡±

    ¡°You are excused, Lady Adler, if you have any trouble with either my daughter-in-law, or that partner of yours, which I¡¯ve regrettably made my daughter¡¯s godfather, I shall happily entertain you again.¡± The King remarked, slapping the back of her partner, which elicited a sigh from the man as Alex followed.

    She gave her partner a look that they had both agreed upon long ago, a promise to talk about this after they were done for the day. They weaved through the innards of the crowd, an easy task, as most parted for her, whispering rumours that weren¡¯t supposed to be whispers. Her short conversation had been enough, it seemed to inherit some of the King¡¯s atmosphere. As her eyes looked down upon those in her path, they could do nothing but avert their gaze, but still giving her slight bows as she sauntered past, following the sight of Lady Cyllenium and her fianc¨¦, the entire gathering seeming to swarm around the two.

    Good progress was being made, Alex following in tow, the glares he gave to those that looked at her with an iota of jealousy, reflected by their avoiding irises. Then suddenly, she heard glass shattering upon the floor, and while she didn¡¯t turn around to see what had happened, a voice she could never unhear, a sharp, shrill, cry of a child spoke, ¡°WHO DARES TRIP THE PRINCE OF NYXIANIS?!¡±

    She made the mistake of stopping, glancing behind to see what scene was unfolding, which made her partner stop, and he was soon surrounded by two men. Behind him was a man scrambling to get up, wearing a bright white toga that had a red stain running down its length, too faint to be blood meaning it had to be wine, a cracked glass stem in his hand supporting her deduction. ¡°Does there seem to be a problem?¡± Alex asked, his eyes full of apathy.

    The men said nothing, their eyes staring through her partner, as if they were statues to be commanded by their master, and he spoke, ¡°Not unless a half-wit like you can compensate me for my losses!¡± She could see the spit flying from his mouth, screaming at the back of her partner, who turned around with a bow.

    ¡°I do apologise, Prince¡­?¡± He was making the situation worse, and as far as she could tell, he was doing it on purpose.

    The man¡¯s nose flared, his face turning crimson, sweat appearing on his forehead, ¡°I AM THE CROWN PRINCE OF NYXIANIS! HOW CAN A TREE SHAGGER NOT KNOW THE NAME OF JULIUS GEORGIO?!¡±

    Alex didn¡¯t flinch, but a twitch in his hand made her react. ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± she stated, her voice alone delegating his men to the flanks, Alex bowing as he stepped aside for her to face the prince, adding, ¡°I apologise your highness, but this is hardly a way to speak to someon¨C¡±

    ¡°SILENCE!¡± He screamed, and for a second, as her partner¡¯s hand twitched backwards, and the thought of letting him slice the prince¡¯s neck seemed appealing, her mind already rationalising it as a good that the entire world would surely benefit from.

    However, that would complicate the plan, so she took a deep breath, and kept her voice steady, ignoring the gathering audience, ¡°I¡¯m not the one barking like an untrained dog.¡±

    His mouth hung open, utter confoundment in his eyes that she had spoken up, ¡°Now, little prince, let me frankly tell you, I am not from your nation, nor do I harbour any important connections to it, but I know for a fucking fact, if you could excuse my language, my country shall not care for any tantrums you decide to partake in, nor would it punish me in any way if I offend you.¡±

    She took in a deep breath, leaving enough of a gap so that he could think he had a chance to retort, she stated, ¡°Tell me what exactly you¡¯re accusing my retainer of, and we can perhaps negotiate payment.¡±

    It took a while for his furious brain to understand her simple request, ¡°She tripped me! She needs to pay for the damages to my outfit, one way, or another.¡±

    For the first time in her life, she scoffed like she meant it, acting that it was a moment of weakness, covering her mouth as she continued, ¡°You want compensation for tripping over yourself?! Fine, if you have decent terms, I might consider entertaining you.¡±

    ¡°Two platinum coins¡­¡± He said without a sense of humour, and she could only raise her brow as if he was joking, a disgusting smile crawling across his face as he pointed to Alex, ¡°Or have her to entertain me for the rest of the day.¡±

    The thought of embedding her heel into his head till his brains decorated the marble floor seemed ever more so appealing, but before she could, another voice broke through the gasps of the crowd, a voice that was as commanding as it had been moments ago, ¡°May I ask, Prince Julius, why you are attempting to extort one of my guests?¡±

    The look of terror on the man¡¯s face as his eyes trailed from her to Lady Cyllenium brought a smile to her face, but she refrained from looking behind him, ¡°I do apologise for causing a commotion on a day so important as yours, but I¡¯m sure we can come to an amicable solution on our own, perhaps one that doesn¡¯t require having my long trusted employee partake in prostitution, right, Prince Julius?¡±

    ¡°O¨Cof course, Lady Cyllenium,¡± he stammered out, his face refusing to lose the red that coloured it, a mix of embarrassment and fury, no doubt.

    ¡°Ten gold coins seems adequate to clean your toga,¡± She stated, snapping her fingers, and Alex produced ten shining yellow disks with a flick of his hand, handing it to one of the bodyguards, ¡°I wish you could¡¯ve introduced yourself in better circumstances.¡±

    As she spun on her heels, Alex in tow, her gaze locked with the woman of the day, her hazel eyes staring into her shielded green pupils, attempting to study every little movement she made, as if she was judging her intentions. Elyza responded by changing absolutely nothing, she knew what she wanted from her, and she trusted the plan. ¡°I¡¯ve heard you have a proposition for me, Lady Anna, and you¡¯ve sparked an interest in me.¡±

    ¡°I would be grateful if you even thought of hearing my proposal, Lady Cyllenium, it may open another frontier for you to conquer.¡±

    Her eyes did the same thing her partner¡¯s often did, unfocusing and focusing so that he could deduce what she was lying about, and after she blinked, she remarked as she turned, ¡°Follow me, we should discuss this in private.¡±

 Chapter 33:

    ¡°I do apologise for Julius¡¯ behaviour,¡± Lady Cyllenium remarked, giving a courteous wave to one Elyza recognised as a painter, whose self-portrait she had helped steal back a month or two ago, but her full attention was on the woman guiding them, ¡°I would¡¯ve stationed a butler to look after him, but his involvement was¡­ a last-minute decision.¡±

    Elyza simply nodded, following her example, her eyes still locked to her figure, unable to pierce the visage she had constructed, replying, ¡°No need, Lady Cyllenium, if anybody is to blame, it is Joanne, she should¡¯ve warned me that someone of his character would be present on this day.¡±

    Her partner sighed at her accusation, a part of him mixing in with his character as he did, ¡°I expected that Princess Annabeth would be attending the event, she is far more trusted by the Emperor to handle diplomatic procedure.¡±

    ¡°Are you deflecting blame, Ms. House?¡± She remarked with a smirk, relishing her position for the day.

    ¡°Of course not, Lady Adler, I shall strive to be better.¡±

    ¡°Nevertheless,¡± Their guide¡¯s voice snapped both their focus onto her, for the first time her words sounded the way Elyza had expected them to do, perfectly crafted,  ¡°While I have never heard of you, or what you represent, it appears that establishing a relationship would be beneficial for both parties. So, in failing to predict this indiscretion, I have given you an advantage, and for that I do apologise.¡±

    The crowd around them had dwindled the longer they walked and as the last words left her lips, they were standing in front of a tent set up in the corner of the room. It was draped with purple fabric, tassels hanging from the edges, with a door made with beads. A woman dashed out from within, hitting the man running after with beads in his eyes, forcing him to shout blindly, ¡°Linda, he¡¯s lying! You have to believe me!¡±

    ¡°Is this¡­¡± Elyza began, scanning the candles on pedestals, the stars woven into the fabric and the crescent dotting the bead ropes, ¡°A fortune-teller¡¯s tent?¡±

    Lady Cyllenium snapped her fingers, and a squadron of maids appeared around her, their steps almost silent, and a simple instruction was made, ¡°Ensure nobody interrupts us.¡±

    ¡°My retainer will accompany us, she can be trusted,¡± She added, earning a nod from the Lady as she swiped the door aside, an unspoken command put forward.

    As she followed her inside, her mind scanning for any information she had in the dossier Alex had made that could hint to the Lady being spiritual, she spotted a bald man holding his head in his hands, slumped over the table with a crystal ball in the centre. ¡°Look alive, Mr. Smith, I¡¯ve brought guests.¡± Lady Cyellenium remarked, and immediately the man shot to his feet, the orb glimmering with coloured smoke as he did.

    Their gaze met, and she stared into an endless void, a deep blue ocean, but unlike when Elyza had staring matches with her partner, it wasn¡¯t all consuming. There was no glimmer behind it, the spark of curiosity, they just looked tired of it all. Something reached into her mind, but before she could put up all her walls and catch the presence, it took her thoughts with her, the man responding, ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ve been telling futures all day, I¡¯m just a bit sick of it.¡±

    They both reached the same conclusion immediately, but her partner was quicker, ¡°You¡¯re a¡­ psychic.¡± He was able to voice his frustration with the development perfectly for them both, something Lady Cyllenium swiftly noticed.

    ¡°The ace in my hand, I personally hired him on the day itself, just a minor precaution.¡± She remarked, smugness dripping from her words, yet Elyza did not feel offended, even as she knew that the tides had shifted completely in the Lady¡¯s favour.

    Alex pulled back a seat for her, a soft cushioned armchair, no doubt in her mind that it had been selected specifically to lull whoever sat down into a false sense of security, to let their mind wander. She adjusted her dress so that it would not crease under her weight, waiting for the Lady to take her seat first, which the psychic adjusted for her comfort. Her mind was a whirl of thoughts, thinking of alternative ways to approach the task in hand, her eyes trailing towards the psychic at the ire of her plans. He was grimacing.

    She snapped twice towards her partner, the thoughts melding into one, the signal agreed upon the day before, to stick to the plan, Elyza instructing, ¡°Hand over the documents.¡±

    Alex slid a leather bounded file from the confines of his coat, placing it in her hands. Opening to glance over the papers, giving her a moment to glance towards her partner, she slid it over the table, into the Lady¡¯s waiting presence. It garnered no attention from her, her hands busy in accepting a pipe from the psychic.

    Holding it in one hand, her fingers lit up with a green flame, holding it over the chamber until white smoke started to rise from it, flicking the flames from her hand. She took in a long breath, letting the smell of mint and tobacco permeate through the tent, letting them stare at her before she remarked, ¡°You don¡¯t mind if I smoke, do you?¡±

    ¡°Of course not, Lady Cyllenium, I shall instruct my retainer to hold her breath till we¡¯ve agreed upon a deal.¡± Elyza replied with a courteous smile, forcing her muscles to relax, letting herself sink into the chair as much as possible while still maintaining her posture, swinging one leg over the other.

    The Lady took another breath, a longer one this time, Elyza could see the embers blaze in her pipe, the relishment in her eyes as she stared at it. Yet, there was no disappointment when the psychic held his hand out to retrieve it. Tossing it without any hesitation at her servant, her gaze locking onto the folder on the table, illuminated by the swirling lights within the crystal between them.

    ¡°Please open it to page 12, and look at line 5,¡± The psychic remarked, his eyes fixed on her partner, rather than her.

    Her hand lifted the document, her eyes skimming the pages for something to stick out in the paragraphs of legal language, till she finally flipped to the page her servant had warned her about. Waiting till her eyes landed on the line, Elyza summarised, ¡°A seventy¨Cthirty split of profits, after a year to get settled of course, till then we would divide the profits in half.¡±

    ¡°A generous offer, but if you expect me to accept this without performing my due diligence, I¡¯m disappointed if you planned this meeting with those unsavoury rumours in mind.¡± Lady Cyllenium stated, flipping the document back to its first page, starting over once again.

    ¡°Not at all, I merely wanted you to keep in mind what your company would be able to gain if you were to find my terms agreeable,¡± She corrected her as politely as her voice would allow her to, knowing the next question to face before the words had even left her mouth.

    ¡°What services does your organisation provide? I¡¯ve never heard of it or its workings in either Nyxianis or Dammerskorn, so forgive me for being sceptical of the authenticity of your motives,¡± The Lady proclaimed, settling back into her seat, her hazel eyes glancing from above the leather lined contract.

    ¡°Officially¡­¡± Elyza began, snapping her fingers to signal Alex, who pulled out a jar full of water, pouring it into a glass before handing it over. She took a sip, trying to sober herself, speaking when her partner drew away their attention by dropping the pitcher into his shadow. ¡°My company is primarily occupied with the transfer of goods over the western region of the land of elves, mainly constrained to crossing the mountainous regions into the¡­ ¡®Unknown Wilds¡¯ or the land too expensive to develop or hold by any nation.¡±

    Lady Cyllenium took a moment to read through some pages, but her eyes flicked upwards as she heard the stress on the last word. As they wandered down, they must¡¯ve spotted many of the traps they had littered in the paper, her brow rising as she concluded, ¡°This implies that you would be open for the family to be the sole distributor of the items your company procures from that part of the world¡­¡±

    ¡°It would be an honour to work with yo¨C¡±

    She raised her finger to stop the sentence, continuing, ¡°It also implies that you have a way to repeatedly and renewably harvest resources that are exclusive to the expansive peninsula, which are quite sought after by the rest of the world, and many are willing to pay a premium for.¡±

    ¡°Perhaps, after years of development, we may have found a way to cultivate many herbs and even some creatures in a way we could farm them for pieces of copper.¡± Elyza remarked, placing the glass upon the table.

    Closing the document, the Lady took a moment before she stated, ¡°Lady Adler, if you are open to share, what activities does your organisation participate in, un-officially? I must be aware of any liabilities, or ventures any rivals may use against me, before I invest in such an endeavour.¡±

    Elyza gave her a slight smile, gesturing to her retainer, Alex bending down to listen to her instruct, ¡°Work some of your magic and find some of your cocktails.¡±

    ¡°Right away, Lady Adler,¡± he remarked, bowing towards Lady Cyllenium as he left the tent, understanding the signal, ¡°If you would excuse me.¡±

    The Lady nodded, still staring intently at her, both waiting for the servant to leave the room, ¡°I trust you will not betray mine, Lady Cyllenium, especially since very few people have peeked behind the curtain and lived.¡±

    Threatening her, albeit very slightly, was a risk she was willing to take to establish some ground in the battle, and it seemed to have worked, a smirk tugging at the Lady¡¯s lips. She motioned her to continue, and she happily did so, ¡°Unofficially, we are involved in transporting individuals who wish for a¡­ well, a somewhat better life, along with beasts that may intrigue those with eclectic tastes, be it culinary or otherwise. Along with such endeavours, we work in developing instruments that may be used for extermination, along with distributing them to those worthy of them.¡±

    This raised her opposite¡¯s brow, the Lady remarking, ¡°Anything that may be traced back to you?¡±

    ¡°Not unless the Norns themselves rewrite the script of my life.¡± Elyza remarked with a smile.

    ¡°Do these¡­¡± Lady Cyllenium waved the documents, slamming them onto the table as she continued, ¡°Reflect the earnings from those hushed ventures?¡±

    ¡°Only their transport,¡± she retorted, ¡°I will allow you to look deeper into our finances when we¡¯ve established some sort of partnership.¡±

    The Lady stared through her once more, gesturing with her finger towards the psychic, who bent down to her ear to whisper something, a look of contemplation flashing beneath her hazel eyes before she remarked, ¡°I find these terms more than acceptable, but I shall only verbally agree to this for now, my men have yet to find out if you are a reputable partner.¡±

    ¡°I¡¯m gla¨C¡± Elyza began, knowing that there was one last thing to discuss, and her voice was cut off by the topic she had yet to broach.

    ¡°However, this offer is too generous. So, I must ask you, Lady Adler, what do you expect from this deal?¡± The Lady concluded, the gaze of the psychic tightening around her head, both knowing that one slip of the tongue could lead to their plan crumbling into nothingness, and a fight they may not make it out of.

    She took in a deep breath, clearing her mind before she spoke, knowing there was a trap already present in her head, ¡°There are rumours circulating among individuals such as us, those that do business with the shadows of this world, that your company may be involved with the operations a sect of a temple no one is willing to go against. While I do not trust those that have circulated these rumours, the nature of the people involved with that sect is worrying to be involved with, especially for my kind. So, if you would allow it, I would like my escort to look over your books for the year before, in order to ensure your organisation¡¯s innocence.¡±

    Silence bloomed in the room, almost suffocating to her ears, the Lady¡¯s eyes locked onto hers, both expressionless, the psychic¡¯s eyes combing her mind for a weakness, before tapping the back of the Lady¡¯s chair thrice. A smile crawled across her face, one that worried, ¡°I may be able to arrange something, but I require additional¡­ compensation.¡±

    Her heart sunk under the reality that she thought she had already come to terms with, that it could never be so easy, but hope persisted to get this over with quickly, ¡°What could I provide you with, Lady Cyllenium?¡±

    ¡°Your escort,¡± She answered without hesitation, or a speck of humour.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡±

    ¡°Not forever, only for the night, and only if she agrees. I want her.¡± She added, and Elyza could not understand what purpose her request had, unless it was just to see how far she could go with her.

    Taking in a deep breath, as her eyes opened, she made sure to keep them as emotionless as possible. Right now, the only important thing was her word, and the contingency would take care of any chaotic variables that ripple from her decision, ¡°I could arrange that.¡±

    There was some stirring within her, but no indication that she would take back her request, instead giving her a smile. The curious part of her own mind still wanted a single question answered, ¡°I am not a person who is familiar with relationship norms of the country, or relationships in general, but I do have to know if this may cause friction between you and the Second Prince. I would rather not have my retainer be caught in the middle of a royal scandal.¡±

    ¡°I would never allow that to happen,¡± She remarked, but Elyza waited for an actual answer, letting her gaze push the conversation forward, ¡°We have a deal, a one time pass, before we get married, obviously. He¡¯s already used his, so if he complains, I can contractually kick his ass.¡±

    The last part had to be a joke, which was good, since the words made her grin, the rattle of beads following soon. She did not need to look behind, recognising the steps of her partner¡¯s chosen boots for the evening, and Alex appeared next to her, holding in his hands two fluted glasses and a large tumbler with vibrant layers of liquid trapped within. He placed the two containers onto the table, his hand swirling the tumbler to break the barriers between the different liquids, melding into a churning sparkling caramelly liquid, like a tempest trapped between glass. Raising the glass above his head, he poured before the drink had a chance to settle again, not a single drop spilling upon the table. A show to display that they were not planning to perform any underhanded tactics, but the psychic was a variable they did not account for.

    His eyes were fixed to him, as Alex finished his charade, handing a glass to Elyza, and the other was placed in front of Lady Cyllenium. She knew what question was to come, and she knew that the only way to mask the truth would be to sow chaos in her partner¡¯s mind, somehow overwhelming the man she knew had different parts of his mind split up to be prepared for anything.

    An idea popped in her head, and it didn¡¯t seem unappealing at the moment, but she knew it would give him a lifetime supply of jokes. Sighing, before the Lady asked the question, she took a hold of his hand, yanking him towards her, grabbing his neck and connecting her lips to his. She wanted it to be a show of ownership at face value, she wanted not to think of anything other than pushing him off balance, and she thought his disguise would help her mind stray from reality. However, even as she closed her eyes, a part of her brain was still screaming that she was kissing Alex. His lips felt too soft, and that was all her mind allowed her to learn, knowing the act she had to play.

    Pushing him back, tensing her face to ensure a smile didn¡¯t crawl across it, as her eyes opened, Elyza saw that the Lady¡¯s brow was raised, forcing her to explain, ¡°To make sure she doesn¡¯t forget who she works for.¡±

    It was accepted, the psychic wincing as he struggled to read her partner¡¯s mind, who currently looked like he didn¡¯t know if he was standing on solid ground, and Lady Cyllenium inquired, ¡°What exactly is this drink?¡±

    Alex had to snap himself out of the trance, regaining his mask which she could not figure out if it was an act of its own or his true self leaking through, but nevertheless her partner quickly responded, ¡°Vodka, tequila, light rum, gin, some orange liqueur, splash of vanilla, mint¡­ and some seeds that I believe to be cardamom.¡±

    She waited for the psychic¡¯s approval, who hesitantly tapped thrice on her seat, and then took a sip of the caramel coloured drink, and something sparked in her eyes, stating, ¡°Ten gold if you give me this recipe.¡±

    Before he could answer, Elyza clarified, chugging her glass to try and calm her nerves,¡°Is our deal finalised then?¡±

    She seemed apathetic, waving her comment aside, the psychic picking up the document and flipping it to the last page as her ring glowed red and green with flames. The Lady pushed the ring into the document, branding it, before the psychic returned it to her partner, simply commanding, ¡°Brief her, and send her my way as soon as possible.¡±

    Alex simply bowed as she left her chair, glancing at Elyza from the corner of his eye, clearly wanting to know what had transpired. Thankfully, the psychic left with the Lady, a warmth flowing over her soon afterwards, her partner nodding to signify they were allowed privacy for a moment.

    She wanted to speak first, but he held up his finger, taking a breath to calm himself before remarking, ¡°While, at the moment and after a thought, it does seem like a smart move, I still have to say something¡­ Next time you want to do that, do inform me beforehand, I¡¯ll chew on some¡­ mint or something of the sorts. Also, if this was just a ploy to taste my luscious lips, you could¡¯ve just asked.¡±

    The sigh that escaped her mouth upon seeing his grin crawl back across his face almost made her forget about the kiss, but she knew what she was about to say would be the perfect payback for the comment, ¡°I got her to agree with the terms, so laugh all you want, but I am not the one who has to entertain the Lady for the night.¡±

    ¡°Lady Adler¡­¡± There was a pause as he deciphered her words, continuing, ¡°What exactly do I have to do?¡±

    ¡°Sleep with her.¡±

    His eyes narrowed as he tried to spot if she was lying, ¡°Okay¡­ I seem to be irresistible no matter the gender, which I guess is good to know. Thank god she took the drink then, I can probably put her to sleep and skip the entire thing.¡±

    ¡°You put in the toxin?¡± She confirmed, Alex nodding in response, straightening his tie as he moved towards the room, ¡°I¡¯ll keep the bell on me, when the coast is clear, I shall meet you at the records room, till then I just need to keep myself occupied, maybe try some of those pastries I spotted.¡±

    As she followed him, his grin froze, absolute joy on his face as he stopped at the exit of the room, and there was hope in her heart as she remarked, ¡°Has Felicia arrived?¡±

    ¡°No, no, it''s just¡­ I was thinking that the general we¡¯re supposed to look out for was a bit late.¡±

    Following his gaze through the crowd of nobles, Elyza¡¯s eyes rested on the head of the man whose sketch felt more real than the reality in front of her, whose face she had been trying to find in the books of history for days. ¡°Perfect, I have someone to stalk for the evening.¡±

    <hr>

    _Stop thinking about it._

    I¡¯m fucking trying, alright.

    _It''s bad enough I¡¯m stuck in your head, the constant replay makes me want to heave, which will then make you heave, and neither of us want that._

    ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Lady Cyllenium spoke from ahead, snapping him temporarily from the argument within his own head, sensing that something was keeping him preoccupied as he was guided to her chambers.

    ¡°Of course not, Lady Cyllenium,¡± Alex replied immediately, trying to silence the empress by shoving her in a closet in his mind.

    _Could we not just kill her?_

    Would you like to be hunted by all the King¡¯s men?

    _Not to talk about all the King¡¯s horses._

    Did you¨C Did you just make a joke? If yes, I have no clue about what you¡¯re referring to.

    _¡­ I¡¯m afraid that you may be infecting me._

    Shut it, freeloader.

    His brilliant plan had failed, and he couldn¡¯t help but blame his partner, who he knew for a fact was currently enjoying food he never got the chance to enjoy, dragged around by the Lady as she met with her various supporters. Forced to wear a smile, the mask, and especially his illusion was starting to irritate him, all the while his mind was struggling to remain in the moment, keeping the kiss with Elyza fresh in his memory, even though he repeatedly reminded it that they could not risk any mistakes.

    The halls were stark white, the flooring of marble, windows that stretched to the ceiling, letting him stare into the stellar illuminated gardens, floating dots of glowing green illuminating the petals as they glided between the flowers. It was a calming sight, a view that should¡¯ve been immortalised in oils and ink, but something felt wrong that his partner wasn¡¯t there to tell him which of the plants had poison in them.

    _You really are a perfect idiot._

    HEY! I¡¯m dumb, not an idiot, there is a difference.

    _You would be the expert on the matter._

    Why are you so chatty today?

    _Your mind is scattered, not enough to exploit unfortunately, but I can annoy you as payback._

    An urge to sigh remained unfulfilled as Lady Cyllenium glanced back as she stopped in front of the door, her hazel eyes noticing something amiss as she stared into his. ¡°Whatever happens in that room will not leave it, and you will follow every single instruction without fault.¡± Her words were slightly slurred, a consequence of the copious celebratory drinks she was forced to intake, but he had to put trust that the toxin hadn¡¯t diluted too much in her blood.

    ¡°Of course, Lady Cyllenium,¡± he shut out the part of his mind stuck on the past, locking the memory in a box similar to where he held the demoness, wanting to not let it affect his act. ¡°However¡­ Are you sure you would not prefer me to cook you a hearty meal and draw a bath? After such an eventful day, it may be better to unwind and relax.¡±

    She just stared at him, her gaze telling him exactly what she thought of his suggestion, gesturing to him to approach her. It was worth a shot, following her command till he stood right in front of her, waiting for another instruction. Suddenly, the Lady grabbed his collar, slamming him against the doors, the wood groaning as it yielded to his weight. He struggled to maintain his footing, a bit impressed at her form as she continued to use his weight against him, pushing him onto the bed as she climbed above him.

    Her lips fell on his, the stench of alcohol filling his mouth, her hand climbing under his shirt. Alex could feel her fingers tracing the skin above his own, moving upwards till they reached the fake breasts, the Lady stopping just before she caressed them, withdrawing her lips as she remarked, ¡°I plan on enjoying your company today, have you tend to my every need, and I would think you would be excited to spend a night with a soon-to-be Princess of Luminae, not many get that chance.¡±

    _That would be true, if you weren¡¯t just an absolute slut._

    The effort it took to not roll his eyes at the freeloader¡¯s jab was threatening to exceed the effort he was exerting to flush his cheeks in bewilderment, his eyes locked onto her hazel orbs, trying to convey absolute enamour at the figure who had just kissed him. He forced a gulp, nodding at her instruction, panting slightly, and she retreated her hand from beneath his clothes. She swung off of him, her other hand tracing to poke his nose as she removed her necklace, ¡°Remove your coat, quickly, then break my feet free from these wretched heels.¡±

    He did as commanded, pulling his coat up over his head as he stood from the bed, removing it in a single movement, yanking his tie loose, throwing them both in a darkened corner. As he crouched, he ran his hand through the carpeted floor, trying to induce static within them without alerting the Lady. He held out a hand, a request that Lady Cyllenium agreed to, resting her ankle on his palm. Her breath grew shallower as his hands traced the back of her ankle, brushing against her soft skin as it moved towards her heel, the sparkling chandelier above causing her hair to glow golden.

    Letting go caused the static building within him to spark against her foot, just as he removed the heel, Lady Cyllenium was unbothered by the slight burning sensation, placing her other foot onto his waiting arm. However, as he continued the charade, causing another spark against her skin, his mana having seeped into her, the process was complete, and the Lady held a hand over her mouth to hide the yawn that followed. As he placed the other heel to complete the pair, her head drooped down, her eyes struggling to stay open, and he was impressed at his own skill as the toxin was working better than he expected.

    The Lady tried to stretch her back, shaking her head, fighting to stay awake. She let another yawn escape her mouth, before collapsing into the silk sheets of her bed. Alex stood over her, taking in the room he found himself in, a tapestry forming the curtains, a mirror surrounded by a gold frame placed against a window, the wallpaper purple with a pattern of waves repeating within it. It frankly looked much more soulless than the other noble¡¯s rooms he had visited, no personal items on any of the shelves that sat beside the bed, two cupboards whose handles still shined, and various perfumes, powders, and lotions dotting the only desk. It smelled stale, as if left to rot to time.

    He felt a tinge of sadness that such a house was seldom used, the snores of the Lady informed him it was time to leave. Yet, he did feel a tad guilty about leaving her as is, lying alone on what was supposed to be the most important day in her life so far.

    _Why choose now to be a goody two shoes? Haven¡¯t you been lying to her since you entered her mansion?_

    Unlike you, you cold¨Chearted demon, I actually have some semblance of empathy.

    _That¡¯s¡­ debatable at best._

    I liked you better when you just wanted me to kill people.

    He picked up her sleeping figure, placing her head on the best pillow his eye could spot. Removing her earrings and placing them on the bed table beside her, tucking her in before tip-toeing out of the room. As soon as the doors closed behind him, he let out a sigh of relief that had been waiting ever since he had given the Lady the drink. Snapping his fingers against his ears, trying to stay focused, his hand dipped into the shade he cast on the door, his mind focusing on crafting a path for it through the domain of darkness, squirming towards the bell on his partner¡¯s person, before he could feel air brushing against his finger. They wrapped around the bell, and rang twice, before he pulled his hand back, flexing his fingers as the rapid change in temptation and temperature confused his nerves.

    The want for his mind to wander was strong, a blip in their plan that accounted for them to calm themselves if only for a moment, but he knew if he allowed it to do so, it would inevitably end up in the one place where he could never come back from. He had struggled against it for the past month, but it still persisted, and the wandering presence in his mind only made things worse.

    _The great Alexander Whitlock is¡­ scared?_

    Is that not what you want? For me to be in a constant battle with myself, so you have a chance to lay a seed and infect my entire mind.

    The presence suddenly solidified for a moment, and his eyes turned against him, allowing him to hallucinate the Empress standing beside him, looking down upon him.

    _It has been five years, and still you dwell on it. I have no interest in controlling a body so scared of its own capabilities, it will only hinder my conquest, and who knows if you overcome it, it may allow me to exploit another. _

    She almost sounded worried for him, making him scoff at the idea, knowing those thoughts had to be altered by her, an underhanded attempt to get his guard down. However, some part of him had always resonated with her, supporting the chaos she wanted to bring down upon the world. It was a part he hated that he had to tolerate, filled with spite and hatred against the world, but he did so anyway, it had allowed him to survive, it was what guided him to extend his hand to others.

    Is the great Empress of Shadows anxious that the mere puppet she wishes to command till the world is engulfed in total darkness is a bit sad?

    _I¡¯m just trying the ¡®empathy¡¯ you spoke so highly of, can¡¯t have you die before I return to the material world._

    Now, that¡¯s a decent joke.

    _I¡¯m truly horrified at what you¡¯re doing to me. So, snap the fuck out of it, you annoying prick. The night is still young, and I can sense something fascinating awaiting us._

    Ah, the best part of this lifestyle, trudging through dense financial documents.

 Chapter 34: First Contact

    The door to the records room could only be described as unassuming, tucked in the corner of a corridor that they barely passed through. It was a plain wooden door, an engraving of Minerva¡¯s spear flush against the surface, only observable at certain angles, and a normal handle, which in this mansion of abundance was still gilded. Even he would¡¯ve missed it if Lady Cyllenium hadn¡¯t specifically pointed it out to remind him to visit the room the next morning.

    However, as the moon hung, stranded between the black ocean above, dots of white twinkling beyond it still, Alex stood waiting, staring out onto the gardens, trying to think of contingencies for his contingencies. He completely failed entirely, as he instead got wrapped up in creating parallels between the garden and the night sky. Then he got roped in with chatting with the maids and butlers on patrol, listening to the local gossip, before a drunk gardener yelled out to him, and then he spent ten minutes cracking jokes with him. He had already fallen asleep underneath an apple tree by now, and a sigh sputtered out of his lips, bored out of his mind, cursing the gods for making his partner late.

    He knew there were countless he had wronged by now, but whichever deity had come up with his power had earned a personal kick in the balls, and just as the thought crossed his mind, Elyza turned the corner, remarking, ¡°What are you staring at?¡±

    ¡°Just seeing if one of my bestest friends is lost in the woods¡­¡± He retorted with a grin, eliciting a sigh from her, before adding, ¡°Since it has been twenty minutes since I told her exactly where we had to meet.¡±

    ¡°I apologise,¡± Her voice didn¡¯t mean it, explaining, ¡°I was cornered by the General, thankfully, Sarah dragged me from the conversation before I had the chance to stab him in the gut.¡±

    ¡°Are you alright?¡± A nod satisfied his anxiety, and the first thing that popped in his head had to be spoken, grinning as he added, ¡°You need to learn how to suppress your beauty better, Ears. It''s starting to become quite a problem for us; first a prince, then a bigoted general. At this rate, you might catch the eye of Zeus, and trust me, you do not want to be on the bad side of Hera.¡±

    He spotted the roll of her eyes as he flipped around and readied himself, his partner replying without a hint of mercy, ¡°Why are you advising me on a phenomenon you have never experienced?¡±

    Scoffing, chuckling between them, he replied, ¡°Excuse me? Are you the person that just tucked in the Lady Cyllenium herself!?¡± He didn¡¯t give her the chance to reply, relishing the smile that flashed across her face, quickly adding as he grabbed the handle of the record room, ¡°You ready to begin on our grand old journey of reading piles and piles of documents?¡±

    ¡°Why¡¯d you have to be there that night¡­¡± Elyza remarked, gesturing for him to continue to open the door for her.

    ¡°The wheels of fate are a bitch to predict,¡± He stated, his hand pulling down, yet as he pushed it, the door refused to open. Stopping her partner¡¯s chuckle with a glance back, he crouched to examine the lock, peering into the hole to study the pattern he needed to copy. He reached into his shadow, pulling out a leather holster full of lock picks, and placed a key without any prongs into the lock. As he turned it, he slammed his hand onto the key, the lock clicking in response.

    Staring at his partner, he tried the handle once again, and the door allowed them to pass, Elyza faux clapping as he stuck out his tongue at her. ¡°You are twenty-five years old, why must you act like this?¡± She remarked without a hint of questioning, a smile adorning her face as he let her through into the room, ahead of him.

    ¡°I was cursed with a heart that will always be twenty, and a panache for truly awful humour, and the usual stuff of a demoness living in my head trying to wrestle control.¡±

    _You were like this way before I awakened, don¡¯t blame me for the way you are._

    ¡°Elina says she agrees with my apt description of reasons,¡± He replied with a smile, the Empress¡¯ sigh echoing in his head.

    His partner grabbed the door, keeping it open so that he could enter next, letting it close as she immediately spotted his lie, ¡°I am sure I agree with whatever she said.¡±

    _Why couldn¡¯t she be related to that dick? We would have agreed on so many things._

    Alex grinned, knowing that the freeloader was opening up to his partner, and more importantly that the two would be alone from now on, meaning he could finally escape the humid confines of his own illusion. With a snap of his fingers, the shadows grasping onto his skin fell, the mist that could trick even the eyes of Ra dissipating in an instant, and for the first time in the night, his skin could finally breathe. He shrunk, just a tad, his shirt loosening without two mounds holding them up, immediately being soaked by the sweat that had pooled beneath the suit of darkness. A sense of relief washed over him, as well as a thanks to his parents that he didn¡¯t have a strong odour, letting out a guttural breath as he hung his head, the toll of the spell finally spreading through his muscles.

    ¡°Back to usual?¡± Elyza asked, taking in her hand a torch placed upon a table beside the door, the crystal within illuminating them both. ¡°Good, I rather prefer you like this¡­¡±

    His mind paused, just as she realised her mistake, but he was faster in exploiting the slip of her tongue, his grin finally at home, shining brighter in the light, ¡°Aw, Ears, did you miss my face that much?¡±

    ¡°Only the fact that it is easier to point flaws in.¡± Even in his way of the words, the response was perfectly crafted, but he could see on her face that she was trying to cover for herself.

    ¡°Ouch, well, we¡¯ll get back to that later¡­¡± Alex remarked, his eyes piercing the darkness of the room, the light aiding his efforts to spot what it could not reach. There were towers of books, their spines jutting out from the shelves, a ladder present to help with their retrieval. A library by the looks of it, the smell of ancient paper, papyrus, ink, and leather hanging with the dust that the air held. Not an unusual place for records to be kept, and the fact that this house was seldom used by the royalty that owned it, added to the security of the concept that such important documents would be kept in the capital.

    Both of them walked towards the nearest bookshelf, to see what it held, Elyza holding the lantern above him, allowing the rays to light up the focus of his gaze. They scanned the rows at their respective eye levels, moving in unison, repeating the process on the next shelf over. ¡°Shit,¡± he exclaimed under his breath, having traced the letters K to S with his eyes, the spines of the first shelf focused towards the topic of biology, the second focused on geography, ¡°We¡¯re not in the records wing of the library.¡±

    ¡°I can see E to S, for history and cooking books,¡± His partner concurred, straightening her posture as he spun on his heels, his eyes peering through the darkness to see if the opposite side had any hope for the rest of the night not being an absolute slog. Yet, as far as he could see, it did not hold what they had come for. A groan escaped his throat, his mind already preparing itself for hours of wandering similar hallways in the brink of darkness, till they stumble across something they could use.

    ¡°You two can¡¯t be here¡­¡± A voice mumbled from his right, down the stretching shelves, the distinction between the words barely noticeable even with his trained ears.

    Both their heads snapped towards who had addressed them, Alex catching his partner¡¯s hand before she could call upon her halberd, realising an adversary would not have given them a chance to explain themselves. It also helped his argument that the sight of his partner, with her red hair that appeared to be aflame under the torch¡¯s light and piercing emerald eyes, scared the speaker enough. She had ducked behind the cover of a shelf as soon as their heads snapped towards the voice, a singular bright yellow slitted eye peaking at them through a monocle, the pink of their ears the only other thing that the darkness hadn¡¯t obscured.

    His mind switched back to his character, bowing slightly as he remarked, ¡°I do apologise, my Lady has a certain effect on those that have not yet introduced themselves.¡±

    The words seemed to have calmed the interrupter down a bit, though the flicker in the eye worried him, the battle going in their favour as they stepped back into view, hesitating  ¡°I see, but I still have to ask you two to leave, no one should be here during the party, I have received di¨Cexplicit instruction straight from Lady Cyllenium.¡±

    ¡°Then why are you still here?¡± Elyza questioned, approaching the figure, the light she held illuminating them better as she did, Alex following in tow, his eyes scanning whatever it revealed.

    A snout was revealed by the glow, fur almost as black as obsidian running up till the yellow pool, a monocle sitting above it, opposite to a deep maroon eyepatch, which had embroidered upon it the symbol of Ra with a golden thread. Two ears, angled outwards, stood above a bed of messy hair, braids running between them with strands splitting from them, like she had just rolled out of bed, some bleached white. She wore a smokey grey jumper vest that had Anubis¡¯ ankh in its centre in white wool, beneath it a pearl white shirt, black cloth wrapped around her legs to form a skirt, her tail swaying behind her with concern. Her ears were pierced with silver ankhs, her neck sporting a choker with a golden chain at its edges.

    She was clearly the library¡¯s keeper, at the very most an apprentice, answering, ¡°Sh¨C The Lady asked me to show someone in the morning, but there was a late shipment of books that the head librarian¡­¡± Her voice trailed off as the realisation dawned on her that none of her words needed to be spoken, trying to recover her composure, ¡°All you two need to know is that you can¡¯t be here.¡±

    ¡°I understand your predicament,¡± Alex remarked, bowing ever so slightly, about to explain the situation they found themselves in before his partner lowered the lantern, stealing the librarian¡¯s attention.

    ¡°I have an urgent and complicated matter to attend to across the ocean,¡± Elyza interrupted, her voice switching on a dime to be akin to a noble¡¯s, or someone he would dread having to guard. ¡°Hence, unfortunately, I will be unable to look at the necessary documents at a more¡­ appropriate time, so I would appreciate it if you could guide us through the process.¡±

    Stepping back into the librarian¡¯s view, he clarified the request, ¡°What Lady Adler wishes to convey in her own unique manner, is that we require the records much more urgently than we had previously discussed with Lady Cyllenium, and we would appreciate your help in navigating to where the required information is held.¡±

    ¡°We¡¯re lost, and we require guidance,¡± His partner summarised perfectly.

    _I think you¡¯ve broken the Anubian._

    That can¡¯t be what they call themselves.

    Alex tried to scour his mind for the proper term that the jackal headed beasts preferred, combing through his scarce memories of similar looking individuals in books, history, and his own past, hoping that the freeloader was wrong. Unfortunately, the librarian had finally recovered from her confusion, reality settling in as she jerked downwards, so hard that he swore the crack of bone as she bowed to his partner.

    It took a second from her mouth opening and legible words actually flowing from it, stumbling over her words before she finally strung what her mind wanted to convey, ¡°I apologise Lady Adler, I did not recognise you, I¡¯d be happy to assist you and¡­ I was informed that your retainer would be accompanying you?¡±

    As their eyes met, Alex remembered his appearance, or more specifically the lack of features that she would¡¯ve been told about beforehand. A myriad of excuses popped up in his head, but Elyza took charge, his partner remarking on the spot, ¡°Ms. House was sent ahead to deal with a developing situation, I asked for one of the analysts I had sent ahead as a financier. Generously, Lady Cyllenium agreed, but I suspect the night¡¯s events may have already taken their toll on her.¡±

    ¡°You may call me Alexander,¡± he remarked, letting his grin spread, making sure to bow in response to ease some of her anxiety, the librarian still refusing to meet either of their gaze, adding, ¡°I do apologise for my current state, I was with company before being dragged here. So, Ms¡­?¡±

    ¡°Neaveh¡­ I prefer to not give away my family name,¡± Her eyes glanced upwards to meet his, her posture relaxing just a tad as she finally stopped bowing.

    Cracking his knuckles as he stretched his arms, he continued, ¡°Well, Ms. Neaveh, if you could lead us to the financial and supply records, we¡¯ll try to finish our inquiry in, at max, an hour.¡±

    <hr>

    Slaps came from both his sides, hitting his cheeks in succession, Alex shook his head as he tried to maintain his focus. He was trying to get some more blood so that his mind did not think about burning the library to the ground, his eyes staring through the map of Luminae. They had spread it across the entire width of the table, weighed down by stacks of books lest it blow out through the only source of light they had, the moon¡¯s light flooding the wing of the library. Scrolls and ledgers spread across the canvas, except for a few points, the names of the marked towns still kept visible. He had an urge to check his watch, even as he knew that barely three minutes had passed since the second hour they had found the records.

    ¡°You know, after all the miniscule amount of information I¡¯m used to finding about various criminal undertaking, I think the universe has overcompensated wildly,¡± He remarked, slamming his head into the table, unfortunately the blow was cushioned by the notebook kept beneath him, thwarting his efforts to knock himself out.

    ¡°It is¡­ extensive to a fault,¡± His partner agreed, Elyza appearing from his right, tapping his head with another file, thankfully this one felt lighter than the rest, adding to her words, ¡°This might be worth it all the reading, though.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.

    ¡°What¡¯ve you found, oh great oracle of the spirits?¡± he sighed out, forcing his grin, as he heaved his head, his hands accepting yet another document, adding, ¡°Another undisclosed warehouse, another franchise under the shell organisation, or the presence of an armada in the middle of nowhere being paid to protect ¡®trees for lumber¡¯?¡±

    ¡°Of the same sorts,¡± There was a knowing essence in her voice, her smile flowing through her words as she waited for him to examine the document.

    Taking in a deep breath, Alex scanned the pages till something useful caught his eye, forcing his mind to think about what he read by reciting it verbatim, ¡°This document is proof of the collaboration between the Cyllenium family and the Temple of Hera, the latter party nominating the Golden Laurels, and allow this nomination to be used as verification of the operations and validity of the third party.¡±

    His interest peaked as the name of the shell company had been finally connected with the Temple of Hera, his eyes jumping ahead, only catching the gist of what was written till they finally stopped, ¡°However, blah, blah, blah, not responsible for the actions agents may take¡­ Here¡¯s the good stuff ¨C This trust has been used by the Golder Laurels, henceforth known as Publica in all succeeding documents as per their request, as a security on all further transactions they make for the assets of the trade network, along with the understanding that they only have a licence to act as a subsidiary for the Cyllenium trade, which may be revoked if they harm the image of the organisation.¡±

    ¡°Interesting, is it not?¡± His partner remarked, peering at the document over his shoulder, her hair falling upon his, ¡°Does that not mean if we can connect this¡­ Golden Laurels¡¯ operations with the trade, the Lady Cyllenium would be forced to cooperate with us? Moreover, it gives Felicia the leverage to use her battalion in order to help uncover the cult¡¯s outposts.¡±

    ¡°Getting too ahead of yourself, Ears,¡± Alex remarked, though even he could see the opportunities even the existence of the document provided, reminding himself, ¡°We still have no clue whether this company is related to the cult, or just a way for some high ranking priest¡¯s to make extra coin on the side. The good news is that we have a lead¡­¡±

    He pointed to the signature to the bottom, a name that had been mentioned in all the suspicious documents they had uncovered, confirming their involvement in it all, ¡°Do we know where to find this Lora Knox? I don¡¯t believe I¡¯ve heard the name around the General yet.¡±

    ¡°Did you find what you were looking for?¡± The librarian¡¯s voice interrupted his thoughts, Alex sliding the paper back so it fell into his shadow, his partner moving aside so that he didn¡¯t have to peer around her to wave at the Anubian.

    Getting up from his seat, wincing as his back cracked as he straightened himself, he remarked with a smile, ¡°I believe so, though I have to say, this is by far the most comprehensive collection of documents I¡¯ve seen anybody keep, and I yet have to decide if that was a good thing or not.¡±

    Helping her with the stack of books she had strolled in with, allowing Neaveh to reply, ¡°I do believe I¡¯m somewhat responsible for that, Lady Cyllenium hired me specifically to take care of the library, she wants this library to be a repository of all known knowledge in the world, and the records were just a side effect.¡±

    ¡°You did an amazing job,¡± He gave her a grin, settling the new pile on the table as Elyza plopped herself down in his chair, asking, ¡°Anything left?¡±

    ¡°I believe not,¡± She replied with a smile, her eyes glancing towards his partner, who was noting the names of the marked areas on the map, confusion spreading over the librarian¡¯s face, ¡°Oh, Lady Adler is still here? I swear I heard someone enter the library.¡±

    Her head snapped to the left, as if some prey had caught her attention, and at the same time his partner remarked from her seat, ¡°Is there a window open? I can feel a breeze wafting from those books.¡±

    He glanced behind to see her pointing with her pen to the bookshelf sat opposite her, before he felt the shadows around him grow restless, wanting to retreat back into the depths of darkness. The smell of extremely cleansed air attacked his nostrils, the very next second, and he did not need to wait for the Empress to scream into his mind to know something was wrong. ¡°I think we¡¯re finished here, so if you would, Lady Adler, it''s about time we leave.¡±

    He didn¡¯t have to put a slot of stress on his voice to convey the magnitude of unease he was feeling. Elyza promptly slammed her notebook shut, tossing the leather-bound pages at him, whacking his back before it was consumed by the darkness beneath. ¡°Neaveh, would you kindly guide us out?¡± His partner instructed, her hands busy tying her hair into a bun, she could tell he expected something to go wrong.

    ¡°Oh,¡± the librarian remarked, her eyes disappointed that the two had decided to leave, adding, ¡°Could you help me sort these books before we leave? It''s going to take me hours to return them to their areas.¡±

    Alex tried to give her a reassuring smile, his hand raising to command the shadows, his mind relaying the instructions they had to follow, ¡°It won¡¯t take long.¡±

    His fingers met, about to snap, his grin coming naturally as his shade bubbled beneath to be released, but the crack of his skin was deafened by the wall to his right barrelling towards him. His ears screamed for silence as the rapid change in air pressure and the air itself threatened to implode them, the heat making it seem like a firework had burst next to his head. But he had no time to waste, knowing his partner would be able to withstand the blast and the ensuing shrapnel, he threw himself in front of Neaveh, who had yet to understand what was happening. His feet slid into place, a hand calling upon his cloak from beneath, the cloth barely arriving as the blast finally connected.

    He felt himself being thrust into the air, his hands barely keeping grip around the librarian, his eyes unable to comprehend the spinning sight as his mind tried to predict how they would land. Something struck his back, ripping through his shirt and embedding itself below his shoulder blade. Instantly, he forced his mind to ignore the burning pain that throbbed from the attack, but the temporary shift in focus allowed for him to experience the full brunt of what happened next. Something hit his arm, loosening his grip around the librarian, knocking the two from the trajectory the attack had thrust them on. Propelling him into another shelf, the barrier crumpling under the impact, his head being smacked by at least three books. He still held onto Neaveh¡¯s arm, trying to make sure she landed properly, finally stopping their flight through the air, laying upon and surrounded by shards of wood, books, and their pages, some cindering.

    His body ached, the warm feeling of blood running down his back, his shoulder definitely dislocated, hurting even to rub the grime from his eyes. The smell of ash and flames kept his mind awake, the pain aiding as his adrenaline surged, the heat radiating through the air screaming at him to get up. His eyes snapped open to gaze upon a scene that would have confounded his mind if it tried to perceive it as a library. Scrambling to his feet, his hand checking the librarian¡¯s pulse, he pulled her to her feet, using the added weight to snap his shoulder back into place.

    ¡°Are you hurt? Can you walk?¡± Alex asked, as his eyes tried to peer through the billowing smoke of the scene in front of him. The pristine moonlit library had been replaced by the orange illuminance of blossoming flame spreading across the shattered corpses of wood and paper, his partner nowhere in sight.

    He trusted she would be safe, but he had to stop himself from scouring the rubble for her, Neaveh¡¯s voice grounding him in what was more important, her voice wavering as she stuttered out, ¡°I can¡¯t feel my left foot, but it doesn¡¯t hurt a lot.¡±

    Her mind was working on instinct, he could see in her eyes that they were holding back tears, meaning he could trust her to follow his instructions without hesitation. Offering his shoulder for support, another question popped into his head, a hand retrieving his dagger as another called upon his shadows for his xiphos, ¡°It''s probably sprained, don¡¯t put too much pressure on it¡­ Can you stand by yourself?¡±

    _There¡¯s something stuck in your spine._

    ¡°Also,¡± somewhat thankful that the Empress had reminded him, Alex added as he felt his sword¡¯s grip touch his palm, ¡°Could you yank the thing sticking out my back?¡±

    Neaveh reached around him, putting her weight on him, grabbing the shard that had wounded him, muffling his grunt as she wrestled it from his body. The burning began anew as the wound was exposed to ember in the atmosphere, before it was smothered by darkness, ensuring he didn¡¯t lose more blood than he could afford.

    A pulse collected within him, rushing through the smoke, the particulates around him wavering under his will as they experienced the burst. Twice the flames were unsettled, once as they rushed outwards, and again as they returned from striking the surrounding structures, and the image of a figure approaching from the flame constructed itself in his head. It was too large to be his partner, but what worried Alex was that he couldn¡¯t figure out what monstrosity had three arms to utilise.

    Whatever it was, as they stepped from the cover of the fumes, a hulking shadow advertising a dangerous presence, his eyes snapped to the bisected arm. From the dried blood, bridges of tissues, and wire that connected the two halves, a rusted bronze barrel jutted forward, riddled with runes even he had not seen before. Vapour wafted from the metal, the runes losing their glow as they recovered from the attack, giving way to the face he was hoping to see covered in dirt, pale and lifeless.

    The general was still dressed in the coat of arms Alex had spotted at the party, a blue and silver monstrosity, the sleeve that covered the cleaved arm ripped due to expansion. The sight made him drop his weapons as he nudged Neaveh behind him, his mind already busy calling upon his bow, straightening his posture as he remarked with a smile, ¡°That was a bit rude, most people tend to introduce their grandiose purpose before they kill me. On another note, does your arm hurt when you shoot something out of it?¡±

    There was no surprise on their attacker''s face, the barrel within his flesh rotating, groaning as it spewed out flames onto the floor, torching the remnants of the table that stood there moments before. ¡°Unfortunate,¡± His voice was dry, deeper than an echo in a cave, devoid of anything that could spark joy, ¡°It seems I held back too much, I¡¯d rather not waste time dealing with snooping rats.¡±

    ¡°I beg your pardon?¡± Alex remarked, drawing his bow as soon as he felt the leather grip, the arrow aimed squarely at the general¡¯s forehead, sparks of purple already nestling between the layers of his bow, ¡°Did our survival ruin your plans?¡±

    Their eyes met, his black irises staring into his attacker¡¯s pale cyan orbs, both tirelessly failing to pierce the other. It felt odd, as if he was staring at a blank wall, but he still felt something else studying him, observing him from behind the general¡¯s eyes. The sound of rubble snapped him back to reality, his fingers releasing the string, causing the arrow to catapult at where it was aimed.

    There was no fear or hesitation, the general raising his hand to stop it in its place, the metal cleaving through the skin with ease, a click of the tongue the only indication that the arrow had done anything. Grabbing the metal between his thumb, he pulled its entire length through the hole that bled like a river, the feathers Alex had carefully fletched painted in red. Released and consumed by the flames beneath, the general raised the barrel to take aim at Alex. His arm was already outstretched to call upon his cloak, a contingency to protect the librarian taking shield behind him.

    Air whirled around the metal barrel, the copper turning red as it struggled to control the spell, an orb of convulsing blue appearing within it, before the hook of a halberd yanked it backwards. The orb was released prematurely, blasting through the window and disintegrating into shards of white. The general spun around to grab the spear, grasping at thin air, Elyza rematerializing her halberd and thrust it through his stomach.

    Dropping his bow, Alex rushed forward, his hand grabbing his cloak as he vaulted onto the general¡¯s back. Wrapping the cloth around the monstrosity''s face, a glance towards his partner decided their next move. Locking his legs around the unfortunate general¡¯s neck in preparation, Elyza spun on her heels, heaving them both behind her, her partner busy dodging the general¡¯s hands before he was sailing through the night sky. Positioning the general beneath him, Alex let go before they hit the dirt of the garden, leaping off the sailing man. He landed on his feet as the general tumbled into a rose plot, his claymore arriving as her partner stood by his side, resting the blade on his shoulders as the man staggered to his feet.

    As the man stood on his feet, almost seemingly unaffected by the wounds he had sustained, his arms moving rigidly as his body turned before his head did. His arm finally combined into one, the line of separation joining into a scar that mimicked a burn wound, five words generating a flurry of questions in his mind, ¡°I was warned of you.¡±

    ¡°By whom?¡± Elyza asked, her halberd pointed towards the man, keeping the pole¡¯s blade angled towards him.

    ¡°Wait, I think he¡¯s gearing up for an evil soliloquy,¡± Alex replied, stabbing his claymore into the dirt to lean against, adding with a grin, ¡°Or maybe he¡¯ll try to convince us to work with him?¡±

    ¡°I can not say, Lady Adler, I doubt that is your real name, but as much as I would like to eviscerate the two of you before you turn into a bigger problem¡­¡± The general remarked, and the feeling of another peering through the man¡¯s eyes returned, but the gaze was different, it wasn¡¯t trying to study him.

    Pulling his claymore up allowed a slight distraction that his partner took advantage of, a flurry of wind blades forming with the swing of her halberd. He followed in tow, his claymore hanging low to indicate a slash upwards. The general¡¯s other hand was eviscerated by a red blade that mimicked a rapier¡¯s, the energy tearing through his own flesh, the sheer heat that exploded from it wavering the spell rushing through the air.

    He tore through most of the blades, letting some strike him, focusing on stopping the man dashing at him. Alex let his momentum carry him as he used the loose dirt to twirl, his stance shifting midway, bringing his blade close to his chest. Putting all his weight on his lead foot, he thrust the sword forward, flicking it towards the general¡¯s chest, only for his point to be dragged upwards by the blade of unstable mana.

    As the heat from the blade was absorbed by his own steel, both tried to escape the bite of the swords, trying to push their point towards the other. The air rushed past Alex¡¯s ears, the corner of his eye catching the general¡¯s other arm split to reveal the cannon aiming at his chest, but before his opponent could even think of firing, he dropped into his shadow.

    The lapse in resistance allowed his partner to strike next, swinging the beak of her halberd into the bronze cylinder. Knocking it aside allowed for a thrust into the neck, the general deflecting it upwards, which did nothing to falter Elyza, pulling the pole back and swinging once again. The blade would¡¯ve cleaved straight through his coat of mail, if another sabre hadn¡¯t materialised in its path. The boom that followed the swirling blue chaotic materialisation of mana, forced his partner to retreat, another variable being thrown to be considered by both as they stood opposing the man.

    ¡°I¡¯m surprised to see a man of your abilities holding himself back with such disappointing weaponry, General Hackett,¡± Alex remarked, his attempts to prod at the suspected identity of the man aided by the big grin on his face as he rested his claymore upon his shoulder.

    ¡°Perhaps in the past this body may have been more adept at polearms,¡± The general remarked, pointing the two swords pieced from the most unstable form of mana at them, ¡°But adaptability is required for generals.¡±

    The sound of marching ruined the mood of the garden, the general¡¯s eyes flicking above their head, and the first emotion that came upon his face was annoyance, ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate, but I¡¯ve accomplished what I needed to¡­¡±

    Alex recognised the disappointment in his voice, like when he had to stop messing with someone, the surge of electricity building within him exploding forwards in a bolt of lightning. His body barely returned to solidity before he was pushed to the ground, the general¡¯s outstretched arm exploding into a blinding mist of purple, gravity turning against the two. He could barely keep his head up as he heard the clanking of armour approach ever nearer, but it was enough to spot the man leave before they reached. The general collapsed reality around him in a manner similar to a demon appearing in the material realm. The next moment, the space where the man stood was devoid of life, and yet it was still surrounded by the arriving guards.

    As the spell ebbed in strength, as his muscles and bones were able to support their own weight again, he tried to get up, only to find three spears pointed straight at his head. Pushing the weapons aside, he turned in anticipation of his dear adopted sister¡¯s arrival, seeing Jester helping her partner to her feet, the command she held over the troops made simple with one sentence, ¡°Search the compound, I¡¯ll talk to these two. ¡±

    Ensuring that he controlled himself as the men left their company, his partner checking her bruised hands for further cuts as Felicia stared daggers at him, stating as her voice tried effortlessly to sound, ¡°You better not have anything to do with the explosion.¡±

    ¡°Not this time,¡± Alex replied, trying to give her a smile, ¡°There is someone up there who could probably convince your superior of the magnitude of the issue to be faced.¡±

    His partner shrunk her halberd into the ring, polishing its surface to remove the soot as she remarked, ¡°Now what?¡±

    ¡°You noted the names down?¡±

    ¡°Most of them,¡± Elyza confirmed with a smile.

    ¡°Jester here is going to get her battalion approved for action, we¡¯re going to get checked by an actual doctor, sleep, and then I¡¯m going to see if Bee and her little helper wants to help us with dismantling the cult from the ground up,¡± He remarked, stretching his back and wincing with the pain of the wound he had forgotten about, ¡°I¡¯ve also remembered that I have yet to tattle to the Queen about today.¡±