"Well, isn't that beautiful. Reminds me of home," Sieg joked sarcastically.

"It's safer than being hunted by a first-class in the wilds," Ryden whispered. "Let's see how we can get a halfway decent sleeping place and something to eat. Do you have anything to hide your sword?"

Haylee pulled out the black raincoat for Siegfried, which the latter quickly donned. With a nod of approval, Ryden took them further into the open space.

Apparently, most of the people still followed the day-night cycle of the world above. The group bypassed several bedraggled homes of perforated leather, cloth and wooden planks before finding the first night-active individuals huddled around a small fireplace. There was a myriad of different species lounging on roughly hewn stone benches and conversing in a subdued tone.

A few of them stopped taking when they spotted Ryden and Siegfried coming their way. The place went utterly quiet when Rak stepped into the light— a few of them even scrambled away or at least ducked in a submissive gesture.

"C-can we help you with something s-sir?" a nervous male voice broke the silence. The furry man obviously shared his ancestry with a porcupine, as was made apparent by the long thin spikes at his back.

"No need to be afraid," Ryden addressed all of them. "We just arrived and need a place to rest and eat."

At the word "eat", part of the better-fed people cowered even lower, glancing fearfully at Rak.

An amused snort sounded from the only person who seemed to still be at ease. "Hrn, why don’t you folks make some space for the new guys so I can chat with them in peace," a raspy female voice suggested. The feline woman had pitch black fur, except for her short nuzzle that was starting to grey. A long scar draped vertically across her left eye.

"Thanks, Gran!" one of them exclaimed while hurrying off.

"Be careful, Grandma Bah," another whispered as he passed by her. But none stayed.

The older woman crossed her furred legs and puffed out a ring of smoke from a hand-carved pipe. "Hrn, take a seat, children. I'm sure I can answer a few of your questions. My name is Bashah, but most call me Grandma Bah or just Gran," she introduced herself while everyone settled down on the benches.

"Nice to meet you, Gran! I'm Haylee," the partially transformed shapeshifter beamed at her, getting a toothy smile in return. Everyone else followed suit, with Rak inclining his head respectfully, which was mirrored by Grandma Bah.

"Thank you for having us, Grandmah Bah," Siegfried intoned. "I take it you are kind of a leader for the people down here?"

A throaty laugh followed the question. "Nothing like that, son. Hrn, I'm just too old to run," she winked at him. "And I might be the only one here who can read the drakish body language and facial expressions," she added with a sly smirk.

"Fair enough," Sieg chuckled.

"You asked for a place to sleep," Bahsah said, blowing out more smoke from her pipe. "Hrn, Where that will be, depends on how comfortable you want it to be and if you have the strength to claim a space there. We currently are what we simply call the newcomer's cave," she motioned around her with a clawed hand. "At the far side are several tunnel entrances leading to the regular living quarters, which is likely where you will end up at first. To get access, you have to force your way past the guards there. But with Rak at your side, it might be that they back down on their own."

"So those who can't beat them have to stay in the slums here," Sieg spat. The very idea of how this place ran disgusted him.

"Once you are in there," Bahsah continued, deliberately ignoring the comment, "you will have to join one faction to get a place for yourself. Hrn, The farther you go in, the better the living standard and the higher the requirements for joining the ruling faction in that area."

A thoughtful, deep hum brought everyone's attention to Rak, who stared at the older woman. "Why Bahsha not there?"

His question brought a toothy grin to Bahsah's feline face. "Hrn, not good enough to fool a seasoned hunter, am I?" Her grin vanished as she took a deep puff of her pipe. "I was there. Part of the Shadowclaws— albeit they hardly deserve that name anymore," she spat, the deep scar on her face contracted into an ugly gouge as she drew back her flews, exposing sharp teeth. "My mate led the clan until he was killed in his sleep by some ungrateful brats. The Shadowclaws have withered down from a faction to be feared into a band of lowly thugs. But they are still too many for the few of us who opposed them. So I had to flee and hide in this hole."

"Sorry to hear that, Grandma Bah," Ryden intermitted, "but what we search for would be a faction that leaves us time and space to train ourselves without pulling too much attention to us for a while. Do you have any suggestions?"

"Hrn, the Order of Argus, if you could match their requirements. Frankly, I doubt you will, except for Rak," she glanced at the drakish clansman.

"That’s good enough," Siegfried grunted. "I'd say we sleep here for a night to replenish our strength and find that Order of Argus." His words were met with acknowledgement from his companions.

Bahsah shook her head with a grimace. "I won't tell you what to do, hrn, but I can offer a place to lie down safely and some vegetables that grow down here. Can't digest them well myself anyway," she offered.

"We would be grateful, Granbah Bah," Ryden said. "There is one last question I would like to ask. I am in search of a man by the name of Cain. He always wears a plain wooden mask with nothing but two holes for his eyes and—"

"His body hidden by brown, hooded robes?" Bahsah asked.

"Yes!" Ryden exclaimed loudly, drawing everyone's gaze and waking a few people up. "Yes," he repeated quietly, ducking his head but the urgency still colouring his voice. "That's the one— you have seen him yourself? Where is he?"

"Not myself, hrn, but one such as him can't go unseen, and people talk. Especially as that man was given access to the higher levels without going through the trial."

Siegfried could see the gears turning in Rydens head.

"You mean he didn't have to prove his strength to ascend like Zschish told us," Ryden followed up. "Which means he had something to barter with someone higher up." He buried his face in his hands. "Why Cain?" he murmured to himself.

"Hrn, he only arrived yesterday," Bahsah said, scratching her chin with a single black claw. "You might hear more rumours soon if he is that important."

"Yesterday," the stirred up man breathed, his fists clenching. "We missed him by a mere day, and now he is out of reach again

Siegfried crossed his arms and contemplated their options. "Ascending" would be their goal anyway if he wanted to rally the dangerous beings of this place behind his banner. He put a hand on his companion's shoulder. "We would have to reveal ourselves sooner than planned. But we also thought we would go in blindly at first."

Ryden blinked in lack of understanding.

"Grandma Bah, would you aid us with your knowledge If we crushed your old foes?

Bahsah snorted. "Son, you overestimate yourself if you think the five of you can take the Shadowclaws."

Haylee giggled, trying to keep down her laugh behind her hand. "Hrn, I think we would surprise you, Gran, hrn," she laughed. "Storytime!" she exclaimed happily, pumping a slender fist into the air.