“Sit still, would ya. It ain’t that bad…”

Stroud winced, sucking a sharp breath through his teeth as Hrer reached past his coat and felt around the left half of his ribcage.

“May be cracked, but nothing was broken too badly. I can get you some ointment when we get back to Norfins’ and you’ll be good as new in a few weeks.” After passing on his diagnosis, Hrer extended a hand and helped him to his feet.

Stroud finally got a good look at the scene as he rose, and as his eyes passed over the prone forms sprawled in the muck, an involuntary shiver ran through his body. It traveled from the tip of his toes all the way up to his scalp. Disturbed, he averted his gaze.

The euphoria of survival and victory was long gone at this point, leaving behind a dull pain that accompanied the hollow remains of satisfaction.

There was all manner of questions now buzzing through his head, but as Stroud watched Hrer checking Trelti’s wrist for a pulse, he only managed to croak out a single one: “Is he dead?

“Yup.” Hrer’s blunt reply didn’t contain any emotion as he allowed the Walker’s limp arm smack back onto the ground. “Were those Bolt talismans or Lightning Tendrils? I had trouble making it out from above… Well, either way, they did quite a number on him. Fried his brain right up like a tender piece of meat.”

“Spark. They were just some Spark talismans…”

The man tapped his foot, thinking out loud as he ignored both Stroud’s listless reply and the pool of blood that had seeped out from Eira’s body, splashing beneath his soles. “I don’t usually carry many talismans on me, but those were definitely more effective than my poison would have been against such a beefy guy—”

“...Hrer. Hey, Hrer! Shouldn’t we be getting out of here?” Stroud shared little of his partner's composure. His eyes darted to either end of the alley, half-expecting a member of the city watch to already be blocking their path. The surroundings were so still and quiet. And that lack of noise left the atmosphere charged with an anticipatory pressure.

“There’s no rush.” Hrer ceased his muttering only to brush away the tension with a dismissive wave of his hand. “Rather, there’s something I’m very interested in...”

Eira’s body was unceremoniously flipped over as Hrer crouched down. He first extracted the knife still lodged in the man’s chest before rummaging through the blood-soaked clothes and pockets. The sack of coins and the parcel of Srodgess were soon tossed to the side with the same lack of care.

Stroud winced as he watched the bundle of hearty leaves plop into the mud. What could the thug be carrying that was more valuable than those...?

“Ah-ha!” Hrer suddenly exclaimed, drawing back Stroud’s attention. The man’s scar stretched wide as he smiled and dislodged a smooth silver plate from the bottom of the boot he’d separated from Eira’s foot. “Well, I’ll be damned… I thought it might be this, but I didn’t think Prince Ajax was really willing to empty out his coffers to this extent...”

“What is it?” Stroud probed. His brow furrowed as he inspected the plate. It looked wholly unremarkable.

“Kid… This little Inscribed Implement is probably worth more than both our lives put together.” Hrer cradled the thin slab of metal tenderly in his palms.

Still, Stroud couldn’t put away his skepticism. “You serious?” He didn’t see any spell inscriptions or feel any kind of aura emanating from it.

Hrer shrugged, brushing the dirt from his knees as he stood up. “I wouldn’t believe it either if I hadn’t seen Lady Adelais purchase one from an Inscription Exhibition in the capitol last summer.” Silver moonlight bounced off the plate’s smooth surface as he held it up for Stroud to take a closer look.

“The Magus in the Empire who created this named it a Tremor Plate. He developed the spell a while back and partnered up with an Inscriptionist to start producing these. But only recently did they start making their way into Redenia and all the way out here in the reaches…” Admiration and longing gleamed in Hrer’s eyes as he carefully wrapped up the object and stuffed it inside his dark vest.

“So… what’s it do?” Stroud’s curiosity was wholly piqued. He had a general idea based on the name, but he still had to ask.

“It’s only a tier 1 spell, but it’s brilliant in function.” Hrer clarified, stooping over to pick up the bag and bundle of Srodgess he’d thrown to the side earlier. “When channeling Nura into the Implement, it will send out pulsing waves through the ground, returning with feedback if someone’s moving nearby.”

Stroud let out a long, painful sigh when he heard that. Grimacing, he clutched at his tender side. “No wonder…”

“Don’t be too hard on yourself, kid. Items like this are pretty rare, and you did a decent job tracking them throughout the day. The only big mistake you made was leaving one of them unmarked. If you’re gonna use a method like you did, you gotta lay your eyes on them more frequently so that you won’t get penned in if they split up. As you know, even these two idiots were eventually able to figure out how you were following them.”

Hrer’s words made perfect sense. After hours of observing the men moving as a pair, he’d taken it as a given, and subsequently, relied too heavily on his spiritual perception. It would’ve all been fine if he could control two different strands of mental energy at once. But that didn’t seem in the realm of possibility…

As if reading his mind, Hrer handed out another piece of advice. “Might want to start looking for some spell models useful for tracking. Don’t know how you got your hands on so much liquid Nura, but those talismans of yours seemed pretty handy…”

Stroud chuckled dryly, “If only spells were that easy to come by.”

“You’d be surprised, kid.” Hrer tossed the Srodgess into the air like he was playing with one of his knives. “Merits are useful for more than just collecting shitty leaves like these.”

The man’s eyes suddenly hardened as the bundle landed back in his hand. “Don’t focus your efforts solely on procuring what you need for Blood Steeping. Trust me when I say that getting your hands on suitable Spirit Beast blood is a nigh impossibility.”

“Suitable blood? What do you mean by that?”

“Just… come to me first — if you happen to gather everything else. Manage that, and I’ll gladly share the details.”

“Alright…” Stroud trailed off and shivered as the biting wind howling between the walls nipped at his ears. He pulled his cloak tighter and pushed those thoughts from his mind for the time being. His eyes wandered back over the field of battle.

Stroud’s sudden shift seemed to pull Hrer back into the moment as well. Drawing back, the man pocketed the other goods and glanced down at the pale, rapidly freezing bodies. “I know I said the boss wouldn’t be happy — she doesn’t like us messing with the current status quo — but don’t worry. I’ll shoulder the blame for this incident…”

“Why…?” Stroud couldn’t help but utter.

In response, Hrer spit to the side and gave Eira’s corpse a solid kick. “Been lookin’ for an excuse to put an end to this one. I’d only been hesitating because I wanted to get a better idea of how he and his partners were actually turning on our guys. It’s unfortunate that the memory of the Exhibition only popped into my mind after getting a look at your predicament tonight…”

Bitterness swelled in Stroud’s mouth, leaving its lasting taste on his tongue. “So I was just bait, huh…”

“Don’t take it too personally, kid. I think your rewards will be plentiful with all that we’ve recovered.” Hrer laughed lightly. “Now, c’mon. It’s actually time we got out of here.”

As Hrer’s soft footfalls echoed through the alley, Stroud held in a breath and took one final glance into the sky. He craned his neck and looked deep into the starry expanse. His mind passed the moons and the glittering lights at their back, reaching toward the recently departed souls.

“I wish you luck in your journey... I hope you find your way to the River...”

He wouldn’t apologize for their death, but he would never wish upon anyone a fate of suffering in the Chasm.

***

“So, what’ll it be, Sir Reeve?”

Reeve smiled helplessly at the young man across the counter. The boy leaned forward confidently, but his cheeky grin laid his inexperience bare. “...Just a pine of ale, Sid.”

“Comin’ right up.” Humming a playful tune, Sid disappeared into the larder behind the bar.

Reeve laughed to himself and shook his head. He shifted into a more comfortable position in his seat and pulled the hood of his cloak forward. His eyes shifted around the spacious hall, taking careful note of each group drinking and eating around the hearth.

There were quite a few of them, and for good reason. Margo’s was one of the preeminent gathering spots in the outer city thanks to the strength of their ale…

A large mug slammed down on the table in front of him, and Reeve lost himself in bliss for a brief moment as he passionately inhaled through his nose. Lavender incense aside, this had to be his favorite smell in the world.

“Thanks, Sid.” He flipped the young man a silver Mor, then another to keep his attention. “What’s gotten so screwed up in Miss Margo’s head that she’s got you out here serving drinks these days?”

Sid chuckled. “Hey, hey… Don’t go ruining for me just yet. But truth is — Morrison hasn’t been showing up for work the past week or so.”

“Hmm,” Reeve responded with mumbled acknowledgment. He lifted up the heavy wood mug and took a deep swig, guzzling the amber liquid down his throat and into his gut where it settled into a warm glow.

He also thought that would be the end of their conversation, but Sid still stuck around. Wrinkles of uncertainty appeared on the young man’s chubby face as he wrung the dirty dishcloth in his hands.

“...You’ve been a long-time customer, Sir Reeve,” Sid started, “But I think you’d best avoid comin’ in for a while…”

“Sid, I—”

Noticing Reeve’s frown, the boy stuttered, taking a step back. “I-I don’t mean anything by it. I-It’s just… Things are getting tense around here these days. Morrison’s not the only one gone missing. And…” Sid leaned forward conspiratorially, his voice dropping low, “And I know you work up in the Sanctum. The people around here don’t take kindly to those folk, so I don’t want to see you gettin’ in any trouble. You’re a good man, Sir Reeve.”

A heart-wrenching tightness enveloped Reeve’s chest as he looked into the boy’s clear eyes. He could see the sincerity and sympathy in their depths and it left him temporarily speechless.

It took another long drag from his cup before he found his voice. “I appreciate it, Sid. And maybe you’re right. Though…” Reeve exhaled a longing sigh, “I’ll surely miss the ale.”

Sid smiled knowingly. “Well… I best be getting back to work.”

Sending him off with a nod, Reeve drained the remainder of his drink and got up to leave, no longer in the mood. Dejection had wholly replaced the burgeoning pleasant buzz in his mind.

There were so few pleasures left in his life, and all of those remaining were being swept away by this mess.

He couldn’t help but wonder again how worth it this all really was…

***

With a skip in her step, Maeve swept down the long corridor. She paused when she reached the end of the hall and looked down again at the dark pendant in her hands. Already, she was imagining the look of surprise on Stroud’s face.

It was always so hard to catch him off guard, but with this… she surely could. A tier 1 defensive Implement was hard to come by — especially one like this — and she imagined he had yet to even see one.

Another person's image flashed through her mind as she continued toward the servant quarters, and it brought an equally large smile to her face. The twisted look of anger that distorted Sybil’s pouty mouth when she realized she’d lost the bet…

Maeve breathed in the refreshing night air as she passed by door after door. 128 was the one she was looking for, and it didn't take her long to find it.

However, worry flashed across her eyes as she arrived. The torches lining the walls still flickered brightly, but she didn’t see any light leaking out from his room. Where has he been all day…

She hesitated but decided to knock anyway. “Stroud…?” her voice was soft, but it sounded strangely loud in the empty hallway. “Stroud!” she called out again, knocking with more force.

For a long moment, there was no reply. But just before she turned to leave, the lock on the door clicked and it swung inward.

“...Maeve?” A haggard voice queried.

Maeve spun around, her breath catching in her throat when she saw him. He stood stiffly, and the shadows at his back couldn’t hide the discomfort in his eyes and the subtle crease of his brow. “Are you… Are you all right?” she asked.

“I’m doing fine, Madam. I was just laying down for an early rest... Is there anything I can help you with?”

Anger smoldered in Maeve’s eyes as she frowned. Why must he always hide everything?

Tonight was supposed to be a happy surprise, but… She took a deep breath.

“May I come in?” Maeve kept her tone level. “There’s nothing I require assistance with, but rather, I actually had something I wanted to give to you…”

Much to her pleasure, shock overtook Stroud’s pain as his bleary eyes widened. “Of course, Madam. Just give me one moment.”

Maeve waited patiently in the doorframe until the light of a candle flickered on at his desk. She approached with rapid steps as he pulled out the sole chair in the room for her to take a seat.

“You sit,” she declared, tucking her hands behind her back as she fiddled with the pendant.

Stroud winced, but he didn’t argue and sat down slowly and tenderly.

I knew it… Maeve grumbled in her mind. She also knew that he wouldn’t admit to her how he got hurt — or even that he was injured in the first place. Her only small satisfaction was that her gift seemed more appropriate than ever.

As they faced each other in the dim light, Maeve held out her hand. “Here.” She shoved the amulet toward him. “For you.”

“Miss, I can’t…” Stroud slightly recoiled.

“Do you even know what it is…?” Maeve rolled her eyes. This time, she gained no joy from the bitter smile her words produced.

“This should be an Inscribed Implement, correct? I truly appreciate the gesture, Madam. I really do. But I can’t make use—”

Finally, the moment she’d been waiting for had arrived. “Actually, yes you can,” Maeve interrupted. She flipped the pendant over in her palm, revealing the dark green gemstone embedded in its back. “This Implement holds its own Nura — enough for three uses. And can be activated using only your Spiritual Perception.”

“M-Miss, I-I…” Stroud’s voice quaked.

“Take it, Stroud,” she pleaded. “This was won from Sybil thanks to your efforts.”

“Even still—”

“Enough.” Maeve was angry now. “If you don’t want to tell me about it, it's fine. But I w-worry, you know?” She faltered as she felt her eyes and cheeks swelling with heat. “Y-You’re always going out into the city all by yourself…”

Stroud looked back at her. Two pairs of reddening eyes met. And for the first time, Maeve saw traces of tears trickling down her friend’s cheeks...