North of Tyrin, a low rumble in the earth can be heard from several kilometers away, stirring fear in the hearts of nearby villagers. This is no mere earthquake; it is the sound of thousands of soldiers and pack animals marching through the countryside.

Councilor Hadwin and General Ulrich are carried by well-groomed horses with shiny manes. They move at a moderate pace matching the rest of the army, most of which is marching on foot.

“That scout you captured yesterday, why didn’t you use magic in the interrogation? In the end, all we got out of him was Hamal of Zamora’s name. The rest was incoherent rambling and screams. We could have learned a lot more if you used magic instead of those primitive, messy tools of yours.”

“With all due respect, my Lord, the old ways work just fine. I can make a man confess to anything. I can make him accuse his wife of bedding a demon, or his children of worshiping Titans. Everyone has a breaking point and finding it is my specialty. The one from yesterday simply died too quickly. He poisoned himself using a hidden capsule somewhere on his body, such as a fake tooth. The spymaster and I studied his equipment and concluded that he was no ordinary soldier. He was part of a covert organization, the kind which frequently employs such methods to guard its secrets. The body is being autopsied to learn all it has to tell.”

With an obviously displeased look, Hadwin replies. “So, you admit it’s your failure that lost us this opportunity. I don't care about your ability to obtain false confessions. I want real information. And what if he tried to poison us instead, huh? This expedition would end in utter failure. Is your faction prepared to bear the consequences of that? You may be close to Wirat Frugi, but don’t think for an instant that will protect you should you betray or hinder me.”

“My Lord, our best men searched him as thoroughly as possible. Surely you do not mean that I should—”

“Nothing but excuses. The Frugi are supposed to have the best spies and assassins in the kingdom. It looks like that was just an empty boast. I should’ve known.”

“It is my intention and that of Councilor Frugi to cooperate toward the creation of a new Amisos. We would not do anything to hinder this process. I assure you that every effort is being made to fulfill our responsibilities.”

“This conversation is a waste of time. Your words are less than worthless to me. I expect you to show loyalty through action. That is all.”

“I understand, Lord Hadwin.”

“That turd brain Lachlan thinks he can order me around just because he was named leader of the coalition.” Hadwin grumbles to himself. “I’ll show him. I’ll show them all! After I crush the renowned tactician Hamal of Zamora in a head-on battle, no one will be able to say a thing against me. My prestige will go through the roof! I might even become the next king of Amisos...”

General Ulrich pretends he doesn’t hear this from his superior. Hadwin's words are clearly seditious, but nothing can be gained from them. All of the nobles want to gain more power for themselves. Politics and war are simply a means toward that goal. Ulrich, too, is making plans for his own faction’s benefit.

There is indeed a lot to be gained from this military campaign. Hamal of Zamora is the only real threat we have. Whoever defeats him will solidify his own authority and may become the next king instead of Lachlan. Not a chance I’ll be letting this imbecile take the credit though. Perhaps an unfortunate accident will visit Lord Hadwin during the chaos of battle.

--------------------------------------

Once the entire 6-man team under Henin Asher, captain of Bloodmoom, was formed, they set off to scout the army encroaching on Tyrin. Rigel is with them of course. Between the carnage in Lapithos and the barbarian raid in Zamora, he has already seen enough bloodshed to last a lifetime. In that sense, he can be said to have experience in war. Seeing even more blood is not something Rigel is looking forward to. He is only doing what is necessary for his ultimate goal.

This time will be rather different from before. My enemies are an organized army of thousands, not a ragtag group of barbarians. There will be mages, archers, warriors of all kinds, siege weapons and more. All I know about military tactics is what I learned from a few history books. There are many things which aren’t written in books though. The chance of encountering an unforeseen scenario is high. I have the means to escape a bad situation, but that’s assuming I’m uninjured enough to use Chaos Magic. Using top-tier magic is impossible if I’m wounded badly or otherwise incapacitated. Well, I should be able to avoid that kind of scenario. I am free to use arcane and dark magic with impunity and I have several magic catalysts on hand.

As they ride north on powerful, speedy horses bred by the finest Zamorian stables, Rigel takes the time to imagine various scenarios that may occurr in a wartime raid. His mission is to assist the team with eliminating any armed opponent they encounter, within the limits of a 6-man team. However, he was not told what actions the rest of Bloodmoon will be taking.

From Asher’s words earlier, I’m guessing that each team will be acting independently just like that time we crossed the border between countries, after which we will reunite back in Tyrin.

After leaving Tyrin at dusk, the horses demonstrate their stamina by riding all through the night and then most of the next day, for a total of 17 hours of continuous travel. The terrain is flat grassland with occasional hills and some farming villages covering the landscape. It’s good terrain for a horse to achieve its best performance.

Henin Asher, who is at the head of the group, looks back at his team and announces his intention to stop.

“We will camp out here for the evening. The horses will be rested enough to continue before morning arrives. Mikel will be the first on watch. Let’s do the usual rotation.”

“I hear ya, captain” the warrior responds. Excitement can be sensed in his voice due to anticipation of the coming battle.

Even though no enemies have been sighted thus far, they are unmistakably in dangerous territory now. Councilor Hadwin’s army is near their location. As such, it is necessary to establish a shift rotation where each member of the team stays awake to keep watch while the others use the time to rest. After a couple of hours, another member takes over for the previous one. This obvious precaution is often difficult to put into practice because it relies on individual discipline. If the watchman carelessly falls asleep during his shift, the whole group can suffer a surprise attack. Even the strongest warrior in the world is vulnerable during his sleep.

After giving out the orders, Asher makes a sign to Rigel that he wants to speak to him in person.

“Yes, captain?” he asks.

“Rigel, as the newest member of this team, there are a few things you must remember for tomorrow. First, do not ever fall behind. A raid can go from easy to disastrous in the blink of an eye. If I say retreat, you stop whatever you’re doing and get on your horse immediately. We could be up against hundreds of men in the next few days. If our escape path is cut off, we die. It’s that simple. Do not overestimate your chances just because you know teleportation magic. Death can show up when you least expect it. Just keep up with the rest of us and you’ll be fine. Second, don’t let down your guard. Use all your senses to anticipate threats and warn us if you notice something we haven’t. I don’t think I need to say this to a mage of your level.” Rigel nods affirmatively. “Thirdly, watch your comrades’ backs and trust that they will watch yours. This is hardest for new members because it’s difficult to rely on someone you don’t know well, especially in the middle of a battle. Experience will let you bridge that gap. Through experience, you learn what everyone is capable of and your coordination will improve. Remember, we’re a team first and soldiers second. We fight and die together. That is the truth of war which all soldiers must face eventually.”

“I welcome the chance to fight alongside you, captain. I will do my best to ensure all of us return to Tyrin alive.”

A subtle smile emerges on Asher’s face.

He must have some doubts about us, but I can tell he sincerely means what he says, and not in a vain sort of way. Unlike most new recruits, he doesn’t seem anxious either. That’s confidence right there. Well, he did kidnap a Count and then got out of Tyrin Castle by himself. Is he really just a 19 year-old? Hard to believe.

Setting these extra thoughts aside, Asher continues. “Lastly, you should try to avoid harming non-combatants even during a battle. I don’t think you will have much trouble with this. Now go get some rest.”

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

“Enemy, up ahead.”

The group of six are riding at high speed on a wide dirt road as they encounter the first enemy. Qasim is the first to identify him in the distance due to excellent eyesight. It’s a lone scout riding a horse. The colors on his light armor designate him as part of Hadwin’s forces. As he sees the approaching group, the scout realizes something is wrong and starts panicking. He quickly turns his horse around and flees back toward the main army.

“Intercept and eliminate.”

Asher gives a short command with the ice-cold voice of an assassin.

“Understood” several voices respond in unison with the same coldness.

“His mount is fast. Let me do it” Gamo requests. He is wearing lighter equipment than the warriors on the team so he can move faster.

After receiving visual approval from the captain, he urges his mount to speed up and run ahead of the group. The horse moves as fast as it can on the dirt road, gaining on the scout ahead. Even though the scout had a big lead, Gamo comes within attack range in a just few minutes. The difference lies in their mounts. Both were bred for speed and stamina, but the Zamorian horse demonstrates clear superiority.

Gamo stretches out his right hand and removes the thin leather glove on it to allow better mana flow. Aura surges around it as mana builds up inside.

“Lightning Javelin”

A glowing sphere of magical energy is created and fired like a missile. It gains the shape of a spear and picks up speed as it flies through the air. The magic is not slowed down by atmospheric resistance and adds the speed of the caster to its own, allowing it to fly as fast as an arrow for long distances. It easily reaches its target right as the scout looks backward. He quickly pulls on the horse's reins to change direction. The lightning hits the horse instead, causing its muscles to freeze up from the electricity. Both the horse and the scout tumble violently at high speed on the hard ground, knocking them out cold from the shock.

Gamo rides up beside their bodies and dismounts. With eyes that hold no trace of mercy, he unsheathes the dagger at his hip and stabs the unconscious man in the heart, killing him. He then wipes the blood off from the blade, puts in back in its sheath and begins searching the body.

“Find anything useful?” Asher asks after catching up with him.

“He is just a low-ranking scout. There’s nothing to find here.”

“Alright, burn it and let’s move on then. Actually, kill the horse too before we go. No reason to let it suffer until it dies on its own.”

Gamo acknowledges and follows through with the order. He ends the animal’s life cleanly by stopping its heart using lightning enhanced with arcane magic, a more humane method than using a blade. Looking at this scene, one suspects that he has more sympathy for the animal than for the man who was riding it. He then uses fire magic to set the corpses ablaze, destroying any evidence of what happened here.

This difference in treatment, can it be called humane? Compassionate? The heart of a veteran soldier is a curious thing, Rigel thinks to himself.

------------------------------------------

Around this time, similar attacks take place around the countryside. Following their captain's orders, nearly all of Bloodmoon's teams mobilized and started killing enemies they found on the way. A few survivors were allowed to escape and return to General Ulrich. After listening to their reports, the general interrupts Hadwin who is leisurely speaking with some of his fellow nobility.

"Lord Hadwin, I have something to report."

"What is this time? Have you captured another one?"

"No milord, we are under attack. Some of my men were ambushed not far from here. A few were able to escape their pursuers and return with information on the attackers."

Hadwin's expression lights up when hearing this. A thirst for battle stirs in his heart.

"An attack you say? Where? Is it Hamal of Zamora? How many troops does he have?" The other nobles also look at the general with expectant faces.

"There don't seem to be many, sire. Several ambushes took place on our south-eastern and south-western fronts, but only small teams of a handful of men were seen each time. I believe they must be probing us or possibly stalling for time. I recommend we speed up the army's march to foil their plans."

The excitement vanishes as quickly as it appeared. Annoyance surfaces in its place.

"A handful? That's it? As if I would halt the army over something so insignificant. General, I command you to crush these annoying flies without delay. Surround them with greater numbers and let not a bone be left from their corpses. And don't bother me with this trifle any further. I have more important things to attend." He condescendingly dismisses the general with a wave of his hand and then returns to speaking with the other nobles. Ulrich makes a bow for his superior and then leaves.

10 groups of 15 soldiers each are assembled at the General's orders. All of them are given horses to ride into battle.

"Fan out and kill any suspicious character you encounter. The enemy could be hiding among the general populace, so watch for that. Any survivors are to be brought to me for interrogation. I don't care if half-dead as long as they can speak. Each team will receive a reward of 2 pieces of gold for every enemy captured."

"Yes, sir!"

Two pieces of gold is no small amount for an ordinary soldier. Although far less valuable than gold coins, a week's worth of luxury meals can be bought with each piece. Compared to the barely edible rations they receive on a daily basis, it's like living in paradise for a week. Excited by this prospect, each team saddles up and rides out in a hurry, trying to find enemies before the other teams.

------------------------------

Rigel, Asher and the rest of the team are observing the commotion using spyglass while perched on the branches of a large tree. It's a clear, sunny day which gives them a good view of the approaching army. A rumble in the earth can be felt through the tree trunk. Tens of thousands of feet stamping the ground in rhythmic fashion create this unnerving effect.

"It appears the numbers we heard are correct. It's ten thousand in total, give or take one thousand" Asher remarks while peering with one eye through his spyglass.

"Will we be able to slow them down until King Hamal arrives at Tyrin?" Rigel inquires.

"That's a bit much to hope for. The King's main army will take at least a week to get here. We can't stall that long but we should be able to get 2 or 3 extra days if everything goes well."

"Captain, I see movement... due west! Around 30 riders are approaching our location!" the young Qasim warns.

"Good, that's what we want. Everyone get down and gear up. Let's give them a mean greeting."

Two of the groups sent out by General Ulrich notice Asher's people and converge on their location. The first one arrives a few minutes earlier than the second. There are 15 soldiers, 30 in total for the two groups, easily outnumbering the 6 from Asher's team. Confident in their advantage, they charge in like hungry wolves.

"Enemy sighted! There they are! Draw your swords and let's show them what we're made of!" the head of the group shouts.

Unlike the approaching soldiers, Asher's team is not using their mounts. They spread out ahead of the engagement and stand defiantly on open ground, putting at least 20 meters between each member. Some confusion arises among the enemies when seeing this. Single targets are easier to focus on after all. If here are multiple targets, one has do decide which to aim for. As a consequence, the 15 split up randomly as each soldier charges toward the nearest target in sight. Once the distance between the two groups becomes small enough, the battle starts. An arrow is shot toward Asher. He sees it and dodges with pure reflex.

"Lightning Flash"

Three chants are heard almost simultaneously, followed by bright sparks of magic power which manifest in the open space between the two groups. The sparks scatter and multiply into streaks of white lightning that crackles through the air with loud noises. Horses start to panic and thrash around as a result.

"Calm down, you stupid animal! Calm down!"

As the startling display of magic continues in front of them, the soldiers cannot regain control of their mounts. Several horses throw the riders off their backs and flee in a random direction. Others simply thrash around as their riders struggle for control. Pulling on their horses' reins in vain, they don't see that more magic is coming their way, nor could they stop it in time.

"Rain of Fire"

"Dark Fog"

"Sonic Resonance"

While the enemy is distracted, a barrage of spells is fired by Gamo, Inaya and Rigel in turn. Bodies covered by leather armor light up like torches. Vision is obscured by a dense fog that forms around their panicking opponents. Veins under the skin burst open from the penetrating shockwave created by 'Sonic Resonance'. Screaming and confused cries can be heard. Although outnumbered, the initiative of battle is wholly in Bloodmoon's favor.

Following the ranged attacks of their comrades, Asher, Qasim and Mikel charge into the fog with their swords drawn. 'Dark Fog' makes it difficult to distinguish between friend and foe because it creates an atmosphere saturated with mana. They decided to split up ahead of time in order to avoid friendly fire from the mages.

"Raaahh!"

With an aggressive fighting style, the Gold-ranked warrior Mikel unleashes the first strike as he yells like a wild beast. A severed head is sent flying with a single swing of his heavy claymore, and then another just seconds later. The soldiers are like insects caught in a spider's web, unable to fight back properly while they get mowed down with ease. Blood splatters fly in all directions from Mikel's claymore as it spins in a circle which leaves nothing but death on its path. They don't even have a chance to scream before their heads land on the ground.

Although not as flashy, Asher and Qasim both dispatch their opponents one by one without receiving any significant injury. Qasim relies on throwing knives to cripple enemies before cutting them down with his shortsword. He seems to have an endless amount as he throws out several at a time between every sword swing. Asher prefers to dual-wield two swords and moves noticeably faster than his comrades. Excellent reflexes allow him to dodge enemy swords and arrows and then counterattack. Testifying to his experience as a veteran warrior and assassin, all his swings land mercilessly on vital points. Even the blood gushing from his opponents' necks seems to miss him as he weaves through the slaughter in an elegant yet unpredictable pattern.

Inaya and Gamo do their part by raining down hell using area-of-effect magic. Lightning and fire are the preferred elements in combat. Charred corpses are all that remain after the barrage of spells ends. A lot of mana was spent in the process, but there is little concern over running out at this time.

This is not a battle, it's a massacre...

After bringing down his own targets using long-range magic, Rigel silently observes his comrades in action, fascinated by the merciless way in which they slaughter anyone unfortunate enough to be in their path.

This is war. Men furiously trying to end each other's existence. It's sickening and fascinating at the same time. Was I like that during the barbarian raid in Zamora? I can't even remember clearly.

Even though they were less than 5 minutes behind, the first group of soldiers was already annihilated by the time the second one arrived at the scene. Despite bearing witness to their comrades' deaths, the soldiers charged in furiously once again. More carnage ensued as Bloodmoon's elite troops clashed with Ulrich's soldiers who, although superior in numbers, were in over their heads.

--------------------------------

Later that day, General Ulrich can be seen at the edge of his army's formations. He is talking with a man covered in bloodied bandages. The man is hunched over in shame, as if he's asking forgiveness.

"Damn it! I underestimated them!" Ulrich shouts.

"What can we do? Lord Hadwin will be furious."

"That megalomaniac will be thrilled to hear about this failure because I'm the one responsible. He wants to see me fail so he can swoop in and take all the glory for himself. That's all he wants from this war. He's not a soldier. He's never been on the front lines of any battle. All he knows is how to wait at the back and bark orders. Why in the hell did he get to lead this campaign!?"

While grinding his teeth against each other, Ulrich thinks over the details he just heard. All 10 teams suffered utter defeat. There was not a single confirmed casualty on the other side. Of course, no enemies were captured either. Battles happened at multiple locations around the same time, but Ulrich already knew this much from the scout reports earlier in the day. No new information was gained at all. The lives of his men were essentially wasted. Only 9 soldiers returned out of 150 he sent out. They weren't his best crop of warriors, but that's not an excuse which can be presented to the Councilor. Any failure is a stain on his reputation as a general, especially when his own men were used. The Councilor will benefit from his failures. He knows this all too well.

But a blade can cut both ways. Alright, I know what to do next.

He turns to the wounded man. "Yakov, keep your mouth shut and let me handle this with Lord Hadwin. I don't want any rumors spreading."

"Yessir..." the soldier mutters with his head lowered.

Ulrich then moves to make his report to Nestor Hadwin. The Councilor is observing his tent being set up by a group of peasant workers when the general finds him.

"My Lord, I have some unfortunate news."

"Let me guess, you failed?" Hadwin responds with smile on his face. The general is holding his head low so his facial expression cannot be clearly seen, but suffice to say he is not pleased. This makes Hadwin's condescending smile grow even wider.

"We underestimated enemy numbers. My men were ambushed and could not break through their ranks."

"No big loss. I expected nothing from Frugi's pitiful forces. They couldn't fight their way out of a greasy hat. And? Is that all you have to report?"

While doing his best to restrain his own anger, the general replies with a stern "Yes."

“Fine. In that case, General, do you know which is the most battle-hardened unit in this whole army?”

“The Grey Raptors, sire. I hear their ferocity in battle is unmatched. However, they are mercenaries whose loyalty is bought and sold with money. I don't trust such people at all.”

"Loyalty is a myth. In times of war, men are loyal to one thing and one thing only; themselves. Hired swords are no different than the common soldiers in that regard."

Spare me your pretentious little grains of wisdom, Ulrich thinks to himself. He doesn't dare say this out loud.

“Give the orders. The Grey Raptors are to prepare for battle. Announce that an extra payment will be given for each head they bring back. No prisoners.”

“It will be done, my Lord. Should I tell them to set out now?”

Hadwin scoffs. "Obviously not, you incompetent. Night is almost here. It's easier for the enemy to create an ambush at night. They should mobilize at the crack of dawn. Do you understand?"

The last line is said slowly, as if he's speaking to a small child. Ulrich has no choice but to swallow his pride and do as he's told.

Let him act pompous while he can. Hadwin may have the upper hand now, but it won't last. After Hamal of Zamora puts him in his place, he'll be begging for my help.

On the way to deliver the orders and arrange a dispatch for the Grey Raptors the next morning, Ulrich overhears a commotion among some soldiers who are setting up camps for the evening. The sources of the commotion are two of the men who returned from the recent defeat.

"They cut us to pieces, like swine! We didn't even have a chance!"

"Finn's skull got crushed by a single punch! The monster then took off two heads with a single swing of his sword! You saw that too, right?"

"I don't know... I couldn't see anything on your side. Pillars of fire were sprouting from the ground! Was that magic? What the hell was that?"

The two men sound hysterical as they speak. Their comrades are visibly shaken by the stories. Their willingness to battle is worn down by an increasing amount of fear. Ulrich observes the scene while his teeth begin grinding once again. He knows that if these stories spread, the army's morale will suffer greatly.

"These imbeciles... Guards, arrest those two and chain them in irons. I'll deal with this later."

------------------------------

As the war begins in earnest on Rigel's side, the situation back in Tyrin also starts to degrade. From the considerable number of refugees and other new arrivals entering the city, rumors have already spread that a large, hostile army is near Tyrin. Predictions of the city's destruction are being made and panic rises up in the hearts of locals, especially those outside the city's protective walls.

"Will another evacuation take place, like the time when Zamora's forces arrived? Surely the kind Lord Faustina will not leave us to die helplessly" the commoners believe. At this point, nothing is certain.

Disregarding the rising tension around them, the three newest arrivals explore the city with Nashira as their guide. Laila and Selene have not been able to enter a major city since they started taking care of Lyssa. After finding lodging at the modest inn where Nashra, Rigel and some of Bloodmoon stayed at, the next day they set out to fulfill various minor tasks which have accumulated on their to-do list. They split into two pairs; Nashira and Selene head toward the nobility's district while Laila and Lyssa visit the market square.

"Um, Nashira? Could I ask for your help with something?" Selene asks with an unusually sheepish look. She still has some suspicion that Nashira may be nobility, despite their interaction so far suggesting otherwise.

"What can I do for you?"

"It's just my first time venturing so far from my hometown and I left abruptly the last time I was there. That's why I've been meaning to send a short letter to let my family know I'm doing fine."

"No problem, it's a simple task. I am sure the local courier would be happy to oblige. Restrictions were recently lifted for both incoming and outgoing communications. Shall I guide you to the office?"

"Well, I don't need a guide so much as... I need help writing and sending the letter. To be honest, I can't read or write very well..."

A startled look appears as if she just made an embarrassing mistake. Nashira quickly lowers her head.

"Apologies, I have been thoughtless. I should not have assumed that others received the same privileges as myself. I hope you were not offended."

"Ah, no I'm not. You don't need to apologize! Please, raise your head."

Due to the difference in social status, a noble would never act subservient to someone of lower class. This is basic common sense in Amisos. For someone with the atmosphere and appearance of high nobility like Nashira to apologize in this manner to a warrior with no military rank is incomprehensible. The scene draws intrigued stares from passersby on the street, all of them wondering what kind of exalted position Selene must have to force Nashira to lower her head so easily. Nashira's common sense is different from the norm and she doesn't realize the implications of this minor action. She underestimates the impact of appearances and often disregards the human concept of social status altogether. Rigel is thus far the only person who knows this fact about her.

Having gotten used to stares from random people in town, Nashira ignores them and raises her head. "I am glad. Let us go to the courier's office. I will help with preparing and sending the letter."

Selene sighs with relief and the two leave the scene together.

<><><><><><><>

Lyssa wanders through the Tyrin market square with the older Laila supervising her like a parent. Lyssa is very excited by the new experience and tries to touch everything that is put on display, whether it be animals, toys, food or tools. Without eyesight, touch is one of the few ways she can experience the world.

"Hahaha, amazing! It's so fluffy!"

The child is gently patting a small, furry animal which is lying in a box next to several others. Some boxes are made from transparent glass, with only a small opening at the top which is closed with a lid. Inside, earthworms and common insects like crickets and grasshoppers are visible. Above is a wooden sign that says 'LIVE BAIT FOR SALE' in big letters.

"No, Lyssa! Don't touch that! I'm sorry, sir. She's just really curious."

"Hmph, just keep her away from my stall. Annoying kids..." the merchant grumbles.

Have some sympathy for the blind, you old fart.

"Yes, sir. Come, Lyssa, I'll buy you some tasty sweets. You can pick which ones." She takes hold of Lyssa's hand and leads her away from the merchant's stall.

"Yay! Thank you, big sister! I love you!" an enthusiastic response is heard.

----------------------------------

With the sun getting closer to the horizon, the man changes out of his work clothes and puts on his cleanest pants and a tunic over his shirt. These clothes are normally reserved for special events, but one could say that tonight will be such an occasion. As he leaves the inn and walks toward the nearby tavern, he thinks of what he is going to say in advance. Some anxiety is creeping up in the back of his mind.

She will be resistant to the idea at first, since our last attempt went poorly. Once she hears about the gems and how easy it is to get them, she will change her tune I'm sure. I wish I could do this on my own, but it's a lot riskier without someone who can sense mana.

He pushes open the heavy wooden door of the tavern with just 3 fingers, showing that he has considerable strength. He takes a few steps inside and takes note of the high number of people who are present.

The bad rumors must be driving more people to drown out their sorrows with alcohol. I might join them if I fail at convincing her...

He walks to the wooden counter and calls out to the tavern owner. He has to shout to be heard over the commotion around him.

"Hey, Cass! I'm looking for my friend, Theola. Is she here right now?"

"Yeah, she's in the basement!" the owner shouts back.

"Got it, thanks!"

He takes the stairs to the floor below. The large room is lit by glowing mana-crystals. It's full of tables where people sit to talk and drink, just like the lobby. However, the atmosphere is clearly different here. There are no people shouting or laughing loudly, no arm wrestling matches being held, no fist fights between men trying to prove their worth. It's quiet enough that muffled voices can be heard from the floor above.

He spots the person he is looking for, a woman in her 30s wearing a plain grey hood that covers her head. He recognizes her because of the spot where she is sitting, alone in the most isolated corner of the room.

"Drinking alone, Theo?"

The woman's head slowly turns toward the sound of his voice. "Who— Polk, huh? What you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" the woman responds with a lazy voice.

You're drinking alone in the basement of a tavern. I wouldn't call that 'busy', Polk thinks.

The man clears his throat, pulls out a chair and sits down in front of Theola. He has a plan which involves her and doesn't want to ruin it by saying something unnecessary. The two of them are currently not on the best of terms. She is also a mage, someone you wouldn't want to anger for no reason.

"I just want you to hear me out." He looks around, checking there is no one within earshot. He then lowers his voice and says "I have a proposition that could make us both rich."

Theola's expression tightens. She no longer has the look of a drunkard on the side of the road. Instead, her eyes are focused and serious. Her tone also changes to reflect that.

"Go on, I'm listening."

Seeing this returns some confidence returns to Polk. He smiles and begins explaining.

"You know where I work, right? At the Coppereye Inn? Well, we recently received a lot of foreign guests. One of them is this rich lady with the ridiculously long black hair that almost touches the ground. You may have seen her around town. She's part of a group of Zamorians who are staying there right now."

"Who hasn't? She stands out like a sore thumb in any crowd. You say she's staying at Coppereye? That place is hardly fit for a noble's page boy. Why would Zamorian nobility stay at such a shabby inn?"

"It's by order of Lord Faustina. They ran out of rooms at other inns, so we actually received funds to spice up the place, which we did. It's hard to see from the outside, but you won't even recognize it if you go in now. We did such a fine job that it's almost like a high-class inn appearance-wise. Anyway, that's not the point. The point is she's staying at an inn to which I have access as part of the staff." Polk leans in over the table to add emphasis to his words and minimizing the chance of being overheard. "I saw it while her room was being cleaned. There's this big container full of jewels. Diamonds, rubies, topaz, opals and more; she has a lot and some of them are huge. That thing alone must be worth a king's ransom. You get what I'm saying?"

"Planning to steal from nobility again? That's a guaranteed death sentence if you're caught. We barely got out in time after that attempt on the magistrate's office. Now you want to try an even bigger heist?"

"After watching her for a week, I'm sure now; the target has no guards and always stays in a private room by herself. Since I work there, we can easily sneak in at night when everyone is asleep. We'll just quietly swipe the gems and leave Tyrin before anyone realizes what happened. Or do you want to stay here and die? You've heard the rumors, right?"

"Why else would I be drinking? Of course I've heard. If Tyrin gets surrounded by an army of that size, there's no escape. The whole town will be pillaged and burned. I was thinking of leaving today or tomorrow..."

Polk places his hand on Theola's shoulder. "Let's leave together then. First the Zamorians and now this; people are saying the town is cursed. If we get that pile of gems, we'll be able to live in leisure anywhere in the country. Hell, we could even escape to Zamora."

"... I could make good use of those gems. With a powerful catalyst, my magic would instantly go from mid-tier to top-tier. Maybe sell a couple for some spending money and keep the rest."

"Does that mean you'll do it? I'll split everything we get if you help out. Fifty - fifty."

After considering any possible alternatives, Theola leans in close and looks him directly in the eye. "Okay, deal. Don't forget what you just said. We're in this together, just like the old days."

"Just like the old days" Polk repeats with a smile.