"What the hell are we even doing out here?" A stalky man asks his burnt faced colleague.

The men were around a mile from the outskirts of a small port town. The group, used to praying on those traveling between the capital and inland cities, disliked the sticky feeling of the jungle this far south.

"Idiot. You remember the one we got that coin from?" The bulkiest says smacking the stalky man upside the head.

"The signet?"

"Mhm, Guy said a noble here in town bought his entire stock. Must be a wealthy one." The leader cackles softly to himself as he explains. "Rod, you finished scoping it, right?"

"Yeah, at around six bells a straight shot lines up. If we can be in and out within five minutes we should be fine."

"Well, that's up to Gurd." He says turning to the youngest of the group. A boy around sixteen or seventeen. "Well?"

"It… I don't think it will be a problem. If it's dwarven I can do it in three minutes. If it's human, ten seconds maybe."

"Vault all the way out here ain't gonna be dwarven, and if it is, it's a weak one." The leader grunts. "Well if dumbass Toiun here didn't forget the other summon stone you'd have some backup but with only the one it will just be you and Gurd, so you best protect him with your life."

"Peh. I ain't protecting some kid."

"That kid is worth a billion of you fool. Sure a shadow walker is rare but you are a dime a dozen compared to a lock breaker."

"HHHHHe. I won't deny that. Fine, I will keep him safe, but he better not mess up."

"I… I won't," Gurd says firmly.

"Mm, well just before six bells Toiun and I will attack the guard station in the west. That should draw the guards away. You should have a few minutes of peace and quiet."

The men all nod to the leader's words and begin preparations for the evening's festivities.

The sun was still high in the air but the men knew the time would pass quickly. They were accustomed to waiting. A few hours was nothing to them. And the possible take from this mission could be their highest yet.

The shadows of the trees elongate as the sun dips lower in the sky. The noise from the town grew louder as the festival began.

The group split, Gurd would wait with half of the magical tool while Rod snuck into the city with the other half. Toiun and Leader departed towards the western guard station.

The plan was perfect.

"Have you heard what they are celebrating?" Gurd asks right before Rod's departure.

"Not a clue. Probably some harvest or something." Rod says brushing off the boy's concern.

"But wasn't there a rumor tha…"

"No time, this is my window kid. You better be ready, I will be activating this thing soon."

With those words, the dark man vanished into a shadow of a nearby tree.

None but those in dark circles would notice, but the shadow he leaped into connected to that of many others, from one tree to another, to a rock then back to lumber. He reached an outlying house that was placed perfectly, extending along the shadow of its strange spire into another clump of trees. All the while completely hidden from view.

His soul reached the festive town. It leaped through in seconds, past blocks of housing until finally reaching the bank.

Exhaustion overwhelmed him now.

To leap this far was something not many of his peers could do. Leader would be wise to understand that.

His form reemerged from the darkness panting heavily.

The window was wider than he said so he took a few moments to catch his breath. To show a sorry sight to that lock breaker kid would be unsightly.

Finally gaining his breath he took the rough metal locket from his pocket and pressed a gem sitting inside.

A green light weakly emitted from the area but the townspeople didn't notice.

"Wah…" The kid says surprised by the sudden change in location.

"Yeah, never done it myself but Leader said it was a weird feeling."

"It's no…"

*BLAARAGH*

"Oh, keep it down, kid. No time for you to be spitting up, let's finish this and get outta here. Window's closing."

"Uuuu... But what about the diversion?"

"It's already started," The man says pointing to a couple jogging soldiers in the distance. "Come on."

"Right."

The two run around the corner of the building towards the rear door.

The boy places a hand on the metal knob concentrating firmly. Within a moment the knob turns and the boy nod with confidence.

Rod pats his back with a grin. "Good work kid. But we aren't done yet."

The two quietly step into the dark building, Rod glances at the corners but nods after a moment.

"Get to work." He says pointing to the large metal door in the rear of the building.

"This is…" The boy says looking at the thick door. "Impossible for such a vault to be in a town like this is…"

"What?! Can you do it or not?"

"I… I can do it. Give me a bit." He places his hands on the door and begins to sort the mechanisms in his head.

A turn here, a tumbler here. Rotate this, activating that.

"I've never seen a vault so strong." The boy mumbles under his breath as he fumbles with the internal mechanisms with magic.

"Oy, Shh. Someone's coming!" The man loudly whispers to the boy.

"But I just about got it!" The boy says, his voice being drowned by the whistle of air from the vault door opening.

"Eh. Fine, alright let's get inside, leave the door cracked. If I have to I'll just shadow leap out of here."

"But if they shut the door…"

~ Earlier (Back to Cole POV) ~

"Oh! I never expected to see you guys outside the bank."

Ponzo and Carol were milling around the festival when me and the girls noticed them.

"Carol insisted. I'm not a fan of leaving but I suppose it is a special occasion. The hero though, huh? Wow, never thought I'd meet one." Ponzo says with rosy cheeks. He sips from the cup in his hand before scowling and moving to the other. "It's my honor to guard the hero's money. Although today I will drink if requested of me."

"Mhm, I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to try anything during a festival with this purpose," Carol adds sipping from a cup of her own.

I tend to agree. This festival is in honor of the new 'Hero'. Everyone in town at this point knows I am strong. Not to mention half the guards in town have been trained by ETC.

No, tonight the bank is perfectly safe.

So we will celebrate!

"Well, I am glad you could join in. It is good to see you two out of your element. Looking at it like this I would guess you two were dating."

"Ah…"

"N…nothing of the sort me and carol are only…"

"Yeah, no. We are only friends."

"I see."

"Mm, Mmm," El says beside me. Nodding at my silent assumption. She tilts closer to me waving me towards her. "But you know captain. It's typically not socially accepted to be in that type of relationship, so you should be quiet."

"With a co-worker?"

"No, with another race," El whispers with an exasperated tone.

"Oh. That's dumb." I say returning to normal height and volume. "But then what about you and me?"

"Well I care not, and you rescued me from distress, therefore I'm eternally indebted to you. But if you are not alright with…"

"No, I don't care about that at all. I think that's a foolish belief. Can humans and dwarves make children?"

"Wah… That's…"

"Cole what are you…"

El finally answers my question. "Yes, they can. Same with humans, and elves, demihumans, even orcs."

"Psh, then, of course, they should be able to be in relationships." I drunkenly ramble. "I bet the kids are super cute too."

"They are. I have seen a half elf before, although rare they are quite cute."

"See, then no reason for dumb prejudices." I place an arm on both Ponzo and Carol. Thier height difference makes it difficult but to my eyes, they seem about level. "Good luck."

"Wa…"

"Thank you, Cole," Ponzo says confidently nodding and banging his cup into my chest.

"Good. Now! Where is Rou, another drink!?"

"No more captain. It's too strong. Dad is already dead and I think I'm not far behind."

"Nonsense your father will awaken feeling better than ever. The wonder of distilled alcohol! Ponzo, join me!"

"Distilled you say?"

"That's right! Made it myse'f" I say catching the final word in a hic'up.

"Then I couldn't possibly refuse."

"Carol how about you?" I ask extending a glass to her. She sniffs subconsciously and winces.

"No, I am ok. I am going to look around for some food. I hear there is something good but its name sounds extremely foreign to me."

Carol roughly curtseyed before moving towards the direction of the EBC food stand.

Perhaps they will rename this clam chowder branch ECCC? They seem to like the naming style. But wouldn't that mess with Triff's budding construction company, ECC?

This is becoming confusing, and the drinks don't help.

I will drink more, I think that should help.

""Cheers!"" Ponzo and I say clinking glasses.

We both swig and sigh happily.

"That's some drink. What is it, a dozen ales?"

"Something like that. Minus the bread."

"Meh but the bread is the best part."

"Maybe I'm weird but I don't like my beer alive."

"Beer?"

"Nothing…" I take another long sip from a nearby cup.

It's nice to have days like this. I was able to talk with Theo, I have good food and drink. Good company.

It's a good day. Nothing could break my happiness.

"Pon! Pon!" Carol shouts, interrupting the dwarf mid sip. "Something is happening. Guards at the western post sounded the silent alarm."

"What why isn't my… Oh shit, I forgot it in the bank." He drops the cup and pats his jacket before returning his attention to the woman "Let's go."

"Wai… Wha's happenin?" I ask attempting to not sound drunk.

"It's nothing we just need to…"

"I hear new people in that direction. Captain something is happening." El says perking up an ear in the direction of the bank.

"Oh, then we will come too."

"Captain they already left."

"How rude. Well, I will deal with it."

I stumble from the stool and gasp at the sudden blood circulation. Once my vision returns I head towards the bank building.

Let's see what all the fuss is about.