The setting sun slowly took away the daylight as the two young men dragged themselves back towards the farmhouse; they weren’t only dragging their own bloodied selves, but also a large fire badger twice the size of any of the previous ones, its fur fiery red. With every step they left a red track, but they continued forward unrelentingly, their faces tired but smiley, happiness marred their faces.

“Two months…” Edra shook his head as he powered forth, his body now much stronger than it had been previously.

Bardo had somehow gotten even more solid looking, his large frame even bigger “but we did it, although that moment where your skill didn’t affect the elder fire badger, I have to admit” he laughed loudly “I almost shat myself” they both laughed hard at that, although they also both began coughing because of the pain from laughing, which only made them laugh harder, a vicious cycle of laughter.

“Thinking back on when we just arrived at Brün and we sold the few leftover materials from the swamp drake, I’m fairly certain that the merchant gave us a bad price for it, not that it mattered after we got robbed, but nonetheless we should try and get a good price this time, maybe we can even get some armor out of this badger” They hadn’t spoken a whole lot while walking back, but now that they were on the last stretch amongst the fields, they relaxed and begun speaking about different topics.

“I think the old man can help us skin the animals, although I wonder what happened to the majority of the corpses, but we should try and get as much materials from them as we can, there should still be more than fifty left” they both agreed to return with the old man, but they both shuddered at the thought of how many more corpses would be missing when they returned, something out there had been nabbing up the corpses without them ever finding out who or what did it, all they knew was that it had left them alone.

. . . .

Thomas Siebling shook the hand of Elisa, he wore a creepy smile, but that didn’t seem to faze the young noble at all.

“I’m surprised that we would get reacquainted through a mutual acquaintance, and that that person would be miss Somma” Siebling let go of her hand and retracted a document from his satchel, he put the document down onto a large beautifully carved table, rays of sun from a large glass windows lit up the oak surface “this is the contract, as we have agreed upon” he quickly signed the document.

Elisa nodded satisfied as she too signed the document, whereas she led Thomas outside of the conference room.

Peter was standing in front of the room with a dissatisfied expression, he didn’t know what had come over Elisa lately, and all he did know was that she had completely changed her attitude towards Luna Somma, and now her making a deal with Thomas Siebling, it was all very suspicious. It didn’t matter how much he asked her about these matters, she wouldn’t give him a clear answer, in fact her attitude towards him had deteriorated greatly within the last month and a half, he was beginning to doubt if he’d still have his position by the end of the year.

. . . .

His wife yelled for him as he slammed the door and left out into the evening. It wasn’t the first argument, it wouldn’t be the last one, it was all Elisa’s fault, her changes begun affecting him at home. Peter shook his head sadly as he wandered through the streets, eventually he came across a noisy bar and inn called the White Lady, he decided to go in for a drink, or two.

The insides were lit up nicely by mage stones and candle lanterns, the room was rowdy, and people were singing, playing games, there was even a big man arm-wrestling another big guy with a crowd surrounding them, cheering them on.

“Give me something strong” Peter said tiredly, the bartender complied silently and picked up the coin from the table as he quickly filled a glass with whiskey and placed it in front of Peter. Amid all of the noise, Peter slowly got more and more intoxicated, it was as if he was simply a passenger in someone else’s body, people yelled and played music, the rowdiness surrounded him, but he felt like he was inside a bubble, where none could enter, where none could help him solve his problems. It wasn’t until one of the guys from the arm-wrestling group came over to the bar and ordered two beers that Peter began waking up from his state of mind ‘wasn’t that Edra just now?’ he thought to himself as he lifted his head and followed him return with his eyes, and that big guy, was that Bardo? They both looked somewhat different from how he remembered them, or was he just too drunk? His wife didn’t get it, she didn’t know Elisa, and he didn’t want to bring trouble home to his family, but Edra was different, they were friends, or they had been, but who else could he turn to? He quickly stumbled onto his legs and wobbled his way over to the group, he was so drunk that whatever happened next he wouldn’t remember.

. . . .

Luna Somma lay reclined in a soft leather chair, viewing the south part of the Somma estate, the windows large from the floor up to the high ceiling, she was reading the contract of Thomas Siebling and Elisa Edelgaard. Her smile, pose and posture a painter’s dream, she put down the contract softly on a small side table, her soft hands resting slightly on it as she stood up, she surveyed the room lazily, confidently, it was a rather simplistic room, almost entirely empty, and almost entirely made of glass with only one chair in it. She turned her gaze to the only other person who stood there humbly, a man who generally prided himself of his slyness, of his deviousness, yet in front of the lady Somma, he could not help but bow his head in genuine respect, admiration and fear.

“Everything is coming along according to the master’s plans” a small drop of sweat fell from his forehead as he lifted his head back up “Elisa is a puppet in your hands lady Somma” his skinny hands rubbing against each other.

An eyebrow lifted, Luna smiled coldly “what gave you the idea that you could refer to a noble by their first name?” she simply stood there with her hands behind her back, leisurely, calmly.

Thomas instantly began sweating heavily, what a mistake to make “my apologies lady Somma” He dropped to his right knee heavily “I forgot myself in my excitement”

She sat down askew on the chair her fingers drumming on the small table lightly “had you not been a dog of the master, I’d have had you punished, now be gone, I wish to be alone” She turned on the chair and laid back comfily in it again, she looked at the peaceful moonlit landscape outside before she closed her eyes. Siebling scuffled out of the door as discreetly as he could.

. . . .

Three guys sat around a small wooden table at the White Lady, they each had a baguette with pastry. They were quietly eating and drinking some tea, there was barely anyone there compared to the previous night.

“How you feeling there?” Bardo asked impolitely and in a broken language whilst chewing on his food. It was quite obvious that he wasn’t entirely happy about seeing Peter again, but he tolerated it as he was Edra’s friend.

Peter painfully swallowed what he was chewing, coughed a little and took a quick swig of water “I’m fine thank you…” he trailed off, he didn’t know what to say, sorry? What would that accomplish, it wasn’t his fault to begin with, a clear confliction spread across his face as he took another bite of food to stall while he was thinking.

“How is Elisa doing?” the question innocent enough, but it made a Peter give Edra a panicked look, yet he didn’t speak up “well that does it doesn’t it, have a nice one, and see you around Peter” he pushed back his chair and spoke to Bardo “we’d best be going we’ve plenty of stuff to do today after all” Bardo got up to, and followed Edra towards the door, it all happened so fast that Peter barely had time to react before they were out. He had hesitated, he hadn’t known what to say or do when faced with the two whom he felt that he had betrayed, he took his hands to his head as he sat there at the table in silence.

Exiting the White Lady inn, the two didn’t say much, they just walked towards the noble districts in silence, it was a gloomy day with light rain and overcast skies, they had been in a great mood ever since they returned successfully from their latest request, they had gained multiple levels and job levels, and Bardo had even gained basic hammer expertise passive skill, they had delivered and sold a huge amount of fire badger fur and claws, and bottles of blood to different merchants around town and earned a fair amount of coin, they had also delivered the elder fire badger materials to a blacksmith who promised to make something from it and that they could pick it up soon. Somehow though, meeting Peter was a starch reminder of being left for dead in the Sjörn, the constant feeling of fear that permeated them during that period, and the betrayal when they had been left behind. They were not in a good mood, and so they simply passed along the different streets until they found themselves in the nicer part of town, with bigger buildings made of better materials. The big local noble houses had their estates, there weren’t more than ten of those in Brün, and each of those ten had a merchant office close to the estates where people could make contact with them. The big and small nobles and noble houses who weren’t local but stationed people in Brün, owned houses and mansions in the inner circle together with the minor aristocracy.

Eventually they came to the entrance of the inner circle, they had previously asked around in the outer circle and in the ten noble merchant offices, with no luck, none seemed to know this Weiss character, on this day they decided to visit the inner circle, hopefully they could find him there.

“Now listen here” the town official said while straightening his glasses “you don’t have an entrance permit, at best you can apply for entry, and if everything checks out you can enter the inner circle in a day or two, I really don’t understand what the rush is!” he finished in a loud tone of voice.

Edra and Bardo had been very pushy about entering the inner circle, which eventually resulted in the town official losing his temper, Edra spoke up after that “alright, alright we’ll like to apply for permission” they both handed over their request booklet with the request description, the official quickly checked that everything was in order and then wrote their names and other information on a document.

To the official’s dismay Bardo turned around just as they were about to leave “you shouldn’t have information about this noble Weiss, and where he lives?” he asked politely.

“I have a ledger, just give me a moment” he quickly went to the back and rummaged around, finally he came out, he picked up a note and wrote down some information “Here is the address of his previous living quarters, however I am afraid to say that he has moved a few years ago, if you’re lucky the new owners knows more” the town official didn’t dislike the two, they had just been a bit too pushy initially.

They were both clearly shocked, but they thanked the official earnestly and left the office in a bit of a daze.

. . . .

The bishop finished his sermon to all the nobles and aristocrats who showed up, the church was splendid, constructed of large slabs of light sand coloured marble and ivory white marble, today’s sermon was for the human god SonstHeir the god of trials and hardships, and how the nobles and aristocrats had to persevere in their duties for the common man. The bishop smiled at the congregation, he was an elderly man with a grey beard and clear clever eyes, he went the rounds of speaking with everyone politely before he left for his private quarters. In his room he undressed, changed into a charcoal coloured robe, he pulled a large hoody over his head and chanted two words in a whisper. He then proceeded to walk down a secret stairway that had appeared next to his bed, the stairway led to a tunnel that led to other tunnels that led to chambers and passageways, anyone who passed him by greeted him as master. Underneath his hood he wore a sickly smile of self-satisfaction; he was the master, and they his subjects, students and puppets.

As he entered his private chamber his favourite student was standing there in waiting, she hadn’t sat yet, and she wouldn’t, not until he arrived.

“I assume everything is coming along nicely?” he asked as he sat down, his hood covering everything but the edge of his beard.

“Your humble student greets you, master” Luna responded as she sat down too “the charm made of the coins has worked wonders, initially Elisa was reluctant to communicate with me, as she always is, but already now after just a month and a half she has begun listening to my advice as if we were close friends, the power of this ritual is truly scary” a fervent feverish glint was present in her eyes as she finished speaking.

The master smiled underneath the hoodie “Yes, the ritual is excellent, it is gradual, so it removes suspicions that one might have that something could be influencing the target, and even if people think that the person is acting differently, it is so gradual that it could simply be a change in character” He moved his hand forward “I assume we got the contract signed, yes?”

“Of course master, everything went ahead without a hitch, you will have plenty of… materials soon enough” she handed over the contract, her hand hovered slightly, she hesitated, before she let go of it “I don’t understand master, why not approach the duke, or some of the higher nobles, or the patriarch of the Edelgaard family? Wouldn’t it be more effective that way?”

He looked over the contract and put it in a drawer on the table “you are very clever child, but you must learn to be more shrewd, there is several reasons for why I have not approached someone in a higher position” he got up from his chair and went to get a small ornate box “this box holds several charms which beget me influence over multiple people, through the years I have come to realise that young people are more moldable, especially before they begin levelling up, the second reason is that young people generally go through a lot of change during childhood or their teenage years, this is the perfect cover for influencing someone, it is far more likely that the patriarch or matriarch of a family would become a target, and if someone discovered that they were under the influence, it would gradually lose its effects, if not that someone came to dispel the effects entirely” he put the box back slowly “I tell this to you, my most treasured student, but you cannot tell anyone else.

Luna was ecstatic, she was the most treasured student, she knew what others didn’t, with a beaming smile she got up and bid her farewells.

. . . .

“You’re DISMISSED!” Elisa yelled at Peter, who quickly left in an agitated state. What had gotten into her? He had simply asked her about why she changed her attitude towards Luna Somma, but then she had lost her temper and scolded him for talking badly about Luna, didn’t she use to trash talk her? Then why did she act differently now? So many questions, yet he had no answers. In his muddled thoughts he found himself in front of the White Lady’s entrance once more, he needed someone, someone to share his worries with, even if they couldn’t help, he opened the door reluctantly.

Bardo sat leaning backwards in his chair, his big arms crossed, Edra leaned forward his elbows resting on the wooden table “so what you’re telling me is that you suspect that something has happened to Elisa? And this is based on her feelings towards this Luna Somma? And also that you’re no longer allowed to call her Elisa in private?” he questioned, he hadn’t been too happy about Peter awaiting them on their way back to the inn, but he had given him the benefit of the doubt and heard what he had to say, in a way, if Peter was right, then it was quite shocking information.

Peter looked nervously towards the door and window, he had insisted that they talked in Edra’s room, rather than the common room “can you speak in a lower voice, please” he whispered nervously “if there is some conspiracy then they might be listening!” it hadn’t been until he put words to his worries that he truly began being paranoid, the more he spoke the more he had convinced himself.

Edra took a deep breath “alright Peter, listen, I somehow doubt that there is a conspiracy, but you did save my life once, and I won’t forget that, so I’ll take a look into this for you, as for Bardo, that is his choice” Edra looked towards Bardo who simply nodded his head strongly “that settles it then, however we’ll be in the inner circle in a few days, maybe if this Luna Somma works there we can try and do some investigation while we are at it, how’s that sound?” he leaned forward and stood up from his chair and moved his hand onto Peter’s shoulder “we were friends at some point, and you have a family, so if anything let’s get you some peace of mind”

With moist eyes he almost cried, but he didn’t, he stood up and put his hand on Edra’s shoulder as well “thank you, truly, both of you, I no we, do not deserve your help, thank you!”

. . . .

The permit hadn’t been given yet, but the town official had promised the two that it would be there by the following morning, Edra told Bardo that he had wanted to check up on some matters at the library for a while so he left promptly.

He had entered the largest public library in Brün, and it was indeed significantly larger than the one in Loktath. The building style was similar though, with a construction consisting of large slabs of rocks and small amounts of wood. When Edra inquired about this he was told that it was because it functioned as a safety against fire, and therefore it would minimize the loss of books and scrolls if one were to occur.

What he found first was a small book, no more than a few pages; he had deliberately taken it though, as he had seen the authors name on the cover, Lady MariMar.

The Small guide to understanding Attributes.

Written by Lady MariMar of the house of Vestiga.

Third Era of the lord Astair the 4’th, Year 185.

Dear reader welcome to reading another of this author’s small guides, this guide will introduce the interested reader to attributes and how they are affected by attributes; this will also be shown in illustrations. This is by far one of the shortest guides of the series.

There are numerous attributes that can be unlocked, some can only be unlocked for specific classes and races, whereas others become locked or removed entirely depending on your class and race. Some attributes are passive and have special requirements in terms of increasing them, for example the special attribute toughness increases a person’s defences, it is a rather unique attribute and have special requirements to unlock which will not be described in this guide, regardless, to increase it one is required to self-mutilate ones body, again this is described in more detail in guides that describe the toughness attribute. The issue often is that some attributes have such hidden requirements or are so arbitrary or even individual, that they are difficult to try and attain or master.

Each class has a job level, upon levelling up the job level each class will provide passive attribute increases, a warrior for example gain +2 strength +1 vitality and +1stamina, every single first main class will provide a bonus of +4 to one of the main attributes per job level, if the class is changed rather than branched, then these attributes will be lost. After reaching first branching, depending on the class the passive increase in attributes might be less than +4, but considering that some attributes gives large boosts to different perimeters, the classes that provide less than +4 often provide bonuses in the attributes that have higher attribute point requirements, resulting in a higher than +4 increase.

Another find that is interesting is that some attributes mark a clear qualitative difference upon reaching certain levels, for example strength 100 is almost 50% stronger than strength 99, yet to increase the attribute from 99 to 100 requires 20 attribute points.

Edra closed the book, it made sense, but it didn’t give him the answer he sought, so he looked through a few more books in the same shelve, until he came across a book with descriptions of multiple attributes.

… The luck attribute is one of the many strange and mystical attributes, there is no known race or class that provides any boons to the luck attribute, there is rumors of titles that increases the attribute, but none that can be confirmed, the effects of the luck attribute are also disputed. The luck attribute is best known as an attribute that show up on special equipment or scrolls, and it will always have limited uses. Some claim that it saved their lives, others claim that it didn’t change the outcome at all, a disputed attribute.

He spun the ring on his finger, could he rely on it? He quickly began flicking through the pages until he came across another entry.

... Soul power, few classes rely on this esoteric attribute, spiritually aligned classes or faith based classes are often the ones that provide bonuses in soul power, or need soul power to function. Soul power itself as implied, strengthens the soul of the person, it has similar effects to willpower in that it increases a person’s resistance, however soul power also protects against mind attacks and mind and soul affecting conditions, magic or other.

To some extent this could explain why he wasn’t feeling the effects of the Sjörn the same way everyone else was, it at least was a better explanation than he wasn’t affected at all. After putting the book back in the shelf he went looking through different bookshelves in the same area until he found what he sought, a singular scroll with a few words written on it.

The Small guide to understanding class branching.

Written by Lady MariMar of the house of Vestiga.

Third Era of the lord Astair the 4’th, Year 191.

Upon further reflection this author realised that certain matters in regards to class branching was taken for granted in the small guide of understanding classes, this scroll will cover these.

As mentioned earlier in the small guide of understanding classes, an individual will attain different options upon branching, personages with specific main first classes will automatically unlock the option for certain advancements, and for example squire will automatically attain the possibility of knight. Many people seek out masters or trainers, although these cannot guarantee that you will attain their class, they can increase the possibility; it is important to note that they do not function as instructors, instructors provide a quest and guarantee class attainment upon completion, a master can teach you their skills or spells, but they cannot guarantee you attain the class you hope for.

For now this author believes that is all that the reader should know, do not let yourself be fooled into paying sums of coin or other for unattainable classes.

When Edra returned to the inn in the evening Bardo was nowhere to be seen, so he ate his food in solitude and returned to his room afterwards going to bed early. He didn’t get the chance to sleep long though, as Bardo came barging into his room in a joyful mood. He had a big a big bundle and a hammer across his back, Edra sat up in his bed ready to jump out, but when he saw who it was he relaxed.

Bardo too excited for pleasantries or apologies immediately began speaking “IT is done my friend! And what fine products they are!” he laughed loudly, it was obvious he had had a few before barging in.

“Back up there friend, what products…” he glanced at the two handed hammer that was slung over his friend’s back “are you referring to our order at the armory?”

Bardo put down the big bundle on the small table which nearly toppled from the weight “of course I am!” he opened the bundle impatiently “Look at these two coats!” he pulled up a large dark coloured fiery red coat and wore it, it went down to just above his knees, it had sleeves and a hood, the leather faced inwards and the rigid small hairs outwards, which was uncommon, but considering that the durability of the fire badger didn’t come from its skin but its rigid hairs, it made sense, the front had several teeth functioning as buttons, Bardo made a few bunches and kicks to show that he could fight in it “it is very comfy, and the buttons are made of the teeth, the string made of the tendons, so it is super durable and we should be able to move in it!” he threw a similar coat from the bundle over to Edra, it was smaller and fit him very nicely, Edra too was trying on the coat “he also made us some gloves, these ones aren’t going to ward off any physical damage though as the fur is inward, but they are quite skintight and similarly to the coat they have flame resistance of 5%!” he took on a pair of light brown finger-gloves.

Edra wore his gloves too and they were nice and snug “what about that hammer? How did it turn out? It looks quite different from what we turned over for repairs, and where is my spear?” he was excited too and spoke with a big grin.

“The hammer was too useless apparently, so he scrapped it completely, and made a new hammer for me, and because he was close to progressing in his passive weapon smithing skill he added some superior steel free of charge, he mixed it with the marrow and bone powder of the elder fire badger” he quickly wielded the hammer which had a dark silver cover with streaks of white, the head was larger than before and was square without any decorative patterns or runes, the shaft was steal too, but was wrapped in a dark leather material “it has a high physical damage, and the more it is wielded in battle the warmer the head gets with its maximum heat being as hot as a fire badger’s claw!” he handed the heavy hammer over to Edra, who visibly sunk in a bit when he got a hold of it, his strength lower than Bardo’s.

“Very nice, very nice” he smiled gently “but where is my spear?” his gentle smile turned cold.

“…” The big man simply stood there like a tree, unmoving and silent, Edra kept looking at him until he finally spoke up “alright, alright, the blacksmith used all of the bone and marrow on my hammer, and he trashed your spear, and the reason he didn’t fix or replace it was because he used superior steel on my hammer, so I suppose it wasn’t entirely for free” he spoke faster and faster, so that the last part was barely audible.

The loud sound of the hammer dropping to the floor echoed out in the small room for a fraction of a second “he did what now!” he roared.

“It was a good deal though!” Bardo defended, looking painfully at his hammer lying on the floor, not knowing if he should pick it up or not, he bend down slightly.

“You better be itching your knee there friend, because you better not be picking up that hammer!” Edra slammed his hand on the table angrily.

For a moment Bardo almost complied, for a moment he was the rational of the two, and then he wasn’t. He bowed down once again, only to be met by an uppercut, which lifted his body up violently, but he soaked the punch and returned one of his own, which was blocked, although it still did damage. The punching match lasted all but a few second before they were on the floor bloody and swollen, both feeling equally stupid.

“Sorry, I might have overreacted, I just got a little envious I suppose” Edra was feeling up his sore jaw.

“A little?!” Bardo began laughing loudly, which quickly made Edra laugh. They stopped though, as an angry inn keeper came knocking on the door asking for some quiet. They agreed that they’d go and buy a new spear after they visited the inner circle, so the day after the next.

The next morning they left the inn early and in a good mood, leaving behind their equipment and wore light casual wear, they were still a bit bruised, despite their high vitality. When the town official saw the two men he decided not to ask questions and handed over the permits, after which they entered from one of the many entrances.

“Not until now, did I realise just how different this place is from Loktath” Bardo exclaimed silently. The buildings more detailed, more colourful, bigger, each with a large yard, there was parks everywhere, most of the houses had small property attached, creating spaces in-between the houses and mansions, the people who walked around were mostly wearing expensive clothes, or had official uniforms on, on occasion they would see an ordinary family, who like themselves were looking around with large eyes, according to the town official the locals outside of the inner circle could receive a passing permit for 4 visits a year if they owned their own residence and had a steady income. The inner district was far easier to navigate, and they quickly found themselves in front of an old fashioned mansion, it was painted in a light blue, and the roofing was a shiny emerald green, the front yard wasn’t too big, but well taken care of, with the grass lush and green filled with small flowerbeds. They walked up to the door, somewhat intimidated by the fanciness of it all. Edra lifted the ornate bronze door hammer; he hesitated for a moment before he knocked on the door with it.

A young girl came to the door, she was just about to speak when she was stumped by the young men in front of her, both had relatively long and dirty looking hair with stubby beards, they both wore worn and old clothes, and they both looked like they had just been in a brawl, what was it her mom called those kinds of people? Unsavory? Yes that was the word. She shut the door tightly, but it didn’t take long before they knocked on it again, she peeked out of the small window next to the door and saw that it was obviously still the two men from before.

“Honey who is it?” a gentle voice called from the backyard.

“Two unsavory looking men” she yelled back “I’d rather not speak with them, I’m going to my room!” and the girl ran up to her room, much to the dismay of her mother who had to come and open the door, their maid was ill so they had to take care of some of the smaller matters themselves.

The door opened, and this time it was a chubby, albeit friendly looking blonde haired lady looking at the them “and what can I help you with?” she asked icily, her friendly looks deceiving the two.

“So you have a letter for this mister Weiss who used to be the resident of this mansion, why how would I remember where he moved, he was only here to hand over the key and tell us some basic things, please be gone now” she finished and was about to close the door when the small girl yelled from upstairs, obviously eavesdropping.

“He moved to Estair city in the kingdom of Hagh, it is in the north, he told me I could build snowmen there!”

The mom looked up the stairs and then back at the two men “Well there you have it” she slammed the door in their faces.

“Well at least we have a clue now, although somewhat unreliable coming from a small girl” Bardo grimaced at the thought of leaving for a different kingdom all the way up north, only feel silly as only two fools would heed a child’s words.

They were sitting in a small park not too far away from the mansion they had just visited, the park was well taken care of and had many benches and a fountain in the middle with statuette fish spitting water up into a cascade.

“We’ll sort it out with the guild, I imagine we’d need a larger reward than the original one, regardless, we have a direction, whether we follow it, we can make that decision later” he got up and stretched his body “for now we should find one of these Somma, and see what we can learn”

It didn’t take long to find the merchant building of the Somma, it was the third largest noble house in Brün. Bardo and Edra approached the large complex; it had several entrances, one for official business, one for private customers, the artisans, an attached inn and restaurant, and on the far right a fancy looking tavern. It all looked fancy though, with smooth whitewashed oak, simple yet elegant, somehow the building didn’t seem to fit in, it was more like a building from a fairytale.

“So where do we go to get information?” Bardo looked at Edra with a grin, and they both headed to the tavern, and they came out as soon as they had entered, apparently there was a dress code in the restaurant and tavern, instead they headed to the merchant door for private customers.

. . . .

“Miss there is a couple of men asking about you out front” a well-dressed merchant said while bowing his upper body lightly “they look like street rats, however I dared not dismiss them before you had made your opinion known”

Luna Somma looked up from a stack of documents with a curious look, someone was here asking about her, and they appeared to be common folk, now wasn’t that interesting “I’ll go take a look, warn the other merchants not to reveal that it is me”

“Of course mistress” the merchant swiftly left the room.

Soon a beautiful woman excited the backroom and entered the floor of the merchant hall, she wore a regular merchant outfit of the Somma store, and although she drew a few gazes, no one thought too much of it, when she saw the two men, she couldn’t help but feel that she recognized the smaller one of them.

She approached them slowly, and drew their gazes when she stood in front of them “I hear that you are asking about the young misses, it is not a clever idea to try and interrogate the staff”

“My apologies, we’re simply here on the request of a paranoid friend” Edra spoke candidly, he had promised to look into Luna Somma, but that didn’t mean that he thought her the incarnation of evil “If you don’t mind, we’d like to ask a few questions in private”

She had been ready to dismiss them right then and there, but she was somehow drawn in by the words paranoid friend, it piqued her otherwise disinterested curiosity “well” she faked looking around carefully “how about I meet you out front, I know a good spot, I’ll see you soon” she enjoyed the acting, although she despised having to deal with two commoners, they weren’t worthy of her company nor her words.

Luna came out shortly after they had exited, she made sure to act her part of a paranoid person herself, which led to Edra and Bardo acting carefully too which was seen when they whispered to her as she greeted them, then they followed her along different streets and alleys, they then entered a small door in the city wall, the room they came into was nondescript, and looked like an abandoned guards room.

“So how can I help you? I dare not speak of the lady in the presence of the other merchants, as her temper is foul” she lied, she was ecstatic her adrenaline was pumping, she didn’t fear the two men, but the play, the act it was all too entertaining.

“Well my friend…” Edra almost revealed Peter’s name and gender, but thought against it “my friend works for a noble named Elisa Edelgaard, and apparently my friend believes her to be under the influence of this Luna Somma, according to him she had a deep dislike and hatred for the woman no more than two months ago, yet now they are close as can be”

Luna stood silently for a bit, weighing her approach, then she asked innocently looking at Bardo, who had been otherwise silent “and where did you know this friend from?”

“Loktath” Bardo answered without thinking, and then clamped his mouth, he realised he had over spoken, he had been so caught up in the conversation, that when she spoke to him he simply answered, what a fool he had been, he cursed her beautiful ice blue eyes in his mind, they had mesmerized him.

Loktath! Loktath, she snapped her head to look at Edra again, it was him! The man who had caused the death of her loyal manservant Foss! Any thoughts about Elisa, or the charm left her mind, revenge was the only thing brewing there now, Foss had been with her since she was a child, and he was loyal regardless of what she got herself into, and it was the man in front of her who had caused his death!

An uncanny silence permeated the small room, Edra couldn’t help but feel a hint of dread, the woman in front of him had changed her attitude instantly, her nervous gestures disappeared, and instead he now faced a relaxed and confident woman, she leaned back against the wall her arms crossed.

She smiled, a smile that sent shivers down their spines, she had made up her mind, her master could always need a soul or two, why else had he made the contract with Elisa, she noticed how the two men had begun tensing up, she admired their instincts, if only a little “now now boys, not so fast” she spoke calmly “you are right, Elisa is under a charm, it has made her suggestable to Luna, and Luna herself is working for the master, a man who wields unprecedented power he has charms and rituals in place to control countless of powerful people in Brün”

“What? Why are you?.. it can’t be” Edra instantly turned to Bardo about to run, Bardo too understood at that moment, and began turning, but that was as much they got to do before they felt an icy cold chill them until they passed out. Luna walked over to the two, it was tempting, to kill the man and get instant gratification, but she wouldn’t do it like that, she wanted his soul gone, destroyed.

A light dripping sound could be heard with a few seconds interval, Luna was looking at the spot where a drop of water kept landing. The cells were damp and humid, she didn’t enjoy being in the dungeon, she had never enjoyed being there. Foss dying had rattled her, profoundly, yet it was almost as if it hadn’t affected her ever since she returned, not until now, not until that wretched man stepped in front of her! She was outside of her comfort zone; normally she would let matters rest, as long as she knew she got her revenge it would be fine, but here she was in the dark hidden dungeon only lit up by a few torches. She sat there on an old stool, her mind flicking through childhood memories of Foss, the man had been more of a father for her than any other, how she missed him, yet she had barely felt that yearning until faced with his executor.

“So you are awake, finally” her voice a whisper, yet it bore into the minds of Edra and Bardo “I imagine you have already guessed who I am, and I imagine that you think you know why I captured you, but you are mistaken, it has nothing to do with Elisa or you knowing about my influence over her” she began laughing in a shrill tone, the two men shivered in her manic presence “I won’t tell you though, you’ll die not knowing” then she got up and prepared to leave.

How should they respond to that? They didn’t know where they were, nor fully what they were involved in, yet Bardo couldn’t help but ask “are you under the influence of someone too?” he felt that the woman was so strange, that she just seemed off somehow, he couldn’t really fathom the idea of someone being so inherently evil.

She didn’t respond, and even though none of the two men noticed it, she faltered slightly, but soon she had left the dungeon. Was she under the influence? Of who? Her? What nonsense! Yet like a chord that had been struck the words kept echoing in her mind.

. . . .

There was no noise to be heard in the dungeon; it appeared that the two men were the only ones there, after Luna left they simply sat on the hard bedrock floor for a while before Edra spoke up apologetically “This is my fault, I got you into this mess, damn it!” he cursed angrily, Edra looked at Bardo, sorrow in his eyes “Please say something, my guilt is eating at me with every passing second!”

Bardo sat on the cold humid floor, with nothing but the flickers of the torches to light up the room, however he didn’t look angry or sad, he simply smiled “Friend, I do not blame you for anything, even though you might’ve dragged me into this mess” he chose his next words carefully “before when I was nothing but a thug, what kind of life was that?” he questioned loudly, to no one in particular “how’d my ma and pa respect me from the beyond if they knew what path I ended up on, when I went to achieve the warrior training I didn’t have a goal, all I wanted was to leave my past behind, but you my friend, you brought me purpose, if not for you I might still be Loktath either thug or some other commonality” he looked into Edra’s eyes “the last few months of travelling and beating up and getting beaten up by fire badgers has been the best months of my life! I do not blame you for anything, I followed you of my own volition” he scratched his stubby chin “people think I’m simple minded, and often they won’t listen to me, or give me the time of the day, you’re the first one who actually listens, and sees me as someone more than just a regular thug, I consider you my friend, and also my brother, to die with you is not the worst thing in the world” even though he still smiled, it was a sorrowful smile, he moved his hand and arm forward.

Instantly Edra grabbed him by the elbow in a solid grip “brothers then!” he laughed “of course you aren’t simple minded, just a bit too naïve sometimes, look at where that got you” he continued laughing albeit a few tears streamed down his cheeks “ever since I came here, I have had no direction, I have had no purpose, I lost everything, so I decided to simply travel around and try and do some good where I could, there is no finer man that I could’ve travelled with” his tone turned seriously, he touched the jackal’s ring on his finger with his thumb, five seconds of luck would at best get them out of the cell, if at all, it wasn’t the time to use it just yet “listen friend, whoever of us gets the chance, we run, leave the city entirely, I do not know who to trust, hell even leave the kingdom if it is, we are nothing but a pair of low level adventurers, they might not bother with hunting us down, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they put a bounty on us” his facial expression hard and stern “do you understand!”

Bardo was surprised by the sudden declaration and change in tune, but he nodded “Yes my friend I understand, although the chance is bleak at best”

Not a lot of time passed before a man came, he wore a guard’s uniform, but considering the location it was obvious that he too was corrupt “come along now” he opened the cell, Bardo flew at him in a rage, but was subdued by a single punch in the gut, after all, they were both quite weak “now now, you can’t have me killing you, the master wouldn’t like that” until he mentioned his master he spoke with derision in his voice, but the single word master was spoken with reverence.

They were led through twisting tunnels and passages, many people passed them by on the way, but none seemed to pay them any heed, how long they walked, how far they walked, they did not know, all they knew was that it was far distance.

. . . .

“Come take a seat” the master looked at his new materials that had just entered his chamber “just hold onto that big fella while I take care of his friend first” he grabbed Edra in an iron grip and entered a small round room attached to the chamber, the room was full of strange runes and signs, a pentagram marred the floor, even though Edra tried to resist the master simply muttered a few syllables and Edra felt all power leave his body, he could look around, he could hear, but he couldn’t speak or move his body, a feeling of terror spread through him. The master placed him in the middle of the circular room where there was a simple oak chair; the chair however had been carved by countless runes too.

While Edra became powerless the master strapped him in the chair, and stepped outside of the pentagram himself. Bardo was looking at the entire process in fear, he was terrified, the guard behind him held him down with one arm, and shut his mouth with the other, it didn’t matter how much he was squirming, he couldn’t move.

“I could tell you why I am doing all of this, and sometimes I tell my materials why, just to watch them squirm” the master was cleaning out his nails with a small decorated dagger “but my dear student had me promise that this time I would simply let you die!” he twisted the dagger and cut a long line in his palm, and then he made a fist dripping his own blood onto a rune that stretched out of the pentagram, but which was still attached. The entire circular room began humming, magical arcane energies began permeating the perimeter, but it was contained within the pentagram. Edra tried to move, he could not, he tried to scream when small blue flames began spouting out of the runes licking and burning his body, but he could not. They burned his legs to cinders, leaving nothing behind, as they moved upwards, all destroying “do you feel that? It is burning away your soul, first your body then your soul” the master spoke casually as he watched the ritual take place. Edra’s eyes darted around in sheer agony, his legs were gone, he saw how the flame slowly made its way up towards the rest of his body, yet the chair was strangely unburnt, and then he saw the ring, with no hesitation he thought strongly ‘ACTIVATE!’.

In that moment a small pebble fell from the ceiling, just at the moment that the master took a step back, it made him lose his balance for all but a split second, which somehow made him drop his decorated dagger, the dagger penetrated his foot on just the right vein that a splutter connected with the rune connected to the pentagram, and then the blood like a constant stream was being sucked out fueling the pentagram and the runes. Edra’s ring evaporated, and with the increase in flames so did Edra, but the power kept growing as the connection with the master was still there.

The guard instantly flew over and tried to pull the master away, but he couldn’t “break the pentagram!” the master screamed desperately, the guard swung his sword in full force on the pentagram marred floor, breaking the circle and flooring, which released all of the magical energy in a large shockwave that rumbled the room and sent both the master and the guard flying into the walls, deafened by the shockwave was a wailing screech. The guard and the master lay unconsciously on the floor, Bardo nowhere to be seen.

. . . .

Before the explosion Luna Somma entered the private chamber of the master, this was not where he did his experiments or rituals. She went to the small box on the shelf where he had professed that he had charms of all of the people he had influence over, she was curious to see if there were people she knew. A charm consisted of two identical parts, for example Luna had a necklace made of the coins which Elisa had given the beggar girl, and she had given an identical necklace to Elisa. She was just curious, and the master wouldn’t mind, she was his favourite student after all. It had nothing to do with the words of the brute in the dungeon; it had nothing to do with that. She opened the small box; in the ceiling of the lid was a glass tube pentagram with the master’s blood running in it to keep the charms active.

She saw many charms, rings and necklaces being the most common ‘how funny that bracelet looks just like my childhood bracelet’ was the stray thought that entered her mind as she picked up a thin golden bracelet, her heart began thumping heavily as she looked at her left wrist where an identical bracelet was hanging. She sat down on the nearest chair powerlessly dropping the box with charms on the floor. She had gotten that bracelet when she was a young girl, no more than ten years old, she had received it from the bishop, who had told her it was a powerful enchantment, and her parents had insisted that he made one for her, but did that mean that the bishop worked for the master? Her parents too? Like a crack in a dam, it kept spreading, many questions arose in her mind, but most of all, ‘who am I?’ she had seen the powerful effects on Elisa after just a few months, but she had been under his influence for years. Before she could think further she heard a loud explosion coming from the master’s ritual room, it was clear that something had gone wrong. She rushed up ready to go to his assistance, but her feet didn’t carry her further than the door, she stood there hesitating, and then she ran.

The way back to the Somma estate had been the longest it had ever been, people kept running towards the ritual room, and at every moment she felt fearful that someone would realise that she wasn’t under the influence of the master, that somehow they would know. When she came home she rushed to her room and changed into the most common travelling clothes she had, leather pants and boots and a black satin cloak, she packed up as many valuables as she could in a leather backpack, and then she left, she didn’t tell anyone, for who could she trust? She chose a random horse from the stables and left Brün from the estate exit. Many times during the process she asked herself if it was really the right choice, if she wasn’t overreacting, the master was the master after all, but the more she thought the more confused she got, and so she kept galloping away.

. . . .

With no direction he had ran along mindlessly, full of shame and sadness, he had seen his friend’s last moments, he didn’t know what had happened, but he suspected that Edra had done something, whatever that might’ve been. When he finally came outside he was in the east district, the sun was out, the birds were singing, and it was at such contrast to the horrors he had just witnessed that his face grimaced sourly, he hurried along swiftly towards the White Lady, he grabbed his own stuff and wore his coat, then he went to Edra’s room, he stood there silently for a while before he packed up his belongings and left, he paid for their stay and found out from the innkeeper that there was a coach leaving town not too far from the inn.

He sat at the back of the coach, his hoody covering his face, the few other people in the wagon thought him asleep and simply conversed or had otherwise merry banter, but beneath the hood a constant stream of tears fell from his eyes, he was so weak! However he swore that one day he’d get his revenge, no matter how long it would take.