We didn’t speak much as we made our way to the inner-city gates for a second time. We got in without any trouble, quite unlike our previous attempt. As we stepped onto the street within, Scarlett turned and looked out over the shimmering silver of the modern architecture that lay in the centre of Babel. “I suppose the only place to start would be the Mage’s Guild, huh?”

I wasn’t listening. I’d stop to stare at my reflection in a puddle of rainwater that had formed on the cobblestone below my feet. My pink eyes looked more haggard than usual, and the hair on my face had grown on one cheek more than the other. Disgusted by the view, I withdrew my pipe from my pocket.

“Are you listening?” Scarlett asked, sounding irritated.

She was standing in the middle of the street with her arms behind her head, sporting her usual casualwear of tank top and leggings. She stared at me with a sceptical face as I stuck the flame of my lighter to the pipe’s chamber. The Lunar Knight took me by the shoulders.

“Listen, Sander, your head’s in the clouds. We have to focus on why we’re here.”

She was right, of course. But it was hard to focus when I could practically hear the blood pumping inside my head. After taking a deep breath, I nodded.

“Good,” she said.

“I was. Listening, I mean. I just didn’t care to reply.”

The Lunar Knight rolled her eyes.

“Sometimes I wonder why I brought you along with me.”

“I wonder that too, don’t you worry,” I said between puffs.

As I beat a cough from my chest with my fist, she walked on. When I recovered, I hurried after her.

***

“Something about this all feels very familiar,” I said as we stood outside the entrance to the Mage’s Guild.

It was all too reminiscent of our visit to the Tower of Delphi. The building here, however, was far more modern. It looked like your everyday office building, with the exception of its silver exterior glimmering more than you’d expect from such a place. The entrance had a revolving glass door, through which people in both business clothes and cloaks alike rushed in and out.

“I guess they’re not so traditionalist here,” I said.

“Seems that way,” Scarlett replied.

“So, we’re just going to waltz in and ask them where Alcandor is?”

She nodded. I gave a shrug in return. We made our way inside without another word, and quickly found ourselves in front of a reception desk. The interior of the building was just as sleek and modern as the outside. With smooth, white finishes; bright, natural lighting; and curves to all the construction. The place was full of arches and round designs and the air smelt of hand sanitizer. Quite the change from the medieval feeling of the guild back in Olympus-3. The lady behind the counter greeted us with a blinding white smile.

“How can I help you?” she asked, somehow maintaining her gleaming smile as she spoke.

“We’re looking for someone named Alcandor,” Scarlett began. “Think you can point us in the right direction? We have reason to believe he was here recently.”

“Oh,” she said, her smile not faltering for a second. “Just a moment, please.”

I raised an eyebrow as she ducked under the desk. An instant later an alarm went off, and red lights began flashing. Metal panels slid quickly shut on all the doors and windows, and the businesspeople around us hurried away in a panic. Shit, I knew this seemed fishy. Within mere moments we were surrounded by several cloaked men carrying riot shields and laser guns. I grimaced.

“I thought we were finally going to get a break from all the action.”

I replaced my pipe in my coat pocket.

“Seems not,” Scarlett said, her armour and sword materialising in a flash of green light.

There was a hum around us as the mages readied their weapons. Scarlett and I found ourselves back to back, her sword and mine both at the ready. Then, before anyone could attack, a voice echoed from above.

“Hold your fire.”

An armoured figure descended through the air, landing one hand to the floor between us and the mages. As she stood, I immediately recognised her armour. It was the same as Scarlett’s, except that instead of a red, falcon emblem, this girl bore a blue design with the likeness of an owl in the centre.

She turned to face us, her eyes a blazing amber, and her hair a fiery ginger, cut in a shoulder-length bob. In her right hand she held a spear that was a bit longer than she was tall. Her eyes fell on Scarlett, and her mouth twisted into a wicked smirk. She drew up close, her face only a hair’s breadth from Scarlett’s. The other knight bit her lip as she examined my companion up and down.

“I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

“Cut the crap, Neptilia. What do you want? Why are you in Babel?”

“Hmph, I could ask you the same. I was assigned here.”

As the newcomer stepped back, Scarlett folded her arms and frowned. “To do what, pray tell?”

Neptilia scoffed. “Well I’m not really in a position to explain that to the likes of you here, am I?”

I could practically hear the grind of Scarlett’s gritted teeth.

“You can stand down,” Neptilia said with a wave of her hands. “She’s an old acquaintance of mine, let’s say.”

“Neptilia, listen, I don’t have time to waste messing around with you.”

“Oho, the great Scarlett Goldbird, always doing something important, aren’t we? Why don’t you tell that to Tachi?”

Scarlett leapt at the girl in a fury, her sword held high above her head. Moving with speed I didn’t know I possessed I quickly grabbed her by the wrists, stopping the blade just short of coming down upon Neptilia. Scarlett grunted as she pulled against me, but I managed to hold her firm. Finally, she gave up.

“Hmph, when did you get so strong?”

Neptilia began to laugh. “You two are like an old couple.”

My eyes widened. When I saw the edge of Scarlett’s cheeks turn pink from where I stood behind her, my own followed suit.

“Come with me; we can talk in one of the meeting rooms.”