The pack of robed men stumbled away from the table spluttering. The self-proclaimed king Synthia kept munching on her apple, waiting expectantly. The mayor spoke up.

"So you expect us to make a deal."

"Yeah. You carry on being jerks, drop the tax, kick a little money into the dwarf part of town and then everything will be cool."

Christoph leaned against the entrance to the stairs, barring the way up. "I've heard worse deals. Or what, you think people will just accept more taxes to pay?"

"There's no foiling this plan, you buffoon! We've been waiting for a day like this forever! With enough money and resources, you can buy out anyone!" A chorus of yeahs followed the mayor's proclamation.

"You try to strong arm them into slavery, then they'll leave to set up shop somewhere nearby. That, or they decide to stand their ground here. You try to send your police after them, that's just going to make things worse."

Mayor Asphodel folded his arms. He resembled a pouty child more than the intimidating figure of authority he did before. "So what? A few can't pay and even fewer die."

"Dude, that ain't gonna work." Synthia dropped the apple core she was holding, gulping her last bite down. "Not in a town like this. I know those asinine dwarves and they'd all rather die than pay what they don't owe. So just accept the deal and stay a rich asshole the rest of your life, okay?"

"Sir don't let that brat trick you," hissed one of the men. "Look at her eyes. She's cursed, meaning she'll bring misfortune wherever she goes. Just by being here the monster threatens our operation."

Christoph noticed a small flicker of fear ghost Synthia's face. Her nose twitched, and her brilliant gold eyes widened in anxiety. Yet in the next moment it was gone. She was all cocksure again.

"Yeah, you're right. I am the monster you've always dreaded. Don't think I don't know who you all are." The men all looked up at Synthia once again. "Fatty over there's the owner of the local bank, chief of police is over there, skinny dude oversees the butcher shop, Mayor Ghoul here is obvious, that balding guy is the preacher and then you..." Synthia pointed at Tavel. "You're Iggy's uncle, right? I don't know how much she'd appreciate hearing that you're planning to do this."

Tavel gritted his teeth, although the look of shame he sported was quite apparent.

"So really, we've both got what we need to put you into check and mate respectively. Feel like giving up?"

The men turned to silence once more. Giving each other grim looks, they seemed to reach a collective decision, Tavel a bit more reluctantly than the rest.

Christoph sighed. "Get down from there, shrimp. I get the feeling these guys aren't the kind who listen to reason."

The preacher suddenly dived for the bookcase. Pulling out a few tomes, he stabbed his arm forward and a click sounded out. A blaring alarm shook the room they were in. Synthia was so startled she almost fell off the table.

"Panic button!?"

"Shrimp, we've gotta move! Let's go!"

With a loud "Seize them!" trailing over their heads, Synthia followed Christoph back up the stairs. They burst out into the hallway.

"Cat's out of the bag now. Let's just make our way through the closest window."

"Yep, yep!"

Landing in the shrubbery outside, Christoph and Synthia crouched and sidled around the building. They could see guards running toward the mansion from every which way. A few were already heading to the back where they were hiding.

"There's a little time before the mayor describes what we look like. We use that time to find a hiding spot and wait for things to cool down. You with me?"

"Yeah."

"You do know this is your fault for showing your face, right?"

"Ack!" Synthia winced. "I'm sorry. They just made me super pissed."

Christoph sighed. "Well, I understand how you feel. But come on, we've gotta move. Ready? One... Two... Three... Let's go!"

The two quietly rose from their hiding place, briskly walking to one of the side streets. Once they had made it far enough, they broke out into a run.

Synthia looked up at the moon. "I've got a place we can hide out in, but I need to make a stop first."

"Okay but be quick!"

She led him to the general store he had visited earlier. "This place? Need a snack?"

Synthia just gave him another impish smile in response, opening the door and heading inside. Christoph leaned in so he could hear what was happening.

"Wilvur! 'Operation: DTDT – Ditch This Dodgy Town' is underway! I need your help."

Christoph cocked his head. The town's most notorious thief was in league with the owner of the general store?

"Synthia, what fool thing did you do this time? That alarm's been ringing all throughout town!"

"I'll tell you about it at my place. Just make sure you're not seen, like always. This is important to me, Wilvur. I think it's time for me to finally leave Asphodel."

"Oh, I see. Interesting."

A pause followed.

"Wait, what!? Now!?"

"Can't say anymore here, meet you at home!"

A few steps and Synthia had burst back outside, motioning for Christoph to follow her. Christoph got a good look at the store owner who appeared considerably taken aback before following after her.

"Leaving town, huh? I hope that's not dependent on making you convince me to bring you along with me on my travels."

"Of course not! It's you who has to convince me."

As they were running, a familiar head of platinum hair could be seen up ahead.

Uh oh, Christoph thought. We'd better make sure she doesn't see us and go down a different road.

Synthia, on the other hand, sped up. She grabbed Iggy's hand and started dragging her along, eliciting a yelp from her.

If they weren't running, Christoph was sure he would burst into tears of anguish right then and there.

"Hey bestie!"

"Let go of me, you stupid – Wait, a minute, bestie...? But the only one who says that is-!"

Iggy began spluttering. "Cloak – thief – vagrant – weasel – I-it's you!?"

Synthia giggled. "Yessiree!"

"And why are you dragging me like I'm some pack mule!?"

"Because, as your best friend, I have something to tell you."

"I don't wanna hear it! Let go!"

And so the two bickered all the way up to the waterfront. The houses here seemed especially old.

"Annnnd... here we are. Home sweet home."

Craning his neck up, Christoph did a double take. Before him was the most run-down building he had ever seen. The brick walls had gaping holes, all the windows were broken, and it seemed even one wrong move would bring the whole thing down.

"Pleasant."

Iggy jumped in surprise. "Christoph!? What are you doing here?"

"I've been following you, that's what. Me and Synthia have been together since we met up in front of town hall."

"Town ha- what? Wait, did you two trip that alarm?"

"Unfortunately."

Jumping up the steps, Synthia waved at them before hopping through the door. Christoph gingerly took a step up the stairs. It creaked, although seemed stable enough. He kept taking careful steps up. Snapping his fingers, sparks flew out and into his palm where a small orb of fire began to float. Peeking inside, he could see moth-eaten furniture and torn paintings.

Iggy kept shaking her head. "I am heading right back. No way I'm going in there."

Christoph then realized why Synthia had decided to drag Iggy all this way. Sighing, Christoph looked back at her. "Actually, I think you should come in. There's something we have to tell you about Tavel."

Eyes widening, Iggy took a step back. "Uncle? Is he hurt? Did you- I mean... did you fight him?"

"No, no, he's fine. And I know this is weird and I know you probably won't listen, but your uncle is involved in some bad stuff and you deserve to know."

He cocked his head. "Unless, of course, you already do?"

Iggy tapped her foot. "Well, I really am grateful for this morning, but if you haven't noticed, you're kind of a criminal right now. Why should I even listen to you?"

Christoph was about to reply when voices shouted out from one of the side streets, making the two of them jump. They were growing closer and closer and appeared to belong to the local police.

Christoph began whispering. "Look, I need an answer now."

A brief moment of wringing her hands later, Iggy stamped her foot. "Why does this stuff happen to me!?"

She scurried up the steps, head bent. Christoph followed her inside as he saw guards round the corner, making sure to crouch down as well.

The place certainly wasn't friendly. The plaster was cracked, moonlight shone through a gap in the roof and it felt like at least a few creatures had met their unfortunate demise here.

Synthia peeked her head over the railing of the third floor, gold eyes almost beaming down on them. "Not exactly hotel quality, I know, but where I really live is up here. Come on up!"

Iggy and Christoph made shushing noises.

"They're outside, you idiot!"

Synthia flinched, mouthing 'sorry.'

"You two, check that abandoned house! See if they hid there."

Christoph gave Iggy a nudge in the back. "Come on, up we go!"

A shaky pair of flights ascended later, Christoph and Synthia were on the top floor. The voices they'd heard before were now on the bottom floor.

"Yikes, it's like the house is actually dying."

"Doesn't mean they wouldn't hide here. You search the bottom floor, I'll go up. And remember: If need be, you shoot if you have to."

Iggy gave Christoph a panicked look, to which he could only briefly shake his head and give another, more apologetic shrug.

Gently, they retreated from the railing, hearing the slow pad of footsteps up to the second floor.

Looking at a carpet laid out along the floor, Christoph and Iggy walked onto it as quietly as possible. With another finger to his lips, Christoph gave Iggy a reassuring nod and then began looking for where Synthia had gone.

A room at the far end of the hall leading left had a door open. A hand darted out, beckoning them forward. They could hear the officer now heading in the opposite direction below them. The pair carefully made their way over.

Once inside, they saw Synthia standing in front of a vast bookcase taking up one side of the room. It seemed they were in a study of some sort, with a chipped desk on the opposite end in front of a draped, glassless window.

"Wanna see something cool?"

"We ain't got all night shrimp, on with the show."

After tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Synthia began cracking her knuckles. "Will do."

She swiftly pulled out some books from the shelves. One at the bottom, two on of the middle shelves, another the shelf above those and one at the very top which she had to step on the bookcase to reach. The door clicked and swung open. Synthia pulled it wider revealing a staircase three people wide.

Unfortunately, however, the hinges creaked. Loudly. The trio froze where they were.

"You hear that? It came from up there!"

Without a word, Christoph and Iggy dashed up the steps as Synthia hurriedly placed the books back where they had been previously. The sound of running up the stairs could be heard.

Practically sliding to the other side of the bookcase, Synthia hurriedly pulled it closed, the hinges desperately crying with another creaking noise, but it couldn't be helped. The click of the bookcase shutting closed coincided with the door being banged open.

"I heard it again! That damn creaking!"

Synthia kept her ear pressed to the bookcase, looking up to see her guests with pallid faces.

Another set of footsteps quickly followed.

"There doesn't seem to be anything in here, does there?"

"I heard something! I know it. Could be, like, a hidden room or something."

The group froze, hearts beating so fast they threatened to fly out of their chests.

"... Aye man, I know you read a lot of garbage but come on. Secret rooms?"

"I swear, I heard something! And right before I came in—"

"I don't know if you've noticed man, but this place is a dump. There's nobody here and I don't want to stay any longer.. Come on, let's go."

Synthia could sense the two outside the door, the buttons on their uniforms reflecting the moonlight. Growing impatient with searching. Waiting to find their targets. Wanting to bag a good pair of suspects so they'd be the talk of town for a couple weeks.

"Are you coming with or are you more interested in staying here and renting out some moth-eaten books?"

"... You're probably right. Let's go."

The padding of footsteps sounded once more, this time growing softer until they couldn't be heard anymore.

The noose had loosened. The attic's three occupants breathed a sigh of relief. Synthia began chuckling.

"Secret rooms huh? I wonder what they think of their lovely mayor having his own creepy dungeon."

Iggy's brow furrowed in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

Synthia walked over to the desk by the wall furthest from the secret door. She switched on a lamp atop it, soft amber light illuminating the attic.

The room they were in was best described as cozy. Not especially large, but not too small either. A paper map of the world was pinned to a board over the desk, various pins, marked circles, dots, lines, doodles adorning it. Piles of books stacked high atop each other, all popular adventure novels of some sort, although there was a stack of history books in the far corner that had picked up a fair amount of dust.

Pages filled with words and more doodles lay all over the floor, the sound of them sliding over one another filling the room as Synthia moved around. The ceiling was sloped up toward the entrance. The floorboards here looked much newer than the rest of the house, and the attic window had cleaner drapes hung over it too, allowing no light to escape.

Eventually settling into a puffy armchair in the corner, Synthia gestured to an equally puffy couch adjacent to it. Her eyes weren't gold anymore, now a soft brown in the light.

Christoph sat down, letting the tension leave his shoulders. "Home sweet home indeed."

Iggy remained standing, fixing Synthia with a strong glare who began to blink nervously. She scratched the back of her head.

"Okay, okay, elephant in the room: I keep stealing from you."

"Obviously! But—"

"But look, the other guys would've marked you if I didn't and you really would've lost some money. I mean, I always give it back to you!"

Getting right up in Synthia's face, Iggy's expression was scalding. "You mean I always take it back from you."

Synthia could only give a meek shrug and a meeker smile in response. Christoph cut in.

"Look, after the past couple hours with her, I understand very well how annoying she can be."

"Hey! I'm not that bad..."

Ignoring her, Christoph continued. "But Iggy, you said you were suspicious of your uncle and the council? Well, you were right to. You're going to want to sit down for this one."

Iggy plopped down next to him. "That's what I'm trying to ask you. What the hell happened?"

...

After relaying the situation to her, Iggy was reduced to leaning back on the couch, face cradled in her palms. Christoph rubbed his hands together. "I don't know what your uncle says he does in these meetings, but we're being honest here. That's the situation."

"And you decide to tell me first instead of the dwarves because...?"

"You're trustworthy," Synthia said, examining her fingernails. "And I think you deserve to know what your uncle isn't telling you. Besides, the others have been guessing that the council want to put the pressure on us for a while now. Especially the King."

Christoph nodded. "I agree with Synthia. While trust is something I hand out very carefully, I know the good types when I see them. You won't rat us out."

Iggy groaned. "That's how it is, huh? Okay."

She leaned forward; elbows pressed into her thighs. "Ever since he joined the council officially a few months ago, Uncle Tavel's seemed pretty stressed, and the other members always struck me as..."

"Jerks?"

"I was gonna say assholes, but yeah, that too. And the more he spent time with them, the more he seemed to grow wary of any dwarves who'd pass us by. I mean, it's not like they're easy to miss if you're actually looking. Kinda short and all."

Iggy shook her head. "But I dunno. I mean, he wouldn't actually go along with a plan this awful."

Christoph laced his fingers together. "With the right amount of pressure and either their social standing or otherwise being affected, most people placed under enough stress can be convinced of anything."

"He's not that type of person! But you also seem like you're telling me the truth... but would I be too gullible if I just believed you...? I mean... It's..."

Iggy grabbed tugged at her hair. "Agh! Enough of this! I'll just ask him myself. And I'll kick his ass if he doesn't want to tell me. Besides, now I wanna know about you."

Iggy pointed at Synthia, who seemed to be staring off into space. A few blinks and a shake of her head brought her back to reality.

"You say something?"

"Pop your brain back into your head. I want to know what the deal with you is. You say you trust me? Prove it. Tell me your story."

Comparing one clump of matted hair to another, Synthia began brushing them against each other. "Not interested."

Leaning back, Christoph stretched out his arms. "I was hoping for at least a little something, if I say so myself."

Iggy wasn't as quick to admit defeat.

"Bullshit! You run around making my life a living hell whenever you pop up and you don't think you have any obligation to explain why?"

"It's a long story."

"They won't find us here! We've got time."

"You sure about that? Well..."

Synthia glanced up at the map. She had been doing this every few minutes since they'd gotten here.

"I guess the short version is I just ended up here. I'm part elf and dwarf, no way people in a town like this would accept me. The part of me that's human might as well not exist. Had nowhere else to go, ended up coming here on one of the transports and that's that."

Iggy pressed her elbows into her knees, casting her shadow longer in the chronolight. "Nobody just ends up somewhere."

Synthia cast another glance at the map. It had been marked up so many times that it was difficult to make out many of the individual cities and states listen on it. "I did."

Her voice, normally loud and brash, was subdued. Her shadow remained small, being the closest to the lamp. It lay flat on the armchair as if it had nowhere to escape.

"Well, if you have to know... My eyes are a rare dwarven gift. They let me see in the dark, and that's why they change colour."

Christoph shifted uncomfortably.

"But apparently there are superstitions about them. That whoever has them is some harbinger of destruction. It's all nonsense, but that's never stopped people from..."

It took her a few seconds to keep going. "When I got here, I knew I couldn't let anybody see me. I came across Wilvur... and then he introduced me to Gren and Penelope."

Her guests were surprised. "You knew Mr. and Mrs. Kelvin?"

"They built this place for me. Wilvur wanted me to move in with him, but I just didn't want to. So I sleep here instead. I know it looks rough, but this room is practically airtight with the shelf in front of it. I keep it relatively clean, too. They gave me all these books to enjoy, the map, the furniture. So when I heard Gren had died back at that meeting, I just lost it."

She punched the armrest. "Heh. I guess the King knew I'd get pissed if he told me what happened. But that's all over now." She turned to look at the map once again. "I need to move on from this place.

Iggy nodded at the map. "You keep staring at that thing. Planning a trip?"

"Planning an odyssey."

At this, Synthia stood up and stretched, swagger back in full force. "I don't want to see one place or twenty. I want to see all of them. From the highest treetops in the elven countries to the deserts surrounding Qima, the highest mountaintops to the lowest seabed, the tops of the metal structures in Athenopolis to the ruins of Zlot Kraj.

"You sure seem on top of this."

Synthia groaned at Christoph's pun and hung her head. "C'mon, dude!"

Chuckling, Christoph said "Couldn't help it."

Focusing her attention on the map, Synthia traced a line leading from Asphodel to the capital of Styx, Propositum. "It's my dream. After all this time hiding, I want to show people who I really am. Show the world who I really am. That I'm..."

She pressed her fist against the map. "Somebody."

Christoph drummed his fingers against the armrest.

"Let's say I was willing to bring you along. What would you say to prove that I should?"

Synthia smiled slyly, eyes half-lidded. "There we go. But why are you saying it like you need to convince me? I told you, you need to convince me why I should go along with you. I can get us out of anything. My dwarf side gives me natural magic resistance while my elven side lets me use magic without much trouble."

Tapping his fingers against the armrest, Christoph looked dubious. "You got us caught though."

"Urk!" Synthia made a noise in-between that of a strangled cat and a dolphin.

Iggy decided to pile on too. "And you're loud."

"Don't follow orders."

"Annoying."

"Couldn't even break into that mansion without my help."

Can't stop getting yourself into trouble, mostly with me."

"And you almost got us caught again just before we got in here."

Synthia was wincing. "Ohhhh... half a dozen fatal blows!"

Iggy sniffed. "And when was the last time you bathed?"

"Gahhhhhh!" Synthia slumped in defeat back in her armchair. "My self esteem will never recover..."

Iggy snorted. "I'm sure you'll survive."

The sound of more footsteps broke up their conversation. They all sat bolt upright.

Getting out of his chair, Christoph backed up to one side of the stairs. He motioned for Iggy and Synthia to cover the other. They could hear the sound of books being pulled off the shelf, which made the tension drop out of Synthia's shoulders.

"Oh, it's—"

Christoph furiously shushed her, by which time the case swung open and a familiar face peered up into the attic.

Synthia stepped out from the side. "Hiya, Wilvur! Perfect timing!"

Plodding up the stairs, Wilvur looked unamused. "Synthia, I swear, you get in trouble just by standing still."

Looking at Synthia's company, his eyes widened. "Oh, you two are—"

"Allow me to reintroduce myself. Christoph, Christoph Pax. I'm an adventurer staying in town for a couple days. Or at least, that was the plan."

Iggy gave a small wave. "Hi, Mr. Ros. So you and this brat know each other?"

Ignoring the pointed glare Synthia was now giving Iggy, Wilvur gave a bark of laughter. "Ha! At least a few more people know how much trouble she causes me. But yeah, I helped set this place up for her. Don't tell anybody, would you?"

Synthia folded her arms. "I bet it's just so you won't get any flak from the mayor."

"How can you say that?" Wilvur placed a hand on Synthia's shoulder. "It'd be a lie to say that didn't concern me, but the bigger danger here is that the mayor's after you. What happened?"

A second explanation later, Wilvur held his head in his hands just like Iggy had. "Oh, Synthia. You really are too much."

Synthia looked genuinely apologetic. "I just... couldn't let them keep saying all that stuff. It hurt to listen to."

Wilvur brought his face up. While the expression in his eyes remained grim, he couldn't help but let a small smile creep up his jaw. "Well, they definitely had it coming. It just would've been better if it weren't coming from you."

Looking at Christoph, the small smile slipped away. "So you paid those cretins back for what they did?"

Christoph nodded. "Yes. It was all I could do. I take it Mr. Kelvin was a close friend?"

"You know that one family everybody likes in a neighbourhood? That was the Kelvins. Just tragic."

He shook his head. "But that's behind us. We need to focus on getting Synthia out of here."

Looking the room over, he sighed. "And, as it happens, you're becoming too big for this place."

Putting both hands on Synthia's shoulders, she looked up at him with her eyes catching the light from the lamp. It replicated their gold glow in the dark.

"It's been a long time coming, but you've got no other reasons to stay. We'll wait for daybreak and have you out of town in no time."

Synthia clenched her fists with glee, bouncing up and down. "This is gonna be so cool!"

Wilvur turned back to Christoph. "And you're who she'll be travelling with."

Christoph tensed back up again. He felt the penetrating gaze of a cautious father being set on him.

"Uh, yes sir. I've been travelling the world looking for a way to solve the chronocrisis gripping it. The world, I mean."

Wilvur raised his eyebrows. "That's a lofty goal. Dangerous?"

Christoph knew that Synthia's dream of exploring the world now rested on his shoulders. He could pull the plug on this right now, have her stay in town and wait things out on her own. Honestly, it wouldn't be any skin off his back. She could stay here a while longer.

He glanced over at Synthia. Her eyes held that small spark of wonder he never got tired of seeing in somebody. They could only be found in the kindest and optimistic of souls, willing to push forward and make their mark on the world. It reminded him of...

In that moment, he made his decision.

"Maybe. But I could use with a bit of company. She's rough around the edges, but she's got potential."

Synthia's eyes widened. "Seriously!?"

"Something tells me this ain't gonna be easy, my girl. You're stepping into a larger world here, and not all of it's as easy to navigate as Asphodel."

Christoph nodded at Wilvur's assessment. "He's right. You come with me, that means you need to prepare for the worst. Specifically, I'm looking for very powerful manifestations of elemental power, and I need the King to give me the tools I need just to navigate a dangerous place safely."

Perking up at that, Synthia became very curious. "Hey, wait, when you talked about the chronocrisis, does that mean you're planning to stop the Dawn?"

"The Dawn's a more archaic term for it, yeah. Specifically, based off findings I gathered, there are these magical—"

"Magical keystones that bind the world together," Synthia cut him off. "The manifestations of Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, Light and Darkness! If you bring them all together, you gain mastery over reality itself."

Christoph was pleasantly surprised. "You've heard the story?"

"I've read about it in that book right there. Gren gave it to me."

She pointed to a book atop one of the stacks a little less dusty than the others. Picking it up, Christoph eyed the title: The Odyssey of the Seven Swords of Power.

"'Swords...?' Never heard of this version before, but it seems based on the same legend. And it lists seven instead of six."

Christoph now seemed resolute. "Alright. Pack what you need and then we'll hit the road. World's waiting for us."