It was strange watching someone else make adjustments to Eury’s armor. Seeing the skill involved, it was obvious why. As it turned out, all of the elite hunters were masters in forging along with arts and carving. Between these three skills, one had everything necessary to make any item, clothes included.

While observing, Dallion attempted to learn some of their methods. Unfortunately, his scholar skills were too low to help with that, and there were no markers visible in the real world.

“You didn’t say you’re thinking of moving here,” Dallion whispered to Eury.

“It’s not the time,” she whispered back. The subtle movements of her snakes suggested that she didn’t approve of the question rather than the timing.

“Kid,” one of the dwarves shouted to Dallion. “Ever worked sun gold?”

“No particularly,” Dallion replied, stepping further away from Euryale. “I’ve mostly done stuff from sky silver and sky steel.”

“Try sun gold when you get better. The skies are stronger, but only sun metals ‘ave a link wind skills. Comes with the name.” The hunter grinned as he kept molding pieces of armor with his bare hands.

Given that the suns were considered being linked to the skill groups, that made sense. Back when he had first learned about them, Dallion thought that the link was a more poetic metaphor. Apparently, that wasn’t the case. The adjectives coming with the metals weren’t just for show.

Wiping off the sweat from his forehead, the dwarf put on his gloves, then took the scale armor shirt, holding it in front of him. After a thorough inspection, he tossed it to Eury.

“Check it,” he said.

Without an ounce of modesty, Euryale put it on. In Dallion’s view, it suited her well. However, he seemed to be in the minority. Several hunters pointed out spots that needed “obvious fixing.” With a grumble, the dwarf went to Eury, then removed his gloves and corrected the mistakes with his fingers.

Seeing that, Dallion understood why dwarf smiths were so valued in this world. They could shape metal the same way people could shape clay without the need of furnaces or hammers. Done, the dwarf took a few steps back, looking critically at the creation.

“Should be good enough,” the dwarf said. “If there are any issues, come back ‘ere and we’ll fix it for ye.”

The gorgon nodded.

“Here’s the rest.” Vela approached, carrying what could be described as a wooden chest with a metal chain that served as a strap. “You might have to clean them a bit. They haven’t been used in a while.”

“I’ll manage.”

The prime hunter shook her head.

“As for you,” she glanced at Dallion. “Hunt bigger prey. A lot bigger prey. Until you solo a wild chainling, there’s no point in having your trial. You’ll only get hurt.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Dallion said. “How exactly am I to register?”

“You were registered the moment you set foot here. What do you think Hawk does?”

To be honest, Dallion wasn’t at all sure what the copyette did. As the guardian of the den, he provided shelter, but it seemed he did a lot more. It wouldn’t be a surprise if it turned out that he was the de facto leader of the Linatol hunters.

“Good hunting. And show March how things are done,” Vela added to the cheers of the hall.

“One last thing,” Dallion said. “Where’s the Night Auction?”

Silence filled the room. All eyes focused on Dallion as if he had just stepped in a puddle of crap.

“You want to enter the Night Auction?” Surprise mixed with mockery in the woman’s voice.

“Can’t I?”

“Not unless you’re a noble or invited by one. If you want to buy trinkets, try your luck with the Day Auction. Anyone can enter there, as long as there’s enough coin.”

“I was told that hunters were allowed,” Dallion persisted.

“Famous hunters,” Vela clarified. “At least famous enough to have one of the nobles attending to invite you in. The event is solely for nobility. Everyone else is a guest. Even the overseer can’t go if not invited.”

“I’ll worry about that. I just want to know where it will be held.”

“Cocky.” The woman smirked, then glanced over her shoulder at Lithospasia. “It’s obvious why little Eury got him. The auction takes place somewhere on the third platform. Getting to the platform itself is difficult. Still interested?”

Dallion nodded.

“The auction is a status thing. It doesn’t have a specific location. One of the high nobles decided to organize it and lets the selected participants know. That’s why the only way to get invited is by a noble.”

Damn it! Dallion thought. This wasn’t the answer he was hoping for. The only other solution was to seek out the local mirror pool and ask them. Unfortunately, based on his former experience, such deals usually came with a lot of strings attached.

“Riff raff like us aren’t given details. What exactly are you looking for? There are other ways to find treasures.”

“Thank you,” Dallion said. “We’ll be on our way.”

When Dallion went outside, a few hours had passed. Part of the sky had turned a paler blue, indicating that morning was near.

“We should get the thing Hannah wanted,” Eury said once both of them were outside.

“Yeah,” Dallion said with a lot more enthusiasm than he actually felt.

Taking a deep breath, Dallion counted to ten, then took the ring Adzorg had given him from his pouch and put it on. There was nothing but a few echoes inside. Both looked like a younger version of Nil, and both remained perpetually silent. Dallion had tried talking to them when he had entered the ring’s realm back in Nerosal. By the sound of it, things weren’t different now.

First platform, northern side, Nil said.

That’s a bit vague, Dallion grumbled. Any address? Or at least a name or description?

Just head towards that area, dear boy. The people in question are aware of your presence. They’ll contact you.

“Nil says we must get to the north side of the platform,” Dallion told Eury. “They’ll get in touch with us.” You don’t know how I might enter the Night Auction by any chance?

Other than impressing a notable noble at the event, you’ll be going, not a clue.

Thanks, Nil. That was really helpful.

Provided with no other choice, the pair started walking.

As the sun peeked beneath the horizon, people started filling the streets. There weren’t many—nowhere near the crowds Nerosal was used to—but enough to make it clear that Dallion and Eury had to be discreet.

Bells chimed throughout the city, letting everyone know it was seven o’clock. Apparently, the Order of the Seven Moons had quite a strong presence in the city, and made sure that everyone was aware of the Hour of Prayer. In typical for this world fashion, the duty to pray didn’t fall on the masses, but the nobles and other powerful awakened. However, since everyone wanted to mimic the strong and powerful, lesser awakened, and even ordinary people tended to respect it.

“I still haven’t made up my mind,” Eury said all of a sudden. With her blocker ring on, Dallion couldn’t be sure whether she was telling the truth.

Dallion wanted to say something snidey, to tell her in a passively aggressive manner. What would be the point, though?

Just a swarm of distractions, he told himself. It only stings, but cannot hurt me.

“It’s fine. We’ll need the equipment.” You’re not the only one gearing up. “You didn’t tell me you came here to train. You said that you and Jiroh had a mentor who—”

“Who was from here? I told you that hunters stay in big cities. Nerosal wasn’t a big city. Our group was small and remained together only because of Jiroh. My mentor came from here. All of us came here as well: once to be registered as apprentices and once to go through our full hunter’s trial. Some of us even came a few times more.”

The explanation made Dallion feel a bit better.

“How strong are they?”

“Strong enough for the Archduke to not trust them with the sword.”

District after district, the two kept walking. Every now and again Dallion would check with Nil, but the instructions remained the same—wait until approached. When Dallion nearly reached the wall marking the end of the platform, someone finally did.

“Flowers for the girlfriend?” an old lady asked Dallion all of a sudden.

She could easily pass as one of the locals trying to make a few coins from unsuspecting visitors. However, thanks to his music skills, Dallion could easily sense the lack of any greed or deceit. Instead, there was determination and cold, calculated mercantile-ness.

“What makes you think she’s my girlfriend?” Dallion asked casually.

“Your rings.” The smile remained on the old woman’s face, but anyone with enough perception could see that it had become forced.

Here we go. “Do you have more flowers to offer? These don’t seem the right match.”

“Of course. This way.”

The woman continued along a narrow street by the platform wall, then turned into a small alley where a sewer entrance was visible. The moment he saw it, Dallion knew what would be expected of them—one of the things that awakened despised smelly areas.

“Give the rungs, then get back to your inn,” the woman whispered.

“Not before the item,” Dallion countered.

“It doesn’t work that way. We weren’t able to bring the item into the city. You’ll get it once you’re outside.”

“Then I’m not giving the rings.”

“Listen, the rings are only used for negotiating,” the woman said. “Your side puts an echo. Our side puts an echo and they discuss the deal. Payment happens later.”

So much for everything being arranged in advance, Dallion grumbled.

Nothing is perfect, dear boy. A lot of things were ironed out. Only a few minor points remain, thus the echo communications. Don’t worry, they won’t pull a fast one. Reputation means a lot in this sort of business and you only get to betray someone once.

Dallion took off the ring and handed it to the woman.

“Good,” she said. “And now you, my dear?” She turned towards Euryale.

The gorgon slowly reached into one of her own pouches, then took out a ring and tossed it to the woman.

“Try to trick us and you’ll be the next statue that will be going on auction,” the gorgon said in a polite, but firm tone.

Almost instantly Dallion felt fear emanating from the old woman. As someone who had been petrified once, he could empathize.

“We’ll be in touch.”

The woman rushed out of the alley, leaving the two behind.

“Was that how it was supposed to happen?” Eury asked.

“According to Nil, yes. At least we won’t have to worry about that until we finish with the rest of the mission.” He looked at the sky. “You better go back. March is probably already getting annoyed.”

“You’re not coming?”

“There’s something I need to finish as well.”

“Alright. Just one question. Why were you interested in the auction?”

That was the risk of being so insistent in the hunter’s den. It was too much to hope that Eury would have missed that.

“It’s a favor for someone. It won’t affect our work.”

“There’s no way going to a noble-only auction wouldn’t affect our work.”

“The same way going to a hunter’s den would?” Dallion tried not to snap. “I must do this. It’s not like I have a choice. Just as I need to visit the temple. Both will help us if we face a mage, or something stronger.”

Eury shook her head.

“You have so many secrets. Even after all the time together.”

“So do you.” Internally, Dallion felt like ice was growing in his stomach. One thing that he had realized, though, was that this whole conversation was just an excuse. Both of them had already made their decision. Now they were simply going through the motions.