“So what?” I laugh as we come to a stop. Staring at her bare foot which could probably stomp my skull in, defensive Qi or not, I wonder as to how she managed to get her shoe off without touching it, “You cheated too.”

“I didn’t!” she says, but I’m not convinced. “Prove it!”

“You dodged the dagger I threw...even with magic,” I tell her. Thinking it over, I become more certain as I remember the smooth way she ducked underneath my attack. Unless Meera has also developed Foresight, there’s no way she pulled that off blind. “Definitely cheating!”

“Maybe I’m just faster than you!” Meera tries to keep up the act, but I can tell she’s laughing. Her face twitches, and I realize how she did it.

“Hold on...you just peeked! With your bad eye!” I accuse her and I see the muscles on the side of her face tightening as she hastily scrunches up her eyes. “I can see you twitching!”

“N-Nu!” she denies, turning red. Eventually though, when I don’t say anything, she sighs and puts her foot back on the ground. Reaching down, she offers me a hand while reaching over and yanking her eyepatch back to where it belongs. Winking at me with her freed good eye, she grins, “Okay, maybe a little. But it’s not cheating! I kept the eyepatch on! It’s just...bending the rules a bit.”

“Uhuh. I knew you’d cheat.” Grumbling, I take her hand and let her haul me to my feet. It almost defies the laws of physics, the way she just tugs me up effortlessly. Qi is amazing. “How did I do?”

“Mmm...” Meera makes a disapproving hum. “You’re slower than usual. Are you trying something new? Or distracted?”

“Something new. But how was my technique? Stealthy, or no?” I grimace as I realize how obvious it was that I wasn’t using Foresight. Unfortunately, with Meera’s huge advantage over me in a physical fight, it’s hard to miss.

“You’re improving.” She sighs, blowing a bit of hair out from her lips. “But it’s slow. I hate to say it, but I think you’re right. Based on your magic, you may be the greatest Raingod of all time one day. And I suppose if we were to train people at your age to be Rainstoppers, you’d probably be something of a genius. However, you’re just too far behind. Still though, I’ve made the mistake of underestimating you before. And look where that got me? So, all I can say, Boss, is...keep trying?”

Oof...that’s a painful assessment. I know I asked for it, but still, do you have to be so blunt?

*Tic*

Glancing down at my watch, I realize that it’s past time we checked on the shop. Meera sees where my eyes are going and nods. Together, we clean up the saferoom a bit, grab her throwing knives and shoe, and head up the long ladder. At the top, we open the hatch to the hidden area behind a bunch of thick crappy cheese wheels which I use to disguise the entrance. Popping up, I wait for Meera to clamber out and then close the trapdoor behind her. Together, we leave the storeroom and go out to the front of the shop. Here we go.

When we arrive out of the back, Kisa and Nya both turn towards us. It’s that time of night when the store is closed but things aren’t completely closed up yet. The two Demi-Cats work as a team to tidy up with Nya going about checking on what has been sold, her tiny frame allows her to bend down easily and see the lower displays, while Kisa records and tallies the numbers. Watching them bustle about, I go over to the special glass display case for expensive goods about the back wall and cast Chill a few times quietly. As the cool air filters through, I wait for the knock to come. There’s a tightness about everyone’s motions that wasn’t there before. Earlier today, I said that a certain VIP customer was going to be visiting and that things needed to be in tip-top shape before he arrived. Additionally, I wanted Kisa and Nya, to leave the room at that point. I’ve never done that before, so I think it definitely impressed on them that this was something important.

“Master...should we leave?” Kisa asks, just a little bit more breathy than usual. Demi-Cats are very sensitive to ambient emotion in the air, so maybe that is also contributing to their nervous looks. Meera, for her part, has been instructed to be as cool as possible, no matter what the Stranger says. I think now that she’s on guard, my most devious employee won’t be a liability, but the Demi-Cats aren’t meant for this kind of dangerous thing. Okay...to be honest, they don’t really know anything. Maybe I just don’t want them to be implicated if things go wrong.

“Not yet. You can keep closing up,” I tell her tersely, a slight cold mist appearing as the frosty Chilled air rising from the display case catches the warmth from my breath. “How are we doing today?” At my words, Kisa tilts her head down towards the clipboard in her hand.

“It was a good day, Master. Sales are up, I can give you a final tally in a moment. However, Michel is requesting an extra-large order for Jasselryia. He wants to meet,” she chews her lip, putting the tip of a large white feather quill in her mouth. “I told him I’d need to consult with you or Meera before confirming anything. Is that alright?” Abruptly, there’s a slight thumping noise and everyone flinches except for me as Nya knocks over several blocks from the tower of aged cheddar. My Foresight’s running at full speed so it’s no surprise to me.

*Thunk Thunk Thunk*

“S-Sorry!”

“It’s fine, Nya.” I start to head over to help. Over my shoulder, I call out to her older sister, “You did well, Kisa. Tell Michel I’ll meet with him on Wednesday-“

Huh?

Oh yea...it has to be him.

The future slips away from me in a wash of white static as the timelines begin to get fuzzy. A second later, there’s a knock on the door. Everyone tenses at once as Meera and I stiffen. First us, and then the Demi-Cats reacting to our emotions. It’s kind of funny to watch, like those old videos they used to have, where one shocked cat would run around after seeing something stupid and scare all the others. Damn...Youtube videos. I forgot about those. That’d be convenient to have. Although, from what the Stranger told me, the Omniscient Guard isn’t far off from a network of security cameras. He has so much information on their organization...where did he get it?

“Kisa...Nya. That’s enough for today.” I throw the last couple blocks of fallen cheddar back onto the table without stacking them. The big tower, a faithful recreation of the Paris Tower I visited back when I was a kid on Earth, remains unfinished with several bits missing from the top. As the Demi-Cats hustle about, trying to finish cleaning, I shake my head, already walking to the door. “You two...stop working. Take an early night off. Meera, remember what we talked about.”

“Y-Yes, Master!”

“Okay!”

*Click*

Quickly, the two Demi-Cats scurry to the storeroom in the back. However, Nya’s little bushy black and white striped tail is still rounding the corner when I crack the front door open. Ugh, too slow! The Stranger’s sunken eyes flick inside his mask to track the tiny Demi-Cat’s movement. Unfortunately, it seems that despite my best efforts, he’s taken an interest in my staff.

“Oh? Demi-Cat slaves?” he murmurs curiously as I open the door wider. “Interesting...I never considered it because of their stupidity but...yea...I suppose they are quite loyal...and considering Selena’s treatment of them...they would never betray someone opposed to Merekeep. Plus, they’re quite strong...where’d you find them? I thought most of the Demi’s in Merekeep were addicted to those berries?”

Damnit, I don’t want him getting any ideas.

These are my staff.

“Just some freeloaders I took in because they were cute,” I reply brusquely. “I was told they’re good for detecting thieves on account of their hearing, but if that’s so, I haven’t seen any sign of it. If anything, they attract more trouble. Ignore them, they’re clumsy and get in the way. Would you like some wine?” The Stranger nods as the backdoor shuts quietly, seeming to forget about Kisa and Nya. Though his mask covers his expressions, I think he’s quite eager to try more of my product. Fortunately, it seems I’ve distracted him. Unfortunately, the price is probably going to be high. Anything he eats is coming out of your bonus, Kisa, Nya!

*Clink*

Meera delivers a set of glasses to me, and I mentally nod inside as she neglects to take one out for herself. By emphasizing her subservience to me, I hope to downplay her strength to the Stranger. However, it’s hard to tell if anything is getting by him. The damn bastard seems to pick up on everything I’m trying to hide, without giving away so much as a hint about himself.

*Pop*

“Ahh, thank you!” he sighs contentedly as I uncork a new bottle. Sitting down on one of the comfy chairs I bought, the custom cushions make a slight whooshing noise as we take a seat. The Stranger happily takes a platter of assorted cheeses which Meera presents. Scanning the options, he makes a surprised noise. “You have quite a selection. How did you ever come up with so many different recipes?”

“I have a big imagination.” My reply only makes him chuckle.

“You do have quite the imagination!” The Stranger peers at me over the top of the cheese platter in his hands. “I wish I had a son like you. Good at business. An inventive mage. Even good taste in women...well, perhaps that’s just my wishful thinking. Sorry, I’m projecting.”

“No kids?” I keep my expression on a neutral smile, to match the creepy mask he’s wearing. Finally, a chance to figure some clues out about him. “I find it hard to believe a man like you couldn’t find someone if he really wanted to.”

“Oh, I’ve had women.” He takes a piece of square cheese off the platter, his voice dark. Interesting choice, Gorgonzola huh? “Unfortunately, none of them could be trusted. I learned that the hard way. That’s actually why I quite envy your situation. A bunch of Demi’s who’ll do whatever you say. Too stupid to stab you in the back...intentionally anyway. No status, a self-made fortune. Nobody to tell you who or what you should do. I admire you...really, I do.”

“I see.” Reaching over, I take my own piece of pepper-jack off the tray. When I do, the Stranger notes which kind of cheese I choose and quickly tries it himself. He pops it under his mask and makes a noise of surprise-

“This is good!”

“Yea, it’s spicy.” I chew for a bit before swallowing. He’s definitely higher status. Assuming he’s telling the truth, then he doesn’t have kids. I should check the upper houses in Merekeep for someone without an heir. Hmm, maybe I can ask Michel about it. The girl he serves, Jasselryia, definitely mingles in those circles. For a little while, we just eat and have a few small sips of wine. I periodically try to reach for the future, but just as I predicted, now that the Stranger is here, it remains tantalizingly out of reach. My eyes never leave his when I attempt it, but I don’t see any clues that he’s actively doing something. No signs of magic, not even a flicker in his expression behind the mask. What is it...how is he doing it?

“Alright, enough talk.” The Stranger stands, brushing crumbs off. “As fascinating as chatting with you is, I’m afraid there are other things which require my attention. Do you, have it?” The mood turns instantly tense as he rises. Despite my insistence to Meera, she can’t help but mirror the Strangers movements, tracking him in case of a surprise attack. He notes her subtle body cues, his eyes twinkling with amusement somewhere behind that mask. “Relax, girl. I told you, I have no interest in harming your master. You can stop twitching.”

“I’ll believe that when you’re gone,” Meera says with barely a flicker in her face.

“Hah, be careful with this one, Myrr.” Our guest nods at her before holding out the empty cheese platter. Begrudgingly, Meera glances at me and waits for me to incline my head before accepting it. “She may mean well, but it’s dangerous to put so much trust in one person. Especially someone so good with knives. Pretty on the outside, deadly on the inside. Best to keep them at arm’s length.”

“Meera is my security. She goes where I go. I apologize if she’s a bit rough, but it’s in good faith. Like you said, you have to trust people if you want to get anything done,” I reply. After a moment, I turn my back. “If you’ll just give me a second, I’ll give you it.”

“Take your time,” the Stranger’s voice is eager. I can feel his gaze boring a hole into my back as I grab hold of the flow of mana and start to chant. “I’ve been dying to see how you do it...”

Oh, you’re not going to see anything.

Whispering quietly so he can’t really pick up anything, I get to work crafting an Earthen Icebomb. Unless he has x-ray vision, with my back turned to him, the Stranger shouldn’t be able to tell what I’m doing. Not that it really matters. I’m confident that unless someone else knows Silent Casting, they’d have an impossible time trying to recreate this spell. However, the Stranger seems to be well educated on a lot of things so I’m being careful just in case.

[Muddy Stone of My Endurance, Move Forth-Meld]

[Frozen Wind of My Soul, Come Forth-Chill]

It only takes a few seconds, a bit longer than usual since I’m using my focus to create an extra sturdy fuse. This Icebomb won’t go off prematurely...probably. Glancing at my watch, I note the time so I can be sure of when to make the next one. Perfect.

“You have thirty minutes to get this planted,” I turn around with the cold Icebomb in hand. My gaze finds the Stranger watching me curiously. His eyes snap onto the glowing blue-ish white orb between my fingers. It’s a much denser ice variant than the muddy originals I used to make as a kid. However, the core is still constructed from rock, a single pebble that has been Melded and distributed throughout the orb for support and additional shrapnel. If this thing goes off right now, even if I knew it was going to explode and immediately took countermeasures, I’d definitely die. It’s that dangerous. Against people who aren’t expecting it and don’t have their Qi defenses up...well, let’s just say the lethal radius is extremely high. “Give or take three minutes. After that, your guess as good as mine when it’ll blow. I suggest your people be long gone by then. Also...I made it as robust as I could, but it goes without saying...don’t drop it.”

“Of course.” The Stranger eagerly reaches over, his gaze fixed on the orb. I wish I could see his face, but the mask is always in the way. He certainly seems appreciative of my craftsmanship, turning the orb every-which-way with a surprising lack of fear considering I just told him not to drop it. “This is good. Provided yours is planted almost simultaneously, the Omniscient Guard will have a terrible time tracking the magic signature. With two large spells going at once, if they try to track one, it’ll simply lead them to the other. Still, it’s doable if they’re prepared so let’s not do this more than a few times. You need to be able to conjure three at once. At that point, unless they’re incredibly lucky, there’s no chance they’ll be able to track these things.”

“I’m working on it.” Waving my hands, I show the Stranger the door. “Time’s ticking. You should go. Though I do have to wonder, who’s going to be planting this for you? Somehow I doubt you’re doing it yourself.”

“You have your people...and I have mine,” the Stranger replies cryptically. “Actually, though, I think you’ve inspired me. The loyalty of your staff...” He mockingly glances at Meera, and I can hear a touch of sarcasm on his voice. “It’s given me a few ideas. Perhaps it’s time to upgrade my organization as well. Well, I’ll be off. Remember, you must coordinate the second explosion within a few minutes of the first. Or they’ll start to track you down. Mana has a trail...a scent if you will, that can lead them right to this shop if you’re not careful.”

“I got it. Just don’t drop that thing in here. Or we’ll be the new batch of Swiss Cheese.”

“Sorry, what was that?” The Stranger turns back, confusion on his face and I remember that no one knows what Swiss Cheese is in this world yet.

“Nevermind.”