“What strange phenomena we find in a great city, all we need do is stroll about with our eyes open. Life swarms with innocent monsters.”

- Charles Baudelaire

Semiramis got on well with Cyrus to everyone's surprise and they played with both until it was time for dinner. Mireille's stomach was already grumbling from the lack of attention.

So it was that the evening found them together in the dorm's dining room. Madam Gosling smiled as she ladled a thick soup into the waiting bowls. A savory aroma drifted through the brightly lit room.

Some of the girls were talking, the trio ate in silence, mostly because Mireille was starving and Alea was tinkering with a leg of her spider, the tip of her tongue between her teeth. Alyssa thought it quite cute and truthfully did not want to either disturb or anger the small girl by pointing it out.

A group of girls sitting on the other end of the rectangular table were discussing something which piqued Alyssa’s attention. “Did you hear? Professor Glames has spoken with the assessor for our mundane studies and he is not satisfied with our standard. This means we will have some hours shifted from magical theory to mundane subjects!” A black-haired girl spoke with anger in her voice.

“Oh no, I did not escape my houses tutors to run into more arithmetic!” A blonde, her face pretty but slathered in make-up complained.

“It is probably the lower-born students pulling everyone down. If they had at least tried to prepare themselves…” The muttering became more difficult to understand as the speaker, the dark-haired girl that set the topic, lowered her voice.

Alyssa concentrated on eating. ‘If everyone had the leisure to learn as they want, I would most assuredly not lag behind!’ She was getting a bit angry but reminded herself that the opportunity to be here that had landed in her lap was worth all this and much more.

Asandria hummed the fragment of a beautiful song and managed to dispel her gloomy thoughts. ‘Don’t forget, tomorrow is Saturday and you would have some time in the evening to learn from Vanessa.’

“In the daytime, we have the shopping date with Vivienne and her brother.” She murmured while hoping that no one would find it strange.

Alea looked up. “Lieseleta has invited herself too. I did not get around to mentioning it, so there it is.”

“At least we will be well-protected.” Alyssa smiled.

The small spider moved the dented leg experimentally and then marched along Alea’s right arm to her shoulder. Lucille grinned at that, the dark-haired girl stopped talking and looked at the spider, faint disgust visible in her eyes.

The night came and went.

“Ah, why do we have to get up so early!” Mireille was complaining all the while Alyssa and Alea were washing up and arranging their clothes.

“Hurry up sleepyhead!” Alyssa teased Mireille still attired in the tunic she wore at night. “We will go sightseeing and shopping. It sounds like fun.” The last was said in the patently obvious attempt to make herself believe it too.

“I don’t like crowds. But at least you, the princess, and Vivienne are nice.” Alea gave her honest opinion. “I think it will be bearable.” She made a brave face.

“That sounds like a ringing endorsement if ever I heard one.” Mireille turned and held the pillow over her head. This led to Cyrus attempting to steal it, which ended with the pillow needing magical emergency repair.

“You are too big for tug-o-war with pillows.” Alyssa admonished while Mireille cast the necessary magic. She felt the reluctance of her soul to conform to something other than lightning keenly, it had gotten worse in her opinion, but perhaps it was the ease of use regarding her power-words that had spoiled her. Sometimes she felt as if they were no longer really necessary and she just could use the lightning like any other muscle. A strange thought.

After finally all getting ready they met up before the dorm. The coach, driven by Adam who nodded and tipped his hat at them, held before the doors and waited for them to board.

Lieseleta was waiting on the main road from the academy, the green-haired siblings had relayed that message and then asked to be taken along in Alea’s carriage. It was a tight fit.

Then they were off.

Valens was visibly discomfited by the tight confines of the four-person coach but a look from his sister quelled any protests he might have made.

Vivienne was rather lively and joked with Mireille and Alyssa. Alea was a bit reticent too and tried to hide beside the slightly larger Alyssa.

They arrived at an inn Lieseleta had recommended. They were warmly welcomed by the proprietor and the plan was for the vehicles and horses to be stabled there while the girls went to the great market plaza.

Outside the academy grounds, the effects of the air purification wards were sorely missed, even as the smoke blew along the river there was still a pervasive itching in the back of the throat and Alea especially but all of them to some degree or another had runny noses and irritated eyes.

Lieseleta grimaced and looked beseechingly at Jera her attendant and bodyguard. She nodded spread her hands and gestured while speaking a spell. A fresh breeze began to circulate around them. A few beads of sweat were visible on Jeras face.

“Thank you!” Lieseleta smiled brightly and motioned for the others, “Stay near, the effect does not extend far especially when we are moving. Let's go and see the market.” She seemed to be in a very good mood and smiled at Alea who looked a bit overwhelmed by the noise and mass of people on the streets. Carriages rattled over the paving stones, men and women crossed the streets to reach the shops lining it. Many hastened along and spared no time for window shopping. The shops were quite interesting Mireille and Alyssa had not often seen so many quality goods. There was a carpenter presenting varnished hardwood chairs ornamented and upholstered with silk, there was a bookshop and Alyssa looked on with widened eyes at the mass of precious books held in its shelves and chests.

Jera, and there seemed to be some guards in civilian clothing, were highly effective in keeping them safe and from bodily harm. That was no mean feat because early Saturday was quite a busy time.

“Mireille, look.” Vivienne held a small necklace made of silver the links went from smaller than a fingernail to nearly as big as a large coin at the front. There were symbols imprinted on the links and a lightning-shaped rune at the center. “What do you think? Would you like to wear something like it?”

Mireille tried it on and everyone concurred that it fit her well.

“It's a gift. Don't worry about it.” Vivienne laughed and threw the vendor some coin.

“It's a bit much?” Mireille tried to protest but it was a bit half-hearted. “If I make lots of money in the future I will return the favor!”

Alyssa nudged her. “We do have some money…” They were actually quite well-off by anyone's standards after the windfall that a certain Lucien had left them, she reminded herself to look through the potions again. There were some she still had not identified.

“Don't mention it.” Vivienne brushed back her unruly hair and grinned.

Lieseleta shook her head and thought, ‘That one is a tease and used to manipulating people. Let's keep an eye on her.’

Alea abruptly stopped, the spider swiveled her head and looked into a side street. “What is it?” The princess asked.

“There is a shop I would be interested in,” Alea answered softly while pointing at the sign swinging in front of a building showing gears and a clock.

“Then we should have a look. Alyssa, Vivienne, Mireille. Let's make a short detour.” She called in a somewhat louder voice.

Somewhere music played and a woman was singing. Some people swerved to avoid the girls and hurried along at the edge of the street. A coachman cursed the delay caused by the heavy traffic. Somewhere in a backyard, a housewife hit a rug hung from a line with a carpet beater. Some doves were cooing on a windowsill above them. Cyrus eyed them hungrily.

They saw some of those horseless carriages and began a guessing game about how the box might propel the vehicle.

Alyssa had had the least problems with the crowd- other than the well-protected princess perhaps- because most took a look at the large reptile with the big and dangerous-looking stinger and went out of their way to avoid her.

They went down the quiet side street and arrived at the shop. ‘Willibald’s Clocks and Clockwork’ read the sign above in polished brass letters.

A man walking in their direction sneezed and the cloth he used to keep the smoky air from irritating his lungs lifted showing bluish teeth and light blue-colored lips before he fastened the cloth again.

“Is he ill?” Alyssa inquired of Lieseleta who stood near her and seemed knowledgeable about the city.

“Who? The man just now?”

“Yes, the one with the blue lips.”

“He is a bluestone or blue crystal addict. You should take care to avoid them.” the golden-haired girl looked sad. “They do something with the ground mana crystals and whatever it makes them quite addictive. I heard that it's especially bad for mages as it increases the power and capacity of your mana but at the cost of damaging your nerves and even your magic if used long enough. And thus it's a big temptation if there is something important on the line. It began with some military research that looked for ways to increase the power of warmages. But let’s leave that for another day, mh?”

“Yes, that seems best.” Alyssa shuddered. “In Firswending we had a mana vein deep underground. It did things to people working there, they were never the same afterward.”

“You have a vein? I did not know about that.”

“It's not particularly well known. People don’t like to talk about it because of the horrible side effects of mining it.”

“I can well imagine. We use a lot of technology and magic to keep the ones mining the mana alive, but it is never quite enough. But let's stop here. It's such a beautiful day.”

They entered the shop and found it to be both cramped and clean. The walls were hidden by shelves upon shelves that reached the high ceiling. Ladders and stepping stools stood to the side for no one, not even Jera would be able to reach the highest rungs unaided.

A ‘man’ of uncertain age with white-blond hair pulled into a ponytail sat behind the counter, smoking while reading a newspaper. Alyssa was unsure if the person was human because he was so very small a bit over a meter in height. But the proportions were very humanlike if compared to say a dwarf.

“Never seen a gnome, have you?” The small person asked without looking up from the paper he was reading. He wore glasses fitted with some sort of mechanism that seemed to make them adjustable for...different conditions?

“Ah, no.” Alyssa stuttered, blushing and embarrassed.

The gnome looked up and smiled while taking off the glasses. “Willibald Mexemir Glassbright of the deep Glassbrights. A pleasant day to you all. Sorry, for that, I could not resist. It is not at all strange that you have not seen another of my kind, there are three in this city I know of. And mayhaps a few thousand left in our homeland.” He made air parenthesis with his hands as he said- homeland. “But please. What brings you to my humble establishment.” The word humble could not have sounded less humble if he tried.

Alea looked up from where she was standing and pointed. “Is that an Ayrton converter?”

“Yes, indeed. But if you are looking for power then I could perhaps interest you in this fine piece. Miss…?” He let the words peter out.

“Alea von Graufurt.”

“Mh. Von Graufurt, von Graufurt- there was something. Do you perhaps know someone called Gallius Escerus von Turmhoh?”

Alea’s posture stiffened. “Did you know my grandfather?”

“Did I know him!? He was a good friend and colleague in the art of magical engineering! He was a true scientist, gave everything for the cause!”

Alea looked a bit taken aback. “This can't be a coincidence.”

“It's not that unrealistic. There are about two handfuls of magical engineers with a bit of experience and ability in the whole of Kronenburg. Your grandfather was among them. And this shop here.” He spread his arms.”It draws the eye, does it not? At least for those with an interest in the matter. There are not many that are my competitors. Most of what I sell I craft myself. And much of that is unique, if I may say so.”

“I would very much like to talk to you about my grandfather if you ever have the time,” Alea spoke softly.

“It's the least I can do. He helped me establish myself and if not for him, I would probably have fallen prey to the prejudice, no insult to present personages intended, in the guild hierarchy.”

He got up and promptly vanished as he was a bit smaller than the counter was high. A small sliding door opened at the side and he sauntered out towards them.

“Well, well. The granddaughter of Gallius. Will wonders never cease. If you are interested in the Ayrton then I can let you have it at cost. What do you say?”

“What exactly is ‘cost’ to you?” Alea’s spider turned her head.

“Is that one of Gallius’? It certainly looks like a creation of his. Even years after his death it’s still cutting edge. A damn shame. And the cost is in this case 23 gold pieces. Payable either in cash or promissory notes from the Bank of Margrinar. I don't take the stuff the snakes use. So please don't ask.”

“I will write a note. Have it sent to the Wisteria Dorms, please.”

“Will do. Pleasure doing business with you.”

Lieseleta meanwhile had studied some of the smaller clocks and finally bought one too. Vivienne looked around, disinterested in the mechanisms but very much taken with the information she had heard.

Mireille eyed the newspaper, remembering that morning in Dornenfurt, and smiled to herself. She would have to get one on the way back.

Promising to keep in touch, they said their farewells and left the shop for the great market.

Alea seemed in a pensive mood as she tended to be when she thought about those days she only hazily remembered. Would that ever come back? Should she want it too? Mayhap Vanessa could help, she described herself as an arcanist and mind mage, did she not?

There were even more people on the streets even though that seemed physically impossible. The guards had a lot to do to keep the small group from getting swept away and Alyssa thought she saw Jera grit her teeth at one point. Cyrus seemed agitated too, the masses of humans made him feel anxious for her safety.

And then they crested a last small hill and looked down on the great market plaza. It was formed like a large octagon with eight streets leading through the middle of each side towards the great circular road in the center. The area around the center was by old tradition reserved for temporary stalls, even though many such ‘stalls’ rivaled the better-situated shops in scope and materials involved. There were a lot of shops too, built into small housing blocks beside the eight great roads. There were statues and small plazas where only showmen and entertainers performed their acts, magicians conjured small illusions and delighted the passerby. There were a lot of water fountains freshening the air and lending a bit of elegance.

The better shops used enchantments to cleanse the air and it was sometimes a surreal vista when the air in front of a jeweler seemed like a small bubble keeping the dust and smoke outside.

Here there were a lot of nonhumans too. At least a lot in comparison to everywhere else. There was a troupe of jugglers who seemed to have fox-like features. A few elves could be seen here and there, visible primarily through their exotic hair coloration. A few dwarves hawked metalwork. It was a great and barely constrained chaos.

Groups of city-guard stood at certain points, waiting for anything to catch their attention while smaller groups of three wended their way through the crowds. Once alerted to a crime they used shrill whistles to call for reinforcement which was incrementally given. Never was a post stripped completely clean.

“That looks far grander from up close. Traveling in the coach it looked smaller somehow.” Alyssa observed.

“It can be overwhelming. I really like coming here with people who are new to it. Their wonder brings all of it into perspective for me and it seems as if I could also see it once more with fresh eyes.” Lieseleta mused smiling.

Vivienne looked around her with great interest, her brother hid beside and behind her, suffering in silence.

Alea was practically glued to Alyssa and Mireille bought a newspaper. “Three copper pieces! In Dornenfurt it was one, one!”

“This here is the Kronenburg Bugler, you won't find a more informative and well-written piece anywhere else. Quality has its cost!” The young man- no disheveled boy here, oh no- answered indignantly.

“Keep an eye out for pickpockets. We have Jera and such but be careful.” Vivienne admonished.

“What are those fox people?” Mireille asked curiously.

“They are foxkin, one of the beast-races. There are a lot of different ones. The legend goes they were once the animal whose features they still bear and Irkonos raised them to sentience because he, as a major god, did not have any one species that worshipped only him. Lot of good it did him in the end. The beast races worship a plethora of gods even if they still prefer him.” Alea answered.

And then they were in the market proper and the crowds swallowed their group.