Narkato had been built by the same kind of scum that now resided in it... many of whom, Livia noticed, were missing one or more digits. Because of this, the town had been planned out with blind spots and kill zones in mind, and it wasn’t long before Livia, Krey, and Emilie would fall victim to those designs. A burly fellow clad in dark leathers accosted them within the crowds and urged them off the road, into a narrowing between buildings that was a total dead end, completely in its own cover of darkness.

Gripped in the stranger’s hand was an object that all three of them recognised to different degrees… but even the faintest of recognition was enough to understand the the turn this situation had taken. It was a pistol. “Get back— into that corner over there,” he ordered calmly, quietly, in a voice lined with gravel. “Well now, looks like we have some new faces in town. I suppose that means you’re unaware of the Laughing Gales tax.”

That name rang bells in all three of their heads. Krey decided to speak for the party. “We already paid your damn tax! Now, let us move along.”

“Hah! You think I’m stupid, do you?”

Can you blame me? Krey kept that to himself. I mean, look at your face! it certainly wasn't a pretty sight.

“I can tell you’re new in town because you’re all squeaky clean… ain’t nobody so clean in this shit hole. Now then… how’s about I enlighten you?”

Emilie made her attempt now. “Perhaps you should. Tell us about this tax of yours, and… we’ll be sure to keep it in mind for our next encounter.”

“You don’t get to skip the first payment, lady,” the thug scowled. “It’s a hundred gylt, or I take a finger from each of you.”

Livia felt a chill of realisation. Before she could make her own attempt at solving this problem with words, the thug dropped like a sack of spuds, his collapse preceded just before by a wet, dull thwack. Behind him, they saw a young, athletic girl standing there, her arm across her body at the end of a swing's arc.

“Hi!” the girl chimed. “I’m Pippy Vieira, Battlecaster Extraordinaire! How may I be of service?” she bowed deeply and dramatically.

“I’d say you have already been of service,” Emilie stammered.

Krey stepped forward. “Yeah, thanks for that, but… are you going to be okay? I imagine the Laughing Gales will come looking for the one who killed their man.”

“You say that like they aren’t already looking for me!” the girl snorted a giggle.

Livia couldn’t place it, but something about this girl was familiar. “Who are you?”

“I’m an outlander! I’ve been eking out a living using my red magic to help people. I’m from Aubade— just like you!” she got up close and pointed at the streaks of black on Livia’s face, nearly touching her cheek.

Livia’s voice turned sharp. “What?”

“Didn’t you hear me?” Pippy tilted her head. “Here, listen closer this time. Auba-”

“I heard you, damn it!” Livia recoiled as she saw the look on Pippy’s face, taking a moment to compose herself. “I’m sorry, it’s just… please, listen to me very carefully. Do you know if anyone else managed to get out of Aubade?”

“What?” Pippy stuttered.

“Do you know if there were any other survivors?!” Livia hadn’t realised it, but she’d grabbed Pippy’s shoulders and was shaking her now.

“I-I don’t know! I left three months ago!”

“Then… then you don’t know…”

“What? What is it?”

Livia turned away with her hands over her mouth. Pippy put a hand on Livia’s shoulder now, more tender than Livia had been, and made her voice soft. “Hey… come on… what happened? Aubade was my home too… so please, tell me.”

Livia inhaled… then exhaled… then inhaled again. She looked Pippy in the eyes, and croaked: “The Ennui, Pippy… our home… it’s dying. I don't know how much is left.”

“Oh…” Pippy’s legs turned to jelly, and her head felt heavy on her neck. “Oh… I see…”

“But…” Krey interjected now. “Didn’t you say, back in Acrevil, that you were glad to be here? That you weren’t worried about getting home anymore?”

“Oh, yes!” Livia exploded, throwing her gaze and hands skyward. “Only because I am such a pathetic coward! I was so glad to be trapped here instead of there, because here I’m safe! If I’m trapped here, then I can’t possibly be held responsible for the fate of Aubade! I don’t… I don’t have to fight the Ennui anymore.”

“If it helps…” Pippy stammered, “I… I felt the same way when I heard about the severance from the local hierophant. Even back when I was still in Aubade, the Ennui was spreading across the land, and… well…”

“I’m afraid you’ve lost me too,” Emilie said. “Though… I gather that something terrible has happened.”

Livia, without another word, stormed off towards the edge of town. “Hey!” Krey reached a hand out after her. “Wait! Where’re you running off to?”

“It’s okay,” Pippy stated. “I’ll… I’ll keep an eye on her. I’ll try and snap her out of it.”

“How?” Emilie enquired. “You’re a total stranger; do you really think it wise to try consoling her?”

“I might be a total stranger,” Pippy acknowledged, “but I’m the only one here who knows what she’s talking about.” With that, she ran after Livia, who had already moved out of earshot.