Vwoosh! A stream of water explodes off in the distance, via an arrow I just fired

“Whoa!” Pinoki exclaims, “how did you do that?”

“I think my bow absorbed the power of the magic stone.”

“Huh that’s impossible, against the laws of nature”

Pinoki eyes my bow suspiciously wherever that was made, I know for sure it wasn’t here,”

Retracting it back to my hand, I look at the little man in the eyes

“I just randomly found it,” I say blankly

“No clue where it came from,”

“You could make some serious money from that you know,”

“Alright I showed you what I can do,” ignoring his previous statement

“What about you?”

“Ah~ah~ah~!” He sings, “I can’t spoil that,

You will see it eventually,

Now come let’s continue on,

A pity Lyra refused to join us though.”

“I’ll meet back up with her later,” I reply while surveying the area

Which seems weirdly empty, unlike the others that bustled with people,

Houses stand looking haunted and lifeless,

Does anyone live here?......

…….“It right up there we’re heading,” Pinoki points,

A single building stands apart from the rest here, streams of colorful lights flow out of it, as we near it a slight hum can be heard from inside

UMPH!

The door swings open upon the force of a body being launched out, a man hits the floor

“Please I need more!” he begs,

A figure in a mask walks outs after him

“Then bring more money!” A feminine voce demands,

“We don’t accept beggars!”

“Please just a little while longer!?

I’ll get more, I promise!”

Oomph!

The masked figure kicks the begging man in the ribs

“Get out of my sight!”

Noticing Pinoki and I the person turns in our direction,

Pinoki fakes a smile at them before they enter back into building.

“We have to be cautious here Kage, these people aren’t to be crossed as you can see,”

He points to the man on ground clenching his ribs,

“In here,” Pinoki directs stepping over the man

Giving him one last glance before heading in

I drop a single silver coin.

***

Dum dum dum dum

A soft beat hums repeatedly as entranced bodies move to its rhythm,

Colorful dreamy lights flood the room adding to the atmosphere of unadulterated pleasure that engulfs every person here.

“Uhhhh! This is the stuff!” a man says absorbing the power of a magic stone, his eyes begin glowing sky blue,

“Heyy~ you,” a woman calls out to me, “I’ll show you good time if you’re interested?”

“Ignore them Pinoki instructs, everyone here has lost themselves to pleasure,

This is club Hedon the only source of pleasure you’ll find down here,

But I like to call it the only place where you’ll find a large gathering of people with depression,” he quips

“What exactly are we supposed to do here Pinoki?

Now I see why Lyra refused to come with us,” I say annoyedly, observing the people entranced in the pursuit pleasure,

“Nah, I think Lyra’s banned from ever coming here,” Pinoki remarks

“Wait what, banned?”

“Don’t ask me all, I know is that the leader refuses to allow her here”.

“Hmmm...”

As we speak a masked person approaches us

“Pinoki?” they gesture

“I came to speak with Tori,” the little man replies,

Nodding, the masked person beckons us to follow,

Making our way through the hedonistic crowd we reach an office situated in the back of the building.

An auburn-haired woman with large transparent crystal earrings sits twirling a whip.

“Did you do what I asked?” She interrogates the moment she sees Pinoki, and I enter

“And who is he? The woman points her whip at me,

“Well, ummm, Tori, about that,” Pinoki hesitates,

“I did get the stone like you asked but-”

“-But what?” Tori interjects.

“I destroyed it, I butt in, not wanting to draw attention to my unique bow,

“What?”

“I destroyed it,” I repeat,

“I thought he was going to use it as a drug, so I smashed it.”

“Pinoki is this true?”

“I heard no lies,” Pinoki smiles, glad that I decided to take some blame.

“My friend, Kage is new here, so he doesn’t understand some things,”

“What does that have to do with the fact that you were asked to do one thing and you failed!”

“Wai wai wait! Listen,” Pinoki urges

“I technically didn’t fail, and I brought someone else to join us as well,”

Tori cracks her whip threateningly,

“You think you can just come in here with a random civilian and expect me, or the leader to allow you to join us!?”

“Ha! You must be more naïve than that girl Lyra,”

“Kage’s not a regular civilian,

He is actually form outside the city, tell her Kage,” Pinoki says pinching my arm desperately,

Before I can speak up Tori’s earrings begin glowing,

“Yes boss?” she answers

Some sort of communication?

…….

“Mhm, I understand boss,” her earrings stop glowing,

“Kage, you knew the prince , saw him die” She looks directly at me,

“Wah?” Pinoki inquires confusedly

“How do you kn-” I start

“-Our leader knows everything that is said here,

As a matter of fact, Pinoki, you’ve done well, brought back something more valuable the than magic stone,

And as per the request of the woman in charge, Kage, Pinoki, you are permitted to join us, Welcome to the Sewer Rats.”