Gild and Turwyn marched towards the crest of a small hill, Tik sitting on Turwyn’s shoulder. The paladin was at remarkable ease around the demon. Even if he thought it was a familiar, most people were hesitant to be around, let alone touch, any form of magical creatures.

“I thought you said we were very near to this place,” Gild complained, taking three steps for every one step the giant man took.

“We are! It’s just over the hill here.”

“I doubt that,” Gild said. “If it was, we would hear the town. Any town of a reasonable size has enough noise to hear it from far-”

He stopped as they came over the top, floored by the sprawling town before him. The sounds of the town washed over him as they came into view. Bells tolled from churches, the distinctive ring of blacksmiths' hammers rang out, horses neighed and whinnied, and above all of it, peoples voices came in a mishmash of noise.

Despite his foul mood, Gild couldn't help but find himself smiling. When Turwyn said a town he imagined a waystop with maybe a tavern or inn but mostly farmer’s huts. This town was near a city in size! There would be countless taverns and inns, any vendors you could need, and probably even a few houses of ill repute. Tens of thousands of people must live here!

Rows and rows of brown-orange tiled roofs sat on wooden and stucco colored buildings ranging from one story to four stories tall. A glittering ribbon of brown-blue meandered through the town before disappearing into the distance towards the stunted mountains.

“How in the world did I not notice or see this town? It's huge! There's a river going through it! I can hear it as if I was standing in the center and we are still half a mile out!”

“The town only appears to people who are looking for it or know where it is already,” Turwyn said as they started down the hill toward the city.

“What?”

Turwyn shrugged, “I only found it because I knew about it and came looking. Something about this town being at a nexus between realms and phasal shifts. I'm not entirely sure, I'm not a sorcerer or wizard or mage.”

“Phasal shifts would make sense, you would need to be aware of what to look for,” Gild muttered. He glanced at Tik, “Speaking of, you should probably shift out of our realm for a little bit. New town and all.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Tik said. He rolled his eyes and started to fade, growing translucent before disappearing entirely.

“You dismissed your familiar?” Turwyn asked.

“For now. He looks a little odd and we don't need people staring or asking questions as soon as we get into a new town.”

“Makes sense,” Turwyn said.

“Any reason they asked you to clear out the cave instead of sending a guard? This town seems big enough to have a guard, maybe even some form of standing military.”

Turwyn shrugged. They continued down the hill and made their way into the town. There were no walls to keep anyone out and the town sort of just started as the hill stopped. Dirt, crunching beneath their feet turned to cobblestone roads. Buildings sprang up around them, tidy and clean with signs hanging off describing what you could find within.

Gild marveled at the town as they walked down the street. More and more people began occupying the streets as they headed deeper into the town. It was mostly inhabited by humans of all shades, from midnight black to white as the moon, with everything in between. Gild couldn't help but gape as an elf walked by with blue skin that had purple patterns running across their face.

“Keep your beady eyes to yourself, goblin,” the elf said as he walked by.

“I'm a gnome, you haughty star skin,” Gild muttered.

“You arrogant little shit,” the elf whirled around as he passed by.

“Go, go!” Gild said, giving the paladin a little push on his back.

“What's going on back there?” Turwyn asked as he tried to look behind them.

“Nothing, nothing at all,” Gild said, listening to the shouts of the elf behind them in the crowd.

“Seriously, what is going on back there?” Turwyn kept trying to turn around and look, but he kept moving forward with Gild’s pushes.

“I may have upset a Moon Elf.”

“Moon Elf? What is a Moon Elf?” He stopped struggling so much but was glancing over his shoulder, trying to locate the speaker. They had moved far enough ahead the Elf’s anger and shouting had mixed with the general noise of the crowd and city. Gild risked a quick look back and did not see the Elf anywhere. He let out a long sigh and stopped pushing at Turwyn.

“How secluded was that monastery of yours?” Gild asked as he stepped up next to Turwyn and they continued down the avenue. “You don't know about the three hierarchies of elves?”

“I know there are Elves, but that's about it. I’ve never actually even met one before as far as I know,” he scratched at the short beard on his jawline.

“It would take way too long to explain the intricacies and social structure of Elf culture, but essentially there are three different types of Elf. I referenced a middle tier Elf as the low tier, and he didn't take too kindly to that.”

“Why would you do that?”

“He called me a goblin.”

Turwyn looked at him blankly. Gild rolled his eyes at the paladin.

“Is it just you that’s this uneducated on other humanoid social structures and insults, or is it a function of paladins in general?”

“Paladins in general, I’d think,” Turwyn said after a long pause to think. “We tend to stick to the things revolving around our chosen God Oath and nothing else. Makes life and the choice on who to smite that much easier if we don't see the shades of grey and only see a black and white world.”

Gild eyed the man suspiciously before Turwyn broke into a broad grin. “You're a cheeky one aren't you. And I was beginning to worry you might be a bit simple.”

“Oh, I'm not going to argue that point. I am a simple man, just not the simple you are referring to.”

“Well, I’m not too versed in human insults, but for simplicity's sake, he called me a foul name so I returned the favor. Elves ego’s are just a lot more prickly than any other sentient species known to any of the realms we have discovered.”

“I see,” Turwyn said. Gild didn't really think he did, but he didn't press the issue any further. They continued to walk along the avenue, ignoring merchants who were calling out their wares and keeping a nondescript hand over their packs to ward off any would-be pickpockets or thieves. Gild wasn't above burning someone to a crisp for stealing from him, but the likelihood everyone around would assume he was a fire mage that was trained in the very warlock art of immolation was slim to none.

Turwyn turned left suddenly, lightly pushing his way through the crowd towards a large building made of marble. Twin pillars topped by gryphons flanked steps leading up to large oak doors. The doors were currently open with two guards in chainmail holding spears. The guards didn't even glance at them as they stepped through the door.

Inside was a surprisingly bright room, thanks to a complex system of mirrors embedded near the roof that took in light from openings along the wall and reflected down onto rows and rows of desks and clerks behind them. Gild followed as Turwyn made for a desk in the front left of the massive room. Their shoes echoed across the marble floor as they approached, cutting into the strange silence that hung thickly.

As they sat at the desk, Gild couldn't help but notice the clerk seemed to smell of citrus. He had time to wonder if it was due to the man's lunch or perhaps he liked to dab oranges on his wrists and neck before coming to work, whatever that was.

“The kobolds are dealt with,” Turwyn said.

The man took his time finishing writing something down before sighing and shifting the paper to the side. He looked up over half moon spectacles and said, “Proof?”

“Go look, they are all dead. I also took care of the demon inhabiting the cave.”

A single eyebrow raised on the clerk. “Proof?”

Turwyn pulled the pack up from near his feet and set it on the desk. Dust spilled off the bag onto the polished desk, bringing the clerk’s other eyebrow up. A small grimace started to creep across his face as Turwyn removed random items and placed them on the desk without a care. Gild was positive they would walk away and leave behind one very dirty and scuffed desk.

“Ah, here it is!” Turwyn pulled a shriveled hand from his back. He dropped the demon’s hand on the clerk's side of the desk and started to put things back in his pack, humming happily to himself. Gild covered his mouth to hide the smirk at seeing the outright disgust on the clerks face.

“Very well,” the clerk said, taking the claw gingerly between two fingers and dropping it into something behind the desk. He took a sheet of paper from within a drawer and started to sign and write on it, still frowning.

“So why didn't the town send some of the guards out to take care of this? It was only a Lesser Demon and like ten kobolds. Seems like something that can be taken care of in a short day, especially if you have anything beyond a town guard.”

The clerk didn't even look up from his paperwork as he answered Gild's question. “Greathaven sits on a nexus hub between different realms and has a plethora of novice and amateur adventurers. Why not pay a one time fee to take care of a problem rather than wages for a large standing force? There is also the significant chance one or more of those adventurers will take care of the problem and die in the process, leaving us with a problem resolved and no payment needed.

Gild nodded. He could appreciate that fact, it was just good business sense. Turwyn on the other hand, looked absolutely shocked.

“You send poor people out to die with the hope that they take care of the problem before they do?”

“Yes. Or at least we hope they put enough of a dent in whatever problem we are facing to make it so it is no longer a problem for our city.” The clerk glanced up at the paladin over his spectacles. “It’s the way the world is sir. This isn't some tale you were told as a child about good guys always slaying the monsters and getting a treasure. Now, if you'll excuse me one moment.”

The clerk stood up from his desk and, after reaching back into his drawer and taking the claw with a grimace, walked away and through a set of smaller doors in the back of the marble room. Gild let his snicker out this time at the man's discomfort. His laughter quickly died when he saw the thunderous look on Turwyn’s face.

“It just isn't right what they are doing. They are taking advantage of people with little to no resources who are forced to take on these jobs just to try to make a living.”

Gild shrugged. “They made the choice to try to be an adventure or hero or whatever you want to call it. Dying is a pretty big risk in that career field.”

“It doesn't mean they have to be so open about hoping the poor young souls die in the process. It's tactless and quite a bit rude.”

The clerk came back and dropped a small bag of coins on the desk. “Your payment, and we are concluded with our transaction. Have a great day.”

Turwyn took the bag with a scowl and stood up, his chair screeching as it slid on the marble. This prompted a scowl of his own from the clerk, but Turwyn was already heading towards the entrance. Gild hopped down and chased after him.

As they stepped outside, Turwyn turned toward Gild. “Since you helped me clear that cave, I’ll split the payment evenly with you.” He counted out half of the bronze coins and handed them over.

Gild stuffed the coins deep into one of the many hidden pockets of his sack and offered a hand to the paladin.

“I guess this is where we part ways. I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors and with fulfilling your oath of whichever god or goddess you’ve pledged to.” Gild said as the paladin shook his hand.

“Wait, you’re leaving me?” The man looked almost hurt. “We can't, you know, stick together or something? We made a pretty good team, paladin and mage, destroyers of demons and bringers of light and justice to the realm!”

“Plus,” Turwyn added with a sheepish grin, “You really seem to know what you are doing and I could, ah, use a little bit of help.”

“Well...” Gild said.

“Please Gildy? I would really appreciate it and I'm sure having a large paladin by your side wouldn't hurt with whatever you are working on either.”

Gild groaned, “Fine, we can work together. And it's just Gild, never Gildy. But I should warn you I am hunting a fairly powerful demon.”

“Perfect!” the man shouted, his eyes lighting up. “That sounds like the perfect quest for a paladin to help out with.”

“I just ask that you do what I say and when I say it, no questions asked. You can ask questions later, but when we come across this demon there is a very specific set of steps I need to take, deal?”

“Sure thing, Gildy.”

Gild groaned and rubbed his eyes. “Well, the first order of business is getting clean and some rest. I’ve been on the damned road for weeks and could use a long bath and a hot meal at an inn.”

“I know the perfect place,” Turwyn said as he started down the steps.

Gild set off after him, wondering if this was the best idea. The paladin seemed utterly unable to recognize him as a warlock and would be even less likely now that he trusted him. What would Tik say when he found out? Gild rolled his eyes at the thought of the insufferable demon poking fun at him for going soft and finally taking on a partner. Ah well, it never hurts to have a companion.