How do you find a single name in a city that lays claim to dozens of thousands of lives?

  That question had been plaguing my mind ever since I discovered I’d been made a target for my association with Alvi.. I was lucky winter was almost here, else I might’ve had to join on their hunts. Instead I’d been keeping myself busy with cartography and trying to find a book. I’d made decent progress on my literature, but not enough to browse the monster encyclopedias held by the guild.

  It was a surprise to me how hard it was to find a proper book. The library was filled with primers for those eager to learn, but everything else was reserved to ‘citizens of distinction’, whatever the fuck that meant. Otherwise I could go to the merchants but a decently sized book was a full gold.

  Ridiculous.

  So becoming proficient in literacy would have to wait on the backburner. At least I could read signs now, so all those shops in the eastern part of the city weren’t a mystery anymore. Self-righteous pricks use the written word to weed out the illiterate from their consumer base. Most of the peasantry didn’t even walk those streets, so it was a pointless measure.

  But yeah, no luck on finding a book, which was a shame.

  I’d considered going back home to collect my mother’s small horde, but that had probably already been picked and sold. People left for the villages months ago when the Horde was declared over.

  Not that I would’ve either way.

  “Two pennies,” I said as I examined one of the apples. “See here? It’s bruised. Damaged goods aren’t even worth half of their price, let alone the offer I’ve decided to give.”

  The vendor grumbled as he scrunched his brow at me. “I’m already giving you a discount, elf. Don’t push your luck.”

  “Respectfully, that’s a fat load of bullshit you’ve just vomited. The last customer got a proper batch of apples for three pennies. I’m only entertaining this out of consideration,” I said.

  “Yeah?” the vendor said as he spread his arms. “Why don’t you go to one of the other fleecing shits and leave me alone hmmm?” He raised a brow.

  I nodded and placed the apple back in its basket. “I think I’ll do just that.”

  The vendor sputtered out some words but I had already left. Ignoring him with all the grace I could muster because, in my humble opinion, the sight would look pretty funny to any onlookers. I stopped by another vendor next, who was selling a wide assortment of leeks. I gave the green menace a critical eye and haggled down to two leeks per copper penny.

  Not the best price, it was actually pretty fucking horrendous when compared to my village’s market, but city life was simply more expensive. Besides, it’s not like I didn’t have the coin for the endeavor.

  An endeavor which had recently become quite urgent.

  See, I’d never get whoever this Seph bitch was to show herself out on the city streets. My normal routine was too…safe for that. The only opportunities the witch had to attack me was my time spent in the slums, and I has no plans on getting my friends caught up in this bullshit.

  So, what to do?

  Well, change the routine. Find somewhere that’s less than safe and just…roam.

  It was unlikely to get the witch herself but, beating the shit out of any proxies that got sent my way would do wonders to expand any information about the woman. If I could handle them of course. Took me a while to be okay with this course of action. A long while.

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  But considering my friends were in just as much danger as I was if I didn't give the witch an option besides foul play (which was unlikely considering Alvir, but it’s best not to test stupidity), then it didn’t really seem like an option in the first place now did it? Not if I cared. So here I was, wandering through the western markets, looking in all respects like I was out shopping for groceries.

  If you ignore that there were much closer, and safer, options by my inn.

  Yeah, what I was doing would be obvious to anyone with half a brain…but it was that or keep Riri and Gar in perpetual danger and get the same result anyway. Better this way. Besides, Alvir was always watching.

  The western market was a little more on the chaotic side than the northern or central markets. Plenty more haggling and cursing than I was used to. Reminded me of home honestly, except there was no underlying warmth between the two parties. No clever barbs, though my ears did get graced on occasion. From the other markets I just assumed city life had some societal rules of decorum when it came to haggling, but this place shattered that notion quite violently.

  A few brawls broke out not too long ago, the gangs had to get involved. Bunch of street rats got some free food before the scuffle was sorted out, and the man who threw hands first ended up kicking and screaming down an alley as he was dragged away. How fun.

  Always good to remember who owned these streets.

  Something pressed against my back, the sharp point of a dagger.

  It was an effort to hold back a smile.

  “You’re coming with me, elf,” a surprisingly young voice said.

  I raised a brow. “How old are you?” I said. “I didn’t expect a witch to rely on a literal child, I thought this was going to be a challenge.”

  The point started to dig into my skin, and I had to hold back a hiss.

  My tolerance for ethereal pain didn’t transfer over to the physical variety, unfortunately. Still, no competition for being torn apart by goblins or giant rats, so it wasn’t all that difficult to keep a straight face.

  “Move,” the boy (I think? Too young to really tell,) said.

  “Your wish is my command!” I chirped.

  Then I backed up into the dagger, and activated my spell.

  Reinforced muscle squeezed down on the blade with a firm grip. It hurt like a bitch but that was fine, so long as I got just a moment of control. I could heal it later with my mana, training opportunities! How fortuitous.

  The muscles in my back were way over their expected strength, not enough to trap a blade, but for just a moment of surprise? I whipped around, and the assailant lost grip of the weapon entirely. They pulled it out half-way so it ended up flying across the market square. Might’ve struck someone by the screaming, I wasn’t paying attention to that.

  Adrenaline was filling my body, pushing it beyond alongside my spell. Blood freely given by rights of violence spilled onto the floor from my back, and muscles clenched in untold violence. I was smiling, smiling so wide it hurt.

  Then I turned to see a child and stopped in my tracks. Their eyes are a dull variety of blue, alongside slick black hair. They didn’t carry any expression of shock, no hint of fear, just confusion.

  Alongside just a subtle whisper of something wrong.

  The imp in my soul perked up at the sight.

  I lowered my fist and stared at the thing in front of me, some gang enforcers walked over with annoyed expressions. “What’s going on here?” a woman grunted as she eyed the boy.

  “Nothing ma’am,” I said, not moving my eyes from the body in front of her. “The boy here just has something to tell me is all.”

  The two enforcers raised a brow and turned to look at each other, then the male partner turned and pointed at my back. “That doesn’t look like nothing.”

  “It will be given a few days,” I said.

  “I’m gonna need more than that elf,” the man sighed, and pointed to a commotion not too far away. I didn't turn away from the boy, but I could tell that someone was hurt. Turned out the knife did hit someone. Fuck.

  I rummages through my coin pouch, took out a few silver, and tossed it to the two.

  All without breaking eye contact.

  “Good enough I guess,” the enforcer grunted. “Say hi to Loklan for me, eh? Boss is real happy with the Aves Lugentes he bagged.”

  “Sure.”

  The enforcer nodded and walked back to where he was watching over the market square, his partner scoffed but did the same. “Those coins are split between us, jackass!”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  They left, and it’s just me and the child staring at one another. Alongside the spectators. “You’re coming with me,” I said, calm as could be.

  It tilted its head. “Why?” it said with genuine curiosity.

  I leaned forward to whisper into the things ear. “Because if you don’t,” I whispered. “I’ll send you back to the hell you came from, demon.”