"Well, do explain why you are so late." Kayda's sharp voice rang out the moment I stepped into the inn Warlurd had mentioned earlier.
I paused in the doorway, the scent of warm food, burning wood, and faint perfume hitting my nose all at once. My eyes scanned the rustic yet polished interior of the inn before landing on her—Kayda, sitting at a corner table with her arms folded across her chest and her crimson eyes fixed on me like twin daggers. Her tone was light, but I could feel the irritation radiating off her.
"Oh, Kayda, I've been looking for you," I said, offering a wide smile that I knew would do absolutely nothing to disarm her mood. Striding toward the table, I took in the other person sitting with her—a woman dressed neatly in a brown and green innkeeper's outfit, hair tied back into a tight bun. I presumed she was the inn lady.
I pulled out the empty chair with a quiet scrape and plopped down without waiting for permission.
Kayda leaned back slightly in her seat, her eyes never leaving mine. "I'm listening."
"Come on, Kayda," I said, letting my head fall forward until it hit the wooden table with a dull thud. "I've been busy the entire night. Can't we just get something to eat and then crash? My legs are still sore."
"Oh, so that's why you got that room," the inn lady suddenly muttered, mostly to herself, but loud enough for me to hear. She nodded to herself with a knowing look.
Raising a brow, I gave her a sideways glance. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Kayda ignored the exchange and instead narrowed her eyes further, a familiar calculating gleam sparking in them. "While you're busy explaining your absence, do include why you have six chakrams floating around you... and why they're practically humming with killing intent."
"Oh, right." I straightened up slightly in my seat, then jerked my thumb toward the inn lady. "Can we trust her?"
Kayda tilted her head slightly toward the woman beside her. "This is Sara. She works for the guild. Actually, it'll help that she hears my voice too."
Sara gave me a warm smile, her posture professional but not rigid.
I sighed, brushing a few stray hairs from my face as I leaned back in the chair. "Alright, alright. Just don't expect a dramatic storytelling session. If you want more detail, feel free to stop me."
Both of them nodded, so I began.
"After I blew up the carriage—don't give me that look, Kayda—I leapt onto a roof and ran into the city proper. At some point, I jumped down in front of this really gruff guy. He had this nasty knife on him. You could feel the killing intent rolling off it. Naturally, I confiscated it."
Kayda's brows lifted slightly, her expression a mix of amusement and concern.
"I was planning to head toward that creepy black pillar—the one where the church was destroyed. I wanted to compare the knife to whatever made that thing. And wouldn't you know it? Same material. Same aura. I asked the guy where he got it. He said it came from the black market."
Kayda's face twitched. "Please don't tell me—"
"I asked where it was," I admitted with a shrug, grinning at her. "So once I knew, I waited for the right time. Found myself an old, abandoned watchtower and waited there until after sunset."
Sara leaned forward slightly. "Alone? In the city outskirts?"
"It was peaceful," I said with a light shrug. "Two hours after sunset, the rats came crawling out. I followed an old man to a bar that reeked of sweat and regret. I joined in and had a few drinks—okay, twenty sake jugs, but who's counting—then the tiny demon girl who was the bartender invited me to a black-market auction.
Kayda blinked. "You accepted a shady invitation while drunk?"
"I was not drunk," I said, trying to sound indignant but failing as I chuckled. "Just tipsy."
"Still not better," she muttered.
"Anyway," I continued, waving my hand, "I went to the market. Sold some of my weapons. Bought a new toy."
With a grin, I waved my hand, and the six chakrams floated around the table, gleaming in the candlelight. Their sharp blades spun lazily in the air, catching the dim glow as if flaunting their lethality.
"They look expensive," Sara said, reaching out to examine one. She turned it carefully in her hands, studying the craftsmanship.
"They are," I said, proud.
"I also got you something, Kayda," I added, pulling out a black velvet box from my storage and pushing it across the table to her.
Kayda blinked, visibly surprised. "Oh... okay."
Her voice tried to remain flat, but her fingers trembled slightly as she opened the box. Inside was the white coat. She reached out and ran her fingers across the fabric with reverence.
"They cost a small fortune," I said nonchalantly. "The chakrams were 4,000 gold coins. That coat was 70,000."
The air went still.
"What!?" Sara yelped, nearly dropping the chakram in her hand.
"How do you have that kind of money!?" Kayda shouted, snapping the box shut like the coat might burn her.
"Well," I said with a mischievous smile, "I sold fifteen weapons at the auction and made 300,000 gold."
Their stunned expressions were deeply satisfying.
"You what!?" Sara choked.
"You just sold that many?" Kayda repeated, eyes wide.
"I also made them," I added smugly, summoning a small dagger beneath the table and then sliding it toward Sara.
She picked it up carefully and turned it in her hands. "It's... beautiful. Lightweight, perfectly balanced…"
"If you made a whole batch of those, it would explain the money," she admitted, more to herself than anyone.
"Yeah," I said, nodding, "but the money's not the important part. I got some juicy information too."
Kayda sat straighter. "We're listening."
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on the table. "The demon girl who brought me to the auction? She's an info broker for the Crimson Bandits."
The silence that followed was deafening.
"What!?" Kayda and Sara both exploded in sync, eyes wide.
"Yup," I said, popping the "p' as I reclined again. "Her name's Sammy. Small, sharp tongue, a bit punchable. I ran into Grandenzil, too. She was there with another girl—looked young and cocky. Uses chakrams as her main weapon. Can you believe it?"
Kayda stared at me. "Wait—you met Grandenzil again, and she didn't recognize you? She tried to kill you just yesterday."
I rolled my eyes. "Stop looking at me like I'm a corpse that got up and walked. You know, even if she tried, she wouldn't leave a mark on me."
Kayda leaned in, squinting. "Still. That's insane."
"You met and survived Grandenzil twice in two days…" Sara whispered, dumbfounded.
"Yup. Anyway," I said, straightening up again, "after figuring out who Sammy was, I tortured her at the auction. Not too loud, don't worry. Got as much info as I could before the auction ended."
I reached into my storage again and pulled out the knife, the chakrams, and a dark, dense shard of stone.
"All these?" I tapped each object. "Same material. Even that creepy black pillar. The stuff's called demon rock."
"Demon rock?" Sara repeated, her expression thoughtful.
Kayda frowned. "That name rings a bell. I think I read about it once, years ago. But I can't remember anything."
"It's apparently common in the underworld," I continued. "But I have a theory... I think it's made out of something no one wants to accept. Like... forbidden ingredients."
Kayda's brow furrowed. "Like souls?"
"Maybe."
"What about the attack?" Sara asked softly.
I nodded, the mirth draining from my expression.
"The Crimson Bandits were hired to kill all the church personnel. Full ambush. An unknown party gave the order and two million gold in advance. Sammy said no one—not even Grandenzil—knows who the client was."
I let that settle.
"That's... disturbing," Sara whispered.
"That's all she had," I said, sighing. "Nothing on the Anabald head either."
Kayda stood up with a groan, brushing invisible dust from her pants. "You did wonderful. Got more than I expected."
She turned to me. "Let's get some rest. I'm dead tired."
"Now you're tired?" I snorted, standing.
"Yes. "Is there a problem?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Nope. So... where am I sleeping?"
"I'll show you. Sara," Kayda turned and gave the innkeeper a grateful nod. "Thanks for the company. I'll file a more detailed report tomorrow."
"No problem, I'm always here for you," Sara replied with a cheerful wave.
"Come on, lizard. We've got sleep to catch up on. We're leaving tomorrow," I said, turning and heading toward the stairs. I stopped halfway up and glanced over my shoulder. "What did you just call me, fox?" Kayda growled, stalking up behind me.
I grinned. "Where's the room?"
"Tch. Top floor," she muttered, brushing past me.
"Lead the way." I followed, glancing back at Sara—and that's when my irritation peaked.
She was watching Kayda a bit too intently.
With a flick of my hand, three ice knives materialized and embedded themselves into the wood just inches from her mug, causing her to flinch.
"That's your first warning," I said coldly before turning and disappearing up the stairs.
Sara blinked. "My first what now…?"
At the top floor, Kayda opened the door to a massive suite. My eyes widened as I stepped inside. The place was almost absurdly luxurious—velvet curtains, polished floorboards, a fireplace in the corner... and one giant bed in the middle of the room.
It could easily fit three people.
"…Wait. Why is there only one bed?" I asked, looking at Kayda accusingly.
She was already halfway across the room, heading toward the bathroom. "I'm taking a shower. Don't peek."
"Peeking?" I echoed, blinking. Then her words clicked.
My face flushed red. "Who would want to peek at a lizard?" I shouted in frustration as the bathroom door clicked shut.