"Lex Aitsuko, the so-called boy prodigy," the bartender said. "I'm a big fan. I heard you'd died."
"I wasn't aware I had fans." Lex clearly lied to make this girl feel special. "And I did die. However it would seem Eternity had a different plan for me." He looked uncomfortable recalling it. "Your name?"
"Ariella," the girl said, nodding to his previous words. "Ariella Minstrom."
Lex shook her hand. "A pleasure, Ariella. And how long have you been working with the front?"
"Since you were 'killed', sir. My parents own the bar upstairs, but I take care of the dangerous work."
"Henrik and Patricia," Lex said fondly. "They're well? Old and content?"
"Very old, very content," Ariella said. "They speak highly of you."
"I valued their opinions on my articles and dissertations greatly. Their political knowledge is frankly unrivaled. I've seen nothing like it in the Void."
They were walking down a dimly lit spiral staircase hidden in the bar's cellar. It seemed like it would never end, and Frost's legs had even started to ache at this point. Lana made no sound, but her footsteps got heavier and her lengthy movements made her discontent very apparent.
"You learn a lot of things about politics running a place like that." Ariella looked over her shoulder. The staircase was about two people wide, which allowed her to stand next to Lex and Frost to stand next to Lana. "And your friends?" Ariella asked. "Are you with the front?"
"They're just here for the job. What happens after that is up to them," Lex said.
Frost nodded, appreciating that Lex had spoken accurately on his behalf. "Frost," he said. "Book removal expert. And this is Lana Whitehall."
"Whitehall?" Ariella said, clearly worried.
Lana blushed and looked away.
"It is, unfortunately, the same Whitehall. It's a problem we're… Trying to deal with," Lex covered for Lana.
"Hmm." Ariella was clearly suspicious of Lana after this revelation. Frost really wished he knew what the hell was going on.
Before the conversation could devolve, they reached the bottom of the staircase.
"Holy mother of god," Frost said aloud.
They were underground in a gigantic cave system that also happened to be its own city. Lights hung from vast stalactites that dripped water from the surface above. Then there were the buildings that all seemed to be fashioned out of the cave itself. There was a river in the centre of the cave and vast bridges that spanned it. Districts upon districts of houses and towering buildings. The streets were lively, even livelier than the ones above. In the distance, the river expanded into a canal which seemed to lead to the outside.
This place was incredible, and more beautiful than anything Frost had ever seen. A firefly landed gently on his nose, and then fluttered away.
"Oh!" Ariella said. "That's a good omen. Eternity is watching!"
"Is that so–" Frost said with a nervous laugh. That's probably true…
[GreatGadfly30: The Underground is the nicest place in Realmhome! Filled to the brim with intellectuals, at least in my day!]
"Thanks for the guidance, Ariella. I'll be back to have a drink with you when it's over." Lex shook the girl's hand again.
"I'm counting on it," she smiled. "For true Eternity."
"For true Eternity," Lex replied. "Give your parents my regards."
Ariella nodded, then ran off having been given a command from her idol. She disappeared up the spiral staircase which was behind a door disguised as simple rock in the wall. The trio waited until she was gone to speak.
"You're quite the lady killer, Lex," Lana said, placing a hand over her lips. "Not at all like Mr. Murderer here."
"Tools of the trade," Lex sighed. "Still. She's cute. She's my age. She's involved in the rebellion. And I already have an in with her parents. What's not to like?"
"True," Lana admitted. "Gross."
"You levelled accusations. I simply responded with honesty." Lex turned to Frost to impart wisdom. "You should flirt with who you can, even if you have no intention of making good on it. They give you free stuff and free aid, and you never really know if you'll be back. You too, Lana."
"I'd feel bad about it," Lana said.
Frost nodded and took in the information. Of course the mention of free stuff was purely to get his attention. That's manipulation, you know. Frost was never a flirt. He had prior obligations and he had all the subtlety of a brick to the head. "I think things usually work out better if I just stay quiet," he said.
[TheConquerer356: Actions speak louder than words, anyhow.]
"All skills are learned, Direshard." Lex spun on his heel. "Follow me."
They descended into the underground with haste. The streets were rough and ridden with stones that could easily catch and trip if one wasn't paying attention. No cars were driving here for this reason, that, and because there didn't seem to be a way to get them underground. The roads were wide despite that, filled with an abundance of vendors not unlike the world above. Down here, food seemed to be a valuable commodity. Things like bread and vegetables were peddled like gold and diamonds.
Frost was indifferent to this otherworldly scenery by now. "I should've asked her about Ren," he said. "Someone like that would probably know."
"That can wait," Lex didn't turn around, keeping a confident stride. "Focus on the task at hand."
The task at hand… He was only doing this task as a means to an end, and to acquire Lex's aid in finding Ren. Frost began to grow frustrated in his silence. Why was he playing along at all, again? Better to go off on his own and–
"Tell me about this place, Lex." Lana spoke obliviously. "What exactly is it?"
"It's exactly what it looks like. A massive cave, some natural, some not. It's the home of the city's underworld, and it's just as highly regulated as you'd think. Official entrances are swarmed with guards and customs, which is why we've just used an illegal one. It's best to avoid questions when coming here. You can think of it as a sort of red light district." Lex fell right into his natural home of explaining things like it was second nature.
Frost looked around as they exited the shop district and entered what looked more akin to a red light district from Earth. Women were flaunting their bodies in front of different establishments, vying to be the most attractive one and win over all of the poor suckers in the streets. Even as Frost was, he couldn't imagine being lonely or morally bankrupt enough to seek companionship through money. A fool's errand. He looked over the girls and criticized them in his mind for their poor life decisions.
Lex steered them towards one of the prostitutes. The girl was tall and older and had the skin and bones look of a frequent drug user. She eyed Frost as he approached, trying her best to be seductive. Lex stepped in front of him and Lana like a parent trying to protect his children. They started chatting, and Frost lost focus as his eyes wandered elsewhere.
There was a man at the end of the street. He wore a trench coat beige in colour, and was old enough to have hair that had silvered naturally. He stared at Frost with an angry face, and then disappeared into the density of the crowd. Was this someone he'd angered in his last trip to the Void? Someone from Dragonsfold, perhaps? Fireflies blinked around him.
"I'm a man known by many." Lex finished saying.
The woman nodded, pulling aside the curtains that substituted the door for this small establishment. Lex entered and gestured for Frost and Lana to follow. They did, though Lana more sheepishly, clearly nervous when confronted with this over the top femininity.
"Is this really necessary?" She asked.
"I'm not some sort of pervert," Lex said. "It's purely a business related matter. Get used to it, since we'll be staying here."
"For real…?" Frost looked around the dingy club in amazement. Neon lights lit the place a cacophony of colours, and the floors were lined with tiles that had a grainy gold texture. Men were lounging around in fancy suits and women were half-naked swinging on poles. A club and a bar of an entirely different design than the one run by Ariella upstairs.
[MasterOfTheFlute: Foolish, boorish. Base temptations. Stay away, young Direshard.]
An older grey-haired man waited for Lex at the bar. He was wearing a black suit and was dressed exactly like a butler in Frost's mind. "Mr. Aitsuko. Clay has been waiting," he said in something resembling a British accent.
[Translation service active]
"Brode," Lex greeted him in a friendly tone. "Level with me. Clay, is he…?"
Brode smiled devilishly. "Still just as angry as ever, Mr. Aitsuko. However, he is happily anticipating your arrival, I believe."
"Good. Thanks as always." Lex clapped the man on the shoulder.
"My pleasure," Brode said.
Frost's eyes were fixed on television screens around the place. It seemed that they existed in the underworld, and moreover there were people watching hockey. Beside that was a sport where people duelled using strange powers and another where they flew with strange devices and played ball in midair. The latter reminded Frost of quidditch, only a bit more thought-out and better suited for reality.
"Expensive to import and even more expensive to actually get the signal," Lex said, tracking Frost's eyes. "You'll scarce find anything like it in the Void. The underworld is special. If it's expensive or illegal, you'll find it here. Eternity knows they make the money back with the girls." He waited a moment and then said, "come on. Don't want to stand around looking the fool for too long."
Frost took his eyes from the strange sports and followed Lex through a door beside the bar and away from the sounds. Lana trailed Frost carefully and with great hesitation. She hadn't said a word for a while and it was clear that this place freaked her out. Maybe she suspected she was about to be sold or something. That was a funny thought to Frost. If only they could sell her, he'd have a lot less nagging in his ear.
"There's a few things you need to know about Clay," Lex said. They were walking down a hallway that seemed like it would never end. They'd passed the backrooms of the club a long time ago, and now they were just walking down a completely empty hallway. No doors, no decorations, just dim lights and echoing voices.
"I'm listening," Lana said.
"He's one of the most dangerous men in the Void, and he angers quite easily. He's quick to judge, and frankly he's not going to like either of you. Frost especially."
"What? Why me?"
"Your hair colour carries certain… Memories. That and your name. For him and a lot of people. Your personalities, though, are actually freakishly similar." Lex looked at Lana next, not intent on elaborating. "Lana. You might be fine. He's partial to pretty girls."
"Great. So he's a womanizer, too," she groaned.
"I guess you could say that."
They reached a doorway at the end of the hall where a singular armed guard was waiting. They'd ditched the codewords at this point, since anyone who managed to make it this far was definitely allowed.
"Lex. You're back," the guard said. He was a bright eyed man that was probably a few years older than Lex.
"And you're still on guard duty, Jones." Lex grabbed the man's hand and pulled him into a brief embrace.
"Out here I don't have to listen to Clay bicker, lad." He stepped away from the door. "Go on in. He's been waiting."
"So I hear."
They entered a place that felt like an underground bunker. Concrete walls and basic decoration like cheap rugs and tables dominated this first room. There were men sitting at a table playing cards, and more sitting to the side snacking on what looked like meat from a strange animal. They all looked at Lex. Some recognized him, some didn't. He proceeded without greeting any of these ones.
[GreatGadfly30: The home of rebels. Men I could get along with.]
[TheConquerer356: Rebels. I've dealt with many in my day. None survived.]
[Checkpointer20: This place is nostalgic.]
They went through a room with vast racks of guns and gear and a room with an open roof that seemed meant for training. There were dummies, benches, and a ring meant for duelling. It reminded Frost of the Realmguard headquarters that was probably a kilometre above them right now. To the left was a doorway into a rec hall, where the off-duty soldiers were busy drinking or eating. Finally, they stopped at an important looking set of double doors. Lex strode forward and shoved them open with little hesitation like he owned the place.
"The next time the Brotherhood shows up with a message, shoot the bloody messenger. Are we clear? And about the territory infraction, cut off the head of our prisoner and sent 'er head to the Vargas Company. Anyone who cooperates with the Realmguard is an enemy." A man was busy talking his right-hand-man who took all of these ridiculous demands in stride.
"Sir," he said.
The leader turned towards the trio. He had blonde hair and solid blue eyes, with a scar straight through his left that ran down through his lip. He was wearing a tunic soaked through with sweat, and had the buff body of a hardened warrior despite his average height. His eyes widened when he saw Lex. "Ay!" He boomed. "You finally made it, you son of a bitch!"