The morning was cloudy, it didn't help Evelyn mood one bit, she slept horrible on the tavern bed, Mead district was still the most popular hang out spot for mercenary, so it was hard to find a good tavern to sleep in after returning to the City, she already sent Philip to find resources with the 120 pounds the Floro family paid upfront.
She went to take a shower to freshen up her mind, the cold water was like medicine on her tired body, the slightly defined muscles were still tired for some reason.
Once she got up she seated down on the bed and read the report her lantern holders gave her on Lawrence Floro.
A young prodigy, heavily protected by their family, weak constitution since birth made him easily susceptible to sickness and getting hurt, it isn't known publicly if he has an essence type, neither what his rank might be, a cold could easily knock him out for a while, for a period between his early adolescents years he was uneasy around women, he always get surrounded by women and barely get out the house without his Valet.
The more she read the more she couldn't decide what was more surprising, she was stuck between choosing his family high value of him or his kind demeanour, she knew the Floro family were very popular with the lower class, but it was obviously a farce, what would they gain by actually helping the poor? Gaining notoriety and favour was more than enough for an archducal family to have protected reputation.
Then she read one thing, the Floro family seems very intent at fighting the Leblanc family, the underworld most renowed family, it seemed to much for just a farce like helping the poor.
She sighed her head hurting already before decided to dress up fully and go take a stroll, it was long before the afternoon so she decided it was better do something and go around town to clear her mind a bit more.
As she got out her room the stench of drunk people hit her nose, as she pinched it and went outside the tavern she looked up at the sky.
From what was visible of it from the portion of the visible dome it was pretty clouded, it would rain soon enough, oh well wasn't her problem.
As she walked down the roads of the Mead district she saw some beggars, some prostitutes, some drunkards asleep on the benches, she clicked her tongue annoyed and walked out of Mead district.
As she approached the nearby plaza, the giant statue of a bird seated atop a tree spanned high in the sky, it was made of marble and was the main decoration of this small plaza, it served also as a essence transmitter and receiver with the bird silver beak.
The calm nature of this plaza always relaxing to her, a complete contrary to the Mead district, she went to a bar, she needed another cup of coffee the one at the tavern where she slept was awful filled with too much water and too little caffeine.
As she seated down at the stool in front of the counter, as she waited for the coffee she could hear the radio transmitting some music, it was relaxing, the genre was new, it was called midnight, it was a bunch of blow instruments played at a constant slow rhythm it helped to sleep, the real reason for the name was that for many it reminded of the sounds of the so called midnight spirits that were said to sing after midnight.
As she sipped her coffee she read a journal that layed abandoned on the counter, there was minor news like some cat missing, some ads for new lantern types, but there was some interesting ones like some barons offering sponsorship in exchange for a 5% cut of explorations, or some new books by some small authors that were getting published soon enough.
As she finished the coffee she spotted a hidden news, it was an ad for a blacksmith, it said the following things:
"Blacksmith for hire at Redmond Lane 31th, must come at 91:74, must be accompanied by good booze and women, commissions will be taken till the 31 yam"
What was seen as a joke ad made by a charlatan to most people was a secret code for mercenary, this one was for an auction of unregistered low grade mystical weapons, it was very useful but dangerous for unaffiliated mercenary to buy them like this, if she wanted normally they would pay lower but they would be very limited on how many they could buy, it was a little things the authorities made so it couldn't happen that mercenary stacked boxes upon boxes of this things to do something 'stupid' to say the least.
After she finished memorizing the dat and drinked her coffee and payed, then she exited the bar to keep walking.
As she walked down the street a noise caught her attention, a child was crying, he couldn't be more than 10 with black hair bright yellow eyes, Evelyn looked around to see if someone would go help him but they were ignoring him.
She approached the child, kneeled down and asked, "hey little man where's your guardian?" Her tone of voice surprisingly sweet compared to normal.
"I got lost sniff I was in the plaza sniff near the orphanage sniff and then sniff i was here sniff " the kid mumbled as he sniffed and tears streamed down his puffy cheeks.
Evelyn started looking at his clothing, normally orphanages would've uniforms to keep the children checked and to more easily associate them.
The kid clothing was a white shirt and a pair of light blue pants, a small light blue jacked was on top and once she looked closer on his right chest was a noble crest.
"Jackpot" she thought, if an orphanage had a family crest it meant it was of a noble family so it could be in very few districts but as she looked at the crest more closely her heart stopped for a bit... it was a crow wearing a crown while being surrounded by flowers.
"Why goddammit" was Evelyn could think off as she sighed and looked at the still crying child and said gently "hey little man what's your name?"
"My name's sniff Rick" he said as he still looked down and rubbed his face while the tears slowly subsided.
"Good Rick do you recognize this symbol?" Evelyn said gently as she took out the emblem she got from Lawrence yesterday.
Rick's eyes lit up slightly upon seeing the emblem "do you work at the orphanage?" He asked hopefully.
"Not exactly i work for the Floro family but not in your orphanage" Evelyn explained calmly feeling a bit embarassed at saying it.
"Oh so you know big brother Lawrence?" Rick asked a bit more hopeful.
Evelyn freezed how did this kid knew Lawrence enough to call him in such a close way? It didn't make sense.
"Yes I'm... his new bodyguard from tomorrow what do you know of him Rick?" Evelyn asked curiously.
"He come to the orphanage sometimes and play with us or help the ladies cook while big brother Lloyd play with us... oh but please don't say to big brother Lloyd that I call Lawrence big brother Lloyd doesn't like it but Lawrence prefers it" Rick said innocently a bit pleadingly
Evelyn was on the burst of... laughter "really Now? Lloyd doesn't want kids calling Lawrence big brother?" She found it really funny, then she spoked to Rick, "well what's your orphanage name?" Evelyn asked gently.
"Lyre House" Rick replied innocently as he looked up at Evelyn with his bright yellow eyes.
"Here come up I'll take you home" she said gently as he put him on her shoulders and went to a city map.
On the map it wasn't easy to find specific buildings, normally the maps with the main buildings would be inside the road or district, but some buildings could pay a fair amount to be set on city maps, lucky for her the Floro family seemingly paid it since it was set there, one of the inner districts of middle down, in the Plated district on Violet Rose Avenue 17th.
So she started walking, it would also be easy to arrive at upper town for the meeting that evening with Lawrence and the stupid Valet.
"So Rick what is life like at the orphanage?" Evelyn asked calmly as she walked with him on her shoulders.
"Good, the food is nice, I get to play and study, big brother Lawrence says that he will get us some jobs after we get out of we study hard enough, and he is always trying to help us get some families" Rick replied innocently smiling warmly at the memory as the roads were getting more familiar.
Evelyn chuckled then she asked something "so how many times does Lawrence come visit you?" She said nonchalantly expecting it to be just a little more than nobles typically do since Rick seemed to know him well.
"He comes... every two weeks I think?" Rick replied after counting a little leaving Evelyn stunned for a brief second as she slowed down for a bit.
"Every two weeks? Does he really have that much free time?" Evelyn asked jokingly as they passed an ice cream cart and Rick's eyes followed it.
"Say I get you an ice cream and you tell me funny stories of Lawrence deal?" "Deal!" Rick replied as quickly as Evelyn finished talking.
After she brought him some chocolate ice cream they sat down on a side bench.
"So what funny stories do you have on Lawrence?" Evelyn asked gently as she seated besides Rick.
"Mhm there aren't many, but sometimes the maids in our orphanage especially the younger ones tend to ask him out, he said some polite words and rejected her but the next time another one tried, in fact I think it happens with every new maid at their first meeting some still try to ask him out" Rick said so bluntly it left Evelyn so puzzled that she registered late what Rick's told her.
She was puzzled did he really seem that attractive to women? Maybe thay just like him for his family that wouldn't be strange but be that insistent would still be old.
As Rick ate his ice cream and Evelyn thought more of what he told her she was getting more unease, then she just wanted to bring him back and go meet him just to be sure, if they really assumed her just to keep insistent girls away she couldn't be more offended.
As she arrived to the orphanage she let Rick at the door and rang the doorbell, but as she waited she heard some talking to someone not far enough.
But then a familiar voice she heard among them "please girls in told you I'm busy" the tone was innocent and polite but she noticed a very subtle uneasiness, but the sound was of someone she met just the day before... Lawrence Floro.