By the kind directions of some locals, Zaeli was able to find the university soon enough.

She had to wander a bit through the public grounds, before finally locating where the show was meant to be.

A vast crowd had already formed under the wide balcony stage, with all walks of life eagerly awaiting. She lingered on the back edge of the gathering, quietly waiting to see just what kind of “complication” there would be.

As she tried to figure out why a suspicious group of nobles (meeting in a secret chamber reeking with comic book levels of vice no less) would be so interested in something related to Void, or what Void even was, someone bumped into her.

“Woah-!”

Correction, two someones had crashed into her, nearly knocking her to the ground.

“Aw Cal, I told you to not somersault outdoors! You can only do that if you have a certificate of somersaulting, like me!”

Zaeli turned to find.. wait. Wait she’s seen these two before.

It was that same pink and red jester from before, with the.. thankfully not-naked-anymore tiefling.

“Ugh, you mortals wear too many layers, that’s what went wrong. Back in my day, peasants farmed the land tits out.”

Charlie giggled up a storm, before instantly switching over to an astonished Zaeli, apologetic,
“So sorry! It was a complete accident. You okay?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” Zaeli smiled, going right back to business, “So.. do you two happen to know what the show here is about?”

“Is that what everyone is here for?” Calico tugged at their wear and simple armor pads,
“Not a clue.”

“We just came from that clothing drive over there.” Charlie jerked a thumb at the corner street behind her, “I assume the shows will have some arcane demonstrations, but other than that?”

She shrugged.

“I see. Well, it’s nice to see you again, I’m-”

“Gods!! Did I already meet you? Gee, this noggin of mine’s getting smaller with every throwing knife to the skull! Let’s see, is it Aroa? Tucan? Levian the Flamespitter??”

“Uh- no, no I’m just Zaeli. We haven’t formally met before, I just remember seeing you two earlier today.”

“Phew!” Charlie waved a hand, “Welp, nice to formally meet you for the first time Zaeli!”

The three exchanged names, but before Calico could resume their complaints on the modern age’s contempt for public indecency, the crowd grew louder.

An announcer had gotten atop a soapbox, welcoming everyone to the university showings. 

Every hour would introduce a new scientist or mage with their latest discovery and contribution, though the first performance was typically reserved for their most exciting entry.

“..Now without further ado, everyone please welcome a rising Fortunizian scientist with claims of a new dark arcane, Vel Hollister!!”

Zaeli politely clapped, bracing herself for whatever kind of interruption might happen to the poor, unsuspecting scientist.

As the crowd’s cheering slowly turned into puzzled murmurings, it became evident that there wouldn’t even be a show to interrupt.

“It must’ve happened already..” Zaeli muttered, then yelped as Charlie’s mask leaned in inquisitively,

“What happened already?”

“Uh! Oh no I-I was just, hm..”

Would it be so bad if someone else knew? This seemed like the sort of thing that’d help everyone to be aware of.

Irideen nobles weren’t always the charitable caricature everyone assumed them to be.

Zaeli gave in; they were just strangers after all. It wouldn’t matter if they didn’t believe her or thought her crazy,

“...see, a few hours ago, I was following a genasi gentleman, and found him convene with other nobles in this.. a secret underground chamber? They were talking about the university showings today, and how there would be a ‘complication’ in the event.”

Zaeli was glad nobody bothered to ask why exactly she was following some rando noble, because frankly she wouldn’t know how to even try and explain that right now.

“And clearly, it’s already begun.” She gestured to the still empty stage and increasingly flustered announcer, trying to placate the questioning masses.

“Wow, you infiltrated a secret meeting of rich people with top hats and evil mustaches?” Charlie nodded, “Respect.”

“They didn’t have... it- wasn’t too difficult. But now, I’m worried about what might be going on, and how they knew about it in advance. It had something to do with stealing an invention I think.”

“Yeah, that is pretty strange..” Charlie snapped her fingers, “And a bummer. I liked the sound of a new, spooky dark arcane.”

Calico agreed, “I would’ve liked to see how far magic has advanced the past several centuries..”

Zaeli gave them a funny look, before noticing something dart out of the corner of her eye.

She whipped her head to the sidelines of the plaza, just barely catching two figures run away from the back of the university building.

“There was.. there–”

Zaeli instantly began booking it toward the suspects, sprinting toward the park. Charlie jumped,

“Wait hey! I didn’t even get to invite you to the carnival yet!!” Charlie looked between the apologizing announcer and Zaeli’s retreating form, before figuring to run after her.

Calico shrugged and did the same, mostly because they had no idea what a ‘carnival’ was, and thought it sounded fun.

 

-*-

Their run eventually slowed to a jog, then again to a speedy walk once Grayson felt that they were far enough.

Cutting through the grove, they soon met up with the rest of Kirin’s gang, standing by as backup. Some gave Kezrah a look, fewer a wave, but most otherwise ignored the newcomer.

Grayson beckoned Kirin over,

“Listen.. someone’s gotta break it to the boss..”

Kirin sighed, “I know, I know. But who?”

The two briefly judged the group, before simultaneously coming to the same conclusion,

“Jaimie.”

He was one of the younger gangster wannabes of the faction, overtly eager to prove his worth. Frankly, Kirin has no idea why he ever joined, but it’ll do.

“Did someone call me?” The boy himself hopped from the middle of the trail, stars in his eyes.

“Er, no, no you’re all good.” Sucker.

Mid-snicker, Grayson abruptly stopped walking, craning his ears. Everyone else bumped into each other, coming to an equally abrupt stop.

“What is it?”

Where the sound of quiet footsteps faded, a new distant sound of running took over. Kirin saw it; a trio of what he assumed to be mere citizens, not police.

A moon elf, jester, tiefling--what? And why were they charging directly after them??

“Run!” Grayson broke everyone’s stupor, directing them all to a sharp left. Everyone burst out the winding thicket soon enough, and into a humble residential area. It thankfully wasn’t busy in the slightest, everyone seemingly gone out for the festivities.

It took a long stretch of nothing but sprinting for a couple of minutes, twisting and turning through every shop back alley and occasional garden, until Grayson finally deemed it safe enough to slow a little.
In time,

“Lost em.”

The gang collectively sighed, tentatively resuming their brisk walk from before. Kirin was about to question who the hell those people were, until someone crowed,

“Almost there!”

Hanging back, Kirin slowed his pace and returned to where Kezrah trailed the group, in thought. He waited for small talk to rise again, before muttering,

“I’m not giving this thing up.”

“You’d better not.” Kezrah looked behind him once, and it wasn’t to check for stalkers, “..Vel is probably still at the university right now, getting questioned.”

“Probably. Why?”

He couldn’t shake it off, “I get the feeling we’d learn a lot more about the orb if we can just question the scientist too. I know you had your friends waiting for you–”

Kirin snorted at ‘friends’.

“–and I didn’t want to get caught up in security either, but.. I don’t know. I think it’s best to go back soon and catch Vel.”

“I was thinking the same thing.” Kirin glanced at Grayson chatting to another member, “Wish we weren’t in a rush. But, I don’t know if I can just hightail it out of here yet.”

Kezrah tapped the black beak of his mask, “What if… you give the orb to me? They won’t miss me. I can go back to the university to find Vel.”

Kirin hmmed, hand already slipping into his pockets. He would’ve faltered, but that was before he realized going into the boss’ den with an item he lied about not having, was a terrible idea.

“You sure?

Kezrah nodded.

“Ok.. wait up for me, I’ve got a few questions too.”

“Don’t worry.” Like hell Kezrah was going to dip now. “We’ll meet again.”

Kirin discreetly took out the orb, attempting a complicated maneuver to coolly swivel it to his other hand behind his back. Keyword: attempt.

He fumbled.

“Aww shi–!” Gods, the one time he decides to showboat, are you serious.

The orb thudded to the ground, naturally demanding Grayson’s attention.

“Who’s..?” Where he expected the three strangers chasing them again, he instead found Kirin, bricked up over a peculiar looking sphere on the ground. “...Kirin.”

His tone turned dangerous, “Kirin. What is that?”

“Uhhhhhhhh-”

Within the next few seconds, Kezrah swooped the orb into his hand and raced the opposite direction, while Kirin just, straight up fucking disappeared.

A cheetah was currently running away with their cargo, and the main man of the mission teleported into oblivion.

“KIRIN!!” Grayson bellowed, immediately directing his gang to split and spread out to search for Kirin (because gods know no one in the group was as fast as a tabaxi cheetah breed).

“Where the fuck–” Grayson first heard leaves rustle, then saw a thin figure climbing down a tree, a decent block away. “GET HIM!”

Well, Kirin mused through Grayson’s rage, least I don’t have to quit anymore.