I haven't spoken for a few minutes, my head feels quite heavy and my nape stings. I rub it lightly and breathe in. It will be over in a few minutes.

    Inna opens a bag of rock candies, ripping the package open with her teeth as her other hand holds Sunshine's reins steady. I urge Abyss to strut beside her. Sweets might help.

    She holds out the bag of candies, "You want?"

    I remove the cloth covering the lower part of my face and pull out a transparent rock candy from the bag and bite it to pieces.

    "You're supposed to sip it." 

    I shrug, and get more pieces for myself before she struts ahead.

    The sun is up, and our hoods are down.

    We arrive in Karro, Hiraia. One of the richest cities in all of Roine. This is where we sell off our bounty. The sun is anew, and yet, the roads are crowded. Carriages roam the area, along with its citizens, dressed in luxurious attires as always. From enormous hats, gloves, newly ironed suits, and the like.

    "Karro is full of people today." Inna turns her head, watching the people as they go rigid in the corner as they lay their eyes upon us.

    "It's always full." I reply. The burning sensation I felt on my nape has faded away.

    I smile at them, "Lovely morning, isn't it, ladies?"

    They flinch.

    Could I be wrong or one of them just.. blushed? I shake the thought away and turn my head forward.

    "Greet them looking like that, and you really won't charm anyone." Inna notes.

    "Hey!" My voice pitches high. "I can charm anyone."

    "Not while you look like you just mass murdered all night." I shake my head. I am trully filthy, the dark blue shade of my button shirt had turned black from the blood. My vest has gone hard as well, from the dried crust of hex blood and filth.

    We reach a fairly tall building, the exterior is decorated with silver borders and metal lamps. The entrance begins with a slab of wood, engraved on it is Harold's Novelty.

    The door's bell clinks as we step inside. What welcomes me is the smell of burning herbs from Harold's cigar and the stench of hard liquor. The man sits behind his table, cigar in hand. Reading the morning newspaper which sits above his belly. His balding head has not improved, unfortunately.

    "Aye! Busy night I reckon?" He lowers his newspaper to scan us. Inna first, then me. He looks away quickly as I meet his eyes. He covers his mouth with his fist. "Ahem."

    "No rougher than usual." My sister steps forward, enthusiastic. Her tight bun had been loose, strands of her dark hair fall loosely on her neck and face.

    I stay leaning on the wall. I let Inna sell the cores and grab the money, it's always her highlight after every hunt.

    Inna leans forward, both her hands on the table, shadowing Harold from the sunlight outside. The bulbous man leans back on his chair, shoulders stiff. Intimidated.

    Inna can be intimidating when she needs to be, especially on men. Her skills has certainly come in handy whenever we need. And most times, she just intimidates the poor bastards for her own entertainment.

    Her voice lowers. "Now how about our end of the bargain?"

    If it meant being mercenaries, outlaws, or slavery--you'd have to kill me before I choose to end up in the latter. If I may be bold, our life wasn't always like this. My sister and I hadn't always lived amongst thieves and criminals. We began as innocent children, really. 

    Innocent, for the greater part.

    But the world had given us poison that we chose to take and be immune to. And we continue to endure it. 

    No matter what happens.

   Elina plops down on her chair, throwing the bag of our earn and her bloodied sword on the wooden table. The coins clatter along our pile of mess.

    “Money, at last!” My sister grins.

    “256 hyalts!” The coins clatter loudly on the table as my sister counts them piece by piece. I ruffle my hair, feeling the dried blood form crusts in between the strands. “Say, did Harold give us fewer than last time? I’m sure our bounty today is richer. Might I threaten him again?”

    “Whatever suits your boat.” I move towards the table, removing my blades from their sheaths and carefully placing them down. I bite down my lip as I scan the dried blood on my blades.

    "You look so offended." Inna chuckles, also scanning my blades. 

    I am. It's a pain to clean blades, and I want them thoroughly cleaned. Inna hums as she continues recounting our hyalt. My eye catches one of the wanted posters on the table, pinned by a dagger.

    I feel my nape burn again, along with my stomach. 

    Cadence Alewar's, also known for his long term alia as "Arthur Vaughn", Wanted Poster. He's been on the run for the last six years after escaping the Karro dungeons. His crimes had never been truthfully announced.

    However, two things about The Rogue Man are clear.

    He is Elysian. And therefore, his blood is tainted. He is doomed from the beginning, having no allegiance to the Fortress and refusing to submit to being a slave.

    Second, he bears the Alewar Mark. Those who bear any Elysian Runes are considered to be dangerous, deadly--a bad omen. They bear abilities in which an ordinary being cannot simply possess. Lighte bearers have been accused of witchcraft and sorcery for the last hundred years.

  And only a few of them exist now, having been killed by the past generations to present.

   I set my thoughts aside, stepping away from the table and towards my room. Our chaotic hunt is over, now we can move about peacefully for the rest of the day and hunt again tomorrow evening. 

    I hear a strange crisp coming from my boot. I’ve stepped on a piece of paper. 

    No, not a paper, a red envelope. I stoop to pick it up. The fortress seal is embedded on it. I hold the envelope with two of my fingers and turn to Inna. She leans in from where she's sitting. “Oh? Someone must have slipped that in here while we were away.” I cut the seal with my tiniest dagger, revealing a note. “What is it?”

    “New bounty.”