Hawkin turned out to be a town for…’professional’ criminals. At first, when they entered the outskirts, it seemed normal. No one spoke to them or greeted them, but they didn't bother them either. It was when they got deeper into the heart of the city, that the air seemed to shift. Nothing visible changed but Tyura’s instincts told him that they were being watched.

Tyura glanced around slightly at the “citizens” of this town. From what he heard from Nave and Fades arguing, everyone who comes to this place had trouble with the law in some way. And in return for some “favors” there were some very rich nobles and crooked bureaucrats who funded this entire establishment. 

They eventually arrived at an expensive looking inn. You wouldn’t think it was run by criminals.

Tyura followed behind Fade and Nave as they entered the dimly lit inn. The smokey air from cigars didn’t help the visibility either, but Tyura didn’t bother using his mana eyes. He could feel the hostile gazes all the well. It seemed Fade and Nave weren’t too popular around here.

Fade went right to the bar keeper who, upon seeing them, stopped cleaning a glass and disappeared into a back room. He returned shortly and placed a key on the table. Nave grabbed it before Fade could, and almost ran up the stairs to the rooms. The bartender watched them with a lingering look on Tyura.

Nave threw herself on the stiff bed with her arms spread wide and let out a loud breath.

“My feet are killing me!” She whined.

Tyura quietly took his designated spot on the floor. He couldn’t complain without being hit by Fade but he was also very tired from the four day trip.

Fade took off his boots and pushed Nave over looping his arm around her side.

Tyura looked away from their strange closeness and decided to focus on his mana practice. He had to get stronger so building more mana meant more strength.

“I can’t believe we’re back here again.” Tyura heard Nave mumble drearily.

“It’s only for a little while.” Fade mumbled back.

Soon he heard the light sound of snoring. Tyura looked at them then.

They weren’t afraid of him killing them. They still didn’t see him as a threat.

Tyura closed his eyes again.

They would.

—- —— —- —- — — —- - -

Tyura was having a dream. It started off well. He was walking with Lainy during the festival. She was smiling so brightly that it was contagious. She dragged him from stall to stall, getting fruit candies and meat pies. But then she looked at Tyura and the smile dropped along with all of the food she had collected.

She backed away from him in fear.

“Who are you?”

Lainy it’s me. He tried to say but no words would come out. She looked down at something at his feet in horror.

“What- what did you do?”

Tyura looked down as well and saw the boy he had killed laying there bleeding. There was blood on his hands.

“Help! Someone help!”

Wait! 

“There’s a murderer!”

No!

Tyura woke to the sound of the door closing. He wiped some wetness from his eyes and looked over to see that Nave was entering. She even had a change of clothes. 

A forest green long sleeve shirt and brown leather pants paired with leather gloves.

She smiled when she saw him looking, and he looked away.

Tyura must have been more tired than he thought. He’s usually good at staying alert even when he’s asleep.

“He’s here.” She said simply.

Tyura saw that even Fade had a change of clothes on. He had on all black and he was tossing a ball up and down as he laid on his back. 

When Nave spoke he sought up.

“Took him long enough. Come on.”

Tyura followed them out into the hall way. They made a suspiciously large amount of turns for an inn of this size. Tyura wondered if this was another trick made with mana.

Eventually they reached  a large door with two guards in armor standing in front.

When they saw them they moved aside, but when Tyura tried to walk in they blocked him.

“He’s with us.” Nave said simply without turning around. The guards moved aside reluctantly.

Behind the door was a well furnished office with a shiny black desk and chairs and a lounging chair.

A thin man sought at the desk smoking a fat cigar and next to him stood a rather plump man in a fancy white suit. 

Nave and Fade sought in the chairs opposite and Tyura stood.

After taking a few puffs, the man in the chair gestured to the plump man who was anxiously twisting his hands together.

“This nice gentleman is Santon. He has a job for you. You know I’ll be taking some fees and taxes and so forth. And of course a bonus charge for giving you the first pick of the job after you so graciously stole from me and told me you’d never come back here again.”

After he spoke the man blew out a circle.

Nave made a sour face and Fade tsked and looked away.

Soon the man's dark, almost black eyes landed on Tyura. He instantly felt goosebumps raise all over his body.  He wasn’t using mana eyes, but the intensity of his stare was unnerving. His instincts screamed at him that this man was dangerous. Even more so than Fade and Nave. Finally after a few moments of analyzing he looked away. 

Tyura wiped some sweat, he didn’t know had formed, from his forehead.

“Where’d you get this child?”

“The woods.” Nave answered with a shrug.

The man furrowed his brows and glanced at Tyura. “Woods? And what were you trying to do? kill him? Look at his face.” The man shook his head and reached in his drawer then paused. He looked at the plump man in the corner who had rubbed his hands red.

“Right.” He said as if he forgot he was there. He gestured to the man with his free hand and continued rummaging through his drawer.

“Th-thank you Mr. Co.” The plump man then took a step forward towards Fade and Nave.

“Your-your reputation precedes you. I have heard that you completed every job you’ve ever done. So I’m willing to pay a generous amount..”

Fade let out a loud and obnoxious yawn. 

The man became slightly flustered and began to stumble over his words.

“S-sorry of course you want to know about the job. Well, my father recently passed and- and left behind his trading business. It should have been mine but-“ The man’s face twisted into a red and ugly expression. “My stupid younger brother took it from me. And all of fathers men are loyal to him now. I want you to kill him! And all the ones loyal to him!”