“You’re lucky. If the guild weren’t this close, we wouldn’t even be able to sense your presence,” Talen said, striding proudly down the narrow, cobblestone street.

Arin followed silently.

Tilting his head slightly, he checked his left eye; the throbbing pulse had darkened into a bruise. He withdrew his finger and let out a soft sigh.

“I didn’t realize the guild building was this close,” he murmured, his voice distant and tired. “If it’s inconvenient, I can come back another time...”

Talen slowed his steps and fell in line beside him. Leaning down to meet Arin’s gaze, he examined the bruising carefully. Arin, caught off guard by the sudden intimacy, noticed just how light blue Talen’s eyes were.

“I’m offering the healing potion again,” Talen said, his tone serious. “At this rate, that bruise will turn into a proper battle wound within an hour.”

Arin shook his head, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “I don’t like owing anyone, and it’ll fade in a few days anyway,” he said.

Talen tapped the pocket where Arin kept his wallet. “I saved your wallet, I saved you. You already owe me a kiss.”

Rolling his eyes at the joke, Arin replied, “I could’ve handled it myself. I just didn’t want anyone hurt for no reason.”

“Then it was worth it to mess up that sweet face of yours. Wonderful.” Talen grinned lightly and kept walking.

Arin froze for a moment. Sweet face…?

Azimushan chuckled deeply, mockingly. “Better take care of that sweet face of yours.”

Arin exhaled tensely and hurried after Talen along the cobblestone path. Turning a corner, he spotted the sun emblem carved above the large wooden door at the end of the street. No other markings adorned the building. When Talen entered without explanation, Arin understood they had arrived.

***

The guild building, far from benefiting from modern technology, was on the brink of collapse. Walls, floors, even the stairs bore the scars of neglect. As Arin climbed the shaky steps, he realized the guild wasn’t making much profit. Talen, however, seemed unconcerned, forging ahead. Passing floors and closed doors, Arin noticed a thrill rising within him, it was like being acknowledged among his own kind.

At last, they reached the third floor. Passing through towering doors, they entered the guild itself. Unlike the rest of the building, this area was orderly. The circular entryway walls were adorned with portraits.

“Old legendary members,” Talen explained quickly. “We’re the only legends left.”

They crossed the entryway quickly and reached double doors. Talen knocked and entered without waiting.

Arin followed, taking a steadying breath. At the far end of the small study, Ishtar Caprikon stood by the window overlooking the street, watching him, while Talen positioned himself immediately behind, like a domesticated dog. The older man looked more fatigued than Arin remembered, but he didn’t move, seemingly waiting for him to approach.

“Mr. Caprikon,” Arin said formally.

“Mr. Ravenscar, welcome. I hope our intervention isn’t too late,” the old man replied, squinting to study Arin’s face.

Talen let out a mocking laugh, but Arin ignored it. “Thank you, it’s perfectly on time,” he said.

The older man sat in a single armchair, gesturing toward the seat opposite him. “Please leave us alone, Talen,” he said, indicating for Arin to sit as well. Talen didn’t take his eyes off the old man as he passed by and headed for the door. Arin settled into the chair.

They sat in tense silence for a moment. Finally, the older man said, smiling but studying him with curiosity, “Your talents are dazzling, Mr. Ravenscar.”

Uncomfortably shifting under the scrutiny, Arin said, “I saw you fly that day, Mr. Caprikon. Compared to you, my abilities are rather ordinary.”

Unexpectedly, the older man chuckled. “Thanks to our jinn, what we can do is quite varied.”

Arin didn’t know what to say. “Yes.”

Suddenly, the man’s expression grew serious. “I will speak frankly, Mr. Ravenscar. I hope these words remain between us.”

“Of course,” Arin replied, curious about what was coming.

The older man’s gaze drifted to the window. “We are the last representatives of a dying craft. The Empire no longer relies on us, but on mechanized weapons. Yet jinn hunting was once so valued that the honor passed from generation to generation, from master to apprentice.”

Arin fidgeted, unsure how to respond; his own situation was slightly different. Azimushan mirrored his unease, alert and tense.

Ishtar Caprikon’s gaze grew meaningful for a moment, but he continued speaking. “The Empire now addresses problems in our expertise with its own methods. A jinn drives someone mad? They send a mechanized unit. They eliminate it. But it’s only a temporary solution. They still don’t know what to do with the jinn itself. We do, but with our limited numbers, there’s only so much we can accomplish.”

Leaning back, the older man’s expression softened. “That’s why fighting alone is no longer wise.”

Arin spoke before he realized it. “I’m not alone. Kael is with me.”

The old man regarded him with mild disappointment. “Mr. Corwin is merely an imperial officer assigned to you. All his loyalty lies there. Mr. Ravenscar, I offer you an alliance built on trust, without expectation. Wouldn’t you rather stand alongside your own kind? Knowledge, support, security, all at your service. Just as today, we’ll be at your side.”

In this world, Arin had learned one thing: nothing came without a price. Yet he knew he could not outright refuse this man, especially with enemies already on his trail. He also trusted Kael, who, despite his allegiance to the Empire, had saved him countless times.

“Thank you for the offer, Mr. Caprikon. I assume you don’t expect an immediate answer,” he said.

The older man considered his words quietly. “Of course. You may think it over. But you must have noticed how dangerous the streets have become for jinn hunters.”

Arin looked at him silently, unsure of what he implied.

The older man stood and moved toward the window. “Your reaction tells me you’ve experienced it yourself. Someone is active outside, after the city’s jinn and artifacts.”

Arin felt a jolt at this new information. Which artifacts was he referring to? Still, he remained silent, giving the man time to explain.

“I have strong suspicions that an old game is being replayed within the Empire. I haven’t found conclusive evidence yet, but someone, or some people, seek the last remnants of magic from the old Empire.”

Finally finding his voice, Arin asked, “Why, do you think?”

“You wouldn’t remember, Mr. Ravenscar, but the Civil War started for the same reason.” The older man turned to him slowly. “That greed brought ruin. Our kind was reformed so violently that only a handful of jinn hunters remain.”

Arin knew, though never spoken by his grandfather, that his own family had died because of it. Even those who remained neutral were punished. The Empire had etched one lesson into minds: either you’re with us, or you’re not.

Sensing his unease, the older man said, “Of course, these may be the worries of an old man. Still, it pays to be cautious.” Then quickly, “I will be expecting your reply, Mr. Ravenscar,” signaling the end of the discussion.

Arin received the message, saluted, and left the room. As he stepped out, Talen blocked his path, smirking.

“Mr. Ravenscar,” he said, teasingly. “Shall we set a day for you to repay your debt to me?”

Still dazed from the previous conversation, Arin asked, “Debt? What do you mean?”

Talen swiftly placed a hand on his waist and pulled him close. “You owe me a kiss, and I dislike being left unpaid.”

Talen’s breath brushed against his lips, carrying a sweet, cinnamon-like scent. Unconsciously, Arin looked at his mouth and swallowed. Arin still wasn't sure if the moment was truly happening as he looked at the playful smile on Talen’s face.

Even Azimushan waited, stunned.

Finally, Arin gathered himself. He had never backed down from a challenge. Leaning in, ignoring Talen’s shocked gaze, he pressed his lips against Talen’s. The cinnamon taste reached the tip of his tongue, and just as quickly, he pulled away, leaving Talen even more bewildered.

“All debts are settled. Nothing remains between us,” Arin said with a smile, striding out confidently.

Astonishment and shock shaped Talen’s handsome face as he was left looking after him.