I wove seamlessly through the crowded streets of Aurorah's nightlife like a dancer upon the stage, effortlessly keeping with the rhythm of its people. Neon signs and arcane sigils lighting up the streets, my heart syncing with their hums. I felt the powerful vibrations of magic intertwined with technology throughout my core. All my senses were alive and buzzing with excitement.

My name? I am Rin Valesine, sorceress extraordinaire and the greatest thief known to Aurorah. Well, mostly known. Okay, okay… I am known in small circles. But what can I say? I was new to the wondrous arcane city where magic and technology were pushed to the limits like the clashes of Heroes and Demon Lords of legend.

I slipped into the comforting embrace of a shadowy alleyway, the faint lights just grazing the edges of my cloak. Across from the alley I took in the notorious nightclub, The Enchanted Veil. The building was a sight in and of itself, casting a heavy shadow over the nightlife and the symphony it created. A palace of sin and secrets, where the wealthy and powerful played with the poor and desperate.

However, my destination tonight wasn’t the club, but a small cafe where a desperate letter had taken me. Desperation is always ripe for opportunities.

The cafe’s entrance was obscured in the alleyway. Making my way inside I had a hard time calling the joint a cafe, a dive bar would have been a more fitting description. The place was practically rundown, just looking at the wooden tables gave me splinters. I made a mental note to avoid leaning on the tables… or just to not touch them in general. 

I looked around the practically empty cafe for the desperate man who called me of all people here, a bartender of The Enchanting Veil named Cadence Graves. At the back corner I saw him, his stylish ensemble of a crisp black button-up, a tailored vest, and well styled hair gave the initial appearance of someone who fit the role of the handsome well-off bartender at a swanky nightclub. But the haunted eyes and the distraught face marked with stressful nights gave him away as the man I was looking for.

Well, that and his constant gaze flickering about as if a monster was going to jump from the deep shadows of the poorly lit cafe. This guy could have chosen a better place to meet up, if he didn’t want to worry about dark shadows and a creepy atmosphere. I took a sigh and made my way over to his table.

I slid into the seat across from him, locking my eyes with his. “Cadence Graves?” I asked, more of a statement than a question. It was better to be safe and make sure this was the guy, it would be embarrassing if this guy wasn’t Cadence.

He nodded; my potential embarrassment saved for now.

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I waited for him to say anything, I just sighed after a few minutes of awkward silence and spoke up. “You wanted to speak to me, so speak. I don’t have all night.”

Cadence swallowed hard. “Th-Thank you for meet… meeting me here. M-Miss R-Rin Val-Valesine.” The poor man was trembling. Whatever this was about, he was scared. His eyes kept darting around as if someone was targeting him. Which could have been the case.

“Take a deep breath Cadence, I won’t bite.” I tried to reassure him.

He closed his eyes and took a few steadying breaths, though his shaking only slightly calmed.

I leaned back, trying to convey the casual confidence of someone that had done these sorts of meetings a thousand times before. “So, your message said you have a job for me. Something about stealing a computer from your boss?”

Cadence nodded, fidgeting with the buttons on his vest. “Y-yes. Vincent Stone, my boss. The owner of The Enchanted Veil. He… he has something on me. On a lot of us at the club really.” He stopped fidgeting with his vest to take a sip of whatever sludge was in his cup. It sort of grossed me out watching how the viscous goop trailed down the side of the mug when he set it back down. “M-Miss Valesi- “

I cut him off quickly. “No need to add the Miss. Rin is just fine.”

I would have once snapped that I wasn’t old enough or proper enough to be called such a thing. Once slapped some noble for calling me Lady As- Lady Rin at some fancy ball. It did cause quite an uproar and it allowed me to quickly flee after pocketing some minor trinkets. I had to keep my mind from wandering if there were any swanky parties I could crash and focus on why I was here.

“Y-yes, of course. Sorry. Well, you see Miss-er uh, Rin… Mr. Stone has been blackmailing us, using our, uh, past mistakes to keep us under his abusive thumb. His computer holds all of it. Anytime we try to leave he just has to open up his computer and…” he sighed “If I can just get a hold of it-”

“You can free yourselves and the others from his control?” I finished for him. “So why come to me for this? There are plenty of idiots in this city that would be glad to take this job. For way cheaper I might add.”

Cadence’s eyes locked onto mine, a fire was lit within them. I instinctively leaned back. “We don’t need an idiot. We need you, I’ve heard stories about your unique set of skills, and how you once-”

“I wasn’t aware stories of me have spread in the short time I’ve lived in this city. I must say, I am flattered. Still doesn’t explain why you are in need of my unique set of skills, as you put it.” I said, waving his word off.

Now, I had an idea of why he contacted me. I was no stranger to Vincent Stone, a man who wronged me in my first few days in the city. Tried to set me up with some bogus job. All just to prove that he was the one in charge of the city, the top gargoyle as he called himself. Took the phrase high and mighty to a new level.

Cadence continued, his words desperate. “Miss Rin, this job requires more than just some common thief. It needs someone who can handle the magical wards and the high-tech security that Mr. Stone employs. That is why everyone at the club pulled together everything we could. We need you.”

I couldn’t take it anymore; the dude was nearly on the verge of tears. I abruptly stood up.

“Look, Cadence. I’ll take on the job. Any chance to undermine Vincent Stone is just too tempting to turn down.”

Cadence was overjoyed, his face, aged from worry, looked just a little younger. “Thank you, Miss Rin. I can’t thank you enough.”

“You can thank me by calling me Rin. And I expect to be paid in full upon delivery.” I leaned across the table, ignoring the painful splinters shooting into my arms. I kept the pain from my voice as I continued with a conspiratorial smile. “Now, tell me everything you know about Stone’s security. We’ll need a solid plan if we are going to pull this off.”

As Cadence began to outline the layout of the club and its various defenses, I felt the familiar thrill and excitement course through me. The stage was being set, the danger ahead its audience, and with the buzzing of anticipation came the promise of glory. Stone had no idea what was coming for him, and I intended to keep it that way until the curtain had fallen.