“Do you know how to find the dwarves?” Nanae asked as we left the church.

I shook my head. “I’ve heard that one can only find them if they want to be found.”

She nodded. “Then how do you plan on tracking down Zidg? If everything Lady Amara said is true, then I imagine Zidg doesn’t want to be found.”

“I’m not sure, but I still have to try.”

“She didn’t give us that artifact just because. She clearly believes we can find him.” Lumia added.

"That’s true." I said with a nod as we reached the teleportation plate.

There were only two ways out of Sunder, we could go by boat or by air. Since we didn’t know exactly where we were going yet, I figured taking a boat might be a nice change of pace and maybe we’d meet someone or learn something useful along the way. Lumia followed behind me Nanae behind her.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Lumia asked as we appeared in the harbor. "What if you lose control again?"

I froze at her words. I hadn’t felt any desire or emptiness since seeing Lila’s light. It was a huge relief and weight off my chest, but I hadn’t considered that this peace might be temporary. If Lila was the catalyst I might need to stay in a certain range, or if it was magic then it may have a time limit. In either case I realized the problem with sailing.

“So, what do we do?” I asked.

We all stood and pondered a moment before Nanae came up with something.

“You need information right?”

I nodded. “Yea, but not the sort we can just get anywhere.”

“And you’ll need a change of clothes to blend in.”

Lumia and I looked at each other. I had a few good outfits left in my dimensional ring, but they all screamed elven nobility. If I didn’t want to stand out it might be better to sell them and use the money for something cheaper.

Lumia didn’t need to buy clothes since she could simply change the appearance of her outfit at will. She did so immediately.

Like hundreds of little sequins flipping over, her elegant silk dress transformed into a simple blouse and trousers.

“Can you teach me how to do that?” I asked, thinking how convenient it must be.

Lumia snickered. “Sorry Silv. It’s something only dragons can do.”

Nodding with understanding, I turned towards Nanae. “Anyway, you had an idea?” I asked.

Nanae was giddy, bouncing on her toes as she answered, “You should join the hunters guild. No one has more information than the guild and if you’re short on money, you can take jobs or sell them beast components. Claws, teeth and horns are usually the most valuable.”

“You know a lot about the hunters guild,” Lumia began, “are you a member?”

“Actually, I’m a guild representative. I usually help the members when they have a problem or want to look up information.”

I looked at Lumia. “Joining sounds like a pretty good idea to me, but what do you think?”

She nodded. “At the very least it would give us a reliable way to make money. It’s possible they might even be able to help us find Zidg.”

“Then we’ll join,” I said, turning to Nanae. “Lead the way.”

“Hold on, I’m sure both of you are more than capable, but the hunters guild doesn’t just accept anyone. You have to pass a skills test first, and for that it’ll be easier if we get you some basic gear before we go to the guild hall.”

I nodded. I was more comfortable fighting barehanded and with magic, but I wouldn’t mind having a sword.

Lumia brandished her claws. “I’m fine with these. I’d probably be too clumsy with a weapon anyway.”

The idea of Lumia being clumsy at all just didn’t seem right. She was the picture of grace and elegance, although I couldn’t help but laugh as I imagined her stumbling around with a blade.

“Natural weapons will do just fine, but keep in mind that your performance on the test will determine whether you can post a request right away or if you’ll have to raise your rank first.”

“You mean we could ask other members to find Zidg for us?” I asked to confirm I understood her meaning.

“Yea, if you had enough money to pay a reward and sufficient rank in the guild. But don’t worry, as long as you pass the test you can access the information bank. Most information is available to everyone so I’m sure you’ll be able to find something useful.”

Lumia and I both nodded, then we stepped back on the teleporter and Nanae activated it. With a flash of light, we appeared in the shopping district.

We came out in a familiar area, somewhere not far from where I’d caused a scene. Seeing several familiar faces, I was worried that the shopkeepers might recognize me and be fearful or refuse me service.

Nanae assured me otherwise as she pulled me into a smaller weapon shop. I didn’t have a chance to read the name.

“Grafi,” she called to a man leaning over an empty sword rack. “You look bored today. How would you like a new customer?”

“Grafi, is never bored,” he answered. “Business comes, it goes, but a merchant stays busy.”

Stretching, he pulled himself away from the rack and looked between us. “You want something for the princess, no?”

Nanae laughed.

“Actually, we’re here for me,” I answered.

“Right, as I said.”

“I’m not a—”

“How about this?” He continued, as a sword appeared in his hand.

It had a yellow blade with blue markings all along it’s edge. The hilt was ornate, with a gold plated hand guard and intricate carvings.

It was a nice weapon, but I knew with one look it wasn’t the sword for me; it was probably well out of my price range too. I shook my head. “I want something that’s more—”

“Grafi, knows what you need. Here, try this.” He casually plucked a sword from its rack and tossed it to me.

The weapon was plain. Ordinary in every way, but was well balanced and sharp. “Yea, it’ll do.”

Grafi smiled. “Good. But Grafi thinks you need something else too…” touching his finger to his chin he looked around the store.

When his gaze stopped shifting, I followed it to a crate in the corner. Grafi hurried across the shop and pulled a parcel from the box. He came back, and handed it to me saying, “Here. There’s no charge.”

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“What about the sword?” I asked.

He smiled. “That’ll be five gold coins.”

I only had five gold coins on me which roughly equated to five hundred dollars. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to ensure we had food and a comfortable place to rest for a couple nights. Then again, if we were joining the hunters guild, Lumia and I should be able to make it back soon enough.

I reached into my pocket for the money, but my pocket was empty.

Grafi opened his palm and there the coins were. “Thanks princess, I’ll see you next time.” He said with an energetic smile.

Considering how he handled business, I wasn’t surprised he had no customers. If I hadn’t been worried about being rejected from other shops, I might’ve turned and left after his initial greeting. Unfortunately, I was worried.

I stored my new purchases, then left the store with Nanae and Lumia.

“So, are you happy with what you got?”

I nodded. “The sword is nice. It’ll do until I can afford better.”

“Here, as a thank you for helping Grafi.” Nanae smiled as she handed me ten gold coins.

I tried to refuse, but she insisted. Then she brought us to another store where I found a simple outfit. Nanae paid for it as well.

After I changed clothes, we went to the hunter’s guild hall.

“Welcome—oh, Nanae!” A young woman said from behind an information desk near the door.

“Hi, Cassy. Are there any simulators available?”

“One moment.” Cassy said as she began tapping on her desk.

Flickers of light beneath where her fingers touched made it appear as though she was typing on some kind of holographic keyboard—a theory I decided to accept after noticing a blue glow coming from a square shaped nook atop the desk.

“Yea,” she said, offering a warm smile. “No one is in room three.”

Nanae nodded and motioned for us to follow her.

Shortly, we came to a room with machines that resembled tanning beds, all lined up next to each other, along the sides of the room. There was a narrow walkway from the door to the wall at the opposite end and only enough space between the machines for one person to fit.

“What are those?” I asked.

“Simulation machines,” Nanae answered placidly, as if these were commonplace. “They simulate battles against various creatures using real life models; there’s everything from simple encounters with snavolkin, to the more complex and punishing battles of skill against cursed creatures like the dark spectral knight—I don’t recommend those unless you’re really confident in your abilities."

"I'm confident, but maybe not that confident." I replied honestly.

Nanae nodded. “Good. Overconfidence is a sure sign of one headed to an early grave."

"The simulation used during skill tests is a mid level fight against a dreadling," said an old man as he entered the room. His voice was deep and gravelly, filled with the energy of youth despite his apparent age.

The geezer continued speaking while examining Lumia and I over the top of his spectacles, "but don't take it lightly, dreadlings can challenge even the most experienced combatants."

Turning to me he added. “don’t be discouraged. Even if you lose the fight, you may still be accepted into the guild. Just give it your best.”

Then he turned back toward Lumia, stroking his beard with one hand.

Nanae took Lumia by the hand, asking, “Are you ready to begin?”

"You're quite pretty, aren't you?" The man remarked casually, letting his gaze linger with obvious lecherous intent.

Lumia’s easy smile slipped into a slightly threatening scowl.

The man adjusted his expression, then boldly added, "You should consider other lines of work, something more…expressive, like dancing." He winked at Lumia causing her cheeks to redden with fury.

Lumia took a single step towards him before Nanae grabbed her shoulder and spun her toward the nearest open combat simulator. “You’ll each take the test alone, so prepare yourself,” she said as she pushed Lumia into the simulator and closed her in.

I was both relieved and disappointed by the intervention. Relieved since I didn’t want to draw unnecessary attention, but disappointed that I wouldn’t get to watch Lumia put the old man in his place.

After pressing a few buttons, Nanae went to the next simulator and said, “Silvon, you’ll be in this simulator.”

With a nod I laid on the foam bed and Nanae closed the lid over me.

There was a moment of darkness, then a feeling of vertigo as I felt myself being moved into a standing position. Then there was bright light that slowly divided into colors and formed a corrupted landscape. I could see all this, although I was pretty sure my eyes were closed.

It took a moment to acclimate to my surroundings and get my bearings, but moving and manipulating mana seemed to work exactly as they did in reality. If I didn’t know I was in a simulation, I would’ve believed this was real. I could even smell the rot permeating throughout the ruined township.

A computerized voice announced, “simulation initialized. Loading beasts…”

A hiss, like wind passing across metal, rang out followed immediately by a deep rumble accompanied by several loud thumps. A horse neighed, then there was the rhythmic clip clop of hooves.

“…Dark spectral knight loaded. Beginning combat simulation now.”

The sound of hooves on stone rapidly increased in speed then a horse whinnied as it jumped over a building to land in the square, just in front of me.

Sitting atop the horse was a knight in ruined armor with his sword drawn. He looked at me through soulless eyes, smiling wickedly. His aura was thick and heavy, pressing down on me with oppressive force.

“Oh fuck!” I cursed.

I didn’t have time for thought. In the time it took me to curse, the knight was already bringing his blade down toward my head.

Rolling aside, I cast airburst hoping to both topple his horse and create more distance.

The sword missed, drawing a line in the black stone ground.

My spell pushed me away and through the crumbling door of a smoldering cottage. The haystack roof was already caved in, covering most of the interior in straw stalks and providing a conveniently cushy landing.

The steady rhythm of clip clop started again, clearly airburst didn’t affect the horse.

The knight crashed through the front face of the building, bringing more of the roof down on himself.

Unfazed by the downpour of debris, he swung his sword horizontally.

I was far from striking distance, but a black wave shot out from his blade, slicing through the air and anything in its path.

I cast airburst again, this time propelling myself up onto what was left of the roof. With a quick pivot, I immediately ran to the end and leapt to the next building as the roof fell from beneath me.

I didn’t dare look back. The sounds of crashing and the horse’s screams were enough for me to know the knight was close behind me. He was probably on the ground, but that didn’t mean I could stop running.

My heart pounded faster than ever as I scanned around for some place I could hide. There were plenty of structures, and yet none of them felt adequate.

I needed to think fast. escape was unlikely as no matter where I went, I wouldn’t be able to outpace his horse. I wasn’t confident with defense either. I had a gut feeling that if our swords crossed, mine would turn black and crumble. That left me only offense, but what could I do to hurt a spectral knight?

…maybe I should just let him kill me then retake the test against a dreadling, the way it was supposed to be.

I pushed the thought away.

Beneath me a wooden beam shifted, falling in on itself until it collapsed entirely and dropped me to the floor below. A collapsed wall led outside, back to the square. The path ahead ended abruptly with a solid stone wall—the only damned section of which had yet to be weakened or corroded. To my left, there was a stairway down into some kind of cellar. I leapt over the railing and rolled down the stairs.

As I kicked the door shut, the space rumbled and a series of crashes above signaled the collapse of the building.

Even if the knight was inside, I didn’t believe he was dead, and I wasn’t going to wait by the door for him to come crashing through.

The cellar was dark and filled with rows of barrels, stacked high like walls separating the space. I hurried around one and sprinted to the end of the row where I found a trap door. As a precaution, I set fire to the rows of barrels on either side of the door then opened it and jumped down.

If I had taken even a second to consider my decision, I might not have made the jump. The smell of death rose like a cloud from below. The space had absolutely no light so I had to push mana into my eyes to see.

As I landed near a pile of bones, causing some to topple forward and knock into a black beast.

The creature appeared to be sleeping and didn’t stir. Its thick fur was heavily matted and clumped with fresh blood. Each of its limbs looked powerful enough to crush huge stones as if they were made of paper.

I had no idea what manner of beast this was, but I knew immediately that I wouldn’t be able to defeat it.

“You’ve discovered fluffy. A horrible secret kept in the crypts below town. Will you challenge the beast?” The synthesized voice rang clear in my ears, but didn’t seem to bother the sleeping creature.

Without answering, I stepped back cautiously, careful to avoid stepping on anything and moving slowly to minimize sound.

This was supposed to be a simple skill test and yet somehow I wound up in this hellscape complete with a hidden boss. Hopefully Lumia was having an easier time than me.