“Hey Star. I'm glad to see that you made it to the city.”(Suzi)

“Hello boss. What brings you here?”(Star)

“Oh, come now Star. We’re off work hours or at least I am. There is no need to be so formal.”(Suzi)

Giving a small chuckle and a light smile, I stare at the woman in front of me. Spreading out my arms I offer her a hug that she gladly accepts. Suzi is wearing a white shirt, skinny jeans, and hiking boots. Her black and white hair is in a ponytail and her black wings are curled around her to form a makeshift cape.

“I’m happy to see you too mom.”(Star)

“That’s better. Now to answer your question. I’m here to look for my oldest friend and personal servant. This is a city of memories after all. I’m sure I can corner that damn shapeshifter through this place eventually. He has been playing cat and mouse with me for centuries but not anymore. Also Samantha lives here and I want to pay my best friend a visit.”(Suzi)

“Speaking of this place. Did you know the card you gave me could change history while I’m here?”(Star)

"Not a clue. I just knew that you needed it to do this job. I also knew that when I wanted to step down, I had to give this job to my replacement. The board wouldn't let me leave alive if I didn't. This job was given to our company by someone who could fold us all like a deck of cards. This means we didn't have much choice in the matter. The only good thing about that was I could choose who would replace me. Now let’s stop lollygagging. There’s a lovely looking hotel right over here and I'd rather not stand in the middle of the road all night.”(Suzi)

With that being said, Suzi turned around and walked into the nearby hotel. The hotel is a tall multi story building. It has nine medium sized windows going from left to right starting on the second floor, and eleven windows going up from there. The bottom floor only has a large black double door, with two large dark brown wooden crickets on either side of it. The rims of their legs seem to be made out of metal and the eyes are emerald green. The hotel is a puke green color, and has a white sign over the door that says…

“Jiminy’s Provence

The place where even the most unwanted of people can stay, if they can pay”

“Jiminy seems to like crickets. Jiminy and crickets. I feel like there is a joke in there somewhere.”(Star)

Shaking my head I walk through the black doors. I see upon entering a hunting cabin themed plaza that is far larger than what it would appear to be from the outside. Throughout most of the plaza are round tables surrounded by groups of people drinking beer. Most of the walls have animal heads as well as demon, beastmen, human, and elf heads mounted on them. In a far corner of the room, there is a wooden fox mounted over the fireplace. A plaque next to it has a set of rules in glowing black letters.

Rules

1. No fighting

2. No robbing other patrons

3. Always pay your bill on time

Failure to follow these rules will result in your head being mounted on a wall

After looking around for a few seconds I see Suzi talking to an older looking human woman who is sitting behind a wooden desk. As I walk up to them Suzi points at me and says something about a shower to the older woman before taking a set of keys and heading up a set of nearby stairs. The older woman is a grayish-blue haired human, with storm grey eyes that have a few blueish lines going through them. The woman has pale cream skin that looks like it’s been lightly tinted blue for some reason. She has wrinkles under her eyes and seems to be using a sky blue cane judging by how it is leaning against the table by her.

“Hello ma'am. I’m here to ask if you have any available rooms to rent?”(Star)

“I’m aware elf. Your friend just told me your temporary living arrangements and that I should guide you toward the showers so come on. By the way most people around here call me Old Blue. What’s your name?”(Old Blue)

“Mcbeth. Star Mcbeth.”(Star)

I say before raising my arm to my nose before taking a few sniffs.

“I don’t smell that bad do I?”(Star)

“Girl, you smell rancid. Like old forest and corruption. Even other adventurers would barely tolerate your stank. Now come on. We need to get you to the showers.”(Old Blue)

Smiling with that, Old Blue gets up with her cane and gestures for me to follow her. We walk up a flight of stairs and go down a wooden hall with several side doors. As we move through the hall, we pass an elevator that only has one button next to it pointed up.

“I have a question for you, Miss Mcbeth. If you don’t mind me asking.”(Old Blue)

“Go ahead ma’am.”(Star)

“Is it true that names hold power over you more magically inclined races? I have met many people over my time here who live strange lives with some even stranger names. It makes one wonder if that old folk tale has ever been true.”(Old blue)

“Names do hold power over the more magically inclined races but to varying degrees. For Angels it reveals family secrets so they tend to guard their last name closely. For Demons it tells you their natural disposition. As well as allowing others to force contracts with them if they know the demon's full name. Although they have a tendency to change over time. For Elves it represents our fates. How we are going to live or die regardless of our choices or actions. We are also the oly race that are born with a name and not given one.”(Star)

“Ha ha. I ask that question to everyone who stays in my hotel for an extended period of time. Almost everyone answers differently. It’s good to see that there are still those out there who believe the old stories.”(Old Blue)

After walking for a little over two minutes, we stop next to a stone door with a hanging key next to it.

“Use the key here on this door and you will be in your own personal bathroom. Just don’t forget to put the keys back before entering. Otherwise you could open the door with a lot of angry patrons on the other side. While in there your clothing will be automatically cleaned and you should have a towel or whatever else you need in there. When you're done, walk back to the stairs, open the second door to the right of the stairs and use the elevator inside to get to the 6th floor. Your room is number 759. We serve meals here at dawn and at dusk for free so don’t miss it if you want a free meal. With that I will be seeing you around.”(Old Blue)

"Wait. before you go. Why do you have an elevator only starting on the second floor?"(Star)

"Because if it was on the first the drunkards would break it."(Old Blue)

Saying goodbye I use the key to open the door and walk inside the bathroom. The bathroom looks like a conventional one with a sink toilet and a shower/tub that can fit four people. I took a long warm shower, brushed my teeth, combed my hair and true to Old Blue’s word, my suit was dry and clean when I put it back on. After collecting my things I left the room and closed the door behind me. Wanting to test something I reopened the door without using the keys just to find that the door opens to reveal a brick wall.

Stolen story; please report.

“This place must maintain a lot of business if they can afford all this Demon tech.”(Star)

Closing the door, I take a quick elevator trip and walk through several hallways to reach my hotel room. Opening the door I look inside for a few seconds before closing it again. As I do I holler out to the two people inside.

“I’m going to step out for a few minutes. Come get me when you're done here.”(Star)

Although she didn’t respond, I know Suzi heard me. The room itself was covered in blood. There was a young looking man who I’ve never seen bound to a bed and looked to be in the middle of being dissected by Suzi. His chest was cut open with some of his guts taken out. His eyes were bloodshot and all of his fingers and toes were bent in weird directions. His hair is dyed red and some of his teeth have been torn out and put in a pile next to him. Suzi herself seemed to only have blood on her hands. With a carving knife in her hand, she was currently gouging one of his eyeballs out while holding his head still with her other hand. When he saw me I could see hope in his remaining eye. Only for it to turn to panic as I closed the door.

‘Sob ‘Sob’ “Pl..ease….help...m...mee….”(Soon to be dead man)

“Sorry sir. There is nothing I can do to help you.”(Star)

Deciding to stay out of something I’m fairly sure I have nothing to do with, I take a seat next to the door and open my status.

Status

Name: Star Mcbeth

Race: Blood Elf Variant

Level: 223

Age: 176

Profession: Writer(Master Rank)

Sub Professions: Sniper

Title: Perpetual Star

Criminal Record: Speeding tickets(fines paid)

Spells: [Inner Blood control] [Blood absorption] [Blood weapon creation/enhancements] [Basic wind manipulation] [Healing touch] [History’s right]

Skills: [Basic dragon’s eye] [Pain nullification] [Total recent memory recall] Selective photographic memory]

Masteries: [Ambidextrous] [Torture/Interrogation] [Blood weapons] [ranged handling] [Writer] [Survivalist]

“Man. I either kill things or I write about things. I really need to do something more with my life. Maybe pick up a hobby like calligraphy? No, too close to what I do now.”(Star)

While I was looking through my Status to pass some time, a pink furred fox walked up to me from across the hall. It looks to be barely two feet long from nose to tail. It’s pink furred body is covered in red scares but no blood seems to be marking it’s fur or where it’s been walking. The only other noticeably weird thing about it was that it’s eyes are pitch black.

“Hello little fox how may I help you?”(Star)

The fox responded by yipping up at me and trying to climb onto my lap.

“Well aren't you cuddly? Tell you what. If you don’t attack me I promise to pet you until I need to go.”(Star)

With a small yip in response, I started petting the little fox that has curled up on my lap. After a few minutes of this I could feel the fow relax more and more into my lap until it faded out of existence. That's it. Just one moment I’m petting this little pink fox and the next my hand just goes through where it’s supposed to be.

“What! The! Hell!”(Star)

Notice

You have gained the title “Liberator of Damned Souls” For freeing a tortured soul from the living world and putting it to rest without the use of violence.

Allows the owner of the title to preserve all lost souls that are both trapped in the living world and suffering immense pain. It will also attract those kinds of souls to you if they are close by. If the title is equipped

Change to current title “Yes” or “No”

No dang it! Why would I want a title like that? I don’t need to see a bunch of tortured dead people!

Notice

The profession “Miko” is now available for performing your first exorcism on a ghost/Lost spirit through non-lethal means.

Set to primary: All shrine maiden abilities and skills can be learned albeit to a limited degree so long as you don’t serve a deity.

Set to sub: The user can use the most basic divine protections.

Don’t set

Ok. First off, what kind of divine providence B.S. is this? I know I asked for something but seriously? This seems a bit heavy handed. Secondly, this might actually be useful. Let's set it to the sub profession for now. I can always set it to primary later. Moments later the door opens up with Suzi walking out with a full body bag.

“Sorry about this Star. Can you clean up the spill while I take this out?”(Suzi)

“Sure thing mom.”(Star)

Walking back into the room while Suzi walks away I stretch my arms and use a bit of magic on the room. Seconds later all the blood that has been soaking into most of the room quickly vanishes as it enters my body. The room is now spotless revealing its off gray colored walls with two wooden beds and wardrobes. All of them were large and the room could easily fit a good eight or so people comfortably alongside them. Taking the blue bed to the left of the door I pull out my grenade and toss it to the floor. Within seconds it blew up into a pile of clothes that I quickly put into one of the wardrobes. Suzi returned a short while later and plopped down on the red covered bed to the right of the door. She quickly made herself comfortable on it before smiling.

“I’m not apologizing for this forced two person living arrangement but you have all housing expenses paid for by the company and I am technically on vacation so…”(Suzi).

“It’s fine mom. It’s not much different from our business trips when I was younger. I enjoy the company anyways. More importantly, what was the deal with that man?”(Star)

“Just Just some stalker who managed to put two and two together to figure out who I am. His borderline blackmail has been getting annoying.”(Suzi)

“Two and two as in how you are the Demon Empress?”(Star)

“Friends with. I'm not her.”(Suzi)

Avoiding the question again. I know you two share the same name but some things still don't line up when you talk about your past....

“Regardless, I just let my guard down and he got to close.”(Suzi)

“Now that we’re here, can you tell me how you knew the Empress? Since you always avoided telling me that when I was younger.”(Star)

“No.”(Suzi)

“Why not?”(Star)

“Because that will take all the fun out of this adventure of yours. I worked hard to gain and keep that relationship strong. So I want you to experience my glory. Now Star, I've looked out for you since your mother's death when you were a small baby. Because of this I care deeply about you and treat you as if you were my actual daughter. I say this to you because I want you to show more caution than you're used to while in this city. I don’t want it eating you alive after all. Now I’m off to sleep see you in the morning.”(Suzi)

“Night mom.”(Star)

After waking up early the next morning I changed into some leather armor that could be hidden underneath a black t-shirt and blue jeans. Putting on some running shoes I left to go figure out where I need to go next. After wandering the city for a few hours something hit me. If the narrator was saying that it all started at the competitions then that's where I need to start looking. With that thought set while I walked, I watched as the entire city slowly changed around me. The roads became wider, stalls selling a variety of items started to line the streets, and the city that seemed fairly sparse for the early morning quickly became overrun with people. The most noticeable thing about it all was the fact that everyone seemed to be able to walk right through me. It is a weird thing to experience. Quickening my steps I head towards the arena like place I see in the distance. As I approached it people started treating me like I was there. Hollering for me from the stalls, bumping into me as I walked, and actually responding to me when I asked them to move. I think I'm starting to see how this city works and why it was so empty this morning. Arriving at the arena's entrance I take some time to admire the large structure before walking in. It is large and round with large round entrances for groups of people to walk through going all the way around the building. In the hallways there are large flat screens showing the empty arena stadium as the seats are quickly being filled up. Looking around I found the ticket booth. Everyone there seemed to be moving and acting like normal but one booth line was not moving at all. Standing in front of the counter is a tall blue haired woman with black battle armor on. She is also completely motionless. I tried calling her but she didn't even move. Walking to her I examine her more closely. Taking away the fact that she has not breathed, blinked or even moved for the last minute or so, she looks like the Samantha from the beginning of Narrator's informative talk. Well without the large belly, or this weird purple outline that's covering her entire body. Stranger still is the fact that everyone is treating her like she is there but not at the same time. Like they acknowledge her standing here but don't seem to mind her just standing perfectly still and not responding to anything.

“This is probably going to be a bad idea but...”(Star)

Standing behind her I reach my hand out and tap her on the shoulder. When I do, the card in my pocket momentarily flashes brightly before the purple outline disappears completely. The woman I tapped on also turns around and looks at me with an annoyed face.

“What do you want elf? I'm busy.”(Samantha?)

“What just happened?”(Star)

“Hey I’m busy! If you don’t have anything to say then leave! Actually, you look pitifully weak so come here! Lets sign you up for the betting matches so when you lose I can have the satisfaction of watching you suffer.(Samantha?)

Grabbing me by the arm she pulls me to the counter and talks to the red skinned demon receptionist sitting behind it.

“Sign this girl up for the life betting rounds my good sir.”(Samantha?)

“And sign me up as that girl’s partner!”(???)

Turning around I see what looks to be a younger Suzi pushing her way through the crowds in a red dress along with a notification that popped into my view.

Notification

The profession “Time Jumper” is now available for traveling through time for the first time without the intentional use of magic or tools

Set to Primary: Can more easily travel back and forth through time

Set to sub: able to rewind time by a few seconds

Don’t set

“I knew this was a bad idea.”(Star)