-----E-----

Nia, lead me to a tavern where the guy was at. I still had no idea who the guy might be.

We went inside and started glancing around. I had no idea who I was looking for so I let Nia find the man.

„There he is!“ Nia said and pointed towards one of the corners where a man sat next to a table with a drink in hand.

He was big and fully kitted with metal armor, but it wasn‘t any ordinary armor, it was a complete set of artifact armor, he also had an artifact helmet that was on the table. And next to the table was a giant artifact ax with the color orange that matched the armor‘s colors.

I only saw his backside so I didn‘t immediately know who it was. Nia came over to him and I followed.

„Hi Mr.Blacksmith Guy!“

Mr.Blacksmith? Oh, that guy. He was the guy Nia talked about? I only met him twice when buying the armor. I barely even know him I only know his name, which was. . . Ah crap, I forgot. I think it was Rod or something. Why is he even here?

The man turned to face us. He had his black short cut hair and a few scars around his face.

„There you are, Nia! And Ethan!“ He said with a deep voice. I think he was a middle-aged man.

„Hey, there blacksmith. Sorry, I kinda don‘t remember your name.“

„It‘s fine, it is Roderick Reve, most people use my last name. And Nia is a special one that chose Mr.Blacksmith, you do remember that I told you that last time, right?“

Nia and I sat down.

„Now, Reve, can I trust you to not tell anyone about our little quest?“

„Of course! I am trustworthy and honest!“ He said with enthusiasm. He was kinda different than last time we met.

„Okay, now,“ I looked over at Nia. „Why did you tell him?“

„Well, I thought we would need a second person to get to our destination.“

We are trying not to talk out loud about the vault, if someone overhears us then we could be in trouble.

„I was about to decline Nia to go, but then I thought that I haven‘t gotten out for a few years now. So I decided to go on this journey while my apprentice keeps the shop open.“

„Your apprentice can handle on his own?“

„Of course he can! I have taught him for some time now, he can do this while I am gone for a few weeks.“

So Nia managed to make him come with us. But did we even need more people? Actually, this could be good, Vincent would need to think of a different way to get to Nia. I think Nia and Reve have known each other for a while so Reve can be like a bodyguard for her. That‘s perfect.

Now that I have more people, couldn‘t I just ditch Vincent? Do I even have to be around him anymore? Even though he is an asshole, I kinda don‘t want him to be my enemy. I think we could be friends again. Somehow.

„Ethan, do you drink?“ Reve asked.

„Um, yes I do.“

„Perfect! Before we continue I am going to fetch some of the greatest liquid here,“ Reve stood up and walked over to the barkeep.

I glanced over to Nia. She does not look like she is old enough to drink. Or is the law here different?

„Hey Nia, how old are you?“

„Hmmm. . . thirteen I think.“

„You think?“

„Yup!“

So young. And she lived all alone with no family. Is Reve family to her? It kinda looks like it.

Reve came back with a drink for me and himself, he brought Nia a glass of water.

„Now, how exactly are we going to Mount Vallow?“ Reve asked.

„Could we maybe take a boat there?“ I asked.

„Err, you do know that there are a lot of dangers in there, right?“

„Such as?“

Nia and Reve looked at each other.

„Well, Ethan did say that he wasn‘t from Slefend, so of course he wouldn‘t know,“ Nia said.

„Look, there are giant monsters in there, and quite a few. No one goes there with a boat.“

Then option one is a no-go.

„Then we can only either go North were Smittis lies, or West through the giant desert.“

„Hmm. Smittis is the short way to Vallow, but there is the threat of the Kypseli. Then the desert stretches out much further and might kill us with its heat. So it would be wise to bring less gear when going to the desert.“

Crap. This is much harder than I thought it would be.

„Well what do you two think is the best option.“

Nia drank her water while looking away from us. I guess she doesn‘t know.

„Oh, and there is one more thing about the desert.“

„And that is?“ Please be something good.

„In the middle lies a river with vegetation that splits the desert in two.“

„Isn‘t that great? Then we could go there and refill our water, right?“

If there is an oasis, then we shouldn‘t have a problem. I think going to the desert is much better than meeting the Kypseli.

„And in the middle is a country that is called Simuluna, most people call it Simul.“

„Eh? And are they lizards or human? Allies or enemies?“

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„Both, and both.“

„ . . . ?“

Okay, I am confused. The country has lizards and humans, and they are our allies and enemies?

„The lizards and humans there are equals, and they despise slavery, so they are enemies to the Kingdom of Stratos and to the Dynami Empire.“

„Oh. . . Then we have only one option left, or is there something more?“

„Simul wouldn‘t let either species go through their territory, but they give artifact hunters exceptions only if they look trustworthy.“

„Okay, hold on. First, it sounds like we couldn‘t go through there, then after talking about the river then we might have a chance, but then you said there is a country that is not our allies but they are to artifact hunters? So can we go or not?“ My brain was spinning in circles.

Nia finished her water and looked at us.

„Jeez Mr.Blacksmith Guy, just tell him that the desert is the better option than the damn infected insect place.“

Reve thought for a moment.

„Yeah I would choose the desert.“

„Finally. When are we leaving?“ Nia said eagerly.

„First we should meet up with Vincent, I think it‘s fine telling him about this now.“

Nia and Reve stared at me.

„You haven‘t told him?“

„Why would we bring him along? You know he probably has some quest from Wilmer to catch me, right?“

„Heh? Vincent is trying to catch you?“

It looks like Nia hasn‘t told Reve about the situation.

„Look, it should be fine, we are three and he is only one. And I want to try and be friends with him again.“

„Eh? You aren‘t his friend already?“

„Well. . . hm. We kinda had a fight once. And now we are kinda like enemies and allies now.“

„Okay then, I should be safe with Mr.Blacksmith Guy around. Can we go now?“

„Yeah sure, let‘s go. And Nia, could you maybe choose a different nickname for Reve, it‘s way too long. Maybe try to shorten it?“

„I‘ll think about it.“

„I would be glad if you changed the nickname.“

„What? You said it was fine,“ Nia said with a sad expression

„I am fine with it, but I do agree with Ethan to shorten it. It‘s a bit too long.“

-----V-----

The streets reeked of the bad place of the city, trash laid around and people begging for money, and also there were thugs everywhere. It reminded me of the space station Ethan was always in.

I ended up at a poorly maintained house. This was the place the dead guy mentioned. He was just a thug, so it shouldn‘t change much around here if he died. And it was actually his fault trying to attack me when I was finished talking with him.

I knocked on the door and waited for an answer. No one came at the door, maybe she wasn‘t home?

I looked up at the second-floor window.

„Hey! If Amara is in there then tell her that I have business with her!“ I called out.

Nothing. But then after a few minutes, I heard noises coming from the inside. I thought someone was going to open the door, but instead of footsteps coming I heard something powering up.

My instinct took over and I moved quickly to the side and barely dodging a blaster bolt that shot through the door.

„Jesus! Are you crazy?!“

„Damn, I missed,“ a woman‘s voice spoke, there was a bit of dissatisfaction coming from that voice.

„Just wait! I am not your enemy!“

„Really? Then why would a mindless idiot shout out my name?“

Maybe she doesn‘t want to be known, I guess.

„Err. . . You do know about the star, Sun, and the planet, Earth, right?“ Might as well get that out quickly before I get a giant hole through my stomach.

There was silence for a moment.

„Come on in, but if you try anything!“

„Don‘t worry, I won‘t,“ I quickly said and moved to see who had the sniper rifle.

I couldn‘t see her face, because she wore a helmet that had a plus shape with glowing red energy, on the lower right of the helmet showed the number 511. Also like her helmet, she had a full artifact armor with red energy and mostly everything else was shaded in black, the metal in the armor looked thin, so instead of full protection, I guess that artifact armor gives better mobility. She also had a red scarf around her that went far to her waist, and a hoodie that was attached to her armor. Her weapon was, of course, an artifact as well.

She slung her sniper behind her back.

„Follow me upstairs, there we will talk.“

„What about the door?“

„It‘s fine, I was about to switch places anyway.“

We entered a room with only a few chairs and tables. There were no decorations here at all.

She gestured towards a seat and I sat down. I feel like she should be more careful around new people. She then also sat down opposite of me, she didn‘t take her helmet off.

„Now, tell me, did you also get transported here?“ She went straight to the point.

„Yeah, and I would assume it also happened to you?“

„It did, and I have been stuck here for some time.“

The old astronomer did say she talked with her a few months ago.

Her name was really familiar, and she kinda looked like the one I knew some years ago.

„Maybe we should do our introductions first, or is that even needed, Amara Zurie, or should I maybe call you, Zurie The Artifact Assassin.“

She twitched.

„Oh Vincent. It has been a long time, hasn‘t it?“ She took her helmet off and put it on the table.

Her face was attractive with pure white skin, but she lacked hair because of the robotic augment she had implanted in her brain, her head had red glowing lines. And her eyes were glowing red and was not organic, but robotic like a cyborg. She pulled her hoodie over herself.

Amara was two or three years older than me. We used to work together a few years ago finding artifacts and such, but then we parted ways and never seen each other again. She barely hunts down her own artifacts, she mostly kills for them. She got infamous in a few different sectors of the galaxy and was really good at hiding herself in public. People started calling her Zurie The Artifact Assassin after it was chosen in a poll. She mostly kills assholes that have found a really rich artifact place. I wonder why she hasn‘t gotten a hit to kill me? Her weapon of choice was, of course, a sniper rifle. Or more like a bolt action sniper rifle. A really powerful one at that.

„Have you been here since we left each other?“

„Basically.“

That would likely mean that she was first to find the planet and that her weapon likely sent her here like Ethan‘s shield.

„Do you know how to get out of here?“ I went straight to the point, I really wanted to get off this world.

„Wow, you don‘t even want to catch up about what we have been doing? You just want to leave already?“ She had the tone of an innocent woman, but deep inside her, she was a genius crazy maniac. She is really good at hiding that. Some parts of me didn‘t want this woman to be the one I was looking for, but I was glad that we worked together as allies before. If not, then I would likely be dead now.

„I am just getting sick of this place. I want the feel the chair in a spaceship again.“

„Hmm. Well I do know a way to get back, but. . .“

Ah crap. I don‘t like when people hang the word but for a long time.

„But what?“

„I am going to need you to do something for me.“

And there it is, a goddamn quest.

„Fine then, hit me with the request.“

„You might have been wondering why I am around in this shady area of the city. I don‘t live here if you are thinking that, but I am on a quest myself that has taken me a few days now.“

„What sort of quest?“ I think I know what type it is, but I wanted her to say it.

„An assassination.“

Yup, knew it. She isn‘t any ordinary artifact hunter, instead of hunting artifacts, she hunts the artifact hunters. Something like that. She‘s like a hitman.

„And who might that be? If you say the king then I am out.“

„There is a person around the western district that is a traitor to the Kingdom, a person that is working with the dynami.“

„Oh good, so it‘s not the king or some noble.“

Amara looked at me with a grin.

„She is a noble, or more like the daughter of a noble.“

„Well shit.“

A daughter of some noble is secretly a spy for the dynami or something. I wonder what caused her to join up with them? But are there nobles in the western district? Likely if there is a place near here that looks more wealthy than this poor place.

„I will tell you all the details, so you better listen carefully.“

I don‘t know if I should make Ethan help me with this. He would most likely say no to an assassination. I might try and trick him to help me.

Then there was a thought that hit me. If Amara knows a way off the planet, then why hasn‘t she done so? I guess I will find out after this new quest.