Side story: Envy - approximately one week after the events of the previous chapter.

“Day’s wages start at twelve denars. When can you begin?” The gruff tavern owner leered over the vampire while polishing the glassware. It was early morning, and lunch service was still a few hours away in this dim and grungy watering hole.

“I can start right now.” A spark of hope ignited within her. This was the furthest she had gone in the past few days of job hunting. However, it was short lived, as the burly manager said the words she had come to dread.

“Show me your Card.”

Invoking her name, the Murderer’s Card flared to life on the palm of her hand. The tavern owner sneered as he read her name, then scanned further down the card until he froze, spotting her secondary job. He quickly turned away back to the glassware.

“I don’t think you are a good fit.”

Envy didn’t try to plead or explain, and instead walked out without a word – out into the bustling side streets of Inner Ark. The sun was shining cheerfully overhead, and people flurried by to their errands and jobs.

This was the fifth tavern she had visited, and the area of her job search was growing wider and further away from Savta’s clinic. She had already tried all the nearby gambling dens, warehouses, inns, and cleaners, but was turned away the moment they saw her second job.

There was one job she hadn’t explored. Something Exill had said in the heat of passion, and it still hurt to think even he thought of her that way.

‘I’d rather delve into the Labyrinth barehanded.’ She thought between gritted teeth. Her ‘clients’ could offer all the money in the world, hell, Sir Eumol could promise her a master crafted adamantine shortsword for all she cared. Its value couldn’t possibly compare to the last thing that was truly hers.

Entrenched in thought, her feet led her through the familiar routes, to where the crossed sword banners of the Mercenary Guild hung from the sandstone exterior of the building. It was unwise to travel by alleyways while unarmed, even in the Inner City, and Envy berated herself for wandering so thoughtlessly.

‘I wonder if I could borrow a weapon…’ she mused briefly before dismissing the thought. Weapons were the lifeblood of any mercenary, and she wasn’t close to anyone to ask for such a favour. In truth, everyone steered a clear path away from her, and that had served her just fine.

Releasing a pent-up sigh, she turned away from the Guild and looked up towards the the Labyrinth tower in the distance. People, especially travellers journeying through Ark would point up to the titanic buttresses supporting the tiered structure – awed by the magnitude of scale. However to her, a cold unsettling feeling like a knot in her stomach made itself felt whenever she looked at it.

That sensation had only grown worse after encountering the Behemoth.

Exill had been suspiciously coy in avoiding the subject, but she had let it go, buoyed by his confident promise that he could defeat Sir Eumol. Nonetheless, she couldn’t ignore that sometimes… she felt the same sensation from Exill as when she stood near the Tower.

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Her train of thought was abruptly cut off as she realised she had ventured off into another side street. Her feet had unwittingly carried her through familiar alleyways, and up ahead, the peeling whitewashed walls of Sundry Inn became visible.

The Innkeeper was lounging outside, leaning against the damp stained walls of the building and a lazy tendril of smoke rising from his pipe. His shadowed eyes sparkled in recognition of the vampire.

It was worth a shot.

Envy pushed herself forward and greeted the wiry man who appeared to be perpetually caught in a daydream.

“I want a job.” She simply stated.

The middle-aged man paused mid-puff, caught off guard by her sudden demand. After a while, he exhaled smoothly, fixing her with soft, gentle eyes.

“This is a cheap inn. We can’t pay well…”

“I don’t care.”

The Innkeeper chuckled mirthfully, and his wizened fingers wrapped around the warm pipe as he steadily made up his mind. After a few minutes of silence had passed, he spoke again in a slow mellow voice.

“Wait inside, I’ll walk you through lunch service.”

At his acceptance, Envy felt a lump in her throat, and she quickly went inside as a surge of emotions overwhelmed her. She sat on the bench and examined the exposed joists above, quietly blinking back tears. Soon, the Innkeeper drifted in, and showed her the ropes by teaching her where the mugs were stored, and how to pour the perfect pint.

Envy was still missing a few of her digits on the arm that had been shredded by the Behemoth, but that didn’t prevent her from quickly picking up tasks. Soon, lunch service came around and several regulars filed in.

“Since when do you employ waitstaff Mahieu?”

“Who is this beautiful lass? It’s good to see you are finally moving on.”

This last comment drew a sharp look from the genial Innkeeper, and the speaker looked away, thoroughly rebuked. Apart from this, there were no other incidents and Envy spent most of mid-afternoon handwashing the bedsheets and setting them out to dry.

When evening rolled around, a different crowd of rowdier men rolled in, a lot of them mercenaries. These patrons immediately recognised her, and did a double take in surprise. No, the troublesome customers were the warehouse workers, and they were incredibly taken by the glamorous beauty serving them alcohol.

“Hey sweetlips, where you off to in such a hurry?!” One of them grabbed her hips and planted her on his lap, “Slow down and let’s get to know each other a little, yeah?”

Amidst the barely concealed sniggers, the table next to them filled with Mercs carefully looked away, sweating nervously. They were fully aware of the murderous Vampire’s temper, and everyone had heard how she had sprained several stray wrists that ventured near her alluring curves.

Fortunately, the Innkeeper hurried to her rescue, and pried her away from the unruly table, ignoring their pleadings. He pulled her aside and quietly spoke to her.

“You did enough today, go home early.” He slid her eight Denars and led her outside where the sky was painted red by the setting sun. Accepting her folded apron, he hesitated for a few seconds, glancing back at the rowdy tables shouting for more beer.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at eleven.” He smiled softly and rested his hand on her shoulder briefly, before turning away to address the thirsty patrons.

Envy stood in the small courtyard for a moment longer, looking down at copper coins nestled within her palms. It had been an eventful day and she felt more drained than normal. Walking back towards the clinic following the main road, she arrived just as Luna flipped the ‘closed’ sign on the door. They stared coldly at each other until the elf-maiden hesitantly moved aside to let her pass.

“You’re late, where have you been all day?” Exill poked his head around the corner of the treatment room, annoyed yet slightly curious where the Vampire had gone all day.

“A job.” She volunteered the bare minimum as usual, and her Master stared up at her, waiting for more information. Eventually, realising this was Envy he was facing, he stifled his curiosity.

“Take me to my room and you can tell me about your day later.” He reached out with both arms, waiting for her to carry him upstairs.

Envy inwardly sighed, but bent down to pick him up with both arms. Exill’s legs had yet to fully heal, and unless she carried him around the clinic, he had to crawl along the floor. Yet her patience was worn thin by his incessant desire to be carried everywhere, and she caught glimpses of him smiling impishly while ordering her around.

That was one reason she had been so eager to leave the house and get a job, any job that would allow her to buy her gear back. She murmured a small prayer to the World Spirit as she tucked the recovering Witchdoctor into bed.