Tor said. "It's nice to see ya smiling. The perpetual frown on a little girl's face ached my old heart. How's the treasure hunt coming along."

"I think I am very close to finding it," Aeryth replied. "But, we are stuck."

They were sitting on a table. There were drinks on it. No alcohol. He had been forbidden of those by Isa. Isa herself did have something that smelled bad, and she passed out after two bottles. How she fit that much water in her lanky body was a mystery to Aeryth.

Aeryth herself had a fruit juice. She tried to focus on it, but the massive dwarf, with his even humongous gratitude, was hard to ignore. Of course, this was not the first time he had expressed how grateful he was. This was one of the dignified ones.

However, it was great to see how much he was worried about Fiya. He was her father. The first thing he did after walking up was climb up the stairs, ignoring all of Isa's shout, to look for Fiya.

Aeryth promised to keep Fiya a secret from everyone, including Sera. She didn't ask any question about how a demon even ended up here. It didn't concern her. She wouldn't see either of them again. Perhaps, one more time. She desperately told herself. Neither Isa.

No, I will need to return the Spell Breaker Codex.

"Huh, you are," Dwarf muttered, "I guess, she will finally be at peace. Anything I can help with."

"Mr. Tor, I wanted to ask for a favor. Can you lend me your Spell Breaker Codex?"

Tor plopped the drink on the table. And left without saying anything.

Did I anger him?

She looked at Isa to see her reaction, she seemed in no condition to say anything. Though, she had a rather colorful language after one bottle. All of them were directed at a certain useless father they had met today. Aeryth ignored her.

Today had been a rather long day, even though it was not even lunch.

Aeryth told Fiya a story that her mother used to tell her, and Fiya fell asleep sometime during it. She would be happy to find her father was absolutely fine and drinking juice once she woke up.

Tor returned with the codex.

"You can return it when there's nothing left in it," He said. "I know you will not take it without paying me back, but for all the trouble you've gone through, I am sure a loan for a week or two is no big deal, right?"

"I'll be sure to return it. Thank you." Aeryth picked up the painfully heavy tome. Her heart fluttered in relief.

*I can read all of it!

That made her mood change for the better. This directly correlated to her growth and power. It was the cure to all her trouble. Once she was not powerless, she would not lose herself to emotions. She would not have nightmares, she would not be irritated at the smallest of things, and best of all, she wouldn't need to interact with others. Only the weak needed to rely on others, once she had strength, she would be free. Away from people. To live a peaceful life.

"I'll take my leave, then. Thank you, Mr. Tor."

"Is that why you came here this morning?" Tor.

"Yeah. I've found a red door."

Tor's bushy brows shot up, "Really?"

"Yeah. There's a spell that I need to break to get further into it."

"Spells?" He mused. "Wait a moment."

He walked over to the counter and tossed a sphere at Aeryth.

"Take these with you, it might come in handy."

"Mana cores?" Aeryth took the glossy black ball and saw it glimmer under the lamplight.

"Break them. It will cover an entire block in smoke. Might come handy, they are going to die in a few week, and I am no seller of spell stones, so might as well gift you these."

"Thanks." her gaze wandered toward Isa, "Miss Isa, should I help you return?"

"I'll make sure she gets home fine, don't worry about it."

"I can go along with her..." Aeryth shook her head. Maybe that man returns with more thugs, but it does not concern me. She has been living there for years. I don't need to worry about her.

"Then I'll take my leave. Have a good day."

----------------------------------------

Gingy kneeled before his lord, a man of power and charisma, Arvin Rihi Regis Rath, The Lord Of Wraths.

"Gin," Arvin glanced at him. He sat on the breakfast table, back straight, eating with an elegance that put the lord mayor to shame. However, Lord Mayor was a shameful existence, undeserving of his seat. Only Gingy's lord should have that seat.

"My lord," Gingy bowed deeper into the floor, his bald head touching the cold floor, smelled of lavender. Bastards! They know, I hate flowers. Prepare your ass, Fintal, 'cuz, I am gonna blow it wide open, so wide, that no man in this city can stitch it back in.

"I've heard a fool wearing a mask seeks you. He's tried to barge into the Ashets without permission and is duly apprehended."

"So, I've heard my lord," Gingy said. He knew what happened. But, couldn't care less about it. The world was filled with deranged people all around. He couldn't waste his time on them. "He must be a foo-"

Arvin's red eyes landed on him. Gingy's mouth dried. "Have I failed to teach you the virtue of being a warrior, Gin? Is it not your duty to be assured of the fact, before making a claim, regardless of how apparent it might seem? There's always something to be gained from the assurance of fact."

"My apologies, my lord. I am ashamed of my failure," Gingy said. His fingers dug into his thigh.

"Good," Arvin focused on his plate. "You have no morning duty, I assume. In that case, go and seek out the fool diviner, and inquire the reason for his inordinate behavior. You'll not make any hasty conclusion, neither act upon them."

"I shall," Gingy bowed. But that was not the reason he was called this early. A diviner didn't deserve such importance. No, those harbingers of death didn't deserve a passing glance.

"Have you learned something of it?"

"Nothing at all, my lord," Gingy said, "There's a rat among the dogs, and they cut our fences, biting deeper at our roots."

Arvin had. "The rats are just that rats. Prepare a trap. Guide them through the mouth of the foul-smelling river and trap them to their own lord. Let the flames nigh high to the clouds. There shall be a storm when the flames die. And when it all subsides, the most foolish one shall dip their hand in the warmth of human blood for all of Lesterforge to see."

Gingy nodded. Those were the plans. He didn't get most of it. He wouldn't ever since he was only a cog in the schemes of his master. A worthless bag of meat and flesh. 'If he shall fall, he shall be replaceable by someone of equal worth.' That was the motto of the Regis Rath Clan. He believed in them with his heart, and so he shall strive to be more than just a cog, to prove his master his worth.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

I will become the son you deserve master, one day. Very, very soon.

"You will rat out the rats," Arvin said. This Gingy understood wholeheartedly. He fought down the unsightly grin that fought hard to blossom on his face. He knew the Rats, and their weaknesses.

"I will make sure of that. In the forge, the red hammer judges us all. In the Forge, we shall be reforged by that Hammer." He uttered, got off his knees, and walked toward the exit quietly.

"Gin, Did you have breakfast yet?" He asked.

Gingy shook his head, "not yet, my lord." Morning training had taken longer than usual. He was close to the next stage.

"First, you'll have breakfast." He uttered.

Despite his instinct, he had breakfast, wasting precious time he could have worked for the prosperity of his lord.

After that, he left the mansion to visit the prisons. The noble district was the cleanest shit in the Lesterforge. He would rather eat off the streets here than the plates of the lower district, that's how clean this place was.

Feeling blessed, he walk the streets, watching the carriage roll out mansions. He didn't like this place still. District four, their turf, was better suited for him, and most days, he stayed there.

"Why do I gotta meet that pesky diviner? Bah! All they do is yap and yap like madman. I have no time to waste. Riddling bastards."

"Talking to yourself, blabbermouth?" said the lapdog of hearth woman.

"Look. I gotta do stuff today, don't bother me." Gingy sighed as the evil smile blossomed on the lapdog's face.

"I know, I know. Your scheming lord has come up with another super plan to get hold of this city, and for that reason, you don't have time to waste talking to Sera, the worthless mage," lapdog grinned. "Guess what? I got nothing to do."

Gingy felt his nerves tick in dread. He walked faster. Sprinting in these hallowed streets was unbecoming of a noble page, so he could only force himself to walk.

"I've come up with a new line for my idiosyncrasy. I wanna get a feel of it. Up for a challenge?"

Gingy shook his head. "Don't waste my time, you wench!" He waves his hand. "I got things to do. Official stuff, you know. Things that their lord hand entrusts to their close and competent confidants. I know, it's an impossible concept for a street bitch like you to fathom, but still try and understand. Official Business. You are not part of the clan, so scram!"

Lapdog showed the most lapdog-like grin. "Well, for one thing, I am always entrusted by my lady. But, I will not comment on that. Now, with the wisdom of Lady Sia, I have risen to new heights. No longer shall I fall for your dirty trick."

Shit, that's hearth woman making this dumb girl sly... Gingy lamented. Lapdog was a good source of information, even if most of those were worthless honestly. "Lemme guess, she said not to comment back at all. You don't see it, being the lapdog you're Sera. She's pulling your teeth one by one. Until all you have left is just a mind only adept for following commands. You got time, join our clan."

"Says the dog who will slobber his master's piss at first command."

Gingy swung his fist, only hitting the empty air. "Don't you dare utter a word about my master, you worthless street dog!"

Sera ducked. "Work on your speed, silly boy. The only reason, I see your head and body still is because my lady won't appreciate your ashes sullying her flowers."

"Same here, dirt blood will sully the air my precious master breaths."

"Well, he breaths in the same room as you, so, I can bet, he'll prefer the fragrance of blood over your sewer mouth. Though, maybe, he does prefer sewers. After all, every other moment he gets, he dips his nose in the lower district to sniff those goblin farts."

Gingy nerves ticked.

"Sorry, sorry, sorry. I said too much," Sera waved her hand, stepping back. Eyes wide in horror. "Sorry!"

"You whore ass bitch, I will kill you!" So Gingy forgot about his master's task and ran after Sera the whole morning. Dodging fireballs, and throwing knives at each other.

That was the case until General Hom-G caught them.

Gingy's head stung, tears filled to the brim in his eyes. He was on his knees, messaging his head. Sera was beside him, equally in pain.

"Boy, that hurts," Lapdog said.

"Because of you," Gingy said through his clenched teeth.

Moh-G glanced at them. He was a shadow-walker and smelled like ashes of a burnt forest. People say there was nothing but darkness under his armor. Except for the red eyes that made Gingy's skin crawl.

"Why am I getting punished for running?" Sera complained. Gingy didn't know how dumb someone must be to question Moh-G

Rightfully, another strike from heaven descended, crushing the head of Sera, the loudmouthed Lapdog. Alas, that was a dream he'll have to wait. For now, she cried out loud. "That hurts, old man. Stop hitting a young girl, have some shame."

Gingy looked down, ashamed that he was chasing her.

"The sculpture in Sybils' garden is a melted puddle now. You're lucky I was on the duty," Moh-G said. His voice was high pitched, sharp like metal grating against each other. "If it was Council Man Adonis's guards. Not even the Ella could've saved you from the lawful execution."

Gingy was not afraid. Okay, he was only slightly afraid. His lord was the reason Adonis was a councilman. He was their dog, no way would he dare to bark the hands that fed him. Still, Gingy didn't trust that psycho manbitch.

After a long lecture and a few more chiding that made Gingy question, if his chase had been worth it, he was let go.

The lapdog mage also vanished after ruining his mood.

He made his way to the cellar. It was midday at this point.

"I am here to see the foolish Deviner," Gingy said. The guard nodded.

He was led to the office after showing his sigil of confidence. After a few minutes, the guards escort the yapper.

Despite his beliefs, he asked the guard to leave them alone, as if the man in front of him was about to say something important.

"Start Yapping," Gingy said, slamming his fist on the table. "My morning is completely ruined because of you, and your bones, every inch of it, will feel how bad of a mood I am in if your words fail to prove it was worth it."

"Of course, the kitten of the Hearth got you good," The diviner said. Perhaps, smiling. Most likely expressionless. The cat mask he wore hid his expression.

"What do you want?" Gingy asked. A muscle flexed in his bare arms.

"Are they supposed to scare me, Mr. Gin?" Diviner asked, tilting his head with a scoff.

"Start speaking," His mana flared.

"That's more like it," Diviner nodded in approval. "I like it," he flopped a deck of cards. "Let's make a bet."

"Divination and Gambling, great combo," Gingy expression twisted like he smelled the shit of the goblins. That's whore ass bitch! It's all her fault!

"I've only one piece of information. I'll impart to you, take as you wish, O' servant of the puppet."

Gingy snapped. He grabbed the great sword from his back and flung it at the diviner's face. He burst into hundreds of cards. "Bitch!"

"A treasure calls for the worthy owner, shall you be worthy, it shall be yours to claim. When the phoenix flames light up the world, you shall wait for it the heart of the forge, where the Wraths wander," Words echoed in his mind.

"It was a puppet!" He hissed, kicking the cleave desk. "Shit!"

----------------------------------------

"A treasure calls for the worthy owner. Shall you be worthy, it shall be yours to claim. When the phoenix flames light up the world, you shall wait for it the heart of the forge, where the Wraths are forged." Advisor read. "Ha, who the fuck writes something like this?" He clicked his tongue.

"Treasure," Finlay grinned, smoothening her black hair. "Ruyi!" She called, but there was no answer. "Fuck her. Where is this treasure?"

Advisor shook his head. "Heck, as if I know. Sounds like a horseshit to me."

Finlay mused over the words. "By forge, it probably means Lesterforge. Heart... that can be the castle, or..." She pulled a man and traced with her finger. "I should be district four, in the center, slightly to the side. Fifth is the commercial district, but business is not the life and blood of the forge, right? I say fourth."

"Fourth, it is." Advisor nodded. He didn't want to waste his time thinking.

"Where the wraths are forged...?" Finlay flipped through the book. "Do you think it means a smithy?"

"don't ask me," Advisor sighed. He looked outside of the tower. The barren grey lands stretched as far as his eye could see.

"Aren't advisors supposed to have answers?" Finlay tilted her head.

"You motherfucker! I am a warrior. My name is Advisor, not my duty." Advisor said. It's not Finlay's fault, of course, but years of repeated beating over his name was getting on his nerves.

"Right... Advisor, Advisor, okay, Advisor, I've decided. Fuck Ruyi, we are going to hog this treasure for ourselves. First, we need to learn about where the Wrath is forged."

"No," Advisor said firmly. "Lesterforge is six-hour travel, I am not making a round trip on the basis of a crudely written on-the-face pranks letter."

"What if it is real? Think. We'll not have to be confined here. We will not owe a dime to that wretched girl. We will be free. Just yank that weapon, give it to her, and we are free to go our ways."

ARGH!!!

The sound of a man writhing in the basement reached their ears, sending a shiver down their battle-hardened soul.

"Who knows when that might be us?" Finlay said.

Advisor considered. As of yet, he was not bound to this tower, bones extracted, soul still tied to this functioning body. When that might change, when he would step onto the land mine, even he couldn't be sure.

"Right. We are going to make a trip. But we keep this between us. Even if the treasure is big, her ire is the worst. And I'll only make myself visible if you are not able to claim the treasure yourself."

If the treasure was small, with a little ache in his heart, he considered. Finlay would meet an unfortunate and early demise.

"The phoenix lit up the world in the morning, but... was it today's morning, or tomorrow's?"

"If it's the day after tomorrow?"

Finlay sighed at that question. "I think I'll leave a letter, and well think week through it. We are going on an information hunt, understood?"

Advisor nodded. "If it's a lie."

"Then, we failed to find any information."