He couldn't see anything. Wherever he looked in the gloom, his gaze ended up on the cold stone, bars or wooden beams of the bed, which was as comfortable as the ground itself. He mostly sat on it anyway. In the early years, he tried to stay near the bars, where there was more light than in the back of the cell. He was looking through them at the corridor, from which he could see only a blank wall anyway. The main corridor was built perpendicular to all the cells, covered in niches about a meter long, through which the prisoners couldn´t see anything.

But his own cell was even more special. It was located at the end of the most underground corridor, where only a minimum of guards went and nothing could be heard. Speaking was not allowed throughout the prison. The prisoners never met each other and the only person who was in contact with them, their guard, was strictly forbidden to speak. The entire prison was filled with silence and darkness.

It took a month before he got used to the gloom with his senses, but mentally he could never get used to the lack of sun. That's why he sat by the bars, where the light from the lit torches in the corridor reached at least dimly. He sat and wondered what was going on outside, how everything would change without him, how it had already changed. He tried not to despair, he tried to stay sane, and somewhere in the back of his mind he hoped that Luck wasn't angry with him, that things would get better one day...though in reality he knew that he was just naively wishing for that.

He hated the dark, hated the silence and loved people. When he was free he loved everything the world had to offer. Now when he had no access to that, he suddenly couldn't remember why he used to be so happy. He needed at least something...not much, at least a few words, at least some sign that he still existed, that someone saw him, that he wasn't completely alone.

But he was.

In the first years, he didn't admit it that much. He knew that when he looked through the bars, he would see behind the stone niche the dark shadow of the guard always standing next to his cell. Rue didn't know who it was, didn't know if he was still the same or if they were alternating, but that didn't matter at the moment. Because the most important thing was that he had someone to talk to. And he spoke.

"Hi...I'm Rue," he started almost every day, just in case it was someone else, "What's your name?" he asked even though he knew he wouldn't get an answer, "You don't have to answer, never mind," he smiled, "Can I call you Qie?" he asked, "I'm taking silence as consent," he pointed out, leaning against the bars trying to see if the shadow moved even a little bit.

However, Rue spoke to him again the next day, "Hi, I'm Rue, I don't know if it's still you, but I'll call you Qie," he smiled, "Can I tell you what dream I had today?" he didn't even know what he was asking.

"Hi, I'm Rue, maybe you already know, maybe not, but I'll call you Qie," he said the next day, "today I dreamed that we were in a meadow counting flowers... there were some ordinary people, we helped them decorate their houses for the celebration," he continued. "remember that? We were there for two days, no one knew if we would stay for the festival, but in the end we stayed...you were pleased...I was also pleased...we had fun with people all night," he smiled, ,,Do you remember?" he asked, though he didn't expect the guard to say anything, "It was recently," he added, pausing for a moment as he didn't really know how much time had passed since the incident happened, "at least I think so," he added more quietly, , "It was recently, wasn't it?"

However, he didn´t receive an answer. And the days went on.

"Hi, Qie," he sat down again by the bars after the guard arrived, "I'm a little thirsty...could you just bring me a glass of water? For a few days...you haven't brought me any," he tried and when he didn't get an answer again, he smiled gently, "that water for washing is not drinkable," he looked at a small natural pond about a square meter in size, where he could bathe, "couldn't you? At least a little? I won't tell anyone."

But he got nothing.

"Hello, Qie...please, would you bring me some water?" he tried again the next day, as he didn't know how else to ask something.

But he got nothing.

"Hi Qie," he sat by the bars and looked at the dull shadow on the ground, "I'm...really thirsty," he smiled, "please...could you bring me some water...I won't tell anyone ...please.” he tried.

But nothing happened. A few full days passed and Rue was beginning to wonder if he had received a new kind of punishment from the king in addition to the one he had already received. He used to get water every day and now he hasn't for two weeks. He knew he wasn't going to die...he wouldn't die even if he hadn't eaten or drunk for years...but that didn't mean he wasn't thirsty. So he drank from the pond in the corner of the cell, but the only thing he got was spasmodic pains, since the water was really not drinkable...and even poisonous for ordinary people.

"Hi, Qie," he said more quietly by the bars, "my stomach hurts," he admitted, "I'm...really sick," he added, "please," he stammered, "can I have...some water? Please." he smiled softly, trying to hold back his tears, how sad he suddenly felt.

It didn't help that he still didn't know if the guard was the same one he addressed every day or if he was still addressing someone else. It didn't help that no one answered him, so he didn't know if there really was a guard or if the shadow was just a figment of his imagination. He knew nothing...and the days went on.

"Hi Qie," he mumbled, "do y-you think the Luck hates me?" he asked differently one day, as he was starting to wonder if he would never get even a glass of water again, "I didn't dream for a few days," he admitted, “usually, Luck at least tells me something...or gives me a nice dream...but for a few days now...I haven't dreamed, it hasn't told me anything," he smiled exhaustedly, "do you think," he couldn't figure out what was going on, why Luck was angry at him right now, when all the things had already happened, , "do y-you think Luck hates me?" he blinked softly as his vision began to blur.

But he didn't say more. A few bitter tears rolled down his cheeks, though he didn't know where they had come from after so many days without water. He slowly pulled his knees to his chest and gently wiped his tears on the dirty clothes he had no way of changing since he was locked up. He tried to calm down, he tried to stop the tears, he tried to cheer himself up with other thoughts than he usually could...but it didn't work...suddenly nothing worked and he sobbed out loud after a while.

But he didn't say anything. He didn´t speak to the guard, whom he didn´t even know if he was really standing by the cell. He just wept lightly on his knees and waited for the feeling of despair to pass, waited for it to get better. But he didn't know if that would ever happen.

The next day, when the old torches were exchanged for new ones, Rue woke up again. He carved a line into one of the walls with a sharper stone and went back to the bars.

In the cells, torches from the corridor were the only source of information that a new day had indeed begun. He didn't get food regularly, he didn't see water for a long time, and he never even noticed the arrival of the guards. That's why only burned-out torches said it was time for a new line on the wall.

"Hi Qie," he greeted exhausted, "I'm still not dreaming," he repeated, "do you think there's a point in being here when Luck hates me?" he asked in an almost silent voice, but no one answered, "I thought that if at least Luck wasn't angry with me, that I would be able to live anywhere," he whispered, "that maybe in time it would really forgive me and that I would be able to live anywhere while it was still with me," he added, "that I can endure it here," he looked at the wall opposite the bars full of lines, how many years had he been sitting here, "but if Luck hates me too...why am I even here?" he asked more quietly, "When Luck hates me, does it means, that I was left alone?" he was silent.

He just stared at the wall for a while and counted the days he wasn't sure about anymore. He didn't know if he had been sitting here for ten years...fifteen...more...less. He wasn't at all sure.

"Why does Infey live when Luck hates him?" he whispered to himself and blinked away the tears again before he couldn't anymore. Only a few silent drops fell from his eyes, lightly running down his chin onto his dirty clothes before he could hold them anymore. He dropped his face to his knees again and mumbled:

"P-please...c-couldn't I have...at least some water? I-I need...at least some water...please, Qie," he sobbed, "please, I just," he cried, "I just...r-really d-didn't want to," he admitted "I´m s-sorry...I didn't know...I-I-" a sudden clink next to the bars interrupted his desperate flow of thought and made Rue look up tearfully.

His golden eyes landed on the black robes of the man who handed him a glass of water near the bars. Since all the guards walked around completely covered, he couldn´t see his face through the hood. However, Rue didn't care who it was, he didn't care that it wasn't Qie he knew. All he needed was the knowledge that there was a person standing before him, a real being after years of solitude.

He pulled himself up on his knees and grabbed the bars: “Qie?” he addressed the guard who hesitated for a moment. And Rue didn't even expect him to say anything.

However, he made a mistake and the words suddenly came from the guard's lips: "It was the king's order, nothing more," he whispered, "Luck has nothing to do with it." he said and just as quickly as he came out from behind the wall he returned to his seat, leaving Rue with mixed feelings.

A surge of joy, happiness and new hope overcame all negative emotions in a second, and he just pulled the glass of water towards him. He drank it all down with a thirsty gulp and brought a happy smile to his face that he hadn't been able to do for some time. He laughed softly and put the glass aside, sat down by the bars and drew his knees together:

"Thank you...thank you...thank you very much. Luck with you…thank you.” he said to the guard who remained silent.

At that moment, Rue was really happy. He didn't need confirmation that the guard's words were true, it was enough that he heard them from someone, it was enough that someone gave him a glimmer of hope.

That day he had a beautiful dream again.

But when he woke up, it was dark everywhere. At first he thought that he had just gotten up early, that the torches had gone out and he hadn´t had time to rekindle them. So he tried to sleep again. But nothing has changed. The corridor was dim, as if the torches were burning only a minimal part of the corridor and the rest remained in darkness. Rue could barely see the outline of his own cell, and try as he might, he couldn't even make out the guard's shadow in the corridor, he couldn't see anything.

“Qie?” he asked in the gloom that he couldn't get used to right away, “Qie?” he didn't need to hear his voice like yesterday, it would be enough if he let him know that he was really standing here.

However, nothing was happening and another point was added to the previous problems. The only thing that let him know that a new day had begun was gone. The darkness didn´t disappear, the cells were only dimly lit by the constant fire from the corridor, and Rue could not distinguish the boundaries between the beginning of night and the beginning of day. He couldn't record them anymore, he couldn't figure out how long he'd been here, he couldn't do anything. And no matter how much he told himself that it wasn't such a problem, his insides began to panic more and more with each vague day.

The feeling that there was a guard at his cell disappeared. As he tried to speak through the bars, he didn't feel like anyone was listening and Rue began to wonder what had happened, where the guard had gone. Several days passed, the limits of which he could not discern, before he realized that it was probably his fault, that something must have happened to the guard, that he had broken the rules for him, spoken to the prisoner, and upset the king.

"Qie?" he tried every day, hoping that someone would appear, that maybe someone would at least give him a hint of what was going on. However, nothing changed, and Rue just waited.

He didn't know how much time had passed before he awoke in the morning to the clanking of metal against stone. He shot up sharply and fixed his gaze on the bars hidden in the gloom of the corridor. Through them, a hand reached into the cell, placing on the floor a plate with a thin long candle that Rue had not seen in decades.

Surprised, he got up and ran to the bars, where he tried to find out if the guard at the entrance was the one he had been talking to before.

“What happened? Did he hurt you? Is something wrong?" he looked out at the guard, who handed him a new glass of water through the bars. Before Rue could touch him, however, he got up and went to the corner, where he took his place as usual.

"Were you punished for helping me?" Rue stood up in alarm, "Qie? Are you okay? What did they do to you? Qie, were you punished because of me?" he asked, but didn´t get an answer. And actually he didn't even want it, because if the guard said something again, it wouldn't stay between them again.

"Sorry, Qie," Rue said, looking at the candle on the ground he sat down next to, "Thank you." he added, picking it up gently.

It wasn´t a classic candle. It was a scented wax stick that was lit in the morning to wake up better. It was popular among ordinary people, so the Infey later took their invention to themselves.

On the first day, Rue didn't understand why the guard brought him the strange wax stick, but he was grateful for anything, especially the glass of water he got.

The next day, when he opened his eyes again, he saw nothing again. The darkness in the room with the only weak lighting from the corridor didn´t tell him what time it was, and he just sat on the bed in silence and thought about how to mark his days, how to find out how much time he spent in the cell, so as not to go crazy.

He didn't know how long he sat before there was another sound at the bars, and his cell was illuminated by the faint light of the incense stick which the guard brought him again with a glass of water.

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Rue ran to the bars and looked closely at the guard who had once again stood behind the wall. He then looked on the ground to the candle, which at least lit up his dark cell a little and gave it a pleasant fresh smell. Her soft herbal scent, which he once knew well as everyone in the palace used them, made him feel intense happiness.

"A new day?" he blinked, "Has a new day begun?" he bowed to the ground and sat down again. He stared at the incense stick for a moment before a soft smile of gratitude spread across his face, “Thank you, Qie…I'll never forget it.” He smiled, drank a glass of water and began to make new lines on the wall.

The next day the process was repeated...and the next again...and again...although the guard never spoke to him again, although he still quietly placed a candle with water by the bars, sometimes with food, and stood against the wall behind corner, he was not frustrated. He finally knew that someone was here, he knew when the day started, he knew that someone was listening to his words...and that was all he needed to live in the cell.

***

The soft scent woke him from his sleep. It subconsciously made Rue wonder where he was. At first he thought he was still in his cell, he thought he would wake up and notice a fresh scented candle by the bars to inform him that a new day had begun. However, this didn´t happen and when he opened his eyes, daylight hit his pupils. Rue blinked in surprise, and looked up at the ceiling of the room in the inn where he fell asleep yesterday. He sat down and stopped his gaze on the bedside table next to him, on which the scented candle was still burning.

"Good morning," greeted Ylre, who had just lit it and sat down next to him on the bed, "how did you sleep?"

Rue just blinked in surprise for a moment, as he wasn't sure what was reality, what was a dream and why he was connecting it through a familiar scent, but after a while he came to his senses: "You use them too?" he looked at the bedside table.

"Of course," Ylre smiled, "everyone uses them," he pointed out, "don't you like it?"

"I do," he smiled, "I like them a lot...really."

Ylre lightly lifted the corners of his mouth and stood up: "I'm going downstairs to get us some breakfast, I'll wait at the table." He waved and headed for the door.

Rue just looked at him silently from the bed before looking around the room. Next to the armchair, he found a prepared bowl of water for morning hygiene. He hesitantly walked over to it and rinsed his face, as he didn´t know where the water came from.

He explored the room for a while, snapping out of his dream and reabsorbing the fact that he was free. With this enthusiasm, he looked out the window and took a deep breath. The fresh air was really good for him after all these years, and he couldn't help the enthusiastic smile he gave to the crowded sidewalks of the city.

After a while, he happily closed the window and went downstairs. There he found Ylre sitting at one of the nearby tables, who gently waved at him.

"I forgot to ask you something," Rue smiled and sat down next to him.

"What is that?" Ylre gently rested his chin on his hand and waited.

"What's your name?" he asked.

Ylre laughed lightly, "My apology...I feel like we've known each other for years, I forgot," he said, "hi," he shook his hand lightly, "my name is Ylre."

A delighted expression spread over Rue's face: "Hi," he subconsciously accepted after a while, "I'm Rue, nice to meet you." he stated happy how long he had been waiting for someone to answer his question.

Ylre smiled back at him, as he was doing the same, only from the opposite side. He wanted to give Rue an answer for a really long…long time.

They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds before Rue let go of his hand as he still couldn't get used to a stranger's touch and asked, "Where are we going today?" he wondered.

“Wherever you want, you said we´ll look around, I'll be happy to look around with you," he said.

Before Rue could answer, the waitress brought them nicely prepared eggs, bread, and a glass of water. He thanked politely and paid in advance, as he remembered that he was paying today.

Ylre just watched him in silence, waiting for him to start eating before he started eating as well. They ate in silence, in a pleasant atmosphere. Each was thinking about something different, yet their thoughts were quite similar.

"We can just walk around and buy some souvenirs," Ylre suggested.

Since Rue had no clear plan of what he actually wanted to do, he nodded contentedly. When they finished eating, they went into town.

But no matter how much they thought that there wouldn't be many people on the streets in the morning, they were wrong. Rue saw crowds at every stall, every shop was filled with people as if it were the busiest hour, and he only excitedly stopped at every group and examined the wares they were buying. Ylre just watched him, didn't tell him what things to focus on, and didn’t tell him it was inappropriate to look at what people put in their bags. He just waited patiently.

They walked from shop to shop, Rue asking about the goods, where they got them from, what things they symbolized, how they got to the businesses, and many other things that the merchants didn't have an answer to. Ylre had to laugh at how pleasurable it was. He calmly walked behind Rue who looked as if he couldn't get enough of all the things.

After a while, when they stopped at a seller with compasses, Rue asked again excitedly, "They look beautiful, what are they made of?" he wondered.

"You have good taste, boy, they are made of real gold... don't hesitate to exchange your compass for a new one, it will last longer," he pointed to the nicely decorated compasses.

"I don't have a compass anymore," Rue admitted and inspected the goods,

"You don't?" the seller was surprised and looked at him more carefully, "Oh...I see, not every Lacrisan needs compasses, you really believe in your luck, don't you?" he laughed.

"I believe in Luck," he admitted, "but I had a compass a long time ago." he clarified.

"In that case, it's best to buy a new one," he said, "look how beautiful they are. Take your pick, you'll get a discount for a nice smile." he laughed.

Ylre spoke up at that moment after a long time: "Not everyone needs a compass," he clarified, "besides, a compass made of fake gold doesn´t bring any good." he declared.

The salesman laughed softly, "Boy, don't say things that can hurt someone without being sure...this is good quality real gold." he said.

"Really?" Ylre laughed and took one compass in his hand, handing it to Rue who caught it in surprise, "Is it heavy?" he asked.

"It is," he nodded.

After a while, Ylre pulled out his own compass and placed it in Rue's other palm, "And this one?" he asked.

Rue blinked in surprise, "More," he added, "you have a really good compass."

"I know," he declared and hid it back, "that's why I know when I see fakes," he returned the compass to the merchant and declared, "or are you doing it on purpose? Are you hiding some quality pieces for other customers and selling low-quality goods to the Lacrisans?"

Ylre was looking closely at the guy who was at a loss for words when an unexpected voice spoke from behind them:

"I see you've stayed in town, Lacrisan," Ylre was surprised when someone raised their voice to Rue, "It's been just a day and you're causing more trouble?" Nielle walked up to them from behind with a pair of guards.

At first, Rue didn't know what kind of problems he was talking about, but after turning to the white-haired prince, he remembered, “Good morning, Luck with you.” he smiled.

"Good morning," Nielle said, looking into the young man's golden eyes, which were so tempting to see him again, "where were you last night?"

"Rue, who is this?" Ylre walked up to them and looked at Nielle coldly.

"His name is Nielle, he's a prince, he helped me get out of suspicion of theft the other day," he smiled.

"If it wasn't clear to me that you didn't steal them, I wouldn't help you," Nielle laughed and crossed his arms over his chest, "and who are you, Lacrisan? His servant?" he eyed Ylre.

"I have no obligation to tell you anything about myself, Rinselan," Ylre stated, taking a step forward as he didn't get the impression that Nielle was coming to them with friendly intentions.

Nielle laughed amusedly and stated, "Actually you have," he clarified, "I'm in charge of order in the city...there was a murder last night and you two are the last ones to see them alive."

“Murder?” Rue blinked in confusion.

"Yeah, last night, a couple of the arcade staff were killed right after you finished playing with them," Nielle added.

"And?" Ylre asked, "We were just playing with them. In Rinsel, do you take the last people who were with victims as murderers?" he laughed.

"Truthfully?" Nielle chuckled, "I take as murderers those who pissed me off... and one red-haired Lacrisan is a good candidate.”

Ylre laughed with pleasure: "Fuck off or that red-haired Lacrisan could dye your white head burgundy."

Nielle raised his eyebrows in surprise and smiled with genuine amusement: "A threat... to the prince," he laughed and took a gentle step towards him, "I see we're going to have a long talk today... in the dungeon." he looked into his bright blue eyes with pleasure and signalled to the guys behind him to take this individual.

Ylre just smirked at how he had no problem blasting this white-haired idiot with his bare hands even with his gang in black, when Rue suddenly stepped between them and intervened:

"There is no reason for conflict," he smiled lightly and gave Nielle a look, "Ylre didn't mean it that way, he just doesn't want you to suspect us," he said, "we didn't commit murder, we left the game room yesterday right to the inn, the White Swan, Ylre was with me the whole time and I'm sure everyone remembers me in the inn after one of your men attacked us early yesterday...the one at the camp I don't think he likes me very much but he can testify that we were indeed there in the evening...at least at dinner time...and we didn't leave the inn at night," he clarified in a calm voice, as if he were talking to a child who doesn't know the truth when he sees it and needs to calmly explain it.

Nielle was silent for a moment, what a strange feeling filled him again in front of Rue. He couldn't quite define it, but somehow it didn't let him push Rue to the side and continue dragging Ylre to the dungeon. He felt a strange and uncomfortably natural respect for him that he wanted to willingly follow, even though his mind told him that it was stupid, that he didn't know him, and that he was just a random Lacrisan whose words meant nothing.

Nielle had no idea why he believed them, why he felt like nodding to everything he said and complying with his wishes. He felt strange, as if Rue was superior to him even before he was born. And Nielle had no idea how to get rid of the need not to contradict him, even though all his life he wasn´t listening to others.

However, before he could react and really say something, one of his men rushed out from the alley next to him: "Your Highness!" He stopped right next to them.

"Can't you see that I'm in the middle of a debate? What do you want?" he glared at him irritated.

"Your new Lacrisan has disappeared," the man said.

Nielle blinked slowly: "How did he disappear?"

"I followed him, as you ordered, he and Iuwine took the victims to Elyan. Afterwards, they ate in the inn, but only Iuwine went out. Looks like he's looking for him too, we don't know where he went." he stated.

Nielle sighed deeply, "Where is Iuwine?"

"We don't know, sir…I came back as soon as I found out your Lacrisan had disappeared," he stated.

Nielle's eyes widened and he said irritably: "You don´t know?" Are you new?" he raised his voice.

"I-I am, sir," he didn't understand.

Nielle sighed more exasperatedly, "You lost Lacrisan...and now you've lost Iuwine...do you have any idea how many people in the city are after Iuwine? Do you want to explain to Louis what happened to him? Why was he even giving him to me? Ah...don't you think I've had more bad luck than luck these past few days?"

"Your Highness, Iuwine can take care of himself," one of the guards informed him.

Nielle knew that with Iuwine's luck and abilities, it was unrealistic for anything to happen to him. However, this didn´t change the fact that things could always get complicated. It wouldn't be the first time that a Lacrisan had been kidnapped from the royal palace, and Nielle clearly didn't intend to be responsible for that.

He sighed in displeasure and looked at the place where Ylre and Rue were standing a moment ago. He shook his head and left them alone for the moment as finding his Lacrisan and Iuwine was the priority. He clearly didn't expect them to disappear. He only let his Lacrisan go because he knew he would try to contact one of the Lacrisan spies in the city. He let him go because he planned to track him down and prevent complications right from the start... but to let him disappear? In a city he controlled? When he was guarded by Iuwine on top of that?

Not possible. And yet he did. Nielle intended to find him before he lost the chance to find out where his contact was. However, no matter where he disappeared to, he intended to show him forcefully after finding him that such behavior wouldn´t go unpunished. Since he obviously went easy on him.

***

Shane couldn't believe it was that easy. At first he thought that they would really go back to Nielle. He thought for a moment that it might not be the worst idea to reconnect with him first and then disappear right away. However, as they walked and he became more and more aware of how the city was filled with eyes focused on him, he realized that it wasn´t wise to return to the prince immediately.

Therefore, when they passed by a very nice restaurant, he suggested that they stop and eat first. Iuwine didn't object, and even though it looked like he sensed that he was trying to do something, in the end, he had no chance to stop him in any way. Shane said he had no money and let Iuwine pay.

On his way to the bathroom, he informed one of the waiters that Iuwine would like a special order for the upcoming feasts at Prince Louis's request, thus simply keeping Iuwine busy. Iuwine wanted to follow him at first, but getting out of the staff's encirclement wasn´t easy, and Shane disappeared before he could.

He wasn't sure if he could sneak out the back entrance unnoticed, but it was his best chance, so he slowly made his way to the nearest establishment. He stayed in it for a while, came out and went to another business. He walked for a while, turned down a few alleys he had memorized in the comfort of Lacris, and entered another establishment before repeating the process a few more times. When he was sure that even if someone was watching him, there was no way he could remember where he had been today, he entered the bank. He walked over to the far counter, which was currently empty.

"Hello, my name is Shane Gill Feagh, I came to Rinsel yesterday but I got robbed and I have no money, I would like to withdraw some" he said.

"Your code?" the employee asked.

Shane dictated the ten digit code where his money was stored in the international banks and after the guy made sure it was real, he let him in the back where another man took charge.

"A colleague from your sector will take you to the treasury, thank you for using our services." the cashier left him to a man who took him further along the corridor.

Shane was silent as they walked through the building to the stairs to the underground where they stored most of the gold, stones, and other valuables that the people and countries stored here. Practically in every country in every capital there was an international bank where anyone could withdraw their money, deposited in another part of the world, under account. Shane was really grateful, as otherwise he would have been completely penniless in the country.

However, his goal wasn´t only to get some money, but the banker himself, whom he wanted to meet and contact today. They slowly entered the underground maze of corridors and rooms that were literally overflowing with treasure chests. Shane couldn't imagine how much money each of these banks held, but he didn't care. The man led him to the cash register belonging to his number and slowly opened it for him, giving Shane a glimpse of the money he currently needed. Most of them were provided by Lacris, some of them he owned himself, as he had made quite a bit of money in Prince Darwin´s service over the years.

"Just give me the pouch," he said.

The man fulfilled the instruction, filled the bag with gold and closed the treasury. He then handed Shane the money:

"How does it look?" the man asked.

“Splendidly…I got to Nielle,” Shane clarified.

The man frowned unkindly: "Really unpleasant."

"That's why I haven't had a chance to look for anything yet. I'll start today when I get a chance...although I don't think he'll give me much leeway. It looks like everyone is keeping an eye on me” he clarified unsurprised.

"It doesn't matter...do what's required and bring it to me, I'll take care of the rest...as soon as you do, we'll send you back home," he informed.

Shane nodded softly, “Prince Nielle will be the most difficult… Prince Brelle won't be a significant problem and I'll handle Prince Louis somehow,” he said.

"And the king?" he wondered.

"Let's leave the king for the end...I don't have a plan yet," he said.

"Do as you want," he said.

Shane nodded, took the bag and walked out of the bank. He didn't intend to linger here unnecessarily in case someone was really watching him. He noticed that he had been here too long, so he stopped at the next establishment right after the bank, where he finally bought something. He then went out, went into another, and bought something again. He wasn't going to let Nielle find out that the only business he'd visited and actually used was a bank.

He walked from one store to another, wondering how to most efficiently begin to attend to his duties in the service of such an unpleasant prince as he had been given. However, no matter how strongly he had the urge to pursue his goals, he currently had another problem to solve. How to get back to everyone without ending up in a dungeon for his disappearance.

After all, he didn't really have time to spend several weeks there, and his prince didn't really look like he would condone such behavior. Shane sighed deeply and walked out of the new establishment. The moment he found himself in the middle of the alleys, he noticed that something was different. His gaze ended on a pair of men in black who were no longer holding back in silent observation.

He caught a flash of white hair somewhere off to the side and he sighed deeply as he realized his problem was solved for him. He was getting more and more fed up with his new life in a new country.