"Hurry, hurry!" Cried Kate excitedly as she zoomed past the crowd in the marketplace. She stopped suddenly and looked into the distance, "doesn't he look familiar?"

Leya glanced at the solitary figure and shrugged, "not really. Probably just down on his luck. Let's not make his day worse if he doesn't want to talk to people."

Kate frowned before following again. "Where is Salan?"

"Oh," murmured Reva, "he said that he'd be available in the evening. Mind you, we still have to go back to the villa."

"It's been fun, though, hey?" Spoke Kate with a grin as she nudged Leya.

"Didn't take you for that type," sighed Leya. "I really just don't understand what he wants with me."

The two sisters shared a glance before they snickered in unison. "It's been going on since you came around. Not the first one, either."

"Yeah, yeah," added Reva before turning on Kate. "What about him, though?"

Kate blushed when she heard the alluded name; however, she starkly refuted it. The three of them were laughing as they joked around.

By the time they returned, both sets of parents were leisurely resting at a lake shore as they watched the sun go down. It was a gorgeous sight that was a rarity in these parts. However, Rae was constantly shifting her attention to Felli.

Nevertheless, the four adults were drinking cheerfully as they chatted about their lives. It turned out that Reva and Kate's father worked for the government. While not far up the ladder, he did have a fair say in the workings of the capital. This increased many times when he resold a piece that he treated as a collector's item to buy new contracts, expand his influence, before he, too, was granted the real influence of his noble title.

Admittedly, he was still simply a poor baron, but the effect on his prestige was immense. Now, with the exception of friends and family, he was greeted with immense respect wherever he went.

"It is shame, I'd truly like to see those two again," murmured the man. "I was simply away on business, but who would have thought such a sword would land me here?"

Rae and Keryzn exchanged a glance before they laughed heartily. "Well, it must have been an honour, seeing him like that. Those two had made quite a name for themselves before they just up and vanished, correct?"

The woman sighed dramatically, "if I could only see the rumoured work on the vases once more... ah, what I'd give more such a piece."

"There, there honey," consoled the man. "We have benefited greatly as it stands. We ought to be thankful for what we have."

Keryzn looked around suspiciously before he took out a small chain. It was nothing major. In fact, it was completely ordinary at first glance. However, when he brought it to the trailing light, he passed it over to the two.

"We were lucky enough for my brother to track one of them down. A rather odd piece, but if you look at the clasp..."

"It's... it's... is this truly one of the Demon Brothers' work?! The melding between black, gold, and silver is impeccable! Even the links themselves are decorated lavishly with his trademark fissures!"

The two looked at it tenderly; however, there was no sign of greed in their eyes. Keryzn smiled warmly and chuckled, "we were planning it give it to our daughter, Felli after the craze dies down a little. I trust you'll keep the secret?"

"Of course, of course," spoke Mrs Spring gently. "It is a wonderful gift, but why not give it to your son?"

Rae sighed, "he isn't interested in such things. He likes items with function and form, true. However, such a decorative piece is something that he would not use. Thus, we thought to give it to Felli when she grows up. Perhaps, it'll be a dowry if the man is suitable, perhaps it'll stay in the family."

"With such an object it would be easy to gain favour with a duke to gain a title," murmured Mr Spring thoughtfully.

Keryzn wrapped his arm around Rae and smiled gently, "we prefer the simple life. Such things would be wasted on us."

"But then you wouldn't have to endanger yourself every day," spoke Mrs Spring with a hint of worry.

Keryzn waved off it off, "ah, it isn't that big of a deal. Just as safe as your work, I imagine."

The two exchanged a curious glance, but then their lips raised. "They're back. I wonder what they brought us time."

The four exchanged a laugh and soon they rose to their feet. They met up with the three girls halfway and show the joy painted on two of their faces. However, Leya was frowning irritably.

"Why do I have to! I don't want to dress up for some silly ball!"

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

The parents exchanged a wry smile before it dropped.

"Andrew, are you drunk?" Spoke Leya aloud incredulously. "I thought you needed that poison cure! I don't care if you are sad about losing out on it all, just stop being a whiny brat!"

Leya was so irritated, she shouted out what she projected to Andrew. Nevertheless, the apprehension soon was mixed in with disbelief.

"No, there will not be alcohol for you to drink t- no! I said no! Seriously, I don't care! Why are you so inclin- you got another minion!? What? When!"

Leya rambled to herself as the others approached to listen to the one-sided conversation.

"Ugh, fine. You can come... what? You already have an invite? The hell? Whatever, I don't know you, okay? Got it. I'm so not going to heal you, though."

Leya was fuming until Keryzn gently ruffled her hair, "what's going on?"

"Andrew is pissed that he lost out on more money. Anyways," she sighed when she saw the others approach. "Anyways, he says he has an invite for tonight, but..."

"He's drunk? At nine?"

Leya nodded, "he's probably keeping up because of his water magic... but still. I don't understand how he didn't die from poisoning already."

Keryzn stroked his beard gingerly before he burst out in laughter. Rae smacked his shoulder gently, but soon Felli called for her attention. The other two adults did not know how to respond, but they were already aware that Andrew was travelling with another young man who acted as a guide of sorts.

When the sun fell past the horizon, the seven of them boarded a carriage. Unlike before, they were wearing extremely luxurious clothes that were fitted for the occasion. The women wore ball gowns, with the exception of Felli who was fast asleep in Rae's arms. The two men who tight-fitting black suits with a small hint of silver appearing on Mr Spring's.

When they finally returned to the mansion they dined at several times in days past, they were greeted by a strange scene. Two children were wandering around with rough skins that sloshed wine all around them. However, there was a rather young man dressed in a red suit that seemed to be taking care of them both.

Their original black suits reeked of alcohol as the two stumbled around. Most disregarded the scene. Yet, the moment Andrew's hazy eyes spotted Leya he uttered an incoherent war cry and stumbled in her direction.

"Imma... fit you.. naw, ya see? Hu', na gu's, ya yalla bell' c'war'."

Andrew drunkenly charged at Leya. However, each step he made forward was matched with three that veered in a different direction.

"Nu min'n halp!"

"I'd really rather not," sighed Kha who protectively covered his right jacket pocket.

"Imma tak' dat girl n' smish 'er, ya 'er."

"No!" Cried the man frantically. "Anything but that! Fine, fine. To her, right?!"

The stir started to arise as Andrew was being carried to Leya by the scruff of his neck. However, he noticed the seven Leya's appeared to be coming closer so he cheered happily.

"Fast, fas'er nah! Weeeee!"

After being thrust into the air, Andrew completely forgot about his urge to fight and was completely enthralled in the simple act of being carried.

"I'll take him off your hands," laughed Keryzn. "You should be able to handle the other... oh, where'd that kid run off to... isn't that Greg!? Why the hell didn't Brent tell me!?"

Andrew was cradled in Keryzn's arms like an over-sized infant. However, a faint light appeared around Andrew who suddenly woke up with a start.

"My money! All my money... my... my money! Nooooo!" Sobbed Andrew as he reached inside his jacket pocket. He took a long swig of wine from a hidden skin before he cried again and again. "Money... I could have... been so rich... why didn't I do a reserve... why?!"

Keryzn was conflicted between a sober Andrew and a drunk one so he carefully designated the amount of alcohol in which Andrew drank. At the point where Andrew was a sociable, albeit sullen drunk Keryzn took away the skin.

He set Andrew back on the ground and shooed him forward. "Go on now, no hitting on ladies right now."

"My... lady... where is the lady... where is my dream lady," murmured Andrew before he caught sight of the red suit.

The boy charged at the veteran assassin who squealed in fright. The two ran all around the room before disappearing. Keryzn quickly detoxified Terra before he moved back to the group.

"That is how you handle him," chuckled Keryzn. "That or lock him up, but I don't think that'll hold him back much."

"That's... kind of cold," murmured Leya before she shrugged it off. "Oh wel-"

"Leya! Pleasant surprise seeing you here," called Salan who appeared in a luxurious silver cloak.

"You requested I come," sighed Leya.

"That I did. Alas, the night has already started, but I apologise that I was preoccupied. Nevertheless, I cleared my schedule so that we may have this night for ourselves."

Salan offered a scathing glance towards Keryzn, clearly a commoner from his attire, before requesting her hand. Leya scoffed loudly, but her father's rumbling laughter told it was alright.

As soon as she left to the middle of the room, Keryzn commented lightly, "she has her mother's temper so it won't bear well for the boy."

He instinctively dodged a one-handed jab to his neck. It was so smooth that Felli did not even stir. However, it did catch the sight of the two accompanying parents.

"Reva, Kate, you two should enjoy this occasion as well. No sense in staying with us, right?" Spoke their mother lightly.

They were cast off with a soft smile before she turned towards Keryzn. "Why... did you let your son go like that?"

"Yeah, I'd like to know that too."

"He is too free-spirited to be left in a single place," shrugged Keryzn. "He up and left not so long ago. Even so, he always finds his way back in one form or another."

Rae sighed and bitterly smiled, "but it's been a year. It's too long for someone at his age."

"We were not much older, if I recall," laughed Keryzn. "Though, I'd have to admit that I do not know much, if anything, about you at the time."

"Still... it isn't right. Not when the opportunity is there."

Keryzn spread one arm wide as he drank from the confiscated skin. "Opportunities are everywhere. Just have to know where to look. Spencer?"

Spencer, Reva and Kate's father, laughed awkwardly and nodded. "I suppose that's fair. I'll take one, I guess."

The two men preoccupied themselves at one side of a table whereas the two women chatted on the other. It was idle chatter about the new child, their lives, and interesting recent events. However, it usually, unknowingly, revolved around Andrew in some way, shape or form.

The recent demon brother incident, the necklace, the recent renovation of their house, their relationship with the Chancellor, or even Kyrana sullenly holding up Keryzn hostage to obtain information on Andrew.

The night went on blissfully for most. Andrew and Kha played cat and mouse. Terra secluded himself before he focused on looking at the attractive women. The parents chattering amicably. And the three girls enjoying themselves. Naturally, the only one who suffered was Salan who was abandoned time and again by excuse after excuse spewed from Leya.

However, he was noble, born and raised, therefore he could not voice such trifling irritations. Yet.