As the man and Ran were walking through the dark streets, they turned a corner and found themselves in a small square. In the center of the square stood an old fountain made of weathered stones, with a few tired street vendors waiting at their stalls around it. The setting sun was painting the sky in orange hues.
"Did you really forget where the building is?" said Geminga.
"No, I know where the building is but I can't remember how to get there. We found the street where Ran was kidnapped, but I can't remember which direction I went after that. I was just running around looking for a sewer grate. The streets in this city are so complex — they all look alike."
While scanning the area, he saw a hooded figure buying something from the street vendors. When the figure finished their purchase and turned toward them, eight spider eyes became visible.
"Hey, that woman!" he said to Geminga.
"This is the third time we've seen this woman. Although she appears to be busy with different tasks in different places each time, her constant appearance in our path has started to seriously worry me. Running into her this frequently is definitely suspicious."
"You're right, I'm suspicious now too. But this is our only chance." he said and turned to Ran. "We can buy information from that woman over there," he said and began moving forward.
"How did you know, sir?"
He couldn't tell her that he had met this woman before because that would require explaining the events of his previous lives. So, suppressing all his desire to explain, he simply looked at Ran and smiled.
"Excuse me, madam. Would it be possible to get some information from you for a fee?"
"Of course I can share information, but it will come at a price." said the woman. "First, I need to determine the value of the information you're requesting. What kind of information do you need?" she asked.
"The location of the Mist Thieves."
The woman glanced around furtively and, seeing no one nearby, hissed, "Are you trying to get yourself killed? That's not something you say out loud!"
"Calm down." he said, pulling out his chip. "I just want information, I have no other intention. I have enough money."
The woman's eight eyes roamed over the chip, each one gleaming separately as they examined the object. For a moment, the expression on the woman's face wavered between hesitation and concern, and she slowly shook her head. "No, it won't do..." she whispered, blinking four eyes simultaneously. After casting one final nervous glance around, she made a secret gesture with her fingers conveying the message "Follow me."
The woman led them through narrow and dark streets that stretched like a complex labyrinth. They wound their way through dilapidated buildings until they reached the edge of an enormous pit. The sight before them was breathtaking - a crater hundreds of meters wide stretched deep below, and in its center was an extraordinary sight: massive flames rising toward the sky, cutting through the darkness and turning night into day, performing a magnificent dance in shades of red and orange, illuminating the surroundings with vibrating beams of light.
The most interesting thing was the extraordinary empty space around the flames. The thick mist that covered the city, as if blocked by a supernatural force, could never enter this area. Waves of mist approaching from all directions would hit an invisible dome and retreat, like a living entity. Thanks to this unique phenomenon, a perfectly circular area around the eternal flames had formed, completely free of mist and crystal clear. This was the city's only area with clean air, and under the dancing lights of the flames, it gleamed like a crystal globe.
"This is the Circle of Unforgetting Flames." said the woman. "Its exact history isn't known, but at least thousands of years ago, a large piece of a star fell here and created this crater. The flames that started with the star's fall have never gone out, they continue to burn. What's interesting is that the mist that covers the city can never enter this area. This applies to The Mist Reaper as well."
As they descended down the crater's edges, they saw strange symbols carved into the stones. In the light of the flames, these symbols seemed to move as if alive. With each step, the stones beneath their feet vibrated slightly, as if an ancient power sleeping in the depths was about to awaken.
Ran's eyes widened. "These sounds..." she whispered. Whispers rising from the flames echoed on the crater walls.
"Yes," said the spider-eyed woman, "these flames hold ancient secrets. Every word spoken, every confession, every oath... They all echo here forever. Those who lie incur the flames' wrath - the fire instantly darkens and cries out the truth."
"So no one can lie in this area."
As he approached the fire rising in the center, he heard Geminga's anxious voice: "These flames... They're very strange. Be careful, don't get too close to the flames."
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They stopped at the boundary of the spherical mist-free zone around the flames. The woman looked around anxiously. "We must hurry. The flames' whispers cloud the mind over time. Even the strongest minds can't stay here very long. Now, what do you want to know about the Mist Thieves?"
"Why did you bring us here?"
"If we had been talking in the mists, The Mist Reaper would have found us sooner or later."
"The Mist Reaper?"
"Yes. A ghost that finds and kills those who know too much about the Mist Thieves or reveal their secrets. According to city legend, it suddenly appears from within the thick mist curtain and captures its victims. Some call it the 'Silent Shadow,' others call it the 'Lord of the Mist.' According to rumors, it was once the leader of the Mist Thieves but was killed by betrayal. Now its spirit has returned to protect the group's secrets."
"Isn't this just a legend?"
The woman looked around nervously. "A legend?" she hissed. "Nothing in this city is just a legend, stranger. There's a dark truth behind every legend." After pausing briefly, she continued. "Last month, a man talked about the Mist Thieves' secret passages. The next morning they found him hanging in a building in the mist. There wasn't a single wound on his body, but his face was frozen in terror."
He looked at Ran. The young girl seemed a bit frightened. "These kinds of stories are always exaggerated." he whispered. These words seemed to comfort the girl somewhat.
"How can I find the Mist Thieves?"
"Two hundred astralis."
"Two hundred? Isn't that a bit much?"
The spider-eyed woman sighed impatiently. "I risked my life showing you this special place. Of course it's not cheap." She extended her chipped wrist. "Take it or leave it."
The man took out his own chip and brought it close to the woman's, but he couldn't figure out how to make the payment. He clearly wasn't familiar with technology. After several failed attempts, Ran stepped in.
"Allow me." said the young girl, taking the man's chip. She brought it close to the woman's wrist and completed the payment instantly. "There, done."
The woman's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Young people always understand these things better." she said with a slight smile.
"I'm not that old." he thought to himself. Then he became serious again and carefully looked around. "Thank you." said the man, turning to Ran. A proud smile appeared on the young girl's face.
"There's a factory in the eastern part of the city, in the old harbor district. You'll see a rusty anchor sign on its door. Go there, but be careful - you'll be watched whenever you're near that place."
"Do you know about the building with creatures in its dungeon? The one next to the sewer grate?"
"What creatures? I don't know such a place. Anyway, if anyone finds out I revealed information about the Mist Thieves..." She shook her head without finishing her sentence. "I must go now. Don't forget what I told you - and you never saw me." After saying this, she quickly disappeared into the depths of the dark street, her eight eyes gleaming one last time in the darkness.
They watched the spider-eyed woman for a while as she left. As they moved away from the circle of flames, the whispers gradually faded. As the mist began to surround them again, they contemplated the value and danger of the information they'd received.
"How did you make the payment, Ran?"
"I was able to make the payment because your chip doesn't have biometric authentication. Just bringing the chip close and confirming the amount was enough."
As the man and Ran left the safe boundaries of the Circle of Unforgetting Flames, each step brought them closer to the unknown. As they moved into the mist, even their footsteps seemed muffled. They watched their surroundings nervously, carefully examining every shadow and movement. With each step, the protective light of the flames they left behind grew weaker, giving way to the cold and damp touch of the mist. This touch left an eerie sensation on their skin, as if invisible fingers were moving across their shoulders. Geminga's voice echoed in the man's mind with a thoughtful whisper, his words crystal clear in the mist: "This Mist Reaper... It might seem like just a simple legend, but remember - there's truth behind every legend. It wouldn't be passed down for no reason, would it?"
"What do you think?" the man asked.
"I'm not sure." Geminga said thoughtfully. "But the spider-eyed woman's fear was real. You saw the concern in her eyes too. Besides, why would she make up such a story? We'd better be careful."
"What about the Factory? Could it be a trap?"
"It could be. But do we have any other choice? She said she didn't know about the building with the creatures. Either she really didn't know or she was too scared to tell. Either way, we have to go to the factory."
The man hesitated, carefully tracking the movements of an indistinct shadow gliding through the mist. He couldn't be sure whether this shape moving in the darkness was real or just his eyes playing tricks on him. For a moment he thought the shadow was approaching them, but then it merged back into the depths of the mist. "How should we approach this? It wouldn't be wise to rush carelessly into such a dangerous place. And after hearing that story, I'm starting to feel paranoid." he muttered, his voice carrying a mix of concern and caution.
"We should observe from a distance first. The woman said we'd be watched. Maybe they have lookouts in the area. We need to identify the buildings around the factory, entry and exit points, possible escape routes. And most importantly - we must never be an open target."
"What if we manage to get inside?"
"Then we'll need to be even more careful. The Mist Thieves must have their own communication system. Maybe signs, maybe passwords... We shouldn't be caught unprepared."
Ran suddenly stopped. "Someone's following us." she whispered.
They saw a shadow in the mist. It was distant at first, then came closer. The shadow seemed to be circling around them - appearing and disappearing. They became frightened and quickly turned the nearest corner, hiding behind the wall of an old building. They waited silently. But when they looked around the corner, they realized no one was actually following them. The wide street was empty, and only waves of mist were moving. The thick mist had confused them - they were having trouble distinguishing what was real and what was imagination.
Ran shivered. "Maybe we should give up on this?"
"No." said the man in a determined voice. "We're too close. We just need to act smarter. We'll scout the area first. Then we'll make a plan. And we'll only act when we're sure about everything."
And so, they set out toward the old harbor district. As they moved through the mists, they constantly watched their surroundings. Every shadow was a potential danger, every sound a possible warning. Geminga was quietly analyzing in his mind, evaluating possible scenarios. Soon, they would encounter the factory with the rusty anchor sign - and perhaps along with answers, new dangers as well...