Elrianthe strolled through the town's market, jumping from one stall to another. With hope, she browsed the goods on offer, counting that one of them would give her a significant advantage. Unfortunately, luck didn't favor her - most of the products turned out to be just mere junk.

Gaz followed her, looking around anxiously every now and then. He tried to hide his concern so as not to disturb her focus but eventually had to break the silence.

Tie: “Forgive me for interrupting you, but I have a problem,” he informed telepathically.

Tie: “What problem?”

Tie: “Just don't look around. We've been followed for a long time.”

Tie: “Guild guys?”

Tie: “Someone worse, I'm afraid. We should get out of here,” Gaz suggested.

Tie: “Okay, grab my hand.”

Holding hands, Gaz and Elrianthe blended into the crowd of people who were squeezing between the stalls.

Elrianthe knew very well that just blending into the crowd would not make them disappear from the eyes of their pursuers, so she decided to use her skills. Thanks to the fact that she held Gaz's hand, she was able to surround him with a layer of pheromones and put the illusion on him in the same way she did on herself. This way, they took on the appearance of random passersby walking past them at the market.

Elrianthe emerged from the crowd and, passing between crates of merchandise, headed down a side street between townhouses.

“I think we've lost them,” she said, dispelling the illusion.

“Possibly, but we'd better get out of here. There are still in the area,” Gaz replied, peeking out from around the corner of the building.

“I wanted to visit some kind of alchemist still, but maybe I'll do that later,” she sighed.

“It would be better if we kept our heads down today. I know you're in a good mood and this trip makes you happy, but-” interrupted Gaz.

“But?” queried Elrianthe.

Tie: “Wait. In front of us. Two people at the end of the alley,” relayed Gaz.

Tie: “Oh, I didn't notice. Two appeared behind us, too,” noticed Elrianthe, looking around.

“Stop!” shouted one of the mysterious pursuers.

As he approached them, two more joined him.

Tie: “Ah, it's the guy from the store...”

Tie: “I told you we'd have problems!”

Elrianthe looked around. All escape routes were cut off, and at least seven people were already heading in her direction.

Tie: “It's not likely we have a chance to escape,” she concluded.

Tie: “I doubt you'll wrap him around your finger like a shopkeeper, so you'd better have your weapon on standby,” replied Gaz.

A thug with an escort approached them and, with a furious expression on his face, called out, “Don't think you can play with us as you please.”

“What do you want? I don't like to waste my time on taunts,” Elrianthe replied.

“You know very well what I want! Give back the cash you stole!” shouted the thug, with anger in his voice.

“I didn't steal anything. The purse went back to its rightful owner,” replied Elrianthe, not letting herself be intimidated.

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“Are you kidding me, you moron? Maybe I should cut off your fingers to teach you something!” cried the thug, reaching for his sword.

“Don't even try to get close to me,” she replied firmly.

Tie: “What are you doing? Are you playing tough now?”

Tie: “Quiet. I have to keep up appearances,” Elrianthe replied.

The thug exchanged a look with his mate, and both started laughing.

“Ha ha ha! Do you think you can do anything? You don't even have a weapon, and your boyfriend won't defend you,” he mocked.

Elrianthe extended her hand in front of her, and a black cloud appeared in front of her, into which she put her hand. A spear began to emerge from the cloud as soon as she grasped its handle. The cloud moved along the weapon until it revealed it fully.

Around the spear was a black flame that seemed to consume the surroundings. Elrianthe took a sweep to the side, causing the fire to splash onto the sidewalk and the walls of the building.

Later, she began spinning the spear with a speed that the human eye could not grasp, further confusing her opponents.

“Try it if you think you're lucky today,” said Elrianthe, grabbing the spear with her other hand and aiming it at the man.

'That was quite a dramatic scene,' Elrianthe thought, hoping to discourage her opponent.

The thug swallowed spit, tightened his hand on the hilt, then said: “First I'll test you in battle, and later in bed.”

The thug raised his sword and was about to rush forward to attack, when suddenly a woman's hand grabbed his arm, “Stop, you idiot. Can't you see that this is going nowhere?” she said, interrupting his urges.

[ Achievement Earned: Warning Shot ]

A woman with dark blond hair tied in a high ponytail emerged from behind the thug.

“Oh fuck, not her...” mumbled Gaz under his breath.

Tie: "Who is she? I didn't even see her when she came in.”

Tie: “She's their leader. I was hoping never to meet her again,” he replied.

“Will you lower that weapon already? You're not thinking of attacking any of my guys, are you?” asked the leader.

'There will be no jokes with her. She's terribly confident,' Elrianthe thought.

< Research >

[ Alice Rotten-Heart ]

[ Level 15 ]

“Shit,” muttered Elrianthe, lowering her spear. She felt that this meeting would not end well, plus Gaz seemed to have some sort of unpleasant past with her.

“Gaz, my dear, you have found yourself a very... troublesome girl, you know?” said Alice nonchalantly.

“She-”

“I'm not his girlfriend,” interjected Elrianthe.

Alice raised an eyebrow in surprise, “Really? Then who? I doubt Gaz would walk around town with a slave girl by the hand.”

“I'm... his sister,” she replied.

“Oh, really? You don't look a bit like each other, am I right, Krek?” addressed Alice to the thug standing next to her.

“Right.”

Tie: “Forgive me for that.”

“We had different mothers...” replied Elrianthe, feeling slightly awkward.

“Hmm, maybe,” burbled Alice.

Gaz then stepped in front of Elrianthe, “What do you want, Alice? I doubt you've bothered to come over here to retrieve a few coins, am I wrong?”

Alice laughed and clapped her hands a few times. “Sharp observation, Gaz, even for you. I'm impressed. Of course, I wouldn't have shown up here if it weren't for your lovely little sister. You see, in my town, few people seem to have the courage to mess with Coyotes, but your little sister is different. Plus those intriguing skills...”

“Will you get to the point?” interrupted Gaz.

“To the point? Fine. I see you're not in the mood for games. Here's a proposition: you will give back ten times what your sister stole, or you will do a certain favor for us. The choice is yours,” Alice replied.

“What if we don't have the money?” asked Gaz.

“In that case, there is nothing left for you to do but to fulfill my demands,” replied Alice, not hiding the confidence pouring out of her.

“What favor do you have in mind?” asked Elrianthe.

“Don't interfere in the talk. I'll sort it out,” growled Gaz.

“You won't get shit done. Tell us what you mean.”

“Now you two look like siblings. Perfect! I want to use your skills to catch the spies from another gang that is messing up our business in the town,” said Alice.

“Why don't you try it yourself?” asked Elrianthe.

“We tried. The problem is that their folks are well-informed and know our faces. But, they don't know yours. I'm sure that with a face like that, you would manage to seduce more than one of them and draw them right into our trap.”

Elrianthe thought for a moment.

Tie: “What do you think?”

Tie: “You're quite capable, though I wouldn't trust her word for it.”

Elrianthe finally hid the spear in a stash and decided to do Alice a favor, “I'll do it.”

“Great. Follow me,” Alice replied.

Tie: “Gaz... forgive me for what I said about your father, you know...”

Tie: “That's okay. Knowing him, I could believe you. If you weren't an elf.”