Metis moved the coin left, and the needle within the cylinder promptly followed suit. The flames of the bonfire created an ominous dance of flickering shadows across her statuesque face, whose eyes challenged my own gaze.

“You followed us all the way to Jude and his men,” I finally said. My reaction remained hesitant, indecisive between scowling vindictively at her or laughing and commending her for her craftiness. “And using that, you tipped off the guards to our location.” I broke our stare to glance over at Shara and sighed deeply at what I saw. Her reaction at this revelation was one markedly less surprised or astonished than mine, with her attention remaining on gorging her food.

“Jude, hm? So that was the name he took… Yes, correct, you can catch on quickly, how admirable,” Metis said without a trace of irony. She began to put away the cylindrical device into her pack, nodding with satisfaction at my understanding.

“Did you make that locator device yourself? How does that work?” I asked intently, leaning forward.

“Oh?” The woman tilted her head ever-so-slightly, her face without a shadow in the angle it took. She looked marginally amused at my interest. “I am not the one responsible for this mana-sensitive compass. That would be my companion, so you’ll have to pry her for the details,” she said, gleaming with pride. “Though, by her words, this modified coin is charged with mana and is activated to radiate pulses of energy attuned to certain frequencies. The compass, in turn, is sensitive to the coin’s location via an engraved spell that picks up on the coin’s energy.”

Curious to confirm her words, I turned on my mystic eye. The coin became shrouded in an aura of mana, which periodically oscillated in-and-out, pulsing like a heart. The effect was subtle but visible with enough mana allocated to my mystic eye. Unbeknownst to my examination, she gave the coin a flip, caught it in the air in a blur of movements, and quickly pocketed it.

“That’s fascinating,” I sighed, meaning my comment with complete sincerity. The childlike wonder I had when I first learned magic – or, more accurately, relearned it – returned. To demons, three hundred years ago, our innate ability for sorcery meant that technology like this was never developed, at least to my knowledge. “I’d really like to meet this companion of yours to talk more about it.”

“Lovely, I’m sure she would love to meet you as well,” she said.

“I do not desire to be impolite, but I believe it is time to get back to topic again,” Shara interjected while piercing another sausage from the pan with her skewer, “Metis, shall you answer our question of why?” By the glance she gave me, she seemed to ask her questions not to sate her curiosity, but to ask in my stead.

Metis nodded firmly, and her small, amused smile fell back into a neutral, stone-faced mask. “It was for an urgent quest specifically assigned to me by the Guild. The city had been trying to pursue this specific group of criminals for months, and their location was not only unknown but also variable. With my skills, and time, I was able to get my hands on a VIP token that would lure out their leader when shown and have it modified. You two were simply the last piece who unknowingly fitted into the puzzle.”

“We were puzzle pieces for you to use, huh?” The light amusement in my voice from earlier disappeared as I remembered the point of this conversation: we were tricked and suffered for it, but here she was now, confusingly enough, apologizing to us. “Why us though? Why didn’t you infiltrate them yourselves?” I asked after taking a bite of my own food.

“I needed someone to carry the coin while I worked with the City Watch. And for why you two… I didn’t intend to follow you two throughout the day, but Shara and Luqa,” she said, emphasizing our names meaningfully, “you caught my eye. You two were not only young newcomers – which always piques the interests of men like them – but also capable.” Her cool blue eyes pierced again into me, as if she were scanning my very soul, all while maintaining an unreadable expression. “Luqa, you showed extraordinary physical instinct in the Adventurer Guild in your brawl there and even more extraordinary magical abilities at the Mage Guild. I was assured that you were up to the task – it did not matter how you did it, only that you were able to hold their attention long enough. But you performed beyond my expectations.”

Puzzled frustration flickered through me under Metis’s enigmatic gaze. The inflection with which she spoke was as if she were assuredly reading the pages of a book written long ago; I didn’t need Shara’s eye for seeing the truth to decipher the sincerity behind her words. That made it all the more difficult to pinpoint the proper emotion, the proper response I should react with – other than more confusion.

“You…” I trailed off, still taken aback, before trying to channel my anger again. “Whether you meant it or not, you followed us, huh? Quite a convenient tale. And then you used us without our knowledge. Since you thought we were so promising, did it ever come to you that you could’ve told us so we could’ve prepared and been in on the plan?” I remarked scathingly, not bothering to hide my sarcasm.

“Telling you would have added a degree of uncertainty. I knew you two were capable, but I didn’t know if you were trustworthy to keep silent,” Metis said. She looked almost apologetic, in the way her eyebrows furrowed and her mouth had curved into a slight frown. Almost. Her stiff expression of sympathy fell flat, being less an expression of emotions and more an intentional donning of another mask.

“And our faces were seen by those guards as well, so now we’re probably in trouble as well,” I groaned, ignoring Metis. A mental fatigue settled into me as I took full stock of our circumstances: our possessions lost in the city, our efforts of today for naught, and our visages burned into the eyes of the authorities as lawbreakers. Great. “And you’re telling me this meal you’re giving us is your apologies for all of this.” Metis’s frown sank deeper as I continued. “Really it makes up for everything, thanks a lot, next you’re going to apprehend and hand us over to the guards. By the way I’m being sarcastic if you can’t te– Ouch!”

“Luqa.” Shara flicked my forehead with surprising strength, almost knocking me on my back. “Hear her out, you bumbling fool.”

“No, his vitriol is not undeserved on my part. Your emotions are justified,” Metis said. The statement rang out ironically, being said mechanically, completely devoid of emotion. “But I must correct you. You are in no predicament at all. Everything is in order.”

“Huh?” was the only thing which escaped my mouth. “Explain.”

“I made sure to let the City Watch know that I had two collaborators who would be there amongst the criminals. You have committed no crime. In fact, the Warden told me to commend you for protecting them from the explosion with your quick use of magic and for incapacitating several of the targets. With your efforts, they suffered no casualties,” Metis added with a ghost of a smile. “And as my accomplices, knowing or not, you deserve at least a considerable share of the reward.”

She threw us a small bag. I caught it, the weight of it substantial in my hands, and it gave a satisfying jingle as I shook it. Shara and I huddled together, equally as excited to see what we had. Inside the bag were shiny, heavy, twinkling, brilliant gold coins, twenty-in-all. Twenty precious small circles that made up a sum enough to subsidize a comfortable life in Lefke for weeks. It was the power of our financial salvation in the palm of my hand, shining with a radiance that could not be understated.

Stolen story; please report.

“And rest assured, all of your belongings have been found and secured for you to retrieve. I left them in the inn room I rented for you two,” Metis continued. “I brought this as well, just in case. My deep apologies for not bringing the rest of your weaponry.”

In her hands was a sheathed scimitar, and my heart skipped a beat upon seeing it: the sword that Uncle Ersham gifted me years ago. I spared no time in taking it from her and fastening it to my hip.

“You rented us a room?” I asked after I finished admiring my weapon.

“For a week, yes. I hope that aids to return the favor. You will be staying at least that long in Lefke, right?” Metis asked.

I stood up and patted away all the dust from my clothes. “I don’t know. We initially went to Lefke to register and become adventurers, but I didn’t expect there to be such high barriers. We might try our luck in another city.”

“Hmm, I have forgotten about the new restrictions in place in Lefke,” Metis hummed, closing her eyes as if to think. After a few seconds of nodding to herself, she opened her eyes and wore a reassuring smile. “If you don’t mind, my party will be able to help you become official adventurers in Lefke. We are quite well-known, after all,” she said matter-of-factly.

“What? Are you serious,” I replied. “That would be quite helpful, if you mean your offer.” I scanned Metis for any sign of dishonesty, but her face shone openly.

“I wouldn’t extend an offer if I didn’t mean it. You two were instrumental in apprehending an elusive group of wanted criminals, so it is only natural that two youngsters of such potential be given the opportunity. I will not fault you for trying to sell off your monster parts in your circumstances after everything. My party would love to help you two see towards your beginnings.” She stood and extended a hand towards me, which I took hold of and gave a firm shake. “And, in full honesty, it has been quite interesting seeing who you are with my own eyes.”

“Hmph, likewise,” I replied, unable to contain my grin. “You’re less shady of a lady than I thought. I’ll keep myself cautious around you though. You are still not very trustworthy by any means.”

“A hasty conclusion, but not a groundless one,” Metis retorted, wearing a smirk of her own. “I would like to earn your trust in time, but it is wise to be cautious. That is what a successful adventurer would do after all.”

“See, Luqa!” Shara jumped to her feet and patted my back. The sauce staining her lips almost made me sputter out in laughter. “This is why I was interested in hearing Metis out when we encountered her on the rooftops, but you made us take flight without my input. Though, I suppose you needed the sleep to reduce your sullenness. You were quite the grouchy, disagreeable young boy earlier. Are you at that age already?”

“Oh, quit it. I’ve had to deal with you all day.” Shara took my comment as a compliment, and grinned widely.

“Shall we all return to Lefke?” Metis asked. “I still owe you two a full-fledged dinner. My two other party members and I can join if you desire. In this instance, there is no hidden agenda behind my invitation.”

“Absolutely yes!” “In this instance, huh? I guess I can say yes to that.” Shara and I both replied at the same time, her response being more succinct and energetic than mine.

“I’m delighted to hear it.” Metis looked at both of us, almost motherly in her gaze. But then her eyes turned alarmed as she continued looking at Shara – no, not at Shara, but rather behind her. “Shara, turn around!”

The gryphon tensed and spun at her feet… and relaxed once she saw it: a spherical, blob-like creature with a height up to Shara’s knees. It was a slime, bluish in its hue and transparent enough to reveal a pearl-like core inside it. The creature was hopping towards Shara, who instead of reacting defensively, squealed in delight, approached it, and scooped it up into her arms.

“Woooow! What a sweet, little thing!” She held it lovingly to her chest while Metis and I stood baffled at this spectacle on display. “Who’s a good little slime? You are~” The slime seemed to almost purr under her embrace. That, or it was growling in hostility.

Metis was the first to move between the two of us. She calmly strode towards Shara, still in a world of her own with the slime, and lunged forwards swiftly. Her hand pierced deep into the slime, took hold of the slime’s core, and crushed it mercilessly. A hair-raising shriek escaped the creature. It melted and sputtered on the ground, losing its form, much to Shara’s dismay.

“No! My dear slimeeeee!” Shara cried. Her hands grasped the remains of the slime, trying, unsuccessfully, to hold it back into shape.

“Shara, I can understand your affection, but slimes are hostile monsters,” Metis sighed. “They would enjoy devouring you if they were but afforded the opportunity. It is fortunate that they are so weak, not only being susceptible to fire, but also vulnerable to attacks on their core. Do not be deluded.”

“I know, I know,” Shara muttered like a child.

“There are slimes around here?” I commented. “There weren’t any back then whe– I mean I read a bestiary from decades ago saying they shouldn’t be found in this region.” I bit my tongue as I corrected myself, almost letting a rather large secret slip.

“That’s precisely correct,” Metis agreed. “It has been only for the past few years that slimes have been found here. Further out northeast, where there’s even more, it can be severely dangerous. In large groups, even seemingly harmless slimes can be a lethal threat to the seasoned adventurer. The fact that they have the ability to multiply and grow with enough sustenance makes it all the worse.”

I gave no response. Her words swiveled in my head. Past few years. My hand clenched into a tight fist. Maybe I was clutching at something that wasn’t there, but suspicions rose up in me anyway, swirling around one central question: whether or not this was related to my failed reincarnation. It was a question to which the answer had been affirmative too many times, in too many situations for my liking: first, there was that black wolf-like beast that attacked me, Lucia, and Tavarius, and then the tailed demon claiming to be Malachi’s reincarnation, and then the ape-like monster terrorizing and burning the Northern Forests. All of which possessed a piece of my soul.

“Anyway, let us return to Lefke. It will probably be more agreeable to pass the time over there, no?” Metis prompted.

I nodded quietly as I came to a silent conclusion in my thoughts: tonight, I needed to use my mystic eye to my full potential and activate it fully. I hadn’t used it to its full extent since departing Arnulf’s lodge in the Northern Forests with Shara. By clearing my thoughts, leaving my mind void, and continuously pouring mana into it nonstop for an extended time period, I could scan the area around me for my own soul fragments. It was an exhausting process, though I had improved since first receiving the mystic eye. But maybe I had taken it for granted; I needed to improve my control over it faster if I am to truly clean up the mess of my actions.

Shara seemed to read my emotions while I lay silent in thought. She threw me a comforting smile, one that helped me lose the tension in my shoulders. I gave her a weak smile of my own and sighed away the heavy thoughts. Right. I could be overthinking this.

***

Step.

The being inched forwards, slowly, excruciating step by step. It lumbered forwards awkwardly with lacking coordination, not far from an infant first walking. From a distance, through squinted eyes, it appeared like any innocuous male traveler. Up close though, its hollow, sunken cavities for eyes, rotting teeth, and beastly growls would break that misunderstanding.

Step. Step. Step.

Behind the being were many others like it. Some fresher, some more rotting; some with clothes and cloaks, some bare bodies. The being in front was a creature of the full ensemble of skin, muscle, and bones, carrying all of its necessary organs, but others behind it were less gifted. Many had rotting flesh, skin peeled away to reveal atrophied muscle, and a few unfortunates were worn away to the bone in every literal sense.

Step. Step. Step. Step. Step.

The gathered horde trekked onward, their trajectory predetermined. A new bud of their group had begun blossoming within the city of Lefke, giving them their goal. They could almost sense it, if they were only conscious things. They were senseless, desireless creatures, driven only by one collective want: gaining fresh vessels to swell the numbers of their ranks.