At first, Alice thought the empty streets outside the hotel was due to people being put off by the events of last night or rumors of a thief running amok. But as she continued down the next few blocks, the streets were still empty. Her theory didn’t hold water.

Many shops were shut tight, windows were shuttered, and people seemed to quickly scurry from one place to another without stopping to talk or conduct business. Even the carts that transported goods were missing.

Had they all gone to a less troublesome part of the city? Just because of last night?

That didn’t make sense, but she struggled to figure out what else it could be.

As she walked, she resisted the urge to touch her hair. She’d occasionally catch glimpses of her locks out of the corner of her eye, or reflections in dark windows. Her reflection looked wrong.

Before leaving the hotel that morning, she took a long look at herself in the mirror. Her blonde hair made her stand out, especially if anyone from the Earl’s estate or those Workers were still in search of her.

Prim had changed her entire appearance last night for a short amount of time, but doing the same for a long time would be a strain. So Alice asked Prim to change her hair color only.

Prim had agreed at once. “Oh yes, I have just the thing.”

Alice should have questioned her dragon’s taste, because now her hair was nearly the same fiery hue as Iggy’s scales.

Ah well, at least it didn’t clash badly with her pale, freckly skin and blue-green eyes. But the overall effect gave her a different look: Dangerous and slightly alluring. She wasn’t sure if she liked it.

At least the day was fine, with a sun overhead that wasn’t too hot, and a lovely breeze came off the harbor. It didn't even smell of fish. That meant the fish markets were also on a break.

“Where is everyone?” Prim asked quietly, unseen on Alice’s shoulder thanks to Concealment and Illusion skills.

“Maybe it’s a holiday?” But Alice didn’t truly believe it herself. She turned the next block and let out a breath of relief when she finally spotted a few open shops here and there, and small groups of people. But no one lingered for long.

Stopping at a vendor stall, Alice ordered a morning pastry filled with egg and cheese.

"The streets are unusually silent today," Alice remarked as the vendor prepped her food.

"Aye," he concurred, and offered nothing else.

Pushing, Alice asked, "Any idea why?"

He looked up, his brow furrowed. "Haven't you heard the whispers, young miss? About the mage duel last night?"

Her heart picked up pace, but Alice didn’t let it show on her face. She shook her head. "Mage duel? What happened?"

"There ain’t many details, but from what I heard two of ‘em set fire to one of the upscale courtyards," he gestured northeastward, in the direction Alice had arrived from.

Biting back a laugh, Alice instead raised an eyebrow. "I see." It was amazing how fast rumors spread. "But why would Mages be fighting amongst themselves?"

The vendor shook his head. "They weren't fighting each other, miss. Rumor has it..." He cast a wary glance around. "The Seers have been cautioning about a Dark Lord rising within our city's borders. They've been sayin’ so for weeks, yet few heeded their warnings."

Her inner amusement drained away as if someone had pulled a plug inside her. Dark Lords, naturally, sprang from Dark Classers. They were the worst type. "They… have? How good are the city Seers?"

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The man snorted, "Oh, they're always forecasting doom and gloom. People seem to remember only their accurate predictions and overlook their misses. I don't think many folk took them seriously... that is, until last night. Still," he shrugged. "I personally don’t put much stock in it."

Alice tilted her head, "Oh?"

"I've got bills to settle," he stated, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "It's the responsibility of the High classers to fend off the dark classers and safeguard the city." Seeming to recollect himself, he offered Alice a courteous nod, "I apologize for any offense, miss. However, no one expects a Vendor to engage in battle."

Right. His tag read Vendor. A rank slightly below that of a Merchant.

Paying for the pastry, Alice thanked the man and continued on her way. She took a bite, hardly tasted it, and covertly fed the rest to Prim. Her uneasiness only grew.

The part of town that had once seemed bright, airy, and opulent now felt as perilous as the slums she'd walked through on her first day. In fact, it felt even more dangerous.

The Seers were speaking of the rise of a new Dark Lord.

Alice couldn't shake off the uneasy thought that Dark Lords -- Dark Classers, in general -- often had dragons as allies.

But her situation was different, right?

Prim, Numi, and Iggy were aspects of her class. They weren't wild dragons she had dominated for evil purposes. They were kind-hearted. They were good.

True, Numi had a flair for stealing, but that shortcoming reflected more on Alice than on Numi. Alice hadn't had time to instill the right values in her dragon yet. That was something she would address once she found stability and safety.

Prim was inherently sweet and motherly. And yes… Dark classers usually had a multitude of minions, and Prim’s main talent seemed to be making other dragons for Alice to command, but… that was different. She was different.

Besides, there was Iggy. He was her protector, not a mindless aggressive beast. Yes, he’d been the one responsible for the fires, but it had been for a good cause. And yes, he was currently engaged in combat -- Alice could faintly perceive it through their bond -- However, he was merely battling rats, and no one liked rats. Really, he was doing the city a favor.

Her attempts to reassure herself only made her feel worse.

I am not a Dark Classer, she told herself firmly, even though she had to admit she had no idea what her class truly was.

When she had originally accepted the class seed, she had believed it to be some type of animal husbandry class. That notion wasn't entirely wrong, but it wasn't completely right either.

Alice let out a frustrated sound, resisting the urge to stamp her foot—something she hadn't made since she was a small girl prone to tantrums.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a brief movement, a piece of fabric disappearing around the corner of an alleyway. She stopped and turned, staring.

Was it just a coincidence, or was she being watched?

Her first instinct was to investigate, but that would be foolish with the Workers still lurking about.

She had dragons, and it was time she used them.

"Prim," she whispered softly. The dragon on her shoulder shifted in response, though Alice couldn't see her. "Please scout that alleyway for me. I think I might be being followed."

"I can, Alice, but if I leave your side, the illusion will fade."

"I'll be here, in this doorway," she pointed to a nearby shop that stood just a few feet away. The shop was closed, its door hung with a handwritten sign indicating a ‘family emergency’. After her earlier conversation with the Vendor, Alice wondered if this shopkeeper was preparing to flee the city.

"No one will notice me here. Please, go check and return quickly. And be very careful," she added with a touch of anxiety.

"Of course," Prim replied.

Prim leaped off her shoulder, and wisps of Alice's now blonde hair were blown back by the wind from her beating wings.

Alice tucked herself into the corner, trying to appear inconspicuous yet not suspicious, and waited.

She didn't have to wait long. For the first time, Alice felt a bolt of fear from one of her dragons. It stabbed through her, right to the heart, and it came from Prim. She was in trouble.

No, Alice realized with sickening horror, Prim had been captured.

Iggy! Alice cried silently: A command for him to attend to her immediately. One which she had no idea until this moment she could give.

But she wasn’t going to simply wait there for her defender dragon. Prim needed her.

Breaking her cover, Alice pelted back down the black and around the corner.

Now she was grateful for the streets being so empty today. There was no one around to note the antics of a so-called Apprentice Merchant.

The rest of her didn’t give a damn.

Prim was frightened and captured and Alice would burn the world if anything happened to her.