''Alright, stay close.'' Talfryn muttered, ''We don't need any trouble right now.''

They were walking through the docks. It was nighttime, dark enough that the only reason why Eric could see where he was going was thanks to the street lamps. The docks themselves were as flithy as the slums, dirty streets with the ocean on one side and a collection of pubs and taverns on the other. 

''You know,'' Eric commented, ''Is this entire city just a giant mess?''

''Well, some of it is.'' Talfryn admited, ''Most of the areas the nobility frequent are in pretty good shape, but no way we're going to frequent those parts. Anytime soon, anyways.'' 

Eric nodded, glancing around the dock. Dispite the time, the docks were still rather busy, largely with drunken sailors and other unsavory types. Eric saw a couple glance their way, than immediatly give them a wide berth, probably due to the armoured figure that was Siana.

''By the way, Talfryn,'' Elain spoke up for the first time, ''Does this fight club allow us to bring in weapons? Because....'' she nodded in Siana's direction. As usual, Siana didn't even bother glancing her way.

''Right,'' Talfryn said, ''About that. Siana, you'll probably have to wait outside, unless you're willing to give up your weapons at the door. I would prefer if you went in with us, however.''

Siana was silent for several long moments, long enough that Eric was starting to wonder if she was going to stay silent. Finally, she spoke. ''Very well. I suppose surrenduring my sword shouldn't be too much of a problem, than.'' 

Talfryn gave her a relieved smile. ''Thank you,'' he said, ''Elain, you'll probably have to give up your staff as well. I'm not sure if that'll limit your abilities as a mage, but....''

Elain shrugged. '"Shouldn't be a problem. I can use pretty much any magic item as a focus for my power, and honestly, comapred to my staff, my robe is a much better option anyways.'' She gestured at the red and gold robe on her, the same one she had been wearing during Eric's kidnapping.

Eric gave it a curious glance. ''What does that even do?''

Elain smiled proudly. ''Couple of things. It's pretty good armour, for one, blocks a lot of magic spells, and even some physical attacks. But the main thing it does for me is increase the rate at which I generate Mana. I can recharge my mana with it super fast, so it let's me just keep throwing out spells without need to recharge. Main problem is that it drains my stamina while doing so, so I can't exactly keep using it, or I might knock myself out, or kill myself, if I push too hard.''

''I see,'' Eric said, ''That's pretty neat. How did you get something like that?''

Elain grinned at him. ''How do you think?''

Just than, they passed by an alleyway. It was completely dark, shadows covering all of it, and Eric couldn't see anything in there. Talfryn, however, stopped.

''We're here.'' he said. WIthout another word, he turned and walked into the alley, disappearing into the shadows. Siana didn't even hesitate, following right behind him. 

Eric gave the alley a nervous glance. ''After you?'' he asked Elain. Elain rolled her eyes, walking into the darkness, and after a momet of hesitation, Eric followed her.

For several long moments, he could barely see anything. He was vaguely aware of Elain in front of him. 

Suddenly, however, a voice spoke up from the darkness. ''What do you all want?'' the voice hissed.

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''We're just here to see the fight.'' Talfryn said from ahead, his voice calm and collected.

''One gold coin each for entry,'' the man replied, ''So four for all of you.''

''Of course.'' Talfryn said easily. Eric heard the clinking of coins being exchanged. 

''Alright, than.'' the voice said, ''Come in.'' Eric heard a door being open, and light and loud noise suddenly cut through the darkness. Eric could see the rest of his team, bathed in the light, as well as a tall man wearing raggedy clothes, standing next tot he door with a cold expression on his face.

Talfryn gave the others a nod, before stepping through the door. Eric and the others quickly followed suit.

The room they entered was a small entrance hall, another door leading into the main fight club a few feet ahead. They had barely stepped in when they were accosted by a large man. He was huge, easily a head taller than Eric, and built like a bodybuilder. A large sword rested in a sheath at his belt.

''Weapons.'' he said shortly, pointing at Siana's sword, than Elain's staff. Elain quickly handed it over, seeming to want no trouble. 

Siana, meanwhile, unbuckled the sheathed sword from her belt, than extended it towards the man. ''Do not damage it.''

The man gave her a look, before nodding silently, taking the sword from her. ''Pockets.'' he said next.

Talfryn nodded, quickly turning the pockets of his robe and pants inside out. The only thing he had kept there was apparently the coin pouch. Elain had brought nothing, and Siana's armour didn't exactly have any pockets.

Following their lead, Eric reached into his own pockets, turning them inside out. The only thing that he had brought along was the black stone. 

The man gave it a suspicious look. ''What's that?'' he growled menacingly. 

''A good luck charm,'' Eric stammered, hoping he looked honest, ''Just one of those things I carry around all the time, you know?''

The man held his gaze for a few moments longer, before turning away. ''Don't cause any trouble.'' he said, before turning towards a small chest behind him. He reached down and unlocked in, revealing a small collection of weapons. He gently put in Siana's sword and Elain's staff, before closing the chest.

''Let's go,'' Talfryn whispered to the others, heading ahead and opening the door, holding it open for the rest of them.

----------------------------------------

The fight club was nothing like Eric had suspected it would be. The place was lit by dim lanterns, set intot he wall at various points. A bunch of old, round tables lined the edges of the room, with a few chairs as well. In the center of the room was a large, hollowed out pit, a 20 foot by 20 foot square, and roughly 10 feet high, the top surrounded by a wooden fence, probably to prevent anyone from falling in. Two wooden gates stood at opposite ends of the pit. Eric assumed that was where the fighters would come from. Finally, a wooden bar stood at the far end of the room.

The room was surprisingly full, with many of the tables full of people, excitedly talking with each other. Others sat at the bar, milled around the place, or gathered at the edge of the pit, loudly talking and placing bets, getting themselves ready for the upcoming fight.

''Ugh,'' Elain wrinkled her nose, ''Lovely smell.''

Talfryn chuckled. ''Just hang in there, we need to find Brion right now though. Wait here, you guys. I'll ask at the bar.'' With those words, he walked off in that direction, leaving Eric, Siana, and Elain awkwardly standing near the entrance. 

''We should probably move.'' Elain suggested. ''Right, yeah.'' Eric agreed, joining her in backing away from the entrance. Siana wordlessly followed them. They ended up moving against the wall a few feet away from the entrance, wordlessly watching the rest of the room.

Eric watched as Talfryn approached the bar, speaking to the bartender there, probably asking for Brion's whereabouts. After a few moments of discussion, Talfryn nodded, before walking back over to the rest of the group.

''Brion is in tonight,'' he reported, ''By himself, sitting in that corner over there.'' he nodded across the room, to a table largely hidden in shadows.

''Lovely,'' Elain said, ''Let's get this over with, than.'' Talfryn nodded in agreement. ''Indeed.''

Together, the four of them walked towards the table Talfryn had pointed out. 

As they approached, Eric could make out a man, sitting at the table. He was bald, and a bit on the pudgy side of things. His clothing, while not necessarily expensive looking, looked well made, better than the clothing of everyone else in the club. He sat by himself, a large mug full of some dark brown liquid sitting on the table before him.

Talfryn gave him a friendly smile as he approached. ''Brion Patterson?'' he asked. Brion looked up, his eyes widening as he looked at the three of them. ''What do you guys want?'' he asked. He had a deep voice, and there was a hint of concern in it as he spoke.

Talfryn's friendly smile never left his face as he took a seat across from the man. ''What do we want?'' he said, ''Why, to help you, of course. We have an offer for you, Mr Patterson.''