The party's carriage passed through Sky Crest's gates and onto the city streets. They were in some kind of vehicular plaza at first, but moments further down the cobblestone pavement, they were surrounded by dwellings and workshops and the like.

"Okay, guys, we're in," Blake said.

Riley slid out from the front compartment onto the driver's bench next to Blake.

"That guard had a scary voice," she said.

"Yeah, well, it takes all kinds."

"Is it okay for me to be out here?"

"I mean, it's chilly, but yeah? Couldn't be any more dangerous than Bright Hill."

Riley squinted out into the distance.

"That's not what I mean. This place looks kind of shady. Are you sure we're in the right city?" she said.

Blake looked around. A building with a broken window, another with a cracked front door, and another with an exposed pile of trash out front. There were a few demihumans out and about, sitting around or walking from one place to another, both young and old. There were also a few adult... humans? Blake rubbed his eyes. Yeah, humans, probably, just not light-skinned like everyone he met in Greenwood.

"Well... Not like anyone out here has any reason to lie to us. Queensland is a free country, right?"

"It's supposed to be. The demons rebelled from Icemarch only a couple decades ago, but they're good at diplomacy, and they—"

"Wait, hold up, demons?"

Blake pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. It felt like he was about to get a headache.

"Okay, look," he said. "You guys have mentioned demons a few times before. I kind of glossed over it thinking it was some weird history thing with that guy from Japan or whatever, or like I misheard you or something. But there's demons here? Right now? In this world?"

"Yes. Queensland is run by demons. They control the land between the Tsukikage and Komorebi rivers. We literally already explained this to you, me and Sophia. We used the word 'demons' and everything."

"Look, I can't remember any of this stuff, I'm an idiot. How am I supposed to remember the local trivia without my flash cards?"

"If you're an idiot, I'm scared of people where you came from."

"Gimme a break..." Blake sighed. He recalled everything he was told about Queensland and tried to sort it out in his head, stress be damned. After a moment, he spoke again. "So that's why everyone here has tinted skin. I was starting to think people around here start turning red when it's really cold or something. Whatever. None of you guys are freaking out, so I'm just going to assume that being around demons is safe." He paused, rewinding the conversation in his head a couple minutes. "So, yeah, this is the right place. I don't know why it's so run down, but it probably has something to do with the country's special place in the world. Whatever. Let's find an orphanage."

They traveled the city, searching for an orphanage. One big enough to take in all these young demihumans without too much issue, but not so conspicuous that the party's arrival would look questionable or notable. It was the capital city, and capital cities are big places, so there had to be something.

As dusk began to fall, the party came to a big building with an even bigger yard at the end of a rut-filled street. This was the most highly-recommended orphanage they could get directions to from the townsfolk on the street. As such, it was their only real option, unless they wanted to stay in the city for several days and soak in the culture, and they hadn't the time for that. Nor the desire, given how everything everywhere seemed at least slightly run down.

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"Sophia, need your help," Blake said.

"Yes?" Sophia said.

"I don't know how to talk to people around here about sensitive stuff like this without it getting weird."

"So you need me to come with you."

"Yeah."

"Very well, then."

Blake and Sophia went inside, the demihumans following them. It seemed like the residents were free to come and go as they pleased, as the front door was unlocked and welcoming of visitors, and immediately beyond it was something of a large foyer, or lounge, or living room, or cafeteria, or strange mix of all of the above. A few children were studying in a circle in the far left corner, and in the far right corner, an old lady was sitting in front of a short table in front of a fireplace, reading. She noticed Blake and Sophia enter, and waved at them. Blake weakly waved back.

"Please wait right there, I will greet ya shortly," the old lady said. She got up from her seat, walked away into another room, and returned with a tray of what looked like drinks and flatbread or cookies. She then beckoned Blake and Sophia to sit across from her at the table in front of the fireplace. They obliged.

"Where ya from, and what ye names?" the old lady asked.

"I'm Blake," Blake said.

"I'm Sophia. We came from Greenwood. Long story short, our party ended up in charge of half a dozen young demihuman Companions. We don't believe in subjecting anyone to Dominion. It's not practical for us to try to free them in any of the Imperial countries. They'd just be abducted and re-contracted. So we came here to Queensland, and then, at the border town, we were directed here, to Sky Crest, and then here again, to this orphanage."

"Ah," the old lady said, clicking her tongue. "Is that there the old Emancipation Project cover story? I thought they canned that a couple years ago... Well, guess if it's started up again, they wouldn't tell any o' us, would they. No, no need to speak, here, have some warm milk and cookies."

"Huh? Emancipa—" Blake started, but Sophia cut him off.

"Blake will go get the rest of our party, and the Companions, if you'd like to keep discussing this over your offered milk and cookies," she said.

Blake rolled his eyes and got up to leave.

"Hold up there, boy," the old lady said.

Blake turned half way back around and raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"You're not from around these parts, are ya?"

"No, why?"

"You'd do best to avoid gettin' too deep in jobs you don't know how far up they go."

"Uh, thanks, I'll keep it in mind."

"Off with ya now," she said, making a begone motion with her hand. Not impolitely, for her age at least, but rather punctuating that she had no more to say to him.

Sophia and the Keeper resumed their discussion, and Blake left. He returned soon afterwards with Riley, Nash, and the half-dozen slaves.

"Well, here're the slaves," Blake said. "We found them after—"

Sophia pinched Blake's lips shut.

"Don't say anything," she said.

Blake nodded. Sophia removed her fingers from his lips.

"So, as I was saying," Sophia said, turning back to the keeper.

"Now, now, no need to be so careful," the keeper said.

"Hm?"

"I can tell ya lot aren't part of anythin', it's just easier this way, to pretend that you are."

"Alright. Blake, you should go outside with Riley. I'll take care of this."

"Okay then..." Blake said.

Riley raised an eyebrow.

"But... I haven't even had any time to look around," Riley said.

"Well, you'll have plenty of time later, won't you?" Sophia said.

"Will I?"

"Won't you? I thought you were going to stay here."

Riley looked around. Dust, mildew, cracked windows, torn-up upholstery, unfinished furniture, and an overall slightly poor stench. She sniffed the air. She could smell the drinks and snacks that the Keeper brought out, despite being many paces away. Demihumans had a way with the sense of smell, after all. The drinks, week-old milk, about to start turning. Drinking it hot must have been the only way to cover up the flavor. The snacks, dry, preserved cookies, made without any butter or fat of any kind, at least that she could smell.

She took a step backward to get a slightly wider-angle view of the area, and ended up squeaking a creaky floorboard. She winced.

Why does this place have to be like this?

"Never mind," Riley said, before turning and leaving out the front door.

"Riley!" Blake said, speedwalking after her, being careful not to look angry.

"Well, I guess that gets those two out of the way, for now, though I'm sure there will be some damage to repair later. I'm not sure what's going through Riley's said. Some kind of culture shock, perhaps," Sophia said, turning back to the keeper. "So, you wanted to talk about..."

"Ah, yes. Well, you see..."