When they reached the village, Kristina led them to the village head’s office. A small place made mostly of some greenish grey, rock like substance. Unlike Jhandis’s and Amelia’s places, this one had a more official feel and was less animal plagued. Save for a few iguana-like creatures, it was a bit closer to the houses Darius was used to.

“How’s it going Chief, long time no see!” Kristina was speaking to a fairly big guy. He was wide, and not like the Don. Thick muscles permeated his entire body, his dark tan skin was accentuated by all the tattoos on him, his shoulders were as large as Darius’s head, his long dreadlocks reached down to his lower back, and it seemed that he didn’t like to wear shorts… or pants, just a skirt made of leaves.

“Well, if it isn’t my very own Moonlit Knight, how goes the hunt for the grif-” It didn’t take long for him to see the baby griffin in Kristina’s arms.

“Yeah, so we completed the mission,” Kristina reported. “The griffin is gone and most likely will not be returning, at least not any time soon. I’d like to introduce you to Fierce, a new member to my team. Oh and Darius, he also helped.”

After getting over his initial shock, Chief walked up to Darius. Chief wasn’t as tall as him, but his presence and the sheer space he took up vastly dwarfed Darius’s. “Your name is Darius? Haven’t seen you around, must be new. It’s a pleasure to meet you, my name is Emilio Rain, but you can just call me Chief just like everyone else.”

“Thanks, just Darius is fine for me.”

Even as Darius shook his hand, he noticed that none of the Chief’s attention was focused on him. It was all intently focused on Kristina, or rather the small beast in her arms.

“Aye, Aye. Kristina, I believe I owe you some emerald chips and a recommendation,” said the Chief.

“Don’t you need to confirm that the griffin is actually gone?” she countered.

With a large smile on his face, the Chief continued, “No, no need. They young griffin in your arms, Fierce as you called it, is proof enough. I doubt a griffin would leave its young for nearly any reason. Therefore, I would like to offer 15 more emeralds on top of the 15 I already owe you.”

He pulled out a large lockbox that almost glowed as he opened it. Inside were rubies, sapphires, and emeralds in spades, filling it so fully that some spilled out as it was opened. Darius’s arms twitched as he glanced at the box, barely resisting his urge to “work.”

The Chief took his time taking emerald after emerald and placing them within a small pouch. “Here, take it.” The Chief had placed the pouch in front of himself, waiting for either party to move, but neither Kristina nor Darius did.

“Chief, that’s nice and all, but we agreed on 15 emeralds. Are you really going to just double the reward?” said Kristina.

“And what does it have to do with Fierce?” added Darius.

Chief lost his smiling. The air tensed, a sense of doubt permeated between Darius and Kristina.

“The money is yours, no strings attached. You could just leave right now with the extra emerald, but I just want you to remember that lockbox while I speak. I’d like to purchase that griffin.”

“No!” Kristina responded immediately, without any hesitation. She had no intention to even listen as she grabbed the chips and walked out the door.

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“Kristina, wait! Dammit! Fine, at least now I can get to some real business.” Chief’s attention was now fully set on Darius. “What’s your relation to the girl?”

“A partner, and you owe my partner a recommendation.”

“Aye, can’t have her forgetting that. One moment please.” Along with a pen and paper, he took out a large cigar. After a moment his eyes glowed yellow, and a small fire lit from his fingers. “Would you hear me out for a moment? I have a job proposition worth 30 no 50 emerald.”

Against his better judgement, Darius chose to humor him. “Continue.”

“Finally, someone who can listen to reason. I’m sure you’ve only met Kristina a short time ago, less than a week. That was the last time we talked and I’m sure she would’ve mentioned you, so you might not have realized something.”

“A secret? If it’s something that she doesn’t want me to know then I don’t want to know.”

Darius once again reached for the door but was hurriedly stopped by Chief. “No, not a secret! Listen, she’s already 18, but she’s shown no affinity or aptitude for any wattiez. She’s one of those untethered types, a bad omen.”

“I’m aware.” Darius’s response was bleak, barely hiding his disdain for the person who just insulted his partner.

“Then why are you working with her? Are you one too?”

“No, I have an affinity for…” He had to think of one at random, considering he wasn’t even sure if he could use magic or not. “Elemental.”

“Then we share an affinity. We are like brothers. From one to another, let me just say-”

“What’s the job you’re offering me 50 emerald chips for?”

“I want that griffin.”

It was starting to click for Darius. “Kristina just said she wouldn’t sell, Fierce is hers, not mine.”

“I saw the way that you looked at those emeralds. I’d ask you to empty your pockets, but I’m feeling charitable, and I’ll overlook anything you might’ve nicked.”

Darius produced a small ruby ring taken from the table when the lockbox contents spilled over and started playing with it. Though he opted to not show the other goodies he picked in case Chief got cold feet. “First, I’d like to indulge in your goodwill, tell me what you know about a little group called Shining Twilight.”

“Shining Twilight?” Chief asked with a subtle look of longing on his face. “I had the pleasure of meeting one of their representatives some time ago. Ms. Photon was her name, I believe. A well-dressed woman with a voice as smooth as silk. She invited me to a private gathering intended for the various village heads and I intend on going. If you want to know more, you’ll have to do my job for me.”

This was decent information and another strong lead. Shining Twilight was gathering leaders and important people for something. Maybe stirring up some trouble? Unfortunately, Darius didn’t like the way Chief treated Kristina.

“She just took down a griffin for you, and now you want to steal from her. Seems a bit sketch, doesn’t it?”

Chief leaned back in his chair and nodded. “True, but you can’t think of it that way. I’m just doing what’s best for the village at the cost of one person. A properly trained griffin would be great help, especially to a small outskirt village like ours.”

“Don’t try and justify your theft.”

“There’s no way she could handle a griffin anyway. Without wattiez, that thing will just end up eating her eventually.”

“Stop trying to justify your theft.”

“She’s a bad omen. I shouldn’t even let her live in the village all things considered. If it wasn’t for Madam Heart… listen, they owe us anyway. This is just suitable payment.”

“Can you even hear yourself?”

“She has no eye for value anyway! Hunting a griffin for a measly 15 emerald. If I had to call the hunters, they would have easily charged three if not five times as much. Listen, I have a cousin in New Dawn who is a staffsmith. If I put in a good word, I could have him-”

“Shut it!” Chief did just that. “You know, you remind me of someone I know back home, Emmy, so kindly take your chips, and SHOVE IT! Bye.”

Darius didn’t wait for a response, choosing to take the recommendation and leave after giving those parting words. That is, alongside some extra jewelry he managed to pick up.