Maya just shrugged at me, her eyes avoiding mine. Before I could press her further, the innkeeper came back over with our drinks, interrupting our conversation. He set down the mugs of ale and leaned in, his voice low and confidential.

"I couldn't help but overhear your conversation," he said, his eyes flicking between us. "I'm pretty sure I heard Elyria say she was heading to Ebonfall to rescue her friend."

Maya scoffed. "What kind of superhearing do you have?"

The innkeeper laughed at that. “Trick of the trade boss.”

I interrupted, desperate. "What was the name?"

The innkeeper hesitated, scratching his beard. "Not sure," he muttered. "Trev? Bev?" He paused, then added, "Ev maybe?"

A queasy feeling settled in my stomach. "That's it! I'm going. She went to help me, I need to help her!"

Maya threw up her hands, her face a mixture of exasperation and concern. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and a small crease formed between her brows, betraying the frustration building within her. Despite this, there was something in her look that hinted at genuine concern for me.

"Fine, but are you really going to go to a place as dangerous as Ebonfall with one hand?" she asked, her tone a blend of irritation and earnestness.

"Well, I'd love to have two hands. Do you know someone who sells those?" I replied, dripping with sarcasm.

She laughed. "No, dummy, but I know of a shop that might have something for you to put on your arm. Something that would make you more whole, so to speak."

Her response caught me off guard, and I stammered a thank you.

"Don't get too excited. It won't be magical or fancy, we can't afford that right now. But hopefully, they should be able to make something."

"Okay, let's get going.” I said excitedly, “I don't want to waste a second while my... While Elyria is in danger."

Maya visibly bristled at my comment but pointed to the bar area. "Tip the bartender for the information."

"Great idea," I said, dropping a few credits on the counter as we headed out.

Maya led the way through the bustling streets. I marveled again at the sheer number of churches and temples. The city seemed to worship every god imaginable, and the architecture was both awe-inspiring and overwhelming.

After winding through the city, Maya led us to a less-than-reputable area. The buildings were shabby, and the atmosphere was darker. Among the dilapidated structures stood a huge, beautiful, dark, gothic cathedral that filled me with both awe and a shiver of unease.

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Next to the cathedral was a rundown-looking shanty building. Maya led me inside. The shop was cluttered and dimly lit, with various prosthetic limbs and mechanical parts scattered about. A goblin with huge glasses perched on his head looked up from his workbench. His eyes were magnified to an almost comical degree, and his wide, toothless grin made him appear both endearing and unsettling.

He just sat there smiling at us. It unnerved me. I expected him to talk first. I shrugged at him, nothing. I nodded at him, and he tilted his head in response. I raised my eyebrows, and his smile widened. What was wrong with this four-foot-tall green weirdo?

Finally, Maya asked, "Are you going to help us or not?"

At the sound of her voice, the goblin jumped up, yelling and falling over as if we had just been invisible and screamed boo in his face. I couldn't help but laugh—a big, belly laugh. It was honestly the funniest thing I had seen happen in years. I looked to Maya, but she did not look pleased.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" she yelled at him while he was bent over wheezing.

After another few seconds, the goblin seemed to gather himself. "Heh, heh, I thought I was hallucinating you guys. I was not ready for you to be real."

Maya, unimpressed, asked, "Why would you be hallucinating?"

The goblin seemed to be feeling better. "I got a delivery of some serious shroom dust and partook to sort of, you know, lubricate my creative process." He sounded like a stoner now.

He waited for us to respond. I smiled broadly at him, missing people like this. I knew some stoner professors who were great fun. Maya, however, looked less and less impressed. "Maybe this was a bad idea," she said, starting to turn to leave.

"No, no, dudes, let Tut Tut help you. I can help you, I'm sure of it."

"How can you be sure?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I can tell by your aura," he said, waving his hands dramatically. "You got this, like, energy, man. It's all... whoooosh, and I can vibe with that. Plus, I've got some really cool stuff back here."

"That's it. We're leaving," Maya said, completely over it.

"Come on, dudes, try me," Tut Tut pleaded.

I sighed and held up a hand to stop Maya. "Okay, Tut Tut, we need a prosthetic for my hand or something like it. Something functional, reliable, and, if possible, affordable."

Tut Tut's eyes lit up, and he scampered back to his workbench. "Gotcha, gotcha. Let me see what I've got here." He started rummaging through the clutter, muttering to himself. "Yeah, man, I think I can whip something up. It won't be fancy, but it'll be groovy. Functional, you know?"

Maya crossed her arms, still skeptical. "This better not be a waste of time."

Tut Tut finally emerged from the clutter with a strange contraption in his hands. It looked like a gauntlet and a this sword coming out of it. It also had wicked-looking spikes jutting from the knuckles, the thin but sturdy blade extended from the wrist. The metal gleamed dully in the dim light, and the entire piece looked roughly fashioned but sturdy. Tut Tut turned it over to show me that at the base was a custom-fitted socket designed to ensure it would stay in place during combat, even without a hand to hold it on.

"Here we go, dudes," Tut Tut said, presenting the weapon with a flourish. "This is a spiked gauntlet sword. Not fancy, but it'll do the job. I can adjust it to make it fitted so as to stay secure, even without a hand to hold it. Those spikes will add some extra punch in a fight, and the blade will keep you in business."

I took the gauntlet sword, examining it closely. The craftsmanship was rough, but it was functional and intimidating. I loved it, it was perfect. "Thanks, Tut Tut. How much do we owe you?"