Satisfied with my excursion, I began the journey to Hex 10. It was a fairly quick walk; Hex 10 is directly to the northeast of the entertainment hex, so I just backtracked and made my way there. I feel like I’m starting to get my bearings in this place.

I shouldn't have been surprised at how amazing every hex was by that point, but I came to a complete stop when I first entered Hex 10.

The entire area was paved with intricately placed stones. Beautiful columns rose to the ceiling and vines wrapped around them and hung down from horizontal trellises. It was the living image of a garden from my homeland.

To complete the image, a fountain stretched along the entire far wall of the hex. On it stood intricately carved statues of the six primary Gods of the Pantheon: Neitra, Goddess of war and victory, her sister Haravess, Goddess of nature and crops, Aytanos, God of death and immortality, Hlek, artificer and smith of the gods, Goetheas, God of magic and law, and at the top, Khariraj, leader of the gods and supposed founder of the Kingdom of Mius.

On the edges of the room, instead of ramps or risers, there were enormous streams of water, trailing into the air and going through the ceiling. There were innumerable boats floating on the streams, traveling casually along.

To an outsider, these might look insane, but they were exactly how we traveled at home. The long, shallow boats used to circle and wind through our largest cities, allowing anyone to hop on and travel to where they needed. It felt almost soothing to have that tradition carried here, even with the crowds of people passing through, jumping on and off the boats constantly.

I wonder if the old boats back home are still roaming around, wandering the empty streets and passing by stalls of rotten and abandoned goods.

I shook the image from my mind. It didn't help to dwell on the past, not when the present was still so uncertain.

I squeezed between a crowd of foreigners who were hesitating to make the move onto each boat as they passed. I stepped easily onto the first boat as it came by and rose into the air.

The stream went up at a steep angle into the ceiling, then leveled out on the second floor before continuing to rise higher. It continued on to every floor in the same way.

Each floor held a similar sight: the boats stayed to the outer edges while the entire inner core was a cylindrical collection of houses and shops, all stacked on each other in an organized yet precarious way.

The people moving around the community were as lively and active as they had been back home. For the first time, I almost felt like life was close to normal. The boat continued its path upward.

When I reached the 6th floor, the environment was completely different from all the previous. There was no central pillar of buildings. Instead the center was the only empty space, surrounded by enormous walls of jutting white rock coming from all directions.

I was told to go to the Cliffs, which is the headquarters for the Raven Court. I had seen their building before back in Khosim, so I knew what to look for: white jagged rock spires stabbing into the air, daring anyone brave enough to enter.

I hopped off the boat, which continued drifting upward on the water, spiraling up the equivalent of maybe 20 floors to the vaulted ceiling.

I took a quick breath and headed toward the only apparent entrance of the Cliffs. I didn't necessarily have a reason to be nervous, but any misstep or perceived slight toward them might mean sudden death.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The Raven Court was technically a legitimate organization, one that had been around for a century or so. But, everyone in Khosim knew their true dealings were on the shaded side of the law. No ruler or ruling party had ever managed to stop their operation; those who tried were often never heard from again.

I stepped through a set of large glass doors which opened as I approached. Inside, I was greeted by a friendly woman behind a thick white desk in a rounded room with only smooth walls. She wore a cape of feathers, a common sight of anyone working in the Raven Court. "Welcome. What are you here for today?"

I explained the illusiacom and the man telling me to come here.

"Please go through here." She waved her hand behind the counter and a random section of the wall sunk in and opened, revealing a short hallway and another room.

"Have a good day," she called behind me as I walked through the hall.

The wall closed behind me the moment I was through it, sealing me inside.

This room was similar to the last: devoid of doors or windows. The walls were the same smooth but unpolished white stone. It was a much larger room, filled with chairs and tables.

It was lit with basic illusory enchantments, pouring white light in from every angle. There wasn't anywhere to hide in here; not that I could have with all eyes currently turned toward me.

There were bodyguards standing in the corners of the room, each bearing the short red-feathered capes of the Red Ravens. They were known for their skill and brutality. A fight with one of them is always a fight to the death.

Toward the center of the room was a ring of chairs and a short table in the center. Multiple bottles of red spirits sat by several glasses in the middle of the table.

Only one person was seated in the ring: a fairly large man swirling a glass of spirits held gently in his enormous hand. He was looking me over, seeming to appraise my worth the way I do a dagger. He was gruff looking with short wavy hair and thick stubble across his face.

"Salway," he greeted, raising his glass toward me. "Have a seat."

I sat down, keeping mental tags of where each of the guards in the room were.

The only other person with us besides the guards was the thin man with the three-tailed cloak. Aurelio, I think his name was. He stood behind my apparent host, silently observing.

One of the bottles on the table rose into the air, the cork popping out and red liquid pouring easily into three glasses simultaneously. The cork restoppered while the three glasses moved toward me, my host, and the thin man.

“Please, enjoy,” the larger man said, holding his glass toward me in cheers. I took the floating glass wordlessly.

I knew to be polite enough to accept the glass, but not stupid enough to drink it. I swished the liquid around casually throughout the meeting.

“What have you called me here for?” I finally asked after a period of silence.

“Direct. I like it.” The man held out his hand to Aurelio, who produced a small box and placed it in his palm. “This is a special enchant, very powerful. You are going to deliver it.”

“That’s it? Why do you need me to do it?”

“You’re new here, an unknown. No one is going to suspect you or interfere. Our biggest problem being stuck in this city is we’re always being watched. I got word of a new arrival from Khosim, a natural brother for our family.”

Easy enough; I just need to carry a box without looking suspicious. I slid easily back into the role of a mercenary. “Any dangers I should be aware of?”

“Smart question. The guards shouldn’t give you any trouble this time, but keep an eye out for anyone following you. Like I said, you’re new, shouldn’t draw much attention. Now, take this and follow Aurelio to meet the Purple Ravens. You'll receive more information after.” He firmly placed the box in my hand and gestured to Aurelio.

Quest Complete: The Mysterious Note

New Quest: First Delivery

New Objective: meet the Purple Ravens

“I didn’t get a name,” I said as I stood.

He leaned back in his chair and finished his glass of spirits in one swig, a toothy smile spread across his face. “Call me the Operator.”