We could do this. We could manage.
I shouldn't be anxious. We were all here, together, safe and strong. United.
Standing before the ornate, beautiful doors that were barely larger than I was, I felt small. It was silly, but even though the expansive architecture of this complex was designed with creatures of my new size in mind, all it did was make me feel smaller. I was glad that Sigura was once again the person to take the first step forward. My [Sensory Zone] flooded into the room beyond the corridor just behind her, scanning for threats that she would have undoubtedly already seen.
It was a spacious office, like I'd expected it to be. I hadn't seen into any of the rooms marked with Epithets, but I'd suspected them to be offices or living quarters. If nothing else, this had matched that expectation.
The office was plush, comfortable and elegant, with a light lavender mat sitting in the middle of the floor. The mat had the same symbol we'd seen at the entrance, that of a purple five pointed star with darkened tips. It looked larger, now. The brightness of the mat was contrasted with the darker purple that coated the floor and walls, making the room's colours seem even darker than the corridor outside, even if it was all the same colour, in reality.
I was glad for the black windows at the back. As dark as they looked, they let the morning sunlight flood into the room, touching everything in sight, bathing it in a subdued yet tasteful glow.
Along the walls I saw dressers, drawers and glass cases. The drawers had curled legs, smooth tops and flowery patterns carved into the side, much like the entrance to the room itself.
Some of the cases along the walls held medals and trophies or varying designs, many of them gold in colour. Many were addressed to one 'Giovanni Romano', yet others were awarded to different people with the Romano name.
It was a staggering collection, and not something I'd expected to see from a criminal organisation's boss. At least not in their office. I could see them being hung up at home, but here? It seemed a little... boastful.
Sitting in a glass cube box beneath a beautiful display case was a brass bust of a Human man's face, one wrinkled with age despite the confident, business-like expression.
Hanging above the entrance to the room were panes of light. Those panes all had a golden edge to them, the same type that Screen had been looking at when we'd first come here. The back wall was covered with a collection of floating rectangular 'screens'.
Every single one revealed a different location. Different areas, all outdoors. My mental eye scanned over them, and I surmised that they were of places in the city. The only one I recognised was the park we'd visited, the one with the shrine and the lake.
Beyond that, I saw a casino, if the gaudy golden entrance and symbol above it were any indication. It was a sphere of gold with a scale-like pattern along it, surrounded by different coloured gemstones. A universal symbol of merchants, an emblem representing the Glittering Fortune, Primordial God of Wealth.
My 'eye' flickered over the others, attempting to commit a number of these places to memory, if I ever got a chance to see them. A shopping center bustling with people of different races. A glowing fountain with a statue in the center. An enormous white tower that stood like a timeless monolith among the buildings around it.
There were over twenty of these screens, all moving in real time. They weren't mere recordings or moving images. Each and every one was bathed in the same morning light we were.
Their ability to keep track of things was... impressive, I'll admit. I couldn't imagine maintaining such a network was easy, either. Care had gone into this.
Despite the collection of spots around the city revealed in the screens around us, I was once again fixated on the sky visible within each and every one.
It wasn't the real sky, but it wasn't a mere painting, either. It was the closest thing I could get to truly seeing it myself. Clouds moved through the sea of blue above us in real time. Birds flew from building to building. Through those screens, I felt closer to my goal. So close I could almost feel it.
My thoughts once again drifted to that brand. A symbol that the experiment I'd been was a failure. A mistake. Chimera had tried to turn me into a Mic Caster, according to Aquamarine. She seemed like a reliable source of information, and I took her assessments as truth. Sigura had been angry as the [Doctor] told us about it, but I had only felt relief. Joy.
Chimera had failed. They tried to warp me, to turn me into something I wasn't. The brand on the front of my body, the Bird, stood as a testament to my luck and tenacity. I couldn't be certain, but I had my suspicions as to what that 'failure' was.
That day, they believed I would die in that vat. That I would be consumed by whatever else they'd put in there with me, and that something else would come to the fore.
But they hadn't. I'd survived, and I was still me. Changed, but intact.
Alive.
The sensation made my heart soar, filling me with confidence.
It was a confidence I was grateful for. I needed it, after what I'd seen next.
Standing before the dark window was a deep purple desk, one carved from a fine, elegant wood. The design carved into the front was similar to that of the doors, with a pair of carved roses curling up around that same five pointed star.
On the desk itself was a small ledger with roses painted on the front, a golden circular rune at the front of the desk, identical to those we'd seen elsewhere, and a photograph in a frame to the right, not far from the edge, but close.
The frame was facing the window, and I felt like an intruder for looking, but my curiosity won over my desire to be courteous.
It was a family photo, one showing a collection of children and teens in purple outfits, all with black hair and eyes that ranged from a warm, bright orange to an earthy brown. While some children looked about as refined and stiff as I'd expected, others looked... wild, almost.
The wild children looked outgoing and joyful as they grinned or prodded one another in the photo. Many were young children, with the oldest being a teenage girl with a sharp, harsh face and bright brown eyes, her expression one of irritation. Nobody in the picture looked like a mother figure, but the father was in plain view. He smiled, standing with perfect posture behind the family.
The man in the picture wore that exact same smile as we entered, sitting in his plush purple chair behind the desk.
The Don was a refined looking Human, one that could have been anywhere between a young adult or a middle aged man. He had slim, pale hands that linked in front of him on top of the table, a colour that matched that of his sharp face. His short, jet black hair was slicked back and carefully combed, none of it covering his smiling face or bright auburn eyes.
He wore the same suit his employees did. With how naturally he wore it, the lavender and purple tiled suit looked like an entirely different outfit on him. A white undershirt and black tie completed the look. Unlike the other suits I'd seen, his bore the group's signature star on his breast pocket.
Standing next to him was a Cat on two legs. The Adept was dressed in a similar purple suit, with a fine tailcoat over his orange and white fur. Neck frills stood out around his collar, a personal addition to the outfit that I hadn't seen on the others. His paws were linked behind his back as he stood with a pair of glowing black boots, a rapier sheathed at his waist. His golden eyes were barely visible, poking up over the table, yet locked on our group nonetheless.
Despite the truth staring me dead in the 'face', I couldn't picture this man as a Human, even if he appeared to be.
Compared to any other Human I'd ever met, the Don had a 'presence' to him, a sort of pressure that made him seem larger than life. He looked as though he was just a well dressed Human, smaller than both Sigura and I. Yet when I saw him, it felt as though we were standing before a Giant.
Was it possible? For all we knew, the Don could have been a Giant using an artefact or ability to shrink himself. If someone told us he was a Giant or some powerful being like a Dragon using a [Glamour] or Shapeshifting ability, I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest.
He reminded me of Deathstreak, an antagonistic Dragon from Adventures of the Six. He had that same air of power, intelligence and danger I'd felt when reading his introduction, but I couldn't let myself fall into the trap of distancing myself. This man wasn't fiction. I couldn't compare him to a character in my head, even if the thought was strangely reassuring. He was a real, palpable threat, and I needed to keep my wits about me.
I took my awareness away from the man, looking down at my teammates instead.
Streiphen seemed a little intimidated, but his curious glancing around the room told me he might be alright. He was just... adjusting.
Fareel seemed... bored? It was difficult to read a Fishman's expression at the best of times, but he could have felt... underwhelmed? Apathetic? I wasn't sure, but I hoped it was just for show, and that he was hiding his true emotions.
Sigura's eyes were locked on the Don's, not breaking contact for an instant. I worried that he may take it as a form of challenge or aggression, but I didn't want to distract her with a telepathic message. If the Don was capable of intercepting Mental Magic, he might know what we... no... maybe I was being too paranoid. Still, it was best to leave Sigura to her own devices. She knew what she was doing.
Toya looked... When I saw his expression, I was close to telekinetically searching through my mech for a bucket. He was sweating, his face and shivering body making it seem as though he was close to melting into a puddle. I had to hope he could hold himself together.
"Welcome to the Velvet Star," came the Don's voice, one that was just as smooth and clear as his organisation's namesakes. "Please, take a seat."
In front of the desk were four plush seats, each designed for people of Sigura's size, or bigger. The sound broke what I realised was a deafening silence, one that instantly caught the attention of all present. The Don's expression hadn't faltered or changed in the slightest, yet his eyes drifted between us all in turn.
Streiphen climbed up into the seat, looking tiny and lost compared to the chair, out of his depth as he half-sunk into the material.
Toya took a deep breath before sitting, but seemed more at home in it than Streiphen was, at least in size.
While Fareel leapt up into the chair with reckless abandon, Sigura's eyes turned golden, inspecting the seat for Aera. Enchanted chair traps? I hadn't considered the possibility, but I was glad Sigura had. Judging by the fractional rise of the Don's smile, he was glad too. I hoped that was a sign that he was pleased, at least, and not that he was planning a horrifically painful punishment for doubting his hospitality.
"As I am sure you have already guessed, I am Don Giovanni Romano, the leader of the Velvet Star. This is my bodyguard," he spoke, gesturing with one hand to the Cat Adept at his side. Streiphen had to lean up to spot the tips of his ears over the desk.
"Good morning, esteemed guests," the Adept spoke, bowing in such a way that only Sigura and I could see. The others didn't have a vantage point from which to see him do it behind the desk. "I am Master Cat. You may address me as Constantine, if you wish."
Then, his eyes turned to us, and I knew what he was looking for. He hadn't offered a handshake, but I could see where to go from here. Standard business etiquette.
"[It is a pleasure to meet you both. I am Yuri Scalesmith.]"
"Sigura Brightmane," the Half Nekari Chimera chimed in, leaning into the plush chair as she swung one leg over the other, her eyes still locked firmly on the Don.
"S-Streiphen Zenithine, sir!" the grey skinned Chimera chirped, trying to scooch up in the seat so he could more easily look at the Don's face despite his size.
"Toya... I'm Toya," the Slime-like Chimera finished weakly. He still looked incredibly nervous, but I was glad he had the guts to respond at all. Part of me had worried he wouldn't be able to reply.
The Don raised an eyebrow, glancing towards the one member of our group who hadn't spoken.
"And this gentleman is...?"
"Fareel," Sigura clarified. "He's mute."
The leader of the Velvet Star briefly pursed his lips.
"Does he know sign language? Or any Mental Magic Spells that allow him to communicate?" the Don asked, looking towards Sigura.
I took that to mean he was seeing her as the de facto leader. I wasn't sure how accurate that felt in the grand scheme of things, but it helped to take some pressure from my heart.
"He knows a bit of Selvanian Sign, but not enough to hold a conversation," Sigura replied.
The Don nodded, his smile pursing for a moment as if silently mulling something over. Then, his eyes fell on me, his face reasserting its previous position.
"I see. I regret to say I don't have a seat suitable for you, Miss Scalesmith, but I'm hoping the room as a whole can help you feel comfortable during our discussion."
I nodded in response to the man, my mech helping to facilitate the motion. I took that as my cue to sit, lowering myself to the ground as I folded my legs up next to me, placing my bronze helmet on the ground to my right.
I didn't know proper Scandian etiquette, or how I should be sitting during a Human's business meeting, but with a body like mine, a lot of etiquette rules didn't directly apply. I... had to just wing it and hope for the best, as much as my mind protested to the idea. Hopefully he wouldn't take offence to my lack of knowledge on the matter.
He waited for a few seconds before letting his eyes fall from my body, casting those bright, searching eyes over the rest of my allies.
"Now, before we get down to business, I'd like to know what you thought of the base," he said. I'd been expecting a number of responses, but this was none of them. "I was informed you met with Aquamarine before coming to my office. Did you find the services satisfactory?"
I felt my skin roll at his words. Was he asking what we thought of the base's aesthetics as well as the [Doctor]?
"If I lived here, I'd need to get used to seeing the colour purple every waking moment. I don't hate the colour, but it's everywhere," Sigura commented.
Toya stiffened, looking as though he was about to have a heart attack. The Don's smile grew, an action that seemed to help Streiphen relax. I'd gotten the opposite impression.
"I'm fond of the decor, but I can understand that it isn't to everyone's tastes," he responded neutrally.
"[I liked the paintings in the corridors,]" I chimed in. I knew nothing about fine art, and I prayed the others wouldn't contradict me, but I had to say something to help save Sigura's blatantly disrespectful comment. "[And the flowers, too. There is a lot of purple here, but it doesn't feel overbearing.]"
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. Why would I bring up the damn colours again? I'd been trying to cover for Sigura, and all I did was reinforce her point. I needed to change the topic. I needed something else, something-
"Your [Doctor] was helpful," Sigura continued. "I was shocked to hear something like Malacanths really existed, but Yuri confirmed what she was saying."
"[Yes... she provided great advice and conducted herself very professionally,]" I added, hoping Sigura would get the hint.
"I'm delighted to hear it," the Don replied, his sharp eyes running over each and every one of us.
It felt... easier, now. More natural. His responses didn't sound fake or double-edged. He didn't sound 'delighted', but he did sound pleased to hear the positive comments. But how 'positive' were they, really? Or... maybe I was jumping at shadows. Looking for reasons to distrust him that didn't exist. Open mind, Yuri. Keep an open mind.
"I'm certain all of you understand that what you've seen today, from the services to our staff, are entirely confidential, don't you? While we're pleased to have you all as guests, we'd rather you kept the layout of our compound and the nature of our staff to yourselves."
That... that felt wrong, too. If he wanted strict confidentiality, why would he mention it now, after we'd seen everything? He could have asked us to sign a magical [Contract], one that promised that we couldn't give or sell the information to other groups without repercussions. It felt... off, in a way I couldn't place. There had to be some ulterior motive.
For a brief moment, I saw Sigura's eyes sharpen. The moment passed, and she brushed it away with a casual shrug of her shoulders.
"We wouldn't have anyone to sell the info to anyway. You people are the first group we came across. We don't know anyone else in this city other than a few orphans."
The Don's shoulders seemed to loosen fractionally. Was that some sort of test? I didn't want to leave Sigura as the sole member of our group to contribute to this conversation, but keeping up with the undercurrent of this 'chat' was a struggle. I could just be overthinking things, but-
"Count yourselves lucky then, that you've come to the right place," the Don spoke with a smile, his words cutting through my thoughts like a clean knife. "We're looking for skilled Casters, or those that have the potential to become exceptional in their own way. You wouldn't have found a more welcoming employer than us. We'll have plenty of work to supply you with soon, once we step back into the raging storm that is Divastyr's territorial landscape."
Streiphen smiled. A small, prideful smile, one meant more for himself than anyone else.
"Raging storm?" Sigura asked, raising an eyebrow. "Little too poetic for a turf war, isn't it?
I could see the Cat Adept to the Don's right bristle, but the Don's smile didn't falter an inch.
"I believe the poetic nature of it is rather justified. This city's conflict is more than a mere turf war. Divastyr is a unique city, even among the many in this fine land. While the city council and [Jarl] are technically in charge, they don't have the manpower to fully police this city. As is the nature of Scander, a city without the ability to defend itself will be conquered and subsumed into others for the sake of preserving 'strength'. The only thing stopping that from happening is us, the 'criminal' factions."
Toya's eyes bulged with clear and obvious disbelief. My body cringed at the sight, hoping his feelings on the matter wouldn't be... too obvious.
"Criminals are protecting this city?" he blurted out, his tone filled with an incredulous honesty.
"In a sense, yes," the Don smiled.
I got the impression he was close to laughing, but that might have been my imagination. Reading this man was far from easy.
"Divastyr is a sprawling, expansive city, and it's only growing by the day. In a city like this, where the [Jarl] and his council don't have the manpower to capture every criminal and watch over every sector of this city as it grows beyond their control, they have few options. The Scandian [King] refuses to help them, and the Rengrasian [Queen] overseas, whom does have some sway on the city's politics, doesn't have the funds to help after the Boost War some time ago."
Boost War...? Boost, as in the drug?
"That's where we come in. Not just 'us' at the Velvet Star, but an 'underworld union' of criminal factions controlling various regions of the city. This union is a... necessarily evil for Divastyr's survival. We keep things in check, ensure the other factions don't go too far, and maintain a balanced status quo that makes the city livable for people of our professions."
Sigura snorted, crossing her arms in what was very clear, obvious disbelief.
"Yeah? And how does that work? You expect us to believe a bunch of criminal groups are just shaking hands and keeping a whole damn city afloat?"
"I do," the Don responded calmly. "Because it's true, and you won't find any evidence to the contrary here. Through the lens of this union, it could be said that we are it's 'protectors'. We take from the city, but we give back as necessary, too. When a group goes beyond the bounds of morality or takes more than their sector can sustain, other factions will work to destabilise or outright invade them and take over to maintain the 'safe' status quo. When groups appear that choose not to play along, they're crushed."
The look in the Don's eyes changed for the first time since we'd met him, clouding briefly as he glanced to his left.
"Only a single group has managed to avoid that, but they're long gone now."
The Disciples. The ones who destroyed an entire adventuring guild and ruined a section of the city. The ones who'd made many children homeless orphans.
"You're not the ones calling yourselves 'protectors' around here," Sigura cut in, unfazed by the change in the Don. Had she even noticed it? "From what I see, your group hasn't protected anything if those Big Tooth people are still running around."
The Cat Adept, Constantine, glanced up at the Don questioningly. The Don's smile only grew.
"Perhaps you're right. Our 'protection' has been light and on the side as of recent. We sustained casualties during the Disciple attack, as many did. Some of our number were left hospitalised or forced into an early retirement, if not a grave. It hasn't been easy for our organisation, but that's no excuse for sloppiness. However, we are nothing if not opportunistic. We've allowed Big Tooth to assert themselves in this district as a temporary defensive measure, and as bait."
Bait...? Bait for what? The expression of the others seemed just as lost as I was. Fareel looked the least lost of our group, but I suspected that was because he wasn't paying much attention, and not because he understood the intricacies of the city.
"For... other groups?" Sigura guessed.
The Don's smile became approving, accentuated by a small nod.
"Big Tooth is making an admirable effort. They haven't crossed any lines just yet, but I'm certain other factions have quickly noted that they don't possess the same level of manpower our organisation does, nor the reputation we have over our people. If our gamble pays off, other factions will attempt to encroach on this territory, and we'll be able to make a triumphant return, defeating both Big Tooth and the invading agents of other factions, too."
Wouldn't that upset the 'balance' he spoke of? Did he have the resources to just... expand like that, after being inert for some time?
The Don's hands broke from one another as he raised a pointed finger to a space above the doorway. I didn't need to turn, but I saw the others look past the backs of their chairs, up at the screens. By the looks of shock on their faces, I presumed they hadn't noticed them when we came in.
The screens had changed from various locales to still images. Close up shots of graffiti in different locations, each picture taken at different times of the day. One of the images was familiar, the alley next to the Dronrowth Shopping Center. The images were all of exaggerated, stretched out Orc-like faces, with hairy heads, massive fangs and curved, pointed tusks.
"Big Tooth has made their move. They've scrubbed the district clean of our own markings and replaced them with their own. In our absence, they've worked to take over the territory and fill the shoes we left behind. It's regrettable that they had so little faith in our protection that they felt the need to appear the moment we left, but alas, this is the current state of play, and we are nothing if not opportunistic."
Sigura cracked a smile, one that bled with the desire to capitalise on that lack of faith in a violent way. Her eyes looked... lighter now.
"Then let's talk about resources," Sigura spoke, her tail rubbing the fabric of the seat, swaying back and forth despite herself. "We're not joining this group for free. If your group has been out of the game for a while, why should we pick your group and not another one?"
Toya let out a heavy, pained sigh.
"I can offer you a roof over your heads, for starters," the Don smoothly replied. "I understand your group has been staying in the Dronrowth Shopping Center. I've been told you've been forced to defend it from outsiders already, but that won't be necessary here. Beyond simple security, we can offer a support network of skilled and knowledgeable people, a reputation as upstanding protectors that could even transcend the stigma surrounding your situation, and, of course, coin and resources as a reward for loyalty and good service."
A place to call our own? Resources that would mean Streiphen and Toya wouldn't need to scavenge just to get by? People we could speak to and better learn how to live, and a support network that would let us find our feet in this city and the world at large?
It sounded amazing. I knew the work might get... difficult, but if we chose to leave, we would. Still, it was a start. A step forward towards normality. It was a massive upgrade from our current living space, as much as I'd grown fond of Dronrowth. We could decorate our new space much the same way, if we wanted. Others might find the mannequins eerie, but it could be a pleasant inside joke to brighten up the space. We should think-
"I... I don't know..." Toya spoke quietly, glancing from Sigura's face to Streiphens. What he saw in those faces crushed him, his expression overflowing with worry, apprehension and a drop of disappointment.
"This... all sounds very generous, Don," the Slime-like man spoke to the Human, before turning around in his chair to look towards me. "But... is this what we really want? Even if we won't have to... to kill people, do we really want our 'image' to be associated with criminals? We're already Chimeras, which is dangerous enough for people like us, and..."
I didn't think he would speak up at all, but he was trying to appeal to me, of all people. Sigura was the de facto leader, or so I thought, but his expression was pleading.
"[We'll make sure to do our research before we set anything in stone,]" I reassured him. "[If the Velvet Star has the reputation they say they do, then this is a golden opportunity. With the structure of the city being what it is, this may be our best option. Being able to clean up unregulated crime elsewhere while getting everything we need to survive is a bonus. We can ensure everything runs smoothly.]"
My reassurance didn't have the desired effect. I saw a light leave Toya's eyes. His face scrunched up, and then slackened. He turned around, back towards the dark window and the Don, and nodded.
"Right," he intoned. "You're right."
"What about artefacts and magical support?" Sigura asked, taking her own glance back in my direction. "We're looking for an artefact that can focus someone's senses or simulate sight."
My body jiggled in agreement, and the Don leaned back into his chair, glancing towards the golden circle on his desk.
"I'm sure we can work something out," he told us. "Once Aquamarine has gotten the chance to check for any lingering complications with your Souls, we can talk about getting you outfitted with magical equipment as necessary."
Artefacts, too. If we performed good work and proved ourselves useful to the organisation, the Don could supply us with equipment in turn. The group seemed well established enough that we could benefit greatly from aligning ourselves with them. If we needed to perform small time crime, fight, and help with guard work in the process, that was something I was willing to do.
"[If my teammates are in agreement, I'll accept your terms, Don,]" I told him clearly and succinctly. I was feeling more confident about this than I had earlier. My team were all with me, and that helped to reassure me.
"If... if Miss Yuri agrees to it, then I do too!" Streiphen spoke, clenching his fists, determination burning in his bright, starry eyes.
"I'm in the same boat as the brat," Sigura grinned, crossing her arms. "I'll join. If we find out you've lied about anything, or try to get us to do something we don't agree to, we're going to leave."
The Cat Adept next to the Don bristled, but the Human only nodded.
"You have my word, for what that may be worth to you. If you truly disagree with any job I give you, you're free to go."
Sigura glanced down at Toya, who was sitting further away from her, off to the side, next to Fareel. The Fishfolk nodded in agreement, but the Slime-like man hesitated. After a few seconds, he nodded too. Silent.
The Don's eyes lingered on Toya for a few long seconds, before moving back over us in turn.
"I'm pleased to hear it. I'm certain Incognito remembered to tell you all to prepare Epithets for this job, didn't he?"
With a nod of affirmation from Sigura, the Don smiled, waiting expectantly. I mentally steeled myself.
"Yakamoz," Sigura spoke. She jerked a thumb in Fareel's direction. The Fishfolk grinned widely at the sound of the word, giving a nod. "We don't know what it means, but that's what he wanted. He had to spell it out for us."
Back in Dronrowth, Sigura had suggested the name 'Tadpole'. I'd thought it was clever, but Fareel had been strongly against it. While signing out the word itself through individual letters had been painstaking, with Sigura having to check with him multiple times that it was both spelled correctly, as well as an actual word, we'd decided on it.
I could only hope she hadn't butchered the pronounciation.
"Yakamoz?" the Don asked, an eyebrow raised. He looked back towards the Cat Adept next to him. "I'm not familiar with the word. Do you know what it means, Puss?"
The Adept shook his head, a pair of golden eyes peering over the desk towards the Fishman.
"I do not. The word is unfamiliar to me, but I shall look into it."
"We decided to go with a theme," Sigura told them, still looking towards Fareel. "We asked him after we discussed it if his name fit, and he told us it did, so we're taking his word for it."
She'd also asked to ensure it wasn't a curse word, or something horribly offensive in his language. He'd laughed away that concern, and Sigura had mulled over actually using the word when the time came. She'd decided to trust him.
"A theme? Interesting," the Don smiled.
"Yeah!" Streiphen blurted out, looking proud of himself. "We all decided to pick sky stuff! I chose Stardust!"
Stardust. Just the sound of it helped to warm my heart. It sounded magical. Playful. Charismatic. Reminiscent of the starry night tucked within his eyes. He'd come up with it himself, and I couldn't think of a single better name that better encapsulated 'Streiphen'.
Over the table, I saw the Adept, 'Puss', smile. It was a smile echoed on the Don's own face as his head turned, waiting for the next revelation.
"Moonshine," Toya murmured. He wore the shadow of a bitter smile on his face as he said it. It was a beautiful sounding name, and it seemed to have some greater meaning to him. While I couldn't tell what that meaning was, I was pleased with the name nonetheless.
The Don raised an eyebrow, but neglected to comment. Then, his head turned towards Sigura.
"I'm picking Sunburst," Sigura told them, glancing between the Don and the Adept, as though they were going to speak out against her. "I don't know if your group or this city has some etiquette or unspoken rules about picking the same Epithet, but if anyone has a problem with it, I'll fight them for the name."
"Luckily for everyone involved, I don't believe anyone in this city has claimed the name," the Don informed her with a wry grin. Sigura almost looked disappointed at the fact.
Then, his eyes landed on me. The last Epithet.
I felt a little embarrassed by the name I'd chosen. Our group had decided to go with a 'sky' focused naming theme, and I'd been the only one to go against it. Supposedly, if Fareel was to be believed. Initially, I'd wanted to pick a name that had something to do with the open sky, or maybe clouds.
It was only during that talk back in Dronrowth that I'd been struck with inspiration. A moment of epiphany that put the Epithet I wanted in my heart. As soon as it entered my mind, I couldn't let it go, no matter how hard I tried to reason with myself otherwise.
Toya had been uncertain, but Sigura had fought with him about it. She'd said that if a person wasn't happy with their Epithet, there shouldn't be any point in picking one at all. An Epithet that didn't fit a person could only be detrimental.
Some people envision first speaking their Epithet as a momentus event, one punctuated by flashing lights or sparkling magic. I'd been one of those people, when I was younger. It was important, but not just in a magical sense.
An Epithet was something simple, yet complicated in its own right. It's a decision. A first step towards the person an individual wants to be. A promise for the future. A focus.
I didn't know much about the supposed benefits of Epithets. I'd heard that they were important for adventurers and Casters of all types, and that they could facilitate magical growth, or growth of the Soul altogether. Whether or not that was true or an old wive's tale, it didn't matter to me. I liked to believe it was true, at least after I'd chosen mine. As silly as it might have sounded, the moment that it clicked in my head made me wonder if it was destiny.
"[It's... H-Homebound...]" I squeaked, my voice tinged with embarrassment. "[Homebound is my Epithet.]"
The conversation from the previous night was a partial culprit to this embarrassment. Sigura had told us all that if the Don had ended up being some 'haughty rich prick' that demanded her to fit the theme they picked, or tried to force Epithets upon them that fit the organisation, they'd leave the building immediately.
"It deviates from your theme, doesn't it?" the Don asked, an eyebrow raised as my heart froze. "Why?"
I heard a low growl come from deep within Sigura's throat. The Cat Adept's hand snapped to the rapier at his waist, yet the Don didn't look threatened or offended in the slightest.
"Because that's the Epithet she wanted," Sigura told him, raising her chin. "It doesn't fit our theme, not in a way we've figured out yet, but we don't give a damn. Yuri has her reasons, and that's that. If you've got a problem with it, you've got a problem with us."
Toya bit his lip, trying to push down the trembling of his body as Sigura and the Don stared each other down.
His expression was calm. Both of his hands linked together, rising in front of his face. I saw him try to cover a smile, and then... he laughed.
That laugh was a sound that broke the tension and the silence. Not a laugh of malice, but one of genuine amusement and anticipation. The Human folded his arms, leaning back into his seat with a smile.
"Is that the type of attitude you should be taking with your superior?" the man asked her, unconcealed mirth in his eyes.
I saw the Cat Adept sigh, looking away from the Human behind the desk.
"If you can't accept this much, you're no leader of ours," Sigura responded, narrowing her eyes. "I'd've said the same to the damn Gods if they came back and asked me what you did."
As hostile as her posture and expression looked, I could tell a weight had been lifted from her. Either this was an incredible performance to hide his true feelings or intentions, or the Don was more down to earth than we'd expected him to be.
"Good," the Don responded simply, still grinning. "I'm glad to hear it. Yes-men don't make for an Experience-rich environment."
"Have you chosen a name for your team?" the Don asked after he'd collected himself. "I can't imagine you wish to work individually after this, do you?"
Sigura had been shouldering the brunt of the conversation, and I'd been the one to suggest the name. It felt like my responsibility to say it.
"[Equinox,]" I responded firmly. "[That's what we're calling our team.]"
The Don gave us a fractional nod, glancing towards Streiphen, Toya and Fareel for a moment. Assessing them.
"Then I welcome you to the Velvet Star, Team Equinox. On the good faith of Incognito and Pack Rat, both Homebound and Sunburst will be given provisional member status within our group. Until you've proven yourselves, I'm unwilling to spend additional resources on Stardust, Moonshine and Yakamoz. They will be given contracts equivalent to temporary hired help until they've shown themselves to be worthy of a more permanent position."
'Temporary hired help'. Some deep, intrinsic part me knew he was talking about 'Goons'. An annoyed, indignant part of me that I was forced to bury.
Streiphen frowned, but nodded firmly. He sank back into the chair, crossing his arms much like Sigura and the Don had.
"We will!"
I was glad to see the determination in Streiphen's eyes. They burned with a fire that was mirrored in Sigura's own, and within me.
"I'm sure of it," the Don replied smoothly, leaning back against his plush chair as sunlight streamed in from the black window behind him, bathing all of us in its glow. "Then let's talk about your first job, Equinox."