We arrived without much issue, we did come across some fools with a death wish but let's just say there's a lot more ash. It was dark and the lights of the city were not far away.

"So for their questions: we don't know each other and the only reason we travel together is for safety."

No one had a problem with that.

"I never met an elf before, anything I should know?"

"Don't touch them and if you're approached by a group bigger than five be ready to fight."

"And they don't have liquor either."

"There's a reason for that: they're fragile. Like extremely fragile, we're to them what ogers are to us."

"Then what do they have?"

"They brag about how they are born with elemental affinities and how their cores are active from birth but that's just dirty jack all over again, but they do have nice silk."

"Pah! A random spider-kin or moth-kin could weave you thinks that no elven tailor could dream of!"

"But let's be honest they're just the pretty pets of some bored gods who want to test how thin they can make something without cutting it."

"I'm not sure if that was an insult or a examination."

"Me neither."

"Oh I'm definitely stealing that one."

"Come up with your own insults!"

"What about dwarfs?"

"Oh, don't even get me started. Elfs, dwarfs, and all of their descending races are just the board game of some gods "

"And we have first row sets."

This is the moment where the rogue and brute realise just how rotten their team is.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

...

"Who goes there?"

"Just tired travellers looking for a place to rest."

We didn't hide our weapons because it would be more suspicious if unarmed civilians made it here than experienced combatants. Though I'm not really experienced I'm just really good at scamming people, I had practice.

"For what reason has thou come?"

"To rest and if possible to trade."

It isn't rare for travellers to sell what they found on their travels here, that's why I picked the place.

...

Ugh its weird how I just all of the sudden have access to mana but I have been getting used to it. Because otherwise it would happen again. We entered a room of sorts but the others didn't follow, she's going to rest again. She looked down on me with one eye and I could feel my insides being grabbed by something ungodly hot.

"Eh, good enough."

That was her only comment, relief washed over me and I knew that if I'm lucky I will have a chance of escaping. Nope I'm back in the jar. Well only three things left to do. 1) train my mana control. 2) try to aquire a new form. 3) cry. Oh, I don't have tears, dam.

...

The others might not notice but I'm definitely raising that mimic, I mean can you imagine a high tier spell caster who's disguise is so good one needs divine perception to find him. I mean he even tricked me.

Also there seems to be a enchanter in the city, one I know from the past. Actually it's a similar scenario like the mimic, instead of killing I choose to make him submit now he'll enchant for me without cost.

I think ma and pa meet similarly, ma sayd it's in the family. She even personally teached me fire magic and how to make dark ash.

I should bring a gift with me when visiting the enchanter, for old times sake!

...

I crawled out from beneath the pavement, reasons to be a vampire: you fit everywhere.

I gave up hunting my blood long ago, not after that fire demoness took me as a temporary slave. I mean she taught me enchanting, she didn't know it herself but forced me to learn it from nothing but a book. Back then I hated her, but now I'm mildly grateful. I live a life more comfortable than anyone else, whilst working the easiest job.

So you can bet your ass I would have shit my pants if I would eat anything else than blood when I saw her. She approached me slowly but menacingly! I froze in place unable to do anything.

"Good, you recognise me."

Her voice was gentle and beautiful but it filled me with fear.

"Here."

"She threw something at me and I instinctively catched it. It was a potion bottle filled with dark ash! The drug I used to be so addicted to. I was both shocked and joyfull about this gift, it took me so long to get over it and yet I'm still addicted. I didn't even think when I jugged the whole bottle.

More, I need more!

"I have an offer for you: be my shadow again and you'll have all the ash you want."

Refuse, refuse! I have to get out of here! So why is my shadow moving towards her why am I-

...

Dam, poor fella. Guess the two of us are sharing. The same fate now. Should I call him brother? Yeah, he's my brother from now on.