There was a slight drizzle making my thick travel cloak damp, but it still kept me dry underneath. Dry and hidden.

The streets of the capital were by no means empty because of this slight downpour, our people were a hardy sort and would not let some bitter weather give them cause for much else than a discontent grumble and another reason to dry up and warm themselves in a tavern. As a matter of fact, I was heading to just such an establishment right now.

As I walked the hard-packed dirt street I let my gaze take in the busy and multifaceted lives of the populace around me, something that I too seldom had the opportunity for these days; I was suddenly jostled by another.

"Oi now! Watch where you're going."

The black-haired man looked up at my face under my raised hood wearing an annoyed grimace. He was carrying a rather hefty wicker basket covered with a waxed cloth and I assumed he might have been close to falling over carrying this heavy load.

"Pray excuse me."

I offered my apology in a slightly subdued voice, but it was still an earnest one. It did however not seem to mollify the man.

"I nearly dropped this, you realize? ‘Boss would have my hide if it were to be spoiled!"

I kept my face neutral and inclined my head somewhat, making a small open gesture with my hand.

"Still I see you saved your wares though, but again, I am sorry."

For some unknown reason, the man seemed less than inclined to let me move on without a fuss than I'd hoped. Perhaps the rain affected some of our hardy people more than I thought?

"Well, no thanks to you! What is it with people that-"

His burgeoning rant abruptly halted and I could see his eyes dart to the belt under my cloak which had opened slightly when I moved my arm.

Ah, my blade. I should be more careful.

For a moment I was worried he might recognize the pommel but my worry was thankfully short-lived.

"Humph. Adventurers! Don't you have a guild to bother or a monster to cut down or something such?"

He seemed to have lost his will to argue though, since he hefted his large basket with both of his arms and walked off, even throwing a somewhat worried glance behind him before he joined the stream of people flowing through the street.

Well then. Seems my humble disguise is in fact working.

I allowed myself a wry grin under the hood before I continued on, who knew if someone else would accuse me of hindering traffic or something if I tarried? Besides, I needed only to walk for a few minutes more through the east district before I found the tavern I had been looking for. Its sign was weatherworn, hanging from two chains into the street, and depicted a rooster standing on a blade in somewhat faded colors. The carved text read 'The Knighted Rooster'. Yes, this was the place.

The familiar scent of tobacco, ale, and people accosted me as I entered through the door. Only a few heads looked my way as I did so, before returning to their conversations and libations. It looked to mostly be workers, but I did see two off-duty militiamen at a table and a band of what most likely were genuine guild adventurers around another. The place was more crowded than I would have thought before I recalled my earlier conclusion about people escaping the drizzle.

I walked up to the counter and was promptly met by a young man with reddish-brown hair and freckles.

"What'll it be Sir?"

I pointed with a gloved hand at the tap behind him and fished out a silver crown from my pocket and placed it before him.

"I'll have a mug of that, son. But I also want to ask you something if that’s alright?"

He raised a surprised brow which sometime in his earlier life seemed to have been cut, probably in a tussle, but he turned around and filled me a mug of ale, exchanging it for the coin. It was a rather large tip.

"Aye, if I can answer, I will, Sir."

I met his eyes and he seemed an honest enough sort. This was not a bad neighborhood of the city; most of the people in the east district were humble workers and laborers, merchants and a few artisans doing their part in keeping our city afloat. We owed them much.

"I heard a tall tale about something that happened in this place. About a week ago or so?"

The young barkeep seemed to catch on at once and even added a tiny smirk.

"Ha! You are wondering about that wounded man? You ain't the first, Sir. Though none have tipped as generously for the tale, much obliged."

I inclined my head and took a sip of the ale which was decent enough. I silently hoped the tip was not too high to make him question my motives.

"I was working that night to be sure, here at the counter and other odd jobs. It was around the ninth bell or so when two guardsmen burst through the door dragging a bleeding man with them. Of course, it caused quite the stir but they handled it well, ordering me to fetch a cleric or healer and making space for the man on a table."

He pointed to a table in the corner closest to the entrance door, which tonight was the domain of that group of adventurers.

"I did as I was told. Well in truth I sent Bre for help, he's small and quick as a weasel with a hound after him anyways. I did hurry over to help them in case any patrons would get in the way and I caught sight of the man. I think he must have been a merchant because he was decently enough dressed. But I tell you; I feared for him at once, he had a nasty wound both at his shoulder and in his gut, stabbed I’d say. I'm no expert but I dare say he would have died before Bre and that cleric arrived back here."

He made a pause in his tale here as he filled two mugs, handing them over to a girl that was working the tables. I drank a little more of my own brew and didn't rush him, rushing people made them skip or forget details.

"But he didn't?"

I asked when he wiped his hands on a rag at his belt and returned his focus to me and his story.

"Nay, It was the damnedest thing I've ever seen in my life, so I am not surprised people 'been curious about it. We waited bated for a while, able to do nothing but keep pressure on his wounds and watch him rapidly get worse. But then his wounds just started to heal! Right there, in front of our eyes. Two deep stabs just up and closed themselves on their own, within seconds mind you! The man himself came to and seemed no worse for wear, even though he had lost more blood than he had in him still I'd wager."

Seconds? That is far too quickly even for healing magic let alone a potion. And I know how bad those wounds were, having questioned both the guardsmen and the man himself. Though he's an artisan, not a merchant.

"Incredible. And it was no one in here that cast any magic or gave him a potion?"

He shook his head at my suggestions.

"Nay, I was there the whole time and I have seen clerics work before, it would have been obvious, what with all that light and chanting and praying and stuff; and no potions, the guardsmen even asked me for one! Like we could even afford a squirt of healing potion?"

He snorted at the notion. True enough, they are much too expensive for most. But I thought perhaps a visiting adventurer might have shown kindness to the man. It was a long shot.

"So what happened then? I suppose everyone was shocked?"

He gave me a sardonic smile that paired well with my question.

"Oh, that's putting it mildly, Sir. Now though, when I think back on it, it's rather funny to me how that man himself was the one most shocked, especially when the guards started asking what strange magic he had! Hah! The look on his face."

I quirked the corner of my mouth over my ale and nodded. Yes, the man had said as much when I interviewed him. He was of course adamant that he had nothing to do with his miraculous healing. He simply insisted it was some kind of undeserved miracle and he was as bewildered about it as he was thankful.

"When Bre finally came back with a cleric from the temple there was naught for the woman to do! She even scolded us for wasting her and the temple's time! Not that it surprised us, mind."

Though he didn't say it right out, it was common knowledge that many these days had a rather bleak view of clerics. Silently I agreed with this; the church held a lot of power which bred a haughty attitude into their priesthood. They knew a little too well how precious their rare healing magic was.

I finished my ale, knowing the story to end there after having heard the healed man's account earlier.

"Thank you for your tale and the ale, son."

He nodded with a smile. But before I left I pulled my hood up and asked a final question. More out of curiosity than expecting a fruitful answer.

"What do you think happened that night?"

He put down my empty mug in a tub of water and soap and then furrowed his brow.

"Can't honestly say, Sir. I'm just a working man and ain't got enough schooling for much. All I've managed to come up with is that he must have somehow earned some kind being's boon. Maybe a spirit or some such?"

He shrugged, showing that he hardly believed in his own theory and I gave another nod before leaving the 'The Knighted Rooster' and walked out into the slowly dimming street of the east district again, sighing despondently.

This is the fifth "miraculous" healing I have investigated and I am no closer to any true answer.

As I had done with the other four scenes; a stable, a smithy, a brothel, and an alley, all here in the east district, I decided to at least look around the grounds of the tavern. So I followed the wall of the building and rounded its corner into the alley next to it.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

I had no idea what I expected to find. But for my own ability to sleep soundly tonight, I wanted to make sure I did what I could.

When I got to the window close to where the party of adventurers still sat on the other side, around the table of the incident, something did catch my eye. I reached out and carefully picked off a small piece of undyed linen fabric, no larger than a coin, that seemed to have snagged itself on the rough edge of the windowsill.

Wait, is this blood?

The coarse cloth showed a few small specs of dried dark staining on it that my experienced eye could tell was indeed blood.

This might just be a waste of time, a wild goose chase, but it is not like I have anything else to go on.

I walked further into the alley and turned aside behind the tavern, making sure I was alone. There was nothing illegal with what I was about to do but using magic in the middle of the street, or at least close to it, could spark some annoying questions that I didn't want to waste my time on.

I held the piece of cloth in my palm and silently chanted the incantation of a tracking spell. A small spinning circle of silvery runes formed around my hand and I finished the spell by uttering its name.

"Arcane Hound."

The runes flashed and then disappeared, though the small piece of cloth in my hand was still faintly glowing!

Aha! My quarry is indeed still in the city. Though it will most likely just lead me to someone who emptied their bladder one of these nights past...

I started to turn around until the glow got even brighter and then headed down in that direction, which was south.

* * *

Since I was not a crow I had to go around buildings and I also tried my best to stay clear of the streets, since walking around with glowing magic in my hand would attract bothersome attention. That glow intensified the closer I got to the target of my magic, which would be the previous owner of the blood. It is a simple spell and its reach is not very extensive but it was far from the first time it had aided me.

When the glow reached a point of illumination that told me I was almost upon my target I dispersed the mana and let the spell fade. I should be close enough to let my natural honed senses handle the rest and the light would just serve to give away my presence. The nature of these occurrences had led me to believe that whoever or whatever was responsible for it did not wish for attention.

As it turned out, I didn't have to rely on my senses much at all. I was still quite deep into the back alleys of the east district and I should have gotten much closer to the Griffon Road, the main street and thoroughfare that split the city in two; east and west. This also meant that I was getting closer to the southwestern parts which most called the Gloom and the rest called the slums.

"Damn it all. Why'dya have to shank him so deep? He'll bleed out like that."

The voice was female, husky, and kept low to not echo too much through the compact labyrinth of alleyways. It sounded about fifteen or so meters away and I hunkered down, slowly moving forward, glad I had not opted for my chainmail.

"Like I meant to do it? Just get what we can and let's run for it. Make sure to not leave anything that can be traced!"

The other voice sounded androgynous which meant it was most likely a saurei, one of the many demi-humans that existed all over the world. It was no secret that most of our demi population lived in, or close to the Gloom. The saurai were a-gendered reptilian demi-humans, descended from lizardfolk.

I silently drew my longsword, making sure the dim light that shone down from the evening sky didn't reflect on its well-polished edge as I moved closer. If a citizen were getting mugged and worse; mortally wounded I had a duty to uphold.

Curses! Just as I was getting close. With my luck, this will have scared away whomever I was following. Or worse yet, they could be the one bleeding out.

Peeking around the corner just as I heard quick feet padding against the packed dirt, I leaped around it. Too late. I just saw the flick of a thick reptilian tail whip around a corner further down the alley. I could have given chase but their victim was still moving on the ground, albeit barely.

I sheathed my sword and rushed to them, kneeling down. I found what looked like a merchant of some sort, his telltale hat lay next to him and he was clutching a nasty-looking wound in his gut. His face was pale and his breathing shallow.

I could try and run and find a cleric which would be his only chance at this point. That or someone with a potion on hand, but neither option was likely to happen in time.

"What's your name, Sir?"

I asked with a calm voice. At least I could inform his next of kin. But all he managed to do was utter a quiet moan. I sighed, he had minutes left. If only I had been faster!

Just then, as I resigned to simply be there for this unfortunate man's last moments a sudden white light enveloped him! I had to blink as my eyes were shocked by the sudden white and golden burst and when I could see again I watched his wound close in front of my eyes. It happened in the space of two or three breaths and afterward, not even a scar could be seen under the ripped and blood-soaked tunic. The man's breathing had eased and instead of dying, he looked to just be resting!

Incredible!

I noticed a presence to my right and slowly turned my head in that direction. It was the way I had come from myself just a minute ago. There; a small, thin silhouette stood out in the surrounding gloom of the alley. It looked like a child.

Though I did not see their face, I could feel our gazes meet across the distance that lay between us. Something about them made me think of them as a precious but easily startled animal and as such I opted not to move.

"Did you save this man?"

I kept my voice low and even, calm and steady. But still, the creature turned at once as if to flee, it even managed a step before I got out:

"I can still find you with my magic. You truly have nothing to fear from me. Why would I be a danger to someone who had done so much good?"

I hope that was not too much flattery.

They had frozen at my initial words about finding them with my magic and they did not turn towards me yet, clearly, they were weighing their options. Which gave me a chance.

"I only want to speak with you. I work for someone in this city that has noticed your healing work and wishes to find and even reward you if you would like that. Please, won't you listen to my plea at least?"

The figure did not relax, but I could see them turning their head toward me, and as they did their eyes suddenly reflected some of the light at me! Whomever they were, they had eyes like a cat!

Then a rather surprising thing happened. A low gurgling rumbling could be heard from them and I could visibly see them jump in surprise! It almost made me burst out laughing but I saved myself with a huge smile that I was sure they could see with those eyes of theirs.

"You wouldn't perchance be hungry now, would you? I haven't eaten supper myself actually and now that this man is safe, I could carry him to safety and then eat something. Preferably with some company? I would pay for it of course."

Their belly grumbled a reply in their stead and I could see their arms hugging around it. They were not just hungry, they were famished.

"I'm going to reach into my pocket and show you something. It's a medallion of sorts, I think you will recognize it. It shows that I am a member of the protectors of this city, so you need not that worry I will do anything untoward to you."

I slowly did as I promised and then held the silver medallion on its dark leather string up in front of me. It turned slowly as it hung there, showing the royal heraldry on one side and the stylized guard’s helmet on the other.

They started to walk toward me and I chose to not get up as I looked to be twice their height.

As they came closer I finally got a better look at her. Yes, it was a young girl, perhaps eight or nine years old? It was hard to tell because of her kind. She was walking barefooted and dressed very poorly in an old knee-length brown tunic that had been mended several times. A simple leather string held it around a thin, too thin if you ask me, waist and she was still hugging her scrawny arms around her belly.

I confess I gasped. Her thick mane of unkempt brownish red hair hung down almost to her bare heels and at the top of her head, folded to the sides were two darker feline ears. She was a demi-human a felikin. Behind her flicked a nervous tail that sometimes made her long hair move. The girl’s face was best described as cute, though admittedly dirty and pale. She looked like a poster child for the Gloom.

But what had made me gasp was not the abysmal state of the girl, she looked like many citizens on the lowest rung of society, the very heart of the Gloom.

Those eyes!

They were large, even for her kind, which was one of the more common demi-humans in the city. And while I could recall seeing catfolk with predominantly yellow eyes, there were some that had a blue hue. But hers were green, which I had never seen nor heard of before. They were intensely green even like dew-filled moss under a morning sun if I were to be somewhat poetic about them.

"If you don't mind me saying so. You do look like you're in dire need of more than one good meal."

I put away my medallion of office once more and turning around, I picked up the unconscious but very much alive man. I am a strong man and luckily he was not a merchant of the rotund variety.

The girl had followed my every movement with her green eyes like she was ready to bolt at the first sign of me doing something she could perceive as a threat. I was not surprised a girl like her, from the Gloom, would be wary of any man. Though it saddened me.

"Follow me. I will hand this man over to the militia and then we can eat as much as you want. I bet you like meat?"

She nodded. Otherwise, her face was a stoic mask of flight-readiness.

"Alright then. Just stay close to me and nothing bad will happen, I promise you."

I started walking towards the center of the east district once more, carrying the merchant in my arms and glancing back at the girl from time to time, who was indeed following me but still ready to dash. She walked very silently, no wonder even my trained ears hadn't picked up on her moving that close to me in the alley before. There were very few indeed who could sneak up on me.

Less than half a glass later I was able to turn the merchant over to a patrolling pair of militiamen. They were initially a bit wary of me but that was swiftly remedied when I flashed them my medallion. They immediately promised to take the man to the closest temple and see that he got home safely after coming to. They didn't even ask about the whole of my story, which didn't surprise me when they had seen my credentials. As we talked I stole glances back to where the girl waited, I could see she was very reluctant to come closer to the militia and I was sadly not at all surprised. When the guard showed up in the Gloom, they made sure to come in force and it wasn't very diplomatic.

"There we go. He should be well taken care of now. So let's get that meal shall we?"

I smiled down at the short girl but she just nodded and seemed to wait for me to take the lead, which I did. I even tried to let her walk next to me but as soon as I slowed down my pace she made sure she still stayed behind me. I also noticed she never got within arm's length, my arm's length.

It didn't take long at all to find a street food vendor who happily sold me two large skewers laden with sizzling meat and mushrooms. I could see him throw furtive looks around me at the waiting girl.

She is not about to steal your coin. If she could steal she wouldn't be in this much of a sorry state I bet.

But I said nothing, just paid the man, and turning around I gestured with my chin to the fountain several yards away in the small square we’d ended up in and once again she followed me, her huge emerald eyes hungrily eyeing the waiting bounty. Her tummy rumbled once again at the sight and smell no doubt.

I sat myself down on the ring around the slowly pouring fountain depicting a hunter and a deer and waited until she, somewhat reluctantly still, walked over and sat down beside me, still more than an arm's length away. But I didn't make a deal out of it, I simply leaned over and handed the felikin girl her promised food.

She took it gingerly, like a treasure that might break but then she more or less tore into it like a starved beast.

Not that far from the truth, I suppose.

"Don't eat too fast now or you will likely throw it back up if you're this hungry. None are gonna take it from you."

She stopped and looked at me over the meat in her mouth. Juices were running down her chin and adding to the stains on her tunic. But she did slow down and I suddenly realized her tail was whipping quite excitedly behind her!

I'm glad you like it, little Miss.

I smiled and started on my food as well. It was good fare to be sure and nothing else came out of this, at least I'd fed this girl decently. But I hoped she'd let me talk more with her, she was more than likely the crux of my mission after all.

My quarry.

End of Chapter One