Poliana sat behind her desk, her fingers ruffling through a stack of paperwork with a grimace etched across her face. The room felt stifling, the air thick with the scent of old wood and ink. She glanced up at the pale-faced clerk seated in one of the two chairs across from her.

"These damn noise complaints for the Inquisitor's interrogation must have set some kind of record!" she remarked, her voice tinged with irritation.

The clerk's expression tightened, his eyes darting nervously. "I've heard the sounds coming from that room personally, Town Lord. Having only this many complaints should be considered fortunate."

Poliana whistled, raising her eyebrows high. "Fuck."

She tossed the stack of complaints to the side with a dismissive flick of her wrist. "Send word to the Inn staff to tell the complainers that someone will handle the situation by tonight. And if anyone gets particularly annoying, tell them they have my permission to talk to Inquisitor Umbres themselves and request him to quiet down."

A nasty smirk curled on her lips as she watched the clerk gulp. "That should quiet down the complaints for a while," he said, in a low tone.

Poliana leaned back in her chair, her eyes narrowing as she once more looked over the information Lachlan had sent about their incoming guests. She already knew enough about Selen, after all, Selen had lived in Sichal for years. But this Senior Ji—her eyes widened as she skimmed through the details.

A shiver ran down her spine as she took in a long breath. Poliana chuckled, a strange semi-cackle escaping her lips, and she threw the papers at the clerk. "Read it."

The clerk picked up the papers with steady hands and began to read. His face froze in a rather comical fashion, one side of his mouth twitching downward.

"Are we getting a justice for all nutjob dumped onto us?" he asked, his voice quivering.

Poliana raised her hands into the air dramatically. "It's either a self-righteous nutjob or a nutjob with balls bigger than most of the continent."

Sweat began to bead on the clerk's forehead as he whispered urgently, "If it's a goody two shoes with power coming over, will we be in trouble for... uhh…you know what?"

Poliana snapped into a perfect pose, her tone suddenly regal and commanding. "I have no idea what you're talking about. If you have a guilty conscience, speak now."

The clerk's eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he saw another smile creep onto Poliana's face. He thought to himself, "Old witch is going to throw all of our asses out the window if that guy investigates us!"

As the realization set in on the clerk's face, Poliana's smirk grew wider.

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The captain's voice reverberated through the Airship's announcement system, the intricate Artifice technology making his words clear and easy to understand. "We will be arriving at Sichal within two hours!"

Zinnia, who had just finished her bath and returned to the main cabin, groaned in frustration. She had been on the verge of falling asleep, lulled by the tired staff's attempts at a lullaby she had requested. With a dismissive wave, she sent them away and jumped across the cabin to the seat opposite Silas.

For the entire duration of their trip, he kept up his eyes focused on the scroll, which he had claimed was "gospel."

"Where's the crow?" Zinnia asked, her tone curious. "I haven't seen him since he broke into my room back at the castle."

Silas paused his reading and looked at her. "Look left."

Without thinking too much, she turned her head. Nyx had appeared on her shoulder without making a sound. He raised his wings high and leaned back his portly body, making a grand display as if he were shocked to see her there.

"Ah, there you are," Zinnia said simply.

Nyx tilted his head and scratched his chin with his wing before shrugging. He then jumped under the table and disappeared once again.

Silas nodded approvingly. "Good that you are not prone to panic, it will serve you well."

"I've seen weirder," Zinnia replied.

A painful peck on her shin from Nyx made her yelp in surprise. She quickly kicked under the table but hit Silas's shin instead.

"Ouch!" she grunted, bringing her kicking foot up across her other knee to rub it. "What the hell are you made out of?"

"Most Alchemists worth a damn can easily consume a defensive potion to harden their flesh," Silas explained.

Zinnia stuck her tongue out at him. "Isn't it wasteful to use it on this?"

"I didn't use it," Silas replied calmly. "My body is a lot more durable than most Alchemists'."

She rolled her eyes. Still bored, she asks instead, "What are the ways a regular Alchemist would consume their potions then? I barely ever see them drink or eat anything they make."

Silas's eyes twinkled with amusement. "You're asking for insight into the deep secrets of Alchemy. What will you give in return?"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

With a deadpan expression, Zinnia said, "I'll tell you how Illusionists change the pigmentation of their hair, skin, and eyes."

"I already know how," Silas said with a soft smile. "What else can you offer?"

Surprised, Zinnia asked, "Who the fuck spilled so much about the trade?"

"It doesn't matter," Silas replied.

She pouted before asking, "Do you know the name of the legendary fourth step for Illusionists?"

"I do not." Silas stated simply.

Zinnia puffed out her chest, still enhanced from taking Selen's form. "Will that do?"

"It will," Silas agreed.

She crosses her arms and says, "However, you go first because I don't trust you!"

Silas chuckled before continuing, "Second step Alchemists store potions in their skin. First step Alchemists are a lot more creative. They rarely have time to uncork a potion or unseal a pill to consume traditionally. Instead, many create false teeth that they bite into to release certain substances if they sense they will need it. Some have needles coated in elixirs that they attach to the inside of their clothes and jab directly into their muscles in an emergency. And some keep a pill inside their rectum that they crush by flexing the muscles to release its properties."

Zinnia burst out laughing. A strange accent leaking out "Ya tellin' me Alchemists walk around all day with pills up their bum?"

Silas shrugged nonchalantly. "Some do."

He made a gesture indicating it was now her turn.

Stopping her fit of laughter, she quickly regained her calm. With a wide smile and narrowed eyes, Zinnia leaned over and mouthed the word: "Enigma."

She then proceeded to go back to her laughing frenzy at the revelation of the deep secret.

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Selen lay on the bed, her breaths shallow and labored. Her eyes, swollen and blackened, barely opened to the muted light of the room. The ear that had once adorned her head was now a jagged wound, hastily and crudely bandaged.

Her scalp, shaved clean, mirrored the Inquisitor's own. He poured another cup of tea across from where she was with the same warm, soft smile he had worn since entering.

"You surprise me," he said, his voice gentle yet filled with condescension. "To maintain your deceit so adamantly... I could have been full of praise had you been a servant of the divine."

He glanced at her newly lopsided chest, noting its slow rise and fall. Despite her grievous injuries, she was still sufficiently alive.

The Inquisitor clasped his hands in prayer, his eyes closing as he murmured full of passion. "Ohhhh Most Knowledgeable! Grant me the strength to ascertain the truth from this unenlightened creature."

As he fell into his fervor of prayers, Selen found a brief respite. Her consciousness flickered between cruel reality and blissful dream. She could no longer feel her legs, they were unfortunately bent in directions they never should have. The stubs of her hands were numb, a mercy in their own right.

She wanted to pray for salvation, but her thoughts were muddled and disjointed. As she teetered on the edge of unconsciousness once more, a single thought crystallized in her mind: "What kind of a God... has these servants?"

The Inquisitor finished his prayers and took a deep breath. His eyes opened with a comforting gaze as he extended a hand toward her again.

Selen's bruised cheek glistened with yet another tear running down it.

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The crew of the Airship lined up at the exit door, their uniforms crisp and faces set in a polite smiling demeanor. The captain's voice was heard over the intercom, announcing their successful docking at Sichal and thanking the passengers for flying with them.

As the door opened, the crew bowed towards Silas and Zinnia. Zinnia, with a wide smile, waved at them. "I'm going to miss my minions," she said cheerfully.

The crewmembers' eyes collectively twitched as they forced out a polite thank you in unison. Once the door closed behind Silas and Zinnia, the crew's restraint snapped. Objects flew at the door—cups, bottles, even a shoe—as they vented their frustration.

However, one crewmember mourned, with trails of tears in his eyes "Such perfect feet... gone!"

The others quickly turned their ire onto the pervert. As they began bashing onto him he sighed dreamily "Such bliss~".

Outside the Airship, Silas turned to Zinnia. "You are an effective torturer."

Zinnia looked affronted. "Effective? I am the best torturer!"

Nyx, hidden inside Silas's shadow, thought, ''Amateur.''

They reached the end of the ramp and came face to face with Poliana. She cupped her fists respectfully.

"Senior Ji, welcome to Sichal" she greeted Silas politely before turning towards Zinnia with a more casual tone of voice. "Welcome home~."

Zinnia snorted internally. ''This old bat is trying to pull some shit. this isn't how she behaves.''

Silas, in his Senior Ji persona, returned the greeting with a smile. "The Town Lord looks much more beautiful in person."

Poliana snorted. "Liar."

''No shit,'' Silas, Zinnia, and Nyx all thought collectively.

Poliana raised her arms wide. "Sichal is wide open to you for whatever you may need."

"Thank you," Silas said before turning to Zinnia. "You mentioned wanting to catch up with your friends and Guild? This would be the best time for it, as I need to get my bearings."

Zinnia's face lit up cheerfully. "Hell yeah! I'll need an hour just to get the nostalgia out of me." She glanced at Poliana. "I can catch up with you after."

Poliana nodded. "No issue at all. We can meet up at the entrance of the Laughing Jester Inn." All the while thinking ''Gives me enough time to butter up the big guy.''

Zinnia waved as she trotted off towards town. "I'll see you soon!"

Silas turned back to Poliana with a pleasant tone. "Please, lead the way your Lordship."

Poliana nodded and they set off together.

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Zinnia stepped off the dock and into the lively streets of Sichal. The air buzzed with energy, colorful banners fluttered overhead, and the sounds of musicians and street performers filled her ears. She couldn't help but smile, this was her home turf.

As she walked, she made a show of counting on her fingers, a playful grin on her face. She sensed someone tailing her almost immediately after leaving the dock.

She decided to let them think she was lost in thoughts, perhaps about all the people and things she had missed.

In reality, her mind was focused on more pressing matters: What did the people outside of Rhysling know about the attack? Who did they think was responsible? Was there any suspicion on her and Silas? What had happened in Sichal while she was away? And were there any significant events happening elsewhere?

She stopped at a small candy shop, its window display filled with colorful sweets. She purchased a few pieces of candy, popping one into her mouth as she continued walking. She naturally slipped into the crowd, making it easier to "accidentally" lose her pursuer. She took a few more turns through the streets before ducking into a shadowy back alley.

Once she believed the coast was clear, Zinnia allowed herself to return to her true appearance. She tossed the bag of candy into a nearby trash bin with a smirk. "Well," she thought to herself, "half an hour should be plenty to dig up what we need before heading to the Artificer's Guild."

She made her way to a nearby cane shop, its sign barely visible in the dim light of the alley. Inside, an aged seller wearing an unusually large top hat and large glasses on his nose greeted her. He looked like the very picture of a kindly old man working hard to make ends meet.

"Hello~ missed me?" Zinnia said with a chuckle.

The old seller approached her with a smile, half-hunched over due to what seemed like a bad back. He took off his top hat and held it to his chest as he replied, "Of course."

Zinnia's eyes flicked to the top of his hat, where she saw a symbol of one eye open and one eye closed.