As Kain and Haley continue through the market, another familiar face calls out to Haley. This time, it’s a striking woman with smooth, stone-textured skin, her form marked by shades of slate gray and faint marbling, almost like polished granite. Her features are sharp yet graceful, with eyes that glint like shards of quartz, catching the ambient light. She’s dressed in gear suited for travel, with a dark cloak and a belt lined with small vials and enchanted pouches.
Haley!” she calls, her voice carrying warmly across the crowd as she steps forward. She nods to Kain, curiosity and friendliness in her gaze.
“Rhea!” Haley greets her with a grin. “Long time! Still working with the Abrax Exploreras?”
Rhea smiles, her quartz-like eyes lighting up with enthusiasm. “Aye, the Exploreras are busier than ever. The rifts—well, you know as well as I do, they’re multiplying faster than we can track. For a long time, things were calm, almost too quiet. But now?” She taps a small, shimmering vial on her belt. Inside, a shadowy silhouette of some unknown creature shifts, caught and contained within the enchanted glass. “The rifts have surged in quantity, and each one seems to bring stranger discoveries than the last.”
Kain leans forward, intrigued, his eyes fixed on the shadowy figure inside the vial. “The Abrax Exploreras? Sounds like my kind of group.”
Haley laughs, clearly amused. “Oh, yeah. They’re like the ultimate explorers, founded ages ago, tracing back to the myth of Hermes himself. Their whole mission is to investigate anything unknown—unmapped realms, creatures, artifacts. And these rifts? They’ve turned the Exploreras into the hottest group in the supernatural world.”
Rhea chuckles softly, her accent adding a lilting rhythm to her words. “Indeed. The recent surge in rifts has revived our purpose, drawn all sorts of curious folk and talent. Each rift we find feels like opening a door to a world untouched, unexplored. Every one of these,” she nods toward the vial, “is a mystery. We’re still not sure what exactly it is, but it holds immense potential.”
Kain’s eyes gleam, completely absorbed. “That sounds incredible. Exploring the unknown, discovering new worlds… I could get behind that.” Kain begins to mumble but in the back of his mind Leo's face flickers through.
Rhea smiles, her accent lacing her words with a musical lilt. “we’re always looking for fresh minds and unique energy. You have an unusual aura, Kain—perhaps one day, you’ll be ready to join us.”
Haley grins, nudging Kain playfully. “Not gonna throw you into a rift just yet. But maybe someday down the line, huh?”
Rhea inclines her head, her eyes warm. “Whenever you’re ready, the Abrax Exploreras will welcome you.” Before Rhea takes her leave, she reaches into one of the enchanted pouches on her belt and pulls out a small, intricately crafted pin. It’s shaped like a compass, beneath the compass, a pair of wings is etched in white, a universal emblem of exploration. With a central gemstone that shifts colors, reflecting the light in hues of light blue and yellow. Tiny runes are etched along its edges, glowing faintly, and the whole piece radiates a subtle magical warmth.
She holds it out to Kain with a smile. “Here,” she says, her voice low but warm. “Consider this a token—a recommendation, if you ever decide to join the Abrax Exploreras. Just show this, and you’ll find the doors open for you.”
Kain takes the pin with a grateful nod, feeling the weight of its significance. “Thank you, Rhea. I’ll keep it safe.” He carefully places it into his Breander, feeling it bind to his personal space as he locks it away.
Rhea gives him one last gaze, a quiet look of something in her quartz-like eyes. “I’ll be seeing you, Kain,” she says, before slipping back into the crowd, her form blending into the flow of The Bazxar’s energy.
As soon as she’s gone, Haley lets out a sigh, crossing her arms with an exaggerated huff. “Seriously? A wink and a recommendation? What are you, some kind of Casanova?” She shakes her head, smirking. “I had to hustle my tail off before the Exploreras even considered me, and you just stroll in here, and bam, you’re practically invited.”
Kain chuckles, slipping his hands into his pockets. As he walks away “It’s probably just because I’m with you, y’know. You’re the one with all the connections.” He flashes her a friendly grin, and for a moment, Haley looks away, trying to brush off his compliment—but a faint blush creeps onto her cheeks.
“Oh, please,” she mutters, pretending not to buy it, though there’s a hint of a smile on her lips. She shakes her head, nudging him forward. “Just don’t let all this special treatment go to your head, Mr. Explorer-in-the-making.”
They share a laugh, and she leads him further down the bustling streets of The Bazxar, her grin lingering as they continue their journey together.
As they continue through the market, Kain notices a small, nimble halfling juggling a set of enchanted baubles that flash and spin in a mesmerizing display. The baubles seem to hover just above his fingertips, casting soft glows of green, blue, and gold. Haley spots him too, her expression shifting to one of intent focus.
“Kain, hang on a sec,” she says, holding up a hand as she makes her way toward the halfling. But as soon as the halfling’s gaze meets hers, his eyes widen in panic. Without a moment’s hesitation, he tosses a small trinket to the ground, and a thick, magical fog envelops him, masking his escape as he bolts down a side path.
“Seriously?” Haley mutters, momentarily thrown off guard by the sudden move. Luckily, the halfling makes a fatal error—he darts straight toward Kain, perhaps hoping he can slip past the newcomer unnoticed. Kain steps to intercept him, and with a swift, well-placed low kick, sweeps the halfling off his feet, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Kain plants a firm boot on the halfling’s chest to keep him from wriggling away.
Haley approaches, smirking as she dusts herself off. “Nice catch, Kain,” she says, before turning her attention to the halfling, her tone sharp. “Alright, Fynn, you wanna tell me why you thought running was a good idea?”
The halfling, a wiry man with a mess of curly hair and shifty eyes, looks up at Haley, his face twisted in a sheepish grin. “Ah, just a misunderstanding, Miss Haley! No need for all this rough handling!”
Haley raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Misunderstanding, huh? You know the deal, Fynn. You keep me in the loop, and I keep you out of trouble. That arrangement still work for you, or do we need to renegotiate?”
As Haley grills the halfling, Kain starts piecing things together. The dynamic between Haley and Fynn feels… official, like there’s more than just casual interaction here. It starts dawning on him that Haley isn’t just any ordinary explorer or guide. There’s a controlled edge to her voice, the way she questions Fynn, and the halfling’s nervous responses all point to one thing—Haley’s a type of law enforcement, a cop or investigator in this world.
Fynn stammers, throwing glances at Kain, clearly unsettled by the unexpected audience. “Alright, alright, look, I was just… doin’ a little trade, y’know? Nothing major. Just didn’t wanna get caught up in it all.”
Haley leans in closer, her eyes narrowing. “Who’s the trade with, Fynn? And don’t tell me it’s ‘nothin’ major.’ I’m not in the mood for games.”
Under Kain’s watchful eye and Haley’s unyielding interrogation, the halfling finally sighs, defeated. “Fine, fine! It’s some new guy, doesn’t belong here—tall, hooded type, keeps askin’ about artifacts he’s got no business askin’ about. That’s all I know!”
Haley exchanges a knowing look with Kain before she straightens up, finally easing her stance. “See, was that so hard?” She waves a hand at Kain, motioning for him to let Fynn up. “Just remember, Fynn, we’re watching. Don’t make us come looking for you again.”
Kain lifts his foot, and the halfling scrambles up, muttering under his breath as he dusts himself off before disappearing into the crowd.
As they resume walking, Kain glances over at Haley, a new respect in his eyes. “So… law enforcement, huh?”
Haley chuckles, though there’s a slight edge to her smile. “Something like that. Let’s just say I keep tabs on folks, make sure things don’t get too out of hand. Gotta keep a few informants close.”
Kain watches her with interest, taking a sip of his Bandit’s Brew, savoring the spicy warmth that lingers in his mouth. After a moment, he turns to her, curiosity getting the better of him. “So, why are you helping me out? I mean, I appreciate it, but… you dont know me and I don't exactly belong around here.”
Haley shrugs, swallowing her bite and glancing over at him with a smirk. “Honestly? You looked lost… and interesting. Plus, it’s not every day someone who’s not affiliated with the Itunal pops out at a Portal Point.”
Kain raises an eyebrow. “The Itunal?”
“Yeah,” she says, wiping her mouth before taking a sip of her Wizard’s Mind Bomb. “They’re like supernatural guardians. Protectors of the mythological world, keeping things balanced and making sure regular humans don’t stumble into things they can’t handle.” She gives him a side glance, sizing him up. “I’m entry-level myself, still climbing the ranks, but it’s in the blood. My clan’s all about honoring the legacy of the Chinese dragons.”