.

The next week, the carpet-craft continued. This time Sebastian wore all-white hair, with one red eye and one pink eye through contacts. Jylan now had purple hair and golden amber eyes, along with a small scar below his left eye that he said made his character 'more believable'. The carpets were, as usual, sold at record speed. Of course. 

Within a month, they had a fair amount of money safely saved up under their beds. About 900,000 coins. Sebastian had put all the coins in a sack, and finally, Jylan one day, sat back and said, 

"It's time, My Prince." 

And so it was. 

An hour later, Sebastian nervously pulled his bandana up further. They were back in this familiarly dusty place, and he was getting reminded of what had gone down on his last visit. They were outside, in a market right above the dungeon he was at. The market was dusty, dry, and hot, and people were crowding around. Sebastian noticed they were all wearing the same crest on their shirts, and they were all younger than him. Jylan was right next to Sebastian, and almost instantly a hand gripped his shoulder. Sebastian whirled around to see a suntanned, buck-toothed boy who looked 5 years younger than him. Jylan turned around as well, although he looked much calmer than Sebastian felt. He smiled at the boy, who took his hand off Sebastian's shoulder and broke out into a crooked grin that showcased his crooked teeth. 

"Gone for a while you were, Branch. Who's this noobia?" The boy asked, and Jylan elbowed Sebastian, then said, "Ah, a new recruit. I had to be gone for a few days to find him. He lives quite far, you see. The poor thing's mute as well." Jylan said. Sebastian, who took the clue, opened his mouth and closed it without saying anything. The boy looked between them, and then finally made a wider grin, tipped his hat at them, and scampered away.

"Are you a branch, Butler?" Sebastian whispered, amused, and Jylan, who was also watching the boy run off, elbowed him again. "I'm afraid not, My Prince. They call anyone who's new a branch and anyone who's completely new a noobia. I don't know why. Some things are best left untouched, I suppose." Jylan mused, and Sebastian closed his mouth again. Then he turned around to brush his cloak aside to reveal the potato sack, fat with coins. Sebastian took out the pouch and jingled it. A heavy tinkle of metal rang out. 

Instantly everyone in a radius of 60 feet turned around to stare at them. 

Sebastian had forgotten how hungry these people were for money. 

Hungry enough to kill. 

"You've done it now," Jylan muttered.