New Allies, New Quest!

A frustrated wrinkle appeared on Horace's brow as he learned my objective. He seemed displeased with my suggestion, and he ensured everyone knew it.

"The Hidden Grotto? That is a foolish decision. It is far too dangerous to venture within that place. It is teeming with monsters. It would be suicide to go there willingly, especially with just the two of you. I will not allow you to drag Lady Claire into such a place!" he declared.

"You have no sway here, Horace. You managed to keep her safe by hiding in plain sight for a while. I'll give you props, but there lies the issue. Hide in plain sight for too long, and you risk being spotted. Claire is at that point. She's been spotted, so we'll have to adapt and change strategies." I said while taking my glasses off and wiping them with a handkerchief. 

Well, it was not ideal; it was as good as it came at that moment. My words were resolute, and my plan would not be swayed despite his protests. Fawkes informed me that we required more of those crystals to trigger another meeting with him so that I would heed his instructions. There is a chance that my capabilities will increase if I acquire some more. 

"Ideally, Qayshawn and Bonner come with me since they are leagues stronger than Claire, but I need them both with you. You were duped by your connection due to shared experiences with them, and I know they will be less likely to fall for the same trick you did. They don't trust you, but they trust my judgment, and for now, I deem you an asset rather than the liability that you are." I said, pushing my glasses back onto my nose.

"Even so, The Hidden Grotto is no place for Lady Claire. She could be injured or worse. She-"

"That's enough, Horace." Claire snaps. She glares at the man, and he heeds her order.

After collecting her thoughts, she shifts her eyes around the room. When they land on me, she says, "What Horace says is accurate. The Hidden Grotto is incredibly dangerous for me. I would like to know your reasons for wanting to go there."

I thought for a moment, debating whether or not I should give her the real reason or fabricate a story on the story. As I looked into her eyes, the truth prevailed in my decision-making.

"The Grotto is dangerous, but it isn't a place where you'll get insta-killed on the spot. We have traveled to the Hidden Grotto before; as you can see, we are alive and well. We even battled a Lynx the size of this inn and prevailed over it with cunning. I say that because my reasoning is simple.

Somewhere within the Hidden Grotto is something I require to enhance our strength. If my strength is enhanced, it will set off a chain of events to cause everyone in our group to increase their respective strengths, too." I explained. I gauged her reaction to see if my explanation would be satisfactory. 

I felt she wasn't entirely convinced she was on board, so I thought of a way to sweeten the pot. I was stroking my goatee, and an idea flashed in my mind.

"In this world, there are people powerful enough to contend and trounce monsters like the Lynx. I don't know whether or not any of them belong to the group that aims to take your life, Claire. I am gonna' to assume there are, so to counter that, we must acquire the strength necessary to match that. Somewhere within the Hidden Grotto, there are crystals that could amplify my abilities. I need to find some. It is just that simple. If you want to live above water one day, work with me. You can't play it safe forever. One day, you have to take the fight to them. When we do, I want the three of us to be strong enough to trounce our enemies." I clenched my fist when I said that last part to illustrate my point.

The action seemed well received. A flicker of confidence flooded into her mind as she pondered my words. She knew that I was right. Hiding in an inn and constantly looking over her shoulder is no way to lead a life. For the most part, she has to dawn this fake Clarice persona even to operate.

"These crystals...are you certain that they will help?" She asked with a slight hesitation.

"The crystals are the real deal. We were informed that they are crystalized Mana, and Mark's abilities are amplified upon consumption. It goes without saying that if you want any semblance of normalcy returned, then your best bet is to assist him." Bonner said.

His words were the final confirmation that she needed to make a decision, and I knew it would be positive. 

"Very well. I have put my faith in the three of you, so if you need to travel to a place as dangerous as that, I will be by your side this time... I will not forsake any of you." Claire says with conviction. 

I could see it in her eyes; she was telling the truth. She had a new vibe as if she had made a vow to herself, and I'll take advantage of it.

"Well done, you've convinced her. I didn't think a frilly woman like her would agree to an adventure."

Fawkes's voice slipped into my mind, causing me to jump, which surprised the others. They looked at me with surprise as they witnessed me conversing silently with the Fox. Considering they didn't receive any explanation, Horace voiced his complaints about my objectives before Q, Bonner bolstered me with support, and Claire joined the conversation. Meanwhile, I would deal with this startling revelation. 

"You're speaking in my mind now?" I asked, even though it was apparent.

"I'm beaming my thoughts straight into your mind. It is similar to the composition of an Astral Art, but it's different. I found it when I searched your Mana Space a few seconds ago. You have three, and that was a secret. I unearthed this communication magic, but its range is limited for now. It's only limited to inside your own body. It would be useless if I weren't here. Though it is nifty for you and I, Old Man." Fawkes replied. I could hear the mischief in his voice.

"What of the other two?" I asked.

"It will take me some time to unravel them, but the backing of those crystals will help expedite the process. The sooner, the better. They might be useful, and I have a feeling that you might be blessed." Fawkes explained.

"You know that we collapsed the entrance that led from the Lynx's cave, so how do you expect me to find more in the Grotto?"

"Well, now that I can communicate with you, I can lead you there. I have a nose for smelling them. You can count on me to be your Fox in the chair!" Fawkes said.

I felt uneasy, but I accepted his help. It would be annoying to hear him pop up in my mind, but he would be helpful in our search—that I have no doubt.

After Horace conceded again, Claire would stand up and exit the room. I watched before speaking to the remaining men.

"When Claire returns, we will leave and head to a blacksmith or weapons shop. I need a weapon, and I will not make the same mistake twice," I said.

"That's smart. There is no need to run the risk of encountering a monster who could use weapons and you being unarmed." Bonner replied, nodding in approval.

"Yeah. I second that. Having something to defend ourselves is a good idea, so we'll do the same on our end. Knowing our luck, we will be attacked." Q added with a shake of his head. 

"Then the matter is settled. Horace, see to it that they have suitable protection, and Claire will assist me before we arrive at the Adventurer's Guild. To fight back against our enemies, we must battle on two fronts: strength and intelligence. Find out who the leak is within your network, question them, and remove them from play if possible." I instruct.

Horace seemed hesitant to take orders from me, but he begrudgingly agreed. While the older man disembarked upstairs, Bonner would take the time to explain how his version of Mana Command activates.

"While we were talking to Fawkes, I felt a power resonating within me. I challenged it, and when I did, the Fox took notice. He charged at me, so I did what anyone would do: I created a magical barrier to defend myself. I think the Mana used was the one from my internal mana reserves. It's something you can feel if you look deep enough. Once you locate it, Mark, then you shape it with your mind." Bonner explained, stroking his chin.

"I noticed that some people require an incantation to perform their magic unless they have an artifact like my attacker. How are you able to pull it out without the cast?" I asked him.

"Pulling Mana directly from your reserves doesn't need more than a thought from the caster. I think incantations are a contract between mana spirits and a user. When he was teaching me wind magic, Horace told me that incantations are a bargain between these Mana Spirits and the caster. They trade Mana for power, but we don't need the middleman if we use it directly for ourselves. It'll take testing, but I am confident I could use wind magic without an incantation. Once I figure that out, it could be applied universally to any skill or spells we acquire in the future."

Q would sit up from his comfortable sitting position and look at him. "It sounds simple, but there must be more to it." 

"Just like that, bud. We're different from other mages because of Mark's power. Fawkes implied that while we play the same game, our play style differs from other people. We're just on an entirely different progression tree from people like Horace and Claire." Bonner said.

"He's correct," Fawkes added in my head.

"You're wired differently, so your power ascension will be a bit more... unorthodox. Anyway, what he's said is accurate, and I'll be here to guide you further if you have the mental processing of a damn jumping spider."

"Fawkes has supported Bonner's explanation, so consider it legitimate. " I raised my hand to cut off their question, "Yes, I can communicate with him. He speaks to me through telepathy. He says it is a skill that I possess. It is still in development, so I can't speak much on it." 

With the guidelines set and understood, we would wait for Horace's return. The older man reappeared with a serious expression, and the two of them joined him in the hallway.

I would see the three men off as they made their exit. Since Bonner and Q worked together, I had great hopes for their success, but a small part of me was concerned. If the two faced an opponent who outclassed us at this moment, then I could only pray that they would return to me.

For now, I'll keep my faith in their abilities. The twitching of my ears located a pair of footsteps coming from the staircase. I already knew it was Claire, but I didn't expect to see her in battle gear. This was the first time I saw her in such attire since she wore dresses and informal clothing. Claire looked like a cross between a mage and a swordswoman.

Silver metal plates protected her chest, and to my surprise, a silver helmet covered her blonde hair. Her armor was decorated in light green robes that were sleek and short, but I recognized the design. While the color mirrored my own, it was clear that her armor's designer chose a more feminine design to incorporate into hers. Her boots were black leather with a light green string wrapped around her shin. 

She was clearly a wealthy aristocrat heading out to battle, and that made me tilt my head. I wouldn't say that it was terrible, but she did stick out in my perspective. Despite that, I was impressed.

"You know how to use a sword?" I asked, gesturing to the blade sheathed at her waist. 

Claire gripped the hilt and pulled lightly to showcase the steel blade. It was pretty cool to see it up close.

"I'm no master, but Horace has taught me a great deal over the last few weeks. I am still learning to defend myself better, " she replied, sheathing the blade once again.

"I would have imagined you were more of a mage since you ran around using your disguise magic. I am pleasantly pleased."

Claire looked at me, mischief rising in her grey eyes. "I am not some helpless maiden who needs to be protected, Sir Shakey Tail. I can hold my own when...I'm not running away. I assure you." 

"I'm counting on you for that then. Even if you had meager swordsmanship, you could prove to be an asset on the battlefield." I said, placing my hand into my pocket. 

I would find what I am looking for before tossing it her way. She was startled by it, but after analyzing it, her eyes widened.

"This is..."

"Yep. My attacker was generous enough to give us this. You recognize it?" I asked with a curious glint in my eyes.

"This is exceedingly rare. I believe it allows a mage to cast magic without an incantation." Claire answered with awe.

"I assumed as much. It's yours now. You'll get more use out of it than me." I replied, flashing a smile. "Your knowledge of magic is greater than mine, so it's only right I surrender the good loot to you."

Claire would stick the ring onto her finger, which seemed a good fit. Her eyes lit up with excitement, and it was infectious. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't a tiny bit jealous, but I knew it made more sense strategically to give it to her. After she collected herself, Claire would look at me with newfound confidence. I might find myself making the correct call again. That would not be a shocker.

I explained to Claire my desire to have a weapon, and she said that she knew the perfect place. It took half an hour to arrive at a shop in the Silver District. There was little foot traffic in this area, but I know Claire has learned all the less popular routes in this city, so I wasn't surprised. It was smaller than I imagined, so I expected little when we approached the doorway.

"Milward's Armamanets?" I asked, and she nodded with confidence.

"Milward is a good man. He has helped me occasionally, so I try to be loose with my purse when I enter his business as compensation." She explained. 

Claire would push open that door, and a creaking sound filled my ears. While the outside was withered by age, it appeared that the inside of the establishment was in a state of near disrepair. There were worn-down weapons mounted on the walls as examples and a counter against the far back. This hardly looks like a place where you'd get quality weaponry, but I trust Claire's discernment.

As we approached the counter in the back, I noticed a person leaning behind it. I don't know why I didn't notice them before, but they are unmistakable now. They had a small build, probably around five-four, but they were muscular. A short, black beard shaped their face, and brown eyes matched our gaze on our approach.

"Lady Clarice? Didn't expect to see so soon." The man said. He had a sword in his hands and a stone mounted against the desk. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Milward, We require your services. My associate requires a weapon, and I imagine that one of yours would suit him nicely," Claire said, gesturing with her hand in my direction.

Milward looked at me and took in the sight of my fox ears and tail. He would turn to Claire or Clarice, since she was disguised, with a look of curiosity. He was undoubtedly curious about her reasons for aligning herself with a foxkin. Yet, Milward didn't comment on it and instead smiled.

"I see. Let me guess, swords won't cut it for you, Mister?"

"Mark," I answer before shaking my hand. Your deduction is correct. I'm a spear-type guy, so if you have any quality ones hidden somewhere, I'm all for taking them off your hands."

"I have a few spears, but why should I give you a good one? What makes you worthy?" Milward replies with narrowed eyes.

I responded to his question by turning around and began walking away. "This conversation is over then. Onto the next place, Clarice."

Claire seemed taken aback by my sudden move to depart. She scrambled before placing her body to block my path.

"Let's not be hasty. I'm certain he's not saying that because you are a foxel. Milward isn't that type of man." Claire declared while looking into my eyes.

"I am. As well as I do, you know that foxels like him are bad for business. If I give him a spear, then it could complicate things with my supplier. It isn't a risk I'm willing to take." Milward explained.

I scoffed before turning around to face the man. "Being a dumbass is bad for business too. In fact, it's more of a detriment to be a dumbass, small, half-witted, bum ass than selling a weapon to a foxkin. Don't hide behind foxel; say it with your chest."

My words hit him, but before he or Claire spoke, I continued, "Looking around, I could only conclude that you and your supplier should be arrested for placing these low-quality weapons on display and selling them for their target price. All of these spears and swords are dogshit. I couldn't rely on them to wipe my ass with, so I'm glad that you wouldn't sell me one."

"Are you finished?" Milward asked dismissively. 

I pointed at the man and, with a scoff, I replied, "I think I'll kick your ass now."

Milward broke into laughter, but I could feel Claire's hand pulling my tail in order to prevent me from approaching the man.

"You're going to kick my ass? The guards won't appreciate that. You'll find yourself behind bars for the foreseeable future."

"Doesn't matter. Your ass will still be kicked." I said.

I glared at Claire and pulled my tail out of her grasp. When I turned back around, I would find a sword pressed against my Adam's apple. Milward stood before me with a serious expression, sword in hand.

"Now, you were saying?" He taunts before Claire stepped backward, her hand on her sword.

"Milward, stop. Leave him, and we can walk away, " she said with concern in her tone.

I didn't bother responding.

"Now he's silent. You were huffing and puffing, but you'll fold like anyone else in the face of death." Milward declared smugly.

"If that piece of garbage sword managed to pierce my neck, then you'd better hope that does me in. If not, then you won't just get an ass whooping, but I might beat you near death and steal a spear to spite you. I'll use that bitch solely as my backscratcher." I said with narrowed eyes. 

"A spear as a backscratcher? Now I've heard it all!" Milward declared with a hardy laugh. He would pull his sword away before looking at Claire and giving her a nod of approval.

"You were right about this one. He might be up for the challenge."

"I told you that he would not disappoint. He is not one to underestimate due to being a foxel, so I need a weapon to match his temperament." Claire said before stepping closer to Milward. 

I watched as the two conversed in silence, and it dawned on me that this was some type of test. Claire looked at me with mischief in her eyes as their sound returned. Milward stuck out his hand, so I took it into a handshake. He squeezed tightly, but it didn't amount to much. 

"Apologies, young man, but I needed to see whether or not her praise of you was true. Lady Clarice surprised me when she informed me that she found a new retainer, a foxel. I, of course, discouraged her from doing so, but now I can see why she was adamant about having you. Not a single flinch in the face of death, so I know that you can protect her, and to do so, you need the tools." Milward explained.

The shorter man would turn before returning to the other side of his desk. He beckoned us to follow him, and Claire pulled me along by my arm. We traveled to a backroom, which looked more like a clustered break room than anything else, before walking towards a wall. All around us were crates, barrels, and shelves lined with different types of weapons and dust. You can hardly tell that this place was in operation.

We watched as Milward moved around the breakroom. He seemed to be searching for something, so I took that time to confront Claire about her motives. I moved close to her before I spoke.

"What was that?" I asked Claire, but she looked away with a smug smile. 

"I visited here earlier when I anticipated your desire for a weapon. I didn't expect us to travel to the Hidden Grotto, but if we do, then no normal weapon will cut it. We'll need something more reliable and magical. Milward is the man for that." she explained.

"Just who is this guy?"

"He's a... relocator of exotic weaponry. Horace introduced him to me, and that's how I got my sword. You're looking at a crucial ally in our fight, so please don't beat him near death." Claire said with a chuckle.

"Alright, I won't beat your smuggler near death, but I don't appreciate being tested like this. Keep your mischief reeled in; I want to dig into our enemies' advantage first." I said.

After a minute of searching, Milward found what he was looking for and returned to the wall. He huffed before holding his palm towards the wall and performed an incantation. Green energy flashed, reminding me of the one Claire used to hide the secret doorway in that alley when we first met. There was a door in that spot now, and Milward used a key to open it. 

He stepped inside, and we followed him into a hidden room. Now, this area was a step above the previous one. It was more organized with its weapons, and IO could tell just by looking at them that the weapons were far superior in quality. Swords, spears, knives, axes, you name them, and I saw them lined up and glistening against the wall. I was impressed.

"This is my true collection." Milward bragged as he led us toward a specific section of spears. "These are specifically forged with Necro-silver points. Their handles are made from Magepie wood, which is resilient and flexible. The Necro-silver point doesn't dull easily and is easy to maintain."

"Necro-silver?" I inquired, looking at the blueish-silver metal.

Milward would explain what Necro-silver was, and it honestly surprised me. Necro-silver is a form of silver forged with magic heavily involved. It is a complicated matter and difficult to achieve. Regular silver can allow the usage of Mana when attacking with the weapon, but Neco-silver is leagues better in comparison. Claire's sword is also made from Necro-silver, so I could only imagine how powerful she'll be now that she has that ring on her finger.

Necro-silver seemed to be the route to go, but his price stunned us. 

"Forty gold and the foxel can have it." Milward declares.

"Forty is too much. You only charged me fifteen for mine." Claire rebutted before thinking. "twenty for the spear."

"You come to me because you know that not many in Astana would sell to your friend, and with his attitude, he will not get one today. You definitely will not find a Necro-silver spear anywhere else in the area. This one comes straight from a master blacksmith in the Great Kingdom, so its quality is ensured. This will last for likely years if maintained properly. Plus, its magical compensation allows for greater defense and versatility. That alone is worthy of thirty-five gold coins." Milward said.

"What's your budget?" I asked Claire, but she narrowed her eyes at me.

I guess she didn't appreciate me asking the question in front of Milward. Her hesitation to answer was in itself an answer that I understood.

"Forget the Necro-silver. Show me something else. Just make sure that it's good enough. Give me something with the Magepie wood and regular steel. I can make do with one of those, and I'll take a look at your knives." I said.

"The Necro-silver would be better, but..."

"It's not necessary. If forty gold is too much, then we work with the basics. Maybe we'll return to get it if he hasn't sold. Who knows, we might find something better down the line. From where I stand, it isn't a big deal." I said.

"I understand that, so let's find a suitable substitute," Claire said before gesturing for Milward to follow our request.

Milward agreed and showed us the next best option. When we arrived, one spear called to me, and I knew I had to have it. Milward must've picked up on the connection, so he held it up for our appraisal. The spear's shaft was steel, with a golden neck around the point. Its point reminded me of a sai, with two smaller blades and a much larger curved point in the middle. It was a beauty of a spear, and I knew it had to be mine.

"This one was sold to my network from an influential nobleman in the Great Kingdom. It's name is Catalyst."

"Catalyst?" Claire asked, eyes widened. "It has a recognized name? That means..."

"Correct. This is a named armament. Mana could flow through it, but its cost is devastating. That is why the nobleman decided to get rid of it. It's a risk to wield it in battle more often than not." Milward explained as he looked me in my eyes. "This spear can tap into your core and drive you to the brink of Mana Exhaustion. It is dangerous, so I'll give it to you at a discount price." 

"I don't think this one is a good idea. I've heard of this spear. It would not bode well if you were driven to Mana Exhaustion during our expedition." Claire said.

I looked at her, and concern wrinkled her brow. It was admirable that she was concerned, but I was already convinced.

"This one is it. Take it for the discount. In your hands, that spear could evolve into something greater. Named armaments are tough to come by these days, so having one will give you an advantage." Fawkes said, his tone serious for once.

"Tell me more about the spear," I told Milward, and he nodded.

"Its creator had impossibly high mana reserves, so he tailored the spear to his needs. For decades, it was passed around from battle to battle until a talented adventurer found it one day, and his ascension in this world began. He used it until he fell ill and passed it on to his successors. None of them could use it due to its physical cost. So, they sold it off, and here we are. It is incredibly durable and relatively expensive to repair. It is rumored to be able to restore itself using Mana, but it is a difficult task to perform." Milward explained.

"How much?" I asked frankly, needing no more convincing. 

"I'll mirror the price that I gave Lady Clarice. Fifteen gold, and it's off my hands." Milward stated.

I looked at Claire, and she seemed satisfied with the price. Although she appeared to have reservations, she paid Milward before he handed me the spear. I took it and instantly felt a more physical connection to the weapon. It was as if I was hit with vertigo.

Claire noticed and tried to scramble to assist me, but I held my hand to stop her. On the other hand, Milward watched with wide eyes as the spear began to pulse with a light green aura. I felt something was transpiring, but I didn't know what.

'Fawkes? What's happening?' I asked the Fox, but he didn't answer immediately. 

As soon as the light display happened, it had ended. With the disappearance of the light, I felt the cloud that washed over my body clear up.

"Give it a test, and let's see how you handle it," Fox said mischievously.

'What did you do?' I asked him, but he didn't answer again.

I stepped away from Claire and Milward, and the two curiously watched. Claire, with her hand on her waist, and Milward, with his arms crossed, likely had the same question in mind. The answer would be revealed soon. They followed me as I entered the front with my spear in hand. I began twirling the spear once I had enough room to operate safely. 

The initial twirls were sloppy, and I was embarrassed when I dropped the weapon in front of them. Doubt appeared on Milward's face, but I didn't allow it to dissuade me.

"It's been a while since I held one of these, so it'll take a moment to readjust," I explained, which earned Milward's laughter.

I laughed while retrieving my spear from the ground. Using a spear should come naturally to me since it was Roktavor's weapon of choice, but as I moved the weapon around, I found myself as competent as a beginner. 

"Perhaps..."

I cut off Claire's budding doubt with a wide grin. My heart began beating with excitement, and with it, my words flowed, "A spear is my weapon, so fear not; I'll grow accustomed to this one soon enough." 

It was a certainty that there must be a reason that I was unaccustomed to the weapon. It could be that I've hardly held one prior to now, but I know that Roktavor's traits are present in me, so as I spun the spear, I felt my familiarity with it growing.

Once satisfied, I would stand the spear to my right with a thud. As much as I would like to practice more, I had more pressing matters to deal with other than spinning my spear like a majorette with her baton. My display seemed to offer Claire some semblance of confidence in me again. 

"You seem to grasp how to wield it now. Good, because I won't be taking it back.

That one is a detriment to my business, so I am glad you've taken it off my hands. Just try not to get yourself killed with it." Milward said before taking his place behind his counter.

Claire joined me at my side, and after she thanked Milward for his assistance, we departed from the shop. Carrying the spear was a hassle, I will admit that, but nothing more could be done about that. Within minutes, we would arrive at the area where Adventurers seemed to gravitate. From my analysis, three dominant groups were present within the adventurer populace: Humans, Elves, and Wolf Demi-humans. 

There were a significant number of Beastmen, too, but the other groups dominated the numbers. They all wore variations of either armor or robes, with the color pallets mixing and matching as they saw fit. Most groups wore similar colors, but others were unique. One thing that I noticed was that I was the only one who looked like a fox demi-human, and people started to talk when they noticed my features.

Some fox demi-humans scowled at my appearance, while most elves ignored my existence. It was quite the dichotomy when we entered the building. I paid them no mind, of course, and instead focused on the guild's receptionist, whom Claire led me to. He was a wiry man and looked nervous upon my approach. Claire introduced him as Phin, and I could tell that Phin was wary of me immediately. He would cooperate with Claire's request, and sure enough, I was applying to join the Advenrturer's Guild.

"You're all set, Mr. Drago... It is a... pleasure to have you work with the guild. Especially alongside Lady Clarice. You must be quite skilled to be aligned with a woman of her standing." Phin says with a skeptical glare.

His eyes bounced from Claire and me, likely hoping to detect any distress from my partner.

"Mark and his brothers are my newest retainers. Each of them is skilled, but they don't usually handle Adventerur's work." Claire said.

Phin looked at the woman and accepted her answer. On the other hand, I didn't appreciate how he looked at me as if I was a suspicious party. He likely wasn't aware of it, but there was a look of loathing in his gaze. I held my tongue, showcasing myself as a mysterious foxel of few words as Phin informed us that I was registered as a member of her party.

As expected, we were ranked last in their tiers, but that was only due to us being new. From where I stand, the fact that someone is an A rank, B rank, or even an F rank like myself gives little indication of their capabilities or experience. It boils down to how long you've been with the guild and how impressive certain accomplishments are.

Once I received my Guild Token, I placed it in my pocket and gestured for Claire to follow me. Once we were relatively alone, I spoke to her, "I may have made a miscalculation."

Claire was curious about my meaning, so I didn't wait before I expanded on my sentiment. "I expected more fox demi-humans to run around here, but that doesn't seem to be the case. I stand out more than I would have preferred, but I might have to change my approach. For now, let's find a job that lands us close to the Hidden Grotto. That way we can earn money and go there. A win-win situation."

"I would prefer something simple, but let's examine what they have on the boards, " she replied unenthusiastically.

Something seemed to be bothering her, and she seemed aware of the prying eyes at our backs. My prior words seemed to confirm that we were being watched, and as we approached the job board, a single question plagued both of our minds: Are they friends, or are they foes? Time will tell, but for now, I'll stay my course.