Change. Change. Change. Why did you change?

The squad strolled down the bustling street, weaving their way through the crowds of people and dodging vendors selling their wares. The air was thick with the scent of spices and food cooking over open flames. The sound of chatter and music filled their ears.

Elina wiped the sweat from her forehead, feeling the hot sun setting down on her. Salin's red forehead matched the vermillion shirt she wore, and she looked grumpy.

Despite the thin ebony-black armor he adorned, Isaac had a stoic face and didn't seem affected by the burning rays. However, the one that stood out was Alistair, who carried a dog-sized sack dripping with blood.

They continued their stroll down the bustling street, and Elina grew tired and still felt shaken from her near-death experience. The dripping sack Alistair carried didn't help her endeavor. She looked at the rat Alistair carried in apprehension. "That was a close call!" She said as the memory surfaced.

"Yeah," answered Alistair while looking disturbed and unfocused. "You know you almost got yourself killed!"

Elina's head drooped low as she whispered, "I know."

"Why didn't you tell me Alfred wouldn't arrive?" asked Alistair as he stared at Elina with an inquisitive look.

Alistair added on with a tired expression. "Did you know how stupid your simple act was?"

"I… I forgot," Elina replied before she turned her head sideways.

"You forgot!? You. Are. Sure?" Alistair questioned, not accepting her excuse as he knew her attitude.

Elina fidgeted under Alistair's questioning gaze, and after a few seconds, she relented.

"I didn't think it would matter!" Elina said in a low tone.

Alistair slapped his forehead with his free hand, frustrated at Elina's forgetfulness. "If Issac was a second late, you would be in a rat's belly," Alistair grumbled.

He imitated Elina's voice and said. "But well, it doesn't matter; I can fucking deal with it, duhhhhhh,"

"I can handle myself," Elina argued with a scream. Alistair's doubts made her sad. She felt she could have handled it even if Issac didn't come.

Alistair pinched the bridge of his nose. "Children... Always so…fucking… risk-taking," whispered Alistair. Elina's defiant attitude gave him a headache.

Anyways if she wasn't going to listen and kept up with her retorts, he would place it in reports. Otherwise, her father might hang him with a knot.

Angrily, Alistair peered over his shoulder. He reflected on how this company of ragtag misfits formed. It cropped up a couple of years ago when his parents and his squad's parents made a pact.

The pact indicated their kids would perform tasks in squads – for the experience. Of course.

And they chose Alistair to direct it. After they finalized the decision, Alistair regretted acting older than he was, and to this day; he curses the conclusion.

As they walked, Salin mumbled about the task, she looked displeased, and her unkempt hair heightened her displeasure.

"Had plans to go somewhere," she whispered with heavy breaths in between her words.

Her voice raised. "Yet, I stayed to do all this!"

Alistair sighed inwardly, knowing Salin grumbled about their duties. "It is to prepare us for what is outside the walls. It is for our sake; it is for our future," he answered.

Salin pouted as she crossed her bare arms. "But how come they never show us what's outside; the way I see it! It doesn't sound that dangerous."

"It's more dangerous than what we do. "Isaac replied from the back.

Salin glared at Issac. She loathed that answer. But, she caved after she saw none shared her thoughts.

"Hmm, fine!" Salin said. Although, she didn't sound like she would drop the subject. Salin let it go.

"Wonderful! Now let's take this rogue experiment back to Madam's shop… before it causes a pandemic or some bullshit," Alistair said.

After what felt like an eternity, they arrived at their destination. In front of them was a street decorated by a crimson light everywhere.

Across the sky were gold-colored orbs designed with blue markings that escalated about their surface.

Alistair sighed in relief as they approached the entrance of the lively esoteric shop and gestured for the group to follow him inside.

They passed the crowd that bought artifacts from the short creatures, and they sprinted to the counter. Upon reaching it, the squad jumped over it and headed to a door; they pushed it open.

The place they found themselves was fascinating.

It was a lab.

A lab filled with solutions/elixirs of varying colors that emitted luminous gas, and the gasses had the smell of fruits, ranging from: Apples, lemons, and watermelon. Etc.

Transparent glass tubes held by test tube racks were placed around the dark chamber, gleaming from the dim purple and green bulbs atop the laboratory. Silver-colored automated machinery was scattered across the semi-tidy room.

It was a much-needed upgrade from its previous ancient design.

Alistair inspected the dim room, trying to find the owner, but her figure was nowhere in sight.

"Madam Petri, we retrieved it!" Alistair shouted, his voice echoing through the enclosure.

As they walked through the deserted lab, a loud thud echoed through the air, catching their attention. They turned to investigate, their eyes fixed on the source of the noise. After a few seconds, an old woman emerged from the curtains.

She wore a pair of gleaming gold goggles and carried up a matching staff. Moving quietly, she walked along a wooden path toward them. It was none other than Madam Petri, a figure of legend in these parts.

"Good afternoon, Madam Petri," Alistair greeted, and he gestured to the sack with his thumb.

"Oh, I see you recovered it! How wonderful," Madam Petri said.

As they approached Madam Petri, Alistair noticed how much she had changed since his first visit.

Her previously ancient ornaments were now trendy, and her gold robe glistened with a metallic luster as she wore a pendant with an eye in the center.

Even her staff had changed from a wooden frame to one of steel, and a clock replaced the previous jewel it possessed - it was clear she had changed her equipment.

'Times change people, huh,' Alistair thought, and he dropped the sack onto a table and opened it. Petri went closer to observe the rat.

'It is still alive despite these injuries, fascinating…Its ether energy became stronger, but its life energy weakened.' Madam Petri thought.

Using a scalpel, Madam Petri opened up the rat's belly, and its bloody intestines spilled out, revealing the remains of a green gem.

'Good, it didn't eat anything,' she thought while adjusting her glasses and inspecting the carcass. "Those lazy carriers almost let you go, but now I have you back, my little specimen."

Madam Petri's hands dug in and removed a green orb. Petri instantly placed it in a silk bag and wrapped it up.

Madam Petri smiled at them. "I thank you for your work. I know you younglings that like the dirty acts we old ones force you to do," she said in appreciation.

Alistair nodded, and Elina jumped up and down. Isaac stayed stoic, and Salin was too busy removing cobwebs from her hair to react.

"So what experiment is this?" Alistair asked. Madam Petri's mix of esoterism plus machinery fascinated him. Although, she kept refusing to teach him.

"The empire demands something." Madam Petri replied like a kind old lady.

However, it turned solemn the next instant. "I can't tell you what it is, young man, official business!" Madam Petri warned.

Alistair rolled his eyes as he expected Madam Petri's answer, but he tried again.

"To think we almost risked our lives, and you can't even tell us this little." Alistair tried a different approach, emotional blackmail.

However, Madam Petri had experience with mind games.

"Oh, do you blame us for doing it? Even after knowing it's for your good, Alistair?" Madam Petri's face turned grim.

Madam Petri scoffed. "Children truly can not understand the pain of their elders!"

Alistair almost choked at her response. Therefore he had no other choice but to drop it. However, one person didn't.

Salin whined as she stomped on the ground, with a pout on her face. "Why don't we do this when we're older and only focus on training?"

"Young one, training could never prepare you as much… As this does," Petri reprimanded with a raised tone as she pointed her hands at the grumpy Salin, but she couldn't fault Salin. Salin was still a stupid child.

Salin appeared unconvinced. "They should let us see it for ourselves!" She said with a high pitch as she slammed the table.

"Careful with that!" Alistair said as he noticed Salin's actions. The worst thing to ever do in Petri's lab is to touch without restraint. Alistair learned that the hard way.

Salin snorted as she glanced elsewhere. "Whatever!"

Alistair stopped paying attention to Salin, and he gazed at Madam Petri. "So, ma'am, have you considered my application?"

"I still refuse; you are not yet ready," Madam Petri denied. "Your attainments in using the ether are still subpar."

Alistair's eyebrow came down. He didn't like the answer. However, he would not push it. Madam Petri acted stubborn when push came to shove.

Alistair let out a breath of exasperation. "Alright, is there anything you have for u—"

"Ugh!" the group complained, interrupting him from asking, so Alistair shut up.

"I am sorry; I guess we'll leave," said Alistair as sweat dripped down his forehead.

Petri chuckled at their antics and shooed them away.

Alistair smiled and bid her farewell. His group got out to the ancient part of the shop. They weaved past the customers. Alistair took an orb on the way.

Soon, they pushed open the door and into the busy streets. However, in front of them stood a familiar figure, one that Alistair instantly recognized.

"Alfred, you damn deserter!" He screamed calmly.