A very normal artist

"Ok bub, we're gonna hafta ask you to put your hands in the air, alright?"

I sure as hell wasn't going to do something so preposterous. Put my hands in the air? That was looking to get my ass whooped in a heartbeat.

Normally, I would just use the tried and true technique of running. But with Lazari here, that made things complicated.

Diplomacy, go!

"How about you put your hands up, huh?!"

The footmen were visibly startled by my reply, and they gave each other puzzled glances. Hah, it seems my verbal counter was enough to place them in a predicament whereby they were unsure of how to proceed. Being part of the law enforcement before, I can guarantee that guards weren't taught about how to deal with non compliant individuals besides the usual 'stand down or we'll…,' gimmick, which was an empty threat. This gap in procedure was usually abridged with experience, but these guards weren't that high ranking looking at their badges, all being one star.

"Sir, if you don't comply, we'll have to use force,"

Again this was an empty threat, they won't engage as long as I didn't do anything threatening. In my silence, one of the footmen seemed to cave under the oppressing silence.

"Hey hey, at least let that little girl go!"

Putting down their pride the footmen seemed to beg him to let the girl go…

What girl? Actually, looking beside me, yeah, there was a little girl there. Averting eye contact from her I look to the footmen again.

As I ponder on an answer to give them, a new voice resounds.

"Hehe, do you meat sacks think you could escape after finding one of us?"

Their voice sounded androgynous but that might have been because of the cloth around his face, similar to mine. They were covered from head to toe in black, set with a dark aura manifesting around their figure.

"W-who? Who are you?"

His voice trembled under the pressure from this figure.

"Heh, no need for dead men to know,"

I stood back a few feet as I watched the spectacle unfold. The newcomer took a couple steps forward before hopping on top of one of the footmen, stomping him underfoot and entrapping him in his malicious aura. The other's froze up as they watched their companion flail and shrivel into a husk, void of any vitality.

The footmen, being rookies themselves were not up to handle such a high risk situation and crumbled under the pressure as they attempted to sell each other out, or stay stock still. Though, it did nothing to prevent the inevitable, as they're quickly cut down. Their screams dying out in this dark backstreet.

Even when I try to use diplomacy, this still happens. I might as well have just been aggressive at the start and save me the trouble.

Smacking their lips, the killer turned to me and said playfully, "You should've had some,"

"Heh, so you're a silent guy, eh?"

Seeing me make no visible reaction, he tacked on another comment.

What a weird fellow, he dresses like me and says innocuous phrases in a dark context. Judging solely from these factors only and none others, he must be a dark arts cultist.

"So? You part of the support base camp sent?" Their eyes turn sharp, as they watch for my reaction.

I shrug, as I'm genuinely confused as to what the everloving Hell they've been going on about.

"Can you show me a trick?"

A trick? What kind of trick?

"Any trick," they say whilst throwing me a severed arm.

Subconsciously moving I catch the arm, simultaneously corrupting it…

Oops.

"Heh, nice, follow me,"

He seems to assent with my thoughtless reaction.

Well, there's nothing wrong with going with the flow. And as such, I follow this fellow through obscure pathways and hidden passages as we make our way to an inconspicuous inn, far out of sight of the common populace. As we moved along, I noticed that they would frequently look behind them and check around corners as they made small talk with me. Despite their carefree attitude, they were actually pretty cautious.

"Alright, we're here, I'll introduce you, then you can settle down,"

They whisper, before knocking on the door in a quick rhythm. Soon after, I could hear locks being slid off the braced door as it was slowly opened. Swiftly entering the building I follow them in, making sure Lily and Lazari come in as well.

We entered into what can be considered a reception room as musky air flowed out of the inn. Immediately faced with a counter right at the front with hallways leading into what I would assume were inn rooms, along with a hallway to the left being a dining room presumably. Though I couldn't be sure not because of how dark it is in here, but due to how the hallways bend after a certain point.

"Laffer, who'd ya bring this time?"

A gruff voice spoke, it was the man who opened the door for us and unsurprisingly, he wore a black hooded robe covering his other dark clothes.

The guy who brought me here, now identified as Laffer, introduced me to the doorman, stating me as a comrade new to town.

"I'm the in name leader of this post, people call me Lacer, how 'bout you?"

Slightly mimicking his introduction I say, "They call me Jeff,"

Nodding his head, Lacer turned to look at Lazari,

"Interesting lass you got there, what kinda monster is she?"

"Demon,"

Oh crap, I just spontaneously answered. I'm a damned fool, I really didn't mean to do that, but thankfully, instead of going ballistic and trying to kill her, his eyes seemed to light up.

"Heh, not bad, it's probably defective, but it's better than nothin' ain't I right?"

He speaks, nudging his elbow against Laffer. Though I'm a bit mad that he was treating Lazari like an item I can only assume that Lacer made such a deduction because of how hollow her eyes looked, which was usually a key factor concerning one's sense of self and personality.

"Alright, 'nough of that, Jeff, we have a meeting tonight, so don't wander, your room's third to the left down the hallway,"

Laffer shoved Lacer away in annoyance as he quickly told me to settle down and wait for nightfall. It was a subtle reminder that I shouldn't rouse any more trouble 'till then.

Well, I guess I'll just wait until their meeting and see what this is all about.