Kaneki was a bustling slum, and reminded Mai of her hometown. No one paid heed to Ruinfire’s entrance, well, at least to most of their members. People gathered from the shadows to stare at Kessie. Whispers flew among them. What was a honneko doing in a group of mercenaries?

Kessie was as oblivious as a child. No, Mai corrected internally, she feigned ignorance to their stares. Kessie had lived long enough to know when people were watching her. Yet, the half honneko woman was shouting out hello and chatting eagerly with the kids.

Speaking of the children, their fear left them as they entered the town. They were home. Now, Ruinfire just had to find the parents, and find the nearest Guild outpost to relay the location of the bandits.

Mai turned her attention to Li’Kai. The sellsword had left her wyvern outside the town, at an inn. Her aura was a calming blue, but shivers of anxiety swept through it. Why? Mai’s lips twisted into a small smile. She would observe, collect data and calculate. A new project awaited her. Who was Li’Kai? Maybe a truth concoction would work. Mai had tried one on Leila, but it was to no avail. 

“Okay,” Owen said, stopping and turning to address the group. He pulled them into an alley. “Here is everyone’s share of the money.” He doled out forty gold coins to each of the members. “I already took ten out of each to pay for the inn. The rest is yours. Mai, you and Kessie go find the parents of these kids. I will go report to the Guild outpost and stock up on provisions. Corin and Leila… Please try not to burn down the whole town. And Li’Kai, make sure that doesn’t happen.”

***

At first, Li’Kai wondered why the two needed a chaperone. After all, it seemed like Corin and Leila were responsible enough, even if Leila could barely pass as a thirteen year old. Her short cut hair didn’t help, either, when it came to looking more mature. 

Now, sitting in the Janna Tavern, Li’Kai wished she had been a bit less naive. Sipping her inexpensive cup of beer using some of the money she had taken when she left the Pan estate, she sighed. 

Leila played chess with some of the tavern’s regular customers. Li’Kai had never seen someone that good. Bets were placed, and within ten minutes the first game had concluded, and Leila emerged victorious. 

A big, burly man with muscles the size of Astoria pushed through the crowd. “That little punk is using magic to win!”

“I don’t have magic,” Leila shook her head. “You’re just scared.”

Before Li’Kai could move, Corin got up. “Don’t worry, I got this.” With a confident stride, he sauntered over to the man. “I’ll show that idiot what a good chess match is. Who thinks I can win?”

“I’ll put fifty silver on you,” the man said. “You better beat this girl.”

With a smile, Corin sat down. It then occurred to Li’Kai what they were doing, and why Owen had asked her to keep an eye on them. She could only imagine what tavern customers might do when they find that a pair of youth had swindled them. Corin had been chatting up the female bartender, who bet heavily for him. Still, a fair amount of people bet on little Leila, though it only took basic math to realize that Corin had more money riding on his win.

And Li’Kai maybe ‘burning down a town’ wasn’t too much of an exaggeration of what this pair could cause. In the upper class, backstabbing was common, and Li’Kai knew all too well the results.

She didn’t know much about chess, but from afar she heard the positions called out. Obvious ways to win were ignored. She then realized it. They weren’t playing for a win- they were going for a tie. That way, they’d each get ten percent of the bets placed on them.

It was a rehearsed dance- one that had been practiced many times. It was a precarious act; if one of the customers caught on, it would mean trouble.

What should she do? She had no authority over them. Hell, she wasn’t even apart of their mercenary group or even the Guild itself. She could only watch. 

The crowd grew silent. The last move had been made. There was no way for either to win.

“Oh, well,” Corin shrugged, standing up and stretching. “Can I have my money?”

“Yeah, I think I’ll head home for the day,” Leila yawned.

With a look of suspicion, the bartender handed each of them their winnings. Leila headed out the back, while Corin walked to Li’Kai. 

“We’re meeting up in the square,” Corin said. “Leila’s going to go spend her earnings. I have something to do, so catch up with her, okay?”

“That better not involve swindling some drunk mercenaries,” Li’Kai muttered.

“Hey, the more drunk you get, the more stupid you are.”

As much as she hated to admit it, there was a certain charm about Corin. He had the rugged look, but instead of making him look like a peasant, the ruffled hair and ripped cloak radiated an aura of power. He was better than Calum, at least, but who wasn’t?

She shook her head, clearing her mind of those thoughts and headed out the back of the tavern. Leila was counting her earnings, leaning against a stone wall.

“Don’t say a word to Owen,” Leila said. “He hates it when I do this. He always lectures me, and Corin gets away scot free. I’m going to the town bookstore. Want to come?”

“Aren’t we meeting Corin at the square?”

“Nah, he’s off to another tavern, and drunk Corin is not someone you want to hang with. He’ll stumble back to the inn around dark. If not, Mai will send her ravens after him.”

The two walked through the market. Merchants called out their wares-from vases to alcohol. Flame lights illuminated the still busy streets, even though the sun had fallen. After a few turns, they had found Kaneki Scrolls.

“Welcome,” an old man said as Leila and Li’Kai entered. “It’s a pleasure to see young ones interested in learning. Have a look around.”

Li’Kai was close to gagging due to the musty air. Leila seemed unaffected, with her eyes glittering in content.

“What brings you to our town, travellers?” the owner asked Li’Kai.

“We’re mercenaries,” Leila called from the alcove. “Say, do you have any books on…?”

“Mercenaries, eh?” the old man interrupted. “I used to work for the Guild myself. You know, there was always something I regretted never finding. Here, let me give it to you. It’s on the house.”

The shopkeeper handed Li’Kai a dusty old scroll. “It’s a Feien treasure map from the ages of old.”

“Treasure map?” Leila gasped. In her haste, she tripped down the stairs. “I’m okay! What’s this about treasure?”

“I can’t read exactly what it says, but it goes North, into…”

“The Darklands,” Li’Kai murmured before Leila snatched the scroll from her.

“You know Fei?” the old man asked.

Leila nodded. “We have to show this to Owen!” 

“What does it say?” Li’Kai asked.

“This is our chance to make it big time! Thank you, sir!” Leila rushed out.

“I’m glad it is of some use,” the shopkeeper smiled at Li’Kai. “Something is special about that girl there. Maybe she will find it.”