A frigid breeze drifted in from the cracked window, shaking Aylin awake with a shiver. Early morning sunshine pushed its way through the dancing linen curtains, casting a gleaming column of wavering light over her face. Realizing the initial chill had woken her beyond the point of returning to sleep, she rolled out of bed to part the heavy curtains, discovering the source of the gusts. A couple Kestrel Griffins, their tawny wings and white chests speckled with black, had alighted at their postal platforms on the streets below. Aylin's heart fluttered as the beautiful creatures shuffled their black-streaked wings, waiting patiently while vibrantly robed merchants unstrapped their delivered bundles.

Ever since the Protective Treaty of Displaced Races was passed around twenty years ago, possibilities sprung up and immensely beneficial alliances such as the Griffin Postal Service came into existence. It was strange to think that in her lifetime such creatures were hunted to near-extinction, but now they were beginning to flourish once more. Casting a renewed protective enchantment over her armor, she slipped on her tunic and gathered her belongings, buckling her leather armor pieces into their proper places. The months were nearing the threshold between summer and autumn, meaning the steadily dropping temperature would begin tormenting her in the coming weeks.

After a refreshing breakfast of ginger apples and a warm sweet bun, she followed the dockhand's directions to the guild's front steps. Sulistrade's markets teemed with life during the day. The bustling, decorated stalls bordering the streets overflowed with goods, many of which were foreign to her. She would have to return to spend time learning about all the vendors' wares, but for now watched and absorbed what she could from the distinctive cultural items as she passed. More varied races seemed to make their way through this city than any she had seen before. Whether a customer was a Sun Fae or an Oread, it didn't matter; their coin was all the same.

After passing through the showy, lively market areas the road diverged, and she continued as directed. The Merchant Guild's building was made of neat stone framing a rich mahogany door. Above the entrance hung a sculpted stone coat-of-arms with the guild's crest; an oak tree with branches that formed an angular, braided pattern around it. She rapped her knuckles against the fine wood. Shuffles and muffled voices scurried inside, and after a few seconds the viewing hatch on the door whipped open.

"Who is it?" An assertive voice demanded, the small opening revealing shrewd cobalt eyes winged with crow's feet.

"My name's Aylin, I'm here to investigate a string of crimes I've heard about coming from here."

"Did we call for you?" The gruff voice asked brashly. This welcoming was colder than she expected, but she wasn't here to make friends.

Her tone lowered as she leaned in, "No, but I heard about the trouble within your guild, and I'm here to help."

"What makes you think you can help?" the man sniveled.

"I'm an arcanist detective. Which is what I believe you need."

After a pause and some muttering another man came to speak through the slot, "I think we could use your services. Please, come in."

Clunks and squeals of metal latches resounded as they were unlocked until the door finally swept open. "Come, follow me," the younger second man was revealed, leading her through a spacious main room with vaulted ceilings, down an opulent carpeted hallway with silver chandeliers overhead, and up a steep stairwell to his relatively plain office quarters, where he swiftly shut the door behind them. Aylin realized the first irritated doorman hadn't been anywhere in sight as soon as she had entered.

"I didn't catch your name," he gestured for her to sit at the curved chair before his desk, and she obliged as he took his place behind the paper-strewn, ink flecked work surface.

"Aylin. And yours?"

"Malikai. How did you come to find out about the events?" His dark bangs were brushed back and he wore a smart gray doublet with tiny sprigs of golden flowering rue and rosemary evergreen pinned against his chest pocket. The protective herbs reinforced to her that those closest believed the deaths were caused by evil beings, not just an ordinary human.

"Several sources led me here, actually. Seems it's been going on for awhile now?"

"It has. What do you know of it?"

"Just that some merchants were being killed in an unnatural fashion. There were also rumors of strange events afterwards, though no one seemed able to agree on those stories."

A faint sigh escaped him, "Sounds about right. There's recent news too - our Chief of Coin, Ser Felstrum, was found dead in his home last night. He was one of the last high ranking guild members," his calm demeanor was betrayed by a quivering hand that rose to tug lightly at his collar.

"Is the body still there?" she inquired.

"To my knowledge it is. With him gone, mid-level members like me might be next. However, if you reveal the culprit quickly, we may stand a chance. Am I right to assume that you won't be doing this investigation for free?"

"Indeed, we should agree upon a sum for compensation once I have all the details. Fortunately for you, once the guilty are discovered they'll be hastily dealt with, and won't be a bother to anyone anymore."

Sun haloed his figure from the windows behind him, and she watched the slow realization dawn in his shadowed eyes, "...Do you mean to say that you'll kill them?"

"If they truly turn out to be monsters or evil beings of some sort, then yes. I deal with them accordingly."

"How do you manage to do that? Not to be rude, but I wouldn't believe a young lady such as yourself would know how to slay monsters."

Humans and their inane gender roles. Taking pause to restrain her flaring annoyance, she answered with a hint of defiance, "I'm a mage, or a sorceress if you prefer to call it that. I'm well-versed in both magic and combat, and know how to deal with these sorts of beings. At the very least, I'm the best chance you have of not being killed."

After a moment's hesitation he gave her a terse nod. "I can't argue with that. So what do you need?"

"More information. Do you know how many killers there might be? Where they could have a lair? Who in your guild is untrustworthy?"

"We don't know their number. Though with the amount that they've killed, I would imagine at least three of them working in conjunction, if not more. We don't know where they're coming from, or if they have a place of residence. As for the last question, that I cannot be sure of as well." His voice fell to the faintest of whispers as he leaned in, "I haven't trusted anyone here in weeks. Although Caltros - who you met at the door - and Burges have both been acting very strange lately. If the murderers are hidden among us, I would question them first."

Aylin nodded, "Thank you. Do you know where Ser Felstrum's residence is?"

"I do, it's not far from here. Down the road, take the right fork at the diverging path, and another right at Helstern's Brewery. His house will be on the left, lined with slate flower boxes and a gargoyle statue next to the door."

"Very well. If that's all the info you have, I'll be on my way momentarily. What would the Guild be willing to pay for me to solve your problems?"

Malikai straightened in his seat with uncertainty, interlaced fingers resting on the desk. His expression was stolid, dark eyes searching her face. "We'll discuss that once the problem is fully resolved."

"I need a starting figure at least. Won't do it without some sort of promise of pay."

"Fine," he gathered his thoughts, calculating in his head while his fingertips absently stroked his finely manicured chin strap beard. "Thirty pearls."

A vexed grimace twisted her features, "What?! I have no use for pearls. I'm talking about coin here." She withheld some choice angry words churning at the back of her throat.

"A fine lady such as yourself doesn't want pearls? Hah!" He pat his doublet's stomach as if he had made a great jest. "Fine then. Eighty seltrins."

"Eighty? I'm putting myself at risk for getting involved in this, to your benefit. You mean one hundred for each culprit."

He shook his head, "Not a chance. Eighty seltrins, and if all the monsters are surely dead, we'll reward you another fifty some time after the job is verified to be completely taken care of." He extended his hand to cement the deal.

Withholding a scoff, her hazel-eyed gaze held steady with his for a few seconds. Greedy rich people tended to be the worst at parting with their money. That would barely cover the cost of the inn she was staying at if the investigation lasted through the week. His offer wasn't about to budge, so if she wanted to be paid fairly it would take special convincing. She refused to accept for so much less than what was deserved.

"That won't do," she remarked. Her pupils briefly flared into vertical slits as foreign words echoed in unison, "Raydris ir nanth." The hissed words tumbled through the air, lingering with a tangible vibration of energy. She released a soft breath, "Malikai, that isn't acceptable compensation for this type of job. You must understand, I'm putting myself at great risk to take care of this for you. If I don't do anything, you will all be killed. I request four hundred seltrins as fair payment, one hundred of it paid up front."

Malikai's eyes were hazy and heavy-lidded until he blinked with sudden realization. "...You're right. It will be done. Four hundred seltrins, and one hundred before you leave. Will that be all, miss?" Unlocking a hidden box in his desk drawer, he grabbed a pre-bundled pouch of a hundred seltrins and offered it to her.

"That'll be all. Thank you," she accepted the pouch, tying it tightly around her belt. Satisfied with the arrangement of decent pay, she stood to depart his office while affirming, "I'll return with what I've uncovered from Ser Felstrum's house later today."

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for reading! Hopefully this chapter wasn't too slow, but I promise things will be ramping up faster now that the setting is established =)   If you enjoyed this chapter, please remember to vote! Any feedback or support is very much appreciated ❤