I made my way down into the human settlement. The sprawling mess of stone and wood buildings appeared quaint to my eyes.
I’d been in demon cities that boasted towering spires and large populations.
But I hadn’t come to the mortal realm for grandeur.
I was here for a taste of humility.
“Mister, you don’t have any shoes.”
I looked to my left. Then to my right.
Something touched my knee, and finally, I glanced down.
A small girl with a dirty nose and pink hair blinked up at me.
“You’re very sneaky,” I informed her.
She smiled. “I can see your feet.”
“And?”
The dirty nose wrinkled. “It’s gross.”
“Says the girl who looks like she just stepped out of a demon’s dead bonfire.”
“A…what?”
So, this must be how normal mortals converse.
I explained, “It’s where you collect the limp, bloodied corpses after a long battle and set them ablaze. I imagine you have similar disposal strategies here.”
Her eyes suddenly became… wetter. Shiny. Disturbing. Her face scrunched, and her bottom lip began to shake.
Oh, by the steel bridge of an overlord’s taint. Was this what mortals called crying? I’d seen it once from afar during a scrying session…
She opened her mouth and screamed.
…but this is truly terrifying.
I took several hasty steps back, shook myself, and then stood my ground. “Silence!” I commanded her.
Her voice caught, and she looked up at me in bewildered shock. Water continued to leak from her eyes.
I pointed at her. “Stop that! And change the unpleasant shape your mouth has taken on.”
“But you said I looked like a dead body,” she warbled.
I scrambled. “No, filthy spawn. I said you looked as though you walked out of the ashes of what once was a pile of dead bodies. Very different!” I added with a grin.
She tilted her head. Her mouth relaxed again. “Oh. Is that good?”
“Of course,” I rambled. “It means you yourself were not killed or burned to nothingness. You have every reason to celebrate. Now, mortal seedling, I must leave you.”
She scrubbed her now red nose with the back of her hand and said, “Okay, but you probably shouldn’t go in there like that.”
I climbed the white stone steps. My filthy feet left prints.
It had taken me less than an hour to reach Amarantha’s walls. By the time I’d made it through the gates, Amarantha was waking. Now, chatter about the demon cloud was in full force.
But there was no time to enjoy the city. Not yet. I had a plan, and I couldn’t rest until this first part was over with.
I was at the Mayor’s residence.
I pushed the grand double-doors open. There was no need to ask for directions. A maid stopped in her tracks, but before she could offer me any help, I waved. “No need, madam. I know the way.”
She looked fearful, like she wanted to say something, but didn’t follow me.
I climbed the carpeted stairs and then took a right at the top. I entered the last room on the left with a smile and a bow.
A very short, purple-faced man sat at a desk, sipping from a crystal glass. When he looked up, he spewed the entire mouthful all over his important-looking papers.
“Who — ”
“Abigail and Henrick Hollowstone!” I announced.
The man’s face turned a dangerous shade of white. He stammered, “H-how do you mean? Who is that?”
I laughed like we were old friends. It was almost true. He was the second human I’d watched closely through the scrying mirror. Making my plan.
I knew him well enough.
I said, “I know you blackmailed that poor couple by threatening to kill their son — very devilish of you, by the way. All because you wanted their farmland. Bravo! However, I need papers. So, you’re going to help me, and I’ll keep this our little secret.”
His chest rose and fell rapidly. “Papers?”
I spread my hands and gestured at the copies on his table. “Much like these, I imagine.”
“You’re talking about identification papers,” he stammered.
“Everything necessary to apply to the Tower Guild Academy.”
He swallowed hard, meeting my gaze with cold terror. “I don’t know who you are, but you must leave immediately.”
The air was thick with tension and he glared at me with thinly-veiled fear from his bloodshot eyes.
“I will expose you,” I promised.
He pointed a trembling finger. “And who will believe you? A wretched, drunk vagrant to be sure! One who couldn’t show the decency needed to make an appointment, even. The worst kind of scum! I am an important man with a busy schedule!”
His own blustering seemed to give him the false sense of confidence he needed to stand and raise his voice. “Guards!”
Placing a hand on the surface of his desk, I leapt smoothly over, swiping a fountain pen in the same movement.
In the next second, the Mayor found his face pressed into the stained-glass window, the sharp point of his pen digging in his neck.
The mayor did have magic, but he wasn’t very strong. I wasn’t too worried about a counter-attack when I said evenly, “You will do as I say, or I’ll push this a little further and paint the lovely window with your blood. Do you have a preference?”
“F-f-fine!” he gasped. “I’ll do what you want, you madman! Let me go! Please.”
There was a frantic pounding on the door. “Sir? Do you require assistance?”
“Make them go away,” I commanded softly.
“N-no!” he shouted. “All is well! Please clear my schedule for the next thirty minutes, Jed. That is all.”
“I shall, Sir. Call if you need anything else.”
I pulled the pen back from his neck, and the Mayor whimpered, a thick drop of blood welling and then trickling beneath this collar.
“Who are you?”
I chuckled and tossed the bloody pen onto the table. “Ready yourself and that wax seal, good Mayor! I’ll leave nothing out.”
Fifteen minutes later, I reviewed the parchment in my hand. It read:
* * *
Luc Vale
Denomination: Human
Age: 27
Previous residence: Alcara Row District, Hale City
Mastery Level: Novice
Education: Basic (Graduated)
Eligible for Guild Academy? Yes
Eligible for Guild Hiring? Yes
Previous History of Arrest or Misdeed? No
* * *
The Mayor’s seal was as clear as void fire. I was officially a legal citizen of Ria, and no one could challenge that.
He was practically drenching his clothes with nervous sweat. The smell was sour and pungent.
It was wonderful. All it meant was the bastard was pinned beneath my thumb.
“Thank you, Mayor. You are truly the public servant this city needs. And do understand that I know much more about your illegal choices in this city. Shall I send you proof to show my devotion to proper research?”
It was a bluff. But if he needed proof, I’d certainly find it.
He stammered something unintelligible. Finally, he shook his head. Defeated.
I tuned on my heel but paused. “Oh! One more thing!”
Was he going to piss himself? I’d probably like to see it.
“What more could you possibly want?” he wheezed.
“Coin,” I said. “Whatever you have in this office. More, if I decide it’s not enough.”
In my haste to come to Ria, I hadn’t learned what precisely was considered a large sum in this world. That seemed like a minor detail, since I’d planned on relieving the good Mayor of his silver and gold.
His brow furrowed. He looked ready to deny me. But the fight in him disappeared with a sigh. “You bastard… fine.” He pulled open a drawer and filled a small, cloth pouch with the coins in his pockets and a bowl of loose change in his drawer.
I took the pouch and examined its contents. There was a fair amount of gold and silver in there. Several copper, which were likely the least in worth. That much was obvious.
“Much obliged, Mayor. I’ll see you soon.”
I left the building and walked outside.
The pink-haired child wasn’t alone anymore.
A young woman with long, curly, pink hair now stared at me too. She crossed her arms over her ample breasts and cocked her curvy hip out.
“Is this him?” she asked the child, who nodded.
I looked down on the angry newcomer as she stormed forward. Her body swayed and bounced with every movement.
She poked me square in the chest. “Did you tell my little sister a scary story? Do you see how young she is? What were you thinking? And why are your clothes so weird?”
I lifted a brow. “No. Yes. Avoidance. And lastly, they’re borrowed.”
Her angry expression went slack with wonder. “Um…what?”
“Your questions. All answered in order.”
She thought about it while biting on her lip. “So, you didn’t try to scare Mabel?”
The spawn in question smiled at me, completely oblivious.
“Am I scary?” I asked her.
“Kinda!” she chirped.
You have absolutely no idea.
To the older girl, I answered, “No, I did not try to scare her. She simply caught me by surprise.”
She pursed her full lips. Those were a soft shade of pink too. And then she broke out into a giggle. “Thank the gods! I was worried I’d have to fight you, and I’m horrible in combat. Though I might be able to take down a giant, handsome man in a scarecrow outfit. I’m Clove Willowborn. You don’t look like anyone I’ve ever seen before.”
There were others dressed even more poorly than I. So, why do I stand out? Blast it…
“I certainly hope not,” I replied lightly. “If I had a twin without realizing it, that would be concerning. Now, please excuse me.”
“Hey! Wait!”
I kept walking, but the girl and her little sister followed. Clove asked, “What are those papers in your hand?”
I frowned. Was it normal for mortals to be this intrusive and clingy?
She huffed and bounced along, struggling to keep up with my pace while dragging Mabel along behind her.
This was a strange way to begin the real part of my plan. I hadn’t anticipated these two. I said, “I’m applying to the Tower Guild Academy. These are my papers.”
“Oh!” she exclaimed. “That’s weird. Normally, the Mayor sends a copy to the Guild. Did you apply ahead of time?”
“No.”
She hummed. “Well, since you’ve never been there before, I’ll take you! I have a friend who will help us.”
“I’m not interested — ”
We passed by an inn just as its old wooden door smashed open, and two figures exploded onto the street.
One was a man with a wolf’s head and claws. Another was a human mage with a glowing staff.
They were about to crash into my two female companions.