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    As Kaius crossed through the gates to Deadacre, the sounds of the city washed over him. The heavy background buzz of chatter and thumping boots, the clack of carts rolling over uneven cobble, and the odd cutting bark of a laugh or crying babe.

    Overwhelming, sure, but also full of the vitality of life. Something pleasantly different after so long with little company in his surroundings.

    Brown canvas tents lined the square that the gates opened to, stacked up tight to the wall with barely walkable alleys separating their fabric walls. Emergency housing. Several guards wandered the open space, directing people where they needed to go, or helping one of the more desperate into the waiting arms of those that were getting people settled in the tents.

    A guard in chain whistled, waving them over—a woman with sandy hair cropped short and piercing blue eyes.

    “You boys alright? I doubt you need shelter here, given your dress, but I thought I’d check and see if you knew where you were headin’.” the guard asked.

    “Ahh, we’ll be fine, thank you. I’ve been here before, so I know my way well enough around.” Kaius said, thanking the woman, who nodded and waved them on.

    Kaius set off for one of the main streets that exited the square, companions in tow. Masonry buildings lined the streets, three stories tall and made from the same rustic rough-cut stone as the rest of the city. Looming over the streets, they made navigation tough if you didn’t know your way around with how they blocked sight of any landmarks. Especially since the layout of the streets looked like someone had traced a tangled length of yarn onto a city plan and called it a day.

    “Well, we made it through the gate with little issue, though that Sergeant was a tough bastard to hide from.” Porkchop said.

    Ianmus chuckled. “When he called us over I was totally convinced we’d been had. Thank the gods it was just a registration issue.”

    Kaius groaned. Such a small thing, but it had nearly done them in. If his and Porkchop’s stats weren’t so artificially inflated, they would have been toast, for sure.

    “The main thing is we’re in the clear now.” Kaius said, before he turned to Ianmus. “I know this is your first time here, so I can show you to the road that leads directly to the caravaneer’s office by the far gate. It’ll be a bit of a trek, but it’s a straight shot.”

    The half-elf smiled at him. “Thank you, and thanks again for making sure I made it here in one piece.”

    “It’s no problem at all. Only what any decent folk would do. Listen, if you’re stuck here for a bit while you wait for an empty slot, feel free to stop by if you see me around the guild house. It’d be nice to see a familiar face.” Kaius replied, waving off Ianmus’s thanks.

    “It would, plus it would be nice to have someone else to talk to. It’s going to suck pretending to be an unthinking beast.” Porkchop grumbled.

    Ianmus nodded with a smile, but he had enough sense not to directly address his brother in a crowded square.

    While the square was packed, it parted before them with ease. Understandable, all things considered. Ianmus was wearing the classic attire of a magi, while he was fully suited in armour with a giant of a beast at his back. Most people, regular people, weren’t the type to get in the way of obvious monster killers.

    Exiting the square, the heady smell of smoke, dust, and sweat washed over him. It wasn’t strong, per se, but it was pervasive. With his senses sharpened since his last trip, he did his best to ignore the odour, though inwardly he missed the fresh air found outside of settlements.

    He’d spent too long in the wilds to enjoy city life overmuch.

    The road they followed wound its way through the city, dozens of side streets and alleys splitting off to tangle their way through the thickets of stone buildings. Eventually, they reached a fork.

    “This is it.” Kaius said as he came to a halt, turning to Ianmus. “Follow that road to the end and you’ll reach the other gate. No turns onto another street or anything, just straight there.”

    Ianmus paused, giving him a slight nod. “Well, I suppose this is the end of our little soiree. I guess this is goodbye.”

    Kaius gave the man a warm smile before clapping him on the shoulder. “Don’t be like that. If the fates will it I am sure we will run into each other again soon. Chances are we’ll end up in the Dukedoms soon enough, where are you planning on heading?”

    “Satrinsale. They’ve got some entrances to the Depths that are well aligned with my affinities, and with all that’s going on I want as much strength as I can get. I’ll probably join the Guild when I’m there.” Ianmus replied, smiling ruefully. “I don’t want a repeat of what happened with those terror birds.”

    Kaius nodded. In all likelihood, they probably would meet the man again. Satrinsale was one of the larger cities in the Dukedoms, and would have a large Guildhall indeed, let alone libraries. A good place for him to do a little digging on his family, and the goings on of the world outside of Vaastivar.

    “Well, we might see you there then! Just leave a message for us at the Guild when you get there.” he replied.

    “I will. It would be nice to see a familiar face.” Ianmus smiled. He scratched at the back of his head absentmindedly for a moment, before he offered his hand. “Well, goodbye, I suppose.”

    Kaius returned the shake, giving the man a wide grin. “See you soon.”

    Ianmus nodded, before he turned and left with a wave. Kaius watched the tall half-elf go, his silver hair standing out head and shoulder above the rest of the crowd.


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    “Be safe, elfling!” Porkchop called after him. Ianmus turned, shooting his brother a smile, before he kept walking.

    “Well then, I suppose we best be off.” Kaius said, once Ianmus had rounded a bend in the road. He nodded towards the other branch of the intersection. “Come on, it’s just down here.”

    The stares were getting old.

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