Genesis Locorum

A few days pass as everyone is getting used to their new Cyberworks armors. Esteban looks over the notes he had copped from the files from Gatsby Tower and discovers something in the route’s the Vorhees Gang. A route stops in a dungeon in the Underground, in the Slate Grey district of Noir.

Meanwhile, Heathcliff and Emily are working on something.

“Are you sure a radio is necessary?” Emily says.

“Of course, cher,” Heathcliff says. “The guild can sometimes be slow with the news.” He fiddles with a radio and a set of speakers. “Plus I didn’t see any function in the Dungeon skill tree.”

Elizabeth flies in. “Amenities like that are usually installed by other means,” she says.

“How are the children?” Emily says to Elizabeth.

“No luck,” the fairy says. “The kids of Hamlin are still under the impression that they here all their lives, and rousing their memories of the village is proving difficult. Even proving they were kidnapped by Pruflas is proving difficult.”

A sorrowful wind blows through the core room.

Heathcliff furnishes setting up the radio. The device turns on in the middle of a news report.

“—the two men, who were found on the surface at 2:00 AM last night. The Guards had claimed that the corpses were found in the Slate Grey district of Noir.”

“Hehe, got it!” Heathcliff says.

The report tells of the incident in Noir. A pair of adventurers were killed following an excursion into the underground near the sewer entrances. The Ebony Guards had released a press statement claiming it was a monster attack.

“A monster attack?” Emily asks.

“A belligerent [Sentinel] may have attacked these two,” Elizabeth says.

“But why would they do that?” Emily says.

“A Sentinels’ job is to protect the dungeon first and foremost,” Elizabeth says. “That includes finding a way to supply them with mana is necessary. Several malignant Dungeons usually facilitate this by sending their Sentinels out to attack adventurers, especially if they are unable to create an avatara or move outside by themselves. The reason is that adventurers slain by these sentinels can absorb their mana.”

Emily wonders if that was the goal of the priests in Tarantulopolis when they kidnapped Sarah and Nina.

“There is another option,” Esteban walks in. “A few Dungeons had been used by the Syndicate for shelter and base of operations, usually for bootlegging. The corpses were reported to be in the Slate Grey district, yes?”

“That’s what the radio says,” Emily says.

“It is possible that the monster was used as a hitman,” Esteban says. “Though the bigger question here is why.”

“You want to go investigate, huh?” Heathcliff says.

“Indeed,” Esteban says. “If this is tied to the Syndicate then it presents a threat to the Exsecratii and Elegere and a threat to fellow dungeons. I will try to investigate the matter at Noir.”

Heathcliff nods. “Let us know if you find the root.”

Esteban leaves.

Emily mulls over the idea of Sentinel being used to kill people in cold blood. The through of terrifies her. “Why would they do something like this?” she thinks.

✦✦✦

At the same time, The children are busy playing with each other. Rose and Anemone look at Kaitlyn as she paints a portrait of her technological surroundings. Rose looks at the young girl with curiosity.

“She seems like a good painter,” Rose says.

Azalea swims towards Kaitlin. “Hey, Katie.”

“Hello Azalea,” Kaitlyn says.

The clione mermaid examines the painting, of a forest of dead trees beneath a large moon in a Grey sky. Reminiscent of one of the settings of Spurious Mundus. “You have a knack for panting huh?”

“Thanks,” Kaitlyn says.

Rose notices a strange lack of humor in Azalea’s dialog. “Hmm, she usually quips to everyone.”

Kaitlyn turns to Rose and Anemone, “You guys want to see my painting too?”

Rose was taken aback. “She caught us!”

Azalea giggles. “You guys blend in worse than the paint on her palette.”

“And there’s the quips,” Anemone thinks.

The lamia slithers over towards the easel and sees the eerie painting. “Looks a little creepy,”

“What do you mean ‘creepy’?” Kaitlyn says.

“Where are the leaves?” Rose says. “The fuzzy animals? The sunlight? It looks dead.”

Kaitlyn looks at the painting and realizes despite its elegance, it does depict a dead forest. “Oh.”

“Why did you paint this landscape?” Anemone innocently asks.

“I don’t know,” Kaitlyn says. “It just popped in my head and felt I had to draw it.”

“Don’t worry,” Azalea says. “I’m gonna go make a like a tree and leaf.” The blue-haired child swims away.

The awkward silence fills the air. “Yeah, I’m gonna go follow Azalea.” Rose slithers away. Anemone looks at Kaitlin, a little forlorn. The purple-haired girl walks to the painter. “It’s beautiful,” she says.

“Really?” Kaitlyn is surprised by Anemone’s complement.

“Of course,” Anemone says with a smile.

Kaitlyn, elated, replaces the canvas and gets to work on a new piece. Anemone hears someone calling her name.

“I have to go,” Anemone says. “See you later.”

Kaitlyn is too focused on her work to hear Anemone. The wolf-eared girl leaves Kaitlyn to find out who called her.

Anemone arrives to see Strelitzia arguing with an Arachne child. The belligerent minotaur was shouting about the drink.

“Heh,” the boy says. “First come first serve. You should’ve known that. The cocky child smirks.

“You little brat!” Streltizia says. “That was the last cup of chocolate milk!”

Azalea tries to quell the tension. “Maybe we should moo-ve on guys?”

Streltizia glares at Azalea.

Rose sighs. “Guess Stre woke up on the wrong side of the bed today.”

Strelitzia humps and storms off, grumbling to herself.

“Is she always like this?” an Arachne girl says.

“Only when milk is involved,” Rose says.

Anemone then notices Euryale and Stheno talking to some of the child Constructs. She turns her attention to the sisters.

“Demon pipers?” one girl says. “There are no demons here, silly.”

“And why are you insisting we come from this ‘Hamlin’ place?” a boy asks.

“Hamlin?” Anemone knows that Charlotte comes from there, but she had no idea that there were other children from the village here.

“It’s true!” Euryale says. “A demon brought you guys here!”

“You two sure have vivid imaginations,” the mouse-eared girl says.

“Jenny,” another girl says. “Dinner is almost over.”

“Oh!” Jenny says. “You’re right Danielle. See you guys later.” The two girls leave alongside the boy. To Euryale’s frustration.

“Why won’t they believe us?” Euryale says.

Anemone approaches them. “Is something wrong?”

Euryale notices that the wolf-eared girl had watched their futile attempt to remind their fellow children about the village they called home. “Umm…” she tries to think of something to say.

“We were simply talking with them is all,” Stheno asks.

Anemone is curious. “Are you two from Hamlin?”

“Yeah,” Euryale says.

“That seems like a faraway place,” Anemone says. She then recalls their introduction. “You’re Charlotte’s friends, right?”

“Yes we are,” Euryale says.

“Indubitably,” Stheno says.

Anemone could sense that unlike the other Construct Children here these two felt more normal. She couldn't place her finger on why, or why the others feel off to her. “How did you two come to be with Emily?”

The sisters are unsure whether or not they should answer Anemone’s question. Anemone takes their silence as suspicious. But before she could press them she hears Lydia call out to the children.

Lydia and several of her helpers alert the children that it is bedtime. Several of the spiderlings had already climbed up the walls to the webs they usually rest at. Other spiderlings had buried themselves neck-deep in the floor. Anemone sees one of them scolding Streltizia and the Arachne boy for arguing over chocolate milk.

She finds that Raine, Lily, Hydrangea, Clover, Azalea, and Rose are already placed in several resting holes dug specifically for them, with Nina talking with Minerva nearby. She then finds her own “bed”, between Rose’s and Azalea’s. She then sees the constructed children walk into another room as she shimmies into the resting hole.

Rose yawns. “This is surprisingly warm!” The Coloraturas were aware that it is a common practice of Arachne broods to have their young sleep in either silken cocoons suspended on webs or buried in the ground. But some struggle with the lack of a proper bed. Several of them see Strelitzia move towards her hole, between Lily and Raine.

Raine sighs. “You got worked up over the chocolate milk again?”

Strelizia rolls her eyes.

Lily yawns. Her “bed” is wider than average, owning to her centaur body. “So do you have any plans today?”

“I want to ask Emily if there is anything we can do at Noir tomorrow,” Rose says.

“We just left that city and you want to go back?” Strelitizia says with a sigh. “Typical.”

The girls end up chatting until Lydia arrives.

The broodmother greets the girls. “Hello, ladies.”

“Hello Miss Lydia,” the Coloraturas say in unison.

“How are the beds?” Lydia asks.

The girls give various opinions of them. Rose notes how warm the floor is, Hydrangea asks how they avoid sickness. Raine simply asks if the floor is insulated. Anemone asks if Emily helps with preparations.

“She does, dearie,” the broodmother answers.

Streltizia asks about the webs, Azalea asks about Charlotte. “I’d bet she be well planted here,” the mermaid says afterwards.

“Charlotte has a bedroom near Carla,” Lydia says.

Lily and Clover both ask a more pertinent question. How would they sleep with the ground hugging them so tightly.

Lydia chuckles. “Don’t worry, leave it all to me, just look deep into my eyes…” The Coloraturas gaze into the broodmother’s eyes, being lulled to sleep by her hypnotic gaze. The lullabic effect of Lydia’s eyes sends the magical girls drifting off into asleep they shan’t wake from until the sun rises or until Lydia breaks the spell. With the Coloraturas slumbering like little logs, Lydia leaves them be to check on the other kids in her care.

✦✦✦

The next day, Azalea prepares some of her stand-up routines with the other girls.

“There is this new car on the streets, the Centurion, It claims to have one hundred horsepower, but I only saw one horse there.”

Lily was among the few who laughed at the joke. Strelitzia rolls her eyes.

Anemone meanwhile focuses more on Charlotte and her two friends. She looks at the Alraune and the two Constructs. Rose sees her purple-haired friend is distracted from Azalea’s comedy reversal.

“Something up, Anemone?” Rose says

The wolf-eared girl’s hat falls off as she turns to see Rose. “No, I mean it’s just—”

Rose looks at Anemone with a knowing look. “Come on, don’t try to lie to me.”

Anemone sighs. “I think there is a lot more to these three, and to our fellow kids, than they are letting on.” She points to Charlotte, Euryale, and Stehno talking about various topics.

“You don’t say?” Rose says sarcastically.

“I’m serious Rose,” Anemone says. She picks up her hat, the one carryover from her old outfit. “Haven’t you noticed these mouse-like kids acting strange?”

Rose did notice Charlotte was acting strange on that train ride. “Fine. I’ll go ask them what is going on!” Rose slithers towards Charlotte.

“Rose, wait!” Anemone follows her.

“Hey, girls!” Rose greets Charlotte, Euryale, and Stheno.

“Hey, Rose!” Euryale says.

“Hello,” Charlotte says.

“To what do we owe the pleasure?” Stheno asks.

“One of my friends was wondering about something,” the pink-haired lamia says.

“Oh?” Charlotte says. The Arion sisters see Anemone running to Rose and recall what had happened last night.

“I see,” Stheno says with a polite tone. “Alas, the matter Anemone wants to inquire about is rather complicated.”

“Complicated?” Rose says. Rose noticed Charlotte’s expression changing to a forlorn one. “What happened? If you need anything, you can count on the Coloraturas to help!”

Euryale sighs. “Look, can this wait until later? We’re kinda busy.”

“With what?” Anemone asks.

“With…” Euryale struggles to think of an excuse. Stehno and Charlotte look at her with a confused expression. Anemone intuits that this is a topic she doesn’t want to talk about. “Alright then. I won’t bug you anymore. Come on, Rose.” She leaves the table.

“Wait, what?” Rose says. “Hey wait up!”

Euryale breathes a sigh of relief.

Charlotte looks at her. “Thanks,” she says.

“No problem,” Euryale says.

“Pardon me,” the other sister says. “But I fear they will eventually learn what became of us, and of the other children of Hamlin.”

“I know,” Charlotte says. “It’s just—” Her mind flashes back to the day of her mother’s trick on the village.

“That wolf girl seems rather knowledgeable,” Stheno says.

“What makes you think that?” Euryale says.

The three girls talk about Rose’s offer.

Meanwhile, Rose and Anemone return to Azalea’s rehearsal. The mermaid recently cracked a joke about the term “dungeon” that has a few of the kids chortling.

“What was that for?” Rose says.

“It’s clear that it is a sensitive topic for them,” Anemone says. “And for Charlotte especially.”

Rose recalls the Alraune girl’s expression. “Yeah, but—”

“You know we can’t be butting into other people’s business like that!” Anemone says.

Raine sees the two girls talking and sighs. “Rose, what did you do?”

“I was simply asking those girls over there what’s going on! That’s all.” Rose says.

Hydrangea and Clover look at Raine as she sighs. “Rose, you know Anemone’s right.”

Hydrangea expects Rose to make the usual hyperbolic comparison. “Before you say it, it is clearly evident that their lives are not in danger.”

Rose tries to raise a finger in protest but fails to think up a proper retort. Raine sighs again. “I get that you want to help, but you need to respect other people’s privacy.”

Azalea finishes her practice routine. “Thank you everybody. I’ll be here all week!”

The children head off to do various tasks. With Lily, offering to help Lydia take care of Nina and the other spiderlings and Rose slithering off to a secluded location.

✦✦✦

Emily looks over her skill trees, with a little over nine hundred points remaining. She looks at her unlocked skills. Namely Telepathy.

“Hey, Lizzie?” her voice echoes to Elizabeth near the dwarves’ atelier.

“Yes?” the fairy responds.”

“I just realized something about Telepathy,” Emily says. “Don’t I usually communicate that way without an avatara?”

“Ah,” Elizabeth says. “There is a distinction here. {{Telepathy}} is the reading of others through. The normal way a dungeon core communicates without an avatara is by projecting its thoughts onto others. The skill only makes it a two-way process.”

Emily hears someone calling to her from elsewhere. She turns her “vision” to the source and finds Rose on her lonesome.

“Hello, Rose. What’s up?” Emily’s voice echoes to the pink-haired girl.

“Hey Emmy,” Rose says.

Emily decided to test telepathy on Rose and see what her question was.

“Maybe she can tell me why those mice-kids are so …strange.” Rose thinks.

Emily is unsure if she should answer the question. She fears what would happen if they learn about how Pruflas tricked her into absorbing them, and also how Clara had turned herself in and faked her demise to buy them time to devise a way to free them.

“I’m sorry Rose, but that is a question I can’t answer,” Emily says.

“Wait, I hadn’t even asked anything yet,” Rose says.

“You wanted to ask me about the Hamlin children, right?”

Rose is surprised to hear that. “That obvious, huh?”

“Rose,” Emily says. She is aware of the hypocrisy inherent in lecturing her about privacy after reading her mind. She decides to change the topic. “How about I bring you and your friends with me on the next adventure?”

“She’s totally changing the topic, Still…” Rose thinks. “Of course,” she says. “I’d like to to test my new sword out.” She slithers on her way.

Emily reminds herself about the risks that come with overuse of Telepathy. She then hears Heathcliff call out to her and prepares to ask him what he needs.

✦✦✦

Meanwhile, Esteban is in Noir’s Slate Grey district. Wearing a disguise, he looks over the crime scene. Two chalk outlines and a puddle of blood were plastered on the sidewalk. The area is outlined with yellow tape, a security border that would incur the wrath of the Guards if trespassed. He looks at the puddle of blood and notices a glint coming from it.

He sees a strange bump in the ground. A metallic object is slightly visible in the sanguine puddle. He picks up the metal object and examines it. It resembles a pellet with a diameter of less than half an inch.

“Point forty-five bullets.” Esteban knows the ammunition well, having first-hand experience avoiding gunfire with his skills. He leaves the scene of the deaths, knowing that a suspicion of his is confirmed.

Later, in the oft overlook crevices of the Underground, he meets up with Mister Soprano. “I hear youse are looking into those deaths?”

“Nothing gets past you, Mr Soprano,” he hands the shell to the fellow rouge. “Any idea where this comes from?”

Mr. Sorpano examines the bullet. He takes out an enchanted magnifying glass and looks through it. After a few minutes of looking through the arcane item, he returns the discarded bullet casing to Esteban. “Radio claimed they were adventurers right?”

“Yes,” Esteban says.

“I might know a guy,” Mr. Soprano says. “Follow me.”

An hour later, Esteban and Mr. Soprano arrive at a pawn shop on the surface. The Elego appraiser greets Mr. Soprano with a warm smile. “Hey, ragazzo,” he says. He turns to the disguised Esteban. “Whose your friend?”

“A guy looking into them murders,” Mr. Soprano says. Esteban hands over the bullet.

The appraiser sees the bloodstains on it. “Not afraid of the Guards huh?”

Esteban nods. “Tell ‘em, what does this say about the hit?”

The appraiser examines the bullet. “Looks like it was made from mythril. Scarce stuff.” She then smells the bullet. The scent of blood fills his nostrils, but he detects a faint whiff of alcohol as well. “Seems like someone had his happy juice.”

“Mythril huh?” Esteban knows of a few dungeons in Noir that produce the metal, but none are in the Underground, he then considers where the metal was processed. I understand that it is commonly used for ammunition for guns.”

“As fast as quicksilver, as light as cloth,” the appraiser says. “A mythril bullet can kill a man or two before they even know it. These things are vastly regulated across all of Liberté”

Esteban asks the appraiser something. “Do you know who could get their hands on these types of bullets?”

The appraiser thinks about the question for a few minutes. “Hmm, I heard rumors of someone having bought out of Joyfuller Island. Near the abandoned amusement park. Ever since then, people have told me they saw strange vehicles coming and going to the factory. Said they saw black hayburners lining up in front of the gates at midnight every night.”

Esteban wonders something. He knows that Slate Grey is not a well-watched district and that the Guards usually send one patrolman to look over the area. “How do you know about these vehicles?” Esteban asks.

“A friend told me,” the appraiser says. “He says he saw two guys get carried into a truck on that caravan.”

“I see,” Esteban says. “Thank you for the information.”

“No problem, any friend of the ragazzo here is a friend of mine.” The appraiser says.

Esteban and Mr. Soprano leave. “How did you find him?”

“You’d be surprised the folk you see willing to help a guy out.” Mr. Soprano looks at Esteban’s disguise. “I’d add a few patches, by the way.” Esteban’s disguise is centered on a tattered suit with holes and a scarf obscuring his mouth.

“Noted,” Esteban says. “You learn anything lately?”

“Nada,” Mr. Sorpano says. “I need to get closer to them consiglieres to gather useful information.”

“Understood,” Esteban says. “Good luck,”

“You too,” Mr. Sorpano says.

The two men part ways.

✦✦✦

Esteban heads towards Joyfuller Island. The scent of carnival food wafts in eh air as the disguised man walks down a carnival. The streets were lined by stands selling various trinkets and several rides constricted a year ago.

He inquires about local factories in the area, but the carnies claim not to know what he is talking about. He asks them about the vehicles but they deny seeing anything like that. Esteban leaves them be.

A clown bumps into Esteban. Running down the streets filled with people seeking a good time and carnies looking to entertain them. Esteban then something following the clown. He uses his magic to cloak himself and sees several people strutting down the walkway. He observes their clothing, grey suit, red tie, and gauze wrapping their heads. Their eyes are obscured by sunglasses.

“Vanishers,” Esteban thinks. The strangely attired men are unaware of Esteban’s presence as they ask everyone about a running clown. One of them lifts a child by the collar after receiving an unsatisfactory answer.

“Let them down, Bruno,” one of the suited men says. “Not much to be gained here.”

Bruno puts the child down, they run towards their mother, who glares at the man. He then addressed the crown. “We know someone had paid a small visit to one of our nearby facilities. Though he could get away with purloining a souvenir. If we find out that anyone is harboring our thief behind our backs, then both of you will learn what it’s like to swim with the fish.” The three mobsters leave.

Esteban, still cloaked, follows the trip away from the carnival. He tracks them to a complex near the shores of the island. Its perimeter is secured by fences with barbed wire and manticores patrol the other side of the fence.

Esteban sees several signs of a Natural Dungeon here. The most obvious ones are the manticores. He refreshes the duration of his cloaking spell and then uses the opportunity to learn what he can about this new Dungeon. Throughout the next few hours, he learned that the manticores were being trained by Vanishers. He overhears two mobsters gloat about the two fallen victims heard about on the radio. Their gloating confirms they had killed the two adventurers and moved their corpses to the Slate Grey district. As night falls, he leaves the Dungeon.

✦✦✦

The next day, Esteban returns to the Black Box and tells Emily what he knows.

“Vanishers?” Emily’s voice echoes to Esteban.

“One of Noir’s Five Families. So-called because they tend to make people ‘vanish’,” Esteban says. “A defector from them had taught me certain tricks.”

“And they are residing in a Dungeon?” Emily asks.

“Yes, quite a recent one too.” Esteban looks at Heathcliff entering the room. “They are likely using it to supply them with ammo.”

“So they are using a Mythril-producing dungeon to make bullets,” Heathcliff says. “Sounds like the mob alright.”

Emily is confused, by Heathcliff’s statement.

“The firearms are heavily regulated in Noir and most of Liberté following a long string of shootings on guildhalls and several other places. Only the military and certain guilds can legally use them, the Syndicate being neither,” Heathcliff explains. “And before you ask, the resources needed to bulletproof a building and everyone in it is not exactly easy to get. Unless the place is lucky enough to be in a dungeon or be a dungeon, it takes a lot to protect it from firearms and magic.”

“I’ve checked with my contacts on the way back, and they have confirmed that the Guards’ records have no mention of a registered dungeon in Joyfuller Island. It’s Rouge.”

Emily considers the option. On one hand, she doesn’t think that a dungeon that new would yield that much mana, on the other hand, she knows that if it is allowed to exist then innocent people would get hurt. “How long would it take for us to reach Joyfuller Island?” Emily says.

✦✦✦

A few days later. Emily’s avatara, Tim, Esteban, Julia, and the Coloraturas arrive on Joyfuller Island. The magical girls immediately take to the carnival trappings.

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Esteban says.

“I said I would bring them with me on my next adventure,” Emily says. “Plus Rose claims they have experience dealing with mobsters.”

“That is true,” Esteban says. He notices that Emily has a statue of a rabbit she had created. “Why did you bring that with you?”

“It’s cute,” Emily says. “The rabbit statue is one of the first things I made as a dungeon.” She then looks around the carnival. The smell of fried food fills the air as the sounds of carnival games and whirling rides echoes for miles. “We have a few hours until sunset, right?”

“Right,” Esteban says. “Nightfall is out best opportunity for infiltrating the factory.”

Tim notices that the carnival is hosting an auction nearby. Curious, he checks it out. The carnie running the auction begins advertising the next item.

“Alright, ladies and germs, what we have here is a special one-of-a-kind project car, the Genic 7200 refurbished with rare upholstery and lovingly washed. The carnie gestures to a busted-up car that shows signs of water damage and tacky furnishing. “Bidding starts at twenty silvers.”

A man raises a sign, “Twenty-one!” he exclaims.

“Thirty!” a woman exclaims.

“One gold!” a lamia mother says.

Tim rolls his eyes. “This is absurd,” he thinks. He begins to leave before his eyes catch something in the auctioneer’s other wares. A purple sphere of concentrated energy. An Umbrasphere, there is no mistake about it.

Meanwhile, Raine buys several chocolate churros from a stand. The Phoenixian girl gives the other Coloraturas one each. Later, Clover, Lily, and Streltizia ride one of the roller coasters.

Anemone meanwhile sits next to a goldfish catching stand. Emily sits next to her. “Something on your mind?”

“No,” Anemone says. “Just thinking about something.

“Maybe I can get Lily that bear plush from the ring stand? “Anemone thinks.

Emily hears that thought, despite knowing that she hasn’t activated her telepathy. “Huh?” she thinks. She then begins sharing the thoughts of the other coloraturas. Rose is thinking about sweets, Clover is frightened by the ride she and her friends are on. Azalea thinks about sneaking into one of the goldfish bowls as a prank. Emily hears each of these thoughts. “What is going on?” she thinks as she “hears” the magical girl’s thoughts. She struggles to block them.

Anemone sees Emily and thinks she is suffering from a migraine. She notices sparks of purple lightning emanating from the avatar’s cranium and realizes something is amiss. She takes some of her items and constructs a small charm. “Here,” she says. “Take it.”

Emily takes the charm and the intrusive thoughts stop. Her head is clear. “Thanks.”

“Telepathy is one of those skills that flare up from time to time, often activated at times where you don’t want it to,” the fellow purple-haired girl says.

“Wait, I haven’t told anyone my skills!” Emily says.

“You’d be surprised at how dungeon skills manifest on avataras,” Anemone says.

“How do you know about this?” Emily says. “Lizzie hadn't told me until last week!”

“I make it a point to learn about magic in general,” Anemone says. She stands with a proud posture, her fists held above her waist. “Such arcane knowledge is useful for dealing with dungeons and Strega!”

“Oh, thank you,” Emily says

“In that case…”

Tim approaches them. “Anemone was it? Can you verify something for me?”

“Sure!” the wolf-eared girl says.

Tim leads his purple-haired friends to the auction.

✦✦✦

Tim, Emily, and Anemone see the purple sphere being set up. Anemone examines the feature. “Is that an Umbrasphere?” she says.

“That’s what I want to find out,” Tim says. “Compared to everything else here it could be a forgery.”

Anemone approaches the carnie, bearing a wide-eyed curious smile. “Excuse me, sir, could you mind telling me what that is?”

“Why of course, little miss,” the auctioneer says. “There is here is a rare Umbrasphere, one of the Elementalitst’s Spheres. Capable of granting or enhancing powers of darkness.” While the carnie prattles off knowledge Anemonie already knows, the young girl carefully examines the sphere. Its dark amethyst visage bears no scratches. A faint purple glow emanates from the sphere. At its center lies a black mass that is characteristic of Umbralspheres, always shifting but unable to break from its confines—the representation of the crystallized dark mana.

“If it’s a counterfeit,” Anenome thinks. “It’s a rather convincing one.” She is certain the Umbrapshere is real. She thanks the auctioneer and returns to Emily and Tim.

Emily knows the Umbrapshere is one of two that she knows she is missing, the other being the azure Aquaspehre. “We have to get it!” she says.

“It’s gonna cost a fortune,” Anemone says.

“Ladies and germs, “the auctioneer says. “We have a real gem of an item for sale! A one hundred percent, authentic, Umbrapshere. Bend the shades to your will. Master the light-sucking powers of darkness. Enhance the latent darkness within. Will darkness within darkness await you? Bidding starts at one gold.”

The crowd clamors as they try to outbid each other.

“Two gold!”

“Three gold!”

“Five gold”

“Fifty gold!”

The price inflates as Elegere patrons outbid each other, but Tim has an idea. “Emily, You said you brought one of your rabbit statues?”

“Yes, why?” Emily says.

“May I borrow it for a bit?” Tim says.

Emile senses Tim is up to something, and realizes that there is a chance that she might now see the specific statue again. She hands Tim the statue.

“Seventy gold!”

“Seventy-five gold!”

Some of the poorer bidders had already left, knowing that the umbrasphere was priced out of their range. Tim, with rabbit statue in hand, approaches the auction. “Excuse me, sir, are you interested in a trade?”

“A barter you say?” the carnie asks. “If it’s for the Umbraspehre then you’ll have to prove the value of the item in question.”

Emily is unsure if Tim’s plan will work.

Tim presents the statue to the carnie. “What I have here is a usual statue, made of an unheard-of material that is seldom seen on Titania, if it is seen at all. I had obtained this relic from a faraway dungeon and had it analyzed by experts,” Tim partially lies. “They say this object is made by and of technology that is only heard in the whispers of those claiming to have made contact with Messengers. It carries a large amount of mana within.”

The carnie humors Tim’s claim and takes out his tools. The skeptical crowd murmurs amongst themselves as the auctioneer takes out a microscope and uses it on Tim’s statue. He sees several small entities through the lens. He chips off an ear from the statue but sees it reabsorbed and reformed into it. He feels around and notices it doesn't deform with his touch. He takes out an instrument used for ganging mana levels and places the stature on it. He finds that it holds an equal amount of mana to the Umbraspehre.

“Astra forfend,” the man is shocked to see the readings. He turns to the other bidders. “Folks there has been a recent development. Someone here is offering an item that is worth the equivalent of five hundred platinums.”

“Five hundred platinums!” one of the bidders says.

“This can’t be right,” the lamia mother from before says.

Emily is stunned to learn her dinky little statues were worth that much.

“A novelty above novelties, this item is being accepted as a bid of five hundred platinum. Is anyone going for five hundred platinums and one gold? Going once!”

The crowd stays silent.

“Going twice!”

There is still no response, save the dejected murmurs of the bidders.

“Sold, to the fine young man in exchange for the statue. Thank you for your business.”

“My pleasure,” Tim says. He takes the purple sphere and returns to Emily and Anemone.

“Was my statures really that valuable?” Emily says.

“For now,” Tim says. “But we should regroup with the others.” Emily takes the sphere and tries to absorb it through her avatara.

✦✦✦

As they approach the entrance of the auction house leading to the wider carnival, they hear a voice calling out to them.

“Hold it.” The trio is approached by a man. He dons a white jacket, with brown pants on suspenders. He is flanked by two burly-looking men carrying weapons. The man looks at the purple sphere in Emily’s hand, bearing a smile that does little to hide the underlying malice. “That Umbrasphere belongs to me.” He says aggressively.

Tim sizes up the man, he smells of nicotine and alcohol. The two men looked poised to fight.

“Oh?” Tim closes his eyes and flashes a cocky smile.

“Yes, really,” the man says. “Whatever swill that carnie told you is wrong. His goons had swindled it from me.”

Anemone notices some features of the man were somehow familiar, his outfit most of all. As if she should recognize the white jacket and brown lacks combo from before.

“How did you come across this sphere then?” Emily says curiously.

“What’s it to you?” the man says.

“Answer her question,” Tim says. “If you do have a legitimate claim to the item, then you should explain how you chanced up it, should you not?”

“That’s none of yer business!” one of the bodyguards says. The man raises his hand, gesturing to his bodyguard to shush.

“I gots it from a dungeon, you see,” the grinning man lies. “I don’t recall which one, but it was certainly a dungeon. Satisfied?”

Tim examines the man’s face as he gives his claim, he notices his hesitance towards answering Emily’s question and his absence from the bidding war. At the same time, he is aware that the Umbraspehre is very out of place alongside the junk that the auction house was selling. “Why didn’t you alert the Ebony Guards? Surely they would’ve known if such a rare and powerful item was stolen and would address the theft if you were forthright with them.”

“Are you calling Vinny a liar?” one of the bodyguards says. Vinny gives a confounded expression.

“Vinny?” Anemone says. It suddenly clicked. She recognized this man as one of the Syndicate. Emily considers using Telepathy to verify Vinny’s claims but realizes it wouldn't work as he is not a resident of the Black Box. She looks at Anemone and sees her mouth agape at the realization. She loosens her charm while holding the Umbrasphere.

As he removes it from her arm, the purple orb glows. The lights suddenly turn off, confusing everyone in the auction house.

“What in Astra’s name?” one bidder yells.

“We are expecting technical difficulties, please be assured the lights will be back on shortly.” The auctioneer tries to assure everyone.

In pitch-black darkness, Emily feels an influx of dark-aspected mana. At this time she learns what Anemone had thought of the man. She had reconciled him as Vinny Smiles. A “Cleaner” of the syndicate who is tasked with procuring various items under false pretenses on behalf of the five families. She recognizes the mobster is a charlatan.

Tim uses the opportunity to take down one of the bodyguards. By the time the power was resorted to the lights, the large man was knocked stone cold. Vinny’s brow furrows as his teeth are clenched.

Emily notices the sphere has vanished. She had absorbed it just as she did the Aerospehre in Websdale. Whether Vinny liked it or not, the power of the Aerospehre is now Emily’s.

“You little…” Vinny is fuming at Tim for knocking out one of his goons, and Emily for causing the sphere to vanish. Emily draws one of her blades, now coated in a misty dark aura. “Are you sure you want to fight here, Cleaner?”

The bidders turn their attention towards what is now a standoff. Vinny glares at Emily, Tim, and Anemone. He grips his other arm at the elbow. “I’ll teach you to mess with me!” The lone bodyguard sees Vinny’s gesture and takes out a submachine gun with a round drum magazine, but before he can open fire, Tim makes a charging step towards him and makes a rapid palm and elbow moment, that forces the bodyguard to let go of his weapon. As the firearm moves in the air, Tim catches it and breaks it with his knee.

Sweat falls down Vinny’s face. His jaw agape at seeing Tim casually disarm one of his men. He then turns to Emily and Anemone. Emily glares at the mobster. “Any more tricks up your sleeve?” she says.

The Cleaner is filled with adrenaline, he attempts to grapple with Tim, but Tim lands a punch on his stomach. He then moves to Vinny’s back and leans on him with his shoulder as Vinny stumbles. The move was enough to knock Vinny down.

Tim dusts off his hands. Julia arrives at the auction house and sees Tim in front of the downed Vinny and his two goons, with spectators watching them in confusion and disarray.

“Seems like I missed something good,” Julia says. She takes out her dagger. “Guardianes de las sombras, llevadnos a un lugar más allá de las miradas indiscretas.” A veil of shadows surrounds Tim, Anemone, and Emily. When the veil vanishes so were the three.

✦✦✦

Tim, Emily, and Anemone find themselves behind the auction house. Julia waves at them. “Usually it takes tourists three trips before they start causing a ruckus in Noir,” Julia quips.

“I assume normal tourists don’t usually encounter Syndicate Cleaners,” Tim says.

“They tend to encounter the soldiers first,” Julia says. “Now what led to you mopping the floor with them?”

“We found an Umbrasphere!” Emily says. “That guy wanted to take it from us but…” Julia sees Emily’s weapons sheathed in a dark mist.

“I see,” Julia says. “Well, it can’t be helped now. Chances are that the Guards will greet ol’ smiley-face soon.”

Emily realizes that the sky is pink with twilight. Stella is receding into the horizon. “We need to gather the other’s its almost time.”

“I have a trick that can help with that,” Julia says. She explains how she can warp them to behind the auction house.

“That’s a teleportation spell!” Anemone says. “I think I can help with that as well.”

With what Julia had told them, the two purple-haired girls prepared their spells.

“Guardians of the Shadows,” Emily says. “Take us to the the carnival’s maw.”

With that sentence, dark mist envelopes the four. Before they knew it, they were at the entrance of the carnival. Esteban is already there, looking at the four people before them with some incredulity. He is aware of Julia’s shadow arts, and how they helped her in her assassinations.

Anemone tries her hand at the spell next. “Guardians of the Shadows, bring my friends to me.”

Seven pillars of dark mist appear, and the other Coloraturas emerge from them, each with befuddled expressions. Clover had with her several plush toys.

“What the?” Rose says. “This isn’t the ring toss stand!”

Azalea giggles. “Seems like we mist some shortcuts.”

“Sorry guys,” Anemone says.

“Games were rigged anyway,” Raine says.

“Really?” Clover says. “They seemed like a breeze for me. I landed the ball on the bottom all the time.”

“Clover,” Hydrangea says. “You’re supposed to land the skee balls in the center?”

“I was?” Clover says. “Oh well, at least I did well on the darts.”

“Only because the carnie messed up and overinflated the balloons,” Streltizia mutters.

Esteban leads the group to his vehicles, while the Coloraturas discuss Clover’s luck with the carnival games. Including an incident where one of the operators was left dumbstruck at her ability to miss one milk bottle with rings but land on another that was worth more points.

Emily, Rose, Raine and Streltitzia rine with Esteban. Tim, Clover, Hydrangea, and Anemone rise with Julia. Lily decides to gallop with the vehicles instead and Azalea swims with Lily.

With everyone in Esteban and Julia’s cars. they drive them towards the factory-turned-dungeon.