The Crimson Elf

Silax stood at the entrance of Callon's room, he knocked on the door and called out.

"Callon, you up yet?"

The sound of someone shuffling out of bed came from within the room. Callon responded muzzily.

"Yeah, I'm up now."

The door opened to reveal Callon still in his sleepwear.

"Morning. Get changed so we can head over to Jack's place. I'll wait for you outside the tavern."

Callon stood there dazed for a few seconds, rubbing his eyes groggily.

"Alright, let me wash up. I'll be down in ten minutes."

Silax turned around and heard the door shut behind him.

A few minutes later Callon stepped out of the tavern.

"Didn't know it was this early."

The sun was barely peeking over the horizon, and the birds hadn't begun tweeting yet.

"I didn't get any sleep, and I decided it was best to get there as early as possible. Jack himself never seems to sleep, so I'm sure it wouldn't be too early for him."

"It is for me, but I go where the work takes me."

They kept on walking towards the center of the village. Jack was part of the original group that started the village of Scola, his store here was just a branch of the main store in Ullion. He dealt in everything needed for the exploration of ruins that littered Central Artiyaem, including information and personnel. When they got to the front of his store a lady was standing in front of the store. She seemed to blend into the background.

'How didn't I notice her until we were this close, I know the sun is not out yet, but it's not dark enough to impede my eyesight.'

"Good morning Mr. Silax, we've not met before. I'm Audrey, I work for Jack, he is waiting at the back." 

"Good morning miss, and just Silax is fine."

The woman nodded and led them into the store, they followed her, and she took them through the store and out the back, to a shed that was behind the main building. Jack sat under the shed drinking something from a cup.

Jack was a dark-skinned man with a full beard, he had a very thin physique, he looked like a strong wind would be enough to lift him off his feet. He was smiling, the same usual smile he always had on his face, he gestured for him to take the seat next to him. 

"Welcome Silax, have a seat."

Silax smiled back and sat down, he never understood why Jack always smiled, maybe it had to do with his occupation as a merchant.

Sometimes that smile made him uncomfortable, there was just something about it that threw him off. 

Jack turned his eyes towards Callon.

"Good to see you looking healthy Callon. It's been what? A month? A month and a half since you left my employ. You seem to be more comfortable working with Silax."

Callon just scratched his head and didn't say anything in response. 

His reaction made Jack chuckle, then he turned towards Silas.

"I still don't know what you saw in him that made you decide to pay off his debt and have him work for you."

Silax shrugged his shoulder as he responded.

"Just didn't like the fact that he was serving the punishment for the indiscretions of someone else."

When Jack heard his reply, his smile seemed to get wider, at the same time Silax felt that uncomfortable feeling, like Jack could see through him.

'There it is again. I always feel like I should watch what I say around him.'

"I have a few more people working off the debt left to them by family members who passed, you could also help them out."

Silax rolled his eyes, knowing Jack preferred those people working to clear their debts, than for it to be paid off, but he didn't say that.

"My pockets wouldn't be able to handle paying off the debts of all those that owe you."

"You can't be sure of that, moreover I know how well business at Ælf's Garden is."

Jack comment about Ælf's Garden shocked Silax, but he didn't show any reaction towards the statement.

"What would the business of Ælf's Garden have to do with me?" Silax asked.

"I know you've been a resident there for over a year, rooms don't come cheap over there."

Silax relaxed his shoulders and decided to change the subject.

"Why did you want to see me so urgently?"

Jack took a sip of him drink, staining them red. He seemed to be enjoy the taste of the wine.

"That's because I've got all that you requested, and one of them is time sensitive."

His response moved Silas, he expected the items he requested to take a few months for Jack to be able to get. It seemed Jack was no ordinary merchant, he had to have connections to those who moved things in underground market.

"All of them? That's faster than I expected. How about the location of the ruins?"

"The ruins were actually the tricky part, if not I would have completed the assignment sooner."

The mention of the ruins moved Silas, making him sit up in his chair.

"I expected it to take you a lot longer than a month to be able to locate it. I've explored several ruins based on clues I find in the records, so finding them isn't usually difficult for me. Although this particular one has proved itself to be tricky, first of all, the records point to several locations, which I visited."

Jack opened the drawer to the desk that was next to him and brought out a stack of papers, placing them on top of the desk.

"The job was only made easier by the level of detail in your research. I think you and I could do great things together. I help you uncover lost knowledge and artifacts, you help me make a lot of money. It's a win-win situation.

"Some parts of it even surprised me, and trust me, that doesn't happen easily. It made me curious on the source of a lot of the information."

Silax knew what he was asking, but there was no way he was ever going to let anyone know that, especially not Jack. 

"Just some books I came across in the merchant district of Ulloin, nothing special really. I could lend them to you if you want, although majority of the information in them are things you can find elsewhere, it just has a few things not mentioned in other books.

"On the subject of working together, I don't think that would work well, my interest in the Scinditur era is a bit niche."

Jack turned towards Audrey and pointed at the brown chest that was by his chair.

"I would love that, maybe I'll learn something new that could be of help in expanding my business. You should also consider the issue of us working together more."

Audrey opened the chest and brought out a box small enough to be held in the palms of both hands, she handed the box to Silax. Silax was about opening it but was stopped by Jack.

"The items you requested are quite sensitive, the box isolates the energy given off by the materials, only open it in a secure location where the energies won't attract to much attention."

Silax nodded and handed the box to Callon.

"How about the location of the ruins?"

Jack took another sip from his cup.

"We'll have to leave today."

Silax eyes narrowed with suspicion.

"Why is that?"

Jack could sense Silax's apprehension, but he also knew the ruins were important to him, so there was little he could do.

"Well, the ruins can only be accessed on the crimson night, which is in two days. At any other time, it's just a regular castle. You go get ready and I'll have the guide take you there."

Silax shook is head, he'd rather explore the ruins on his own.

"No, I'll be going alone."

Silax refusal caused Jack to chuckle.

"It won't make a difference Silax, some of my men are still waiting at the location, only two of them came back to report the discovery. Also, the ruins are located in the territory of some dangerous creatures, I'd advise against going alone."

Silax was sure Jack was up to something, but he couldn't figure it out. If Jack already knew the location of the ruins, what would he need him for?

"Alright, but I need an elf." 

"That won't be a problem, I've got two amongst those waiting at the ruins, and one of those who returned is a spiritualist." 

Silax eyes narrowed.

'A spiritualist? How does he have a spiritualist working for him?'

"Alright, I need to go prepare some things."

He sighed, things were getting complicated, if the ruins really contained the answers he's been searching for, then he can't let anyone know about it, at least not until he made use of it.

He got up of from his seat, preparing to leave.

"Alright, I'll make sure team is ready for before then, they'll be waiting right outside the store when you get back."

Jack watched him and Callon leave, from the moment they came till they left, he hadn't leave his seat.