Benedict chewed on a dry ration and stared at the floor of the platform. The thought of staying the night in a monster-infested city sat with him about as well as a rancid slice of cheese. Sleeping in the swamp so long ago would have proven a death sentence, and he was pretty sure the monsters there weren’t half as dangerous as what roamed Noctim.

  “Vex, Mireth, you know your duties,” Astei said.

  “My favorite,” Vex complained.

  Mireth twirled her staff around her body. “Yes, sir!”

  Astei turned to Ordra. “What is your goal today? Are you following us?”

  “Perhaps we will,” Ordra replied, then turned to the others. “What say you all?”

  “Why not?” Shiyo said.

  “I would like to see how you work together,” Celica said.

  Kirion shrugged. “That might be fun.”

  When the others confirmed, they drew their weapons and struck into the city. Benedict glanced back at the platform just before they turned out of sight. Vex watched them, while Mireth eyed Vex with obvious suspicion.

  “Your party rotates guard duty?” Amalyn asked.

  “To make sure no one gets stuck with it for too long,” Tirra replied.

  “Dull work,” Klugen groaned. “I hate it.”

  “A necessary dullness, to be fair,” Astei said. “If monsters destroyed the platform, we’d have no link to the canopy.”

  “The masked men still let them be,” Amalyn murmured, eyes mostly gazing at the ground.

  “They probably need a way up, too,” Daena said as she playfully twirled her rod about.

  “You think they plan on assaulting the canopy?” Tirra asked.

  “It would make sense. Get in there once everyone starves and take it over.”

  “An old fashioned siege it is, then,” Benedict mumbled.

  Astei held up a hand. “Halt. We have monsters.”

  Down a small side street, a pair of werewolves as big as carriages prowled, long claws scraping on the pavement with each movement. They didn’t seem to have noticed the two parties.

  “Shouldn’t be too hard for us.,” Ordra said.

  “As we haven’t fought together, I think some exhibitions are in order,” Astei said.

  “You wish to let your party show off?”

  “Worry not. The next monsters would be yours.”

  “Be my guest.”

  Tirra dropped into a ready stance. “Prepare to see something special.”

  “Me first,” Daena said as she darted past, rod glowing.

  A shockwave blasted across them as Daena's spell seared down the street, slamming into the side of a building and blowing brick and mortar through the air. Both werewolves glared at her, then charged. The next spell hit the nearer square in the chest, sending it to the ground. Klugen came from behind Daena with a monstrous hammer blow that caught the werewolf's shoulder. It hit the ground as Tirra jumped toward it. Her blade moved unnaturally quickly for its size. It had to be magic propelling her blade, Benedict thought. Hadn’t she mentioned something about an enchantment?

  The speed at which Tirra wielded her weapon didn’t throw the monster's friend off for long. It jumped in, swiping a giant claw at her. She connected with the claw in a brilliant parry that sent specks of blood flying. Still, it struck back with its other claw, merely scraping at an enchantment on her clothes. Klugen came in again with a hammer blow to the beast’s face, one that shattered its jaws and sent it reeling.

  While Daena finished it with a spell, Astei came in for the previously wounded one. It took a lame, slow swipe at him as he leapt over, his own sword biting into—then slicing through—its neck. Klugen finished it by bashing its head in until all that remained was a bloody mess on the end of a neck.

  “Not bad,” Benedict admitted.

  “Think you can do better?” Astei asked.

  “We can give it a try.”

  A quintet of ogres three streets over didn’t know what was coming. They charged Benedict when he fired upon them, only for Kirion's trap to hold them to the floor. It lasted just long enough for Shiyo and Amalyn to hamstring them, followed by Celica bombarding the area. One came for Benedict after the trap dissolved, stumbling on its half-functioning legs. Two shots directly to the face caused it to fall to the ground, where it stayed as Benedict continued firing into its head until it died. Beyond, Ordra blocked a blow from hitting Shiyo as Kirion leapt upon its shoulders and drove his dagger into the ogre’s neck. He twisted and stabbed more until it stumbled, only to be finished by Shiyo cutting through its artery. The other three died similarly brutally, crippled as they were by the initial sneak attack.

  Tirra, Klugen, and Daena stood by, applauding the display. Astei held his arms crossed, expression neutral.

  “Impressive,” Tirra said. “How long have you all been together?”

  Ordra shrugged. “Amalyn and Kirion have been by my side for a long time. We knew Celica beforehand, but she joined only recently along with Benedict and Shiyo. They’ve been with us for… a little over a month.”

  “Doesn’t seem that long,” Benedict said.

  “And already so coordinated,” Astei said. “Come, we should hunt for those masked men Amalyn is so concerned about, as well.”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Celica interrupted. “Hey, there’s a thaumaturge's shop. If the masked men left clues, they might be in there.”

  “We’ll keep on hunting monsters if you want to hunt treasure.”

  Ordra tapped Benedict on the shoulder. “Celica's right. I’ll leave her and Amalyn with you. Search and get back to us when you can.”

  Benedict nodded in response.

  “Hey, I’ve got a good eye for such things, I should take a look,” Kirion protested.

  “Yes,” Ordra said, “but if they left any traps around here, you’re the one to disarm them.”

  “I’ll take care of them, Kirion,” Benedict said.

  “When you’re done, follow this road west until you reach a tavern called ‘Avram's Hovel,’” Astei said. “That will be our meeting place.”

  Together, the trio entered the shop and met chaos. Broken tables lay among splinters with broken tools scattered among them. Impact, scorch, and slash marks decorated the walls and door they had just used. In the back corner, there lay a skeleton with tattered, moth-eaten robes draped over it, still grasping a rod with its bony fingers.

  “What happened here?” Celica asked.

  Benedict walked up to the skeleton and examined it. One leg had been sliced at the thigh—or what would have been its thigh—and a slender hole let light into its skull. A quick look showed a nigh-identical hole just beyond it.

  “I’m going to guess something wanted this thaumaturge's shop, and he disagreed,” Benedict said.

  Amalyn leaned down to pick something up. “Or someone.”

  She grasped a tiny shard between her fingers. On one side it was a pale cream color, while the other was black.

  “This is part of one of their masks,” Amalyn said, eyes wide.

  “How can you tell?” Benedict asked.

  “I’ll never forget what those monsters wore.”

  “Look at these,” Celica said, picking up a small orb from the ground and waving a glowing finger above it. A circle materialized above it containing a formula. “This is the same as Shiyo’s orbs. They must be native to Noctim.”

  Benedict picked up the rod by the body and held it out. “What about this?”

  With a single flick, nothing happened. He tried again, and nothing continued happening. Celica took the item and flicked it. It flashed, and a bird like a hawk with glowing blue feathers appeared next to her.

  “Conjuration…” she said. “But it’s not all that’s here.”

  She aimed it at one of the broken tables and cast a spell that dashed the wood into splinters, then one that blasted debris right up to the wall—along with a small amount right through the window. As she continued cycling through spells, the hawk struck at an object with its talons and a light arrow. Lastly, a small lens appeared above the rod revealing a picture of what the hawk saw.

  “That is incredible,” Amalyn said.

  Celica dissolved the conjured beast and stared at the skeleton. “You really thought things out, didn’t you?”

  “And it still didn’t help him,” Benedict said, kneeling next to the body to search for anything else next to it.

  “I’d wager the masked men came in here and killed him,” Amalyn growled.

  “Or a monster. We don’t know enough yet.”

  “If I’m right, you owe me ten aur.”

  “Are we really betting on this?”

  “I’ll match her wager!” Celica broke in.

  Benedict rolled his eyes. “I don’t know how you’ll prove it, but now I’m looking forward to it. Twenty aur each to you two if the masked men did this and you can prove it.”

  Further searching turned up two books, one a journal and the other a treatise on casting, two dozen orbs, and a small red stone Benedict found near the door. Amalyn also collected another two shards of the supposed mask material; neither of them fit together with the first. After collecting the man's coffer, they left the shop and continued in the direction Astei had told them.

  Their tavern was multiple blocks down, intact, with every window boarded up. Inside, it was almost luxurious. Lamps hung from the ceiling with stained glass shades. Red stained leather covered the cushions at various booths that lined three outer walls. The bar stood in the center of one wall. Everyone had gathered at one of the tables and already had drinks and food in front of them.

  “Just in time.” Astei reached behind the counter and pulled out a large glass bottle full of a dark amber liquid along with a set of glasses. “We keep specific taverns stocked with drinks and food. Helps keep morale up.”

  Klugen distributed food: Phyneli burritos, essentially, while Tirra brought everyone glasses full of the amber liquid, which turned out to be very low alcohol beer. Astei clarified that they kept the stronger drinks in the canopy. Inebriated adventurers were better seen off duty, like as not.

  Benedict drew out the crimson stone. “Celica, can you see if this has a formula? I feel it does.”

  “Absolutely,” Celica said, taking the object and touching it with a glowing finger.

  “Find anything interesting?” Ordra asked

  “Writings,” Amalyn said, thumbing through the journal.

  “Some items for Shiyo,” Benedict said as he handed the bag of orbs to Shiyo.

  A formula materialized above the stone. Celica rotated it, scanning every rune as it flew past her face. Daena walked over and watched. Celica’s lips moved silently as she read the runes, and the longer she went, the more the others paid attention. Amalyn was the only one not fully transfixed on the display.

  “This is a key,” Celica finally said. “Touching it to something will unlock a ward. I still can’t identify this Source, though. If I could, I would reverse engineer this so we could make more.”

  “How did you do that?” Daena asked.

  “It’s simple to do. Any thaumaturge can do it.”

  “Please show me.”

  “It’s the same as writing a formula.”

  “But I never learned how to read it. I just copy my formulas from books.”

  “Did anyone teach you beyond writing a formula?”

  Daena stared at the table and sighed. “Nothing like that at all.”

  Celica scooted over and told Daena to sit next to her. She drew out a different book and started lecturing. Everything almost immediately went over Benedict’s head. Phyneli magic might utilize programming-like interfaces, but that knowledge only covered so much understanding before turning useless. He started wishing he’d chosen magic as his weapon instead of a sword.

  Amalyn stared at a small card, paying no attention to anyone else. “I think I’m going to get some air.”

  “You can take stairs to the roof,” Tirra said. “It’s safer.”

  “Thank you.”

  Benedict stood. “Air sounds nice, especially after a good meal. I’ll join you.”

  “You don’t have to,” Amalyn said.

  “You’re right. I want to. Let’s go.”

  A stairway hidden behind the counter took them to a second floor of empty rooms. If anyone stayed in the city past nightfall, they could have made good camping spots, especially given the food available downstairs. Another stairway, smaller, brought them to a door that led onto the rooftop, bare except for the railing that surrounded it. In another time, Benedict could see the area being used for outdoor dining or parties.

  Amalyn walked to the railing and leaned on it, staring into the distance and saying nothing. Benedict stood back, instead looking into the canopy above them. Clouds had begun to cover the sun, turning everything grayer.

  “Afraid I’ll run off?” Amalyn asked.

  “Not really,” Benedict replied. “I trust you more than that.”

  “Then why follow me?”

  “Some measure of worry, I guess. You haven’t been yourself since finding out who did this.”

  “Wouldn’t you feel the same if your brother may be the cause of all this suffering?”

  “Perhaps. I also wouldn’t blame my friends for worrying about me.”

  The look she shot him was one of annoyance mixed with resignation. “You can stay.”

  “My thanks.” Benedict leaned on the railing next to her. “We’ll help you get him back, Amalyn.”

  “I’m not sure anyone can do that.”

  “Then we’ll help you do what needs to be done. No need to shoulder such a burden yourself.”

  “What’s that?”

  “I said ‘no need to—’”

  The space next to Benedict emptied as Amalyn leapt off the railing, then she sprinted through the alley. Benedict cursed under his breath and grappled himself down to the ground. Amalyn was almost a green and yellow blur as she bounded off walls and down corners. Benedict’s legs could only carry him so quickly, and he began wondering about speed powers.

  She had stopped in a small garden between two buildings with a drawn glaive. In front of her stood one of the masked men, and he was holding a bell in his right hand. Benedict skidded to a stop and drew his rifle, centering the sight directly on the masked man.

  “Only two? Such a shame,” the masked man said.

  A silent ring came from the bell. In moments, a half dozen werewolves appeared all around them. Another ring, and they attacked.