Don't know what to say right know. :p

Enjoy.


The town of Feris roared with rage as Wendy and Hexyz entered its markets. The shops were stuffed and street vendors made the street extremely narrow, forcing people to walk in a straight file like soldiers going to battle. Shops of all different species stood on either side of the street obediently. None of them had doors for the shopkeepers knew very well that the doors would not last long against the might, impatience, and violence of the customers. Herds of people climbed on top of each other at the counter of each shop yelling wildly like mindless monkeys brawling for a banana.

The sun only added more to the discomfort as it warmed up the stuffy, stinking air which smelled of sweat and rotting fish. No air freshener could have defeated the sour, rancid stink which ruled over the cramped air.

"Crowded place, isn't it?!" Hexyz shouted to Wendy.

Wendy was moving through the mass of people trying her hardest to follow Hexyz from behind. But before she could answer back to him, she was interrupted when she ran straight into someone.

"Ah..! Sorry," Wendy apologized.

Taking a moment to look at who she bumped with, she found the person to be a very beautiful woman. A halo of golden blond hair trailed down the woman's shoulders and to her back, adorned with warm hazel eyes. Unlike the rest of the townsfolk moving around, she was dressed in an elegant dark robe of white and blue.

"It's alright…" The woman said. "You must be in a hurry for you to bump into me. I won't take it personally."

"Thank you," Wendy said as she nodded. Without speaking any further, she walked past the woman's side.

Breaking through the wall of men, women and children, she eventually caught up with Hexyz who awaited for her at an alleyway. Once again together, Hexyz continued on and purposefully walked down into the alley's dark streets.

Where is he going? Wendy questioned in her head as she followed.

Hexyz moved through the path, leading them deeper into the dark heart of the town; the buildings slowly tightening together and loomed over them like a forest of stone.

When Wendy looked up the roofs were so close together that she could only make out a sliver of the blue sky that was mirrored by the tiny stream of light that trickled along the stone ground. The alleyway twisted and turned back on itself, first going to the right, then to the left. From where she stood, whether she look in front or behind, she saw nothing but stone. She followed him through the winding passageways and narrow side-streets, not slowing in pace.

Just as she was about to ask Hexyz where they were actually going, he stopped suddenly. Wendy looked around, but with nothing notable to see. The dark walls of the building rose like tombstones around her, and Wendy was suddenly seized with an uncomfortable feeling.

A trap…? Is this a setup?

Wendy took a silent step away from Hexyz, who had not turned to face and did not seem to notice her backing away.

I have nowhere to run. I don't know where I am, or how to get out of here.

Suddenly, Hexyz's voice spoke out. "Old man Roshi! Long time no see!"

The tension in Wendy's body immediately vanished as she sighed in relief. Why did she believe that he would betray her? Sella spoke as if he had trust in him, why not her? He accepted to be her guide even when he knew the situation around the town. Wendy felt sickened in herself; she didn't even try to take the chance to trust him.

Hexyz turned around to face Wendy and motioned her to come closer. Wendy walked over to where he stood. For a moment, there was only silence. Then, with the sound of scuffling footsteps, a figure appeared out of the darkness, as if it were nothing more than a shadow itself.

But it was no shadow; it was a small and frail old man, with a balding scalp and a thin silky beard.

"Ho, ho, ho," the old man called Roshi laughed. "It is good to see you too, young one. Are you perhaps looking for something?"

"Yes," Hexyz answered him, "This girl here threw away something she needed on accident. Do you know where we can find the man who takes the trash in this town?"

"Hmm…? I don't think I was paid yet for this information."

Hexyz snickered. "Greedy old man. Here." He took out five gold coins from his pocket and placed it in Roshi's hands. "Now tell me."

Roshi did not reply, instead nodding as he went into thought. His eyes slowly turned to Wendy standing behind Hexyz. "She is the one, yes?"

Hexyz nodded. "Yes. This is the one. Can you tell us now? Before I start telling the guards about your business?"

Roshi clear his throat. "Fine, fine. The person you are looking for is already long gone from this town-"

Wendy immediately jumped forward anxiously. "You're telling me that there's no hope in finding it?"

"Let me finish, whipper snapper. You did mention trash did you? If you are talking about the trash man, they drop all of the trash at the slums on the other side of town. If you're looking for something in the trash, you can head over there… but..."

Hexyz's eyebrow raised. "What do you mean 'but'? Is there something else we need to know?"

Roshi sighed. "Just this morning, there was another fight between the mages and the council. I heard that the mages are now hiding in that area because the magic council found one of their bases. Not many people know that right now, but when the council gets wind of it, they are going to crack down on the place."

"How did those mages even get inside the city?" asked Wendy.

Roshi merely licked his lips. "Well, these mages look just like any other mage or human. They are nothing different. Plus… they had a large amount of gold to share."

Wendy nodded slowly. So he was bribed to look the other way.

Hexyz cast a glance at Wendy out of the corner of his eye, shrugged and shook his head. "What did I say? More trouble than we want." He then looked back to Roshi. "But that doesn't matter at the moment. Are we really going to be in trouble if we somehow confront the mages? We're only dumpster diving."

"They didn't seem the friendly type when I met them, young one. If they end up making a hideout in the trash yard, you can expect a problem."

Hexyz gave a jovial sort of chuckle. "Is there really no work way around this?" He smiled to Roshi, throwing another small set of coins to him. "You mind telling me how many there are?"

Roshi smiled brightly as he counted the coins given to him. "There were around 30. All of them looked to be young men and women. However, there was a powerful-looking female in a set of battle armor who seemed to be leading them. I don't remember her face, but I do remember her chestplate bearing a very familiar mark. Unfortunately, I honestly can not remember where it came from."

Wendy was silent, and beside her, Hexyz did the same. He could already tell that she was thinking.

If I want the pendant back, I'm going to have to risk confronting the mages. They are not something I don't want to do deal with, but it is something I may have to do.

Roshi watched them as they stood in silence, his eyes flicking between the pair. "Is that it?" he asked finally. "Is that all there's needed to know? Because I don't like to stay out here any longer than I have to."

"One more thing," Wendy asked. Roshi looked at her quizzically. "Do you have any idea where they are?

"Depends," said the small old man, "How much are you willing to pay?"