We spent a good hour walking around the market asking various vendors and villagers if they knew anything about the attacks. The ones who'd said they were victims seemed to avoid making any eye contact and said very little. Some simply talked about how terrifying it was that witches were in the area, actively attacking people, scared that they were going to do next. Others… flirted with me. For that very reason, Valkyon either followed me or kept me within his sight.

I was about to give up and go over to Valkyon and listen in on his questioning of a companion treats vendor when I noticed something in the corner of my eye. A small cat-like creature was… waving me over?

"Name's Pala." The cat's sultry voice had a calm undertone as I approached. "I'm assuming that you're talking to everyone to try and get information."

"We're asking about the recent witch attacks." I smiled. "Have you seen anything?"

"Sweetheart, I've seen most of them." Pala looked up at me. "I've been staying at Caratina's for the past week. That's where most of the 'attacks' have been taking place. Turns out, they're all just robberies."

"Do you know what they've been stealing?" I frowned. This is the first I've heard of the witches robbing the villagers.

"From the way the victims haven't said anything about being robbed, probably something illegal. Say…" Pala's eyes darted around, likely making sure no one else was listening in. "Gemstones?""'Gemstones?'" I repeated with the same quiet tone.

"Yeah…" Pala looked at me with determination in her bright green eyes. "I've heard some of them talking outside my window at the Inn. They're hoping they'll find one with… let's say magical properties."

"Like a soulstone?" I noticed her glance at the gem in my navel.

"Or a bloodstone." Pala interjected. "The only soulstone known to be left on the surface is the one feeding everyone."

"That… isn't good." I frowned.

"A demon that can indoctrinate whatever normal Eldarian that gets too close? Now that's a force to be reckoned with." Pala described a bloodstone perfectly. "There was something else I heard them say. They're expecting you – One was even given orders to report when you arrived and where you were staying."

"… You're kidding." I felt my frown deepen as I heard footsteps behind me – likely Valkyon's.

"I wouldn't kid about something like this, Sweetheart." Pala looked behind me.

"I… thank you. For the information, and the warning." I nodded as I turned my head to see that it was indeed Valkyon coming up to me.

"Let's get back to the Inn, Lu." Valkyon put his hand on my shoulder. I could see Alajea standing a few feet away, smiling. I turned to follow Valkyon and Alajea towards the direction we'd come from… unfortunately, we weren't even out of the market when we'd bumped into Tarin once more.

"Ah, Miss Lutarua!" He spoke to me directly. "Have you and the others found anything yet? About the witches, I mean…"

"Yes, we have." I said coldly. "We were actually on our way back to the inn where we're meeting up with the others. Please, excuse us."

"Oh… okay." he started walking back towards the table he'd been sitting at. Once we reached the inn, the others were already waiting on us.

"Hey!" Nevra called us over. "Turns out, all of the witch attacks have been taking place in this area. They're not sure what the witches are after, though. One of the victims couldn't stop groaning about how her life's work was stolen."

"Any trouble in the market, Lutarua?" Karren smiled.

"Nope." I said quickly. "Though the purreko I talked to said that she believed that the witches have been stealing jewels."

"You were asking the purreko for information?" Valkyon raised his eyebrows.

"Yeah… You said to talk to everyone that might be able to provide any information." I looked at him. He seemed concerned about something, though I couldn't tell what. "That and she was waving me over."

"A purreko… was waving you over?" Karren said as she and Nevra walked up.

"Yeah…" I looked at the three of them.

"Purrekos aren't the trustworthy type, and they rarely do anything that wouldn't benefit them." Nevra frowned. "What could that one possibly get from telling you what she knows?"

"I don't know." I looked at him. "But I believe that what she told me is true… why would she lie about the witches stealing gemstones?"

"Uh… I got nothing." Ezarel racked his brain for a plausible reason.

"Well, it's nice to know why the victims were acting so dodgy." Nevra frowned.

"I suppose. Who would be dumb enough to report illegal property stolen?" Valkyon mirrored Nevra and Ezarel's frowns.

"I'm sorry, what? 'Illegal?'" I raised a single eyebrow. I remember Pala saying something about jewels being illegal, but I figured that she was exaggerating.

"You read about the revolution, Lu." Valkyon looked at me. "Everyone was forced to give up anything considered valuable, such as precious metals and jewels."

"Right…" it was my turn to frown.

"What, that not how it was back home?" Ezarel seemed to be inwardly laughing.

"Well, considering that we're all kept alive by the gems in our navels… no, that's not the way it is." I crossed my arms. "Our soulstones keep our memories, even after our body is dead. Jewels are considered artifacts, kept in family archives."

"What, that part of your people's religion?" Nevra asked.

"The only things about us that could be considered religious is everything we dedicate to the Creators." I felt the memories of festivals, monuments, and temples flow through my mind. "Holding the memories of our people sacred? That is a tradition more ancient than Eldora herself."

"So… I take it the Oracle's memory spell is working?" Valkyon looked surprised.

"I suppose it is." I said after a moment.