If Darren had to describe Chrimata, the best word for it would be busy. And not "lunch rush" busy but more like "New York City on New Year's Eve" level of busy. The word "crowded" wouldn't do the town justice.

The entrance to the town was impressive on its own with little stalls dotting the area selling food, trinkets, and weapons. The streets were packed with people as they went from place to place constantly looking for whatever they needed. Inns, shops, and blacksmiths catered to a potential customer's needs on every street. A large stone wall guarded the town's borders along with a small river making a natural moat around the town bringing in freshwater. There were few trees around the area and instead had houses surrounding the town. It was completely different from the calm streets of Counter that he was used to or the forest where his Swarm was located. Overall, it was nice to see a different place.

There were, however, a few complications…

Cut him off on the next street, Cooper! The zergling acknowledged his master's mental command and quickly turned into an alleyway to get to the next street over. Declan, the zergling running beside Darren, continued to chase after the target. Soon the one they were running after turned into an alleyway to escape but soon stopped.

Cooper had made it to the other end of the alley first and waited patiently for his target. He growled and advanced. The cloaked person turned to run back out only to see that Declan was moving into the alley with Darren close behind him.

The thief panicked and pulled out a knife in a shaky grip.

"S-stay back!" The thief yelled in a feminine voice. The three stopped a few meters from her as she shifted with her back against a wall. She continued to hold out the knife, it was dull and rusted now that Darren could see it better, and it was obvious to see how inexperienced she was with how she held the knife.

Darren didn't want to spook the girl (she sounded about his age) any further and showed his hands at his sides, palms out, to be as non-threatening as possible. Though it probably didn't work as the girl flinched from Darren's movements.

And everything was going so well earlier, Darren thought tiredly.

Darren flopped backward onto the bed as his two newly hatched zerglings, Cooper and Declan, began to explore the room he had been given for the duration of their stay. As he laid there Darren began to go over what had happened in the past few days as he traveled to Chrimata.

After asking Abraham to escort him to the school of Summoning magic, Abraham had agreed to take Darren along with them so long as Darren didn't do anything to endanger his men. They would leave for Chrimata in a day or two to let Abraham's men recover from the bandit ambush which gave Darren a good amount of time to make sure his Swarm was well protected in his absence. His Swarm would be able to protect itself in any situation that may arise in his absence, but Darren would rather be safe than sorry.

First, Darren ordered more Creep Generators to be built along the supply line he had going between the Magi crystal mine and his home base as well as more Creep Generators along the outskirts of the base. Secondly, unit production was to be sped up until Darren had a medium-sized army at his command. Third, the Nydus Network was tested to see how far it could travel and about how fast it was. Thankfully, it didn't seem like there was a limit to how far a Nydus Worm could travel as long as there was a visual of where it would appear and when it came to speed the Worms were very fast. The last thing he wanted to cover though was the Evolution Chamber.

He remembered that the Evolution Chamber would allow him to understand what he was seeing, and he wanted to evolve his Swarm further in preparation. However, when Darren went to see what more he could do, pieces of DNA seemed to be missing or were otherwise locked to him. He guessed that it was since his Swarm was relatively new so he wouldn't have complete access to all the upgrades. Also, if he was going to make his Swarm better, he was going to need more "raw materials" to work with. The best he could do now was to upgrade the creep and Creep Generators for increased efficiency and for the zerglings to increase their speed through what he could identify as their Metabolic Boost. He decided to go through with what he could do. He'd have to warn Angie's family about a few new additions to Ace and Bandit.

With all those things done, Darren started to get ready for the trip. He spawned a new pair of personal zergling guards, Cooper and Declan, and some roaches as backup in case something unplanned happened along the way. If he needed additional reinforcements Darren could easily summon a Nydus Worm.

Thankfully nothing had happened and the days were peaceful along with the occasional question or two from the knights about Darren's creatures. The knights were wary around Darren at first but soon warmed up to him as the days had passed. Most had questions about Darren ranging from how long he had been living by himself and how his magic worked. Anyone who had questioned Darren about what creatures he could summon had assumed that the zerglings were the only ones he could summon. Though Jones did ask more specifically about Cooper and Declan…

"Magi Darren," Jones started shyly, "could I ask you a few questions?" Darren looked over at Jones on the back of his horse.

"Of course, Jones," Darren said, "I'll answer what I can. Also, you can just call me Darren. You don't have to use that Magi title every time we talk." Slightly embarrassed but not dissuaded from speaking, Jones continued.

"Those creatures of yours, what were they called again?"

"Zerglings. These two are Cooper and Declan." The zerglings acknowledged Jones and the knights with a trill. The knights looked over at them as Jones gives an uneasy smile and a small wave of his hand.

"Right. I don't mean to be a bother but… well…" Jones seemed to be debating whether to continue or not, "I remembered that the zerglings you had before at Counter Village didn't have those wings. Now all of them seem to have wings. Did something happen? I-If you don't want to tell me that's fine. Probably some Magi thing I don't understand," Jones added hastily. Darren smiled over at Jones

"It's no problem, Jones. I would be happy to explain." At those words Jones, Abraham, and the other knights leaned in slightly, eager to hear an explanation of Darren's magic. "First, I need you guys to understand that my summoned creatures and I share a bond with each other."

"Do you mean like the bond between a hound master and his dogs?" The group turned to the knights that spoke up. He shrunk a little at the sudden attention but continued. "I've heard that a hound master has something close to a sixth sense when it comes to his dogs. Is your bond like that?"

"It's close," Darren replied, "but my I share with Cooper and Declan is a little more… intimate." The gathered knights seemed confused by the answer but accepted it as one of those Magi things.

"Well that explains a few things," Jones said, "but what about the wings on their backs?"

"That was because I conducted a bit of research on my creatures and found that by adding wings on the backs of the zerglings, it made them more aerodynamic without sacrificing the durability of their carapaces." After his explanation, Darren only received silence as the group of knights attempted to figure out some of the words that the man had said.

"It means that they're faster and that their armor is still as strong as before." The group turned to the head where Abraham was sitting. He took a quick look at Darren before focusing on the road again. "I've spent enough time with Magi to get a general understanding of how they work."

After that, the group was mostly quiet with the occasional conversation here and there.

Once the group had made it to Chrimata they went to a two-story inn where previous reservations had been made. The knights had their own rooms and Darren could have Magi Cael's old room which was on the second floor. When Abraham questioned the innkeeper earlier about any information about Magi Cael, the innkeeper said that he only saw him for a few moments after leaving his room and that he seemed to be in a hurry. Abraham guessed that Cael may have run all the way back to the capital as fast as he could.

Now Darren was just resting for a moment, watching his zerglings sticking their snouts into every nook and cranny they could find before settling down near the large bed Darren was laying on. He closed his eyes and got ready to unwind for a while.

KNOCK KNOCK

Darren and his zerglings looked over at the door in annoyance. He spoke in an even tone.

"Yes?"

"We're having a quick meeting downstairs," the voice of Abraham replied, "If you want you can be there." Before Darren could answer he heard the sound of retreating footsteps. Darren laid on the bed for a while with his eyelids shut then, with an exasperated sigh, he raised himself to his feet and plodded out the door with Cooper and Declan in tow.

When Darren made it to the stairs, he spotted Abraham, Jones, and the rest sitting around a large table with food, soups, and bread and made his way there. Jones spotted him first, waving him over and moving over to make room for Darren as his zerglings settled near him.

"Eat up, Darren," Abraham said. "We'll start once you're finished." Darren nodded over at Abraham and made a plate for Cooper and Declan before digging in himself. A few minutes later, Darren finished up and looked at Abraham expectantly.

"Alright then men," Abraham stated, "we've made it to Chrimata earlier than I expected since there weren't any problems happening over at Counter Village. Originally, the plan was to spend about a week in Counter and make sure that there was no lasting damage. However, it seems that due to the actions of a certain Magi," Abraham nodded over at Darren while a few knights smiled over at him, "our help was not needed. For that I am thankful. Now, all we need to do is return to the capital and report back to King Indulf and Queen Catherine. But I believe that a few days rest would do us good now, especially for those still recovering. Besides," Abraham said with a smirk, "these rooms were so generously provided by Magi Cael. Does anyone have anything to add?" Abraham gazed around the table and no one answered. "Then that concludes this meeting. Enjoy your rest men, I'm off to bed." Abraham left the table with a smile and went upstairs to his room.

As the remaining gathered men started chatting excitedly about what they would do with their time off Darren began to ponder on what he should do himself. As he got up and made his way to the door, Jones noticed and called out to him.

"Hey, Darren! Where you going?" Darren looked back and saw that a few of the knights were also paying attention.

"I'm off to see what this place can offer. It's my first time being in a place like this so I might as well take some time to enjoy the sights. See you guys."

This is actually kind of fun.

Darren was currently walking around and looking through different shops. It was interesting to hear different merchants hawking their wares while also insulting other businesses at the same time. Mostly it would devolve into a screaming match between the two merchants if it got bad enough and any spectators would start betting on who would win. Everyone would break up once the guard showed up though. Darren also took the time to see some of the sights as well.

While walking around, he found a large fountain in the middle of town decorated with marble knights and dragons posed in the middle of a fight. Darren took a seat at the edge of the fountain and watched the people going off on their own business. He did notice that he garnered a few stares, probably because of his armor, and that some people seemed interested in Cooper and Declan.

At one point when he was eating a skewer of what a merchant said was "genuine Wilding meat", it probably a rabbit, he saw some children inching closer to the zergling pair resting nearby. They froze when they realized that Darren was watching them and seemed to still further when Cooper and Declan started paying attention. Darren nodded over at the children. Taking it as permission, one of the children steeled himself and walked up to Cooper. The zergling looked at the boy curiously and let off a soft trill before succumbing to a purr of contentment at being petted. Not wanting to be left out, Declan brushed up against the boy and let out a whine making him laugh as he began to pet Declan as well. This encouraged the other children to run up to the zerglings and start playing with them. Darren smiled at the kids playing and his zerglings as they basked in the affection they were being showered in. As he watched them though, his smile began to morph into a frown.

He didn't see it earlier, but he began to realize that the kids playing with Cooper and Declan were filthy. The clothing they wore was more akin to rags sewn together and their skin was unwashed and caked with dirt. One of the children he noticed had a slight limp as she played with Cooper with him steadying her.

Darren looked around the center and at the other people who were walking around. Their clothing was nice, no beggars dotted the streets, and there was a minimal amount of trash in the area. From everything that Darren had seen while he explored Chrimata, there wasn't a single sign of poverty at all. So why were there children who were clearly not as well off as the other citizens?

SMACK

"Ahh!"

"Dirty brat!"

Darren's head snapped towards the sound and his gaze focused on a group of three men dressed in similar leather armor with swords at their side. They were rather unremarkable in appearance aside from the fact that they had a matching uniform and badge.

Probably guards of some sort, Darren thought as he gave them a once-over. When his gaze went to the children, he saw one on the ground holding his cheek with budding tears in his eyes as the other kids gathered around him. Darren's gaze zeroed in on the kid's cheek and he saw a slightly bleeding wound on angry red skin. He heard the guard yelling at the kids.

"I thought I told you gods damned orphans to stay away from the center! And now, not only are you brats polluting the air with your stink, now I deal with you again!" One of the guards spoke up.

"Hey, Noah." The leader of the three turned his head. "You think we need to teach them another 'lesson'?" Noah looked back at the kids that hadn't moved an inch other than huddling as close as possible. He grinned.

"Maybe if the little shits lick my boots clean then we won't have to teach them again." Noah leaned in to the group of kids. "Whaddya say, eh?"

"Screw you!"

The boy that was hit earlier stood up and glared up defiantly at Noah. The boy walked up to the front of the group.

"You're just a bully! A big, fat bully!" Noah scowled at the boy. He approached the kids and cracked his knuckles while the two other guards took the initiative to approach as well.

"It looks like we have a problem then. We'll have to teach you again not to commit disorderly conduct in the presence of the law!" Noah threw a punch at the boy who closed his eyes shut along with the other kids in anticipation.

SMACK

The boy flinched but didn't feel the pain of a fist hitting him. He slowly peeked open his eyes then they shot wide open. The man in black armor from earlier was standing in front of him with the guard's fist in his hand.

There were many things that Darren could tolerate and few things that truly peeved him, but seeing children abused really pissed him off. At first, he was going to let these guys go and make sure the kids were alright, especially the one that got hit. Then he was going to stalk these guards as much as possible to find out who they were and, more importantly, how he could take them down quietly. It would be best to avoid making any unnecessary noise if possible.

However, the guards decided to continue pushing their luck and now they would pay the consequences.

"What do you think you're doing," Noah was momentarily surprised but quickly glared at Darren. "You're interfering in Chrimata business." Darren had his head covered by his helmet, but the force of his glare could be felt through it. Darren let go of Noah's fist and the guard took a step back with his cronies backing him up.

"I was just enjoying myself a bit earlier but then you guys came over and started being rude to these kids. I was just thinking, 'Well, that isn't nice,' so, naturally, I came over to ask what's the problem." The children started to huddle up behind Darren and Noah took notice.

"The problem, sir," Noah said snidely, "is that there are some brats that always cause some form of trouble and they're right behind you." Noah pointed over at the kids hiding behind Darren. "So, if you'll let us do our job, we'll take care of things here, forget that this 'altercation' ever took place, and you can go off scot-free. We'll even give you a little something for the trouble."

Noah took a pouch from his belt and threw it over at Darren. After catching it, Darren heard the telltale sound of coins clinking next to each other. He made a show of weighing it and threw it back and forth between his hands. Noah grinned believing that he convinced Darren, that was until Darren threw the money back at his feet.

"So, you won't leave," Noah said as he scowled over at Darren.

"No, I don't think I will."

With a grunt, Noah threw a punch at Darren's face hoping to surprise him while his cronies backed him up. What he didn't expect was Darren catching his fist. Before he rationalized it as a fluke because he was aiming for the kid and wasn't putting as much force into the punch, but now it felt like he was hitting a brick wall. Noah used his other hand, but Darren caught it as well. Then he started to squeeze.

As Darren started putting on more pressure on Noah's fists, he slowly brought the guard to his knees. Noah started to panic and quickly looked around for his goons only to see that they had been tackled to the ground by Darren's zerglings, their claws almost breaking through their leather armor. He turned back to Darren only to receive a headbutt, knocking him on his ass. Noah tried to get back up only for a knee to hit him in the face and knock him back down with a foot on his chest to hold him to the ground. Noah groaned in pain and held his nose as it started to bleed. Darren leaned in to whisper while adding more pressure to Noah's chest to make it just short of painful.

"Let me make this clear to you. I don't know who you are, and I don't care. I also don't like it when I see people who think they can do anything without any repercussions. So, because I'm feeling generous right now, I'll let you off with just a broken nose."

Darren took his foot off the guard and turned around to help the kids when he heard a sword being unsheathed. He turned back to see the guard with his sword mid-swing. Intellectually, Darren knew that his black carapace armor would stop the sword dead in its tracks, but he just gave Noah the chance to leave with what little pride he had intact. Instead of doing the smart thing and leaving, he went to try and take Darren down by killing him. So now he would retaliate.

If I'm being honest though, I just really want to hurt him, Darren thought.

Darren ducked under Noah's sloppy swing and quickly moved into Noah's guard. Without room to maneuver, Noah had no time to stop Darren's uppercut. Disorientated and in pain, Noah dropped his sword and went to cup his chin when he felt something kick out his leg and leave him unbalanced. Darren used this chance to pull one of Noah's arms over his shoulder and, with a quick application of his enhanced strength, pulled the rest of Noah over himself and slammed him in the ground. The last thing Noah saw was an armored fist headed toward his face.

After knocking out Noah, Darren made it clear in no uncertain terms to the other two guards that if he saw them blatantly abuse their power again that he would give them a beating worse than Noah's. As they ran off with Noah on their shoulders and their tails between their legs Darren turned to see how the children reacted to his interference.

Turned out, they were a bit distrustful of his actions.

It wasn't every day that a random stranger stood up for some orphans. They had begged for people to help them before, but they were turned away at best or beaten for some perceived slight. So, the fact that some person they just met actually helped them bewildered them. It took some time, but eventually, Darren won over the kids' trust with one of the greatest gifts ever.

Food.

The kids had hung out with Darren and his zerglings for a while and had left about an hour or so ago saying that they needed to go back to the orphanage. They also invited him to visit any time he could because he was in their words, "an alright guy."

Now he was just wandering around the town with no destination in mind. It was about midday and traffic was picking up as the streets started to fill with more and more people shopping to their heart's content. Cooper and Declan had started to move behind him in a single file line rather than walking by his side due to the number of people.

Darren tried to be as polite as possible as he pushed through the crowds of people and made his way to an alleyway. He stopped for a moment to catch his breath and looked out from the mouth of the alley. It was pretty much controlled chaos with people going up and down the street while occasionally stopping by a nearby stall or store that caught their eye.

He prepared himself to brave the onslaught of people when a cloaked figure bumped into him. The person continued to move further into the alley without stopping or acknowledging Darren's presence. A little disgruntled, Darren decided to ignore the encounter and continue on his way when he noticed a lack of weight on his hip where he had been keeping about half his funds. He felt around and come up with nothing. He quickly looked back at the stranger that had bumped into him and saw the figure pocket his pouch.

"Hey!" Darren shouted down at the person. The figure looked back at him and sprinted towards that other mouth of the alleyway.

Darren gave chase and his zerglings followed quickly. The figure made it to the mouth and turned right onto a crowded street. Once Darren made it to the mouth, he tried to spot the figure but had no such luck and was about to give up when Declan signaled Darren. The zergling was looking at a nearby stall and Darren could see the same figure trying to blend in with the rest of the patrons. He began making his way there when the thief realized that Darren had found when he was hiding and bolted off farther into the crowd. Darren gave chase and saw that the thief was running towards another alleyway.

Cut him off on the next street, Cooper!

A/N: Originally this part was going to be around my usual 2000 words but then it started growing way more than I thought it would. In the end, the word count doubled, which is absolutely awesome. :D

Hope you enjoyed it.

PS: Anyone ever read a steampunk book called "Leviathan"? If not, I recommend you do. It's got some pretty pictures too.

PPS: I finally figured out how to get the horizontal lines instead of always saying "-Break-".