Notes! Law-takers=the resident police.

News of the collapsed building ran rampant through the village and the village Law-Takers, those who were said to "take care of the law" and "promote the citizens to heed its guidance," were called immediately to the scene. Meanwhile the two young men and slipped away and were now bound for the forest as the sun burned off the remaining mists. Once beneath the shadowy coverage they removed their masks and unbridled the grey mare to let her graze amongst the trees. "That went smoothly," the dark haired one said hanging up his jacket on a branch then turning to his table on which was spread many papers and bobbles that only these two could think important. He glanced at his hour glass, standing erect in the corner of the table.

"But that girl, Novem. Won't she be trouble if she tells the Law-Takers?" the other mentioned, "Poor thing, a simple-minded street sweep. Girls should never hold that position, don't you think?"

"It doesn't concern us," the one, Novem, replied, when he didn't hear immediate agreement he glanced in the direction of his partner, "Duodecim, I warn you not to have any dealing with that peasant."

Duodecim waved his hands dismissively as he sat against a tree that was shaped just perfectly like a chair. "Yes, yes Novem, I understand." Novem eyed him suspiciously then turned back to focus his attention on his task at hand, writing the next letter.

Of the Law-Takers many became indignant when they saw the ruins of the old tavern torn down and became even more so when they found the piece of paper attached to the cornerstone of the building.

"Dearest Law-Takers,

We greet thee most cordially

We two of these letters are the makers

We wish to define our terms with certainty

I am One-X and he, V-Two

We wish to make this town well

Come stop this strife in lieu,

That it shan't happen in the future to tell

Here is your hint:

Always filling, always emptying

Always changing, but still the same

Home for many, food for some

Upon this I built my stead.

To start the fire, here is this flint.

The Law-Takers, furious with frustration began to search 'round for any that could interpret it. Old and young contested over the answer to find the solution. Lisa caught sight, but didn't understand. Amongst the force of Law-Takers was a man with eyes sharp glittering with sagacity, he was hardly groomed and held a lit 'stik' in his mouth which produced a foul smelling smoke. He removed the 'stik' and was given the paper by his associate, a fat man who loved to play games and solve riddles, though he wasn't very good at it. "Shiba, look at this," said the man who bumbled over dropping holding the paper in front of the man's face. Shibasaki as his unusual name was, glanced reproachfully at this man then sat up to examine the paper. His eyes lit up upon seeing the riddle. He spit out his smoldering 'stik' and smothered it with his heel then walked towards the city center, his portly friend behind, "Have you got it?" he gasped, trotting along.

"Probably," he remarked. "It's not hard." Upon appearing inside the village hall, an ancient building that lost its smell of wood only to be replaced with the smell of mold and decay, typical of this part of the country which was subject to rain, those seated turned to look at the guest.

"Shibasaki? What are you doing here?" an old man who was balding ejected as the doors closed behind the familiar stranger.

"I've come back. It appears you need me," the man smirked; the older frowned.

"I suppose we do," he stood and clasped Shibasaki's hand in his own. "Welcome back." Now that formalities were out of the way, the man led Shibasaki to the table and made him sit down amongst the group. "Look here, now. What do you think this means?"

Shibasaki pointed to the lines and translated each, "In short," he completed, "we should look for buildings, probably companies, on the lake." The older man raised his arm and gave the order then turned and thanked Shibasaki.

A large party of Law-Takers spread around all sides of the lake, allowing not a soul to enter or exit save those of the official Law-Takers. Help had been recruited from many others towns, to the duo's delight, so slipping in amongst the officers was simple. Buildings around the lake were searched and nothing recovered until one looked up to see a house floating on the lake itself. The called to the others and said his thought, immediately a troop was sent to determine what mischief lay in this floating house.

Inside it was vacant, its inhabitants having just left apparently moments earlier, evident from the smoking fire. Shibasaki was a part of this crew and found, upon a table, a letter with the seal of a raven. He opened the note to find words burning inside, quote:

"Well done dearest Law-Takers!

This is the second place we wish you to note.

We hope pleasantries were extended to you from those Lakers.

And in this, don't forget a cloak!

Old and young visit

Life and Death reside in the doorway

Strong and weak vary

Good and Evil fight in the halls

All strive for their lot.

To keep fire, you need air.

Shibasaki stuffed this note in his pocket and boarded the small lake-vessel.