We walk through the streets of this city.

  Currently, the greatest issue lies in keeping Akasia contained, who is all too excited about everything around her.

  She seems easily distracted by almost anything.

  "What is this?!" (A)

  "A street vendor, selling little trinkets." (L)

  "And that one?!" (A)

  "Another, selling the same, just different ones." (L)

  "Fascinating!" (A)

  I get that it's starting to get exhausting for Liana.

  Even I, who never was before in a big city like this, am fairly overwhelmed, but can still make heads or tails of all the things I'm seeing here.

  Yet for Akasia, it seems like this is the first time she’s been able to ask someone about a world that she could only experience through her books before.

  And I read some of them, the easier ones.

  They truly don't draw an accurate picture.

  "What about this?!" (A)

  "Sigh. An artisan for wooden furniture." (L)

  "An artisan? And they make furniture from wood? How extraordinary! To work with such fickle material." (A)

  It truly isn't.

  Yet for someone who etches stone with her saliva, it might be a bit flimsy.

  "Please, tell me we're close. I can't stand this place." (K)

  "It's just a few more blocks, but... I'm not sure how we'd go there. It's daytime and we... well..." (L)

  I know what she means.

  While Talisa at least managed to convince Akasia not to wear one of her… preferred dresses, the stuff we’re wearing still looks too good for the rougher district I expect adventurers to dwell in.

  Most of the people here are carriers in worn clothes, and commoners who are just showing their daily wear.

  Yet especially Kyroki and I look, with these skirts, like little ladies.

  Maybe not quite nobility, but at least from really well-off families.

  However, I get from Liana that the greatest issue is the place where we're going.

  The adventurer’s guild!

  The guild full of those who hunt monsters!

  And with her present company, she seems a bit reluctant.

  Which I surely do not blame her for.

  Of course, Liana was with the adventurers before I caught her, as wrong as this sounds.

  So it makes sense that her place is there.

  Speaking of which.

  "Ehm, Liana, how exactly are we going to get into your place?" (N)

  I mean, do we have to break in?

  "Oh, well, I don't know. I had a room in the adjacent guild barracks. But I, I don't have the key with me and I..." (L)

  "Don't believe for a moment that we can resurrect you just so you can get your room keys." (K)

  That would probably cause more issues than it’s worth.

  "By the way, to make this maybe a little less complicated, could you tell us what, exactly, we are looking for? Just so we know if we see it." (A)

  "Ah, well, uh..." (L)

  Liana clearly doesn't want to share this.

  I can tell even without the connection.

  "You don't seriously believe not telling us serves any purpose, do you?" (K)

  Stolen story; please report.

  This seems to have convinced her.

  With a defeated sigh, she starts talking.

  "No... Okay. There, there are two things: A book and a pendant." (L)

  "Well, if this isn't vague." (K)

  "Alright, got it! Book and pendant! Then let's head straight to that 'guild'!" (A)

  I kinda worry that this lack of awareness could lead us into trouble.

  "I, I guess we have to go there. But we should, uh, try to keep a low profile." (L)

  So we move on again, following Liana.

  Thankfully, while we receive stares from passersby, most are too focused on their own business to bother us.

  I’m not sure what they make of us, but their curious gazes often become that of acceptance when they glance over Kyroki and me.

  Maybe they think we are just some rich or minor noble family, taking a stroll through town.

  Finally, Liana stops in front of a big building.

  It looks a bit like a fortress, yet is more open on the lower level and has a wide open entrance that leads into a welcoming hall.

  "We arrived." (L)

  "Oh my, what a fancy place! Who lives here? That person must be really important?" (A)

  Is Akasia for real?

  "Ehm, no. This is the guild hall. This place is supposed to manage the local adventurers." (L)

  "Oh, right. May I ask, what exactly are adventurers?" (A)

  She can't mean this.

  After all those whom she probably killed personally, she doesn't know?

  "You know, adventurers. Those people braving the wilds, going to the dangerous places and fighting monsters, protecting the people and obtaining riches." (L)

  Liana sounds as confused as I am while explaining this.

  "A rather convoluted reference, wouldn't you say?" (K)

  "Yes! It sounds so romantic! A brave hero coming forth to fight for their love!" (A)

  You mean, until you kill them...

  "So where is your place? I want to be done with this as quickly as possible and head home." (K)

  "Awh, we're already here, so why don't we enjoy ourselves a bit?" (A)

  "This isn't that kind of trip! Anyways, where do we head now?" (K)

  "Uhm, the barracks are connected from the main hall. But we'd have to be granted access first." (L)

  "Right... And how do you suppose we get this?" (K)

  "I, I'm not quite sure. It's daytime, so we can’t sneak in, and it's not like we can just ask to be granted access to my old room." (L)

  "Why not? That sounds like a great idea." (A)

  What!?

  What about this sounds like a good idea?!

  "Just you watch!" (A)

  While Kyroki holds her face, I wonder about the sheer absurdity that is the spider monster just waltzing straight into the guild hall.

  "Heeellooo!" (A)

  The woman behind the counter looks visibly confused, and maybe slightly distressed at what is surely coming.

  "Ahem, how may I help you?" (receptionist)

  "Jane." (L)

  I guess it should've been obvious that Liana knows her.

  Yet she looks clearly different from before and even sounds different, so I don't think that's going to be an issue.

  "Alrighty! I was going to ask about someone! Her name was Liana, if I'm right!" (A)

  "Liana!? Why are you asking about her?" (Jane)

  She narrows her eyes at this.

  With every right, given how suspicious Akasia is.

  "We are... relatives! Yeah, relatives! And we were interested in certain family heirlooms in her possession." (A)

  "Relatives? Well, in this case, I need to disappoint you." (J)

  She doesn't seem to believe her the slightest bit.

  "Disappointed? Why disappointed?" (A)

  "Liana was part of an expedition that was deemed a failure. She is pretty much considered as killed in action at this point." (J)

  "Well, this was expected. But what about the items we're here for?" (A)

  "In the case of the passing of an adventurer without relatives, their possessions are auctioned off. In her situation, to cover the guild's expenses for her, as well as a ceremonial sendoff that took place. Yet even if you were to propose a rightful hereditary claim, which I doubt, Liana had debts with the guild. Any possessions of hers will be auctioned off to cover the vast expenses the guild made on her." (J)

  That sounds quite harsh.

  Especially, Liana is taken aback.

  "That sounds very complicated. Isn't there a way we can just take what we want?" (A)

  "You are free to participate in the auction. It's set to take place in three days at the market hall." (J)

  Uh, how are we going to do this?

  Suddenly, Liana steps forward.

  "There, there's also a book. Couldn't we at least get this?" (L)

  The receptionist just looks sternly at her.

  "Do you have any idea about the value of books? Something like that is definitely going to be vaulted as well. You can consider yourselves lucky that you're not too late to even participate. Even more so that we don't hold you accountable for her debts. God knows, she didn't carry her weight here." (J)

  Liana is clearly hurt hearing all this.

  It's truly not nice to say such things about someone.

  Especially not for someone they believe to be dead.

  It's pretty clear that Liana is affected by those harsh words.

  I could tell even without the mental connection.

  "Hah, you might actually be relatives. That droopy look is just like her." (J)

  Before this conversation can continue any longer, Akasia steps in front of her.

  "Alright, got it! An auction in three days. Anything we have to pay attention to if we want to get everything?" (A)

  "Well, depending on the item, the goods may either be offered in bulk, or, if at a high enough value, sold separately. You probably should inform yourself at the auction registry. Not to forget that you must register at the hall if you're foreigners. There's usually a participation sum to pay." (J)

  That sounds very complicated.

  "Thank you very much." (A)

  She says that much and turns back to us.

  Which is when, from one moment to the next, I get the chills.

  It's Akasia's smile.

  Her mouth does, but her eyes...

  Her whole face hints at something far colder beneath the mask she put on.

  It actually helps my tenseness that we get back out of the guild hall.

  "So, what now?" (K)

  "Isn't it obvious? We're going to an auction!" (A)