Kira looks with amazement at the place. She has heard of places like this, streets and shopping districts hidden from everyone's view, rooted in older and stranger customs.
The streets are filled with color by the fine fabrics hanging on ropes, serving as the ceilings of the commercial stalls, reminding her a little of the old stories of books like the Thousand and One Nights. The fragrances of incensus permeating the air, people of different species walking back and forth using a language she doesn't understand because of how fast they speak.
"This is amazing, godmother," Kira says in surprise and awe.
"I know, honey, but here we will have to be very careful, remember the training we started before the ceremony, right?"
"On stealth and protecting your identity, always a shadow using secrecy and darkness to survive."
"Right, let's go. We have to change." Annie turns to see the host chameleon. "What is your nearest bathroom?"
The chameleon man bows his head sideways, curious at the strange comment she made to the girl.
Kira sees her godmother pull down her blouse on the left side, exposing her shoulder. She is well aware that her aunt has a strange tattoo: An awen with two snakes intertwined around the three lines forming a wuivre. The two ancient symbols of Druid and Celtic culture, although nobody has ever explained to Kira why her godmother has it.
The reptilian man pales before bowing his head respectfully and points to a side passage to the gate of the district.
"Come on, Kira," Anastasia says as she loads her suitcase. Kira does the same.
The two advance through the alley that goes through the shops, until they reach the public baths.
"Change for the training clothes, the new ones I gave you before leaving the castle."
Kira nods before entering one of the private cubicles, locking the door. She immediately opens the suitcase. It is not very big; despite being an indefinite time trip, she was given access to the cards that were in her godmother's hand. Inside her luggage there are only a few clothes for a week, but what stands out most at the top is her ninja training suit.
After about ten minutes, Kira leaves the cubicle with her new suit. What changed the most are the leather gauntlets on her hands and the almost knee high boots. She walks to the mirror. She can only see her head but that is enough to check her braids. Everything seems in order.
Kira puts her half-cloth mask on to partially cover her nose.
"Are you ready?" the woman asks as she comes out of another cubicle.
Her godmother's costume is somewhat dark silver, which simulates her fur quite accurately, while Kira's is white with slight bluish parts.
"I think so," Kira puts her hood on as she watches her aunt press a complex button display, which consists of a numerical combination.
In an instant the suitcase creaks and complains before minimizing its size until it looks like a matchbox. She puts it in her pocket before repeating the same process with the other luggage, which she also places in the pocket .
"Let's go then."
The two leave the bathrooms, entering the streets of the shopping district.
Kira feels the vibe of ancient magic and the power in the air that people emanate as they pass. It looks a bit like her country; even if the weather and people are different. Some people stare at both of them but immediately look in another direction, causing her to start wondering if anything in her suit has to do with it. Her godmother had gotten it and she had given it to her when she started her workouts with the woman.
"Don't fall back, Kira, Samahabdira is a labyrinthine site."
"This site is amazing, godmother.
"Here you need to call me something else. Remember: we need to protect our identities. Call me Golden Bird, okay?"
"And what do I call myself?"
"Bluish Crow."
"But I'm not blue nor are you gold."
"That is why they are false names. They will serve us while walking around here."
Kira doesn't say anything more and follows her godmother. She doesn't know exactly what they need to hide for, but in her time training with her godmother she has learned to trust her judgment, although not totally blindly. She starts looking at the different stalls, taking a look at what they offer there, from different exotic foods or pets to jewelries and even furniture of all sizes.
Kira notices Anastasia stop between a street intersection before turning right, ensuring that there was no one in that direction. Although she finds it difficult to see with all the number of people or large animals like elephants or rhinos passing between larger corridors with their riders, transporting things.
"Godmother..."
But his aunt made a quick wave with her hand, demanding a little silence. Causing Kira a slight growl, but obey.
After a few minutes, both stop in front of an old building apparently made of mud and metal with the door made of fabrics and beads. It has no signs; except for an engraving on the metal in the shape of Anastasia's tattoo, although it is barely visible to the naked eye.
"Come on, don't say anything unless they ask you directly," says Annie, but instead of entering the door she begins to climb the wall, leaning on some boxes and a vine.
Kira frowns before following her up the same path. They reach the ceiling after about five minutes. She immediately spots that there is an opening in the roof, although this one seems purposely made because it led directly to a small internal courtyard.
Anastasia jumps inside and Kira follows. The courtyard is quite simple and ornate with a Greek looking design. Kira follows her godmother into a different room, where a man in a similar looking greener toned suit is waiting for them.
"Golden Bird. A long time has passed since we've seen you last," says the man behind the bar without looking up from a great book he is reading. "You come back from the shadows of who knows where and this time with company."
"Goat of Oblivion, you with your sarcastic tone and mocking, always describing the obvious."
"Has your mysterious new apprentice come to the end of their training?" The man stops looking at the book and looks directly at Kira. "Do you have a name?"
"Bluish Crow," she replies, keeping the seriousness as best as possible. Raising an eyebrow by not perceiving an identifiable smell in man.
"A pleasure for now, to see how hard this site."
Kira growls although now she has more questions that need answering.
"You won't scare her so easily if that is what you're looking for. I need to find some answers," Annie growls.
Goat of Oblivion stopped seeing Kira to focus his attention on Annie.
"You know the rules imposed by the Oracle. Or has family life made you forget things?"
Annie hits him hard in the face, splitting his nose. The man roars holding his face, the cloth mask fills a little with blood.
"It was a joke, woman! You have no sense of humor."
"It's not that, but when you have kids there are some things you endure and some you don't."
"It's okay, it's okay. What do you need?"
"We are looking for an entrance, called Hijakaryan.
"The door of the twin dragons. Looking for it will not be easy, nor do I know it's exact loation," the man says while looking at Kira. "I think you can do the two investigations, separately."
Kira frowns as she feels her godmother's gaze. What investigation does this man refer to?
"I agree. What do you need?"
Goat of Oblivion gives her a rolled parchment. Annie leads Kira to the courtyard and kneels down to her height.
"Listen to me Kira. I know this seems confusing and somewhat strange. I will explain a little: This is a special creed, where mercenaries receive special missions in exchange for other favors or information."
"Do you have to follow their rules?"
"Only the three main ones, but don't worry. You passing as my apprentice will not demand anything difficult from you. I won't be able to go with you as I have my own assignment. I have no doubt that you can do it and don't leave Samahabdira, okay?"
Kira nods and watches her godmother climb back up the wall to the ceiling, giving her one more look before leaving. She immediately feels a bit nervous, grateful that her aunt has so much confidence in her abilities that she has allowed her to take care of this task. Kira takes a deep breath before returning to the man with a determined look.
"I see that you are ready. I have seen that kind of looin in a few apprentices." The man pulls something from under the counter and shows Kira a sheet of paper, which seems to have the crude drawing
"That's Gurken Maldey. It has been doing some problematic work of dubious provenance. But to get to it will not be so easy. You have to figure out everything that it is planning. Start with the food court in the west. There you will find more information."
Kira nods and leaves the building through the roof. She looks around at the thousands of ceilings made of fabrics. A smile is drawn on her face. "The adventure begins sooner than I thought,"she thinks.