With silence the rest of the way, we finally arrived at The Den on Argyle Lane, where our Huntsmen headquarters was located.
We disembarked, the cold air biting at our exposed skin as we hurried inside
As soon as we stepped inside to the warmer environment, I announced, "After the debriefing, I'm going home to get some well-needed rest."
Fleur chuckled. "You've already slept for over a day, Eli. We're planning to go out to The Red Anchor soon."
I shook my head. "I'm not that interested. We've already finished work and just want to rest after this debrief. Besides," I touched my ribs, feeling the dull ache that had settled there, "I'm still sore from the past couple of days."
Fleur's expression turned playful. "Celebration is actually part of the job. So you're coming whether you like it or not."
I rolled my eyes and glanced over at Lucas, who was in the process of lighting a cigarette.
He noticed my look and did a double-take. "What? Don't drag me into this. I had nothing to do with it."
Darius stepped in. "Let's get this debriefing over with first. Then you can discuss celebrations afterwards."
He led us to the meeting room in The Den and we settled around the table as he began.
"Gather around," he said, his voice commanding attention. "Elias, we've already had a more extensive debriefing while you were unconscious back on the boat, but I'll reiterate."
I nodded, trying to shake off the lingering effects of my earlier exhaustion.
"We managed to succeed," Darius began, his eyes sweeping across the room, meeting each of ours. "We got the pages we sought from the Underground Auction. These are powerful artifacts, and I'll be taking them to The Church of the Keeper of Time. They'll know what to do with them and can keep them safe."
"Caius has already filled me in on what Rex said to you in his office," Darius continued, turning his gaze to me. "The Black Rose and their goals, Vertigo wanting chaos, and the names of the others involved. Selena, Lorenzo, Uvan, and once again, Fritz."
Fleur chimed in, her tone serious. "We dealt with Pandora already, but we need to be on the lookout for the others. They're not going to sit idle after what we've done."
Darius nodded in agreement. "But for now, we can relax. The next step is to do some digging and scouting, which doesn't require much physical work from us. I can get the rest of the team to deal with that. You all can take the rest of the night off. You deserve it."
Letting out a sigh of relief, I felt the tension in my body start to dissipate. The idea of a break was more than welcome after everything we'd been through.
I had already dealt with Lorenzo, but the others didn't need to know that. With him out of the way and in custody at the Church, we wouldn't even run into him if we tried.
"Well, we're going to the Red Anchor," Fleur announced with a sudden burst of enthusiasm, breaking the heavy atmosphere in the room.
I raised an eyebrow, feeling the fatigue settle in. "I really don't know. I'm not really up for it."
"Come on, Eli," she said. "We all need this. Just one night to unwind. You can't refuse."
Before I could protest further, Caius had already flanked me, his expression making it clear that I didn't have much of a choice in the matter.
With a resigned sigh, I held up my arms and gave in for just one night and let them drag me along for their little escapade.
We all left The Den and made our way outside into the cold streets of Leode. The snow continued to fall, beginning to slowly blanket the city in a serene layer of white. The cold bit into my skin making my nose and ears red, and I couldn't help but tug on my coat to partially cover my face.
The Red Anchor was over near the Entertainment District with all its colourful lights and the pink hue that saturated the early evening white sky. As it was coming into winter, it had started to get darker much earlier than it used to.
As we walked, I couldn't help but notice the increased presence of enforcers patrolling the streets. Their stern faces and watchful eyes were a stark reminder of the recent chaos caused by the underground auction.
They were each wearing their usual navy uniform with golden accents, and each had a dark coat on reaching down past the top of their high-laced boots. At least one of them could also be seen holding up a lantern on a pole per group to help with the dying light.
"More than usual," I commented, my breath visible in the frosty air.
Lucas nodded, his eyes scanning the area. "Well, it's to be expected. We were actually very lucky to get out that quick."
My mind flashed back to the night I had seen enforcers with their portable lamp posts, executing illegal arcanists from the auction in the rain.
As we approached the Red Anchor Bar, the familiar glow of its sign cast a warm light over the snow-dusted streets.
But before we could reach the entrance, my attention was drawn to two tall figures walking by. They wore long trench suits and white masks that obscured their faces. They were King's guards.
Partially concealed by the people moving about, I spotted the enigmatic man himself—King. His long white hair and homochromatic eyes were unmistakable, even if his attire had changed. Instead of his usual white suit, he now sported a white coat and scarf that blended seamlessly with the extravagant style of the entertainment district.
The guards glanced at us, then turned their gaze directly to Fleur. With a slight nod of their heads, they silently conveyed King's message.
Fleur caught their signal and turned to us with a resigned look. "This shouldn't take long," she said before walking over to King.
Lucas shivered and tucked his hands deeper into his coat pockets. "We should go inside. It's cold out here," he suggested.
Caius, Lucas, and I entered the Red Anchor, greeted by its warm, inviting atmosphere. The cold outside seemed to melt away instantly, replaced by the cozy ambience of the bar. We found seats at the counter, the chatter and laughter of the patrons a soothing background hum.
"Finally, some warmth," Caius muttered, rubbing his hands together briskly.
We had only been there a minute or two when Fleur walked in.
Going straight up to the counter with her usual energy, her voice cut through the din. "A round of drinks, please!" she called out to the barkeep.
The man behind the counter, a burly figure with a friendly smile, nodded. "Ah Fleur. First round's on the house," he said, sliding four mugs of golden ale towards us across the countertop.
"Everything alright?" Caius asked as she joined us, placing a glass in front of each of us.
"Yeah," she replied, her eyes flicking to the door for a moment before settling back on us.
She picked up her mug and downed it in one go, the alcohol disappearing almost instantly. Without hesitation, she reached out and grabbed one of our mugs, taking a long swig.
"Fleur?" Caius said sounding concerned.
Fleur sighed, setting the mug down with a thud. "He told me he wants Rex and I to take over the Markets, that's all."
She then downed the second mug just as quickly as the first. "I don't really want to talk about it though. I just thought you all should know. It's probably important." Her gaze shifted, becoming more determined. "But enough of that. We've had a long day and we get to let loose now. Let's drink."
The bartender refilled her mug, and she took another swig, immersing herself in the familiar comfort of the alcohol.
The mood shifted as the others lifted their mugs. Fleur had already taken my one which I didn't mind, but I did ask the barkeeper to get me a juice instead. I doubt Fleur would notice if I wasn't drinking just as long as she had a mug in hand.
As the others indulged in conversation, I found myself tuning out and thinking about other things. My mind was elsewhere, replaying the events of the past days.
By the time Fleur was halfway through her fourth mug, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes had a slight glaze. She turned to me with a curious look, her usual nature tempered by the alcohol.
"Eli, where are you actually from?" she asked, her words slightly slurred.
"I'm from the capital," I said without hesitation.
Caius, who had been nursing his drink, looked up. "What?" he exclaimed.
Fleur giggled, her voice a bit slurry. "Really? I honestly couldn't have guessed," she said.
Lucas, still sipping on his first mug, nodded knowingly. "Checks out. Elias sure sounds and acts like he's capital-born."
I couldn't help but reflect on the fact that I had already told others I was from the capital, like Samb the enforcer. Changing my fabricated identity now would be problematic. Other places wouldn't really fit my style either, except for Fallhalt which Fleur and I had been to before.
The other major cities to Leode; Belhall to the southwest, Aurich to the north, and Araway across the ocean to the east, all weren't as well off as Goldeen within the Ercadium Kingdom. And given my upbringing back in my home world, I would fit right into the wealthy society there.
Fleur quickly turned her attention to Lucas, curiosity in her eyes. "You're from the capital too?"
Lucas nodded. "Yes."
"I never knew." Fleur blinked a few times, clearly surprised.
Lucas took another sip of his drink. "You never even cared to ask, did you?"
"So that's why you two are always so angry," Fleur said, turning back to me. "Capital people are always like that. Always cocky and angry. Both you and Lucas are always so angry."
Caius began to chuckle softly to the side.
I sipped my juice, my eyebrows knitting together as I glanced over at Fleur. Her comment had struck a nerve, and her drunken giggles weren't helping.
"Why are you always so serious, Elias? You... you hothead!" Fleur exclaimed, her voice carrying a playful, mocking tone.
Annoyed, I set my glass down and turned to her. "I'm not a hothead. I just—"
But before I could finish, she began mimicking me, her voice dropping an octave as she grumbled in an exaggerated impression. "I'm not a hothead. I just—"
I scowled. "I don't sound like that."
Fleur continued her mockery, her face scrunched up in a comical imitation. "I don't sound like that," she repeated, her voice a parody of my own.
Caius and Lucas were both chuckling now, their laughter beginning to escape their lips and get louder despite the Red Anchor already being loud as is.
"Fleur, can you be serious for a moment?" I tried again.
"I'm Elias, and I'm always so serious. I don't have time for jokes," she mocked, her expression imitating my usual demeanour.
I tried to cut in again, but she just kept grumbling, her voice rising in pitch as she continued to mock me. "I don't sound like that."
Caius and Lucas were still chuckling away and I shot them a glance, but their laughter only seemed to encourage Fleur further.
"Hothead Eli, always grumbling and complaining, why so serious?" she continued, her voice oozing with exaggerated solemnity.
I threw up my hands in irritation. "Fine, whatever," I said, finally giving up. It was clear that this was just going to go nowhere.
"Victory!" Fleur declared, raising her drink in triumph. "The hothead has conceded!"
Then both Caius and Lucas jumped up and cheered with tears from laughter in their eyes, smacking their drinks together and finally downing them to the very last drop.