[Darcia's Perspective]
There we were, just Shadowpaw and me, alone in his workshop. The air was filled with the scent of metal and enchantments as I silently watched him immersed in his work, examining intricate blueprints. The silence stretched until I couldn't resist breaking it.
"Why are you really helping us, Shadowpaw?" I inquired, my eyes fixed on his dog-like features.
A prolonged quiet lingered, his focus seemingly undisturbed. I called his name again, and this time, he turned to face me. His yellow eyes held a mix of respect and sorrow, a glimpse into a past obscured by time.
"I'm an old friend of Kaizer's father," he confessed. The weight of his words hung in the air. "I didn't know him all that well, really, but… I would make potions for him from time to time. It was me who created the concoction to kill…"
He hesitated, leaving a void of anticipation.
"Kill… who?" I pressed, eager for answers.
"Queen Hundred."
A momentary silence engulfed us. "He never got to use it, did he?" I asked, sensing the unspoken tragedy.
"Obviously not. Either that, or he did and it didn't work. Who knows? In the end… he wasn't trying to kill the Queen; all he was trying to do was keep his loved ones, his child, safe. He knew it was worth fighting, and dying for."
My confusion spilled into the open. "Honestly, Shadowpaw, I don't even know what exactly I'm fighting for anymore."
"How do you figure?" he inquired.
"I… I want Kaizer back. That's all I know. I don't care about saving the world. I don't care about prophecy. I just…"
He waited, prompting me to continue, but then he spoke.
"I'm sure you knew this, but I fear Kaizer has a fate too great for any of us to be a part of, let alone comprehend. I'm doing this for Grant, but I'm also doing this for you, Darcia. Your determination, and your love for Kaizer ignites something in me. It is like seeing magic for the first time. Brings me back to my younger days… back when I let myself get that close to people. For someone like me, Darcia, love is a distant memory, an infantile concept. Eventually, you live long enough that love becomes a small treasure to simply honor and behold with respect, rather than desire."
I was kind of shocked by his words. "I see…"
Shadowpaw flashed a small smile. "Mind doing me a favor?"
"What is it?"
"I need something: Luminara Essence. It's a rare crystal that can enhance the properties of spells. I need it for the matrix. There's a town north of here called Unity, there might be a merchant who has it, if we're lucky."
"Yeah, sure, I can do that. I'll take the gang with me, matter of fact," I said, smiling as I exited the workshop and walked to the living room, where Iris, Isyra, and Zachary sat watching TV.
"You guys up for running errands? 'Cause that's what we're doin' today."
[Unity, The Red Desert]
Upon entering town, we headed straight to the local bar, thinking it would be the ideal place to gather information. Once inside, we found ourselves somewhat unnoticed as we took seats at the bar. Remington, the bartender with a crystal ball for a head and dressed in a dapper suit, greeted us warmly.
"Good afternoon. My name is Remington, and I am your bartender. What can I do for you?" he asked.
"We're not drinking. We just wanted to know if you could help us get our hands on some Luminara Essence. Ring any bells?" I inquired.
"Yeah, I actually got some. Use it for one of our specials," Remington replied.
"How much will it cost?" I pressed.
"I want to have a drink with the fair maiden you brought with you," Remington chuckled.
I looked at Iris, shrugged, and laughed. She sneered.
"What? Iris? Sorry, buddy, I don't think she's exactly 'in the market.' Not the dating type," I explained, laughing awkwardly.
Iris smirked. "Mm… nah, I'm just not into crystal balls."
"I mean her," Remington pointed at Isyra, and her reptile eyes widened.
"Isyra?" Zach exclaimed, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes," Remington replied, nodding as he crossed his arms. He spoke casually. "You're quite beautiful, Isyra, but I really want to get to know what's behind the scales. Care to join me back here tomorrow for a drink?"
Isyra made a strange face that I'd never seen her make before, before she whispered, "Sure."
"Yes!" Remington flipped a bottle of liquor and joyfully caught it.
Isyra looked as if she might have been blushing as she looked at the floor. "The Essence, sir…"
Remington nodded. "Oh yes, right! I'll be right back."
He went into an area behind the bar and came back with a small pouch.
"Here. About 3000 milligrams."
"Thank you, Remington," I said, nodding.
He shrugged, looking at Isyra. "I should be thanking her."
I chuckled, and Iris rolled her eyes. Zachary didn't look too happy. We left the bar and left Unity, returning back to Shadowpaw's cabin.
As we made our way out, a Luminal Elf, evidently a salesman, greeted us with a friendly smile, offering a card for the Unity Hot Spring.
"Free baths for all new customers at the Unity Hot Spring! Enjoy steamy, refreshing relaxation surrounded by beautiful nature!" he exclaimed, extending the card.
Out of politeness, I accepted the card and examined it. The text echoed the offer: "Unity Hot Spring: Free baths for all new customers! Come relax!"
"Hot spring?" Zachary grinned. "Sounds like just the thing I need with all this 'save the world' stuff going on. Really makes you tense, y'know?"
Iris scoffed, rolling her eyes. "We're not going to a hot spring. Take a hot bath back at Shadowpaw's."
"Come onnn, Irisss," Isyra pleaded, her snake eyes conveying stress. She slithered persuasively. "Please, don't we deserve it? I've been so stressed."
Iris looked at me. I shrugged. "Sure, why not? Let's go to the hot spring. Nothing beats free, right?"
"Yay!" Isyra beamed with excitement.
"Awesome, that's what I'm talkin' about," Zachary grinned triumphantly.
"Just be on your guard when we're out and about like this," Iris warned, reminding us of the ongoing search for our heads. "I wouldn't put it past Bloodguard to send people here looking for us."