Vice was the first to freak out. "What the hell? Horns? Impossible."
Jasmine snorted. "You couldn't resist saying something generic, could you? Yes, I have horns."
Rune explained, "My sister and I are blood-related. My mother was a human, and my father was a vampire. Despite this, we have ties to demons. Demon blood is in our genes. I turned out normal, but those genes sometimes skip generations, as you can see."
Jasmine sighed. "I made sure to hide my horns from that oaf Mr. Holt. If that idiot knew what I was, I don't doubt he would make a fuss. After all, I am an extremely rare breed. So what now? Will you cast me out?"
I shook my head. "No way. I am not here to judge you. Actually, I have an offer for both of you."
They both said in unison, "An offer?"
I smiled. "Right, an official offer from the merchant group Key to Wonderland. I would like to extend an offer for you to join my party and work with me."
Jasmine raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "A merchant group? Key to Wonderland? Sounds like a scam."
Rune, however, looked intrigued. "Key, what exactly are you proposing?"
I took a deep breath, trying to convey the seriousness of my intentions. "I'm not going to lie to you. Until recently, I was a scam artist. This last week has taught me there is more to life than scamming. I intend to use my skills to help good people instead of dragging them down. I want to build something more than just a business—I want to create a network of people who genuinely care for each other and make a positive difference. With your unique abilities and strengths, I believe we can achieve great things together. Starting with helping the slaves in this city."
Jasmine crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. "And what's in it for us?"
I smiled. "A chance to be part of something meaningful. To find a place where you belong and where your strengths are valued. Plus, you'll have the protection and support of our group. We're stronger together. When we make money, you will be paid too."
Rune nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I think it's worth a shot, sis. Key and his group have already helped us so much. Maybe this is the fresh start we've been looking for."
Jasmine looked at Rune, her resolve softening slightly. She then turned her piercing gaze back to me. "Fine. But I have conditions. I need assurance that my brother and I will be safe and that we'll have the freedom to leave if things go south."
I nodded, meeting her gaze with unwavering determination. "Agreed. Your safety is our priority, and you'll always have the freedom to choose your path. We operate on trust and mutual respect."
Jasmine sighed, her defenses finally lowering a bit. "Alright then. We'll join your merry band of cons. But don't think for a second that I'm letting my guard down."
Rune smiled, relief washing over his face. "Thank you, sis. And thank you, Key. This means a lot."
Alice clapped her hands together, breaking the tension. "Welcome!"
Vice gave a curt nod, her expression still wary but more accepting. "Yeah, welcome aboard. Just don't try any funny business."
Alice patted Jasmine on the shoulder. "Family?"
Jasmine frowned. "Let's start with friends. Who is this, anyway?"
I chuckled. "This is Alice. She, um, well, she's blind, but she's a big help. She helped free you by gambling."
Jasmine looked at Alice skeptically. "This... girl can gamble?"
I assured her, "She is really smart for her age. Even beat Vice over there."
Vice shot back, "Don't tell her that!"
Jasmine looked Alice up and down. "Hm... I guess I can make her my henchman."
Alice smiled. "Henchman!"
Rune frowned. "Sis, please don't do anything weird to Alice."
With that, I turned back to the bed where Aurora was lying. She still hadn't regained consciousness. Selene was supposed to come back soon. I decided to change her bandages and put a wet cloth over her.
Jasmine, looming over me now, asked, "How bad is it?"
I answered, "Bad. She's one of the slaves in the city. She was beaten within an inch of her life."
Jasmine said, "I looked through your memories. I saw what happened. It wasn't your fault."
I looked downward. "I am going to expose the slavery in this town. I won't let another girl get beaten like this again." I guessed Jasmine, just like her brother despite the air she gave off, was still good at heart.
Jasmine asked, "How do you expect to do that? It's a big city. Don't you have to keep moving?"
I nodded, understanding the concern in Jasmine's voice. "It's true, we can't stay in one place for too long. But I have a plan. We can gather evidence of the mistreatment and corruption, then spread it far and wide. Make it impossible for those in power to hide what they're doing. We'll expose them to the world and rally others to our cause."
Jasmine looked skeptical but intrigued. "And how do you plan on doing that? The people in power here aren't exactly easy to take down."
I pointed out, "We will need to move on soon, but we will return within a week or so. We need to find a lawyer."
Vice cocked her ear. "A lawyer? You know, shit like lawyers are far and few between around these parts."
Rune added, "Most laws and rules are dictated by those in power. Usually, that power extends to the city or town where the ruler reigns. Sure, there are a few places with a legal system, but this city doesn't have that."
I chuckled. "Let me ask you this. When something doesn't exist yet, what do you do?"
Alice answered happily, "Create it."
I patted her head. "Exactly. If no legal system exists, we make one."
Jasmine tilted her head. "Easier said than done. How do you expect to do that?"
"Well, it's not going to be easy, that's for sure," I admitted, leaning back thoughtfully. "But we can start by gathering allies. People who are just as fed up with the corruption and cruelty as we are. We can document everything we see, every injustice, and build a case that even those in power can't ignore. First things first, we need a good lawyer."
Rune asked, "Where do you expect to find one?"
I pulled out the map, showing the place I had in mind that I was originally going to skip over. Ironpike Ridge was a mining village to the east of Goldrose. It was a bit out of the way, but we would need to head there. I explained, "Ironpike Ridge is the place we will need to go next."
Vice chimed in, "Ironpike Ridge? Why? Isn't that just a mining village? I mean, are we going to find a lawyer there?"
I nodded, unfolding the map and pointing to Ironpike Ridge. "It's more than just a mining village. There are rumors of lawyers taking refuge there because of its structured legal system. If we're going to find someone who can help us, that might be the place. Ironpike Ridge is not led by one man like in this city, but by a council of people with a complex legal system."
Rune scratched his chin. "Why such a complex system for a mining village?"
I looked at Rune and shrugged slightly. "It's not as strange as it sounds. Ironpike Ridge might be a mining village, but it's also a place where disputes can get complicated quickly. With so much wealth coming out of the mines, there's always a risk of conflicts over claims, contracts, and workers' rights. They needed a strong legal framework to keep everything in order and prevent chaos."
Vice nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and with all the money involved, you can bet there are people who try to take advantage. Having a structured legal system helps keep things fair—or at least as fair as they can be. It's one of the biggest imports for raw materials in all of Caslund from what I have heard."
Jasmine added, "And I bet the miners and merchants pushed for it. They'd want to protect their investments and ensure that any disputes could be settled without resorting to violence."
I smiled at Jasmine's insight—she was a smart girl, just like Rune. "Exactly. Plus, having a legal system makes the village more attractive to investors and skilled workers. It creates a sense of stability and security, which is crucial for a place that's constantly dealing with valuable resources."
Rune nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. A well-run legal system can be a powerful tool for keeping a community strong and prosperous."
I announced, "That settles it then. We will rest here for the rest of the day. Tomorrow, we will go to Ironpike Ridge to try to persuade a lawyer to help us out."
With our plans in place, our new group discussed plans for tomorrow. Just as I was talking to Vice about expenses, I heard a knock on the door. I opened it to see Selene in her casual clothes.
"I wanted to check in with her. How is she?" she asked, looking at Aurora on the bed. Her body was still notably torn up.
"Better, but unconscious," I replied.
Selene walked inside and made her way to Aurora. She checked up on her, putting her hand on Aurora's chest and taking off her bandages. Then she stopped and looked at the group. "You all are not staying in town, are you?" she asked.
I shook my head. "I got what I needed. I don't want to be around when the flames burn down."
Selene hesitated for a second. She looked down at Aurora and then stood up. "I want to come with you."
Jasmine asked, "Who is this?"
I answered, "A maid who works here."
Jasmine looked her up and down and smirked. "Good work, Master. Another one?"
Selene shot Jasmine a look of disdain. "Please don't refer to me that way. I already have a job and profession. I am a doctor."
Vice said, "Maid, doctor. Whatever. I guess you could come. It looks like you don't have any fighting experience, though."
Selene frowned. "I can hold my own."
I said, "If she wants to come, she is welcome. Just don't cause any problems."
She crossed her arms and smiled. "I'm glad you think so. I wasn't asking."