AK – The Alchemy Kingdom

“Hey, Maryn. I have some word from the spark market…”

“No names, from now on… And I’m shade now. What did hear?”

“Got it, shade. Word is the Duchess is sending some real Fire to the Oasis, some big badass Mage… They say she’s pi**ed with the losses and wants to burn the Beastkin for good. This is worth some coins, right? Oh, and you need to find someone else to cover the market, I’m changing my spot to the Burning Bucks… Pete’s gang wants to get some of my “bread”. I told him a dumb maid in the market gives me two coins to carry her food. Now he wants to try too… You should give small Toothy a chance, he’s good and quiet, he won’t say a pip about it…”

Maryn assessed Smutt for a second and smiled, but then she remembered her new identity and went back to having a blank expression.

“Smutt, do want to earn some more coins?”

The boy’s eyes brightened as he almost said yes without asking how.

“You have to do my job, collect the information, and give the coin.. Do you want it?”

“Re… Really? How much more?”

“Three times more… What do you think? Can you do it?”

Smutt didn’t need to consider it at all. Since he started collecting information for Maryn, he hadn’t slept on an empty stomach. Still, he feared that one day the job would disappear and he would starve again. So, earning more was a chance to save coins for the future. He would bury his coins somewhere and guarantee his survival for a long time. Maybe he could even have a proper life in the future.

When she started receiving the coins, Maryn had similar thoughts. She wouldn’t dare to scheme the money out of Miss shadow, but any extra she made would be kept in a secret space inside the shelter’s walls. The few silver coins she saved would keep her fed for a couple of months, which was comparable to a lifetime for the homeless.

So, he accepted. The specifics of the job were actually easy. He would listen to the informants, pay them the due coin, and report everything carefully to Maryn when she comes to him. Occasionally, he could also invite trusted children to become informants too. Of course, he would bear the consequences if any of those he trusted snitched. Anyway, he could also report any suspicions to avoid being blamed.

The next day, Maryn introduced all the informants to the new collector. The rule was not to talk about the arrangement with any others, so the children didn’t know who was in the net besides her, and now Smutt.

However, the shade kept one of her informants a secret from the new collector. Following the shadow’s command, she gave a new task to her best informant, spying on Smutt. The child would observe the collector from afar, and report everything to Maryn in exchange for double coins. For both the collector and his watcher, she carefully explained the importance of keeping their money hidden and even suggested a few places and safety measures.

***

“Wow… That’s…?”

The hooded shadow looked at the girl sitting in front of her, and felt an urge to pet her head. Fortunately, Samia was trained enough to not follow such strange impulses. Even without seeing her face, she could feel shade’s excitement, it was her first time seeing the world outside.

Usually, the shadow would move on foot. Though it was tiring, she could stay concealed and wouldn’t have to care for the mount. But how could Maryn endure running for 200 kilometers? The girl was already fighting against the magic poisoning. With the help of detoxifying potions, of course, but fighting nonetheless.

Before leaving Twin Suns, Samia disguised herself as a fire Mage and bought a horse, while Maryn was posing as her maid. The sight of Mage riding in the same horse as the help would be scorned by many, but it wasn’t that uncommon. Practically all Mages would hire a maid or a page to serve them. However, quite a few wouldn’t have the means to afford a carriage or a second horse for the help. So, they dragged the servants beside them on foot, then rode with them when out of sight. They could force the help to follow by foot through the entire trip, but either they would be delayed or kill them in exhaustion.

“Yes, that’s Fire Gate, the city the rules the second section of the fire region.”

The incredible sight made it impossible for the girl to repress her amusement. Though the magic fire ring over the castle in Twin Suns was no less fantastic, she was used to the sun that never slept. The fire gate, on the other hand, was an entirely new wonder.

The first time she saw it, Samia was shocked too. The giant circular gate made of fire and adorned by exquisite dancing flames, only failed to monopolize one’s attention, because the walls of living flames, which circled the city, were equally mesmerizing.

The magical construction was maintained by a century-lasting spell and a HQ fire crystal, as the symbol of the second most powerful family of the fire region. The imposing wall aside from perfectly matching the pride and strength of fire Mages, also worked as the ultimate protection of the city.

Differently from Twin Suns, which was the most diplomatic city in the region, Fire Gate was a land ruled by strength. Samia wouldn’t dare to be careless in such a place, so she wore a fire energy stimulating tool, powered by the fire crystal ring on her hand. Even in close inspection, they wouldn’t tell her apart from other fire Mages. However, things would definitely turn for the worse if they forced her into a battle, so low-key still ruled.

Maryn dismounted and walked the last kilometer on foot. Unprotected by the shadow’s closeness, she was now free to feel the true intimidation of the fire gate. Fortunately, shaking would also go well with her maid disguise. And so, the pair passed the burning gate without incident. The Guards at the gate wouldn’t dare to stop or question a Mage.

Soon, they made way through the city and stopped at the border of the commercial and the lower districts. The streets of Fire Gate were strangely similar to Twin Suns, the same burned stone layout, only intenser scorched marks and occasionally destroyed buildings set the former apart. On the way, they spotted many potential informants, but their current role kept them from approaching.

Their target would later be found at the slums, but the worse a Mage was allowed to do in terms of lodging was the borders of the commercial district. Anything else would be considered beneath them and a humiliation to the class. Fortunately, the shadow already had a referral from Keller, so she went straight for a regular-looking Inn.

The horse was silently left in the care of a servant, while she walked inside with Maryn behind. The entrance followed the standard Inn layout, a big counter, some seats, a bigger doorway leading to the tavern, a smaller one to the employee quarter, and a staircase to the second floor with the guest rooms. Before Samia even stepped inside, a young helper and an older man, who she guessed to be the Innkeeper, were already bowing. They were probably used to serving Mages, and wouldn’t risk drawing their ire.

“Welcome to the Fire Keep Inn, my Lady Mage. How may we serve you?”

The situation left Samia uncomfortable but she had to keep appearances. Without sparing them as much a glance, the pretending Mage declared:

“We’ll be staying for a week. My meals should be delivered to my room. You may draw a bath for me, in an hour.”

As they previously agreed, Maryn move forward and placed 23 silver coins over the counter. The Innkeeper quickly understood the situation and motioned for the helper to guide them to the room.

“Please, this way, my Lady Mage.”

Mages are part of a superior class, but that didn’t guarantee they would have money and the means to live comfortable lives. Even so, most of them would deem it humiliating to haggle on prices, or even discuss it with the lower classes. It wasn’t the first time a Mage came to the Inn and silently agreed with prices for specific services. The Innkeeper knew that one silver was for the daily rent of the simplest double bedded room, and two for the meals of the Mage and the maid. For the week, it would sum up to 21 silvers, which left two extra silvers as a tip.

However, as usual, the poorest Mages still wanted to pretend to be generous. The “tip” of two silver coins wouldn’t be enough to pay for the horse care in the stable, and the warm bath water the Mage would surely be expecting. Unsurprisingly, this situation was very common, just enough to avoid a complaint with the City Lord, but still a slap on the face of the commoner Innkeeper. Samia didn’t like doing it, but it would be the standard for poor Mages to get revenge on the lower commoners who earned more than they.