This day had so far gone wrong. Yet no matter how much he tried to blame that newcomer named Sirina he couldn't do it. He knew he was in the wrong, he went in head first because he was in a bad mood and now those idiots ...well. It wasn't as if he was going to stop looking for them. He had begun his walk as soon as he dropped the tourist off at the shabby building he was calling home for the time being. As much as he hated it with its peeling wall paper in the parlor and its narrow as hell halls with their short ceilings it was still so much better than home. You could have all the luxuries in the world and it can still be a living nightmare.

It's just that his nightmare was a home where the singing never ended, the topic of politics involved wardrobe malfunctions, and a widow from the house of crane was trying to make him her next sex slave. He was having none of that. A shudder came over him at the mere thought of that woman's nails on a chalk slab voice. All and all he had to remind himself that his life wasn't half bad right now. He would take this dark crumbling city over the country named after its own vain race any day.

No doubt someone had been sent already by this time, during the course of his tour with the recruit.Still, though, it wasn't going to hurt looking to see if he could find out any more information. He looked over to see the map stall was very much empty and judging by the papers blowing in the wind and getting taken or stomped on the man had not had time to close shop.

Sure enough, when he reached the alley there were no thugs, but rather two guards wearing their silvery chain mail armor and its blue tabard with its yellow sun embroidery.Their bright torches lit up the alleyway, the old clothing lines and tumble of weeds somehow looking even more desolate in the warm glow. He recognized one of them right away as Jessica a human woman with a crooked grin and once blonde hair that she regularly dyed in different colors. This time It looked as if she had chosen a bright apple red which was startling against the blue.

"Well hello there Eldent nice seeing you are you here to look at the mess you left for us?"

"Mess? Wha..." His voice trailed off and he shut his mouth when he saw the severed hand. She laughed.

"Don't worry we locked them up, none of them are dead and they were shoddy fighters." The other guard chipped in. He had a face full of auburn freckles and he had his helmet on like the regulations required their guards.

Guess I'm not the only one stuck with a recruit today.

"What brings you out here if they're all caught? Aren't you supposed to be interrogating them Isn't that part of the job? "

"We were sent to go fetch this hand." The new guard stated awkwardly as he grabbed the hand from the ground in a delicate manner as if not to stain his gauntlet. There was a joke in there somewhere but Zac wasn't the type to joke in front of people so he tried not to break his expressionless face.

Jessica let out a long sigh.

"We're more here to let him get interrogated alone by one of the knights. Apparently, someone in his family was a victim from that particular group. Lucky for us they got sloppy and this guy was screaming all sorts of information before we were even sent away. Honestly, I'm happy I don't have to see Sir.White pry off the guy's fingernails. I mean he had it coming but that's not something I wanna see. "

Zac heard the echo of the mans screams in his imagination. He didn't know which one it was but it hardly mattered if the Knight of white fire was involved. Lord Avir White was known for his ruthlessness in interrogation  He had no idea this underground group had messed with Sir White's family. The map makers group was as good as caught and executed.

"So all in all your mission wasn't a complete failure Eldent so chipper up ok?"

"Really Jessica?"

"Why else would you be in a dark alley way unless you're beating yourself up about something?" Jessica Century probably hid some sort of mind reading ability because she always seemed to be able to sense the thoughts of people.

"We have the hand now Mrs.Century can we please go? " The freckled guard looked like he was going to be sick.

She's going to have her hands full with this guy. Eldent thought to himself and inwardly cursed at himself for making a bad pun.

"I'm almost off duty, why don't you meet me and the husband at the Drunk Dragoon?" Jessica questioned slapping his arm despite already knowing Eldent hated being touched.

Normally he would say no and refrain from both drinking and socializing but he looked at the sick looking new hire and the severed hand. A combination of the screams of a tortured criminal combined with the laughter of a turquoise eyed fauna entered his mind.Then his imagination summoned the swirls of dark beings with sharp teeth and immaterial bodies disappearing after leaving a trail of bodies. He had several disturbing nightmares for the last several days.

"Alright." It had just been a weird week. He had all intentions on nursing a hangover in the morning.

Jessica's face lit up at the unexpected answer.

"Wonderful! David will be so happy to see you!." She exclaimed.

David Century was a mage that sometimes taught magic for side gold. He was often seen at the Guildhall and the monster room, taking on odd jobs that needed the help of magic. The first time Zac had met him he was covered in blood from head to toe with a wild grin on his face after having killed some terrifying giant troll. He was being handed a bag of gold and the whole time he was bragging on how it only took a minor spell in the right place. It was probably one of the most unforgettable first impressions you can have on a person.

He did his best to look thrilled feeling that his face had made some unacceptable expression instead.

Jessica threw a cloth pouch at the newly hired guard for the hand he was holding and began walking off taking the light of her torch with her. The poor young man struggled to get the hand in the pouch touching it as little as possible while following Jessica. The light soon vanished and both were out of sight.