The elves shared many similarities with humans. They had the power of the Tyrr Enforcement Agency to do field work and apprehend criminals, then they would be tried in a court, albeit the criminals themselves didn’t need to be present. Once you got caught, those judicial powers were almost always sure to put you away. According to the court officials I liaised with, there was hardly ever times where the verdict would turn out to be innocent, because the court would then bring down a heavy punishment upon the arresting officers for wasting the time of their own TEA workers, the court, and most importantly, the detained ‘criminal’. The TEA would never make arrests if they weren’t sure that said person did said thing.

Steyza and a few of her relatives sat in court. The rest of the Genuk family were also present, as well as Sid’s family and a few of his co-workers. The judge, apparently some bigwig fella, asked me several questions, but of course the biggest one was “How?”

“Well, I’ve talked to some contacts that introduced me to the relevant people. Once I got those people to cooperate,” I was speaking about the court officials here, “it was a simple game of stalking and listening to our targets.”

The man wiped his brow of the burdening imaginary sweat, “Mr Archibald, let me just summarise the things you did and you tell me if at any point the information is inaccurate, or even worded badly.” He took a deep breath, “A man chose you–maybe randomly–to run an ‘errand’. You were curious as to what it was, so you went along with it.”

“Well, yes. I’m a walking lexicon of unknown magic to elves, so I don’t believe his choice was random. But please continue.”

“Right. A planned contract, then. So, when this man told you that the errand was to kidnap Christina Genuk, you said yes, but reported the matter to a TEA officer who you knew was involved in malpractice.”

“Well,” I stopped him there, “I didn’t know he was involved in anything legal. I didn’t even know he was a TEA officer. Someone I knew, knew he was a TEA officer. Sid encouraged me to go along with the kidnapping, so that he would be able to see the man behind it and identify him and gather evidence. I went along with it under the pretence that we weren’t doing anything illegal.”

“I see,” the judge made some waves of his finger on a piece of paper, so did a few other people who were seated about the courtroom. “So, after you and TEA Po,” that was Sid’s last name, “went to Mr Rilas to confirm the contract, he should’ve had enough evidence to make the arrest, but he didn’t?

“He did not.”

“Afterwards, to keep up your cover as a kidnapper in Mr Rilas’ employ, you trespassed into the home of the Genuk family, and that’s when you noticed TEA Po talking with these three Genuks in particular?” He gestured towards the arrested three and I confirmed his question.

“Yes. It was then I learned that he was being paid by the Genuk family to do things for them. It was there I learned that the Genuks in question planned to ‘make an example’ of anyone who would try anything on their family. They decided to let the kidnapping happen, but not to their own daughter. They set it up so that another girl would be taken in her place. And seeing that Sid didn’t know I knew of their plan, I had to play along with his suggestion, which was to continue with the kidnapping. It was there though, that I got court officials involved to see for themselves and get hard evidence on the Genuks and Sid’s dealings. However, for them to get that evidence, I would have to continue pretending to Mr Rilas that I was a kidnapper, and I would have to continue pretending I was ignorant of the Genuks and their bribery.”

“Right, right. That matches what I have here in my report so far. So, afterward, TEA Po asks that you continue with his plan for a fake kidnapping, but he was under the idea that you didn’t know a real person would be taken, and you had to conform to that idea, yes?”

“Yes.”

“The night of the kidnapping came, so you forewent using your stronger stealth magic and made actual evidence of the breaking and entering. You then went into the girl’s room, and that’s when TEA Po made a change of plans. He wanted you to actually take the girl, correct?”

“Correct.” I said, listening intently.

“He told you the reason for this was because of his higherups wouldn’t find that it was sufficient if he arrested a kidnapper who hadn’t kidnapped anyone. But you knew this to be false, because he and the Genuks were the ones that set up the kidnapping to make their point. You pretended you didn’t know and faked being persuaded. You actually committed kidnapping at that point. Is this correct?”

“Yes.”

“Now, I must ask for record’s sake. Mr Archibald, did you in anyway, hurt the girl?”

“Hurt? No. I only cast a sleeping spell on her after I took her. I also ensured a clone of mine stayed with her in particular. If it so much as looked like she would be hurt, he would protect her even at the cost of blowing my cover. She was safe,” I ensured.

“Alright. Moving along then. So, ever since you found out about the Genuk’s payroll, you had the court officials join you, and now we’re at,” his eyes scanned the paper, “ah, yes. The Genuks receiving a letter from Mr Rilas. They met with him at his desired location, and at that point, he framed you to be the one who kidnapped her – which you were – and then made you out to be the one who currently had her – which you weren’t.”

I nodded along every now and then.

“He then pretended to be a witness to the crime of kidnapping, and offered to sell the information of the girl’s whereabouts, for an undisclosed number of synthesized mana crystals.” He looked at me for another confirmation, which I replied in kind. “Alright, now this part is important. Mr Rilas claimed that the synthesized mana crystals were for use by the Morrhiggan family’s medical facilities, to give treatment for an unnamed ailment afflicting Mr Rilas. True?”

“I cannot say if that bit was true. But Mr Rilas did say that, yes.”

“Okay. It was at that point that Mr Rilas led the Genuks to the location of the kidnap victim. The Genuks huddled together along with the hidden TEA Po and made a last-minute plan to murder the victim in fear that she would reveal information that ties him and the Genuks to her kidnapping.” I nodded. “And once that plan of murder was made, the arrest of TEA Po, Mr Rilas, and the three Genuks had occurred.”

“And now we’re here,” I finished.

“Thank you, Mr Archibald. You may take your seat.”

That concluded the court affairs. It was a good thing the judge did that ‘summary’ as he called it. He hardly summarised anything, but it did mean I didn’t have to explain everything to Steyza. We left the court afterwards. She walked away, her head down. I wanted to say something, anything, but couldn’t think of the words. Instead, I grabbed her hand to stop her, but she pulled it away from me. “I know I should be thankful for what you did, but I can’t help be mad at you. I, need some time alone.”

“And there goes the one person you could’ve maybe called a friend in this world.”

Gee, thanks for the extra salt in my wounds. Ugh, what now?

“Well, give her the time. You’ve got business with someone else anyway.”

Oh, yeah, I do. But tomorrow.

The rest of the day, I just spent with Donna. All that drama had me a little knackered. “The elves got some big boobs, but these bad boys,” I held Donna’s like they were trophies, “are the real–”

“Who cares?” she interrupted me.

“I do.”

“Well I don’t. You felt these already. I felt them already. But you know what we haven’t felt? Elf boobs!” she flipped me over so she was now mounted, “Do you know who’s a hundred-year old virgin with some ungodly boobs?”

“Man, you’re a worse pervert than most of the guys I know.”

“And you love that. Anyway, we gotta team up on Steyza. She’s getting it, even if I have to do it without you.”

I shrugged. “I’m married, remember?”

“So?”

“Hydra’s ass, woman. You’re like the devil with a pitchfork.”

“I know. Now, let me ravage your body,” she smirked and moved in for the kill.

~

The next morning, I woke up with the thought of someone on my mind.

Dawn.

Donna slept soundly next to me. The soft and gentle light of the morning revealed the particles in the air and all I could do was stare at it with thoughts of regret piling onto my mind. Had I still not gotten over her death? Was death something to get over in the first place? What the hell am I doing here? I asked myself. I was in another world, literally. All my friends and family were left home whilst I sought adventure. Am I just trying to distract myself? Was there something I should’ve been doing? Was going to these worlds nothing but a way to fill some cold abyss in me I’d yet to see?

I closed my eyes and speculated on the reason why. Why did Dawn refuse Light Resurrection? Was it that grotesque an image? Was it rendering the laws of life moot? Did she not want her life tied to mine? Did she, not love me? That creeping doubt wiggled about like a worm, small enough not to notice on the shining pedestal I chiselled her statue on. My hands clasped tighter onto each other. What the hell am I doing here? I asked myself that question yet again. Was I fated to go beyond what normal people did? Was my thirst for adventure so insatiable that not even marriage could imprison me from my dreams? What were my dreams? What, do I want? Every time an image of Dawn flickered in my mind my insides felt like they were rupturing.

I missed her, really bad. I wanted her to come back.

Ruminating on myself, I felt Donna shift and her arm wrapped around my waist. “Morning,” she said, sitting up alongside me and planting a kiss on my cheek, and just when she was going to say something else, she stopped. She already sensed the frigid and doubtful atmosphere kicking about my conscience. She hugged me. It was warm, and so reassuring.

My airways opened again; I could breathe once again. “Thank you.”

At least, I could postpone my self-punishment and continue onward. We got dressed and left. I was at a house on the outskirts of the Rizt institute, knocking on the front door.

“How might I help you, lad?” the servant answered.

“Amira.”

“I’m afraid lady Amira is not seeing guests at this time,” he looked me dead in my eyes, fearless. The flames of Fire God surrounded me.

“E-Eric! Calm down! You’re scaring me…” she knocked me back into my mind for a minute.

“Right this way, sir,” the servant gave in, fearful for his life, but I hesitated to answer.

“No… Forgive me,” the flames went out. “Just, tell her to contact me,” I backed away and took to the skies. The sway of the winds blew the impatience off my chest. I landed in a beautiful expanse of land, the green fields and silence almost a therapeutic duet. Donna’s dress ruffled at the wind’s mercy and I laid back, basking in the cool of a nearby cliff.

“Self-doubt is a huge part of life. It’s pivotal to realising who you are and becoming a better person.” The wind carried Donna’s words back to me so she didn’t have to speak too loudly. “But too much of it will cripple you. More of it will eventually kill you. If that’s what you had in mind, I might as well kill you myself!” she fumed a bit.

“That’s a horrible way to cheer people up, woman.”

“Deal with it. So, anyway,” we looked to the horizons, a few forest trees blocking part of it, “want me to deal with it?”

These bellicose elves were something else, “Nah, I’ll handle–”

Donna suddenly sent a Phoenix Wave behind me, the fiery bird enshrouding its target in flames. I could hear the creature’s shrill of acrimony, but transient. Upon looking back, I saw, a wyrm? It was a wyrm, but unlike any I’d seen in the spirit world. Was it even a spirit? It was a translucent blue, resembling the surface of the ocean but instead of a wavy, rippling finish, it was smooth. An elf came out of hiding from one of the ditches in the landscape. He was either extremely confident, or unfortunately ignorant; although both could be the case.

A blade sprung forth from his forearm, made of the same energy the wyrm had. He rushed into us, zigzagging at random intervals. We knew not how sharp that blade was, and I figured Donna wouldn’t want to even find out. “Just don’t kill him,” I warned her.

“Your wish is my command, master,” she emphasised.

“That’s right, I mastered you. Otherwise I’d have gone mad from a voice in my head. And of cou–”

My sentence was cut off by the short yell of our attacker. An Earth Wall separated, but with a few slashes, he cut through it, only to be thwarted with another wall. He took some sort of stance and slid through the wall! I kid you not! His body became misty and somewhat translucent, then glided forward smoothly, almost like Levitate but without the levitation. Donna sent him back from whence he came with Divergence, putting him back at square one. And something I never thought I’d hear from her, was heard.

“Eric, my mana, is low!”

At first, I thought she was joking, but our link in Light Resurrection told otherwise. She only had about a fifth remaining. What in Hydra’s ass…

I took to the forefront and gave her a mana potion. Once the assailant’s eyes landed on me, I began to feel a tug at my mana pool. Now, just like Donna, my mana was being drained, but its power and regeneration fared bounds and leaps better than Donna’s. It was near useless, but given enough time, I’d be out of mana as well. What an interesting thing.

He began rushing forth again and I simply cast Levitate, and slowly glided backwards. The moment he passed my previous spot, Retrace teleported me right behind him. I grabbed the nape of his neck and used Discharge. A lightning bolt shot from my hands and dismissed his conjured pet wyrm. Once he was unconscious, I used a sleeping spell on him. He wouldn’t be able to fight it if he was basically already sleeping.

“Guess I shouldn’t have underestimated him,” Donna commented.

“You didn’t underestimate. If I had gone first, I’d have done the same thing you did,” I told her, knowing fully well I’d like to gauge the elves actual combat abilities. It seemed this one tried not to cast too many spells. Hell, the only magic we saw him use was that sliding one when he went through Donna’s Earth Wall. Who knew how long he summoned that wyrm? His mana was probably already fully regenerated when he confronted us. His choice of combat style was a testament that elves’ mana pools were deplorable. That really concreted how important that SMC regulation bill was.

We searched the guy down to his underwear, and found some interesting things. Not in his underwear, in his pockets. There was a note, very clearly requesting the assassination of the ‘human’ and stating that whatever bounty our little assassin might’ve accrued in his attempts would be waived.

The sum of money promised was not little either. If Steyza’s father, Fenral Rilas was willing to pay five hundred coin for kidnapping, then three thousand coins for murder was, overkill. Get it? Overkill? Because mur… You get it.

Whomsoever sought my head, would have to be a wealthy and motivated person. Now, who have I wronged since coming here?

“Steyza, if she didn’t like what you did to her father. Her father, Fenral. That detective dude who loaned you his underwear.”

“Could you leave that part out? I know you know his name.”

“The Underwear Loaner? Whatever.”

“Can you be serious? I’m trying to figure out who wants to kill me, woman.”

She looked at me like I was an idiot. “How many of the ‘big families’ were there again? Five, right?” she asked rhetorically. “Dude, probably everyone in the five families want you dead.”

“But, why? Rizt included?”

“Rizt included. Just because she put you on to those court officials doesn’t mean the rest of the Rizt family supports that decision. Think about it, all of those families would obviously strike a deal with the Genuks so that their supply of SMCs wouldn’t be diminished. No one likes that you got the two heads of the Genuks and their eldest son, basically their damn heir, arrested.”

“Ohhhh,” the realisation hit me.

After I frisked him, I found a few small uncut gems. SMCs… But that wouldn’t be of much help. Anyone could’ve given him those, or they could even be his own.

We decided to head back to the school. Some hours later, I met up with Amira. The bench was hard, but the breeze under the cool shade of a tree was certainly refreshing. What wasn’t refreshing was trying to figure out why the hell she’d help me get dirt on people in the Genuk family.

“Eric! It’s good to see you again!” she glommed onto me as she sat down. Her amicability reminded me of the game we played with each other. She was the elf who suddenly developed a liking for me, and I was a fella that could make her mana potions; more importantly, I went along with her persona of innocence. But I wasn’t there to act. I had to admit to myself that keeping up a visage not belonging to me was truly knackering.

“Amira, pleasure to meet you again.”

“Yes. I was told by a quivering servant that you really wanted to meet me,” she leaned into me even more, “why would that be?”