So what does the flower do?

"It is special rose, and very dangerous, even pricking yourself with its thorns will give a curse of death,"

"Wait, why didn't you tell me that earlier?!" I could've pricked myself and died!

Lacer looks at me like I'm an idiot.

Oh, that's when it strikes me. We're a cult with an emphasis on death. So why wouldn't they have countermeasures against curses of the same kind?

Yeah, I just panicked. Ignore that spiel.

Better question, “Why did you think bringing a child to that institution was okay?”

“You were the one that brought her along,”

Ah shite. He was right. I’m going to ignore this gaffe of mine.

Anyway, carrying the pot, we bring it back to the hideout where Lacer takes it away to do some other stuff to it.

Did he order that flower for some kind of collection? Is Lacer secretly an exotic gardener?

Hmm, that would be quite fun to imagine. I've heard that people from the empire usually betray their looks, but considering that the flower in its base state is already capable of cursing people, I would like to think it was a component of a ritual or something. Something supernatural and cult like.

Speaking of cult like. That was probably the most cult like thing I’ve done here. Like seriously, is there nothing else you guys do here?

“I mean, we rob people sometimes,” Laffer shrugs.

So you’re a petty thief. Good to know.

And also, this seems like a time to ask some much needed questions, like…

“Why were you hiding in a trash can?”

“What? When was this?”

This dunce, “When I first met you,”

“Nono, that was an illusion,” He waves his hands, “I wasn’t actually in a trash can,”

Sure you were. Sure.

Alright, onto the next question!

“D’you know anything about demons?”

“Uhm, yeah?”

I doubt that, but I’ll still try my luck.

“You heard of demons that hide in the skin of… children?”

It leaves a bitter taste in my mouth as I speak these words. I feel the shame of even doubting Lazari in the first place, but from what I’ve seen so far, she’s just so different. Different from any children I know at least. And I can’t help but suspect, despite how much I want to trust.

And with the way I’ve lived so far, if you’re not the one doubting then you’re the one knelling the bells and digging the ditch.

That said, I always resolve my doubts. No matter what. And right now, my biggest doubt is Lazari.

The cult should be my biggest doubt you say? Well, they were my biggest doubt, which was why I had postponed investigating my little demon, but the heretic cult had already shown their sincerity. Teaching me their arts was something limited to only their comrades, and that was enough to prove that they at least accepted me as a member. Which meant I could trust them… for the time being.

It pangs my heart to cast doubt on Lazari, but I’m afraid I have to. If not for my peace of mind. I just want Laffer to say that demons like Lazari are fine, and all is good.

“Well, I’m not a demonologist, but I do believe that demons are capable doing of anything, being anything and overall just being creatures of chaos,” he waffles, “But, if your sceptical of the little girl, then I think you’re quite the scumbag,”

What?

“Children are the treasures of the world, and I think your a real shite stain for doubting her behind her back,”

I keep silent. He hit the nail on the head. And with the scumbag calling me a scumbag, my self esteem is in tatters.

I didn’t want to doubt her, I really didn’t! But it’s in my nature, I don’t trust easily.

“You were raised as a Kingdom boy, right?”

“No,”

“Wait, you weren’t?” He seems taken aback.

If I were raised a Kingdom boy, “I would’ve killed her when we first met,”

“Oh, good point,” He assents, “So I guess you really are a scumbag then,”

Tss. I take a deep breath. I really want to throw hands on this bastard, but he’s correct. He has the high ground. I'm perilous to his verbal assault.

“Have faith in your comrades,” He kicks his legs up on the table, “Or don’t, but I recommend you do,”

I don’t know how this guy can trust so easily, but maybe it’s a trait of the stupid? I guess when there’s less going around in your mind it means you can enjoy life better. No overthinking, no searching for laced poison or any of that crap, just taking things for face value. And enjoying the winds that come your way.

Damn, does that mean idiots are happier than I am?

Guess so, huh? I wanna die.

Sigh, I need a change of atmosphere. A light stroll to let my thoughts ferment a bit.

Which is how I wandered in a dark, dank alleyway.

Okay, I know I wanted a change in atmosphere but this is a bit abrupt. I don't even remember walking this far.

The alleyway itself was relatively wide, and one could feel the sketchy vibes emanating from it.

"Ay, you got the stuff man?" A hooded figure suddenly appeared behind me.

The hell!? When did that happen?

Judging by their voice, I deduce that it was a female, perhaps in her early to late twenties. Though I was unsure of how to answer her question.

What was the 'stuff'? Well, if I had to guess, she was probably referring to money.

"Money?" I'm a bit unsure but she's probably a beggar asking for money.

The lady fumbled through her pockets and muttered a barely audible, "Damned it,"

"Ah damn, just gimme a while, I'll get it next time," What is this lady on about?

"C'mon man,"

She titled her face to look towards me as she spoke in a begging tone, she was just slightly shorter than me, perhaps by two or three inches.

Her navy blue eyes stared deep into mine.

That was creepy. It was like she was trying to drive a bolt through my soul.

She definitely didn't seem normal, in fact, the atmosphere change in this alleyway seemed to be solely due to her presence. No wonder I roamed here without realising the odd mood.

Alright, time to execute the tried and tested technique, after all it would be best to leave before the situation escalated. I swiftly turn around and briskly strode in a direction, opposite to her.

"Hey, wait!" A certain essence in the surroundings started to be pulled towards her. Why does this feel familiar?

Leave me alone! I don't know who you are. Why does everyone always chase me?!

The essence materialised into a semi humanoid form, and it hit me. She must be a kingdom agent!

I've seen this type of magick before. A unique type of magick, a legacy of the Kingdom making it all the more obvious as to her identity.

A star summoner!

Using the special essence that permeates through the realm known as star essence, they would pool it together to form a silvery white silhouette, which most of the time looked like a ghost with a flowing waist with no legs, and arms that ended in nubs instead of fingers.

Star summoners are capable of harnessing the essence of starlight and condensing it into minions to fight for them. However many have the misconception that they are only capable of summoning at night when the stars are out, however, Star Summoners are capable of summoning at any time, and can actually be said to be stronger during the day. It is not common knowledge that the sun can also produce star and starlight essence, and quite a bit at that, something that the Astra Kingdom capitalizes on.

After all, I've worked with a couple star summoners in my time in service and I can say, hoo boy, are they extremely dangerous.

Alright, no time to dawdle.

I bolt out of the alleyway, taking sharp turns and mostly keeping to the dark.

Looking back, the semi humanoids that should've looked like white ghosts instead resembled pitch black demons.

There stood seven dark summons, each arm ending in a point, it had a wide 'mouth' that opened way wider than a human should, where dozens of needle like teeth protruded. It looked like something out of a nightmare.

Damn, star summons don't look like that! Who the hell did I stumble one?!

Good thing that by the time she finished materialising her summons I'd already hightailed outta there. Looking back, I cloak myself with the darkness around, masking my scent. A minor ranger technique I picked up.

That was a close encounter, I'm not even sure whether Laffer could win against those things single handedly.

Still running, I check my behind once more. Nothing. No pursers. But despite that fact, she’s dangerous.

Tsk, I should probably alert the others about this, maybe they can help me out with my bad luck streak.

I burn her visage into my danger list as I slink away.

…

The wondrous star summoner, Marielle Goldburn was in a tight predicament. Though this could also be considered a stroke of luck.

She had been part of the guard force for a while now, but hadn't really achieved anything notable… well, not notable as in the meritorious kind of notable.

When she first joined, there were high expectations of her, starting out as a talent in the summoner circle, through due to consistent mishaps after mishaps, everyone began to doubt her competence.

And rightfully so, she was supremely incompetent.

However, with a great increase in drug related activities in the past couple of months, this was her chance. She had always wondered what drugs were like and this was a prime two for one chance. She could try out drugs whilst also apprehending a drug dealer, boosting her merit.

Absolute genius! She stoked herself.

"Ay, you got the stuff man?"

Right now, she stood in a dark, dank alleyway. Opposite to her stood a man wrapped in black. He was certainly a drug dealer, he even asked her if she had money, as if he dealt with broke drug addicts on a daily basis.

Sacred stars! She was acting too suspicious though. To think she actually forgot to bring any money, if the dealer got suspicious he might flee.

At the moment, there was at least nine feet of distance between them. If he wanted to run, he would probably get away.

Ah shite! The guy was turning around and seemed to hurriedly walk away. She had to catch him! Focusing on the essence in the surroundings, she filtered out all the redundant and unnecessary essences and weaved the starlight essence together with her own.

Perhaps feeling the shift in the atmosphere, the dealer made a run for it, he was fast. Very fast. Without a doubt, he was experienced at evading the law.

Her concentration was on her spell, though by the time she finished it, the dealer got away. Without even a scent of presence left.

What luck to come across a veteran in the underground community.

*Swish*

Her summons surrounded her, prancing about as if they were searching for prey, however, with no orders, they simply idled.

"Sigh, to think I let them get away," she seemed disappointed that the dealer got away.

"My drugs…" correction; she seemed disappointed that the drugs got away.

Unsummoning her summons, she left, rather dejectedly. There were no more encounters that night.

Dragging her legs back to the guard barracks, she met the stern look of her team captain, the mega killjoy, Hayley Brigers.

"Where were you?"

"Hah, long story but essentially…"

Telling a long winded and rather exaggerated iteration of the night's events, she made excuse after excuse to try and convince her captain.

Though, as soon as she finished the description of the drug dealer, her captain suddenly perked up.

"Wait. Describe him again,"

"Ah, oh yes, the scoundrel was covered head to toe in black, yeah, and he was a drug dealer and, and, he also had a crossbow. Though, I think he stole that, so he's also a thief!"

"Enough about that!" Hayley barked, sick of her random tangents, "The man, what was he like? Do you know where he went?"

"Uhm" She stammered, "He was definitely a criminal, and uh, he kinda just disappeared,"

"Marrielle, I hope you know that if I get a complaint that a citizen was assaulted tomorrow, I'm not gonna be happy,"

What?! "I thought you were my captain!" I thought you were supposed to trust me?

"Oh, I do trust you, I trust you so much that I'm totally not tempted to call disciplinary enforcement on you, totally not,"

At this Marielle shut up. It looks like she was getting on his nerves again.

After a minute of composing himself, he spoke again.

"Sigh, however, despite how much I doubt you, that encounter seems especially suspicious, and since nothing happened I'll let you off this time,"

Yes!

"Oh, and next time, get a buddy to go with you next time,"

"O-okay,"

Yet again, everything goes semi alright for the awe inspiring star summoner, Marielle Goldburn!

"Why am I stuck babysitting all the junkies?" Hayley sighed watching her skip away.