It looked very suspiciously like a wizard's staff from some fantasy game. Looking back the two men, Val realized that both of them also gave off a 'fantasy' vibe. One just had to substitute the casual clothes they were wearing with a flowing robe, a pointed hat, and a set of plate armor, and the room would hold two of the most common professions of any fantasy novel or game. Maybe it was the sudden realization, but he felt his tension decrease a bit, along with the intensity of the 'warm' feeling around him. It didn't mean that he could move still, and the dark sphere in his 'mind's eye' was still sticking around with the mix of colors coating it. However, he stopped trying to fight the 'lock' on him.

The older figure stroked his beard as though in thought, before saying “It looks like you've settled down somewhat, lad. I trust you will not run.” Almost immediately, Val felt control of his body return and 'saw' the yellowish color surrounding the dark sphere in his 'mind's eye' dissipate. If he had been guessing earlier, Val was now sure the had just been 'magicked,' if that was the right word. Either way, he stayed still, not wanting be frozen again. Glancing between the two men, he turned to look at Bernice off to the side, who was watching Val with a look of concern. In some ways, that reassured Val at least a little bit.

“No point in dragging this out, Felwood. The boy thinks he's got important news for us. So, let's hear it.” The younger man, who seemed to be in his 30's, cut in to break the uncomfortable silence, though the expression of minor interest on his face did not change too much.

Val gulped, wondering what he should say, but thankfully, Bernice spoke up. “Val, just tell 'em what you know. If you got trouble, they can maybe help ya.”

Nodding shakily, Val stumbled over this words at first but eventually told them about most of what had happened to him. He explained how he had woken up after a beating in the slums the night before, about how he had learned about the culling among the 'street rats,' about his suspicion regarding the bald man, how he had found the bloody remains and guessed they belonged to the missing 'street rats,' and about his most recent run in with Ribus. Of course, he left out the parts about the gold Tals, his awakening, and about his visit to the bard. Being honest didn't mean he had to tell them everything, especially since Val knew some of it would cause him more problems.

When he finished, there was silence in the room again, but this time, most of the people present had serious expressions on their face. The older man, Felwood, was the first to speak. “You mentioned that this has happened before. The younger thieves going missing, I mean. How many times?”

Val shook his head slightly and replied. “Every year a couple times for at least the last three years, but it was always one or two. Not like this time, with five of them going missing.”

Felwood looked at the younger man on the couch, his words almost sounding annoyed. “This is worse than I thought, Talon. How did they miss this? Better yet, how did the Temple let this slide?”

The younger man was frowning now, his lazy appearance mostly gone. “It happens, Felwood. You know better than I do. A city, even this size, has too much going on, but you're right. It's worse than I thought if people have been turning a blind eye to things like this. Mind you, if it wasn't for the letter a couple of months ago from Bernice about the fishiness going on with the city council, I wouldn't be back here. But we've at least got a couple of leads now. I doubt they would've expected a 'street rat' to get word to us.” Val flinched a little as he watched the man roll his shoulders and lean forward towards Val. “One last question, boy. Where did you get the gold Tals from?”

Val felt like he was being watched by a lion, but he worked up enough strength to whisper, “I found it on a man, who got killed in the slums last night.” As answers went, it was a pretty suspicious one, and Val braced himself for a rebuke. However, Talon only glanced at the older man standing nearby. Felwood, who had been watching Val carefully, only nodded.

“Alright, consider what's left of the gold your reward. Bernice, put the brat somewhere out of sight, so no one deals with him.” For some reason, it seemed to Val that this Talon fellow held a higher status in the room, making Val wonder who the man was. However, the younger man's next words to everyone in the room made Val rethink wanting to know anymore. “I plan on making sure that everything's dealt with in the next few days, so expect things to get a little more lively in the city.” Fortunately, he was allowed to leave with Bernice, but Val's last sight of the room was the older man still staring at him with an inquisitive look.

Back in the room, the Wizard Argentus Felwood frowned, still thinking about the young child, who had just left. The boy's story had been all too common, especially when it came to those in the lowest ends of society. Of course, most did not survive their experiences, and Wizard Felwood knew that even few 'Awakened' along the way. What made the boy stick out even more was the amount of mana he was emitting. Wizard Felwood felt his spells, even if they were only lowly First and Second tier ones, being resisted. That only meant one thing, and if it had been any other time, he would have spoken longer with the child.

“You trust what the 'street rat' says, Felwood?”

Looking aside at his companion, Wizard Felwood sighed. “The spell was active the entire time the boy was speaking, until he left the room. He did not lie, Talon. What more, I think the boy underestimates the peril he is in, especially if the information we have is true.”

Talon stood up, scowling. “He had the gold Tals that you marked Felwood, and even if he was telling the truth about picking up the gold from Clod's dead body, it still marks him as a scavenger and undependable.”

Wizard Felwood shook his head, feeling like knocking some sense into his young companion. “Don't be dense Talon. How many times have we 'scavenged' from the dead during our travels and battles? You're just angry, because Clod is dead. The man wasn't exactly gifted in the mind for the purpose you sent him out on.”

The younger man walked towards the nearby window, glancing out of it while replying, “Well, you're not the one who has to tell his father why his son ended up dead in a muddy street and was stripped of everything that he had on him. They found his naked body thrown into a pile of garbage this morning, Felwood!”

The older man winced. “At least, we know who may be involved in the council, because of that. And with Val's information about the sacrifices, we can track down the bastard, who's been backing the traitors in the council. It'll stop more people from dying, at least.”

Talon turned around, shaking his head. “The bastard's hidden too well. You know that as well as I do. The only way to flush him out is if he goes after that 'street rat' or if we can track him down using what info we got. If he's smart enough though, he won't make stupid moves anytime soon. So, trying to find him is going to be impossible. Instead, dealing with the council takes priority.”

“And what happens if he gets to the boy before we can do anything?” For a second, the older man felt irritation at how casual his younger companion sounded about the boy's life.

“Then, that's his fate. We do what we must, Felwood.” The younger man's answer was something Wizard Felwood was familiar with, since he had said the same thing to the younger man years ago.

Maybe it was his age or maybe it was just all the harsh memories, but looking at the door through which the young thief had left earlier, the older man sighed and could not help but whisper, “Fate is it...?” There was no answer this time, just the silence of two men left contemplating the future chaos that was on the horizon.