As a man obsessed with the power dynamics of Aetheria, it is safe to say that this past century has had the highest concentration of talented individuals we have ever seen. The Idil Empire boasts the Dukes and the First Prince, paving the way for them to become a dominant presence on the continent. The Highlands' generational genius, the Power Mage is just one of many individuals hailing from the ancient nation of elves. Wisperium's Unfallen is a controversial figure that has remained quiet since the Pearl Island incident, but his reputation and power cannot be undermined. Is there any correlation between the amount of talented individuals being born to the rising mana levels seen throughout the continent? I think so. In this essay, I will be explaining how geographical factors and mana densities affect the growth rate of individuals...

- An excerpt from 'How to Raise a Genius' by Evan Ackerly

Chester trusted his gut more than anything. When he saw those children playing tag on the crowded streets of Garbrandt, he avoided them neatly knowing a pickpocket when he saw one. He was satisfied upon seeing his prediction was correct; the group of kids had swindled multiple bags from the two unfortunate victims all while the illusionist watched from afar.

But when the victims feigned shouts of surprise while letting the little bandits escape, the back of Chester's neck tingled. He quietly asked Damien and his canine to trail the men. They blended in perfectly with the crowd due to Chester's Alter Self skill. Damien's attire was replaced with a grey, worn-down robe. Maxwell's black and wispy fur became dull and mangy, transforming him into a regular dog.

The illusionist noticed the way they walked; a lack of hurriedness one would expect when chasing after thieves.

Minutes passed as the duo followed the suspicious men. They made sharp turns, darting in and out of alleys like they were following a map. It got to the point where Chester and Damien lost them. The vampire took the chance to confront the man, slightly annoyed at the fact they had to take such a long detour.

"What the hell are you following these guys for? Haven't you seen them get robbed already?"

The vampire looked confused at Chester's odd expression. He didn't have that glint in his eye like he usually did when he saw something valuable. It was a look of concern and unease. Unusual for the easygoing man who took everything lightly.

"It's not-Look, those guys are up to something. I'm just getting bad vibes from them."

"Everybody's up to something if they're in Garbandt, Chester. We need a better reason to go after these people apart from just having 'bad vibes'."

The curly-haired man clicked his tongue in irritation. "I don't know, okay? It's just that those guys gave up on the kids way too easily. Did you see how their bags were easily opened like that? It's like they were asking to get robbed. It doesn't make sense. I think it might've been some sort of trap to catch them."

Damien sighed. He was torn on what to do. It made sense for the men to chase after thieves who stole their goods, and he wasn't keen on interfering with them when they were technically in the right. The desire to stay out of trouble and Chester's worries conflicted with each other, but seeing the man's genuine concern for another made him relent.

"You better not be screwing around," The vampire muttered.

The search continued. Although they had lost their trail, it didn't take long to pick it back up. Maxwell's sense of smell and his eerie sentience made for a perfect tracking tool that would've made the otherwise impossible task a breeze. Damien hadn't considered his shadowy servant's abilities outside of combat and resolved to find out what else Maxwell was capable of.

After several dead ends and loops, they finally stumbled across a street several kilometers from their original location. It was a narrow street, packed so tightly it made the illusionist somewhat claustrophobic. There were signs of life inside the houses, although Chester could barely call them that. The houses were cobbled together using cheap materials. The low rooftops were sheets of metal that barely protected them from the elements.

"Shit, this place is a dump." He muttered quietly to his partner. It was destitute, several times worse than what he had seen in Stillwater when they were undergoing a famine.

Even in his days as a homeless youth, nothing compared to what he saw before him. At least during those times, he could afford luxuries like clean water, food, and shelter through illegal means. Here, there were no similar options. Even the markets they passed were limited and looked sketchy at best.

Maxwell led them through until shouts pierced through the air. Cries for help. It broke through the depressing atmosphere and put them all on high alert. But the issue was that nobody on the street reacted. Those walking past barely even acknowledged the noise, and nobody had peeked their head out to see what was going on.

"Come on, let's go."

His steps were frantic. Chester didn't know why. Maybe it was out of pity. He could see himself in those children trying to survive on the streets. Camaraderie for those who suffered the same fate as him. The idea of them being harmed didn't sit right in his stomach.

The man could hear the sources of the shouting in a well-built house, much sturdier than anything the neighborhood had to offer. It was constructed with brick and stone. Knowing time was of essence, he asked his companion for some help.

"Damien!"

The boy already knew what to do. "Shadow Smite."

With his black blade pouring with powerful energy, Damien unleashed a strike that decimated the house's exterior, making a gouge that extended up to the roof. Chester immediately cast Invisibility and dove in, witnessing the sight of two men holding down four children.

"Who the fuck are you guys?! Do you know who we a-"

The illusionist snatched the greasy-haired man's neck. He looked at the young thief from earlier during the day; bruised face, tears, and with wounds along his back.

Chester revealed himself, jaw clenched in anger while tightening his hold on the foul man who could inflict such harm on a child.

"Don't worry. We'll have all night to talk things out."

"COZBI!"

A large man rose from the debris of Damien's attack. His beard was tattered with dust and dirt. Before he could lurch toward Chester, a black blur went and tackled him to the ground with relentless ferocity. Maxwell's disguise, a dirty-looking mutt, was dispelled to reveal his true form; a large canine made entirely of shadows.

The large man screamed in agony as he was violently mauled by a magical beast. It didn't take long for his struggles to die down to occasional twitches. Damien approached the three children who had escaped their kidnapper's grasp, putting himself between the burly man to shield them from the sight. They stared at him with a mix of fear and relief. Damien reached out for them but stopped as soon he saw them flinch backward. He kept his distance and tried to make his voice as non-hostile as possible.

"Are you all okay?"

He wasn't much taller than the children, and even through the dim light, Damien noticed various injuries in the group. The boy handed them a bottle containing red liquid and noticed the illusionist choking the life out of the last criminal standing. The hooked-nosed man was foaming at the mouth, clawing at the forearm keeping him trapped without any oxygen.

"Chester! Not in front of the children." The vampire chastised him while aiding the eldest among the group. He looked like a regular teen except for the scar along his lip. His injuries were far more severe and Damien made sure not to aggravate his condition while supporting him.

SUPERIOR HEALING POTION

- Restore 15% of HP upon consumption.

- A potent mixture that can mend bones and dispel low-tier status ailments.

- Weight: 0.2kg

The boy's labored breathing ceased with another red potion, although this one was significantly more ornate in design; one of the gifts he received from Joseph Devon. It was a valuable item but Damien didn't have time to be stingy. Unlike the standard healing potions, it could mend bones and put them back into place.

"T-thank you." The boy said after finishing the potion. He winced slightly as the bones along his finger were set back into place. Then Damien went over to the three children and gave them all a look to ensure they weren't severely injured, handing out a regular potion that could handle scratches and bruises.

Chester mumbled darkly while roping the unconscious men together in a mix of chains and rope. They were all procured from the surroundings. The shelves and cabinets were filled with a significant amount of equipment the illusionist associated with kidnappings; metal collars, bindings and gags, and various sharp instruments.

After giving the chains one last tug, he noticed a rolled-up piece of parchment sticking out of the rubble. Unfolding them, Chester was horrified to see a list almost three feet in length, filled with client orders, preferences, and drop-off spots for people. Slaves.

He quietly folded the paper and kept it for himself. The man wasn't a saint or a crusader of justice that would stamp out every criminal, but he knew there were people he could give that information to do something about it. The Church of Pernatia and Welton came to the forefront of his mind.

"That's over with. Hey kids, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

Chester made sure the men were still unconscious before making himself comfortable atop the kidnappers. He kept them alive for interrogation purposes. They had moved from their original locationto learn what happened to the children. Although they had saved them out of goodwill, he hoped that they'd be able to provide trustworthy information about the city and even some info on Damien's brother.

"We thought the marks were easy this time around. I guess it was too easy, huh." The leader of the group said with a forced smile. He introduced himself as Alvis while the children stood quietly behind him. They were all currently located in an abandoned hut with no residents, barely enough to fit six people. Maxwell camped outside keeping an eye on any potential intruders. "They caught us with these balls that spit out some sort of gas. Put us to sleep in seconds."

The vampire shook his head. He didn't quite understand why they'd put themselves at so much risk. There were much safer ways to procure money without resorting to crime. Damien knew it wouldn't make the most money, but it was honest work and put no one at risk.

"You really shouldn't be doing this, you know. Where are your parents?" Damien asked.

Alvis shook his head. "Don't have any. None of us do. And we can't get a job nowhere. There's not a lot of ways for us to keep ourselves fed nowadays."

Upon hearing that, the Shadow Knight winced. "Ah, I suppose. Didn't really think that one over."

Chester assumed it was something like that. He knew making a living in a place like this would be extremely difficult. It reminded him of those cold, lonely days on the road during his childhood. Where every day was a fight for survival. Where nothing was guaranteed. The only thing these children had over him was the fact they didn't operate alone.

"You know where these guys are from? They called the Twilight Bandits or something?" Chester asked, swallowing down any distractions and focusing on the task at hand. He wanted to find out some more about the Twilight Bandits he'd heard about. They seemed to control this portion of the city from the flags placed on every street corner. He needed accurate and reliable information, and it was hard to trust anybody in the city.

"Them? I don't know. Their kind always wore some sort of robe or shirt to show their allegiance. It's a mark of pride. Safety. But those guys weren't wearing anything. Maybe if they were here undercover? Could be another group."

"A-are you part of a gang?" One of the children spoke up. Her eyes glittered with admiration. "You guys are super strong! You took them out like it was nothing!"

Damien and Chester looked at each other. They didn't know too much about the area, but it was easy to tell the lawless kingdom had some form of authority that controlled portions of the city. People were bound to form cliques, groups, and coalitions in the absence of any governing body. It wouldn't be too hard to assume they were from a separate group in the city.

"No, no we're not. What's your name, dear?"

"Sheila." Her amber eyes glimmered with hesitance, hands twisting up the hem of her shirt while introducing herself. "Ten years old! I don't know my blood type. Or my parents. But I was born in February! I think."

"Nice to meet you, Sheila. My name's Chester." The man said slowly, trying to ease the group into trusting them. He treated them with respect and kindness, knowing just how important it was for someone who grew up on the street. He tapped into his inner charm to make them feel as relaxed as possible, "Can you tell us more about the other gangs around the city?"

"Aside from the Twilight Bandits? There's the East Star Clubs. It's just the red-light district, got lots of casinos and drugs. A lot of succubi. Bentham used to live there."

One of the other boys chipped in, poking his head from the teenaged leader's back. "Magellan too! They're not too far from here. It's a lot less dangerous, but we can't get away with doing stuff like this there. They're really, REALLY tough on criminals there."

The duo absorbed all the information as best they could. Although the kids tended to ramble aimlessly, it was enough to get a general understanding of the local power structures in Garbrandt. It seemed the Twilight Bandits had the most amount of territory amongst the Chester made it a priority to visit the East Star Clubs when feasible, while Damien tried to find the most pressing question on his mind.

"Have you guys heard about a man called Braham Rose?" The vampire asked, giving them a brief description of what he remembered his brother to look like. He didn't think his older brother would become radically different since they had last seen each other.

All of them shook their heads, but upon seeing Damien's frown of dissatisfaction, Alvis spoke up to try and assuage the armored boy.

"B-but we can ask one of our friends! If you'd follow us there's a bunch of kids who've come from different districts, they might know a thing or two!"

"That'd be greatly appreciated, I think we'll take you up on that offer. But first..." Chester glanced at the unconscious men who were beginning to awaken from their blissful slumber. They were met with the sight of their victims, along with the men who pummelled them to within an inch of their lives all staring at them while bound and chained.

"We'll need to ask them some things as well."