"Undead?" Aki's eyes widened. "W-wait. I didn't know it was- I'm actually-"
"I can think of very few reasons why an acolyte would willingly walk into this city, especially with a near-flawless illusion spell like yours."
Suddenly, Mala is behind Aki. She presses the cold, razor sharp metal against Aki's neck and draws a tiny trickle of blood.
"When did she?!?" Aki arches back, trying to wiggle free before it's too late. "If I can reach my bag, I can–!"
Mala drives her knee into Aki's back, locking her in place. Either she breaks her back or slices open her neck.
Inside the anti-magic barrier, neither of those could be easily dealt with. Nor could she rely on physical defence with her bag out of reach and major killing intent focused on her.
"Why didn't [Precognition] activate?" Aki raises her hands, peacefully offering no resistance until Mala eases up. "It's a Gift, not a spell or skill, so it shouldn't be affected by an anti-magic barrier."
"Or are you with that despicable Slaver King and the underworld auction?"
Neha traces the rim of her teacup, staring Aki down with a hard gaze. Her pout makes her lips curve in such a hypnotising way, Aki finds it hard to look away.
"So? Which is the right answer?" Neha flicks a finger. "Mala, let her breath."
"NEVER!" Aki answers more aggressively than she intended. "I mean, the auction is related… but, I'm not with them. I'm here for something else entirely!"
She instinctively waves her arms in denial. Neha catches one easily, making Aki flinch.
"If not, then what are -" Neha quietly gasps, finally seeing the dark, vicious scarring around Aki's wrists without the illusion hiding them.
"I came looking for someone who knows about the World Narrative." Aki pulls away, freeing her arm from Neha's grasp rather easily. "They came for the auction. I didn't know there were undead here. Even if I did, I wouldn't have hurt them. Not innocent people."
She recalls Shur's advice. Acolytes are to heal, protect, and eliminate the rogue Dead. Undead, however, are risen creatures with their egos intact. Their appearance can be somewhat off – looking too alive – but are typically just another person.
Slaying an undead just because they're undead would be no different than murder.
Neha sits back, crosses her arms and places a hand on her chin. She stares at the spot of the table Aki had hidden her hands under. Her slender forefinger curls up to pat her pursed lips.
"Those scars are from…"
"Yes."
"May I?"
Neha extends a hand, silently asking for a closer look. Aki hesitates but concedes, putting her arm on the table and setting her hand in Neha's own.
After a moment of gentle pokes and prods at the scarred flesh, Neha motions at Mala with a quick flick of her wrist.
Mala groans but obeys. She lets go of Aki, goes to the post, and flips the lever back up.
The oppressive sensation of the anti-magic field drops, triggering a window to open and tell Aki of the phenomena and the ability to use magic again.
"You were part of the Libertale Revolt last year, weren't you?"
Aki blink-closes the window and pulls her hand back.
"If I was?"
Neha leans forward on her hands, rocking on the table's surface trying to get Aki to look at her.
"Anyone who considers the Slaver's master an enemy is a friend of ours." Neha's sincerity shines behind her jewel-like eyes and emphasised by the true smile she gives Aki. "There's a lot on the to-do list, huh? Find your friend, find that bookworm, and take down that monster. Don't worry, our interests align, so we'll definitely help out."
The door swings open loudly. Sylus and a falcon revalin dressed in loose, short robes come inside in a hurry.
"S-sorry to interrupt, boss!" The falcon says anxiously. He beats a wing with rapid speed, trying to display an unfolded letter. "But it's an emergency and I had to report in person!"
"Please relax, Skip. I'm not running away." Neha turns in her spot to face her companion directly and waves for him to speak.
"I- I... Yes of course." Skip ruffled his feathers, puffing up for a moment. "There are several pressing matters to report. First! The City Lord summons you and your trusted aides to report to his manor immediately!"
"Now? We haven't gotten - have we?" Neha speaks partly to herself, partly to her companions about information known only to them.
"The scout sent to locate Scorpion's Rest and your guest's friend stumbled on a secret route that led to a storehouse not listed on any current blueprints!" Skip says, chest swelling with pride. Then he deflates and claws at the floorboards nervously. "Bu-but… he heard dozens of weak voices and the rattling metal of cages. He didn't dare go further."
"Slaves." Neha frowns, her face scrunching up in anger. "Anything else? What of my guest's companion? Surely the neutral grounds weren't a problem enough to not find him?"
"The location was found easily!" Skip says nervously. "H-however, the Scorpion's Rest is no longer neutral. Or- or anything."
"What?" Aki stands up, startling Skip and making him hide behind Sylus. "What does that mean?"
"Hakk! The building was destroyed in a fight between multiple parties!"
"Dent!" Aki scrambles to grab her belongings, checking her bag is securely in place and goes to jump off the balcony.
Neha stops her, latching onto Aki's shoulders and forcing her to fall back on her ass onto the pillow seat.
"Hold it, Aki!" She addresses Skip next. "This path… did the scout find it near the rubble of the bar?"
"Yes! The rubble damaged an illusion that hid a sewer tunnel in the alley one street below the bar. It was repaired shortly after the scout slipped inside."
Neha nods and turns back to Aki.
"Rather than running around like a headless chicken, focus on a goal. Maybe your friend was kidnapped and dragged down there. Take some medicine and go with my scout to have a look. It'd be too risky to save anyone right now, but it can at least give you peace of mind if you know where your friend's at."
Aki looks over her shoulder, the franticness causing her to glare at Neha.
-
[Tactician Lv. 3 - Insight Granted]
-
Aki grits her teeth, urging herself to calm down.
"I don't think Dent was taken." She says confidently. "But, I can't just go look for him either now that I know where people are being held. I know that monster. He would definitely stick his preciousslaves in a place directly connected to the sewers."
"Okay, then Skip'll take you to the scout and you can go have a look. Just a look. We can come up with a plan of attack after we've got an idea of the layout after further scouting." Neha squeezes Aki's shoulders tightly then lets her go.
Aki squeezes her wrists, digging her nails into the scars. She nods after a moment of thought.
"Okay. I can do that."
Aki glances at Mala and Sylus while grabbing her pendulum. Then she follows Skip out of the room, recasting her illusion as she does.
"Send a shadow to monitor her." Neha orders once Aki is gone. "An acolyte searching for a historian concerning the Storms is unusual. Until we know how much is true, keep a shadow on her."
Sylus steps forward. "What would you like done if her words are false?"
"Kill her, if possible. Destroy the shadow's body if they fail. No traces back to us."
He bows and leaves to give Neha's orders.
"Now… let's go visit that pompous employer of ours, shall we?" Neha sets her face in her hands and groans heavily. "Grab Sylus on our way out, Mala."