Magic Underground

When the sun goes down and the second moon peaks over the distant mountains, lights flicker on one by one down Terse Street, otherwise known as Magic Underground; the only black market for magic. Ruin twisted around people as they lumbered down the street, the hood of his cloak pulled low, and a pouch clutched tightly in his long fingers. Anywhere else and someone would snatch it up in seconds, which is what Ruin was counting on now. As the street grew crowded with roughly dressed women and snarling men, he slipped through cliques, purposely bumping into the less menacing people, and using a deft hand to pluck bracelets and necklaces from them. He slipped these into his own pouch. Once it was full, he ducked around a group of men following a shifty eyed dwarf into a shop, and slid into the shadows of a dark alley. Hiding behind a pile of trash and boxes, rats scattering in every direction, Ruin pulled each piece of jewelry out one by one. He slipped a dagger from its sheath, carefully scratching each one, checking the composition. Often, the gold chains were actually silver, or iron, painted with gold. This time each piece was exactly as it looked: three gold bracelets, one silver, and two iron chains he grabbed from men while they ogled someone's wife. He smiled. It was a grim smile, his lips cracked, and a tooth missing from a fight. Ruin closed his fingers around an iron chain. When he opened them again, a dim, reddish glow surrounded it. He did the same with every piece of jewelry, each metal

glowing a different color. With the prospect of dinner on the table, Ruin left the alley with more haste than entering, and paid for it. "Where's my wife's bracelet, you street urchin?" Ruin ran into the chest of a bear sized man and would've hit the ground if not for his hairy paw tangled in Ruin's shirt, dragging him inches from the man's face. Rancid breath made Ruin flinch, and his hood fell. Scrambling to reach for it, the man caught his hand. Unfortunately, it was the hand holding the pouch of jewelry. "Ahh, have it in here, do we?" Regaining his composure, Ruin smiled sweetly at the brutish man, tossing long hair from his eyes. "My good sir, I couldn't possibly have your wife's bracelet." "We'll see about that." Ruin grimaced and gasped as the man slowly crushed his wrist until his fingers uncurled without permission. The pouch dropped into the brute's hand as he let go of shirt and wrist. Staggering back, Ruin rubbed his wrist and touched his hair to make sure it covered his ears. Not that it mattered. He had the reconstruction surgery to make the tips round years ago, but the thought of someone recognizing the scars sent him into a panic attack every time. "Now, what do we have here?" Ruin's jewelry looked minuscule laying on the man's palm. Other's in the street hurried past with their heads down. This was not a place to bring attention to oneself. Luck was on Ruin's side this night, as it was dark enough to see the magical glow

emanating from each chain and bracelet. "As you can see, sir, these pieces are all charged." Ruin pointed at them. "Your wife's bracelet wasn't." The man stared at the bracelets, then at Ruin. His eyes narrowed. "How'd you know-" Shouting and the ring of steel to their left caused the man to glance away from his hand. Ruin swiped the jewelry and ran, pushing through the wall of men and women. "Hey, come back here, thief!" The man howled, but Ruin had already lost himself among the hordes dealing in their nefarious wares. Pulling his hood back up, he picked his way to a booth half hidden within a forest of tapestries. Pushing one aside, he found a tiny, dark woman staring at him, her arms crossed. "Aliette," he said in his best charming voice, spreading his arms in greeting. She tapped her foot, glaring at him. "Was that you making a raucous out there? You know I hate when my customers bring attention to themselves." "It wasn't me, I swear." Ruin held up his hands. It was half true. She glared at him a second longer before relaxing. "Alright, then. What do you have?" Ruin gave her a toothy grin, glancing from side to side to make sure the tapestries hid them. He dumped the jewelry into her outstretched hands. "Hmm." She turned away from him, picking each up, scrutinizing it, and sticking a link of each in between her teeth, testing them. "Good haul tonight. No fakes." "How much?" Ruin asked.

"For two attacks, three heals, and one defense, I can give you a hundred gems." "So little? You gave me two fifty last week!" "You also gave me three attacks and two doubles. Two charged spells in one piece of jewelry is more expensive, darling." "Fine." Ruin thrust out his hand, and Aliette handed him two large green gemstones. Each one was worth fifty of the smaller, purple gems. "Keep out of trouble." She wiggled her fingers as Ruin stalked from the stall, nearly running into a dwarf lugging a cart down the street. "Watch it!" He yelled, shaking a fist as Ruin dodged around him. He walked on the edge of the street, keeping his eyes down, except to scan for the bear man, but he was long gone. No one else bothered him, and he kept his hands to himself. There would be time enough later to steal more. Ruin turned off Terse Street, breathing a sigh of relief. The night enveloped him as he hurried from one cobbled street to another, each more run down than the last, until the walls surrounding the city loomed out of the dark. They always stood open, except in times of war, so he loped through, heading for the woods. The path to his cabin was easily recognizable, even in the dark, as he could see just as well in the moonlight as the sunlight; giving him no excuse for missing the two thugs barely hiding their bulk behind the slim trees. Thoughts of dinner and slipping under his covers for a good nights sleep occupied Ruin’s mind, and he didn't see them until the first stepped out and clunked him over the head with a meaty fist. *** Ruin's first thought upon waking was his head really hurt, and the swaying movement didn't help. He grimaced and went to rub it, but found he couldn't. A panic

swept through him. Was he paralyzed? He tried again. No, he could move, but his wrists were bound behind his back. "Quit wiggling." Ruin's eyes flew open. The swaying belonged to a shuffling walk of a man carrying him over his shoulder. He stared at the ground. They were still on the dirt path, and it was still night out. He could have only been out for moments. "What's going on?" Neither the man carrying him, or his twin answered. Ruin cocked his head, trying to see where they were taking him, but it was no use. The man's sweaty back was too broad, and the boiled leather armor stunk like dead animal. Ruin wrinkled his nose, trying not to breathe. The dirt turned to cobblestone as they entered the city walls. Now that he had a vantage point, Ruin counted steps and turns, picturing in his mind where they were going. Curiosity, and the possible concussion, had stayed his hand, but the farther they walked, the harder Ruin struggled. "Guys, come one. I didn't do anything. Let me go, and I won't say a word, I promise." Ruin twisted and turned, but the muscled arm clamped him tighter. He felt the air leave his lungs as a bony shoulder dug into his chest. Gasping, Ruin edged his fingers towards his pants pocket, but with an arm made of steel trapping them, it was slow going. Finally, he felt the edge and used his fingers to pull the fabric so he could reach inside. A heavy piece of iron greeted his fingers. He closed his eyes and dropped his head, letting out the breath he was holding. "Hey," the second twin grunted. "He's got something." Ruin's teeth clacked together as twin one shifted him without warning and slapped

the red glowing ring from his hand. "No!" It dropped to the ground with a clang, pulsing softly as they carried Ruin farther and farther away from his only back-up plan. "Damn it. I need to plan better," Ruin said through gritted teeth. "What's that, boy?" Twin one asked, shaking Ruin round. He bit his tongue as his head snapped back and forth. "I said," he growled. "I need a better plan." Ruin kneed twin one in the face. The ground introduced itself to Ruin's face. He groaned, spitting out blood and a tooth onto the cobblestones, and pushed himself off the ground with his legs, keeping his eyes on the faint red glow of the ring. It only took two steps and twin two tackled Ruin. His face was becoming much too acclimated to the stones for his liking. Twin two's knee kept him from breathing, and he lay gasping as his vision skewed. Dark buildings rose on either side of the street. As he guessed, they were well passed downtown and high into the richer parts of the city. These houses were two stories tall, made from actual wood instead of bricks and mud, with balconies, and their own gardens instead of a communal one. Twin two stood, taking the pressure off Ruin's back, and he drew in a deep breath. Everything sharpened again, and he realized that not only were they in the rich part of town, they had stopped in front of the biggest house there. Ruin lay with his face pressed against the cool stones, too disoriented to stand. He hoped one twin would pick him up and keep going, but the door to the house swung open. No one came out the greet them.

Twin one, blood splattered across his face, hauled Ruin to his feet. Twin two took his other arm, and they marched him into the yawning black doorway. The flickering light of a single candle lit up a square door frame across the room and the twins made for it. On the other side, books galore stood on shelves, free of cobwebs and dust. A common occurrence on most bookshelves Ruin was familiar with. The shelves presided over a small couch, armchair, and short table between them. On an end table stood the candle, the flame dancing as currents of air swept their way around the room. It stood next to a high-backed chair facing away from Ruin. "We've got 'im, boss," twin one said through his nosebleed. They shoved Ruin forward, and he fell to his knees, stifling another groan as he hit the wooden floor with a thunk. A tall, thin shadow rose along the wall as whoever sat in the chair stood and walked around until he was staring down at Ruin. He flicked his fingers at the twins. They inclined their heads and left, closing the door behind them. With the candle behind him, Ruin couldn't make out his face, but he didn't need to. Everybody knew this man, for he is the sole founder of the Magic Underground, Syle Betis, the richest man of the known world. Syle crouched in front of Ruin, lifting his chin and gazing into his eyes. "Do you know who I am?" "Everyone knows who you are. I think the real question here is what do you want with me?" Ruin spit a glob of blood on the floor. Syle pulled him by the front of his shirt and dragged him into the candlelight. Ruin's eyes widened. A thick white scar split the left side of Syle's face in two; the eye it bisected milky white.

Syle cocked his head, pulling at a strand of Ruin's hair. "You've been playing my market like it's one of your foul, street version of card games. What's your name?" "Ruin,” he whispered, blood frigid, and unable to pull his eyes away. Syle jerked his head back by his hair, leaning in closer. "Your real name." Ruin said nothing. His heart pounded, and his breath came in ragged gasps. Syle's stiff finger traced the tip of his ear. Ruin yanked back as if the pain was physical. Syle let him drop to the floor. "You can't hide the scarring from me. I know what you are, elf. Now, your name." Ruin gaped at him. Syle's shadow danced on the wall as the candlelight threw darkness over his eyes, creating a terrifying illusion. "M-my real name i-is-" Ruin swallowed. "Adanell Finadar Ulrandir." "That's better." Syle smiled. His mouth was wide, unnerving. "I have a job for you." "A... job?" He crossed his arms. "Yes, Mr. Ulrandir, a job. My daughter has gone missing, and I'd very much like her back." "I'm sure you have more qualified people to find a little girl who ran away-" "You see," Syle said, standing over me. "It's not that she has run away, but has been kidnapped. And I know by who." "Who?" Syle shook his finger at Ruin. "Now, now. You must commit before you get more information." "And what if I refuse?" He shrugged. "One day it might just slip out what you are."

Ruin grimaced. He'd be dead in minutes if anyone found out he was an elf. "Do you miss them?" Syle walked over to the candle, passing his hand through the flame. "What do you mean?" Ruin's eye twitches, the only betrayal of his emotions. "Others like you. The elves." "There could be more out there yet," Ruin said through gritted teeth. Syle laughed. "So, what do you say?" "Do I have a choice?" "You always have a choice." Syle grinned again. Ruin shivered. "Alright, alright. But why me? What makes me different?" Syle raised his eyebrows. "Why, it's the one thing you posses that no one else does; your ability to charge spells." "But you literally own Magic Underground. You have access to whatever spells you want." "That right there is the problem, young Ulrandir." Syle paced in front of his chair. "The situation is more dire than it seems. Magic Underground is losing business. Magic is at an all-time low, and not only is it illegal, but businesses like mine are forced to endure more restrictions." Ruin growled. "I did not agree to work as your slave to be the sole profit of your business." "I do not expect you to. Just return my daughter to me, and you're free to go." "How do you plan to fix your business, then?" "That's not your concern. All you need to worry about is my daughter."

Ruin narrowed his eyes at Syle, unable to figure out his game. His mind ran with possibilities, but he still couldn't see where he fit in. It was obvious Syle needed him to recharge spells on the mission, and he didn't think Syle trusted him to go alone. "Who's coming with me?" Syle's lip twisted upward. "You're a bright one." He snapped his fingers and a second door Ruin hadn't noticed slammed open. From the bowels of the mansion stomped several servants bearing drinks, a dwarf with a plate of sandwiches, and the bear man. "You," the bear man said as he spotted Ruin, baring rotten teeth. "Ah, you know each other?" "He stole my wife's bracelet. Twice." He rushed at Ruin, but Syle held up a hand and he stopped. Instead, he glared, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white. "What's done is done. He works for me now. Stand up, elf." Ruin pushed himself up using only his legs, numb from kneeling on the hard ground. A flicker of surprise passed over the bear man's face, but he covered it quickly. Syle nodded at the man, who pulled a knife from his boot. Ruin's eyes went wide, and he took a step back, but Syle grabbed his arm firmly. Bear man stepped around him, the knife slashing in a downward arc. Ruin flinched, but there was no pain. Relief flooded his arms and shoulders as the ropes binding his hands fell free. He rolled his shoulders and rubbed his raw wrists. "Sit. Let's get acquainted." Syle gestured to the sitting area. Ruin stepped around the dwarf, who was wearing an apron and setting out the tray of tiny sandwiches, and claimed the armchair. He sat on the edge, fidgeting with his fingers. If the situation was different, he would have laughed seeing the lanky, well-dressed man sitting next to the brute with long tangled hair, and a dwarf serving them delicate sandwiches. "One more candle, if you please, Aryk." "Yes, sir." The dwarf held his beard back while lighting a second candle, throwing a new host of shadows against the walls. "Now, elf, this is Mavin. Mavin, this is All-" "Ruin." "This is Ruin. From now on, we are friends. No killing each other." Syle eyed them. Ruin glared at Mavin, and he glared back. They both nodded. "The people who kidnapped my daughter are the same ones who have been trying to shut down Magic Underground. Mavin, you know them." A nod. "Ruin, the monarchy has a special team called the Antiwizards. Hypocritically, they go around using magic, provided by the King, to enforce the anti-magic laws." Syle reached into his tailored jacket and pulled out a folded piece of paper, which he placed on the table next to the uneaten sandwiches. Ruin glanced at it and back to Syle. He nodded, and Ruin picked it up. It was a ransom note, demanding Syle shut down Magic Underground and hand over the charged items, or else he forfeits his daughter. "How do we know where they have taken her?" Ruin asked, setting the note down and eyeing a sandwich. "I know their hideout. I've been tracking them all week," Mavin said, shoving two sandwiches in his mouth. "So what, we jump in, fight them, take her back?" Ruin asked. Syle sat back, crossing his legs. "How you do it is up to you and Mavin. Their magic is limited, ours is not. I assume you can quickly recharge the spells?"

Ruin nodded. "Most only take a second or two. The bigger the object, the longer it takes." Syle's eyes glittered, and Ruin realized he had just given away more information than he meant to. "The bigger the object? You can put spells on things other than jewelry?" Ruin shifted in his chair and cleared his throat. "Yeah. As long as it's made of the right metal, I can attach a spell to anything." "Iron holds attack spells, so you can attach an attack spell to a sword?" "Yeah, I could." If he had known Syle didn't know, he wouldn't have said anything. "It takes some time, though. I can't do it in the middle of a fight." Syle nodded, a finger on his lips as he thought. Ruin glanced at Mavin, who snarled at him. A drop of sweat rolled down his temple. "I request a third for this mission," Ruin said before he could chicken out. Syle raised his eyebrows. "Oh?" "I don't doubt Mavin's capabilities, but if I'm along to recharge spells, I'll need someone watching my back." "Very well. I can provide a list of my guard-" "I want the dwarf." Syle blinked. "You mean, Aryk?" Ruin nodded. "As you wish. I only ask you to bring him back alive. Aryk?" The dwarf reappeared through the servant's door. "Yes, Lord?" "Ruin here requests your presence for this mission. Do you agree?" Aryk eyed Ruin behind his neatly trimmed hair and well-groomed beard. "I won't say no to a bit of adventure." Mavin smiled in amusement, which made Ruin sweat more than his scowl. "You have an hour to come up with a plan. Ruin, how quick can you recharge larger spells?" "Recharge? On jewelry, a minute or two. On, say, a sword, three or four." "How about a cloak?" Ruin's eyebrows came together. "A cloak? A recharge? Not adding a spell?" Syle nodded. "Seven or eight minutes, perhaps. I don't know how-" "You'll see," Syle said with his creepy smile. "Get to work. I'll bring out everything you will need." Once Syle had left, Aryk turned to Ruin. "Why me, boy?" Ruin shrugged. "Once Syle isn't looking, Mavin's gonna kill me." "That doesn't explain why you chose me." "Do you know what I am?" Aryk hesitated, then nodded. "I'm outnumbered, Aryk. Have been nearly my whole life. I trust humans as far as I can kick them, which isn't very far." He eyed Mavin, who shoved three more sandwiches into his mouth. A smile crossed Aryk's lips and he pat Ruin on the shoulder. "Good enough reason for me, boy. Now, what part am I to have in this plan?" "Are you good with an ax?" Ruin asked. Aryk snorted with laughter. "Are you good with a bow?" he said, raising an eyebrow. Ruin shook his head. "Feel these hands and tell me if I've even touched a weapon. My kind hasn't seen fighting since before I was born." Aryk was right. His hands were smoother than the hands of most women Ruin knew. "What can you do?" "I'm a chef, boy." Ruin put his head in his hands as Mavin chuckled. "What's your plan, Ruin? Have Aryk here distract our enemy with dinner while we sneak in and steal the girl back?" Mavin's laughter doubled at his own joke. "That's... not a bad idea, but not dinner, breakfast." Mavin stopped laughing, and Aryk stared at him. "Are you serious?" The dwarf asked. "Here me out," Ruin said, scooting forward, a plan forming in his head. Halfway through explaining, Syle came back with a box. Inside were several pieces of jewelry, some charged, some not. Three iron daggers sat nestled among them, and underneath was a silver cloak. Syle pulled it out, showing it to Ruin. "I've had this sitting in storage for years now, not understanding why anyone would make such a thing. But after talking to you, I understand. This cloak is woven with pure silver thread." Ruin's eyes widened, understanding hitting him. Then he smiled. Before the hour was up, Ruin had recharged all the spells and added attacks to each dagger. They divvied up the gear between them, Ruin taking the cloak for himself. It was heavy, and it settled about his shoulders as if made for him. "Are we ready?" Ruin asked, pulling the hood over his head. He strapped a dagger around his waist, and donned two bronze rings with heal and defense spells, a silver bracelet with a shield spell, and an iron chain with an enlargement spell sat loosely about his neck. Each one with enough charge for three casts. It was easy enough since they touched him, but the others would have to be close to him to get theirs recharged if it came to that. He hoped it wouldn't. "Let's crack some skulls." Mavin punched his fist into his palm, showing off his rotting teeth in a rabid smile. Aryk rolled his eyes. He changed from his light chef's shirt and apron to darker clothing with a mail shirt underneath. Syle let them out the back door, and they slipped into the night. Mavin was much quieter than he looked, moving with ease from shadow to shadow. Aryk had absolutely no training in unseen movement, hence the dark clothing, but he kept up and they avoided the lighter sections of town. With one word of the Elven language, Ruin activated his cloak, rendering him invisible for the next hour. They descended into the harsher parts of town, where the brick buildings leaned to one side and the grass, where it grew, was brown and hard. Mavin stopped them outside a building with boarded-up windows and cracks running along the mud packed between gray bricks. Ruin glanced at the sky. The horizon painted a faint blue light across the sky. "Dawn is coming. You sure they'll be awake?" Ruin glanced at Mavin. "They'll be up, elf boy. Have been every day for the last week." Ruin nodded. "Get in place, then." He and Mavin slid around the building. There was a window on the back with a board missing. Ruin took up his place there, while Mavin moved to the other side. His window still had boards, but two were loose, and Mavin could easily pry them off.

Ruin listened intently as Aryk knocked on the door. There was a shuffling beyond the window, and the door opened. "Good morning, sir," Aryk said. "I have been sent by King Solman to attend to your needs." "What needs?" came the gruff reply. "Cooking, cleaning, errands." "Finally. We have been here for two weeks with no word and lack of prepared food. Get in here and cook us a proper breakfast." Ruin heard a cheer from within. It was time. He slipped through the gap in the window, dropping to the floor as quietly as possible. His ears picked up the thud of Maven in the other room, but the loud chatter of the Antiwizards covered it. As Aryk distracted them, Ruin and Maven searched the building. With each door he opened, Ruin's heart sank farther. There was no sign of the girl. He walked into the last room where Maven stood, hands on his hips. "She's not here," Ruin said, throwing his hood back. Maven jumped backward, brandishing his dagger as Ruin's head appeared from nowhere. "Don't do that, elf boy. I almost killed you." "We're going to have to resort to plan B." Mavin grinned, cracking his knuckles. "We should have started with plan B." "Who's the leader?" "Short guy, name of Greese. If anyone knows where she is, it's him." "Okay, we need him alive. Everyone else is expendable." "Got it, elf boy."

"Why does everyone call me boy?" Ruin grumbled. "I'm older than all of you combined." "Cause you look twelve, elf boy." Mavin smacked him on the shoulder and he stumbled forward. Ruin huffed, pulling up his hood and disappearing down the hall after Mavin. They reached the kitchen without running into anybody. Aryk was just serving up an enormous stack of scrambled eggs as Ruin slipped between the impatient Antiwizards to Aryk's side. "It's me," he whispered. Ruin had to give Aryk credit. The dwarf didn't even jump. "Plan B is a go." Aryk gave the lightest nod before moving off to set down the plate in front of the roaring men. Aryk stood behind them, grinning as the men complimented his cooking, devouring the eggs in seconds. Then, in one quick motion, he withdrew his dagger from his sleeve and stabbed the closest man in the neck. Blood spurted from the artery, bathing his neighbor in sticky, scarlet blood. The man yelled, shoving himself away. Ruin pulled his own dagger, raking it across the necks of two men, before being shoved to the ground by a third. He activated the shield spell as a sword flashed towards his exposed legs. The swordsman grunted as his weapon rebounded off the shield. Scrambling to his feet, Ruin covered his legs with the cloak, becoming invisible once more. Mavin's dagger stuck out of a man's eye, while Mavin himself sat on the chest of a man Ruin could only assume was Greese. A second man came at Mavin with a sword and he activated his shield, catching the sword just before it clove his head in two. "Mavin, catch!" Ruin tossed his dagger. Mavin caught the hilt, deactivated his shield, and stabbed his attacker in the stomach. Greese was screaming. A woman had seen Ruin's arm as he tossed the dagger, and she came at him now, yelling a war cry, her own dagger held high. He held up the finger with the defense ring and activated it. A burst of air shot out, throwing the woman back against one of her brethren. They tumbled to the floor. A scream turned Ruin's head. Two men cornered Aryk, using the attack spell to ram the dagger through his mail shirt. Ruin pulled the chain from his neck. It broke into one long strand. With a word, the glowing strip of iron expanded into a full sized chain, whipping through the air and wrapping around the neck of one of Aryk's attackers. Ruin yanked, and the man flew backwards. The second attacker held out a hand, a glow forming in his palm. "No!" Ruin screamed, launching himself across the room by activating the other ring and using the air blast to propel himself. He slammed into the man just as a fireball spell jumped from his palm. It singed Ruin's arm and missed Aryk's head by inches. He had to bat at his hair to put out the sparks. "Alright, shows over!" Mavin yelled. His deep voice cut through the fighting. He held a squirming Greese with a dagger to his neck. Ruin elbowed the man below him in the face and stood up. His cloak had run its first activation and was visible again. No one moved as Ruin pulled the mail shirt from Aryk's shoulder. He grunted, sweat on his face, but bore the pain well for someone who wasn't a fighter. Ruin slid the dagger out and placed his hand over the wound, activated a heal, then healed his own burn. "What do you want?" Greese whimpered. Ruin stalked up to him. "Where's the girl?"

"What girl?" His eyes twitched to the side and Ruin ducked just as Mavin rumbled, "Look out!" A kitchen knife sailed above Ruin's head and hit Greese in the neck. Blood soaked the front of his shirt in seconds. Greese only had enough time for a strangled cry before his eyes glazed over and he slumped from Mavin's arms. "Damn. Follow the knife thrower!" Ruin did as he was told. He twirled, activating the second charge on his cloak. Aryk pointed towards the front door, and Ruin dashed out, and watched a fleeing person skid around the corner of the next house over. He ran like the wind, but allowed the person to stay ahead. They were young, slight. Moved faster than the rest of the brutes he had so far faced. Once or twice they looked back, and, unable to see Ruin, slowed, thinking they were safe. They led Ruin through a maze of back alleys before coming to a side door. Ruin slid up behind them as they knocked out a code. Then he attacked. He slipped a hand over the person's mouth and drove a fist into their kidney. They dropped, groaning into Ruin's hand until he hit them over the head and they fell to the ground, out cold. Ruin slipped off the cloak and covered the body, just as the door swung open. "What happened to you?" A grim, older woman looked at him, her eyes glued to the blood on his face and singed shirt. "There was an infiltration at the other hideout. Huge fight. I think they're all dead, but I need to make sure this one is still safe." Ruin met the woman's eyes, and for a second, he didn't think it would work, but then she nodded and stepped aside. "No one's been here for hours." "That's what we thought, too. But two people and a dwarf sneaked in." Ruin glanced around. This wasn't a real hideout, just someone's home. Probably the woman's. "Where's the girl?" he asked. "Upstairs in the room. Right where Greese left her." Ruin nodded and mounted the stairs. There were only two doors, and one was already open. He took a breath and stepped through the closed door. Laying on a bed, eyes closed, not moving, was a pale little girl. Ruin's breath caught as he hurried over, checking her pulse. There was none. "Damn it." He bit his lip. This had to be Syle's daughter. She shared his hair color and high cheekbones. Lifting the girl, she was heavier than he expected, he walked to the only window. He pulled it open with one hand and looked out. He was only a story and a half up, not high for an elf, but with a human weighing him down, it might hurt. Before jumping, Ruin recharged the heals in his rings, then sat on the sill, twirled so his legs dangled, and slid out. The ground met his legs with a crunch, but he activated the heal right away, and the pain only lasted a second. Ruin stumbled forward, but held the girl to his chest. He kicked around the ground, finding the invisible body as his foot connected with it. There was a groan while he swiped the invisible cloak and threw it over himself and the girl. He raced back the way he came, running into Mavin and Aryk halfway back. He tossed his head back, allowing the hood to fall and his head to appear. "Ruin! Did you get her?" Aryk asked, panting. "I got her," Ruin said, his voice grim. Aryk and Mavin both looked at him, but said nothing. The morning sun was coming up and people were already walking the streets. They ran the rest of the way, Ruin lagging behind, keeping his eyes peeled for a tiny red glow. When it came into view, he feigned readjusting the girl, and swiped it from the ground. He caught up to the others as the house loomed over them and slipped in through the back. Syle was waiting for them. Ruin swallowed when he saw the man, hands trembling against the girl. "Sir, I found her, but..." "But?" Syle asked, an eyebrow cocked. Ruin shrugged the cloak off, and the dead girl appeared. Aryk gasped, his eyes filling with tears. Mavin didn't react. "Ah. No matter. Set her on the table, please, Ruin." Ruin's jaw dropped. Syle didn't care his daughter was dead. "But, sir, she's-" "It doesn't matter, Ruin. It's not her I needed, but what she is hiding. Now, do as you're told." Ruin swallowed, hefting the girl on the large wooden table taking up half the room. "Knife, please." Syle held out his hand. Mavin wordlessly gave him the dagger. Ruin watched in horror as Syle sliced through the girl's dress, pressed the dagger to her stomach, and drew a line. No blood welled. Syle pried apart the girl's stomach. Aryk fell back, his face pale, and puked. Syle used the dagger one more time, then plunged his hand into the girl's innards, searching around before withdrawing a clenched fist. Carefully, he opened his hand. Inside was a gold-colored chain with a small pendant. Ruin stumbled back, suddenly dizzy. It wasn't gold in his hand. "Is that... brass?"

Syle smiled at him, holding the pendant up triumphantly. "Yes, dear boy." "I won't do it," Ruin whispered. "I don't need you too, elf. This one still has all three charges intact. Now you see why I don't need you." Ruin nodded, his breath coming erratically as he clutched the ring in his palm. "What's going on?" Mavin looked between them, brow furrowed. "Brass, Mavin, holds resurrection spells. I'm bringing the elves back and reintroducing magic into the world." Ruin fell into a chair, holding his head as the world spun. "Sir, you don't understand. Elves don't come back as elves. The way magic effects our bodies, we come back as something sinister, a sort of monster called an Orc." "I know, young elf, I know." Syle smiled that wide, evil grin and kissed the resurrection pendant. With a single word, Ruin tosses the ring into the air. A single spark, and a deafening explosion ripped through the house.