Chương 26: Chapter 25: Masks

The meeting spot was unremarkable, a narrow alley between two houses where cracked cobblestones had surrendered to weeds. The woman led them to what looked like nothing more than an old maintenance gate set low into the warehouse foundation. The kind of entrance city workers use to access the capital's sewer system. She produced a key and turned it in the lock, the grinding sound making Tessa wince. The gate swung open to reveal worn stone steps descending.

The capital's underbelly, a network of tunnels and channels that had grown over centuries as the city expanded above.

"Down," the woman said. The smell rising from below made Tessa's nose wrinkle. Damp stone and stagnant water, yes, but underneath that... something metallic. Old iron and forgotten coins, maybe. Don't think about what else might be down there. Decades of use wore the steps smooth, each one dipped slightly in the center where maintenance workers and other less official visitors had passed. As they descended, she noticed the construction wasn't the crude stonework she'd expected.

These were fitted blocks, each one bearing the Maker's marks, and each section had a year stamp that spoke of imperial engineering at its finest. The capital's bones. Built to last centuries. Faint light emanated from ahead, not torches, but the steady glow of mana-powered illumination crystals set into the walls at regular intervals. Standard city infrastructure, but down here in the depths, the light felt different. Older.

"Where are the people we're supposed to meet?" Tessa asked. Her voice echoed strangely in these halls.

"We have already met them." Tessa looked around, scanning the empty passage. Nothing. Just stone and shadows and that unsettling blue glow. Is she losing it? Or am I?

"I don't see anyone." The woman's pace didn't falter.

"They're there." The certainty in her voice made Tessa believe her. She looked around, trying to spot where someone could be hiding. Still nothing. Either the rogue was delusional, or— Or there are people here I literally cannot perceive. The thought made her stomach churn. How many invisible watchers were cataloguing her every move? How long had they been following them? The rogue reached back and caught her hand. Her palm was warm, calloused from blade work and surprisingly gentle.

"Stay close. The paths branch ahead." Hand in hand, they navigated deeper into the warren. The passages here weren't just functional tunnels; they were engineered. Archways opened onto maintenance chambers lined with brass pipes that disappeared into the walls. Carved channels ran along the floor, some still carrying thin streams of water from the city above, others dry and filled with decades of accumulated debris. The capital's circulatory system. Water in, waste out, and everything in between.

But there were other things too. Alcoves that seemed to serve no municipal purpose. Rooms with peculiar acoustics that made whispers carry farther than they should. The kind of modifications that spoke of unofficial uses over the centuries. Every city has its secrets. Even underground. The woman led her through increasingly narrow passages until they reached what looked like solid stone. But she pressed against a section of wall that pivoted inward on hidden hinges, revealing warm lamplight beyond.

And standing in that light was Rellen. Relief hit her. She hadn't realized how tightly wound she'd become until she saw him.

"Tessa."

"You're alive," Tessa managed, then immediately winced at how obvious that sounded.

"I mean—I wasn't sure if you'd..." She trailed off, gesturing vaguely.

"You know. Not be alive." A corner of his mouth twitched, betraying the grin he tried to suppress. She moved closer without quite meaning to, letting go of the woman's hand, her eyes scanning him for visible damage. He looked intact, no obvious wounds, no fresh blood on his clothing. But his eyes looked worn; the first glimpse of eyebags could be seen. When he smiled down at her, it was genuine. She could tell that much. But it felt thin somehow.

She stopped just inside his personal space, closer than she would have stood weeks before. Closer than was probably appropriate for near strangers... or whatever they now were. But the relief of seeing him whole and breathing made it feel unimportant. His smile softened as he watched her come closer. Then his attention shifted past her shoulder to the woman who'd guided her here.

"Thank you," he said.

"Clean extraction?" The woman moved to lean against the wall beside the door. She gave a single nod. Only then did Tessa properly take in the chamber they stood in. It was larger than she'd initially thought, the lamplight revealing details her first glance had missed. A cot pushed against one wall, its blanket folded. A large wooden table dominated the center of the space, scarred and worn but solid. Three chairs arranged around it, mismatched but functional. How long has this been prepared?

"Report," Rellen said, his voice taking on a different quality.

"What happened on route?" The Rogue's gaze went distant in the way of someone organizing thoughts into a coherent narrative.

"Clean extraction from the residence."

"Rooftop pursuit for roughly two blocks. Three hostiles attempted to follow. Lost them at the eastern junction." Her voice was soft, with a subtle melody Tessa hadn't noticed before. It was beautiful.

"Doubled back through the tunnels, confirmed no tail, then came here via the planned route. No further complications." No complications. Right. Just a casual midnight flight through the city with invisible watchers and hostile forces hunting them. Her chest felt tight again. This was planned. All of it, the extraction, the route, this hidden chamber. How long had they been preparing for this? Since the bridge? She looked up at Rellen, searching his profile for answers, for some kind of reassurance.

But he focused entirely on the woman. The distance between them suddenly felt vast, despite how close they stood. Her hand moved almost of its own accord, reaching out to catch a small piece of his shirt between her fingers. Just the fabric near his side, a gentle pinch that grounded her. He didn't react outwardly, but she felt the subtle shift in his posture. Awareness, maybe. Or acknowledgment.

"—minimal exposure," the report kept going.

"The diversion at the house bought enough time. They'll be searching surface routes before they think to check the deep tunnels."

"And the others?" he asked.

"Repositioning. We have until dawn, maybe longer if we're fortunate." Dawn. How long until dawn? Tessa had lost track of time somewhere between waking up and these underground passages. The fabric between her fingers felt thin. But she held on anyway.

"Good work," Rellen said.

"Take position outside. Signal if anything approaches." The rogue nodded once and slipped back through the hidden door. The door closed with a soft click, leaving Tessa and Rellen alone in the lamplight. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. Her hand was still clutching his shirt. She should probably let go. Should step back. Should say something to break the tension. But she didn't. And Rellen, for his part, didn't move away. He slowly lifted a hand.

He covered her hand, still clutching his shirt, with his own. His palm felt warm.

"You alright?" he asked.

"Quite a night." A small, awkward smile touched his lips.

"You could say that," Tessa replied, pulling her hand from his. She felt a prickle of annoyance. Is that all he has to say after throwing her out a window? The memory of the terror, of waking up with strangers in her home, the magic rushing past her during the chase, was still too fresh to be brushed off with a casual remark. He dropped his gaze and motioned toward the cot. Tessa sank onto it, the springs groaning in protest.

He grabbed the blanket from the end of the cot, a rough wool creation, and spread it over her legs. Only then did she notice she still wore the patched tunic and worn breeches from yesterday. Thank fuck she didn't sleep naked last night. Her laziness, leaving whatever she wore that day on for the night, saved her from potential embarrassment. Rellen knelt beside the cot. He took her foot in his hand, calloused fingers probing gently.

"I'm fine," she said, pulling her foot back.

"Didn't even lose any health points." Her voice came out sharper than she intended, the frustration with the situation and his demeanor bleeding into her tone.

"Just a bit uncomfortable, running around on bare feet." He sighed, running a hand over the short, dark stubble on his jaw.

"Tessa, I really..." He trailed off, searching for the right words and clearly coming up empty. Seeing him in such a state somehow made a calm settle over her. The adrenaline was fading. She reached a hand under her tunic, fishing out the pouch that nestled against her ribs. She pulled it free and presented the worn bag to him.

"Here," she said, her voice firm.

"Take it. It has gotten me into enough trouble already." Rellen blinked, not moving. She didn't wait for him to act. She simply opened her hand and let the small pouch drop. Rellen lunged. He snatched the bag above his thigh, hurriedly grasping the thin fabric, his fingers closing around the two precious cubes inside. He looked afraid that he would damage them. Good. I'm rid of them, she mused, watching his panicked reaction. He let out a breath and held the pouch securely.

"Weelll..." he began, his shoulders slumping just slightly.

"The trouble isn't quite done yet."

"I noticed," she deadpanned, raising an eyebrow. She leaned forward on the cot, folding her hands neatly in her lap and looking down at him.

"So, start explaining. What was all of this?" He shifted uncomfortably on his knees.

"Right. Well, it's simple. We're the good guys, and the others are the bad guys. They're causing trouble in the Empire, destabilizing things, as you have seen. We stop them." He offered her a weak, hopeful smile. She maintained an impassive expression. A child's explanation for grown-up violence.

"Yeah, I figured that much," she said evenly.

"And I'd bet if I asked one of your 'bad guys,' I'd get a very similar answer about how they're the righteous ones and you are the menace." She tilted her head slightly.

"So, let's try for specifics. Do these 'bad guys' have a name, and what precisely is their goal?" Rellen hesitated, his gaze darting to the door.

"They... they don't exactly advertise what they call themselves," he admitted, a trace of annoyance in his tone.

"And we don't know their end goal. Not yet, at least." A tiny, almost arrogant smirk touched his lips.

"They're somewhat new players on the field, mostly operating in the shadows, but they've gotten bolder and bolder. Today, though? They walked right into our trap. We're going to get a lot of information from this." His eyes sparkled with the thrill of the chase. Tessa felt an icy knot tighten in her stomach, but she kept her voice measured.

"A trap? Rellen, what about the people in the neighborhood? What about my neighbors?" Does he see this as a game?

"How dare you start fights so carelessly in the streets of the capital? This is a mostly residential area of the city, how dare you!" Rellen's excitement didn't falter. He just smiled, a bright, easy smile that did nothing to reassure her.

"Don't worry," he said, waving a casual hand.

"The Palace is aware, and evacuated the neighborhood." Tessa's mind stalled. Evacuated? The scale of the operation was staggering.

"How is that possible?" she asked quietly, her previous questions momentarily forgotten.

"That must be over a hundred people." His smile widened, a touch proudness entering his expression.

"Mages," he stated simply. She stared at him, the simple declaration hanging in the air: "Mages." Realization replaced her earlier frustration. So many people in a single night. The speed and secrecy required suggested something far beyond a single powerful wizard. This was an operation.

"So, these aren't some rogue spellcasters you rounded up," she stated, her voice flat.

"This was planned. Imperial mages." He gave a slight, affirming nod, his composure returning now that he was speaking on familiar ground.

"The Palace is very much aware. The threat level from these—these players —is high enough that the Emperor's own resources are being deployed." He didn't gloat, but his expression clearly conveyed that he was one of those resources. She felt a genuine shiver. If the Emperor's people are involved, it means the problem isn't a local incident, which made sense considering where she found the cubes; it was a crisis of state—and she had been standing directly in its path.

It makes a horrifying kind of sense; she thought. The only people who could fight like that in the capital's heart and get away with it are the ones who are the law.

"And you," she continued, looking at his tired face and then down at the pouch clutched in his hand.

"You're one of them. A soldier, or... something higher." Rellen finally rose from his kneeling position. He took a single step back, giving her space.

"I'm an investigator and facilitator," he corrected, though he didn't deny her core assumption. He gently squeezed the pouch. She pushed the unease aside, focusing on getting information.

"Investigator and facilitator," she repeated slowly.

"That's a bit vague. It that why you were in Outpost Vire and Veilcross?" Rellen moved a chair closer and sat down.

"It means I investigate potential threats to the Empire," he explained, his eyes never leaving hers.

"And I handle assets—people or items—that are key to our intelligence. My work takes me wherever the information is. To answer your question: Yes, I was at Outpost Vire and Veilcross following information." She straightened on the cot.

"So you were at the Outpost looking for the cube?" Rellen shook his head, a faint frown creasing his brow.

"No," he said simply.

"I had other leads regarding that sector. We did not know about the cubes. Not until... not until I saw what happened in Veilcross." He stopped, the silence stretching between them. He didn't raise his voice, but the sudden shift in his demeanor was palpable.

"Which brings me to my question, Tessa," he asked. The change in topic jarred her.

"Why were you there at the time? Who gave you the job?" Tessa's palms immediately began to sweat. She knew she looked suspicious. Twice, an artifact had been used, causing an incident. And both times, she had been a prime witness and the one who ended up with the artifact.

"I—" She swallowed, her throat suddenly dry.

"I just joined the Adventuring Guild and took a job from the board." The words tumbled out quickly, almost defensively. Rellen's eyes narrowed slightly, though his expression remained neutral.

"But why that job?" His voice was gentle but insistent, probing.

"Was it the money? The location? What appealed to you about that particular contract? Did someone advise you to take it?" The questions came rapid-fire. She looked away, fixing her gaze on a water stain spreading across the ceiling like a map of some unknown territory. She thought back to that morning. She'd been standing in front of the job board at the guildhall, scanning the posted contracts with Rion at her side. Most had been too difficult for her level, requiring skills or equipment she didn't possess.

Then she'd seen it: Delivery to Outpost Vire. 11 silver.

"It paid well," she admitted finally, the words coming out quietly. Heat crept up her neck. She hated admitting her need for money, hated how embarrassed it made her feel. It made her sound desperate. Opportunistic. Exactly the kind of person who might steal and sell a dangerous artifact if given the chance.

"How well?" Rellen asked, though something in his tone suggested he already knew the answer.

"Eleven silvers," Tessa muttered, still not meeting his eyes.

"Good." Her head snapped toward him. The single word, spoken with such certainty. He knew. He knew the exact amount. She stared at him, surprise and a growing unease warring in her chest.

"You..." She trailed off.

"You investigated me." It wasn't a question. Of course, he had investigated her. She'd been at the center of not one but two events involving the cubes. He'd probably pulled every record on her. Rellen didn't deny it. He held her gaze steadily, with no trace of apology in his expression.

"I had to," he said simply.

"Two incidents, and you at both of them. You have to understand how that looks." She nodded slowly, her jaw tight.

"I get it," she said, though her tone made it clear she didn't have to like it.

"Two artifacts, two incidents. I'd investigate me too." The admission tasted bitter on her tongue. Being understood didn't make it any less invasive, knowing someone had been digging through what little history she had, cataloging her movements, her choices, probably even her failures. But even as irritation simmered in her chest, curiosity crept in at its edges. What had he found out about her? The Guild records would be sparse—embarrassingly so. A few months of membership, no completed contracts of note.

But had he dug deeper? Gone beyond the Guild's files? Her heart raced, suddenly pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. The thought struck her like lightning: What if he knows where her father and sister are? The possibility hadn't even occurred to her until this moment, but now it consumed her thoughts entirely. Rellen was clearly no ordinary "Investigator"—he had resources, connections and the ability to stage an operation in the capital.

As someone with contracts around the Empire and maybe even farther than that, he should be able to find any information about them, right? Two people who'd vanished years ago. If anyone could find them... She leaned forward slightly, her hands gripping the edge of the blanket. Her breathing quickened. Did he know? Had he found something in his investigation? Names, locations, any scrap of information about where they'd gone or why they'd left her behind? Rellen's expression shifted immediately.

She watched his eyes narrow, his head tilting slightly as he studied her face. The careful investigator's mask slipped, replaced by something more genuinely worried.

"Tessa?" he asked carefully, his voice gentler now.

"What are you thinking about?" The question broke through her spiraling thoughts. She blinked, suddenly aware of how she must look—leaning forward with wide eyes, hands clutched white-knuckled in the blanket, probably looking half-desperate and entirely unhinged. This had totally ruined the serious vibe Rellen had been going for.

Whatever intimidating investigator routine he'd been building—the careful questions, the knowing look, the revelation that he'd researched her—all of it dissolved in the face of her sudden, obvious emotional shift. Now he just looked concerned and maybe a little confused.

"I..." Her mouth opened and closed. How did she even ask this? Hey, while you were investigating me, did you stumble across my missing family? It sounded ridiculous even in her head. But the question burned in her throat, demanding to be asked.

"Did you—" She stopped, swallowed hard.

"When you investigated me, what... what did you find?" Her voice came out smaller than she intended, lacking any of the defensive edge from before.

"About me. My background. Before the Guild."