“What are you talking about?” asked Elise, trying to sound casual.
She used {Charm} and {Suggest} as well, hoping to make her confusion seem more believable, but it was futile. Penelope’s hand was already on her sword hilt again, and Otto looked incredibly unimpressed by her feigned ignorance.
“No point in trying to hide it,” he said. “I’ve known since shortly after you arrived in the city. A knight returned from a monster-infested forest carrying a rabbit with white fur and red eyes. Later, she was seen with a very conspicuous woman with white hair and red eyes, and the rabbit was gone. An amateur could have figured it out, and I’m no amateur.
“No need to worry though. I have nothing against changelings. So of my best informants are changelings. I’ve just never seen a situation like this before. Did the knight trick you into a deal?”
“We share a common goal,” said Elise.
Otto didn’t seem to be hostile, but now that she knew he knew what she was, she didn’t want to stay any longer than she needed to. He could reveal her identity to anyone at any ti, and though he didn’t seem to have an incentive at the mont, he was certainly not trustworthy.
“The common goal of finding the missing people?”
“Yes,” said Elise. “Thank you for all your help, but we need to get going.”
She turned to leave, and Penelope followed her lead, but another sentence from Otto stopped them in their tracks.
“I can give you a hint about the Blood Syndicate.”
“I thought you said you couldn’t tell us about them,” said Elise, slowly turning around.
“I can’t tell you where they are,” he said. “But I have no loyalty to them, and a hint is much cheaper than full disclosure.”
“Why would you give us that?”
“Because I want sothing from you,” he said with a smile. “I’ll do you a small favor if you do a small favor.”
“What favor?”
“If you’re going after the Blood Syndicate, I want you to take one of my Ears with you.”
“What?”
“Take my Ear,” he said. “Ears are what I call my subordinates. They listen to things for and report back.”
“So you want us to take a spy with us?” asked Penelope. “No thank you.”
“There would be conditions, of course,” said Otto. “I wouldn’t just ask you to give up your privacy. There would be conditions. It wouldn’t be harmful to you in any way.”
“No,” said Penelope.
“What conditions?” asked Elise.
Penelope turned to Elise. “It doesn’t matter what the conditions are. Even if the spy agrees not to say a word about us to Otto, we can’t afford to be lugging around dead weight. Not if we’re going up against the Blood Syndicate.”
“The Ear I have in mind won’t be dead weight,” said Otto. “Far from it. She’s a talented girl. Very clever. Pleasant disposition. Can handle herself in a fight. In fact, she’s probably better in a fight than Miss Changeling here. She’s beautiful too, so she’ll fit right in with you two. And on top of all that, I’d be happy to make one of the conditions that she actively works to assist you in any way within reason.”
“Still, we can’t,” said Penelope. “I don’t want to travel with soone that I know isn’t trustworthy. Besides, we don’t even know what the hint is.”
“What if I told you that the hint will guarantee that you can find the Blood Syndicate within the month?” asked Otto.
“Does that ‘hint’ not violate your deal with them?” asked Elise.
“The contract I signed is looser than it should be,” he replied with a smile. “It won’t be an issue. I won’t be telling you where they are, after all. Only directing you to soone else who does know where they are, and has no such contract.”
Penelope hesitated for a mont, then grimaced. “Fine. But why do you want us to take your ‘Ear’ with us so badly?”
“Well, if possible, I’d like more information on you two. But if you want one of the conditions to be no spying, I’m fine with that. Really, I just want more eyes on the Blood Syndicate. They’ve been more active about searching for spies lately, and I’ve lost a few of my contacts on the inside. You two will be going in from the outside, of course, but it’s just a stopgap asure until I can get a few more insiders.”
Elise thought that sounded highly suspicious. He definitely had other reasons, though she doubted there was any way to convince him to share them. Not without resorting to violence, at least, and though she had yet to hear any hint of the supposed guards upstairs, Otto had proven himself competent and intelligent enough that she didn’t doubt they existed. Regardless of what his intentions were though, if she got a good enough deal, it would probably be fine.
“That can’t be all, can it?” asked Penelope.
“Of course not, but that’s all I’m willing to share at the mont,” said Otto. “I do promise that it’s not anything that will harm you. I have my reasons for what I want, just as you have your reasons for what you want. Now, what do you say?”
“Fine,” said Penelope.
“I’m fine with it,” said Elise.
“Excellent!” said Otto. “Now, how about we sit back down while we work out the details. I’ve called Maia over already. She’ll be here soon to make sure we’re all on the sa page.”
They spent the next five minutes talking over various terms and issues that might arise from the arrangent. Penelope took a stance that Elise thought was a bit too harsh, but surprisingly, Otto was anable to almost all her conditions. They weren’t yet at a finalized contract, but by the ti their new traveling companion arrived, Elise was feeling both pleased, and nervous about the contract they were drawing up.
“Ah, Maia, you’re here,” said Otto,
The man’s jolly deanor returned in an instant as he nearly skipped toward the door which was now standing ajar.
“This’d better be important. I’m missing a date for this.”
When Elise saw the woman standing in the doorway, the first two words that ca to mind were “dieval emo.” She was wearing a long dress much like the one Elise had seen many of the other won around town wearing, but it was pitch black, and artfully torn so that it was hanging off her left shoulder and had holes exposing spots of her midriff. Her hair was as black as her dress, and covered her left eye, and behind her black-painted lips, she was chewing on sothing like gum.
[ Shadow Rogue, lvl ??? ]
“Oh, I’m sorry, was that today?” said Otto. “That’s a sha. I need you to go out on a mission.”
“Fuck that,” said Maia, turning to leave.
“So much for ‘pleasant disposition,’” muttered Penelope
“It’s the mission,” said Otto.
Maia froze for a mont, then heaved an enormous sigh before turning back around.
“Fuck. Fine.”
She trudged back inside and made her way to the desk while Otto closed and locked the door behind her.
“Who are they?” asked Maia, pausing halfway through the shop.
“Your traveling companions,” said Otto. “Go on, have a seat. We’re working through the deal right now.”
Maia continued her journey to the desk. Elise looked around for another chair for her, but there were none. None nearby at least. There were a few expensive-looking ones on the opposite side of the shop. She wondered if Otto was going to bring one over, but Maia resolved the problem before he could ask by climbing onto the desk and sitting on the end. Penelope looked mildly annoyed at having half her view of the opposite side obstructed, but the desk was wide enough that she and Elise were able to scoot over to make room.
“So, Maia,” said Otto, sitting back down in his own chair. “The knight is Penelope, and the changeling next to her is Elise. Elise and Penelope, this is Maia.”
We never told him our nas, thought Elise.
“Pleasure,” grunted Maia, tilting her head to read the contents of the paper Otto had been writing the conditions on.
“Maia here has been working for for over a decade now,” said Otto. “She’s like a daughter to . I would be very sad if sothing happened to her.”
“Just get on with it already,” said Maia. “When are we leaving?”
“As soon as we finish working out the conditions,” he replied.
“Here, how about this,” she said, snatching the pen and starting to write.
When she was finished, she turned the paper to Elise and Penelope and looked up at them with an almost-bored expression. There were only three new words on the page, reading ‘Don’t be stupid.’ While the ssage was crude, Elise found herself feeling mildly impressed at, and also jealous of, the other girl’s penmanship.
“Now, now, Maia,” said Otto, gently grabbing the pen and paper. “You know these things can’t be rushed like that.”
“Stop being such a stickler,” said Maia.
“Maia,” said Otto, this ti more sternly.
“Ugh, fine.”
It took another 15 minutes to hamr out the rest of the details, which left Elise even more confused than before. Otto and Maia agreed to nearly every single term that Elise and Penelope suggested, including ones against spying, against betraying, disclosure of abilities, and even travel funds. By the end, it felt more like they were being hired as escorts than that they were coming to a mutual agreent. Whatever Otto and Maia wanted, it must have been incredibly important, and from their conversation at the door, it was sothing that they had been waiting for for a long ti.
“Wonderful,” said Otto, rolling up the scroll after both parties had signed. “Now, it seems that you’re in a rush, so I won’t keep you.” He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a jingling pouch. “Here are your travel funds. Maia can fill you in on her abilities. Is there anything else I’m missing?”
“Just the information on where to find the Blood Syndicate,” said Penelope.
“Oh, right!” said Otto. “Your contact lives in Vina, which is convenient because I believe that’s where you were already going.”
“How did you know that?” asked Penelope.
“I ran a background search on you when you arrived in the city,” he said dismissively. “His na is Hans. No last na. He currently works as a guard at a tavern called ‘The Third Tier’. It’s a fairly well-known location, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding it. Hans is an Ainar with black wings, so you shouldn’t have much trouble recognizing him. Maia has t him before as well, so she can help guide you. He will already know you’re coming.”
“And he knows where the Blood Syndicate is holding Nick?” asked Elise.
“He does,” said Otto. “And when he hears what you’re doing, he’ll likely ask to join. I don’t think you two trust much right now, so this won’t an much, but he is an honorable and trustworthy man, and will happily sign whatever secrecy contract that you need him to in order to let him join you. On top of that, he’s one of the strongest people in that city, so you don’t have to worry about him slowing you down.”
Penelope frowned, but didn’t object. Elise wasn’t sure how she felt about it either. More help would be better, but getting so deeply involved with such an obviously shady person didn’t seem wise. However, the contract that they had just worked through was, as far as she could tell, completely safe and free of loopholes. She didn’t see any way for Otto or his underlings to betray them. Of course, she didn’t completely trust that–not since her experience making deals with Emilia–but if it was a legitimate and clean partnership, she had much to gain. She would just have to stay wary.
“Sounds fine to ,” she said. “Penelope?”
“I suppose,” said Penelope.
“Excellent!” said Otto. “Then with that, I bid you farewell. Have a safe trip.”
“Before we go, can you change your outfit?” asked Maia, looking at Elise.
“This is the only one I have.”
“You’re a changeling though, right? Can’t you just…” She wiggled her fingers. “Y’know?”
“I’m only a Lesser Changeling.”
“Those exist?”
“I guess?” said Elise, shrugging.
“Alright then the first thing we need to do is get you new clothes, because whatever that is isn’t gonna work.”
“I was already planning on doing that.”
“Perfect! Then let’s go!”
“Wait!” said Elise.
“What now?”
“My transformation ti is limited. It wears off in less than two hours.”
“Well, then we need to hurry! Let’s go!”
Otto waved goodbye as Maia practically dragged them out the door and onto the street. She led them a couple blocks away to a quiet, but still pleasant part of town where there was a small shop marked by a sign with a picture of a shirt, and the words “The Changeling”.
“It’s not actually run by a changeling,” Maia explained. “It’s just the na of the shop. There are a couple Changelings around the country, all owned by so guy in Jelor City that Otto is friends with.”
The interior of the store was brightly lit and full of rolls of bright-colored fabric. In the middle of the floor, there were a few steel-fras holding dresses and coats for display, but those were the only completed pieces she could see. In the back of the store, there was a counter where a middle-aged woman with gray-streaked brown hair sat. She looked up when the door opened, and broke out into a wide smile when she saw Maia.
“Oh, Maia, you’re back!” she said.
“Hey, Mindy,” said Maia. “Sorry, we’d love to talk, but we’re in a bit of a rush, and my friend here needs clothes.”
“Oh, no problem at all,” said the woman, turning to Elise and holding out her hand. “My na is Mindy, and welco to my shop.”
Elise didn’t answer imdiately. She was still reeling from the results of the {Inspect} she had just done.
[ Changeling Tailor, lvl ??? ]
Had Maia not said anything, Elise would have been able to take it in stride without issue, but having been explicitly told that the shop owner wasn’t a changeling, the reveal left her at a loss. Did Maia not know? Was she just trying to help maintain the changeling’s cover? Or maybe Mindy wasn’t actually a changeling, and her class was just “Changeling Tailor” because she worked at a place called “The Changeling.”
“S-sorry,” she finally stamred. “My na is Elise. I need sothing… normal-looking?”
“Sothing inconspicuous,” added Maia. “And good for travel, and maybe combat.”
“Hmmm,” said Mindy, putting her hand to her chin. “I can do good for travel and combat, but I think inconspicuous might be a fool’s errand, unless you want a more thorough disguise.”
“Hmmm, good point,” said Maia, looking over at Elise as well. “Do you want a more thorough disguise?”
“What do you an by that?”
After hearing what the Boss and his goons had said about her, Elise was much more conscious than she had been previously about her high Charisma. It didn’t seem to matter much when she was with the dwarves or drow, because their other feelings toward her were too strong, but now that she was in a civilized city full of people who didn’t know her, she was beginning to realize it was a problem.
“A skin mask, maybe?” suggested Maia. “Those things are so uncomfortable though.”
“Yeah, an illusion would be better,” said Mindy. “But those artifacts get expensive.
“What if we just dye her hair?” asked Maia. “I think if her hair was brown, it would draw a lot less attention.”
“Oh, yes, that would help,” said Mindy. “We’d want to change her eye color too though.”
“Red eyes aren’t that rare.”
“In elves, maybe. But she’s a human.”
“I think we could make it work,” said Penelope. “Can you do hair dye?”
“Of course!” said Mindy. “In fact, I just got a new shipnt in, so all of my colors are in stock. Do you want one too, Maia?”
“I’ll take a bit more of the black, I guess,” said Maia.
“Great! Does this all sound good with you, Elise?”
“Yeah, it sounds great,” she said. “Will it work though? My Charisma is really high.”
“How high?” asked Mindy.
“Uhhhh…” Elise checked her status window. “Almost 1000.”
Mindy’s and Maia’s eyes threatened to pop out of their heads, and even Penelope looked a bit stunned.
“1000?” repeated Maia. “What tier are you?”
“I-I’d rather not say.”
Elise didn’t totally mind sharing with Maia or Penelope, since they would be traveling together, but she didn’t want to say too much around a complete stranger she might never see again like Mindy.
“Well, the hair dye will still help,” said Mindy. “But you’d need the skin mask or illusion to truly mask that. I can do a skin mask, but it’s not my specialty. You’ll have to go elsewhere if you want one that will last longer than a few days. And there’s an artificer right down the street who might have an illusion device, but that will be expensive, and if he doesn’t have one on-hand, you’re out of luck. If you just want to do it with clothes, I think we should go for a deep hood and a baggy cloak. If you’re all covered, it should prevent most issues. With Charisma that high, that ans you’re probably not a lee fighter, right?”
“Right,” Elise confird.
“Good,” said the older woman, nodding. “Then it shouldn’t be a problem for combat. A long cloak with a deep hood to more or less completely cover you up. It’s not really all that inconspicuous, but it’s the best we can do right here and now.”
“Won’t that get hot though?” asked Elise.
It was currently the peak of sumr, and she didn’t want to be sweating her behind off, just to keep attention off her.
“Not with my clothes,” said Mindy with a grin. “I can use self-cooling fabric and a few trade secret techniques to make sure you feel comfortable at any reasonable temperature.”
“Then let’s do it,” said Elise.
“Then if you don’t mind, follow so I can take your asurents in the back.”
Mindy led her to a door on the right side of the counter, through which was a ssy room full of loose fabric, needles, and various accessories. As soon as they were inside, Mindy turned back to lock the door, and Elise noticed that there was quite a bit of mana contained in the lock. In fact, the entire door was full of it, and the walls and floor were lined with intricate patterns. She tensed, suddenly conscious of the fact that she had just locked herself in a room with a mysterious stranger, but tried to push the thoughts aside.
It’s probably just for privacy, she told herself. And to prevent peeping.
When Mindy finished locking the door, she turned to Elise with a smile so broad it was disconcerting.
“Congratulations on evolving!”
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