Bran stretched, letting out a satisfied sigh. "Well, this has been educational, but I think I need another drink after all that."
Selis laughed. "Another round, then?"
The air outside was crisp, carrying a faint mix of scents.
Zayn exhaled, letting the cool night breeze wash over him as he and Bran stepped onto the bustling street.
Behind them, Liriel and Selis waved before disappearing back into the bar.
Zayn's gaze lingered on Selis for a mont longer than he intended.
There was sothing about her that had caught his interest — not just her silver hair, but the way she carried herself.
Confident, playful, and sharp. It wasn't often he found himself this intrigued.
It seed he had a fetish for silver haired beast won.
Bran clapped a hand on his shoulder, shaking him out of his thoughts. "Oi, you're staring, man."
Zayn rolled his eyes. "And? You've been staring at won all night."
Bran grinned. "Yeah, but I own it. You, on the other hand? Looking like a lovestruck teenager."
Zayn clicked his tongue but didn't argue.
He wasn't about to admit that Bran might've had a point.
They continued walking down the main street of the red-light district, passing by buildings adorned with colorful lanterns and elaborate signs.
Music played in the distance, laughter spilling from open doors as patrons stumbled in and out of establishnts.
The energy of the district was alive — sothing that didn't seem to wane no matter how late it got.
It was similar to the nightlife of New York if he were to be honest.
Bran suddenly stretched, cracking his neck before looking over at Zayn. "So, what now? We've still got a couple of hours before we have to go and rest up for tomorrow,."
Zayn thought for a mont before replying. "I guess we could look around. No harm in seeing more of what this place has to offer."
Bran grinned. "Now that's the spirit. How about we split up? You go your way, I go mine, and we et back in two hours. That way, we both get to explore whatever catches our interest."
Zayn considered it. It wasn't a bad idea.
Wandering alone ant he could take his ti, observe, and maybe even find sothing worth rembering.
"Fine," he agreed. "Two hours. Try not to get yourself thrown out of anywhere."
Bran scoffed. "? Please. I'm great with people."
Zayn snorted. "Sure you are."
With that, they went their separate ways, Bran heading toward an area that seed more lively, while Zayn took a quieter route, his curiosity guiding him through the maze of Timberstead's nightlife.
Zayn strolled down the dimly lit streets of the red-light district, hands stuffed in his pockets, deep in thought.
The night had been interesting, to say the least.
He had learned quite a bit about how things operated here — from the different houses that controlled the district to the various jobs available in the Red Light District.
But right now, there was sothing else on his mind.
'Bran probably wants to go house so prostitutes,' he muttered under his breath with a smirk.
His friend wasn't exactly shy about his preferences, and after splitting up, Zayn wouldn't have been surprised if Bran was currently being entertained in so lavish room.
He shook his head, brushing off the thought, when movent in the distance caught his attention.
At first, he dismissed it as just another group of drunken adventurers having fun, but sothing felt off.
The atmosphere in that part of the alley was different — too quiet.
Zayn slowed his pace, eyes narrowing as he got closer.
Then, he saw them.
The group of n from earlier — the sa ones who had burst into the bar with red faces and won clinging to their arms — were now gathered in a secluded part of the alley.
But this ti, there were no laughing barmaids or cheerful drinks involved.
Instead, they were surrounding a woman, the very sa one that one of them had tried to force himself on back in the bar.
Zayn's expression darkened.
The woman looked terrified, her back pressed against the cold stone wall.
She wasn't screaming — probably too scared to — but the way she clutched her arms around herself made it clear she wanted to be anywhere but here.
One of the n — an older adventurer with a scruffy beard — was fumbling with his belt, chuckling drunkenly.
"Relax, sweetheart. It'll be over soon."
Zayn clenched his jaw.
Of course. It wasn't uncommon for drunkards to lose control after getting rejected.
They had probably waited for an opportunity to corner her, thinking that no one would be around to stop them.
Too bad for them...
Zayn took a slow step forward, rolling his shoulders. "Tch. Can't even handle your liquor without turning into trash?"
The group snapped their heads toward him, eyes widening in surprise.
They hadn't noticed him approaching, which ant they were too drunk — or too stupid — to be cautious.
Or maybe both?
Definitely both.
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