Rhok asked a few more people until he was able to get the directions right, just as the meat seller had said. It was indeed the white domed building.He had left a certain part of the city that he wasn't sure of. But he no longer saw stalls and merchandise around to be sold. But the streets seemed more like residential buildings. Well cleaned and tidy with people of status walking about.In front of Rhok stood a white gate, with two Imperial guards standing side by side on either side of the gate. They regarded Rhok but said nothing as he crossed the gate and walked in with Liora.Since they had entered the Capitol, she had been oddly quiet.“Hey” he called out to her.“Hmm?” “Why are you so quiet?” He asked.“Hmmm. Nothing…. Didn't you want me to shut up?” She retorted. Liora always had something to say.“Yes that was before we got into the Capitol, now I may need your help. You've been here before right?” He asked her.“Me? Here? Nah, can't be me, must be my Father's daughter” she

Rhok had decided to take her along with him, not because she asked so nicely, but because it just made sense to have his Adventurers membership and drop her off, then get on with his life.“Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much” Liora jumped around in a circle, and Rhok felt the urge to cover his face in shame.“You know you're a mage, right?” He said to her with a straight face. Trying his best not to laugh, seeing her this happy wasn't so bad. He was just bothered about his image.People were already pointing.“What does that have to do with anything?” She asked.“Well I'm sure people would know you, same as that woman at the Imperial Arms office, when your father's men come looking for you here, we could be tracked down. I wouldn't want any of that” he finished.Liora stopped and looked at him with a frown, then shook her head and maintained her composure.She walked slightly behind him and said nothing, her face, and eyes moved about, darting from left to right out of curiosity.

The street of Oldwickers seemed dull and lacked life, men lay about in rags and torn clothing, and the stench of filth and rum filled the air. Men ravaged my drugs and euphoria fought over the littlest of treasures worth giving value to.Two oddities walked in their midst. One wore a dark cloak, standing at a height that defied his true age with a hood that covered his face. While the other was of small stature, small and unsure of herself.The men around stopped their squabbling and watched the two people, they knew they hadn't been here at Oldwickers before, they could smell it.One of the men threw a bottle of ale filled with piss at the feet of Rhok. The bottle broke, spilling out its contents and spreading piss everywhere.Rhok stopped in his tracks. Looked at the man who threw the bottle, bent low picked up the shards of the bottle and slowly walked towards the man.“Piss off from here… Yer don't wanna get any closer,” he said. His accent sounded of the slums, improper, and soun

Rhok staggered to his feet. He felt at his ribs, three were broken, and his sternum was damaged as well, but luckily none of his bones had punctured his lungs.He took in deep wheezing breaths and stabilized himself. Next, he tore out a piece of clothing from his cloak and tied his left eye shut…He stumbled but held the wall and looked at them. Even with the absence of light, he could see them properly.He was of the shadows after all.“Aaahh, the brat still lives? And where is the girl who was with him?” The short man asked.The long man shrugged, “Beats me, why would I care about a weak girl? I want that man” he grinned.“That… Was a solid attack. You almost killed me you know, risky business here” Rhok muttered in pain but stood up straight.The short man regarded him with caution and took a step back. “I am Finn and this is Sam,” the short man said.“Consider this my respect to you for surviving that attack. Next time, you won't be so lucky” Finn said, he flexed his gauntlets and

“Rhok… I'm cold…" Liora's breathing was slightly burdened. Her breath could be seen every time she exhaled.“Are you sure I can't use some fire magic?” She asked doubtful. Rhok shook his head slightly. He had to admit, the cavern's temperature had gotten extremely low, and very fast at that.He knew he couldn't fight under these unfavourable conditions, the frost was caused by someone amongst the men who approached them.“I have an idea…" He said. His breathing began getting slower. He could see Ice forming at the tips of his fingers.“Ever heard of thermal conduction?” He asked her. Liora shook her head, not able to make sense of what Rhok had just said.Rhok rubbed his hands together, he needed a way to counter this cold.“Listen to me closely”. He stopped and turned at her.“Are you able to raise the temperature of an object slightly, but not reach the point of it melting?”She nodded.“Good. You're going to do that with our bodies. Raise our body temperature itself. Not an externa