It had been a week since Nailah left the workhouse. A week of hunger, exhaustion, and constant fear. She had been living on the streets, hiding from the Crimson Bandits who prowled the city like wolves, searching for her.

  But she refused to give in.

  "I promised mother that I would keep moving forward," she thought, her legs barely supporting her as she trudged through a narrow alleyway. Dirt clung to her skin, and her ribs ached from hunger, but she pushed forward.

  She had already lost too much—Kenny, Edward, and now, her mother. She was alone now, but she had to survive. She had to find a way out of this misery.

  As she neared a railway, a thought struck her. "The only thing I have that people here don’t, is my knowledge of Skyland. I must make use of that!"

  A sudden shout shattered her thoughts.

  "I found her! She’s there!"

  Nailah's blood ran cold. The Crimson Bandits had spotted her.

  She ran. Her feet pounded against the cobblestone streets as the bandits gave chase, their footsteps echoing behind her. She turned a corner, her chest heaving, only to find more bandits emerging from an alley ahead.

  Trapped.

  With a desperate dive, she barely avoided their grasp. Weaving through the market, she grabbed onto a merchant’s stand and shoved it over, sending crates and produce crashing onto the ground. The chaos slowed some of her pursuers, but others leapt over the obstacles with ease.

  She needed an escape. Fast.

  "Hey! Over here!"

  A voice called out from a nearby alley. Nailah turned and saw a woman waving her over. She didn’t have time to hesitate. Darting toward the alley, she followed the woman into the shadows just as the Crimson Bandits stormed past.

  When the bandits arrived at the alley, there was no sign of her.

  A bandit grabbed the woman. Her appearance was ordinary, just another peasant in the city. "Where did she go?!"

  The woman shrugged and pointed to a fence. "She jumped over that fence like a grasshopper!"

  The bandits muttered curses before vaulting over the fence, continuing their chase. As soon as they were gone, the woman let out a breath.

  "They’re leaving," she whispered.

  From beneath a pile of garbage, Nailah slowly emerged, scrunching her nose. "Ugh! It stinks!"

  "Thanks for the help!" Nailah said as the woman pulled her up.

  "No problem. We’ve got to help each other," the woman replied with a casual smile.

  With a grateful nod, Nailah turned to leave. "See you around!"

  As she disappeared into the city, the woman remained, watching her go.

  "Ain’t that odd?"

  A voice spoke from above.

  A shadow leapt down from the rooftop, landing gracefully beside her—a young man with a smirk full of dangerous charm. It was Zeke.

  "100-Face Harlow, the worst con woman in the city, being so charitable?"

  Harlow narrowed her eyes. "You’re Zeke Sticky Fingers."

  Zeke chuckled. "Why did you help her?"

  Harlow crossed her arms. "What about you? Why didn’t you go after her? You’re a Crimson Bandit, aren’t you?"

  Zeke grinned. "Since I’m a gentleman, I’ll answer first. I was going to capture her, but after seeing you help her, I got curious. Now, your turn."

  Harlow hesitated. She wanted to keep that to herself, but now that Zeke had caught on, she had no choice. "Something about her is… off. I just want to confirm something before you guys take her."

  Zeke’s grin widened. "Now you’ve got me even more curious. I look forward to seeing what you find out."

  Harlow scoffed as he walked away. "That’s why I hate Crimson Bandits. Always snooping around."

  Nailah pressed forward into Sihampton, her mind still racing from the chase.

  "That was close! If it weren’t for that woman, I’d probably be dead by now."

  As Nailah caught her breath, her gaze locked onto the street ahead. A woman dressed in all black moved through the city with effortless grace, turning heads as she passed. Her Fulani braids, adorned with snake-like motifs at the front and puffed out at the back, swayed gently with each step. A smoking pipe rested elegantly in her hand, and the way she carried herself radiated undeniable power.

  Nailah’s eyes widened. "How elegant!"

  A city guard approached the woman with a cocky grin. "Hey there, pretty one! How about a drink?"

  She didn’t even glance his way, her path unwavering.

  The guard’s grin faltered, turning into a scowl. "I’m talking to you, woman!"

  Still, she paid him no mind. Enraged, he reached out to grab her shoulder—but his hand stopped inches away, as if blocked by an invisible wall. His eyes widened in shock.

  "What—?"

  Before he could react, the guard was suddenly thrown through the air, crashing into the street. Blood trickled from his brow bone, and he groaned in pain, his eyes wide with disbelief.

  "It can’t be… What is she doing here?"

  Whispers filled the streets.

  "That elegance…"

  "That power…"

  Nailah watched in awe as the woman spoke, her tone dripping with condescension. "I’ve been hearing a lot of barking… someone take this creature to the animal shelter."

  Gasps rippled through the crowd.

  "That’s Ayao, the Lord of Subterfuge!"

  "You mean the Dark Lord?!"

  Nailah’s heart pounded. "Dark Lord?"

  A man beside her leaned in. "You don’t know of the Dark Lords? They are the four biggest deviants of the Lowlands. They rule the black market!"

  Nailah’s admiration burned brighter. "She is amazing!"

  Guards surrounded Ayao, weapons drawn. "Who do you think you are to attack a man of the law?!"

  Ayao exhaled slowly, her glowing eyes locking onto them. "Who do I think I am?"

  In an instant, the guards collapsed to the ground, their bodies pinned by an unseen force. The floor beneath them cracked under the immense pressure. Ayao remained untouched, standing tall amidst the wreckage.

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  With a smirk, she brought her smoking pipe to her lips.

  "Above the law, I’d say."

  The onlookers could do nothing but stare in awe as they were witnessing the might of Ayao Shuu, The Dark Lord of Subterfuge."

  Nailah’s eyes gleamed with admiration as Ayao continued walking, unaffected by the chaos left in her wake. Two women flanked her, moving with confidence.

  "You should let us handle small fries like that, boss!" one of them complained. Her name is Dorothy. This was Dorothy. She had long cyan blue hair braided neatly on the sides, and her round glasses lent her an air of quiet intelligence. Dressed like an elegant scholar, she held a notebook close to her chest, her demeanor kinder than the other two.

  "Yeah, not fair! You kept all the fun to yourself!" the other added, her voice more upbeat, yet tinged with a competitive edge. This was Bremuda. Her short green hair framed a face that carried a mischievous glint. A floral tattoo snaked along her left arm, and the muscle beneath her black tank top was undeniable. Gauntlets adorned her forearms, and one could tell at first glance that she was a powerful warrior, someone who reveled in the thrill of a good fight.

  Ayao remained composed. "It doesn’t matter. They were ants."

  Her expression turned serious. "Pristine’s death will harm our business. We must find a way to remedy this."

  Nailah, following behind, froze at those words.

  "What did she say?!"

  A voice whispered behind her. "Do you have business with us, young lady?"

  She turned sharply to see a figure looming behind her. There stood a man, exuding an aura of quiet menace. He was tall, draped in an elegant black three-piece suit and a black trench coat flowed behind him, giving him the look of a phantom. His black hat tilted just enough to obscure part of his face, but his piercing slanted eyes—dark as the night—held her gaze.

  Everything about him screamed mystery. His foreign features, fair skin, and smooth black hair hinted at his Eastern Empire origins.

  His name was Sakichi Goemon.

  Sakichi dragged Nailah forward, tossing her onto the ground before his boss, who leaned against a sleek horsomobile. Ayao’s sharp eyes assessed the girl sprawled before her.

  “Boss, I found this girl following us,” Sakichi reported.

  Ayao remained seated, crossing her arms. “So, why are you following us?” she asked, her tone neither hostile nor welcoming.

  Nailah pushed herself up, locking eyes with Ayao. Determination flared in her gaze. “I want you to teach me your magic! Or whatever it is that you did back there!”

  Ayao exhaled, unimpressed. “What I can tell you,” she said, rising to her feet, “is that I didn’t get to where I am by accepting people’s favors for nothing in exchange.”

  She raised her hand, signaling her crew. “Begone, kid. Take her away.”

  Bremuda and Dorothy stepped forward, gripping Nailah’s arms to drag her away. She resisted, twisting in their grasp.

  “At least you tried,” Bremuda said with a smirk. “Good luck.”

  “I do have something to give in exchange!” Nailah blurted.

  Ayao lifted a brow and signaled for her crew to halt. “Oh?” she mused. “What could you possibly have to offer?”

  Nailah took a deep breath, bracing herself. “I have information on Jason Pristine’s death.”

  Ayao’s expression momentarily shifted, surprise flickering across her face before she returned to her usual stern demeanor. “Go on,” she said, her voice carrying newfound interest.

  Nailah hesitated, gripping her wrists as if steadying herself. “First, I need to know that you’ll keep your end of the deal.”

  Dorothy’s patience snapped. She unsheathed her blade from her sleeve and pressed it against Nailah’s throat. “Insolent brat, watch your mouth! We can take that information without giving you a thing!”

  Nailah’s fear melted into something else, an eerie calm. She stared Dorothy down, her eyes empty yet brimming with defiance. “Do I look like I’ve got something to lose?”

  Ayao chuckled, amusement dancing in her eyes. She gestured for Dorothy to back off. “It’s all right. Let her go.”

  Dorothy hesitated before withdrawing her blade. Ayao extended a hand toward Nailah. “If the information is true and useful, I will keep my word. But if it isn’t, we’ll kill you. Do you still want to make the deal?”

  Nailah didn’t hesitate. She clasped Ayao’s hand firmly. “As I said, I’ve got nothing to lose.”

  Ayao smirked. “Very well. Hop in the horso. We’ll talk at our inn after you take a shower. You stink.”

  Nailah scowled but said nothing, knowing the insult was well-earned.

  The horsomobile rumbled to a stop outside an inn. Ayao and her crew stepped out, with Nailah trailing behind. The place was eerily quiet.

  “Is there no one inside?” Nailah asked.

  Ayao waved a hand dismissively. “I reserved the whole inn. I won’t share space with lowlives.”

  Inside, Ayao strode up to the innkeeper. “Bring us food.”

  “Yes, ma’am!” he scurried off to obey.

  At the table, the group ate in silence except for Nailah, who wiped her mouth with a towel, her plate already empty.

  Ayao frowned. “Did they forget to serve you food?”

  “No,” Nailah said simply. “I finished eating.”

  Ayao stared at her, momentarily speechless.

  “Anyway,” Ayao finally said, leaning forward. “Let’s get to business. What information do you have for me?”

  Nailah’s expression darkened. “What I wanted to tell you… Jason Pristine wasn’t killed by his adopted daughter.”

  Ayao’s brows furrowed. “Then who killed him?”

  Nailah’s voice was steady, but her hands clenched into fists. “He was poisoned by a hooded man wielding two swords. One of them was pink. But Jason killed him.”

  Ayao’s eyes widened, her usual composure slipping just a fraction. "A pink sword?! Are you sure? I hope you can prove your story."

  Nailah’s gaze was unwavering. "Yes."

  "Then prove it!" Ayao’s voice sharpened.

  Nailah took a slow breath, the room heavy with anticipation. She knew the risk, but there was no turning back. "I am his adopted daughter. I witnessed the whole thing."

  A tense silence filled the room. Ayao studied her carefully, her expression unreadable. After what felt like an eternity, Ayao sighed. "You realize we could send you to Skyland and make a fortune off you?"

  "I know," Nailah replied, her voice quiet but firm. "But you don’t seem like someone who breaks an agreement."

  Ayao chuckled, her eyes glinting with something unreadable. "Fortunately, you’re right. But I still need to verify your information." She turned her head slightly, her command unspoken yet clear. "Sakichi!"

  From the shadows, Sakichi emerged. “Yes, Boss?”

  “I need you to go to the V.K and ask him about Mephistos.”

  Sakichi gave a slight nod. “Understood.”

  And just like that, he was gone—vanishing into the dark like a whisper.

  Back at the table, Nailah eyed Ayao as she took a slow drag from her pipe. “So, what now?”

  “We wait,” Ayao answered. “And when Sakichi gets back, we’ll see what happens.”

  They sat in silence before Nailah spoke again. “What was that magic you did earlier?”

  Ayao smirked. “Don’t you remember the terms of our agreement?”

  “I know, but if I lied, you’d kill me.”

  “Fair point,” Ayao admitted. “It’s not magic. It’s called Arcane Arts or Arcanism, as some call it. The power to manipulate matter. If you want to learn more, better hope we can confirm your story.”

  Hours later, the sharp ring of Ayao’s Poly Watch sliced through the silence of the room. The Poly Watch, a multifunctional device that blended timekeeping with technology. It looked like a fancy pocket watch, but it also served as a phone, a compass, and even a camera, all compacted into a sleek, elegant design.

  “Boss, I met the V.K,” his voice crackled through the device. “She seems to be telling the truth. Mephistos hasn’t been seen in months. His last destination was Skyland.”

  Ayao stood abruptly. “This is bad for our plans… Well done, Sakichi. Head back so we can discuss this further.”

  “Yes, boss. Be there shortly.”

  She took a deep breath, calming herself. Then, a sly smile spread across her lips. “On the bright side, someone is about to learn from the best.”

  She turned to her crew. “Dorothy! Bremuda!”

  When they all gathered, Ayao finally introduced herself. “We never introduced ourselves. I’m Ayao.”

  Dorothy smirked. “I’m Dorothy, the Bookkeeper. I keep things… orderly.”

  Bremuda cracked her knuckles. “I’m Bremuda. I beat people up for Ayao.”

  Sakichi appeared from nowhere. “Sakichi.”

  Ayao crossed her arms. “And we are the Golden Serpents, one of the rulers of the Black Market.”

  Nailah gave a small wave. “Nice to meet you all! I’m Naine.”

  Ayao pointed at the ground. “Meet me here tomorrow at two. We’ll head somewhere suitable to start your training.”

  Nailah grinned. “Yes, teacher!”

  Ayao tossed a bundle toward her. “Here, sandwiches. Better enjoy them, because tomorrow will be hard.”

  As Nailah walked off, Dorothy watched her go. “Boss, we could’ve just coerced her. Why waste time on this girl?”

  Ayao smirked as she exhaled a thin trail of smoke. "Consider it an investment." Her expression was sharp, cunning, and calculating.