Afternoon. A backroom in the Great Library.

  Vex slouched on a couch, propping his legs up on the Shadow Library laying on the floor. Alixa paced the room nervously.

  "Ugh. How long are we going to wait? The guards are bound to find us."

  Vex stuck a finger in his ear and twisted it.

  "Look at it this way, princess. We’re just waiting for them to calm down a little."

  "Why would they stop searching?"

  Vex shrugged.

  "Dunno. What’s the rush? Let’s come up with a plan first."

  "Was sleeping half the day part of your plan?"

  Litero opened the door, carrying a tray with a tea set and a few cookies.

  "I hope I didn't interrupt anything."

  He carefully laid out the set and poured everyone a cup. Alixa’s pompous persona instantly overrode her worried mind.

  "Finally, someone treats me the way they’re supposed to."

  Litero ignored her.

  "Sorry, you’ll have to settle for these cookies. Sadly, my usual treats have become scarce in the capital."

  Vex stood and waved a dismissive hand.

  "Don’t sweat it, old man. We have other issues."

  "About that, before using the Shadow Library, you should take it to my friend’s workshop. It’s called 'Dragon’s Den.' Tell him I sent you. Even lost artifacts need maintenance, otherwise their effects could backfire."

  Alixa froze. In her mind, time slowed to a crawl. The possibility that her binding magic was the result of neglect hit her ego harder than crawling through the mud did. She bit her nails, debating whether she should ask Litero about the lost artifacts.

  Vex looked at her.

  "What’s your deal?"

  Alixa scrambled, sounds coming out of her mouth that didn't quite register as words. Her biggest fear was Vex learning the truth about lost artifacts. It didn't matter that he held one right now, the idea of him knowing was worse. She managed.

  "Mister Litero what do you know about lost artifacts?"

  "Huh? So you caught that? I’m glad someone who recognizes them has the Shadow Library. I don’t know much, honestly. Most of my research suggests that the bulk of the knowledge regarding them comes from the Divu Islands."

  Vex stood up and began stretching.

  "Enough yapping. We have a king to overthrow."

  Alixa exhaled, relieved that the idiot bound to her couldn't care less about the details.

  Vex and Alixa grabbed their cloaks, tucked the Shadow Library into a bag Litero had lent them, and slipped through a back exit. They headed toward the spot where they had first landed, hoping to recover something Vex had dropped.

  They walked the narrow cobblestone streets, keeping a sharp eye out for guards. The city was eerie, they barely passed a soul. Upon reaching the main road, they found the buggy they had crashed. Alixa looked around, unsure why they were even risking this. Vex jumped inside and rummaged through the wreckage for a full minute. He emerged covered in straw and feathers.

  Alixa sighed.

  "Took you long enough."

  Vex thrust his arms into the air, displaying his find- the boots Hal had made for him. After basking in his own imaginary glory, he jumped down dramatically. Alixa complained.

  "We risked our lives for some boots?"

  "Not just some boots, chaos-powered boots. You have your dagger, princess and I needed a weapon since the Shadow Library is off the table for now."

  "Do you even know how they work?"

  "I’m about to find out!"

  At Alixa’s insistence, they ducked into an alley. Vex kicked off his shoes and tried to put the boots on. After struggling for a moment, he stopped.

  "That idiot! Our scholar didn’t think to check the size!"

  "Just leave them."

  He stood up and looked at Alixa like an angry child furious at his mother for taking a toy away.

  "No way! I’ll make four-eyes redo them."

  "We have no space to carry them."

  Vex, still sitting on the ground, looked at Alixa’s feet. A devious grin spread across his face.

  "Take off your boots."

  "Pervert."

  "The view is just a bonus."

  He winked. Alixa mimed vomiting.

  The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  "You’re lucky the binding prevents me from harming you. Turn around."

  "I’m not missing a second of this."

  "We need to check for guards, idiot!"

  Alixa turned away and put on the artifact shoes. They were a perfect fit. On the side of each boot was a small dial, to test them, she gave the dials a slight turn. She started with a jump, soaring nearly twice her usual height. Next, she tried running, though she didn't notice a significant difference in speed.

  Vex watched from the side, brimming with envy.

  "You get a new toy and suddenly we’re not in a hurry? Very mature, princess."

  Alixa blushed.

  "You said it was a weapon. And weapons need to be tested before use."

  Vex squinted and adopted his most patronizing tone.

  "You’re just so right, your royal rightness."

  ?????

  Hal and Amelie were on their way to retrieve Hal’s belongings. It was a short trip, a kilometer at most. Suddenly, they spotted a guard. Hal took Amelie’s hand and whispered.

  "Stop. Guard. Let's hide in there."

  He pointed to a humble, half-full tavern. A sign outside read 'The Golden Spire'. They snuck in unnoticed and took a seat.

  "Are you hungry, Hal?"

  "I guess."

  "Don’t lie. Epic quests require full bellies."

  His stomach grumbled in agreement.

  "You’re right. A twenty minute break won't hurt."

  A waitress approached, Amelie took charge and ordered for both of them.

  "He’ll have the lunch special, and I’ll take ten donuts and a mug of ale."

  "Coming right up."

  Hal sat in stunned silence, unable to form a sentence. Amelie shrugged.

  "You should focus on the artifact. The spirits whisper to me that it’s your destiny. I’ll take care of the rest."

  "I suppose. But ale? Aren't you a bit young for afternoon drinking?"

  "Silly Hal, we’re almost the same age. Just eat your fill and don’t worry about me. Besides, I have way more life experience. I may not be sociable, but I survived on my own for ten years."

  Memories flooded back to Hal. The first time he’d met Amelie, she was completely wasted, screaming at him. He wondered if she was being influenced by Vex.

  The waitress brought their food. The lunch special was a small piece of meat with a few sides. The only regular-sized item was the mug of ale. Hal muttered.

  "At least I got some meat."

  "Cheers!"

  "Amelie, maybe you shouldn’t-"

  Amelie slammed the empty mug onto the table and let out a massive burp.

  "Too late."

  "Ugh. More of that freak’s influence."

  He was halfway through his meal when a familiar woman entered the tavern. A quick glance at her wrist with a small spider tattoo confirmed her identity. Hal pulled his hood up. Persika began walking around as his stomach grumbled again.

  Amelie looked concerned. Words barely came out in between her hiccups.

  "Hal, is everything all right? I sense a dark aura."

  Suddenly Amelie passed out. Hearing the name 'Hal', the woman changed direction and walked straight to their table. She calmly sat opposite them. Hal looked into her eyes, they appeared normal.

  "So, what is my favorite loverboy doing in the capital of Wavel?"

  Hal wished he could spend another fun day with her, but he knew that was impossible now. He answered coldly.

  "Did you follow us?"

  Her eyes flashed red for a second.

  "It compelled me. How could I not follow two of my biggest targets? Lucky for me, you're in the same party."

  She laughed sadistically.

  "Compelled? I’m not a romantic guy, Persika. I’ll say it straight. I like you, and I want to help."

  "I need you, scholar boy. Not your help."

  "Amelie, we’re going."

  Hal patted the sleeping girl to wake her. He grabbed her hand and began dragging her away. Persika stared at their joined hands, memories of a similar situation flashing through her mind.

  Hal saw her reaction. He experimented.

  "Is it a curse?"

  At the word "curse" Persika began to scream. Hal and Amelie bolted for the door with Persika following in a blind rage. Once they dashed through the exit, Hal pulled out a stasis artifact and froze the door shut.

  "I’LL GET YOU!"

  Persika shrieked. She pounded on the door three times before the magic released, but when she burst outside, the pair was nowhere in sight. She sprinted down the nearest alley, hunting for them.

  Just outside the tavern, Hal lowered a shimmering cloth that had been covering him and Amelie. Amelie watched in amazement.

  "Were we invisible?"

  "No. This artifact only refracts light. Think of it as a portable mirror."

  "So cool."

  ?????

  Vex and Alixa sneaked through the narrow streets toward the Dragon’s Den, dodging guards at every turn.

  "We should at least test the combat capabilities. I want to see what they can do."

  Alixa looked at herself- sweaty, dirty, and desperate for a bath.

  "Easy for you to say. You aren't the one doing the fighting."

  Suddenly, a guard spotted them.

  "Targets in sight. Send reinforcements."

  The guard’s armor wasn't standard, it was bulkier, embedded with shards of chaos on every limb.

  "Alpha-3 engaging intruders."

  Vex laughed.

  "Perfect! Kick his ass, princess."

  Alpha-3 dropped into a low stance, aimed his spear, and lunged. Alixa barely reacted in time, she slammed one boot into a wall and bounced off, landing with a backflip. Alpha-3 pursued her calmly, delivering a flurry of stabs. The chaos shards in his gauntlets began to glow, and his strikes became a blur, nearly impossible to track. Alixa and Vex were forced back.

  "Holy shit. Imagine if he hit a wall. That spear would shatter."

  Alixa glanced behind her. Three regular guards were closing in.

  "We’re surrounded!"

  "I’m a genius! I have an idea, princess. Throw the Shadow Library at him and duck!"

  Alixa reached for the book, momentarily questioning why she ever listened to him.

  "I have a better idea!"

  She dialed her right boot to fifty percent and dropped the book. Planting one foot firmly, she kicked the Shadow Library with the other, using the artifact's force to propel the heavy tome. As she dropped to the ground, the book flew faster than Alpha-3’s spear. It slammed into the guard's weapon, shattering the metal. Shrapnel whistled over Vex and Alixa’s heads, taking out the guards behind them.

  Most of the impact was absorbed by Alpha-3’s heavy armor. His movements slowed. Alixa seized the opening, she bounced off the wall and delivered a powered kick straight to his head. Alpha-3’s helmet flew off, leaving him unconscious on the street.

  "I don't know if I should celebrate that my fiancee is a badass or be envious because you stole my shoes."

  "You told me to wear them!"

  "Anyway, these things are incredible. I’m naming them the 'Wind-Walkers'."

  Alixa rolled her eyes.

  "Wow. I’m actually more impressed by that guard’s armor. We don’t have anything like that in Aldrich. It must have held at least twelve chaos shards."

  They ran before more reinforcements could arrive. Alixa checked the directions Litero had given them.

  "We’re almost there."

  Suddenly, a woman appeared around a corner, running maniacally and ignoring everything in her path. She ran toward them as if ready to trample them like trash. As she got closer, Vex’s eyes widened.

  "That magnificent rack... the godly hourglass figure... the wild hair... it can only mean one thing."

  "That you’re a misogynist?"

  "NO! IT’S THE WIDOW KILLER! AND I’M HER TARGET!"

  "WHAT? She’s THE Widow Killer?"

  "KICK HER! But don't ruin her face!"

  Alixa braced herself, imitating Alpha-3’s low stance. She waited for the perfect moment as Persika closed the distance. Persika locked eyes with Vex.

  "YOU!"

  Her body transformed. More tattoos rippled across her skin, her eyes turned entirely red, and strands of her hair turned white, resembling spider silk. Her footsteps grew audibly heavier.

  Alixa smirked.

  "Don’t worry, Vex, I’ll knock her out. I heard the Widow Killer fucks her victims, and I’m only allowing you to die a virgin."

  She launched herself at the Widow. But as she flew through the air, Persika didn't even slow down. With a casual swipe of her hand, spider-like strings erupted from her fingers, catching Alixa mid-air and changing her trajectory to the side. Persika didn't stop, she punched Vex square in the gut, threw him over her shoulder, and kept running.

  Alixa slammed into a wall at full velocity.

  She woke up an hour later with a splitting headache.

  "Where is it? Oh, thank God."

  She sighed with relief, seeing the bag containing the Shadow Library lying in the road. Then, a minor annoyance curved her lips.

  "I guess I have to go find that idiot, too."