Problems In Briton

"Do not talk to a young lady like that! Where are your manners?! Young one, I am so sorry for that Mage's insensitive statement," scolded Baldwin.

"It's quite alright. I love food as much as the little Valkyrie beside me does. So if you are worried about me putting on weight, please don't be. The extra Energy gets absorbed into my weapon, so I use it against another opponent later," I explained, feeding Mavislin some pieces of avocados.

Everyone was silent for a bit before I remembered a new guest had joined the table. And I was wondering if anyone was going to start talking about their day. Something like a human family would do. How are the missions, or had anyone seen something interesting before lunch?

"Tomoe, how's the situation at Briton?" asked Raiyen, finally breaking the silence.

I spat out my food while Mavislin stared at Tomoe with a piece of fish threatening to fall out of her mouth. Z glanced at us before looking at Tomoe and Raiyen.

"Why are you both having those facial expressions? What's wrong with me sending Tomoe to the Briton Domain?" asked Raiyen, confused.

"Since when Briton was under your care, Raiyen?" asked Mavislin, who was back in her teenage form.

I swear I keep forgetting Mavislin could change her age appearance at will. And without warning.

"Since Ysabeau was pregnant and the Old Chapel refused to let her out of the area? I told Z about it. Besides, a good friend of mine at that area has alerted me about some fishy stuff going on back there, so I asked Tomoe to go over to check first," replied Raiyen, raising an eyebrow.

"Crap... I'd completely forgot to tell you, Mavislin..." whispered Z as Mavislin's expression turned from shock to anger.

"Yea, since I'm indispensable. If something needs to be checked out, throw your best friend Tomoe the foxy cushion to test the water first. Oh, he died? Don't worry! It'll take a few days of replenishing Elemental Energy, and he would be good as new!" exclaimed Tomoe.

The amount of sarcasm spewing out of this Kitsune's mouth was as much as the volume of water in the Niagra Falls. On the one hand, it's funny to hear him say that. On the other, it sounds pretty sad to know. Familiars are used in a dispensible way since they can't fully die in this world.

"I think Tomoe needs a few days off from going onto missions..." said Baldwin, shaking his head.

"He needs a vacation to Albion from the looks of things. Specifically, the Red Light District," added Z.

"Okay, with a bunch of wrong turns and distractions over, let's get back to the point. Have you found anything odd with that place yet? Or it's another of his wild suspicions? If so, remind me to seize that back of mushrooms from him. That guy has got to stop seeing ponies with horns..."

I looked at Raiyen with puzzled eyes. Was that another way of telling us your friends do drug? So there are drugs in this world too?! Have I been trippin' on something ever since I got here?

"Everything has been the same except for the Prisoners' Den. Your pal told me all about this new gigantic house on the top of the hill that got built in a few months. Gardens, fountains, and a huge mansion... All done within 30 days. And get this, that guy is a Mage."

"That's what I got from your friend while he was stoned out of his mind. And the one thing that made me switch off was the fact about dolls coming to life. I didn't sign up for this! I'm alright with undead people, Valkyries who eat more than their body weight and Time Mages."

"But not dolls! I hate dolls! Those expressionless faces of theirs are horrifying to see! Have you seen one before?! And to know that they are walking around a big mansion at night makes things even worse... That gives me the creeps!" explained Tomoe, with ears twitching.

The whole table was silent as Tomoe continued to rant on about how dolls are creepy to him.

"I think we might've got a bigger issue within Briton now... Mavislin was invited to have dinner with this new rich guy in the lowest District of Briton. Before you ask, he was the one who built the giant house on the top of the hill," explained Z, quietly finishing his plate.

"Also, we are suspecting that this rich guy is a Mage of some sorts and has been using his powers to make the orphaned kids disappear. We do not know much about this whole thing, so we were hoping to launch a sting operation tomorrow to test the waters first."