Bounty

The streets of Ether Town had taken on a darker tone as the night deepened.

The once-lively market square was now quiet, the only sounds the faint rustle of wind and the occasional creak of a sign swinging in the breeze.

For most people, this was the time to lock their doors and settle in for the night.

But for Rem, it was the perfect time to explore the shadows.

Hood up, mask securely in place, he slipped through the quieter streets with ease.

Ether Town wasn't big, but every settlement had its underbelly.

The black market here was whispered about in taverns and among traveling merchants — a shadowy network tucked beneath the town's unassuming facade.

If one needed something rare, forbidden, or dangerous, it was the place to go.

Rem wasn't interested in trouble — he had plenty of that already. What he sought was information.

His students were resting safely at the inn, and he intended to keep it that way.