Madame Vess

She placed a hand on his arm. "Don't even think about it. Daron might look like a preening peacock, but he's dangerous—and he has the law on his side."

Luther scowled but nodded. "Fine. But if he tries anything—"

"He won't. Not here, at least." She returned to the stove, rescuing the bacon before it burned. "Besides, we have bigger problems than Daron's wounded pride."

"Like what?"

"Like figuring out how to train you," she said, sliding a plate of eggs and bacon in front of him. "Eat. You'll need your strength."

He dug in, suddenly ravenous. Between bites, he asked, "So what's the plan? You seem to have one, even if I don't want to follow it."

She sighed, leaning against the counter. "The original plan was to get you to the capital where there's a secret circle of Ariadne's followers who could train you. But that was when we assumed you'd have divine powers to build on." She drummed her fingers on the countertop. "Now... I'm not sure."

"Tell me about magic in this world," he said. 

She nodded. "The five kingdoms each align with a different elemental affinity: fire, water, earth, air, and spirit. Most people have some small aptitude for their kingdom's element, though few develop it beyond lighting candles or keeping drinks cool."

"And Venoz's element is...?"

"Water," she replied. "Though the royal family has been trying to transition to fire worship since they aligned with Solus. It's been... problematic. You can't change a kingdom's elemental affinity by decree."

"How do I find out what element I have an aptitude for?"

She frowned. "You wouldn't have one, usually. People from other worlds don't naturally align with our elements. That's why heroes get divine powers instead." She paused, thinking. "Although... there are tests that can reveal magical potential. The mage's guild uses them to identify students."

"Ok but what other path is there other than becoming a mage?"

"There are many path, swordsman, knights and so on."

"Where do I learn more about these stuff and join?"

"In the capital city, and they're closely allied with the crown. Not exactly friendly to suspicious foreigners or followers of banned goddesses." She took his empty plate. "Besides, you need papers to even enter the guild district."

He leaned back, crossing his arms. "So what you're saying is, it's impossible."

A small, mischievous smile crept across her face. "I didn't say that. I said the official guild is off-limits. But where there's an official guild..."

"There's an unofficial one," he finished, returning her smile.

"Not a guild, exactly. More like... practitioners who don't agree with the crown's policies. They keep to the shadows, but they're there if you know where to look." 

"But first, we need to establish your presence here before anyone gets suspicious. The tavern opens soon—you can start by helping me set up."

For the next 30 minutes, he helped her prepare The Laughing Mermaid for business: moving tables and chairs, wiping down surfaces, and stacking clean mugs behind the bar. As they worked, she filled him in on local customs, important names to know, and things to avoid saying or doing that might mark him as an outsider.

By the time she unlocked the front door, a small crowd had gathered outside—mostly laborers looking for breakfast before starting their day. They eyed Luther curiously as they filed in, but no one questioned his presence directly.

"Morning, Luna!"

"Who's the new face?"

"Got any of that spiced porridge today?"

She handled them all with practiced ease, serving food and drink while introducing Luther simply as "new security" without elaboration. Most seemed to accept this, though a few of the regulars cast speculative glances between him and her.

He found himself impressed by how smoothly she managed the busy tavern. Despite her earlier panic about his arrival, she now seemed completely in her element—remembering everyone's preferences, mediating minor disputes, and keeping the atmosphere light with quick jokes and gentle ribbing.

'Impressive, she reminds me of my mom. I wonder how she is doing? Well, I am sure she is fine, my brothers will look after her... I hope she is not worried that I am mission...haha, of course she is. She worries too much when it comes to her kids... was this really the right choice?' He was in a new world but his heart as still not used to being apart from his family.

As the morning rush began to thin, she slid a note across the bar to him. He unfolded it to find an address and a name: "Madame Vess, 16 Cobbler's Lane. After nightfall."

When he caught her eye, she gave a slight nod. "My help for the evening shift will be here soon," she said in a normal voice. "You should take some time to familiarize yourself with the neighborhood. Just be back by sunset."

He understood the message—this Madame Vess must be one of the shadow practitioners she'd mentioned.

"I'll do that," he replied, pocketing the note. "Any areas I should avoid?"

"Stay away from Temple Square," she advised, loud enough for nearby customers to hear. "The Watch has been checking papers more strictly there lately and the guild district is generally unwelcoming to newcomers."

One of the patrons, an older man with a magnificent white mustache, chimed in: "Watch out for the river ward too, young man. Gangs have been more active there since the flood displaced so many."

He nodded his thanks for the advice. "I'll keep my eyes open."

As he headed for the door, Luna called after him: "And try not to get into any fights on your first day!"

He couldn't help but laugh—it was almost exactly what Ariadne had said. "No promises," he called back, stepping out into the bustling street.

---

"Fucking hell."

The place proved to be a maze of narrow streets and busy marketplaces. He spent hours wandering, creating a mental map of the area while observing the local people. He noted the Watch patrols—their routes, their behaviors, how citizens reacted to them. He marked potential escape routes, defensible positions, and places where crowds might provide cover if needed.

'Too easy, I expected more from the famous watch.' 

It wasn't just the Watch patrols that caught his attention – it was what they weren't watching. For every well-guarded street and checkpoint, he found three abandoned alleys and countless overlooked rooftop routes. The city's defenders were focused on maintaining appearances, controlling the main thoroughfares while leaving the shadows largely unguarded.

'Amateur hour,' he thought, ducking into a side street as another patrol passed. Their armor gleamed in the afternoon sun, polished to perfection – but their formation was sloppy, their attention scattered. Half of them were too busy harassing merchants to watch their surroundings.

As the sun began to set, he made his way toward Cobbler's Lane. The street names here made little sense – he was yet to see a single cobbler in the area. Instead, the narrow street was lined with fortune tellers, herb shops, and questionable antique dealers.

Perfect cover for less legitimate businesses.

Number 16 turned out to be a small shop with dusty windows, displaying an eclectic collection of bottles and crystals. A sign above the door read "Madame Vess - Remedies & Readings" in fading paint. The door chime tinkled as he entered.

"We're closed," came a sharp voice from behind a beaded curtain. "Come back tomorrow."

"Luna sent me," he replied, noting the subtle shimmer of magical wards around the windows. This was no ordinary fortune teller's shop.

The beaded curtain parted, revealing a tall woman with steel-gray hair pulled back in a severe bun. Her dark eyes studied him intently, and he felt the distinct pressure of magical scrutiny.

"Ah," she said after a moment. "The one who refuses divine gifts. How... interesting." She gestured for him to follow her into the back room. "Tell me, boy – do you refuse my help as well?"

"That depends on what kind of help you're offering," he answered carefully, following her through the curtain. "And what it costs."

She laughed, a surprisingly warm sound. "Cautious. Good. Too many young fools rush into bargains without considering the price." She settled into a worn armchair and waved him toward another. "But before we discuss terms, let's see what we have to work with."