Chapter 124: Old Debts

*Date: 33,480 Third Quarter — Kingdom of Satar, Capital City Parthanon*

Demir ate his meal in the corner, afraid. He didn't possess any unarmed power to beat his kidnappers and run away. But he also had a chance to get back his coins and his precious sword if he played this right. While waiting like a sacrificial lamb in the corner, the door creaked open and a sneaky elven man entered.

Demir instantly recognized him. The same man who had given him the rectangle stone, thanking him profusely before darting into the woods alone after the goblin camp liberation.

Kirious had changed since that day. He was a middle-aged elven man, and in the months since being enslaved, he had gained weight in all the right places. His muscles were defined now, and he looked like a capable man rather than the half-starved prisoner Demir remembered. Tan lines covered his arms where short-cut shirts left skin exposed to the sun. He wore many jeweled rings on his fingers, and his braided hair had green emerald pieces at each tie, glinting in the tavern's dim light. Passing time as a free man had brought out his handsome features.

Kirious strode up to Demir. "I said give any innkeeper the stone to look for me. Now you've burned my only favor with Turbo." But even as he spoke harshly, he came and hugged Demir, whispering in his ear, "Follow my lead. You can never trust these guys."

He pulled back, his face a mask of casual arrogance as he addressed the room.

"This man not only saved us from those awful goblin slavers, but he also jumped in front of a giant stone ball to deflect it. He saved us twice."

Turbo grabbed Kirious's shoulder, looking down into his eyes with barely contained menace. "Piss off about the stories. Are you spending the favor or not?"

Kirious didn't flinch. "I'm saying he's a capable and honest kid. You don't want to mug him. You want to utilize him. Kuza mentioned he was also a blacksmith."

Turbo leaned in closer. "Kiro, cut the crap. Are you spending your favor or not?"

Kirious looked around the tavern, frustration flickering across his features before he mastered it. "I am. I am. Give him his belongings." He turned to Demir with a theatrical sigh. "This just cost me a thousand gold worth of favor."

Then he smiled, and the smile was genuine.

"But I'm nothing if not a grateful bastard." He stood up and raised his voice. "Booze for everyone, from Demir!"

Demir watched the theatrics in great surprise as the hostile kidnapping transformed into some sort of celebration.

"To my savior!" Kirious shouted, raising his cup. He chugged the whole thing and let out a huge burp. Then he leaned toward Demir, his voice lower. "How the heck did you make a deal with the likes of Quarnion? He's a hustler of the highest degree and a bastard."

Demir accepted a cup that someone pressed into his hand. "I didn't know that. Frolin introduced us. I was making good, expensive equipment, and the marketplace wasn't a good place to sell."

Turbo, who had been listening, growled at the name. "Frolin..." He took a long drink. "That's worse than Quarnion. Q was at least going to give us twenty percent of what we brought. Frolin never pays, and he always has royal guards because of his bloodline. Untouchable bastard."

Kirious patted Turbo's massive shoulder. "What happened, happened. Turbo can take your remaining balance from Quarnion. Right, Turbo?"

Turbo's face soured. "I don't like taking hostile action against my latest employer. It's not good for our reputation, you know."

He was getting drunk, his words starting to slur.

---

A commotion at the entrance took everyone's attention.

Two figures entered with their hands coated in elemental magic, fire licking around one set of fingers and ice crackling around the other. Behind them, a thin middle-aged man entered and started shouting.

"Them! Over there!"

Demir recognized the voice and the mages rushing toward them. It was Marco pointing the finger, and Lysara and Alef were rushing forward with murder in their eyes.

Demir stood up quickly. "Stop! Stop, guys! We reached an agreement! Kirious is an old friend. He..."

Marco caught up, panting. "Demir, are you okay?" He looked around at Demir, free with alcohol in front of him at the table. "What's going on here?"

"Marco, this is Kirious. One of the people we saved from the goblin mining camp. He helped me find middle ground with Turbo." He gestured at the massive human. "Right, Turbo?"

But the giant man had passed out, oblivious to everything happening around him. His snores rattled the empty cups on the table.

Alef and Lysara extinguished their elements, the fire and ice fading to nothing.

"I'm glad nothing happened," Lysara said, letting out a long breath. "This part of town... anything could have happened. Whew."

Alef pulled out a chair. "We deserve a drink after that rush." He gestured to the innkeeper to bring another round and sat at the table.

Marco was still trying to process everything. "I guess we're good, right?" He approached cautiously. "What about the gold?"

Demir patted the bags at his feet. "They gave it back. Also, they might take the remaining balance from Quarnion."

"Good then." Marco paused, his face going pale. "Where's Marven?"

Demir's stomach dropped. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, shit. Marven. She went to the guards to bring officials."

Demir let out a breath of relief. "Good. At least she's safe."

---

Kirious raised another cup. "Another round and another celebration with my new friends! I'm so close to finding the legendary sewer treasure!" He raised the cup and urged everyone to do the same.

Marco accepted a drink. "You're looking for the golem?"

Demir elbowed him hard and gave him an angry shut-up look.

Kirious tilted his head. "What golem?"

Marco was puzzled, remembering Demir's words about not talking about Velori and her golden golem husband. "Uh... nothing. Golems keep treasure, right?" He turned to Demir desperately. "Right, Demir?"

Demir spoke through gritted teeth. "No. Dragons hoard treasure."

Kirious laughed. "Yeah, it's dragons, old man. The sewer treasure is a different legend entirely."

The words and laughs turned into a mash of conversation. The night that had started with a kidnapping had turned into some sort of celebration, mixing with locals in party games of medieval times. Dice were thrown. Songs were sung badly. Someone tried to arm wrestle the passed-out Turbo and lost anyway.

---

Later, Demir and Kirious went to the counter to get a new round.

"What brought you to the capital, young Demir?" Kirious's demeanor had changed. The drunkenness seemed washed away, his eyes sharp and calculating.

Demir was a little tipsy, but he noticed his new friend's shift. He took a breath. "I'm looking for my childhood friend. I heard he was in Chalice, but I can't get there. So I'm waiting here. I'll attend the player tournament."

Kirious sighed. "Again with the players' obsession with the tournament. It's good you're not going to Chalice. I heard there's a player hunt going on. After the incident."

"Yeah, I heard." From the man himself, Demir thought, but he wasn't going to bring that up.

"Can you send information there?"

Kirious picked up the cups and started walking back to the table. "I can, but to who? I know a thief who smuggles stuff. I heard he has a couple of player customers."

Demir followed him. "That might work. Let's send him a message. Maybe he knows Aris, or one of his customers has met Aris."

Kirious nodded slowly. "Sure. But first, you need good training for the tournament. You know people die there."

"Yeah, I heard. Even my high-level friends aren't entering. They're waiting to buy from the winners."

"Smart friends you have there." Kirious set the cups down and fixed Demir with a serious look. "But if you can't even defeat Turbo, you have no chance."

Demir sat at the table, his tipsiness washing away. "If I had my full gear and shield, and I saw him coming, I might have taken him."

Kirious smiled. "How about this? Come to the Rose Garden tomorrow. We'll test you and find a trainer for your level."

Demir's eyebrows rose. "You would do that?"

Kirious clapped him on the shoulder. "Let's say it's for standing in front of that giant rock to protect us." His smile widened. "And then we become even."