You can Go on Living; It’s the Leoluxin Grand

To Moonlight Guardian’s chagrin, the pair did not head directly to the inn, instead opting to make numerous stops at various shops. From each shop, they emerged with no fewer than two packages added to the arms of a second man who accompanied them. Hat shops, dress shops, shops that sold shoes, and shops that sold only gloves to name a few. Then they dallied in a half dozen shops that sold jewelry—for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why—before finally making their way to the Leoluxin Grand.

“No worries, Hooper,” the male of the pair said to the package-burdened man, who let out a grumble upon learning they would be staying on the fifth floor. “They have one of those new elevating platforms.”

“Of course they do. It wouldn’t be the Leoluxin Grand if it didn’t.” The woman said, sparing no sympathy.

Moonlight Guardian took a moment to marvel at the massive building. It had to be the largest construct she had ever laid eyes on. It wasn’t the height—it looked to only have five floors—but it had to be at least as long as the North Tree was tall. As a country bumpkin, she saw it as only a massive slab of wall, unable to appreciate the fine aesthetic of the architecture or the attention to detail in the decor. Needless to say, the building flaunted many unnecessary flourishes to the windows and door frames, replete with roof-mounted statues and balconies inlaid with nonsense carvings of fish and other such frivolities, each capable of supporting a modest-sized house upon them.

This was an inn? It looked large enough to house every person in the city! Well, humans were strange, though it amazed her the lengths they would go to in the service of that end. Still, she had more important things to do than muse over human folly. Though intimidating, she wouldn’t let that stop her.

She marched up to the grand entrance, where a large man in immaculate black-and-white clothing opened the door for similarly dressed people who approached. He cast a baleful eye on her once she crested the final stair leading to the platform with the door, despite the ten strides' distance. However, when a man walked up, he broke eye contact and greeted the new arrival with an amenable expression as he heaved open the heavy door, saying something as he did so, though she could only see his mouth move.

Moonlight Guardian had become skilled in recognizing a hostile gaze from her work with Noel. This was of a banal sort, expressing contempt and not to bother seeking welcome. But that wouldn’t stop her. He stood in front of the door, arms folded behind his back as she approached.

“You are not welcome here!” He said in a nasally and higher-pitched voice than she would have expected for one of his size, as she stopped before him. She looked up, letting the sunlight hit her mask. His face twitched at the sight, or so she guessed—humans found masks strange. “Ahem, go play your games somewhere else, child. This is no place for you.” Though he still seemed unwelcoming, he dropped some of the hostility.

“I not child,” she said in her alien way, words sloshing around her mouth, unable to find the exit, causing yet another facial transformation, something between bewilderment and terror. “I need go in. Need find Asal Alaba.”

“A-Asal Alaba?” A sheen of sweat brushed the man’s face. “What business do you have with Asal Alaba?” He regained his composure. “Who are you?”

Who was she? She could give him the name that Durroum had given to her, but it wouldn’t have any meaning to him, or anybody here, for that matter. But her identity as a yutsuukitsuu might. After all, this Asal Alaba knew what he did, so this man probably knew as well. Of course, if true, it might lead to violent hostility. Well, so long as they had nobody as skilled as those who attacked in Southguard it should be fine, and in truth, she wouldn’t mind killing anyone working with the man she sought. Though not ideal, if there was no other way, she wouldn’t complain.

She doffed the hood of her cloak, revealing her pointy ears, and, half expecting a hostile reaction, she readied herself. The thick man flinched back, but coughed into his hand before recomposing himself.

“I see... Asal Alaba does entertain some unusual contacts.” He said in an apologetic tone. “My apologies for keeping you.” With a heave, he opened the door to her and bowed, gesturing for her to enter. She hadn’t expected him to capitulate so readily. It left her off-kilter as she had readied herself for a fight, or at least a heated disagreement.

As she entered, the grandeur of the building’s interior derailed this train of thought, and she craned her neck upward to behold. High ceilings, massive ornamented hanging lights, towering paintings, stone floors on par with Southguard’s HQ—not that you could see much of it, as rich bright red carpets left almost none exposed. While she didn’t have the human eye for decor, she could tell that some effort was put into this large room.

Still, if experience served, they should have a person to speak to about lodging. And if experience served, it was one of several people behind a large wooden desk nestled between the two large stairways. Moonlight Guardian made her approach just as a man in a red vest and cap led away the pair she had followed in.

“Good afternoon,” the woman behind the counter said in a chipper voice. “Welcome to the Leoluxin Gr...” The lady made eye contact with Moonlight Guardian. She hadn’t put her hood back up, feeling it would be faster if people knew who they were dealing with. Judging by her reaction, they were not accustomed to dealing with the likes of her. “Welcome to the Leoluxin Grand,” she repeated with an uneasy smile and a more rigid posture. “Are you... checking...” She eyed her with uncertainty. “In?”

“Asal Alaba,” Moonlight Guardian said, evoking a wide-eyed stare. “Need find, Asal Alaba.” The attendant stared, dumbfounded.

“I’m sorry... could you repeat that?” Perspiration began to form on her head. Did all humans sweat like that?

“Asal Alaba! Where is he?” Perhaps that came out more forcibly than she intended, but it frustrated her not being understood. This could only happen with words!

“Umm... Could you hold on a minute?” She ran over to another person behind the counter and dragged him over, despite his protests.

“What has gotten you so frazzled, Melinda, that you would drag me away from one of our honored guests?” The man said in annoyance.

“I’m sorry. I’m unable to help this guest.” She gestured to Moonlight Guardian.

“What guest—” He cut off, only just seeing the small fox-ear creature. “Is that... a yutsuukitsuu?” Unlike the woman, he seemed only surprised and not uneasy.

“Have you seen one before?”

“Ahem! Don’t be so rude! And yes, another of her kind stayed with us a number of years ago. I believe he was in Lord Fraldario’s service, if memory serves.” He stroked his chin. “Ah, but where are my manners?” Turning to Moonlight Guardian, “I apologize for my colleague. She is a bit... provincial. What can we do for you?”

Finally, they stopped babbling. “Asal Alaba. Where is he?” The man pursed his lips while the woman looked on with a smug look.

“A... saaa... l... Oh!” He straightened. “Asal Alaba! Yes, that is what she said.” The man adopted an air of confidence; the woman, skeptical. “Of course, it all makes sense. She is obviously in the employ of Mr. Alaba.”

“Really?” she said, slanting her face.

“Absolutely certain.”

“I don’t know...”

“Nonsense. Bellhop!” he called out to another of the younger men dressed in the red vests.

“Yes, sir?” The boy dropped what he was doing and rushed over.

“Take this woman to Mr. Alaba,” he commanded.

“Yes—” The boy looked over and stammered. “Umm... eh...”

“Well, don’t just stand there slack-jawed, man. Take her to the third floor!”

“Yes, sir!” He saluted. “Follow me, umm... ma’am.” He beckoned for her to follow.

The rest of the inn proved just as ornate as the first large room, only a little more peaceful, without the hustle and bustle of people. However, this peace ended when they reached Asal Alaba encampment. People wrapped themselves around the walls, engaged in so much activity that even a well-traveled tavern during peak dinner hours would look orderly by comparison.

The boy angled his body away, wanting to leave her to her own devices, but had the decency to grab someone as they dashed between rooms.

“Somewhere back there,” the finely dressed man said when asked where she could find Asal Alaba, before pulling free. The boy shrugged before making a hurried retreat of his own. If Moonlight Guardian had been aware of the Leoluxin Grand’s service standards, she might have been incensed by the brusque way she had been treated. But, as she wasn’t, she merely took note that he could be located somewhere in the back.

While she encountered the same difficulties in communication as she did at the front desk, nobody seemed to give her identity as a yutsuukitsuu a second thought. Whether that was because she wasn’t a noteworthy sighting or because they were too busy with their work, she couldn’t say. All the same, she found her quarry in a distant back room, shuffling through a pile of paper like a man on a mission. A portly fellow with a long white beard, mustache, and round features. Much darker than most of the people she had seen on her travels, though she had passed several with such a complexion in the hall.

“No, no...” He scratched something off. “That won’t do.” So consumed by his work, she felt like she shouldn’t disturb him. Until she remembered that of all the humans she knew, this was the one she wanted to kill the most. Well, she couldn’t kill him, not until he revealed what he knew. And… she had promised Noel she wouldn’t harm him... unless she had to. Though that was open to interpretation.

She slammed her palm down on the desk, causing the energetic scribbler to jump up. “Asal Alaba!” Despite her intent, her strange accent could not render an intimidating tone.

“What is the mea—” He started, as one might expect of a man disturbed during intense focus, but when he saw who had disturbed him, his sour expression dissolved into a radiant smile. “A yutsuukitsuu! How rare to see one out in human habitation, how rare indeed!” He scooted out from around the desk and shook her hand, a gesture she found most bizarre. So taken aback by his sanguine greeting, she didn’t even think to pull her hand away. “You know, I just had dealings with your kind not too long ago. Quite the lucrative deal.” What was this man babbling on about? “I was finally able to launch my enterprise. And I couldn’t have done it without the yutsuukitsuu. No, sir!”

This one was certainly talkative, though his speech pattern, accent, and lexicon made it difficult to even begin to understand. At the very least, she could make out the word for her people. How does one even respond to such levity?

“Where are my manners?” He pulled over a heavy chair with a high back and red plush upholstery. “Please sit, sit.” He gestured with both hands to the chair. What was going on? She had prepared herself for a fight, or at least some harsh words, but now he commanded her to sit in this chair? Well, he used the word please, and the gesture didn’t look assertive. Maybe this was an invitation? Confused, she took a seat.

“I must say, I did not expect to encounter another of your kind so soon after my last transaction with a member of your species.” Asal pulled up a chair facing her as he continued to prattle on. “This bodes well, yes indeed!” Moonlight Guardian continued to stare, dumbfounded.

“I hope you don’t mind the chaos; this setup is just a temporary measure until construction of the trading house is complete.”

“…Trading house?” She almost understood these words—a house that you trade. But did people trade houses? How would you carry them around? As for the rest of the sentence, she hadn’t the slightest idea.

“Most certainly!” He took a sip from a cup that someone had just brought him. They had also fetched her a cup, and she took it with both hands. “A hotel is no place to run a respectable trading operation. The long-term cost would be extraordinary, and the decor isn’t the most conducive for mercantile dealings.” Another sip, and he smacked his lips. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. They certainly live up to the name ‘Grand,’ but there are many types of grand.” Moonlight Guardian looked down at her tea. Didn’t the Elder like to drink this stuff?

“Business will flow so much better once the trading house is complete. Oh, yes indeed! In-house storage of goods, and I have signed a profitable agreement with the Touala Transportation Company. It seems they have had some ill fortune of late, regrettably. But they have been much more amenable to my terms than previously—”

“Where are Children!” She broke out of her stupor, no longer able to tolerate the cacophony of unintelligible language.

“The... Children?” Despite her accent, it seemed he understood her; at least he knew what the words meant. “Well, there aren’t a lot of children in the Leoluxin Grand, but I suspect there are some about...”

“No, not human children. Yutsuukitsuu children!” She wasn’t sure what he said, but it sounded like he had referred to human children.

“…Oh! Are you referring to the yutsuukitsuu pups I acquired along with the one that made all this possible?” He opened his arms, gesturing to the room. “You must be, yes indeed!” What was this guy rambling on about? Maybe it was time to use force. Well, that probably wouldn’t help her understand him. “A colleague of mine happened to be in Atol when they were in my possession and offered to buy them for a fair price and save me the trouble of selling them myself. He had to buy them on credit, of course, which he made good on, with interest when he sold them for a tidy profit.” He rambled on, but it sounded like he had sold them to somebody. She already knew that. What she needed was this person’s location.

“Who sell to? Where is person?” She closed the distance between them, wanting to draw her sword, but felt that might be too much. So she just raised an angry fist.

“Who sell... Oh, who did I sell them to!” Okay, this is the part where she would have to coerce the information out of him. She had spent several months with a group that dealt with acquiring and selling information. And while she spent all her time with Noel, who dealt more on the sales side, she had learned a little about acquisitions. Sometimes a few harsh words would suffice; however, other times you needed to break a leg. Moonlight Guardian was prepared for the latter.

“I sold them to Furar Mokar. An enterprising young man. He has a bright future ahead of him, yes indeed!” Asal Alaba stated with vicarious pride. Wait... Did he just give up the name? Without the need to break legs? Well, she needed more.

“Where!?” she growled with unnecessary ferocity.

“Mmm... Let’s see.” Unperturbed by the hostility, he stroked his long white beard. “Ah, yes! He set up shop in Port Remis. Quite the astutely chosen location, astutely chosen indeed!”

“…” Her mouth opened to continue vocally accosting him, but she could think of nothing. She had the name and location. With her current language skills, getting any more details would probably be impossible, especially from this windbag. But damn... She didn’t even get to use a threatening word... Even after she went through the trouble of learning them. Her tail sank.

And since he cooperated, she couldn’t even harm him, as per her promise. However, this didn’t extend to his stuff. There was a lot of stuff in this room; humans like their stuff. Yeah, she could just smash this stuff, hardly recompense, but it was something. It was something until she remembered all this stuff belonged to the inn. The inn hadn’t wronged her, and destroying it would probably cause this man more glee, as strange as he was.

Moonlight Guardian turned to walk out until a last glimmer of hope appeared. “Wait!” This snapped Asal Alaba back to her. She pulled out the map she had received from Durroum and opened it on the desk. “Where on map! Port Remis.”

“Oh! Plan to visit the young chap, do you?” He pulled out a pair of spectacles. “He will be most pleased, most pleased indeed!” Scanning the map, he located the city in question and pointed to an area near the bottom left of the map. “Quite the lovely city. I’m sure you will find it splendid!” She couldn’t read, so she just memorized where he pointed; a black dot with accompanying writing already marked the spot. Still... She let out a sigh as she gathered up her map and made her way to the door. “Leaving already? Well, do stop by when the trading house is finished,” he said as he waved her off emphatically.