1-1 LYX

That morning, Captain Lyx was standing on top of the Eastport Discussion building alongside four other officers. She was looking down the street with her binoculars at a short Gnomish woman, sitting beside a deep alley. The woman was wearing a ripped black dress and a shawl, and she was holding out a broad straw hat for donations. The Gnome had been waiting by that alley for two hours now. No one had donated to her just yet. Lyx had counted fourteen citizens who had passed by that alley, but none seemed to notice the woman. Overall, Lyx’s operation didn’t seem to be working.

“We might call it soon,” Lyx said. The Newt officer beside her nodded in thanks. 

“Getting a bit parched now,” he said, gesturing loosely at the sky. The man’s greenish skin was losing its glossiness. Lyx admired how well he was taking the heat. Garth was one of three Newts working on the force, and the only operative willing to go into the field. While Newts could certainly go without moisture for a few days, Lyx preferred working with people in top condition. 

She was considering letting Garth off early when she felt a light tap at her shoulder. Officer Rickam nodded toward the distant alley. Lyx took up her binoculars once more. “The one in the suit,” the Dwarf said. “He’s getting close.” 

“North or South of the alley?” Lyx asked.

“South. Got a better look now. He’s a scaly one, alright. How often do you see one of them lizards lookin’ nice?” asked Rickam.

“Five days a week and pushing fifty hours, jackass,” Garth whispered, drawing a smile to Lyx’s face. 

“Blue tail. He’s closing in.”

“I see him now,” Lyx said. “Garth, ready flares. If this guy so much as reaches for Holly, I want A and B teams on top of him.”

“Hold it,” Rickam said. “He’s reaching for a pocket. Do we engage?”

“On my mark.” Lyx held up her hand to close into a fist. Three seconds passed. Garth held the cord of the flare, ready to rip it into the sky. Ten seconds passed. Garth looked at Lyx wearily. Lyx sighed and slowly lowered her hand. “Negative. I’m ending it here. Looks like today was a bust after all.”

Garth nodded and let the flare cord go slack. Rickam chuckled slightly. “So, does Holly get to keep that tip, or do you think we can split it?”

Lyx didn’t respond. She watched the well-dressed Newt walking calmly down the street. He stopped suddenly before he could head out of sight. Distantly, he looked up towards her and smiled.

***

​Lyx caught up to the man half an hour later after dismissing the other officers for the day. She followed the man quietly as he made his way around downtown Eastport. The Newt took his time to admire the sights. He stopped into the Spiral Library and acquired a library card and checked out a worn cookbook of Gnomish recipes. After the library, the man made his way to the plaza and sat down beside one of the statues to read this cookbook. This practice took half an hour, and when the man seemed satisfied with what he had read, he took the book back to the library and set it into the deposit box. Then, he made his way to the seawall side of town, to a metallurgical building Lyx knew was abandoned. Lyx did not bother to make herself unseen during this two-hour journey. She wanted him to notice her. She wanted him to be the one to talk first. 

When the man reached the doors of the building, he opened the doors wide before he turned to Lyx with that smile of his and nodded for her to come in. Lyx did so. She stood by the door with her arms crossed as the man calmly walked past her, snapped his fingers, which brought to light the oil lamps around the walls of the room, and sat down at one of the many tables. “How may I be of service, officer?” he asked.

Lyx took a long moment to take in the picture of the scene. She took in the way the pinkish lamps shimmered light along the Newt’s well-moistened skin and how the man’s eyes almost seemed fixated on something past herself. “Could I have your name, please?”

The Newt nodded. “Mael Lockann.”

“And when were you registered?”

“In regard to magic or citizenship?” Lyx only watched him. 

He sighed and said, "I touched down on the twenty-second of this month. My magical signature was registered on that day. They told me my citizenship would take three months to finalize. I do have a sanctuary pass.”

“Can I see this pass, please?”

The Newt shrugged. He reached into his coat and looked back toward Lyx, perhaps to see if she disliked this action. Lyx did not betray any sense of worry. She waited as he brought out a blonde billfold and pulled from it a purple and yellow slip for her to see. Lyx put to memory the name and the registration number on the slip. She handed it back to him. “The South,” he said. Lyx watched him carefully and nodded. “You’re a South Elf. That explains it.”

“Don’t say Southie. If I hear that word,” Lyx said. “I will be trouble for you.”

“You need not worry about that. I know the position I am in. Without citizenship, any interaction with me and the law puts my being here in jeopardy. I would rather continue to be here, thank you.”

“As long as we understand each other, Dragon,” Lyx said. The two were locked now. They saw each other, and, in looking at the other, they saw their past and their future, and they saw each other's pain as well.

“Princess,” he said, and nodded for her to leave. “I wish you good health until the next time we meet.”​

***

Garth was at James’s Diner eating. He was eating a bowl of chili when Lyx walked into the restaurant. He sat up in attention when he noticed her and took the spoon from his mouth. “Ma’am. I mean, Captain.”

“At ease,” she said. “Neither of us is working.” Lyx took a folded piece of paper and slid it to him. “You were sweet on Janice from registration, right?”

Garth almost choked. “I don’t see how that’s important,” he said. “Can it. I need a favor. Can you smooth-talk her into giving me the details of this registration number?”

He opened the paper and licked his lips. “Is this who I think it is?”

“I already put a request in officially. I just want to get it done a little faster.”

The Newt folded the letter back up. “I can maybe talk to her about it if she isn’t too busy.”

“That’s good enough,” she said and began to leave.

“Sure,” he said. He glanced at the card once more and then shouted back to her, “Hold up. You want me to do a magic registration?”

“Any and all information.”

“Then this isn’t about the mayor.”Lyx stopped at the door. She pressed a finger to her lips. Garth looked at her apologetically. 

“Get it done,” she said and left.