The city thrived with life, a constant buzz of voices echoing from every corner as people bartered, haggled, and sought to make a profit.
If there was one place in the outer regions where people came to start a business, it was here.
Cyrus led them away from the bustling crowd, guiding them into a secluded alleyway where the noise faded into the background.
The buildings lining the narrow path were made of smooth sandstone, their surfaces polished over time. Running a hand across them felt almost refreshing, the coolness of the stone a stark contrast to the desert heat.
"Okay," Cyrus said, turning to face them, his expression serious. "We're going to split up. Helaine, you're with me. Razek, you'll go with the kid."
Is he always going to call me 'kid,' or what?
"Why are we splitting up?" Helaine crossed her arms, her tone skeptical.
"So we can gather more information," Cyrus replied, gesturing toward the ground as if to emphasize his point. "If we cover more ground, we're more likely to find something useful. Meet back here at dusk. Got it?"
Without waiting for a response, Cyrus turned and started down the alley. "Come on, Helaine."
"Alright…" Helaine followed after him, but as she passed Evryn, she leaned in close and whispered softly in his ear.
"Good luck."
Good luck? Evryn blinked, confusion flickering across his face. What do I need luck for? He glanced at Razek out of the corner of his eye. She's not referring to him, right? No… Razek knows how to act mature… right? Oh heavens…
"Evryn!"
"Huh?" Evryn snapped out of his thoughts, blinking as Razek suddenly stood in front of him, an eager grin plastered across his face.
Oh no.
"Ready to have some fun?" Razek's eyes gleamed with excitement, his tone far too energetic for the task ahead.
Evryn let out a quiet sigh. This is going to be a long day…
Razek darted out of the alleyway and into the crowded walkway without a second thought.
Evryn instinctively reached out with his right hand, trying to stop him. "Razek, wait!"
You've gotta be kidding me…
By the time Evryn stepped out onto the walkway, Razek was already gone, swallowed by the sea of people. The crowd was bustling with life, filled with an assortment of beings — many of whom Evryn had never seen before.
On either side of the walkway, small shops lined the sandstone buildings, their tops covered by colorful tarps to shield their goods from the relentless desert sun. The tarps were vibrant, a mixture of bright reds, blues, and yellows, creating an almost festive atmosphere despite the heat.
I'm guessing they set them up like that to attract more people… Evryn mused as his eyes scanned the crowd.
Above, the towering bones of the ancient creature loomed, casting intermittent patches of shade across the city. The shifting sunlight caused the shaded areas to move throughout the day, forcing the city's inhabitants to constantly adapt.
Just ahead, Evryn finally spotted Razek.
There he was — standing in front of a small shop, scratching the back of his head while a group of… something tried to communicate with him.
Evryn let out a deep sigh, his shoulders slumping. You've got to be kidding me… he's already getting himself into trouble.
Pushing through the bustling crowd, Evryn made his way toward Razek. When he finally stood beside him, his gaze fell upon the shopkeepers. And for a moment, even Evryn was taken aback.
Crouched behind the stall was a humanoid figure clad in weathered leather, its body composed of reflective, crystal-like plates that shimmered with shifting colors as the sunlight hit its surface. The being had no mouth, only eyes and ears, but its hands moved fluidly in an intricate pattern — a silent attempt at communication.
Razek, however, stood frozen, his expression a mixture of horror and confusion.
To him, it probably looks like some guy who's done way too many drugs…
Evryn sighed again, this time dragging his right hand down his face in frustration.
"Alright…" he muttered under his breath before crouching down to the creature's eye level.
"Hello," Evryn said, his tone calm but cautious.
The crystal being stopped its movements and tilted its head slightly, its eyes reflecting the sunlight like polished gems.
"Can you understand me?" Evryn asked slowly.
The being gave a small, deliberate nod.
Okay… so it can't speak, but it understands the common language. That's a start.
"Good…" Evryn murmured, relieved. But now came the harder part — figuring out what this thing wanted.
"So, what is it that you want?" Evryn asked in a soft, calming voice.
The crystal being picked up a necklace — gold in color, with a symbol etched into the pendant. The symbol depicted two angelic wings with a sun in the center.
That's the same symbol I saw in the ruins… Evryn's mind raced, his eyes narrowing slightly. And judging by this, it looks like they're trying to sell the necklace to Razek.
"Ah, so you're looking to sell that beautiful necklace?" Evryn asked gently.
The crystal creature nodded.
Evryn glanced up at Razek, who stood there, doing absolutely nothing while letting Evryn handle the situation.
You've got to be kidding me… Evryn shook his head before refocusing on the crystal being.
"That's a really nice piece you've got there," Evryn said with a soft smile, "but we're not looking to buy anything right now. Honestly… we don't even have any money." He rubbed the back of his head with an awkward chuckle. "If we manage to get some later, I'll be sure to come by again."
The crystal being slowly lowered the necklace, giving a subtle nod of understanding.
Evryn stood up, brushing the sand off his knees. "It was nice meeting you," he said politely before turning to Razek, his expression hardening.
Without another word, Evryn grabbed Razek by the arm, his grip tight.
"Come on," Evryn muttered, dragging Razek away. "We're leaving."
"Ah—ouch! Let go of my arm already!" Razek whined, struggling against Evryn's grip.
Evryn threw him a sideways glance, his voice laced with frustration. "You nearly got us into a mess with some random crystal person."
"Hey, that wasn't my fault!" Razek stretched his arms out dramatically. "I was just walking by, and the guy grabbed my attention. That's all!"
"It's whatever. Just try not to get dragged into something like that again, okay?" Evryn muttered, his tone laced with mild frustration.
"Yes, sir!" Razek gave an exaggerated salute, a wide grin plastered on his face.
Evryn shook his head, letting out a quiet sigh. Now we need to focus on where we can go to get some information…
He placed his right hand on his chin, slipping into deep thought. If I were looking for information… the best place would probably be a bar. People gossip a lot there, especially when they're drunk — babbling about anything, sometimes even important things.
"Okay, we're going. Just follow me."
"Going where?"
"Don't ask, just come on."
***
After weaving through a maze of people and shops, Evryn finally spotted what looked like the city's bar — or at least, the closest thing to one.
The building was made of the same smooth sandstone as the rest of Carrion, but this one had a more worn, weathered look. A small group of people stood near the entrance, chatting beside a few gray metal crates stacked haphazardly against the wall.
A short set of stairs led down to a door that blended seamlessly with the sandstone, almost as if it was carved from the same material.
"Come on," Evryn said, his pace steady as he approached the stairs. Razek followed close behind, his usual playful demeanor momentarily subdued.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, they stood before the door. A small panel was mounted on the right side, sleek and metallic, standing out against the ancient-looking stone.
So, it's like the doors back on the ship…
Evryn pressed the red button on the panel.
With a faint hiss, the door slid open, revealing the dimly lit interior beyond. Without hesitation, they stepped inside.