Once Kopius passed the purple portal, the door closed by its own power. The two stood inside a small chamber of sorts, one that gave off medieval prison vibes. Moss painted the walls and vines weaved across every surface except for the floor, which had the appearance of a well tiled floor. Two darkened statues looked upon the men from across the space both adorned with candles lit with blue flames illuminating the room. Between them was another closed door with no visible marks or handles.

The left statue was of a large cat, roughly the size of a black panther. It stood in an attentive manner with its front legs together, tail wrapped around the front paws. The cat's eyes had a swirling green/gold glow and seemed to be looking upon the men, judging them somehow.

On the right was a bird of equal height resembling a raven. With its wings pressed back against its body and a noticeable tilt of its beak, the bird looked regal and demur. It too had green and gold swirls, sizing up the arrivals as if street rats had entered their realm.

After a few uncomfortable moments there was an audible click and the door between the two creatures pushed open revealing the forest beyond. More light rushed into the chamber revealing the masterful carving and detail of the two statues. Every piece of fur, every crease of feather detailed as if the animals had been painted over while alive. As the men moved through the opening, the statues grinded in rotation to watch them pass.

"That part always gives me the jitters," Cici remarked, breaking the silence as they exited the chamber. "It feels as if they will come to life at any moment."

Kopius didn't ignore his friend's comment as much as he was distracted by the sight that lay before him. Where the vapor oaks consumed most of the light on their travels, the opposite was to be said for the path to the market.

Mighty trees of white, beige and grey governed the space. Their leaves were vibrant and vivid, ranging from bright reds to luminous yellows. Flowers of unimaginable shapes and colors sprouted from a lush green foliage that sprawled across the ground. The night sky with its stars and moons created a backdrop that only accentuated the colors even further.

Multiple ropes with oval lanterns, spaced out evenly, zig-zagged across the tree branches creating a lit path. There were so many hanging above their heads that Kopius expected to find some generator powering them all. As they walked beneath them towards a wooden tori-type gate, a mixture of scents began to embrace them. The aromas ranging from sweet to smoky, pleasant to pungent were inviting, beckoning to reveal their source.

"Ready for this lad?" Cici asked in a playful fashion, patting his friend on the back.

"Only one way to find out," Kopius replied, affirming his hood's position.

The two men stepped through the tori gate and into a small town square. Trees became sparse, the lanterns keeping to the boundaries of the area. Wooden vendor booths were set up along the border like some dark ages flea market. Each booth came in its own unique size and setup. Some only had deep shelves as if they were traveling snake oil salesmen. Many were tents, set up on permanent wooden stilts all of which had signs advertising their goods. A few locations looked like gypsy wagons that had backed into their location with a few steps leading to bedazzled doors.

Men and women alike bustled about the plaza with a few stopping to regard the newcomers before continuing on their way. It wasn't particularly crowded, giving Kopius a chance to survey the space with little to no obstruction. He appraised the people, noticing their size, shape and demeanor; a task he often performed when he entered most questionable establishments on Earth. He had a tendency to get a lay of the land before moving in, yet unlike his experience entering dive bars in seedy parts of the city, there was no aggression here.

Humans were the present, at least to his untrained eye. There were notable standouts, whether it be an individual of great height or exaggerated ears or multiple limbs. Short and stocky, thin and wide; the variety was there, almost as much as he had experienced in Cabawchu. The sight of them all reinforced his place and it wasn't Kansas anymore.

The shops ranged in all types of goods and services, having the look and feel of part farmers market, part art & wine festival. Crafts, clothing, and furniture were sold next to fresh or dried produce, familiar pet supplies and other general merchandise. The tented locations were marked with personal teachings, advisors and other services for the mind or body.

The middle of the square spouted a small fountain with streams of water crisscrossing each other in the air. Beyond the waterworks lay a single path leading deeper into the village, lined on each side with single story structures in various states of upkeep. Cici rubbed his hands together as if wondering where to start while Kopius kept his head on a swivel.

"Don't be so tense lad," Cici stated with a pat on his shoulder. "They'll think you have something to hide." The big man gave his friend a wink.

"I'm not tense," Kopius protested.

"Violence won't find you here my friend, unless you pay for it."

"Is this like a safe zone or something?"

"Safe zone?" Cici said with a laugh. "Is that one of your logics–your video game thoughts?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Sounds pleasant enough, but no. The safest place I know is my garden and look where that got us," Cici responded with more laughter. "This is the next best place though, I'll leave it at that."

"Fair enough. Where do we start?"

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"CICI BEO!" Cracked like thunder from the crowd before Cici could answer, practically startling the two men.

The name stormed across the plaza as if shouted through a loud speaker creating a clear path between them and the source of the voice. Every occupant in the square stopped their cadences and looked at the newcomers. Some scampered away while others shook their heads with knowing grins before returning to their business. Several remained attentive as if they were about to witness a car crash in real time.

From out of the long corridor strode a young woman of medium height. Her slender frame was covered in simple, practical armor on top of a form-fitting forest green attire. If her hooded cloak were pulled on she would have looked straight out of the Assassin's Creed franchise. The more she approached the more details revealed about the figure.

With a pale complexion, her tangled and unruly brown curls framed a face of determination and beauty. The gear showed signs of scratches, tears and patches as one might receive navigating a dangerous forest. Her eyes, a dark brown, unblinking and almond shaped, focused on her target like one accustomed to hunting down prey. She appeared fierce and refined, with dirt smudges and natural red lips.

Laser focused on the bard, Kopius relied on his instinct and took a step away from the big man. It was unclear if her shout had been a warning or a greeting, either way Kopius did not want to get involved. Half way across the square the woman removed her elbow high, dark leather gloves and whipped them against her thigh as if to remove any residual dirt. In his experience on Earth, this was not a good sign.

"Dylana, my sweet!" Cici yelled with his own booming voice. "You look lovelier every time our paths cross." There was a wide smile on Cici's face, if anything was to be feared the big man showed no sign. His arms were outstretched, ready to receive an embrace.

"You can skip the pleasantries, Bard," Dylana stated as she came to a stop, dismissing his hug with a wave of her gloves. She regarded Kopius for a moment before continuing. "I didn't realize your shadow was a man. We wagered you were being followed, or had an attachment of sorts."

"Were you watching our approach," Cici replied in an attempted flirt.

"As we do all things that creep across our lands," Dylana replied in a matter of fact tone. "Why you choose to whisper is a mystery, you know the roots speak as clearly as the song bird."

"Would you accept that I have a flair for the dramatic?" Cici asked.

"The only flair you have is that tongue of yours; mine is of a fleeting patience." Her words were terse and pointed, but in a way that a big sister might scold her brother.

"Of course, of course," Cici replied in a less playful fashion. "I wouldn't return without bearing gifts."

"Gifts? Is that what you call your debts?" She responded with a hearty laugh. "I hope it's not the boy here."

Kopius raised his hands in protest, wondering why he had caught a stray.

"Princess, actually," Cici gave his friend a knowing nod and a look of placation, to which Kopius took a deep breath and shook his head in 'we'll talk about this later' fashion.

"Is she a mute?" Dylana asked, analyzing Kopius for the second time.

"Only in the mornings," Cici chuckled. "I can attest to his manhood too but that's a story for another time."

"Princess or not, your hands are as empty as your words."

"Ugh, that hurts love," Cici responded in a fun-loving way, grasping his chest as if he'd taken a spear. "I wouldn't dare charm you!"

"That's because you can't, not because you could. Aradi is the only victim to your tune and verse here. Now, to business before I turn sour." She gave the bard a quick smirk to indicate their playful banter had come to an end.

"Your wish is my command," Cici responded, bowing in a way that gave Dylana a grunt of amusement. "My man Kopius here has the goods."

"Kopius?" Dylana repeated like the name was familiar.

The air elemental gave her a tight smile and a hand wave, like he hadn't been standing there the whole time.

"Truely," Dylana continued, "can you speak, or do you just gesture and mimic?"

"I speak—and stuff," Kopius replied defensively. He looked at Cici who couldn't hold back a wide grin.

"I see," she said unimpressed. "Let's have it then."

"Have what?" Kopius contended. He looked at Cici for help. "What am I giving her?"

"The crystal lad," Cici stated proudly. "The one in your pack," he added quickly.

"Of course. The crystal in my pack," Kopius said as he removed his backpack, before looking at Dylana. "Where I keep all my belongings."

Taking a knee, Kopius placed his backpack on the ground and opened it. He rummaged about for a moment before summoning the Ovarite from his ring. Another few seconds of searching went by before Kopius stood and offered the deep crimson crystal to Cici. The big man shook his head slightly and nodded towards Dylana. Kopius shrugged and handed the item to her outstretched hands. Though her eyes didn't bulge in wonder, she did have the slightest expression of awe.

"Is this genuine?" Dylana asked, her combative nature absent. She held the crystal up to the moon light and ran her fingers across the surface of the embossed symbol.

"It better be," Cici protested. "Kopius didn't go through all that trouble with a rock golem just to produce a forgery."

"You found this?" She asked Kopius in a tone of disbelief.

"We found it, technically," Kopius said, gesturing between the bard and himself.

"Don't be such a modest lad, you're the one that put the thing down!"

"Putting it down isn't exactly–," Kopius tried to explain.

"You bested a rock golem?" Dylana interrupted.

"Dodged it really," Kopius responded.

"Trapped it even," Cici interjected, trying his best to build up the lore that was Kopius.

"Well did you put it down or trap it?" She asked as though both were equally impossible.

"Both?" Kopius shrugged, looking to Cici for some help explaining.

"That's not even to mention the two redwhips," Cici added.

Kopius closed his eyes as he shook his head at the sky.

"Two redwhips and a rock golem," Dylana spurt out in laughter. "All in a day's work, I take it?"

"Two days. We caught some shut eye between the redwhips," Cici answered.

She looked between the two men unconvinced. There were words on her lips but she refrained from speaking, opting to look over the crystal in her hand. Her prickly disposition had relaxed and her features softened. Kopius guessed it was because she didn't have to punish Cici for non-payment.

"I'll have Parva verify this," Dylana threatened with a grin, waving the red ingot at the two men.

"Of course," Cici replied. "I wouldn't have it any other way! Dinner after then?"

"What's your name again?" Dylana asked Kopius, looking him straight in the eye.

"Kopius," he replied with as much confidence as she allowed.

She looked him over for a third time, nodding slightly before she answered Cici.

"Dinner then," she agreed. "Tomorrow."

The crimson Ovarite disappeared in a blink. She gave a knowing smile to the companions, turned and sauntered off the way she came, eventually disappearing in the distance. The silence between the two men was that of caution and awe as they watched her leave.

Cici patted Kopius on the back, "Isn't she lovely?"

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