Chapter 25: Search

Slave trader spotted Demir, waved him over.

Saw Alicia and Cosette behind—smart, no pry.

“This Yudit, ‘Scar’.”

Demir introduced.

Scar Yudit slight nod.

“Lately slums—odd folk buy slaves, humans only. Address give—but no trouble. Legit trader, sold wrong buyer unknowing, got it?”

Yudit’s words nearly triggered blunt Cosette—Alicia timely pull, asked:

“Trade—they say god name?”

Yudit glance Alicia, Demir silent, thought, spoke.

“No. But wrist eye-pattern tattoo.”

Confirmed Alicia thought. Demir saw no more, took over.

“Info fake—Security Committee guards chat, check your taxes, punk!”

“Tch, unlucky grassland oaf! No more!”

Yudit annoyed tossed paper, left sour.

Paper: “Appia Avenue 108.”

“Go. All clues slums—check thorough.”

Scenery shifted, buildings ragged.

Many dilapidated, sway collapse—one kick. Garbage bugs swarm roadside uncleared. Area city cancer.

East dock sea wind—odd stink.

“Appia 108—here.”

Worn two-floor apartment. Iron fence stripped bricks tiles. Ruined yard dead trees stand.

Alicia group cloaked, eyed building near.

“I enter first. Cosette, Demir—hide moves.”

“Captain, alone fine?”

Demir worry.

“Fine. No sure win—no risk.”

Alicia confident.

Grasp on ‘Ngyur’.

Alias ‘Void God’—void-born mindless, worship gave sentience.

Her power vs it—trash. But Star Ancient Dragon void control—rank far above.

Even true body—rank gap no real harm.

Bully small fry—easy.

No worry, Alicia to villa.

Dim hall, rot boards creak.

Filthy dark red velvet carpet, decayed sculptures wood decor, shattered crystal chandelier—past glory.

[Moon Dust] cloaked, Alicia bold search every corner.

Nothing—no secret doors tunnels, no magic flux. Ordinary abandon.

But too normal—wrong.

Slums spare decent abandon—no vagrants, no life traces.

Abnormal stumped Alicia—no clue, temporary leave.

Rejoin Cosette, Demir—shared find.

Cosette thought: “Scar lied?”

“Possible, but low. Kid no guts.”

“Wait night—maybe new.”

No ideas—Alicia wait.

Time pass, night cloak, thin mist spread. Lamps warm glow fog.

Night slums livelier, messier.

Soon, protection fee gang caught eye.

Thugs violent collect, drag no-pay poor.

“Follow.”

Trio tail arrogant punks—turns, enter two-floor house.

No exit—Alicia wall close, eavesdrop.

Room quiet odd. Frosted glass block view.

Suspicion rose.

“Way in.”

Cosette cautious scan around.

No one, low: “Miss Alicia, pick lock bad. Punks, but conflict we wrong.”

“No see—no issue. Bad folk. But lock tough—rune magic alert.”

Alicia no mind Cosette worry, but kick-rotten wood door stumped.

Better ‘open’ than pick.

“Me. Small lock no problem.”

Demir eager, wire out, blue liquid vial—busy.

“Click!”