Chapter 184 The Inktress Lurks

The Solarium had been just as awful as she remembered it to be. She had not felt so parched and dry in such a long time. With no food nor water to quench her thirst nor satisfy her hunger, and no places for shadows to hide in any significant number, Illai had had plenty of time to ponder on her abrupt behaviour.

Following her three days in the Solarium, Illai had immediately set out to seek more information for her Master. Port Cresh was her first port of call.

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It was where Falla Startree ran her business from, so Illai had no doubts that sooner or later, there would be an indication of the charms that her master coveted. But after a week, whether it was transportation of goods or just talk, Illai had seen nothing.

In fact, she'd had to be cautious thanks to the frequent visits that Falla seemed to receive from a Wind Magician. Illai had never encountered her on Rouke Island before, and seeing as she was only at the Master level there was little for Illai to worry about. However, Wind Magicians were tricky. They were exposed to their element constantly, and so their power reserves were often far higher than any other Magician. And to make things worse, air was an element one couldn't not observe, they could only see the affects it had. The Mist would help her somewhat of course, but being blind to what she was fighting was still unsettling to Illai.

What irked Illai even more was that she had yet to see those who had kept Moonshadow company previously. Those he'd picked up off the street, including the little shadow grandmaster that she suspected had knowledge of the charms beyond any others, were no where to be seen. They didn't come nor go to Falla in the week that Illai kept watch over the Apple Star Trading Company Building. Her master was getting impatient. So Illai had no choice but to wrack her thoughts for something more substantial. Perhaps she'd missed a detail before. Something important that could lead her where she needed to be...

There were only four occasions where she'd witnessed Moonshadow prior to his departure from Rouke Island. Two of them were from event nights at the Trader's Union Building, and on the second of those she hadn't even seen him leave.

The third was when she'd tested him whilst he was on watch on The Miranda the night before he'd left Rouke Island from Port Cresh.

Finally, the only other time she'd seen him was when he'd dined with Falla Startree at the Blue Jade Restaurant.

Illai tilted her head in interest. The Blue Jade Restaurant was in Port Leis, on the other side of the Island to Port Cresh. Falla Startree had no reason to go there unless...Unless Moonshadow Trading Company called Port Leis their base of operations.

It was worth investigating, after all, she'd seen nothing here in the past week. Just as Illai had turned to leave, she saw the Wind Magician arrive, though this time she was not alone.

She was accompanied by four others, all Magicians themselves by the looks of it. Illai frowned. She was confident in taking out two or three of them if it came to a fight. But five? It would push her limits of concentration and power. Especially considering that one of their number had an interaction with the mist that was inconsistent with a single element. Illai had never met with another Hybrid Magician before, and a part of her was curious. But the more cautious part won out as she left Port Cresh behind.

As Illai travelled around the Island, she could not help but remember the speed at which Moonshadow had moved when he fought with the Pirate Captain. They were only short and sharp bursts of speed, but he'd been fast enough to appear as a blur in her vision. Was that how the charms had sold in Port Cresh one day then in one of the other Ports the next? After all, it wasn't normal for merchants to move so quickly around the Island.

The thought made Illai more sure that she'd find something at Port Leis. But where to start looking?

The only place she'd seen them was at the Blue Jade restaurant. But from the way they carried themselves, besides the fact that Illai now knew they'd practically been picked up off the street, it was unlikely that they'd dine at such a high-end restaurant frequently.

In the end however, Illai still decided that the restaurant was the best choice. After all, restaurants and other places where society gathered were hot spots for gossip. And Gossip was just what Illai needed to fuel her hunt.

So, Illai took a seat at an empty table in the corner of the first floor and sipped on some tea as she listened to those around her.

It was two hours before she heard something other than trivial matters.

"I heard your family finally sold that delapidated old warehouse in the Cermine District," one woman spoke rather haughtily, "Who was the idiot who bought it?"

The woman sitting opposite her shrugged as she placed her tea cup down, "The Realtor wouldn't say. Said the man was too high profile. Can't say he's too smart though. No one ever visits the Cermine District after that Fire Magician went mad there. Some say the ghosts of his victims still haunt the whole district, it's why everyone has had such a hard time selling property there".

"I heard a lot of building supplies were being carted into the Cermine District though," said the third woman in their party, surprising the other two.

"Building supplies?" the first woman scoffed, "Who by the gods would want to build there. I tell you, the Cermine District is a scourge on the rest of the Port Leis. The city is beautiful and thriving, that's the only black spot that dares to mar it".

"Eleanor is right, Lilly," said the second woman, "Anyone who keeps property in the Cermine District is losing money. The place gets no foot traffic other than the beggars and runaway slaves, it's why everyone is so desperate to sell their properties there. I've a mind to ask the Port Council why they haven't just demolished the whole place..."

Illai frowned in thought. The Cermine District in Port Leis...it was certainly out of sight. Operating there would explain why no one knew where Moonshadow had set up shop. Only, the beggars were sure to know. Why had they not spoken of it?

Illai shook her head, she should just take a look for herself, she'd know for sure whether this should concern her or not if she could see it.