—{Outside The Guild}—

  —{10:58AM}—

  Riven and Shirin walk beside each other after the brief encounter with Zara and the two. With the envelope in Shirin's pocket she glanced back at the Guild’s door, though she saw no one there.

  Shirin: “Hey, you knew her?”

  Riven: “No, I already said so.” Doesn't turn to look at Shirin and continues walking with his hands in his pocket.

  Shirin: “But there must be a reason why she'd asked that. Shouldn't there be any?”

  Riven: Slows his pace, “Well… If you say it like that… Um… still no.”

  —{Moment ago}—

  —{Where Chap 10 left off}—

  Zara: Hands on hips looking down at Riven. She squints her eyes, “You recognize me?”

  Riven: “I… Don't think so…”

  Zara: Shoulder relaxed and turns to Finn with a satisfied smirk on her face, “Well then. See you later.” With that she walks past them and is followed by Finn and Silas, who don't spare them a second glance.

  —{Something During Riven and Shirin's Absence}—

  The three of them seated together around a table. With an opened envelope at their front and Zara counting cash.

  Finn: Hands on the table. Silas, leaned back, arms crossed. Zara leaned forward counting cash.

  Finn blinks at her, finger scratching his chin, “I thought you'd be more interested in asking them about… Calira…”

  Zara: Looks up at him with wide eyes, “... I forgot…”

  Silas holds in a chuckle. Bringing his fist to his mouth.

  —{The Damp Wick}—

  —{On Their Way}—

  On their way to the bar. Shirin and Riven walked beside each other.

  Riven: “You remember the path Jude had shown us?”

  Shirin: “Yes I do. I… Don't remember the exact path but if I see any familiar shop or a house I'd know if we're close. Just follow me and trust my instinct.”

  Saying that Shirin walked ahead analysing her surroundings and the structures around her. “This way.” Riven followed her and… They saw it. The Damp Wick. Written over a sign.

  Before they enter they were spotted by Mrs. Rustwood with grocery bags in one hand.

  Mrs. Rustwood: Just a few feet away, “Hey.” Got their attention, “Weren't you two the ones who had brought the… Contract? And went with my daughter?” She stops before them. A nonchalant expression on her face.

  Shirin: Surprised by her appearance, “Oh, yea. That was us. The hunt.” nods as she says it.

  Mrs. Rustwood: Glanced between the two, “Anything else, like ah… another contract?”

  Shirin: shook her head, “No, we just. We wanted to give her a share of the reward.”

  Mrs. Rustwood: Expression brightens up by a bit, “Oh, is that so? Well. Come in.”

  Before they could deny, “I insist.” Riven and Shirin glanced at each other. “Fine then.” Riven says as the corner of his lip curved up a bit. And Shirin noticed it.

  Mrs. Rustwood walked past them, Riven and Shirin turned to her with a surprise flicker on their faces. “Oh, don't go through that door. Come follow me. It's just right here.” She didn't turn to look at them.

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  Riven and Shirin follow her to a different door, just a few meters away from the one to the bar. She opens it and walks inside. “Come in.”

  Inside. It didn't look like a bar but a proper house. Mrs. Rustwood placed the bags on a table.

  Shirin: “Hm, Mrs. Rustwood.”

  “Hm?” Turn to look here. “Yes?”

  “Is it right beside the bar?”

  “Yes it is. Surprised?”

  “Somewhat, yes.”

  Mrs. Rustwood: “Go take a seat there, you two.” Points towards a door.

  They walk to the direction she pointed, Riven whispers to Shirin's ear, “Right next to the bar, but I don't smell any… Alcohol.”

  “Neither do I."

  In the next room Riven and Shirin took a seat beside each other on a couch. Riven looked around at the room. The room was brightly lit, it was big, and the furniture was perfectly aligned. Everything was clean and well organized. Thick books on the shelves and not a single sighting of dust…

  And a coffee table in front of them. The coffee table and the couch had a cloth over it, decorated with flower patterns and mixed vibrant colours.

  Except. The hand rest couch of the couch… had a stain… Seemed to be a beer stain…

  Looking around Riven finally caught Shirin's eye. Looking at him with a smirk on her face. “What?” he asked…

  Shirin: “Hmm, I'm somewhat curious…” Leans back and places her hand on his shoulder.

  Riven: He gulps, “Curious. On what?”

  Shirin: “You know… I saw that earlier smile on your face.” Riven flinched, “The one which you had and tried to hide when Mrs. Rustwood offered us an invitation…”

  “What…? Getting excited to see the… SniperEyesLady?”

  Riven: Felt a warmth rush through his face and eyes widened, “What!?”

  Shirin: giggles, “Oh, nothing. Nothing.” pats her thighs as she lets out another quiet giggle.

  Just then Mrs. Rustwood walks in with a tray of 3 warm glasses of water and places it on the coffee table. And took a seat across them. Knees touching and one hand rested on her lap while the other held a glass.

  Mrs. Rustwood: After taking a sip, placed back on the table. Looks up at them with a soft smile, “So, how was the hunt? Had fun?”

  Shirin: “Um, I guess it was.”

  Mrs. Rustwood: “Sounds good. Any snacks you'd like to have?”

  Shirin: shook her head, “No, not at all. We don't tend to stay for much long.”

  Mrs. Rustwood: “Oh, I see. You two must be tired after the trip. Well, Calira is asleep right now.”

  Hearing that… Maybe Riven frowned.

  Shirin: Took Calira's share out of the envelope and placed it on the table, “We'd planned to make an even share. But, right now without the full report we didn't get the full report. That is, there's still some more time.”

  Mrs. Rustwood: Take the crisp bill, “A 1000C (C means crowns) bill, means you got 3000 in advance?”

  Shirin: “No, they only gave 2000C. But we think Miss Rust—... Um, Miss Calira should get the most, even if it's the advance payment.”

  Mrs. Rustwood: Folds the crisp bill and pushes it back towards them and taps on the table, “Keep it for now. I'd assume you two may need it more. You can return it back when the full report is done.”

  Leaned back and arms crossed, “In fact, I'd say that…” Tilts her head, “Calira wouldn't even accept it. She's denied this kind of cash before. Of helping a rookie…”

  Hearing that both Riven and Shirin's eyes widen and both share a glance at the bill. Shirin looks up back at Mrs. Rustwood. Though, her back was now slouched. Shirin takes a deep breath. Riven opens his mouth but before any sound comes Shirin speaks first.

  Shirin: “Oh, I see.” Take back the bill. “Then, we'd be leaving for now.” Shirin stood up, followed by Riven.

  Mrs. Rustwood: She too stood up, “I'll walk to the door.” Smiles at them.

  They walk to the door. Behind Mrs. Rustwood. Walking close Shirin noticed that Mrs. Rustwood was shorter than her. Just by a bit. She opened the door for them and stepped aside for them to step out.

  “Okay then, bye. Make sure to come back some day.”

  “Bye, Mrs. Rustwood.”

  “Bye…”

  The door closed.

  Riven sighs, Shirin smirked, “I hope you're not sad for not seeing the… Sniper–Eye–Lady.”

  Slouched back Riven, “Shut up…”

  Shirin: Hands on her hips, “Well then, if that's done we shall return back to our inn and get some well deserved rest. Shall we.”

  Riven nods.

  —{StoneWell Inn}—

  It wasn't long before they got back to their inn. The inn was just beside a bakery with fresh baked breads. It had some customers but Riven and Shirin walked past it and to the inn.

  The door opened. Mrs. StoneWell was tending to some chores. She didn't notice them, nor did they call out to her and walked upstairs. But someone, a familiar person seated at a table noticed them.

  “Riven, Shirin.” The person called out.

  They turn. So did Mrs. StoneWell when she heard the name. It was Jude. Now in a simple white shirt and black trousers.

  Jude: Got up from his chair and approached “Hey, I've been waiting for you two. Where were you?”

  Before he got any answer Mrs. StoneWell also approached.

  Mrs. StoneWell: Cleaning her hand on her apron “There you two are. Where were you two?” Raised her eyebrow.

  Shirin: Averts her eyes from Jude, “Oh hey Mrs. StoneWell. We actually went to Mrs. Rustwood place. For their share of the work.”

  Hearing that Jude looked at Riven with a knowing smirk on his face. But Mrs. StoneWell was rather intrigued.

  Mrs. StoneWell: “Is that so. How was it?”

  Shirin: Bites her finger, “Um… Well… Could we talk about it later. We're really tired right now.”

  Mrs. StoneWell: “Oh, is that so? Well, sure you two can go and rest first.”

  Shirin: “Thanks.”

  Riven: “And ah, how's the condition of Chloe and Kellen right now?”

  Jude: “They just took their medicine and there's no change as they just took it! Now let's go to your room.” He said impatiently, pushing Riven upstairs.

  Shirin follows. Leaving Mrs. StoneWell downstairs.

  Outside Riven's door. Riven takes out his keys to open the door, Shirin walks past them towards her own room, right beside Riven. “I suppose he's just impatient to hear about the events that took place at Rustwood's place.”

  “Heck I do.”

  Shirin's door opened faster than Riven's, “It won't be worth the haste. I'm telling you.”

  One door finally opened. And the other closed. At the same moment.