"Alright, he's never exactly told us what the deal is with this place but we've dealt with a lot of his enemies. Usually there are two types, the ones who want to torture him directly or those who make him watch as they slaughter whoever tries to rescue him. In cases like that, we typically brute force it with numbers though with what he's explained, I don't think that's a good idea," Caron explained
"Any clues on his whereabouts? We can't exactly chase that shadow now..." Gideon remarked, his gaze scanning the alleyway it had vanished.
"I don't know, he never told us anything about this place or everything he's done here," Caron replied.
"I have no clue," he almost hisses, "Some people just don't tell me things."
"Of course. Well, the guy seems famous. Do you at least know any particular landmarks? You do fly a lot after all" Caron asked.
"Eh... follow me, I'll figure it out."
Marsh without other option start to follow him
Light and warmth can be felt by Fhian, the first thing she began to feel as she slowly regained her consciousness. Then came the softness from below her, a relatively clean mattress underneath. Last were the sounds of boiling and clinking of glass and metal coming from nearby.
"Everyone follow along!" Caron gestured to the others
Grunt she would make, before doing an Undertaker and rising up wide-eyed with a grin. But that would just as briefly go away from the ambiance of her surroundings.
It was still clean. Well, as clean as it was before. At least it was probably untouched. A hoarse voice was heard from where the sounds of metal and glass were heard.
"Safe? Well, did you make sure to clean my clothes? Or were you the one who dirtied them?"
The person turned around, a disgruntled man with a pair of goggles and an old coat. Behind him was a chemistry setup, presumably brewing something as of now.
"Oh, you mean that d*ckless bastard who stained my fit?" she asked, "I got my ass handed to 'im, but... Yeah, sure, let's sa I kinda did survive..." sparing a thumbs up.
"That survivability is quite remarkable really. I assume you're from outside?" Hepius asked.
"Uhhh, yeah, I guess..." nodded
"Interesting. I've been meaning to escape this situation. I've learned a lot here but this place has been, constricting me. Did you come with anyone else?"
"Hmmmm... If you're referring to those trash cans, then you can say I do have 'anyone else'..."
"Well, I do know this city decently well. That includes where the Night Hunter brings his victims. I'll lead you there" Hepius explained, standing up and brushing his coat clean
"Well, I can't exactly have my rematch if I'm kinda frail as sh*t..." she shrugged.
"Hmm, I've been working on healing potions lately, there's always a demand in a city like this. If that's your problem, I can give one bottle for you"
"Any other weapons? If... you have any?" she asked.
"Weapons aren't my specialty"
"Oh, so you're a potions guy? You got any of those weird love potions?"
"Potions that alter one's state of mind are banned under the law of the Night Hunter. I can only make them either once he is toppled or after I can escape this city"
"Okay, how about a deal? If I get to beat this edgelord, you give me a potion that makes me more beautiful and sex- I mean, clean-looking..."
"Sure, follow along" Hepius replied, stashing a few potions to himself.
"Those last few places were definitely not it" Caron said, sitting down while waiting Gideon to finish healing Mayel. The group had been going from landmark to landmark, crossing off where the Night Hunter usually hanged out at.
"Aight!" getting up from her bed, she'd happily follow Hepius, though the name Helpus would've been better in her mind.
"So... guess we just check this place out, then." Gideon remarked as he glanced around the decrepit building.
"I wonder what's gonna be in there this time? A giant pig? Flesh eating flies? Man-eating rats?" Mayel ranted exasperatedly. Each landmark had been a fight from start to finish and despite the healing offered, it was beginning to frustrate them. Still, this was the last one and hopefully they'd be done by then.
"This is it, the old meat processing plant. I still remember walking by a nearby street during one of those attacks. The screams..." Hepius explained. He and Fhian had walked for half an hour, reaching this place quickly from the back end. Due to the law on trespassing, the alchemist had chosen a more discreet method of entry.
"Wow, how horrifying...."
"Mmmmkay"
(What exposition dump? Most of the information is just narration)
Hepius led Fhian down the hill, pouring some acid on the wire gate to make an opening. The two soon went through, eventually coming across a particularly clean door.
The group came across a garage door which Caron lifted easily, finding a particularly dark garage.
"Nice door!" exclaimed, wanting to touch its knob.
Hepius stayed behind as the door opened, leading to a relatively empty yet clean hallway
"Finally! Ahhh~" as if relishing in the cleanliness, she can't help but smile.
"Right, right." A soft golden glow emanates from his hand.
Hepius shook a potion bottle which lit up the way, showing a place to turn
The light revealed a garage of sorts with carts and crates present all around. A door was also at the far end of the room, presumably leading in
"OoooOooOoOooOOOOoh, Lights!!!"
Going past the hallway, the two came across a rather dilapidated office space of sorts with empty tables and implements laying about
