Mentara is young, arguably in her early twenties or te teens. You clearly tell by her youthful, angry expression. She’s got that unmatured pissed off look down perfectly. ional trol whatsoever. Just realization, immediately followed by the p of alcohol. Strong alcohol too in sideration of the smell.

  Eventually, all bottles must e to an end as the p finishes. Drippihe old man looks uurbed by the shower. So much so, that very few at the pub noticed anything happened.

  Gring at Myers unfazed expression, the thought of smag him across the head with the empty bottle crosses her mind momentarily.

  Like I said before, young fiery dies have a tendency to yield to emotions.

  Myers hand reaches up and grabs the bottle before it further ruin the old man's hairstyle.

  “You’re still as hot-headed as ever,” He says calmly. With ease, he lowers the bottle down on the ter.

  “I wouldn’t be if you’d not just disappeared several years ago,” She growls.

  “I apologize. Something happened and I o leave immediately. I didn’t get a ce to leave a message. It was dangerous.”

  “Dangerous? Because of your dangerous, mine and my mothers life ged for the worse.”

  Myers grimaces. “Did something happen? Is Terresa alright?”

  “No,” She shakes her head. “She’s not alright, and she’ll be worse if I take you to her.”

  The old man heaves a sigh of relief. “So she’s alive. That's good.”

  Her anger fres. “Alive!” she somehow both screams and whispers. “Being alive isn’t living!”

  Her hand reaches uhe ter arieves a knife. She then sms the ko the ter, right in front of Myers, and finally attracts everyone's attention.

  “Tell me why the fuck I shouldn’t just gut you here and now?”

  Quasi, ever the grinnihat he is, pces his paw upon the woman's hand. Then he slowly caresses it. “Shhh, child. Rex and focus oten rubbing your hand.”

  Mentara freezes. She looks away from Myers. “Yes, feel the rubbery pads and the magnifit fur.” Quasi tinues. “Let yer rest, for you are in the presence of adorable royalty.”

  Cy muffles a giggle as Mentara stares sck-jawed at the talking kitten.

  “Rex. Fet about the mean old man and focus on the adorable furball.” Quasi moves more of his body into her arm, rubbing the softest fur that Mentara has ever felt.

  Unsciously, Mentara’s hand shifts from ko cat. Slowly, ever so slowly, her hand begiing. “Yes, like that. Mmmm.”

  “You talk.” She forces out.

  “I am indeed experienced in verbal unication, but it is where the nonverbal we verse.” Her petting slows, but Quasi quickly pushes his body into the hand, reigniting the petting back to optimal levels.

  “Do not stop. tiroking. Use both hands.”

  She pauses momentarily, then obliges by pig him up like a child.

  “You’re so soft,” she says.

  “I know,” Quasi whispers. “Have you calmed down?”

  “I-I have.”

  “Good. My name is Quasi Eludo, but many call me Kitty- or rade Kitty if you’re Russian. The drenched old fart is my servant and the child o him is my on-demaer.” Quasi yawns before leaning into the woman's chest. “I uand there is clearly some history between you and my servant. History that I wish to listen to behind closed doors and in the absence of a crowd.” Quasi waves a paw to the now silent and staring pub. All eyes are oalking kitten.

  “S-sure.”

  _________________________________________________________________

  “I am not his servant,” Myers corrects.

  “Yes you are,” Quasi says while being carried by the young dy.

  “I am not,” He says. Then g Mentara. “We have a mutual uanding agreement.”

  “Ignore him. He’s going senile in his old age. He really is my servant.”

  “I’m the petter,” Cy adds happily.

  The old man sighs. “Don’t humor him, Cy.”

  “Ignore him Cy. You humor me as much as you want.”

  The child giggles at Myers sour look.

  Mentara ’t help but grin at the bad forth. She already tell that the talking cat is currently soothing her anger. Soothing enough for her to actually oblige with Myers request. Traveling behind the ter and up some stairs, they arrive at the living area of her home. A nice, modest home with many runic amenities.

  “The Grounded Gardener seems to have been doing very well.” Myers ents.

  “No thanks to you,” She ters.

  “Mentara, your beauty does not look well with suger.” Quasi wiggles into her chest.

  She tries to grimace, but only blushes at the ess in her arms.

  “My mother is in her room.”

  Mentara knocks first and thehe door. She enters and the rest follow inside. What they find is a wheelchaired woman sitting in front of a desk with Quill and dots in hand. Her head shifts to the newers, and then immediately foyers.

  She smiles warmly. “Admi- Myers. It’s good to see you're safe.”

  The old man grimaces, eyes focused on the wheelchair. “You as well.” He forces guiltily.

  She rolls her eyes at where the man is looking. “Idiot.”

  She wheels herself away from the desk. “Let's go into the living room. My room is a bit too small for versatioara, bring some drinks and snacks- why are you holding a cat?”

  “This is Quasi, a talking cat.” Mentara says. “Quasi, this is my mother Adriana. Say hello.”

  “Meow.”

  Adriana smiles, amused. “That’s ice, dear.”

  “No, mom. He actually talk. Quasi say something.”

  “Meoo.”

  Adriana tinues smiling at her now Panig daughter. “I’m serious, mom. He talk. He was just talking to me.”

  Adriana chuckles. “I believe you, dear.”

  “I’m not crazy. I swear!”

  “Meeeeeooo.”

  Adriana wheels herself to her daughter. She raises a hand ahe cat on the head. “It’s a pleasure to meet you [Captain] Quasi Eludo.”

  The cat immediately pouts. “Damn.”

  The chaired woman starts giggling.

  Ohe giggling subsides, everyone is moved into the living room. Here, Mentara brings out juices, fruits, and a sausage for a certain kitten.

  “Adriana, about ys. What happened?” Myers asks after thhly rubbing a towel over his hair.

  Adriana sighs. “Before I begin, I want you to know that this is not your fault. So do not bme yourself for what happened.”

  The old man nods, but clearly not in agreement.

  “Now, is it alright to share any information with Quasi?”

  “Yes,” Quasi says.

  “No,” Myers answers. “He does not know anything other than that I am hunted.”

  “You’re a criminal,” Mentara excims.

  The old man tilts his head to the young dy. “You haven’t told your daughter?”

  “It’s better that she doesn’t know.”

  “What don’t I know?” She asks.

  “Yes, what doesn't she know?” Quasi asks.

  Adriana smiles, “You’re a nosy one.”

  Quasi shrugs. “And an adorably cute one.”

  Myers leans forward. “A [Bounty Hunter] got a lead on Cy. They attacked and almost killed him before I intervened and escaped. Immediately after, I rushed to port and paid for an immediate departure. I couldn’t risk ing back to you in case they were waiting for me.”

  “They were,” Adriana says. “When you never returhey came for information.”

  “You gave them nothing,” Myers says.

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “You should have,” Mentara interrupts. “Then you’d still be able to walk.”

  Adriana shakes her head. She looks at Cy eating what looks like a strawberry. “I made a vow a long time ago, and that vow still holds. If I break it, I will regret it for the rest of my life.” Cy blushes at her words.

  “They tortured you.”

  “They did. They broke my bones, fyed my flesh, and many other things I do not wish to speak of. When they realized I was willing to die, the leader shattered my spine before leaving.”

  “Did you go to a [Healer]?”

  “I did. All the other injuries they were able to fix, but the damage to my spine is not one of them. I’d o find an [Archhealer] rand Surgeon] if I’m tain the ability to walk.”

  “I bet my [Chief Physi] fix your spine.” Quasi interrupts.

  Adriana smiles politely. “I doubt a ship’s [Healer] has the levels and experieo fix such extensive damage. But, I thank you for the offer.”

  “Your doubts may not be warranted,” Myers says. “His [Chief Physi] has a rather unique skill set that I’ve never seen before.”

  “Oh?” She taps her . “Something you’ve never seen before? That's quite rare.” She looks at the kitten ripping into the sausage. “Am I to presume there is a cost for your [Chief Physis] services?”

  Quasi swallows. “Yup. The question is, you pay it?”

  “Moarily, not much. But if it’s information you seek, then I absolutely .”

  “Good, because that's exactly what I need. A lot of it actually.”

  “Then ask.”

  “I hree things. First, I need information on the locations of all Towers, including the one near here. Sed, I need runes. I have a [Ruh] that o expand her repertoire- specifically the ruhat reduces recoil on ons.”

  “Towers? That is an odd request, but I easily obtain it. Is there a reason why you need only the locations?”

  “I o visit all of them.”

  “I see. There is a ret [Mage] who is doing the same as you.”

  “Auranta,” Mentara says.

  “Yes, her. She’s a bit of an enigma, but her skills are exempry. If you need a [Ship Castor], I’d reend hiring her.”

  Quasi frowns. “I’m willing to meet her.”

  Adriana looks to Mentara. “If you see Auranta, inform her of Quasi.”

  Mentara nods.

  Adriaurns her focus to Quasi. “Obtaining simpler runes is easy. I’ve several books I already provide. But, more plicated ones like [Reduce Recoil], [Reduce fri], and [Disperse Kiics] are going to take some time to get.”

  “I wait. My [Quartermaster] o set up an au for some valuable goods. That’s going to take some time, so I wait.”

  “Then I’ll start searg. You mentiohere is a third thing you needed?”

  Quasi sits up and g Cy. The child looks back at him with a puzzled look.

  “Myers mentioned Cy was being hunted by a [Bounty Hunter]. A [Bounty Huhat tried to kill a child. Are they at Menston?”

  “They are.”

  “I want their name and everything else you know about them.”

  She scowls. “Why?”

  Quasi grins, teeth showing. “Cy is a good petter. A very kind child who I’ve grown fond of. And now I’ve just learhat someoempted to kill Cy three years ago. Cy was what, four at the time? Yea, see, I don’t have very many morals. I’m not above sughter, torture, and many other worse vices. But, I draw the lih harming children, especially against anyone who would kill a four year old for money.”

  “You want to kill them.”

  Quasi starts giggling. He shakes his head. “Kill? No. Absolutely not. Why would I offer someone like that the gentle reprieve of death?”

  Adriana g Myers, but the old man refuses to say anything.

  She sighs. “Her name is Egressa Dleron…