Entering the Animalia Company building, I breathed a small sigh of relief as it looked to be completely normal.

I entered through the banking area, and the long lines of people waiting to talk to one of the tellers told me both how good business was in Lumen and how calm life was here. It was raining, a tad bit too much, so for it to still be so busy even with the weather told me how well the city was doing.

As I walked through the banking area, heading for the center of the building towards the houses, I passed a few of the members. They were all busy with work, and most didn't notice me, but the few who did like Pierre waved in greeting.

Usually a few of them would hurry over to talk to me, but I knew to them I had just been here. I'd only been gone a couple weeks, and for our kind that was well… The same as just not seeing each other for a day or so, in respective.

Pausing before an intersection, one that had a set of stairs and also led deeper into the building… I debated my next move for a moment.

Renn, should, be here. I'd really like to see her. I had a lot to say, and… Climbing a set of stairs, I decided to see if Gerald or Brandy were at their offices first before finding Renn. As much as I wanted to see her… I had something important I needed to do.

I had a small letter in my bag, one I'd written myself. To remind me so that I'd not forget. It concerned the young girl, Mistle, and her family. The letter had their names, where they lived, and some of the information pertaining as to the why I wanted to send them some money. I planned to hand it off to either Gerald or Brandy, whoever I saw first.

The poor girl had lost all of her immediate family. Because of unnatural causes. From a monarch, made by an inept god. She had extended family, particularly an aunt who had far more children than she could properly take care of, so I worried for the girl. I felt partly responsible for the tragedy that had fallen upon her small shoulders. If I'd done a better job… if I was doing a better job, such things wouldn't be happening anymore.

It was one thing for someone to suffer from a disease, war or famine… but to suffer by the hands of a creature beyond normalcy? Her and her family could have made decisions that altered normal events. Made choices that affected the world, even. They could decide to support, or flee, a war. They could plan, or not plan, for a bad winter and for their crops to fail or their farm animals to suffer disease and die. They could even decide if they perished to simple mistakes, or accidents… such as falling off a cliff, or being bitten by a venomous snake. So all such things were natural, and things they could control… even if only by luck and chance. But to die by the hands of the divine…? A god's creation, likely made on a whim…? There was no control over that. No freedom. Not even luck was able to factor into play there.

And such a thing infuriated me beyond comprehension.

Rounding a corner, I was glad to find Gerald's office open, but not very happy to find him alone. He wasn't even paying attention as I walked in, so I knocked lightly on the door frame as I did.

Gerald sat up, frowned at me and then smiled. "Vim! Welcome back," he greeted me.

I nodded, relaxing a little at the way he was smiling. If he was smiling all happy like that, nothing bad must have happened while I was away.

"Got a minute?" I asked as I went to shut the door. I noted I didn't smell Renn in the room, though I did smell others. Brandy. Merit's noticeable and distinct smell was also in the air, which told me she'd been in here recently too.

"Of course," he stated as he promptly dropped his pen. He didn't put it away though, and simply left it on the desk before him. I knew that meant he was busy, so I decided to keep this short. I stepped into the room, debated taking a seat and chose against it.

"I'd like to ask you a favor, if you'd be so kind," I said.

Gerald frowned at me. "I've never been told I was kind before, but I can give it a shot."

I smirked at him. "I'd like you to do two things for me. First, I'd like to send a little money to this family," I said as I dug out the letter. I handed it off to him, and he was about to open it as to read it but hesitated. He glanced at me and I nodded that it was okay for him to do so. "Particularly the young girl, Mistle. I'd prefer it if you made sure she got a comfortable position, or job, once of age as well," I added. Actually she might even be old enough already. Today's era had kids entering the work force rather early, but I wanted her to spend some time with her family for a bit. She just experienced something traumatic.

"We always need more help," Gerald said lightly as he went to opening the letter, though did so very slowly and lazily. He was more focused on me than the letter.

I nodded. "I'd appreciate it. She's just a human, but…" I wasn't sure what to say, so instead just shrugged.

The bird seemed to understand. "I recently helped a destitute family myself, Vim. You'd be proud of me," he said.

"Oh?" I tilted my head at that.

He nodded. "Was near the port a few months ago. Not sure how it really happened… but I ended up watching a man get mugged. At least, the end of it. I watched as the sailors ran off, leaving him in the alley to bleed," Gerald said.

Ah… "One of the homeless or…?" I asked, wondering if it had simply been a matter of someone owing someone money or something.

"Yes. Before I knew it some kids had crawled out from wherever they had been hiding, trying to help the man to sit up. Turns out he's one of the victims of the disaster. The building he had lived in got destroyed during the chaos, and the children are the offspring of all those who died in it. They had all been elsewhere when it happened, on some kind of venture to the market. Basically he's the only adult left who even knows their names, and is trying to take care of them," Gerald said.

Oh boy. "I had thought you all set up relief for such people?" I asked. Hadn't Brandy overseen all of that? There was supposed to have been a massive effort to re-house everyone and even give financial aid too.

"We had. But thanks to how humans are, many slipped through the cracks. The children had no one to claim them, and they didn't know what to do with them… No parents, no ownership, no way to claim housing or financial aid. And so they were getting fed at least, until the aid programs stopped that is," Gerald said.

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"They're lucky they didn't just get taken by slavers," I said.

"The man's efforts. Anyway… long story short I took them in. Well, turns out the man has fallen to the abuse of drugs. I think, because he knows the children are now safe and will be fine, he fell into depression or something. So now I have nine children of varying ages and education that I'm not really sure what to do with…" Gerald said with a sigh.

I smirked at him. "And no orphanage here to properly care for them," I said. Brandy had always wanted to make one here, but Gerald and others didn't want to allow it.

The bird frowned at me, knowing I had just blamed him for his own stress. "There are a few such institutions here in Lumen… but well…"

"Human ran. Likely full of abuse and neglect, yes," I said. Especially here in the land of coin.

He sighed and nodded. "Exactly… And the worst part is I'm getting small comments from other members about it," he said.

"How so?"

"They worry we have too many human members. Not workers, but members," he said.

Ah… I nodded. "Because of Renn," I said, understanding.

He gave me a gentle smile as he nodded again.

Basically those Renn invited, the ones that Merit had taken to watching over, were seen as genuine members. Not just workers. And as such, the non-human members were now considered a minority. Especially if they all thought these kids would be considered members too, since brought in by Gerald. A quaint problem to have, in a sense. It wasn't as if it actually mattered… human members were members, but not given full right to voting or making important decisions. Though it did possibly increase the odds of something bad happening, such as being betrayed.

"I hope you didn't let Renn know about them," I said.

He blinked and shook his head. "Don't think so…? Your wife has been busy. If she's not with Light she's off doing whatever with Merit or those humans," he said.

Although upset at hearing her being with Light was considered not just a normal thing, but an expected thing, I was glad to also hear she had been spending time with Merit and the humans. Better they than Light, any day.

Still… "Well… I'll let Brandy know too, about the kid. It's not pressing, if you'd rather just give her some money that's fine," I said. I wasn't going to force the issue, if they were already having issues. Even if I would have much rather preferred the alternative. Money didn't last forever, after all. A good job, in a good setting such as here at the guild, was far more valuable. Money on its own usually caused more problems than it solved, honestly. Here she'd safe, earn money with her own labor and thus feel more confident about it, and to top it off it'd ensure she'd live a full life.

Gerald slowly nodded. "Sure…? You must have gotten side-tracked then, if you're doing this for some humans. May I ask what happened?"

"They were attacked by a monarch. And thus the rest of my request… I'd like you to keep an ear out for rumors. Gossip," I said.

He slowly lowered the letter, which he had opened but hadn't read yet, and studied me. "Gossip of…?" he asked wearily.

"Monsters. Monarchs. Miracles."

The bird closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I see."

I nodded, and knew I didn't need to specify. Gerald was old enough to know the meaning of my words.

There were monarchs on the loose. I wanted to hunt them, so he needed to help me find them. And the best way to do that, other than me just… running around everywhere, was for him and those he oversaw to start taking note of rumors. Of things the sailors or traveling merchants heard in bars and inns. In the beds of prostitutes and amongst the whispers in a church before a sermon.

I'd be asking the same of Brandy, and even Light, once I saw them.

"Um… can I ask what happened, Vim?" Gerald asked carefully.

"I ran into a monarch. One in the middle of feasting on a human family."

He flinched. "That's not good. She survived then? This girl?"

I nodded. "Not good at all. And particularly odd… why do you look like you just ate something sour?" I asked. The man had half-closed eyes, as if being beset by a sudden headache.

"Because I just realized I likely have to be the one to tell you… um… well…" Gerald glanced up, looked away, and then looked back at me.

My mind dulled a bit as I realized he was struggling to tell me something. Hesitant. Which could only mean one thing.

"What happened…?" I asked, fearing the worst.

"Well… Light left. To go north for a bit. To the Bell Church and stuff," he said quickly.

Oh…? I relaxed a little. Thank goodness.

Before I could really enjoy the relief though, Gerald continued. "She took Renn with her. She had foreseen them encountering a monarch on the way and…"

I slapped my hand over my face with such force it silenced him. The sound rung my ears, which meant it was ringing his too, as I groaned and squeezed my own face.

By my parents I am going to bury Light alive!

After a few moments of not breathing… I lowered my hand and found Gerald opening and closing his mouth. He was trying to pop his ears, likely because I'd just made them ring.

"Sorry Gerald," I apologized.

He shook his head, blinking quickly. "I'm fine. I think. I uh… I'm sorry, Vim. I should have told you right away, figured you knew."

Obviously not. Great. "When'd they leave?"

"Yesterday. Not long after sunrise."

Knowing Light they had taken a lot of her people, and supplies and whatnot. Light never traveled lightly. So they were likely escorting wagons and carts, and as such were not even half way there yet. I'd be able to catch up to them promptly… as long as I left now.

"Do you happen to know the finer details?" I asked.

"Brandy was told more about it. I'll be utterly honest Vim… I've been avoiding Light and her people. She moved in not too long ago, so…"

Right… I couldn't blame him for that. I would do the same in his shoes.

But still… "Where's Brandy?" I asked.

"Probably resting. I'd check her room, or her office," he said.

"I'll do just that then. Thank you Gerald, I'll probably leave right away then. They might need my help," I said as I headed for the door.

"Figured. Safe travels, Vim."

Leaving his office, I tried not to rush too quickly as I hurried to find Brandy. I'd speak with her, then leave immediately.

I knew, likely, that Renn wasn't alone. She had Lilly, or at least should have her. Though Lilly would be forced to keep a distance… and that might put undue risk to them all…

"Though odds are Light knows I'll catch up to them in time," I whispered.

Light would do that. She'd take Renn with her, to ensure I'd hurry to their aid. Celine would have done similar. That was how they tried to manipulate me… by making me act without telling me outright of what they wanted me to do. By moving the people around me, since they couldn't move me myself.

As I hurried to find Brandy… I tried my best to ignore the growing seed of doubt I was trying to keep hidden away.

But at this point it wasn't even a seed anymore. It wasn't even a bunch of weeds and trees.

It was the whole bloody forest.

Another monarch…? So soon…?

"Gods…" I groaned in disgust.

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