MAR 21 Tuesday.

I choose to ignore the stare of Cadance as I straighten the tie of my suit. "You could at least tell me if it looks decent, I could use the positivity before dealing with nobles and a king."

That earns me a giggle as Cadance works on more paperwork and passes me a few things. "Here, the train leaves at seven, you are heading back with the guards and a few others. Do not let me hear about you running off, I don't want to let a rowdy stallion like you out of sight." She holds out a few pieces of paper.

I take the papers with a slight blush as she gives me a calculating look. "Smooth out your left side a bit, and stop complaining about going to a fancy party while I'm dealing with, THIS." She motions to the small mountain of paperwork and I just smile smugly in return. She narrows her eyes, "I can keep you here until the next train in two weeks, we could always use another scribe." She deadpans to me.

I chuckle with her after a moment as we trade insults and threats. "Thanks for the help by the way, and make sure to at least find some fun, maybe with your stallion." I joke again but drop that tone a moment later. "Seriously though, thanks for letting me tag along, I'll see you when you get back." I smile over at her.

She smiles in turn and nods. "It's not like you didn't help as well. Things have gone pretty well and that deal of yours helped, just a little though, and as a bonus, you made this a little less boring. Now get going, you have a princess waiting for an explanation." She smiles knowingly and I decide to turn to leave the room before she can get the satisfaction of seeing my soured expression. "Goodbye Shade, and by magic please stay safe."

I leave as she chuckles and makes my way to the room I'm staying in after leaving her temporary office. When I arrive Entropy is sat atop a bedpost and greets me happily. "Hello. Go?" She asks while flying over to stand on the wooden floors next to me. I kept her here to keep an eye on my things while I said goodbye to Cadance.

I pet her with a smile at her excitement. "Soon Girl, you can rest a bit more if you like." She bobs her head and merges into my shadow without another word. I leave her alone and start checking that I have everything in order to leave tomorrow as I really don't want to spend even more time in this place with all these nobles with fake smiles.

To one side of my bed is a packed and wrapped box filled with many different documents, and I've spent some time reading through a few of them over the past few days. I've learned several things of interest and it seems the situation is about as bad as I expected.

The current situation is a complicated mess, but from what I can see other factions are finally moving against the Storm King. Two months ago several dozen kingdoms and city-states tried to form a meeting to deal with him, only for two of the groups attending to start another fucking war, as if it wasn't bad enough already.

It didn't completely derail the meeting but things are moving very slowly after that and it's giving the Storm King even more time to maneuver around. Precise information is frankly impossible to get and I've only gone through some of the information I bought, but from what I can tell the Storm King is consolidating his gains and building up more forces.

It seems he might try what I pointed out several months ago could actually happen, and if he does stop the other factions from allying together and forming a larger force things will degrade even further. I hope this information at least makes Celestia take him somewhat more seriously, if we can prepare now it will be a big step.

Sadly I think the window for stopping him early has passed, he has loyal supporters now and a building base of power. I shake my head and focus more on the things I've recently bought. First, there are several new spices, something I always look for in new locations.

Beyond that, I found a gift for each of my friends. They are paintings, all are full sizes but rolled up to be space-efficient, and they all depict different places around Feather Falls. Some are of the city and others of views or impressive buildings. One, in particular, is from the perspective of someone in the cavern looking out of the large opening with the setting sun streaming through the waterfall.

Beyond this, I found two things of interest in my limited time in the market. First is a new plant, Poison Cactus, a small round ball cactus that poisons those pricked by its needles. I learned a little about the plant after a day of looking through a few libraries. First, it's not a deadly poison unless you get pricked repeatedly in a short time span.

It's illegal to buy or sell, but not own. And it's illegal because you can extract and concentrate the poison to make something truly deadly without much difficulty. I bought the plant and grew some seeds before destroying it to prevent any accidents from happening or unwanted questions. It's nothing amazing but I could always use a poison for, medicinal uses let's say.

Beyond the cactus, I also found an interesting enchanted item, a small wooden ball that returns when you throw it. It's again simple but unique and it could prove useful to study at some point, but for now, it's a new toy for Entropy. I didn't find anything else of much interest though, I simply didn't know where to look and didn't want to spend too much time there.

I straighten my suit again and use a small pocket to store a few treats for Entropy. I turn to my shadow with a small smirk seeing her standing on my shadow's back. "Remember the rules Girl. No talking without me telling you to, if you get in trouble find an opportunity to get into a shadow and find me, and no stealing food." I emphasize the last point heavily.

Her shadow holds out a wing while nodding. "Know. Be safe." She demands in turn and I nod as the care she shows for me brings some comfort. I'm not taking anything else with me so I just leave the building and start making my way through the streets of the city.

The dark streets are honestly something I've come to enjoy a little. It may sound odd but there is a curious calm in such a dark and shadowy place, somewhat like the Void. I suppose others may see it another way as for me even when completely dark I can see just fine, all my training really paid off in the end.

The amount of times my extra senses have helped me countless times and are one of my greatest assets. For insistence, I'm currently keeping a proverbial eye out for anything around me. And with my constant use, I never really turn my senses off, I limit them but it's basically constant now, with the exception of sleeping.

In fact, I can find it a little disorienting when they aren't active, I've adapted pretty well after all this time. That's not to say I'm perfect, I still have trouble with really detailed stuff from a distance though, and some things I'll never be able to see like color. Still, it's a part of me now and it's only becoming more so with each day.

Before reaching the address I was invited to I stopped in a secluded alley and cast an illusion over Entropy and had her ride on my back. I let out a deep breath as I know this is probably going to suck. "Ok. Love." I smile at Entropy as she tries to reassure me, she's able to see through my mask of confidence pretty easily.

"I know." I shake my head a little and make my way over to the correct building. It's a well-built and fancy-looking villa in the upper districts of the city near the back of the cavern it occupies. Painted stone and a few glass windows become obvious as I near it.

It's well-lit and has several guards at the gate out front. Things go smoothly though and I'm able to show my invite and walk inside a moment later without trouble. The inside of the villa is a little fancy for my liking, well built and elegantly carved furniture with expensive and large paintings as decorations.

The floors are sanded wooden planks with prominent grain to them. As I enter the room a Griffon in a well-made suit greets me with a slight bow, "This way Sir." He motions down a hallway and I nod silently before following it. As I do so I sense a few dozen beings past a door with my limited senses. I make sure to limit the range to focus my mind on other things and not get overwhelmed.

I open the door to find a large courtyard, a few tables with drinks and food along with a table full of cages sit around the area. There are a few staff members serving different things but the majority of beings here are talking and interacting with each other while showing off their crows.

Two or three dozen beings, mostly Griffons but I see a Diamond Dog and a Yak as well. As I look around a Griffon I recognize walks over with a smile. "Ahh! Mr. Evergreen. I'm glad you could make it." King Adosis greets me happily and a few others immediately notice. "To you as well Shadow." He smiles at Entropy.

I give a quick bow. "A pleasure, thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty." I keep a very formal tone but don't fully bow as this is a more casual event.

He chuckles a little and waves me off. "No need for all of that, Adosis is just fine, Sir. if you must." His tone is still formal but more casual about everything than the party nearly two weeks ago. "Now, I must attend to some things, please enjoy yourself." He encourages me and walks off with a silent nod from me.

I have no idea what to do so after a moment standing there I decided to just move over to the cages on a table that are rather loud. Several Griffons have their crows with them, but the crow owners who can't seem to control their crows leave them in a cage a little out of the way.

They aren't the most calm and some are actively freaking out a little, I don't really enjoy seeing or listening to this. Not all of them are doing as badly but it's clear not all of these creatures are able to take proper care of their pets. I can't do much for them so I settle for moving away from them before I get upset. "A rather sad thing, yes?"

Before I can move away a Griffon walks over and stands next to me. The female voice is prim and proper while her suit is of a very high quality. Her expression seems relaxed but also very well composed. She has a crow of her own on her shoulder that is tied to her suit with a thin string.

Her fur and body feathers are a tan brown while her head feathers are pure white, along with yellow eyes, she looks like the classic Griffon really. I nod after a moment, "I suppose so, they could have at least moved them further apart." I comment plainly while showing my disapproval.

She nods and shows a little frown before turning fully to me. "Sita Steel, a pleasure. Shade Evergreen I presume? I've heard much about you." It's immediately clear that she knows more about me than I do about her, but she's not the first to say my name without me telling them to try and put me off base.

I nod politely. "Yes, I am a translation scribe, and it seems the king found it fit to invite me along." I keep a less formal tone than I did at the party or with the king as I just don't care what these nobles think about me, that's not to say I'm being rude. I do downplay things as normal, but I notice her crow looking curiously at Entropy and caws at her, but Entropy stays silent and calm.

She smirks a little at Entropy. "Yes, I remember you at the ball, sadly I was busy at the time and didn't get a chance to talk. I must say your crow is remarkably well trained." She compliments Entropy who looks happy in response but doesn't really show it all that much.

I nod again and start to move away from the noisy table as she walks alongside me. "In a way she is. She is rather good at dealing with crowds and noise, but like all pets, she is a hoof full at the best of times." I joke a little to throw us off of the topic and change things up.

She chuckles good-naturedly before her demeanor shifts a bit. "I've noticed that I myself take pride in raising crows, in fact I specialize in it." She brags in a thinly veiled way. "That's why I wanted to ask if you're willing to trade?" She's all smiles but my mind stops abruptly at hearing her words.

I'm willing to deal with a lot of things, but fucking with those I care for is a very bad idea, and I do not like the way she's steering this conversation. "I, am not aware of what you mean, trade what?" I ask with the same tone while keeping my expression the same.

She keeps that smile and relaxed look but raises a brow like I'm dense. "Your crow of course? I myself trade and sell them all the time, I've even raised a few of the crows here. I could offer you a better-trained one if you wish?" Her tone is a little boisterous about it and she seems a little blind to my slight shift in body language.

Internally I want to slap this bitch and tell her to promptly fuck off, but I keep that impulse buried and just pretend to look understanding but uninterested. "Ah. I see, sorry to say I'm not interested in a trade. I quite like her and we all have our favorites." Even while trying my best my change in mood comes through in my voice a bit.

Her face twitches a little but she keeps smiling. "Really? I am a noble you know? And I can offer a very generous price, exceptionally for someone of your... Standing." She tries to entice me and I really have to keep myself under control as her words do not make things better. She saw my expression stay the same and I saw her eyes narrow a bit.

Entropy is smart enough to listen in and I don't think she's pleased either. But before we can continue a clear voice rings out. "Attention! Attention Everygriff!" The King stands up and everybody turns to him as he stands up fully. "Thank you all for coming, and now that we are all settled in we can begin."

My mind flashes back to the invite I was given for a moment. In the invite it explained that the gathering was more than just a party, but also had some planned games for the guests to participate in. I should point out it specified, that the games are mandatory for all guests as that was the theme of the party.

Several staff members walk over with cloth covers and start to place one over each cage with a crow in it. "Please leave your feathered friends with the staff, they will take good care of them in the lounge as we enjoy the festivities." He waves over to a room that is visible from the courtyard area.

The invite did not talk about this, but from the reaction of the other guests, this seems to be normal. Funnily enough, I don't feel that much anxiety or worry over leaving Entropy alone, she is more than capable of taking care of herself if need be. Sita turns to me with a smile I don't trust anymore. "Well, you have time to think about it all, please keep my offer in mind, I don't make offers often." With that said she puts her crow in a cage and walks off without an answer.

As I pick up Entropy and move her into a cage I whisper to her. "Anything happens, come find me." She bobs her head a slight amount and I leave her on the table with the other crows as her cage is covered with a cloth. After that, I joined the others waiting for this unknown game to start.

The king stands up on his back legs to look taller and I have to beat my mind away from looking at his lower half. "Good, we can start." He motions to a door behind him to a room inside the villa. "The game is simple. Behind me are four rooms separated from the rest of the house." The king seems pretty happy with himself as he explains.

After a moment he holds up a card. "In each room hidden around are fifty-two cards, a full deck. The goal is simple. Through searching, trading, or allying, you must complete as many sets as you can." He takes a moment to flip over an hourglass on a table. "You have two hours, ask the attendants if you need anything, and please enjoy." He smiles widely as several Beings start moving immediately while talking with others.

I wait for others to shuffle in before doing the same as the doors are closed behind us after the king enters. He turns to me as I look around. "Well, I would rather not do the searching alone, care to join me?" He asks with a relaxed tone and I think about it for a moment.

I did not like the arrogance and entitlement of Sita, and it put me on high alert. I'm not worried about Entropy, but the unpredictable actions of others are never simple. Still, I see no reason to turn the King down as he's not too bad from what I've experienced. "Of course Sir. Although, wouldn't you know where everything is already?"

He smiles and shakes his head as he overturns a few cushions on a couch as I walk around with him. "Afraid not, I had a few attendants place them around. After all, there's no fun in a puzzle that's already been solved." A fair enough point. I nod and join in on the search with him. "So, how have you had the chance to see the city during sunset? It's quite a sight and one of my favorite times of the day."

I take a second and focus my spatial senses to be even more compact and detailed. I still practice my space magic control with cards so I know very well how they look with my spatial senses. It takes a brief moment to find three hidden cards and I pull one from behind a plant pot.

I show the card to him. "I have, I took a small outing to a taller building at the right time. Honestly, this entire city is very... Unique." I'm honest with him and a little more open about my words. He pulls a card from between the pages of a book while talking to me and we fall into a rhythm of small talk.

Author's Note

Thanks for reading. :D
Current year is 995

I really tried to end this arc, but we're going to be adding one more chapter it seems. Also, before anyone asks, no this is not a murder mystery, even if I was sourly tempted to do that. Also the game is literally fifty two card pick up with extra steps.

Also, 200!!! HOW THE FUC--- Ok no more of that.

Thank you to everyone who's shown support for this story, small or big, silent or loud. I hope you all have a great day.

Also also. I made an updated map of Gaia's Eden for you all, and like the last one it's not to scale, it just shows where everything is. I didn't have anything better for this so I hope you like it.