“Valthar is a decent name.” Mikayla nodded in approval. “What do you plan to do here in my family's lands?”

  Valthar looked at her quizzically, surprised by the sudden interest.

  “Hard to say, my first goal was to find how to operate as a dark healer without getting myself killed by the Silverfangs so…” Valthar shot her a meaningful glance.

  “Consider it done, with you under my wing nobody will dare to touch you.” She stated matter of factly.

  “Under your wing?” Valthar raised an eyebrow, before he remembered where that came from. “Oh yeah that was part of the bet wasn't it.”

  A smug little smile couldn’t help but bloom in his face, few things tasted as sweet as proving someone wrong.

  “Don't think I won’t beat you just cause you won.” Mikayla narrowed her eyes and spread her mana aura around him lightly.

  Outwardly she looked pissed yet her life force told Valthar a different story, Mikayla wasn't annoyed but satisfied.

  “Are you not bothered at all for losing to me?” Valthar narrowed his eyes and asked point blank.

  This time Mikayla raised an eyebrow, surprised the cocky dark healer seemed more perceptive than she gave him credit for.

  “I never lose, Valthar.” She stated with dead seriousness.

  “The fact I won our bet speaks otherwise.” He poked further.

  To which Mikayla just shook her head.

  “If one loses every time someone else wins then they are the truest type of loser.” She scoffed before adding. “Just like you are a dumbass for taking a bet before fully knowing the situation.”

  Valthar agreed with the first sentiment, though in his mind it sounded more like a dodge than an actual answer.

  “Tsk, sore loser.” He mumbled, before shifting the topic. “What being ‘under your wing’ entails anyway? No offense but I don’t think you can help me much with my magic…”

  Nor did Valthar believe she could teach him much about elemental magic either, though there was much he didn’t understand in this domain he seriously doubted he would find anything much deeper than the basics here in the outlands.

  Just then his stomach grumbled, loud enough that even Mikayla turned her head.

  “Let’s go somewhere else, Lamia’s Burrow is no place for serious topics and I doubt you'd be able to hear my words with your stomach complaining so loudly.”

  “I haven’t eaten today alright.” He explained himself though he didn’t need to.

  “This I can tell you upfront, under my wing you won’t need to worry about food, follow me.” She rolled her eyes and stepped forward.

  Valthar nodded satisfied, only to then be led through the tunnels under Last Torchlight for what felt like an hour, his hunger growing stronger with each step.

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  Eventually they reached the northern side of the underground city and the entire vibe of the tunnels changed, from mossy corners and dimly lit tunnels they suddenly were surrounded by silver adorned walls and polished stone ground.

  Even the front of the stores were significantly better, no longer holes opened at random places along the walls, but instead large rooms carved within the stone with planned precision.

  Like nodes connected by the tunnels, each with only a handful of beautifully decorated stores stood open, showing a well planned structure and seemingly coordinated decoration style in this side of the underground area.

  Finally Mikayla walked into a restaurant named Wolf’s Tongue, curiously near Fang’s Den, the pricier inn Valthar had been recommended together with Lamia’s Burrow.

  As soon as Mikayla stepped in the guards inside bowed low and the whole room grew quiet for a moment.

  Valthar watched from behind as many stared towards Mikayla with worried eyes, their life force screaming in tension like a mouse cornered by a cat.

  Only after Mikayla and him entered deeper into the Inn did they let out relieved sighs.

  “Prepare room number 5.” She casually ordered a waiter only to receive a troubled look back.

  “Someone else from the family is here?” Mikayla instantly guessed, since in this specific restaurant only Silver Fangs could use the private room number 5.

  The waiter nodded as sweat gathered on his forehead.

  “Which private room is available then?” She asked with a dead panel tone.

  The waiter gulped and stared down at the floor in silence as large beads of sweat gathered on his forehead.

  Valthar shot Mikayla a questioning glance, that commoners showed caution towards nobles was normal, a good sign that the Silverfang's had strong control over their terrain.

  But to see both wealthy looking clients and staff being absolutely petrified by Mikayla's presence was not something Valthar thought of as normal.

  ‘Is this something about her or the Silverfangs?’ He wondered while withholding further judgement.

  Luckily the terrorised silence from the waiter was soon ended as the manager of the restaurant appeared with a respectful smile, this was the first person that showed no apprehension when looking at Mikayla.

  “You can use room number 8 Lady Mikayla, the one in there is a daughter of an old friend and I’m sure she would be more than happy to vacate the space… Actually she is going to Deep Bonfire soon too, a budding merchant with great character." Kar said casually as he guided them deeper down the underground corridors.

  “I’ll stay in the city another month, more than enough time to make a new acquaintance, especially someone you'd recommend to me." Mikayla nodded, her tone surprisingly light and satisfied.

  “Should I contact Merlinda to plan a date?” Kar asked for confirmation, mentioning the name of Mikayla's personal assistant.

  “She is in Deep Bonfire coordinating my teams until my punishment in Lamia's Burrow ends, so send someone directly after me tomorrow night and I’ll set a date personally." She glanced covertly towards Valthar. “Normaly I'd rather do so right now, but I'm busy with a new venture at the moment.”

  ‘Venture? Not investment or partnership.’ Valthar raised an eyebrow but chose to remain silent.

  Though he had some guesses on what the wolf girl had in mind, with her keeping her lips sealed and hunger clouding his judgment it was hard to be sure.

  Then again, as long as it didn’t involve some absurd condition Valthar was already half decided to accept her offer.

  In part because he knew how much influence nobles had on their own territories, in part because…

  Valthar glanced at the silver tail slowly swaying behind Mikayla, it looked fluffy, sleek and just a hand away from his palm.

  He remembered his cousin had once mentioned that the tail was one of the areas most sensitive for the beastborn.

  ‘What would it feel like to…’ Valthar’s thought was cut midway as he felt a gaze fall onto him.

  When he looked up Mikayla’s narrowed eyes locked against his for a long second.

  His shoulder tensed and his heart skipped a beat, with rapt attention he checked her life force which thankfully echoed with amusement.

  “Behave commoner.” She scoffed and turned back her attention to Kar. “Who is in room 5 anyway?”