The sun peeked through drawn curtains, its rays kissing the simple, polished surface of her rudimentary bedside table. Aerea had rolled over just slightly, her amber eyes tracing the beams as they spilled across the wood grain. It was very loosely packed, and the distance in its wood rings told the tale that it was made of young growth wood. It was shoddily made at best. She made it, at least she was proud of the piece of shit. She cast her gaze around her hole. She had purchased a small nook in a nearby brothel, a space that she could call her own. It wasn't cheap.

  It had a few simple things there. Her platform bed, her side table, a wooden chest with aged gold inlays, and a workstation that she had cobbled together herself. Nobody bothered her there, or at least they stopped when her claws were shown. As an Elunari, she had to defend herself more often than not. She didn't admit it, but she had cried herself to sleep a few times because of the way some people treated her. She wasn't prepared for this, but it was often the life her people led.

  She finally rolled over all the way, groaning softly. Her horns were tangled up in the sheets again. They started at her temples and were curvy and winding, forming a backwards swoop that hooked up the back of her head. Taking a moment to unravel them, she pushed herself to a sitting position. Her abdomen hurt. She certainly collapsed into bed last night, and the compression on her side could not have helped.

  Aerea was nude. She typically was, as clothes were a precious commodity in a seedy place like this, and some of the nastier patrons had a habit of tearing her clothes as she walked by. If she had to travel, she kept her good clothing in her pack. She found her way to the pack hanging on her bed, pulling out a hand mirror that she used to examine herself. Someone had bruised her chest the night before, the patches blue and splotchy. They were almost green at this point.

  Aerea was a courtesan, though she did not often dabble in sexual escapades by choice. She handled information. It was just rather unfortunate that most of the time, these men wanted more. She wanted more than this place, more than these people. Aerea slid off the bed, pressing her bare feet to the cold stone floor. Goosebumps erupted up her lithe legs, causing the softest of tremors to flow along her pale flesh. Aerea stared at her clothing, what she had collected. She was in poverty, but it was because of where she lived. Atrisea wasnt exactly the best place to live, and only the worst people ended up here. The question begged to be asked: Why was Aerea there?

  She wasnt born here, that was to be certain. She was born in Crisalura, a land so far away that the maps were split in half to show it. Alaris was quite large, and Atrisea seemed almost intentionally shoved to the bottom of the world, where it wouldn't be visited very often. It wasnt helpful that the entirety of the coast besides 2 or 3 points was blocked off by massive shards of rock that jutted skyward. Aerea didn't discuss her family very often, mostly to protect them. Crisalura was not safe right now, and it was why she wasnt there. The thin woman slid on something basic, a brownish black shirt that hung close to her chest, a pair of loose fitting pants, and a chest binder. Too many times did her regulars attempt to harass her by grabbing her nipples, which got old quite quickly. She already buried one patron because they tried to harm her.

  Aerea was quite beautiful, a woman with rich burgundy hair that naturally fell to her breasts. It was slightly wavy and had a habit of getting tangled. Her skin was naturally pale, though it was tan in places. Her abdomen was tight, with evidence of abdominal muscles. She was lean, with toned thighs that were quite muscular. She was an hourglass figure, but she kept herself lean out of necessity. Her eyes shone a pale green, though they held a deep sadness and regret that couldn't be explained. Her skin was marred with scars. They took the form of wide slash marks, burns, or even evidence of a branding at some point. Her hands had it the worst, with whip scars that made unique patterns across the back of them. The only areas that weren't scarred were her scales, which covered the entirety of her spine, her forearms, and her shoulders. Some existed in small patches down her legs, but they weren't of note. She stood at a towering 7'6'', a height that wasnt even the peak of how tall her people could be.Aerea was quite beautiful, a woman with rich burgundy hair that naturally fell to her breasts. It was slightly wavy, and had a habit of getting tangled. Her skin was naturally pale, though it was tan in places. Her abdomen was tight, with evidence of abdominal muscles. She was lean, with toned thighs that were quite muscular. She was an hourglass figure, but she kept herself lean out of necessity. Her eyes shone a pale green, though they held a deep sadness and regret that couldnt be explained. Her skin was marred with scars, They took the form of wide slash marks, burns, even evidence of a branding at some point. Her hands had it the worst, with whip scars that made unique patterns across the back of them. The only areas that werent scarred were her scales, which covered the entirety of her spine, her forearms and her shoulders. Some existed in small patches down her legs, but they werent of note. Her arms were well developed, to an alarming extent.

  She reached down to her bedside table, running her fingers along her silver chain. She debated on taking it, but it wasnt the most safe to wear a grabbable object at this current time. She closed her eyes, holding her chain to her heart. She didn't linger on it; it hurt too badly. The chain meant something to her; she felt naked without it. Her mother gave it to her, and she wondered sometimes if her mother would live long enough to see her again.

  Something knocked on the door. Aerea set the chain down, concealing it on a metal hook behind the bedside table. It was out of sight. Nobody came in here. To be honest, most of them were afraid of her. She slipped forward in one flowing motion, grabbing her blade from the wall and concealing it at her hip. Her nature was to conceal her presence, which was easy when you naturally didn't make a whole lot of noise. One hand braced the wall, while the other one pulled the door open a crack. "Who is it?" She growled softly, her hand pressed on her belt. Two fingers hooked the hilt, applying pressure.

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  "Why, if it isn't the big ray of sunshine! I might need you to let me in." The voice on the other end cheered, before getting serious. With a groan, Aerea pulled the door open enough for her to let her only friend in. The short girl slipped in, pressing one hand to Aerea's hip as she passed. "You know, I remark every time I see you that you are way too tall." The woman said, leaning on a wall. She crossed both arms. She was very evidently different, but Aerea had never known why, or asked. The girl's eyes were star matter, beautiful combinations of colors and speckles like the arms of a galaxy. She was carried by this ethereal grace, and she sparkled.

  "Hey, star child. Do you want to tell me what the FUCK is so important?" Aerea was short, but she meant well. The girl, whom Aerea knew as Valura, laughed heartily. When she laughed, the stars in her eyes shimmered. "Aren't you just a ray of sunshine. If youre so intent on knowing, you are going to have to be careful when you go out this afternoon. Your favorite person is sending an envoy to cull the herd again." Aerea winced. She knew what that meant. Culling the herd was a regular activity in Atrisea, where the mutated creatures known as Carran were pushed back and their numbers reduced. These things had been average entities once, unspoiled animals and humanoids who became so monstrous they could never return to regular life. Unfortunately, the last few times that the Maiyaris were sent to cull the herd, they took more than a few people that were innocent when they did.

  "I wish that corrupt bastard would get a blade in his skull." Aerea hissed, but she was careful not to vocalize it too loudly. Valura nodded, squeezing her hand. "I'm sure plenty have tried." Aerea grimaced, but nodded. Grand Arbiter Sargiso was supremely cruel, and he didn't seem to have any mercy for those who weren't perfect. Valura crossed her arms, leaning in. "So I know you don't have any actual work today. I checked. What are you going to be doing?" Valura was sharp. She was the only one who Aerea trusted with her business and information on the whereabouts of her missions and where she was going to be. She kept a small ledger stashed in a fake wall panel, and Valura had seen her far too many times to not know where it was hidden.

  "The Underworld. I have a client, but he's a new client. Shady motherfucker, but if anyone knows where not to go in that place, its me." Aerea commented. She understood why Valura was so inquisitive. It was not safe. Valura gave her an unapproving frown. "Do you want to get abducted?" She got closer, staring up at the taller form. She still had her hands on her hips. "And the Underworld of all places? Isn't that place like..the worst one in Atrisea? Where don't people come out of?" Valura was being dramatic at this point, but Aerea waved her off.

  "Fuck off. I don't exactly get lost, and even if someone attempted to take me." She flashed her teeth, her long claws, and her blade. "Im an Elunari. I was designed for death." She thought bitterly for a moment that it had to have been a reason that Sargiso was so hungry for her death.

  "You really are such a ray of sunshine. Wow, just the brightest person I know. I could write a book about your positivity." Valura turned for a moment, pacing towards the door before spinning around on Aerea. "You don't understand it, but you mean something to some people. You know what, fuck you." She snarled, before waltzing over with extreme intent and purpose and wrapping an arm through Aerea's.

  "What are you doing?" Aerea raised an eyebrow.

  "Oh im going with you, because you clearly can't be trusted," Valura said simply, like it was just the easiest thing in the world. "We ladies stick together." She gave a false fist pump. It wasnt a suggestion, nor was she asking. "Let's go." She said, waving a hand forward.

  Aerea groaned. "Are you expecting me to carry you around again, when you inevitably get tired of my long strides?"

  Valura reared her leg back, swinging at Aerea's shin. The taller woman dodged out of the way with a smooth motion, letting the other girl almost slip completely off her feet. It was by the goodness of her heart that she kept Valura from landing square on her back by holding their locked arms tight in her grip. "You are so slow, I can't see why you try." She quipped, starting to drag them both towards the door. "Cmon, if you insist. I can't tell you ill make it very fun for you."

  "You whore, this was not the intention!" Valura gasped dramatically, attempting to get back on her feet.

  "Yeah, well. Guess you kinda put yourself in this situation, didn't you?" Aerea said, still happily dragging Valura across the floor. Eventually, they went to the door, and Aerea heaved the smaller figure over her shoulder as they exited the room.

  The overwhelming smell of sex and drugs permeated the air, heavy on the lungs to the point that Aerea gave a heaving cough as it hit her. It stunk heavily, a miasma that obscured the air. It was present in all areas of the brothel, a deep mist whose tendrils could not be dispelled easily. Eyes followed her lithe form almost immediately. Mouths parted with thick tongues that crossed bare lips, sizing up the woman who seemed to always draw the eye of others. Aerea hated it, she didnt want to be seen in this way.

  "Youre so popular." Valura wheezed in her ear, noticing everyone clue in to her coming out. Most here didnt have the magic capacity to see the glyphs of warding on the door to her room. It was the most off-limits in the entire brothel for this reason. There was a man who tried to attack her early on, but the warding on the door fried several nerves in his arm when he tried to get the door open. Aerea didnt know quite well why she stayed, but atleast it was quiet. At least the slavers here were easy to harm if they stepped out of line.

  "Is being popular with the wrong people still popular? Or is it a curse? I can't think of the last time I've felt wanted here in any meaningful way." Aerea commented, flexing her free right hand. The claws shimmered in the light from the many mage lights and torches. Some attempted to catcall her or move to intercept her, but they knew better. Only the new patrons or the brave ones made a move. She navigated tight hallway after tight hallway, winding her way through the building until she could ascend the stairs that led up to the surface.

  The walls leading up to the surface were in worse condition than the rest of them, warped and cracking in most places. They were woven with purple and black threads, infused into the wood grain itself. It rippled outwards from a single point, which just so happened to be sun-bleached. It was the single point through which light came through the door when one opened it to access the brothel.

  Aerea set her friend down as she stared up at the stairs. It was her first client in a while. She had no context for any of this just yet. She could never hope to do this on her own, but she never would have told Valura that. She needed the company, but she would never hear the end of it if she told Valura that. It was admitting a weakness she had to fight to survive. "Are you going to open it?" Valura asked patiently.

  "Eventually," Aerea replied, though she was not sure of it herself. The strongest feeling in her head was to turn around at all costs and go back to bed.