Not wanting to stand near the two politicians any longer, Chimera walked outside the central forge that lay in the middle of downtown Anvilage, leaving Meras with the High General.

  The square structures that lined the outside could have been anything, as most shared the similar efficient structure. Chimera had a good feeling that this was the market area of the city.

  The hawkers and haulers moved panels of a dark ore along with familiar items like food and goods. Mostly children ran the stands while some older teens and young adults were carrying the heavy toll of the miners.

  Even in its simplicity, Chimera could feel the warmth of a community that prided itself on its forging.

  “Five stacks of Obsidian for a Silver bar, step on and get the deal of a century!”

  “I asked for three bars of Silver, what's this? Chrome?!”

  “Fresh Lava Shots, get a taste of Mount Cinder!”

  Chimera walked towards the bustling trade center as she took in the sounds of the people around her, casually brushing alongside some of the people who were moving around.

  Bits and pieces of DNA, fresh from the young and old, gave her a catalogue of the quirks of their nature, and even as she let the drone of the city lull her into a more peaceful state, she also began her work.

  Work that involved helping the citizens around her.

  Bioengineering the DNA was becoming second nature to her, and with an analytic approach, she started to figure out what strands she had that might benefit these miners and smiths.

  Fireproof skin, heat control, maybe even some earth manipulation to strengthen some of the tunnels they no doubt have.

  She may have been a bit of a busy body regarding such thoughts, as even she didn’t know if they needed such things. Technology was pretty widespread here, and surely these Elfari had magic of their own to call forth.

  Still, it kept her mind busy as she contemplated helping the people.

  After walking for a good while around the center, Chimera noticed that some people were beginning to raise their voices. At first, it sounded like another dispute over goods, but something about the noise carried worry to her ears.

  “Please, we can’t go any lower than this, can’t you make an exception?!”

  “Sorry lass, it’s simply not possible. If you wanted to sell copper, you should have got here sooner.”

  “Mister!”

  Chimera tilted her head, her ears picking up the location faster than her gifts.

  It didn’t stop her from using them though, as she flexed a bit of terramancy to slide her towards the two people she overheard.

  When she arrived, it was to a pitying older gentleman Elfari with a mustache and various gadgets attached to his impressive clothes. Affluence was indeed the spectacle he gave off, and to Chimera it appeared as though he could have bought the entire town with his outfit alone.

  The girl he was pitying was a destitute looking girl, couldn’t have been more than ten years, (or fifty to the Elfari comparison). Tears streaked her face, and it was clear she was desperate to get the man to buy her small lump of copper ore.

  “I am deeply sorry for your loss Pares, but I simply have no need for copper. Should you acquire anything else, I would be happy to assist in a purchase. I… wish you a good day.”

  The affluent man turned to walk away, glancing at Chimera as he did.

  To Chimera, it appeared as if he meant every word he said, and the frowning face and downturned eyes he gave her indicated as much.

  Someone that well off can’t afford to pay a little money for some copper?

  At first she found the wealthy man abhorrent, scowling at him as he walked past to another shop, a bakery from the look of it.

  She was about to turn and try to comfort the girl when she noticed that the gentleman had returned, three loaves of dark bread and a pitcher of white milk in hand.

  “Pares, I had almost forgotten to pay you for that lovely singing you did the other day. As promised, here is my recompense.”

  “M-Mr. Talsen?”

  Chimera watched as the man Talsen placed the food in her arms while the milk went to a younger boy that Chimera had missed. The young one’s face was ecstatic, bouncing around with the pitcher as he screamed.

  “Yeah! Milk! Sis, we can feed Tobo and Mila now!”

  “Y-Yes… thank you Mr. Talsen!”

  The gentleman smiled back, “no need for thanks little Pares, that singing was certainly worth such recompense. I hope to hear it again soon, once your heart is lighter of course.”

  “Sir! Y-Yes, I will!” the young girl Pares said, a wide toothy grin plastered on her face.

  Chimera couldn’t help but smile, herself.

  That was clever of him, teaching her about her own value. The gentleman is a good guy after all. Talsen, eh?

  Chimera waited for the two to finish their conversation, and once they were done, she moved to talk to the young girl. It was clear she was packing her stall up for the day, and the bread was cumbersome in her small arms.

  “Need some help?” Chimera offered as she picked up a box to place next to Pares’ other ones.

  “U-Umm! I can’t give you any bread!” Pares spoke, worried with a bit of fear in her voice.

  Chimera shook her head, “I don’t need any, but I do have something to ask you, if that's alright?”

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  Pares seemed to contemplate what she meant, shaking her head at first until she was sure that Chimera didn’t want to take any of their food.

  “A-Alright! If you wouldn’t mind, I’d appreciate some help. I’ll answer any questions afterwards though, I have to get back soon.”

  “Fine by me, I’m Mera.”

  Pares nodded, her wariness not quite gone, “Pares.”

  She pointed at the young boy, “This is Larka.”

  Chimera almost tripped as she hear the name of the boy.

  “L-Larka? Nice to meet you.”

  The boy nodded, “you’re kinda weird, but Sis likes you so I guess you’re alright.”

  Chimera turned to see a beet red face turning away with bread in her arms.

  “S-Shall we go?”

  With a bit of whiplash setting in from both the flustered young teen girl and the filter-less mouth of the boy named Larka, Chimera picked up a total of six boxes filled with copper, trudging behind the brother and sister.

  …

  Arriving at a small house that somehow still matched the surrounding efficient designs of the city, Chimera placed the copper boxes over near a gated enclosure that reminded her of a garage. It was almost shaped like one, only this thing had no roof.

  After a chant from Pares however, the not-garage folded around the copper in a tight embrace, sinking it into the ground next to the house, showing no change that they were now buried under the soil.

  “Nifty.”

  “Yes?” Pares spoke, confusion in her voice.

  “What you just did, burying your goods so they’re protected.” Chimera pointed at the spot.

  “Oh, yes,” Pares nodded, redness returning to her cheeks, “m-my father taught me its better to hide treasure underground instead of a vault. Vaults attract attention, but no one would notice if something’s under the ground if you hide it well enough.”

  Talking about her father seemed to bring a smile to Pares for a little bit, before she began frowning once more.

  Chimera picked up on that, “where’s your dad?”

  Pares shook her head, “not here, inside.”

  Larka had already rushed inside the house, delivering the food to two other children. As Chimera and Pares followed, Chimera took stock of the house and its state.

  It was clean, tidy, and strangely washed. This didn’t appear to be a house without parents watching over children.

  Yet as Pares began cutting pieces of the bread to feed to her family, Chimera couldn’t find a trace of any parental figures in the household.

  Holographic displays lined the walls with pictures and events that showcased a happy family, the parents clearly in those images.

  Pares noticed her browsing as she took a piece and dipped it in some milk, softening the harder love into something easier to chew.

  “We can talk in my room, Larka, you watch Tobo and Mila.” She said, her words brooking no argument.

  “Have fun Sis. Tobby, Mila, lets go test magic in the backyard!”

  “”Yay!”” the two twin children exclaimed as they ran towards a door that led deeper in the house.

  Pares shouted back, “No fireballs! Ms Tasla almost had her roof burn down!”

  The echoing laughter did not inspire confidence in the now worrying Pares.

  “No worries, I’ll help you out if they go crazy.”

  Pares’ worry seemed to melt away at that, “you have no idea how much that means. Taking care of these three can be so…” She tried to come up with a word.

  “Exhausting? Unbearable? Teeth grindingly frustrating?” Chimera offered.

  Pares giggled, turning into outright laughter as she took Meras hand and led them up the stairs.

  “Goddess I needed that. Normal, just hanging around a cute girl, without worrying about my siblings.”

  She led them to a room that shared four other beds, with a fifth bed slightly larger than the others. Moving to sit on the large bed, Pares turned to face Chimera.

  “You wanted to ask me about my parents?”

  Chimera moved to make herself comfortable on the ground as she looked up at Pares.

  “Yeah, actually. I came here with the High General recently, and I noticed most of the kids here in Anvilage don’t seem to have guardians or parents. I was hoping I could help.”

  Chimera’s matter of fact confession caused Pares’ jaw to drop.

  “W-Wait, that new ship? You came in on that?! B-But that has the seal of the Imperial Harriers, Her Majesty’s elite forces!”

  Pares was flabbergasted to say the least, so Chimera figured she might as well double down.

  Chimera nodded, “I’m with the Imperial Harriers, and I’ve been sent by the Empress to help keep Torsca safe from the Verdant Hood.”

  Chimera struck out a pose, “I’m the Hero from the Stars, the biomechanical wonder girl Chimera and I’m here to help!”

  Pares stared at Chimera incredulously, “yeah, sure you are.”

  “Don’t believe me?” Chimera smiled widely.

  “Of course not! You have to be younger than me, and you’re telling me that your some hero sent by the Empress to help find my parents?!” Pares' voice rose as she spoke.

  Chimera nodded, “Yup, Well technically I’m here to keep you safe, but missing parents sounds like hero work. Figure I should start there.”

  Pares threw her hands in the air, “you can’t be serious.”

  Chimera showed her a blobby tendril, “I’m very serious.”

  “AHH!” Pares fell back on the bed, thankfully cushioned by the softness.

  Chimera snickered a bit as Pares scrambled to put some distance between them.

  “W-What is that?!”

  The screaming voice was a bit much, but Chimera couldn’t help but chuckle at the fearful girl.

  “It’s my tentacle, I have many like it, but this one is mine.” Chimera smirked, her face lit up in glee as Pares drew closer to check on the strange tendril,

  “Woah…” She touched the thing, which Chimera used to grab hold of the prodding finger.

  “It’s so… slimy and firm.” Pares said, the earlier fear she felt replaced with a look of wonder.

  “Yup, use this little baby to grab stuff and collect DNA on various people. It can also digest biological materials and allow me to talk to people’s minds.

  “See?” Chimera channeled her thoughts into Pares with the contact connection.

  “Holy crap, she can read minds? Oh Goddess I hope she doesn’t know about-.”

  Chimera interjected before the thought could finish, “Wait up, don’t finish that thought because it sounds personal and yes I can hear it.”

  Pares jolted for a moment at Chimera’s proclamation, simply freezing for a moment before she continued.

  “If what you say is true… then, can you really help me find my parents?”

  Chimera nodded, “you got it.”

  The warm smile that she received from Pares made Chimera grin like a fool, “thank you.”

  Suddenly feeling a little embarrassed, Chimera scratched the back of her head, “o-of course!”

  Chimera sat beside Pares as she gripped her hand with a tendril once more.

  “I’m gonna peak into your memories for a bit, just to get an idea of what’s going on and what happened. It’s gonna feel weird because I’ll have to put you to sleep first. Are you okay with that?”

  Pares nodded, “if it helps you find them, do it.”

  Chimera gave off a look of determination as she pricked Pares’ hand with her sleeping agent, and once she was certain that the teen girl was knocked out, Chimera deep dived into her brain.

  …