Lich for Hire

In the southern district stood a monument giving off waves of stench so foul that every passerby took the long way around. Even the citizens of Alkhemia, well used to the occasional puff of alchemical smoke or failed potion, found themselves gagging after more than a few breaths.

This was one of Alkhemia's massive sewer entrances. Everyone knew the sewers were a cesspool by nature, but this smell was new.

Once upon a time, even a hint of odor would have been scrubbed away within minutes. This was Alkhemia, after all, where even sewer hatches were designed as pieces of public art.

But that was two or three years ago. These days, people just pinched their noses and hurried on.

When Ambrose and Naomi arrived, they caught sight of the rogue and ranger ducking into the sewer from afar.

Naomi couldn't help but mutter, "They'd risk their lives just to hurt someone else?"

The two of them had actually braved that suffocating stench just for the sake of a scam. The naive young druid looked genuinely shaken by that level of malice.

Ambrose, on the other hand, barely reacted. Figures. She was obviously one of those druids raised in a sheltered little grove somewhere, kind-hearted, honest, never having to experience the uglier parts of the world.

Now that her clan was in trouble, however, she had no choice but to face reality head-on.