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Chapter 13 - Livin' in the Syndicate

Why did rabbits need so much space to live?

Giu passed by yet another tower of brick, the rabbits glaring at him from their doorstep. There would always be a few of them. Sometimes with kids. After a while, Giu started to make a game of how many rabbits he'd anger by existing nearby. So far his record was twelve. He still couldn't quite wrap his head around how one woman could birth so many giants.

He also couldn't quite wrap his head around how the rabbits were so big in the first place.

Nothing about Haywar screamed height magic or form changing was afoot. In fact, Giu rarely saw any feats of magic in the streets save for the occasional tourist like him pulling out their licenses.

For as unfriendly as the rabbits were, the city held a somewhat diverse spread of other races mingling about. Discounting the amphibians and reptiles, he saw an occasional bird here or there. A squirrel fumbling through their map. A mouse which instantly raised a brow from Giu as he saw it being given a piggyback ride by an elderly-looking rabbit.

They both shot him in angry looks as he passed.

Guess it's just a Syndicate thing, huh?

He tried to brush it off. As best as he could, at least. But it did leave a nagging feeling in the back of his head as he continued along towards the market streets,

While every building looked the same, Giu vaguely recalled seeing the stores when he and Tea first entered Haywar. For a place with such large buildings, there was a distinct lack of towers in the so-called market streets. Instead, the place was full of merchant stands and vendors peddling their wares to whoever passed them by. Giu was slightly relieved to find the shopkeepers were as pushy with him as they were with everyone else.

"You look like a man in need of a glass sword!" one was saying.

"C'mere, m'boy, let me tell you about the wonders of Carbien Milk," said another.

"Hey, canine!" another called. "Are you tired of being alone? Check out this state-of-the-art Love Crystal! You'll be swimming in hearts, I guarantee it!"

Giu shied away from all of them, though the Love Crystal did catch his attention out of sheer curiosity. He pulled out Elly's list, the rabbit being gracious enough to inscribe which stand had all the items. If only the woman could actually learn his name.

"Hey, canine!"

Giu pulled out his silver pounds, the Syndicate thankfully running on the same currency due to the Ministry of Crystallization's involvement.

"Remember me?"

Giu stuffed everything into his sack. He noticed someone screaming at him, but when he looked up, that person was getting kicked in the face by someone who'd dropped out of the sky.

What the?

Giu scanned over the scene.

There was a crocodile lying in the dirt. One who Giu finally recognized once he was getting back on his feet. Oh. That's one of the Croc Bros, isn't it? The leather jacket and muzzle were new, but Giu recognized the man's scaly face. He and Tea had happily dented it on the river.

What Giu did not recognize was the man who'd appeared out of the sky. His red fur and pointed ears stuck out like a sore thumb among the sea of rabbits and reptiles. Another canine.

The crocodile growled behind his muzzle.

"Who the- That you, pixie?"

The strange canine didn't respond, though his ears twitched at the insinuation. He darted forward, the muzzle croc ducking as a hand covered in black mist whizzed past his head. Magic? The croc met the man dead center in the chest, the canine stumbling backward only to then be met with a boot to the face.

Giu winced, his 'savior' getting knocked aside like yesterday's garbage. The muzzle croc's gaze moved to him.

"Your turn!"

He leapt out, claws outstretched. Giu drew back, form change ready to knock the guy flat a second time.

Chains of black rose from the ground, wrapping around the crocodile's body.

"Wha- Guh!"

They yanked him to the floor, snaking around the crocodile and pinning him in place. The other canine fell to his knees, a shadowy hand resonating with magic. Giu quickly took the hint, seeing the chains starting to break around the muzzle croc.

"Hey! What g-"

A boot to the face knocked the muzzle croc out once again.

The other canine dropped his spell, the chains breaking and fading away. Giu gave the muzzle croc a poke to be on the safe side before moving to his would-be rescuer. His nose was broken, and he was tending to his chest, but the guy was still in one piece, all things considered.

"Uh. Thanks for the help, I guess."

Giu extended a hand, the man frowning at that response, but taking the help anyhow.

"I was trying to look cool," the other canine said. He pulled out a potion, giving a quick swig.

"Ah. Well, we can't all be winners."

The other canine glared, though Giu didn't feel much malice behind the gesture. In fact, he didn't notice much malice within the market streets either. Despite the fact that a man had just been assaulted in the streets, everybody was returning to their shopping like nothing ever happened. Some even seemed disappointed.

The other canine wiped his mouth, his nose still slightly crooked, but healthier.

"I'm guessing you knew this guy?" he asked,

"Kinda. It's a long stor- Wait, back up first. Who the heck are you?"

"Hmm? Oh, right. I'm Elijah, Eli if you're feelin' fancy."

"Eli?" Giu groaned. What were the odds? The other canine smiled, a hand extended. Well at least he's nicer than the other one. Giu gave him a firm shake.

"Not many other canines in the Syd," Eli said. "You're the pixie's new serving boy, ain't ya'?"

"Associate. Though I guess there's not much of a difference."

He felt a twinge. Even if they claimed the two were working together, Tea still treated him no different than the day they first met. Sure they weren't as hostile, but they also weren't above roping him into whatever menial chores needed to be done. Or letting that rabbit order him around.

"So what's your name, brother?"

"Hmm? Oh. It's Giu. Giu Penhair."

"Cool if I call you G?"

"Not like I haven't been called worse."

Eli chuckled despite the lack of a joke. It still made Giu feel slightly more at ease. Or maybe that was just because he'd finally found another canine to talk to.

"I take it you're not here for leisure?" Eli asked, gesturing to Giu's bag.

He'd almost forgotten about his retrieval mission. Part of him wished he had as the reminder instantly soured his mood. He groaned, knowing for a fact that the rabbit and the pixie would get angsty if he took too long in the markets. Giu sighed.

"Right." He slung the bag over his shoulder. "I should probably get going. As fun as this was, I've got a landlord to assist."

He started to walk away, but Eli grabbed his shoulder.

"Wait!"

He pulled a slip of paper from his sleeve. A square card with intricate lettering written over it. Elijah Greene. Assistant Chieftan. Giu blinked at the paper, Eli stepping away with a wide grin.

"Pay me a visit, if you get a chance," he said.

He didn't give Giu time to respond, the man waving his hands and enveloping himself in a flash of black mist. As it faded away, so too did the canine's presence, Giu left to stare at the empty spot. He glanced down at the card.

Flipping it over, he found a signature written in black ink. An address was listed directly above.