While Korvus was taking a shower, Eugene examined the goblin’s dwelling. Approaching the wardrobe in the bedroom, he opened it slightly. Several identical shirts, almost identical pants, and shoes. Korvus was righthe really knew how to blend in. With such clothes, no one would pay attention to a goblin running by.

  The clothes Korvus gave Eugene were just like that. Looking at his reflection in the wardrobe mirror, Eugene almost didn’t recognize himself. He looked like any resident of the lower district of Moonwhisper. Although he had only been on the streets for a short time, he noticed that almost every resident looked like the other.

  “It’s too big,” Eugene tugged at the shirt in all directions. It just hung on him, even though he liked when the fabric pressed against his body. Just like Korvus’s shirt.

  Returning to the living room, the young man approached the goblin’s books. There were so many of them that the pce could be called a small library. Taking one book in his hands, he opened it. A lot of pages filled with drawings and writing. Even though Eugene couldn’t read the nguage of the people of this world, he immediately understood that the book was about magic. On one page, there was an image of a wizard’s staff with handwritten notes, and on another, a drawing of the crystal the goblin had cracked open in prison to free a prisoner.

  Korvus studied magic. Or, at least, he wanted to study it. His ability to pick locks was magical. Perhaps he wanted to understand the nature of magic and why he was capable of it. But can goblins even use magic in this world? Or was Korvus special?

  Taking another book and flipping through the pages, Eugene realized, though not immediately, that it was about studying nguage. Alphabet, grammar, correct conjugation usage. Apparently, Korvus had been learning the nguage on his own.

  “Do the people of this world have access to education?” Eugene asked aloud.

  Taking another book, he immediately understood it was a geography textbook for this world. Three continents, separated by oceans, filled with seas. One of them was where Moonwhisper was, and the other was Korvus’s homend. But who lived on the third?

  Flipping through the pages, Eugene studied the illustrations. The text was hard to read without gsses, and even then, he wouldn’t have been able to decipher it. An unknown tower with a levitating crystal above it, outlined in ink by hand. The capital of the Dominion, located in the center of the continent. Flying airships and their routes. Eugene didn’t know much about this world, so he was eager to absorb every bit of information. After all, this was now his new homeat least until he found a way to break the curse and open a portal home.

  “I hope Korvus will help,” Eugene whispered, returning the book to the shelf.

  “In what exactly?” a voice came from behind him. “How do you like the clothes?”

  Korvus stood only in pants, wiping his hands with a towel.

  “I…” Eugene stared at the goblin, studying his body. Now the young man had much more of a chance to take a closer look. Something inside Eugene fluttered, trying to break free. “I was looking at your books.”

  “Yeah? And how do you like the collection?” Korvus hung the towel on a hook and put on a shirt. Eugene lost the chance to ask more.

  “You studied magic?” Eugene pointed at the book.

  “‘Studied’ is a bit of an exaggeration,” Korvus went to the wardrobe and took out one of the books. “I tried to understand what magic is and how to use it.”

  “And how is magic used in this world? How is it studied?”

  “Well…” The goblin fell onto the couch with the book in his hands. “Magic exists everywhere. Wizards are able to use it by becoming a sort of conduit. There are ws and rules in magic. These ws are used to create spells. Each parameter of a spell is defined by even more complex parameters. It’s like a system that’s self-contained. And the wizard can control this process.”

  “And the crystals?” Eugene sat next to the goblin, now they were close again.

  “Crystals are like amplifiers. They allow a wizard to channel much more magic through them. While a wizard can use magic on their own, their magic will be weak. But with a crystal, they can cast spells that are unimaginable.”

  “So, if I give you a crystal, you’d be able to?”

  “Me?” The goblin smiled shyly. “Parameters, Eugene. I don’t know how to account for the parameters of spells.”

  “But you can learn?”

  “Only in the wizard’s college in the distant nds. That’s where they train them. Or in the Dominion.” Korvus fiddled with the book in his hands. “I don’t think they’d want to train a goblin. So, this is the only way.” He gestured toward the wardrobe with the books.

  “Where did you get them from?” Eugene smiled, knowing the answer.

  “From those who won’t notice they’re missing.”

  Korvus opened the book in front of Eugene’s eyesit turned out to be a small secret compartment. The pages of the book were cut out, and inside was a small metal box.

  “What’s this?” Eugene leaned in, feeling Korvus’s warmth.

  “I told you I’d help,” the goblin opened the box. Inside were gsses. The frame was simple, the color of mahogany. The lenses looked like ordinary gss, with small stones inserted on the sides. “Try them on,” the goblin opened the gsses and put them on Eugene.

  “Do they fit?” Eugene held the gsses, touching Korvus’s hand. Everything was blurry in his vision. The gsses clearly didn’t fit him.

  “Let me…” Korvus ran his finger across the stones, and they briefly sparkled. “It should be better now.”

  Indeed, as soon as the goblin touched the edges of the gsses, they seemed to automatically adjust to Eugene’s vision. Everything around him became clear.

  “Is this magic?!” Eugene gasped. “Magical gsses? Where did you get them?”

  “There’s a scientist. He’s not a wizard, but he studies magic as a science. He’s trying to combine magic and technology. As an experiment, he created several pairs of gsses. They were supposed to detect a person’s vision and adjust according to their needs.”

  “And how did they end up with you?” Eugene ughed.

  “The same way as everything else,” the goblin ughed, moving away from Eugene and getting up from the couch.

  Korvus approached the wardrobe again, put the secret compartment back in pce, pushed a few books aside, and took out a small pouch. He pulled out a few coins and tossed one to Eugene.

  “We need to eat,” he motioned for Eugene to get up. “When was the st time you ate? I before the heist at the storage.”

  “I... back in my world,” Eugene tried to remember and realized that more than a day had passed.

  “Whoa,” the goblin opened the front door. “You must be really hungry.”

  “Yes,” Eugene agreed. Though there was another kind of hunger that would soon make itself known.

  “Then let’s go. I know a pce. You’ll like it,” Korvus smiled at Eugene again, letting him out of the apartment first.

  Eugene paused for a moment, watching the thief lock the door. He was a soft, naive guy who knew nothing about this world, while Korvus knew how to stay calm when needed but remained soft when alone with Eugene. There was care in every word Korvus spoke. A feeling overcame Eugene feeling of safety and protection. Not knowing what y ahead, the red-haired young man in the magical gsses was sure of one thing: He could trust Korvus.

  ***

  Returning to the streets of the lower district of Moonwhisper, the sve confidently followed the thief. Looking back, Eugene forgot to watch his steps and occasionally stepped on the goblin's heels. Korvus would only turn around and occasionally wave his hand. The smells of food and drinks filled the streets nonstop. Eugene gnced at the people and their reactions. If he had attracted attention before, now he was just invisible, like Korvus. How much can clothing change perception?

  “This way,” Korvus approached a tavern on the corner of the street. It was a wooden building, just like the others. Only the stained-gss windows and music indicated that it wasn’t a simple house.

  Opening the door, the goblin let Eugene go first and pointed to a table in the distance, while he made his way to the bar. Eugene obeyed and, avoiding the other tables, moved forward. Several beasts took seats across from him. At the back, there was a stage where singers and musicians performed in the evenings. Right now, one of the beasts, resembling a cat, was practicing with an instrument that looked like a guitar.

  Eugene sat on a small couch and waited for the goblin, who was engaging in a friendly conversation with the bartender or waiter. Looking around, the young man seemed to immerse himself in the atmosphere of the pce. It felt like he had been visiting this tavern every evening, singing and dancing. Despite the horror, Lyraeus's curse also gave him an advantage: quick adaptation to the new world. If Virginia needed several weeks to adjust, Eugene had blended into the culture of this pce in less than a day. Or maybe it was Korvus’s sense of care that helped him accept his new life.

  The sound of footsteps brought the red-haired young man in magical gsses out of his thoughts. Korvus returned and sat on the couch across from Eugene.

  “The food will be here soon,” the goblin settled in. He looked as tired as his companion but still had matters to attend to. Eugene had to follow him.

  “And what…?” Eugene looked at Korvus awkwardly. “What’s the food?”

  “You’ll eat,” the thief gnced at the sve. “Fruit, it’s very nutritious. And juice… it’s... from another fruit,” the goblin tilted his head.

  “Got it,” Eugene looked at the bar. “I have a question.”

  “Ask,” Korvus raised his hand.

  “What will we do next? I mean… Lyraeus’s curse, Dominion, that prisoner… He said we need to find something in the tavern.”

  “Well...” Korvus sighed. “Then we need to talk about serious matters.”

  At that moment, the waiter brought a tray with two drinks. They were red, almost the color of blood. Korvus immediately took a gss and took a sip.

  “First, we need to visit the Guild,” the goblin stared at his companion. “Madam Cudia... She’s one of the leaders of the Guild. She...” Korvus hesitated. It seemed like if he said something bad about her, Madam Cudia would find out. “She’s a very peculiar woman. She’s the one who sent me and the others to rob Dominion’s vault.”

  “Why?”

  “First of all, she needs to know that everyone is dead except me. She needs to know about the vault. And most importantly, she can help us.”

  “Help with what?” Eugene also took a sip. The drink was very sweet but refreshing.

  “And this is where things get serious...” Korvus lowered his voice. “Given that there’s something in the vault that...”he paused. “...Was created from the remains of gods... Dominion won’t forgive the Guild for trying to rob them. I don’t know exactly what will happen next. But, one way or another, there will be a hunt for us. For me for attempting to steal the artifact, and for you for being…”

  “Lyraeus’s scum,” Eugene finished.

  “Exactly,” the goblin looked away awkwardly. “Moreover, we freed that wiszard. He betrayed Dominion, informed them about the vault... Maybe he was Madam Cudia’s informant.”

  “And how will she help?”

  “She’ll buy us time, connect us with those who will help us cross the Moonwhisper Gates quietly.” Korvus tried to pn his next step clearly.

  At that moment, the waiter brought two ptes. Each held half of a green fruit, its core dark, almost bck. But the most important thing was the smell. It was different. It smelled like roasted chicken from some restaurant in Eugene’s world.

  Pcing the ptes on the table, Korvus immediately grabbed a spoon and started scooping out the core.

  “Eat,” the goblin pointed with the spoon at Eugene. “It’s delicious.”

  Eugene followed Korvus’s instructions and began scooping out the fruit’s flesh. He occasionally gnced up at his companion and mimicked him. The fruit indeed tasted like roasted chicken. Only now, when the food was in his mouth, did he realize just how hungry he was. And it was indeed delicious, just as Korvus had said.

  They remained silent for a few minutes, eating. But once the ptes were empty, Korvus turned to Eugene again.

  “Anyway, we don’t have much time in Moonwhisper.”

  “Are we running?”

  “Yes, but we need to prepare. I don’t think we’ll be able to return.”

  “What about your home?” Eugene remembered how cozy Korvus’s room had been.

  “No big deal, I’ll build a new one,” the goblin said as if he had already been without a home more than once.

  “But where?”

  “Our prisoner will help us with that.”

  “That wolf?”

  “Yes. Before that asshole abandoned us and disappeared, he mentioned a tavern called ‘The Broken Hearth.’”

  “Do you know where it is?”

  “That’s the thing...” Korvus thought. “There’s no tavern by that name. Definitely not in Moonwhisper. And I’ve never heard of it outside the city either.”

  “Was he wrong?”

  “Maybe he was delirious, but...” Korvus frowned. “He’s a traitor. Dominion turned against him much harsher than they did against us. So he’ll be hiding. Hiding where no one can find him. That means...”

  “A secret pce...” Eugene concluded. “That makes it easier to find.”

  “Not really. The thing with secret pces, Eugene,” Korvus’s voice became more serious, “is that they’re hard to find. There’s a chance that ‘The Broken Hearth’ isn’t a tavern but something else.”

  “Why do you want to find it?”

  “First of all, he knows someone who might know about ancient magic that could help you. Secondly... the vault...”

  “You really want to crack it open?”

  “No... but if that artifact is made from the remains of gods, Dominion would’ve opened it by now. Since the vault is still sealed...”

  “Dominion can’t open it,” Eugene smirked. “This is a quest!”

  "What?" Korvus heard the word for the first time.

  "The task we must complete."

  "Never mind..." Korvus didn’t pay attention to Eugene’s excitement. "The magic hidden in this artifact is too strong, that's why it had to be sealed."

  "And?"

  "If the Dominion opens it... a war may begin. Everyone living in this world will either be killed or ensved by the Dominion. With such power, the Kyrexian Dominion will definitely use it."

  "And you think we can stop it?" Eugene was anticipating their adventure.

  "What? No, Eugene, but we need more information. Also... if they manage to open the vault, we’ll have to stay away from the cities. The first purges will start there. And that prisoner may help us with that. Plus... maybe we can break the curse of Lyraeus."

  "You think there will be a war?"

  "If the Dominion gets their hands on the artifact... the whole world will fall before them. But many won’t agree, and then they’ll be forced to submit by force."

  "Got it. But there's one more question. Why?" After Korvus’ words, Eugene suddenly became serious. "Why are you helping me?"

  "I..." Korvus fell silent for a moment. "I’ll tell you ter."

  "Why not now?"

  "It’s necessary. Trust me," the goblin smiled and, trying to change the subject, continued: "One way or another, the Dominion will soon enter the lower district and will be looking for us. We need to buy time and prepare for escape. This journey will be long, Eugene..."

  "I know," the young man nodded, "but with you by my side, I feel calm."

  "Ha," the goblin ughed. "Thank you."

  A few more minutes passed as Eugene and Korvus stayed in the tavern. Then the goblin approached the bartender and tossed a coin on the counter. Together, they left the tavern and found themselves back on the street. Eugene kept gncing around, observing the never-ending stream of people and creatures.

  "There’s one st thing for today, Eugene," the goblin tugged at his arm.

  "What is it?" the young man lowered his head and looked at the goblin.

  "Madam Cudia."