James had his soul spread out the slightest amount, only covering a few blocks. The emotions all around him pecked at his psyche, but when one of those souls nearly disappeared, he took notice.

Feeling it out, he realized it was someone next to Tian. The cultivator had a solid core and was fairly strong, but his partner shifted nearly the same way that Amber did. The person slipped out of the building and started following him and Jamie.

"We should take a trip through the market," James suggested.

Frowning, Jamie turned to him as he stepped around a group of people. "Why the market?"

"Luna is nearby," he stated. "Or we can find Mender."

Sighing, Jamie shook her head. "We shouldn't bother either of them. Getting close to them would ruin their auras."

Spreading out his soul further, he found Amber in the demi-human district. The woman was angry as usual when she was working. With a soft smile, he rubbed her soul, sending her reassuring comfort to her. He swore he could feel her soul purr before she smacked his soul away.

"Amber doesn't want us either," he pointed out.

Giggling, Jamie linked arms with him. "What's gotten into you?"

"Sense the world like I do." Touching her soul, he helped her spread it out by finely taking control. Jamie hummed in pleasure before he guided her to their follower.

Her eyes hardened. "I see."

"That's why I was thinking of walking through the city."

Shaking her head, Jamie scanned the area as they headed toward the bridge to the demi-human district. "I might have an idea. Look below us."

Frowning, he spread out his senses further and found souls below them. Pretty deeply below them. "The city shouldn't go down that far."

"I didn't think so either. I can feel a few of them below the sewers, but I'm guessing they go further."

"They do." Pursing his lips, he thought it over.

What could possibly be down there?

Blanketing the city in his soul, he cut off the emotions he was feeling. Focusing solely on the how people were moving, he found a few people in the demi-human district descending under the streets.

"I think I found the entrance," he announced.

Snorting, Jamie let him go in order to step around a group of people. "Of course you did."

Picking up their pace, they both felt their shadow hurrying after them. The way the person blended into the world would normally be amazing if they didn't have a pesky nekorian that did it better.

The walk through the demi-human district was met with hostility from most of the residents. James could see the hatred in their eyes and a few of them even tried to spit on them. James gently used his soul to block the spit, startling the people.

He took note that the person following them was surprised as well. They didn't feel hostile, but it was still annoying that Tian sent someone after them. It was likely the man was cautious about two enchanters suddenly showing up.

Reaching the slums took another ten minutes. Entering them proved difficult as beggars were hostile and James had to use his soul to suppress whole groups. A few of them even had cultivation bombs that they were ready to use. It was odd to see such a well-armed slums.

Finally, they reached the entrance to the underground. Forcing their way in, they knocked out the guards that had rifles. Something was clearly going on that was secretive and hidden from the sect.

"What do you think we are about to find?" he asked.

Jamie didn't answer right away. Instead, she sniffed the air a few times. "Drugs."

"That's all?"

"Most likely." Rubbing her chin, she sniffed the air again. "There's a plant smell in the air that is different. They are likely growing something down here, away from the officials. It would explain why the slums had weapons in abundance."

Checking on their shadow, he found them filled with surprise as James touched their soul. He wanted to laugh that he had brought them randomly into the under belly of the city.

They descended below the sewers and into a dug out room. The walls were held up by wood braces and the floor was packed down from all of the traffic. Souls were spread out around the complex that split up from different halls.

"We found some of it," he stated. "Do we keep searching? There are people further down."

Jamie sniffed the air a few times and turned him toward the left hall. "I want to see what they are making."

He didn't care either way, so he let her take the lead. The first room they came to had several people moving around crates that smelled very highly of some sort of dried plant. The workers didn't take kindly to them showing up.

Sighing, James focused his soul on them and knocked them out. Jamie giggled by his side before moving the men and women behind the crates.

While she did that, he broke open one of the crates and frowned. What he found was small containers of dried leaves, similar to tobacco, but they were green. The smell irritated his senses and he quickly took one of the containers into his inventory.

"We'll study this later," he announced.

Jamie nodded while prodding one of the containers. "Definitely some sort of drug. Don't burn it."

"Good point." Turning to the next hall, he started walking. Their shadow stopped at the crate as well and he could tell they were judging the contents. They didn't feel happy.

The next room over was a processing room of some sort. Demi-humans were grinding dried leaves, while racks were set up to dry more. Dozens of people were working the large space. He didn't dare step out and draw attention to himself.

"You are going to have to search alone," he announced as he backed away.

Jamie stood at the doorway for a minute longer. "I understand. I need you to leave."

Turning on his heels, he started walking. When he stopped next to the shadow, he said, "forget what you've seen here. If you interfere, I'll hunt you down."

Fear shot through the shadow as he started walking again. Reaching the outside world wasn't hard and he no longer felt the person following him. Instead, they stayed with Jamie, at least for now.

Stepping into the fresh air of the slums, he ignored the scent of piss and feces. Turning toward the inn, he set out to check out his room and settle in for a few hours. The tavern next door would likely be where he set up for the day. He just needed to find a place to work.

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***

Jamie waited until she could no longer sense James nearby. No matter how far she spread her soul, she only felt the workers and the shadow that was following her. The person was still shivering in fear for whatever James had said to them.

Casually walking into the workshop, she moved up to the grinding stations and found powder drifting into the workers, making their eyes bloodshot and breathing heavy. None of them wore masks, but their fingers were moving far faster than they should be.

Those working the drying racks felt and looked normal, but Jamie quickly wrapped a cloth around her face, just in case. The room had dozens of workers, all moving at various speeds. Some of them were guards, with rifles and clearly heavy duty anti-cultivator rounds. The bullets seemed to glow as she checked them out.

Moving further into the facility, she finally found where they were growing the plants. Lights had been set up to mimic the sun in a vast chamber. Hundreds of plants were growing. Bushes with star shaped leaves had red flecks of color. Those that were being harvested didn't have the red flecks at all, and the ones that did were passed over. The leaves were massive, taking up several feet of space each. Each bush stood a dozen feet tall and needed ladders to reach the tallest parts.

What the hell are they growing? I have never seen something like this before.

Walking further into the room, she noticed irrigation pipes that were being fed by an underground stream. The water was rich in Qi but felt poisoned by the soil. The earth Qi was toxic, and she shivered as she spread her soul over the room.

What have they done to this place?

James claimed that there were souls further down, but she had seen enough. The haze in the air was starting to affect her and she was actively using her soul to purify her blood. Everyone she was coming across had bloodshot eyes. The demi-humans had a huge operation, but it wasn't her place to shut it down.

Leaving the way she came, she didn't try to hide herself. Her shadow took everything in with anger before following as well. The person that was sent after her seemed to be the only one that noticed Jamie was there.

I'll have to tell James about all of this. But most importantly, I have to tell Amber. She's going to need to know what is happening in her city.

***

Entering the tavern, James was taken aback at the hostility he felt from everyone present. There were numerous elves, dwarves, and animal demi-humans that started shouting at him to get out. He wanted to laugh, but instead, spread his soul over everyone and pressed down.

The yelling cut off immediately as several of them fell to their knees. Without a hint of malice or anger, James walked up to the bar. The only one that wasn't affected was the girl serving drinks. A skunk of all animals, with a tail fluffier than Luna's.

"W-what can I-I get you?" she asked, her voice shaking with fear.

"Ale." Handing over a few bronze coins, he waited patiently.

The skunk quickly poured him a drink. Scanning the bar, he found a table without anyone and made his way over. The patrons eyed him with fear and started to breath heavy when he let them up. Keeping his face a blank mask, he sat down and sipped his drink. He had to force it down, but the taste was good, if not a bit nutty.

Pulling out small pipes, James started carving runes. He needed to make fifty devices as soon as he could, and what better time to get started than when everyone was scattered over the city.

Focusing on the material in his hand, he ran his thumb along the runes. He still hadn't leveled up his enchanting and was beginning to think he never would.

Closing his eyes, he tried to feel the pipe like he was taught. He needed to converse with the metal. Feel its nature. It was easy to enchant the water onto it, because pipes were used for such things. But could he make it easier?

Minutes passed as he had his eyes closed. The conversation around the room slowly picked back up and James felt something stir in the pipe.

What are you? He asked in his thoughts.

The pipe almost felt like it was happy for the runes. It approved of the changes to its body. Was that what he was looking for?

Like a puzzle piece slipping into place, James got a notification.

Enchanting: Level 2/10

Smiling at long last, he started infusing the runes. He worked slowly and meticulously as he created the hot water side of the device. Once he was done, he quickly worked on the cold water and started attaching them together with Soul Crafting.

Sipping on his ale, he set aside the finished device and glanced at the skunk. Getting up, he brought the device with him. "Do you have a sink to clean your dishes?"

Frowning, she nodded slowly. "In t-the back."

"Do you have to use well water to fill it?"

Nodding again, her frown grew.

Smiling, he held up the device. "What would you say to me improving your sink? I can give you unlimited water that wouldn't need to be carried in."

The conversation around the room died and everyone leaned in, curious about what was happening. Even the skunk looked unsure as she set down her cloth and mug.

"I won't sleep with you," she stated after nearly a minute.

"What?" he asked. "No! I have someone for that already. I just need a place to work and drinks."

Letting out a relieved sigh, she waved for him to follow her. A few of the other animal demi-humans followed them, their hands on their daggers as James found the sink.

It was a stone basin with murky water that hadn't been drained or refreshed in a while. He wasn't surprised. It was probably hard to constantly run for well water.

Setting the device against the stone, he used Soul Crafting to secure it in place. Once the spigot was over the basin, he drained the sink and called for the skunk to join him.

"It's really simple to use…"

The next minute was spent showing her how to use the sink and they marveled at the gold water. He even had them take drinks from the sink and watched their eyes widen as the Soul Water passed their lips.

"What is this?" the skunk asked after refilling her glass.

"An enchantment," James stated. Holding out his hand, he added, "James Matson. I have a room next door and my party will likely be by later. We just need a small place to gather for the evenings."

Taking his hand, she smiled. "Grace. You'll have your drinks, but your friends will have to pay."

"That doesn't bother me," he said with a chuckle. "But I should get back to work. Enjoy your new hot water."

Walking out of the kitchen with him, she announced that the water was perfect and James was a man of his word. That seemed to relax the patrons as he took up his table again.

Pulling out more pipes, he went to work, making what he could. It wasn't longer than an hour later that Jamie found him.

"What did you learn?" he asked.

Scanning the bar, she frowned. "Why isn't everyone glaring at me?"

"I gave them hot water." Setting a finished device to the side, he grabbed his mug. "I get free drinks now."

Her face fell flat. "You can't drink."

"I'm forcing it down."

Sighing, she sat across from him. "We need to talk in your room with Amber. She needs to know what I found."

Spreading out his soul, he found the nekorian around the same area she was before. Once again, she was very angry until she felt him. Pushing love into his soul, she also pushed him away as if he was bothering her.

"She'll be back later tonight." Picking up another pipe, he handed it to Jamie. "We have fifty devices to make, but we don't have the materials. I was thinking we could help the breweries in the district."

Nodding, she started carving runes into the pipe. "They likely have a hard time getting water from where they are. This might even get me free drinks."

"And them more money. Imagine what their ale will be like with Soul Water."

Eyes wide, Jamie looked down at her pipe. "They might outsell the human side once we are done with them."

"My thoughts as well." Connecting his pipes together, he set the device aside. "We'll need to make a few dozen out of the materials we have. I don't know how many the breweries will need."

Filling her pipe with energy, she got to work. While she did work faster than him, her Soul Water was silver. That didn't mean it was less effective than his and it had the same flavor. It was just her unique signature.

The pipes he worked on grew gold veins, while hers were silver. That was how they kept track of who did what. Another hour passed while they were working before Grace set down another mug for him. He didn't even realize that he had finished his first.

"Thanks, Grace," he said with a beaming smile.

Turning, she brushed her tail against his side before walking away.

Jamie glared at him.

"What?" he asked.

"Really?" Glancing toward the skunk, she added, "you know what."

"She seems nice." Shrugging, he caught the skunk watching them work. He gave her another smile, which she returned.

"You have Amber," Jamie reminded him.

"Not yet, I don't," he corrected. "Luna made me promise that I wouldn't make a move on the nekorian for at least a day."

Sighing, Jamie set down her pipe. "You're lashing out, James. I've seen it happen to more than one man. Even some women. Your heart is broken and you find a partner for a fun evening. Then it turns into a romp fest that doesn't heal you."

Running a hand through his hair, he took a slow breath. "I know you are right, but I find it hard to care right now."

Grabbing another pipe, Jamie didn't carve it right away. "I don't approve of this, but I won't stop you either."

Getting up, James walked over to the bar.

"Need another ale, sir?" Grace teased.

"I was thinking of sampling something else." He made it a point of looking her up and down.

Resting her apart hands on the bar, she leaned over and met his gaze. "I believe we can work something out. I'm due for a break. But I'm so dirty."

"Good thing I have a personal bath." Smirking, he glanced at her tail. "And that I know how to care for other things."

Perking up, Grace touched her tail. "I thought you had someone already."

"We aren't official yet," he answered. "But I'm going to go take a bath. I would certainly hate to pull you away from work."

Matching his smile, she took off her apron. "Like I said. I'm due for a break."

Before James could counter, she called into the back that she would be back in an hour. Another server came out to tend to the bar while the skunk grabbed his hand and pulled him from the tavern.

"Which room is yours?" she asked.

"We have a lot to accomplish in an hour. Fluffing your tail is going to take most of that." Grabbing her tail, he ran his fingers through her soft fur. When she melted against him, he smiled. Picking her up, he hurried back to his room.

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