The Sixth Regression of the Shadow Magnate

"Hello, I'm looking for a man called Rimm from around these parts" Friette asked an elderly woman, who sat just beside her little cottage, sieving grain. There were neighboring houses around there as well but she had already asked most of them who said such a name wasn't familiar. The woman took her time to reply without looking at Friette, not seeming quite inviting as well.

"No one is known by that name here" she said blankly.

Friette was already getting impatient. Perhaps this was that goose chase she had suspected.

"Damn" she said dejectedly, turning to leave when the woman spoke up again.

"No one is known by that name around here" she repeated.

"But go to the marketplace just over there. I believe I may have heard such a name there before"

The marketplace was much closer to the river where busy fishermen did business daily. She walked past busy fishermen and their large baskets of fresh fishes, along with butchers and their chaotic chopping sounds from all over the place.

The main market was just ahead. Friette hoped she wouldn't be leaving there without answers.

"Hello, sorry to disturb you" she greeted, walking up to one of the first sheds just past the entrance.

"What do you want?" The man there replied. He was the vendor there, busy setting up his wares properly. But he didn't seem so enthusiastic doing so, like normal market people did.

"I'm looking for a man. His name is Rimm" she layed out.

"Who's looking for him?"

Friette felt a slight relief.

"Umm, someone said I should pass a message to him?"

"Someone? Who is someone?"

Friette paused to think.

"Oh, right. Uhh..."

Actually, she had asked for his name, but,

'Pass the message to him. That's all he needs to know' Durma had told her.

So he really didn't tell her his name.

"Uhh, he didn't give me a name, actually. He just said Rimm only needed the message"

"I see. And what's the message?"

It wasn't something she could say she understood. It really didn't make much sense to her but perhaps it might to who ever this 'Rimm' was. So, it was easy to tell that this was a coded message. She couldn't just tell anyone.

"Well, I had instructions to speak to this man directly"

"I see" the man said blankly. That's how he had been for the duration of their conversation.

Was he the one. From the way he acted, he didn't seem like he was Rimm as he simply continued setting up his wares. Friette stood there for a while, shifting uncomfortably, before realising that the man was no longer interested in their conversation.

"Hello?"

"Ohh, sorry, I don't know who that is" he blurted out dully.

Friette nearly screamed at his rudeness.

Once again, she wondered about in the marketplace in search of Rimm.

"Hello, I'm looking for Rimm"

"Hi, is Rimm coming around today?"

Perhaps her new strategy and method of enquiry might help. But then, most of the replies she received remained negative.

"We don't know any Rimm here" they would all give the same general answer.

Although, something did seem off. About three persons had asked for the contents of her message specifically. And she could tell they feigned to not know of Rimm. However, they hinted their interest in her message, asking her what it's contents were, with no intent of actually helping her.

"Just who is this person?" She muttered to herself as she paraded about.

Eventually, she felt tired out. She had wandered this market for a long while now, futilely. Perhaps, it was a goose chase after all. If he really didn't wish for her company, he could've told her plainly, she thought.

And so, finally giving in to her exhaustion, she took the same road, past the busy marketers back to the entrance she had come from. She was going home. The market itself was a rustic one, as the people who did business here were mostly villagers and they simply brought their merchandise here to sell, so there wasn't much of any standard structure there such as a gate even. Just rough wood poles hammered together to form the arched entrance. That was were she saw him. A man who dressed more like any other person here, but his face told of something different as lines of scars were plastered here and there over it as well as his exposed muscular arms as he wore sleeveless top. His gait was humourless and his face, darker and grave. He simply walked about his business so she wouldn't have suspected until she noticed the way the eyes of the first vendor whom she had visited here followed him. He watched this man, his face mixed with awe and scorn. It was instinctive, that she had to confront this man, ignoring his unneighborly disposition.

"Hello" she said, blocking his way without really giving herself much time to think.

"I'm looking for Rimm"

She hadn't noticed but he had people following him. And as soon as she blocked his way and mentioned that name, before she knew it, one of them knocked her to the ground, baring a sword to her throat. It was swift, as the next thing she could do was freeze on the muddy ground.

"Who are you?"

Even his voice was solemn as he gazed down on her. She could feel the pressure. It was definitely obvious.

'What is this? Who is this? Why?...'

She couldn't get her thoughts together properly. But then, she caught on immediately, the reason why people kept giving her the same answer. Even now, she could hear sighs and scolding mumbles from those around. Everyone probably knew who this was. There was no way she would have wandering in here enquiring of who bore that name but without any idea of who he was. In fact, some thought she was feigning ignorance. And at that, they'd give her the shortest answer to keep their conversation as short and direct as possible. Surely no one wanted to have anything to do with anyone so frightening.

"He asked you a question, woman" the associate who kept her motionless on the ground said threateningly.

"I...have a message for you"

Durma reappeared at the Seimon. The courtyard was beautiful and quiet as usual. With the usual slight smug on his face, he coolly and peacefully walked from the center of the courtyard, his hands in his pocket. Then he climbed up the porch stairs, intending to simply walk to his quarters.

"Seems you're just fine this time"

Karin's voice was calm. More like alarmingly calm. As soon as he heard her, he winced.

"Heyyy!" he turned about immediately, his grin turning into a nervous smile. She had been there before he arrived but he couldn't sense her. Not like he actively tried to, but then, he could tell she must've hid her Ki.

'Was it really necessary?' he reasoned. She hadn't taught him that in this turn yet.

"Uhh, how's it going, Karin? Hehe" He asked with a nervous gesture, his right hand behind his head.

"Nothing much" she said looking out the courtyard and then sternly, back at him. He could tell she wanted to scold him heavily right now. Perhaps, she wanted to do to him even more than that.

But then, as she stared at him staidly, her face made him melt. She always looked exceptionally alluring, angelic and appealing when upset.

And his adoration was something that reflected on his face. And as soon as she recognised that look, she didn't even let him utter another word before she smacked his face for the first time in this turn.