Jago smiled as she explained her idea of a good dinner, this Faerie was unlike anyone he’d met before; and that was an exciting prospect for him. After all he didn’t find much entertainment these days, after all he had settled on the outskirts of his hometown – and had supposed everyone’s expectations and become a talented magus with a reputation in Adeluna. But now the tiny wizard had outgrown even this city. Maybe with the aid of this woman he could find something new and exciting. Jago was only sixty-four! A young adult by his races standards.

Their food arrived all at once – just how Jago liked it. Not unlike Nixie he had a peculiar way of eating – First he ate a round of cheese and crackers with his soup. Then, after half a mug of stout he ate half the pie, he cut up a remaining piece of blue cheese and added it to the mashed potatoes before he finished off those. He didn’t eat in a particularly disgusting way – but there was an astonishing speed to his eating. Half way through, the Halfling wiped his mouth before looking up into the faeries eyes.

“I’d like to suggest a little trip together then, but first – what motivates you the most. Money or knowledge?” He gave her a wide mischievous grin, this had the feeling of something exhilarating brewing away like a thunderstorm in the distance.

Nixie found Jago interesting and although she did not trust him this was enough to germinate a seed of excitement within her soul. 
"Money is pointless. It comes, it goes, I see no need for it. Knowledge cannot be lost, spent and frittered away. Knowledge can keep you alive. Money can endanger you." Indeed even the concept of currency was alien to her. It was not something which was used within her home realm. Faeries dealt with concepts much more regularly than they did objects. Even having a solid form was something which was not natural. Nixie felt a tug of pain at the realisation that the chances of any non-faery comprehending her realm were nonexistent. 

Jago quickly finished his meal whilst he she considered her answer and spoke. A smile spread across his face – they were on the same page as he suspected. This bond was new, and the Red Wizard knew well enough not to trust too lightly; yet still he found himself warming to her. It had been a long time since Jago had found something that could bloom into a friendship. Carefully he stood on his chair again as the meals pots and plates were cleaned away. Once they were alone again, and after checking that no one was listening in the Wizard spoke in a very hushed tone. “I have a map, it’s of all of our land- and marked on it are several places of interest to people seeking the sort of knowledge we’re after.” From under his cloak he pulled out a thin map, held together on a thin sheet of easily rolling metal. Untying the thin piece of leather holding it together, Jago flashed Nixie a daring glaze.

As the map opened, it was easy to tell it was magical. The mountains rose out of the parchment tiny stone crests, the forest was a tiny living tangle of trees and lakes and rivers flowed out to the edge of the paper. It was a truly beautiful thing, representing all the major cities and most of the small towns. In Adeluna There was a tiny Red Wizards hat, sat on top of a tiny tavern with a tinier sign reading ‘The Old Kings Head.’ If you had time to study the map, you might find a few more tiny Wizards hats – each a different colour. Jago used his pipe to tap the top of an attraction in Parvpora labelled The Hanging Gardens. “I suggest we head here – there are stories about a hidden tomb of an ancient elven mage that was buried with his entire library.”

He smiled up at her.

Nixie nodded in quiet acceptance. She had nothing better to do but she would have to harvest whilst adventuring with Jago. She wondered if he was aware what this entailed and whether he would halt his persistent kindness when faced with her true feeding habits. Nixie decided to test him now as she didn't want to waste time if he was to turn on her later. Ever since Nixie had eyed the large bar wench with her furrowed brow she didn't plan to leave the tavern until she was suitably riled up into a rage. Nixie called her back to their table.
"We're not paying for this food. It was disgusting." The woman's face resembled a red balloon, but before she could burst, Nixie stood up from the table and turned to leave without another word. The bar wench began spewing expletives which caught the attention of a loyal regular customer and fellow furrow browed bruiser. He barred the door with his arms thick and solid as a log of oak. 
"Alright, you better pay Betsy now or we're going to have a big problem" He barked. Unfazed Nixie touched his muscular forearm and stared into his eyes with piercing intensity. The faerie was of uncommon, otherworldly attractiveness and with this look he felt his body relax, unable to muster any will to fight the bright eyed beauty. She leaned in closer, her corseted chest brushing his with gentle seduction, and whispered in his ear. Her words licked and numbed him like poison and the next moment, he took out his dagger and plunged it into a gruff old fellow seated nearby. Chaos instantaneously erupted and Nixie backed up against a wall to observe the madness. Old and young sprung into action, defending and attacking one other in the confusion.

When Nixie called over the barmaid and spoke Jago knew where this was going to go. Without a sound, he took a last drag of his pipe before emptying it and then stashing it under his hat. As they got up to leave they were confronted, Nixie worked her magic and for the first time Jago got to see how this journey would really be. This was going to end badly; he just knew it!

Although, as Nixie pulled out her dagger – the tavern erupted into a full-scale bar brawl and Jago couldn’t hide his grin. Both bar wenches had picked up kitchen knives and were heading straight for Jago and Nixie. “ I don’t think so!” He said, unleashing a blast of magic that knocked them both back against the back wall. As the magic worked, Jago let his hat and cloak return to their proper scarlet hue.

The magic and cloak were like red rags to bulls. Immediately more pub goers were baring down upon them – Jago spun around and smashed the first in the face with his staff. Another he set on fire and a third he electrocuted. Finally, the Red Wizard and Nixie had a clear escape. “I think it’s time to leave – the guards will be on their way by now.” Jago paused to animate two of the taverns long tables, they jumped together and slammed themselves onto their side to create a makeshift wall. “Meet me at the gates to Komeitia city at sunrise three days from now.” A fire had broken out in the bar behind Jagos makeshift table wall.

He took Nixie’s hand in both of his and shook it heartedly. “Don’t be late!” The Halfling burst out the door as the tables holding back the frantic patrons were smashed to pieces. A moment later the sneaky little Wizard had disappeared.

Nixie teleported to a safe distance to process what had just occurred. To say she was surprised by the Red Wizard's reaction would be an understatement. Perhaps he really could be an ally, or even a friend. It had been an extremely long time since Nixie had had a friend, in fact, silent reflection led her to believe that maybe she had never possessed one. A friend is a person you stick by even when their usefulness to you has expired, so she decided it was far too early to speculate about the future. Jago still held much usefulness. He was interesting and exciting and did not abandon her in the wreckage she had created. Nixie was fine on her own, she was self-sufficient to an extreme degree but she still felt loneliness. It was a secret she held very close to her chest, that whilst systematically destroying other people's lives she felt she did not possess a life of her own. Her victims fell so hard because she found those who had a lot to lose, whilst she had nothing but ulterior motives and self-preservation. She knew there must be more to life than this and she would not allow herself to wither away within this world. She felt weak for having a companion, like it was proof she was failing on her own, like loneliness was winning. But she was thrilled and the excitement bubbled within her. She felt like it could rise up and burn her, like wild stomach acid and she had to work to calm herself to her natural expressionless state.

As she sat on a bench, ignored by all around her, she felt grief. Jago had only just came into her life and left, and she was overcame by boredom again. Three days to reach the city gates and three days without companionship, amusement or enthusiasm. She told herself she was awful company and these thoughts made her consider not meeting up with him at all, but she knew she would, she was hooked. She took out her frustration by starting numerous fires and flirting with danger. Every day one step closer to the start of something new. An exit from the spiral she was caught in,