After wandering out of a Covenant building by his lonesome for the second time that day, Cobalt deigned to take a small break and rest on one of the benches in the middle of the plaza. Despite the nip in the air from how far north the city was, the sun was pleasantly warm, soothing his aching bones as he turned his face upwards. His first impressions of the Covenants hadn’t been the greatest, and the mere appearance of the Edifrep building pointed to it being just as bad, so he was taking every moment he could to prepare himself both physically and mentally.

  “… Alright, Trayer. Let’s get to it,” he sighed, heaving himself to his feet.

  As he approached the building in question, he took stock of its appearance and shivered. Unlike Rotalleb’s brutalist sillouette and Sucifnev’s sleek, futuristic appearance, the home of the Edifrep academics didn’t seem to stand out much. It bore the same architectural design as many of the other buildings throughout the Mancer District, save for one key difference; every single individual window had been carefully bricked up, and yellow eyes had been painted over them. They bore down upon Cobalt as he approached, staring holes into him and sending a shiver up his spine as he approached the front doors. They were metal and completely smooth, lacking a handle or any other feature aside from a small peephole. For a moment, Cobalt wondered if he was going to be faced with the same difficulties entering this Covenant as all the others, but upon drawing a few feet closer to the entrance, he heard the click of a dozen locks as the doors swung open, almost entirely on its own. He froze in place for a second, staring into the gloom with a concerned, slightly frightened eye.

  “H- Hello…?” Cobalt called, his voice trailing off into nothing.

  He was met with no response. It seemed as though there were no lights on inside. Turning around, he looked to see if he could find any Edifrep students around to perhaps show him what to do, but it seemed for all the world like the academics around him were avoiding this side of the plaza.

  With no clue what to do and no better ideas to hand, the Incubus steeled himself and tentatively limped through the front door.

  It immediately slammed shut behind him, scaring him something fierce. Plunged into darkness, every muscle in the Incubus’ body went completely taut as his grip locked tight around the handle of his cane. Inside, the entrance hall was completely silent, and as his eyes gradually adjusted to the light, he saw that the Edifrep décor was actually rather tasteful. The walls were panelled with wood, and he could see portraits and landscapes hanging around him, though he couldn’t quite make them out.

  “Hello?” the Incubus tried again, narrowing his eyes in an effort to see a little better.

  “Cobalt Trayer?” spoke a voice from directly behind him.

  Flinching, the Incubus whirled around to face a gloomy looking Succubus, her jacket highlighted with a yellow Edifrep badge.

  “Y- Yes, hello. I’m here to see your Head,” he stammered looking back at her.

  Her gaze flicked from his head to his feet.

  “… Incubus, huh?”

  “Um, yes.”

  “My great-great-grandaunt’s second kid was an Incubus.”

  “Oh That’s… interesting.”

  “He ate his sister.”

  Cobalt stared at her for a moment. She returned his gaze, completely unperturbed.

  “You gonna eat anyone while you’re here?” the Succubus asked.

  “What? No, not at all.”

  “Good. Stick close, don’t ask questions, and keep your eyes to yourself.”

  “Keep my eyes to my- I’m sorry, what?”

  “No questions.”

  With that, the Edifrep student swiftly turned on her heel and began leading Cobalt down a gloomy hallway at a brisk pace. Alarmed by the secrecy, he did as he was told, keeping his mouth shut as he hobbled along behind her. The floorboards underfoot were soft, muffling their footsteps, and everywhere there ought to have been a window was either bricked up or covered with a curtain. The silence was maddening.

  Looking back down, Cobalt was surprised to find that his guide had changed. He was now following an Oni man wearing a long coat, a sash around his arm being the only signifier of his Covenant.

  “E- Excuse me, where is-?” the Incubus asked, looking around for the Succubus girl.

  “No questions,” the Oni growled over his shoulder.

  Right, of course.

  Deeper they went into the Edifrep building, and yet Cobalt still had no idea just where he was being brought, or whom he could expect at the end of it. The last two times he had already gotten a fair idea of the Covenant’s goals and ideals, but this place was just… off. Other Edifreps darted from one room to another, scurrying along the edges of the hallways carrying boxes in their arms, but none of them made eye contact with him. He gave up after a while, and upon turning his attention back to his guide, he found that his guide was now a sullenly dressed Glutton.

  Why was he being passed around like this? What was going on?

  Eventually, Cobalt was brought to a stairwell leading down into the bowels of the building. He gave his guide a concerned look, but he wasn’t paying attention. Rather, he simply waited by the stairs until a Nymph girl in a hoodie arrived to swap places with him. Giving each other a nod, the Glutton leaned close to whisper in her ear.

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  “Bring him to Alyssa.”

  More nods were exchanged, and before Cobalt knew it, he was being directed down into the Covenant’s basement. Unlike the rest of the building, however, he could see the faint flickering of light up ahead, and as he was brought through a set of doors, it was plain to see why.

  The Edifrep basement was a single large, seamless chamber lit by hundred – perhaps even thousands – of candles set into the walls and clustered around the thick stone pillars supporting the many floors above Cobalt’s head. Dozens of academics bearing the Edifrep key upon their garb buzzed around down here, with some poring over maps spread across tables while others deposited items within an entire wall of safes at one end of the basement. Non-academics in fine suits perused display cases filled with expensive-looking ornaments, and as Cobalt was led through the middle of it all, he found himself being brought towards the far end of the basement, which had been sectioned off with finely-carved wooden partitions.

  “Inside,” remarked his guide, gesturing ahead.

  “O- Oh, okay. Do I just-?”

  “No questions,” she interrupted, before turning around and leaving him be.

  Now thoroughly disturbed, the Incubus took a deep breath and crept around the partition, unsure of what he was going to find.

  Cordoned off from the rest of the basement, Cobalt found himself presented with a simple office set up beneath a single hanging lightbulb, which flickered dimly above him. An austere desk and two hard chairs were the only furniture available, and one was already occupied by a figure counting out stacks of brand notes by hand and marking their calculations in a small notebook.

  “Sit,” they said simply, not looking up.

  Cobalt did as he was told, taking in their appearance as he did so. They were a Fallen, dressed in a fine dress shirt and a pair of black trousers, complete with suspenders that hung by their sides. They wore a dark waistcoat embroidered with golden thread, detailing the Edifrep crest, but anything further up was completely obscured by the short hooded cloak their wore, fastened around their shoulders by a chain.

  “Cobalt Trayer,” they said, their voice coming out in a cold hiss.

  “Yes, that’s me. It’s good to finally meet you,” the Incubus said, leaning forward to shake their hand.

  The Fallen looked up, revealing the face of a cold, unemotive woman. Her eyes gleamed acid-green, and she bore a distinct frown.

  “I wasn’t asking,” the Edifrep Head remarked, leaning back in her chair.

  She pulled down her hood, releasing a long silver ponytail. Touching a button on her waistcoat with one hand, she resumed her calculations with the other.

  “Alyssa,” she said simply, glancing down to continue counting the money.

  Silence passed between the two.

  “… Does the ‘no questions’ rule still apply here, or…?” he asked tentatively.

  “No.”

  “O- Okay then. Um… So, Edifrep. What’s it like?”

  With a sigh, the Fallen swept the money into a lockbox and deposited it beneath the desk. Steepling her fingers, she leaned forward, staring unblinkingly through the Incubus.

  “Do you care about any of that?” she asked, her voice low and sinister.

  “The Archdean sent me here to-”

  “I don’t care what the half-pint said. I’m asking you.”

  “I… Well, I’m certainly intrigued, I guess…?”

  “And the rest of these Covenants?”

  “Miss Alyssa-”

  “Just Alyssa.”

  “- Sorry, Alyssa; what are you asking me exactly?”

  She began to drum her fingernails against the table.

  “You need to know that these are businesses. Rotalleb, Sucifnev, even Silibon. They’re all here just to make money. Edifrep most of all,” she explained.

  “So… I- I’m Alyssa, but I’m a little confused…” Cobalt sighed, scratching his head.

  “Good. Archdean only asked me to meet with you. I don’t have to explain anything I don’t need to.”

  Again, the silence settled over them like a fire blanket. Cobalt didn’t know what to say, and from the way Alyssa glared at him, she wasn’t in much of a mood for talking.

  “I looked into you,” Alyssa remarked, flicking through her book.

  “Who hasn’t at this point…” Cobalt sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

  “You’ve killed people.”

  Cobalt’s heart froze up. Eyes wide, he stared at Alyssa with his mouth slightly agape, shocked by her blunt statement. The Fallen just regarded him with a cold gaze.

  “Excuse me…?” he breathed, narrowing his eyes.

  “Simple statement of fact. You’ve got a record for it, apparently. Confirmed and unconfirmed.”

  “Alyssa, I’m not here to talk about anything like that.”

  “Too bad. I want to talk about it.”

  Shaking his head, Cobalt made to stand up, only for the Fallen to beat him to the punch. Jolting to her feet, she reached behind her belt and whipped out something sharp and metallic, driving it deep into the table just in front of the Incubus. Flinching, Cobalt collapsed back into the chair, staring wide-eyed at the bowie knife lodged into the table.

  “Why would Deanson want you specifically?” she asked, leaning across the desk.

  “I- I don’t know, I just-”

  “You’re too much of a risk. Devil killer. Flesh eater. Dead man rising from the grave. I’m going to give you this opportunity to tell me why you’re really here.”

  “I don’t know! I- I was just told to come here for a job, alright?!”

  “Has he even told you what that job is yet?”

  “No! Not at all!”

  She leaned even closer, until their noses were almost touching.

  “Doesn’t matter how seasoned you are. You might have held your own in Brimstone, but the Mancer District is a whole different game. Outsiders aren’t welcome. Especially not ones that attract attention,” Alyssa hissed.

  Cobalt gritted his teeth.

  “Are you threatening me…?” he asked under his breath.

  “Come to your own conclusions. I’m just stating facts.”

  “I can barely remember the past, okay? Whatever happened stays there. I’m here now. I’m starting a new life here, and I’m not about to be intimidated on my first day.”

  “You want intimidation, Trayer, go to Rotallab. I deal in results.”

  “What are you saying…?”

  “Stay out of Edifrep business, no matter what the Archdean says. His authority ends at the door.”

  Cobalt swallowed hard. Despite his sudden burst of bravado, he could feel the sweat dripping down his back and the nerves rattling inside his limbs. Nothing this woman said sounded like a bluff.

  “Sure. One condition,” he breathed, digging his claws into the arms of his chair.

  Alyssa slowly shook her head.

  “You don’t get to make demands.”

  “Tell me about Amrifni. What’s their deal? Why is everyone acting so strangely about them.”

  The Fallen pulled away and sat back down in her chair. Pulling the knife from the table, she wiped the blade clean upon her shirt sleeve and returned it to the sheath behind her back.

  “Scum,” she responded, returning her attention to the book.

  “… Is that it…?” Cobalt asked.

  “All you’re getting.”

  With a heavy sigh, the Incubus silently conceded defeat. Grabbing his cane, he got to his feet and shot Alyssa an irate glare.

  “Well… I hope to get along with you in the future,” the Incubus murmured, pushing his chair in.

  “Don’t bank on us speaking again,” came Alyssa’s curt reply, not looking up from the book.

  “… Right. I take it I’m showing myself out?”

  She didn’t respond. Go figure.

  With nothing left to say, Cobalt pushed one of the partitions aside and marched back through the basement, keeping his gaze dead ahead even as he felt the entire Edifrep populace staring holes through him.

  The more he learned about the Covenants of the Mancer District, the less comfortable he felt. Avery Jusene seemed like a thug, Rallen Quire clearly thought too highly of himself, and now this Alyssa woman… All of them sent different kinds of shivers up his spine.

  And yet still, he knew nothing about Amrifni.

  Cobalt was beginning to have second thoughts about this place. He could only hope that Silibon surprised him pleasantly.