The guards outside Alice's chamber barely looked at Kai.
One glanced at him.
Then immediately looked away.
As if seeing random people leave the Queen's office was perfectly normal.
Kai wasn't sure if that was reassuring or terrifying.
He walked down the long corridors until he finally reached the main entrance.
The same guards who had stopped him earlier were still stationed there.
One noticed him.
His eyes narrowed.
Kai quietly pulled out the metal plaque.
Alice's face.
Middle finger and all.
The guard immediately straightened.
"..."
"..."
Neither spoke.
Kai slowly put it away.
The guard slowly looked elsewhere.
Apparently it worked.
Kai wasn't going to question it.
He left before anyone changed their mind.
Outside, Asphyxia was as alive as ever.
Magic signs illuminated the streets.
Merchants shouted from storefronts.
People moved in every direction.
For the first time since arriving, Kai had no immediate objective.
Find Eric.
Find Andre.
Preferably both.
He started with Eric.
The food district seemed like a reasonable place to ask around.
Halfway there, his stomach growled.
Kai stopped.
Then remembered something.
He hadn't actually eaten.
The restaurant.
Alice's office.
The entire day.
Nothing.
A merchant nearby was handing out free food samples.
Kai immediately changed direction.
Five minutes later the merchant was staring at him.
Kai was holding another sample.
And another.
And another.
The merchant's eye twitched.
"Sir."
Kai froze.
"...Yes?"
"Those are samples."