I picked it up with both hands and immediately felt the weight drag on my arms. The crate was made of rough wood, reinforced at the corners with thin metal strips, and inside it sat ten glass bottles packed tightly together with cloth stuffed between them to keep them from clinking. Each bottle was filled with a faint pink liquid that caught the light in a strange way, almost like it shimmered when I tilted it.

"Alright," Ken said, already turning toward the door. "Come on. I know where the place is."

I gave the counter one last look, then followed him outside.

The moment we stepped out, the rain hit harder than before. It wasn’t just a drizzle anymore. Thin streams of water slid off rooftops, and the stone street had already turned slick and reflective under the lantern light.

Ken pulled his hood up and glanced at the sky. I adjusted my grip on the crate and opened the map for a second. The location was already marked. We were close.

"So," I said as we started walking, "what do these potions do?"

"Waking up the snake," Ken replied without missing a beat.

I glanced at him. "Which snake?"

He smirked, hands in his pockets as he walked. "Helping the soldiers raise their swords."

I stared at him for a second. "What?"

Ken shook his head. "Myrrakai take you, Ace. Are you an idiot? It makes your dick hard."

"Oh," I said. "So basically Viagra." 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

He frowned. "What the hell is that?"

"Nothing," I replied, shifting the crate in my hands. "Garmonna’s Lair, huh?"

"Yeah. One of the best brothels in the whole kingdom, or so they say."

"Hmm."

We kept walking, boots splashing lightly against the wet stone. The streets were quieter now. Most people had already gone inside to avoid the rain, leaving only a few figures rushing along with cloaks pulled tight or sheltering under shop awnings.

We turned right at the second corner, just like the map showed. The buildings here were closer together, their upper floors leaning slightly inward, making the street feel narrower. Tailor shops and small homes lined both sides, their windows glowing dimly from inside.

Far ahead, the street curved to the left, and from that direction came a soft wash of red and pink light spilling across the wet ground.

"I never thought I’d be delivering this kind of stuff on my first day with a new roommate," Ken said, shrugging as he walked. "Life’s weird."

"Same," I replied. "I didn’t even know what I was carrying until a minute ago."

"Yeah..."

I looked at him. "Wait. How did you know?"

He let out a small, awkward laugh. "Forget about it."

"No," I said. "You’re not getting away with that. Tell me."

He coughed into his fist, avoiding my eyes. "I might’ve tried one before."

I raised an eyebrow.

"It works," he added quickly. "Like, really works."

I shook my head. "I shouldn’t have asked."

"Yeah, you really shouldn’t have."

We reached the end of the street and turned left, and the atmosphere shifted immediately.

The road narrowed slightly, the stone underfoot darker here from years of wear and rain. Lanterns hung from iron brackets along the buildings, their glass tinted faint shades of red and pink, casting a warm, almost hazy glow across the street. It wasn’t crowded, but there was movement, figures slipping in and out of doorways, quiet laughter, low conversations that blended with the steady sound of rain.

On the far side stood the brothel.

It was a large, three-story building, easily the most striking structure on the street. Dark wood framed its exterior, polished to a smooth sheen, while the walls between were painted a deep crimson that caught the lantern light beautifully. Wide windows lined the front, some covered with sheer curtains that allowed silhouettes to move behind them without revealing too much.

A short set of stone steps led up to the entrance, the edges worn but clean. At the top stood double doors, slightly open, warm golden light spilling out from inside along with faint music and chatter.

To the left, right at the corner where we had turned, sat a small tailor shop. Its shutters were closed, but not fully, leaving just enough of a gap to peek inside. Through it, I could see mannequins dressed in outfits that were... definitely not meant for everyday wear. Tight dresses, sheer fabrics, things that looked more decorative than practical. Even in the dim light, the colors stood out... deep reds, blacks, and soft purples.

"Yeah... that checks out," I muttered under my breath.

Ken, of course, was already staring at the brothel like it was the greatest thing he had ever seen.

"Beautiful," he whispered.

We walked toward the steps and climbed up.

At the entrance, a woman stood leaning casually against the wooden frame. She straightened slightly as we approached, a slow, knowing smile spreading across her lips.

She wore a fitted dress that clung to her figure, the fabric a dark shade of violet with a slit running up one side of her leg. The neckline dipped low, framed by a thin black choker around her neck. Her hair fell over one shoulder in loose waves, and her eyes moved between us.

"Well," she said, her voice smooth and playful, "you two looking for company tonight?."

Ken opened his mouth immediately, but she continued before he could say anything.

"If you want to go inside," she added, tilting her head slightly, "it’ll cost you five gold each, handsome."

I shifted the crate in my hands and lifted it slightly so she could see.

"We’re not here for that," I said. "We’re here on business. We need to deliver these to... uh..."

I paused for a second, trying to remember the name. Ken stepped in without missing a beat.

"Garmonna."

The woman’s expression changed just a little, the teasing edge softening into something more neutral.

"Oh?" she said. "You boys picked up her request?"

"Yeah," I replied.

She stepped aside, gesturing toward the open doors.

"Then come on in," she said. "She’s been waiting."

Ken and I exchanged a quick look. Then we stepped inside.

The woman who had been waiting outside the door escorted us in without a word.