Chapter one: Rhen of Ruin

Rhen stepped off the sidewalk and into the shadows of the ruined city. The sun had set

long ago, leaving the city in darkness. She had been in New Orleans for two years, but it still made her uneasy. Despite the evening and the decay, Rhen was determined to find her bounty. It had been over a hundred years since THE GREAT SHIFT from technology to Magic. As Magic came to be, technology ceased to exist, and the event has forever been referred to as THE GREAT SHIFT; it happened slowly at first, then suddenly, people developed magical powers, and mythical creatures were a real thing as in there are unicorns and dragons now and all tech stopped working and started breaking down. People eventually started to get a grip on their powers, and from then on, you. Humans were born with powers. Then, of course, they had been born with hers and knew a life of nothing but Magic. You could still see the ruins of what technology had given the world, and they built on its ever-crumbling remains. As for why the shift happened, no one knows for sure. Some speculate it had to do with the alignment of the planets, and others say it was just time for Magic to be in and tech to be out. In either case, it's the reality of life, and instead of going to a GP for a check-up, you go to a medicine man or a shaman. Instead of driving a fuel combustion engine car, you drove a steam-powered vehicle that also ran on infused Magic; guns didn't work, so you used a sword or something along those lines, think medieval fighting, but most could only afford horses and lay lines to get around. Unless you were lucky enough to have the power to teleport or fly, some were. Things were vastly different, but the human race has always been adaptable and that they did and maybe not excellently, but it was life.

The Department of Magical Usage had given Zen the bounty to pick up Bousta. Zen and Rhen had been bounty hunters for the Guild for two years and never failed to bring in their targets. Rhen checked the time and realized that Zebadiah should have been there by now, but he was nowhere to be seen. She wasn't worried; that jackass was always late. Rhen knew she could bring in her bounty alone, but Zebadiah had picked up the ticked for this particular bounty.

Zebadiah approached as Rhen stepped from the building to head to her target. "Hey, Girl, sorry I got held up at the tribal meeting. Tribal business, you know that always comes first." Zebadiah explained. "Yeah, Zen, I get it, but this is a big bounty, and we finally found him, and he's unlikely to transport for a bit; we have a real opportunity to catch him. I need to eat sometime soon, you hear?" Rhen explains.

"Yeah, girl, I get it, sorry," says Zebadiah as he matches Rhen's pace to the building. They set out into the night to catch their target. With Zen and her trusty sword Fragon at her side, Rhen was sure they would deliver this latest bounty quickly.

They stuck to the shadows and quickly approached the target building. A crumbling shack of a thing. Probably a lovely three-story building in the days of technology. He has now crumbled down to one. The bounty or target would be one of the better accommodations. Based on Rhen's Intel, he was in the room the furthest west, the last room on the first floor.

As she and Zen approached, her with Fragon, her trusty sword drawn, and Zen with his usual Bow and arrow. They quietly stepped into the building and could hear the commotion Bousta, their target, was having an excellent ole time down the hall. Indeed this would be quickly done, especially if Bousta was intoxicated or on some substance that would dampen his ability to transport and give Rhen the time she needed to slap the antimagic belt around Bousta's waist. As they rounded the corner, Rhen held up her hand for Zen to stop as the sounds of laughter and Rhen's intel hit her full force as she eyed the doorway. "Looks like Bousta has a few evening babes in there for company. That could make this difficult." Rhen sighed, looking to Zen for any suggestions. Zen paused momentarily before replying, "We don't have time to act stealthy: if we're going to deliver

About to, oAbout to, we need to act fast and intelligent." He nodded in encouragement, and Rhen readied herself. "OK, on three," She said, and they entered the doorway. Looking in, Rhen saw Bousta with two women, two men, and at least two other people, unsure if they were men or women. About to had About a full bottle of elixir in his hand and looked too happy with his current situation. Rhen and Zen knew it wouldn't take long for Bousta to figure out something was up and transport them out of there so fast that the antimagic chain couldn't do its job and stop him. Rhen stepped into the doorway, and everyone stopped and looked at her, nobody moving or saying anything at first. "Gentlefolk,

I hate to interrupt such a nice party, but I have been sent to collect Mr. Bousta Mackly; if you don't want to incur injuries or possibly Death, I suggest you peacefully exit the area. Otherwise, you and my dear sword Fragon will have a very intimate conversation," explained Rhen as she entered the room confidently and raised her sword for action. Everyone stopped what they were doing and momentarily paused, looking first at Bousta and then at Rhen. Without, realizing what was happening, opens his mouth, "Look here, you crazy sword-wielding bitch, ain't you or no other you gonna take me nowhere, no how, so just fuck off already and let me be, ya hear you dumb cunt!" Slurs Bousta. "Oh, Mr. Bousta, I declare you stole my heart, and I must have you now, sir. " Says Rhen as sweet as she can while simultaneously springing into the air and landing next to Bousta, slapping the antimagic belt around his waist before he blinks. "What the Fuck…. How the…What just happened!" exclaims Bousta as he's struggling to transport, but he's too stoned to pull his Magic together and transport. "Gotcha Bitch!" yells Rhen as she smiles at her accomplishment.

Rhen continues to secure Bousta; she hears the telltale sound of an arrow losing and hitting its mark, "thump." She looks to her left ever so slightly, and one of the two other men is on the ground with an arrow in the shoulder and a knife a few feet away. Zen walks up and says, "You know I always got your back, girl; that's my job, right?" Rhen nods and continues to secure Bousta for the horse ride back to the Department of Magical Usage for their handling. After the turnover, he was no longer their problem; he could go to the Guild ,nd collect their bounty.

Rhen sees the other fellow, and he raises his arms as if saying I'm out; I do not quarrel here. She looks at the women, and they are both scared and trying to cover. She nods at them and says, "You ladies are free to go; we have no business with you, and you too," she says to the other fellow. Quickly they all get out, and as they do, Rhen notices a few other men lying in wait, but they seem to be scurrying away as a sign of respect. Rhen grabs Bousta in the antimagic belt and drags him to the awaiting horse outside, throwing him in the back and showing Zen she is ready. " Let's go; we have a bounty to deliver and money to collect. I'm famished, Zen, and could use this payday," They set off at night to deliver Bousta to his final destination. "I can't believe I let you two lousy mercs catch me," mumbles Bousta as they trot off. "Hush now, or I'm going to gag you for the rest of the trip, and we all know that just wouldn't be pleasant. Besides, your bounty only requires your head. You don't necessarily have to be alive. I really would be quiet." Warns Rhen.

After they have secured Bousta with the Department of Magical Usage and collected the write-up slip, Rhen and Zen head to the Guild to collect their payday. Thankfully the Guild was only two blocks from the Department, which was either well—planned or just a fantastic coincidence.