Gem looked down at their new ring and was mildly shocked, though they had been expecting something after Crystal called attention to it. So yeah, it now looked like a stylized frog, because of course it did. “Cool. So what needs to be done now?”

  Crystal shrugged, “You need to escape? Good thing we have a few hidden ways out you can use. If you’re the type, consider staying outside of the city for a week. By then, a new batch will be dropped off here and drawing all the attention.”

  Gem squinted at her, “The guide said something about sticking around the city and doing minor quests. Why the different advice?”

  Crystal raises an eyebrow and gestures at Gem. “That advice must have been given before you turned into that. Alignment species get snapped up. Since you haven’t joined anyone yet, I have to assume that like most Chaotics you don’t want to.”

  Crystal shoves a stack of crates to the side and reveals a tunnel. “So that changes things. Leave through here and get as close to a gate as you can, then run for it when they find you. They can’t force you to join, but they can definitely pressure you.

  “To be honest, this is a bit of a game for those that deal with new players. Some try to recruit the special cases and others make sure the players get what they want. So since you want to escape them, I’m going to help you in what ways I can within reason.

  “Right now, the recruiters are winning. Though it isn’t all that fair since the last five randoms that got a locked alignment were some flavor of order. Of course, they were going to join a group! They wouldn’t be ordered if they didn’t. Now run along, if you stick here too long they’ll accuse me of cheating.”

  Gem rolls their eyes, “Sounds stupid, but I would like to avoid the crowd. Maybe I’ll see you later.” And Gem jumped down the tunnel in the floor.

  The drop isn’t far, but by the time Gem hits the ground, the crates up top had been pushed back into place. The tunnel is pitch black for a moment. When with a flicker, magical lights come to life on the right wall.

  That’s cool, but Gem has one more thing to do before walking for an indeterminate amount of time. “System, show me what I missed.”

  {

  Lesser Mana Control acquired

  }

  “Huh, managed to rate lesser instead of minor. That’s nice.” Gem waves away the blue screen and begins to walk.

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  Though it isn’t long before something new comes into view. To the left there is a doorway, except it is filled in with solid stone. Weird, but not a way out so they continue.

  These doorways continue to pop up every minute or so, always to the left. Then Gem almost misses it, but there is an open doorway. A glance in reveals what some might call a staircase, but Gem classifies as a slightly angled ladder.

  Gem shrugs, this must be the way out and so climb up the ladder. It leads to a small closet of space with a single door with one of those spy hole things that let you see who is on the other side of the door. A handy addition for this situation and so Gem gladly takes a peek through.

  Oh look, there are a trio of people loitering around. Gem shakes their head and retreats down the ladder.

  After that, they climb up two more ladders, before they come across a door without people waiting on the other side. This doesn’t mean it is safe, just that whoever is watching is clever enough to not reveal themselves. Whatever the case, Gem decides the risk is worth it.

  With a light push, the door swings open with nary a sound. Not because it was maintained, the door would stick out like a sore thumb in that case. But because the hinges had some kind silencing magic on them.

  After a quick look to both sides and directly up, Gem rushes out and practically dives behind a pile of boxes. It was slightly farther away, but no way in hell were they going to be caught dead driving behind a trash pile, especially since most of the trash is food waste. They wait a beat to see if someone appears out of nowhere and then with great haste sneaks from alley to alley.

  This gets them pretty far, but for safety reasons alone, there is no direct way to get to the gates through the alleys. All they can do is get close, before pausing at the edge of a busy road. Moments pass as they wait, only for a break to open up in the crowd that they jump right into. The people behind them notice that they just joined the crowd, but not from where and having avoided the food waste, Gem doesn’t have any pungent odor to give themselves away. Though their giggling at having gotten away with it doesn’t do them any favors.

  Of course, things had been going too easy so within sight of the gate, Gem was spotted. To be fair, the number of gates out is small, so easy to monitor. Also, they aren’t exactly blending in with the crowd.

  Anyway, no one at this gate has the authority to actually close the gate or even stop those exiting. They do have more than enough people to turn and carol Gem away from it. Except that is only assuming that they feel obligated to keep to social norms.

  So when Gem sees how things are going, they instantly ignore that nonsense and starts bull-ing their way through the crowd. Though once again, there are only so many gates to leave the city, so even if you can just walk out, things are crowded to the point of a slow walk at best, even if you’re one to shove your way through.

  Welp, up and over it is! The people making their way to Gem have begun to shout at them how so and so wants to talk to them. And as Gem reaches the first, they shout, “Sorry, what? Can’t hear you!”, as they take a jump and step on one of their heads.

  Gem, of course, isn’t going to submit those simply trying to get through to this indignity, so is soon back on the ground. Except by this point, a lot of people had noticed the ruckus and turned around to look. So when they see them heading right at their location, they wisely make way.

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