Arnimos stood outside of a massive building, many of its walls seemed to be made of glass and it had massive bright signs saying 'The Rose'.

  "I've never seen anything like this," Arnimos said. "This has to be as large as the palace,"

  "Palace?" John said. "Oh wait, yeah. You're a prince. How do I keep forgetting that?"

  "You said your friend is in there," Arnimos said. "How are we supposed to find him?"

  "It'll take some time," John said. "He's either at the bar or gambling so we'll be searching for a while but we should be able to find him before Night comes,"

  "I hope so," Arnimos said. "I haven't very much liked this section of the city,"

  "You'll grow to love it," John said. "I know i did,"

  "Why don't we head inside," Arnimos said. "I'd rather not encounter more of those "courtesans","

  John nodded and the two approached the door and entered. The lobby was a massive place with marble floors and ceilings and large red carpet running down the center, at the center sat a large fountain with a large, long desk some distance beyond it. They walked down it, cold air blew down from the ceiling and over Arnimos. He shivered.

  "How are they cooling this place?" Arnimos said. "Some form of Fear-Made Item?"

  "Maybe," John said. "I don't know myself, wait here,"

  John jogged up to the desk and quickly talked with the receptionist then handed something over and came back with a small container. It was clear and had multiple sections in it where strange coins sat. Each had different colors and were marked with different numbers.

  "What are those?" Arnimos said.

  "Chips," John said. "We use in here rather than money, we can also trade them back for money once we're done,"

  "I thought we were just here to pick up your friend?" Arnimos said. "Are we gambling as well,"

  "Might as well do some," John said. "Besides, he wouldn't respect us if we didn't,"

  "What does that mean?" Arnimos said.

  "All in due time," John said. "All in due time,"

  Arnimos gave a small scowl as the two left the lobby and stepped onto the casino floor. The floor was packed with people and strange machines and tables. Some were strange, tall boxes that people pulled levers on and strange screens on them displayed spinning symbols until they settled on a set of them. Others had a wheel with red, black and a small amount of holes that a ball was placed into then spun it until it settled into one of the holes. One had a group of men around a card table and another had men playing some form of dice. Arnimos had never seen such large amounts of gambling, the most he had seen were simple dice and card games that Milhas and Hilmas talked about.

  The floor had loud music playing and no windows or clocks inside, Arnimos could feel the headache approaching.

  "How do people stand this place?" Arnimos said, holding his head. "It's so noisy... and bright,"

  "You get used to it," John said. "Now, how about we stop and play some games before we go find our guy,"

  "Yeah," Arnimos said. "Don't think i could stop you,"

  "Great," John said.

  John headed over to a table with the strange red and black wheel. The worker standing at the table looked at them.

  "What'll be gentlemen?" The worker asked.

  "50 on red," John said, placing down a chip on a set out spot on the table.

  The worker nodded then spun the wheel, the ball rolled around the edge until it finally dipped into one of the holes. Red 27.

  "A win, sir," The worker said.

  The worker slid over a 50 chip and John picked it up.

  "Same bet," John said.

  The worker nodded and spun the wheel. Black 29. The worker took his chip. This cycle continued a few more times, different bets but they ended up walking away with the roulette table with the same amount they came in with.

  "Hell," John said. "Didn't get nothing from that, let's try some blackjack,"

  "I've played that one before," Arnimos said. "Milhas taught me it one day,"

  "Good," John said. "Makes it a lot easier."

  They went over to another table where another worker awaited, as they sat down the dealer dealt out a hand of cards. Arnimos played a careful game, earning a small amount of money while John played a much riskier game and ended up making a sizable amount. As they both stepped away John turned to Arnimos.

  "Bit too careful there," John said. "Never gonna make money playing like that,"

  "I'm not playing for money," Arnimos said. "I'm waiting till we can meet your guy,"

  "We can probably do that now," John said. "Follow me,"

  Arnimos sighed and followed John as he went over to an empty poker table. He sat down and Arnimos followed, he then turned to the empty spot where the dealer would stand.

  "Playing the house tonight," John said.

  Arnimos blinked and a man suddenly stood there, at least it looked like a man. It stood about average height with pale skin and wearing simple clothes with black pants and a red blazer, what drew the most attention were its eyes like chips and its teeth colored like the notches on a roulette wheel.

  "The house, sir John?" It said. "Are you sure?"

  "Quite," John said.

  Arnimos leaned over to John.

  "What is that?" Arnimos asked.

  "Fragment of the Gambler," John said. "We're playing it,"

  "A Fragment?!?" Arnimos said. "What are we playing it for?"

  "The right to speak to someone," John said. "Now just play along,"

  "What are you betting tonight," The Fragment said.

  John turned to the Fragment.

  "200," John said.

  "That's all of our money," Arnimos said.

  "Gotta play it risky," John said.

  A few seconds later all of the chips appeared piled in front of John and the Fragment produced a deck of cards from who knows where and shuffled them. It then dealt 5 cards to John. John looked at the cards and tossed 2 back to the Fragment who took them, dealt 2 more than reshuffled the deck. John put his hand down. Pair.

  "One-to-one," The Fragment said. "Would you like to play again?"

  "Of course," John said.

  John handed back his cards then the Fragment reshuffled the deck and dealt 5 more cards. John looked at them, tossed 3 back then was dealt 3 more. John then placed his hand down. Two pair.

  "Three-to-one," The Fragment said. "Would you like to play again?"

  John nodded. Another hand of cards dealt, 4 discarded then redealt. John laid his hand down. Nothing. The chips in front of him vanished. The Fragment looked at him.

  "It appears you are out of money," The Fragment said. "Is there anything else you'd like to bet?"

  "I bet my soul," John said.

  "Wait!" Arnimos said.

  A single chip, completely white, appeared on the table in front of John. Arnimos grabbed John and pulled him close.

  "What the hell are you doing!?!" Arnimos said. "Are you mad?!?"

  "We need to play it risky," John said. "We're not getting our meeting otherwise,"

  "Could've said something!" Arnimos said.

  "You'd try and stop me," John said. "Besides, can't change it now,"

  Arnimos glared at John then let go of him and sank back down into his chair. The Fragment dealt 5 cards and John looked at them. 2 of spades, 7 of spades, Jack of hearts, 4 of spades, and Queen of clubs. John tossed the 2, Jack and Queen. Three cards dealt, 8 of clubs, 6 of clubs and Jack of diamonds. Nothing

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  "Damn," John said.

  John then vanished before Arnimos's eyes. Arnimos turned to the Fragment.

  "Give him back," Arnimos said.

  "I'm afraid the deal was made," The Fragment said. "You may play for him,"

  Arnimos glared at the Fragment. 'Do I risk myself for him,' Arnimos thought. 'It's dangerous but he did save my life.' Arnimos sat thinking for a moment before he turned back to the Fragment.

  "I bet my Dichotomy for 1 week," Arnimos said. "All of my Dichotomies,"

  "A fair price," The Fragment said.

  It dealt 5 cards. Jack of spades, Jack of hearts, 10 of hearts, 8 of spades and 4 of clubs. Arnimos tossed the 8 and 4 then was redealt 2 cards. 10 of diamonds, 5 of hearts. Two pairs.

  "A victory, sir?" The Fragment said.

  "Arnimos," Arnimos said.

  "A victory, sir Arnimos," The Fragment said. "You have won your prize and more!"

  "Huh?" Arnimos said.

  Then the world snapped black for a moment and Arnimos felt like he was falling until his feet found the ground again. He appeared in what seemed like a small dingy bar with strange music playing from a strange device, at the bar sat John drinking from a small glass filled with ice and whiskey. Arnimos walked over to him and slapped him on the back of the head.

  "Yeah," John said. "Definitely deserved that,"

  "What was that for?" Arnimos said. "We could have had something terrible happen to us,"

  "I knew one of us would win," John said. "And look at that, you did,"

  "That was still very reckless," Arnimos said. "What would have happened if we both had lost?"

  "I don't think he'd keep us both for long," John said. "He's an alright enough fellow,"

  "Who-" Arnimos said.

  "Talking about little old me" A voice said.

  Arnimos spun towards the voice and now a new figure was here with them, standing behind the bar. It looked like one of the Fragments but with strange symbols that spun in its eyes. Arnimos felt his stomach churn, a Personification.

  "Howdy" It said. "I'm the Gambler bet you can not guess what i am the Personification of"

  Arnimos looked at the Gambler bewildered then at John.

  "Are you trying to recruit a Personification to help us?" Arnimos said.

  "Not help us," John said. "Well i'd like his help but i just want him not to interfere,"

  "Not interfere in what John" The Gambler said. "Got another scheme cooking up"

  "Sure trying to make one," John said.

  "Always a beacon of confidence" The Gambler said. "Well mind saying what you need to say I have got quite a lot of people to see today"

  "No you don't," John said. "You just don't wanna speak to me,"

  "Maybe" The Gambler said. "Now do get to talking best not to waste time"

  John took a long sip from his drink then pushed it over towards the Gambler.

  "Planning to rob the Levithan," John said.

  "A bold plan" The Gambler said. "Quite risky"

  "That it is," John said. "Want to know if you'll stop us?"

  "I would never" The Gambler said. "And you knew that from the start so why are you truly here"

  "Want to play for my pistol back," John said.

  "You do not have anything worth enough to play for it" The Gambler said. "Especially since you owe me your soul"

  "Yeah, but you were going to give it back," John said.

  "Still do not have enough" The Gambler said.

  "I'll bet mine," Arnimos said.

  The Gambler and John looked over at Arnimos.

  "What are you doing?" John said.

  "We'll need the pistol right?" Arnimos said. "Then i'll pay for it then we'll not try such risky things again,"

  "I accept your bet Archon" The Gambler said. "Now we will leave it to chance"

  A coin appeared in the Gamblers hand, on one side there was a face that looked exactly like Arnimos and on the other one that looked like the Gambler. The Gambler flicked it between their fingers then flipped it into the air. It flipped through the air then began to fall down, Arnimos watched it intensely. Heads. Tails. Heads. Tails. Heads. Tails. Heads- Just as it was about to land Arnimos blinked and the coin vanished. A burst of wind and low crackle of thunder blew through the room. Arnimos looked to the side and saw a man wreathed in lightning stand down the bar.

  "I thought I told you not to help" The Gambler said. "Isaac"

  "You were cheating," Isaac said. "The coin would switch face to be whichever you wanted,"

  "And what if I wanted him to win" The Gambler said.

  "Doesn't change the cheating," Isaac said.

  "Can't slip anything past you" The Gambler said.

  Arnimos looked at Isaac as the lightning on him died down, something felt familiar about him. As he stared at his features he saw petrified stone-like skin with cracks revealing dark earthen skin below, his eyes changed colors from this bright blue to red, to grey, to purple and back. It was just like him. Another Archon.

  "You," Arnimos said. "You're also an Archon,"

  "I am," Isaac said. "And you must be the new one,"

  "I am the 20th," Arnimos said. "I'm Arnimos,"

  "Isaac, the 18th," Isaac said. "Now Gambler, mind telling me why you're trying to get an Archon's soul?"

  "He is gambling on behalf of someone else" The Gambler said.

  "Well, you tried cheating and were caught," Isaac said. "So..."

  "You are so lucky I like you" The Gambler said.

  The Gambler snapped their fingers and a revolver appeared before John. It was small with a thin, snub nose barrel and looked like it was made from something that vaguely resembles gold. As Arnimos stared at it he could feel power from it, it was a strong Fear-Made weapon. John picked it up and twirled it around.

  "Been too long since I held this," John said. "Finally got her back,"

  John looked back at Arnimos.

  "Thanks," John said. "Couldn't have gotten it without you,"

  "No problem," Arnimos said. "Is that all?"

  "All I need," John said. "We'll be going now Gambler,"

  "See you later then" The Gambler said.

  The Gambler snapped their fingers and John vanished but Arnimos was still there, he looked over at the Personification.

  "Why are you looking at me" The Gambler said. "Isaac is the one that wants to speak to you"

  The Gambler looked over at Isaac.

  "Let him out once you're done" The Gambler said.

  "Hey," Isaac said. "I didn't-"

  The Gambler vanished in a flurry of playing cards leaving Arnimos and Isaac alone in this strange place. Isaac sighed and hopped off the bar then sat down.

  "Suppose now's as good a time as ever," Isaac said. "You and your crew are in for a world of hurt,"

  "How so?" Arnimos said. "I knew it was dangerous but is it that bad?"

  "It's a lot worse than you might realize," Isaac said. "The thing you are hunting is not where you expect, someone else powerful has it,"

  "Who then?" Arnimos said. "Is it a powerful Reborn or-"

  "I can't tell you that," Isaac said. "I want to but i can't,"

  "Can I beat them?" Arnimos said.

  "Alone, not a chance," Isaac said. "I don't know what your Skills are but i doubt they can even the playing field, with help though you might be able to,"

  "I don't know much about my Skills are either," Arnimos said. "My teacher didn't have time to help me and I've sort of having to learn them on the fly,"

  "Skills are important," Isaac said. "But as long as you keep enough DE you should be able to overwhelm her with help,"

  "I'm not good at that either," Arnimos said.

  Isaac looked at him incredulous.

  "You, an Archon, aren't good at holding DE," Isaac said. "I don't have the time, nor am i allowed to, give you in-depth training,"

  "What can you tell me then?" Arnimos said.

  "Since you don't have your Skills at a great level yet, hmmm," Isaac said. "When you hold the energy try to imagine it flowing through your veins and into your muscles, our Arbeross Dichotomy finds that the easiest way to imagine the energy,"

  "Why say it like that?" Arnimos said. "Should I change it once I understand my Skills more?"

  "Yes," Isaac said. "Arbeross have an easy time enhancing and healing their body but it takes quite a lot of training and potential to activate their Skill, until you know your Skills more it is best to focus on improving your physical abilities even if it means it will be harder to activate your other Dichotomies Skills,"

  "I'll take that into account," Arnimos said. "Thanks for helping me,"

  "It's the least I can do," Isaac said.

  Isaac then snapped his fingers and Arnimos appeared outside the Rose.

  He saw John sitting on a bench nearby, he walked over.

  "Done talking to The Gambler?" John said.

  "Actually Isaac wanted to talk to me," Arnimos said. "He said that 'the thing we are hunting for is held by someone else',"

  "Wildly unhelpful," John said. "But weird, who else could have it?"

  "Do you have any ideas?" Arnimos said.

  "None," John said. "But even so, robbing the Levithan and putting a bullet in Alex comes first, we can get the Page after,"

  "So, do we have anything or anyone else we need to grab?" Arnimos said. "Or do we have all of them?"

  "Just one more," John said. "Another fella i know from back home,"

  "Back home?" Arnimos said, then it clicked. "Another Reborn?"

  "Yep," John said. "An old enemy,"

  "We're getting one of your enemies?" Arnimos said.

  "In life, we were enemies," John said. "In death however, we've become alright to each other,"

  "Mind telling me about him?" Arnimos said.

  "He's a Luxicon," John said. "And he's got an ability that will make him great for us,"

  "Mind talking about it?" Arnimos said.

  "Just wait and see," John said. "You'll notice it the moment you meet him. Now let's get going, don't want to dally too long,"

  John rose from the bench.

  "Also," Arnimos said. "What's with the revolver?"

  "It's a gift I got for winning a poker tournament," John said. "Powerful Fear-Made weapon, it'll be quite necessary for the heist,"

  "I'll trust you on that," Arnimos said.

  "Then let's be off," John said.

  The two headed out of the district where the Rose sat and towards the district of another casino, the Cerulean Gardens.