Msaka returned to his room and spent the day in preparation for the journey he was going to take the next day. In addition to several more bouts of trying to master his more recently learned spells, he spent a while sparring with his shadow. While hardly out of shape, he didn't want to risk becoming so, especially given the likelihood of a vengeful attack by the sorceror whose plot he'd foiled.

It was after midnight when he finally decided that it was time to retrieve the water elemental. After calling forth his staff, he performed the Mark spell in the middle of his room, leaving the same invisible outline of himself as he always did when using that spell. That done, he crept silently down the hall and through the dining area to the front door of the inn. He knew that he was being more cautious than was really necessary, as everyone else in the inn had already gone to bed, but he was not willing to take any chances regardless. Cracking open the door, he peered out into the plaza. No one was in sight, so he slipped out of the inn, shutting the door as he went.

Moving as stealthily as he was able to, he stole along the bottom of the inn's front wall, moving to where its roof met that of another building, the two roofs forming a shallow V where they met. Given the position of the moon, there were more shadows there, which would make it easier for him to remain unnoticed in the event anything untoward happened.

He quickly moved into position under the edge of the roof corner, then enacted the Hide spell that had served him so well on previous occasions. As he disappeared from view, he followed it with the Levitation incantation, holding his staff crosswise overhead. When he began to rise into the air, his invisibility faded, though he was at least still partially concealed by the shadows.

He rose into the air, keeping watch over his shoulder for any activity elsewhere in the plaza. Sure enough, just as he was nearing the roof, he spotted a trio of men entering from the street. Cursing softly, he ceased his ascent and held himself level, the invisibility returning as soon as he did. He was well enough concealed where he was, but couldn't rise up high enough to climb onto the roof without being obvious if they happened to look in his direction.

The three slowly made their way across the plaza towards the city gates. Frustratingly slowly from Msaka's point of view, as he was all too aware that his staff would only last for so long with the continual drain the Levitate spell was placing on it, and equally aware of how high above the ground he was.

"Hurry up," he growled. He could try returning to the ground, but that much movement might be seen in spite of the shadows, and he couldn't afford to get caught breaking the ban on magic use, never mind the questions that would arise as to what he was doing there in the first place.

After what seemed like an eternity, the three men passed through the gate. As quickly as he could, Msaka floated up until he was high enough to pull himself forward over the roof with one foot, then released the Levitate spell as soon as he was in position. He crouched down and looked out over the plaza once again, confirming that it was still empty.

He was about to turn his attention to the roof when another pair of men entered the plaza below him, apparently following the same path the previous group had taken. "They must be making ready for the caravan tomorrow," he thought. "At least I'm not in danger of falling this time." He renewed his Hide spell as he watched, just in case he'd have to wait in this position for more groups to pass before he could get on with the job.

The second group reached the gates more quickly than the earlier band had, and disappeared from Msaka's view. No one else had entered in the meantime, so Msaka stood and moved away from the edge of the roof towards the spot he'd stashed the elemental. He reappeared once again as he did so, but fortunately was quickly out of view of the plaza below. The only risk he would face would be from people inside buildings overlooking the area to spy his actions, but that wasn't terribly likely at this time of night, and none of the buildings were close enough that those in them would be likely to see him even if they looked straight at him.

He reached the hiding spot without trouble and was slightly relieved to find that the waterskin was still there, exactly as he'd left it. He took only a couple of moments to retrieve it and stow it safely away near the bottom of his pack. The sound of voices drifted up to him from the plaza as he did so, and he suspected that the place was only going to get more active as morning approached.

It wouldn't be that much longer before the caravan would be leaving, he realized. He hadn't slept yet, and it certainly wouldn't look good if he showed up barely able to keep his eyes open. He extended his arms out to his sides and invoked the Return spell.

Instead of Msaka disappearing, his staff did. Msaka blinked, taken aback by how little power had remained - which indicated how close he'd come to taking a plunge earlier. Scowling, he called his staff back and repeated the Return spell, this time successfully.

He reappeared in his inn room once more. Setting his staff aside, he removed his pack and set it next to the bed before lying down. He'd only get a few hours of sleep at best, but at least he had succeeded in acquiring what he'd come for in the first place, so it was a sacrifice well made.