As he writhed in agony on the floor, he grabbed a nearby cabinet and picked himself up.

"Where is it!?"

He smashed the cabinets, ripping them apart like a ravenous bear, searching for what he needed.

After scattering all of its contents to the floor and as well turning the cabinet into a heap of scrap wood he found it. It was a small pouch filled with a white powder but it granted him a much-needed smile. He put it on a nearby table and slowly limped towards the back of the room.

"You think you can come here and leave me like this!? I'll show you why this body of mine didn't come about naturally."

----------------------------------------

As Tibaut sat outside the passageway he could hear vague shouts but didn't pay it any mind.

("Are my ears playing tricks on me?")

He looked back to the passageways his three comrades had entered, waiting for them to eventually come back.

("Albus better not have gotten himself killed.") He commented while staring at them.

After a bit more waiting, the first returnee arrived. It was Avis and she didn't seem to be worse for wear other than a bit of dirt on her uniform.

("I haven't really thought about it until now, but wouldn't fighting in that be a pain in the ass?")

Tibaut slowly got up and walked towards her. The maid looked at him with suspicion as he walked over to her with his injuries.

"You don't expect me to believe you got those injuries from the men in the corner?" She coldly stated as she pointed to the men in the corner.

"Yeah, that big guy came through here on a rampage. Honestly, we would have been sorted if you came earlier but as long as you have the keys, it doesn't matter." Tibaut said.

She looked around the room and saw the damage caused by their brawl.

"(That sounds likely enough.) But why would the keys still matter if he escaped?"

Tibaut explained in detail his little spat with Cormac to Avis.

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"So he barricaded himself, again. I have half a mind to use all the explosives here to trap him down here but I suppose a decision like that would be at the discretion of my lord."

Since they were the only two here Tibaut nodded along, trying not to sour the mood.

("I mean…. That seems a bit extreme, but I suppose she'd have just as much right to complain as her master.")

Avis left to ensure the men were properly restrained and quickly returned.

"Uh, finished?"

"I am."

"..."

"..."

("Can't someone return already? Also why the hell is she standing so close to me?")

While it wasn't as close as it seemed in his mind, she was standing beside him several inches away. She was further away than a lover would stand but way closer than where you'd want an acquaintance to be.

She also began playing cat's cradle with one of the wires in her pocket. She was looking quite pleased.

("If you're just gonna do that to pass the time, why stand so close to me?")

It seems the gods had heard Tibaut's cries as Albus came out of his passageway almost immediately.

The bruises and burns across his body were evident but he didn't let that put him down.

"Woah, Maid Red, did you run into a wall or something."

"Something like that."

Albus looked clueless at his response and turned to Avis. They both stared at each other for an uncomfortable amount of time.

"Uh, guys?"

Last but not least, Jake exited his tunnel with three keys wrapped around his neck, which quickly took off when he saw the rest of them.

"So you're not mad, right?" Albus weakly asked.

Avis didn't respond and turned her head away.

"So you didn't get a key either. It seems we both wasted our time."

Tibaut looked at them confused.

"You don't have the keys either?"

"Did you not see how many keys your friend there had around his neck?" Avis commented, annoyed.

"So they all hid in one spot?"

As Jake came closer it was pretty obvious he had the roughest experience of the three.

He looked about ready to pass out but the surprise of seeing Tibaut kept him on his feet.

"What happened to you?" Jake asked with concern in his voice.

"Ugh, let's just use the keys already, I'll explain on the way. Also, you're looking rough yourself." Tibaut said.

Jake softly laughed as he responded.

"hehe, I played it a bit too cautiously."

The group began walking towards the passageway they couldn't go down and Jake took out the keys. Like a groupie's legs in front of her favourite pop star, the doors opened quite easily.

As they walked down the passageway, their voices could be heard.

"Really? So why'd he go back?" Jake asked.

"Maybe he thought his lackeys would mop us up since he already put the hurt on our red-headed friend here?" Albus interjected.

As they walked down the hallway Tibaut saw a route that had been sealed off with rubble.

"So he came through here. It shouldn't be long until we're face to face with that bastard again."

"So you believe he's not a threat, correct?" Avis asked him.

"Well, he was a handful by myself but with you guys here it shouldn't be too much of a problem."

"Aw, don't worry Tibaut with your good friends here, it'll be a cinch," Albus said. He then pounced on Tibaut and wrapped his arm around his neck while bringing his face close as Tibaut fought him off.

Jake looked sympathetically at him. (He didn't help)

Avis simply sighed and continued walking on.