The foul stench of decay permeated in the air mixed with the smell of burning corpses.

Alexia wiped the blood off her, observing the situation. There were bodies all around her and they looked identical. However, as much as she tried their faces were unseeable.

With lethal precision, she unleashed her infernal arsenal, casting a fireball that arced through the night, searing a path of destruction as it struck one of her assailants, sending them spiraling into a tumultuous collision with the wall. The stench of charred flesh mingled with the putrid air once again.

But the darkness would not relent. Another fiery missile found its mark, incinerating a second foe as they writhed in the inferno's embrace, their screams echoing through the cursed night.

A blade lashed out, narrowly missing her as she jumped back only to find herself in the arms of another one. She twisted her body awkwardly but enough to escape. There was now a horde of them clambering out of every shadow in the city.

Aware of the insurmountable odds, she knew that fighting her assailants would be a futile endeavor. She raced through the labyrinthine alleyways needing to escape the relentless, inhuman clones that pursued her. In the deserted, moonlit streets of Gear Gate, a thousand thoughts raced through her head.

"What on earth just happened back there? Those attackers, who were they? Why did they look identical? And that gruesome murder...how can it all make sense?" she whispered to herself, her voice quivering with bewilderment

"Should I report this to the authorities? Or should I focus on getting the Galarium for Emily? Her life depends on it, and time is slipping away," she pondered aloud “Or maybe Emily can miss one day without it and she can return home forgetting everything she saw

Then, as she turned a corner in her frenzied flight, she collided with a tall policeman with hair as red as blood. Alexia didn't hesitate. "Officer, I've just witnessed a murder and the men who did it," she confessed, her voice quivering with urgency.

She led him through the winding streets, retracing her steps to the gruesome scene.

Yet, to her shock and bewilderment, the lifeless bodies of her assailant that had lain sprawled on the cobbled pavement had vanished leaving nothing but scorch marks. The grotesque tableau of death was no more, replaced by an unsettling emptiness.

"They were here, I swear," she stammered to the policeman, her voice wavering with uncertainty. "I saw them, those attackers who...who murdered that person."

Thankfully the original body of the victim was still there. The Officer bent down observing the corpse. He took out a notebook his pen moving gracefully across its pages. When he'd gathered sufficient information, he looked up at Alexia.

"Thank you for your assistance, miss," he said, offering a warm smile. "I'm Officer Rowans. Now, it's dangerous to be out during the curfew. May I ask what brings you to the streets at this hour?"

Alexia hesitated briefly before responding, "My sister, Emily, she needs Galarium. You see she was in a terrible accident that left half her body replaced with gears and whatnot. I didn't want to leave her alone, but she insisted." It would be a folly to admit who she was so this lie would do.

Officer Rowans' brow furrowed with concern. "I see," he said sympathetically. "Galarium is indeed vital. Tell you what, I can escort you to the police station. We have some spare doses there, and I'll make sure you get what you need."

Alexia's eyes held gratitude as she accepted his offer. "Thank you, Officer Rowans. That would be a great help."

He pressed a button on his cuff. “Clean up crew will be here any minute, let’s hurry so you can go back to your sister”.

They walked quietly in the night not saying a word until they reached their destination. In the dimly lit police station, Alexia couldn't help but say something.

"So, Galarium powers everything here, even the police weapons?" she inquired, genuinely curious.

Officer Rowans nodded as they strolled through the bustling station. "That's right, miss. It's the lifeblood of this city's technology. The police force relies on it to keep the peace and protect the citizens."

As they walked through the office, he greeted everybody with a warm smile. She thought he was friendly when she first met him but now she was certain. He approached a man cleaning the floor.

“Excuse me but could you go around back and get me any spare Galarium” he asked with a bright smile.

“Of course, I can, anything for you Officer Rowans” the man replied walking away with his mop. He walked back with a container. “Filled to the top just for you Officer”

He took the container and handed it to Alexia. “Here you go. You should return quickly before another officer finds you not as forgiving as me.” He gave her a small push towards the exit.

However, just as Alexia was about to make her hasty departure, an unexpected obstacle emerged. Another officer with a stern face blocked her path

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"Why are you handing out Galarium?" the officer demanded, his voice laced with suspicion. "You know we can't just distribute it to anyone who asks. For all we know, she could be a criminal."

Officer Rowans, his features firm but resolute, stepped forward to defend his actions. "We're here to serve the citizens, Officer Hensley. Galarium is essential for their well-being. Upholding the law is our duty, but serving the people is our purpose."

Officer Hensley's expression remained unyielding as he countered, "Our purpose is upholding the law, not satisfying the whims of a random girl."

His scrutiny turned to Alexia, his stern gaze narrowing "What's a girl like you even doing here at this hour, we have a curfew for a reason?" he asked, suspicion heavy in his voice. “We should perform a background check on her and make sure she’s not a criminal.”

"Officer Hensley, that's enough," Rowans stated firmly, placing a restraining hand on his fellow officer's shoulder. "You're stepping out of line."

Alexia, sensing the tension, spoke up. "I need to get back home quickly to my sister, Emily. I swear I didn’t know the Curfew was happening, I thought I still had time”

“Why are you talking, a girl like you should learn to shut your mouth and speak when spoken to” he spat out

Officer Rowans' patience reached its limit, and he turned to Hensley's expression, "Enough, Hensley. Walk away before you make me angry." his voice carrying a hint of anger.

He stepped closer to Hensley and, with a firm hand on his shoulder, warned him “Pull this shit again and I’ll have you living with the rats”. He might have not been as friendly as she thought he was

A bead of sweat formed on Officer Hensley's forehead as he gulped nervously. He glanced at Alexia one last time, his suspicions lingering, before begrudgingly stepping away. As he retreated, he kept a watchful eye on her, his gaze not leaving her until he was out of sight.

“Sorry you had to see that, I usually don’t get angry often,” he said embarrassed. “You should go now, your sister is waiting for you”

She thanked him for everything and began running home. As Alexia stepped back into Clayton's home the door swung open, Alexia was met with an exuberant force that sent her staggering backward. Before she could react, Emily had thrown her arms around her, squeezing tightly as if she feared Alexia might disappear.

Tears welled up in Emily's eyes as she clung to Alexia, her voice trembling with concern. "I was so worried, Lex. I thought everybody had left me..."

Alexia gently stroked Emily's hair, her own eyes moist with empathy. "Oh, sweet Emily, I'm right here. I promise I won't leave you."

Emily's cries grew louder, the weight of her anxieties pouring forth. "But why isn't Papa back yet? He should have been home by now. When you didn’t come back after the curfew began, I thought you left me as well"

Alexia held her even tighter, her heart aching for the young girl who had already lost so much. "Your father will be back soon, my dear. I'm sure of it. He loves you very much, and he wouldn't want to make you worry."

She held her tightly, unsure if she was lying to the kid or not. "Shh, it's okay," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm to Emily's distress. "I'm right here, and your father will be back soon. I promise."

~~~

The relentless desert sun beat down upon the two survivors of the Iron Raven. Beads of sweat dripped from Ed's forehead as he carefully fed Clayton water from his meager supply, trying to ration it as best he could. After Clayton took a few sips, Ed took a drink himself, feeling the parched dryness of his throat.

Ed's voice trembled with guilt as he spoke, "I'm sorry, Clayton. I wish I were stronger, that I could lift this wreckage off you."

Clayton managed a faint smile, despite the pain that surged through him. "No need for apologies, my friend. No ordinary man could move this rubble. We're trapped here together, and we'll find a way out together. Just keep an eye out for any signs of help."

"I can't help but think that if I hadn't argued with you about sparing the rouge captain, we wouldn't be in this predicament." His voice filled with regret

Clayton, his voice weak but steady, replied, "You know, Ed, perhaps you were right. Maybe we should've spared him." He winced slightly from the pain but continued, "But what's done is done. Right now, our focus should be on getting out of this predicament."

"Who would hire someone to kill that man?" he asked, perplexed by the idea

Clayton shifted slightly, wincing as the rubble pressed down on him. "Contracts like these are typically handled by the hunters' branch of the Adventurers Guild. In the past, the guild didn't usually deal with assassination contracts, but things have changed under the recent Grandmaster. They've established a separate branch called the Hunters, and they're the ones who handle these bounties now. For some of the lesser contracts or ones they don’t want to complete they hire people like me to do it for them"

“Well, that’s the last of the water. Just another way for us to perish out here” he said. His throat ached as he drained the last drops from his water flask, the liquid barely satisfying his parched tongue. With slow, deliberate steps, he trudged up a nearby dune, his gaze scanning the seemingly endless expanse of desert that stretched before him. The sun blazed relentlessly overhead, and the sand seemed to ripple with waves of heat.

As he reached the peak, his heart quickened at the sight below. A caravan, a mirage of hope in this desolate land, slowly made its way through the desert. Dust clouds billowed behind its travelers, a sign that they weren't too far away.

Without hesitation, Ed sprinted down the dune, his voice carrying his plea through the dry desert air. "Help! Please, help us!" he shouted, arms flailing wildly as he charged toward the approaching caravan. The words escaped his parched lips desperately hoping that someone, anyone, would hear and come to their rescue.

Eventually, the caravan came to a halt, Its leader, a weathered man with a turban and flowing blue robes, peered down at Ed with a mix of curiosity and caution. His deep-set eyes bore into Ed's, searching for sincerity in the stranger's plea.

"What do you need, traveler?" the caravan leader asked, his voice seasoned by years in the desert.

Ed quickly explained their predicament. "My friend and I are stranded here. He's trapped under the wreckage of our crashed airship. Please, we need your help to rescue him."

He examined him searching for any hints of deceit. After all, traveling the Depraved Wasted was a dangerous task. There were many bandits along the way seeking to take the riches from Caravans such as his.

“Very well Traveler, I will send a party of men to help your friend, I am Aric Tearim but you can just call me Aric,” he said as he signaled his men. He watched as his men worked diligently to free Clayton from the wreckage. It was a grueling task, but their combined effort gradually lifted the debris that pinned Clayton beneath.

As Clayton finally emerged, crawling up the dune, Ed couldn't hide his relief. He rushed over to help his friend, a grateful smile stretching across his face. The sight of Clayton, battered but alive, was a welcome glimmer of hope. He did not expect to care this much about a man who tried to kill him.

However, Aric soon brought them back to reality. He folded his arms across his chest, his eyes shrewd as he addressed the two travelers. "I'm glad we could help you, but there's a matter of payment. Traveling through these deserts isn't without its risks,

and we don't offer our services for free."

Ed's face fell as the weight of their predicament sank in. He had nothing to offer, no coin, no trade goods. Everything in the Airship was destroyed or burnt. All he had was his willingness to work and protect. Swallowing his pride, he turned to Aric and spoke earnestly, "I may not have riches to offer, but I can fight. I'll be your protector, and ensure the safety of your caravan through any dangers we face."

Clayton, concerned about his daughter but understanding their lack of options, added, "We need to get back to the city quickly, and this might be the only way."

Aric considered their offer, nodding slowly. "Very well. You can travel with us and guard the caravan. But let it be clear, It won't be an easy journey, and you'll earn your keep."

As the caravan rumbled forward through the endless desert, Clayton couldn't help but steal a glance back in the direction of Gear Gate. His heart ached with worry for Emily, blaming himself for abandoning her.

Aric rode beside him, "It's only a short distance to our destination. Going back now would be suicide. You'll have a better chance of helping your daughter if you reach a safer place first."

With a heavy heart, Clayton looked ahead, focusing on the desert expanse that stretched before them. It was nothing but empty sand, the Depraved Waste earned its name . He whispered a promise to himself, "I'll come back for you, Emily. I promise."