The monster left a trail of blood in its wake as it stepped towards Darko.

“Shena…” Darko said. “Cast whatever you can on me. I’ll bring this thing North. It can’t chase long with those wounds. And give me my dagger.”

Shena was about to finish with the last of her tasks when Averia’s black blade turned back to a staff. An unhealthy amount of mana flowed from the young girl’s body, straight into Averia’s staff, and into whatever abomination of a spell she was about to cast. The energy within the staff grew to dangerous amounts. Averia wasn’t controlling her magic properly.

“Shit,” Darko called, sensing the imminent explosion. Any more mana buildup, and only a man-made crater would stand where the mansion used to.

Just as Darko’s brain was introducing friendships with the concept of death, the mana buildup stopped. The young girl’s heart stopped producing mana. The corpse had gone dry.

Moments after, Averia collapsed with a thump.

The sound snapped Remy out of her trance. She pointed her staff at the imminent disaster—Averia’s mana-filled staff. With practiced control, Remy redirected mana from the rogue staff into her own. Slowly, she dissipated excess energy into the air. An easy job now that the opponent’s staff lay without a wielder.

“Heh,” Darko said. “Heroes once again.”

“Never do that again,” Shena said, avoiding his eyes. She cast “levitation” on Darko’s sword, pulled it out of Averia’s body, and shook it free of blood. She floated it, hilt first, in front of Darko.

With a smile, Darko grabbed his sword. “Do what?”

“Rely on us,” Shena said. “You would have sacrificed yourself to the three swords, had I not miraculously saved your head from being cut.”

“It’s called teamwork,” Darko said. “A skill which you are growing quite proficient with.”

“My arsenal has offensive spells, too,” Shena said. “I hate to see my genius talents being wasted in casting ‘muscle enhancement’ for the umpteenth time. If you ever die under my spells, I’ll be hanged for assisting suicide.”

Darko grinned further. “I surprise myself with my failures. You’d think after the umpteenth attempt, I’d have succeeded in getting myself killed.”

Shena, after a disapproving look, sighed. They were lucky to be alive, and they all knew it.

Darko’s grin didn’t last either. Hesitantly, he approached Averia’s body. Lines grew on his face at the sight. Not by the sight of Averia; fallen cultists, though disgusting, were something he saw weekly.

The young girl’s bloodied eyes were what truly shook his stomach. Blood pooled from the needle piercing her heart. Whatever had kept the girl functional, the effect was gone. Decay appeared on her face all at once, as if she’d been rotting for days.

“Remy? What exactly did we just experience?” Darko asked, frowning at the heart-needle contraption. If anyone would know what happened, it would be Remy. Their magic nerd.

Remy puked into a flowerpot.

“We nearly died,” Shena said, stepping beside Darko. “That is what we experienced.”

Darko couldn’t disagree. The tenth Archpriest nearly blew up half the city by herself. Averia alone gave them this much trouble.

What, then, of the remaining nine? What of the hundreds of Black Plates with armor strong enough to block a glyphsword? What of the cult’s dozens of battle mages? What of the Azetoth himself, a former Defender of the Dragon Wall?

And the royal military still somehow pretended Azetoth was any old heretic, unworthy of attention.

“Averia stole the girl’s mana,” Shena said. “Then controlled it as her own.”

“How is that possible?” Darko asked.

Shena stared at the heart contraption with a still expression. Whatever it was, they were both too afraid to touch it. The cult had invented something truly screwed.

“We need to find someone alive,” Shena said. “For information. The Gorthorns were here. Maybe they are still in the city.”

Darko nodded. The cult had clearly moved operations, and the mansion most likely wouldn’t house anyone else. Still, they had to pillage the place. Everything left clues.

Before Darko could step forward, however, hasty footsteps stormed from behind.

“Freeze!” a commanding female voice called.

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Ah, shit, Darko thought, recognizing the voice. With slow moments, he sheathed his sword. His next words required consideration. Heroic deeds were rarely rewarded without political problems.

He turned around. “Daphine Belyris? Relax. The problem is disposed of.”

The gold-haired woman scowled, her glyphsword lifted. Her white battle uniform was embedded with gold and jewels, only half of which were purely for show. The coat alone must have quadrupled the lifetime pay of Darko’s every companion combined, and the same went for her silver glyphsword. Her two escorts were dressed in white royal battle robes, both holding staves.

“Wyvern Slayer Darko?” Daphine asked. “Explain yourself.”

Darko knelt on one knee like a proper knight. He had no formal training aside from Remy’s feedback, but he was confident in his showcase. Shena and Remy performed their versions, lowering their heads behind Darko.

Their show of respect was only natural. Daphine Belyris was a lieutenant of the royal military, and Kroses Sol’s only female vigor wielder currently alive.

“Me and my group grew tired of watching the city get abused,” Darko said. “I decided we'd pay the Count a visit.”

“Unauthorized entry on the justification of a Heroic deed.” Daphine sheathed her sword and stepped deeper. Her escorts kept their staves up. “You adventurers think you’re so clever. Raise your heads.”

Darko not only raised his head but stood up as well. A move he was not asked to pull, but some arrogance went a long way in building character. “The cult’s infestation has moved somewhere else. We did, however, take care of their… Archpriest. Whatever you can call that thing.”

Daphine’s scowl moved to the body of the rogue mage and the corpse of the young girl. “What is that?”

“I recommend you take a look at the contraption in her heart,” Darko said. Genuine discomfort mixed with his voice. “The cult has created something rather interesting.”

“I sensed something wrong from the outside,” Daphine said. “It’s a miracle you two are alive.”

“The mage was as rogue as maniacs go,” Darko said. “There was barely a thought in its movements.”

Daphine nodded. “Renegades or not, I commend your skills. I must also remind you that your actions tonight have broken several laws, and I have the right to arrest you.”

“You also have the right to not arrest us,” Darko said.

“I do indeed,” Daphine said. She turned to the girls. “You might be?”

“Remyer Ravilles, Lieutenant,” Remy said with a bow. “Independent mage, working with Darko.”

“Shena, Miss,” Shena said, sharing the bow. “Under Darko’s leadership.”

“This renegade has tied you to a mage contract?” Daphine asked.

“We are adventurers,” Shena said. “I am what your kind would call an escapee. I will not comply with ownership. Not Darko’s, and not yours.”

“An escapee,” Daphine said. “Another reason to arrest you.”

“Please, you must see that we are not killers,” Darko said. “Criminals, sure. But we work for the good of our country. We share the same damn goals with the royals. We just completed your mission. Our work is commendable enough that the King himself sees us as candidates for officially fighting this mess.”

“Worry not,” Daphine said. “I am not as power-hungry as my peers. I don’t benefit from arrests, and I don’t see justice in making your life hell, not while any reinforcements I may have hoped to expect are stationed at the border, preparing for war.” She faced Darko. “I do, however, order you to leave. The investigation will be led by royalty. You can expect no payment for the unrequested job you have performed.”

“Thank you,” Darko said with a bow. I would have liked Averia’s staff, though…

Daphine nodded, then turned to one of her escorts. “Bring the investigators. I will clear the remaining traps of the vicinity. No cupboard will be left unchecked. I expect to uncover the cult’s goals by morning.”

The escort saluted and left. Daphine was already on her way to examine the corpse.

“Daphine,” Darko said. “Forgive my discourtesy, but for the benefit of our mutual goal, is there any location you wish for us to hit? Without facing repercussions.”

“An attack on a cultist base is far too dangerous of an operation for me to offer,” Daphine said. “I have but one request. My team has received intel on the identities of cult officials. Members that are vital to the cult’s operations. If you could locate any of them and pass word to us, the royals would be much obliged.”

“And the names?”

“Intel on any officials and hostages will be rewarded,” Daphine said. “However, I trust you enough to let you in on known identities. Tavira, Second Archpriest. Rigrith, Fifth Archpriest. Of course, Founder Azetoth himself, whatever his real identity may be. Betrayer, Jordan Feryah.”

Darko paused. Remy, having kept a blank expression until now, twitched.

“May you repeat the last part?” Darko asked, his voice uncertain.

“Jordan Feryah,” Daphine said. “Known heretic and kidnapper. Exiled, yet on the loose. Now a known member of the cult. Jordan Feryah is considered highly dangerous and has been associated with Azetoth himself.”

Darko’s face must have been pale, as Daphine asked, “Is something wrong?”

“My apologies,” Darko said. “I just remembered I left my pet alligator carp without pellets tonight. He’s going to get grumpy if I don’t get back right about now.”

Daphine puffed through her nose. “You walk on thin ice, adventurers. Very well. I wish you luck. Next we meet, let our relationship be under official teamwork.”

Darko gave her a nod before rushing out of the estate, the girls following swiftly.

“Darko…” Shena said. “What is it you’ve said about Jordan Feryah?”

“Keep the arguments,” Darko said, grimacing. “The boy is in trouble. We’ll go after him, now. And I’ll have a quick word with Jord if that damned teacher is still in town.”

For once, Darko wished the boy had gotten lost. He dashed through the cheering crowd and towards the church. The Moons bless us; Cill better not have found the catacombs!