Balin reached the highest floor of the building murdering everyone on the way. He was it who has set the building on fire so that no one could escape his wrath. The fire yet to reach the fourth floor yet so, Balin opened a window and looked down. About one floor lower and directly under the window there was a sturdy looking tree. Without hesitating Balin jumped, trying to be caught by the trees branches or to at least to slow his descent down. Balin protected his head with his arms on the way down, since hopefully everything would regrow if he doesn’t destroy his head. Balin miscalculated the jump and hit his hip on a think branch, the resulting pain immediately made it clear he broke it but that wasn’t the end of it. Immediately he slid of the high branch and fell onto the floor where he lied in pain for a moment. As expected his healing abilities kicked in. Replacing the broken parts of his body with the earthlike substance that healed him before. Balin heard someone yell from one of the sides.

“I think someone fell out of the building.”

Balin knew he couldn’t be caught by the citizens since his of colored arm and bloody attire would leave him in a situation he didn’t want to be in. So, he painfully stood up and limped away before anyone could catch up to him. As he moved his healing factor made it easier to move. Soon after long he was able to run and escaped without anyone catching up to him. Balin went to where he had stashed a set of clean clothing in a bush next to the lake on which shores the city was build around. While there Balin jumped into the water to wash the blood of him. In the water he also tossed the incriminatingly bloody clothing into the lake never to be found again. Now naked and out of sight he looked at his body. Aside of the areas where he was prior heavily wounded there were many new brown spots. Most notably from his right hip downward. Over half of the leg wasn’t natural anymore. The earthly part started at his hip and extended all the way downwards to Achilles heel. As usual he could really feel anything at the brown parts. Once he felt clean enough to not look suspicious he but his clean clothing back on and went towards the house at the towns entrance where he stayed for the time being. He was renting a room from a family of three that was welcoming the extra coin. When he entered the woman of the house asked Balin.

“Have you seen the fire that erupted at the main quarters of the Gabriel’s Supply company. It was enormous.”

Balin tried to fake his answer as good as possible to not arouse suspicion.

“So that was what I saw. I was at the lake earlier and I only saw smoke coming from the city. But I was too afraid to check it out. Did everyone escape?”

“I don’t know how many of them were able to escape. I was here all the time and heard of it from a second-hand source. One of the neighbors, you don’t know him, told me about it.”

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“Did you know someone who works there?

“Not personally, but my husband used to work there before we got married, so he was probably close with some of them. Well not much that we can do anymore. Are you hungry? I’ll have dinner ready in half an hour. Is that alright with you?”

“Of course. I’ll go to my room for the time being. I am a little tired. See you later.”

The woman just nodded and went into the kitchen, leaving Balin to his own things. Once in the little room of his he fell quickly fell asleep. He didn’t lie when he said he was tired, after all he did spent the last hours doing a lot of things.

Balin was conscious in the abyss. It was the same one where he ended up when he was bleeding out the first time and just like that time a man was levitating in the nothing.

“Well you left quite the mess down there.”

“You were watching?”

Asked Balin Epidex.

“Not just me, but that doesn’t matter. You did quite the mess over there. Are you feeling better now?”

Epidex floats around Balin while asking him. Conflicted Balin looked at his unnatural arm.

“No”

“No what, please use full sentences. I have trouble understanding.”

“I am still angry. I don’t know what I do and how to go on.”

“Really?”

“Yes”

Barked Balin. Almost mockingly Epidex answered.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, I don’t feel better. I am taking responsible at the once who cheated my people and lead to their demise, but I still feel terrible. I don’t know what to do.”

Balin was now ranting uncontrollably like a little kid until Epidex silenced him with a twist of the wrist. He didn’t stop Balin from attempting to talk but Balin literally made no sound when he opened his mouth. Balin was surprised that he didn’t make any sounds so Epidex explained.

“In my domain I control what you say and do. So, would you kindly be let me talk? Thank you. Now, where were we? Oh yeah. What do you think of your new body? It does seem like you’ve figured out how it works for the most part at least. Seeing as you relied on it when jumping out of that window.”

Balin was able to talk again.

“What have you…”

Balin didn’t want to risk annoying the man again so he didn’t finish his question.

“I am… grateful for it. It is the only reason why I am still alive. And it does help me, a lot.”

“Mmhmm. Now what are your further plans? Are you done with your revenge or is there someone left on your hit list?”

“The hero of three front he is my next target. He is the last one we payed who didn’t show up.”

Epidex flew close to Balins face.

“Ohh, the hero of three front. Well that is quite the dangerous target you have chosen. Alright. That sounds like fun. If you want to know he lives in Kings Hold, but on the way there, I would recommend that you visit the village of Woodquarry? I have a feeling that this would advance the plot.”

Balin rapidly woke up, hours have passed since he fell told the woman that he would lie down. It was dark and Balin has probably missed dinnertime. But that doesn’t matter, for now he would follow Epidexes advice and make his way towards Woodquarry.