“Oh yes, I remember seeing it from a distance when we first arrived,” Elron remarked, his voice thoughtful as he glanced around.

Slyra turned to the caged creature and asked, “How many of there are you?”

“Too many for yous! Now let me gos!” it hissed, its claws scratching against the bars of the cage as it swiped at her.

Kael stepped up, shaking the cage with little patience as the rat-man rattled around inside. “I don’t think this guy is going to tell us anything more,” he muttered with frustration.

Elron raised an eyebrow. “What do we do with it now?”

“I guess we let him go,” Kael said, sounding almost uncertain, but nonetheless, he lifted the latch and released the rat.

In an instant, the rat morphed back into its wererat form, snatching the bag of silver before bolting for the door. It barely made it halfway before collapsing, a dagger embedded between its shoulder blades. The beast spasmed violently, coins scattering across the floor.

The group exchanged looks, shock and confusion thick in the air.

“What the fuck?!” Kael shouted, eyes wide as he whipped his head toward Slyra. “Why did you kill him?!”

Slyra didn’t hesitate, her tone sharp as a blade. “Because it’s a damn shapeshifter! Why did you let it go?!”

“We made a deal with him!” Kael protested, throwing his arms in the air in disbelief.

Elron, who had been silently watching the exchange, crossed his arms and murmured, “That was a bit barbaric…”

Slyra stepped forward, her finger jabbing toward Elron’s face. “You know you would have done the same thing,” she growled before turning her gaze back to Kael. “And the deal was to give him the money, not his freedom.”

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Kael stood frozen, mouth slightly agape, as Slyra casually walked over to the still-spasming wererat. Without a second thought, she pulled her dagger from its back, wiped it on her sleeve, and glanced back at the two men with a cold finality in her eyes.

“Well…,” Elron began, trying to break the tension that hung heavy in the air. “Let’s come up with a strategy to kill them all.”

“Agreed,” Kael responded quickly, deliberately avoiding Slyra’s gaze.

Slyra merely smirked at the two, her eyes gleaming with amusement as she bent down to scoop up the blood-stained coins. Humming softly to herself, she made short work of it, her confidence in the situation unnerving the men.

The next morning, the trio made their way down a narrow dirt road that led to the mines. As the entrance came into view, it was clear that the place had long since been abandoned. A rail cart lay overturned, one of its wheels missing, while the supporting pillars near the entrance had partially collapsed under their own weight. Wild overgrowth crawled across the jagged rock, but what stood out most were the smeared, fresh footprints leading toward the opening.

Crouching low, Slyra studied the tracks with practiced ease. She pointed to a series of smudged prints in the dirt and said, “They’re here, alright. And judging by these tracks, I’d say there’s a dozen of them.”

Kael rolled up his sleeves, his expression grim. “That’s quite a few…”

“A dozen? We can slay that and then some,” Elron declared confidently, gripping the hilt of his sword.

Slyra stood and approached him, placing her hand flat against his chest, her gaze locking onto his. “I know you’ve gotten stronger, Elron, but you’re letting it get to your head. These aren’t kobolds. These are wererats—fast, cunning, and dangerous beasts. This fight won’t be a simple.”

Kael stepped up beside her, his face just as serious. “For once, I agree with her completely,” he said. “Don’t forget to conserve your mana. If you burn through too many spells early on, you’ll exhaust yourself, and we’ll all be done for.”

Kael hesitated for a moment, his gaze steady. “We need you at your best for this one, my prince.”

Elron straightened up, taking in their words. He nodded firmly. “Understood. I won’t disappoint you.”

Kael slapped Elron’s chestplate, offering a grin. “Ha, you never have. I don’t expect you to start now.”

Slyra gestured toward the mine’s entrance with a teasing smile. “Don’t keep us waiting, oh glorious leader.”

Elron chuckled, drawing his sword. “Oh, so now you’re full of jokes, huh?” he said with a smirk before stepping forward and leading the way into the mine.