Ralni’s hands trembled as she stuffed a small bag with the essentials Nadis had instructed: some bread, dried meat, a handful of coins, and a single flask of water.

Her mind raced, flickering between desperation and disbelief.

Two days ago, they had been confident in their hold over Blueice City, secure in the knowledge that the Empire’s officials would turn a blind eye to their deeds.

But everything changed when those documents prepared by the Sylind Family surfaced, detailed with every wrong they had inflicted and the complicit role of Blueice City’s headquarters.

She glanced up at Nadis, fear plain on her face.

“We can’t just leave everything behind,” she whispered, her voice laced with panic.

“Everything we worked for.”

“We have no choice, Ralni!” Nadis snapped, though his voice was tense, not unkind.

He was just as frightened, his mind calculating every possible escape route.

“Once those documents reach the capital, the Empire will have to act. Sylind isn’t just some powerless family; they carry weight, and their retribution will be swift. You know what they’ll do to us.”

Ralni paused, realization dawning as her face paled further.

She nodded, stuffing the last of their meager provisions into the bag, and cast one last, fleeting glance around their quarters.

“If we leave now, we can catch a ship to the Red Flower Empire. It's the only place far enough where the Sylind Family’s reach might not extend. We can start over—somehow.”

Nadis’ gaze hardened, the faintest flicker of determination igniting behind the fear in his eyes.

“Then we go now. We’ve got until dawn, maybe less. If we can cross the border, we’ll find a way to leave the continent altogether.”

He took her hand, leading her swiftly through the room, their footsteps echoing with urgency.

With no time to waste and only the barest of plans, Ralni and Nadis slipped out into the night,

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Alevis Silver gripped the railing of his balcony, his knuckles white as he stared out over the city below.

Every detail in the documents—the corruption, the unchecked abuses, the cruel treatment of the Sylind family—all burned into his mind, fueling a fury he couldn’t contain.

"Those fools... Ralni and Nadis," he muttered under his breath, teeth clenched.

“They must have been in the Pamela family’s pocket all along, bribed to turn a blind eye.”

Alevis’ thoughts raced. How had this slipped past him for so long? The Empire’s reputation, his own reputation, was now at risk because of two spineless officials and their greed.

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If the documents were true—and he knew, deep down, they were—this wasn't merely a local problem; it was a scandal that could pull the Empire into disrepute. His pacing quickened as he weighed his options.

The Empire would demand retribution. The Sylind family’s case was damning, and they would expect swift justice.

He turned from the balcony, his decision made, and stormed through the corridors. As he approached a nearby guard, he commanded with a sense of urgency,

“Get me Empire Enforcer Chrev Silver immediately. Tell him it’s a matter of utmost importance.”

The guard nodded, sensing the gravity in Alevis’s tone, and hurried off. Alevis began pacing again, his jaw set. The enforcer would ensure swift action; he was one of the few individuals with both the power and the will to cut through this kind of corruption.

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

Chrev’s face hardened as Alevis outlined the details. "Sylind Family," he muttered, nodding with recognition.

“They’re one of the older families... but I had no idea they were forced to such extremes.”

Alevis exhaled, visibly uneasy. "The depths of this scandal," he continued, "it's not just about Ralni and Nadis' corruption. They've betrayed the Empire by allowing another family to abuse their power freely. They practically sold off their loyalty to the Pamela family.”

Chrev’s expression remained unreadable, though the intensity in his eyes showed he was fully processing the gravity of the situation.

He leaned forward, his tone lower but edged with steel. "And Sylas Sylind... You said he’s a mage? Aligned with the Third Circle?”

Alevis nodded.

"Not just aligned. He’s become powerful enough that the Third Circle sees him as an asset, and if he’s truly as capable as the reports suggest... He could pose a serious threat if he were to act against the Empire."

A flicker of a smile crossed Chrev’s face, though it didn’t reach his eyes.

"Then we’re dealing with more than just rogue officials; we’re dealing with potential insurrection. Tell me everything about Sylas Sylind’s capabilities—and what you need from me.”

Alevis took a breath. "We need Ralni and Nadis apprehended. Sylas’s power complicates matters, but if you can manage a subtle, strategic approach... we might be able to contain this without provoking him."

Chrev left the palace with a determined stride, a team of seasoned mages and elite soldiers following close behind, their faces set in grim determination. As they moved through the palace gates and into the streets,

Chrev mentally mapped their route to where Ralni and Nadis were last spotted. He knew these officials were crafty and, given the recent pressure, would likely have attempted to slip out of the city unnoticed.

As they approached the outer city checkpoints, Chrev briefed his team.

"We cannot allow even the smallest margin for escape. These traitors represent not just individual corruption but a stain on the Empire's integrity. We capture them, and we deliver them to Sylind Family’s justice."

One of the soldiers, a young mage named Faren, looked up in surprise. "Are we really prepared to give them up entirely to the Sylind family?"

Chris's face remained impassive, though his tone was firm. "We are. The Sylind Family has earned our loyalty more than these cowards ever did. The empire's stability is worth a few sacrifices if it means preventing Sylas from retaliating." He gestured to his team, emphasizing urgency. "Keep sharp. We’re not dealing with ordinary criminals; if we fail, they’ll escape far beyond our reach.”

With Alevis's blessing, the decision had been made: the Pamela Family and these two officials would serve as sacrificial pieces in a larger game, hoping to soothe Sylas Sylind’s wrath. This move was risky, yes, but it was their best chance to prevent open conflict with the mage.

Chrev tightened his grip on his weapon, his mind set on his mission—capturing Ralni and Nadis before they could even think of fleeing.