As the fire that started in the cellar began spreading through the rest of the mansion, a thickening column of smoke ascended toward the dark sky. Hidden amidst the foliage, Tyssa's eyes darted around the building's perimeter, eager for her gaze to rest upon her comrades. However, the only movement she perceived came from Cabdan's guards, who were evacuating the mansion in a frenzy, most likely terrified not just because of the fire, but especially because of Dmitri's experiment...

Tyssa (hushed): Come on guys... Where are you...?

Shortly after, from the side opposite to the home's entrance, three shambling silhouettes emerge, cautiously treading near the garden wall's edge, vigilant for witnesses. Tyssa's eyes widen, as she recognizes her friends.

Tyssa: Finally...!

As the commotion in the streets grew, Tyssa exited from her concealed position and began making her way towards Rel, Punjo and Dmitri. As she got closer, Rel recognized her, signalling that she help him carry Punjo.

Punjo: Nghn...

Now being carried by Rel and Tyssa on both sides, they made their way through the city streets as more and more people passed them by to gawk at the burning luxurious mansion. Not too far, Dmitri coughed aggressively, moving at a similar pace to theirs.

Dmitri: H-how far...?

Rel: Far. To the slums.

Dmitri: The shlumsh...?!

Rel: Got a problem with that?

Dmitri did not reply. Aware that, at their pace, reaching the slums would take them at least an hour, he chose to save his energy.

Tyssa: Guys... Jargen, he...

Punjo coughs, interrupting her.

Rel: ... We figured. Last words we heard from him didn't leave any hint of a reunion. Quite the contrary...

After Tyssa's indirect confirmation of Jargen's passing, the mood got heavier. Nobody said a word for a good while, focusing exclusively on the path ahead. Though they had passed multiple citizens, none had dared to approach them. Their dirty clothes and injuries most likely repulsed the upper echelon of society, which seemed to be concentrated in that area of the city. As they stepped farther and farther from it, the streets had grown silent once more -- it was still early hours, no rising sun in sight.

Rel: What of Syl? Anybody saw him?

Tyssa shakes her head.

Tyssa: When I went to fetch Jargen, Syl was nowhere to be seen... Only a bloody office. I don't know what happened but... I don't think he made it. Actually...

She looks up towards the moon, as her eyes get wetter.

Tyssa: I'm not sure Jargen himself made it out of that room... Whoever that was, it didn't seem like him.

She lifts her shirt, pulling out the journal concealed underneath.

Tyssa: But he did manage to find this. The location of Cabdan's fortune...

Dmitri's ears perked as he looked back upon hearing those words.

Tyssa: Don't get any ideas... They belong to us, now. But...

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She opens some of the pages, showing the damage state of the documents therein.

Tyssa: It got soaked in the cellar when that thing attacked us. I tried my best to dry it out, but I don't know how much of it will remain readable...

Rel: We'll see. Not much we can do now... Frankly, not much I want to do now... Just want to get home. I've had enough of today.

Tyssa nods, choosing to remain silent, deep in thought. The peace of the city's alleys lit by the warm streetlights made it difficult to believe that, just moments before, their lives almost came to an end. All of the chaos they had gone through started to feel like nothing but a bad dream... Or perhaps, this momentary tranquility was the dream, and it wouldn't be long for reality to tragically crush them once more. Driving the negative thoughts away, Tyssa breaks the silence.

Tyssa: And the antidote... Will he be making it for us...?

Rel doesn't answer immediately, instead focusing his attention on Dmitri.

Rel: No. He's not here as help... He's here as insurance. Insurance that there is an actual antidote... And that it actually works. No dirty tricks.

He hands the flask to Tyssa briefly, so she can examine it.

Rel: According to him, that's it. That's the antidote.

She looks at it, unfazed.

Tyssa: Heard that before.

Uninterested, she hands the bottle back to Rel.

Rel: I know. Which is why I poisoned him.

Tyssa's eyes widen in shock.

Tyssa: Y-you what?

Rel: Yeah. With what was left from Cabdan's little trick before he died... That's why he's with us. We'll test the antidote on him, before giving it to Faya. And, if it doesn't work...

Dmitri turns back, anxiously.

Dmitri: I-it WILL! It will...!

Rel: Sure... It better.

Tyssa's gaze shifts towards the ground, pensively. Rel takes notice.

Rel: What is it?

Tyssa shakes her head.

Tyssa: Nothing... I just... Wish things were different. Wish there was some other way out.

Rel nods as he sighs.

Rel: A way that didn't involve our friends dying and having to using poison to fix our problems...? So do I. Honestly, I believe there probably could be. But...

Tyssa looks at Rel. His gaze locks with hers.

Rel: But I don't believe we have what it takes to figure it out. Or, rather... We don't have what it takes to make it work. Not us. Not those in the slums. Peace just isn't an option when everything around us is violence. Unless we want to end up stepped on, or worse...

His gaze withdraws from hers, locking on the streets ahead.

Rel: We have to bare our teeth. Show them they can't mess with us. With Cabdan dead, and his fortune in our hands... We'll become targets. There's no telling what Cabdan's friends in power will do when they find out where his fortune has gone... And that's assuming we even get our hands on it. If we don't, who's to say another Cabdan won't emerge once more?

Punjo clenched his teeth in sorrow upon hearing this, as if he anticipated the conclusion that would come next.

Rel: So, Punjo... I guess you and Jargen were right. Back then, I couldn't see it... But now, I do. It took me longer than it took Virno... But I understand now. These people aren't people at all... They are monsters. Parasites. They just want to have a bite of what's ours. And the only way we can realistically stop them...

He turns to Dmitri once more.

Rel: Is through pest-control. De-claw and show them how helpless they really are. And if that doesn't work...

The man did not react.

Rel: Well. Then I guess only one option remains.

His words brought Punjo much grief. Tears ran down his face, though all of the dirt and injuries made it difficult to see them. With their attention on the road home, nobody noticed his reaction.

Tyssa: Rel... I don't know if that's all that different from what Cabdan did...

Rel snapped back almost instantly.

Rel: It is NOTHING like what he did. He fought to enslave others and bend them to his will. We fight to break the chains and claim our own freedom.

Tyssa: Even if we end up killing and hurting, too...?

Rel shakes his head.

Rel: We kill and hurt those who kill and hurt. Not the innocent.

Tyssa: Those who kill and hurt, huh...

She looks him dead in the eye, as images of her young brother and Barr flash through her mind.

Tyssa: We're now part of that group too, you know.

Rel: Yeah. We'll dirty our hands so others don't have to... I'm fine with that. And if others come after me for it, then let them come.

He does not wrestle his gaze away from hers.

Rel: My mind's made up... I'm willing to do what needs to be done. What about you, Tyssa?

Tyssa sighs, looking away from him.

Tyssa: I'm... Worried our enemies think the same, too. And worried we might walk down a path that will turn us into them. Our future selves could become not too dissimilar from those we feel justified in killing and hurting today... It's all a matter of perception. If innocents start taking up arms against us, for killing and hurting those they love... Will we still see them as innocents, Rel?

Rel does not reply.

Tyssa: Or will they become new targets to kill and hurt...?

He did not have an answer. The rest of the way home was, largely, walked in silence.