Two days later, Mila finally felt well enough to move around without Isabel constantly looking over her shoulder. Her condition wasn’t perfect, but she could use most of her strength in short bursts if necessary.

Mila had given her thanks to the healers. They weren’t nearly as good as Hanna had been, but they had done their job.

Despite them failing to erase the scar on her left upper arm, Mila still was grateful. The small mark now reminded her of her failures. It was a small cost to pay, all things considered. Isabel didn’t mind it either.

And now she was standing in front of Naran’s workroom’s doors. She had visited the man several times already. Most of her preparations for the date with Isabel were done. The man had called her to talk about something.

It didn’t bode well for Mila’s plans. Everything had moved along smoothly until now. She had scouted out the place Mortimer had once called his home. It hadn’t been that bad. It would likely be bloody, but infiltrating the place should be doable.

Mortimer had started to arrange everything for leaving on a moment's notice. Not that he and his wards had much to do. They had nothing to their names.

Viola had made an agreement with Naran. Mila wasn’t clear on the details, but Anthony was now under Naran’s employment. The woman had also spent time socialising with her and Isabel, much to Mila’s girl’s chagrin.

Oscar had failed to track them down. Mila knew he had turned up in the City’s Guard station she had raided and made a scandal there. Even Barcy wasn’t clear about what had transpired. She did learn that there were deaths and the Military had to intervene.

With these thoughts swirling in her mind, Mila knocked. Naran’s tired voice invited her in.

As Mila entered, she noticed Naran’s desk was tidy, and only a few important-looking documents were still left untouched. “Enjoying your new accountant, I see,” Mila noted.

“Yeah. Anthony has been a great help.” Naran wasn’t ashamed and allowed a small smile to form on his tired face. “It was a little awkward when he noticed I hadn’t made my calculation correctly.”

Mila nodded and found her way to the chair. After sitting down, she waited for the man to speak.

“Yes, where to start?” Naran scratched his stump where the arm had been before. “Well, things have certainly been happening.”

“I hoped nothing that would impact our agreement.” Mila referred to the date. “I would be very disappointed if it did.”

“No, no. I managed to arrange everything. A room, food and everything.” Naran sighed. “It was expensive to do it.”

“Surely, me introducing Viola and, by extension, Anthony would cover that.”

“Ah, well, I guess?” Naran tripped over what he wanted to say. “No, no. That wasn’t what I wanted to talk about. Where to start…”

“Is it something that I should know? You know I have little attachment to Stilag and how it is run.” Mila made her position clear.

“Perhaps. It won’t hurt knowing.” Naran reasoned. “Well, first of all. Helly has been raising hell searching for Mortimer.”

“That’s… Certainly related to my group.” Mila could see why Naran wanted her to know. “But also shouldn’t matter. We aren’t staying here for long. Why does she want the thief so badly anyway?”

“Because Helly is a bitch?” Naran cursed. “She thinks the little shithead got the painting. Apparently, it wasn’t her guys who stole it. It wasn’t Mortimer either. The fuck do I know where the shitty picture is? Anyway! She knows I am hiding the little prick. Someone talked, and I don’t know who. Helly has been threatening me with a war between our factions.”

It made things difficult. Mila knew Isabel and Andrew would not allow Mortimer to be thrown to the wolves. “Is there a time limit to her demands?”

“Of course! Why shouldn’t there be!” Naran yelled and pounded the desk. “The bitch wants him in two days at most. If not, she is going to attack.”

“Ah, I see!” Mila realised something. “I have to move my date with Isabel to tomorrow.”

“Not the point!” Naran stabbed a finger at her.

“Please, Mr Vakano,” Mila wasn’t impressed. “It is of the highest importance that my event goes undisturbed. Otherwise, my mood may turn irritable.”

“Yes, yes, I know. I’ll make sure no one interrupts. No need for threats.”

“Kanna, too.”

“I will arrange for Mortimer and Vatim something to do that will involve the girl. She won’t bother you.”

“Good.”

“But the issue still remains. If you could do something about Helly…” Naran left the words hanging in the air.

“There is nothing in it for me.” Mila refused.

Naran cleared his eyes and then looked at the ceiling. He cursed under his breath. “Money? Equipment? Girl-”

“Do not finish that word.” Mila leaned forward, letting her anger spike. “Do not ever imply anything like that again.”

“...I didn’t mean to…” Naran whispered. “Just a slip. My nerves must be acting up…” He opened a drawer with trembling hands and pulled out a small pill, which he swallowed. “Rare stuff. It is a borderline drug. We lost the supplier years ago. Morti boy’s father knew who it was. No one else.”

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Mila suspected she knew who it was as well. It was likely Hanna’s mother who had made that pill. She forced herself to calm down. There was no need to overreact. Naran had just shown why he was a leader of a crime organisation clearly. She leaned back in her seat, unwilling to speak lest her anger leaked again.

“It’s the nobles. Helly, I get it. She is an ass, but I understand her.” He shook his head. “Someone has started to poke the noble, white asses. One of the nobles was stripped of his titles and killed without trial. Rumours say it was someone from the Temple, but…”

Naran looked at his little shrine. “Well, the old local Inquisitor is missing. He was easy to get along with. Oh, he hated us but also didn’t overstep his bonds. The Temple of Nature didn’t interfere in mundane matters. In his stead, this little passive bitch from Empire was installed. That guy didn’t do anything, either. Well, until now. We think someone new came.”

“I see…” Mila had calmed down. She tapped her feet on the floor while thinking.

“And now, the Nobles have started to do something. Their personal little armies have begun gathering. The city guards are assembling their big shots as well. If I didn’t know better…”

“Do they plan to rebel?” Mila guessed. “Secede? Join Imeglenmo? Make their own little kingdom?”

“I don’t know, and it scares me. I don’t even know who is the leader of this shitshow.” Naran slumped in his seat. “My preparations are not enough. They couldn’t be that stupid, could they?”

“That is for you to answer. I am a stranger to this place.”

“Oispio will not stand for it,” Naran muttered. “I don’t want to believe it. The military is already here. There is no way…”

“Will it happen soon?” Mila inquired.

“In a week? Maybe two? If nothing else happens, that is. Stilag is in a volatile state.” Naran guessed. “Also, about Mortimer’s old place.” He suddenly added. “Someone tried to break into it. Zak… I mean, Zakary - the noble who took over the place after Mortimer’s father kicked the bucket, is fortifying it. Apparently, the thief didn’t get what they wanted, and Zak is afraid they will try again.”

“What? I checked the place, but there wasn’t… When?”

“A few hours ago. There were a few other break-ins.” Naran spoke. He seemed to become more lethargic by the minute. “Man, this is going to suck. They are going to blame us. There will be a crackdown.”

These were bad news. Mila tried to think of what to do. They needed that map…

Did they? Mila hesitated. If they simply left, they could vanish into one corner of the world or another and wait. With time, they would grow strong and free…

Andrew and Isabel were not very motivated. Perhaps Mila could talk them out of the dangerous undertaking, but… Mila just couldn’t let it go. Did she care about Tiff and Kefo that much? She had moved with the notion Isabel and Andrew needed it, but did she also?

But Naran didn’t wait for Mila to sort out her feelings. She once more put her emotions to the side. It was already hard for her to accept they were there. There was no need to poke them at this moment.

“I guess I can offer you help with that?” Naran bartered. “You know, with Zak’s mansion? I don’t need much. If Helly left me alone for a while, I could move my assets to safer places.”

The man was persistent if nothing else. Mila’s mind was still a little confused. “I will think about it.” She got up from her seat.

“Uh, Mila, there is still-”

“I will visit later.” Mila stopped Naran. She needed a moment to herself. Her mind still struggled with the possibility of being attached to Tiff and Kefo. She still needed more information about what had happened in the city.

It always was like this. When it came to Mila’s own emotions, she felt somewhat helpless. Talking with Isabel helped. Where was her girl now anyway? She remembered Kanna had asked for something, so probably with her.

With a new target in mind, Mila started to walk through the dark tunnels. A torch or two gave the light as she wandered forward. Her steps lacked any noise as she slipped into a state that made it hard for others to notice her.

From time to time, a rushing person passed Mila and was startled when they almost ran into her. She didn’t pay them any heed. It appeared Naran had started to move his pawns to save what he could.

Was the man manipulating her as well? Mila stepped past a room with several girls and women talking in hushed tones. It was possible. He wasn’t laying, of that she was sure, but it was hard to tell how much he left unspoken.

Mila glanced inside the room. She stopped her step midair. Mila recognised these girls. They were the same she had saved just a few days ago.

The same night workers, laying beneath vile creatures, were now spending their time making yarn threads. It was likely a task given to them by Naran.

After another moment of hesitation, Mila stepped inside the room. Their conversation was simple. They talked about their homes and how they were raised. They spoke about their hopes and dreams.

There was nothing ambitious about their aspirations. They wanted a simple life. They wished to leave Stilag and perhaps have a family.

A younger girl cried while speaking of that dream. “I feel dirty…” She sobbed. The rest of the room froze. Their expressions turned sorrowful and hopeless. Some of them hugged themselves as if freezing and tried to protect themselves from the world.

It was heartbreaking. Mila chose to speak. She pulled out a mask from beneath her usual cloak and covered her face. A different one from that night, but looking just the same.

Mila purposefully made another step, letting her spell fall away. As her feet met the ground and made a noise, the time in the room stopped.

All of the girls turned to face Mila, covering themselves in shock. It took them a moment before one of them spoke. “...You are…” It was barely a whisper.

“...the Blood-Soaked Maiden…” Another added in a hushed tone.

It was a good thing Mila had her mask. She was frowning upon hearing how she was referred to. Then again, no one had introduced her. Even among Naran’s people, rarely anyone suspected what she had done. Her appearance helped to keep them clueless.

And Mila liked it this way. She didn’t want to be recognised. Yet, these girls were looking at her with reverence. They feared, respected and wanted part of what she was.

Or at least part of what they had imagined Mila was. She didn’t know what kind of tales they were spinning, but she didn’t want to be part of those.

Under the intense stares, Mila faltered. The moment of silence stretched as she let her eyes wander over the condition of these girls. There were fading scars here and there. Some of them twitched and glanced to the side as if waiting for someone to punish them.

But they were clean, fed and with fresh clothes. Mila realised there was now only silence in the room. Even the breathing had stopped.

Mila had to say something. “Do not let anyone trample on your pride.” She wanted to give them the courage to carry on. Mila wanted them to be able to step outside and achieve what they wanted. “Run if you must. Not every battle can be won. But remember to strive after. Do not let your past dictate your future.”

With that, Mila’s discomfort triumphed. She moved all her mana to become as unnoticeable as she could and retreated.

Mila hoped no one would learn of her speech. It was way too embarrassing.