“You are losing yourself to anger, Oscar.”

“I know!” And Oscar did know. Astra didn’t need to remind him. He struggled to breathe. The previous conversation with the smug asshole made his blood boil.

Luckily, the large hallway was empty. Oscar looked at the opulent decorations. Gold and white everywhere. The place was clean and smelled of flowers. It was a stark contrast to what Stilag was outside of these walls. The bright interior made his ears teary. It was hard to find a place to look at without blinding himself.

Azan Bultery- the ashole who was the Commander of the City’s guards, had forced him to leave. No matter how Oscar had pleaded and how much he had offered and reasoned, it had fallen on deaf ears.

Azan had simply refused to hear why the scum that ran under his nose had to be exterminated. Oscar had even been reprimanded for doing it without any permission.

And he had been forced to grit his teeth and listen. Because of his anger issue, Oscar killed - he took the lives of the City guard. Not many, but even one was too much.

But Oscar had seen them do reprehensible things. How could he just leave when a person was sold with the guards overseeing the transaction? The tears in the boy’s eyes were too much and…

“You will ruin the gaudy tapestry like this,” Astra spoke, but it was more out of a habit. She didn’t care for the show of wealth.

“What has Commander Kark to say about this? I can’t believe he is allowing this to happen!”

“He isn’t.” Astra nudged Oscar to start moving, then followed. “Sir Kark is observing all rules to not give the locals any opening. But if you paid closer attention, you would notice many of his people are ‘acting on their own volition.’ That includes you.”

Now that Oscar thought about it, it did seem like the local forces had more allowance than he was used to for the past couple of weeks, spending the time in a military camp.

“It feels wrong,” Oscar grumbled as he exited the building. He prepared to return to the barracks. “And how is there no news on this ‘Blood-Soaked Maiden and that ‘Paladin’? I am sure they are those assassins who killed my Munny.”

Astra didn’t have an answer. “There are too many obstructions. Koldon and Lenel are not having any luck either. Although…” She fell silent.

“What?” Oscar pushed the gates open with too much strength and watched with satisfaction as they hit the wall and bent a little. “Did they find anything?”

Astra shook her head. “Not about those girls, no. Koldon claimed the Nobles are up to something they shouldn’t. I am not sure what he meant by that. He was adamant it wasn’t ‘that’ serious, but…”

For Oscar, it was clear Astra was keeping something back. She always did. He just had to live with it. The Inquisitors had a holy duty to uphold, and he wasn’t clear on the details. That was by design, according to Astra.

Before Oscar could formulate an answer, he saw someone being robbed right in the open. “Where the fuck are the guards?” He cursed under his breath and rushed forward.

The two men were no opponents for him. Oscar quickly knocked them out and managed to break only a couple of bones. He glared at the two nobodies lying on the ground before helping the victim up from the ground. The granny thanked him before rushing away.

Astra looked around while frowning. She then looked up to the sky. So did Oscar. The sun didn’t bring him the needed warmth. In fact, it didn’t give any.

“Something is happening.” Astra gave a vague warning. “We have to get back to the barracks. Quick.”

“What?” Oscar looked at her in surprise. “What is it?” He let himself be picked up and carried in the sky.

Astra stepped into the air, launching herself forward quicker and quicker. Oscar observed with envy. It was something he wanted to learn as well. He had started, but it was hard and demanded constant discipline and unwavering attention - something the current him lacked.

“I don’t know.” Astra kept observing the surroundings. “But I doubt it is good.” She added with grim surety. Perhaps Sir Kark will know more. Or Koldon.”

“What’s that?” Oscar asked. He squinted and looked in the distance. The advantage point allowed him an unobstructed view of the horizon.

What Oscar saw was some sort of battle. There were some flashes of light and eruptions of mud. Was Stilag under attack? But according to the Tordgo’s intelligence, Imeglenmo forces weren’t close. Perhaps a scouting party?

“They are killing our reinforcements.” Astra suddenly announced. “They are being slaughtered.” She picked up speed once more, trying to head towards the battle.

But before Astra could leave, she sharply changed the course and headed down, where Oscar noticed one of the Kark’s advisers hailing them.

“Are you aware?” Astra spoke before she stopped in front of the man.

The advisor ruffled his shaggy hair and sighed. “We are. We can’t help them. It is also a trap for us.”

“Are you sure?” Astra prepared to step into the air again. “I can-”

“No. The walls are under the Guard's control. So are all the gates. If you try to cross the walls, they will attack.”

Astra hesitated before dropping Oscar next to the advisor and left immediately after.

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“A mistake.” The advisor ruffled his hair again. “Ah, young Oscar. Glad they didn’t get to you.”

“What is happening?” Oscar looked after Astra. She was a star to make a wish upon crossing the blue, clear sky. He wanted her to succeed.

“A revolt.” The Advisor gave a short answer. “Come. Everyone has been ordered to return. All of the missing people will be assumed dead.”

“But-” Oscar didn’t get to finish what he had wanted to say.

Up in the sky, above the walls, Astra was intercepted by two other persons. From what Oscar could tell, there had been no talking. Astra immediately attacked with her colourless bolts. They were invisible against the bright sky.

But it quickly became clear Astra was at a disadvantage. The missing arm made it harder for her to fight.

After just a few seconds passed, Astra was forced to flee. The adviser didn’t say anything, but from his expression, Oscar could tell how dire the situation was.

They were trapped in Stilag.

—

Andrew glared at the slimy-looking doorkeeper. “Oh, and you think you can stop me? Helly invited me. I am her friend.” He claimed.

“Boss didn’t give such order.” The slimy rat-like creature responded. The man refused to budge and open the doors.

“Then go and inform her.” Andrew felt a vein pop up on his temple. He was fed up with these obstacles.

The whole morning had been spent running from one spot to another. The liaison Helly left knew nothing about that Grandfather of hers.

So, the first thing Andrew had done in the morning had been to find out where Helly might be and track her down. Unfortunately, Naran or Barcy knew or refused to say - he didn’t know.

The next possible person who could help him was the terrorists from Imeglenmo. Andrew loathed the idea of working with them after what they had done to Ocheon. What they had made him do…

But getting back to his family was more important. And if Viola claimed they wanted to befriend And and his friends, then he was ready to use them. Surprisingly, he had managed to gain more information from Anthony than expected.

And it had set Andrew off to chase after Helly, who was always at another castle, trying to rally her people or trying to save her assets.

Finally, Andrew had found himself in front of a shabby-looking shed with bolted-shut windows. Which didn’t mean much. Almost every building here was rushing towards becoming ruins.

The rat in human disguise sneered. “Na-ah.” He wagged his finger. “I guard doors. Nothing more.”

That was too much. Andrew was fed up. He had been dealing with shady people and criminals all morning. Without further ado, he stepped forward.

It was so simple to push the frail man out of the path. The rat-man fell back on his but and squealed in fright. And it had an effect. From behind the room, a couple more formidable people rose from their seats at the table.

Andrew had not seen them play cards, but it now became clear the annoying squeaky toy wasn’t the only one guarding the place.

But before the situation could devolve any further, a man Andrew recalled sitting next to Helly last night stepped from a room at the side. “He is with us.” The escort of Helly’s stopped the couple of muscle-heads. They grunted and sat back down to continue their game. “Come. I’ll lead you to her.”

After sending one last glare at the rat-like man, Andrew followed. “What’s your name?”

The man sighed. “Boss wants me to be called ‘Cuddly.’ The name is Mathy. But don’t call me that in Boss’s presence.”

“That’s…” Andrew chose not to comment on how Helly ran her gang. “Where is she anyway?” He stepped into a hidden underground passage. It was too narrow and dirty to be one of Naran’s tunnels.

“Trying to salvage what we have.” Mathy sighed again. “There are rumours. People talk. We want to be ready before it's hair, teeth and eyes all over the place. But without Boss Naran's warning, we would not hear those whispers. We owe that Old Guard Captain. It makes me feel like shit."

Andrew could see that. Naran commanding a bunch of Guard assholes wasn’t that different from what he was doing now.

They didn’t have to walk far. The passage soon ended, and they stepped out into a large open room with Helly at the centre, shouting at the people hurrying around her. The woman noticed them immediately. She studied Andrew for a moment, then addressed Mathy. “Cuddly, come here. Make sure they move every damn coin we have and bury it well. I want my money here when we return.”

Andrew noticed people with shovels digging holes in one of the corners. Helly pointed at one of the other corners. There were two notable features about it. One - there were no other people there. And two - it smelled of the sewer water that seeped out of the walls at that spot.

Not that it bothered Helly. When they were sufficiently far enough from her subordinates, she looked at Andrew. “What is it? I am busy.”

Now that Andrew was here, he felt his nervousness spike. “Hah, well…”

“Speak already, you little shit…” Helly started. “Ah, I know. I’ll call you Teeny.” She announced.

Which made Andrew frown. “No, my name is Andrew.” He didn’t want to be stuck with a terrible moniker - like Mila and Isabel had.

Speaking of which, Andrew had missed the chance to make fun of them about those. He regretted it immensely.

“Is it?” Helly didn’t look convinced. It was clear she wanted the terrible name to stay. “I-”

“No, it’s Andrew.” His words were final. Andrew then took another breath. “I want to know… Your grandfather-” He noticed Helly’s demeanour shift a little.

“So it’s about that.” She noted. “What about it? Want to trade something with me? I am interested in various artefacts.” She easily admitted.

“No, no, I…” Andrew hesitated. “I want to know more about it. I want to know if there is a way to that world. I want to…”

“You want to move?” Helly raised an eyebrow. “What? Don’t like Tordgo? Go to Empire, then. You look strong enough to travel.”

“No, it has to… It has to be another world.” Andrew wasn’t ready to tell her he wasn’t from this one. Not when Mila and Isabel shared the secret.

“And what do I get in return?” Helly asked.

“What?”

“For giving that information. What do I get in return?”

“What… What do you want?” Andrew didn’t want to admit it, but… But there was little he wouldn’t do to shorten the distance towards his wish.

“That depends on how capable you are. The whole city is going to shit.” Helly studied Andrew again. “Something tells me you are quite capable, Teeny.” She clearly had ideas.

“It’s Andrew.” He corrected. Andrew wasn’t sure if she was annoying him on purpose.

“And before Stilag perishes, I was thinking of getting something,” Helly revealed. “Something I originally had thought would take years to get. Now it can’t wait.”

Andrew sighed. Of course. The criminal wanted to rob someone. He only hoped it wouldn’t be something as stupid as his group's plans.