“Ah, this is so going to suck.” Isabel studied the large walled compound that reminded her of a prison. “What is this place anyway?” She addressed Mortimer, who was frowning.

“Textile workshop. I think.” He looked at the two-meter-tall, featureless, at places cracked walls with suspicion. “Or that’s what I heard.”

“And not a prison?” Isabel voiced her thoughts.

“No. The prison is behind the city’s walls, near the slums. Or I guess there are slums everywhere around the city now. So, amidst the slums? There are also some personal dungeons the wealthy keep.”

“There are even guards at every entrance.” Isabel pointed out, choosing not to comment on the ‘personal dungeon’ situation. Whatever those were, she doubted she could soundly sleep if she learned. Maybe another time.

They had rounded the premises already, trying to get the feeling of what they were dealing with. The tall rundown walls surrounded several just as rundown buildings. The place didn’t look safe to inhabit. It was hard to tell what was happening inside.

The surroundings weren’t pleasant either. While it had only taken them around ten minutes to arrive at this place, the area had gotten a lot worse. There were beggars everywhere. The buildings were in a general state of disrepair, and there were drunks everywhere.

To Isabel’s annoyance, she got catcalled a few times already. She really wanted a cloak that would conceal her properly. Something similar to what Mila usually had over her. The only reason no one had tried a more direct approach was likely because she had kicked one of the more annoying men talking to her in the nuts.

That and Isabel kept her hand on the sword while glaring at everyone despite Mortimer constantly warning her not to. He claimed it would invite more annoying sorts of parasites. Luckily, that hadn’t happened yet. She didn’t want to deal with thugs like the ones earlier, either.

Isabel nudged Vatim. “Show where the spot where you meet your sister is.” The boy nodded, and they started to walk. She pushed a couple loudly gossiping women aside as they had chosen the middle of a busy road for the activity. There wasn’t a choice, really. It was either this or stepping under a passing wagon.

It earned Isabel a couple of rude words, but she ignored those. “Isn’t this your neighbourhood?” She spoke to Mortimer. “Shouldn’t you know who is who?”

Before answering, Mortimer stumbled and brushed against a man in a uniform. Isabel saw him pull something out of the soldier's pocket. He then sent an apologetic glance at her. “Sorry. It’s the only way I can get something to feed myself with.”

“Right.” Isabel didn’t buy it. She pulled Vatim a bit back as he had moved a tad too much ahead. It earned her a habitual flinch from the boy. Whatever life he had led couldn’t have been good.

After Mortimer coughed in his palm, he continued. “Anyway! I used to know this area. Somewhat. Not enough money to be earned here, so I didn’t come here often. Anyway! After the war was declared and refugees started to arrive…” He sighed. “The old boss was killed, and a new one took over. I think that one died as well. It’s kind of fuzzy now. The new one is a little bit smart. He dislikes people knowing who he is. Well, I do know he likes art, though.” He started to grumble. “...me to get that damn painting. And now the map…”

Isabel didn’t catch most of what Mortimer was saying. His words were lost under the noise of merchants haggling, people begging, carts rumbling. She hadn’t thought she would start to miss the forest quiet so quick.

It was easy to get lost in the constant hubbub and flow. Everyone seemed to have a place to be and quick. Isabel’s mind began to wander under the constant sensory onslaught and almost missed Vatim turning slightly and slipping in between two buildings.

The gap was easily traversed by a young boy but for Isabel… She looked at Mortimer, suddenly quite self-conscious of her body. It wasn’t that she was fat - far from it. In fact, she was well-defined, but… The constant workout and training had bulked her up somewhat. Mortimer was definitely thinner than her…

At least Mila liked it…

Which was interesting, now that Isabel thought about it. Was Mila into muscles?

But for now, Isabel could only regret not being smaller. Mortimer slipped into the gap with ease. Some people glanced their way but were too busy with their own worries to comment.

And Isabel was forced to follow. After taking her shield off her back to fit in the gap, she squeezed herself into it.

It was tight. The breasts didn’t help, either. The two companions were already out of the gap when Isabel was halfway through. She glanced back at where they had come from. Some passing people returned the look.

After a humiliating minute, Isabel was through as well. She joined Vatim and Mortimer in the small opening between the two buildings and the tall wall while putting her shield back on her back. It was annoying to carry it around, but it served her well as a cover for when she wanted to use her barriers - even if they weren’t as strong as with her real shield in her hands.

Isabel spotted the crack in the wall immediately. It ran up, starting from the ground. It wasn’t large either. Just enough to push an arm through.

And Vatim was squatting next to it with a small bundle in his hands. He started to unwrap it and whispered. “Kanna, are you there?” There was no answer. “Kanna?”

The silence from behind the wall was thick and heavy. Isabel leaned closer while grabbing the handle of her sword. What would they do if Kanna wasn’t there? What if something had happened to her? Would they…

“Vatim?” There was an answer.

Isabel felt herself relax. The girl was here. She watched Vatim light up. He looked so happy. And it made Isabel’s head hurt. It was so messed up.

“Kanna! I brought food! I got more than previously.” Vatim happily started to explain.

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“Good!” Kanna sounded relieved. “That’s good.”

“What’s wrong?” Vatim seemed to notice something. “Did something happen?”

“N-nothing.”

“Kanna-”

“Be quick. I don’t have time. The distraction will not last long.”

A dirty hand stretched out from the crack. The fingers were callused, the nails broken, and the sickly pale skin was covered in scratches and bruises.

It broke Isabel’s heart. She had wanted to just take a look and return later, but now… “Can’t we just take her and run?” She raised the question.

The pitiful hand froze before vanishing back into the hole. Vatim barely managed to stop Kanna before she ran. “Wait, she is a friend!” The voice was louder than necessary.

Isabel frowned and glanced back to where they had come from. If they had to run, it would be troublesome to go through the gap. Her attention turned towards the building walls. They were not in good condition but sturdy enough.

However, there were also bolted-shut doors. Those Isabel could break. Especially if she put in a good amount of mana into strengthening herself. It was probably a terrible idea.

It didn’t take long for Kanna to return. “A friend?” She whispered. “We have no friends here. We are here because we trusted people in this damn city. Vatim, please don’t tell me you promised something to this friend.”

“N-no! I didn’t!” Vatim shook his head. “They just wanted to see my sister.”

There was a bitter laughter on the other side. “Okay. I’ll trust you, but… I am hungry…” There was shame in Kanna’s voice now.

“R-right!” Vatim hurried to put the foodstuff into Kanna’s hand.

Seeing Mortimer just watch with sadness in his eyes, Isabel decided to speak. “Hey, Kanna, right? I am Isabel. How are you? Can you wait for us to help?”

After a pause, Kanna answered. “Help? Help with what? Do you think this is funny?”

“Well, for one, with food,” Isabel suggested while gathering strength. She didn’t have anything handy to cast. Andrew often joked she was all brawn, no brain. The rocks around the crack were crumbling brittle things - at least to her.

“Food is good.” Kanna hesitated. “But we can’t offer anything in return.” There was a finality and a message for Vatim in her words.

Isabel nodded. It was time to ask about something that bothered her. “Say, Kanna, just how are you distracting the guards? Is someone doing that for you?”

The time seemed to stretch. Kanna’s hand trembled as it pulled the food into the crack. “W-what do you mean?”

“Do you have to share the food, Kanna?” Isabel asked directly.

“N-” Kanna’s voice shook. “-a little bit.” She reluctantly admitted.

“How much is a little bit?” Isabel noticed Vatim’s eyes fill with tears. The little bugger was probably feeling guilty for not being able to bring more.

“... not much.”

“And do they hit you? Do they hurt you?” Then, there was an uncomfortable pause. It told Isabel all she needed to hear. “We are taking her out of there now.” She declared.

“What?” Mortimer finally reacted. “We can’t! How would we do that? We can’t break the wall!”

Of course, Mortimer couldn’t. But Isabel could. “We will need a place to go. Do you know any?” She asked the man while turning and raising her leg for a kick.

“No. Yes. Maybe.” Mortimer wheezed out an answer. He clearly felt unwell from hearing Kanna’s words.

“You do or don’t?” Isabel pressed. “We have to get Kanna out.”

“I get it, but it is extremely dangerous!” Mortimer tried to argue, but his feelings were not into it. After another moment of thinking - “I know a place.” He finally said.

“How far is it from here?”

“N-not far? Depends? A few minutes of running if the streets were empty.” Mortimer tried to calculate the route.

“How sure you are we can hide there.” Isabel patted the wall to see just how hard it felt.

“If you bring Vatim and Kanna, you’ll be able to find a shelter,” Mortimer admitted, then quietly added. “...it’s me I am worried about.”

“Then that’s fine. I’ll bulldoze the way through the crowd.” Isabel chose the most direct way. She just hoped Andrew would never learn of this. He would praise her first for taking action and then make fun of how she relied purely on brute force.

With this, the decision was made. Isabel gave the final instructions. “Grab Vatim and get back on the street. We will join you shortly. Kanna, step aside. I am breaking the wall.”

“W-what?” Kanna’s panicked voice rose in tone. “Now?”

“This is such a bad idea.” Mortimer let Isabel know while he took Vatim by hand and pulled him back to the gap.

“You don’t have to tell me.” Isabel could already imagine Mila’s disapproving frown. This was going to come back to bite into her ass. No more moral high ground on not doing anything dangerous without informing others. “Ready?”

“Y-yes?” Kanna didn’t sound sure this was the right choice.

This was definitely in Isabel’s top three worst ideas ever. They could return later. Prepare more. Ask for Mila’s and Andrew’s help. A hundred little things Isabel could do if they had more time.

All Isabel had to do was ask for Kanna to suffer just a few hours more.

Something Isabel refused to do. She wasn’t Mila. Isabel could go along with her girlfriend’s plans, but it didn’t mean she liked them.

Stupid, yes. But Isabel wanted to help. Needed to help Kanna. After what she had done back in Ocheon… She had to help someone.

With that thought at the forefront of her mind, Isabel used all her strength to kick the wall.

It worked. Mostly. The wall was in a worse state than Isabel had imagined. Her foot punched right through the obstacle. She wiggled it, making the opening larger. “Uh, you okay, Kanna?” Isabel asked.

“Y-yes. B-but they heard us.”

“Just a second.” Isabel pulled her leg out, then used less strength to kick the hole wider.

“They are coming,” Kanna whispered. “That’s enough. I can fit through.”

Isabel kicked one last time before stopping. As the dust settled, she saw a dirty, unwashed crown of hair appear through the newly created hole. A girl covered in tattered muddy clothes followed the head.

Seeing Kanna crawl out of the hole, Isabel turned around and eyed the barred doors. They couldn’t move quickly through the gap, so she needed a new path. She raised her trusty leg again and kicked once more.

The wood cracked and splintered. The doors disintegrated into pulp. As the dust settled, Isabel glanced inside the room. A middle-aged couple looked at her in horror. “Sorry about that.” She apologised before turning around.

Kanna was out but feeble and unsteady. She supported herself against the wall while watching Isabel with blue eyes full of suspicion.

Isabel didn’t waste time and swept the younger girl off her feet. Glancing down at the smudged, emaciated face, Isabel felt reassured this had been the correct choice. “Hold on, this is going to be a ride.”

Isabel started to move by stepping inside the living room of the unfortunate couple.

Now, they had to get away.