In the dusty air, laborers bustled about, carrying wooden planks and bricks from place to place. The constant pounding of jackhammers, which echoed as they worked on preparing the roads and buildings, muffled their shouts and commands. Lord Tony, along with his two companions, has provided the funding for the project. Free accommodation was a rare sight, especially during a time of national turmoil. Tori strolled through the area with her baton fastened to her waist. She was wearing revealing shorts and a pink tank top. It was just something she had grabbed before leaving the inn. Mary disapproved of her outfit and had tried to convince her to change, but Tori just ran away laughing, promising to catch up with them later. She walked through the construction site, reflecting on Hudson’s words. The situation regarding the eruption was troubling. If it were to occur, not only Pyrovile would be destroyed but also the nearby town.

“Hey, pink head, you’re looking rather fine,” a man said, crossing his arms around her shoulder. His friends joined in.

“You don’t look like you’re from around here. We should go grab a drink and take you on a tour. You’ll love it here”

“A tour around the earth, baby. We won’t disappoint.”

The workers ignored them and continued their jobs, hoping not to get involved in trouble.

“Come on, dear. Let’s go,” he said, grabbing her arm.

“Would you keep quiet? I’m trying to think,” she said, meeting his eyes. Her stare sent chills down their spines and seemed to scratch their bones. He felt flashes of the battles she had gone through and the countless deaths. It was like a mirage passing before him—a deserted battlefield with a lone warrior wielding a scythe like the god of death himself. He knew what awaited him if he kept holding her hand, but he still couldn’t let go. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move his hand from her wrist. Fear consumed all his attention, causing him to forget to breathe and sweat profusely. Tori removed each of his fingers from her wrist and continued her stroll. The workers paused their work as she passed them, and the air of tension faded away as she left the scene.

Cumbleton’s workshop was in sight. This neighborhood was the only one she knew of that wasn’t overcrowded. Although the area lacked crowds of people, it wasn’t crime-ridden either. The residents answered to Lord Tony, so she felt like she was encroaching on his territory. Previously, it was fine, as they hadn’t been discovered. However, after the incident with the fake weeping swordsman and her confrontation with him, she lost her reputation as a model citizen. Additionally, the arrival of a group of foolish bandits while she was also entering the town only added to the suspicion to her.

Tori arrived at the warehouse where all the carriages were kept, at least the official ones. The hidden carriages, including her grandpappy’s, were kept in a secret room at the back. Cumbleton’s warehouse not only housed traveler’s carriages but also provided services for repairs and building new ones. She walked around the warehouse, searching for her grandpappy. Elric, the assistant of Cumbleton, walked over to Tori. He wore a blue tracksuit like the other workers, but the only thing distinguishing him from them was his name tag.

“May I help you?” Elric asked.

“Oh, thanks. I’m looking for my grandpappy.”

“Your grandpappy?”

“Yes, my grandpappy.”

“Do you mean your granddad?”

“No, my grandpappy.”

Elric sighed. “If you meant the man who was with the boss, they’ve both gone to the highlands,” she said. “So, how may I help you?”

“Well, I need my headphones. There should be with him.”

“Headphones?”

“You know, like curved pieces of plastic with rounded ends.”

“Yes, yes, yes. He did leave something behind, claiming you’d come for it. Please excuse me.”

He went to the back and came out with a purple headphone in hand. Tori stared at it, her eyes beaming with immeasurable excitement. She dashed towards Elric and grabbed it from his hands, placing it on her head. Like a lost child back in the arms of its mother, or head. Well, it does not count.

She covered her face with her arms as she continued to savor the sensation on her head as the echoes of the hammer faded away. Some guards accompanied the men who had previously bothered.

“Sir, the girl with pink hair over there. She’s the one who attacked us earlier,” the man said, pointing at Tori.

“I see. Miss, I would like you to come with us,” the guard said.

Tori remained silent as she continued to enjoy the sensation of the headphones. Elric tapped her on the shoulder.

“Yes, what is it?” she asked and saw the men at the entrance of the workshop. There were eight in total. Three men were the ones who had annoyed her, while the others were dressed like the guards she and the others had met at the gate.

“Is there a problem?”

“Yes, we need you to come with us.”

“Why?”

“We have received reports of you disturbing the peace of the site and also of your assault against these young men.”

Tori scoffed. “Me? Assaulting them? You must be joking.”

“If you don’t come with us, there will be consequences.”

“Ok, I will,” she said, seeing the happy faces worn by the guards and the men.

“I’ll inform the boss,” Elric said, striking his chest.

“There’s no need. The last thing I want is to get grandpappy worried about something this trivial.”

Tori left with the guards as they led her to a secluded part of the town. She noticed the standby guards at their positions, and when they saw her, they joined the group. She sighed and continued her walk. Now there were fourteen of them, including the three men from earlier. They arrived at a storehouse with broken windows, a demolished roof, and crumbling walls.

“You’re going to regret ignoring us back then. I bet you didn’t think we had this many friends,” the man said.

“Hey Rex, don’t scare her. She’s just a kid, a fine one at that,” one of the guards said, eyeing Tori, who was still looking into the building.

“There’s no use planning to escape. It’s over for you,” Rex said. “But since I like you so much, I’ll give you a chance.”

Tori stared into the building, wondering where she would see the others. Was it back at the inn, the mansion, or the volcano?

“If you agree to come spend some time with me, I’ll consider letting you go,” Rex said with open arms.

“Rex, come on, how about us?” the other man said.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure I compensate you all. Now, pink-haired, what do you say? And also, take into mind, if you refuse, we will all spend some time together.”

If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

Tori eyed the storehouse. It must have been a popular one in its prime. It should be able to store over a hundred, no maybe a thousand logs of woods.

“Are you even listening, you bitch?”

Tori's eyes were stuck on the building; it was also one located in a deserted neighborhood. She wondered how vibrant this place was once like and how it even existed since the town was still a new one or did it originated from a town that was here a long time ago. But now, it has been reduced to becoming a perfect environment for criminals and hoodlums to run their activities and also a place where one’s scream can’t be heard.

“You bitch, answer me,” Rex said, running towards her. Immediately a sharp blade went through his jaw, and bursting out of his skull. Tori had held her baton at the end as her rod and sharp blade had emerged.

“I told you not to disturb me while I think,” she said as her baton slowly formed into a scythe.

“Rex, hey man, are you alright?” his friend said, falling to his knees.

The Guards screamed as they ran towards her as the cool air blew in, giving a refreshing feel to one’s skin. Tori’s headphones had compass-like objects at the side whose points turned round faster and faster as the pin scratched the surface, sending in an agonizing sound to her ears. She took a deep breath as the guards loomed closer to her and the sound slowly dissipated like it had never been there. The edges of her scythe began to glow.

The guards came closer and closer, screaming and charging in with their weapons. She held her weapon and swung it, releasing a massive shockwave that shattered the ground but intentionally only knocked out the guards. The shockwave spread around the whole town and immediately came back to a single spot, her ears.

“Damm, do I miss this thing? Now to back I was doing,” she said, staring back at the storehouse. It could also be used as a beauty parlor, just needed a little renovation to it. She wondered what Emilia and Hudson would think of that idea.

*

“Do you want to meet Hudson?” Pasta asked, his back still being held at sword point, while the mansion employees looked at him in disbelief.

“If you’re telling the truth, it shouldn’t be a problem,” Mary said.

“Yes, it shouldn’t be a problem, and if you can’t, we’ll just have to kill you,” Gordon threatened.

“Yeah, it would be better to kill you right here,” the guard added, prodding Pasta’s back with his sword.

“Didn’t I say no spilling blood on my sacred grounds? If you dare try it, I’ll chop you up and make a stew out of you.”

The guard was taken aback and returned his sword to its sheath.

Mary slammed her arms on the table and leaned in towards Pasta, her eyes intense.

“So, can you get us to him?”

Pasta returned her gaze, his mind racing as he struggled to recall Hudson’s whereabouts. The last time they were all together was in some nondescript warehouse. The reason for them being there was unknown to him. As he looked at Mary, he couldn’t help but wonder how happy Hudson would be to see her if he were here, since he always spoke about her.

“All right, I’ll get you to Hudson,” he said.

Mary smiled, her eyes almost teary, while Gordon simply smirked as he nodded. The crowd had mixed feelings. Some believed his words and began to celebrate in their hearts, while others doubted him and took him as a criminal whom their master would never associate with.

Little Bobby stood out from the crowd as he made his way through the bustling room, clad in his customary suit of armor. As he dropped his sword to the ground, a resounding thud reverberated through the space. The guard who had previously menaced Hudson now lowered his head and obediently followed the other guards as they departed from the table. Little Bobby, the chief guard and protector of the manor, was the longest-serving loyalist of Lord Tony. A seasoned warrior who had faced numerous battles against rival realms in the past, he had earned the moniker “Little Bobby” from the only young individual he held in high regard. Despite the name not quite matching his demeanor, he held it dear. Taking a seat next to Pasta, he casually tossed a piece of pie into his mouth.

“So you said the town is in danger, but you refuse to tell us what danger exactly,” Lille Bobby said. “Now you speak of knowing, Master, and you plan to deceive these kind-hearted folks into a trap of yours. Am I correct?”

“No, I really do know, Hudson, and of course, this isn’t a trap. I would never have thought of that.”

“So tell me, what particular danger are you talking about?”

“It’s not my place to inform you. Hudson should be responsible for that duty.”

Little Bobby sighed and had more pies. Pasta’s blood began to boil as he saw each slice disappearing one after the other, but he was able to calm himself. He realized that the head guard wasn’t the only strong one here; even the guards had potential, and the weird chief seemed like someone who could turn his frying pan into a deadly weapon. But that was just Little Bobby overthinking things as usual.

“You just can’t walk out of the mansion, though,” Little Bobby said, grabbing a piece of meat and biting it off from the skewer. “Even if the guards turn a blind eye, the mercenaries are still present, so you have to deal with them alone.”

“Don’t worry about it. If Hudson can do it, so can I.”

The kitchen became dull as the others bowed their heads and began to run their various tasks or look for anything to keep them busy.

“Who gave you permission to call the Master by his name, you brat?” Gordon screamed, swinging a frying pan towards Pasta’s face, but was stopped by Little Bobby.

“That’s unnecessary, and Pasta, please endeavor to call Hudson by his title instead,” Little Bobby said, holding down the angry bear-like to cook.

Pasta couldn’t imagine calling Hudson that, the same guy who almost ruined his baby makers and the crybaby from the forest. Amid the commotion, a guard brought a chart showcasing the infrastructure of the building.

“Escaping the building without attracting attention is impossible due to the many mercenaries patrolling the mansion. Although they aren’t allowed inside without permission, they monitor everything that enters and exits the manor,” Little Bobby said. “There are more than twenty of them positioned around. The plan is for the guards inside to pretend to chase you through the halls, creating a commotion to alert the mercenaries outside. While they are distracted, we’ll break down the entrance door during the heat of the situation, which will ruin their ambush, and then you’ll take it from there. Gordon, Mary, and I will rendezvous near the meat shack and then search for Hudson together.”

“So basically, we’re deceiving the mercenaries,” Pasta said, taking a bite of his steak.

“It’s a small price to pay to reunite with our master. Let’s get started then.”

*

The halls were eerily quiet as breakfast was winding down. Sparrow lounged on the couch, his feathered friend playing with his fingers, while Hack and Tony engaged in an intense morning game of chess. Tony had instructed his servants to prepare their belongings in anticipation of their departure from Pyrovile. Suddenly, a chilling scream pierced the silence. “The criminal has escaped!”

Undeterred, the three men continued with their activities, seemingly unfazed by the alarming commotion outside.

*

Pasta sprinted through the halls, knocking down any guards in his path. Some even stepped aside for him, as there were no witnesses and they were too lazy to give chase. It was a comically poorly executed pursuit, as the guards had never had to pretend to chase someone before.

“This might actually work. They’re just twenty mercenaries, so I can handle them,” Pasta said as he dashed through the halls and flipped himself off the stairs. The doors suddenly burst open as the mercenaries rushed in wielding weapons.

“Get that criminal!” their leader screamed.

Pasta managed to dodge the flying spear aimed at his face with sheer luck. He ran through the mercenaries, but their numbers kept increasing and their attacks were getting closer to ending his life.

The chase came to an end as he found himself surrounded by mercenaries and guards. They began to smile as they moved in closer. “Ok guys, let’s think this through,” Pasta said. “Just let me go and I’ll give you a little something, something.”

They swarmed towards him, closing in for the kill. He had no idea what to do; the guards could not help him in this situation, and he wasn’t ready to start murdering his attackers. Pasta readied himself and skillfully dodged their attacks as he kept on dashing through them. Some could land their hits on him, but he kept moving.

“Mountain crumble,” a mercenary said, swinging his enormous hammer at Pasta, who dodged it. The ground shattered, and the mercenary continued moving his hammer.

“Come on buddy, chill,” Pasta said, dodging his strike. He reached for his sword but refused to use it. No one knew of its abilities or origin, and he loved to keep it that way.

Another swing was aimed above Pasta. He dodged it again and swept the mercenary off his feet, falling the hammer on his face.

The others were catching up. Pasta ran, finding himself just a few meters from the exit, relief, and anticipation coursing through his veins. The mercenaries’ strategic error in pursuing him left the entrance unguarded. Pasta forcefully kicked the doors open and leaped into the fresh morning air. Bathed in the golden light of the morning sun, he raised his arms skyward.

“This is what freedom truly feels like - warm, tender, and utterly invigorating.”

He noticed a figure falling from the sky and landing on his feet. The figure was wearing a long hat and a monocle, with white hair, and a black suit. Perched on his shoulder was a bird that happily hopped around.

“And where do you think you are going, child?” Sparrow said, placing the bird on his finger and enjoying the morning breeze.

Pasta gazed at the figure, wondering how an old man could have survived such a fall from such a height, but he didn’t have time to be amazed by such a feat.

“Stay out of this, old man. You don’t want to get hurt,” Pasta said, looking back and seeing the approaching mercenaries. “Get out of my way, old man!”

“You know. Ever since I heard about you I’ve been curious”

Pasta dashed towards Sparrow with an unnatural speed. Sparrow saw Pasta coming and stretched out the finger where the bird perched and threw the little critter towards Pasta. In less than a second, the bird transformed into a gigantic winged beast. Pasta, shocked, tried to change his direction but was caught by the giant beast, clawed to the floor. He couldn’t move an inch, staring at the winged creature. Sparrow walked towards his ear.

“Now tell me, how do you know Hades?”