by Jackson Bale
Rathic---can---only---agree---as---he---looks---around---at---the---rather---spacious---basement.
“Unfortunately,---even---with---the---bodies---removed---and---the---blood---cleaned---up,---it---still---continues---to---smell---horrendous.”
Rathic---looks---around,---taking---steps---forward,---David---following---along,---shining---light.
And---then---Rathic---stops,---his---eyes---finding---something.---A---crevice---behind---a---shelf---of---instruments.---Barely---perceptible,---the---smell---strongest---here.
Rathic---moves---forward,---feeling---the---shelf,---putting---his---finger---behind---it.---His---eyes---harden.
Bending---forward,---Rathic---tightens---his---hold---on---the---shelf---and---pushes.---A---snapping---sound---is---heard,---a---sound---of---a---possible---lock---breaking.---Rathic---moves---the---large---shelf,---revealing---another---room.---A---hidden---room.
David,---wide-eyed,---moves---forward---and---shines---his---lantern,---finding---the---source---of---the---smell.---Over---twenty---cages---are---seen,---many---filled---with---rotting---corpses.---The---former---living---beings---had---died---of---starvation.
“May---Eir---have---mercy…”---David---says,---a---look---of---horror---upon---his---features.
But---Rathic---shows---no---emotion---to---the---scene.---Instead,---he---turns---and---extends---his---hand,---grabbing---a---torch.---He---moves---the---torch---towards---David.---David---looks---at---the---torch---for---a---moment,---before---realizing---what---Rathic---wants.
Moving---his---lantern---closer,---he---lights---the---torch,---illuminating---the---room,---finding---that---it---is---significantly---larger---than---what---was---expected.---It---seems---the---underground---room---extends---all---the---way---under---the---front---garden.
Passing---by---spoiled---foods,---dirty---water,---cages---of---corpses,---the---two---quickly---move---to---the---end---of---the---room,---finding---small---cages---with---corpses.---Cages---of---children,---all---having---starved---to---death.
David---immediately---bends---forward---and---hurls.---He---can---handle---the---smell,---even---corpses,---but---children---are---something---that---he---cannot---take.
Rathic---continues---to---stare,---his---face---unmoving,---but---his---emotions---are---in---turmoil.---He---had---expected---horrors,---mistreated---[Slaves].---But---not---like---this.---Never---like---this.
Rathic---turns---to---David,---watching---the---man---retch---continuously---for---a---good---five---minutes---before---the---man---stops.---Tears---can---be---seen---coming---out---of---his---eyes.---But---not---tears---of---pain,---tears---of---horrified---sadness.
Rathic,---moving---his---hand---forward,---helps---David---up,---seemingly---carrying---him---to---a---chair---nearby.
Rathic---takes---his---waterskin---and---moves---it---to---David,---who---takes---it---without---fuss---and---drinks---his---fill.
“Those---children.---I---know---those---children,”---he---starts,---hands---shaking.
A---moment---of---silence---passes,---Rathic---allowing---the---man---to---slowly---get---ahold---of---himself.---He---has---seen---panic,---of---[soldiers]---looking---lost,---unable---to---believe---what---they---can---see.
The---best---way---to---deal---with---such---people---is---to---let---them---come---back---to---themselves.
“I---had---an---orphanage---before---the---purge.---The---children---would---go---out---to---play,---to---be---kids.---But---every---once---in---awhile,---they---would---go---missing.---I---would---search---the---whole---city,---looking---for---them.---But---I---could---never---find---them…”
He---shakes---his---head,---tears---coming---out---of---his---eyes.---He---looks---towards---the---corpses.
“Little---Jerris,---Anthony,---Allis,---Endir,---Barsis…”
David---starts---to---cry---again,---loudly---now.---Wailing---in---sorrow.
Rathic---can---only---watch.---It---was---clear---to---him---that---David---loved---them.---That---he---considers---these---kids---family.---He---probably---feels---responsible.
“I---failed---them…”
Rathic---takes---a---moment.---Looking---up---at---the---ceiling,---his---thoughts---traveling---way---back.---Of---his---first---daughter…---and---her---gruesome---death.
“Failure---hurts…---it---hurts---a---lot.---It---will---follow---you---and---will---never---go---away.---It---is---a---hard---thing---to---overcome.---When---you---fail---at---your---responsibilities…---and---that---which---is---most---precious---to---you---is---taken---away.”
David---turns,---looking---towards---Rathic,---listening---to---his---words.
A---tear---comes---down---Rathic’s---face.
“But---it---is---not---the---end.---It---never---is.---You---will---only---truly---fail---them---if---you---give---up.---Make---their---suffering---worth---something.---Change,---adapt,---become---better.”
David---looks---at---Rathic.---He---wipes---his---face---with---his---shirt,---cleaning---what---he---can.---His---hands---tighten---hard,---knuckles---turning---white.
“I---will.”
Rathic---nods---before---standing---up,---helping---the---man---to---his---feet.
They---move---slowly,---exiting---the---dungeon,---a---kinship---formed---between---them.---One---of---history---and---loss.
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“So---he---told---you---that?”---Rose---asks---as---she---takes---a---bite---of---cake---from---her---abnormally---large---fork.
David---nods,---sitting---at---a---table,---unable---to---look---his---[Lady]---in---the---eye.---The---sights---he---had---seen,---it---had---deeply---both---demoralized---him---but---also---given---him---strength.
He---needs---to---become---better.---He---can’t---just---stop---at---merely---running---a---city---better.---Sure,---the---city---is---prosperous,---his---laws---are---being---followed---properly.---[Slaves]---are---being---treated---better,---fed---better,---and---all---orphaned---children---will---have---a---home.---The---taxes---are---being---used---to---feed---and---train---them---while---protecting---them---from---enslavement.---And---thanks---to---Scarlet's---efforts,---the---[Guards]---will---protect---these---children.---No---longer---will---a---[Butcher]---or---[Baker]---take---the---law---into---their---own---hands---and---punish---the---children---for---some---misdeeds.
David---flexes---his---right-hand---fingers…---all---four---of---them.
“I’m---going---to---have---those---[Rogues]---removed.”
That's---all---he---says.---One---of---the---few---things---in---the---city---which---had---survived---the---cleansing.---[Rogues]---and---[Thieves]---still---live,---hiding---in---the---quickly---shrinking---slum---parts---of---the---city.---A---couple---more---years---and---David---believes---he---would---be---able---to---force---the---[Rogues]---out---from---where---they---are---hiding.
“Didn’t---you---tell---me---before---that---they---would---eventually---be---forced---out---within---a---few---years?”---Rose---asks,---already---knowing---the---answer.---Her---memory---is---fantastic---and---she---wholeheartedly---believes---that---violent---confrontations---would---happen.---The---slums---are---getting---cleaned---up---quickly,---the---[Guards]---would---end---up---becoming---more---vigilant,---eventually---dealing---with---the---Silentclouds---who---will---resort---to---far---more---open---combat.---Many---would---die,---but---they---would---eventually---be---removed.
“Every---second---I---wait,---the---Silentclouds---are---killing---and---harming---innocents.---Murdering---and---raping.---I---will---have---them---removed---at---all---costs.”
David---looks---up,---his---eyes---finding---hers.---She---looks---at---him,---his---hard---resolute---expression.
A---vicious---smile---blooms---on---her---lips,---mouth---slightly---open,---showing---her---chocolate---covered---teeth.
“End---them---my---[Viceroy].---Show---them---what---happens---to---those---who---torture---and---kill.---Make---them---pay---for---their---crimes.”
David’s---eyes---harden.---He---stands---up,---resolute.---All---exhaustion---completely---removed.
He---bows---towards---his---[Lady].
“I---must---go.---There---is---much---preparation---to---be---done,”---he---exclaims---before---walking---out---with---his---head---held---high.---Resolute.
Rose---watches---him---leave,---her---grin---widening.---She---licks---her---lips,---A---manic---expression---on---her---face.
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“Boss,---are---you---sure---about---this?”
Senjin---looks---behind---him,---at---his---underling,---a---Thirty-two---[Rogue]---wearing---entirely---black---clothing,---like---his---own.---He---looks---at---the---others---behind---him,---feeling---uneasy---about---this---whole---situation.
“Yes.---This---is---our---break.---We---need---more---members.---The---[Trader]---is---clearly---wealthy---with---an---enormous---amount---of---enchanted---items.”
The---second---in---command,---the---same---one---who---asked,---swallows---hard.
“This---is---different---from---our---usual---thing.---We---rob---far---away---from---the---castle,---not---near---it.---It’s---not---safe.”
Senjin---glares---at---the---[Rogue],---annoyed---that---the---man---does---not---understand.
“The---city---is---becoming---prosperous---too---quickly.---It---is---becoming---harder---and---harder---for---us---with---less---and---less---people---to---rob.---The---[Guards]---are---increasing---in---number---around---us.---In---a---few---years,---I---doubt---we---could---ever---survive.”
“Then---why---not---kill---the---[Viceroy],---or---even---the---[Lady]?”
Senjin---rolls---his---eyes.---The---idiot---knows---nothing---of---who---they---are---talking---about.---Sure,---Senjin---is---a---level---seventy-two---[Rogue]---with---many---skills---under---his---belt,---but---he---is---still---not---an---[Assassin].---His---skills---like---[Soundless---Movement]---or---[Enhanced---hearing]---are---indeed---useful,---but---entering---the---domain---of---a---high---level---[Lady]---poses---many---dangers.---His---master---had---warned---him---that---many---powerful---[Nobles]---will---develop---skills---that---allow---them---to---know---if---someone---unwanted---had---entered---their---home.---Only---[Assassins]---are---naturally---able---to---ignore---it.
“Because---if---I---kill---the---[Viceroy],---the---[Lady]---will---swarm---the---[Guards]---and---burn---our---home---in---anger.---As---for---killing---the---[Lady],”---Senjin---shakes---his---head.
“Too---risky,---even---with---my---level.---We---need---these---enchanted---items---to---boost---our---current---members.”
The---man---goes---silent---upon---the---realization---that---the---enchanted---items---would---be---distributed---to---the---current---members.---Senjin---knows---all---too---well---the---power---of---greed---and---how---to---best---use---it.
With---that---business---finished,---Senjin---activates---his---[Night---Vision]---skill,---allowing---him---to---see---through---the---darkness,---quickly---finding---that---no---lights---exit---the---windows---and---no---clear---signs---of---sound.---Everyone---is---asleep,---which---is---good---and---partially---unexpected.---Senjin---was---expecting---to---see---a---[Guard]---or---two---roaming---about---the---estate.---They---were---to---be---his---first---targets---to---die---before---moving---to---the---rest---of---the---members---inside.---Killing---would---be---the---easiest---way---to---obtain---all---of---the---goods---that---the---[Trader]---possess---instead---of---obtaining---only---a---couple.
“It---seems---all---is---silent.---Everyone---is---asleep.---Keep---quiet---and---follow.”
Without---waiting---for---a---confirmation,---Senjin---drops---down---from---the---wall---he---had---been---standing---on,---entering---the---garden.---His---feet---touch---the---ground,---making---no---noise.---His---second---lands---next---to---him,---silent---as---well.
As---for---the---others,---some---do---make---noise,---having---dropped---on---a---branch,---but---their---padded---feet---muffle---the---sound---considerably.
Regardless,---Senjin---gives---a---hard---glare---at---the---perpetrators.---Many---beastkin---have---impressive---hearing.---If---such---sounds---were---to---be---reproduced---within---the---house,---then---the---whole---plan---may---go---to---shit.
“Keep---quiet.---Watch---your---footing.---Do---not---make---noise---and---follow---the---plan.”
This---time---he---waits,---making---sure---he---gets---a---nod---from---everyone---as---he---starts---moving---through---the---veritable---jungle---that---is---the---garden.
And---to---his---delight,---it---seems---his---members---have---heeded---the---warning,---making---sure---to---move---slowly---while---keeping---their---footing---from---touching---anything---that---may---make---noise.
Moments---pass---and---he---finally---reaches---the---front---door.---He---touches---the---nob,---finding---it---locked.---With---grace,---he---reaches---back---and---takes---out---a---lockpick.---He---inserts---it,---wiggling---many---times---before---a---barely---audible---click---is---heard.
He---waits,---listening,---and---finds---no---new---sounds.---His---hand---twists---the---nob---and---he---pushes---the---door---open.---He---enters---smoothly,---looks---around,---making---sure---the---coast---is---clear---before---signaling---the---rest---of---his---group---to---enter.---They---move---slowly,---padded---feet---making---no---noise.---He---points---forward,---towards---the---back---and---upwards.
He---knows---the---layout---of---the---house---already.---He---had---been---here---before---and---had---worked---for---the---[Noble].
Making---a---fist---and---moving---it---down,---his---team---spread---out,---moving---towards---the---rooms,---daggers---unsheathed.
He---also---moves,---making---his---way---up---the---stairs,---towards---the---end---of---the---corridor.---Towards---the---last---room,---the---master---bedroom.
Touching---the---handle,---Senjin---smiles,---finding---it---unlocked.---He---enters---slowly,---looking---around,---finding---a---decently---decorated---room.---Taking---a---quick---look---around,---he---moves---towards---the---bed,---dagger---unsheathed.---He---looks---over---it…---and---finds---it---empty.
Warning---bells---quickly---mount---in---his---mind.---That---this---doesn't---make---sense.---Something---is---wrong.
And---then---he---hears---the---screaming,---the---yelling---from---down---below.
But---before---he---can---react---in---any---way---shape---or---form,---he---finds---a---blade---entering---through---his---back,---exiting---his---stomach.
Blood---pools---from---his---mouth,---eyes---widening.---The---blade---retracts---as---quickly---as---it---had---entered.---Senjin---turns---his---head,---watching---slowly---as---the---[Trader]---walks---away,---not---even---waiting---for---the---dead---man---to---fall.
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Rathic---leaves---his---room,---finding---another---[Rogue]---that---is---attempting---to---enter---his---daughter’s---room.
The---[Rogue]---turns---to---him,---attempting---to---unsheathe---his---blade,---but---is---far---too---slow---as---Rathic’s---own---sword---ends---his---life.
Quickly---moving---down---the---hall,---Rathic---moves---towards---where---all---the---screaming---is---happening.---Blood---and---bodies---dot---the---entrance,---Beros---blocking---the---only---exit.---His---blade---is---bloodied---while---he---stands---there---looking---bored.
A---[General]---has---many---skills---for---war,---but---skills---for---war---can---be---used---outside---of---it---as---well.---So---when---his---skill---called---[Imminent---Attack]---rang,---he---instantly---knew---that---a---large---group---of---people---were---coming.
So---he---awoke---and---moved---everyone---to---the---now---cleaned---up---dungeon---while---making---a---plan.
One---of---his---[Guards]---would---block---the---exit---while---the---other---will---end---the---lives---
of---those---who---dare---trample---into---his---home.
Moving---down---the---stairs,---Rathic---moved---towards---the---back,---walking---past---strewn---bodies,---most---dead,---others---dying.---But---he---ignored---them,---instead---walking---farther---down,---past---the---kitchen,---immediately---finding---his---[Guard]---impaling---a---[Rogue].
Moving---to---the---other---side,---Rathic---finds---a---girl,---a---[Thief]---nestled---in---the---corner,---crying.---Her---eyes---are---covered---but---she---is---shaking---and---crying---in---a---corner.---Fearing---for---her---life.
Petite,---young,---but---high---level---enough---to---have---some---skills.---It---was---quickly---clear---to---Rathic---that---the---girl---may---very---well---not---have---wanted---to---go.