Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

First there was confusion.

Then... Pain.

The pain quickly turned to fear.

And finally... came the horror.

Memories of that fateful day when he lost everything always came back, as if they were part of the corruption that afflicted him. It was painful, cruel; but above all else, very exhausting.

Years had passed since then. And in all those years full of madness and suffering... He could not remember the last time he had had a peaceful sleep.

It was torture.

A torture that was desperately trying to make what little sanity he had left disappear.

One from which he could not escape.

A punishment that was imposed on him by the universe itself, for having broken a rule that was supposed to be impossible to break.

A legendary feat that had never before been documented in any religion. Nor had it ever appeared in the history books.

And with that feat, he earned his title.

A title that belonged only to him.

A title that sowed terror among his adversaries.

A title... Which became his curse.

"The Godslayer"

...

His arm ached.

The cracks horrifyingly scattered over his pale skin took over almost his entire right arm. And the neon green running through them in between did nothing but burn him from the inside.

Fortunately for him, the pain was constant. As if he had dozens of needles inserted into his flesh, which he could not remove.

His mind was exhausted.

Even in his dreams he could feel it. The pain haunted him relentlessly, even when he was not conscious.

It kept him alert. Completely paranoid of everything around him.

Even the changing direction of the wind breeze.

No detail escaped him.

And yet... He slept.

Fully aware that it was always going to be the same dream. A memory.

Very real. As real as the time he experienced it firsthand.

The contract, the persecution. They had managed to corner her.

And when the moment finally came when his life was about to be ruined by that deity who watched him with a lupine smile, he woke up.

Agitated and with a restless look in his eyes.

Androxus had a nightmare.

Again.

Looking around, reality hit him like a bucket of cold water.

Then he grunted with resignation and got up from the floor, cracking his neck and back from sleeping leaning against a wall.

And finally, trying to get the slightest sense of direction, he took a close look at his surroundings.

He was in a high place.

Apparently, he had rested on top of a clock tower.

Turning to check the time, he realized that it was not yet midnight, which would explain why he had not yet heard the sound of the bell.

Androxus took a single step forward and tilted his head down, looking to see what lay below the surface above.

A huge crowd of stone brick houses stretched out as far as the eye could see, bordered by wide, extensive cobbled walkways.

The streets, seemingly uninhabited, were guarded by several groups of soldiers wearing armor of a shiny red metal and spears of pure gold.

The guard of the Ruby throne.

Soldiers belonging to the army of one of the most important and prestigious noble families within the kingdom: House Aico.

Their presence in the streets was strange, since they were not under the orders of the magistrate.

They would never make an appearance unless they were guarding a member of the royal family.

But even if they had special permission, the time they chose to make their presence felt in the streets was, to say the least...

Curious.

Regardless of the reason, Androxus did not feel much interest in them at the moment.

But out of nowhere, a strong and immense pain invaded his right arm, forcing him to step back and kneel. His other hand caught his arm in an attempt to contain the pain, while malicious words echoed with hatred in his mind.

"Kill them"

The pain intensified. And Androxus fell backwards against the wall behind him, grunting and gasping in agony. His arm glowed furiously in a phosphorescent green, as if it were burning.

The word in his head repeated itself over and over again. The voices echoed more and more annoyingly.

The pain slowly spread closer and closer to his shoulder.

And moments later, it subsided, granting him a brief respite.

Androxus inhaled and exhaled slowly, taking a moment to catch his breath, relieved that the oppressive force that was trying to consume him had calmed down.

A brief relief.

If he didn't do something about it, the pain would return... Much worse than before.

Androxus used both of his arms to push himself up from the ground. He then focused his gaze back on the group of soldiers walking calmly down the street.

A feeling similar to hunger appeared in his stomach.

And using that feeling as a catalyst for his movements, Androxus took a step forward, dropping down right in front of them.

…

Today's night had been peaceful for the soldiers patrolling the streets of the commercial district.

Their surroundings were completely deserted, with only the wind and their golden spears for company.

They occasionally saw a homeless man sleeping amidst the trash cans near the sidewalk.

The rest were most likely hiding.

_"Poor guy, I hope the others don't find him. Karne didn't make it clear what to do with the homeless regarding the curfew," one of them said in a soft murmur. He was part of a group of six soldiers placed in two rows of three members. One in front and one in the back, who at the mention of the man, turned their gaze in his direction.

_"All the shelters are overwhelmed at the moment. It sounds harsh, but... There are a lot of people who are going to have to get used to sleeping on the streets for a while. Lately, a lot of refugees have arrived from other cities because of the magistrate's skirmishes and the resistance." -

_"I saw a hospital packed to the rafters yesterday. Old people with mutilated limbs, children with burns..." -

_"People sleeping in the doorways, in the hallways... Waiting to be treated for who knows how many hours... Yes, the doctors and nurses are overwhelmed with their work at the moment. Although I heard that Karne will start sending supplies to the affected areas such as food and medicine." -

_"Do you think he really cares? Or is it just to improve his image after the confiscation of the crystals?" -

_"I don't know. But it's clear that he doesn't need money, otherwise he wouldn't bother to carry out a movement like that. Have you seen the weapons they are developing inside their headquarters? It's crazy. It seems that he wants to get enough power to wipe out an entire city with a single explosion" -

_"Mmmm... The resistance is giving him a lot of problems..." -

_"You have no idea. They are the main opposition force to his plans today. Although they don't have the same amount of economic resources as Karne, they have very powerful members within their ranks" -

His companion at his side sighed tiredly.

_"Will things calm down one of these days?" -

_"All wars come to an end at some point. What you should worry about is whether you will survive until then..." -

The six continued the rest of their journey in silence. The soft creaking of their armor created a low, pleasant sound, which was accompanied by the chirping of crickets.

So far, everything seemed perfectly calm and quiet.

_"I wish every night was like this. No thieves, no drunken idiots fighting..." -

_"I understand what you mean. My wife gets very upset when I come home with new wounds. I tell her they're just bumps and scratches, but she insists that I have to lie down on the couch and let her take care of me" -

_"Yeah... And the bad part?" -

_"There's nothing wrong with it. In fact, I always feel anxious to get back. She usually greets me with a hug even before I'm able to open the door completely and she looks me up and down to see if she finds anything out of place. I think... I want to change jobs. I'm tired of worrying her" -

_"Have you thought of something yet?" - another of his colleagues asked him from behind.

_"Yes. I had the idea of buying some merchandise with what I've been saving and opening a small shop at home. That way I'll be able to make money and be close to her. My father used to be a merchant and he taught me a lot of things about business before I decided to join the guard" -

_"And the pay isn't bad" -

_"No, but I'm worried about not being able to return home one day. At first I had bet on my talent for combat and my strength, but now I just want to live a quiet life away from conflict" -

The rest remained silent for a few moments, reflecting on the words he had said. Then, his partner on his right side raised his arm and placed it on his shoulder, making him stagger slightly.

_"It seems you've found stability in your life. I'm happy for you" -

The man put on a surprised expression at his words. Moments later, his mouth curved into a smile as he noticed the rest of his companions smiling at him.

As if supporting his decision.

The group continued walking calmly down the street.

The moon in the sky shone brightly enough to allow them to see their surroundings without the need for other sources of light.

It wasn't until a short while later, when one of the soldiers who was at the back of the formation noticed a strange shadow on the ground.

Surprised, he looked up, suddenly stopping his advance and causing the rest to stop moments later as well.

Everyone was surprised by his behavior, to which they looked in the same direction and were speechless.

A dark figure, falling from the top of a clock tower.

It was like a veil, which descended with grace and elegance.

As the distances shortened, the figure began to slow down.

A dense mist seemed to manifest in the environment. The air became heavy and cold, sending a chill down their spines.

And as it were about to hit the ground, that same mist grew thicker, preventing them from making out the appearance of the figure that fell before them.

It was... Like a demon.

All they could make out through the mist was something enormous, with a pair of horns and glowing green eyes.

Still, like a predator with his gaze fixed on a prey.

The figure of his shadow made them feel small, as if there was more behind that thing than what they could see.

A light breeze passed by their sides, dispelling the mist and finally revealing the individual who had made an appearance so suddenly.

A man.

Tall and imposing in appearance.

He wore a strange combination of armor and formal attire, with a torn cape held up by a belt around his waist.

His left hand was covered by a dark leather glove, while on the rest of his arm, a large set of dark-colored torn fabrics tried to hide the blackened veins of his pale, sickly skin. He also wore a pair of heavy metal boots which protected him from his knees to his feet.

His most striking feature: a muscular right arm of a sickly pale color covered in neon green cracks that extended almost to his shoulder.

The fingers of his hand ended in sharp claws similar to those of a beast.

And to top it off, a hellish-looking helmet, given the two dark horns arranged on top. A pair of bright green flashes watched them through two holes at eye level.

It took the soldiers several seconds to react. However, they all shared the same feeling of unease.

_"Hey, what are you doing out here? There's a curfew, in case you haven't heard!" - One of them said, trying to talk to the individual who had stood in front of them.

Unfortunately, this person had not come to talk.

Instead, he took a strange revolver that was placed on his waist with his right hand and gave it a couple of turns with skill, then opened the cylinder with a slight movement of his wrist.

Everyone was immensely scared.

This type of weapon was extremely rare and valuable.

Due to the cost of its manufacture, there were only a few within the millions of individuals alive within the continent who had the luxury of being able to show that they were in possession of one.

And perhaps the most terrifying aspect they possessed: The ability to take a life with just one pull of the trigger.

Six green ethereal bullets entered the chamber, which closed, then made it turn with the movement of his hand and slowly pointed the weapon towards them.

The soldiers pointed their spears in their direction and stood on guard.

_"I-I won't repeat it again! Put down your weapon... And come with us!" -

But his words fell on deaf ears.

The bell of the clock tower echoed loudly in the place, as if their death sentences had been dictated.

Moments later, he pulled the trigger. The gun barrel roared, and a green flash flew past their heads.

Consequently, the disgusting sound of something piercing through flesh and metal resonated in their ears, then they felt a slight rumble followed by the loud sound of a metal rod spinning on the ground.

None of them knew what happened.

They all stood in their places, completely frozen and stunned.

The rumble of the clock bell kept them in a trance.

Its reverberating noise ran through them from head to toe, somehow preventing them from moving.

Or had fear been the cause of that?

It was not until the noise stopped... That one of them decided to turn around, just to shout and make the rest wake up.

On the ground lay the lifeless body of one of their friends.

A hole had appeared in the middle of the forehead of his helmet. Made with perfect precision.

It had penetrated his brain, killing him instantly.

_"Thomas!" -

They quickly turned around and took combat stances.

However, when they wanted to face him, this person was no longer there.

_"(He disappeared?!)" - They asked themselves worriedly.

They looked around for him everywhere, but with no luck.

It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

Moments later, they heard another shot.

Another one of them fell face first to the ground. The shot evidently came from behind the helmet.

But when they turned to look where the perpetrator was, there was no one there.

There were four left.

Seized by fear, one of them began to breathe heavily at the surreal situation they were experiencing. His hands dropped the spear he was carrying and he began to run.

The shot was heard again. This time above them.

The remaining soldiers looked up, but found nothing. Then, they focused their gaze on the comrade who tried to flee until a few moments ago.

Dead, face down on the ground.

There were three left.

Even when his target was moving, he landed the headshot.

Suddenly, a gust of wind came from one of his sides.

One of the soldiers screamed in agony, after feeling a heavy object land on his knee, causing his leg to break and him to fall to the ground, barely managing to hold on with his arms. Then, another shot was heard.

The other two soldiers managed to see him for a millisecond, pointing their spears at his torso, before trying to impale him. Unfortunately, he disappeared in a cloud of dust and dark smoke, causing both of them to hit the air.

There were two left.

Both of them became exasperated when they saw that they couldn't hit the target.

_"What kind of untouchable demon is this monster? He killed most of us as if we were insects..." - One of them said to himself, between desperate gasps.

His body trembled in fear, internally begging to find a way to escape this situation.

The two of them leaned on their backs and observed their surroundings with caution.

They both felt like helpless prey of a lurking predator that seemed to be playing with them.

It didn't take long for them to feel that same gust of wind return.

The man had reappeared from their sides, taking advantage of the blind spot of their helmets.

His hands grabbed both of them by the head and slammed them together, briefly stunning them.

The killer hit one of them in the face, causing him to fall backwards to the ground. He then shot him in the head, causing blood and pieces of brain to spill onto the ground.

There was only one left.

This "invisible" enemy killed them one by one like flies.

Without any effort. And without giving them the slightest chance to defend themselves.

Desperate, the last one shook his head trying to recover and tried to impale the killer with his spear. Unfortunately for him, the "demon" looked in his direction a thousandth of a second before he was able to hit him... And disappeared again, surrounded by a dark mist.

The soldier, overcome by confusion, let his guard down for a moment, but moments later he felt the surface of an object press behind his helmet, to his surprise.

Without being able to do anything, he heard a "click", then went deaf and felt his vision turn red.

Soon, his legs went limp. His eyes gradually closed, as if he were very sleepy.

And finally, his body hit the ground.

Life...

Had abandoned him.

...

The hunger was gone, at least for now.

The curse periodically forced him to kill in order to live.

Sometimes, a few. Other times... A few weren't enough.

His thirst for souls, as far as he knew, had no cure. At least not a known one.

Androxus sighed.

With the revolver in hand, he opened the cylinder and reloaded the weapon.

The ethereal-looking bullets were released with a soft hiss similar to that of an engine releasing heat and new ones appeared to take their place.

Then, he put it on the side of his belt and looked at the spectacle he left behind.

Six corpses. All six, dead from a shot to the head.

One of them had a broken leg, which he then bent in a direction that was not at all natural, using his brute strength.

The others were definitely in better condition, even after having lost their lives.

He felt nothing for them. After all, it was something he had become accustomed to lately.

Kill or be killed.

The first few days he had obtained this arm turned out to be a nightmare.

He knew nothing.

Neither of his powers, nor of the apparent physical ability he now possessed.

The elders of the outer court, just like any old man attached to old ways... feared him.

So they kicked him out, thus losing his job and his rank within the court.

Unfortunately, it was not until a short time later that the chance of fate...

Would force him to become a criminal...

The curtains on the windows of the houses around him moved slightly. Several people spied on the situation on the street from the safety of their homes.

But when Androxus turned his gaze in their direction, they immediately abandoned any kind of eye contact and closed them again, hiding from the watchful gaze of the dangerous "killer" now roaming the streets.

His ears picked up a strange sound. It became louder and louder, until he could identify what belonged to.

Another group of soldiers.

Their metal boots and armor creaked loudly with each step; they must have heard the gunshots.

Androxus turned around. And just a moment later, he was no longer there.

The group of soldiers quickly arrived at the scene and looked horrified at the corpses on the ground.

_"Secure the perimeter and inform the others of what happened! Whoever did this must not be far away!" - One of them said. It must have been the captain of the squad.

The others nodded and began to disperse into the streets.

Meanwhile, the captain knelt down in front of the corpses and checked if there was any alive.

His hand slightly moved the helmet of the one closest to him, only to turn the corpse's head in his direction and be amazed by the huge hole perfectly made in the middle of his forehead.

A little stream of blood had begun to flow through the wound.

"For heaven's sake... Who could have done this?" - He muttered to himself.

Androxus watched them silently from his hiding place, several meters away.

He had managed to sneak away by moving towards a somewhat distant roof. And now he was crouching, being covered by the dark silhouette of a larger building.

It had been a mistake to let himself be seen by the people inside their homes.

They could now give a description of him to the court officials, which would make it easier for them to find him.

He could try to threaten them into not saying anything, of course.

But it would be difficult to find them one by one in a situation that would be advantageous for him. Besides, it was not his style to threaten innocents.

Not many years ago, he belonged to the same order that was now trying to hunt him down, like the dozens of bounty hunters and criminals who felt skilled enough to try to collect the price that had been placed on his head.

A place which he considered almost a home, until they decided to turn their backs on him after completing their last mission.

Androxus shook his head, trying to free himself from those thoughts.

It was not time to regret, he had to leave the city.

Unfortunately for him, his plans to escape would have to be postponed.

_"Hmmm?!" - Feeling a burning spot on the back of his neck, Androxus quickly moved to the side surrounded by a powerful dark mist, only to end up dodging a shot which would have hit him in the head if he had not moved in time.

He quickly raised both hands and absorbed a large amount of shots that went straight to his chest with a green magic barrier, which after a few moments ceased.

The remains of the bullets fell to the ground with a sharp clatter. And Androxus made the barrier in front of him disappear, then got up without any damage.

With his gaze, he tried to discern as quickly as he could the location or even the figure of the person who had just attacked him.

Until he saw a strange and transparent silhouette run towards him.

Androxus quickly raised his left arm to defend himself from a kick that was headed straight for his face. He then counterattacked by punching the invisible figure in the stomach with his right arm, sending it flying several meters away and making it fall hard on its back to the ground.

However, the figure got up in just an instant later, albeit with difficulty.

Androxus draw his revolver in response and pointed it at this figure.

The person expressed a couple of moans of pain. Moments later, his invisibility dissipated and he progressively revealed his appearance.

A man, wrapped in dark clothing with a large cape. On his face rested a golden mask with a single hole, belonging to his right eye.

The weapon with which he had shot him turned out to be a customized SMG with a suppressor.

Androxus recognized the man instantly.

_"VII..." -

The individual now known as VII laughed softly, pained.

_"Ugh... How long has it been, Androxus. You look... Terrible" -

_"What the hell are you doing here? Those old geezers finally decided to send you?" - Androxus asked with a distorted and annoyed voice.

_"Not really, it's Lex who's in charge of that job. It was a coincidence that I found you here. And I must say... It was a beautiful show you put on back there. Not even I would be able to finish them all off with such elegance and precision" -

Androxus clicked his tongue when he realized his carelessness.

It was a few long, tense seconds in which Androxus didn't stop pointing his revolver at him.

His mind analyzed the hundreds of possibilities and reasons why "the executioner" of the court was here.

And since he couldn't think of any other than that he was sent to put an end to it once and for all, Androxus threatened him into revealing his intentions.

_"Give me one reason... To not take your life like you tried to take mine a few moments ago" -

VII looked at him defiantly with his only visible eye.

Androxus kept his grip on the weapon firm. His senses focused in case he received another attack.

VII might not be a match for him if it came to hand-to-hand combat.

But the man in front of him had many tools and tricks up his sleeve. Courtesy of the judges of the court.

Tricks which Androxus unfortunately did not fully know.

Being overconfident for just an instant could mean death.

To his surprise, Androxus saw VII lower the weapon and adopt a more relaxed posture.

_"I was just curious about your strength. I'm impressed by how you've stayed alive this far with such a high bounty on your head" -

_"What?" - Androxus tilted his head slightly in confusion.

VII laughed again, trying to ease the tension in the place.

_"I'm sorry I did that to you, really. I just wanted to confirm that the rumors were true" -

Androxus continued to point his revolver at his head, not believing a single word he said.

_"What rumors? Stop playing around and tell me what you're doing here already. I've killed hundreds before you and I have no problem adding another one to my list" -

VII rolled his only visible eye on his face in annoyance.

_"Okay, I admit it. I've been looking for you. I know what happened to you. And the way you were treated by the court judges was unfair, in my opinion." -

Then, he pointed to his right arm with his head.

_"That arm of yours... It forces you to kill people in order to live, doesn't it?" -

Androxus's hard facade wavered for a moment, as he was tempted to lower his weapon.

_"How do you know that...?" -

It was strange.

After all these years, he met the person he least expected to be after him. But on top of that, he had come up with this statement that could very well have been indicating that the secret member of the court had been investigating him for some time.

_"I don't understand how it is possible that a man like you, who has served the magistrate and the court so diligently in the past, out of nowhere decided to murder people and become one of the most wanted criminals in the kingdom. And I don't think it was just a coincidence that all this started right after you finished your last mission. A complete magical disaster, according to reports" -

Androxus narrowed his eyes under his helmet.

He could shoot him in the head right now and he wouldn't have to bother talking to him or even worry about him trying to do something strange.

However, something inside him wanted to know what he had to say.

The person in front of him was not the type of person to pay you a visit without reason.

Still hesitant, Androxus nodded slightly to him to continue talking.

VII placed his SMG on his shoulder, then began to walk in circles in front of Androxus.

_"I've been investigating a series of very particular cases over the last few years. Hundreds of deaths throughout the territory of Crosswind Bastion. The victims: killed by a single shot to vital points of the body with a gun. As you know, crystal-fed weapons are an extremely rare type of equipment and exclusive to the magistrate's officers, the resistance... And the members of the outer court" -

_"And so what? Are you going to tell me that you have managed to discover my location through the trail of dead people I have left in my way?" -

_"Nothing could be further from the truth. Seeing how these events were repeated in every city I went to, I only had to quicken my pace to find you at the very moment you were going to act. The bodies I found were mainly gang members, members of the Thousand Hands Guild and soldiers of both the magistrate as well as the personal guard of several of the kingdom's nobles. I have had the pleasure of finding even corpses of bounty hunters and criminals highly sought after by the court officials. At the time, I was not very clear about what seemed to motivate you to do this. My first thought was that this was all about a settling of scores. A business deal gone bad, or maybe a simple gang fight. But there were no corpses with which I could relate what happened. It was as if out of nowhere, in the middle of the night, someone decided to attack them and they didn't expect it at all. The casualties seemed strangely one-sided. And then I found a similar scene, some time later, with almost the same pattern. And not just once, but MANY times. Anyone could have said that you were an serial killer, who was simply killing everything that crossed his path for mere fun. And it would make sense, given that your movement pattern has been very irregular, as if you had been wandering without a destination" -

VII suddenly stopped.

_"But considering that's not the case... I've been able to formulate a couple of theories" -

Then, he looked Androxus in the eyes.

_"First: You're not killing all those people out of evil, but necessity. The wave of deaths that has plagued the cities began to escalate the moment you abandoned the magistrate. But as far as I've seen... You were a good man. Always placing your honor and duties as a priority. Someone so upright and dedicated to a cause would not deviate so much from his ideals for an inconvenience like your expulsion from the court. That would have to have been because of... Your new condition" -

Androxus continued to point his weapon in the direction of VII. Although his exterior remained hard on the outside, a huge conflict swirled within him.

The man in front of him was the person he least expected to believe in him.

From his point of view, he was nothing more than a simple murderer under the orders of the elders of the court.

Why would he care to inquire about the culpability of a target?

_"And second... The fact that your movement pattern across the continent was not fixed indicated confusion, as if you did not know where to go. If you had wanted to escape, you would have traveled to other lands. But it would be useless, since you would still have to live with the obligation to kill people in order not to die. The only solution to that would be to try to find a way to get rid of the curse. That was what convinced me that all those corpses throughout the kingdom had a meaning. All those people... They died because of your condition. And the reason why they are scattered throughout all the cities of the continent... It is because you are trying to survive, while you find a way to get rid of the curse" -

The eyes of Androxus' helmet glowed in an even deeper shade of green. His body temporarily remained motionless, surprised.

VII narrowed his eye under the mask. Then, he began to walk slowly towards him.

_"If the court had been wise, your condition could have been treated. And you would still be one of us, fighting the real evils that abound out there. But instead... Fear took over them. And they decided to expel you from the order, rejecting the idea of trying to understand your new power, wasting a man's talent and potential. And condemning him to die alone, prey to terrible agony. And I can't blame them. After all, humans only have two ways to react to the unknown: Curiosity... Or fear" -

Androxus strengthened his focus and pointed his gun at VII again. However, VII continued to advance until he found himself face to face with the barrel of the gun.

_"Of course, my theory may be wrong and you really have gone crazy enough to kill indiscriminately" - VII placed his hand on the barrel of Androxus' revolver and rested it against his forehead, then looked at him defiantly.

_"If that's the case... Go ahead, I'm here in front of you. Do it and you'll have one less thing to worry about as you head to your next destination. The place of your next massacre." -

Androxus' grip on his revolver tightened, as he was tempted to pull the trigger of his weapon. VII extended both of his arms to the sides, then continued mocking.

_"Prove me I'm wrong and pull the trigger. Show me and the world that there's nothing but a fucking murderer under that mask. I'm handing myself over on a silver platter, come on! Where has all that indifference to the lives of others gone?" -

Androxus gently pulled the trigger, annoyed by VII's provocations. His damaged mind, on one hand, wanting to end the life of this guy who was testing the little patience he had.

And on the other, his still sane side, which retained the vestiges of who he had been years ago.

He was better than this.

It was stupid to succumb to the provocations of this guy in front of him, who was clearly only doing this to force him to lose his patience.

Between both mental conflicts, Androxus was debating what to do

What was another dead person?

He had already killed enough to find himself beyond any kind of redemption.

Even though those who had suffered an untimely end were mostly scum who most likely deserved it, they were still lives.

Too many to simply ignore the fact that all of those people's deaths were nothing but part of complete massacres carried out by his own hand.

Androxus stood still for a few seconds, his gun pointed directly at VII's forehead.

His revolver making soft sounds due to his strong grip.

_"What are you waiting for? Pull... the trigger, Andy" - VII said softly.

Androxus looked slightly annoyed at the name he had called him.

His old name, before joining the outer court.

His emotions seemed to control his body's decisions. His finger on the trigger of the gun, extremely tempted to shoot.

But his resolution and determination in the face of the curse was stronger, so he sighed and finally lowered his arm.

It was not worth killing VII, who was only trying to make him lose his patience.

VII narrowed his eye, as if he had a smile under his mask.

_"Hmph... I knew you wouldn't do it" -

Androxus gave his revolver a couple of turns, then placed it on his waist.

_"What do you want?" - He asked in a serious, more curious tone.

_"Just like that? You're not going to ask me if this is a trap and I really plan to betray you?" -

Androxus crossed his arms, then looked at him as if he were saying: "Really?"

_"You've gone to too much trouble to try to find me. Much more collecting the little information that exists about me after my expulsion from the court. It could be that you simply want to use me, then get rid of me. But..." -

Androxus paused briefly.

_"I would kill you before you could, so for the moment... I will listen to my curiosity" -

VII smiled under the mask, then walked towards a wall and extended his left arm towards a higher ceiling.

_"Come with me" -

Moments later, a kind of hook shot out, which raised him quickly.

Androxus moved in that same direction at the speed of a bullet, being surrounded by a dark mist. And when he was up there, he stared at VII, who was watching the group of soldiers who had arrived at the place where he had killed his companions.

They helped each other by loading the bodies into the cargo compartment of a cart pulled by a pair of horses.

_"You've already met them before, so I'll spare you their introduction. The magistrate has negotiated an alliance with House Aico, after the abandonment of most of his officers. He recently declared a curfew in order to investigate the city for possible rebel meetings. These guys are under his command" -

Androxus crossed his arms, trying to capture the information that he was telling him, but without much interest in it.

_"Mmmm... I didn't know the magistrate was cutting back on personnel" -

_"Yes, a lot has happened since you left: The Sentinel Order was disbanded, Viktor was demoted, Skye has become one of his closest generals as well as his personal informant. And on top of that, most of the ex-members of the Sentinel Order have joined the resistance. But the magistrate enjoys great economic power and resources thanks to the mass confiscation of the crystals, so he's trying to find a way to get new allies through deals and agreements" -

_"It doesn't seem to have gone badly for him..." -

_"Not at all. He now has the help of the Primus of House Aico. Lian, the heir to the Ruby Throne. And a strange Leopori mage with extensive knowledge about ancient magic and spiritual energy. I've tried to research it, but I still don't know much about her" -

Androxus nodded disinterestedly.

"There is something that has been bothering the court for some time now. And it has to do precisely with the projects that the magistrate has set in motion" - VII said, while crossing his arms.

_"I suppose you'll tell me what the problem is that bothers them so much..." -

VII could feel the slight tone of impatience from Androxus, to which he turned his head towards him and asked a question.

_"Do you know why the court has a super soldier who acts in secret and behind Karne's back?" -

Androxus took a moment to formulate his answer. His head tilted slightly.

_"Mmmm... I guess because they needed someone who could carry out missions that went beyond the moral limit. A killer who would make sure to fulfill his objective no matter the cost or the lives that were sacrificed in the process. After all, the members of the court were charged with the pursuit of criminals, but there were matters in which we could not meddle due to legal problems or simply because they were tasks that were beyond us both mentally and physically" -

_"Bingo, you hit the nail on the head. You see, the magistrate's son has been conducting some secret experiments lately. Experiments that... According to the church of the pyre, would be considered blasphemies. Heresies. Reasons bad enough to condemn a man to the sentence of public execution. And which we would never have been able to find out about if the court had continued to depend on its officers" -

_"You mean Corvus? I always knew that boy had a strange fascination with the supernatural world. If these experiments are being backed by the magistrate, I doubt the church of the pyre would be able to do anything about it. Either way... What is the scandal behind all this?" -

_"They are playing with forces they cannot understand. Evils so great that they could wipe out the entire world in a matter of days. Forces... That at the time, condemned you to live the rest of your life the way you live now" -

The eyes of Androxus' helmet shone with realization. He lowered his gaze, while speaking with venom in his voice.

_"The abyss..." -

VII nodded, while continuing with his explanation.

_"I have infiltrated one of the last meetings of the council of nobles. Corvus has presented a project in front of the heads of the most prestigious and powerful families in the kingdom. He has obtained some ancient relics dating back to primitive times, in an ancestral Ska'drin temple on some remote islands. He has planned to close the portal to the abyss located in the village of Seris, by means of the relic" -

Androxus shook his head. Despite the good intentions that seemed to be behind it, such a feat seemed ridiculous to achieve.

_"Well, that would help stop so many human sacrifices by the pyre church. But... That thing has been in our world for a long time and we still know almost nothing about it. How is it that he is so sure that he can do it?" -

_"He claims to have discovered the way to stabilize the energy of his dimension by means of crystals. In his words, this could represent an unprecedented advance in technological terms. The council seemed delighted. And after some debate, they agreed to give him the go-ahead" -

_"Ha, yeah right... Those idiots see nothing but benefit in every damn string they can pull. Have he shown proof of that?" -

_"A few, with remnant energy from the relic he has in his possession. But..." -

VII crossed his arms.

_"I wouldn't risk trying to play with forces like that. He's trying to summon mystical and corrupt entities to our world, with the idea that he'll be able to contain them" -

VII sighed silently, resigned.

_"That won't end in anything but a disaster" -

An awkward silence formed between the two. A silence, which Androxus broke.

_"So... What's the big plan? Infiltrate wherever his stuff is and steal the relic? Threaten him to abandon his plan, warning him of the damage that could be caused by trying to play with things he doesn't know about? Or... Kill him? Because it's clear that you want to stop him, but so far all i've heard is a idiot in dark robes with a vigilante complex talking about how the world is in danger, too busy listening to his own voice to offer a solution" - He asked with annoyance, tired of the court's executioner beating around the bush and not getting straight to the point.

VII slowly turned his face towards him. His only visible eye was half-closed, as if looking at him with disdain.

_"I see that the curse still hasn't taken away that bitterness that everyone in the court complained about" -

Androxus let out a light laugh at VII's response.

_"That's what happens when you're forced to deal with idiots every day" -

VII laughed. His gaze turned away into the distance, as he tried to get back on topic.

_"But yes. In short... I was ordered to watch that whatever Corvus does does not result in total chaos. And if he fails, I will have no choice but to kill him and take the relic for later confinement, although... I suspect that will be the least of my problems" -

Androxus raised an eyebrow under his helmet at what VII mentioned.

_"Oh, so you were going to kill him anyway. But... Can I know the reason why those old geezers decided to take such an extreme measure? I mean... It's not like nothing would happen if the son of the ruler of more than half of the kingdom's territories and with more power on the continent is found dead in a ditch, but there must be a good reason behind that decision" -

_"His constant exposure to the abyss. They believe that something dangerous could be motivating his actions, so I was ordered to kill him in case things were to get out of control to avoid future disasters" -

Androxus crossed his arms, while looking away.

_"So much paranoia... Yeah, it definitely sounds like something those bags of bones ordered you to do. And by the way, where do I fit in here? You've been talking for more than five minutes about something you know I couldn't care less about, but I don't see the reason why I would need to know this" -

VII closed his only visible eye, then sighed.

_"I need your help" -

Androxus froze for a few moments. Moments later, he looked at him.

_"Please... Don't make me laugh. The most esteemed member of the outer court in need of help? You must have gotten rusty in my absence. It would be easier if you were assigned some officers as companions for this mission" -

_"Yes, but since what happened with you... The court has refused to send more of its officials to deal with cases with abyssal creatures or entities. They fear that they... Will become corrupted, just like you" -

_"Ha! As if that maked me worse than them... And what about you? Aren't they afraid of what would happen if they sent you?" -

_"I am different from the rest. The experiments that were done on me have resulted in me gaining some resistance to their influence. But the creatures of the abyss are still dangerous. And I fear that if this gets out of control, I won't be able to contain the disaster on my own" -

_"You speak as if you expect the worst to happen" -

_"Because that's how I work. Every tool, every weapon, every little piece of information... Everything contributes to the probability of success I have in completing the orders I receive. You said it yourself: The abyss is a phenomenon about which there is practically no information. I have no way of knowing how it will react to the relic that Corvus possesses, therefore... The best I can do is prepare for the worst. Even if that means having to collaborate with unexpected allies" -

Androxus observed him in silence for a few moments.

Preparation, of course... It was the best weapon that could exist against uncertain scenarios or contingencies that were not known much about.

But it was ironic, since... How can you prepare for something you know nothing about?

The court's executor's concern about this problem was understandable.

_"You are one of the only man I know who has come into contact with an abyssal entity and survived. What is more surprising: your encounter gave you exceptional skills and strength, although at the cost of the life you used to lead. The court entrusted me with a task that they were aware could perhaps get out of hand even for me. And believe me when I tell you... That with what we are dealing with here, it is perhaps even bigger than the two of us together" -

Androxus meditated on his answer for a few moments.

That VII, of all people, decided to ask him for help... It was strange.

That he asked for help in the first place was even stranger.

Perhaps the "executor" of the court was not a prideful person like he had initially believed and was simply being cautious.

But he couldn't trust him so easily.

There was something he wasn't telling him.

"There hasn't been any major news about the Abyss Portal in Seris Village yet. The easiest solution would be to kill Corvus and steal the relic. Why ask me for help, if you can avoid disaster on your own?" -

_"The appearance of abyssal creatures has been increasing recently. But... Their numbers are worrying. We have never seen so many of them so frequently these past few months. Conveniently, they have been ignoring the cities and are heading in a specific direction like herds. And I don't think I need to tell you where their advance is headed..." -

_"Mmmm... So an outbreak of abyssal creatures..." -

His hand rested on the chin of his helmet, considering the situation.

Several times he had encountered beings from the abyss himself, which had somehow accessed his world through a dimensional breach or a ritual of some lunatic sectarian who worshipped abyssal deities.

Dangerous creatures straight out of an adult's nightmares. Being so ferocious and dangerous, to the point of not knowing fear, they were nothing more than brainless monsters whose sole objective was to kill and consume.

Although they were different from the goddess who had cursed him.

These monsters were beasts, without the ability to reason.

But not for that reason less dangerous.

They could end up representing an annoying obstacle within the plans of the court's executor.

However, they were convenient for Androxus to find, since they were always in possession of the souls of the victims they murdered. Souls that Androxus could claim.

It was no surprise that people feared them so much: Being killed by one of them was like losing access to the next life and simply disappearing from the world.

_"Interesting..." -

Androxus lowered his arms and looked at VII.

_"Assuming that I decide to help you, since it seems that you have no one else to ask... What do I get in return?" - He asked, with a slight tone of distrust in his voice.

VII seemed to smile under the mask, as if he expected that question.

_"Oh, come on. Couldn't you do this out of the goodness of your heart? If you still have one, of course" -

_"I've been working for the order for free for far too long. And the time I have before the curse ends me is limited. I can't afford to help you unless my reward is worth it." -

VII chuckled softly, as he began to circle around the place and explain his options to Androxus.

_"Your reinstatement to the court is out of the question, given that you already have a very loaded criminal record. Besides, I have a slight feeling... That you don't wish to return there either" -

Androxus nodded vaguely, not the slightest need to deny the clearly true facts he was stating about himself.

_"So, putting that aside... I have a couple of options for you" -

VII raised the thumb of his right hand.

_"Money" -

Then, his index finger.

_"And information" -

Androxus frowned beneath his helmet at the mention of the second option.

_"What kind of information?" -

VII placed his hands behind his back, as he stopped at the edge of the building and looked at the now empty street below them.

_"I have knowledge of the location of several individuals who could help you get rid of the curse. Sorcerers, herbalists, witches... Not very well known, but extremely skilled and outstanding in what they do. Of course, it will be up to them to decide to solve your problem, although I do not guarantee that they will succeed" -

Androxus looked at him suspiciously for a few moments, questioning the credibility of his words.

To begin with, sorcerers and witches had an easy time hiding their tracks and even the places where they lived.

One would never find them unless they decided to contact oneself.

He wasn't quite sure how an herbalist could help him with his problem.

Unless he was some kind of shaman and had knowledge about how to dispel curses through rituals.

And even if he managed to find them, he would have to pray that these people were unaware of everything he had done so far and out of the goodness of their hearts wanted to help him. Because he knew he was known.

And not for very good reasons.

Still... He considered the idea.

It was better than wandering around the kingdom with no idea where to go.

But he still ran the risk of VII lying about having the knowledge he claimed.

Every second he wasted was ground the curse gained throughout his body.

If this didn't bring a beneficial result for him, he would only have wasted time and be even closer to losing control.

With a sigh, Androxus relaxed his shoulders and answered.

_"Very well... I'll help you" -

_"Excellent decision! To be honest, I didn't think you'd accept" - A proud smile seemed to form beneath his mask.

However, it only took VII a blink to see how Androxus had now extended his right arm to point his revolver directly at his face.

Even though he was wearing the helmet, VII was able to feel his dangerous gaze.

_"Just so you know, if you're lying to me... I'll find you. And I won't stop until I see you dead and with your head full of holes..." -

Faced with his threat, VII was finally able to feel a chill run down his spine.

Perhaps because this time he had felt Androxus's killer instinct.

It was not convenient for him to play with the hopes of the god killer.

With a slight nod from him, Androxus lowered the weapon and gave it a couple of twists with his hand, then placed it on his belt and looked away.

_"Good..." -

VII let out a silent sigh of relief. Then, he settled his throat.

_"Regarding the plan... Meet me tomorrow at this same place, at midnight. There are some details I have to take care of..." -

Androxus grunted in affirmation.

VII began to walk to the other end of the roof, then glanced at Androxus out of the corner of his eye.

Then, he extended his left arm towards a taller building, anchoring himself to the wall by means of his hook.

_"Ah, one more thing" -

Androxus looked at him, his curiosity slightly heightened.

_"Lex is in the city" -

And moments later, the eyes of his helmet shone brightly.

VII continued speaking, satisfied that he had captured his interest.

_"I've been following his trail... But I don't think he knows you're here. He's been interrogating people and investigating crimes that have nothing to do with you in an attempt to find you. It's a curious coincidence that you're both in the same place, but a coincidence nonetheless" -

VII turned his gaze slightly towards him.

_"I recommend you to be careful, if you don't want to be forced to do something that you might regret later" -

And with a small wave of his hand, he catapulted himself towards the building and quickly began to move through the city, until he disappeared from Androxus' sight.

Androxus growled, then turned around and muttered.

_"Him... here...?" -

His former co-worker and best friend.

The one who had also turned his back on him the day he was expelled from the order, when he should have supported him.

His hands closed into fists, which he clenched tightly.

_"Why are you so determined to kill me...?" - He muttered.

Androxus closed his eyes and breathed, reorganizing his thoughts.

Then he opened them and focused his gaze on the top of the clock tower where he was resting until recently.

The hour had not passed much past midnight.

The night was young. And there was no better time to begin searching undisturbed than now.

The talk with VII had refreshed his knowledge of his surroundings a bit. And if what the court's executor had told him turned out to be true, it would greatly help him find a way to get rid of the curse that had been afflicting him for years.

Androxus looked down and observed his arms closely.

On his left hand he still wore the same dark-colored glove he used to wear when he worked for the outer court.

However, since then, it had worn out. The abuse was evident from overuse and lack of care.

Very different from his right arm, which had destroyed the other glove when it transformed into the abomination he was now.

It had a sickly pale color. From the phalanges of his hands, which had grown claw-like nails, to his shoulder, poorly covered by several black cloths, dozens of bright green cracks ran along his arm.

Like an infection that was slowly consuming him.

Looking closely, he could discern how a weak bright pulse made his arm shine at times, then dim and then shine again.

Androxus sighed.

His current state was pitiful.

Several parts of the clothing around his body were torn to pieces.

The armor on his torso had several cuts and dents. The once glorious shine of the metal was now covered by a light layer of grime and rust as well.

Not to mention the metal boots he was wearing.

How long had he been wandering the kingdom?

How long had he been living this way?

Would his search ever end?

Was there really a cure out there for what was happening to him?

If there was... Could he really be normal again?

He could hardly remember his own face under his helmet.

The faces of his victims appeared over and over again in his head instead, as if his brain was constantly torturing him by reminding him that he had become a monster.

Ugly, deformed. And shunned by everyone.

It would be so simple if he took his revolver and ended his own life right now.

Even if he managed to heal himself...

What would change?

He had no place to go. And he had no one waiting for him either.

He was alone.

All the lives he had claimed, compared to his own...

He hadn't wanted to do it.

The voices that had tormented his head since the day he had been cursed constantly urged him to do things he would never do voluntarily.

He was alone as a result of having resisted their influence since then.

It was like an endless fight to see who was in control of his own body.

A fight which, with great difficulty, he had not yet lost.

But it was becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.

It was inevitable not to notice how each day he felt more tired. It had been a long time since he had the opportunity to rest properly.

And it didn't seem like that was going to change anytime soon.

Androxus gently cracked his neck, trying to muster his resolve. Then, with a contemplative look, he looked out over the city.

_"Not yet..." -

He couldn't give up.

He had come so far on his own, even if he hadn't made any progress in finding a way to get rid of the curse.

He wasn't sure if his efforts would be worth it, but he didn't want to give up without trying.

Even if redemption was nothing more than a fleeting and distant dream, it was better than simply living without trying to find a purpose.

Life had hit him really hard. Maybe hard enough to say it had almost killed him.

But if he was still alive... It was for a reason.

Unknown to him at the moment.

But there it was.

And even though it hurt... It was too late to turn back.

He had already begun to walk the tortuous and hellish path that had been presented to him the moment he had felt lost in the world.

Difficult and full of misfortunes.

A path which despite the darkness which seemed to surround it... Somehow, it told him that at the end there was a ray of hope.

A ray of hope... Which Androxus considered was perhaps too much for him.

But which he firmly held on to.

After all... Hope is always the last thing to be lost.

And he had not yet completely lost himself.

Suddenly, the thunderous sound of something falling on a pile of things reached his ears.

Curious, Androxus approached the place where he had heard the noise.

One of the many alleys in the city where barrels filled with the waste that people threw away every day were stacked.

His enhanced sense of sight had served to see the scene in front of him more clearly.

A person had fallen from the roof, landing on top of a pile of wooden boxes, along with several broken slabs that had apparently come loose when he stepped on them.

Androxus fixed his gaze on that individual, only to see that it was nothing more and nothing less than a girl.

Short pink hair. A small and thin body.

Judging by her humble clothes, Androxus could easily tell that she was poor.

She wore a simple pair of faded blue pants with several patches sewn around some areas of the knees and thighs.

She also had a pair of worn leather boots and a large blue coat decorated with two pink crystals on the chest, giving her the appearance of a thief.

Androxus noticed several knives hanging from a belt tied around her coat.

_"(Was she escaping from something?)" - He asked himself.

The fall had caused her to receive several cuts on her body and clothes.

And judging by the expression of immense pain on her face, it was evident that the impact had done a lot of damage to her.

The most worrying thing perhaps was that she had not yet moved from her spot.

Androxus could feel several other presences approaching.

The clatter of metal against the ground could indicate that perhaps they were more soldiers from the ruby throne.

The girl made an effort to try to get up, but she couldn't.

Tears of frustration began to fall from her cheeks as the soldiers seemed to arrive at the place.

Androxus wondered if he should help her.

After so many years of wandering alone throughout the kingdom with the sole objective of surviving, he was now presented with a situation in which he could change the destiny of a person for the better.

But he was not too sure about whether to intervene or not.

If he helped her, he would feel like a hypocrite, since he had already taken hundreds of lives throughout his journey in the kingdom.

It was not as if saving one would change anything.

However, he would also hate himself if he did not.

He knew how it felt to be alone, without help or the necessary support with which to be able to get out of the hole in which life had submerged him.

Who knows what atrocities they would do to the poor girl if they managed to capture her.

He was clear that not all people had a vile monster full of perversion inside them.

But the corruption of man was something that was firmly present in today's society. Conveniently, the nobles, who had earned their titles and wealth thanks to their ancestors' contributions in the wars against the goblins, were the ones who seemed to have this characteristic most present.

He may be a murderer, but that didn't compare in the slightest to the miserable idiots who played with the lives of those at their mercy.

Monsters who, despite having done worse things than him, were allowed to walk in the sunlight without worry or retaliation.

Since they had the authority and the money to silence or make disappear whoever did not agree with their practices.

_"(What the hell is wrong with this world...?)" -

Androxus closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Then, he opened them. And looked at the wounded and defenseless girl.

He had made a decision...

...

So... Hello, how are you?

This is an idea I've had for a long time, but until now I haven't felt I had the skill to carry out.

I know the game is dying (As they have been saying for 5 years). And I know that I also maybe could have chosen a "better" character to do this with.

But I've always thought that Androxus had great potential to be part of a fanfic.

Beyond his cringe behavior as a "death knight" in the game, he has an interesting background that, for some reason, has never been exploited.

Which seems criminal to me.

English is not my first language, but I have helped myself with the translator to speed up the writing process and I think... It may be a pleasant read for you.

Leave your comments and... Well, nothing, thanks for taking the time to read this.

Chapter Text

Everything happened so suddenly.

A huge, dark figure fell right in front of her.

The ground where it landed remained indifferent to its presence; a great wave of dark magic completely cushioned its fall.

Her eyes widened in horror as she found herself trapped in such a situation.

First the Ruby Throne guard... and now a killer?

She had probably run out of luck.

That man, wrapped in dark and ostentatious garments, stared at her intently with his green eyes.

Neither she nor he spoke. Not a single word escaped their lips. They simply stared at each other for what felt like an eternity to her.

But it was only for a few seconds.

Who was he?

What was he doing here?

What did he want?

She wanted to ask.

But a deep sense of danger rose in her chest, closing her throat and preventing her from speaking.

Her limbs struggled to escape. Unfortunately, they were far too weak to even move.

Her breathing became ragged, to the point of hyperventilation.

Her eyes looked at him desperately. Fear burned into her expression.

His stature and imposing figure made him look like a monster from her perspective.

She was terrified.

She wanted to flee. Without a clear destination or particular place. She just needed to get away from him as soon as possible.

But her body refused to obey.

Suddenly, the man abandoned his stillness and began to slowly approach her.

His metal boots creaked with every step.

The closer he got, the more her fear grew.

What was going to happen? Was he going to kill her?

He was taking his time, no doubt about that.

But the tension and anticipation were already doing their job.

It didn’t take long for the man to stand right in front of her and stop.

His silence surrounded him with a powerful aura of mystery and intrigue.

Each of his gestures was perfectly calculated and precise, without any unnecessary movement. Something typical of those who spent most of their lives honing their skills to the point of mastery.

The dozens of cut marks and tears on his clothing were a testament to a past full of conflict. Conflicts that, like a blacksmith's hammer striking red-hot metal, had shaped the steel into a sharp blade.

His right arm, however, stood out above all else.

A symbol of corruption, of decay. Something evil.

A fundamental component of people that, even if it was often present in small amounts, revealed a cruel truth that most did not want to accept.

Everyone has some evil within.

That arm rose and reached toward her.

Its appearance and the way those sharp claws adorned the tips of his fingers were worthy of a monster.

The girl closed her eyes and turned her face away.

She couldn’t run. And crying was useless.

No one you didn’t know cared how you felt—a harsh lesson she learned after so many years living on the streets.

She remained there, motionless. Waiting for whatever was going to happen, happened quickly.

But the pain never came.

Instead, she felt the planks that trapped her clothes and prevented her from moving begin to give way.

The girl opened her eyes, utterly confused.

That man in front of her, who looked so terrifying and was supposed to kill her... was helping her get free.

Thousands of questions ran through her mind in an instant:

What the hell was happening?

Why was a man the size of a bear and looking like an assassin helping her?

And what was going to happen to her after this?

Soon, she was going to find out.

His strong arms slid beneath her and lifted her effortlessly. Despite his rough appearance, his touch was as gentle as a pair of hands handling a delicate flower.

And once he held her firmly in his arms, both were swallowed by a force capable of tearing reality itself, making her feel slightly nauseous.

The dark and narrow alley where the girl had fallen disappeared, and now they found themselves on the roof of a distant house.

The girl could find no explanation for what had just happened.

In the distance, the group of soldiers in red armor—who should have found her buried under a pile of broken crates—was surprised to find broken crates but no one lying on them.

One of them looked at the rest and gave an order. Then they split up to search more effectively.

Meanwhile, she watched in astonishment as the events unfolded before her.

Her slit pupils narrowed. Her mind couldn't comprehend what was happening.

Her body was completely motionless, unable to coordinate with her brain.

Only when she felt her rear touch the ground did she realize that the man had gently set her down and was now staring at her intently.

He had no face. When she finally dared to look up, what she saw was a threatening mask that could well represent the face of death itself.

_"¿Are you okay?" -he asked. His strangely distorted and deep voice sent a chill down her spine.

The kindness in his tone contrasted greatly with his appearance.

It was like a small animal facing a predator—but the predator wasn’t hungry.

Unfortunately, like any small prey, fear was what guided the body's actions in such situations.

And in front of such a terrifying "predator," her reaction was to be expected.

_"What the... Who the hell are you?! Let me go, creep!" - she yelled. Her voice had a strange accent.

Her body weakly squirmed in his grip, surprising him and causing his arms to release her.

The girl crawled backward with the little strength she had left, trying to get away from him. Then she reached for one of the knives hanging from her clothes and pointed it at him, as if trying to build a wall between them.

Her slit eyes desperately scanned him from head to toe.

Her chest rose and fell frantically.

The man watched her in silence for a few moments, looking suspiciously understanding of her behavior.

He took a few steps toward her and crouched slightly, trying to appear smaller and less threatening.

The girl, though scared, tried to intimidate him by baring her teeth.

The knife in her trembling hands shook along with her arms.

_"D-Don’t you dare touch me! I-I’ll... I’ll c-cut your fingers off!" -

The man stayed put, indifferent to her threat.

He simply let time pass, allowing the girl to relax in his presence.

Eventually, her arms trembled less, and her frantic breathing stabilized a bit.

It was suspicious, very suspicious. But his calmness and lack of aggressive behavior helped—though did nothing to earn her trust—calm the girl.

His right hand suddenly rose. His open palm showed her that he wasn’t holding anything. Then he spoke softly.

_”Very well..." -

The girl stared at the man's arm in front of her, looking both puzzled and slightly disgusted.

It was horrible. Dozens of glowing green cracks ran along his limb like a festering disease destroying his skin.

Her gaze sharpened when his hand moved to a small dark pocket well hidden beneath his cloak.

Then, with the same caution, he pulled it back out. This time holding something.

His hand positioned itself in front of his face so the girl could see the object.

A small glass vial with a red liquid inside. It had a tightly sealed cork at the neck.

_"Take it" -

The girl frowned suspiciously.

_"What... What is that?" -

_"Poison"-

Her expression turned horrified as she gripped the knife tighter and tried to move even farther away from him.

The man lowered his gaze and sighed.

_"Of course it’s not poison. It’s a healing potion" -

His answer confused her even more.

First, he said it was poison. Then he said it was a healing potion?

What was he playing at?

It was obvious to him that she didn’t believe a word he said.

Again, an awkward and long silence.

She remained still in her place. Her knife still raised as she kept her eyes fixed on the vial in his hand.

With each passing second, her body grew less tense.

Her eyes then returned to him.

They seemed to be... measuring him. Looking for the slightest sign or hint that he wanted to harm her.

Judging by his muscles, he was much stronger than her. If she tried to attack him, he’d probably beat her easily.

But there he was, still. Offering her help, albeit very suspiciously.

After a long moment of silence, the girl swallowed hard and asked a question.

_"You don’t... Y-You don’t want to hurt me?" -

_"I wouldn’t have bothered pulling you out of that alley if that were the case" - he replied coldly.

His hand was still raised, offering her the vial.

He could tell that her hands were slowly being tempted to lower the knife.

Her slit pupils remained thin vertical lines. Fully alert for any sudden or aggressive movement.

If she had animal ears, they’d surely be flattened.

_"Are you going to take the potion or not?" -he asked, a bit annoyed by her indecision.

The girl blinked, as if snapping out of a trance. And very slowly, with a mountain of doubts overflowing in her eyes, she decided to lower the knife.

One of her hands rose to reach for the potion he held. And with a quick movement, the girl snatched it from his hand and stepped back a little.

Her eyes alert in case he decided to attack.

The man stood up from the ground and crossed his arms, then silently watched her. She didn’t take her eyes off him for a second—not even when she took the vial with both hands and tried to remove the cork that prevented its contents from escaping.

But she immediately panicked when the strength in her hands wasn’t enough to open the vial.

The cork was firmly wedged into the neck of the container.

Her gaze shifted once again to the man, who silently watched her struggle to open a simple bottle.

Her cheeks burned with embarrassment.

_"What?! You think I can’t open this by myself?!" - she snapped, dropping her knife and now trying to pull out the cork with all her strength.

It didn’t work.

Her arms were far too weak and sore from the fall. She probably couldn’t even stand up on her own.

The girl’s struggle with the vial lasted a few more seconds until she finally gave up and looked at him again.

Her eyes were fierce. However, the fact that her cheeks were red made her look more like a child throwing a tantrum.

Her pride was hurt.

She, who was used to doing everything by herself, found herself humiliated in front of someone she didn’t even know!

At least she could be thankful he wasn’t laughing at her.

Or was he?

He wore a helmet; there was no way to tell.

She extended the arm holding the potion toward him. Then she gave him an angry look.

Her eyes practically said: "Come on, open it!"

The man sighed and slowly walked over to her. His knees bent, and from a safe distance, he extended his left hand and took the vial.

His other hand reached for the cork and pulled it out effortlessly. Then, without a word, he extended his arm toward her again and handed it back.

The girl turned away in embarrassment and accepted it. Her eyes squeezed shut as she raised the vial to her mouth and drank its contents without caring about the taste.

Then, as if by magic, the scratches, cuts, bruises, and bloodstains on her body... disappeared.

The pain in her body eased immensely. And suddenly, she felt strong enough to lift her own weight.

Her arms and legs trembled slightly from the sensations, but she was able to stand and steady herself.

The girl gave him a slight scowl of annoyance before sighing in defeat and speaking in a serious tone.

_"Thanks..."—

The man grunted in acknowledgment. Then he stood up and looked in the direction of the alley where the other soldiers had disappeared.

_ "Why was the Ruby Throne guard chasing you?" - he asked.

Though he didn’t seem too interested in her answer.

_"Well... Let’s just say... People never like it when you take their things without permission." -

The man let out a silent chuckle and shook his head.

_"Of course... A thief." -

Suddenly, he turned his gaze to her and stared.

_"By the way... I still don’t know your name." -

The girl raised an eyebrow suspiciously.

She hadn’t expected her relationship with this individual to go beyond this encounter.

He might have saved her, but he looked dangerous. She didn’t feel safe trusting him with such information.

_"Why do you want to know?" - she asked, full of doubt.

_"Names are important. They give people a sense of identity and save them from calling each other by annoying nicknames. But if you don’t want to tell me yours... I have no problem calling you pink-haired thief" -

_"Oh God, no!" -

She couldn’t bear the idea of being called that for an entire day.

It was too offensive!

It reminded her of when she was little, and other kids made fun of her hair color.

For a moment, she seriously considered telling him.

The man before her seemed more interested in chatting than truly getting to know her.

"What’s the worst that could happen?"—she thought.

The girl rolled her eyes in annoyance and spoke.

_"Maeve" -

_"Androxus. Thanks for sharing" -

And moments later, Androxus turned his gaze back toward the alley. His expression, though unreadable because of his helmet, seemed distant. As if he were contemplating something in his mind.

_"Androxus..." - Maeve tried the word on her lips.

It felt familiar. Strangely familiar.

But she couldn’t remember where she knew it from.

_"Are you famous or something?" -

_"In a way..." - he replied, without much interest.

Maeve frowned.

_"(That doesn’t tell me anything…)" -

She sighed in annoyance, then crossed her arms.

She’d dig deeper about that later. She had another, more important question to ask.

_"Why did you help me?" -

That was what bothered her most.

¿Why?

She was practically part of the worst scum that existed in society.

Parasites constantly living off other people’s belongings.

Why would anyone bother helping a thief?

_”You ask too many questions" - he said with irritation.

_"Where I grew up, helping someone for nothing is very rare." -

_"Funny. I even used to get paid for doing this kind of thing." -

_"¿Helping thieves?" -

_"No..." -

Androxus glanced sideways at her.

_"Saving people" -

Maeve frowned again in confusion.

This person... ¿Saved people?

¿How?

¿And how did someone who saved others end up like this?

_"Yeah, you’re probably wondering how someone like me ever did that. How someone who dresses like an assassin somehow once had a noble profession..."—

Androxus let out a brief laugh.

_"Life tends to take strange turns. One day you’re following your routine. And the next... you lose your home, your friends, your things. Everything that matters to you" -

His gaze drifted away again. This time, staring at the bright panorama of the city.

_"And you have to start over" -

Maeve rolled her eyes in annoyance.

She wasn’t very interested in his reflection.

He then sighed and lowered his arms before facing her.

_"Well, I guess that’s it. You’re safe, and I did what I set out to do. There’s no reason for me to stay here." -

His metal boots echoed on the roof’s surface as Androxus walked past her.

_"I suggest you be more careful from now on. I can’t guarantee you’ll be lucky enough to have someone nearby to help next time..." -

Maeve turned and watched him leave.

Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something...

...

He saved her. He definitely saved her.

Though she distrusted him at first, the girl eventually even thanked him.

He did something good. No doubt about it.

If anyone had seen it, they’d have said the same.

¿Wouldn’t they?

¿Then... Why didn’t he feel satisfied?

¿Why did it bother him that he’d done it?

¿Was it his conscience reminding him of all the bad things he’d done?

It was a selfish desire.

He knew it.

He didn’t do it because it came from the heart. He did it to see if there was still something good left in him.

He didn’t do it because he felt it was right—because truly... helping a thief was really stupid.

He did it because he thought it was the right thing to do.

The mere act of helping someone else could be considered a good deed... right?

But doing something to try to appear good and not because you truly felt like doing it... that seemed horrible to him.

Truly horrible.

That’s why he used to tell others his truths. He hated pretending to be kind.

He hated the very idea of pretending to be someone good. Because the truth was... he wasn’t.

He knew he wasn’t.

Not before, and certainly not now.

The falseness of people behind their masks of kindness was something he despised with all his being. Of course, he was aware that there were also genuinely kind people.

But he didn’t need that.

He didn’t need anyone’s acceptance.

He knew who he was. And that was enough.

Many considered him a cold and grumpy individual, who seemed to enjoy solitude more than company.

But he wasn’t a monster who killed people in cold blood.

Not like now.

Before, at least, he could coexist in silence with the rest. But now he was practically exempt from any interaction with them.

Damn.

¿Could he even still consider himself a person after everything he’d done?

Androxus sighed wearily.

He could feel his brow furrow deeply beneath his helmet.

His right arm tingled with the mild but annoying pain he was subjected to daily.

His legs carried him again in an uncertain direction, isolating him from others as he was forced to deal with a problem he had unfairly acquired.

Then... a sharp voice behind him made him stop.

_"Hey." -

Androxus turned, seeing the girl he had helped moments ago looking at him seriously. Her gaze, though still serious, seemed to have softened a little.

_"We’re not done yet." -

Androxus blinked a couple of times in confusion.

Her tone of voice, though seemingly threatening, did nothing to put him on guard.

And only fueled his curiosity more.

_"¿What?" -

Androxus noticed a slight smirk form at the corners of her lips.

_"I mean, you... You helped me, even spent a healing potion on me. It wouldn’t be fair for you to leave empty-handed. The least I can do is return the favor. I know people, I have information and contacts all over the city. Ask me for something. If it’s within my capabilities, I’ll give it to you." -

Androxus narrowed his eyes, suspicious.

_"¿Why?" -

Why was she suddenly being so kind?

Maeve sighed as she crossed her arms and gave him a stern look.

_"I may be a thief, but at least I know kindness should be repaid with kindness. Regardless of what you’ve done or who you are, I can’t deny that you probably saved me from rotting in some dark, stinking cell for a good few months. It’s only natural I feel I owe you one." -

Androxus narrowed his eyes.

She didn’t seem to be lying.

Contacts, information...

Those would be quite useful right now.

His answer was obvious.

But that didn’t mean he should let his guard down.

There was still a slight chance this was a trap.

_"A thief wanting to pay her debt... How interesting." -

A chuckle escaped his lips, soon silenced by a sigh.

_"Very well. You claim to have contacts and information. I’ll tell you what I need."- However, Androxus slightly lifted his cloak on the right side of his waist and showed her his revolver as a warning.

_"But I don’t want surprises. This thing here has enough power to make holes through heavy steel armor" -

Maeve’s body tensed slightly. Her eyes narrowed at the weapon Androxus carried.

Her only response was a cautious nod.

Androxus removed his right hand from his cloak, then raised his arm and showed it to Maeve.

_"I’ve traveled all over the realm searching for a way to cure this, but no one seems to have the knowledge or even know if it’s possible." -

Maeve looked at his right arm again. Her brow furrowed as she inspected the intricate bright green markings and pale skin.

_"Is it... some kind of disease or something?"—

_"A curse." - he said seriously.

Maeve slowly walked toward him and tilted her head to the sides, trying to spot any pattern that might tell her exactly what it was.

Then she closed her eyes and shook her head.

_"Nope... I don't know what it is. But I know someone who might know something about it. A woman. She researches everything related to the supernatural world, she might be able to help you with your problem." -

_"¿Do you know where I can find her?" - Androxus asked, lowering his arm.

_"Yeah, she’s on the other side of the district. I can guide you there, if you want." -

_"Mmmm..." -

Androxus grunted, taking a moment to think. Then he nodded.

_"Alright... I’ll follow you." -

Maeve turned and made an impressive jump, skillfully landing on a nearby rooftop.

She looked behind her with a defiant smile, only to see that Androxus was no longer there.

Her body quickly sensed a presence to her right; she turned her gaze and was surprised to see the dark-clad individual standing right beside her.

_"Wow... Hey, how did you do that?" -

_"¿What?" - he asked, confused.

Maeve frowned, trying to find the words to frame her question.

_"That thing you did a moment ago. You were just there. And now..." -

Her eyes glanced behind her again, then back at him.

It was obvious he had a strong body. Perhaps the strongest she’d ever seen.

But he didn’t look athletic enough to make such a long jump.

So... ¿how?

Androxus sighed, crossing his arms.

_"¿Is that important right now?"-

Maeve shook her head and snapped out of it.

_"You’re right..."— Maeve tensed her body and began to run.

Her legs propelled her into the air with great agility, allowing her to go from rooftop to rooftop without any problem.

Androxus followed behind, using his powers to keep up...

…

Both stopped in front of a house that was just another among many.

The commercial district was full of them.

However, this particular house was located in an area not very frequented.

The streets were much worse maintained than those closer to the city center.

The houses weren’t spared from these conditions either. In fact, in places like this, you could find the occasional old and abandoned structure, which served as a shelter for some vagrant who had nowhere to spend the night and protect themselves from the rain.

It was also more common to find strange people living around here.

Whether they were criminals or old crazy folk, society's scum seemed to like gathering in these parts.

Perhaps because they were far from the judging eye of the "normal" people who made up most of the city's population.

_"So... what? Are we just going to knock on the door and wait for her to answer?” - Androxus asked.

_"Eh... yeah? What’s so strange about that?" -

Androxus sighed.

_"It’s past midnight. The streets are more dangerous. Most people tend to be asleep at this hour. What do you think this woman will think if she sees a girl dressed like a thief and an assassin knocking at her door this late?" -

Maeve looked away and placed a hand on her chin.

_"Well... at least she knows me. It’s you she’ll suspect. But don’t worry, she’ll be friendlier when she sees you’re with me." -

_"Really?" -

_"Yes! Besides, you won’t be the strangest person she’s ever met. Her job constantly forces her to deal with all sorts of things. She herself is quite weird. Maybe even weirder than you..." -

_"Mmmm..." - Androxus wasn’t sure whether to feel flattered or insulted.

Both walked until they stood in front of the house’s door.

No light filtered through the interior windows.

The entire area around them was extremely calm and quiet.

A peaceful silence.

Perhaps too peaceful.

Something didn’t feel quite right. Androxus’s body was tense, even if no threat or danger was visible.

Maeve carelessly approached the door and gave it a couple of light knocks.

And just as she was preparing to call out to the house's owner, the door opened on its own.

The hinges and wood creaked sharply as the door gave way, revealing a dark interior.

Maeve gave a puzzled expression.

_"Eh? It's... open?" -

_"The lock is broken" - said Androxus, peeking over Maeve’s shoulder and drawing his revolver.

His foot cautiously stepped on the house’s floor, while his eyes anxiously scanned the surroundings.

His weapon aimed at every corner and possible hiding spot where someone could be lurking. Ready to deal with any sudden threat that dared to attack him unexpectedly.

His vision quickly adjusted to the room’s darkness. And what was moments ago an infinite void of blackness now turned into a workshop full of notes and books scattered everywhere.

Wooden walls. Stone floor.

Various artifacts and relics were scattered on the ground, along with dozens of pieces of broken wood.

They weren’t very visible, but his eyes caught traces of residual magic all over the room’s surfaces. And along with the magical marks, there were also several small, sharp objects embedded in the walls.

All of them star-shaped.

Androxus’s feet soon stepped on what appeared to be coals from a nearby fireplace.

He crouched and grabbed one with his left hand.

_"(Still warm...)" -

Maeve cautiously entered the house, covering Androxus’s back.

Her hands reached for the knives inside her coat and gripped them, ready to slit someone’s throat if necessary.

_"Damn... Was there a fight here?" -

_"Yes... a short one. Looks like someone got here before us..." - Androxus muttered, dropping the coal and standing up.

_"Mmmm... I hope Frieda’s alright..." -

Both then set their sights on the house's staircase.

Slowly, Androxus climbed the steps, paying special attention to any blind spots or angles from which something could attack him.

Nothing did.

The house was in a state of permanent silence, as if no one inhabited it at the moment.

Eventually, Androxus reached the second floor.

In front of him stood a bedroom, located in a room that could easily be the house's attic.

Old-looking furniture, dark walls, more shelves with strange objects, many worn scrolls and books.

And a bed for one person positioned at the far end of the room, beside two windows that allowed a view of the outside.

The ceiling was higher than the floor below. And the darkness hid several beams that supported the weight of the structure.

As soon as he took a step into the place, he heard something very strange.

Wood creaking.

It wasn’t caused by his feet, because if it had been, he would’ve felt the noise much closer.

And his body wouldn’t have tensed the way it just had.

The creak, in particular, came from the beams high above in the ceiling, which held and kept the steep roof of the house fixed in place.

Androxus fixed his gaze on those beams, noticing a figure that, if not carefully observed, could easily have been mistaken for the wood's own shadow.

But before he could even discern its shape, Maeve screamed behind him.

_ "Watch out!" - Maeve’s slit pupils narrowed. And two of her knives flew toward a dark figure that seemed to be hiding behind a piece of furniture.

That figure tried to lunge at them from behind, but Maeve’s knives hit it squarely, causing it to fall hard to the floor, groaning in pain before collapsing lifeless.

Suddenly, that shadow Androxus had seen perched on the beam... moved, leaping onto him.

His revolver rose to try to shoot, but his attention immediately shifted to another pair of shadows at his sides, rushing toward him and Maeve.

A flash like metal gleamed from the darkness as it caught the light.

Swords.

Maeve jumped and fiercely intercepted the figure falling onto Androxus. Her small body and agility allowed her to dodge a thrust before stabbing her knives into the shadow’s chest and landing on top of it.

The figure groaned in pain before Maeve slit its throat, draining its strength.

Androxus watched his two attackers point their swords at him, intending to skewer him.

His revolver fired three times at the one on the right, forcing him to slide along the floor and roll to dodge the bullets.

The one on the left didn’t stop.

Taking advantage of the distraction, he made a quick leap to try to stab Androxus in the back.

Androxus quickly turned his gaze and saw him a millisecond before impact. His body was enveloped in a dark mist, and he took a rapid step back, dodging the sword just as it was about to touch him, leaving his attacker vulnerable.

His left arm rose, grabbing the man by the head and brutally slamming his face against the floor, making the wood shatter with a loud crack as both fell to the first floor.

Androxus landed on the attacker’s back, cushioning his fall and making the man underneath gasp in pain. His left arm gathered strength and slammed his head against the stone floor again, causing his skull to crack and his face to leave a disgusting bloodstain on the surface.

His body immediately lost strength and stopped moving.

With his death, a wave of revitalizing energy surged through Androxus from head to toe, giving him more strength.

Androxus turned his gaze and saw the other shadow, sword in hand, charging at him through the hole he’d made in the second floor.

His revolver was already ready, aimed in that direction.

However, a small doubt crossed his mind at that moment.

¿Who the hell were these people?

¿What were they doing here?

¿And why were they attacking them?

He could have shot him in the head. His reflexes and speed allowed him to do something like that.

But that would’ve been a waste.

They had come here looking for a woman, found the house empty with signs of struggle. And suddenly, five people appeared and tried to kill them.

Maybe they knew what had happened to her.

With that thought in mind, he decided to do something wiser.

Androxus’s revolver made a slight adjustment, now aiming at his attacker’s sword blade.

Then, pulling the trigger, a green flash flew from the revolver’s barrel and struck the steel of the sword, causing it to break and fly from the man’s hands with the impact, leaving him vulnerable.

Androxus’s left arm rose and grabbed the individual by the neck before he could react.

The figure groaned and tried to struggle with Androxus. His limbs lifted and coiled around his arm in an attempt to dislocate it.

In vain. It was like trying to break a rock.

Androxus walked to a more illuminated area, placing the figure under the light to see his appearance better. His eyes narrowed as he recognized the outfit.

_"(A ninja?)" -

Maeve jumped down through the hole Androxus had made and walked toward him.

_"I’m not paying for the damages you cause to this place." -

_"What happens to this house is the least of my concerns," - he replied coldly.

Maeve shook her head and looked at the person Androxus had captured.

_"Well, well... what do we have here? The woman who lives in this house might look shady, but... you and your friends sure don’t resemble her in the slightest." -

The ninja growled and kept trying to dislocate his arm.

Androxus sighed before throwing him hard to the ground.

His back hit the stone floor with a thud, making him gasp in pain before opening his eyes and being mortified by the sight of his dead companion beside him.

Androxus approached and pointed his revolver straight at his forehead, making him freeze in fear.

Then he spoke calmly.

_"Where is she?" -

The ninja didn’t respond.

His eyes, though wide, still held a small glimmer of defiance.

_"(Wasn't seeing his two companions die in the blink of an eye enough to intimidate him?)" - Androxus wondered.

_"Very well..." -

If fear wouldn’t make him talk, then pain would.

His revolver aimed at the ninja’s right foot. And after pulling the trigger, the room was filled with a deafening noise.

The ninja screamed in pain. His hands clutched the wounded area as his eyes squeezed shut.

After several seconds of agony, the ninja panted heavily and stared in disbelief at the piece of foot he was now missing.

The wound burned, as if fire had been smeared into it.

His terrified eyes then fixed on the figure before him.

Androxus aimed the revolver back at the ninja’s forehead. The weapon’s barrel gleamed brighter, threatening to end his life with the next shot.

_"I won’t ask again..." -

Maeve watched the scene coldly.

Her eyes stared indifferently at the decision this man was about to make.

To talk... or die like a fool?

The answer was obvious.

The ninja squeezed his eyes shut and gave in.

_"A-Alright, alright! I-I’ll talk!" -

Maeve smirked mockingly.

Androxus stepped closer, grabbed the ninja by his clothes, and lifted him off the ground, bringing his face close to his in an intimidating manner.

_"I’m... waiting..."—his right arm rose again, pressing the cold barrel of the revolver against the ninja’s jaw as a threat.

_"Yes, yes! The woman you’re looking for... she’s outside the city’s southern entrance!" -

_"Where are they taking her?" -

_"To the Moon Coast steppes!" -

_"(The Moon Coast? That... that’s very far. Wait a moment...)" -

Androxus inspected him carefully.

His eyes focused on his neck while his other hand holstered the revolver.

A golden pendant with a green gem rested on his shoulders.

His right hand reached and tore it off, then looked at it closely.

The gem bore a strange symbol. Although, to his surprise, it was one Androxus knew very well.

A brief chuckle escaped his lips.

_"Of course... The Thousand Hands guild" -

A powerful criminal organization, made up of hundreds of equally dangerous individuals.

Whether they were nobles, merchants, assassins, or bounty hunters... The guild always made sure to have someone everywhere so that the organization could operate and exert its influence even in the most isolated corner of the continent.

A serious problem, since they all led lives of dual identities and operated in secret, which in turn allowed them to make decisions and do things that, in the eyes of others, were unlikely to be for the benefit of the guild.

Among their most common activities were kidnapping and murder, usually carried out by trained assassins.

And their intervention on behalf of one side or the other in the current conflicts was nonexistent, due to their neutrality, acting only when there was a benefit at stake.

Maeve approached from the side and studied the pendant with a frown.

_"The Thousand Hands Guild? Are you sure?" -

_"Without a doubt. The kidnapping, the ninjas, all that discretion... It's exactly how those bastards work. I have no idea what that friend of yours might have done, but it must have been important enough for those idiots to decide to come here" -

Maeve looked at the ninja and spoke seriously.

_"Why were you ordered to kidnap Frieda?" -

_"T-The woman? I don't know, we're just following orders..." -

Androxus grunted, putting away the pendant and looking at the ninja again.

_"Very well. We know everything we need to know..." -

Androxus threw the ninja to the ground, then drew his revolver and pointed it at his head.

_"Hey, wait a minute! I spoke, I did what..."

The barrel of Androxus's revolver flashed for a moment, before a shot rang out and a green flash flew toward the ninja's forehead, making a huge hole in his head.

Moments later, he collapsed lifeless on the ground.

Faceless.

Maeve watched the scene in silence.

Of course, she was used to killing.

But she'd be lying if she said it didn't stir something inside her to see someone pleading for his life die before her eyes.

_"Was that necessary?" -

Androxus opened the barrel of the weapon and reloaded his revolver.

_"Unless you want to be hunted your whole life by assassins from the Thousand Hands Guild... Then yes, it was." -

"He swore on his life he wouldn't talk. Maybe you could have let him..." -

_"You can't feel sorry for every idiot who crosses your path. What could have assured you he wouldn't talk? Do you think he wouldn't hesitate to tell the guild about us if it would save his own skin? People are capable of anything when they're on the brink of death. You spare their lives... And when you turn around, they're trying to stick a knife in your back." -

Androxus holstered his revolver once more and looked at Maeve.

"Besides, he would have died anyway. The guild would have taken it upon themselves to hunt him down and kill him if they found out he was still alive." -

Maeve raised an eyebrow at what he said.

_"Hunt him? I know the guild killed people or kidnapped them... But to do that to its own members..." -

_"That's how they work. Once they find out you're part of the guild, you're no longer of use to them. Someone could interrogate and torture you into revealing secrets like the location of their hideout or the identities of the other members of the organization. Something that doesn't suit them at all." -

Maeve crossed her arms and nodded a little hesitantly.

_"Yeah... That makes sense." -

Androxus looked down, observing the discarded bodies of the dead ninjas.

_"Strange, though." -

_"What?"

_"Even after they captured her, they were still wandering around here..." -

_"Hmm..." -

Maeve knelt down and began checking the bodies of the ninjas.

Her eyebrows raised as she found a shimmering purple stone inside his clothes, which fit in the palm of her hand.

_"Perhaps they were... looking for something?" -

Maeve tried to pick it up, but upon contact with the stone, a shiver ran down her spine, frightening her, causing her to drop it and then grab her hand.

The stone rolled across the ground before ending up at Androxus's feet.

Androxus knelt and picked it up.

The eyes in his helmet glowed a little brighter for a moment before he stood up and raised it in the air, examining it in detail.

He seemed unaffected by whatever had made Maeve tremble.

_"An Abyssal Crystal..." - he said softly.

_"What?" -

_"A crystal, corrupted by the magic of the abyss... You know what the abyss is, right? Some witches worship their deities and use these crystals for their staffs or... To perform rituals. They're very rare." -

Androxus was silent for a few moments. Then he sighed and tucked the crystal into his clothes.

_"We've wasted a lot of time. We need to get out of here quickly and find that woman." -

Maeve frowned even more in confusion.

_"Hey, hey, wait! Aren't you going to tell me what exactly is going on with that thing you kept?" -

_"There's not much more I can tell you. These crystals have multiple uses and are known to be much more powerful than conventional crystals. Why the Guild of a Thousand Hands might want it is irrelevant to us at this point." -

Androxus walked beside Maeve toward the exit of the house, kicking aside the dead bodies of the ninjas in his path.

_"More importantly, we need to prevent them from taking that woman far from the city. The guild is very good at making people disappear. If we lose track of them, we'll likely never find her again..." -

Maeve looked at him with annoyance, not entirely convinced by his words. But then, she closed her eyes and gave up.

_"Okay..." -

Maeve turned around and looked at the ninja corpses again.

_"Are you sure we should just leave them here?" -

_"Can you think of a better place to hide them?" - Androxus asked out of the corner of his eye.

_"Well... I don't know. This is Frieda's house, I don't think it's right..." -

_"Don't even bother about it. After everything that's happened, I'm sure that woman is going to move somewhere far, far away..." -

Androxus left the house and looked around, checking that no one was around.

Then he turned his gaze to Maeve and saw her conflicted expression.

_"So what's happening now? You're not coming?" -

Maeve blinked, as if coming out of a trance.

_"Uh, yeah... It's just... I was thinking..." -

One of his hands rose to his head, scratching his scalp, while the other rested on his waist.

_"If we stop them from taking her... Wouldn't that make us a target of the Thousand Hands Guild? I don't know if I'd like to have to start sleeping with a knife in my hand..." -

Androxus let out a light laugh.

_"Yeah..." -

He turned around again, but not before giving her a brief glance.

_"Unless we leave no witnesses..." -

A shiver ran down Maeve's spine, and she looked at him suspiciously.

_"Ugh... That was a joke, wasn't it?" -

Androxus said nothing, just walking slowly in the direction of their new destination.

_"You... You're not joking..." - she asked fearfully as she began to hurry after him.

Androxus grunted.

_"Perhaps..." -

...

The wind gently rustling the tree leaves and the chirping of crickets were the only sounds that reached his ears.

His eyes remained vigilant. Their figures were hidden among the multitudes of branches and bushes as they occasionally inspected the woman they had bound hand and foot at the base of a tree.

Long, dark, purple hair.

Yellow eyes. A young and beautiful face, albeit with rather pronounced dark circles under her eyes and a couple of scratches.

Over her slender body, she wore a black dress that covered her from shoulders to toes, as well as a pair of long, tight, dark gloves that reached her elbows.

Considering the situation, anyone would think she would be scared.

But her calm expression unsettled her captors, who were also worried about their companions, who had not yet returned.

_"They're taking too long... To top it all off, that bitch hasn't stopped smiling since she woke up." -

_"The house isn't very big; there shouldn't be that many places to hide that crystal." -

_"So why haven't they come back yet, huh?" -

_"I don't know! They've probably run into some magical trap in the house or something. By now, they could very well be dead, and we're just wasting time waiting for them here." -

One of them looked at the tied-up woman, then briefly glanced at his companions and sighed.

_"I'll see if I can loosen her tongue. Maybe that way we can end this damn search once and for all and leave..." -

The ninja jumped from the tree he was perched on and landed in front of her.

Then, he unsheathed his sword and placed its cold edge against the woman's neck.

She didn't seem perturbed by this.

_"I don't think that's a good idea, you know?" -

His face still held his calm smile. Almost mocking.

_"The boss didn't mention anything about not being able to cut off a finger or two if it meant taking you alive." -

His sword soon moved to the woman's chin, causing her to look up slightly.

_"Where have you hidden that crystal?" -

_"I have no idea what you're talking about." -

_"Don't get smart with me, bitch. We know you're in possession of an unusual colored crystal. A purple one." The blade of the sword pressed slightly harder against her neck, lightly cutting the skin.

The woman's eyes widened, feigning realization.

_"Ooooh, right... That crystal. Why do you want it? Don't you idiots have tons of them stashed somewhere? Besides, if it's the crystal you're after, why try to capture me? What kind of value could I possibly have to the likes of you?" -

The ninja frowned angrily, sliding the blade slowly down the woman's neck, causing her to lose nothing more than a imperceptible amount of blood.

_"Answer... The damn... Question..." -

But the woman never abandoned her smile.

And she simply answered defiantly.

_"I suggest you think very carefully about what you're about to do. I'm sure you don't want to spend the rest of your life running away because of a small mistake... Right?" -

Their small talk came to a sudden halt as they felt an unusual, light breeze blow through the leaves of the trees.

A breeze that sent a chill down their spine.

He turned his gaze and saw the rest of his companions cautiously observing their surroundings.

Had they heard something strange?

It could have simply been the wind; after all, they were outside the city.

Where the walls couldn't cushion the winds for the people who lived within.

But something in the atmosphere didn't feel right.

Everyone seemed restless.

Their gaze shifted around again and again, as if searching for something.

When the wind died down, there was only silence.

Moments later, believing he was just imagining things, the ninja returned his gaze to the woman and continued trying to pressure her into speaking.

Until he felt a powerful gust of wind and a strange noise pass behind him, and he quickly turned around, taking a guard stance.

Everyone turned to look in the same direction, a little agitated.

Their swords were ready in case they had to fight.

Everyone's eyes scanned the area carefully, trying to discern anything out of place, until they realized that of the six of them who had been guarding the area above the trees... Now there were only five.

The branch he should have been perched on, like the rest... was empty.

There were no screams, no noises.

Nothing.

As if a ghost had taken him.

The confusion of the situation was the first thing that crossed their minds.

Seconds later, fear.

No one dared to speak, but the question they were asking themselves was obvious.

Where did it go?

At no point did they feel like they had lost sight of the others. They simply blinked, and... Puff, it disappeared.

Without leaving the slightest trace.

Suddenly, they heard the crack of a small twig coming from between the bases of some trees.

Several of them prepared shurikens between their fingers to attack, as a chill ran down their necks at the sight of two green eyes staring at them from the darkness of the trees.

Without blinking.

"What was that thing?"

"A monster?"

"A beast?"

Any doubts were dispelled the moment they heard a deafening noise and a flash of green flew in their direction.

One of them fell backward and landed lifelessly on the ground.

No face.

The rest of her companions widened their eyes in terror, staring back at the individual who had fired the shot.

A serious mistake.

A pair of knives flew towards them without them realizing, hitting two behind the head and killing them instantly.

The two remaining didn't even have time to react, as they felt their necks sliced ​​open by a swift slash.

A small figure landed on the ground moments later, holding two knives in a reverse grip.

Four bodies fell from the trees and hit the ground hard. Maeve wiped the blood from her knives and turned to look.

To her surprise, her ears picked up movement above her. Then, she heard a scream, to which she quickly looked up.

A ninja was plummeting towards her.

_"(There was still one hiding?!)" -

The man screamed in rage as he descended, determined to avenge his fallen comrades.

One girl, kill half of them...

“What stupidity!” - He thought.

His sword was raised above his head as he gathered his strength to cut Maeve in two.

However, another figure flew out of the darkness of the trees and intercepted the ninja with a blow to the face, sending him crashing hard into a tree.

A muffled groan of pain escaped his lips. His vision blurred, and he felt dizzy, as if he had lost his balance.

As he tried to recover from the blow, his eyes managed to discern a large, dark silhouette approaching him, so in a clumsy attempt to defend himself, he weakly swung his sword.

But his arms were easily immobilized. The weapon in his hands was snatched from him, before he received a hard blow to the stomach, which knocked all the air out of his lungs and forced him to fall back to the ground in immense pain.

His limbs struggled desperately to lift him, but he felt something firmly land on his chest, keeping him anchored to the ground.

_"Screaming while launching a sneak attack..." - a deep voice said out of nowhere, with a tone that seemed almost... disappointed.

His eyes widened in fear.

His vision gradually cleared, allowing him to observe the appearance of the individual in front of him in detail.

His foot was placed firmly on his chest, preventing him from getting up.

It was then that he realized the weapon he was pointing at him.

The ninja began to breathe desperately. His hands thrashed against Androxus's leg in a pathetic attempt to escape.

But he couldn't.

The difference in strength between them was abysmal.

_"You must be very stupid to throw away your only advantage so easily..." -

The barrel of Androxus's revolver flashed a little brighter than usual, causing the ninja beneath his foot to cry out in horror.

_"No, no... no! Wait! Wait!" -

His pleas were useless.

To Androxus, those sounds were nothing more than the moans of a wounded animal, on the verge of death, doing its best to stay alive.

It was curious to see how someone who had supposedly undergone rigorous training abandoned all the composure acquired through experience and discipline to surrender to his most basic instincts of self-preservation.

As if reason weren't enough to protect the body, then it turned to fear in response.

Androxus pulled the trigger, generating a thunderous noise that filled the forest.

The screams ceased moments later, giving way to an eerie silence, broken only by the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves.

Their desperate cries echoed one last time in his head, before consuming his soul.

He shouldn't pity them.

Like him, they were people dedicated to killing more people.

How many begged for their lives under the edge of his swords, only to die anyway?

It must have been distressing for them to find themselves trapped in the role of the prey, rather than the hunter.

But such was the law of nature.

In a world where strength is the basis of power, the weak find themselves at the mercy of the strong.

It wasn't his fault he was stronger than them.

They were the poor idiots who were too weak to even defend themselves.

His foot left the corpse's chest before turning his gaze to the woman tied to the tree.

She seemed indifferent to the scene she had just witnessed.

Maeve approached the bodies and retrieved her knives.

_"Thank you..." -

Androxus grunted, then reloaded his revolver and tucked it into his belt.

_"I suppose she's the one we're looking for..." -

_"Ye" -

_"Good. Make sure there's no one else hiding around here..." - he said, before starting to walk away.

As he drew closer, Androxus could see the strange smile this woman was giving him.

Her eyes fixed on him, like those of a predator who had acquired an interest in something.

_"Do you know what happens... to bodies that people leave lying around and don't give them a proper burial?" - she asked the moment Androxus was close enough.

Androxus stopped suddenly. His brow furrowed at her odd question.

It was obvious that the corpses would rot if nothing was done about them.

They might, with luck, serve as food for some animal that was accustomed to eating carrion.

But in most cases, they simply decomposed and began to emanate a foul, foul odor.

Although there were rare and exceptional cases in which these, for some reason... didn't die completely.

Androxus resumed his pacing, until he was finally in front of her... and answered.

_"They rot or... They become undead." -

The woman's smile widened.

_"It's strange, don't you think? As if the cycle of life were at a standstill. And corrupted souls... That were supposed to have gone somewhere, took possession of those empty, rotting vessels to torment those still in the world of the living." -

Androxus knelt and began to untie the ropes that bound her.

His eyes studied her for a moment.

The way she dressed.

That strange presence she carried.

And an apparent admiration for necromancy...

His brain quickly reminded him of the purple crystal he found in that house. And suddenly, his head was hit with a realization.

_"Huh... You're a witch." -

_"You don't seem surprised. Did Maeve tell you?" - She asked with interest.

_"No. And I don't think she knows either." -

The woman gave a short laugh.

_"That girl can be very perceptive at times, but she still needs to fine-tune her senses. She's easily surprised." -

_"Senses?" - Androxus asked out of pure curiosity.

_"Yes, she's a half-tigron. You didn't know that?" -

_"Hmmm... That explains the slanted pupils and the unusual color of her hair. I thought it was odd at the time, but I decided not to make a big deal out of it." -

_"You don't exactly stand out from the boring crowds either. That arm sure looks interesting..." -

Androxus stopped suddenly, frowning suspiciously.

His gaze lifted for seconds, meeting the woman's amused expression.

_"You know me?" -

The woman's smile widened. Her eyes narrowed at him, as if they could see right through him.

_"Imposing figure. Opulent clothing. And a stench of death and despair that follows you wherever you go... Of course I know who you are, godslayer. It would be very strange if someone hadn't heard of you at least once. After all... You are the most wanted criminal in the entire realm" -

Androxus grunted, not very happy with the words coming out of his mouth.

Not because they were mean, but because they were true.

His hands resumed their work of untying the knots, glancing behind him briefly to make sure he wasn't in for any surprises.

_"This isn't the first time I've encountered a witch. But I must say... You, in particular, seem far too sane to be one." -

The woman smiled, amused by Androxus's observation.

_"The Church of the Pyre loves to brand anyone who practices dark magic as heretics and madmen. While it's true that many are seduced by its influence and do terrible things, not all of us end up like wrinkled raisins that make children disappear in the woods." -

The knots finally loosened. Androxus stood and offered his left hand to the woman.

_"May I assume then... that I'm looking at a good witch?" -

The woman laughed charmingly, before gladly accepting his help.

_"That's true, I haven't introduced myself yet. Nice to meet you, godslayer. My name is Frieda. I haven't become well-known yet, but don't worry, I can assure you I haven't done anything wrong!" -

Her smile widened again, taking on a mischievous tone.

_"Yet..." -

Androxus crossed his arms and looked away.

_"Androxus." -

She nodded, using her hands to clean her dress.

_"It's a pleasure to meet you, Androxus. Now, let's see..." -

Frieda clapped both her hands and began circling Androxus.

_"Certainly, we haven't met before. And guessing without any clues where I was taken after I was kidnapped is impossible. You've been looking for me, haven't you? Tell me..." -

Frieda suddenly stopped in front of him.

_"What could possibly lead the feared Dark Knight to rescue a defenseless lady in the middle of this forest?" - she asked playfully.

At that same instant, Maeve leaped from the trees and landed next to Androxus.

_"No one's around." -

Androxus nodded before looking back at Frieda.

_"I didn't do it alone." -

_"Of course not. If it weren't for Maeve, you probably wouldn't even know I existed. By the way..." -

Frieda focused her eyes on Maeve.

Her arms crossed just below her chest, accentuating her bust.

_"Hi, Maeve. It's been a while since we last saw each other. You should visit me more often." -

Maeve placed her hand on her waist and gave her an annoyed look.

_"I'm sorry, Frieda, but it doesn't seem fruitful to me to take what little beggars have. There's much more gold to steal in the city center." -

_"And somehow, you're here! I'd love to hear the reason you decided to seek me out at this exact moment, besides..." Frieda fixed her gaze on Androxus again and narrowed her eyes.

_"The reason you've come with such formidable company..." -

Her lips widened into a much deeper smile.

Almost mischievous.

But just when Androxus had sensed it was his turn to speak, Frieda spoke up first.

_"But don't worry, there's no need. I already know why you're here." -

Androxus and Maeve looked at each other in confusion.

_"Really?" - Maeve asked.

Frieda closed her eyes and nodded.

"Yes, that's right." -

His hand pointed toward Androxus's right arm.

_"You want to know if there's any way to get rid of the curse on your arm, right?" -

Androxus frowned in shock, then looked back at Maeve before returning his gaze once more to Frieda.

_"How did you..." -

_"Oh, sorry, I forgot to mention that. I'm not just a witch, I'm also a Seer! From the moment I woke up in this forest, I knew you two would come." -

Maeve's eyes widened in shock.

_"Wait... You are a witch?!" -

Androxus gave a short laugh.

_"Of course... That's why you seemed so calm. Although it's strange. If it's true that you can see the future, how come you let the ninjas from the Thousand Hands Guild capture you?" -

_"I didn't know they would come for me." -

Androxus and Maeve froze in place at her statement.

_"So... You can see the future, but... You can't see the future?" - Maeve asked, confused.

_"No, no, that's not how it is. You see... When it comes to my own future, my power can manifest in dreams. Sometimes I'm able to see something, and sometimes I'm not. It's a little annoying, really. It's something that doesn't happen when I try to read the future of someone other than myself." - Frieda put on an annoyed expression, then looked away.

_"Tch... You don't know how it kills my curiosity not being able to know at will what will become of me tomorrow. But, oh... When it comes to someone else, I can even see how they're going to die! It's not fair!" -

Once she finished her tantrum, she sighed. Then she smiled at the two of them.

_"But well, you didn't come here to hear me complain about my life." -

Frieda approached Androxus and placed both of her hands on his waist.

_"Do you mind if I take a look?" -

Androxus grunted, extending his right arm toward Frieda.

At that same instant, Frieda's eyes widened in shock and she abandoned the confident smile she'd been wearing all this time.

Her eyes scanned the intrinsic green marks that had plagued the skin of that arm, along with the scars that seemed to have healed long ago.

Her hands rose slowly, tempted to touch it.

_"Oh, god..." -

Her tone of voice worried Androxus.

_"What's wrong?" -

_"Oh, no, nothing. I'm sorry, it's just..." -

Frieda swallowed hard.

_"This is the first time I've seen magic like this." -

_"What do you mean?" -

Frieda sighed, crossing her arms and giving him a difficult look.

_"Its origin isn't spiritual. Nor is it caused by dark or Abyssal magic..."

Androxus frowned.

_"It isn't... Abyssal?"

Frieda shook her head.

_"The place the curse decided to occupy in your body, the flow of magic. Even the color... They don't match. This is like nothing I've seen before."

Frieda's hands approached Androxus's arm, before gently placing her fingers on his skin. She heard a small grunt.

_"Does it hurt?"

_"Yes, but it's not due to touch. My arm feels like..."

Androxus paused briefly, gathering the words he was looking for.

_"Like it's burning, all the time."

Frieda frowned. Her hands carefully inspected the marks Androxus had on his skin.

Maeve leaned over to see.

_"Hmm... I understand about the marks, but... what about those claws? Why does it seem like his arm is transforming?" -

_"That's another thing that catches my attention. Generally, those possessed or cursed by the Abyss undergo an abrupt change almost immediately throughout their entire body. This, however... It seems to be a gradual transformation. I imagine your arm wasn't like that when you got the curse..." -

_"No," Androxus replied sharply.

_"Hmmm... Which further reinforces my assumptions." -

After several moments of observation, Frieda let go and sighed.

_"I'm so sorry... I don't know exactly what is happening to you" -

Androxus tucked his arm away and grunted.

He'd be lying if he said he wasn't disappointed.

Just when he thought there might be the slightest hope of reversing his situation...

The world laughed at him.

It consoled him a little to know that someone had at least tried.

But this only raised more questions.

Questions that had no answers. But they mattered little to him.

He just wanted to get cured once and for all.

Androxus was quickly brought out of his trance when he saw Frieda calling out to him.

_"Hey, hey... Hey... Hey! Are you okay?" -

Androxus shook his head and woke up.

_"Yes, sorry... I got lost in my thoughts." -

_"Regarding what I was saying... Look, I'm sorry I can't offer you a solution. What you have in that arm would require a lot of research and experiments to even understand what we're dealing with. It's unknown magic; there's no way to deal with it if you don't understand it."

_"I know..." -

_"However... That doesn't mean I can't help you in any way." -

Maeve frowned and decided to ask, as confused as Androxus.

_"What are you talking about, Frieda? Didn't you say you didn't know what he had?" -

Frieda nodded with a smile.

_"That's right. But you're forgetting something very important, little thief. I'm a psychic!" - Frieda puffed out her chest, proud.

_"Oooooh... Now I see where you're going" -

_"Are you going to try to predict my future?" Androxus asked. -

_"Predict is a word far removed from what I usually do. Rather, I'll tell you exactly what will happen to you. I'm not entirely sure what I'll actually see, but at the very least, I hope it serves as a guide and helps you choose the right path to follow." -

_"Even so, knowing my future..." - Androxus sounded unsure.

_"I know, I know. It sounds like something very dangerous. But... what else do you have to lose? Unless you find a way to get rid of that thing on your arm, your days are numbered. The curse, from what I could see, has progressed significantly throughout your entire arm. And I don't know how long you'll last until it decides to spread to the rest of your body..." -

Androxus grunted.

Yes, it was true.

Right now, with the lack of information he had on the matter and the poor progress he'd made since starting this journey, anything that could guide him even slightly toward his goal was useful.

Frieda didn't seem to be lying; she seemed very confident about her "seer" powers.

It was worth a try.

_"Okay, do it." -

_"Good! Okay, uh... First things first, we need to get back to my home. I have everything I need there to do it..." - Frieda began searching for something inside her clothes.

However, as the seconds passed, it became clear that whatever she was looking for wasn't with her.

_"Hmmm... Where is it..." -

Moments later, she grunted and frowned in annoyance.

_"Damn it!" -

Her eyes glanced briefly at Androxus before sighing.

_"Sorry, I don't have my wand with me. I was planning on creating a portal to make it easier for us to return, but..."

_"It's no problem." -

_"Huh?" -

Androxus suddenly appeared behind Frieda, then swept her into his arms bridal-style.

The woman was so confused that she didn't react until a few seconds later.

Her face was as red as a tomato.

_"Hey, hey! Wait, what are you..." -

_"I'm in a hurry." -

Androxus turned his gaze in Maeve's direction.

_"Are you coming? You don't have to if you don't want to. You've already done a lot to help me" -

Maeve crossed her arms and smiled.

_"I don't have anything better to do" -

_"Hey, don't ignore me! You think you can just..." -

Androxus nodded, slowly rising from the ground by some invisible force.

_"Let's go then..." -

Then, his form was slowly swallowed by a dark mist. And with lightning speed, his figure flew off and blended into the night sky as he approached the city.

Maeve took one last look at the corpses.

As usual, she felt the urge to check them and see if they were carrying any coins.

But the forest began to give her a bad feeling.

Her eyes scanned her surroundings, searching for the slightest sign of someone hiding.

Was there something watching her?

She swore she'd felt movement or something strange.

_"I think... Yes, it's not a good idea for me to stay here..." In the end, Maeve decided to leave the bodies behind and return to the city.

Without wasting a single second, Maeve began to run in the same direction Androxus had left. Her legs deftly dodged the stones and branches that had fallen from the ground as she moved away from the place.

And as the distance between her and the bodies increased, strange presences approached the place and began dragging the corpses through the darkness of the trees...

...

Androxus's feet touched the ground once more.

His arms carefully freed Frieda's trembling form, who lost her balance as she placed a foot on the sidewalk.

Fortunately, Androxus caught her and prevented her from falling to the ground.

_"You...!" - Frieda looked up and tried to reproach him, but nausea began to invade her, and she had to cover her mouth in an attempt to compose herself.

Several moments passed until Frieda closed her eyes and sighed.

Her hand left her face, and she then tried to stand on her own. Her face gave Androxus an annoyed look.

_"This is why I prefer teleportation spells..." -

_"Sorry..." -

Maeve's figure appeared over the rooftops moments later.

Her legs lifted her into the air before she landed right next to Androxus.

But not before letting out a groan of pain.

_"Ugh... Damn. My legs hurt from all that running and jumping around..." -

_"Used to short chases?" - -

_"Something like that..." -

_"Mmmm..." -

They both followed Frieda to the front door of the house.

Frieda gave them a quick once-over, then placed her hand on the wooden surface and pushed it aside.

She was quickly greeted by the smell of blood and the mess of broken furniture.

Her gaze was then drawn to the hole in the ceiling.

_"I'm sure that wasn't there before..." -

Frieda glanced briefly at the people behind her.

_"It wasn't me" - Maeve said with complete certainty as she raised both of her hands.

Androxus simply crossed his arms and looked away.

Frieda sighed, looking straight ahead again.

_"Anyway, I plan to leave this place soon..." -

Her feet brushed aside the limbs of the corpses in her path, heading for the stairs.

_”Wait here for a moment. I need to gather some things..." -

Maeve and Androxus obeyed.

Since they were no longer in danger, Maeve took the opportunity to survey her surroundings.

Her attention immediately focused on the strange-looking relics on the nearby shelves.

Her feet unconsciously brought her closer to them.

Her hands rose, ready to take one of them.

_"Oh yeah, come with Mommy... I'm dying to know how much I'll get for you on the black market..." -

Her eyes practically sparkled with stars.

It seemed she'd forgotten where she was, since Androxus, who was watching out of the corner of his eye, had to call her attention.

_"What are you doing?" -

Maeve jumped slightly in fright, to which she laughed nervously and looked at him in embarrassment.

_"Sorry. Force of habit..." -

_"Mmmm..." Androxus looked away and focused his attention elsewhere.

Maeve squinted at the relic and pointed at it.

_"Lucky you... You're safe from me. For now..." - she said in a threatening tone.

Moments later, Frieda came down the stairs and brought with her a small table, a couple of chairs, and a few other objects.

One of them was a stand. They couldn't figure out what it was for.

The other was just a simple oil lamp.

While Frieda was arranging things in the middle of the room, Maeve approached and spoke.

There had been a question on her mind for a while that she wanted to ask him.

_"Hey Frieda, by the way... What was all that about? I didn't know you had beef with the Thousand Hands Guild." -

_"I don't. I think it's because of something that happened a couple of months ago." -

Maeve raised an eyebrow at his answer.

_"What happened?" -

_"A man came here and knocked on my door. I have no idea how he managed to find out where I lived or who I was, but he offered me a huge amount of gold to simply tell his future" -

_"And you just... accepted? You didn't find it strange or even... dangerous?" -

_"Of course! As soon as he appeared at my door, the first thing he did was show me his guild symbol pendant. How could I refuse? With the connections those people have and how dangerous they are, I could have died right there and no one would ever find my body. I had no choice. Besides, that man was kind enough to pay me to do it. I didn't think it was that big a deal, so I simply accepted the gold and agreed to tell him his future" -

_"So... You came into contact with someone in the guild beforehand. What could have happened that made them try to kidnap you, if you did what he asked?" - Androxus asked.

_"Well, now that you mention it..." -

Frieda crossed her arms and put on a thoughtful expression.

_"It was something that happened right in the middle of the ritual. I... I predicted the death of someone close and important to him. When it happened, that man suddenly... Made a strange face. And ran out of my house."

Androxus narrowed his eyes beneath his helmet.

_"Interesting... It's likely that what you told him coincided with something he was going through. Otherwise, he wouldn't have reacted that way."

_"You're saying... Frieda was right about her future reading?" -

_"Of course i was! I've never been wrong about the things I've seen once I've used my power. Not once!" -

_"Hmmm... That probably means the guild took an interest in your ability. Maybe that's why they tried to kidnap you..." -

_"Makes sense" - Maeve said, completely agreeing.

_"Oh, no! What am I going to do now?! I can't believe I have an entire organization after me now!" - Frieda was practically trying to pull the hair out of her head.

_"The journey from Crosswind Bastion to the lunar coastal steppes would have taken them time. You have plenty of time to try to escape and hide somewhere far from here." -

_"The lunar coastal steppes?" - Frieda asked, completely confused.

_"Yes. That's where they apparently planned to take you when they kidnapped you." -

If Frieda's face had previously reflected despair, now it was a picture of truth.

She had to take a moment to place her hands on the table and think.

Seconds later, she breathed slowly and looked at them both.

_"Let's get this started right away." -

Frieda looked at the empty stand in the center of the table.

Her pupils constricted as she realized she was still missing something.

_"Oh, crap... Where did I put it..."

_"Are you looking for this?" - Androxus handed Frieda the purple crystal he had put away a while ago.

Frieda showed a look of surprise before sighing in relief and carefully taking the crystal.

_"Oh, yes... Thank you very much! How did you..." -

_"They had it. We found it when we came looking for you here. I think they were about to leave, but our appearance forced them to stay and fight."

Frieda looked at the corpses and nodded.

_"I understand... In that case... Let's resume what we were about to do..." -

The three of them sat around the small table.

Frieda gently placed the purple crystal on the stand.

Once it was secure, she carefully moved her hands away and nodded to herself.

_"Good... We can begin now..." -

Frieda closed her eyes and placed her left hand on the table.

_"I'm going to recite some words to gather magic. Androxus, I need you to give me your hand" -

Androxus grunted in agreement, then extended his right hand onto the table.

Frieda took Androxus's hand and clasped his fingers in hers.

And then, she began to murmur strange chants that neither Maeve nor Androxus understood.

After a few seconds, during which it seemed like nothing was happening, the crystal in the middle of the table began to glow.

The lantern on the table suddenly went out, leaving the room in darkness.

A strange thing, since no wind had passed through the room.

Frieda frowned with effort. And several runic engravings began to appear on her skin.

Then, she opened her eyes.

A great current of magic coursed through her.

The amber in her eyes had been replaced by a bright, deep purple.

Abyssal magic.

Her blank expression made her look as if she were trapped in a trance.

Or perhaps that was what was happening to her.

The grip on her hand tightened slightly as Frieda immersed herself deeper in the world before her eyes.

She was greatly surprised when...

Her eyes, which were supposed to see that place where the images would be reproduced so clearly for her... found nothing.

A total void.

An infinity of pure black.

_"This is... It's impossible..."

_"What's going on?- " Androxus asked.

_"No... There's nothing..." -

_"¡...!" -

Such a statement left him stunned.

_"(Nothing? What kind of sick joke is this?)" -

Androxus leaned forward slightly on the table, a little tense.

"What do you mean there's nothing? Are you implying that I...?" -

_"I can't see anything... Everything is dark! There's no light, there's no floor... It's an endless void..." -

Tears began to roll down Frieda's cheeks.

Her lips trembled uncontrollably.

She seemed to have gone mad.

Moments later, her eyes widened and her breath caught in her throat.

The tears stopped flowing.

Androxus and Maeve noticed that Frieda, instead of having the blank stare she had a few moments ago, was now staring at something.

They didn't know what.

The shock didn't last long, as seconds later, Frieda let out a terrified scream and twisted on the table, sending both the crystal and the lantern flying.

Maeve and Androxus stared at her in disbelief.

Androxus's grip on her hand loosened, causing her to fall to the floor and her hands to try to cover her face.

_"Frieda!" - Maeve jumped out of her chair and immediately went to help her.

Androxus stood up and watched the scene in complete silence.

He didn't understand in the slightest what had just happened.

Why had Frieda suddenly started screaming?

_"My eyes, my eyes! They... They hurt!" -

Maeve stared in disbelief at the blood that began to seep from between Frieda's fingers.

Her hands moved away from her.

_"What the..." -

Androxus quickly approached and knelt down.

His hands firmly took Frieda's before moving them away from her face and discovering what was happening. And what he saw... Made him freeze in shock.

The woman lay crying inconsolably on the floor.

Blood continued to flow from her eye sockets.

A claw mark had run horizontally across her eyes, leaving her blind...

...