In the Hall of Order.
"Your Honor, two letters arrived this morning," a clerk said, bowing slightly as he handed the sealed parchment forward.
Cassius Magentano Clavius, High Magistrate of Aurelia, let out a tired sigh.
"Tsk. I already know who they're from," he muttered.
He broke the seals, skimming the contents. His eyes narrowed.
"What do they say, Your Honor?" his companion asked.
"That since I failed to intervene, the least I can do is lock the city down while their war runs its course."
" Just because they're two of the high lords," Magentano muttered, shaking his head.
He stared at the ink-stained words as if they were poison.
"Damnit. Any news about the culprit? Or Lord Frings' cousin?" he asked the city watch member standing by.
"I'm afraid not, sir."
Magentano clicked his tongue. "Of course not. Nothing ever makes this easier."
He stood from his chair and walked toward the tall windows overlooking the city.
'Normally, I'd send a letter to the crown, let them judge the mess. But the other families… they've already made up their minds to let this happen. Who am I to argue?'
'I may be the law here, but I'm still just a puppet,' he thought bitterly.
"Ghilas!!" Magentano's voice rang through the hall, sharp and commanding.
"Yes, Your Honor?" Ghilas answered, stepping forward, his usual calm replaced by the tension that had been building all morning.
"Go to the City Watch. Talk to Captain Heda Wren. Tell her that the City Watch is now responsible for the safety of the other sector," Magentano instructed, his gaze steady but laced with frustration.
"Tell them to lock the city. No one gets in or out."
"Yes, Your Honor!" Ghilas said, nodding quickly and turning to leave.
Aurelia City Watch Department
"And that's what the High Magistrate said," Ghilas finished, his voice quieter now.
"Huh, so he doesn't have the balls to go against them, huh?" Captain Heda muttered under her breath, running a hand through her fiery red hair. She didn't look at Ghilas as she spoke, "It's always easier to bow down than take action, isn't it?"
"Captain, he is still our High Magistrate," Ghilas responded softly, his words carrying the burden of reality. "But you know... we're not without fault here either."
Heda paused, her fingers trembling slightly before she clenched her fists.
She took a deep breath, letting her anger settle before looking at her soldiers.
"Okay, soldiers," she barked, her voice sharp and commanding. "We have a job to do. We'll take responsibility for every other sector. Get to the gates, check every alley, every corner—don't let a thing slip by us. We've been lax for too long. I don't care who's at fault; we're fixing this now."
"Ohhhhh!!!" The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices filled with renewed determination.
Captain Heda watched them move, a flicker of regret crossing her eyes. She knew this would be difficult, but it was the least they could do.
'Tsk. It wouldn't have happened if that dwarf hadn't died,' Captain Heda thought bitterly as she sat at her desk, her hands gripping the edge, trying to stay composed.
' Tsk, the culprit better be hiding!'
In the Inn
"Mm, ohh, this is yummy," Rethrus said between bites, savoring the fish like it was the finest meal he'd ever had.
"Ahhh, my head hurts," Mr. Eddie groaned from his chair, clutching his head.
"That's your fault for drinking every kind of drink at the party," Mrs. Hilda scolded, her voice laced with both concern and annoyance as she handed him a cup of water.
"Come on, honey, it was a one-time thing," Mr. Eddie protested, but his voice was weak, still reeling from the effects of his indulgence.
Mrs. Hilda was already busy preparing a warm soup for him, her hands moving with practiced care.
Rethrus watched them, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he chewed.
'My time here is nearly done. I'm going to miss them,' he thought, feeling a pang of sadness deep inside.
'Eri and Kaeli... they should follow the plan.'
Black Dragon Guild - Guild Master's Chamber
Cassius stormed into the chamber, his face hard with anger.
"And whose plan is it?" he demanded, voice booming in the silence.
"Rethrus... Eri and Kaeli confessed," a guild member replied, eyes wide with anxiety.
Cassius froze. "Really? He planned all of it?" His voice held an incredulous edge. "That kid?!"
They nodded. "We know, sir. But he... he really did. He planned everything."
Cassius slammed his fist into the table, the force of it rattling the room.
"Do you realize what you've done? You've caused a war! A war that could destroy this city!" His voice trembled with rage, and the weight of the consequences hung heavily in the air.
"But, sir—"
"No buts!" Cassius interrupted, his anger flaring. He turned and began pacing, struggling to find any sense of clarity in the chaos that had unfolded.
Eri stood quietly in the corner of the room, her arms crossed as she watched Cassius' outburst with a cool, calculating expression.
"How did you figure it out?" she asked suddenly, her voice calm but sharp, cutting through the tension in the room.
Cassius turned toward her, his eyes wide with disbelief. He couldn't believe that Eri would have the audacity to ask such a question, especially now. But his anger simmered, and he answered her anyway.
"I went to your house that day, Eri," Cassius said slowly, his voice betraying a hint of frustration. "You weren't there. So, I went to Kaeli's house. I heard Rethrus' voice, and I hid myself, watched as you... as you burned the evidence."
"But we didn't see or feel you," Eri said, her voice tense.
"Tsk. As if I can't turn invisible... just like your friend," Cassius muttered.
He let the silence hang for a moment before continuing,
"Anyway, I can't just turn Rethrus in. He's too valuable. But I can't turn you two in either—it would drag us all into deeper trouble."
He sank into the chair, eyes heavy with frustration.
"Hu... I really don't know what to do with you two," he said quietly, staring at the table.
"But sir, just so you know—Frings Costamado had a house where his future wives were kept... and some are even locked up in his mansion," Kaeli said.
"And? You think you can beat down a Familiar?" Cassius replied sharply.
"No, sir. But Rethrus' plan worked. Things are going according to what he predicted," Eri added.
Cassius narrowed his eyes. "Did his plan also say I'd find out about all this?"
The two fell silent.
Cassius stood again, pushing the chair back with a scrape.
"I know about the filth those families get away with," he said, voice low. "People call us beasts... paid killers... but those people? They're worse."
He glanced toward the window. "Most of the things they do—it's not for power or need. It's for fun."
He turned back to them. "Even the High Magistrate knows about it."
"Then why doesn't the City Watch do something about it?" Eri asked, frustration seeping into her tone.
Cassius gave a bitter chuckle. "Do you really think they have the power?"
He stepped forward slowly.
"Tell me, Eri—do you believe the law is above all?"
"I... I don't know," she replied hesitantly."
"If law really ruled, why do we need kings?"
"If it's the strongest force, why is the most powerful man in our city owned by a noble family instead of leading the City Watch?"
He paused, eyes sharp.
He sighed.
"Listen, Eri... laws are just cages—meant to tame the poor."