"We really shouldn't have fought. We made too much noise," Kaiden muttered, crouched near a cracked table as he tried to patch up the exposed wires in his arm. Sparks flicked off the metal like angry insects.
"It was fun though," Rav said cheerfully, dragging corpses and dumping them behind the bar counter like sacks of potatoes.
Kaiden stood up, brushing his hands off with a grimace. He stepped behind the counter, more disturbed by the mess of bodies than the risk of infection. But the scent of alcohol—something green and vaguely floral—overpowered his hesitation. He grabbed a bottle and poured himself a drink.
"Kess, how long is this going to take?"
"I don't know. A day, maybe more. Especially if someone keeps asking me that same damn question every five minutes," Kess grumbled, hunched over a mangled array of wires and glowing runes. Makeshift warp device construction hadn't exactly been in the training manual back in the Drenvalar army.
"Fine, fine. We won't speak to you. Jeez." Kaiden took a sip. It was smoother than expected. He leaned against the counter, mind drifting to the strange magic he'd felt from that rebel demon earlier.
There was something wrong with it—familiar, but not quite right. Like seeing a mirror reflection blink out of sync. Demon magic, maybe? It had more rhythm. More stable, but less reactive.
"By the way… does anyone know what those rebels are even fighting for? Like, what's the deal? Demon rights being violated or something?"
There was a pause.
"That's…," Sylen finally said, voice quieter than usual. "Don't think too much about it."
Even though it had been years since the war, she hadn't forgotten the screams.
"What's there to not think about? The old empire was broken. A bunch of sissies. The new empire came in, united the tribes, conquered the weak, and destroyed Velinor and its weak crown. That's how empires work," Rav chimed in, grabbing the bottle from Kaiden and chugging recklessly.
"They weren't weak. They were peaceful. They didn't crave war like that madman we now call Lord," Sylen said bitterly.
"And that's why they lost," Rav shrugged. "They let the other races trample all over us. Now the world thinks we're brainless demons that love fighting, but at least we're not someone's doormat anymore."
"That still doesn't—"
A knock at the door cut through the tension like a blade. Everyone froze.
Kaiden's eyes narrowed. He had said they made too much noise… but not this fast.
"Hide," he whispered.
Sylen melted into a shadowed corner, knife already in hand. Kess ducked behind the bar. Rav crouched beside the door, gripping a chair leg like a club. Kaiden stepped forward and placed his hand on the doorknob.
"Who's there?"
"A beggar," came a small voice.
Kaiden blinked, then opened the door cautiously. A thin child stood outside, dirty and trembling.
"What is it?"
"I can give you information… if you give me something. Please, I need it for my little sister. Surely a soldier like you, even if turned to the bad side, wouldn't let someone starve, right?"
Kaiden scratched his chin, frowning. He glanced back. Spoiled food, bloodied knives, and bottles of spirits. Not exactly charity-grade supplies.
"We've got… knives? You take those for info?"
The kid hesitated, clearly underwhelmed. "Anything with value, I guess."
Kaiden handed him five knives, dried blood still crusted on the handles.
"Cool. So what do you know?"
"Guards are going to patrol the area tonight. Also… the Valedran Emperor is visiting every border town." The kid swallowed. "Tomorrow, he'll be here."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and sprinted off, clutching the knives like they were treasure.
Kaiden shut the door. When he turned around, the entire squad was in a frenzy, working on the warp device like their lives depended on it.
"What?" Kaiden frowned. "It's just some snobby emperor, probably here to wave at the townsfolk and kiss a few babies."
"Get your ass over here and help," Sylen snapped, panic rising in her voice. "I don't want to be here when that devil shows up."
"That human can sniff out demons," Rav added, sweat running down his brow. "He'll skin us alive and then laugh while beheading us in front of a cheering crowd. We can't run if he finds us."
Even Rav—who loved combat more than breathing—looked genuinely afraid.
Kaiden dropped to assist, still confused. "I've heard of him, sure. Border campaigns, suppression raids, the guy with the mask who doesn't age. But that's all wartime propaganda, isn't it?"
"No," Kess said flatly, not looking up. "We saw what was left of the last demon hideout he found. There weren't even bones. Just a pile of ashes."
A chill ran down Kaiden's spine.
He glanced at the warp core—still flickering red, barely holding. The runes etched into the floor beneath it glowed like something alive. Too slow. Too unstable.
"Can we finish this before sunrise?"
No one answered.
Kaiden exhaled, shoulders tense. His mechanical arm buzzed faintly—half-repaired, barely functional. Not enough to fight off a legend. Not enough to escape clean, but at least he can now balance his body, when they return, he will probably get a new arm back.
But They weren't just fugitives anymore.
They were prey.