Mira's gaze flickered with a storm of emotions, but she didn't argue. Alex's logic was sound, and she knew it.
If there was even a slight chance that the culprits might be as strong as Rothwind, they'd be incredibly dangerous.
Staying together would only limit their options, especially since they had this poor girl to worry about now.
"Okay…"
Your journey continues at empire
She murmured softly, almost as if speaking to herself, reaffirming her decision.
Then, she straightened up, her eyes locking onto Alex's with a new, fierce light.
"You're right. We'll split up. I'll get her out of the city, and then I'll find sowhere safe to lay low. But promise , Alex… promise you won't do anything stupid."
Alex chuckled softly, the sound carrying a hint of fondness.
"Stupid? You know , Mira. I'm all about making stupid decisions!"
However Mira didn't find that nearly as amusing as Alex did.
"Alright, alright!"
He cut her off with a smirk before she could say sothing, raising his hands in mock surrender.
"I get it. I'll be careful."
Mira let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, then nodded, looking down at the girl who was still holding onto her tightly.
"We're leaving the city. Right now. I know a few places out in the forest where we can hide out for a while."
During their many weeks out hunting for beasts in order to complete their rank up requirents, the two of them had found so calm, relaxing and quite frankly beautiful places to stop and camp at in each interlude between days.
Mira was planning on taking the girl out to one of them, one that had quickly beco Alex and her favourite spot to camp at when their worries and stress from hunting all day had died down.
Alex knew exactly where she was planning on taking her.
"I'll co and et you in 7 days, regardless of if I find out what happened to Rothwind or not."
He spoke up, very serious this ti.
"If I don't, then don't co looking for . Just leave — take the girl sowhere safe, another city perhaps, and just leave the Primordial Expanse. If sothing happens to , I don't want you to get caught up in it as well."
Mira looked hesitant and a little scared upon hearing Alex's deadly serious tone, and he wasn't planning on having any of her usual antics.
"I need you to promise that Mira. Swear on it. Swear that you will leave."
He practically cornered Mira into accepting it, whether she liked it or not.
Alex didn't plan on taking any chances with her life.
He was fine with risking his own, which was still quite selfish of him, but he would not cross the line of risking Mira's too.
"I promise…"
Eventually, Mira could only relent and give in.
The girl looked between the two of them, confusion and fear etched onto her face.
"You're… going to leave him behind? But what if they—"
"I'll be fine."
Alex assured her, his voice returning to a gentle serenade this ti.
The girl hesitated, but nodded slowly.
He turned to Mira.
"Head out through the eastern gate. Avoid the main roads. I've noticed the patrols there are… less reliable, to say the least. They won't give you much trouble if you keep a low profile. And if you hear anything, anything at all, that seems off — get out. Don't stick around to see what it is."
With that, Alex turned away.
His posture straightened as he began to head deeper into the slums, where perhaps more answers awaited him.
***
"We had an agreent."
A stark, almost condescending voice smoothly spoke out.
It echoed through the dark, windowless room where two figures were situated, both sitting, and both looking rather lax.
"No we didn't. You just think everyone in this city works for you and has to answer to every one of your beck and call."
Rothwind replied.
Contrary to his status as a prisoner in this place, he looked just as relaxed as ever.
Because he knew that there was only one person that had the strength to match him in this city, and he was sitting right in front of him, on the other side of the table.
"Don't give that bullshit, Rothwind!"
However, it didn't seem like the figure at the other end of the table took Rothwind's response very lightly.
The man at the end of the table, an imposing figure in a well tailored black suit that glead in a slightly dim light, leaned back in his chair.
His sharp eyes were fixed on Rothwind, but despite his intense gaze, the blacksmith remained unfazed.
His intimidation might have worked on most other people, but it was useless against soone of equal strength to himself.
"Is that so?"
The man's smooth, composed voice held a faint edge of irritation.
"You can hold up your tough act, Rothwind. But don't think for a second I'm not aware of what you really want."
Rothwind raised a brow, his lips twitching into a smirk.
Even he was surprised that this man thought he knew Rothwind better than Rothwind knew himself!
"And what would that be? Enlighten , Mayor."
The mayor's fingers drumd against the wooden table between them, the sound echoing softly in the small, very well secluded room.
Rothwind had to hand it to the guy, it would be tough even for soone of his strength to break out of this place.
"You want to be left alone. To work without interference. Without people — be they awakened or officials — coming to you, asking you to craft all kinds of low rank, mundane items. You've made that clear through your little tantrums in the past."
Rothwind's eyes narrowed at the word 'tantrums', but he didn't respond imdiately.
He leaned back in his chair, mimicking the pose the Mayor had assud, and crossed his arms as he regarded the Mayor with a lazy, almost mocking smile.
"So? And what's your point? You think dragging here and locking up will convince anymore to give it to you? Paha! Dream on!"
The Mayor didn't flinch at Rothwind's comnts, only continuing his act.
"All I'm asking for is that corpse, Rothwind. After you give it to , I can give you anything you like. How about a private forge at the centre of the city? Where you can work in peace — indefinitely."
Rothwind let out a short, dry laugh.
"Peace? Coming from you, Mayor, that word sounds almost comical."
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