Reeza shuffled wearily through a gloomy subterranean corridor, her steps echoing against the cold stone walls until she emerged into a chamber bathed in dim light.
Her inner turmoil etched deep lines on her face, and shadows pooled beneath her tired eyes. Paying little heed to the imposing guards clad in heavy armor, she let her gaze wander to the rows of prison cells lining the wall behind them, yearning for even a fleeting glimpse of her mother.
She had been diligently tallying every piece of gold coin she funneled to Casimir, keenly aware of nearing their agreed-upon quota. Over a year had passed, marked by a trail of blood, tears, and sacrifices—her own mortality, her peace of mind, and even fragments of her soul—all laid bare to reach this pivotal moment.
With one final scam or a daring heist, she would've secured enough funds to buy her mother's freedom. In what had become somewhat of a ritual, she regularly came by seeking solace in her mother's eyes, a silent affirmation before each job. Yet, as her gaze swept past the vigilant guards and through the unforgiving bars of the nearest cell, her mother's familiar visage couldn't be found amongst the others.
Did they… change her cell?
Reeza's slender eyebrows crinkled. No. In the entire year she's been in captivity, her holding cell had never changed.
Refusing to rely on mere conjecture when her mother's life was at stake, Reeza rashly attempted to slip past the guards, only to be swiftly subdued.
"You know the drill," one of them spat.
"Restricted area, no entry," the other declared, delivering a stinging blow to her cheek with the hilt of his spear.
Reeza staggered back, fury coursing through her veins as she gritted her teeth. She sized up the two bastards before her and reluctantly admitted she couldn't best them alone.
Pushing aside the throbbing ache in her cheek, she hurriedly darted around a corner, her mind racing to find another path into the chamber. But all she managed to find was more danger lurking in the shadows.
With the precision of a well-oiled machine, a powerful hand shot out from the darkness, its fingers deftly closing around her neck.
WHOOSHH!
The assailant hoisted her into the air, then forcefully slammed her against the wall with enough force to knock the air from her lungs. Reeza's eyes widened in terror, her legs kicking futilely as she struggled against the iron grip constricting her throat.
Saliva dribbled from the corners of her mouth, her face contorting into a sickly shade of purple as the pressure intensified. But her tiny fingers couldn't break the vice-like grip. Instead, the grip gradually tightened, threatening to snap her neck.
"Please don't hurt her," Petula's voice cracked with desperation as she threw herself at the avenger's feet.
Daisuke's head snapped to the side, his eyes narrowing with a chilling intensity that made Petula shrink back in fear.
"…I-It's you," Reeza wheezed, sacrificing precious air to speak.
Daisuke found her eyes, his gaze burning with malicious intent. He didn't need to speak; they both knew what she had done—and what he sought wasn't a simple apology, but her slow and agonizing demise. And as her neck continued to bend, that dark desire edged closer to fruition.
"It's her mother!" Petula's cry suddenly cut through the tension, her fingers tightening around Daisuke's cloak. "She's being forced to do these things… because they're holding her mother hostage!"
Daisuke's fingers stilled, the Eye of Verity confirming her claim.
"What would you do," Petula sobbed softly, "if your own mother was in a similar position… and you were too powerless to fight back?"
A muscle worked in Daisuke's jaw. It was already far too late for his own mother, but the memory of his futile pleas just before Zephyr's demise lingered like a bitter aftertaste. He had begged the thugs, offering anything to spare their lives, even promising future payment in a futile attempt to buy mercy.
Daisuke brushed aside the haunting memory before he could remember Zephyr's anguished cry as he was ripped from existence. Before he could redirect his focus, Reeza's relentless assault began—a barrage of kicks raining down on his chest, each blow driving him back further.
"If you're here for revenge, then just go ahead and do it!" she spat, her eyes ablaze with a storm of emotions—anger, sorrow, and regret swirling within them. "Otherwise, just go!"
With a dismissive gesture, Daisuke callously flung her aside without a second thought, sending her crashing to the ground in a graceless heap.
"You should come with us," Petula implored the girl, her smile fragile but hopeful as she gestured towards Daisuke. "He's agreed to help me and my husband. With all of us working together, we'll have a much better chance of rescuing your mother. And about Casimir… don't trust him; he won't honor his agreement with you, I'm certain of it."
Reeza's gaze flickered between Petula and Daisuke, a flush of color returning to her cheeks along with a defiant gleam in her eyes. "This is my problem," she argued, her tone flippant as she absently rubbed her slender neck. "I'll handle it myself. I don't need your help."
The Florian's brows knitted together in a scowl, but beneath her disdainful glare, a turbulent sea of regret churned. After the unspeakable deeds she had committed against Daisuke, she couldn't possibly bring herself to accept his aid; she felt unworthy of it. And what if he wasn't strong enough to save her mother?
She couldn't help but recall the one-sided assault that had led to Zephyr's tragic demise. Was his anger and thirst for revenge clouding his judgment? Did he truly believe he had grown powerful enough to rival those thugs in such a brief span of time? The thought gnawed at her, a seed of doubt taking root. What if his attempts to rescue them only served to provoke further danger, potentially leading to her mother's death?
Reeza slowly pushed to her feet and swept a hand to wipe away the blemish from her cheek. Casting a sidelong glance at Daisuke and then Petula, she spoke with a hint of warning in her tone. "…If you don't want to end up dead, I suggest you both turn back now. You're both way in over your heads," she cautioned before departing.
Rage churned within Daisuke as he watched her depart, but beneath his seething anger, he couldn't ignore the parallels between the girl's plight and Petula's. If he harmed her in any way, it may soothe his anger now, but the deed would undoubtedly leave a bitter taste in his mouth afterwards.
***
Daisuke didn't hesitate to unleash his pent-up anger and frustration on the two heavily armored sentries guarding the imprisoned slaves. Petula, who would normally freeze at the sight of violence, hurried past the incapacitated men and into the dreary chamber.
The Florian women within the cells stirred like frightened sheep at her arrival, their faces drained of color. Petula's gaze swept urgently over them, absorbing their desperate pleas for aid and freedom. Despite their cries, she continued down the line of cells until she reached the last one, which housed a mix of human men and women.
At her soft call, a man staggered forward, reaching through the metallic bars to tenderly encase her small hands within his own. For a fleeting moment, they shared a tranquil oasis amidst the turmoil, finding solace in each other's touch before the harsh grip of reality reclaimed them once more.
"Pet," he breathed, his eyes wide with alarm. "What're you doing here? How did you manage to get past the guards?"
Petula offered a small smile, gesturing to the silver-haired boy who approached them. "This is Haxks. He's agreed to help us escape."
The man's gaze swept over the small child who was a year shy of becoming a teen and found himself less than impressed. For a moment, he questioned whether the gravity of their situation had clouded his wife's judgment. "Honey—"
The man's next word caught in his throat as the boy effortlessly materialized a menacing-looking dagger in his hand. Daisuke's eyes flicked to the metallic bars of the cell, contemplating whether the Lipanthyer's Fang could breach the thick alloy.
BOONGGGG!
With a mighty swing, he brought the dagger down, leaving behind only a faint dent in the metal. A collective wince rippled through the chamber as everyone instinctively covered their ears, the harsh reverberations piercing the air and foretelling of ominous consequences.
In anticipation of what lay ahead, the slaves instinctively ducked their heads and retreated deeper into their cells, seeking solace in each other's presence as they braced to weather the impending storm.
"Y-You! What have you done?" Petula's husband rebuked, his voice laced with panic. "Honey," he whispered urgently, his eyes wide with fear. "You must flee right this moment," he implored, then turned his accusing gaze towards Daisuke. "You've sealed our fate!"