Valerie enters through the capital gates, with Amex closely behind, on their grand return to the realm of Grit with news of the attack on Grace and the Queen's disappearance, when they are suddenly met with a surprising sight in the King's chambers.
The Queen of Leisure sits across from Grit, her presence unexpected but a welcomed addition. The Guardians, loyal to Grit, do not question her sudden appearance.
As they enter, the King's expression of joy is hollow and naive, unaware of the turmoil that has unfolded in their absence. "The Queen has sought refuge in our grand realm, fearing that she may be the target of Torment's next assault" he foretells in a moment of foreboding clarity.
Amex and Valerie, however, remain wary, their suspicions growing as they begin to piece together the events that have transpired.
Amex voices their concerns to Grit, explaining their belief that Torment and Grace may be colluding together, orchestrating the attack on the realm of Grace as a false flag operation.
Amex hands Grit the letter signed by King Torment, the request for unity across the realms taking on a new significance. The contents of the letter, combined with Queen Leisure's own insights, paint a complex picture of the dynamics at play between the realms of Grace, Torment, and Leisure.
The Queen leans forward, her hair draping across her face with an enticing aura. "Curious, as my Guardians were sent to give word of the realms brewing tensions" she ponders, her voice soft but revealing, as she explains the plea to unify both realms.
With a sudden realization, she fears her Guardians may be walking right into a trap returning to her capital. The Queen's demeanor changes to that of desperation as she begs Amex and Valerie to find them and bring them to Grit's fortress.
In response, Amex and Valerie agree to return to her realm and fetch her guardians, Bennett and Costel. Their reunion in the realm of Grit promises to be a pivotal moment in their quest for truth and unity. With King Grit's agreement to send his own guardians, the stage is set for a gathering of forces that will shape the fate of the realms.
Before setting out, Amex requests a moment of respite, and Grit grants their wish without hesitation, understanding the importance of rest before their next endeavor. As they prepare to depart in the morning, Amex and Valerie take the opportunity to unwind at a nearby bar, seeking a quiet place to rest their tired bones.
Meanwhile, at the fortress, Leisure voices her concerns to Grit, expressing her fears that delaying their departure may put her guardians at risk of falling into Torment's trap. She urges Grit to act swiftly, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Grit remains steadfast in his decision though, assuring Leisure that there is no evidence of a trap and that he prioritizes the well-being of his guardians. He knows that allowing them time to rest and recuperate will ensure they are in peak condition for the challenges that lie ahead. As tensions simmer and concerns mount, Grit and Leisure find themselves at odds over the best course of action.
Across a quiet bar, some time has passed while Amex meticulously writes down strategies for potential encounters, Valerie observes with keen interest. Until she senses Amex's frustrations, in a moment of inner conflict, she intervenes by grabbing his notes and tossing them aside, urging him to take a moment to properly relax.
Frustrated by Valerie's interruption, Amex storms over to retrieve his notes, only to find them in the hands of a jar-head mercenary who appears to be intrigued by their contents.
As Amex requests the return of his notes, the man responds with mockery, refusing to relinquish them. Sensing the escalating tension, Valerie steps in to protect her companion, confronting the mercenary face to face. Her gaze is drawn to the man's bandaged right hand with a careful point of the finger from Amex, and her fury ignites.
Without hesitation, she grabs hold of the injured wrist and squeezes tightly, eliciting a scream of agony from the hardened merc causing him to drop the scribbled notes in pain.
Swiftly seizing the opportunity, Amex retrieves his notes while subtly signaling to Valerie that it is time to depart. But consumed by her rage at the mercenary's mockery, Valerie continues to apply pressure to the injured wrist, and with a sickening snap, the merc's bones break under her grip, causing him to collapse to the ground in excruciating agony.
Amex appeared unbothered by her actions, as Valerie had a history of being over-protective of him, but he knew they must swiftly leave the bar before chaos ignited.
The pair stepped out into the cold night together, with plans to finally rest.
Blood dripped to the hardwood floors, the mercenary stood, shaken, riddled with unbridled rage, determined to return the pain he felt on Valerie for her malicious assault, grunts of pain escaped his lungs while he splinted his own wrist, the pain only subsiding by the thoughts of Valerie begging for mercy.
Feeling emasculated, he swore revenge on the Guardians that had turned his night of liquor and song, into internal humiliation, the hate in his heart saw the night to its end.
After a deep rest, the morning sun rose over the Realm of Grit, illuminating the shadows that filled its protected streets. Amex and Valerie prepared to depart, bidding farewell to King Grit with gratitude for his patience in letting them rest.
Their parting with Queen Leisure, brief but memorable, was met with a chilled aura, one that had replaced the enticing aroma they had grown a custom to, her gaze portraying a sense of unease as they embarked on their journey to the Realm of Leisure.
The two set out beyond the kingdom walls, leaving behind the familiar comforts of the capital. Unknown to them, the mercenary watched their departure with simmering resentment, silently vowing to seek retribution for their humiliating encounter.
As Amex and Valerie ventured out of sight, they shared subtle gestures conveying their camaraderie and trust for the mission ahead. Unbeknownst to them, the mercenary began to trail behind, utilizing his exceptional tracking abilities to keep them within his sights.
With a keen eye, the mercenary observed their every move, biding his time for the opportune moment to strike. He knew that patience would be his greatest asset, waiting for a moment of vulnerability when he could catch them off guard.
Clueless, the guardians continued on their path, unaware of the looming threat trailing behind them, the merc remained focused and vigilant, poised to seize his chance when the time was right.