Cutting through a few choice shortcuts that had been carved out by the guild - only known to the mercenaries - Venik returned home swiftly, and unhindered.
Approaching the King's chambers with a confident strut, his attention was soon focused on a group of voices trying to yell over the top of each other, his heart began racing as he listened to the stern exchange of words growing louder and louder as he approached.
Shocked at what he was hearing, he tried to piece together the sudden arrival of these foreign voices as they joined King Grit in a worrisome feud.
His mind swirled, curious with possibilities, wondering if their unexpected presence signaled an alliance or a more sinister plot.
As he eavesdropped on their discussion, peering through a slit in the door, Venik's suspicions grew, fueled by the cryptic exchanges and veiled threats exchanged between the Realm's Immortal rulers. It became clear to Venik that there was more to this meeting than met the eye, and he knew he had stumbled upon something far more significant than he had anticipated.
As his horror intensified, he witnessed the shocking scene unfolding before him.
The sight of his King suddenly being held against his will by Grace and Leisure while Torment's hands moved in a calculated magical sway, the sight of Grit's soul being forcefully drained into an amulet that hung around Torment's neck, Grit's screams descending in a horrific dance through Venik's ears.
With a sinking feeling in his gut, Venik realized the true nature of the alliance between Torment, Grace, and Leisure. It was not one of unity or cooperation, but rather a sinister pact forged in treachery and betrayal. The calculated precision of their actions left no doubt in his mind that this had been planned meticulously, with King Grit's demise as the next goal on their sinister agenda.
As he continued to watch in shock, Venik knew that he had stumbled upon a dangerous secret—one that could shake the foundations of the realms and plunge them into chaos.
He began to devise another half-thought plan that led him to flee the scene in search of help. But Venik's desperate plan drove him mad, running to the streets in search of brave warriors strong enough to confront Imortes or serve them... the description fitting the likes of those he had betrayed in the Realm of Leisure.
Facing harsh skepticism, no one would hear his plight, he pled for anyone to aid him, avoiding his last resort return to the Realm of Leisure, at any cost.
His actions would prove frivolous, and so a new idea was formed.
With a risky plan in mind, Venik resolves to deceive the guardians he had betrayed and lead them directly into Torment's grasp, hoping to earn recognition and redemption in the process.
He'd plan to approach them with fear in his eyes, spinning a tale of an urgent danger threatening their realm—a ruse that rang true, designed to force them to push his betrayal aside, just long enough to betray them again.
Despite his treachery, Venik knew the guardians possessed the skills needed to confront the Imortes and potentially uncover the truth behind the sinister alliance. With a sense of impending doom, Venik led another perilous journey back to the realm of Leisure.
His plan was in motion.
Back at the pit where four guardians had faced impossible odds, pride blanketed the tension between them as they shared a common victory. Many hours passed as they pooled their strength and intelligence, devising various strategies to escape the pit.
They tried stacking debris and bone to create a makeshift ladder, attempted to climb each other's shoulders, and searched for any hidden passages or weak spots in the pit's walls.
Given their best efforts, the pit seemed impenetrable, leaving them exhausted. Until familiar footsteps echoed back across the walls of the pit, igniting a second wind of caution.
Venik's silhouette approached as the guardians exchanged wary glances, unsure of his intentions. "Looks like you could use a hand," Venik spat, jokingly trying to hold back his laughter, ignoring the fate of his King.
Venik peered into the pit, his expression unreadable. After a tense moment, he'd turned away, and a thick rope draped down and unraveled into the pit, surprising everyone with his unexpected act of kindness. Reluctantly, the guardians accepted his assistance, realizing they needed all the help they could get.
Amex caught Valerie's unmistakable face of revenge as it twitched in anticipation, he was cautious at the events that were about to unfold.
As Amex, Valerie, Kross, and Lionel escaped the pit, the mercenary Venik confronted them with urgent news about King Grit's fate at the hands of King Torment. While his words held truth, there was an underlying sinister intent in his demeanor.
Before Venik could finish his tale, Valerie swiftly drew her sword, poised to strike at the mercenary, her eyes burning with fury.
"I swear it's true" Venik trembled, at the sight of Valerie's blade, Amex sharing a concerning glance. "I saw it with my own eyes, Torment sucked the soul right out of our King" he continued, although clearly unheard beyond the walls of Valerie's anger.
Although Venik attempted to convince the Guardians of his sincerity, their suspicion remained strong. They couldn't shake the feeling that Venik had ulterior motives behind his sudden willingness to help them.
"Why did you come back for us?" Lionel questioned, "One second you leave us for dead, the next, you come back with your tail between your legs" he continued, stepping forward with an unwavering intent.
Before he could slip another lie through the lines of truth, Valerie pulled her hand back, slicing her blade across Venik's neck.
In shock, the group rushed to grab Valerie, but it was too late, Venik, gasping for air as his lungs filled with blood, watched as Valerie shared a final look of disgust, the walls of darkness surrounding his vision like the pit he'd pushed her into.
Valerie's unexpected assault on Venik left the other guardians stunned, she brushed the guardians off and took a few steps in the opposite direction.
At this moment, Lionel pieced together a similar memory of her holding a blade to Kross's throat, and with the confirmation of her lack of empathy, a new anger washed over him about their previous encounter.
Amex shared a moment of solemnity with Kross and Lionel as they processed the events that had just played out, the three remained in shock at Valerie's sudden actions. Lionel's dissatisfaction weighed heavy, with Valerie's actions leading him to demand answers, but Amex quickly came to her aid and shared with him that she couldn't speak.
"She may not talk, but she will listen" Lionel screamed, expressing his frustration, prompting Kross to firmly intervene and order him to stop.
Out of respect for Kross, Lionel backed off in a huff, sharing one last strong stare with Valerie, leaving the group momentarily divided.
"He was a foe," Amex spoke softly, trying to assure Kross that Veniks fate was written, "If it wasn't us today, the next person he betrayed may have done the same, or the next, and so on". Though Kross did not entertain the notion of Venik's death, she kept quiet as Lionel's rage had now left her alone with two prior adversaries that may turn on her at any moment.
The revelation of being pawns in a larger power struggle resonated with the group. Despite their mistrust for Venik, they acknowledged the truth in his words about Torment's actions.
Now, they faced the challenge of working together and devising a plan.
Kross harbored suspicions about Grace's involvement but kept them to herself for the time being. Amex took a moment to pray for Venik and in a blink, Kross managed to slip away and find Lionel nearby.
It was clear that he sat uneasily with the weight of his outburst. Both begin to share a heartfelt conversation, with Lionel revealing that he considers Kross to be his only family, "I over-reacted, I know that, and I'm sorry" he stated with deep sincerity, "I just don't know what I would do if anything ever happened to you Kross" he continued, trying to hold back his emotions.
Kross placed her hand on his shoulder in a gesture of forgiveness as she finally realized the importance of making amends with the people she loved, especially before facing the immortals.
"Will you come with me to see my mother, Patience?" She asked to Lionel's surprise, "I don't know what's next for us, but I want to make sure she knows I love her", Kross asked, knowing full well that Lionel would not turn her down.
The pair nod solemnly and head back toward their unlikely comrades, sharing their decision to depart momentarily.
As they confront their party, Lionel emphasizes the importance of regrouping at the Realm of Grit to face the unknown danger together, despite their history, he stresses the strength in unity and to confront their challenges as a united front.
Amex and Valerie take a moment, their gazes filled with contention, but after careful consideration, they agree to meet the other Guardians at the Realm of Grit, solidifying their newfound alliance with a firm handshake.
Lionel insists that they make peace with each of their personal lives, as the Imortes are no mere mortals, and the chance for survival is knowingly slim. The group departs on their separate journeys, as Amex respectfully covers the mercenary's body with a nearby cloth, signifying a somber acknowledgment of his demise.
Leaving Venik's body behind, their silhouettes soon disappear along the horizon.
Then, slowly, from whisps of the air, the transparent stranger that had been haunting Kross throughout her journey came into form, standing over Venik expressionless, silently observing the aftermath of the events that had unfolded. He knelt, stretching his arms out to retrieve Venik's corpse.
Unknown to them, Lionel and Kross head toward the realm of Grace to pay her mother, Patience, a long-awaited visit.