"It's only light rain, let's go now," said Mori.
Everyone agreed. While the day was still early, they were expected to meet the Ferryman in the early afternoon.
They would be fine, Maya and Torryn had a coat and backpacks filled with things they could need during their travel.
Mary added some prepared meals as well, topping everything off nicely.
Maya and Torryn said goodbye one last time to Mary, thanking her again for the amazing stay and the food.
"Until we meet again!" said Mary.
"Yes!"
They exited the inn, the streets weren't that busy and by now they knew their way around pretty well.
They all walked alongside each other, Maya and Torryn were bickering about the perception curse, asking Aura's opinion occasionally.
Aura who seemed uninterested at first had slightly opened up to the siblings. Maya's talent for reaching people's hearts was unequaled.
"I know you'll miss us," said Maya.
"I won't," replied Mori.
"Yeah right. I can see through your tough guy shell... Also, you need to gain some muscle mass to be more believable."
"I don't need muscle mass to make you quiver in your tiny boots," said Mori clanking his chains under his cloak.
Maya sustained his stare, breaking only to start laughing.
"Hahaha, you're trying so hard to be tough!!! You're probably the nicest person I know, this is just- Hah!!!"
"Don't laugh so hard, Maya, you'll piss him off again," said Torryn.
Mori rolled his eyes, "Listen, I have dozens of ways to scare you, truly I don't need-"
"Yes yes, you're big and strong and scary," she said between laughs.
"Wha-"
Aura put her hand on Mori's shoulder, shaking her head.
"Well, next time I'll use bad omen, we'll see who's so tough..." he muttered.
"Hah- What is it? What did you say?" asked Maya, wiping her tears.
"See, now he's mad. Good job, sis, you did it."
"He's not mad, he's adowable, haha- ouch! Why'd you hit me?!"
"Someone had to," replied Torryn.
Maya frowned, walking in silence for a few seconds.
"Well, scary or not, we'll owe you. You've done more for us in the past days than anyone in the past years."
"It just happened that we met," replied Mori. "Ah, and here."
Mori handed her a tiny leather bag, the sound of its content betraying gold coins.
She took it but didn't open it.
"Well, honestly... I'd rather stay here with you than go up north," said Maya.
"I feel the same way," said Torryn.
It wouldn't be such a bad thing, really...
Mori sighed. He had already asked himself that question and he answered it.
"I can't guarantee your safety, you've seen what they've done to this city. Corpses of your kind are spread across the back alleys, they don't even bother."
"We can take care of ourselves!" said Maya.
"Yeah, but you also need to take care of your brother."
"I'll be fine, really," said Torryn.
Mori sighed.
"Alright. How about this: I'll come get you once I find a safe place for us?"
Maya looked at Torryn, her face glowing and her brother sharing her happiness.
"Yes! Absolutely!"
What am I, a nanny now?
Mori glanced at Aura, who simply smiled.
The rain was extremely soft, barely caressing them as they progressed through the streets.
With it, a cold wind sporadically came around, refreshing them through the otherwise humid day.
Mori knew that wind well, he knew he'd enjoy another night by the fire with a calming storm outside.
The one thing he needed, however, was hot chocolate.
No matter what, he'd do what he can to find some on his way back.
"What will you do once we're gone?" asked Maya.
"I don't know," he replied.
"No more revenge?" she asked.
"We'll see. DiveCore will pay, that much didn't change."
Maya smiled. "Well, I'm glad you changed your mind. I, for one, don't blame all humans for how life turned out. We demonfolks haven't all been the nicest to others. It'd suck if I died for something someone else did."
Mori arched his eyebrows, surprised by that moment of wisdom.
"Humans from this world are maybe okay, those from mine aren't. They're content with how things are, they have no will to change anything, and their morals and values are twisted. People at the shorter end of the stick shoulder the worst aspect of that society."
"Then, by your own logic, all those like you, at the shorter end of the stick, wouldn't deserve your revenge, am I wrong?"
Mori stayed silent, in thought.
"Well, think about it, at least," said Maya.
Mori patted Maya's head, purposefully leaving her hair in a weird state.
"Thanks a lot for your wisdom, master," he said.
The sky was still grey, but the rain had cleared out.
They were approaching the fountain, most benches were empty, understandably, as water covered them.
After wiping one of them, they sat down, it was still too early.
Huh?
Mori suddenly looked up.
"What is it?" asked Aura.
Maya and Torryn stopped talking, noticing something happened.
"There's someone in the skies, again. I only felt them for a split second, but I'm not sure what it is I felt."
"Was it that succubus?" asked Aura.
"It wasn't her. She told me Asmodael was the one we felt the day we arrived here. This one was different. I can't really put my finger on it..."
Aura frowned, staring at the ground in thought.
"Is it a big deal?" asked Maya.
"The succubus has been watching us, but she doesn't scare me so I let it go. But now..."
"Creepy," said Torryn.
"Yeah..." agreed Maya.
"The whole city is creepy," said Mori. "Corpses are lying around, there's barely anyone compared to how it should be, and the remnants of the old regime are still waiting around."
"Well, I'm glad to be leaving this place behind," said Maya.
"Why don't you conquer this city, Mori?" asked Torryn.
Everyone looked at him.
"For one, I'm no leader. The moment I do, DiveCore is sure to dispatch people to retake it, and while my magic is strong, my level is currently low."
"How low?" asked Maya.
"I'm level 1."
"Haha, good one..."
Mori's face remained straight.
"Oh. You're not joking."