The gates of Kharzad had barely closed behind them when the first cries rang out. A crowd of people had formed, the muttering, the gasps, surrounding the pair who had heroically brought back those who were chained. The wheeled wagons behind them creaked, coming to a full stop.

 

A woman, human, middle-aged, apron still dusted with flour, spotted a young beastkin boy among the freed captives and froze mid-step. Her basket slipped from her hands; apples rolled across the cobblestones. Then she ran. “Jaren!”

 

The boy, maybe twelve, ears drooping, collar scar raw around his neck, looked up. His eyes widened. “Mama?”

 

She crashed into him, arms wrapped tight, sobbing into his fur. He buried his face in her shoulder, tail thumping weakly against her back. More followed.

 

A dwarf with soot-blackened hands shoved through the crowd and dropped to his knees in front of an older dwarf woman chained in the second wagon. “Mira… gods, Mira, you’re alive.” She touched his face with trembling fingers, tears cutting tracks through the dirt on her cheeks.

 

A human father lifted his daughter from the third wagon - tiny thing, no older than six, still clutching a rag doll. He spun her in a circle, laughing and crying at the same time. “My girl. My little girl.”

 

Beastkin mothers found sons. Sons found fathers. Sisters found brothers. The air filled with names shouted in relief, in disbelief, in joy so raw it hurt to hear.

 

Alex stood off to the side, hood up, watching. His throat felt tight.

 

Veyra stepped beside him. Her tail brushed his leg once before wrapping around it, softly. “They thought they’d lost them forever,” she said quietly.

 

Alex nodded. “Yeah. I know the feeling.”

 

One reunion stood out: an older wolf-kin man, the same gray-furred one who’d cheered Veyra during the mine raid, walked up to a younger wolf-kin woman who’d been in the last cage. She looked like she hadn’t slept in weeks. He didn’t speak. Just pulled her into a hug so tight her feet left the ground. She buried her face in his shoulder and sobbed.

 

The man looked over her head at Alex. Eyes shining. “Thank you,” he mouthed. No sound. Just the words.

 

Alex gave a small nod. Turned away before anyone could see his own eyes burn. The feeling of saving people, the reason he became a cop, moved up the ranks to become a detective, was worth all those sleepless nights to save and reunite people as he could. It was the best feeling anyone could ever feel – that hope. A happy ending for those who still manage to have them, while others rarely, ever, have one. And Alex always prayed for the latter.

 

He looked over at Veyra, who had a small but visible stream of tears escaping from her right eye. Just like him, she shared the same sentiment, feeling emotional about bringing her people back together. He moved closer, shifting his hand over her face, wiping away the tear that had escaped, and ever so brightly smiled at her. “We did well today.”

 

She grabbed his hand with hers, keeping his hand on her cheek, smiling right back at him. Subtle but intimate, as one can express themselves. “Thank you so much for this moment.”

 

“And I’m happy to share it with you.” They looked back at the happy families, basking in their achievement of goodness.

 

*It’s a nice feeling, ain’t it?* Acting proudly as the third wheel, the author finally decided to speak.

 

*Thanks for not butting in too early,* Alex’s moment with Veyra, he’s glad it wasn’t interrupted. *I know we may not see eye-to-eye on everything, but I wanted to thank you for this small moment.*

 

Alex could feel the Author’s jaw drop. *Is that… is that gratification?* He can hear the surprise in his voice, almost a tad bit pitched high from his regular voice. *Well, I appreciate that sentiment, told you I wasn’t a total sadist.*

 

*Just take the compliment before I regret it.* Alex chuckled.

 

*Fine, fine.*

 

After that heartfelt moment, Alex, Veyra, and their captive, Kane in chains, walked ahead of the crowd, making their way into the castle. The soldiers surrounded the captive, following his every move as the group moved elsewhere. They were escorted straight to the citadel’s lower cells - warded iron, damp stone, single torch. Only the echoes of footsteps and armor clattering could be heard along these walls.

 

Alex knew what this was; even in a different world, he knew this was an interrogation room. The guards took Kane ahead, into a room. Unlike the rest of the other rooms, Alex noticed the engraved runes on the walls. With his appraisal skill, he scanned them only to find out what they were – magic-dampening runes. Added security in a magic-based world, of course.

 

Veyra’s father, King Kharos, had joined them, entering the chamber along with his people. Tall, silver-scaled, crimson eyes, sharp as broken glass. Beside him stood General Korrath, the same man from earlier, who showed Alex his new branded bounty. And someone new had joined the royalty.

 

“Lady Sereth.” Veyra knew who she was. Lady Sereth, lithe, white-haired – pulled into a ponytail, was the only one in the room wearing the crimson seal on a ring. An elegant dress that matched her hair, her tail, much like Veyra’s, gray in contrast to hers.

 

“Ah, Lady Veyra,” she greeted right back. She and Veyra hugged, happy to see one another. “It's good to see you well. I’ve heard you were saved. Had to see for myself.” Her eyes met Alex’s. “Ah, and this must be the Butcher.”

 

Alex held his hand out, ready to shake hers. “I prefer to be called Alex if that's okay?” He said nervously.

 

“Alex, eh?” She got closer, ignoring the shake completely. Eyes glazing over his entire body. Alex blushed, his own eyes moving frantically to keep up with Lady Seth, who couldn’t help but keep her hands away from his body – his arm muscles under his sleeves, his stomach under the armor. She continued to circle him, like a well-built statue getting the last refinements before an unveiling.

 

“Uhm, pardon?!” His voice, a pitch lower than usual, showed his growing anxiety as Sereth continued her eye exam of him.

 

“Lady Sereth!” A hint of jealousy was in Veyra’s voice; her cheeks blushed just as much as Alex’s.

 

Sereth finally came to a halt with her curiosity. “Wow, you are tough,” she came to that assessment. “When I heard you beat my uncle in a duel, I had to come and see for myself what you were made of. And I’m thoroughly impressed. It’s no wonder those fools in Valthar couldn’t stop you.”

 

Alex’s brain scrambled for words. “Ugh, thanks, I guess?”

 

“And I can see why Veyra favors you as well,” she smirked, eyes now averted to Veyra, who still had shades of red, almost like a perfectly ripe strawberry. “The muscles, those chiseled abs and that face – it’s quite handsome. Explains her undivided attention towards you.”

 

Jealousy instantly became embarrassment as Veyra yelled her name out. “LADY SERETH!”

 

“Lady Veyra, please do invite me to your wedding. I’ll bet it’ll be marvelous.” She grinned, continuing with her teasing.

 

“W-WEDDING!?” Steam came out of Veyra’s ears, embarrassed as ever with her cousin’s constant teasing.

 

“Ahem.” King Kharos tried to get everyone’s attention. The attempt failed as the girls continued their talks, with their backs turned.

 

Alex laughed under his breath at the situation as both cousins continued with their banter of a sort, and the king and his general could only stand by, while being ignored.

 

*Wedding, huh? Maybe when all this is over, perhaps that wouldn’t be a bad idea.* He thought to himself. He couldn’t quite deny it – a life of normalcy wouldn’t be so bad, especially in this world.

 

*Oh, I can hear it now, the bells in the background, Veyra’s family crying as you whisk her away in your arms.* Author was back, sarcastically as ever. Mocking even.

 

*You’re mocking me, and I don’t like it.* Alex’s mood suddenly turned sour; of course, the Author had just ruined his train of thought. *You know what? You’re not invited.*

 

*I’m automatically your +1, you ain’t getting rid of me that easily, pal.* He laughed.

 

*Whatever, dude.* Alex’s attention was back towards Veyra and Sereth.

 

“Actually, I’m surprised you’re also down here, Lady Sereth. How come?” Curiosity had piqued over Alex, confused at her summons here in the cells.

 

“Oh, that’s right, I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but my cousin, Lady Sereth, is one of my father’s advisors,” Veyra had composed herself after her outburst. She calmly explained her cousin’s role in all of this. “She is the head of intelligence; her family investigates information around the kingdom. That includes talks of slavers, trades & shipments, suspicious activities, and when there’s internal conflict in the family.”

 

“You’re referring to the unknown traitor in your family, correct?” Alex asked.

 

“Yes,” Sereth’s voice quickly changed. What was once playful had flipped quickly; what was a wave of joyful emotion was now a calm before the storm. “Whatever this bounty hunter has to say, any clues, I also wanted to be present, help in any way.”

 

She glanced over at the room where Kane was taken. “The room up ahead, I created that room specifically to deal with individuals with great mana pools,” Sereth glanced back at Alex. “But you already know that, don’t you, Alex? That appraisal skill of yours is quite fascinating!”

 

That had sent goosebumps down Alex’s spine. He only used it for a split second. “You’re a sharp one.” He had to give her credit for her perceptiveness.

 

“I need to be, it’s my job.” She said, with her chin held high.

 

“If Veyra vouches for you, then you have my support as well.” Alex trusted Veyra, and if her word meant something, he knew right away to trust it.

 

“Ahem,” King Kharos coughed once more, louder this time around. He made sure he wasn’t just an afterthought. “Shall we proceed with this?”

 

Alex, Veyra, and Sereth all nodded in unison. The group stepped inside.

 

Alex felt the cold shift as he saw Kane sitting across from them – chains surrounding every bit of his body, almost like a metal straitjacket. More runes on them, as they glowed around the cuffs – a jade green. More safety precautions, of course, he knew firsthand how deadly Kane was.

 

Kharos spoke first. Voice low, regal, tired. “Speak, bounty hunter. Tell us of the one who sent you.”

 

Kane lifted his head. Looked at Alex, immediately ignoring the king in front of him. “I’ll only speak to the Butcher. Maybe his pretty little dragon, too.” He smirked; even under all those chains, the weight of the conversation was in his favor.

 

Alex sat across from him. Voice calm. Good-cop calm. The voice he used in interview rooms when the suspect was on the edge of breaking. “Kane. You said you’d talk. So, talk. Who’s making the collars? Who keeps capturing people and making them into slaves? Who is this Master?”

 

“We know there’s been a lot of distribution of those collars and not just here in Kharzad,” Lady Sereth added to the conversation. “Valthar, the Silver Forests of Elarindor, the plains of Vargan Thrynn. Multiple reports everywhere, along with more people getting captured and enslaved. If you know anything, speak now.”

 

“All that information, and somehow, you’re as clueless as ever.” Kane’s eyes flicked to the royalty, his eyes on Veyra, Kharos, Sereth, then back to Alex. “You really want to know? You’re not gonna like it.”

 

Alex leaned in slightly, not threatening, just close enough to make it feel personal. “We can fight again, but I know you’re as worn out as I am.” He looked at his bruises, then back at his own. “I didn’t have Veyra slay you where you lay when I defeated you. You owe me that much at least.”

 

Veyra moved forward. Flames licked along her arms, low and controlled, but the heat rolled off her in waves. Her tail lashed once, cracking against the stone floor. “You owe him nothing,” she said, voice low and dangerous. “You owe me. For every collar you helped place. For every life you took in the purges. Speak, Kane. Or I will burn the truth out of you.”

 

Kane had no reaction. He wasn’t scared; not one drop of sweat as the fire from her hands neared his face. He just looked. Looked at her. “Right, I can see why you would be so interested in that information. Crimson Terror, the first one to ever have a collar. How did it feel, being mindless while you had it?” He chuckled.

 

That struck a nerve. Veyra instantly went for a flaming punch. Pure instinct after Kane hit the right buttons to anger her. “LADY VEYRA, NO!” Shocked expressions formed from the royals in the room.

 

Alex shocked everyone – raised hand – stopping her from doing something she’ll immediately regret. “Easy, Veyra.” Alex’s hand burned, not bothered by the flames that burned his skin. He’s used to getting shot, but never burned. “I know what he just said was totally uncalled for, but we really need that information he has. If you kill him now, that’ll only set us back more. Let’s give him a chance to do the right thing.”

 

She looked at Kane with so much anger, holding it. Her pot was about to boil, but then she looked at Alex and saw that he was right about the situation. “Please calm down, Lady Veyra.” General Korrath pleaded.

 

The water stopped boiling in her, calming herself as her fist returned to her. “You’re right. I’m sorry. Let me heal your hand.” She gazed once more at Kane. “Thank Alex, for this is the only time I’ll ever hide my fangs.”

 

“Muahahahahaha!” Kane broke into laughter; it echoed through the room, bouncing around the halls. “So easy to pull the scales off the lizards. You all try to be so tough, but underneath all that bravado, there is nothing but a bunch of scared royals.”

 

“Watch your tongue.” Lady Sereth exclaimed right back.

 

Alex turned back to Kane as Veyra healed his hand. Voice softer now. “Kane, remember what you told me after our fight? How you, yourself, were just as much of a pawn, giving out the wrong justice? How you felt so used for needlessly killing those without question? Those 3 kids you said you killed, who were from our world. Did they deserve the justice your associates have been dishing out? You said you didn’t have a choice, but you do now. Help us end this madness.”

 

Kane’s shoulders sagged. He looked at the floor. Then up at Alex. The fake grin he held up for so long broke. He swallowed his saliva, his pride. Everything he said was true. His decision was his own for once. “This ‘Master’… It's not just a person. It’s a parasite. Spreading amongst the people. The people you think you trust. An organization that’s been growing right underneath your noses.”

 

King Kharos leaned forward. “Names. Give us names.”

 

“Even if you were to get rid of this person, it’s like a hydra – you take one head, and another replaces it.” Kane’s gaze drifted. At Kharos, at Veyra. “I can say the name, but you’ll find it hard to believe.”

 

Veyra stepped closer. Flames engulfed her body, flaring brightly once more. The air shimmered with heat. “Say the names, Kane. Or I swear by the gods, I will tear it from your throat.”

 

Kane laughed, but that quickly changed – the chains clattered as his body convulsed. He looked at Alex, scared for what was to come.

 

“What- What’s happening to him?” Lady Sereth had her hand over her mouth. The sight of Kane’s movement was puke-inducing.

 

Alex acted on instinct – he went up to him, tore the chains with quick ease, which surprised the nobles behind him, including Veyra. He grabbed Kane and placed him on his side. He’s seen these kinds of things – a seizure. “He’s seizing, Veyra, I need your help with your healing magic now!”

 

Veyra wasted no time. By Alex’s side, she placed her hands, now glowing green, over Kane’s back. She began to heal him. His frantic movement was receding, his breathing back to normal.

 

Suddenly, he pulled Alex closer. Kane’s mouth near Alex’s ear. Kane exhaled. Voice barely above a whisper. “The one in charge… orchestrating everything behind the scenes… the one you call Master -” The rune on his temple flared violet. Kane’s eyes widened. “They has eyes and ears everywhere-”

 

His head snapped back. Veins glowed under his skin like lightning trapped in flesh. Blood poured from the nose, eyes, and ears. A wet crack, bone giving way. His skull burst outward in a spray of violet light and red mist. The body slumped. Chains clinked. And whatever information they needed, pure silence.

 

His blood splattered, painting the wall red, painting those who occupied the room. It stained everyone in its crimson color. It was on Alex, around his face, who just looked at the one person who could have finally ended this goose chase, dead in his arms.

 

Veyra’s stopped healing instantly. Her tail curled tight around Alex’s ankle - instinctive, protective. She, too, was covered in blood, but not like Alex, who was in front of it.

 

Kharos exhaled slowly. “Kill-switch. Must’ve activated when they knew he couldn’t keep the secret no more.”

 

Alex continued to stare at the corpse, headless. Kane’s last words, everything up until he exploded, shook Alex’s mind. He took a deep breath, and he let it all in. Every bit of info.

 

Sereth spoke, wiping the blood that she too had over her. “He said something to you, what was it?”

 

*They have eyes and ears everywhere…* Those words echoed in Alex’s head. He thought before he spoke. “Nothing that wasn’t already said.” Veyra tugged at his leg with her tail. She heard what he said as well, but despite her better judgment and the way Alex stared back at her, she didn’t say much else.

 

Korrath grunted. “Too convenient.”

 

“He did give us one hint,” Alex got up from his kneeling position by Kane’s lifeless body, followed by Veyra. “He said you know who this is, or rather, knew who it is. Any idea who in your family might have something against you?”

 

Kharos, Veyra, and Sereth all looked at each other. Silence for what seemed like an eternity until Veyra broke it. “No one comes to mind, no one should dare.” She said.

 

“I know you don’t want to hear it,” Alex said, staring at the lifeless body before him. “But someone in your family, someone has turned coat. You knew this, ever since they started saying it, back at the mines, the caravan we saved when we made our trip here. It was a possibility. But now, with what Kane said, it has been confirmed that the possibility is no more than truth now.” Alex turned away from the body. He looked at Veyra. “You guys know. Maybe in the back of your heads, and clearly, looking at Kane’s dead body, this is just the beginning.”

 

The silence was deafening. It was the only thing that was loud in that cell. Veyra was the first to break it. “You’re right,” she sighed, almost defeated at the thought. She looked at her father, at her cousin, now she had a determined look, sharp eyes that met Alex’s. “We shall make a list of all our family members. We’ll conduct thorough investigations. Get testimony on all of their activities.”

 

“Right.” The king agreed, nodded at Veyra for her idea.

 

“You can totally count me in to help as well!” Seretha said enthusiastically.

 

Alex, Lady Veyra, Lady Seretha, King Kharos, and General Korrath all agreed in unison. The spark of fighting back against this unknown entity of an organization ignited and fueled their investigation.