Rivaan and Reiner had roamed the entire city but found nothing. Still searching for a way out of Valtara, the only ships available were either unaffordable or controlled by criminals.
Reiner sighed.
"Looks like we're stuck… unless we steal a ship."
Rivaan shook his head firmly.
"That would make us no better than them."
As the sun dipped low, casting long shadows across the cobblestones, a soft sobbing caught their attention. They turned to see a small figure crouched in the dark — a girl.
Rivaan and Reiner recognized her instantly. It was Mira, sitting alone, shrouded in hopelessness and fear.
Reiner stepped forward gently.
"Hey… Mira," he said softly, "it's me — the sword guy from this morning."
At first, she didn't respond. Then she burst into tears, clutching Reiner's arm.
"Please… please help me, sword uncle… please!"
Reiner's eyes widened and darkened. Rivaan stepped closer.
"What happened, Mira? Why are you crying?"
Through her sobs, Mira told them everything — what had happened after they left, how those bad men kept terrorizing everyone in the city.
Reiner exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair.
"Where did they take your mother?"
Mira whispered,
"To the old governor's estate. They took many people there, and none have ever come back."
Rivaan knelt beside her, voice soft but firm.
"Mira, don't worry. I promise, we will bring your mother back."
He pulled Griffith from his bag and showed the small griffith to her.
"This is Griffith. He will protect you until we bring your mother home."
Mira hesitated, but the griffith's gentle beauty melted some of her fear.
Rivaan smiled with quiet confidence.
"I will bring her back. I swear."
Mira looked up, eyes wide.
"Are you really?"
Reiner cracked his knuckles and grinned.
"In and out. We said we would, didn't we?"
As they prepared to move, Reiner's expression shifted.
"A flicker of movement. We're being watched."
Rivaan followed his gaze.
At first, just a few figures emerged from the shadows. Then more — dozens of villagers.
They weren't hiding. They were waiting.
An old man with tired eyes stepped forward.
"You're going to save her mother?"
Rivaan said nothing.
A woman hesitated, voice trembling.
"If you go there… please, bring my son back."
Another voice followed.
"My brother too."
Then more voices —
"My father. My wife. My daughter."
They weren't begging or demanding. They were hoping.
Reiner cut through the quiet, his voice sharp.
"We're not here for all of them. We take Mira's mother and leave."
The flicker of hope dimmed. The crowd fell silent.
Rivaan turned to Reiner, voice low but unshakable.
"If we bring back only one, nothing changes."
Reiner looked at him.
"You didn't like this place either, did you?"
Rivaan's gaze didn't waver.
"But if we walk away, we're just two people who saw fire and left it burning."
Reiner exhaled — a long, slow breath.
Then he smirked.
"Damn it, Rivaan." He cracked his neck.
"Fine. Let's burn this mess down."
The villagers stared, their silence breaking into murmurs.
For the first time in years — Valtara had a spark.