People near the scene began to gather slowly around the unconscious drunk.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"Who was that?"
"Did that person kill him?"
One man knelt briefly and checked for breathing.
"…No. The bastard's still alive."
A woman shook her head nervously.
"The nobles are going to be furious when they hear about this…"
"Should we help him?" someone asked.
Another voice answered immediately—
"No. Leave him. He deserved it."
Through the crowd, Elena pushed forward and reached the boy.
His cheeks were red and swollen.
Tears streamed down his face as he held the injured dog tightly in his arms.
Elena knelt beside him.
"Are you alright?"
The boy choked on his sobs.
"He hurt Spot… There's blood…"
Elena's expression tightened as she examined the dog.
Spot's breathing was shallow.
Blood stained his nose and mouth.
His small body trembled weakly.
The injuries were severe.
The boy looked at her with desperate hope.
"Is he going to be okay?"
Elena's heart sank.
But she couldn't lie.
Slowly—
She shook her head.
"…He's badly hurt. I don't think he'll survive."
The boy's expression shattered.
"No… No, you're lying!"
He clutched Spot closer.
"He'll be okay! He has to be!"
Tears fell onto the dog's bloodied fur.
Spot weakly opened his eyes.
His tail gave a faint, fragile wag.
The sight broke what little composure remained in the crowd.
Sympathy spread.
But no one had words.
Then—
"Arthur!"
A man and woman forced their way through the gathering.
"Arthur!"
The boy's parents.
They stopped the moment they saw him.
The bruises.
The blood.
Spot.
Shock froze them in place.
Elena stood quickly.
"You need to leave. Now."
Both parents looked at her.
"Take your son and the dog before the guards arrive."
Urgency filled her voice.
"Hurry."
That was all they needed.
Arthur's mother immediately pulled him close.
His father carefully lifted Spot into his arms.
And they fled.
Moments later—
Two city guards arrived.
"What's going on here!?"
"Move! Clear the way!"
The crowd parted.
As the guards approached the unconscious man—
They froze.
"…Sir William?"
One guard immediately knelt.
"He's breathing."
The other guard turned sharply toward the crowd.
"What happened here!?"
"Who did this!?"
Silence.
No one answered.
Not out of loyalty—
But disgust.
People simply began walking away.
"Hey! Stop!"
"Get back here!"
But the crowd ignored them.
Elena used the distraction.
Quietly—
She slipped away.
On her way back toward the inn—
"Miss Elena."
She froze.
Looked around.
Then—
From a nearby alleyway—
Nero stepped out.
Calm.
Untouched.
"Sorry," he said, taking the bags from her hands. "Didn't mean to make you carry these after offering to help."
Elena stared at him.
"That is far from the main issue right now."
Worry filled her voice.
"Do you even realize who you attacked?"
Nero adjusted the grocery bags slightly.
"Yeah," he replied flatly.
"A drunk bastard with noble connections."
And kept walking.
Elena hurried after him.
"You could be in serious trouble if you're caught."
Nero shrugged.
"I'll deal with that if it happens."
Inside his mind, Angelo's amused voice surfaced.
"What are they going to do? Execute us? We've been through worse."
A faint smirk touched Nero's lips.
Elena noticed.
And sighed.
"…I genuinely don't understand where Gareth keeps finding people like you."
For a while—
They walked in silence.
Then Nero finally asked—
"The boy?"
Elena's tone softened slightly.
"He'll recover."
Nero nodded once.
"…Good."
A brief pause.
"And the dog?"
Elena stopped walking.
Her expression darkened.
"…Not good."
Nero's steps halted.
"He won't survive."
Silence.
The air seemed heavier.
Nero's faint smile vanished completely.
His voice dropped.
"…I should've broken more than his ribs."
Elena's eyes widened slightly.
"You are not going back."
Her tone was firm.
"The guards are already searching for answers."
A pause.
"We need to return. Now."
Nero didn't argue.
Didn't protest.
He simply followed behind her—
As they made their way back toward the Silver Moon Inn.
When they returned to the inn, Elena slowed.
At the entrance—
Gareth stood outside with three other men and a woman, all lightly armoured and carrying swords.
Elena raised an eyebrow.
Nero stopped behind her.
"I thought Gareth said he'd see me tomorrow," Nero said flatly. "Don't tell me he brought people to hand me over."
Elena shook her head.
"He's not that kind of person."
A brief pause.
"And those aren't guards. They're adventurers—guild members. His companions."
That eased little of Nero's caution.
Still—
Elena stepped forward.
"We should go inside."
After a moment, Nero followed.
As they entered, Gareth was already speaking with Joe at the counter.
The others stood nearby.
Joe noticed Nero first.
"Well," he said with a grin, "there you are."
Gareth turned.
"Oh. You're back."
Nero approached and set the grocery bags on the counter.
Joe looked at Elena.
"You made him carry those?"
Before Elena could answer, Nero spoke.
"I insisted."
Joe chuckled.
"Fair enough."
The other adventurers continued staring.
Nero leaned slightly toward Gareth.
"…Did I do something?"
Gareth sighed.
"No."
Then he shot the group an irritated look.
"I told you all not to stare."
A few awkward expressions followed.
"Sorry."
"It's just…"
One of them hesitated.
"…Your clothes are unusual."
Nero pulled back his hood.
"These are normal where I'm from."
The group went quiet for a second.
White hair.
One of them muttered toward Gareth—
"You really weren't exaggerating."
Gareth ignored the comment.
Instead, his focus sharpened.
"Nero."
Nero looked at him.
"Are you free right now?"
Nero took a brief moment before answering.
"Yeah. I'm free. Why?"
Gareth's expression hardened.
"Good. Remember the Worldbridge you mentioned? The one in Thornveil Forest?"
Nero nodded once.
"We need you to guide us there."
Nero frowned.
"There's nothing to guide you to. The portal closed and vanished behind me."
The others exchanged tense glances.
"Even if it's closed," one of them said, "we still need to reach that location before anyone else does."
Another nodded grimly.
"Worldbridges are far too dangerous to leave unchecked."
Nero stared at them.
Inside his mind, his thoughts turned dry.
Did they not hear the part about it vanishing?
Angelo answered almost immediately.
"Apparently not."
Gareth stepped forward slightly.
"Please," he said.
"This is a matter of life and death."
Nero was silent for a moment.
Then—
"…Fine."
He exhaled quietly.
"I'll take you there."
Relief visibly spread through the group.
"Thank you."
Gareth immediately turned.
"Then we move now."
Nero pulled his hood back over his head.
And together—
All six of them left the Silver Moon Inn, heading toward Thornveil Forest.