Elandro: "I knew it… joining you was the worst mistake of my life. I told you to lie low in this place if you wanted to keep your head on your shoulders!"
Rudra (grinning, wiping blood from his lip): "Oh please, I don't care. Besides, that ring of thugs? I think I just shattered their spirits along with their ribs."
Elandro (groaning): "Shouldn't we focus on our actual mission?"
Rudra: "Not yet. After that show, I'm starving. My soul's howling louder than my stomach."
Elandro (rubbing his temple): "Fine. Food first. It's also the fastest way to loosen the tongues of drunkards and thieves."
Suddenly, Elandro jumped onto a table and raised a mug.
Elandro: "To the victory of my insane friend — the Fist of Division 7 — Rudra! Drinks on him tonight!"
Rudra (shocked): "You WHAT?! I'm not paying for that, you rotten old hag!"
Elandro: "Oh, don't cry, boy. You owe me — for every broken chair, cracked wall, and bruised ego in this damn tavern."
The crowd erupted into cheers as the ale poured freely. While Rudra wolfed down meat and bread like a beast, Elandro moved among the crowd, gathering whispers.
Moments later, Rudra noticed a familiar face — the man who had helped him find the tavern when he first entered the city.
Rudra: "Hey! You! Thanks for the other day."
Man (frowning): "Sorry, do I know you?"
Rudra (confused): "You helped me find this place, remember?"
Man (hurriedly): "No clue what you're talking about. I'm in a rush."
As the man turned to leave, Rudra spotted a strange tattoo on his shoulder: a snow leopard, snarling with a slash across one eye.
Rudra (muttering): "That… That mark… where have I seen that before?"
Just then, Elandro returned, looking annoyed.
Elandro: "All that noise and not a single solid lead. What a mess."
Rudra: "Actually... I saw something suspicious. That guy, the one leaving just now — he had a leopard tattoo on his shoulder. It looked… familiar."
Elandro (eyes widening, then slapping a hand over Rudra's mouth): "Shut up, you idiot! Don't say that out loud!"
Rudra (muffled): "Mmmph! Wha– what the hell?!"
Elandro (dead serious): "We need to talk — somewhere safe."
---
Scene: On the Bridge, Away from the Slums
Under the moonlight, the two stood on a quiet bridge connecting the city to the slums.
Rudra: "Alright, spill. What's the deal with that tattoo?"
Elandro: "You seriously don't know what you've stumbled into?"
Rudra: "I told you, don't dance around it. Just say it."
Elandro (grimly): "That symbol — the leopard mark — it belongs to the Mountain Leopards. The same gang that killed Captain Alex's son, Patric."
Rudra (jaw tightening): "Elden told me about them. But… why are they in Thornhelm?"
Elandro: "Think, idiot! You were being watched the moment you entered this city. I think after their fallout with Division 7, they relocated here. Quietly. And now, they're resurfacing."
Rudra: "That explains the missing people. They might be behind all of it."
Elandro: "This isn't something we can handle alone. They're not just a gang — they're a damn myth of cruelty. Some of their elite make war veterans piss themselves."
Rudra: "Then it's a good thing I'm not just anyone."
Elandro: "Arrogant brat! Report to HQ. Let the higher-ups handle this."
Rudra (sighing): "Fine, fine. Let's head back. It's getting late anyway—"
WHOOSH!
Suddenly, an arrow flew through the air, slicing into Rudra's right shoulder. Blood splattered.
Rudra (screaming): "Aaaagh! What the hell?!"
Elandro: "AMBUSH! Get to cover!"
Another wave of arrows rained down like a storm.
Elandro: "They were waiting for us. Move!"
Rudra: "Where?!"
Elandro: "Not your inn! It's compromised! My place — move!"
He pulled out a smoke bomb from his vest and slammed it to the ground. Thick grey smoke engulfed the bridge.
Rudra (coughing): "You carry smoke bombs now?"
Elandro (grabbing his arm): "If I'm hanging out with a trouble magnet like you, damn right I do."
Without hesitation, Elandro dragged Rudra to the edge of the bridge and leapt into the river below. The freezing water swallowed them whole.
---
[ Elandro's Hideout – Midnight]
Dripping wet, they stumbled into Elandro's safe house.
As dusk settled over the city, a heavy silence hung in the air. Inside the Black Table Tavern, Rudra and Elandro sat across from each other, their faces tired, bruises marking the battle they'd already endured.
Elandro leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly.
Elandro: "Well... let's eat. Might be our last peaceful dinner in this life."
Rudra gave a dry chuckle, shaking his head.
Rudra: "Now that you've said it, it really feels that way."
Elandro (panting): "I didn't expect a response that fast… or that deadly."
Rudra (ripping out the arrow and bandaging his arm): "Those bastards… They'll pay. No one stabs me and walks away."
they cleaned and dressed their wounds. The sting of medicine was a welcome pain—proof they were still alive, still fighting.
They shared a quiet moment, not of fear, but of mutual understanding—warriors pausing at the edge of something darker.
They ate in silence, the food warm and comforting, though neither could truly enjoy it. Their minds were already racing toward what the next day might bring.
Rudra stretched, groaning slightly as his shoulder cracked.
Rudra: "We'll hit them hard tomorrow."
Elandro: "Then get some rest. We'll need every ounce of strength we've got."
Without another word, the two headed to their rooms.
And for that one night, there was peace—fragile, temporary,and precious