Kael spread three maps across the work table, weighing down the corners with jars of dried herbs. His ink-stained fingers traced lines through the Riverside DistricKaelen
"Look at this pattern." He tapped specific locations. "Forty-three confirmed cases in three months. But they're not random."
Raze leaned forward, studying the marks. Red dots clustered in specific areas. The docks. The lower tenements. The warehouse district.
His game knowledge clicked into place like a key turning in a lock.
Those were the locations. The exact spots where the Twilight Syndicate had established their mana extraction points in the game.
"They follow the underground waterways," Kael continued. "I've been tracking this for weeks. Every infection cluster centers on areas with direct access to the old sewer system."
"Contaminated water source," Raze said quietly.
"Not water. Mana." Kael pulled out his notebook, flipped to a page covered in diagrams. "The corruption spreads through ambient magical energy. People living above these areas are breathing it in constantly. Absorbing it through their skin. It accumulates in the lungs over time."
Raze's Inspect skill activated on the diagrams.
Ding.
[Research Notes: Mana Corruption Patterns]
Quality: Excellent
Accuracy: 94%
Status: Incomplete
"You've done incredible work," Raze said, meaning it. This level of investigation without game knowledge was impressive.
Kael shrugged. "Helps when you're motivated. When you've watched enough kids die." His voice hardened. "But I hit a wall. I know where the corruption is coming from. I know it's not natural. But I can't prove who's responsible."
"Organized crime," Raze said carefully. "Has to be. Something this coordinated, this contained to poor districts where people can't fight back."
"That's what I think too. But thinking isn't evidence." Kael sat heavily in his chair. "I've spent three months gathering data. Testing samples. Following leads. And I'm no closer to stopping it."
Raze studied the maps again. The red dots formed a web across the district. And at the center, unmarked on Kael's map but burned into Raze's memory from the game, was the main extraction facility.
An abandoned textile mill. Three stories. Underground connection to the sewer system. That's where Alex would eventually raid. Where the climactic battle would happen.
Where forty people would die.
"What about treatment?" Raze shifted topics. "You said the Healing Hall's cure works. What makes it so expensive?"
Kael's expression darkened. "That's the thing. It shouldn't be." He pulled a different notebook from the shelf. "I've been analyzing their treatment protocol. Managed to bribe an attendant for details. The primary ingredients are Sunburst Root and Void Lotus extract. Combined with proper mana regulation."
"And those ingredients cost?"
"About twelve gold total. Maybe fifteen with preparation and healer time." Kael's hands clenched. "They're charging fifty. For something that costs fifteen to produce."
Thump.
The sound of Kael's fist hitting the table.
"I've seen families sell everything. Their homes. Family heirlooms. Go into debt bondage." His voice shook with suppressed rage. "And the Healing Hall just smiles and takes their gold while kids die in the streets because they can't afford it."
Raze felt his own anger rising. The memories of the original Raze mixed with his own sense of injustice.
"There has to be an alternative," he said quietly.
Kael looked at him for a long moment. Weighing something.
Then he stood and walked to a locked cabinet in the corner. Produced a key from around his neck. Opened it.
Inside, dozens of vials arranged in neat rows. Different colored liquids. Labels in neat handwriting.
Kael selected three vials. Set them on the table between him and Raze.
"Crimson Moss extract. Silverleaf tincture. And this." He held up the third vial. A clear liquid that seemed to shimmer. "My catalyst. Synthesized over two months of trial and error."
Raze's Inspect skill activated automatically.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
[Crimson Moss Extract]
Quality: Good
Potency: Medium
Effect: Purges corrupted mana from organic tissue
[Silverleaf Tincture]
Quality: Excellent
Potency: High
Effect: Stabilizes mana pathways, prevents corruption spread
[Alchemical Catalyst]
Quality: Good
Potency: Medium
Effect: Binds components, enhances absorption
Status: Experimental
"You made an alternative cure." Raze's voice came out awed.
"I made a theory." Kael's correction was sharp. "I've tested it on rats. On rabbits. Infected them with samples of corrupted mana and treated them. Seventy percent success rate."
"That's better than nothing."
"It's also thirty percent failure rate." Kael sat again, looking tired. "And when it fails, it accelerates the disease. The binding process goes wrong and the corruption spreads faster. The test subjects died within hours instead of days."
Silence stretched between them.
Raze stared at the vials. At the clear shimmer of the catalyst.
His Absolute Genius talent activated without prompting.
Whoooosh.
Information flooded his mind. Chemical structures. Mana flow patterns. Binding affinities. The formulation spread out before his mind's eye like a three-dimensional diagram.
He saw it. The problem. The catalyst was good but unstable. It needed a fourth component to anchor it. Something to regulate the binding speed.
From the game lore, he knew what that was. Shade Quartz. Ground into powder. Added in trace amounts.
But Kael didn't know that. Couldn't know that. No one in the game discovered it except through a hidden quest chain that required specific alchemy skills.
"What if," Raze said slowly, "you added a stabilizing agent? Something to slow the binding process, give the body time to adjust?"
Kael's eyebrows rose. "Such as?"
"Shade Quartz. Ground fine. Very small amounts." Raze made his voice uncertain, like he was guessing. "It has mana dampening properties, right? That should counteract the acceleration effect."
Kael stared at him.
Then scrambled for his notebook. Started sketching diagrams. His hands moved frantically.
"Shade Quartz has a crystalline structure that..." He trailed off, calculating. "The lattice would create a buffer..." More scribbling. "Slow the catalyst binding by..." His eyes widened. "By approximately forty percent. Which means..."
"Higher success rate," Raze finished. "And if it fails, it fails slower. Buying time for intervention."
Kael looked up from his notes. His expression was shocked. Impressed. Suspicious.
"How did you know that?"
Raze shrugged, trying to look casual despite his hammering heart. "I've been reading everything I can find about alchemy. Trying to understand how to help Sophie. Lucky guess?"
"That's not a lucky guess. That's advanced alchemical theory." Kael studied him intently. "You said you've been reading. What have you been reading?"
"Everything in the public library. Medical texts. Alchemical primers. I had a lot of time while Sophie was in treatment." The lie came easier than it should have. "I'm good at understanding things quickly. Always have been."
Technically true. His Absolute Genius talent made it true.
Kael's suspicion didn't completely fade, but he nodded slowly. "Well. Lucky guess or not, you might have just solved a problem I've been stuck on for weeks." He returned to his notes. "Shade Quartz. I know someone who has some. Black market dealer, but reliable."
"How much would that cost?"
"For the amount we'd need? Three gold."
Raze did the math automatically. Eight gold for base ingredients. Three for Shade Quartz. Eleven gold total. He had thirteen.
"We can afford it," he said quietly.
Kael looked up sharply. "We?"
"You need to test this on a human subject. I'm volunteering Sophie."
"Raze, no. The risk..."
"Is dying for certain versus dying probably." Raze's voice came out flat. "She has two weeks before the Healing Hall stops even basic care. We don't have time to run more animal trials. And I don't have fifty gold."
Kael set down his pen. His expression was pained. "If this goes wrong..."
"Then she dies a few days faster than she would have anyway." Raze met his eyes directly. "But if it works, we save her. And we prove the cure works. Then we can scale up. Save the other forty-two kids."
"You're talking about using your sister as a test subject."
"I'm talking about giving her a chance." Raze's hands clenched. "The Healing Hall has already written her off. This is the only option left."
Silence fell again. Kael stared at his notes. At the vials on the table. At Raze's determined expression.
Finally, he sighed. "Alright. But we do this properly. Controlled dosing. Constant monitoring. At the first sign of acceleration, we have counter-agents ready."
"Agreed."
"And you're gathering the Crimson Moss yourself."
Raze blinked. "What?"
Kael gestured to the vial. "That sample is old. Three weeks. For maximum potency, Crimson Moss needs to be fresh. Harvested and processed within twelve hours."
"Where does it grow?"
"The old sewers beneath the Riverside District." Kael pulled out another map. This one showed underground tunnels. "Here. Damp chamber about half a mile from the main entrance. The moss grows on the walls where water seeps through."
The sewers. Of course.
Raze's game knowledge supplied details. Monster infested. Dark. Maze-like. In the game, it had been a level fifteen area. He was effectively level one.
"Is it dangerous?" he asked, though he already knew the answer.
"Very." Kael's expression was serious. "Blight Rats nest down there. Mutated by the same corruption that's causing the Black Cough. They're aggressive. Territorial. And there are rumors of worse things in the deeper sections."
Creeeak.
The sound of Kael opening a drawer. He pulled out supplies. A knife in a leather sheath. A canvas satchel. A small charm on a chain.
"Take these. The knife is sharp. Keep it that way. The satchel has collection pouches inside. Use the ones marked with red thread for the moss. Keeps it fresh longer."
He held up the charm. A piece of carved bone with symbols etched into it.
"Mana detection charm. It'll glow when near concentrated mana. Follow it to find the moss. But be careful. It also glows near corrupted mana sources. If it turns purple instead of blue, run."
Raze took the items. The knife had good weight. Balanced. The charm felt warm against his palm.
"One more thing." Kael moved to a different shelf. Retrieved a small clay jar. "Healing poultice. Apply it directly to wounds. It'll stop bleeding and prevent infection. But you only get one use, so don't waste it."
"You're giving me a lot of valuable supplies."
"I'm investing in our mutual survival." Kael's smile was grim. "You die in the sewers, I lose my Shade Quartz contact and my test subject. Terrible for business."
The joke fell flat. They both knew what was really happening.
Kael was helping because he cared. Because he'd lost a sibling too.
"Thank you," Raze said quietly.
Kael nodded once. "While you're getting the moss, I'll handle the Shade Quartz purchase and start processing the Silverleaf. Meet back here tonight. We'll prepare the treatment and administer it tomorrow morning."
"Why tomorrow? Why not tonight?"
"Because the treatment requires twelve hours of mana regulation after administration. Sophie needs to be monitored constantly. If we start tomorrow morning, that takes us through the day when attendants are available to help if something goes wrong."
Smart. Careful. Kael thought like a healer.
Raze appreciated that.
"One more thing." Kael's expression turned deadly serious. "The Twilight Syndicate operates in those sewers. Gray cloaks. If you see anyone in gray, hide. Don't engage. Don't try to be a hero. They'll kill you without hesitation."
Twilight Syndicate. The name sent chills down Raze's spine.
"How do you know about them?"
"I've been investigating this outbreak for three months. Their name comes up. Always in whispers. Always with fear." Kael's jaw tightened. "I think they're responsible. I think they're creating the corruption deliberately. But I can't prove it. Can't even get close enough to try."
Raze nodded slowly. "I'll be careful."
They worked out a few more details. Contact methods. Drop points for messages. Emergency signals. Then Kael walked him to the door.
"Raze." Kael's hand on his shoulder stopped him. "I lost my brother five years ago. Different city. Same symptoms. Same bureaucratic runaround from healers who cared more about gold than lives." His voice was quiet. Intense. "I don't want you to lose Sophie the way I lost him. So come back alive, understand?"
"I understand."
Kael released his shoulder. "Good hunting."
Creeeak.
The door closed behind Raze.
He stood in the street, supplies weighing down his satchel. The knife hung at his belt. The charm rested against his chest.
The afternoon sun was bright overhead. The city bustled around him. Normal people living normal lives, unaware of the corruption spreading beneath their feet.
Raze started walking back toward the inn.
His mind was already racing ahead. Planning. Calculating. The sewers. The moss. The dangers. His stats were low. His combat experience was theoretical muscle memory. He could easily die down there.
But Sophie needed that moss.
Forty-two other kids needed that moss.
And somewhere in the game's timeline, a month away, Alex Dawnsblade would arrive. Would stumble into this mess. Would trigger a bloodbath.
"Not this time," Raze muttered. "I'm changing this story."
The inn appeared ahead. Mary would be inside, preparing for the evening rush. Expecting him for his shift.
He'd have to lie to her. Again.
The guilt twisted in his stomach, but necessity overrode it.
Raze pushed through the inn's front door.
The common room smelled like stew and bread. A few early patrons sat scattered at tables. Mary stood behind the bar, counting bottles.
She looked up as he entered. Her eyes widened slightly.
"Raze. You look determined. Something happen?"
"Got a lead on a job opportunity." The lie came smoothly. "Might take a few hours to check it out. I'll be back for the evening shift."
Mary's expression turned skeptical. "A job opportunity that requires a knife?"
Damn. She'd noticed.
"Courier work. Through the lower districts. Need protection." He tried to sound casual.
Mary's skepticism didn't fade, but she nodded slowly. "Just be careful. Those districts are getting worse. More disappearances. More violence." She moved around the bar, pressed something into his hand. "Take this. Extra for the road."
A cloth bundle. Still warm. When he opened it, bread and cheese. A small apple.
"Mary, I can't..."
"You can and you will." Her tone brooked no argument. "You're too skinny. Sophie's sick. And whatever job you're actually going to, you'll do it better fed."
The lump in Raze's throat made words difficult.
"Thank you," he managed.
Mary squeezed his shoulder. Same gesture Kael had used. Same concern.
"Be back by evening. And Raze?" Her expression turned serious. "Whatever you're planning, don't do anything stupid. Sophie needs you alive, not heroic."
"I'll be careful."
"Promise me."
"I promise."
Another lie. But a necessary one.
Mary studied his face for another long moment. Then sighed. "Go on then. And if you're late for your shift, you're doing double cleanup duty."
Raze managed a smile. "Deal."
He headed upstairs to his tiny room. Dropped the satchel on the bed. Checked his supplies one more time.
Knife. Check.
Collection pouches. Check.
Mana detection charm. Check.
Healing poultice. Check.
Mary's food bundle. Unexpected but appreciated.
He unwrapped the bread and ate half, chewing mechanically. The food sat heavy in his stomach. Nerves made eating difficult, but he forced it down anyway.
Can't fight on an empty stomach.
His Status window flickered into existence without being called.
Still weak. Still fragmented. But his endurance was high. He could take damage and keep going.
That might make the difference between life and death.
Raze finished eating. Drank water from the basin. Splashed some on his face.
The reflection in the warped metal showed a white-haired young man with determined blue eyes. Still too perfect. Still too noticeable.
But steadier now. More focused.
"First quest," he muttered. "Don't die."
He grabbed the satchel and headed downstairs.
Mary was dealing with a new customer. She glanced his way, nodded once. He nodded back.
Then out into the afternoon streets.
The Riverside District lay on the eastern edge of the city. Thirty-minute walk through increasingly poor neighborhoods. The buildings got shabbier. The people harder. Suspicious eyes tracked his passage.
His Inspect skill pinged constantly.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
[Dockworker - Initiate (Low)]
[Street Vendor - Mortal]
[Thug - Initiate (Mid)]
That last one made him nervous. The thug leaned against a wall, watching the street. His eyes lingered on Raze for a moment too long.
Raze kept walking. Steady pace. Not running. Not challenging.
The moment passed.
The river came into view ahead. Brown water churning past the docks. Warehouses lined the waterfront. Many abandoned. Boarded windows. Rusted chains.
Raze consulted his memory. The original Raze had worked these docks. Knew the area. There was a maintenance grate behind the old Fletcher warehouse.
He found it after ten minutes of searching.
Creeeak.
The grate protested when he pulled. Rust flaked off the hinges. The smell that wafted up made him gag.
Sewage. Rot. Something chemical and sharp.
He tied a strip of cloth over his nose and mouth. It helped. Barely.
The ladder down was metal. Old. Each rung felt loose under his weight. He descended carefully, testing each step.
Splash.
His feet hit water at the bottom. Ankle deep. Lukewarm and disgusting.
The passage stretched away into darkness. Stone walls slick with moisture. The ceiling curved overhead, built centuries ago when the city was smaller.
Raze pulled out the mana detection charm.
It glowed faintly blue, pulsing like a heartbeat. The pull was weak but present. Deeper into the tunnels.
He started walking.
Splash. Splash. Splash.
Each step echoed in the confined space. The sound bounced off walls, making it seem like multiple people walking.
His F rank Perception was useless down here. Too dark. Too many echoes. He couldn't tell if something was following him or if it was just his own noise reflecting back.
The knife felt heavy at his belt. Comforting and terrifying at once.
Kael had said half a mile. That was roughly two thousand feet. In these conditions, maybe fifteen minutes of walking.
The charm pulsed brighter. Blue light washing over the walls.
He was getting close.
The tunnel branched ahead. Three directions.
Raze paused, holding the charm up. It pulled strongest toward the left passage.
He took it.
The smell got worse. More chemical. That sharp tang that made his eyes water.
Corrupted mana. Had to be.
Five minutes of walking. The passage opened into a larger chamber.
The walls glowed faintly red.
Crimson Moss. Exactly as described.
Raze felt relief wash through him. First objective complete. Now just harvest and leave.
He approached the nearest wall. Pulled out a collection pouch marked with red thread. Drew his knife.
The moss came away easily. Soft. Slightly damp. He filled one pouch, then another. Kael had said to take extra. Insurance against accidents.
Scratch scratch scratch.
Raze froze.
That sound. Behind him.
He turned slowly.
Six eyes glowed purple in the darkness. Three pairs. Three separate creatures.
Skitter skitter skitter.
They emerged into the faint red light of the moss.
Rats. But wrong. Huge, the size of small dogs. Their fur was patchy, falling out in clumps. Skin underneath showed black veins, same as Sophie's. And those eyes. Glowing with corrupted mana.
[Blight Rat]
Rank: Mortal
Strength: E
Agility: D
Status: Hungry, Aggressive, Corrupted
Three of them. Circling.
Raze's hand went to his knife.
Hissss.
The lead rat lunged.
Whoosh.
Raze dodged left, body moving on instinct. His D rank Agility barely enough. The rat's teeth snapped closed on empty air where his leg had been.
Clang.
His knife came out. The sound of metal clearing leather echoed in the chamber.
The other two rats separated. Flanking him.
Smart. Too smart.
His heart hammered against his ribs. Thump thump thump.
Game knowledge said to isolate them. Fight one at a time. But how?
The chamber had a narrow entrance. Maybe six feet wide.
Raze backed toward it. Keeping all three rats in view.
Hissss.
The right rat lunged.
Slash.
His knife came up. The blade caught the rat across its snout.
Squeal!
The rat recoiled. Blood spraying. Black blood mixed with something purple.
But the left rat used the distraction.
Snap!
Pain exploded in Raze's forearm. Teeth sinking through cloth into flesh.
"Ah!"
He jerked his arm. The rat held on. Its jaw clamped tight.
Stab!
His knife came down into the rat's back. Once. Twice. Three times.
Thunk thunk thunk.
The rat's jaw released. It fell twitching to the ground.
Drip drip drip.
His blood hitting the water. His arm burned. The bite wounds were deep.
One down. Two to go.
The lead rat charged again.
Raze was ready this time. He sidestepped, using the narrow entrance for positioning.
Slash!
His blade caught the rat's flank.
Squeal!
But it kept coming. Corrupted mana made them tougher. Harder to kill.
Snap!
Teeth grazed his leg. Ripped through his pants. Drew blood.
Raze stumbled. His back hit the wall.
The wounded rat from earlier charged. Bleeding but still fighting.
No time to think.
Stab!
His knife went straight down into its skull as it leaped.
Crunch.
The blade punched through bone. The rat went limp instantly.
Thud.
It hit the ground at his feet.
Two down. One left.
The lead rat circled. Wary now. It had seen its pack mates die. Was reconsidering.
Raze kept his knife up. His arm burned from the bite. His leg throbbed. But his B rank Endurance kept him standing.
Hisssss.
The rat feinted left. Raze tracked it.
Then it darted right and ran.
Splash splash splash.
The sound of it fleeing down a side tunnel.
Silence fell.
Raze stood in the chamber, gasping. His knife dripped black and purple blood. His own blood ran down his arm, soaking his sleeve.
The bite wounds pulsed. Each throb sent fresh pain up his arm.
He looked down at the damage.
Deep punctures. Four of them. The rat's teeth had gone all the way through.
And the skin around the wounds was turning dark. Purple veins spreading from the bite site.
Corruption.
"Shit."
His hands shook as he pulled out the healing poultice. Kael had said one use only. But if he didn't use it now, the corruption would spread.
He opened the jar. The paste inside smelled like mint and something medicinal. He scooped some out and smeared it directly into the wounds.
Hisssss.
Not the rat this time. The poultice. It burned like fire.
Raze bit back a scream. Forced himself to spread it thoroughly. Covering every bite mark.
The pain peaked. Then slowly started to fade.
He watched as the purple veins stopped spreading. Then gradually receded. The wounds closed. Not completely, but enough. The bleeding stopped.
His breathing came easier.
"Okay." His voice shook. "Okay. Still alive."
His Swordsmanship had improved. Barely. But improvement was improvement.
And he'd survived his first real fight.
Raze wiped his blade on a dead rat's fur. Sheathed it. Collected his pouches of Crimson Moss. All still intact.
Mission accomplished.
Time to leave.
He started back toward the entrance. Each step careful. Watchful.
The charm's blue glow faded as he walked away from the moss chamber.
Ten minutes of walking. The branching tunnel ahead.
Then he heard voices.
Raze froze.
Echo echo echo.
Male voices. Two of them. Coming from the right passage.
He pressed against the wall. The stone was cold and slimy against his back.
The voices got closer.
"...shipment needs to move tonight. Watch has been sniffing around our western operation."
"Boss says extraction rate needs to increase. We're behind quota."
"Tell the boss he can increase it himself if he wants. I'm not pushing the ley line harder. Last time we did that, three workers got corrupted beyond saving."
Footsteps. Splash splash splash.
Two figures passed the intersection. Gray cloaks. Hoods up.
Twilight Syndicate.
Raze held his breath. His heart hammered so loud he was sure they'd hear it.
Thump thump thump.
"You hear something?"
One figure stopped. Turned toward Raze's passage.
"Probably rats. This place is crawling with them."
"Yeah. Stupid Blight Rats. Hate those things."
They continued walking.
Raze stayed frozen. Counting seconds. Waiting for them to get far enough away.
Then one voice drifted back. Fainter now.
"How much longer until that Dawnsblade kid shows up?"
"Month. Maybe less. Boss wants everything cleared out before then. Says the kid's dangerous."
"One punk teenager? How dangerous can he be?"
"Dangerous enough that the boss is worried. Just do what you're told."
The voices faded into silence.
Raze finally breathed.
They knew. The Syndicate knew about Alex's arrival. Were preparing for it.
The timeline was tighter than he thought.
But first, Sophie.
He waited another five minutes. Then started moving again. Faster now. Toward the exit.
The chamber with the moss was behind him. The Syndicate members were gone. Just needed to reach the ladder and climb out.
The entrance grate appeared ahead. Light filtering down from above.
Almost there.
Raze started climbing. Each rung careful. His wounded arm protested but held.
He was ten feet from the top when he heard it.
"The moss chamber was harvested. Someone's been there."
The voice echoed up from below. Back where he'd been.
"Recent. Track them."
Oh no.
Raze climbed faster. His hands slipped on the wet rungs. His injured arm screamed.
Five feet. Three feet.
Splash splash splash.
Running footsteps in the tunnel below.
One foot.
He grabbed the edge of the grate. Pulled himself up and out.
The afternoon sun was blinding after the darkness.
Raze ran.
Through the alley. Between buildings. His D rank Agility pushed to its limit.
Behind him, the sound of someone climbing the ladder.
"There! In the alley!"
He didn't look back. Just ran.
Left turn. Right turn. Through a marketplace. Vendors shouting as he knocked over a basket of fruit.
Crash!
"Sorry!"
More running. His lungs burned. His legs ached. But his B rank Endurance kept him moving.
Five minutes of running. Ten. The sounds of pursuit faded.
Finally, he ducked into a narrow space between two warehouses. Pressed against the wall. Gasping.
Waited.
No footsteps. No voices.
He'd lost them.
Raze slid down the wall until he was sitting. His whole body shook. Adrenaline draining away, leaving exhaustion in its wake.
He checked his satchel. The pouches of Crimson Moss were intact. Slightly crushed but still good.
Mission accomplished. Barely.
His Status showed he was down to thirty stamina. His health had dropped to sixty from the exertion.
But he was alive.
And now the Twilight Syndicate knew someone had raided their moss supply.
"Great start," Raze muttered. "Made enemies of organized crime on day one."
He pushed himself upright. His legs wobbled but held.
The sun was lower now. Late afternoon. He needed to get to Kael's shop. Deliver the moss. Start preparing the treatment.
Sophie was waiting.
And somewhere in the city, Syndicate members were spreading the word. Looking for whoever had invaded their territory.
Raze limped out of the alley. Kept to side streets. Avoided main roads.
The city felt different now. More dangerous. Every shadow could hide a gray cloak. Every passerby could be watching.
He'd changed the story. Taken his first real action.
And the plot was responding.
Kael's shop appeared ahead. The dusty windows. The faded sign.
Raze pushed through the door.
Creeeak.
Kael looked up from his work table. His eyes widened when he saw Raze's condition.
"What happened to you?"
Raze set the satchel on the table. Pulled out the pouches of Crimson Moss.
"Got the moss. Had some complications."
"Some complications? You look like you fought a war."
"Just three Blight Rats." Raze managed a weak smile. "And maybe alerted the Twilight Syndicate to our activities."
Kael stared at him. Then started laughing. It came out slightly manic.
"Your first day actively working on this and you've already made enemies of the most dangerous criminal organization in the city." He shook his head. "I like your style, kid. Terrible for life expectancy, but I like it."
Raze collapsed into a chair. "Did you get the Shade Quartz?"
"Got it. And processed the Silverleaf. We're ready to prepare the treatment." Kael examined the moss pouches. "These are perfect. Fresh. High quality. You did good work."
"Thanks."
"Now let me see that arm."
Raze held out his wounded arm. The bite marks had closed, but purple bruising spread around them.
Kael examined it carefully. His Inspect skill probably working overtime.
"Corruption was cleansed but not completely. You'll need monitoring over the next few days. If the bruising spreads or you start coughing, come back immediately."
"Understood."
Kael pulled out fresh bandages. Started wrapping Raze's arm with practiced efficiency.
"So. The Syndicate knows someone's interfering. That means they'll be watching. Increasing patrols. Maybe even investigating the Healing Hall's patients to see who might be seeking alternative treatment."
"They mentioned moving a shipment tonight. And clearing out before Alex Dawnsblade arrives."
Kael's hands paused. "Alex Dawnsblade?"
"The Chosen of the Goddess of Light. He's supposed to arrive in Thornwick in about a month."
"And the Syndicate knows about him?"
"Seems like it. They're worried. Want to finish their operations and disappear before he gets here."
Kael finished the bandaging. Tied it off.
"That gives us a month. Less, probably. To stop the corruption, cure the patients, and ideally do it without the Syndicate killing us." He met Raze's eyes. "Think we can manage that?"
Raze looked at the vials on the table. At the freshly harvested moss. At his bandaged arm and Kael's determined expression.
"We don't have a choice," he said quietly. "Forty-three kids are counting on us. Whether they know it or not."
Kael nodded once. "Then let's get to work."