The Harbor District smelled like salt and fish guts. Raze navigated the morning crowds, hood up, the bag of serpent scales heavy in his pack.
Silas's shop appeared between the tavern and ship repair yard. The sign reading "Acquisitions" swayed slightly in the breeze.
Creeeak.
The door opened with its familiar chime.
Silas looked up from behind his counter. Those sharp eyes tracked Raze as he approached.
"Back so soon. Let me see them."
Raze set the bag on the counter. Untied it. The scales inside caught the light. Iridescent. Beautiful. Deadly.
Silas examined them with careful hands. Turning each scale. Checking for damage. His eyebrows rose steadily higher.
"These are perfect. Absolutely perfect." He looked up at Raze. "You actually hunted five Void Serpents. In the deep sewers. And survived."
"You said you wanted ten intact scales. There they are."
"Most people would bring me damaged goods. Scales cracked by slow deaths. Poison seepage. But these..." Silas held one up to the light. "These serpents died fast. Violently. Almost instantly in some cases."
"Does it matter how they died?"
"Only that it tells me you're either extremely skilled or extremely lucky. Possibly both." Silas set the scales down carefully. "You're about to do something significant, aren't you? Something that changes things."
"Maybe."
"Don't be coy. I've been in this business forty years. I know when someone is gathering materials for something big." Silas moved to a locked cabinet. Produced a key. "Here's your Phoenix Ash."
The container was crystalline. Sealed with wax. Inside, ash that shimmered like fire frozen in time.
[Phoenix Ash]
Quality: Pure
Potency: Maximum
Effect: Regenerates damaged pathways, provides energy for core reconstruction
Exactly what he needed.
"Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet. Thank me after you survive whatever insanity you're planning." Silas smiled. "People like you either change the world or die trying. Preferably the former. Better for business."
Raze managed a smile. "I'll keep that in mind."
He left. The crystalline container secure in his pack. All three materials acquired.
Now came the hard part.
‐‐‐
The warehouse smelled like dust and nervous anticipation. Kael had transformed the main table into something resembling a medical theater. Clean cloths. Monitoring equipment. Vials arranged in precise rows.
Raze set the Phoenix Ash container down carefully.
"All three materials secured."
Kael examined the ash. His expression shifted from professional to awed. "This is pure. Absolutely pure. Silas gave you premium grade. This will work. This will actually work."
"What are the odds now?"
"With materials this quality? Seventy percent. Maybe seventy five." Kael set the container down reverently. "But Raze, you need to understand what's about to happen. Twelve hours of controlled agony. Your core pathways will be broken down and rebuilt from scratch. If your body rejects the process at any stage, if your Endurance fails, if anything goes wrong..." He trailed off.
"I become a Mortal permanently."
"Or die. Let's not discount that option."
Aslan spoke up from his corner. "When do we start?"
"Tonight. As soon as the sun sets." Kael moved to his notes. Started reviewing. "But first, Raze needs to see his sister. One more time. Just in case."
The words hung heavy in the air. Just in case.
Raze nodded. "I'll be back before evening."
He left quickly. Before doubt could settle in.
‐‐‐
The Healing Hall gleamed in afternoon sunlight. White stone. Beautiful gardens. The facade of care hiding systematic exploitation.
Raze pushed through the doors.
Beatrice looked up. Recognition flickered. "Mr. Dragonheart. Here to see Sophie?"
"Yes."
"Room fourteen. She's awake. Reading, I think." Beatrice paused. "She's been asking about you. About when she can go home."
Soon, Raze thought. After tomorrow, everything changes.
He climbed the stairs. Each step measured. Controlled. His heart hammered despite the calm exterior.
Thump thump thump.
Room fourteen. The door was ajar. Sunlight streamed through the window.
Tap tap.
He knocked gently.
"Come in!"
Sophie sat up in bed. A book in her lap. Her face bright and healthy. The black veins completely gone. Life returned to eyes that had been dying weeks ago.
She looked up and smiled. Then that smile faded slightly.
"Raze? What's wrong?"
Too perceptive. Always too perceptive.
He entered. Closed the door. Sat in the chair beside her bed.
"I have to do something dangerous tonight. Something that might not work."
Sophie set her book down carefully. "How dangerous?"
"Very. But if it works, I'll be strong enough to help all the other children here. Like I helped you. I'll be able to make sure no more kids die from Black Cough."
"Will you die?"
The question was direct. Childlike in its honesty. Terrifying in its implications.
"Maybe. But probably not. I'm pretty stubborn."
Sophie reached out and took his hand. Her grip was surprisingly strong. "Don't die. I just got you back. I don't want to lose you again."
The words hit harder than they should have. The original Raze's memories surged. Sophie at their parents' graves. Sophie holding his hand when his core first shattered. Sophie never giving up on him even when he'd given up on himself.
"I'll try my best. I promise."
"That's all I can ask." Sophie squeezed his hand. "But Raze? Whatever happens tonight, thank you. For saving me. For being my hero. Even if you don't think you are one."
Raze pulled her into a hug. Held tight. Memorizing this moment.
"I love you, Sophie."
"I love you too."
They sat like that for a while. Brother and sister. One dying and saved. One about to risk everything.
Finally, Raze pulled back. "I have to go. Prepare. But I'll see you soon. After this is over."
"Promise?"
"I promise to try."
Sophie nodded. Accepted that. "Then go. Be careful. Come back."
He left before emotion could overwhelm him.
The hallway was empty. Most visitors had departed for the day. His footsteps echoed.
Tap tap tap.
Then a voice stopped him.
"Mr. Dragonheart."
He turned.
Miss Helen stood in a doorway. Still wearing her attendant uniform. Still working at the Healing Hall despite being fired.
"Miss Helen? I thought you were dismissed."
She smiled. Tired but genuine. "I was. Head Healer Mortens made that very clear. But he couldn't actually enforce it."
"I don't understand."
"Come here. Let me explain properly."
She gestured to an empty room. They entered. She closed the door.
"After Mortens fired me, I left. Gathered my belongings. Went home." Miss Helen sat on the edge of an empty bed. "But that evening, I received a visitor. A woman. Mid twenties. Dark clothing. She introduced herself as Elena Corvus. Night Warden."
Raze's blood ran cold. Elena.
"She told me she'd been monitoring unusual activity in the city. That she'd noticed my dismissal was connected to the unauthorized treatment of Sophie Dragonheart. That she found the situation... interesting." Miss Helen's smile widened. "She also told me that the Healing Hall operates on several questionable practices. Practices that technically violate city health ordinances. Practices she could investigate if she chose to."
"She blackmailed the Healing Hall."
"She provided leverage. There's a difference." Miss Helen laughed softly. "The next morning, I received a message from Mortens. My dismissal was rescinded. Administrative error, he claimed. I was welcome to return to work with full benefits and a formal apology."
Elena. Interfering. Helping.
The favor she was owed suddenly felt more complicated.
"Why would she help you?"
"She said someone had called in a favor. That ensuring I could continue helping children was part of that arrangement." Miss Helen met his eyes. "I don't know who called in that favor. But I have suspicions."
Raze's mind raced. He hadn't called in anything. He'd only interacted with Elena once. In the cemetery. When she'd extracted a future favor from him.
Unless...
Unless she'd decided the favor worked both ways. That by helping Miss Helen, she was establishing goodwill. Making the future debt more palatable.
Clever.
"Whatever happens tonight," Miss Helen continued, "thank you. For Sophie. For me. For trying to change things."
"I haven't changed anything yet."
"You changed everything for Sophie. For the parents who now have hope. For me, getting to keep my job and actually help." She stood. Moved to the door. "Good luck. With whatever you're planning. Come back alive."
"I'll try."
She left. The door clicked shut softly.
Click.
Raze sat alone for a moment. Processing. Elena was watching. Helping. Preparing to collect her favor.
Tomorrow's problem. Tonight was about survival.
He left the Healing Hall. The afternoon sun was lowering. Evening approached.
Time to face the reconstruction.