Risa had gone through her plan, or at least some part of it. She never shared with us where we would go, but we knew enough. She gave us two days to prepare, so I had no time to waste. By the time I exited the meeting, I was already formulating a plan that would end up in me, and... well, Lira to disappear. This got way too dangerous, and even if I couldn''t really comprehend what an elven artifact would do, by the simple reaction of anyone who knew about it, I understood that I wanted out. I am not going to stay here and get killed because of someone else''s greed.


    It took me a few hours to put things together, and I knew my plan was shaky at best, but... It was the best I could do in such a short time. When I explained everything to Lira, she listened silently, saying nothing, and when I was about to begin convincing her, she simply nodded.


    "I''ll do as you say."


    It was the only thing she said. It felt weird. I wasn''t used to it. Usually, people didn''t listen to my requests or plans, or if they did, they presented them as their own. But she didn''t ask questions; she simply showed that she trusted my decision and followed my instructions.


    Which meant she left the city before even the following morning had arrived. We made sure that even if I was being tracked or watched, it would seem like it was her idea to simply go away. Slipping out of our current room in the middle of the night. If anyone would ask... I would say she merely left. With how she was in the past few days, nobody would ask questions. Maybe Cravik would feel bad, thinking we were a pair or something... But. This was the best way. I couldn''t leave her behind, and I didn''t want to put her in danger either, and she understood that.


    It was she who suggested the place we should meet, showing it to me on a map that I had memorized, promising that I would be there in three or four days. At most. I hoped... Because my next step was to visit the Adventurer''s Guild.


    ...


    ....


    ......


    The moment I stepped into the Guild''s headquarters, I already knew how this conversation would go.


    It wasn''t because of my arrogance or because I knew it by reading people like a mentalist. It was a certainty because they were waiting for me to do precisely this. So, I had played my part well, giving them just enough reason to believe I was a young man in over his head, desperate for a way out. And if there was one thing powerful men loved, it was thinking they held all the control. I experienced that part a lot with the type of bosses I served, climbing the pointless corporate ladder.


    Reagan, the Guildmaster, welcomed me into his office, sending everyone else out except the same man who found me a few days ago... Lazlow. Reagan himself sat in his usual spot; his fingers were interlocked as he studied me with an indifferent gaze at first that quickly gave way to a warmer, more welcoming smile. Still, not fast enough. I knew he was simply playing his part. My eyes quickly moved from him, not wanting to make him think I was brave enough to pull a trick on him. Instead, I looked over him, watching the massive tapestry on the wall at his back, depicting the Guild''s founding, its threads shimmering with gold and silver. It was blocked from my view when Lazlow stood behind him, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching me with a slow blink. He gave me the usual smirk as if he already knew everything that would come out of my mouth.


    Well...He didn''t. Because I was about to play them both. I stood with my hands clasped behind my back, hiding my trembling, keeping my voice steady but not enough so the cracks in my voice wouldn''t be noticeable. Luckily, I didn''t need to act... I was close to pissing myself for real. So, it WAS an authentic performance.


    "I''m done with the Crows. I want out."


    "I see." Reagan''s brow lifted slightly, but there was no suspicion—just mild curiosity. "And why is that?" he asked with his tone even, acting as if he wasn''t the one who sent Lazlow to find me.


    "They''re getting reckless," I said, letting my honest frustration seep into my words. "And I don''t want to be there when they eventually burn."


    "They are over their head." Lazlow let out a low chuckle, pushing off the wall and walking forward to stand beside the Guildmaster. "Smart boy. But you know leaving them won''t be easy. They don''t take kindly to deserters."


    "You told me to consider it, no?" I forced a wry smile, my fingers tightening behind my back. "That''s why I''m here. We all know that we know... So... Do you want the artifact? I can lead you to it. But I need something in return."


    The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "True, let us be honest here." Reagan leaned forward slightly, the light catching the silver streaks in his otherwise jet-black hair. "Go on. We are listening."


    "My adventurer rank stays. My name remains clear, not just here but everywhere on the continent. I don''t want to be blacklisted, marked, mentioned, or in any way, shape, or form considered as an unwanted element."


    "..." There was a brief pause, and then Reagan gave a slow nod, his smile widening. "That''s reasonable. But how do we know you''re not leading us into a trap?"


    "A trap?" I snorted, and I didn''t hesitate to continue. "Because I want nothing to do with the Crows or any elven artifact anymore. I never wanted it in the first place. Risa''s already suspicious of me—if I stay, I''m dead. I am not stupid enough to miss the fact that a gang leader will make those in the know disappear. I need an out. And you need the artifact. I''m offering you both."


    And... well, it wasn''t a lie, per se. They do say that the best lies are built upon half-truths.


    "..." Reagan remained silent as he studied me for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly. The silence stretched on, broken only by the distant clatter of footsteps echoing through the hall, but instead of knocking, they slowly died as they walked on. Finally, he nodded. "Very well." With that, he pulled out a letter, filled it out before me, stamped it with a wax seal, and gave it to me. "This will prove that you are clear as a hot summer day. When and where?"


    "Tomorrow. Just before dusk. A day''s travel outside the city. The Crows will be moving the artifact to a hiding place, and they''ll have only a handful of people guarding it. All of those who know about it." Another carefully planted lie—we weren''t planting it. We were going to get it.


    "We will be there," Lazlow said, his smirk widening. He adjusted the dagger at his belt, its hilt gleaming in the light. "This should be fun."


    I gave them both a sharp nod and turned to leave. The sound of my boots against the floor echoed in the Guild, making me nervous, but nobody stopped me. Neither of them suspected anything, it seems. They saw me as a useful tool, nothing more... and that was their mistake.


    Step One: Complete. Step Two: Risa...


    ...


    ....


    ......


    I returned to the Crows'' hideout just before midnight. The moon was out, more prominent than anything, taking up much of the night sky. I hope it is a sign that things will go my way. I wasn''t stopped at all while entering, as not many of us were there anyway. Although surprised I came back so soon when I should have been preparing, when I told them I must speak with Risa, I think they had picked up on the urgency in my voice.


    Risa was alone in her office, leaning over a stack of documents, her candle flickering low. She was probably looking into how to keep the artifact safe and hidden. Whatever it was... It didn''t matter to me. Hearing me enter, she barely glanced up from her work, but the second she saw my face, her expression sharpened.


    "What is it?" she asked, her voice calm but alert, with a tinge of warning that I should choose my words carefully.


    "Problem," I said as I took a slow breath, ready to start tonight''s second performance. I should get an award for this... Well, my escape with my life intact should be the award in itself. "The Guild is coming," I stated clearly. "They''re planning to ambush us when we retrieve the artifact. They think they can take it. I thought you should know."


    "What?" Risa''s eyes narrowed, her gaze piercing through me as she assessed my expression. Then, surprisingly, she let out a low laugh. "Hah… I was wondering when those bastards would finally make their move. I was afraid they already knew because of you... So? You''re telling me this because...?"


    "Because I''m not an idiot," I said bluntly, meeting her gaze without flinching. "I know if they take us by surprise, we''re dead. I''d rather stay on the winning side."


    "Good." She leaned back in her chair, the wood creaking, its aged frame moaning loudly. Her fingers drummed lightly on the armrest, a habit she had when she was thinking, and I wasn''t about to interrupt her. "I wasn''t expecting you to be so honest, Auriel. If you hadn''t come to me with this…" Her smile was small but dangerous. "It would have been deadly."


    I guess they knew I visited the Guild, huh? I expected as much. I wonder if they would have come for me if I hadn''t come straight here but gone somewhere else.


    "I know." I met her gaze evenly. "That''s why I came."


    "I like you." She said after another pause. Then, with a slow exhale, she nodded. "We''ll be ready. You should be, too."


    I gave her one last look before turning to leave. Yes... She believed me. And why wouldn''t she? For now, things have been going smoothly. But I can''t get complacent. The dangerous part is still waiting for me.


    Step Two: Complete. Step Three: The Escape. The part that I either screwed up and died... or pulled off and lived. Fuck... why do I feel so excited? Is this how it feels to actually live? I never knew this feeling, but... I didn''t want to become an adrenaline junkie, either.


    I walked out of the office and into the night air, inhaling deeply and calming my nerves. The cool breeze carried the faint scent of drizzle, a storm brewing on the horizon, clouds covering half of the massive moon in the sky. I had set everything in motion, and there was no stepping back from here. Only forward. The Guild would come. The Crows would be waiting. Blood would spill, and lives would be lost... And in the chaos, I would slip away.


    Finally, I wasn''t a pawn anymore. No one will decide my fate besides me. Not the Guild, not the Crows. If something happens, I will be in control, and I will make the decisions from now on. After I managed to leave and head to... wherever the road took me, I knew I would not join anybody. I will only trust my own decisions, which means I will have to make my own group. If I make one... Maybe I will forge my own syndicate. Or my own guild.


    "Stop it..." I told myself, holding back my rampant imagination. First, I had to survive. But... If I had to bend reality itself to my will to do so, then so be it.