In another part of the village, Dion toiled alongside Mira as they worked together to build themselves a new home out of wood and stone. Sweat rolled down his brow, but he kept his hands busy. When the walls finally stood tall, he took a deep breath and sought out Faren, who was resting by the forge with fresh bandages on his face.
"Thank you," Dion said with a low voice. "For saving my sister. For fighting when we couldn't."
Faren offered a small smile, though exhausted. "We're all fighting for the same thing now."
In the square, Luenor, Thalanar, Telmar, the new chief, Hunter, and the remnants of the bandits with their arms shackled all stood in a loose circle—with Mira bound and silent amongst them.
The air was heavy with tension. Thalanar softly tapped the earth with his staff as he spoke. "They've killed our people. Burned our homes. They should die here."
Roderic, the new chief, nodded solemnly. "They've brought us only death and destruction."
Telmar's face went hard. "They should be hanged."
But Luenor raised a hand, his voice calm but firm. "No."
Everyone fell silent, and everyone looked at him.
Luenor turned to Mira, staring at her without blinking. "I want to know something. Are there mana stone mines near here? Or near your camp?"
Mira glared at him with hatred in her eyes, but kept her lips tight.
Luenor turned to Hunter. "This is your turn." he said simply.
Hunter stepped forward, his aura coiling around him like a promise of death. Mira flinched visibly, and her flesh grew pale as she met Hunter's gaze.
While Hunter was engaged, Luenor began to describe his plan to the rest—quietly, but with a certainty they had never heard before.
"We can't remain hidden here forever. Not me, as Sureva. There is still danger in this world for us. But I can go back out there… not as me, but a new name, a second identity, find true allies, build real wealth. I can cause the Sureva name to rise again."
The village chief stared at him, wide-eyed. "You'd leave here? So soon?"
Luenor nodded. "I am not leaving you guys. I will return soon."
Thalanar remained quiet for a long moment before he finally gave a small nod of agreement. "If this is your path, Luenor… we will trust it."
A brief while later, Hunter emerged from the little barn where Mira was detained. "She's broken," he said softly. "She'll talk."
Luenor took a breath, and entered inside.
Mira's eyes were cold as he approached. "You are playing a dangerous game, boy."
"Not a game," Luenor said evenly. "A promise."
She watched him intently, then let out a small, bitterly amused laugh. "The map is in the storehouse of our main camp. If you want it, you will need to take it."
"Good," Luenor said simply. "Then we will go there."
He gathered his party-Hunter, Telmar, Arwin, and a handful of trusted elves. Dion, unable to contain his excitement, had to speak up first. "I want to come," he said firmly but quietly.
Rhea and Hera watched their departure, with wary ambition burning in their eyes from the dawn's early light.
And Valdrak, silent as the forest, padded behind them.
____
As Luenor's small group navigated through the destroyed barricades, the air smelled of smoke and fear in the bandit camp. Mira led them through the camp, her wrists still bound, with a sulky frown on her face but no resistance.
They stood at the center of the camp, beneath the half-rotted walls of the storehouse. Luenor turned to Mira, his tone even but expectant, and said, "Show us everything- the weapons, traps, the gold."
She hesitated, pinching her lips together, but Hunter stepped forward as well, and the simple act of his moving toward her was enough of a threat. He met her eyes, cold and unwavering.
Mira swallowed and stiffened up her shoulders. "Fine," she reluctantly replied, "follow me," before leading them deeper into the camp.
Dion's eyes lit up when he stepped into the dark storage shed behind Mira. The cracked stone floor was covered in scattered piles of coins of glistening gold and silver piled in bags and chests. There were weapons. Some a little ratty, and many sharp and well-kept. Arrows, spears, swords, a few beat-up shields.
"I've never... never seen so much gold," Dion whispered, his voice low in awe.
Luenor moved carefully through the heap, his feet crunched gingerly through broken glass and money littered the surface; an environment all too familiar from his journalistic years. He picked up a dusty vial containing a pulsing green liquid and inspected it in the torchlight.
Thalanar had banished all things 'Raven' and moved beside him. He had picked up a small bottle of shimmering blue liquid. "These… potions," he mused. "They are alchemical… but I have no way of measuring their strength."
Luenor chuckled softly and tossed the bottle he was holding to Hunter. "What do you think?"
Hunter was able to catch the bottle relatively easily, his eyes scanning the surging mana light swirling inside. "I am far from being a master appraiser," he said, looking back at them. "But I can tell you - even I can tell... they are low-star. Majority common, but still high level for around here."
Luenor gave a curt nod and turned to Telmar. "Go back to the village. Bring carts. Big boxes. We are not leaving anything worth a dime behind."
Telmar snapped his head in curt nod then faded into the protection of the trees, perfectly silent.
Mira began leading them next to her quarters - small but cluttered - with battered finery: faded tapestries, a dull silver mirror now tarnished that rested on the wall, and so on. She approached a battered desk, reaching beneath it, then pulled out a worn out map. "Here," was all she said.
Thalanar took it from her, his eyes scanning the lines and notations with practiced care. "This is thorough," he murmured. "Every forest path, every hunting ground… even the old smuggling routes."
As Thalanar studied, Luenor and Arwin began to search the rest of the room. The cramped quarters smelled faintly of old leather and stale wine. Luenor's hand brushed the rough wooden walls, and he turned to Hunter with a small grin. "What do you think?"
Hunter narrowed his eyes, his mana sense flaring. "There's something behind this wall," he said. "Something… hidden."
Mira stiffened, her face twisting in a mix of fear and fury.
Luenor caught her reaction and laughed quietly. "Arwin," he said. "Break it."
Arwin didn't hesitate. He drove the pommel of his sword into the wood, splintering it with a heavy crack. The boards gave way to reveal a narrow hidden compartment, packed with sealed scrolls and parchment.
Arwin reached in and pulled them out, handing them to Luenor one by one.
Luenor flipped through the first parchment, frowning at the unfamiliar names and numbers. "What are these?" he asked, his voice calm but edged.
Mira glared at him, her jaw clenched. "Blackmail," she spat. "Merchant secrets. Letters from the knight guard of Baron Ronney—promises to look the other way."
Luenor's lips tightened. "So that's how you survived so long," he murmured.
Mira looked away, saying nothing.
Hunter stepped forward, his gaze steady. "This is leverage," he said quietly. "Proof that even Baron Ronney's knights have been bought."
Luenor met his eyes and nodded. "Then it's time to use it."