The trail heading north was eerily silent, the kind of silence that only comes after tragedy.

  The land was a wasteland haunted by creatures from the heavenly realms, roaming aimlessly in search of human life.

  Joseph's so-called "cleansing" had left its scars on the world, both visible and invisible.

  In some ways, the land was healing. Vegetation that had once been extinct was sprouting again. New, vibrant flowers bloomed across hillsides, plants untouched by humanity's history of destruction. The water was crystal clear, and the air felt fresher than it had in centuries.

  Axel and Becca shared the same unspoken thought as they rode along the trail: This world could have been beautiful without all the bloodshed.

  But that beauty came at a cost. The cleansing had claimed countless lives, leaving humanity to tread carefully between survival and extinction.

  As they traveled, the towering mansion of Wynville appeared on the horizon, surrounded by barren farmland and decrepit barns.

  Before they could reach the village, they came across an old man collapsed on the dirt road. His body was frail, his skin stretched tightly over brittle bones.

  Becca clenched her fists at the sight, her voice trembling with anger, "Damn you, Joseph. Is this your idea of cleansing? This man is just trying to survive!" Her voice cracked as she gestured toward the old man.

  Axel said nothing, sliding off Diego with practiced ease. He knelt by the man, carefully inspecting him, "Purple tongue. Grey eyes," Axel muttered, his tone clinical. "He ate orgerberries. Poisonous. Likely his last resort against starvation."

  Becca's fury turned into despair. She turned away from the pitiful sight, unable to bear it any longer.

  Axel mounted Diego again, his face unreadable. "Let's keep moving," he said simply.

  ---

  When they reached the village, the silence was deafening. Wynville wasn't a village—it was a ghost town.

  Stopping in front of a rundown tavern, Axel dismounted first. He offered his hand to Becca, but she ignored him, storming into the building on her own.

  What they found inside froze them both in place.

  Dozens of bodies were scattered across the tavern, slumped over tables or curled together on the floor. They weren't victims of violence or disease—they looked peaceful, as if they'd all agreed to die together.

  Becca's voice trembled as she broke the silence. "They all... just gave up? They starved to death?" Her anger, barely contained, simmered beneath the surface.

  Axel stepped beside her, his gaze calm but heavy. "There are countless others like them," he said softly. "Looking for someone to lead them. Someone who could have given them hope."

  Becca gritted her teeth. She couldn't stop the tears forming in her eyes. "We're raiding that pig's mansion," she said, her voice low and fierce. "He doesn't deserve to live after this."

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  Axel's smile was small but approving. He had found his partner.

  ---

  The mansion loomed ahead, a monument to greed and neglect. It wasn't perfectly maintained, but compared to the crumbling barns around it, it was a palace. The wood used for its construction was rare, imported from the far-off Asmodrawn nation—a luxury no commoner could dream of.

  Even standing at the front door, they could smell the freshly roasted meat wafting from the kitchen.

  Axel tested the door. It was unlocked. No guards. No resistance.

  Inside, the mansion was in disarray—shattered furniture, torn women's clothing, and half-eaten meals littered the floors. As they explored, they noticed a peculiar trail of knitted baby clothes leading up the stairs.

  A sudden noise shattered the silence. A plate clattered to the ground, and when they turned, they caught the fleeting shadow of a figure vanishing down the hall. In its place was a doll, eerily lifelike. Axel's eyes narrowed as he studied it. "Creepy. Stay close."

  They continued up the stairs, their steps cautious.

  When they reached the master bedroom, their suspicions were confirmed.

  William Peters II, the so-called leader of Wynville, lay in a massive bed surrounded by piles of gold coins, gemstones, and lavish jewelry. He was sound asleep, snoring softly, oblivious to the world around him.

  Becca's fury boiled over. Without a word, she snatched Axel's sword from his side. Her hands trembled, not with hesitation, but with rage.

  "Your people died starving," she whispered, her voice trembling with contempt, "and you slept like a king. Rot in hell, you disgusting pig."

  Before Axel could respond, Becca plunged the blade into William's chest.

  William eyes snapped open for a brief moment, confusion flickering in them, before his life slipped away.

  But Becca wasn't done. She stabbed him again. And again. Each strike an outlet for the rage and grief she had carried for too long.

  Axel stood silently, watching her with a satisfied smile. She's exactly what I need, he thought.

  When she finally stopped, panting and covered in blood, Axel calmly stepped forward, "We'll need to gather everything we can carry," he said.

  ---

  They worked quickly, stripping the mansion of its wealth. Axel filled four makeshift bags with gold, while Becca tied together bundles of valuables using William's luxurious curtains.

  After loading ten barrels of treasure onto a wagon, they moved on to the kitchen, where they found an untouched stockpile of fresh food—more than enough to feed Neverport for weeks.

  Axel stayed outside to secure Diego to the wagon while Becca continued searching. That's when she found a bedroom with wool strands on the doorknob.

  Inside, a woman sat in a rocking chair, humming softly as she knitted a baby sweater. Her long black gown gave her an almost spectral appearance, and her violet eyes gleamed with quiet intensity while her braided black hair rest over her right shoulder.

  Becca stepped forward cautiously, gripping her sword, "Who are you?"

  The woman didn't answer, simply tilting her head as her humming grew softer.

  Before Becca could get closer, Axel entered the room. His eyes widened when he saw the woman.

  "Patricia," he said, his voice uncharacteristically warm.

  The woman's face lit up, and she rose to embrace him.

  "It's been a long time," Axel said, his tone softer than Becca had ever heard. "I thought you were gone."

  Patricia said nothing, her smile both comforting and unsettling.

  "Who is she?" Becca demanded.

  "An old friend," Axel replied. "I'll explain later. Let's focus on getting out of here first."

  ---

  They left the village with weeks' worth of food and enough gold to rebuild Neverport.

  As Patricia rested in the wagon, Becca examined a gold coin in her hand. "It's beautiful," she admitted reluctantly. "But knowing who it belonged to... it feels tainted."

  Axel chuckled. "Gold is gold. And soon, we'll have more to trade."

  Becca frowned. "Trade? With who?"

  Axel's smile turned sly. "Monsters."

  Becca's jaw dropped. "What?!"

  "It's practical," Axel explained. "Humans are unreliable allies these days. Monsters, on the other hand, are more divided. Some pity us. Some support us. And some see opportunities where others don't."

  Becca stared at him like he'd grown a second head.

  "By tomorrow, I want you to decide," Axel said, his tone turning serious. "The orcs to the west. The druids to the east. Or the demons to the north. Choose wisely."

  Becca sat in stunned silence as Axel turned his gaze back to the horizon.