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Mori and Griswald both had a surprised expression, as they looked through the door.

Her right cheek looked slightly cracked, as if thin ice was layered on top of her skin.

"I know I look weak, but you can\'t just casually say you\'ll kill me," she said, entering the inn again.

The air was colder, everyone inside could see their breath as they exhaled.

From under her feet seemed to extend a cold mist, which quickly covered the floor.

"Can you confirm something for me? You\'re Mori, right?" she said, as she pointed at Mori.

"Yes."

She frowned, while taking a few steps forward.

"Curious. I was told you were strong..."

"Well, she\'s tougher than she looks," said Griswald.

"Mori, for decimating the human population in Dustriver, and effectively committing a genocide resulting in tens of thousands of deaths, you\'re effectively under arrest. From several eyewitnesses, by your hands, hundreds were killed, and from your minions thousands more. The sword that caused a giant rift, where Dustriver used to be, killed anyone remaining."

"Eyewitnesses?"

The woman frowned.

"That\'s where you\'re confused? A lot of Demonfolks died back there. Several have come forward describing your inhumane acts."

"It\'s my fault," said Lilae to Mori. "I should\'ve made sure we did a better job getting everyone out..."

"I knew there would be collateral casualties. It was my decision," he replied.

"Let\'s get moving, the faster I take you in, the faster I can get back to my easy life."

"There is this [Bad Omen] I\'ve prophesied-" started Mori.

"-You think that\'ll work? We\'ve got a report on it, already, from adventure divers. Some poor folks were stabbing their ally repeatedly. What? Why that face?"

Right. I didn\'t kill those guys.

Mori looked at Brök, who wasn\'t saying anything, watching the scene unfolding, unsure of what to do.

"What was your name?" asked Mori, turning again.

"Evie. Better remember it, I\'m the one taking you in."

"Is everyone at DiveCore this confident? First Luxian, now you?"

"Listen, maybe we should leave," whispered Xannos.

"Because we\'ve dealt with your kind more than enough before. People who thought they could influence the world by themselves, because they suddenly can use magic. Hell, your vampire servant there is stronger than you. You\'re Griswald, I\'m guessing? I played the game too. I\'ve dealt with you before."

Mori sighed, staring into Evie\'s fiery eyes.

He looked at Griswald for a split second, who nodded.

"Take the backpacks," said Mori to the others.

Evie\'s eyes diverted to them as they started moving.

"In a sea of gold, he who swims shall become one with the waves. In a tower of gold, he who climbs it shall become its only ruler..."

Mori started chanting, Evie\'s eyes snapping right back to him instantly. She quickly took a step forward, raising her hand to cast a spell.

As she took a step forward, Griswald pulled on his whip, which was attached to her foot.

During the split second I looked at the others?! Thought Evie.

She fell backward, hitting the back of her head on the floor heavily, ice shattered on all sides, sliding on the wooden floor.

Both of her hands were on the floor, as she was about to help herself up, but Mori was already a few steps from her.

Chains in each of his hands pierced hers.

What is this?! She thought.

On his body, tattoos had \'opened\', dark abyssal holes covered his torso.

From those holes, the same small eldritch creatures she had seen days ago came out. They started sliding down the chains toward her hands.

She screamed, quickly trying to remove her hands from the chains that nailed them to the floor.

"Fuck!"

She ripped apart one of her hands, split in two as she got it out.

Blood heavily poured out, solidifying as it touched the cold floor still affected by her mist.

She kept grunting as she tried pulling her second hand out, but she was too late.

The hex settled on her hand, sliding around her arm and inscribing itself in her skin.

Mori withdrew his chain from her hand, surprise flickering through her eyes before she quickly moved to cast a spell again.

As she tried moving her hand, she realized she couldn\'t.

But he took the chain out? she thought.

She looked down.

Ice was building up, her hand hard-stuck to the floor in a chunk of ice, that was growing up her arm.

"What the-" she started.

"Kill her, Griswald."

"What did you do to me?! What\'s this?!"

"Your wish is my command," answered Griswald, bowing.

Mori walked back toward the bar, picking up the last remaining backpack.

"Mori..." said Brök.

"Sorry about this, Brök. Here, this should cover the damages," he said, handing Brök the remaining gold he had.

"I don\'t worry about the gold..."

"We\'ll be fine."

As Mori said that, the ground shook.

Mori looked behind him, Griswald was in front Evie. He was also looking around, unsure what that was.

"What now?!" said Xannos, almost pleading.

"Ah, this ain\'t good," said Griswald.

The ground shook again, and again, the delay shortening each time.

Griswald jumped backward as the empty doorway shattered, a large circle of broken wood now serving as the entrance.

Through it had jumped in a man in armor, a large battleaxe in his hand.

"Evie...," he sighed, "I guess that\'s the only way you would learn."

The man who had just entered was quite large, he had obviously trained a long time to hold that large weapon as if it were nothing.

"That\'s the one I was talking about, earlier," said Griswald.

The man took a few steps forward, hitting his battleaxe on the ice building up on Evie\'s arm.

"Thanks, Vroto."

He quickly took her in his arm, jumping backward through the door, dropping her on the floor in the middle of the road next to him.

"This is our chance," said Lilae. "Let\'s head to the mountains while they\'re hurt."

"No. They\'re both here right now, and one of them is hurt. Perfect opportunity to kill them both."

"I agree," said Griswald. "Both of them together are quite the magic/physical balance, but we have an opportunity, right now."

"Stay behind," said Mori to the others.

Both him and Griswald headed outside, standing on the porch of the inn.

Evie\'s cursed hand was on the ground again, ice building up her arms.

She looked at it, her lips shaking as she processed what was happening.

"Cut it," she said to Vroto.