The kitchen was in chaos. Pots rattled, half-cut vegetables rolled across the counter, and the faint smell of burnt meat lingered in the air. Dilek crouched behind a counter, gripping the edge as his mind spun.
'How the hell do we get out of this situation?'
"HURAHHHHHH!"
The chef—a man bigger than anton, with oil stains across his apron—lunged at Anton, grabbing him by the neck and slamming him onto the counter. He dragged him across it, scrubbing the surface clean with Anton's body.
"GE—GET OFF ME—!" Anton's voice cracked as he kicked the chef square in the gut. He stumbled back, knocking over a bowl of soup, then snatched a knife from the board and flung it.
Anton barely got his pan up in time
CLANG!—
the knife bounced off and clattered to the floor.
"DIE!, TONIGHT I'LL ONLY DRINK BLOOD, LIKE A BLOODY VAMPIRE!" he screamed, throwing knife after knife, each one whistling past Anton's head, or anton deflecting it using the pan.
Dilek pressed himself lower behind the counter. A knife lodged itself in the wood right beside his cheek. He froze, then leaned back slowly, a crooked smile on his face.
"I'm done for if I move," he muttered.
Anton swung his pan, aiming for the chef's head. The man blocked it with a spatula. Anton grunted, grabbed the spatula with one hand while the chef seized the pan with his own. The two men glared at each other over the clattering countertop, breathing hard.
Then Anton headbutted him.
Both recoiled.
"Oh shit, that hurt…" Anton groaned, rubbing his forehead as the chef, completely unfazed, raised his spatula again.
He went wild—smacking Anton's head over and over with the spatula and pan combo.
"TIME OUT! TIME OUT!" Anton shouted, covering his head. "STOP—DILEK! GET THE HAMMER!"
Dilek blinked, then spotted the hammer lying in front of the door on the ground of dishes. He dashed for it. Anton grinned through the chaos, while the chef's face went pale.
Dilek reached the hammer, wrapped his fingers around the handle, and tensed. His arms shook.
"...Dilek?" Anton turned, his grin fading.
Dilek was straining, face red, using every ounce of strength just to lift the thing off the ground. The hammer barely moved.
The chef looked from Dilek to Anton. "That's the guy you just trusted?"
Anton sighed through gritted teeth. "It's one-sided. He trusts me, I don't. I kind of expected this."
"OH YEA? EVEN I DIDN'T TRUST YOU, OLD MAN!" Dilek shouted, still shaking. "JUST LET ME MOVE THIS HAMMERRRRR!"
"Dilek," Anton grumbled, lowering his guard a bit. "It's alright. You don't need to do that."
"Oh?" Dilek blinked at him.
"Yeah. Just go sit somewhere."
There was a pause. Dilek left the hammer and, without shame, walked over to the corner, sitting down against the wall.
Anton and the chef looked at each other again—faces bruised, beards messy.
Then Anton grabbed the chef's mustache.
The chef grabbed Anton's beard.
Dilek sat there looking at Anton and the chef, Both of them had muscles dilek turned to his hands, They weren't the skinnest but they weren't muscly either, I need to work out...
—
The hallway erupted with sounds of thundering hooves.
"CMON HORSE STOP STOP STOP, WHAT THE HELLLL—!" Diego screamed, clinging to the reins as the horse dashed inside the manor hallway, Marcus had fainted with his eyes rolling white, and mouth foaming.
Guards spun around at the noise.
"WHAT THE—IS THAT A HORSE?!" one shouted.
"WHO THE HELL LET A HORSE INSIDE?!" another barked, his spear, eyes wide.
The horse came charging, shaking the ground beneath them.
"BLOCK IT! BLOCK IT!" a guard yelled.
"With what? IT'S A HORSE!" someone screamed back.
"ITS A HORSEEEE!"
The beast slammed into the guards, sending them flying into the wall with a crash. The impact echoed down the corridor as two more guards rushed forward, raising swords.
"TAKE IT DOWN!" one shouted.
"YOU TAKE IT DOWN!" the other snapped—just before the horse ran straight into both of them.
Someone screamed, "GET THE CAPTAIN—NO, WAIT, HE'LL JUST YELL AT US!"
The horse stormed through the marble hallway, Diego's knuckles were on the reins.
"MARCUSSS!" he shouted, grabbing Marcus by his collar with one hand as the marcus nearly slipped off the horse. "MARCUS WAKE UPPP! I CAN'T HOLD YOU FOR LONGGERRR!"
The horse whined, Running upstairs, skidding on the polished floor. Diego let go of the reins, both arms now clutching Marcus to keep him from tumbling off.
"WAKEEE UPPP!"
The sound echoed through the manor.
—
"What the hell is that noise?" Castorik's voice cut through the silence. He stood up from his chair, staring down at the floor that seemed to be vibrating a little.
Across from him, Iris rubbed her temples, thinking, 'Shit… those guys are being loud. What the hell is going on?' She forced a smile and leaned forward.
"Duke, you seem to be avoiding my question."
Castorik turned, half-distracted. "No, there is really a noi—never mind, fine then. What was your question again?"
Iris smiled thinly. "I heard you've been snooping around the guild…"
"It's for work," Castorik sighed, brushing off the dust that fell from the ceiling. Iris's annoyance grew.
"Fine, I'll say this upfront," she said coldly. "Give back Dilek."
"Dilek?" Castorik blinked, confused. "Dilek? Just him?"
"Yes?" Iris frowned, thrown off by his reaction.
Castorik smiled faintly, as he thought, 'She's asking for that loser? Then he must be important.' 'But not as important as Jonah… Seems she doesn't know I'm really after Jonah. Hm. I'll pretend Dilek's valuable and demand Jonah in exchange.'
He stood, straightening his coat. "I'm sorry, Iris… I can't give Dilek to you. Unless you give me Jonah."
Iris's eyes widened. "Wait what? Who?"
"Jonah? The cul— I mean, the guy who's starting a religion?"
She stared blankly. 'Who the hell is Jonah? Why is he starting a religion?'
She doesn't know about Dilek's plans of making a cult, She also doesn't know who Jonah is either.
"Fine," she sighed finally. "I'll give you Jonah."
'Whoever that is', she thought.
"Well, you have yourself a deal," Castorik said smoothly. "Now take dilek ou—"
The doors flew open. Diana stumbled in, out of breath. "SIR! THERE IS A HORSE INSIDE THE MANOR!"
"WHAT?!" Castorik barked, spinning toward her. "HOW?! WHAT'S GOING ON?"
He turned to Iris for an answer, but even she looked stunned. He frowned. Is this something serious right now?
"UHM, SIR," Diana gasped, "THE HORSE HAS CRASHED INTO THE KITCHEN!"
Castorik stared for a long, silent second before sighing. "Fine. Just get the guards to clean up the mess. Also, send Dilek with iris. Go wake him up—he must be asleep."
Diana stood frozen for a moment, shocked by the duke's calmness, but said nothing. She bowed and rushed out.
Iris stood there sweating. 'What the hell… A horse? Inside? Kitchen? What? Didn't we make a plan?' She forced a smile.
Castorik adjusted his sleeves, looking pleased. "I have won. Jonah will be here tomorrow." He exhaled softly. "I need to sleep."
—
The kitchen door was in shambles. The horse lay fainted beside the counter. Marcus groaned from the floor, half-buried under flour sacks. Diego stood up wobbly, swaying like a drunk.
He looked around as he saw Anton clutching the chef's beard in one hand. "Oh hey Anto—BLUWRGHHHHHH!" Diego bent over and vomited all over the floor.
"NOT IN MY KITCHENNN!" the chef screamed, horrified.
Marcus rubbed his eyes, getting up slowly. "Sir? What are you doing here?" Marcus looked at Anton.
From the corner, Dilek stared with wide eyes, and a open mouth.
An old man and an Italian looking chef were fighting like toddlers—grabbing beards, pulling mustaches. A fainted horse lay in the wreckage, hammer on the floor, and two men—his supposed rescuers—were sprawled beside it.
Anton turned, beard half-pulled out. "What are you guys doing here?"
The chef let go, gagging as he tried wiping Diego's vomit off the floor, only for Diego to vomit again. Tears filled the chef's eyes.
"Wait? Marcus?" Dilek finally croaked. "You know the old man?"
"Dilek?" Marcus blinked, then rushed forward, hugging him tight. "Oh boy, we've been looking for you!"
Dilek gasped, crushed in his arms. "Me too… buddy… Let… me go…"
Marcus released him as Diego stumbled over, pale as chalk. "Saint… I found you…" he slurred before collapsing into Dilek's arms. A streak of vomit smeared across Dilek's nightgown.
Dilek gagged but hugged him back. "You found me…"
From the doorway, footsteps pounded. Percy burst in, followed by Ami and Nandita, all three wide-eyed at the scene.
"ABSOLUTELY IDIOTIC!" Percy bellowed. "IF YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO RIDE A HORSE WHY WOULD YOU?! YOU RUINED THE PLAN! I SWEAR I WOKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT FOR THIS?! NO COOPERATION, NO NOTHING?! WELL GUESS WHAT?! THE RESCUE PLAN FUCKING FAILED!"
Everyone froze. The chef threw up, cleaning the floor
"Hey Percy…" Dilek smiled awkwardly.
Percy blinked. "Oh… they found you?"
Ami and Nandita rushed to Dilek's side.
"Ew, you stink," Ami said, frowning at Diego still slumped against him.
Nandita grabbed his hairs and screamed, "WHERE WERE YOU MISSING?! HELA IS GONNA KILL US! SHE WAS SOUNDING REALLY ANGRY!"
"Woah… guys, thanks… everyone… you all came to save me…" Dilek smiled weakly.
Percy clicked his tongue. Marcus chuckled. Diego sobbed pressing his head on Dilek's nightgown. Nandita still was angry as Ami held her back smiling.
Diana reached with guards as she looked at the mess. The entire kitchen messed up. A couple of guards rushed from behind into the room, panting and confused.
"What the hell is going on?!" Her voice cut through the chaos as her eyes found Anton. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? THE DUKE TOLD YOU TO NOT GET OUT OF YOUR ROOM!"
Anton froze, shoulders tensing. "I'm not going to the capital."
Her eyes widened. "What? Why?"
He curled his fists, voice firm but shaking. "You really plan on sending me there, so I'm forced to do evil? I won't."
She blinked, caught off guard. "What? Evil? Hold on—what the hell are you saying?"
Anton's glare hardened. "Dilek here told me everything... how he was forced to do all the evil deeds. How you made him torture others... forced him."
The room fell into uneasy silence. Percy, Marcus, Nandita, and Ami turned toward Dilek, who sat motionless, eyes blank.
"Saint," Diego said, looking up still hugging dilek. "You were torturing people?"
"What? That's not even the main question," Marcus muttered, glancing at Diego before turning back to Dilek. "What did you do?"
"It was for escaping," Dilek said flatly, with a empty expression.
Ami crossed her arms. "He's making that empty face so he doesn't have to face any consequences, right?"
"No, no," Nandita said, glaring at him. "It's more like he knows he's screwed, so he's just keeping it low, right?"
Dilek suddenly shouted, "ANTON RUN! THE GUARDS ARE STRONGER THAN YOU! THEY CAN EVEN FORCE YOU TO SUBMIT LIKE THEY DID TO MEEE!"
Diana turned sharply toward him. Anton's eyes widened. He grabbed his hammer and slammed it into the floor between himself and the door—dust and splinters exploded upward.
"CAPTURE THEM!" a guard shouted through the haze. "DON'T LET THEM LEAVE!"
Anton grabbed Percy and ran to dilek. "What's the plan?"
"Plan? What plan?" Dilek blinked, still dazed.
Marcus opened his mouth, "Sir, I'm afraid you've been foo—"
Nandita put her hand over his mouth. "I have a plan. We push through."
Anton nodded. The guards lunged forward, as Anton swung the hammer. The impact wasn't deadly, but it sent the guards flying back into walls.
Percy sprinted toward the horse struggling on its side. "Okay boy, get up, get up, get up!" The horse finally heaved itself upright, shaking its mane furiously. "Okay—Dilek, can you ride a horse?"
"Oh yea, totally!" Dilek said with way too much confidence. "I'm actually pretty good at it. Watch me, I'll ride the horse like a man who rides monsters into wars!"
The others watched as he climbed onto the horse...
—
"OKAY OKAY THAT'S A LOT FAST THAT'S REALLY REALLY FASTTTTT!" Dilek screamed as the horse bolted down the hallway, ignoring every attempt to slow it.
Diego squinted after him. "...Woah, Saint is riding it pretty well."
The horse barreled past several guards, kicking anyone in its way. Even Percy looked stunned. "It actually looks... more controlled than when I handle it."
A status screen appeared in front of dilek,
BP: 105 (+2)
Skill acquired: Monster Rider (Ride any sort of animal with good efficiency)
Dilek blinked at the text, gripping the reins tighter as the horse's pace somehow increased.
The next second, the animal turned sharply, nearly tossing him off.
"It's not EFFICIENTTT!" he screamed, clinging to the horse's neck as it bolted down the hallways.
Anton's voice came from behind them. "No time to waste. Let's leave."
"WAIT!" Diana shouted, staggering to her feet. Her legs trembled as she pointed at him. "Anton... you'll regret it if you leave... The Duke ordered you... YOU DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLACE TO STAY, RIGHT? DON'T YOU REMEMBER? YOU KILLED THOSE PEOPLE! YOU KNOW YOUR OWN REPUTATION IN THE GUILD, RIGHT?! NO ONE WANTS TO JOIN YOU! YOU WANNA GO BACK TO LIVING LIKE THAT?!"
Anton froze mid-step. Marcus, Nandita, Diego, and Ami turned toward him. Percy stayed quiet, eyes low—he already knew about Anton's reputation.
Anton's lips parted, but Marcus stepped in front of him. "So what? He killed people? I've seen him save people too. So even if he did, I'm sure that person deserved it. Sir Anton risked his life during the goblin invasion. He was wounded all over, but he still protected others."
Nandita hesitated, then spoke up. "That's right... He was kind enough to teach people like us how to get Mandrakes. Even though we wasted his time, he still taught us."
Diego nodded, still a bit wobbly. "AND DON'T THINK NO ONE WANTS TO BE IN HIS PARTY—WE DO!"
Ami leaned over, whispering, "Diego, I like your enthusiasm, but we already have a party and a leader. He'll have to join us, not us joining him."
Anton looked at each of them in silence. Then, faintly, a smile tugged at his lips. 'That's nice', he thought.
Marcus turned. "Let's go, Sir."
Anton nodded once and took off with the group.
Diana stood there, breathing hard, the hall now quiet except for distant hoofbeats and scattered groans. She spat on the ground, rubbing her forehead.
"For fuck's sake," she muttered. "Why doesn't anything go right?"
—
Castorik stood in the study, hands clenched at his sides, watching the servants bustle like ants through the ruined corridor, Chairs lay overturned. He looked tired.
"So they took Anton?" he asked,
"Yes sir...I apologise," Diana said, bowing slightly. "It was the boy Dilek...he seems to have a way with words..."
Castorik let out a slow, weary sigh. "Incompetence...It's incompetence...."
He rubbed his hand over his face and exhaled.
"But it's alright. I'm getting someone better today. Iris left a while ago—she said she will send Jonah. She seemed confused....No I think she was hesitant...Right." He forced a small, brittle smile.
"Don't worry, Diana, kill the incompetent soldiers, hang them in the training hall for the evening—no wait, cut that, Jonah is coming. I can't show a bad reputation."
He straightened. "Let's do it later. Go and get Anton and his little group killed by assassins. I'm really irritated...also get me some coffee to cool off."
Diana only nodded, head bowed, then turned and left on silent feet.
Castorik remained, alone with the ruins of the room. He kicked at a loose piece of carved stone until it skittered across the floor. "I'll have them killed," he muttered to himself. "How annoying." He glanced up at the window; the moon was sinking, Suddenly a cold sweat ran down his spine.
He turned, searching—something about his surroundings felt off. Across the hall, stood a woman. Soft brown hair caught the moonlight; a dress hung on her. She smiled, and for a breath, the world tilted.
"Laura..." he muttered. He stumbled forward, tears suddenly wet and real on his cheeks. He ran to her. This was impossible—his wife, his late wife, standing in the hallway as if she had never left.
SLAM—
The door behind her crashed shut with a violence that snapped him back.
"What?" He stopped short, heart beating loudly. Laura glared at him. "Hey....did you take my kids?" she asked, the smile gone.
"Kids? What? Laura...it's me..." he tried to say, voice breaking,
STAB—
Something invisible stabbed him. Castorik felt something like a blade through him. He cried out.
"ARGHHHHHH!" Castorik gritted his teeth, breath raking his chest. The image of Laura flickered—no longer soft and comforting, her face twisted with an unrecognizable hatred. His thoughts careened. 'WHAT'S GOING ON...NO THAT'S NOT LAURA...' Panic flared hot and stupid in his chest. He tried to beg. "FINE I WON'T DO ANYTHING PLEASE LEAVE ME," he shouted, flinging his hands up as if that would buy him mercy.
Something heavy struck the back of his head with a blunt, muffled thud. Voices began to fade—
A male voice, cut through the haze: "They have reached back...." Laura's voice answered softly, "Oh... He said he won't touch them...but...should I just in case?"
The first voice sighed. "Nope, not at all. Let's just leave, I'm hungry."
Darkness crept in his vision. He collapsed to his knees and felt the floor hard beneath him as everything went blank.