The mist didn't part so much as thin.

The only sources of light were iron braziers that burned on the side, their flames steady and unbothered by the cold.

Ryn felt it the moment they crossed the threshold.

It was nothing like the Outside.

The outside gate wasn't a gate at all. There were no towering walls or grand arches—nothing that Ryn had expected from the center of civilization.

At the base of the ramp sat a low platform of reinforced stone and wood, stacked with copious amounts of crates and cages.

Bloodmane guards lingered near the edges, moving the shipment slowly within the walls.

Ryn adjusted his posture as they stepped onto the stone, letting his shoulders slump just enough to sell the act.

He gestured subtly for Fritz to do the same, and nodded toward Mira.

With a sharp click, the chain cuffs were tightly wrapped around her hands.

Ryn shoved her forward, just enough for the mist to reveal her form to the guards before he announced himself as well.

Fritz hesitated but followed along right behind.

One of the guards finally looked their way.

"Caught something, did you?" he asked lazily, eyes drifting to Mira's bound wrists.

Ryn gave a short nod. "Moonlight thief. Ran the outskirts before we caught her red-handed."

The guard snorted. "Figures." He stepped closer, peering at her with mild interest.

"Feel bad for the little buggers. But they do make interesting…toys."

Mira kept her head lowered.

For a moment, it looked like that would be enough. Then heavy footsteps approached from behind.

Another Bloodmane emerged from the mist. He was a whole head taller than Ryn, adorned in full, shiny new armor.

His gaze snapped to Mira.

"…That her?"

Ryn's pulse kicked once. Then he nodded.

This one had to be a Guard Captain. Which means…

The larger Bloodmane stepped closer, circling Mira slowly. He inspected everything: her cuffs, the tension in her shoulders, the way she refused to look up.

"This isn't how it was reported," he said.

The first guard frowned. "What d'you mean?"

"One of the patrol team came back only as one," the captain replied. "Said some humans wrecked everything and they'd lost her."

Fritz went rigid.

Ryn sighed.

Then he reached for something propped at his belt and pulled it free.

A bottle of wine.

"Dunno what to tell ya," Ryn said, voice flat. "Found her running around with this dainty thing."

He gave the bottle a light shake, liquid sloshing inside.

"Outside's a mess," he added. "Some monster could've attacked them. Prolly just lost his teammate, booked at first sight, and blamed nonexistent humans."

The first guard's eyes flicked to the bottle, trying—and terribly failing, to hide his intent.

"That from their storages?"

"Could be," Ryn replied.

He tossed it casually.

The guard caught it on reflex, thumb brushing the cracked seal. He pried it just enough to smell, ears twitching as the scent hit.

The captain scowled. "You're bribin' my gate?"

Ryn shrugged. "I'm finishin' your problem."

He nodded toward Mira.

"You want to write a report about humans you'll never find, or move intake along?"

The captain stared at him for a long second.

Then he clicked his tongue and waved a hand.

"Take er' in," he said. "But don't make this a habit."

As they were waved forward and the mist closed behind them, Ryn finally released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

They were inside Central.

And Fritz hadn't said a word.

The deeper they went into the city, the more Central had revealed itself.

A city built into stone.

It felt as if they were in a completely different area.

Massive cliffs rose straight from the water, their faces carved inward to fit houses, establishments, and whatever was needed.

Buildings clung to rocks almost like barnacles, stacked on top of each other in different height levels.

Bridges spanned the gaps between cliffs, some of their silhouette disappearing as mist moved to consume them.

Ryn slowed half a step.

How's this even possible?

The difference between Outside and Central was night and day.

Where Outside was a cold and barren wasteland, Central felt almost like a humid coastal city.

It wasn't comfortable.

But it was thriving.

And that, Ryn realized, was the most unsettling part.

They didn't take Mira far.

The intake path peeled away from the main street into a lower tier carved directly into the cliff.

Lanternlight dimmed here, replaced by torches and the damp echo of water dripping from somewhere out of sight.

"This one," a guard said, jerking his chin toward Mira. "Moonlight."

No ceremony.

Her cuffs were unfastened only to be replaced with heavier restraints connected to a heavy metal ball to prevent escape.

Mira didn't resist.

Ryn kept his eyes forward. He stood close enough to the guard to smell the cheap oil on his armor, close enough to see the set of iron keys dangling from his hips.

The guard leaned down to shove Mira forward through the gate.

That was all the opening Ryn needed.

With the smallest tug, masked by the jostle of bodies, he slid a key free.

Mira was led deeper inside, swallowed by rows of iron bars and shadowed cells. Someone screamed and was silenced just as quickly.

Ryn moved with the guards as if this was routine.

When they reached the junction, Ryn slowed just enough for Mira to stumble.

"Move," he snapped, shoving her.

However, his other hand closed briefly around her wrist, pressing the key into her palm.

"I'll give you a signal, but if things get bad…"

Her eyes flicked up in understanding before dulling again.

Ryn released her immediately and turned away.

Mira let herself be pulled forward again, fingers curling tight around the key as she disappeared into the holding block.

Ryn didn't look back.

He didn't need to.

If she needed to escape—

She could.

And that was enough for now.

Fritz was stationed at the entrance, as discussed.

As Ryn passed, Fritz caught his arm and pulled him a half-step to the side, just out of the main flow.

"How are you doing all this?" Fritz asked.

He wasn't angry or loud, but his eyes conveyed everything…unsettled.

Ryn glanced down at the hand on his arm.

Then back up.

"Let go," he said quietly.

Fritz did.

Ryn adjusted his sleeve, eyes already drifting back to the corridor ahead. "You don't improvise inside places like this."

Fritz frowned. "Then what are you doing?"

"Executing," Ryn replied. "Improvisation happened before we crossed the mist."

That earned a pause.

"You didn't look surprised," Fritz said. "Not once."

Ryn exhaled slowly.

"As Captain," he said, the words measured, almost restrained, "I don't get to be."

Fritz stilled.

Ryn didn't look at him as he continued.

"If I hesitate," he said quietly, "you hesitate."

"And if you hesitate—"

"Someone else pays," Fritz finished.

Ryn nodded once.

"…Right," Fritz said after a moment.

Ryn stepped past him and into the barracks. Only then did Fritz realize something else.

Ryn hadn't said it to command or show authority over him.

He'd said it to ground himself.

Fritz exhaled through his nose.

If Ryn were enjoying this, if it had felt natural or easy…he wouldn't have needed to say anything at all.

Fritz clenched his jaw and stepped forward, following him into the heat of the barracks.

Not convinced.

But no longer assuming the worst.

Not yet.

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