Mixarnt cheerfully swings the door open, his face beaming with satisfaction. Carlos and the villagers stare in shock.

“Hey, Carlos! They finally talked! Go ahead and ask them,” Mixarnt announces, his tone light and carefree, as if he hadn’t just broken the wills of two hardened criminals.

Curiosity gets the better of them, and they rush inside. The sight before them leaves them speechless. Kurimaw and Kalisto lie on the floor, completely drained—naked, drenched in sweat, and gasping for breath. Their faces are pale, their bodies trembling, still reeling from a bizarre mix of exhaustion and overwhelming sensations.

Carlos hesitates before stepping forward, his gaze flicking between Mixarnt’s cheerful expression and the utterly broken state of the two criminals. “See, Carlos? Told you I’d get them talking,” Mixarnt says proudly, his voice carrying an unsettling mix of innocence and satisfaction. “And look! They’re even eager to share more now that the fun is over.” The villagers exchange bewildered glances, struggling to comprehend what they’ve just walked into.

"P-please... no more tickling… and no more hot sauce," Kalisto and Kurimaw whimper, their pleading eyes fixed on Carlos.

Carlos stares at them, utterly dumbfounded. He had prepared himself for a gruesome scene—perhaps broken bones or bloodied faces—but instead, he finds two grown men completely defeated by nothing more than feathers and condiments. A disbelieving chuckle escapes him as he shakes his head. "Mixarnt… I thought you’d resort to something brutal, but this? This is something else," he says, glancing at the grinning boy.

Mixarnt shrugs nonchalantly. "Hey, I got them to talk, didn’t I?"

Carlos sighs, still struggling to wrap his head around it. He turns to the villagers. "Alright, let’s get what we need from them and make sure they’re properly secured. And maybe… get them some clothes."

The villagers, equally stunned, nod hesitantly, still trying to process what they just witnessed.

After a long and exhausting day, Mixarnt and Carlos decide to get some rest. Carlos, waking up much earlier, begins helping the villagers with their tasks, allowing Mixarnt to sleep in. He believes an 11-year-old shouldn’t be burdened with manual labor, especially after the role Mixarnt played in extracting information from Kurimaw and Kalisto. In Carlos’ eyes, the boy has more than earned his rest.

Meanwhile, Mixarnt remains fast asleep, undisturbed. A soft smile lingers on his lips as he dreams—perhaps of his next adventure, or of the difference he has already made. For now, he rests peacefully, knowing his efforts have helped bring a sense of hope back to the village.

Later that noon, as Carlos ate his meal, he glanced at Mixarnt. "Hey, Mixarnt, tell me what Kalisto and Kurimaw said. I want to compare our information. So far, the elder and the others have managed to extract details from their captives too."

Mixarnt, chewing on a piece of meat, nodded. "Well... they said Kaelzar is attacking villages and towns to destabilize the region. And that his base is in the Darkwoods."

Carlos stroked his chin, deep in thought. The weight of Kaelzar's ambitions pressed heavily on his mind. "So, his goal is to spread chaos and fear, making it easier to seize control," he muttered. "We need to warn the kingdoms, so they can rally the military, and gather as much intelligence as possible on Kaelzar’s operations in the Darkwoods."

He turned to Mixarnt, a glimmer of strategy forming in his mind. "Your skills—and let’s be honest, your... unconventional methods—could be perfect for scouting ahead. You're small, quick, and hard to detect. You could infiltrate enemy strongholds without drawing attention."

Carlos extended a hand toward him, his expression serious yet encouraging. "Are you up for the challenge, Mixarnt? Together, we’ll uncover the truth about Kaelzar and put an end to his reign of terror."

Mixarnt waved a hand dismissively. "You don’t need to convince me—I already postponed my gathering quest to help out. Oh, right! Maybe we should head back to Caspade Town and report to the Adventurers’ Guild first."

Before Carlos could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps filled the air. A group of adventurers arrived outside the inn, their expressions a mix of concern and determination.

Mixarnt and Carlos stepped out of the house just as the newcomers came into view. Among them was Arthur, his weathered face set in a stern expression, while Elyssia, usually cold and composed, seemed to carry a sense of urgency. 

Arthur's sharp gaze landed on Mixarnt first, a smirk playing on his lips. "Looks like our young hero has been busy," he mused, his tone balancing between admiration and skepticism. "Care to share the details of your... 'interrogation' methods, Mixarnt? We've already spoken with the Elder since arriving in the village."

Meanwhile, Elyssia turned her piercing gaze to Carlos, her expression hard and unreadable. "We've received reports of Kaelzar’s movements in the Darkwoods," she stated firmly. "Tell us—have you uncovered any solid evidence about his plans?" Despite the Elder's testimony that Carlos had helped protect the village alongside Mixarnt, Elyssia remained wary. As far as she was concerned, Carlos was still an escapee from the continental prison—and more importantly, Kaelzar’s former best friend. The possibility that he could still be loyal to him kept her guard up.

"Whoa, hold your horses, Princess—" Carlos started, but before he could finish, Elyssia’s hand struck his face with a sharp slap.

The sudden impact left Carlos stunned for a brief moment. Before he could react, Elyssia grabbed Mixarnt and pulled him behind her protectively. Mixarnt blinked in confusion, unsure of what was happening.

Elyssia’s eyes burned with anger. "You were Kaelzar’s friend," she accused, her voice laced with disdain. "You didn’t even try to stop him. And now you’re running around with a child while being branded a criminal?"

Carlos opened his mouth to speak, but Arthur quickly stepped in. "Easy now, Elyssia," he said in a measured tone. "The villagers confirmed that Carlos fought to protect them." His words were diplomatic, meant to diffuse the tension, but Elyssia’s grip on Mixarnt remained firm, her suspicion far from eased. Her furious glare never wavers from Carlos’ face, her hand still tingling from the force of the slap. "Aiding villagers or not, that doesn’t change the fact that Carlos here is nothing more than a criminal—a former friend and ally of the despicable Kaelzar!" she seethes, her regal composure barely masking the anger in her voice.

She steps closer, her piercing gaze locking onto Carlos with unwavering intensity. Mixarnt, momentarily forgotten, watches the exchange in quiet confusion. "Do you truly expect me to believe your story?" Elyssia continues, her voice dripping with disdain. "That all is forgiven simply because you assisted in capturing a pair of common bandits? Do you really think that erases the past?"

Arthur clears his throat, attempting to diffuse the situation. "Elyssia, now’s not the time for accusations and personal vendettas. We’re here to discuss the threat of Kaelzar and his impending invasion. We need cooperation and clear heads if we’re going to stand a chance."

Carlos exhales sharply, averting his gaze. Though the kingdom of Naeva had branded him a criminal for disobeying orders, he had accepted his fate. His heart had shattered the moment Mikaela died, and while Kaelzar—his best friend and Mikaela’s brother—chose to seek vengeance by vowing to destroy Naeva, Carlos had done nothing to stop him. He couldn't blame Elyssia for her anger—after all, she had every reason to despise him.

But now…

"That’s why I’m here," Carlos finally says, his voice steady with newfound determination. He meets Elyssia’s gaze, no longer avoiding the weight of his past. "I want to set things right."

Elyssia’s grip on Mixarnt tightens, her knuckles turning white as she studies Carlos’ unwavering expression. The weight of her kingdom’s betrayal, the loss of her dear friend Mikaela, and the looming threat of Kaelzar’s invasion all churn within her, threatening to drown out her rationality.

Slowly, she exhales and releases Mixarnt, taking a step back as she regards Carlos with a calculating gaze. "Set things right, you say? That’s a tall order, considering the damage that’s already been done. But perhaps… perhaps there’s still a chance for redemption—if you’re truly willing to prove your loyalty and commitment to stopping Kaelzar."

Her voice softens, a rare hint of vulnerability slipping through the hardened facade of her royal demeanor. "Tell me, Carlos—why should I trust you now, after you abandoned your post and stood beside a criminal like Kaelzar?"

Carlos meets her gaze without hesitation, his voice firm and resolute. "I’m not asking for you or anyone else to trust or support me. I’ve long since stopped aligning myself with any kingdom—especially Naeva, after it betrayed both Kaelzar and me. After it allowed Mikaela to sacrifice herself." His fists clench at the painful memory, but he presses on. "All I want now is to reach Kaelzar—to stop him before it’s too late."

A moment of silence hangs between them, heavy with unspoken emotions. Then, slowly, Mixarnt reaches out, his small hand gently grasping Elyssia’s.

"Hey, beautiful lady with a nice rack, don't worry," Mixarnt said, using the nickname he always called Elyssia. But this time, instead of teasing her with his usual smirk, he reached up and gently patted her head despite being smaller than her. At 4'9", he had to stretch a bit to reach Elyssia, who stood at 5'5".

The gesture was innocent—soft and reassuring, meant to ease her tension rather than provoke her.

Elyssia's eyes widened in surprise, her hand instinctively moving to the spot where he had patted her. For a moment, the cold, disciplined exterior she always maintained cracked, revealing a flicker of warmth. There was something undeniably disarming about Mixarnt’s straightforwardness—his complete disregard for formalities or the weight of the moment.

A small, reluctant smile tugged at the corner of her lips. "You're quite the charmer, aren't you?" she said, her voice softer than before. "Maybe having you around won’t be so bad after all."

Turning to Carlos, her expression hardened once more, though the fire in her eyes had dimmed slightly. "Very well. If you’re truly committed to stopping Kaelzar, we can work together on stopping him. But understand this, Carlos—if you betray our trust again, there will be consequences. No exceptions."