63/ Beastly night 2

The men were now observing the man and the child about to receive punishment. Consequently, they all turned their heads towards the impending spectacle, inadvertently exposing their backs. Relishing the unsettling scene about to unfold, the attention of the men was completely diverted. Logan and his group did not let this golden opportunity slip by. They ran quickly and stealthily in a heavy and deathly silence.

One by one, without any of the men realizing, they were all neutralized. Except for the one holding the whip, who had not yet grasped the situation. He swung his arm to strike with the whip, but strangely, his arm did not move an inch. Turning his gaze, he saw a man in a black robe with a bird-shaped mask in white. Before the man could utter a single word, he was propelled against one of the mine walls.

It was, of course, Logan who had sent him flying. He then saw him approaching slowly with the whip he held before. The mere sight of this scene sent a destabilizing shiver, sending cold shudders running down his body. Drops of cold sweat began to ooze wherever possible.

"Let's see if you like whip lashes!" Said Logan, snapping the whip in his hands.

The man, desperate, tried to struggle to free himself from the wall, but he quickly realized that a layer of ice had formed around his limbs, keeping him immobile. Aria, of course, was behind this maneuver, freezing the man in place. She gave him a dark look, conveying burning anger and deep contempt towards this individual.

"Please..." The man whimpered.

"Oh no, no, no... You don't get to ask for such a thing." Declared Logan coldly.

Logan brought down the whip on the man without a hint of remorse, tearing his clothes and leaving marks on his body. As he moaned in pain, unfortunately for him, it was just the beginning of his ordeal. Logan relentlessly brought down the whip again and again, tearing apart all the man's clothing. As the whip marks gradually turned into cuts, wounds, and eventually bloody scars, the whip had gruesomely ripped the skin, leaving open and deep wounds.

The cries of pain from the man gradually blended with shouts of rage and joy from the slaves who were witnessing the scene. These screams expressed a mix of complex emotions, showing satisfaction in seeing their tormentor suffer the violence he had inflicted on them.

These slaves, who had endured unbearable suffering, found a glimmer of hope in this symbolic revenge. The screams of rage and joy resonating in the mine reflected their ardent desire to see the oppressors pay for their actions. It was a moment of liberation, where roles reversed, if only briefly, allowing the slaves to reclaim their violated dignity and finally feel heard.

Logan abruptly stopped whipping the man, his gaze turning towards the entrance they came through. Marie understood immediately what it meant: they had been spotted, and reinforcements from the camp would soon be arriving. As Aria hugged members of her tribe, most of the little boys she had grown up with, now grown just like her, she realized that some were missing.

"Where are the others?" She asked.

They looked at her with dark and downcast faces, leaving no doubt that they were no longer among the living. And the same was likely true for those who had been victims of experiments, some perhaps reduced to the state of vegetables.

"I see." Aria said, biting her lip.

She wore a tense expression before giving a brief smile, a smile filled with immense sadness.

"The most important thing is that we'll get you out of here." She reassured.

Marie hurried to join Aria, aware of the urgency of the situation. In a swift gesture, Marie conjured a portal in front of their feet, opening a way to escape.

"Come on, everyone, go!" She urged the members of her tribe.

Without hesitation, they jumped in one by one. When all the members of her tribe had finished leaving, other slaves approached to go through as well, but Marie immediately stood in their way.

"What?" One of the slaves said in surprise.

"We only came to rescue those from the previous tribe." Marie explained.

"What? But why!" Another slave asked.

"Take us with you, please!" Cried another.

"Please, take us!" Pleaded another, clasping their hands together.

Unfortunately for them, Aria averted her gaze, indicating that she wouldn't take them with her. Hope had appeared before them, but this brief light was extinguished as quickly as it had ignited.

As a completely natural reaction, in a desperate attempt, they tried to force their way through the blue door, a symbol of freedom. Suddenly, a barrier of ice formed, preventing them from advancing without causing them harm.

The only way to their freedom had now been definitively closed, and they understood there was nothing they could do, let alone force their way through. Aria's and Marie's hearts tightened, filled with intense pain and deep guilt. It was heartbreaking to have to abandon the other slaves to their fate, to let them taste hope only to brutally snatch it away. But Stanislas' orders were unequivocal: they had to save only Aria's tribe.

The slaves then sank into despair at this cruel abandonment. Their gazes reflected resignation and sadness, as if plunged into an endless abyss. Some burst into tears, hugging each other, mentally preparing for the terrible servitude that awaited them until their last breath. It was a heart-wrenching scene, expressing the pain and distress of these oppressed beings, now deprived of any glimmer of hope.

At that precise moment when all hope seemed to have left them, Logan, with a determined step, approached them. Like a king walking towards his subjects, his footsteps echoing on the ground as he approached the ice barrier, a tangible symbol of their despair. His hand rested on the ice barrier, and under his touch, it shattered into a thousand pieces. The spectacle of this rupture was breathtaking, the ice cracking clearly and majestically, creating a myriad of white sparks that shimmered all around him like an ephemeral constellation. The fleeting beauty of this event enchanted the onlookers who, astonished, witnessed this extraordinary scene.

Then Logan addressed the crowd with a strong voice, filled with a majestic but compassionate tone.

"Go ahead." (Logan)

The beast-men looked at him with a mix of admiration and hope, seeing in him the embodiment of a long-awaited savior. Those simple words resonated like a call for emancipation, offering them the longed-for escape from their oppressive existence as slaves. Their eyes, once filled with tears of sadness, now transformed into tears of joy and a renewed sense of hope.

This mysterious man, with a charismatic aura, stood before them as a providential figure. The chains of servitude seemed to dissolve under his influence, as if broken by the will of a savior. Their hearts swelled with indescribable emotions, blending the relief of escaping their unhappy fate with gratitude towards this exceptional man. The hope that life might finally smile upon them, that the chains binding them as prisoners would dissipate, granting them the long-desired freedom.

In this solemn moment, where the beast-men were filled with immense gratitude and respect towards him, they all bowed in unison before this man. Humbling themselves, they lowered their heads to the ground as a sign of deep devotion. Their gestures conveyed sincere appreciation emanating from the depths of their frail bodies and wounded hearts.

Once their respects were paid, the beast-men headed toward the blue portal, ready to seize their freedom. Marie and Aria stepped aside to let them pass.

"Logan, the guild master only mentioned Aria's tribe." (Marie)

"That's true, but with our perfect scapegoat, we can save them all." (Logan)

"That's true, but it means more mouths to feed, more space needed, harder to hide, and more expenses. We can't afford everything at the cost of certain risks." Marie reminded him.

"The guild has resources, and if needed, I'll take on any mission they ask me to do to make up for the loss." Logan replied.

"In that case, I'll do the same!" Added Aria.

"Yes, but... Fine, let's go." Marie responded with a sigh, though a small smile remained on her face.

In agreement, they decided to finally step through the portal. Once on the other side, they found themselves in a place that resembled a vast warehouse. However, contrary to their expectations, there were no goods lined up on the shelves. The place was deserted, and the marks of time adorned the walls, testifying to a forgotten history.

Dim light filtered through cracks in the walls, creating mysterious patterns on the dusty floor. Weathered wooden beams supported the roof, adding to the ambiance of both decay and fascination in the abandoned place.

The echoes of their footsteps resonated in the large empty space, creating a muffled symphony that seemed to be the only living presence in the forsaken place. At the far end of the building, a soft and mysterious glow emanated from a dusty window partially obscured by spider webs. Through the dirty glass, an astonishing sight unfolded: a lush forest stretched endlessly, bathed in the gentle rays of the setting sun. Majestic trees appeared to sway gently to the rhythm of an invisible breeze, creating a soothing natural symphony.

After briefly surveying the area, Marie spoke:

"You'll stay here for a while. Food and water have been provided for you." She pointed to several large crates in one corner.

Curiously, many of the eyes turned toward Logan, as if indicating that they would listen to him. After all, Marie would have left them in the mines if he hadn't intervened. She sighed before giving him a brief look, asking him to take charge.

Logan then spoke:

"Don't blame her; she was just following orders. We will explain the situation later. For now, as she said, you will stay here, with the provisions we have given you. Meanwhile, we'll go and rescue more people." (Logan)

The men all nodded, raising their eyebrows slightly with a hint of admiration when he mentioned that he would save more people. They didn't know who this man was or his motivations, as his face was hidden behind a mask. However, one thing they were sure of was that this man was their savior, and at that moment, they owed him their freedom and, consequently, their lives. So, for now, they would listen without asking any questions.

With that settled, Marie opened another portal, this time to the alchemists' guild. Passing through the portal, the three of them landed on the rooftop of a building overlooking the guild. The building was a proud and tall tower, standing out among the surrounding structures, immediately drawing the attention of anyone nearby. It rose majestically, much like the Tower of Pisa, with its sparkling white marble structure under the nocturnal rays. Every architectural detail was carefully thought out, and exquisite stone sculptures adorned its facades, adding a touch of exquisite artistry to its sleek design.

"Where did you place the portal?" Logan asked, looking at the building.

"In the restroom in the building's lobby." (Marie)

"Why there?" (Logan)

"It was the only option. The alchemists' guild is very strict about its entries and exits; only its members and important individuals can enter. Even when pretending to have a message from the adventurers' guild master, I couldn't go farther than the lobby. So, unfortunately, I could only place the portal there." (Marie)

"So we have no idea where they are?" Aria added, her eyes bright.

Seeing a part of her family again reignited a burning flame within her, an unwavering determination to do everything possible to save them.

"I'll take care of it." Logan declared, looking at the tower.

He closed his eyes to enter a state of intense concentration, extending his senses to their maximum to fully open his radar. His senses extended beyond himself, penetrating the walls of the alchemists' tower, exploring every nook with incredible precision. Sensing everything happening in the tower as if he were there or possessing omniscience. As he had done in the mine before, he detected every movement, every change in temperature.

After 15 minutes, he finally opened his eyes and spoke:

"I've found them; they are in the basement of the tower, about 30 meters deep. It seems that guards are watching the place, which must be the cells. However, in addition to the guards, I detect numerous movements and back-and-forths in that basement." (Logan)

"According to my information, the experiments are mainly conducted at night." Marie stated.

"We don't have any stealth capabilities, and given the constant coming and going, it seems impossible to pass without being noticed." Logan remarked.

Logan had a realistic view of the situation. The confined space of the Alchemists Guild's building was a far cry from the freedom of movement they had in the cave where they had fought before. Moreover, there was a constant flow of people, making it difficult to effectively and stealthily neutralize the opponents.

It was evident that their previous approach would not be effective, considering the number of people present and the constant activity.

"So what do we do then?" Asked Aria.

"We have two options: the first is to abandon this mission." Logan replied.

"That's out of the question! Why don't we create a diversion outside, splitting into two teams one to create the diversion and the other to rescue the captives!" Aria immediately responded.

Logan looked at Aria, sensing her frustration and desire to save her family. But he also looked at Marie before continuing:

"Your option is not viable; it would immediately attract too much attention, and we'd have to wait for your diversion. Besides, dividing our already small group is completely foolish." Logan explained.

Aria lowered her head, realizing she hadn't thought through all the variables, reacting impulsively. Logan had pointed out the main reasons why her plan was flawed. Then, Logan continued briefly:

"The second option is to charge straight in, heading directly to the cells to free the captives and then make our escape." Logan suggested.

"Let's do that!" Aria said, gaining confidence and readiness to face the challenge.

"The decision is not ours to make, Aria." Logan replied, turning his head once again to Marie.

Marie immersed herself in a brief reflection, meeting Aria's hopeful and fearful gaze at the same time.

"I beg you, it's my family..." Aria pleaded timidly.

Marie sighed before responding:

"We'll do it! But we won't harm anyone, and we must act extremely quickly." Marie agreed.

Marie and Logan had a comprehensive view of the situation they were facing. The situation was as follows: the alchemists were mostly researchers, not skilled in combat. However, they needed to act with extreme speed and precision because once the alarm was raised, various dangerous forces could intervene, such as the royal knights from the castle, adventurers, or worse, the church.

It didn't end there; if they chose to attack head-on now, they would then have to rush to the Beastial Palace to complete their mission. However, the alarm would inevitably have been raised, and if, unfortunately, they hadn't moved fast enough, the worst could happen when they came into contact with the church and other armed forces. The city could quickly be overrun by soldiers, and who knows what might happen.

Aware of the importance of acting with caution and intelligence, they took the time to carefully consider each action and decision to come. They understood that a single mistake could lead to disastrous consequences, jeopardizing their mission and safety. Careful planning was essential, so Logan, in this situation, took on the role of leader, with his instincts being their best weapon.

With everything discussed, it was now time to take action. The Beastial Night that had begun a few hours ago was now truly about to begin. Whatever would happen next would have significant repercussions on both sides.

The blue portal opened before them, and they committed to leap into the battle on a starry night, adorned by its two red and blue moons.

"Let's go!" Declared Logan, jumping first, followed by Aria and finally Marie.