A Warm Welcome

As Arran made his way back to the mines' upper levels, he took care not to kill any of the few diggers that still remained alive within the mines.

Instead, he avoided them as best he could, while also making sure to leave several dozens of small digger corpses scattered throughout the dark tunnels — enough to make it seem like he'd done his best in clearing the mines, but not so many that others would grow suspicious of his strength.

When he neared the upper levels, he retrieved the bag the mercenaries had prepared for him from his void ring, then relieved it of most of its contents before slinging it over his shoulder.

He did not switch out his sword, however. The Living Shadow weapon resembled his starmetal sword so perfectly that none but Arran would see the difference, and his control of its transformations was still too unsteady for him to rely on in battle.