18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9lWnBcvkZ(Moments later)
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The prison wagon follows through the entrance trail—iron bars rattling, wheels grinding. Inside, Paul sits shirtless, chest wrapped in fresh bandages, head bowed. Blake clings to the bars, trembling, eyes darting at every armored guard.
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The soldiers yank the wagon doors open and shoulder both men out. Paul stumbles, Blake nearly collapses. They’re herded through the towering archway into the Great Halls Prison, swallowed by torchlight and echoing stone.
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Inside the courtroom corridor, priests rush toward Zacharias, breathless.
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Priest:
“Master Zacharias—Cornelius fell asleep on duty! The prisoner… Metro… he’s gone!”
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrdWk2G9Jd
Another priest wrings his hands.
“Cornelius fled. Benjamin allowed it. The cell was empty when we arrived.”
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For a moment, Zacharias looks like the top of his head might blow off—eyes bulging, nostrils flaring, lips twitching with barely contained fury.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyL0suINR0
Then… he exhales.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJR4bm2dUmu
Smooths his robes.
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Straightens his posture.
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A slow, confident smile curls at the corner of his mouth.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjDKXr3j75
Zacharias:
“…Good. Let them scramble. I will win in the end.”
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBCA6inVk9
He pushes past the priests, ignoring their frantic whispers. His boots strike the marble floor with sharpechoing authority.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZIuP0X3v0
He storms down the corridor.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUPGpI3s3H
Blue‑flamed torches flicker along the walls. Purple banners hang from vaulted ceilings, swaying in the draft of his passing. Servants flatten themselves against the walls to avoid him.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNajVjEcufs
He reaches Benjamin’s office—a tall wooden door carved with ancient scripture.
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Zacharias doesn’t knock.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRe9nTJmu8N
He plows through it, slamming it behind him so hard the shelves tremble.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3rVsUWWlV
Benjamin looks up from his writing desk.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEW6WafIqlp
The chamber around him is a scholar’s sanctuary: towering bookshelves, polished navy‑stained wood, tall windows letting in thin beams of daylight.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU54sZqw3Dz
Benjamin’s quill pauses mid‑stroke.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdLvNRBGkw
He studies Zacharias with calm, unreadable eyes.
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Benjamin:
“…I assume this is about Metro.”
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Zacharias thrusts a finger toward Benjamin — a gesture far beneath his usual composure.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF3c7KcGD7
Zacharias:
Who is responsible for this breach of this divine order!
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Benjamin’s eyes flick to the pointing finger. He shakes his head slowly, reading the desperation behind the gesture more than the anger.
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Zacharias stomps his sandal against the polished floor, the sound echoing through the chamber.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaLwUiPt4O
Zacharias:
Why didn’t you contain the guard who freed the prisoner!?
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOt0ZqjUxf
Benjamin sets his quill down, voice steady.
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Benjamin:
The man is one of the best fighters in the city. Do you think I wanted my priests to die?
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8UCB3UiUL
Zacharias freezes. His jaw works, nostrils flaring. He looks inward, searching for the next thread of outrage to pull.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJK5ieryNT
Zacharias:
This is deeper than the eye can see. Because of the King’s Hand’s insubordination, five murders have been delayed on report. This causes political danger. Metro is connected to all of this somehow — and it seems like I’m the only one doing anything about it. Someone must be punished to maintain order.
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Benjamin exhales through his nose, unimpressed.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGbytSuRv1
Benjamin:
This case is in your jurisdiction. Yet you brought him to the Great City… and now he’s gone. I’ve got a million things to handle today, yet this is a major conflict. If Hasan finds out prisoners are escaping, all of us will be questioned.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XIa3S5rC6
Benjamin pulls a fresh parchment toward him and begins writing names with a feathered quill. The scratching fills the room.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GmsaZzuyK
Zacharias stands closely, watching him, hands clasped behind his back, nostrils flared, staring down at the parchment like it’s a verdict.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAbJYPUFKv
Zacharias:
“Five murders recently — by the hands of his friends. Numerous good soldiers slain because his brother leading a bandit gang. They’ve stolen our last lifeline in the Providence. Rats doing their work. And if people think his escape is a sign… or a miracle…”
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiChAc5wrze
Benjamin pauses mid‑stroke, puzzled. He looks up at Zacharias as if seeing him unravel for the first time.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0UMxIQjCa
Without a word, Benjamin rolls the parchment, seals it, and ties it to the leg of a waiting falcon. The bird flutters out the tall window into the cold air.
18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMmb5MyII2
Benjamin turnshis head up to look at Zacharias.
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Benjamin:
“You’ve lost control of your clergy.”
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The words hit Zacharias like a blow. His eyes flicker — fear, shame, and the desperate need for reassurance.
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Benjamin stands, adjusting his robes.
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Benjamin:
“Ride with me to the North City. We need to speak to The High Council. I’ve sent an emergency request meeting and a warrent. We’ll get the answers we need in due time. We must get to the bottom of this quickly. Come with.”
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Zacharias nods — stiff, performative, trying to reclaim dignity he no longer feels.
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18Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyWhoIPlB5
and then Add to home screen.