The inn was lively, the air thick with the scent of roasted meat and the tang of ale. At a corner table, Ayao lifted her cup high, her voice cutting through the ambient noise.

  "Alright, everyone! Let’s celebrate!"

  A chorus of cheers followed as Nailah, Ayao, Bremuda, Dorothy, and Sakichi clinked their cups together. Laughter and chatter filled the space as they drank, but Nailah, unaccustomed to the burning sensation of alcohol, coughed violently after her first sip. The others burst into laughter at her expense, but she could only grin, wiping her mouth.

  As the night progressed, Bremuda leaned forward, his expression turning serious. "So, why did you want to learn the arcane arts? You do realize its use is illegal?"

  Nailah set her cup down, her gaze unwavering. "Because I need to be strong enough to clear my name and become the Elysian."

  A heavy silence fell over the table. Dorothy’s eyes widened in disbelief. "Elysian?! That seems borderline impossible. The only way to attain that kind of wealth in the Lowlands is through deviancy, but once you're registered as a deviant, climbing even a single rung on the aristocratic ladder is legally impossible!"

  "I know," Nailah said, her tone firm. "But as long as they don’t catch me, I’m not a deviant. I’ll use Lucius to clear my name, return to the aristocracy, and watch them all burn from the inside out."

  Ayao regarded her with an unreadable expression. "You think you can defeat Lucius? He’s a dark lord. He's as strong as I am."

  "Even so," Nailah said, meeting her gaze head-on, "I will."

  A sudden shift in the air sent a chill down Nailah’s spine. Ayao let her Vistra surge outward, an unseen force pressing against everyone at the table. The oppressive energy was suffocating. Nailah’s hands trembled as an involuntary thought surfaced.

  Is she using her Arcane Ability? No… this is just the sheer pressure of her Vistra. Her power is unbelievable. The gap between us is immense.

  Images of Jason, Edward, and Keisha flashed through her mind. The people who had believed in her, sacrificed for her. Her fear wavered, replaced by something darker, something stronger.

  "You have taught me a lot, and I’ll always be grateful for that… but…" Nailah’s voice was steady, her expression cold. "I’ll destroy anyone who gets in my way. Including you, Ayao."

  For a moment, Ayao studied her, then, as quickly as it had come, she withdrew her Vistra. A smirk tugged at her lips. "You’ve got spunk. That’s good. You’ll need it."

  Bremuda exhaled dramatically, leaning back in her chair, relieved. "Boss, I really thought you were going to kill her."

  "So did I!" Dorothy chimed in, shaking her head.

  Nailah let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. "That was scary."

  Ayao chuckled. "Sorry. Just wanted to test you."

  Dorothy scoffed. "Still, that is so like you."

  A thought nagged at Nailah. She hesitated before speaking. "I’ve been wondering… since I’ll become a deviant, I’d like to know what was the Robbing Hood really like?"

  Ayao’s eyes narrowed. "What do you know of him?"

  "Only that he and his Mad Men were the most feared deviants in the Ether Empire. They nearly threw the Empire into chaos."

  Bremuda leaned back. "That’s how they’re perceived up there. But in the Lowlands? They chose freedom over servitude, carved out their own fate. In the end, The Robbing Hood and the Mad Men claimed the Black Market as their kingdom."

  Nailah nodded, processing the information. "He sounds honorable. I hope I’m not out of line asking this, but… is it true you betrayed him? Even though you were allies?"

  Dorothy slammed her cup down. "Hey! You’re way out of line, kid!"

  Ayao raised a hand, silencing her. "It’s fine. I don’t mind."

  Her voice turned cold, devoid of emotion. "Yes, it’s true. All the current Dark Lords, including myself, were once his allies. But we all betrayed him. When the Empire’s Knights came, we left him and his people to deal with it. Their fate was theirs to meet."

  Nailah clenched her fists. "But why?! That isn’t right!"

  Ayao smirked. "Right and wrong? That’s not our game. We’re businessmen, not heroes. His idealism was bad for business. His stubbornness made an enemy out of the entire Empire. In the end, he watched every last one of his allies fall before the Emerald Knight struck him down."

  Nailah exhaled sharply. "And since then, the sentences against deviants have become the harshest, haven’t they?"

  Dorothy nodded. "Because of one of the heroes from that legendary battle. Back then, he was just a guard. His name is Sir Mordred. One of the rare Lowlanders to become nobility."

  Bremuda added, "He’s now a Platinum Knight, Vice-Commander of the White Ravens. Specializes in organized crime. They call him The Deviant Hunter."

  Nailah scoffed. "Yes, but in Skyland, once a Lowlander, always a Lowlander. I’ve heard he’s just a drunkard who lazes around."

  Ayao shrugged. "Nothing surprising there. I personally hate Skylanders, but if that’s the path you want to take… I respect that."

  Nailah met her gaze and nodded. "Thank you."

  She stood, stretching. "Anyway, I must leave now. I have important preparations to make. Thanks for the treat."

  Ayao waved her off. "Don’t worry about it."

  As Nailah walked away, Ayao watched her go. "She reminds me of him."

  Bremuda raised a brow. "The Robbing Hood?!"

  Sakichi smirked. "Are you praising her?"

  Ayao scowled. "That’s hardly a good thing. He was an idiot."

  Yet, as she watched Nailah disappear into the streets of Scrapville, her thoughts darkened.

  That’s quite the journey you’ve set yourself on… but deviancy is a dark path. It’s easy to get engulfed by that darkness. Be careful, Nailah.

  Nailah crouched near a railway emblem, her fingers tracing the worn symbol. A voice rang out behind her.

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  "That’s the second time you’ve come here."

  She turned sharply, relaxing when she recognized the speaker. "Oh, it’s you. Thanks again for last time." It was Harlow, the girl who had helped her escape from the Crimson Bandit after she fled the workhouse. She looked almost unchanged—fiery orange hair still flowing past her shoulders, the same tattered jacket draped over a dark skirt. But something was different. The warmth she carried when they met was gone, replaced by something sharper. The friendly mask had slipped as she is now revealed her true face—one that was cold, calculating.

  Harlow smiled, but there was no kindness in the expression. "Believe me, you don’t want to thank me. I’ve got a knack for sniffing out trouble. And you? You reek of it. So I dug around a little…"

  She pointed at Nailah. "Took some effort, but I figured it out. You’re the aristocrat traitress who was supposed to be executed last year, except you’re clearly not as dead as they’d like to think."

  Nailah held her gaze. "Can’t be. She’s dead."

  Harlow smirked. "If that’s the case, you won’t mind if I tell the guards, right?"

  Nailah’s lips curled. "Or… I’ve got a better idea."

  Harlow crossed her arms. "I’m listening."

  Nailah grinned. "How about a gold robbery?"

  Nailah leaned against the wooden railing of the abandoned shack, her voice low but firm. “This railroad belongs to the Dasmi Family. They own plenty of gold mines in the Lowlands, and they’ll be transporting raw gold to Skyland soon. That’s where we intercept it.”

  Harlow’s lips curled into a grin. “I knew you had something good to offer!”

  A voice interrupted them from behind.

  "Now that’s my kind of plan!"

  Nailah and Harlow turned sharply to see a figure approaching them. Zeke "Sticky Fingers" strolled up with an easy swagger, hands in his pockets, his usual roguish grin plastered on his face.

  "Count me in!" he said without hesitation.

  Nailah narrowed her eyes at Harlow. "You know him?"

  Zeke chuckled. "You should be cautious around her. That’s 100-Face Harlow, the most infamous swindler in Scrapville. A master of disguise."

  Nailah scoffed. "She’s not so great, believe me."

  Harlow smirked. "Well, I did swindle my way into your plan, didn’t I?"

  Zeke shook his head, amused. Then, he leveled his gaze at Nailah. "Tell me if I’m wrong, but you were planning to put Damon into this mess to pay off your debt, weren’t you? I can help you get to him before he gets you killed."

  Nailah studied him for a moment before nodding. "Very well. You’re in. At least you’re useful. Unlike Orange Head over here."

  Harlow huffed, crossing her arms. "Bad weather hair is talking to me?"

  The two women glared at each other, their silent challenge hanging thick in the air.

  The Crimson Bandit hideout was nothing more than a run-down warehouse at the edge of Scrapville, its walls covered in grime and the stench of stale liquor lingering in the air. Inside, Damon sat lazily atop a crate, idly twirling a knife between his fingers.

  The doors slammed open, and he snapped his head up in surprise. Zeke entered first, dragging Nailah in behind him.

  "I’ve got her, boss!" Zeke declared.

  Damon’s lips stretched into a wicked grin. "I knew I could count on you, Sticky Fingers."

  Zeke gestured toward Nailah. "She’s got something interesting to say. I think you should listen."

  Before Damon could respond, a shadow dropped from the ceiling. Harlow landed gracefully, dusting herself off. "He’s right! You should."

  Damon’s grin widened when he saw her. "Well, well, if it isn’t Harlow? Fancy a drink later?"

  Harlow tilted her head. "Maybe, if you listen to what the girl has to say."

  Damon leaned forward, suddenly more attentive. "Oh? I’m very interested now."

  He leaned back, his amusement fading slightly. "Alright, but this better not be a waste of my time. What is it?"

  Nailah straightened, her expression hardening. "I know I owe you money, but I have a way to make sure you get that amount a hundred times over."

  Damon arched a brow. "Go on."

  Nailah took a breath. "We’re going to rob a train transporting gold."

  Silence. Then, Damon laughed. "Interesting! But before we begin…"

  His expression turned sharp as he pointed a finger at her. "If this plan of yours flops, I’ll make sure your little friends pay the price after I’m done with you."

  Nailah met his glare without flinching. "If you lay a finger on them, you’ll have hell to pay."

  Damon chuckled darkly. "I like how feisty you’ve become."

  Zeke sighed, stepping between them. "We’re on the same team now. Can we skip the threats?"

  Damon shrugged. "Threats? No, call it... motivation."

  Nailah exhaled sharply. "Fine. Back to business."

  Damon eyed her, then smirked. "What’s this? Now you’re playing favorites, Zeke?"

  Harlow put her palm on her forehead, watching the exchange with growing exasperation. "This is the crew that’s supposed to pull off a heist? We’re doomed."

  Harlow spread a large map across the table. "Milton City is the last stop before Skyland. That’s our entry point. I’ll sneak onboard, clear the way, and let you in. By the time we hit Sihampton, we’ll have the locks picked."

  Nailah nodded. "Which means time will be short. We’ll only take half the gold and replace it with rocks. If the weight matches, they won’t notice until it’s too late."

  Damon frowned. "Half? What the hell do you mean, half?! We’re taking all of it! Let them cry their losses! That’s how bandits operate! What kind of coward’s plan is this?!"

  Nailah rolled her eyes. "If we take it all, they’ll know right away. The Knights will be on us before we even leave the station. Use your brain for once."

  Harlow added, "Besides, if we don’t take all the gold, these rich bastards probably won’t even give a damn. No Knights will be sent after us."

  Damon scowled. "I don’t give a shit! We take all the gold! Zeke! That’s why you can’t let women run things. They’re spineless!"

  Zeke smirked. "Actually, I think they’ve got the right idea."

  Damon’s jaw dropped. "What?!"

  Nailah crossed her arms. "Let me spell it out for you. You’re not the boss on this job, Damon."

  Harlow smirked. "You’re either in…"

  Nailah shot her a glare. "Don’t complete my sentences. That’s gross."

  Harlow scoffed. "Shut up! I don’t want to hear that from someone whose hair looks like a thunderstorm!"

  Damon clenched his fists. "You two must’ve lost your damn minds. Guess I’ll have to knock some sense back into you!"

  Zeke stepped in, placing a hand on Damon’s chest. "Boss! Calm down!"

  Zeke sighed, nearly pleading. "This isn’t small-time banditry. This is real money. A fortune! Don’t mess it up because you want to play king for a day."

  Damon exhaled through his nose, then relented. "I’ll let this slide because it’s you. Alright, I’m in."

  Harlow leaned back. "After the heist, we jump near Scrapville, turn the gold into cash, and then everyone is free to do whatever they want with their share. But I recommend lying low for a month."

  Damon scoffed. "Pffff! Lying low for a month?"

  A misty dawn settled over Milton City, wrapping the freight station in a cold haze. The air smelled of oil, damp wood, and coal smoke, blending with the distant clang of metal and the murmurs of early workers. Inside an empty train car, four figures crouched in silence, watching the tracks ahead.

  Through the fog, their target appeared—a massive freight train, its iron frame groaning as it pulled into the station. Steam hissed from below, curling into the air, while its wheels let out a slow, heavy screech. The train came to a stop, its carriages looming in the mist, waiting.

  Harlow eyed the approaching train. "So, today’s the day, huh?" She was dressed as a train mechanic, she blended in perfectly. Her wig, makeup, and uniform were flawless—she looked every bit like a young man.

  Zeke nodded. "Yeah. We’re finally getting out of this damned slum."

  Nailah glanced at him. "You sure do seem confident."

  Zeke grinned. "I’m a thief. There’s nothing I can’t steal."

  Damon smirked. "Yeah, it’s Zeke ‘Sticky Fingers’ we’re talking about."

  Zeke turned to Nailah. "Gotta say, you’re fearless to come up with such an idea."

  Nailah’s eyes burned with determination. "There’s no way we’re leaving this dump without taking a risk."

  She straightened, gripping the edge of the train car. "Now, let’s rob this bloody train!"