Cevic now stood face-to-face with Arthur, dreading what the knight's next move might be. But just as the tension peaked, Arthur's scowl melted into a smirk.
"Looks like the chief has spoken," Arthur declared. "The quest still belongs to the Elementals. We leave by nightfall."
Without another word, he turned his back on Cevic, walking away with his party.
Cevic was left speechless. Just moments ago, Arthur had looked ready to call them out, to expose whatever scheme he believed they were hiding. And yet, he had let them go—just like that. He didn't understand why, but he was grateful. Deep down, he knew that if they had fought, he and his team wouldn't have stood a chance against Arthur Pendragon.
Maxwell, on the other hand, was caught off guard by their sudden departure. He had hoped to spend more time with Top. Though Top was deaf, he could read lips—albeit not perfectly. Even so, he managed to catch Arthur's mention of leaving by nightfall. His expression darkened further.
Sensing his friend's distress, Maxwell signed, What's wrong?
Top hesitated before responding with slow, deliberate gestures. The bandits killed my parents. The chief is my only family now.
A wave of conflicting emotions hit Maxwell. On one hand, he admired the Elementals for their unwavering moral code, their belief in the sanctity of life—just like the noble heroes in the stories he loved. But on the other hand, he felt anger. Top had lost everything, and justice had yet to be served.
But that wasn't the only reason Top was upset.
I want to go with you, Top signed. I want to become an adventurer like you.
Maxwell was both honoured and torn. He wanted to say yes, but this journey was dangerous. You can't come with us this time, he signed back. But don't ever give up on your dream.
He expected Top to be disappointed, but instead, the boy's next sign sent a chill down Maxwell's spine.
HELP.
Maxwell's eyes widened. Help? What was he trying to say?
Before he could ask, a firm hand clamped down on his shoulder.
"Ahh, so you're the mage of this party?" Cevic said smoothly. "We never had the pleasure of a proper introduction."
Maxwell turned, greeting him politely. Cevic smiled, but his gaze flickered briefly toward Top—something Maxwell failed to notice.
Maxwell nodded. "The pleasure is all mine. I must say, i admire your party's moral standards."
Cevic's smile widened. "That reminds me… I've been curious about something ever since I laid eyes on you, Mr. Maxwell." His grip on Maxwell's shoulder tightened ever so slightly. "How do you cloak your mana so well?"
Maxwell hesitated before admitting, almost sheepishly, "Oh… I'm not cloaking it. This is just what my mana pool looks like."
Cevic's smile vanished. "No way… That's the mana pool of a level 1 adventurer. And you're in a party with Arthur Pendragon?"
He scoffed, his interest in Maxwell evaporating on the spot. With a dismissive shrug, he walked away, leaving Maxwell standing there.
Maxwell barely paid him any mind. His thoughts were still on Top. But when he turned back, he found that his friend was no longer in the mood to talk. The conversation had ended before it could truly begin.
Still unsettled by Arthur's sudden decision to leave Heaven's Peak so soon, Maxwell sought out Fay. "Do you know what's going on?" he asked.
She sighed, shaking her head. "You still haven't figured it out yet?"
Maxwell frowned. "Figured what out?"
Fay gave him a knowing look. "I'm sure you will before we leave," she said cryptically before walking away, leaving him more confused than ever.
Nightfall crept over the bandits' hideout, casting long shadows across the encampment. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, blood, and burning wood when an unexpected silence fell over the area.
The bandits stiffened. They weren't alone.
Emerging from the darkness, the Elementals stepped into view, moving with an air of familiarity. This wasn't their first time here—they knew exactly where to find the bandits.
One of the bandits immediately dropped to his knees before Cevic, bowing his head. "Did you like our performance, master?" he asked, his voice laced with anticipation.
A cruel smirk played on Cevic's lips. "It was alright," he said dismissively. Then, without warning, he snapped his fingers.
The bandit barely had time to scream before flames engulfed his body. His agonized shrieks filled the air, the fire hungrily devouring his flesh. The other bandits stood frozen, watching as their comrade collapsed into a smouldering heap of ash.
Cevic turned to them, unfazed. "Could've used a little more conviction, if you ask me."
He stretched out a hand, his smile widening into something predatory. "Now… one of you be a dear and hand me a sword. Pretty please?"
Back in Heaven's Peak, the townspeople gathered inside the dimly lit bar, whispering among themselves. The weight of their predicament hung over them like a storm cloud.
"We don't have a choice," the chief finally said, his voice firm. "Tonight is our last chance. We must ask the Outcasts for help."
Murmurs of doubt rippled through the crowd.
"But what if they fail?" a man asked, fear evident in his tone. "If they lose, we'll all be slaughtered."
The chief's gaze was unwavering. "That won't happen. Not while Arthur Pendragon is here." He let the words settle. "You all saw the fear in Cevic's eyes. He can't stand against him."
The people exchanged uncertain glances.
"This is our chance," the chief pressed. "The Elementals are distracted with the bandits. We have to act now."
A heavy silence followed. Then someone asked, "Who will go?"
The chief straightened. "I will."
The room fell deathly quiet.
Top, seated beside his grandfather, tugged anxiously at his sleeve. His wide eyes pleaded with him. Don't go.
"It's too dangerous," another townsman said.
The chief sighed. "I am the leader of this town. I was the one who accepted this quest. I opened our doors to these adventurers… and I will be the one to close them."
He turned to Top, kneeling slightly to sign to him. Don't worry, my boy. I love you as much as your parents did. Grandpa will be alright.
Top clenched his fists, but his grandfather had already made up his mind.
Without wasting another moment, the chief slipped out of the bar, moving swiftly through the darkened streets. He was only a few feet away from the Outcasts' inn when a shadow stepped into his path.
Cevic.
Flanked by his Elementals, he blocked the chief's way, arms crossed, his smirk laced with amusement. "Now, where do you think you're going, old man?"
The chief forced a casual chuckle. "Oh, just paying our guests a visit. Thought I'd bid them farewell before they leave."
Cevic snorted. "Do you really take me for a fool?" He shook his head, looking almost insulted. "Come on. I knew this would happen."
The chief exhaled sharply. No more lies. He straightened his back. "Fine. You caught me." His voice was steady as he added, "Do whatever you want with me—but leave my grandson out of this."
Cevic tilted his head, considering the plea. Then his grin widened.
"Oh, I am going to kill the kid." He pulled the sword he had collected earlier from the bandits hideout. "But first… I'm going to have some fun with you."
He levelled the blade at the chief's throat, his voice dropping to a whisper.
"You've lived long enough, old man."
As Maxwell prepared to leave Heaven's Peak, a nagging feeling gnawed at him. He retraced everything that had felt off since their arrival.
Why did Top admire him as a mage but completely ignore the Elementals, who were all powerful mages themselves? And why had he signed HELP?
Then it hit him—the chief's words on their first night in town.
"I'm glad we finally have adventurers we can feel safe with."
That could only mean one thing.
The townspeople never felt safe with the Elementals.
A sudden sense of urgency gripped Maxwell, and he rushed outside, determined to speak with the villagers. But the moment he stepped through the door, his breath caught in his throat.
Lying in a pool of blood at his feet was the lifeless body of the chief. His clothes were soaked crimson, his face frozen in shock, his body riddled with stab wounds.
Maxwell felt his knees buckle. No…
A choked sob broke the silence.
Top stood a few feet away, his eyes wide with horror. Then, as if the reality had just crashed down on him, he ran to his grandfather's side, clutching him tightly, his cries silent but devastating.
The commotion quickly drew the entire town from their homes. Even the Outcasts stepped outside, drawn by the tragedy unfolding before them.
But no one said a word.
They all knew what had happened.
And yet, out of fear, not a single person dared to speak.
Then, a familiar voice cut through the silence.
"Oh, this is so tragic," Cevic said, shaking his head with mock sorrow. "The price we pay for leaving those bandits alive… Why must they tempt us so? Why do they spit on our generosity?"
His performance was pathetic, his words drenched in insincerity.
Maxwell's hands curled into fists. Rage boiled inside him. He had heard enough. His magic flared instinctively as he prepared to attack—
But before he could move, a firm hand grabbed his shoulder.
"That's enough."
Arthur's voice was cold, unyielding. When Maxwell turned, he met a stare so sharp and commanding it sent a chill down his spine.
"It's a shame what happened here," Arthur continued. "But we have to go. Now."
There was no room for argument.
Maxwell clenched his jaw, his heart warring with his mind. He wanted to stay. He wanted to be there for Top, to help him through his grief.
But he had no choice.
With a heavy heart, Maxwell followed the Outcasts out of Heaven's Peak.
As they passed the Elementals, Cevic and his group bid them farewell—wearing nothing but smug, mocking smiles.
As they moved farther from the town, Maxwell—his heart heavy with guilt—finally spoke.
"We need to go back. The Elementals… they aren't what we thought they were."
"We know," Arthur replied without hesitation.
Maxwell stopped in his tracks. "What?"
Arthur turned to face him, his expression unreadable. "We know they have the entire town hostage. We know they're working with the bandits to seize full control of the gold mines."
Maxwell's stomach dropped. He hadn't even thought that far. "Wait… how did you know?"
Arthur exhaled, as if explaining something painfully obvious. "Simple deduction. And from what Cevic said earlier—'An adventurer that doesn't kill, blah blah blah.' The only way to level up as an adventurer is through battle. Yet, they're all well above level 20. So what if they don't kill, what's stopping them from at least imprisoning the bandits?"
Arthur's eyes darkened. "That lie told me everything I needed to know."
Maxwell looked to Fay. "You knew too?"
She nodded.
"Then why aren't we helping them?" His voice rose in frustration.
Arthur's gaze hardened. "Because it's not our quest. We're adventurers, not heroes. We take quests because we gain from them. We asked the chief to make it official—he refused. That means this is out of our hands."
Arthur's voice was final. "So drop it."
With that, the Outcasts continued forward.
Back in Heaven's Peak, the town fell into a fearful silence as the Elementals barked orders, forcing everyone indoors.
Everyone—except for Top.
The boy knelt beside his grandfather's lifeless body, his small shoulders shaking with sobs.
Cevic sneered. "Aww, how touching." Then, with a cruel smirk, he grabbed Top by the head and threw him against a nearby tree. The impact sent a dull thud through the air as the boy crumpled to the ground.
Cevic knelt beside him, gripping his chin. "I promised your granddad I'd kill you, but not just because of what he did. Oh no." His voice dropped to a taunting whisper. "Don't think I didn't recognize the sign for HELP, you stupid little—"
He stopped himself, shaking his head with a laugh. "Oh, right. You can't hear a word I'm saying." He gave himself a mocking face palm.
"But I bet you do understand this," he added, drawing a finger across his throat in a slow, deliberate motion.
Outside the town, Maxwell's feet refused to move forward.
The others continued ahead—but he stood frozen, staring at the ground, fists clenched.
For the first time, he wanted to help. Not for glory. Not for recognition. Not to prove his strength.
He wanted to help because it was right.
Fay, sensing something, turned back to check on him—
But Maxwell was gone.
Back in Heaven's Peak, Cevic snapped his fingers, a wicked gleam in his eyes.
Fire ignited from Top's arms, spreading rapidly like a living thing, hungrily climbing toward his shoulders. The boy gasped, eyes widening in horror.
The flames had nearly engulfed him—
Then, in an instant, a hand touched Top's shoulder.
"Cancel."
The fire vanished.
Cevic's eyes snapped up, startled—
And there stood Maxwell, between him and Top.
A voice echoed in Maxwell's mind.
"HERO REQUIREMENT MET. PLOT ARMOR ACTIVATED."
Maxwell tightened his grip on his staff.
It was time to fight.