Dorian was still suspended by the chains, his arms spread wide and legs tense. Like a particularly humiliating decoration.

In front of him, Max kept his shield raised and one hand gripping his hammer, staring at the small goblin as if ready to charge at any second.

The atmosphere remained tense.

Though Dorian, of course, seemed to be the only one who wasn’t bothered by it. He let out a small laugh.

"My dear friend Finn, relax."

He tilted his head slightly towards Max.

"They’re all with me. There’s no need to attack anyone."

Finn raised an eyebrow. He first looked at the chained elf. Then at the supposedly devil-like figure armed to the teeth.

"Interesting."

He pointed his dagger at Max.

"Because it looks like the one about to attack someone is that devil with the hammer and shield."

Max didn’t lower his guard.

"I’m just being cautious."

Finn narrowed his eyes. He studied him for another second.

Then he looked back at Dorian. And froze. Processing. His eyes widened slightly.

"...Wait."

He stepped closer. Brought the lantern up to the elf’s face and examined him more carefully.

Then let out an incredulous laugh.

"No way."

His smile turned dangerously amused.

"How do you even have the nerve to come all the way to my hideout?"

Dorian smiled as if the question were absurd.

"What’s wrong with visiting an old friend?"

Finn looked at him as though he had just heard the most ridiculous thing in the world.

"Old friend?"

He placed a hand on his chest.

"Right, because barging into the home of someone you abandoned definitely counts as a friendly visit."

Max slowly turned his head towards Dorian.

Neros did the same.

Both wearing the exact same expression of disapproval.

Dorian cleared his throat.

"I did what I had to do."

Pause.

"Besides, I sent you letters. Almost every month."

Finn stared at him in silence. A very long silence. Then smiled.

"You’re such an idiot..."

He pointed the dagger at him.

"...that you forgot one very important detail."

He paused dramatically.

"You forgot that I can’t read."

Max blinked.

Neros blinked.

Dorian blinked several times.

Finn crossed his arms.

"And even if I could, I still wouldn’t have answered any of your damn letters."

On the other side of the hatch, Seraphine was still floating behind the opening. Barely able to see anything. Just part of Neros’ body blocking everything.

"Could someone explain what’s happening over there?"

"Childhood friend issues, apparently," Max answered automatically.

Seraphine raised an eyebrow.

"That answers absolutely nothing."

Finn walked towards a nearby wall. Lowered a small lever.

CLACK.

The chains stopped pulling taut and Dorian dropped straight to the floor.

THUD.

"Ow."

Finn rummaged through one of his pockets. Pulled out a small key and tossed it to Max.

"Hey, devil."

Max caught it on reflex.

"Hm?"

"Untie that idiot whenever you feel like it."

Max looked at the key. Then at Dorian. Then at Finn. Still trying to process their entire dynamic.

"Okay... honestly..."

He looked at the goblin.

"Maybe Dorian isn’t exactly the best friend."

Dorian lifted his head slightly.

Max continued.

"Nor the smartest."

Dorian frowned.

"Nor the most morally sound."

Dorian’s eyes widened a little more.

"Nor the most loyal."

Dorian placed a hand on his chest.

"Nor the most suitable person to ask you for help."

Dorian looked genuinely hurt.

"That was oddly specific."

Finn burst into laughter so loud it echoed through the entire room.

"HAHAHA."

He pointed proudly at himself.

"Yep, that definitely sounds like Dorian."

He spread his arms dramatically.

"The famous healer and adventurer elf."

Pause.

"Former black market criminal."

Another pause.

"And former friend of the professional thief Finn."

Max nodded.

"Exactly, that one."

He pointed at Dorian as though presenting a defective product.

"And that Dorian said professional thief Finn was the right person to help us with a rescue mission in the black market."

Finn crossed his arms. His expression dimmed slightly.

"I’m not interested in helping that idiot, or anyone connected to him."

Dorian slowly lowered his gaze. More and more defeated. His self-esteem had clearly taken critical damage.

Neros let out a quiet nasal chuckle.

Max decided to intervene quickly.

"We can pay whatever price you want."

Silence.

Everything changed.

Finn turned his head so fast it almost looked like a comedic effect. His eyes lit up. Literally. A golden glow illuminated his pupils.

Now they were finally speaking his favourite language. Money, rewards, and paid work.

"Well..." Finn said with a smile. "That changes things quite a bit."

He sheathed the dagger.

"What do you need from me?"

Max stepped forward.

"We need to infiltrate the place where the Seven-Pointed Star men sell unusual beings."

Finn stopped smiling for a second. His expression shifted. More serious. Sharper.

"Wow."

He placed the lantern on a table.

"You lot really do get involved with dangerous people."

Max felt a small sting of concern.

’Great. Now he’s going to refuse.’

But then Finn smiled again. This time, far more dangerously.

"Luckily for you..."

He crossed his arms.

"I have my own reasons for helping anyone who wants to ruin those idiots’ day."

He looked at Dorian.

"Even if that means helping this useless ex-friend."

Dorian lifted his head from the floor.

"Could everyone stop emotionally attacking me for five minutes?"

Max laughed.

"Perfect. Then we have a deal."

Dorian timidly raised a hand.

"If it’s not too much trouble..."

He looked at his chains.

"Could someone untie me now?"

Max smiled.

"Of course."

He started unlocking the restraints.

Finn picked up the lantern and set it on the table.

"When you’re done, follow the red path."

He pointed towards a corridor in the back.

"My office is down there."

And just as he was about to leave...

"Hey!"

Everyone turned.

Neros was still stuck halfway through the wall. Only now much more offended.

"Is nobody going to help me?"

Finn blinked. Looked at the scene.

"...What is that cat man doing stuck there?"

Max shrugged.

"Too much muscle. Not enough brain."

He pointed at the opening.

"He couldn’t fit through the hatch and got stuck because of his muscles."

Finn casually pointed at a nearby desk. A small jar sat on top of it.

"Oh."

"That might help."

Max read the label.

"Orc Fat Grease Jelly."

Interesting.

"Is this Vaseline?"

"More or less."

Finn smiled.

"I’m sure little lord Dorian can figure out how to use it."

Dorian frowned.

"I really don’t like how that sounded."

But before anyone could do anything...

FWOOSH.

A gust of wind exploded behind Neros.

"WHAT THE—!?"

And he was launched forwards, falling headfirst.

THUD.

He hit the floor like a failed projectile.

Absolute silence.

Neros, still lying face-down, slowly raised a thumbs-up.

"Thank you very much, Miss Seraphine."

He slightly turned his head backwards.

Seraphine was smiling kindly.

"Sorry about the impact."

She placed a hand on her chest.

"It was the only thing I could think of."

Finn watched the entire scene. Looked at Neros on the floor. Then at Seraphine. Then at the jar of orc grease. And let out a small laugh.

"Well."

He shrugged.

"That works too."

Neros remained face-down on the wooden floor.

Until a hand appeared in front of him. With perfectly manicured nails.

Neros looked up slightly.

It was Seraphine. Still smiling.

"Come on," she said softly.

Neros stayed still for half a second longer. Then took her hand.

Seraphine gently pulled him up and helped him to his feet. She let out a small laugh while brushing some dust off his clothes. Cleaning away sand and dirt.

"I wasn’t expecting there to be such a drop between the hatch and the ground."

She smiled faintly.

"Sorry about that."

Neros immediately looked away.

"Please don’t worry."

He cleared his throat.

"It didn’t hurt at all."

Meanwhile, Finn observed the scene curiously. First Seraphine. Then he narrowed his eyes. His expression changed.

"Wait."

He pointed at her slightly with his dagger.

"You..."

His eyes widened a little more.

"Don’t tell me you’re..."

He paused dramatically.

"The Wand of Eldoria."

Seraphine gave a small nod.

"The very same."

Finn let out a low whistle.

"Wow."

He looked at Dorian.

"I didn’t know you brought celebrities to my hideout now."

Then his gaze fell on Neros. He studied him from head to toe.

Cut ears. Facial scars. Rigid posture. Intimidating presence.

"And you..."

He pointed at his ears.

"You must be the king’s famous personal knight."

He crossed his arms.

"I don’t know any other cat man with those markings."

Neros nodded once.

"Correct."

Dorian smiled.

"Yep. We all came from the castle."

Finn turned his head so fast it looked like it might snap off.

"...What?"

He stared at Dorian as though he had just heard blasphemy.

"What the hell are you doing in the royal castle?"

Dorian shrugged.

"I retired from adventuring."

He smiled calmly.

"I’m the royal healer now."

Finn froze. Processing. Very slowly, he raised the dagger again. Pointing it directly at Dorian.

"So this IS a trap."

Max raised both hands.

"No, no, no!"

He quickly put away the hammer.

"Please, calm down."

He stepped forward.

"Those bastards from the Seven-Pointed Star cult kidnapped someone important to the king."

His expression hardened.

"And we need to rescue her."

Finn still didn’t lower the dagger. But his expression became more thoughtful.

He analysed everyone.

Max.

Neros.

Seraphine.

Dorian.

Clearly piecing together a mental puzzle.

Dorian raised a hand. Still sitting on the floor.

"Finn, relax."

He smiled awkwardly.

"I made a deal with Neros that if you help us... they’ll pardon all your old crimes."

Finn blinked. And lowered the knife slightly.

"That..."

His smile slowly returned.

"That’s better than any other reward."

He looked at Max. His eyes sparkled again.

"So you really can pay whatever I want."

Max smiled.

"Exactly."

He crossed his arms.

"Whatever you want. Plus a royal pardon for your crimes."

Neros let out a long sigh. Clearly this was physically painful for him. But he ended up nodding.

"Yes."

He said it as though each word weighed a tonne.

"We will pardon all your crimes... if you help us."

Finn grinned from ear to ear. Finally sheathing the dagger.

"Excellent."

He spread his arms dramatically.

"Today is a wonderful day to help a great ex-friend."

He looked at the group.

"And the people from the castle."

Dorian smiled, relieved.

"I knew I could count on you."

Finn looked at him.

"Don’t push it."

He turned around. Then gestured for them to follow.

"Come on."

He grabbed the lantern again.

"Follow me to my office."

Max smiled.

’Perfect. We have an ally now.’

Without wasting time, he and the others began following the small goblin.

Walking down the corridor marked with red paint.