Wilhelm rode out from the ravine at full speed toward Saisei, just as Philip caught up on his own horse.
Philip couldn't make out the details — only the silhouette of Wilhelm under the night sky. The moon and stars offered some help, but it was still just a blurry figure galloping away.
"Heading back?" he muttered to himself. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a small knife, and dismounted.
On the ground, he carved an 'X' mark into the dirt. Then, without delay, he climbed back onto his horse and chased after Wilhelm.
———
Yet another bucket of water splashed onto the dying flames. The house had mostly burned out now, but a few stubborn embers still crackled in the ruins.
Watching the smoldering remains without blinking was Tyler, his parents behind him offering quiet comfort.
"I'm sure they're alright, Tyler," his mother said gently.
Tyler reached into his pocket and pulled out a note:
Follow the Xs on the ground.
– Phil
He quickly tucked it back. That was just for him and no one else.
"Who did this?" he muttered, not to anyone in particular.
"A man named Nick Alcott," came the voice of an old but sharp-eyed man — Kenzaki Ijichi — watching the ashes with him.
"But… why?"
"Witnesses also saw Hawthorne at the scene."
"Hawthorne… and you're not going to do anything about it?"
"I understand they're your friends. But I can't interfere any longer. The leader of Saisei is no longer a position. You're the one with power, you're the Vice President now," Ijichi said, then turned to leave with his bodyguard.
"…Hawthorne," Tyler whispered again. "The former VP."
———
Schwartz lounged in a grand, intricately designed office — the largest house in New Angeles now belonged to him.
Adjusting his desk with a satisfied grin, he leaned back and sighed. "Ahh…"
"Don't make yourself too comfortable," said a voice from behind.
"Jeez."
It was Hawthorne. He circled around Schwartz slowly.
"I thought you said Nick Alcott would be a reliable assassin."
"He is. Widely regarded as the second-best fighter in all of Eucadia." Schwartz held up two fingers. "I say widely, but hardly anyone even knows he's alive."
"They escaped," Hawthorne said, leaning in close, his tone sharp.
"Oh."
"Anymore mishap, Schwartz, and our deal is off."
Schwartz tapped his fingers on the desk, calculating. "It's... fine. It's fine. I planned for this. I knew escape was a possibility."
"Already in motion?"
"Yes, yes. Though I didn't expect some short brat to escape the Forger of Fire himself."
"It wasn't Thomas. It was the one with the pink hair and the diamond sword."
"Huh. Don't know who that is… Maybe I haven't prepared as thoroughly as I thought." He stroked his bearded chin.
Hawthorne shot him a stern glare.
"Right," Schwartz straightened, "No more mishaps. I promise."
Hawthorne nodded.
Two guards entered, dragging in a blackboard and some chalk.
"I do have to question you however, Hawthorne, as much as I don't wish to." Schwartz said. "The first enforcement didn't go so smoothly. The streets are in flames. People are turning on each other."
"This was never about the people." Hawthorne picked up the chalk. "Remember, your part of the deal is fulfilled. Mine isn't. This is your second enforcement."
Schwartz sat up attentively. Hawthorne wrote the word CURRENCY, underlined.
"Currency," Hawthorne said, "A cleaner alternative to bartering."
He drew seashells. "For example, everyone trades with seashells — food, tools, books. Let's say I'm a farmer, I have crops, but I need tools, my scythe is getting blunt. I will trade my crops with people who needs to eat for seashells, and then use them to buy a new scythe from the toolsmith."
"I follow," Schwartz said, watching the diagram.
"The introduction of currency will make this next enforcement easier to be carried out — taxation." Hawthorne wrote and underlined the word. "By collecting a portion of everyone's earnings, the government — that's you — will use it to develop the nation, develop Eucadia. Build roads, institutions, a justice system."
"Ooooh," Schwartz nodded, already imagining his empire.
"But in our case…" Hawthorne drew a pool of seashells, then split it in half with a line. "Only half will be property of the government. The other half… is mine."
Schwartz snapped his fingers. "I understood now. Genius. You get rich, I get rich, and I rule the island."
"Win-win," Hawthorne smiled coldly.
"No more mishaps," Schwartz promised. "All loose ends will be tied."
"It better be." Hawthorne paused. "If it's possible… I want the pink-haired warrior on our side."
"Who is he?"
"You don't need to know."
———
"We don't need Will, fuck him. This could be our hideout for now," Thomas said. "But sleeping with a mine entrance nearby isn't safe. We don't wanna get our fuckin' brains chewed out by zombies in our sleep now do we?"
Alexander scanned the area. Rocks, wood, debris — plenty to work with. "Let's seal it."
Half an hour later…
Natalie had lit the ravine with makeshift torches. Thomas and Alexander had jammed the mine entrance with boulders and stones.
"We still want access to it," Thomas said.
"We'll break through when we need to," Alexander replied casually — like breaking a boulder was nothing.
"…How'd you know my mom's horse is called Carl?"
"He's not. I gave him that name on the way to New Angeles. He responded, so now he's Carl."
"Huh," Thomas shrugged.
"We should rest," Alexander said. "Mining starts tomorrow."
As Alexander turned away, Thomas stopped him. "Wait."
Alexander glanced over his shoulder.
"We've only known each other for a few days. I barely know you. Hell, you barely know you," Thomas chuckled. Alexander didn't.
"Ahhhh, what I'm trying to say is — you really saved my ass man. At the house, the stage, even back home. Uhh… Y-y-you fuckin' get what I'm saying right?"
"Yeah. You mean 'thank you.'"
"Oh great. Now I don't even want to say it, prick."
Alexander cracked a smile.
"You know," Thomas continued, "You gotta teach me your moves, you know your shit when it comes to fighting. Or maybe it's just the sword — can I hold it—"
"No."
"Alright, alright," Thomas raised his hands. "But hey — just saying, you're pretty goddamn cool."
"Thanks."
"Welp! Sleeping on rocks tonight! How nice — the comfiest of all comfy beds. Yes, boulders!" Thomas flopped onto a flat rock.
Natalie lay beside her horse, bundled in a blanket of warmth and exhaustion. Alexander was last to sleep. He lit a few more torches, filling the ravine with gentle light.
Staring up at the glittering night sky, Alexander closed his eyes and took a long breath. When he opened them again, Carl stood before him.
"Yeah. Let's sleep." Alexander smiled.
He leaned back against Carl's side, eyes lingered at the night sky for quite a while, before drifting slowly shut under the blinding stars.