"Please…Elira…Listen to me." Nyssa whispered urgently, pressing herself against the shadows of the rogue camp. Her heart hammered in her chest, each beat a warning she might be discovered. "Elira, listen to me! The rogues aren't your friends, they never were!"
Elira froze where she stood, the dawn light cutting across her pale face. Her small hands trembled, clutching at the fabric of her cloak as she stared at Nyssa. "Nyssa… how… how did you get here? You shouldn't be in this place," she stammered, her voice barely audible. "You need to go before they find you."
Nyssa's gaze darted around nervously, the shape of armed rogues moving in the distance making her stomach twist. "I had to come. I had to warn you… to beg you to stop Liora. Dante and his rogues are dangerous. They've killed our fathers, mothers, children. They don't even mercy on the little ones. You know the stories, Elira… the ones whispered in the villages, the families they destroyed. It's not just power they seek, it's blood, chaos, revenge. You cannot trust them!"
Elira's wide eyes blinked rapidly. Her mind raced, but fear held her frozen in place. "I… I don't know what to do, Nyssa. Liora is strong, and I… I'm nothing without her. If I try to stop her… if I speak, they might…"
"Exactly," Nyssa interrupted sharply, her voice trembling with urgency. "That's why I had to come myself. If you falter, even for a second, the consequences will fall on you. Do you understand? The rogues are not like Gonzalo's pack. They don't follow rules, they don't care for mercy, and they don't forgive weakness. You could die for nothing!"
Elira's lips parted, a faint sob escaping her throat. "But… she saved me, Nyssa. She brought me here. I owe her…She set my family free…"
Nyssa's eyes softened slightly but remained stern. "You owe her, yes. But you do not owe her your soul. You cannot blindly follow her, Elira, not when she's planning something that will destroy everything you've ever known. These rogues are monsters, they've taken too much already and will keep taking. If you continue helping her, there's no going back. You'll be complicit."
Elira swallowed hard, silent tears streaking down her cheeks. "I… I don't know what to do," she admitted, voice cracking. "I… I can't… I can't imagine going against her. She saved me, Nyssa… she—"
Nyssa grabbed her shoulders gently but firmly, shaking her just enough to make her focus. "Elira, listen! This isn't about gratitude! This is about you, your family and heritage. You think you're helping her, but you're helping build her vengeance! One day, that vengeance will turn on you too. Don't let loyalty blind you! Don't let fear dictate your choices!"
The wind rustled through the trees surrounding the camp, and Nyssa's hair whipped across her face. Her instincts screamed that someone had noticed her presence, and she knew she couldn't stay any longer.
She let go of Elira and took a cautious step back. "I have to go. You need to think, Elira. If you truly care about your life, about your family, you will reconsider your allegiance to her. Pray she doesn't mistake your silence for approval."
Elira nodded, though her mind spun in confusion and terror. She watched Nyssa disappear into the shadows, fading like a ghost into the woods. Alone now, she sank to the ground, her small body trembling. Silent tears rolled down her face as she glanced toward the rogue camp, the sound of distant laughter and metal clashing reaching her ears. She pressed her hands over her mouth, stifling sobs, fearing that anyone might hear and punish her for weakness.
Hours passed slowly. The sun climbed high, casting a harsh light on the rugged camp, yet Elira remained huddled in the corner, haunted by Nyssa's warnings. The weight of truth pressed on her chest, Liora was not merely their protector, but unstoppable.
***
The following morning, Vanya awoke, her head spinning and vision blurred. Pain surged through her body like wildfire, her skin raw and sensitive, her muscles screaming with every minor movement.
She blinked against the harsh sunlight, the world tilting awkwardly. Slowly, horrified understanding dawned as she realized her position: she was nailed upside down on a wooden cross, completely naked, the entire rogues laughing at her.
Shock paralyzed her. Her limbs throbbed, blood pulsing through her temples, and the ropes cutting into her wrists and ankles made even the slightest movement agony.
She tried to speak, but her throat felt dry, constricted. The air around her was thick with a coppery scent, mingling with the acrid smoke of nearby fires. Her body shook violently, every nerve screaming in pain and panic.
She heard Liora's voice.
Vanya's eyes widened in terror as she strained to look toward the source. The laughter, calm and chilling, sent a shiver down her spine. She tried to open her mouth, to beg, to plead for mercy, but the words caught in her throat. Her breath came in ragged gasps, her body swinging slightly with the wind and the uneven suspension.
"Please… please, Liora," she rasped finally, her voice hoarse and broken. "I… I beg you… I didn't mean…"
Liora's voice rang, clear and cutting, as if mocking every shred of vulnerability Vanya dared display. "Vanya..." She smirked.
As Vanya's vision swam with pain and fear, the echo of Liora's voice settled over her.
"My turn has come." Liora said, smiling. "It was good while yours lasted."
Vanya shook her head pleadingly, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Dante took a few steps forward to Liora, with a grin on his face. "I guess I do not owe you anymore, My Liora."
Liora turned looking at him. "Thank you, for granting my request."
Dante nodded. "Of course, enjoy." He turned and left.