Shortly after their conversation, Emmod and Novel, cloaked in their hooded capes, sneak out of the house.

  Novel pauses for a moment, taking a deep breath to suppress his nerves, while Emmod casts a careful glance back at the house to make sure their mother isn't watching. Whether she's still awake at that moment doesn't concern him much. If they wait too long, it might be too late, and their uncle could be long gone before they figure out why he's leaving the country so suddenly. Additionally, they don't know how long he'll be gone or if they'll ever see him again.

  Now the sun has already set, but that doesn't make the city any darker.

  In addition to the streetlights, the Sacred Green Tree of Rilgohin shines brightly. Tonight is the first night of the 'Nights of a Thousand Lights,' and the streets are unusually lively for this hour. Most people are out celebrating, wandering through the streets and eventually gathering at the Sacred Green Tree to join in the festivities. Emmod and Novel will be part of it in a few days when they head out with their mother.

  But tonight, the bustling activity poses a problem for them, as it's not typical for children their age to be out without supervision at this hour. This could be dangerous, especially because with more citizens in the streets, there are also more soldiers patrolling, particularly after the explosions that rocked the city two days ago.

  The last thing they want is to cause more trouble for their mother if they get caught by the soldiers.

  On their way, they remain tense, moving cautiously through the shadows cast by people and various objects, street to street, swift but careful, and nearly invisible. One always has the other's back. Despite their caution, they are noticed by a few pedestrians, who, given the special night, turn a blind eye—a silent gesture of acceptance among the citizens.

  Emmod and Novel reach the end of a narrow alley and look out at a stately, freestanding building across the way.

  "That's it," Emmod whispers to his brother.

  The tavern—The Dragon's Cup—is located in the Whitepool District, not far from Ko's house. The fa?ade faces the street, complemented by a right-side wing.

  Atop the roof, a large sign in the shape of a massive dragon sits proudly, with bestial eyes and small spikes running down its back to its tail. Three jagged streams of fire spill from its mouth, flowing into a beer mug below.

  To the right of the entrance is a large window, but Emmod and Novel are too far away to recognise what's happening inside the tavern.

  Emmod starts surveying the situation and points out a narrow, dark alley to his brother, stretching directly to the left of the tavern and faintly illuminated by the dim light spilling from the tavern's windows.

  Three people are chatting in front of the tavern, but the streets in the immediate vicinity are mostly empty. While the streets are livelier than usual due to the first night of the Nights of a Thousand Lights, most people are gathered around the Sacred Green Tree in the expansive green fields northwest of the city, unlike the tavern, which, like Ko's home, is located in the heart of the city.

  The challenge now is to get past the three people chatting outside the tavern without being noticed.

  Novel nervously fidgets with his hands, while Emmod clenches his teeth, determined to plan the next move. His eyes fall on a small bin near them, from which he grabs the aluminium lid.

  "Here, hold this," he says to Novel, before surveying the situation once more.

  "And what am I supposed to do with this? Drum on it?" Novel asks as if his brother has lost his mind.

  Emmod ignores Novel's sarcastic comment.

  "Wasn't the smell of that corpse enough for you today?" Novel asks, disgusted.

  "Give me that," Emmod replies, snatching the lid from him.

  "We need to distract them somehow," he thinks aloud. "If I hit that streetlamp over there, we'll have a brief window to slip unnoticed into the alley."

  "And if you miss?" Novel asks uncertainly.

  "Then the lid will just fall to the ground," Emmod replies dismissively.

  "But won't they wonder where the lid came from?" asks Novel skeptically.

  "By then, we'll already be in the alley," Emmod counters, preparing to throw.

  "Wait," Novel stops him. "Let me do it."

  "You? I can aim way better than you," Emmod reassures him.

  "But if it doesn't matter where the lid lands, I might as well try," Novel argues reluctantly. Emmod has no energy for this debate. He presses the lid into Novel's chest, steps back, and impatiently motions for him to throw it.

  Novel prepares to throw, much like tossing a Frisbee.

  But this time, his hands are trembling more than usual.

  Just as Novel is about to throw, the three people in front of the tavern stub out their cigarettes and head toward the entrance—something the brothers hadn't anticipated.

  Emmod tries to stop Novel. But instead of preventing the throw, he accidentally nudges him, altering the trajectory of the lid. And, as fate would have it, the lid hits the rearmost of the three people right on the head.

  Emmod and Novel look at each other, blaming one another with tense, uncertain expressions, unsure of what will happen next.

  The lid clatters to the ground, and the man who was hit lets out a pained scream.

  The brothers stand frozen, their faces stunned and horrified.

  The two men in front, confused, turn around to help their injured comrade.

  "From the alley there..." the brothers understand as the injured man points in their direction, "...those damn brats threw it at me."

  Sensing a sudden opportunity to deal with someone, the other two men rub their hands together in glee and advance menacingly towards Emmod and Novel.

  The brothers instantly realize this can't end well. Driven by quick thinking and a surge of adrenaline, Emmod and Novel flee, quickly putting distance between themselves and the threatening men as their plan begins to fall apart.

  To their great relief, however, the men do not appear in the side street where they've taken refuge. In their hasty escape, they missed the arrival of another figure, cloaked in a dark brown hooded cape, who engaged in conversation with the men in front of the Dragon's Cup before they could act on their intentions.

  Cautiously, Emmod and Novel approach their original position and glance at the tavern. To their surprise, the men have turned away and are now helping their injured companion to his feet. They then follow the mysterious figure in the dark brown cloak, who politely holds the door open for them as they enter the tavern. But before this person disappears inside, he turns and lock eyes directly with Emmod and Novel, who quickly duck out of sight without getting a clear look at the person's face.

  Breathless, they freeze for a moment before Emmod dares, after a few seconds, to peek around the corner again. The figure walks into the tavern without hesitation.

  After quickly checking left and right, Emmod signals to his brother, and they slip into the narrow, dark alley to the left of the tavern. Apart from some weeds and a trash bin, which they arrange as a visual barrier to the street, the alley offers little else. A tilted window gives them a view inside and allows them to eavesdrop a little. The scent of smoke and cheap beer wafts through the window—an aroma far more inviting than the sharp stench of urine that fills the alley. Like meerkats peering from their burrows, they crane their necks forward to get a better look.

  Contrary to its grand-sounding name, the Dragon's Tankard doesn't strike them as a well-known or magnificent place. Instead, it appears small, dark, and run-down. The window they're peering through is next to the bar, where they immediately spot the round, dark-bearded innkeeper, Richyai, who is drying a glass with his thick, hairy forearms behind the counter. He's wearing a dirty brown apron over a dark blue T-shirt.

  Richyai inherited the tavern from his late father. To make the establishment more appealing to guests from afar, he added a few overnight rooms in the upper floor of the right wing. Behind the bar, bottles are lined up along the wall, and a chalkboard lists the prices of the food and drinks. Seated in front of him is the person in the dark brown cloak whom Emmod and Novel saw earlier at the entrance. The figure keeps his hood up, hiding his face, as he sits on one of the barstools. The room is filled with barrels and tables, providing space for bottles, mugs, glasses, and plates. Candles sit on every table and windowsill. A fireplace crackles in the middle of the room, providing warmth and light for the guests. Between the fireplace and the bar is a small door leading to a storage cellar where beer kegs and bottles are ideally kept.

  The sounds of deep, hearty laughter from some of the stockier patrons mix with the lighter giggles of the more jovial guests. These sounds echo off the old wooden walls, blending with the clinking of mugs and the occasional clatter of dishes. Toasts break through the steady murmur of conversation now and then. The festive atmosphere is contagious, heightened by the combination of alcohol, camaraderie, and the excitement of the first Night of a Thousand Lights. It seems that, for the moment, any worries are left outside, and only the here and now matter.

  Only two people remain asleep or unconscious at their table, slumped in their seats, with over ten empty bottles scattered across their table.

  "Should we wake those two up?" asks the young waitress with a ponytail after clearing away a handful of bottles from their table. She's the only staff member on duty downstairs tonight, even though there's more business than usual, thanks to the festival. She doesn't mind, though, as she's quick on her feet and enjoys her work.

  "Just let them sleep, Wyne," says Richyai in a booming voice. "The place isn't busy enough that they're in anyone's way."

  Emmod and Novel scan the room.

  "Ko isn't here," Novel whispers after careful observation. "Maybe he's already gone."

  "Maybe he's still coming," Emmod reassures him.

  "Do you really want to wait that long?" Novel asks, incredulous.

  "Do you have a better idea?" Emmod retorts, and Novel concedes.

  They don't have to wait long, though, as the person sitting at the bar removes their hood. Emmod and Novel smack their foreheads in surprise. It's none other than their uncle Ko, sitting alone, unconcerned, and not speaking a word to anyone. He's already drained one mug after another, finishing them all down to the last drop. Richyai, the bartender, swaps out the empty mugs for full ones so quickly that Ko doesn't even need to lift a finger.

  Relieved that their patience paid off, Novel is now more willing to wait a little longer. However, knowing that their uncle is there doesn't change much about their current situation.

  "Why is it called 'The Dragon's Cup' anyway?" Novel asks, leaning back slightly, directing the question to his older brother.

  Now visibly more relaxed, Emmod begins to explain:

  "Ko once told me that a drink was accidentally mixed wrong and served to a customer. It was so strong and fiery that it felt like the guest was breathing fire like a real dragon," he recounts. "Although a lot of people dismiss the story as a wild exaggeration, there were enough witnesses who claimed it really happened."

  "Of course, plenty of people came up with a different explanation..." he adds.

  "Like what?" Novel asks, intrigued.

  "They all just drank too much," Emmod says matter-of-factly. "That's the logical explanation." He continues, "Still, the story spread across the land, gaining so much attention that even the Globus newspaper reported on it."

  Novel looks up in awe, and Emmod nods in confirmation.

  Globus is the first newspaper of its kind, reporting news from and for the entire world.

  "Afterward, the number of visitors shot up, with people coming not only from Rilgohin but from all over the world to experience the same fiery sensation. The owner then renamed the tavern 'The Dragon's Cup' and added the accidental drink to the menu under the same name," Emmod continues. "Though many visitors claimed to feel the same burning sensation, no one has ever actually breathed fire since. Over time, its popularity dwindled, but the story the tavern tells has remained the same."

  A tall, stocky man with a 3-day stubble and a dark cloak steps up next to Ko and orders a drink. Then, he casually leans his back against the bar.

  "You're drinking again," the man observes. "How many years has it been now?"

  "Not enough," Ko replies, taking a swig from his mug.

  "You kept us waiting," the man continues, also taking a drink. "After our success two days ago."

  "Success?" Ko asks, puzzled, as he drains his mug in several loud gulps. He then slams it on the bar and rises so suddenly that his stool topples over. Now they stand face to face, while the man, unmoved, stares calmly into the room, and all the other guests pause to watch them.

  "Don't make a wave when there's no water, you hear me?" says the man, smiling at the other guests in the room. Ko, unsteady on his feet, lowers his gaze in reluctant agreement. Just as he seems to be calming down, a loud scream erupts from across the room.

  A bald man with one ear and wide, panic-stricken blue eyes stares at Ko and the man beside him. He stands at a corner table with three other men. His breathing becomes erratic and heavy, his face contorted with fear and terror as he gazes at Ko and his companion. Suddenly, he snaps.

  He violently flips the corner table, shoving the others aside as he screams like a madman. The others try to calm him, but are quickly overwhelmed by his flailing arms and fists.

  At first, the guests are amused by the brawl, but the situation escalates as Ko and the man beside him step in. However, due to Ko's drunken state, he quickly gets hit and crashes into a table, collapsing to the floor.

  Ko's companion attempts to grab the bald man, but the difference in strength forces him to the ground. However, the man has no intention of hurting the bald man, unlike the bald man, whose actions grow more uncontrolled and violent.

  "Calm down!" the man demands repeatedly. He wraps his legs around the bald man, restricting his ability to attack anyone else. So far, he hasn't struck back but has taken several blows. That has to stop.

  Ko wraps his arms around the bald man's neck. As if waiting for this moment, the man on the ground loosens his hold.

  Ko uses an air choke technique to subdue the bald man. The move cuts off oxygen to the brain, rendering the bald man unconscious. However, Ko keeps his grip tight.

  "Ko," the other man calls several times, grabbing his arm.

  "KO!" he shouts now, pulling on his arm.

  Ko looks at him, confused, and is met with the shocked and horrified stares of the man and the other guests.

  The once-lively mood of the guests has turned to awe and seriousness. Some start whispering that Ko is entangled in dark stories they've only heard rumors of.

  Only then does Ko realize the gravity of his action.

  Horrified, he lays the bald man down. He then checks his breathing and, relieved, finds that he's still alive.

  Ko sinks to the floor with trembling hands, overwhelmed by the realization of what he almost did. A few seconds longer, and it could have ended in death.

  The bald man lies unconscious but alive on the floor.

  The first guests begin to leave the tavern, shaken by the scene they just witnessed.

  Outside, speculation starts that Ko harbors a hidden monster, while others defend him, claiming he was only protecting himself and others.

  Emmod and Novel, still hiding, catch only fragments of what transpired and cannot fully grasp the situation.

  "Just like old times," the man beside Ko remarks with a laugh, patting him on the shoulder.

  Ko doesn't share his humor.

  "Old times, huh? Look around," Ko replies seriously. "People are scared. They don't want to go back to that time."

  "One-Ear was always a bit crazy," his companion counters. "This has nothing to do with what we did."

  "But not like this," Ko retorts angrily. "He's not the only one who thinks we're back at war because of the explosions! Look at what just one of them can cause!" he shouts, gesturing to the partially wrecked tavern, where other guests have already begun cleaning up. Both men stand up.

  "If an outburst like this happens in front of soldiers or defenseless people, I don't want to imagine the consequences," Ko continues to lecture, while his companion brushes the dust off his clothes, clearly unfazed.

  "Sorry for the commotion. His fault," the man says with a smirk to the bartender, jerking his thumb toward Ko.

  The tension in the room slowly eases.

  Ko is a longtime regular at the tavern and gets everything on the house.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Meanwhile, the two men who had been sleeping earlier have now woken up.

  At the direction of Ko's companion, they quietly drag One-Ear out of the tavern without protest.

  The man addresses Ko again, who has sat back down on the same barstool.

  "You're more than welcome to join our next meeting," Emmod and Novel overhear.

  Shortly after, five men enter the tavern, grinning with ill intentions clear in their demeanor as they sit down at a table directly across from the bar. Before even taking their seats, they whistle for the young waitress to serve them.

  All of them have strikingly fiery red hair. Judging by their facial hair and builds, the oldest is broad-shouldered with a thick beard, while the youngest is slimmer, sporting only a barely visible mustache.

  From the reactions in the room, it's clear that neither Ko nor anyone else seems to know these men.

  Ko's companion, sensing this, ends their conversation. He calls five more individuals over and leads them through a small door down into the cellar.

  Ko remains still for a moment, staring into his half-full mug, his expression darkening. Eventually, he rises and follows the others into the cellar.

  It seems Emmod and Novel's plan has come to an abrupt halt, as they see no way to get down to the cellar unnoticed.

  "Let's go," Emmod suggests resignedly. "We're not getting in there."

  Novel, still slightly jittery from the earlier confrontation, reluctantly agrees and stands up.

  But just as they are about to leave, voices reach them from behind.

  They turn around, gripped by fear. At first, they can't figure out where the voices are coming from, as they're alone in the alley.

  "Do you see anyone?" Emmod whispers.

  "No. There's no one," Novel replies tensely.

  A few seconds later, the mystery is solved when light shines through a low, half-open window—the cellar window.

  Without hesitation, Emmod and Novel drop down next to it to listen in on everything.

  The room, lined with barrels and crates, has enough space in the center beneath a single hanging lamp for the seven people present, after Ko closes the door behind him.

  "I'm glad you accepted my invitation, Ko," his companion greets him, arms open wide this time. Ko, however, leaves him hanging.

  "Why are you here then, Ko?" Gringo, now more serious, asks. Ko paces around the room.

  "You've gone too far, Gringo," Ko accuses, pointing a finger at him. "Don't you see where your actions are leading?" He appeals to the others as well.

  "Do you recognize any of them?" Novel whispers to his brother.

  Emmod shakes his head.

  Along with Ko and his companion Gringo, there is a woman with gray hair, an old man smoking a tobacco pipe, a woman who suspiciously resembles the officer from the Whitepool District, and two gaunt men around the same age as Ko and Gringo.

  "If you're not fully committed to this cause, Ko, you're just in our way," Gringo says, now less friendly.

  "This isn't commitment anymore, Gringo," Ko counters. "This is madness! Stop this path!"

  "I've dedicated my life to this madness, Ko," Gringo replies. "You, of all people, should understand that better than anyone!"

  "And yet I know where the line is," Ko says. "I've seen it, Gringo—the burn marks. Slaves of Velddragguallis—Sabknathu's doing, isn't it?"

  Gringo reaches for a bottle from an open crate, uncorks it, and takes several swigs.

  "A means to an end," he says after wiping his mouth.

  "A means to an end," Ko repeats quietly, shocked by the statement, which makes it clear to him that Gringo has long since shed any remorse.

  "But he wouldn't just release them without expecting something in return, right?" Ko presses, his voice now trembling noticeably. "What was the price you had to pay!!?"

  "We freed them," Gringo responds coldly. "That's the difference."

  Ko lets out a short, loud laugh. "You took off their iron chains," he says, "only to put your own on them. And for what purpose? Now you have more innocent lives on your conscience than you ever saved," he says pointedly. "How long until the suffering ends?"

  "A small price for salvation," one of the men in the corner remarks.

  "Salvation?" Ko repeats, looking at one of the gaunt men.

  "If you overthrow the king, the High Council will simply choose a new successor for the throne," Ko says, and the desperation in his voice becomes apparent.

  "That is, if they don't raze us to the ground first," adds the gray-haired woman.

  For Ko, it's the first voice of reason—this is Gringo's wife, Ely. But she receives a disapproving look from Gringo.

  "But there are still many who stand behind the strong and feared princes, Ko," Ely changes her stance after a silent exchange of glances with her husband.

  "She's right, Ko," Gringo says, placing his hand on Ko's shoulder. "Help us. Fight by our side. With you, we have a real chance to get back to where we once stood."

  "Such a violent change in power will not end well," Ko says directly to Gringo and his wife. "A rule that operates on fear instead of respect is doomed to fail quickly."

  "If we stop now, we're finished anyway," retorts the oldest man, with a tobacco pipe in his mouth.

  "Is it really so wrong," Ko asks, this time addressing the whole group, "to let the past rest?"

  "Not this past," Gringo replies. "We've come too far for that. Whether we finish this with or without you is up to you. But there's no turning back."

  Ko looks around, meeting the gaze of each person.

  Whether resolved or uncertain—they all stand behind the former "right hand" of the princes, even if it costs them their lives.

  "How far you've fallen," Ko says, disappointed. "You were once a proud group of soldiers. Now, I only see desperation and hatred, blinding you."

  "You dare speak of pride, Ko—the once powerful?" Gringo snaps. "Look in the mirror first before you judge others," he concludes, and Ko just shakes his head.

  "How will this all continue? Do you really believe your actions will make things better? Do you think the bloodshed will stop?" Ko asks hopelessly. "It won't. Soon, a time will come when you can no longer hide, when you can no longer run," he says, and his entire demeanor grows darker.

  "Because in the shadows lurks something far more dangerous than you could imagine in your worst nightmares... and if you don't stop, I fear it will awaken.

  Believe me when I tell you that you don't want that. Because after that, there's no turning back.

  I learned it—the hard way," he explains, scratching at the scar on his face, which begins to itch.

  "Maybe he's right," Ely observes. "He has more experience than all of us combined," she adds.

  For a moment, Gringo's face reflects a flicker of contemplation.

  "Is it really experience you're hearing, Ely?" Gringo asks slyly. "I doubt it. What I see and hear is an old, bitter man ruled by fear, with a story straight out of a fantasy book."

  It bangs!

  Suddenly, Ko grabs Gringo with superhuman strength and presses him against the door. Gringo can barely move. Ko is panting like a wild animal, ready to strike.

  "You dare speak to me like that! After all the shit you've caused!" Ko yells at him.

  The others try to calm him down, but a single look from Ko's terrifying eyes is enough to keep them at bay.

  "You call me a liar, Gringo? Do you think I care about your opinion in the slightest?" Ko says through gritted teeth. "But I won't let your ignorance be the cause of more innocent deaths!"

  "Then do it. Finish it," Gringo challenges, but his voice trembles with fear.

  For a moment, Ko even considers it, but then...

  "No, you won't. You'll never do it again," Gringo says more resolutely. "The man I respected and followed into the darkest depths wouldn't have hesitated for a second to do what was necessary."

  Ely pleads with both Ko and her husband to stop.

  Ko lets go, and Gringo falls to the ground, gasping for air, while Ko looks at his hands before storming out of the room.

  Once Gringo has caught his breath, he pulls himself back up. "You're just a shadow of your former self," he calls after Ko.

  Emmod and Novel press back against the tilted window near the bar to keep watching Ko.

  "Did you see that?" Novel asks, full of admiration. "I never thought Ko was so strong."

  "Mom's going to do the same to us when we get home," Emmod responds, equally tense.

  Contrary to their expectations, Ko doesn't storm out of the tavern but instead sits back down on the barstool. He quickly orders another mug of beer and examines a coin from his pocket closely in the candlelight.

  The only remaining guests upstairs are the five rowdy men, now eating and tossing inappropriate remarks every time the young waitress, Wyne, serves them.

  As Wyne hurries past to take the men's next order, Ko briefly stops her.

  "If you want me to step in, just say the word," he says in a calm voice.

  "This is nothing. Besides, I've been doing this job long enough. I can handle it," Wyne brushes him off, just as one of the men makes another crude remark.

  Ko and Wyne share a brief smile before she continues to serve the men, and Ko goes back to studying the coin in his hand under the dim light.

  For several minutes, nothing else happens. Emmod and Novel begin to feel the fatigue setting in, only tempered by the dropping temperature.

  They've gathered plenty of information, but one thing is clear—their night won't end until their uncle's does. Yet, he still sits idly at the bar.

  "If only he knew we're freezing our butts off out here," Emmod says, his teeth chattering.

  "Let's just go inside," Novel says with a yawn. "Maybe Ko can carry us home."

  The five men, meanwhile, seem to be having the time of their lives. After stuffing themselves, they continue drinking copious amounts of alcohol. Even Richyai lets them be, not wanting to turn away their money.

  The eldest of the men has ordered himself a Dragon's Cup. When the cup arrives, he draws everyone's attention by placing one foot on his chair and the other on the round table. Even Ko glances over his shoulder, slightly dazed.

  Some boastful words follow, accompanied by exaggerated gestures, before he downs the entire contents of the cup in one go.

  But after the last gulp, his throat starts making strange movements, and his face contorts.

  It takes a few seconds before his mouth opens slightly, and he starts roaring as loudly as if he were a dragon. His companions slap each other on the back and burst into raucous laughter.

  To Emmod and Novel, it sounds more like the roar of an idiot than a dragon.

  Their uncle Ko also turns back in disapproval, and a stretch of silence follows.

  Fatigue grips everyone present, including Ko, who nearly drifts off to sleep, not to mention Emmod and Novel. At the same time, a soft, soothing voice seems to fill the silence in the room, drifting up from the cellar.

  At night, the darkest powers rise,

  In shadows creeping, full of lies.

  They take and laugh with wicked glee,

  Stealing the hearts of soldiers in sleep.

  His glorious kingdom, it draws him near,

  But a song rings out by the golden sphere.

  "Rest in peace, farewell to thee,"

  The mighty king—it's a tragedy.

  At night, the darkest powers rise,

  In shadows creeping, full of lies.

  The foe returns, they still recall,

  Hiding in mountains, standing tall.

  The king seeks vengeance, burning bright,

  But to his queen, it's a dreadful sight.

  The cycle of violence will never cease,

  Go, before it's too late—find your peace.

  This heinous act, there'll be revenge,

  For those who seek death without end.

  I'll lead the bravest by my side,

  And their people will swiftly die.

  Then follow her...

  "What's all that noise?" asks the oldest man with a full red beard. "Are we in a tavern or a church?" he sneers, swaying as he stands up.

  Ko, still humming the song to himself, along with Richyai and Wyne, pays no attention to the man, which irritates him even more than the singing from the cellar.

  Suddenly, he throws his glass just over the fireplace, and it shatters into a hundred pieces.

  The three are startled, and even the singing from the cellar falls silent.

  "Oh, did I interrupt you?" he says sarcastically. "Girl, clean that up," he orders Wyne, then drops back into his chair and continues talking with the others as if nothing had happened.

  "Damn clowns," he mutters loudly enough for everyone to hear.

  As Wyne quickly grabs the broom to clean up the mess, Richyai stops her.

  "I'll handle this," he says, rolling up his sleeves as he prepares to confront the man, but Ko suddenly puts his arm in front of him.

  "What are you doing?" Richyai asks angrily, but he hesitates when he sees the determination in Ko's eyes.

  Ko takes a final big gulp from his mug and wipes his mouth.

  "No need to get your hands dirty," he says, stepping toward the five men.

  For a brief moment, during the few verses of the song, Ko had felt joy again, forgetting the burdens and troubles weighing on him. The entire song held special meaning for him, as it used to be meant for him.

  He stops at the table where the five men are seated, all of them looking at him suspiciously.

  "Got a problem?" asks the man who threw the glass.

  "That depends on what you do next," Ko replies, causing the men to glare at him even more suspiciously. "I might have a problem if you don't clean up the mess you made."

  Mocking laughter erupts from them.

  "Get lost," says the bearded man.

  "I've never seen you around here before," Ko responds. "Are you sure I'm the one who should be getting lost?"

  Their laughter fades and their expressions now turn much more threatening. Richyai and Wyne watch the situation, tense and cautious.

  "You look familiar," says the bearded man, studying Ko closely. "Have we met before?"

  "I usually try to avoid getting acquainted with criminals," Ko replies.

  "Criminals?" the man asks, feigning surprise.

  "Isn't that so?" Ko begins. "If I remember correctly, I recently saw your wanted poster in the Globus newspaper."

  Mocking laughter erupts again from the five.

  "The man knows things that could get him killed."

  "I won't say it again," Ko says, grabbing the bearded man by the shoulder, who glares at Ko dismissively.

  Wyne steps away from Richyai.

  "Hey," she says, grabbing Ko by the shoulder. "Calm down, please. It's not worth it. I'll handle this."

  "You see?" the man says after Ko lets go of his shoulder and steps back.

  "The little one is doing just fine."

  "When you're done with that, you can move on to my fly," the second oldest of the men yells at her, and again they all laugh together.

  But that was the final straw.

  "What did you just say?" Ko asks, clearly agitated, as the eldest brother steps between them.

  He's about twice as broad as Ko and a bit taller.

  "If you've got a problem with my little brother, you've got a problem with me."

  Ko sizes him up for a moment before sighing.

  "The way you're behaving right now is very inappropriate," Ko begins calmly. "How would you feel if strangers, outnumbering you and stronger, humiliated you for no reason and laughed right in your face? And there was nothing you could do about it. Not so nice, right?

  So you'd better apologize – now!"

  The five brothers grin.

  "We'll think about it – bum. Now check this out," he says, gesturing to the blades strapped all around his belt. His brothers also make no effort to hide the dangerous items hanging from their own belts.

  "You say you saw us in the Globus newspaper. Want to know why?" he asks. "We are the Fearsome Five from the West. We do what we want, when and where we want. And we're not here to chit-chat with a homeless, mouthy drunk."

  He leans in closer. "We're here to have some fun," he whispers in Ko's ear, "and I think I'll have a little fun with the girl later."

  In a split second, Ko smashes the man's head onto the table with such force that it shatters.

  His brothers freeze in shock, seeing their eldest brother lying motionless beside the broken table.

  Whether dead or unconscious – they don't know. They could never have imagined in their wildest dreams that someone stronger than their eldest brother could exist. And with such a clear difference in strength?

  Their emotions boil over. Mindlessly, they charge at Ko.

  A wild brawl breaks out, with every object within reach turned into a weapon. Novel moves to break up the fight but is quickly held back by Emmod.

  Novel doesn't understand why his brother is stopping him, but Emmod makes it clear that Ko doesn't need help, especially not from Novel.

  On closer inspection, it's clear that Ko has the situation fully under control.

  His movements are fluid and shapeless, like water.

  He moves with such speed that the attacks of the four red-haired men miss by a wide margin, and it becomes impossible for them to defend against his strikes. Ko's blows are precisely aimed at nerve points, not just to incapacitate the four men but to fatally wound them.

  The others rush up from the cellar after hearing the commotion, but the fight is already over, as quickly as it began, leaving them only to stare in shock at the destruction in the tavern.

  The motionless bodies of four men are scattered across the room.

  Only the youngest one remains standing, and that's only because Ko allows it.

  The young man whimpers for mercy as Ko grips him by the neck with one hand, like a constricting snake slowly crushing its prey with every breath. His other hand is clenched into a fist, ready to strike. The man pleads with Ko to spare him.

  It is only when Ko looks into the weak, trembling face of the young man that he pauses.

  His gaze drifts to the lifeless bodies around them and to the familiar faces.

  He's lost control, and he knows it.

  He looks back into the red-haired man's face, wondering...

  Because something about Ko has terrified the man like nothing he's ever experienced before.

  "What are you?" the man asks in fear, his voice tinged with curiosity.

  Ko's eyes have changed from blue to orange.

  The young man has never seen anything like it.

  The mark of a six-petalled lotus has formed on Ko's hands. When he notices this, Ko glances at his reflection through a broken window glass, watching as his eyes slowly return to their natural blue colour.

  Shocked that it has come to this, Ko rushes out of the tavern without looking at anyone or exchanging a word as he covers the marks on his hands.

  It was the first time Emmod and Novel had ever witnessed a fight. And to think it involved their uncle, was something they could have never imagined.

  Slowly, they begin to understand why their uncle knows so much about nerve points.

  At least for Novel, he now sees Ko in a completely different light—more impressive than before, because he views what Ko did as a heroic act.

  Both he and his older brother are in awe of his strength. They also feel a certain satisfaction and inner excitement. But this contradicts to their original conviction to never use violence themselves.

  Do Emmod and Novel actually enjoy the idea of fighting, or is it the thrill of their uncle's victory that gives them a sense of balance?

  They want to follow their uncle, but suddenly the youngest of the five red-haired brothers begins to scream.

  "And you let someone like that into your tavern?!" he yells at Richyai, "Look at what he did to my brothers!"

  "They should be glad they're still alive," Gringo replies after checking with his group to make sure they still have a pulse.

  "And so should you, boy," Richyai adds.

  Richyai's frustration fuels his anger over his tavern being destroyed for the second time that evening.

  Slowly, the four men regain consciousness, filled with pain and barely able to move.

  Like the youngest, the eldest brother, who survived the impact with the table—unlike the table—also demands an explanation for this inhuman strength.

  "Get out," Richyai hisses, aiming a crossbow at the eldest brother.

  They don't hesitate to follow the order. Limping, without a word, and with their heads lowered, they leave the tavern, deliberately choosing the path that leads them away from Ko, who, deep in thought, is slowly walking away from the tavern.

  Gringo follows the five brothers outside but only to light a cigarette at the entrance. His wife Ely joins him.

  "Wyne told me what happened," Ely says.

  "Well," Gringo replies, "he needs to be more cautious with strangers."

  "How would you feel?" Ely asks. "He's lost everything that was important to him: his family, friends, his status, and almost his own identity."

  "Didn't we all?" Gringo asks.

  "But unlike us, demons accompany his days and rob him of sleep at night. They are driven by his loneliness, grief, and especially the guilt over the tragic and horrible events that happened during the war."

  "Humph," Gringo grunts, unable to respond.

  "He found a moment of inner peace, and this scum took it away from him immediately," Ely continues. "Yet he initially tried to remain kind and understanding, hoping that no one would suffer as he has, before..."

  "Before he turned them into pulp," Gringo finishes the sentence with a laugh.

  Ely smiles briefly but then returns to the seriousness of the situation.

  "You should tell him," she says, whispering the next part to Gringo so that Emmod and Novel cannot hear, "about his brother."

  Gringo takes a deep breath.

  "You're probably right," he replies. "And I will, when the time is right."

  Suddenly, they hear Richyai shouting in the tavern.

  They head back inside to help him and Wyne with the cleanup.

  "Shouldn't we follow him?" Novel asks.

  "No, he looked tired when he left. I think he's going home," Emmod replies. "We should do the same. Mom has probably sent out a search troop to find us."

  They can worry about the consequences of their late-night adventure later.

  For now, they are relieved to learn that Ko is not one of the Crimson Crusaders, even though he apparently has connections with them.

  What significant role he played in the past remains a mystery, just like many other secrets surrounding Ko, which will remain unsolved until his return to Rilgohin.