The deeper they went into the city, the tighter the pressure became.
Not physical.
Not like the tomb.
But something else.
Something heavier.
---
Money.
Power.
Control.
---
Ren adjusted his pace, keeping it steady despite the pain still lingering in his body. Every step reminded him—he wasn't healed.
Just functioning.
---
"Where exactly are we going?" Lira asked quietly.
---
Ren didn't look at her.
"…The lower district."
---
She frowned. "That's not a good place."
---
"No place here is good," he replied. "But that's where we'll find it."
---
"The medicine?"
---
He nodded.
---
Because the truth was simple.
Anything that could save Mira—
Wasn't sold openly.
---
They turned again, leaving behind the crowded mid-streets and descending into narrower, darker paths. The buildings here leaned closer, blocking out more light. The air felt thicker.
---
People stared.
Not curious.
Not friendly.
---
Calculating.
---
"…I really hate this place," Lira muttered.
---
Ren gave a faint hum.
"…Get used to it."
---
They stopped in front of a small shop.
If you could even call it that.
---
No sign.
No decorations.
Just a wooden door and a single narrow window.
---
"This is it?" Lira asked.
---
Ren nodded once.
Then pushed the door open.
---
The bell didn't ring this time.
---
Inside—
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
---
Shelves lined the walls, filled with bottles, powders, strange herbs, and liquids that glowed faintly under dim light.
---
And behind the counter—
A woman stood.
---
Tall.
Calm.
Eyes sharp enough to cut.
---
"…You're late," she said.
---
Ren stopped.
"…Late?"
---
Her gaze didn't shift.
---
"For someone desperate enough to come here," she replied.
---
Lira stepped slightly closer to Ren. "…We're here for medicine."
---
The woman tilted her head slightly.
---
"Everyone who walks in here is."
---
She stepped forward slowly.
---
"What kind?"
---
Ren didn't hesitate.
---
"…Mana rot suppressant."
---
Silence.
---
The air changed instantly.
---
Lira stiffened.
"…Ren…"
---
The woman's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
"…That's not something you casually ask for."
---
"I'm not asking casually."
---
Another pause.
---
Then—
"…Who's it for?"
---
Ren's jaw tightened.
---
"…My sister."
---
The woman studied him carefully.
Long.
Uncomfortable.
---
Then she turned.
Walked to the back shelf.
---
"…You know what that means, right?" she said without looking back.
---
Ren didn't answer.
---
"You don't treat mana rot," she continued. "You delay it."
---
She grabbed a small vial.
Dark.
Barely glowing.
---
"And every dose costs more than the last."
---
She placed it on the counter.
---
"…One hundred silver."
---
Lira sucked in a sharp breath. "What?! That's insane!"
---
Ren didn't react outwardly.
---
But inside—
His chest tightened.
---
They didn't have that much.
Not even close.
---
"…We don't have it," Lira said quietly.
---
Ren stepped forward.
---
"…Then we make a deal."
---
The woman looked at him again.
Interested.
---
"…What kind of deal?"
---
Ren placed the remaining shards on the counter.
---
"Everything we have."
---
She glanced at them.
Then back at him.
---
"…Not enough."
---
Silence.
---
Lira clenched her fists. "Then what do you want?"
---
The woman didn't answer immediately.
---
Her eyes shifted slightly.
Toward Ren.
---
Specifically—
His chest.
---
"…You came from the Ashen Tombs," she said.
---
Not a question.
---
"…Yes."
---
"And you survived something you shouldn't have."
---
Ren said nothing.
---
The woman's lips curved slightly.
---
"…Then you have something more valuable than coins."
---
The room felt colder.
---
Lira stepped forward. "We're not giving you anything like that—"
---
Ren raised a hand slightly.
Stopping her.
---
"…What do you want?" he asked.
---
The woman leaned forward.
---
"…Work."
---
Silence.
---
"…Excuse me?" Lira said.
---
"There's something I need retrieved," the woman continued calmly. "Something from outside the city."
---
Ren's eyes narrowed.
---
"…Another tomb?"
---
A faint smile.
---
"…Worse."
---
Lira shook her head immediately. "No. Absolutely not. He can barely stand!"
---
The woman didn't even look at her.
---
"One job," she said. "And you get the medicine."
---
Ren stared at the vial.
---
Small.
Fragile.
---
But worth everything.
---
Mira's face flashed in his mind.
Weak.
Fading.
---
His hand tightened.
---
"…Ren," Lira said quietly. "Think about this."
---
"I am."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
"…What's the job?" Ren asked.
---
The woman smiled.
---
"…I thought you'd say that."
---
She turned.
Reaching for something behind the counter.
---
"…There's a place," she began,
---
"where even the Alchemist Union doesn't like to go."
---
Ren's expression hardened.
---
"…Then why do you?"
---
She glanced back.
---
"…Because I know what's hidden there."
---
She placed a small, sealed scroll on the counter.
---
"Bring me what's inside that location," she said.
---
"And your sister lives."
---
The room went silent.
---
Lira looked at Ren.
---
Ren didn't move.
---
Didn't speak.
---
But slowly—
He reached out.
---
And took the scroll.
---
"…Deal."
---
Lira's eyes widened.
"…Ren—!"
---
He didn't look at her.
Because the moment he took it
There was no turning back.