Sulking in the sewers

Amber narrows her eyes, shifting her gaze between Masaki and Wolfgang. “So what are we doing?” she asks, voice edged with urgency. “Taking the block to the sewer with the key or going without it?”

Masaki replies calmly, “With the key seems safer.”

Amber shrugs. “I’m not against it… but not exactly for it either. I just think Ashira can break a lock. Just a feeling.”

Their would-be guide, visibly uncomfortable, cuts in. “Please don’t break the locks. We need those to keep the goblins out. We sleep there.”

Masaki offers, “Then give us the key. We’ll return it.”

But Collin shakes his head. “Then I can’t get into my home.”

Amber frowns. “Don’t you have a plant pot we can put the key in?”

“No,” he snaps.

“We’ll come back tomorrow,” Masaki insists. “Bring the key back.”

“And where am I supposed to sleep tonight?” Collin retorts.

Amber sighs. “Wolfgang can arrange a place for you if needed.”

Still, Collin refuses. “It’s my key.”

Amber studies him, trying to figure out his motives. Is he trying to help… or is this a trap?

She finally says, “Okay. Sure.”

“He seems sincere,” Wolfgang notes after watching him closely.

“But you know he’s a criminal,” Amber mutters, half to herself. “Or used to be. Could still be.”

Masaki turns to Ashira. “Come along. We’re bringing you.”

Amber agrees. “We want to go inside. He has the key. Let’s just go.”

“Ashira’s acting on emotion,” she adds. “We need to think rationally now.”

Masaki grabs Collin by the collar to get him moving. He stiffens, surprised. “Ashira?” he asks. “The Ashira?”

“Yes. That one,” Masaki replies.

“How do you know her?” Collin presses.

“That’s not your concern.”

“She of interest to you?” Masaki challenges.

“There is no concern of yours.”

Wolfgang observes the exchange, narrowing his eyes. Collin’s surprise is genuine. He seems lost in thought, perhaps unsettled by the name. Then he brushes himself off and says, “Let’s go after the others. I’ll show you the way.”

Amber whispers, “Why do I feel this is about to go south?”

“Oh, it is,” Masaki mutters, following close behind.

“I’ll walk next to him,” Amber offers.

Wolfgang jokes, “Ashira’s a bard, right? I think I heard her sing last night. Sounded like a drunk owl getting strangled.”

Collin smirks faintly. “She sings. I remember an Ashira… from long ago. That would match the age.”

“You two worked together?” Amber asks.

“Not really,” he replies. “It’s more between her and her father.”

“Then let’s meet him,” Masaki says. “What’s his name?”

“We’ll go there. You’ll meet him,” Collin replies evasively.

Wolfgang lowers his voice. “Let’s not say names here.”

Elsewhere, Ashira walks briskly, focused on the instructions she was given. She doesn’t stop.

Daiki moves beside her, eyes scanning. He notices they’re staying on a westward path, thanks to his natural sense of direction.

Daiki points across the plaza. “Ash,” he says, tugging gently at her sleeve, “I think that woman is being robbed.”

Ash peers in the direction he’s pointing. Two goblins are indeed tearing a coin pouch from a woman’s side before darting away. Without hesitation, both companions spring into action.

Daiki reaches for the magic within him and casts Entangle, hoping to trap the fleeing goblins. Vines surge from the ground, but the goblins dodge them effortlessly and take off. Daiki lets the spell fade and starts running.

Around them, the city shifts into motion. The rain has stopped, but slick puddles still glisten across the cobbled streets. One of the goblins skids slightly but keeps his footing, sprinting down a side path. The other follows close behind, vanishing between buildings.

Ash sprints forward, weaving through the crowd. A cart rolls in her path—“Pineapples! Fresh pineapples!”—but she leaps over it without losing momentum. “Hey!” she shouts after the goblins, her voice cutting through the din.

Seeing an alley, she veers left, trusting her instincts. At the end, a tall fence blocks her path. She doesn’t slow down. With a graceful leap, she clears it, barely touching the ground on the other side before bolting ahead.

Daiki chooses a different route, looping past the woman they had seen earlier and cutting through the plaza. He glances back briefly to signal the others, then pushes forward, trying to catch up with Ash.

They converge again at the edge of a park.

Another goblin rolls forward, pushing ahead without trouble. Ash, meanwhile, encounters the same dense crowd. She’s momentarily blocked, but she lifts her chin and sings out with charisma, her voice parting the people like waves. “Dashing through the park!” she calls. The crowd reacts, parting for her passage. Her presence clears the way.

As they pursue, rain-slicked ground complicates matters. A goblin slips, tumbles hard, and loses momentum. Another bolts into a brawl and doesn’t come out. Two men, mid-fight, slam into him. The goblin collapses, lifeless.

Ash reaches the river. “No gods, no glory,” she mutters, and takes a running leap. Her jump lands clean on the opposite bank. She pushes forward, facing yet another crowd. With poise and a commanding air, she presses through—barely, but enough.

She catches up to the fleeing goblin. Just behind her, Daiki runs hard. He leaps the river with practiced form, lands with precision, and joins her. “I don’t know if you’ve caught it,” he says, “but if not, I’m ready.”

---

Dillon walks as promised, leading them precisely where he described earlier. He seems open and chatty, saying, “I live with a few friends. It’s been infested a bit with goblins. At first it was fine, they kept others away, but now they’re getting to be a problem. We keep safe with the steel bars—they can’t get past those. But if you could get rid of them, that’d be amazing.”

“That’s exactly what we’re going to try to do,” Daiki replies. “What do you do for a living?”

“You saw me begging. That’s kind of what I do now.”

“Were you trained in anything before that?”

“Not really. To be honest, I wasn’t always on the straight and narrow.”

Wolfgang presses, “How big is the goblin problem? What’s the reward?”

“We don’t have money,” Dillon says plainly. “I thought your goal was to remove the goblins. That’s why I’m helping you.”

“Maybe you should pay us,” Wolfgang mutters.

Daiki interjects, “We’re already helping you in our own way.”

“Exactly,” Dillon agrees. “This works for both of us.”

Wolfgang steps away slightly to speak with Amber. “What names should we go by? Ashira’s name might raise alarms, and I’d rather not use mine. I also don’t like ‘Wolfie.’”

Amber smiles. “Are you starting to learn? Good. I think I’ll go by Fireball. That’s what they called me at the Peanut Pub.”

“For me… maybe Shatterhorn. A good dwarven name.”

Amber snorts. “Shut-orn?”

“No. Shatterhorn.”

She laughs. “Bien sûr. Fireball and Shatterhorn. Eh, Masaki?”

Wolfgang motions Masaki over discreetly. Amber plays along, distracting Dillon. “Masaki, Mr. Stormhammer wants a word.”

Masaki doesn’t stop walking. “What’s up?” he sends to Wolfgang telepathically.

Wolfgang responds mentally. “We’re going by Fireball and Shatterhorn. What name should you use?”

Masaki replies aloud, “Let’s keep an eye out. We’ll be fine.”

“But if we’re known around here…” Wolfgang trails off.

“I don’t mind people knowing my name if I’m doing good for the city,” Masaki says.

Wolfgang relents. “Fine. You know this city better. But we’ll still be Miss Fireball and Mr. Shatterhorn.”

Amber then turns back to Dillon. “Monsieur Dillon, what will we see down there? A big goblin camp? Anything besides shit?”

“There are two entrances,” he explains. “One’s straight ahead near an old tavern we used to hide out in. Goblins took that over. There are always a few patrolling. We don’t use that one. The other is off to the side—our route. If you move fast, the goblins won’t catch you.”

“And their leader?” Amber asks.

“Never heard them talk about one,” he shrugs. “They just jabber in goblin.”

“They never broke your locks?”

“No. We’re not worth the effort. Too much bone, not enough meat.”

Amber nods. “Good for you, then.”

Dillon adds, “We used to be big, you know. One of the biggest thieves’ guilds in town.”

“I’ve heard of such things,” Amber replies. “Been working here five years.”

“Most big guilds like the Night Quill Syndicate are gone now.”

“Oui. You know about the Triple S?”

“Not really. They were around before even that. I think they still exist? I don’t know.”

Amber studies him closely but gives up trying to read his sincerity. She just nods. “The Triple S weren’t nice. But neither are goblins. You want them gone, oui?”

“I’d love to see those goblins gone,” he says quietly.

As the others finish their quiet exchanges, Dillon points ahead. “There’s the sewer hole the goblins use. We’ll go a bit left—use the safer entrance.”

They find an alley. Amber doesn’t go far in—just around the corner. She quickly pulls on slick fisherman’s gear: high-waisted boots and grimy overalls. Wolfgang steps in farther, changes quietly, then returns to block the alley’s view for her.

“Gracious,” she murmurs.

Dillon waits nearby. “This is the sewer lid the goblins use,” he says. “But we’re taking the other one over here. It’s safer. That’s the one we use.”

Daiki and Ash chase down the goblin through the chaotic street, catching him between them. Daiki looks to Ash. “Do you want to do the honors, Ash, or should I?”

“Yes,” she replies without hesitation.

They both lunge. Ash fumbles, the goblin slipping from her grip, but Daiki seizes him firmly. “Got him,” he says, holding the wriggling creature tight.

“We just want you to calm down and talk,” Daiki tells the goblin. “And give us the purse so we can return it.”

Ash snatches the coin purse hanging from the goblin’s belt without resistance. “Got it,” she confirms.

“You’re going to bring us to the sewer, right?” Daiki asks. The goblin mutters something bitterly in agreement.

Ash, taking the moment, moves to the second goblin, checking him over. “Just making sure he doesn’t have the other purse,” she explains. Finding nothing, she returns.

Daiki looks around. “Ash, grab my rope. Let’s tie him up.”

The goblin protests. “Why? I’m helping!”

“Because I don’t trust you,” Daiki says flatly.

“You’re small and slippery,” Ash adds. “You’ll run away.”

The goblin groans. “I don’t want to be on a leash!”

“You’re going to be,” Ash says, already wrapping the rope. “Don’t have a lot of options here.”

As they start moving, Daiki chuckles, “Let’s walk this doggie.”

The goblin, in defiance, glances back and grins. Then, defiantly, he starts to relieve himself in the street.

Ash turns to Daiki. “If he starts shitting somewhere, you’re the one cleaning it up.”

Daiki shrugs. “It’s good for the trees.”

“Not the street,” she says, exasperated.

They continue, reaching a sewer lid just as the rest of the party appears from the alley. Ash waves. “Oh hey guys! You’re finally here. We’ve got someone to bring us.”

Tachibana shouts from a distance, “Why do you have a goblin on a leash?”

“He’s taking us to the goblin camp,” Daiki explains as they close the distance.

Wolfgang stands tall, fully dressed in his persona. Ash’s eyes widen. “Oh my god, Wolfie, you look amazing!”

“Miss, we don’t use that name,” he replies coldly. “Call me Shatterhorn.”

Ash blinks. “Horny? That’s what you want me to call you?”

Wolfgang sighs. “Shatterhorn.”

Daiki laughs. “Who is that horn?”

Wolfgang scowls at the goblin. “We don’t need him. Let’s get rid of it.”

Ash points at Dillon, and then towards a trashcan. “NO, we don’t need HIM! Just leave him over there where he belongs, then we’ll follow.”

Dillon recoils. “Ashira, what do you have against me?”

“You know who I am,” Ash says, glaring. “So what?”

“I know your father.”

“Unrelated,” she snaps. “Let’s go.”

Daiki nods. “Bye, Dillon.”

The goblin makes a break for it. Ash reacts fast, stepping on the rope. He jerks to a stop.

Daiki blinks. “Didn’t you say to let him go?”

“No,” Ash replies. “I said to leave the trash. Not the goblin.”

Tachibana steps in. “We’re helping this man.”

“What?” Ash stares in disbelief. “Have you lost your mind?”

“He has a key and knowledge about the goblins. It helps us,” Tachibana reasons. “It’s a good deal.”

Amber turns to Masaki. “Do we want the goblins scared or not? Should we let them know we’re coming?”

Masaki shakes his head. “Stealth is better. Let’s not warn them.”

Amber shrugs. “You’re heading into the sewers with a fire lady.”

“We should at least try to learn from past mistakes,” Masaki replies. “Last time we followed a goblin, it went badly.”

Meanwhile, Wolfgang leans toward the beggar. “How’s Boris’s mood these days?”

“Same as mine,” the man replies grimly. “Not great, but he plays his music. At least he’s not begging.”

Wolfgang raises a brow. “Peanut pub, right?”

The man nods. “Yeah.”

Back with the others, Daiki looks toward a different sewer entrance. “Are we leaving the trash behind?”

Tachibana points. “That entrance is dangerous. Let’s go left—it’s safer.”

The party regroups, uncertain but moving forward. Eventually, they leave the goblin unconscious, covered up in an alleyway, and proceed to the ‘safe’ entrance – together with Dillon Burton. Ash mutters, “Just for the record, I said this was a really bad idea.”

---

The group stands at the threshold of a grim descent. Tension lingers like mist in the air. Wolfgang urges, “Please don’t listen to Miss Ashira. She’s a mad—”

“She’s my friend,” Daiki interrupts, firm and unwavering. “And you’re being very bad friends to her by doing this with that guy. Let’s just go. The quicker we finish, the sooner we leave him behind and get on with our mission.”

Masaki gestures to the left entrance, and the party begins to move. Ash trails behind, sulking in silence. Daiki stays close to her, whispering, “Wait—I’ll stay with Ash.”

Before entering the sewer, Wolfgang glances at Ashira. “Children should never have to experience the burden of their parents’ deeds. Don’t worry, Ashira.” He walks ahead. She responds coolly, “I’m not worried.”

Ash lights her bullseye lantern. A beam of bright light cuts through the dark, drawing immediate protest from Dillon. “Put it off! The goblins might see it.”

Daiki steps forward and gently takes her hand. He draws on his elementalism, and the flame extinguishes. “Please trust me on this. I’ll lead you.”

Ash softens. “I trust you, Daiki. I just don’t trust him.”

“Me neither,” Daiki replies. “But they want to go.”

Tachibana reaches for Dillon’s shirt and grabs it. Behind him, Wolfgang takes Tachibana’s hand, keeping his other hand free, crossbow ready. “I’m behind you,” Amber assures him. “I can see everything. I have your back.”

In the pitch dark, Ash clings to Daiki’s shoulder. “Put your hand on mine,” he says gently.

The tunnel reeks. Daiki gags. “It’s disgusting. Very unnatural.”

“Natural,” Wolfgang counters dryly, “but disgusting.”

Wolfgang wears a pouch of herbs, barely masking the stench. “It’s the stench of the working class,” he quips. Daiki still smells it through his flowers.

Finally, Dillon halts at a gate. He peers through the bars and whispers, “Two goblins, walking away. It’s quiet now.” He readies a lock. “Once it opens—run. Jump the water. Go for the fence. Do you see it?”

The gate creaks open, and the group is urged to run and leap across the dark, narrow stream. “To jump over it, just run and jump!” someone calls out. Amber doesn’t hesitate—she clears the water with a determined leap. Wolfgang hangs back, suspicious. Still, he moves cautiously forward, watching the man who opened the gate.

There’s some light—torches flickering on the far wall—but shadows dominate the space. Wolfgang stays alert, ready to wedge his foot or wing in the door if things go wrong. One by one, the others cross the gap. Amber lands gracefully. Tachibana stumbles but manages to reach the other side. Ashira jumps, but her feet splash into the filthy water. She grimaces, pulls them out, and shivers in disgust. Daiki quickly follows, helping her up. “Let’s go, Ash,” he says, steadying her.

Wolfgang hovers nearby, prepared to support Masaki if needed. The man who opened the gate doesn’t hesitate—he’s done this before. Goblins stir and begin to approach. Ash glares at the nearest one and snarls, “Stay the fuck away. I’m not in a good mood, fuckface.” Her words sting, but the goblin resists the magic behind them.

The group rushes through the next gate. Their guide unlocks it and urges them on. “Quick, quick! Get through!” Amber waits for Wolfgang before crossing. Ash, unable to see in the dark, grabs Daiki’s arm and follows his lead. “Just hold on.” Amber reaches for Wolfgang too. “Grab my shoulder,” she offers.

They all make it through, the gate slamming shut behind them. Goblins shout from the other side, “We almost got you this time!” But the door holds.

Inside, faint light reveals figures ahead. Amber gasps, “Oh my god. People!” A tiefling sits calmly in the glow. Ash recognizes one of the men. Her eyes narrow, a half-smile forming. It’s Boris Conley.

The tiefling stands, staring. “Who are these people, Dillon?”

“They want to kill goblins,” Dillon replies. “It’s in our best interests to help. And one of them—she may be of more interest to you.”

Ashira stands still in the dim, foul-smelling chamber, tension clinging to her shoulders. A familiar voice pierces the gloom.

“Ashira? Is that you?”

She meets the eyes of the man who speaks—her father, Cassius. Her mouth tightens.

“I can’t say it’s good to see you.”

He asks if she needs help. Her reply is curt: “No.”

“It’s been so long,” he says, voice loaded with something between regret and accusation.

“I want to kick you, but I’m afraid I might kill you,” she mutters.

“You’re the one who left,” he snaps. “You could have helped us.”

“You chased me. I never wanted to help—you knew that.”

Cassius doesn’t relent. “It’s the least you could’ve done. That’s all it is for you.”

Ashira bristles. “Goddamn it. I’m back for five seconds and already—this again? I don’t owe you anything. You don’t own me.”

“You’re just like your sister.”

“What of my sister?”

“She made her own decisions too. You saw where that led us.”

Ashira’s voice sharpens. “Of course she made the wrong choices. That’s what she was known for. You raise a psychopath, you get a psychopath.”

“You both should have made us stronger,” Cassius growls. “Instead, you destroyed us.”

Ashira glares. “Rightfully so. You’re exactly where you belong. I hope every day is pain for you.”

Cassius shakes his head. “Well, I guess you’re happy now.”

Wolfgang interrupts. “Ashira, would you like to introduce us to your… companions?”

“No need,” she says, flat. “They’re just stains under your soles. Like trash cans outside. Soon discarded.”

“Always the funny girl,” Wolfgang remarks.

Cassius tries to reassert authority. “At least by blood—”

Ashira cuts in. “That’s generous. You’ve never been a father to me.”

“Blood means something,” he insists.

“It means nothing. You were never there. Just expectations—nothing else.”

Cassius frowns. “Even that, I doubt.”

Ashira throws up her hands. “See? No reasoning with you. Why did we even come here? I told you not to.”

Cassius mutters, “At least I tried to find you. Until Boris got in the way—”

She’s already turning away. He raises his voice again.

“Stop it, Scribe. They’re planning to help us. Don’t agitate them.”

Talk turns to strategy. Cassius—once chief of the Nightquill Syndicate—pulls out a crude map, drawing it with a shaking hand. He explains the sewer layout, goblin positions, and possible paths through. Amber, Wolfgang, and Tachibana listen, ask questions. Daiki lingers quietly at the back, observing.

Ashira rolls her eyes. “Thank you for the plan. We’ll take the map. We’ll do our own thing. I do love that scared look on your face—suits you. I hope I never see you again.”

Cassius continues, offering advice to Masaki: use stealth, take out the patrolling goblins first, then hit the camp and the tavern.

Amber asks about the goblin leader—Hugo. Cassius shrugs. “We stay away. They only come near if we cross their path.”

Amber raises an eyebrow. “You’ve lived here this long and never heard of him?”

“We want to survive,” Cassius insists. “We avoid them. We live our lives.”

“In the smell of shit?” Amber mutters.

Ashira smirks. “Rats survive too. They just crawl down here, covered in shit—where they belong. Funny you want to help revive an old crime syndicate, Bana.”

“I’m not here to do that,” Tachibana says calmly. “Don’t take your anger out on me.”

Amber watches silently. Her eyes drift between Ashira and Cassius. The bitterness, the hatred—it confuses her. How can family hate each other this much? She stands still, shaken, not quite herself.

Tachibana speaks first, steady and composed. “We’ll take a moment to go over the information and then move forward with our plan.”

Wolfgang, blurts out, “What are we waiting for? Let’s hunt some goblins!” His voice echoes louder than it should. Amber winces. A warning follows quickly—if they hear him, the element of surprise is gone.

Ashira, her voice sharp with accusation, snaps at her father, suggesting a betrayal. “You made some deal. Gave them someone noble, didn’t you?”

“That’s enough,” Tachibana cuts in firmly, ushering the group toward the door. Ashira resists, shouting venom behind her. “Where’s that big speech now? Power to conquer kings, huh?”

Masaki has to half-carry her out, Ashira still spitting rage. “You just rot. I can still smell you from here.”

Outside, Tachibana checks the left path. It’s sealed, only small pipes visible. Wolfgang lingers behind, wanting to speak to the man they left. “Was there anything that ever comforted her?” he asks.

“No,” comes the bitter reply. “She always blamed me. Maybe being away from me brought her peace.”

Wolfgang presses, “What happened to her sister?”

“She joined the enemy. The Crimson Veil.”

Amber perks up, asking, “What’s her name?”

“Maya,” comes the answer. “M-A-Y-A.”

Amber recalls that name—The Crimson Veil, the criminal syndicate that dismantled the Nightquill Syndicate. Amber and Tachibana exchange knowledge. They both recognize the group’s notoriety.

“And her mother?” Amber asks softly.

“She’s been dead a while.”

Amber offers sympathy, but it’s met with a cold reply. “Ashira could’ve helped. She didn’t.”

Dillon arrives, ready to guide them further. “Wait near the goblins. Kill quickly.”

The group regathers. Tension lingers.

Ashira fumes. “Accidents happen in apprehensions,” she says with barely concealed venom. “He could die. I wouldn’t mind.”

Wolfgang speaks calmly, “Let’s not kill a host who gave us shelter.”

Tachibana quietly informs Dillon they’ll be ready soon.

Ashira doesn’t stop. “They won’t even stand up to goblins with sticks!” she shouts toward the chamber. Dillon walks away, unbothered.

“You warned us, sure,” Amber says. “But you didn’t tell us why.”

Daiki snaps. “Now you shut up. She did tell us. We ignored her, and I’m sick of it. We’re finishing this and leaving this cursed city.”

“Feelings don’t matter here,” Amber insists.

Ashira rounds on her. “What are you even talking about?”

Wolfgang tries to ease the tension. “Let’s remove some pressure, yeah?”

But Daiki isn’t having it. “Not everyone’s comfortable. Let’s go.”

They move in silence. The tunnel is pitch black.

---

Tensions simmer as the group debates their next move. Tachibana asks, “Anybody have a different idea than sneaking up, besides the one described to us?”

Wolfgang folds his arms. “Sneaking up is bound to fail when we open the gate. Let’s just get through them.”

“You want to fight twenty goblins and a boss without any tactical advantage?” Tachibana counters.

“I have no confidence in any tactic but surprise,” Wolfgang replies. “I could fly up to the wall, but it’s lit. They’ll see me anyway.”

A sudden rattling interrupts them — the cage doors shake. Goblins. Ash leans forward, muttering, “My god…” and tries to hurl an insult through the bars. “Stop settling the fence, you fat-fingered fuckface!”

Wolfgang sighs, “The language, Ashira.”

“Daiki probably learned the word from me,” Ash shrugs.

“How do you think I learned ‘fucking’?” Daiki smirks.

Amid the tension, Daiki tries to lead Ash toward the gate. “Let’s go.”

Wolfgang offers a strategic pivot. “We don’t need to meet the queen. We just need to get rid of the goblins in the city.”

Tachibana reminds him, “The queen is doing the ritual, remember?”

“Right,” Wolfgang nods. “But for the reward, we need to clear out the goblins.”

Amber chimes in. “Spine told us about three camps. The queen probably knows where the rest are.”

Ash exhales, her voice low and firm. “If we’re doing this, I want to destroy the Nightcall Syndicate. Blow it up. No more hiding. No helping that man — only dragging him into the street or a cell.”

“I was thinking the same,” Tachibana agrees.

Amber raises a concern. “If we blow this place up from underground, it’ll collapse the city.”

“I agree,” Wolfgang says.

Tachibana proposes an alternative: “Let’s get the goblin info, wipe them out, then bring in law enforcement. They’ll want the Syndicate leader and Boris Conley.”

“Or we bury them down here,” Daiki offers casually.

Ash doesn’t object. “If they happen to be buried in the explosion, that’s fine.”

“Let’s not do the explosion,” Tachibana insists. “Too many innocents would die.”

Wolfgang nods. “Some of these leaders should face trial.”

“They lie,” Ash says coldly. “There’s never any proof.”

“It’s a final decision, Ashira,” Wolfgang cautions. “We shouldn’t take it lightly.”

“Oh, believe me. I don’t.”

“There are magical ways to compel truth,” Tachibana adds.

Daiki quietly responds, “If you hesitate while hunting, your prey escapes. Nature doesn’t hesitate.”

“Our goal is to get rid of the goblins,” Wolfgang reminds them.

Tachibana gets practical. “How wide are the bars?”

Wide enough — hands can fit through. “Then why not just pick them off one by one from here?”

Wolfgang’s talon crosses his arm. One eye glows faintly purple as energy pulses through his crossbow. He looks paler than usual.

Ash agrees. “Of course I had a great idea.”

“No one disagrees? Let’s move to the bars,” Tachibana says, eyes narrowing.

Wolfgang offers his longbow to Tachibana. “Just track the arrows and collect them.”

“I’m proficient with any martial weapon,” Tachibana assures him.

They move into position. A faint light glows from around the corner. Wolfgang peers through the bars. “Two goblins, walking away.”

“I’ll wait till they come back,” Wolfgang whispers, loading his crossbow.

Tachibana sends his familiar — a cat — through the bars to scout ahead. Amber sticks close to Wolfgang. “He doesn’t have darkvision,” she mutters.

On the far side, a goblin stops to pee into the water. Tachibana spots them. “Wolfgang, can you see them?”

“I can,” he confirms.

“We’ll fire as soon as they’re in range,” Tachibana whispers.

“We should coordinate targets. Maybe the one with blue shoes.”

“No. Just take them both at the same time.”

“Do we think we can kill them in one shot?” Wolfgang asks.

Amber nods. “I’ll help Wolfgang and throw a javelin.”

Masaki stands ready, while Daiki finds Ash. He whispers, “Aphosto,” standing beside her.

Ash turns slightly. “I’m not afraid.”

She grabs her drum and begins a steady rhythm.

“This works for our plan,” Tachibana notes. “Lure them out.”

“They need to come closer anyway,” Ash replies.

At that moment, the goblin finishes peeing and hears the drumming. The creatures turn — and spot the group gathered behind the bars.

Tachibana raises his longbow through the gate. “They’ve seen us. I’m firing.”

Amber leans near the bars, tense and irritated – she wants to fight in an open space, not safe behind bars… Daiki and Masaki hold position, quiet. Tachibana’s familiar observes from a distance, then silently retreats behind a pipe, concealed from view.

Tachibana inches forward, peering through the bars. “I’ll ready my action,” he says, raising his bow. “As soon as they show—if I have a clear shot.”

But Amber stands in the way. He tries to move her. “Let me shoot, please.”

Amber sighs and steps aside reluctantly, because Wolfgang and Masaki are in front – making Wolfgang a direct target for goblins who have ranged weapons.

They switch places as goblin footsteps echo from down the corridor. Shapes move beyond sight. One finally darts into view—barely. Wolfgang narrows his eyes and releases a bolt.

The arrow hits cleanly, lodging in the goblin’s neck. A spark of lightning follows the impact. The creature collapses.

Dillon approaches. “If you want me to unlock it,” he says, motioning to the gate.

“I can’t do anything behind these bars,” Amber replies, casting a look at Masaki.

“Soon enough, they’ll be at the bars,” Tachibana mutters. “Then you can hack at them.”

“Right, but they’ve probably got crossbows,” Amber warns.

Amber growls under her breath, glaring at the wall. “I understand the plan, but this is not efficient.”

“You already had your fun,” Wolfgang says. “Let us have ours.”

“I get it,” she grumbles, “but when this goes bad, don’t come crying.”

Wolfgang just chuckles. “Right now, it’s one goblin each.”

Daiki steps back and raises his arms, wind spiraling around him—defensive magic forming a gust barrier.

Amber crosses her arms. “Then you need me to act, call me,” she says. “Otherwise, I’m doing nothing.”

Wolfgang readies his crossbow again. “If one gets close, I shoot.” He eyes the bars. “If they get too close, maybe a dagger.”

Tachibana acts quickly—puts away his bow, grabs oil from his pack, and pours it down the stairs. “Amber,” he says, “if they get past the oil, light it up.”

She nods, eyes still fixed forward.

Ash turns on her bullseye lantern, aiming the beam toward the gate, hoping to blind anything that comes near.

Then—another goblin appears. Wolfgang fires again. The arrow strikes, lightning crackles. The goblin falls backward into the water, drifting away.

“Damn it,” Wolfgang curses. “My bolt.”

A retaliatory shot comes through the bars, just managing to hit him. “Where’s my meat shield?” he snaps.

“You didn’t ask for it, MONSIEUR” Amber says coolly.