The mine became an underground prison. The miners were kept behind steel bars like animals. They were chained to the ground. Each with a collar on their necks.

Surprisingly, there was no desperation in their eyes. No amount of sorrow or hopelessness could be found. What was there was simply rage and resilience.

The miners had changed. They were no longer miners. Their hearts forged in pain and blood. Their hands filled with dust and sweat. Their minds were as hard as diamonds.

"Look who we have here. What brings you down here, Geofon?"

A miner looked out from behind the iron bars. He smiled sarcastically. His eyes hit Geofon without any hesitation or fear. His mouth was filled with solid blood but he's still smiling.

Geofon didn't answer. His face hardened to cover the fear in his heart. The people here were all crazy. He couldn't understand them at all.

The miner spotted Siderius and Ashe. He saw Siderius' white hair. That alone told him who he was. But he didn't say anything. He retreated to the shadow and informed his mates.

More sarcastic comments were thrown at Geofon.

"Oh, look! It's the Bailiff's dog!"

"Ah! You need to shit or something, Geofon?"

"Hey! Hey! Look at my ugly face! It's just like your mum!"

Some even spat at the ground near Geofon. The man didn't dare slow down. He turned to Siderius.

"Who do you want to meet, my lord?"

"The leader of the miners."

The air was eerily different than before. The miners were silent. They were never silent before when the guards went down the mine. This made Geofon skin crawl. But he ignored it. After all, he had a high lord with him, nothing would go wrong.

"She should be here."

Geofon stopped at the largest prison cell. Inside, there were at least twenty miners.

Siderius snatched the torch from Geofon's hands and stepped forward.

"Long time no see, Nadia."

The miners hid in the shadows. They scattered away to reveal Nadia in the middle. She too walked into the light.

Nadia was different. She was as muscular as the last time Siderius saw her. Even more so.

But her long hair was cut away and there were a lot of injuries on her body, old and new. She wasn't treated kindly.

"Snow? Is it really you?"

Her body was in a crude state. Her mind was not. She was as bright as ever with an unbreakable spirit.

"It is me. You guys didn't seem to be so well."

Nadia chuckled gently before continuing. "The skull coin saved us, Snow. Alex… Alesio didn't lie. But it wasn't enough to completely erase our crime.

You were right. The wrath of a witch cannot be underestimated."

Geofon's knees buckled. They were speaking publicly, not even minding his presence.

"You… You are Snow…"

Geofon was just intending to back off as Siderius stretched out his hand and grabbed his throat.

"Stay still." Siderius gently said.

Geofon grabbed his sword. Ashe took her bow out in a flash. The arrow aimed at his head in the blink of an eye.

"Hands off or you will get it!" Ashe shouted.

Geofon's hands trembled. Siderius' grip tightened around his throat. He felt like his neck would snap in half before he could pull the sword out.

If he managed to survive, that arrow would kill him for sure.

"Don't kill me… I'll comply." Geofon raised his hands up.

"Stand beside and stay quiet." Siderius said.

Geofon nodded. He stood quietly as Siderius released him. Ashe's eyes stayed fixed on Geofon with the bow dangerously ready. She wasn't going to let her eyes off him.

"She seems different…" Nadia said.

"She is. She has been training with me." Siderius said.

"Why are you here, Snow?"

"To check up on you. Where's Carsten?"

Nadia smiled and turned her head back.

"Carsten! Come out and see our old friends!"

Carsten appeared behind the crowd and stepped forward. He was thinner with eyebags under his eyes. But that bright smile of his never left.

"Snow? Ashe? It is so good to see you." His smile darkened because of the dust and coal in the ground.

"How's your heart? Any sign of the Gray Death?"

"Nuh uh! Not even a single thing. I am healthy. Well. I can use a little bit more sleep and rest though. Also a nice bowl of soup would be great."

Siderius smiled back then turned to Nadia again. "What are you planning to do, Nadia?"

Nadia didn't answer him. Her piercing eyes wandered on his golden eyes.

His pupils didn't expand because of the torch, allowing the pupils to stay narrow.

"You become stronger, don't you? Those are a very pretty pair of eyes. Much better than your dark eyes."

Siderius nodded. He didn't say anything and waited for her answer.

"Whose side are you on, Snow?" Nadia didn't answer, she kept asking.

Siderius grin widened. "I see that our relationship has distanced a bit. Let's fix that first before we continue talking."

Siderius flipped the fire switch over and drew his Dull Steel blade. The blade went over Geofon's neck and painted a fan of bright orange flame in the air.

Geofon's neck flopped to the ground and rolled away. His body fell down.

Nadia's pupils dilated. Her breath stopped briefly before continuing again.

"You didn't have to do that. There are better ways to show us that you are on our side." Nadia said.

"Maybe. But that will take too much time. This is quicker."

Nadia shook her head. "You don't understand. Geofon reports directly to the Bailiff. If he doesn't show up, the Bailiff will know. You just make yourself the enemy of Mucktown."

Siderius laughed out loud. He approached the prison cell with his flaming sword.

With one swing, the hunter broke the bars in half, freeing the miners.

"No one in Mucktown can stand against me. As I have asked, Nadia. What. Are. You. Planning. To. Do?

Do not make me ask again."

The miners were definitely startled because of Siderius' action. Only Nadia stayed still.

"To get the hell out of this place." She calmly said. "What else can we do, Snow? This town accepts us no more."

Siderius sheathed his blade with a click. The flame was extinguished.

"Let's see if we can do better."

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