Side Stories 9 & 10


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Your death will serve as a reminder to everyone here of why they should follow my orders.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Mirage looked down at the retch prostrated in front of him.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Please, boss, I won’t do it again it was a mistake, a mistake!”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You’re right. It was a mistake to trust you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">And with those words, Mirage cast a fireball, igniting the man. The gathered members of the Ash Grifters who lined the walls to witness the execution watched in fear as the man writhed before finally suffocating. His body left to slowly burn. The smell of cooking meat filled the air to add to the scene.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Mirage wanted this to be a moment none of those present would forget. Back when he had worked for Ark, disys of brutality like this had been repulsive to him, but now he understood. Fear was the only thing that kept these people in line. If they didn’t fear him, they would never listen to him. With fear, he would be able to prevent them frommitting any true atrocities.


    <span style="font-weight:400">He stepped forward, nting one foot on the smoldering corpse, the heat barely tickling his feet.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“My friends, we need to make sure we all follow the rules of the organization. If people like this are allowed to do as they wish at the expense of our reputation, then they are harming us all. Even if they are our brothers and sisters, we must remove those who would harm us all for personal gain. Remember that.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">With his message clearly sent and the members of the Ash Grifters dismissed, Mirage trudged back to his office. It had been necessary, but it still left a bitter taste in his mouth. Still, if it allowed him to provide a better life for ke and Sea, then he would be whatever it took.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Quite the show you put on there, boss.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">He looked to the smirking Ava at his side.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You know it was necessary. That shit was selling kids! Still, I wish there was another way.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Maybe the Patron has one for you.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Mirage shuddered at that.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“I wouldn’t dare to ask the Patron to do more for us. If we ever exhaust her patience…”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Neither one of them wanted to know what would happen if that thing decided they had fallen out of line. Unfortunately, that gave him an idea.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Ava, do you think the Patron would be angry if we asked to revere her in the Ash Grifters?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t we already?”


    <span style="font-weight:400">“You, me and Mer do. But I’m talking about everyone.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">Ava paused for a second.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Hmm. It might work, but I’m not going to ask.”


    <span style="font-weight:400">***


    <span style="font-weight:400">Deep in the soundless void, a raspingugh echoed.


    <span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, little hero, I can''t wait to show you the ripples you caused. You thought yourself so smart hiding that information packet in my skill - as though I wouldn’t find it. I can already picture the look on your face when you realize I edited that information. The only thing better will be the faces of the other Zimir when they see how much power I gained from one small deal.


    <span style="font-weight:400">Move forward, my little chosen; the two of us will bring this failure of a world to ruin. Whether you mean to or not.”