Mrs Richardson had come back from the Gods Square and entered the orphanage for the last time. She looked at her children. They were all ready, a bag each at their side.

“Is everyone ready to go ?”

The various childish voices gathered enthusiastically to form a unique affirmative answer. But Isobel asked quickly after.

“We don't wait for big brother ?”

“He will join us quickly. Don't worry.”

It was then that she noticed someone was not there.

“Where is Maria ?”

Carl answered.

“She said she had to go with Metello. She planned to hide under the [Merchant]'s carriage.”

“Ah. This little troublemaker.”

After a few cringing seconds, she resolved herself.

"We can't delay more. Pricilla, can you go and verify if all is well for her? If you can, take her back to the place with you. If all is well for her and you can't take her back, leave her alone."

After a nod, the [Rogue] went away.

“Let's hope all is well for her. We will go now, children. Remember, no noise unless necessary. We have to be as discreet as possible. And don't forget your bag.”

A little group composed of Mrs Richardson, Mrs Sweetsmile, twelve children, and a few [Rogues] went out under the sunlight. The [Priestess] guided them deeper into the poor district. They walked through the anarchically drawn alleys as if going to a picnic in a disreputable place. She stopped in front of a small building leaning against the city walls. It was in bad condition, like every other in the area, but she went and knocked on its door in a strange pattern. It opened quickly, and the little band could enter the wobbly construction without much noise. A masked man was inside, and he spoke to Mrs Richardson.

“You're the first ones to arrive, Madam. You'll have to wait a bit.”

“That's fine. Do you have information about the result of the...operation?”

“It seems all went well until now. Jeffrey will tell us more when he arrives.”

“Thanks.”

They waited for a few minutes for Livia, Roger's squad-mate, and some family members to enter behind Andrea, and some more time again for Jeffrey to finally walk through the door with some other [Rogues]. He announced that all went as planned until the carriage departed. A limited relief appeared on many faces. Mrs Richardson spoke.

“Everyone is here, so let's not waste any more time. We go as planned.”

The first man inside revealed a trapdoor under a heavy broken chest, and some [Rogues] went down the ladder first. One by one, every member of their motley thirty members group walked through the low ceiling tunnel. After a laborious twenty minutes trip, the first ones emerged in an isolated place, concealed by rocks between two cultivated fields. Ten more minutes, and they were all walking the dusty tracks of Ironholes' Valley, going along the mountain feet southward. The group rested for a few minutes at the bottom of a path going up the slopes. The easy part of the trip had already finished.

Children and adults went up and down for four cycles, following the mountain paths. The few [Rogues] scouting ahead had come twice to announce they had to turn back to avoid meeting with [Guards] or monsters. It was a painful trip for the kids, but it was difficult for most adults too. As they reached the top of the last hill and saw the dry and mostly flat plains, the sharp and cold wind didn't prevent them from rejoicing.

However, the two following cycles were almost harder than the ones spent in the mountain despite the warm clothes they had prepared and Mrs Richardson's fire to ward off the cold. Even so, they managed to reach Bridgetown. After a bit of scouting in the small town was done by the [Rogues] to see if [Guards] were searching for them, they were confident enough to enter the streets.

The town was quiet. Few people were in the streets, and many stores and inns were closed. They managed to find one happy to rent a few rooms for the group. They could finally rest for good.

Two cycles later, they had bought a shabby old cart and two old horses, ready to depart with a convoy of people migrating to the Windless Alliance like them. They had been lucky to find the vehicle as it was a sought-after good. A good part of the town population had already left it, and most of the other parts were going to follow them. Indeed, they had been told that the town had not always been this much quiet.

As Livia hadn't found clues about Ianina, she decided to follow the group further. She was the only one not willing to go south yet as she didn't finish her work.

Two cycles later, they met on the road with a [Pathfinder] mounting a horse that Livia recognized. A few minutes later, she went to Mrs Richardson.

“Thank you again for your help in freeing Ianina, Madam. This man is Branon, another employee of the Silverstar family. He didn't meet her on his way here, so their group should have taken the road to the east. We will go back to Bridgetown, so I wish you luck on your path to Farport and then to the Alliance.”

“Thanks. With this many people, we should be okay.”

“It was nice to meet you, Madam.”

“I feel the same. Good luck, and don't forget our discussions about Ianina. Take her will into account when you find her.”

She nodded with a grimace and turned back.

“Goodbye.”

The same day the convoy met with the Silverstar [Pathfinder], a delegation of the Divine Tower arrived in Ironholes. Unlike normal people, they didn't walk through the gates. Indeed, the two [Saints] and two [Miracle makers] came from the south, flying above the Windshield mountains. As they were floating high above the Gods Square, [Menta Saint] Maslow spoke to the people of Ironholes as she did ten cycles before.

“People of Ironholes. I am [Menta Saint] Maslow speaking to you again but from your own city. Perhaps some of you know about the neutrality policy that the Divine Tower maintained for centuries. I'm here to tell you that the Divine Tower council decided to give it up due to the critical situation.

Thus, we decided to organize a trial to judge [Duke] Cavendish's actions. He is accused of putting the whole population of Ironholes into danger by hiding a calamity class event and preventing people from leaving and finding shelter.

I am here with [Nihil Saint] Bernard, a member of the council of the Divine Tower who will conduct the trial that will take place in five cycles. Any attempt to flee from the accused party will be answered with a harsher judgment. Thank you all.”

Panic ensued. It calmed down quickly as the [Menta Saint] went into more details about the time they had to evacuate if they wanted to.

Ten cycles later, with the powers of a [Nihil Saint], Bernard stripped the mayor and his right-hand man of their classes. [Duke] Cavendish became [No Class] Cavendish, and [Menta High Priest] Neville became [No Class] Neville.