The building of High Court was located on the other side of the street where Awakening Hall stood, it was three stories high and almost completely built of white marble, with a huge statue of some great Hero carved in a stalagmite. Arath and other mercenaries gathered on the courtyard anxious to hear the decision, in case of it being unfair they held their weapons near ready to make quite extreme decisions. On the other side of the plaza, seperated from natives by a group of Court Elementalists, were standing Heroes who survived the battle or just ones that wished to see a head of an unruly mercenary leader being chopped off. This crowd was far from civilised and a minute hadn't passed without a series of curses directed at the other camp, often followed by a fight. None of these fights could actually see a satisfying, to any of the sides, outcome, because of interventions of the guards.

While normal citizens believed that both parties should cooperate and strive to achieve a common goal, which is reaching as far as possible in the Tower, for anyone who has gone inside at least once it was clear that such a thing was not a piece of a cake. The animosity between the two groups depended on the cycle and Heroes, but in the entire history of First City one could count times when they helped each other with fingers of one hand.

Finally, after too many hours of debating, presentations of evidences and confessions of dozens of witnesses, a man in a long white robe opened a door leading to a balcony over the courtyard and silenced the onlookers with one gesture of his hand and with magically enhanced voice announced the verdict.

"On behalf of the Council and High Court I shall now share the decision concerning today's case. Having taken all evidence and circumstances into consideration, the jury has come to a conclusion that while the fault was not entirely on Leafers side they shan't go unpunished for their actions. The following people are from now onwards officaly exiled from First City and every other outpost governed by the Coucil: leader of Leafers mercenary group - Elizabeth, daughter of Gorg; viceleader of Leafers mercenary group ..." He continued reading the functions and names of every higher-up from the group while confused looks were thrown from every part of the plaza. "The rest mercenaries have been pardoned for their actions but if any volunteers wish to follow them into the Tower they will be allowed to, with no repercussions."

After a long minute of silence and confusion the crowd needed for taking in the information, they broke in an uproar and the noise alone shook the cave. Heroes wanted to see Leafers' heads, Leafers wanted Heroes' heads, who could stand such an outrageous compromise? Arath unable to breathe in this turbulent sea of pissed off men and women barged his way through and ran back to his apartment. He needed to vent out some emotions and there was no better way than killing monsters. Although he should have been focusing on cultivation and discovering how to overcome his weaknesses there was no talking about sitting on his ass on and cutting his mind off from the world of today. His hands were tinkling, he deeply needed to focus his attention on something as simple-minded as killing creations of the God of this world - the Tower.

A simple leather armor reinforced by mail parts, shortsword, shield and determination, with all that at his disposal he entered the dungeon, made way to the deeper parts of the first floor and wasted no time on precautions, he needed to feel danger. Only the breath of death could bring him back to his senses. As if feeling his aura monsters attacked him relentlessly and fell on the ground in the next moments. His ability which he decided to name - Control Sphere - not turned off even for a second, devoured his still weakened and chaotic magical energy like a hungry oven burns wood. Surrounded by piles of bodies of poor creatures his body could not hold for much longer. Having realised that, Arath turned back to the entrance and with no energy in his muscles left slowly crawled back. Madness slowly lurked at corners of his mind ready to attack at the most suitable opportunity.

--------------------------

Elizabeth was given until the end of the day to pack all her belongings and get on the way. From now on, if she showed her face in this city which she grew up, and had all her friends in, she would be killed on sight. This thought was terryfying and refreshing, both at the same time. Not much would actually change in her life, in a months' time she would have to start living in the Tower anyway if she wanted to climb any actually noteworthy floor. The only hard thing for her was getting rid of her father's house and other items that had belonged to him and which reminded her of the time they had spent together. Armor, food and other neccessary supplies were already waiting for her so she just packed whatever she thought could come in handy in the future and set off. The rest of her most loyal and close teammates were already waiting for her at the entrance. They looked at each other and nodded in understanding, this was the last time they laid their eyes on this place.

------------------------

Arath woke up and looked around. His cheek was burning and the rest of his body felt as if it was a training dummy for a horde of blestols.

"You fucking idiot! Just who do you think you are? You think you can just go in here alone, kill whatever you see and then fall asleep in the dungeon? You are both incredibly lucky and painfully stupid." A voice scolded him but contrary to it's words it sounded surprisingly soft and warm.

He looked up and saw the face of his companions gathered around and laughing at his situation. Arath confused scratched his head but had no words no explain himself, he really took a nap in the most dangerous place in this world.

"Get your ass moving and go back home, recuperate. Clara needs you, Ben looks up to you, you need to get your shit together!" Elizabeth helped him get up on his legs, hugged him and left him with five words that were from now on carved in his mind.

"See you on the top."