The sun was rising, but surprisingly enough, not too many people were out on the streets. Those few who did show up, mostly avoided looking around and scampered away as fast as they could. The windows and doors of the surrounding buildings were also mostly shut tight, though Val could almost feel the eyes peering from the insides.

The focus of their attention thankfully wasn't him but something a lot more threatening for slum dwellers. Squads of well armed guardsmen and soldiers were busy patrolling the streets. Val had seen soldiers before, but he had never seen them fully armored and suited up for war. A mix of chainmail, padded armor, and steel plate armor along with an assortment of weapons made them imposing figures, making the guardsman humbly leading them around look like cheap knockoffs.

Val only had some vague idea why the local count's standing army had been deployed within the city. It had to do with problems with the city council. At least what was what Wizard Felwood had told him. The older man walked next to val as they made their way through the slums, heading to the Bone Crusher's stronghold. Looking aside at the wizard, who was wearing some kind of leather armor, Val was still amazed at what had happened early this morning. Wizard Felwood's arrival had almost been a miracle, though Val had later learned that the wizard had found out about Val's kidnapping from a tavern maid at the Hungry Mare, who had witnessed the whole incident. On the other hand, Val knew there was more to it, since the Wizard had literally tracked him down across the city.

However, it also meant val was somewhat in awe of the older man, who had done things that had literally seemed superhuman. Val had been tempted to think of the man as some kind of Jedi Knight or something, until the older man had introduced himself formally as a wizard. Val took it stride, especially after all the crap he had seen earlier.

“So apprentice, do you undersand how lucky you were to survive?” The wizard's question left Val ducking his head in some embarrassment. His first answer to the wizard, when he had been questioned about the demon warlock's death, had been a flippant answer about 'having dealt with it.' Of course, the wizard had looked over the messy basement, heard Val's story, and explained how a mix of factors had left the demon warlock essentially defenseless and open to being struck down. Number one, Val learned the demon warlock, as the man was identified as, was in the middle of trying to enslave a demon summoned from the chaotic plane, when Val got lucky with his attack on the summoning circle and its barrier. Number two, no self respecting magic user of any kind would leave themselves unguarded, when casting such complicated spells. Number three, the demon warlock had underestimated Val's strength from his 'Awakening,' though Val didn't ask Wizard Felwood for details. Number four, Val had gotten very lucky that he had struck the magic barrier at one of its focal nodes, essentially breaking the barrier. Number five, he had gotten even more lucky, because demons hated their captors/summoners more than others and because demons usually could not exist on this plane of existence too long without their summoners.

“Yes, master.” That was the other thing that had occurred. The older man had offered Val some choices as his reward for killing the demon warlock: a good amount of money or a chance to learn from the wizard as the wizard's apprentice. Val had chosen the second option, of course. To him wealth was important, but after everything he had experienced, he also knew that strength was even more important in his world, especially when there was a chance of running into the 'final boss' at any given time.

The reason why he and his master were now heading towards the Bone Crusher's hideout was due to Val's request. He had found out that most of the gangs in the city were being culled by the order of the owner of the city, Count Arwensen, but Val wanted to make sure the 'street rats' weren't going to be killed off as well. The wizard had denied such a thing would occur, but Val felt that he owned it to his former companions to at least make sure they survived. It was not like he, himself, could do anything, but his new master's authority was not something that some overzealous guardsman or soldier could ignore.

By the time they made it to the dead end, where the stronghold was, Val could already hear the fighting and yelling. Standing near a nearby alley, Val quietly watched as dead bodies were dragged out of the stronghold, one after another. The him from earlier today might have felt satisfaction at the scene, but the current him knew that the world was much more horrible and complex than a bunch of lowlife scum could ever hope to be. Unfortunately, Val realized he was now part of that horrifying world, whether he wanted to be or not.

Just as the fighting sounds died out, Val heard a rattling sound coming from the alley. He and Wizard Felwood both turned around to see where the noise was coming from. To Val's surprise, a hatch of some kind lifted off the ground in the alley, throwing off a layer of dirt. Out of it, a dirty looking, old man crawled out, coughing. “Freitz.” Val whispered the name, as he stared at the keeper of the 'rat's den,' hate welling up. Val had no doubt that that older man had been involved in the business the Bone Crushers' had with the demon warlock. Even if he had not known about the 'street rats' being killed off, Val knew that the older man had probably been involved in selecting those that got 'dealt with,' per gang rules.

“An associate of yours?” The wizard's bland question echoed in the alley, making Freitz, who was scrambling to his feet, turn around shaking.

Val clenched his teeth, grabbing the handle of his dagger sheathed on his waist. It was the same one he had scavenged from the demon warlock. He felt fury rising in him as he watched the alcoholic, old man go from being shocked to scared as he caught sight of Val and the wizard at the entrance to the alleyway. “He's... he's the same scum.” Val's words were ground out through clenched teeth.

Freitz, who looked like he was panicking, yelled, “Boy, you have to save me... They....” He did not get further as he froze in place, trembling but not moving. Val looked to his side to see his master pointing a finger, with a slightly glowing ring, at the former gang member.

Wizard Felwood looked back down at Val with a composed yet serious look. “This is your first lesson, apprentice. In this world, you have to be strong to truly survive. But to be truly strong, you have to be willing to be true to yourself.”

There was no question or demand, but Val knew his master was testing him. For a second Val considered if there was a right answer, but only for a second. Remembering his oath from the day before, he looked at the abusive, alcoholic, who had terrorized children trying only to survive in this hell of a world. “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth...” Drawing his dagger slowly, Val walked into the alley, having made up his mind and having finally accepted his own path.