Dark Magus Returns

Allen, at least for the moment, seemed to have put his quest for revenge on hold. He knew, deep down, that he stood no chance of harming Harvey while the Dark Magus, a being vastly superior in power, was there actively protecting him. So, the Dark Magus kept his word, and Allen kept his distance. He gathered his own loyal people, along with the shaken remnants of Varkos and his men, and descended into the vast network of tunnels and passages that made up the Underside.

It was quickly, somberly explained to the allied forces that the two groups were no longer working together. Allen had all of his people relocate immediately from the Dark Guild area, and they were gone. Where they were heading to, or where they went, no one really knew. The entire group had fully moved into the Underside due to being constantly chased and targeted above ground, but the Underside was a labyrinthine maze. Whether they found another secluded area in its vastness or some secret, concealed house above ground, the Dark Guild no longer knew, because the alliance was finished.

Currently, Raze was intentionally isolating himself in one of the healing facilities he had established just outside the main Dark Guild area. This setup served a dual purpose: it allowed Raze to provide crucial treatment to those in the Underside coming from far and wide for aid, and right now, Raze needed the solitude. He didn't exactly want to be around Harvey and the others, still simmering over the deception and the needless bloodshed.

"Do you think they're going to be okay?" Beatrix asked, approaching Raze where he was quietly mixing a poultice. She was clearly worried about the allies they had just lost. "If you want, Raze, I can stay with them for a while, just to see if they need any help or protection. They've done a lot for us, and now they're an easy target for anyone who knows they're cut off."

"If you want to help them, then please go ahead and do so," Raze replied, his voice measured. "You guys came along to help me, and in turn, I will do my best to protect you. But you still have your own set of actions and moral choices to make, so if you want to go help them, then please do." The reason Raze spoke these encouraging words was because even he was a little worried about whether Allen's isolated group could truly survive out there against the overwhelming forces of the Grand Magus.

Dame, the strategist, stepped forward with a more pressing, tactical concern. "What I'm curious about is whether we still have the manpower to do what needs to be done. Weren't Allen's people quite important in your entire plan?"

"They played a big role, that is true," Raze conceded, setting aside his work to focus on the analysis. "They helped gather a lot of high-level information for us that we were unable to gather on our own. They were also a group heavily involved in the government, which meant they were able to push and pull influence in particular political areas, creating chaos and confusion for the Grand Magus."

He sighed, the sound heavy with the weight of lost capability. "But that political power has somewhat been lost now due to the situation and the infighting. The biggest thing with Allen's group, however, was credibility. They were focused on getting key information that would make my actions look justified, ensuring the world learned of what the Grand Magus were truly doing. Him and his group had already played their part in that, everyone now knows the evil of Gizin and the Cerberus Guild. The fact that Gizin hasn't made a single statement denying the accusations in all this time means everyone has already decided that the rumors and the words of the Dark Guild are true."

Raze admitted the tactical reality. "Although I still would have liked him and his group to have helped with the final confrontation against the last two Grand Magus, that is now not possible, and I need to respect his decision."

Raze remained oddly quiet as he continued to help the injured. The others could sense that something was deeply bothering him, that the loss of Allen was more than just a tactical setback. Then, the inevitable happened: a messenger from the main Dark Guild area arrived, urgently asking them to come to a meeting.

Their original plan had failed due to the leak and Varkos's betrayal, so they needed to immediately come up with something new. The likely strategy would be to utilize their remaining two major groups to attack the Cerberus Guild members, find the leak, and follow them back to Gizin.

However, when Raze entered the meeting area and saw Harvey standing there at the other end, waiting, he couldn't maintain his distance any longer. He couldn't help but let a furious glare wash over his face. He immediately strode over to the disgraced leader, the full weight of the recent losses lending power to his anger.

There was a lot Raze wanted, needed, to say.

"Harvey, I can understand what you did to Varkos, and why. But you went too far," Raze bit out, his voice low and dangerous, barely containing his fury. "Is this your guild, or is it a guild that is meant to service me? Even if you did it for the sake of the mission, killing Mordain and then keeping that entire action hidden from me is completely out of the question!"

Raze's words showed true, unvarnished fury, and it caused Harvey to quickly and instinctively drop down onto one knee.

"Varkos might have been a traitor, but all of your actions you kept hidden from me," Raze pressed, his gaze piercing the top of Harvey's bowed head. "If I was to take your approach, how do I know that you are not doing the exact same thing to me, that you have not betrayed me and are just waiting for the right moment to take me out?"

"I would never!" Harvey insisted immediately, the desperation clear in his voice. He started to bang his head against the floor in a theatrical display of remorse and fear. "I will apologize to you for as long as it takes, I beg you, please forgive me! I would never, never do this to you, Dark Magus!"

Harvey looked up, his face a mess of panic and urgency. "And although I am happy to continue to apologize until you are satisfied, I think we have far more pressing matters to discuss. It appears with Varkos having betrayed us, he told them a lot more than just about our attack plans. He also told them right about our base, right here."

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