Limits

I dropped her onto the floor, as the medicine burned her body. "Ready to talk?" I asked. She grabbed her body, and tried anything for the medicine to stop burning, but it wouldn't. The medicine I used, was very strong. She looked at me with hatred clear in her eyes. I took out my dagger, and said "I don't know why you betrayed your people. I don't know what Eterians promised you in exchange or whether they control you. But if they promised you something, don't count on it".

With a quick slash, her arm was severed. She grabbed her shoulder in pain, and tried to scream. Although her mouth opened, no sounds came out. A pool of blood already appeared, while I tapped on a few of her pressure points, to stop the bleeding. "I told you. The sooner you give me answers, the sooner this will be over with. I can still attach that arm, if you answer my questions". I tapped her neck again, allowing her to speak. She cried for a while, then said "Go and die… I have nothing to say!".

'She's starting to break' I thought and continued. "Your name is not Irsa, is it?", her reaction was what I was looking for. That hint of confusion, and deeply hidden emotions. Her name was Irsa, but I needed to know her reaction. I asked, "Did they promise you wealth or position?... No? Do they hold someone or something dear to you?... Oh, so that's what it was?". She looked down while responding, "Shut up you bastard. What do you know?". "There are many things I don't know Irsa. For one, what do Eterians plan on doing?" I asked. She didn't reply this time, and stared at the ground.

"You know. If you tell me, I can get back whatever or whoever they took from you. Consider your options. You can either tell me everything, and I'll be willing to help you. Or you can be tortured then die. In case of the latter, Eterians will do whatever they want with whoever, or whatever you are trying to protect". I gave her a moment. Although I gave her a choice, I had no intention of helping her at all. I had no time to worry about someone, or something taken away by Eterians. To me, she was already a lost cause. Those who betray once, can do it again. I didn't give second chances.

I then heard the doors open, and another Shade walked in. "What is this mess exactly?". It was Crow, he finally returned. I replied "I will tell you in a while, just wait a moment", then turned towards Irsa. "So Irsa, will you tell me? Or you wish to be stubborn, and die for Eterians?". Her eyes were on Crow who just entered. She wanted to say something to him, but I stopped her from making any sounds. "Your choice Irsa. If you want to play those silly games, we can have it your way". A few taps later, she fainted on the floor.

I turned towards Crow, and said "She is a spy. As for that Shade laying there, she tried to save her… Sort of. I left her alive only because she is one of your people". He sighed while saying, "I will talk with her. How do you know she is a spy though?". I replied, "Search that woman there. She has the new design for the weapon of war on her. Irsa tried stealing that design, and notify Eterians". Crow searched his underling, and retrieved the paper. "So it is. The design for a new weapon. A large bow eh? Can you actually build it?". I told him the events as they played out, and then waited for him to process all that.

He asked after a while, "There is no doubt in my mind that Irsa is a spy. You are telling me Lira tried stopping you?". I replied, "Do you suspect her as well? It might be, but I'm not sure about her. She only wavered when Irsa started begging her to do something. For all I know, she is just weak minded". Crow nodded while saying, "I will monitor her myself. If she is a spy, I will deal with her appropriately".

"It seems Irsa will be hard to break. Although she wavered, we might not be able to pull anything out of her. Have any ideas?" I asked. Crow thought about it for a while before replying, "If you want, you can leave her with me. I might think of something to break her. Anyway, there are other important news".

I nodded while asking, "What did you find out about Mordars?". Crow didn't seem to have good news. He said, "We are in deep shit, that's what. They are slowly advancing towards us, and I saw a huge ass Mordar in the distance. With the army we have here, I don't know if we can win. I haven't checked the Dead Forest yet, but I suspect they will make a move too".

"The Dead Forest will not be a great issue. As for the huge Mordar, I already killed one. I'm not bragging, I know how powerful this thing is. I almost died myself. If that attacked us, we are indeed screwed... Unless we build those new weapons of war". Crow shook his head for a while, then asked "Wait a minute, let's go back a second. You killed that huge Mordar?". I nodded in reply. "Why am I even surprised?" he asked himself, then continued. "Alright, I will deal with Irsa. Can you build those things though?... Or rather build enough of them?".

I wasn't sure, after all what could one guy and a few smiths do alone. I said, "Maybe, the blacksmiths are already working on some parts. As you know, I already have the arch or main body of the bow. I will ask Ama and check out Irsa shop for something to toughen the wood. We need arrows… There's just too much to do, and a few people to do it with... Crow, I have a favour". He replied "Sure, what do you need?". I asked, "Can you take the army, and go to the Dead Forest?". He narrowed his eyes while asking, "You want to get rid of the remaining Mordars there?".

I replied, "Kind of. I need wood, a lot of it. Ama will require wood for the walls, while I need it for the new weapons. Not only can we exterminate the Mordars still inside the Dead Forest, we can fill up our supply of wood". He nodded, "If that is what you want, I will...". I stopped him, he reminded me of something. "Crow, do you think I'm a bad person?" I asked.

He was surprised by the question, but answered nevertheless. "No, you help as much as you can. You can be crazy, I know that too well. That doesn't make you bad though… Why do you ask such a question?". I asked another, "Do you think my methods… are too much?". He sighed while replying, "Sometimes… You can be scary at times, but you value people close to you. I never doubted that... Nex, did something happen? You never asked such questions". I shook my hand while saying, "No it's fine. Thanks for everything, I know I don't say that often". He smiled, "We are friends right?". I smiled back and replied, "We are friends".