Finally The Tip

The walk back to The Shadow's Nook was laden with a silence that spoke louder than any argument. The stolen box rested heavily in Liora's satchel, its weight a bitter reminder of the risk they had just taken. Derrin trailed close behind, his footfalls sharp against the cobblestones, the tension radiating from him palpable even in the dim light of The Hollow's flickering streetlamps.

Finally, he broke the silence. "You could've gotten us killed back there, you know." His voice was low, tight with frustration. "All for that damn box."

Liora didn't break stride, his sharp gaze fixed on the uneven path ahead. "It was necessary."

"Necessary?" Derrin scoffed, quickening his pace to catch up. "You call taking on an entire gang in their own territory necessary? I'd call it reckless."

Liora glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "Reckless is letting someone else dictate your next move. We needed leverage, and now we have it."