Slumber Shack

Liam was taken aback when Agatha suddenly entered the hotspot. For a few moments, he remained rooted to the spot, staring at where she had been standing. Once he collected himself, he hurried inside the establishment and scanned the area, but Agatha was nowhere to be found.

"What the heck?" he muttered to himself, puzzled by her unexpected departure.

Numerous questions raced through Liam's mind. Why was Agatha here at Twilight Nook? Had she come here to work? If so, why? Why hadn't Leonel mentioned anything about her being here? And more importantly, where was Leonel?

Finding a secluded corner, Liam sat down and continued to survey the surroundings. In his seven days of visiting this place, he had occasionally returned to it after hearing rumors about the Ravager. However, after a week of observing, he hadn't witnessed anything unusual. He had then ventured to other parts of the town in search of valuable information. If Agatha's claim of being here for three days was true, it meant she had been working here on the day he stopped returning.

A waitress approached Liam to take his drink order, but he ignored her in frustration, opting to close his eyes and let out a sigh of exasperation. He scanned the waitresses, but Agatha was not among them. He wondered what kind of work she was doing here if she wasn't among the serving staff.

Then, a disturbing thought crossed his mind, causing him to clench his fists tightly. Was Agatha one of the ladies who entertained at night? The mere idea of her engaging in such activities filled him with rage, making him contemplate violent thoughts.

Liam felt tired and irritated as the waitress approached him for the second time. He wearily ordered his usual drink, Blurburg Beer. He knew some might find it suspicious that he was here and not purchasing anything.

When the waitress returned with his drinks, Liam expected her to leave after delivering them. However, she surprised him by softly grasping his arm. She purred like a cat and rubbed her chest against his arm, attempting to seduce him with suggestive glances.

Liam's expression crumpled in disgust when he realized she was the same woman who had been overly attentive to him since his first night at the hotspot. She was one of the reasons why he had left the establishment without gaining any valuable information about the Ravager. Her mere presence grated on his nerves.

She bit her glistening red lips and spoke in a seductive tone, "You seem to be alone, sir. Would you like some warm company?" She flashed a sweet smile at Liam while attempting to touch his torso.

Liam wanted to push her away and tell her to leave him alone, but then an idea struck him, brightening his previously gloomy expression. "How long have you been working here?" he asked firmly, changing his approach.

The woman's eyes lit up with pleasure as Liam engaged in conversation with her for the first time. She subtly moved closer to him, hoping to capitalize on the moment. "I've been here for around three years, sir," she replied, her tone eager to please.

Liam took a sip of his beer and surveyed the dimly lit surroundings filled with red lights and handcrafted instruments. After a moment of contemplation, he turned his attention back to the waitress. "So, you know all the ladies who work here?" he inquired.

"Of course, I do," the woman replied, excitement evident in her voice. "Who are you looking for?"

Liam took another drink, closed his eyes briefly, and then spoke after a moment of silence. "She's petite, with black hair, blue-green eyes, and she's often with a little boy..."

Recognition flickered in the waitress's eyes. "Oh, are you referring to Agatha?" she asked.

Liam repeated the name in his mind, finding that it suited her. Agatha. He discreetly grinned at the thought, but his expression quickly soured when he heard what the waitress said next.

"She's also known as Aggie," the waitress added with a smirk. "Albus' favorite whore."

Liam, already feeling the effects of his drink, felt an urge to lash out at the waitress for her disrespectful comment about Agatha. However, he managed to restrain himself. He couldn't afford to make a scene. "Chill, Liam," he reminded himself silently. "She's just a woman."

Despite his attempt to stay composed, anger and pain welled up inside him as the realization sank in. "Albus' favorite whore..." he mumbled, his voice filled with bitterness and hurt.

Liam was acutely aware that Agatha was innocent of any wrongdoing, yet the pain he felt was real. He now understood why Ludwig had complained of such anguish before. It was like a physical blow to the chest, squeezing his heart, despite not fully knowing his Fate. What if Agatha eventually discovered the truth? It could lead to his demise, a fate he couldn't bear to contemplate.

His longing to see Agatha grew more intense. He felt a desperate need to do something, anything, to alleviate this unfamiliar and distressing feeling.

Standing up abruptly, Liam forcefully pushed away the woman who had been trying to touch him again. He paid no heed to her as she fell to the floor with a seductive whimper, his focus entirely on scanning the establishment for Agatha's familiar figure.

His narrowed gaze caught sight of Leonel entering the hotspot. Without hesitation, Liam strode over to him, grabbed his collar, and dragged him out of the place, heading towards a secluded corner of the street. Pressing Leonel against the brick wall, Liam struggled to control his breathing and temper. He was seething with anger and frustration, wanting to lash out at his friend, his brother. The urge to strike him was strong, but he knew he had to keep his anger in check.

Liam's voice carried an authoritative edge as he confronted Leonel. "I specifically instructed you to keep an eye on her, Leonel! Why has she been at Twilight Nook for three days without you informing me? Where have you been all this time? And why the hell didn't you tell me she's working there?" Liam's frustration was palpable as he gestured angrily towards Albus Hotspot. "And that she's involved with that bastard Albus? You know what she means to me, Leonel..."

Leonel sighed, straightening his shirt calmly. "I was trailing them when they headed to Twilight Nook," he began in a composed manner, which only seemed to irritate Liam further. "I sensed they were being followed by the Ghouls, so I intervened before they could be ambushed. However, the Ghouls outnumbered us, and despite managing to eliminate them all, I lost consciousness because a skilled Witch was among them." The seriousness in Leonel's expression was evident, signaling trouble.

Exhaustion weighed in his voice as Leonel continued, "This Witch isn't particularly powerful, but she's exceptionally cunning. She's not aligned with Aetherius due to her age. I've encountered her in Eldoria before. She operates independently, taking contracts for Galleons. Now, she's working for the Ravager, and I suspect she's the reason we can't track him down anymore."

Liam wiped the sweat from his face, his fury evident. He attempted to calm himself down to think rationally about the emerging problem, but his mind kept circling back to Agatha and her safety.

"If I hadn't regained consciousness in time, I might have died," Leonel added, causing Liam to stiffen with worry.

Liam's anger surged even more. Alexa and Rivalz were missing, Hiyasmin was at Forgotten Fjords, and Louise's life was in danger. Now, even Leonel had been endangered. On top of it all, Agatha and her son were being pursued by their enemy. The chaos was overwhelming, and Liam struggled to prioritize what needed immediate attention. Additionally, he didn't want to dwell on the issues he had left behind in the Water Fae Kingdom.

Aetherius was at the root of all these problems. They were systematically tearing apart his family, and it filled Liam with a boiling rage. Like Ludwig, Liam was also short-tempered, a trait common among Blue Bloods with Fire Fae heritage. However, Liam was adept at hiding and controlling his anger better than his cousin.

"I was unconscious for a day in the wasteland, and it took me another day, through sheer luck, to discover that Agatha and her son had come here. They concealed their presence well during their travels, making it challenging to track them. So, to answer all your questions, this is my first time arriving here," Leonel explained.

Liam's heart sank as he saw Leonel collapse in exhaustion. Only then did he truly notice the weariness etched on Leonel's face. Guilt washed over Liam for his earlier outburst.

"I'm sorry..." Leonel's voice was barely audible, filled with remorse. "I failed."

Liam quickly pulled Leonel back up, meeting his lowered gaze with understanding. "You haven't failed, Leonel. Not yet," Liam reassured him firmly. "You've succeeded in protecting them as you vowed. Now, go straight to your bed and rest. Tonight, Ludwig's knights will arrive, so you must be ready. Don't worry about anything else right now. Just focus on your recovery. I'll need your full report later."

Leonel nodded wearily, acknowledging Liam's instructions. Liam directed him towards the Slumber Shack to rest, watching him depart with a mix of gratitude and concern. He had concealed his anger earlier, not wanting Leonel to see his frustration and worry further. Despite being a skilled warrior, Leonel was still only eighteen years old. Liam didn't want to add unnecessary pressure on him. He was already doing his utmost to fulfill his duties, for which Liam was immensely grateful.

With Leonel gone to rest, Liam couldn't contain the anger that had been brewing within him. Aetherius had caused more than enough harm to his family, and Liam's desire for vengeance burned fiercely. He longed to confront the Ravager and put an end to the chaos once and for all. The urge to lash out and release his pent-up emotions was strong, but he knew he had to maintain control and avoid drawing attention that could alert the authorities. Instead of giving in to impulse, Liam focused on calming himself and formulating his plans with a clear mind.