Reverie paced the empty hall, her frustration started to grow bigger with every step. "Where is that slippery weasel?" she muttered under her breath, her eyes scanned for any sign of the elusive manager.
"When I get my hands on you, you're going to wish you'd never crossed paths with me," she growled, clenching her fists.
Her mind raced with concern for Karyan, who she had left behind to face the demon alone. "He'd better be okay," she said to herself.
She tried to shake off the unease clawing at her chest. "Karyan's tough. He can handle himself. But if anything happens to him because of that sorcerer, I swear I'll..."
Her voice trailed off as she rounded a corner, her eyes darted in every possible direction. "Where are you hiding?" she hissed, her threat hung in the air.
As she continued her search, her thoughts drifted back to Nedeira. "She's been through worse," she reassured herself, though the image of her dying made her skin shiver.
"But what if it wasn't enough this time? What if..."
Cutting off that line of thinking, she shook her head fiercely. "No. Focus, Reverie. Find the manager, then you can check on them."
As she moved through the hall, she couldn't help but curse the manager for putting them in this situation.
"You cowardly piece of trash," she spat, "using demons to do your dirty work. When I find you, you're going to pay for every scratch on Karyan, every drop of blood he's spilled because of you."
Her thoughts turned back to her companion again, and she felt a twinge of guilt for leaving him.
"Karyan, you'd better be in one piece," she said quietly. "I shouldn't have left you like that. If you're hurt...my plan…"
She shook her head, refusing to entertain the possibility. "No, he's fine," she affirmed, trying to convince herself more than anything. "He has to be."
Her search for the manager continued, "When I'm done with you," she promised the empty hall, her voice was like now a venomous whisper, "you'll wish it was you facing that demon, not Karyan."
*crack*
Reverie's search finally ended as she spotted the manager stumbling out from a side door, his face partially burnt.
She wasted no time and lunged towards him, her anger boiled over.
"Thought you could hide from me?" she snapped, as she grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close.
The manager, despite his injuries, sneered with arrogance. "You think you can intimidate me, little girl?" he taunted, his voice dripped with disgust.
That was all it took to ignite Reverie's fury. She threw a punch, her fist connecting with his jaw, the sound echoing through the hall. "I'm not just any girl," she retorted, her eyes blazed with anger.
The manager spat out a bit of blood, still smirking. "Is that all you've got?" he mocked, trying to push her away.
With a snarl, Reverie struck again, her hands moved like lightning, each hit meant to punish him for his part in Karyan's ordeal.
She felt every insult, every arrogant word fuel her rage as she fought.
"You'll regret this!" the manager shouted, trying to defend himself, but Reverie was relentless.
"Not as much as you'll regret crossing me," she shot back. She kicked him in the stomach, sending him stumbling back. "This is for Karyan!"
The manager coughed, gasping for air, his face of arrogance slipped. "You're crazy!" he yelled, but his voice was weaker now, fear started to seep in.
Reverie advanced, her hands and feet a blur as she continued her assault. "Crazy?" she said, punctuating each word with a strike. "I'll show you crazy."
She grabbed his shirt and threw him against the wall, her strength surprising even her. "You sent a demon after us," she spat out, her voice cold. "You endangered our lives, you hurt and used Nedeira. Did you think there would be no consequences?"
The manager's eyes were wide now, the pain and fear clear in them. "Please," he begged, "I'll give you anything."
But Reverie wasn't interested in his offers. "I don't want your money. I want you to remember this beating every time you think about crossing someone."
She stepped back, her chest heaved, watching as the manager slid down the wall, his once arrogant face was now twisted in pain.
"Let that be a lesson to you," she said, her tone sounded stern. "And if you ever come near them again, I won't hold back."
"What do you want? I'll give you anything, just leave me alive, please."
"No!" She replied immediately without even considering his offer.
"You tortured element wielders, killed them and murdered for the sake of that sorcerer. Do you think that you were going to be announced as innocent?"
"No, you don't understand…the sorcerer will kill us both! Please, listen to me…" the manager bagged.
"No," she replied immediately again.
"Pl-please…" his voice stuttered.
"No! You're coming with me," she grabbed the manager by the collar and started dragging him down the hall like a dog.
"Please, please! Show some mercy! I beg you! I will do anything!"
"You can say that to Nedeira, not me!"
"She…that witch will kill us all, you don't understand! If the sorcerer has her now and is ready with all the sacrifices, that bitch will end the whole country."
Reverie stopped, froze at the same time.
A short flashback went through her mind, reminding her of the story once the scientist was talking about that a mind-wielding element was the most dangerous one if it got to the wrong hands.
She turned back to the manager, and raised her voice, "speak! Now!"