Five Broken Blades
by Mai Corland
Contents
Chapter Forty-Five
Overview
Royo, still reeling from being knocked out, heads alone toward The Mine to help rescue Sora and punish the gang. While fighting worry over being separated from Aeri, Royo expects light security at the warehouse’s back entrance but finds it completely unguarded.
The empty approach convinces Royo the group has been set up, raising the stakes for the rescue and hinting their enemies are anticipating their moves.
Summary
Royo staggers through Oosant with a pounding head after being sucker punched during the warehouse ambush. Angry at the attackers and worried about what might be happening to Sora, Royo moves through the shadows toward The Mine, determined to make the gang pay and to help get Sora out.
As Royo pushes forward, Royo also wrestles with unease about being separated from Aeri. Royo insists it is only because of a promise to keep eyes on Aeri, but admits Aeri means something, which feels dangerous and distracting. Royo forces those thoughts aside and refocuses on the rescue, assuming Mikail will keep Aeri safe because Mikail needs Aeri.
Approaching the back entrance of The Mine, Royo expects to find low-ranking guards posted outside. Instead, Royo finds no one at the door, no one in the alley, and no one on the roof. The absence of any watch immediately tightens Royo’s fear into certainty: the team has been lured into a setup.
Who Appears
- RoyoPOV; recovers from being knocked out, searches The Mine, realizes the group is set up.
- AeriAbsent but central to Royo’s worry; Royo struggles with protective feelings and distance from her.
- SoraKidnapped target of the rescue; Royo’s urgency is driven by fear she’s being harmed.
- MikailReferenced as controlling the plan and keeping Aeri safe because he needs her.
- TyReferenced as previously knocked out; part of the team entangled in Mikail’s orders.
- EuynReferenced in context of earlier trap detection; not present in this scene.