Rowan stood in the water and watched the old man's struggles become weaker and weaker. And when Roga finally disappeared under the thrashing waves, Rowan dived into the water and was swallowed up by it.

Alka sat on the sandy beach and waited with bated breath. When a blond head emerged, he was finally able to breathe. Rowan was safe. It wasn't like his wild imagination where the sea hag had caught both the old man and Rowan.

The anti mage was sopping wet when he dragged the old man out of the water. Roga coughed and hacked water out of his lungs while he was pulled along like luggage. Rowan dumped him on the sand and stood before the hacking man.

Silence stretched between them while Roga was given a reprieve. When his wretched coughing subsided, the anti mage crouched next to his prone form.

"What did it feel like to helplessly drown when someone could have saved you?

" Rowan asked the old man.

Roga stared up at him with hatred in his eyes. The old man would have struck Rowan down if the anti mage wasn't leagues ahead of him.

"That's what it feels like, Roga. All the victims of your supposed daughter died terrible deaths and they're all on you.

"

"CURSE YOU ROWAN WINDWALKER.

"

His deafness was getting on Alka's nerves. Having to hear the old man shout out everything was tiring his eardrums. It had to be worse for Rowan who was more proximate to the old man.

"Roga, we both know how afraid you really are of death. I'm going to say this only once so listen well,

" Rowan said as he stared down at the old man.

"I will now give you three options.

"

"One, you kill the sea hag.

"

Alka didn't think the old man would agree to that.

"Two, you surrender your diplomatic immunity and confess to your wrongdoings. The Sanguine will take you in and I will get you the Ruby circlet the moment it arrives. You will survive at least half a month if you wear the circlet, and that will be enough time for me to find and kill the sea hag.

" And while the sea hag was focused on trying to kill the man who considered himself her father, Syryn would be free from nightmares.

"Your third choice, the choice I will make for you in ten seconds if you don't answer me - Death,

" Rowan said with elegant simplicity.

"Al, do a count down, please.

"

The plant mage would ordinarily refuse such an annoying request. But this was a request from Rowan, one that came with the magic word. And when Rowan requested something, even without the magic word, the only right answer was a yes.

"10,

" Alka began, and Rowan flashed him an approving smile. The plant mage felt like he had won a prize.

"9

"

"8

"

would Roga answer?

"7

"

"6

"

Rowan calmly began to fold the wet sleeves of his night robe.

"5

"

"4

"

"3

"

Alka sighed in his heart because he was going to witness a murder.

"2

"

He hoped that Rowan would pay him money to keep his mouth shut about the murder.

"1

"

Rowan's eyes turned cold. He looked at Roga like the man was already a corpse.

"FINE! I CHOOSE TO SURRENDER!

" The old man was shaking. He was sure of it. Rowan would have really killed him without remorse. All the emotions had gone out of those blue eyes that flickered with the flames of hell.

"I- DON'T kill me.

"

The anti mage blinked and his killing intent disappeared behind friendly eyes. The handsome blond man smiled at the old man.

"That's all you had to say, Roga.

"

Alka breathed a sigh of relief. Today wasn't the day he was going to witness Rowan take an old man's life.

"YOU ARE AWFUL, ROWAN WINDWALKER. ONE DAY, ALL THAT DARKNESS INSIDE YOU WILL EAT YOU UP AND EVERYONE WILL KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT THE CHARMING PLEASANT MAN YOU SHOW YOURSELF TO BE!

"

Alka's heart raced at the incriminating words that the senile old man had just spat out. He had just escaped death so why was he courting it again? The plant mage looked at Rowan, not knowing what to expect.

"I'm going deaf from all this shouting you're subjecting us to,

" Rowan replied. The anti mage hauled himself to a standing position and pushed his wet gold hair back from his smooth forehead.

Even Roga seemed at a loss for words. Rowan's anti-climatic reaction to his provocation took the air right out of the old man's sails. Quietly, he allowed the anti mage to pull him up.

Rowan turned to Alka.

"Take us to Sanguine HQ.

"

The plant mage nodded and went ahead of the other two. He sliced a rift into the air and walked in.

"How long has it been since you walked the Lost path?

" Rowan nudged the old man forward and asked as if they were friends.

"I DON'T KNOW.

"

"I see,

" Rowan replied. He pushed Roga through the rift when it looked like the old man was content to drag his feet.

"YOU CANNOT TREAT ME THIS WAY!

" Roga blasted in his rough old voice.

"I AM NOT YOUR PRISONER!

"

Rowan frowned at the twinge of pain in his ears from how loud Roga had yelled.

"If you shout inside the lost path, you get taken. Did you forget that in your old age or are you going senile?

" Rowan said close to the old man's ears.

"I-

" Rowan clamped a hand to Roga's mouth.

"Mmff-

"

A minute later, the anti mage had successfully stuffed a handkerchief inside the old man's mouth. Alka, quite like his brother, had made it a habit to carry a clean square piece of cloth everywhere he went.

He was impressed by the efficiency with which the blond had squeezed the old man's jaw and forced his mouth open. The trip had been a very exciting one, and Alka hoped that he could do this again next with the anti mage.