Thaedric told him everything. Except for the part about who his real contractor was. He told him it was the Risen Star. He also told him about Sandskar who was currently a cloak around him.

"So it was really real. Not a dream." Malak muttered.

Thaedric raised a brow. They were sitting opposite each other, the low table between them. "You thought it was a dream." His voice was flat.

Malak shrugged. "Mine was...not like yours. There was no fighting for me. There was a kidnapping. Hunting." He shuddered.

Sandskar glowed and turned to a scarf that coiled around Thaedric’s neck. "I was supposed to take him as mine since my territory is directly around the portal!"

Thaedric didn’t point out that Sandskar can say the same for every Rashaka that passed through since he was the first Ancient they would face.

Malak looked at the talking scarf. "So...this is also an Ancient." He sounded doubtful.

As he should. What was currently around Thaedric’s neck was a pale imitation of the Ancients he saw in their world. It looked as if all of its power had been left behind.

The scarf was red and it bristled. "Of course, I’m an Ancient! Just because all my powers are not here doesn’t take away that fact!"

Malak leaned close. "But you are not Ancient. Isn’t what makes you one your power?"

Sandskar’s voice was sharp. "Where did you hear that?"

Malak leaned back and smirked. "Where do you think I heard it?"

Thaedric was watching Malak, studying him. He might seem as if he was a savage brute but he knew otherwise. Malak was hiding his intelligence with his annoying psychopath personality.

"It’s a guess," Malak grinned. "You won’t tell us anything about the Ancients, will you?"

Sandskar kept quiet.

"That’s what I thought," Malak said. He looked up at Thaedric. "What do you think?"

"I have no idea what the Ancient world is for. I do not know its aim, but one thing I do know is that no one will share power without expecting something in return."

Thaedric had seen the way they ignored and danced around his question. They were not telling him anything. Giving power and leaving him in the dark. ’But I am Rashaka and I will take advantage before they do.’

Thaedric said, "I’ll ask you this, Sandskar. Can you or can you not talk about the Ancients?"

He was silent, then. "I am forbidden to talk about it. I can’t talk about it."

’That settles it then,’ Thaedric thought. ’I will have to find out what I can about it myself. For now, I will leave them out of my plans. As for the power I acquire....’

Thaedric had another plan for that too. "Tell me about the fighting in the pit," he said to Malak.

Malak smiled. "You are in luck. Or unfortunate. It’s how you look at it. Let me explain."

Thaedric listened.

The Crumbs was held together by Crime Lords. Eight of them. Each was equally as powerful as the others, maintaining balance together, but there would always be friction among them, so the eight came together to make some rules.

One was on how to settle disputes: through fighting, sending representatives to fight in a single-elimination battle. This way, there wouldn’t be anything like street fighting among the top dogs of the Crumbs. They wouldn’t draw unnecessary attention to themselves. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

The second was the formation of the Gamemaster. One of them had to be there to make rules and act as a mediator among the eight Crime Lords. In short, the Gamemaster was the most powerful of the Crime Lords.

But only for four years. Every four years, a short tournament was opened in the underworld where the Crime Lords could send their representatives to fight for the chance to become the new Gamemaster.

Malak continued. "Orso hasn’t been a Crime Lord for eight years now and his influence is going down the drain. He’s desperate to take it for himself this year."

"And why doesn’t he send you to fight?" Thaedric asked.

He shrugged. "The Gamemaster determines what tier will fight and for this round, it’s only those below Tier Three," he pointed at Thaedric. "Orso is desperate for someone that will win him the title."

"Will the fight take place in the Crumbs?"

"Mostly. But through the years, the tournament always changes. The finals will take place somewhere fancy. As entertainment for the rich. I’ve heard rumors that this year’s will be opening entertainment somewhere especially fancy."

Thaedric pretended as if he wasn’t interested, so he asked casually. "Where?"

"The palace. I heard there’s a celebration coming in the palace in the coming week. The Crumbs managed to clinch a connection that lets them include their finals in the entertainment! They’ll be entertaining. So Orso wants to make an impression by winning!"

Thaedric didn’t show his reaction, but inside he was smiling and jubilant. Finally. He would go home. The only thing remaining was to find out what Iridessa and Elder Cormac were planning on that day. That was an important factor.

"Malak," Thaedric tapped his finger on the table. "You haven’t forgotten our bet, have you?"

Malak smirked, his eyes shining. "Why? Of course, I haven’t, my toy. I’m yours to command. But I must warn you. I am a mad dog."

Thaedric smiled. "Everything has its uses, even a mad dog. Besides, I promised Yama I would keep an eye on you. What better way to do that?"

"So what now, Master?" He stretched the last part. "Do you want me to sneak into Orso’s room and slit his throat? I can do that tonight, you know."

"I don’t need that for now. What I want to know is how I can be included among those fighting for the Gamemaster pit. I want to fight," Thaedric revealed some of his plans with his next words, speaking decisively. "My goal is to make it to the palace."