Zella had dragged him back to the underground. Elvin was starting to get used to it. It’s not like he’d rather be out with Webs, hunting this so-called vigilante. They had traveled all the way from Strara station, in Hero Central to the old sector 12. The underground facilities were still referred to different cities as sectors. There were a few areas on the surface that did, but people found it boring when re-establishing the surface, so now the sectors had the best names. Like Hero Central, Greeneria, Open Sky… very creative. 

Elvin tried to keep up with Zella who was zooming through the area. Honestly, he wasn’t sure if they seemed suspicious or not at this point. He was just trying to keep up when he ran into her. She had stopped in front of a large building. 

“The storm twins…” Zella muttered. 

Elvin looked over her shoulder to see the storm twins’ hero gear, getting ready for auction. “Are those really?” He didn’t even finish the question. He didn’t want to hear it out loud. 

“They went missing 4 weeks ago. Alongside Dreme, Hike, and Ulri.” Zella sucked in a breath. Elvin could tell, her heart had just sank in the same realization he had. 

“I don’t think they–” Elvin began but was cut off by a large presence coming from behind. 

“I haven’t seen you around these parts before,” He folded his arms. Not only was he huge, but had tight braids going down his head, with scars littering his face and body. The man–or beast rather–looked at the gear. “Ah, are you looking to buy?” He chuckled, “As you can see this gear is going up for auction. Much too valuable to merely sell it. It’s the storm bastards’ gear. Top quality stuff. Like their hair,” He touched his braids, “Them Kisai folk sure do love to pamper their people. Anyway, if you’re looking to buy you’ll have to come tonight, for the auction. We’re still waiting on one more valuable piece.”

Elvin grabbed Zella’s hand which was starting to shake. He knew that she wanted to bring him in, but in reality they couldn’t fault him for anything substantial. Not yet anyway. “Thanks man, we’ll have to come by tonight. I know she would kill to get her hands on it.” Elvin did his best to smile and seem nonchalant. 

“Hah! That’s how it is sometimes,” the man’s eyes sparkled with what seemed like bloodlust as he continued, “Last auction there was only one bidder left alive. Really wanted that ring.”

Elvin and Zella shared a glance before Elvin spoke, “Well, we’ll have to come prepared then. All the credits for the win right?”

The man clapped him on the shoulder laughing, before heading to enter his store, “You know exactly what I meant, always great to meet a new patron. Come by anytime. I have all the gear you may ever need.”

“Great! May I ask your name?”

“Grovner,” He shook his hand, “and you two?”

“I’m Bart, and this is Cas,” Elvin and Zella bid him farewell and left. 

They found a secluded area before Zella began violently shaking and gasping for breath. “They were killed! And we just spoke with–lied to–this isn’t–”

“Hey,” Elvin grabbed her by the shoulders, “You need to calm down. We had no way of knowing where they–”

Zella shook her head, “No, we would’ve if Ulri hadn’t gone missing with that ring. She was supposed to protect it no matter what. It’s the only way to track the heroes of Strara without anyone knowing. The fact that anyone knew it existed is–”

“It doesn’t matter. We can’t do anything about it now. The important thing is that we know,” Elvin squeezed her shoulders tighter. In the back of his head though all he could think was, it was a dumb idea to put that kind of thing in some random ring anyway. 

Zella took Elvin’s hands and broke them free from her shoulder. “Elvin, I don’t think you understand. Someone is out there successfully killing heroes without anyone knowing. We told the media that they were just taking an extended leave but we had no idea!”

Elvin put a finger over his lips, “Careful, we’re still in enemy territory.” They waited a few moments before even daring to breathe. “I know this is hard, it’s hard for me too. The only lead we have is the auction. Let’s go to it, and get their things back. Then we’ll have real evidence for Tsu. Alright?”

“Al-alright,” Zella nodded. Elvin gave her a hug, and for the first time ever she didn’t push away. He wasn’t sure if it was because she was scared or just so upset, either way he didn’t mind. Although, it would’ve been nicer in well… a nicer place. 

“No,” Tsu shook her head, “The heroes do not condone this action. Killing of any kind is not something anyone should be allowed to get away with. Just because this Vigilante is killing villains now, there’s no way to say that they won’t attack someone else as well.”

“Any comments on the Storm Twin’s leave of absence? It has been almost a whole season and we have heard no word from them,” The news reporter asked, “Their fans are quite curious.”

Tsu’s smile dropped, but only for a moment. “Ah, well, they have been out of contact with us for quite a while.” Tsu seemed to toy with an idea in her head for a moment before her expression dropped to a serious grimace. “Actually, we have reason to believe they recently went missing. And the Vigilante is the cause.”

“Tch,” Zella watched the broadcast with disdain. “Is that all she has to say now that we know they were killed? We don’t even know who actually did it!”

Elvin shrugged, “It would make it easier if it were true though. We’d take down a killer and Tsu’s obsession.”

Zella shut down the broadcast and massaged her temples. They were back on the surface at least. In the forest just outside the city, where an opening underground was. Elvin sighed. Not that it really helped. Zella had asked Tsu to stage a raid, or at least infiltrate the auction, but all she said was that it wasn't worth it and was too dangerous. “What would the world think of knowing there were villains scurrying under their feet? We shouldn’t go down there ourselves. Delegate some… lesser heroes. We already have a huge scandal regarding the Storm Twins,” Tsu had said. Her response even made Elvin roll his eyes. So instead, Elvin and Zella would go in alone. It might be safer that way honestly. 

Zella stood and stretched towards the canopy of trees above. “Alright, let’s do this.”

Elvin finally cracked a real smile, “Yeah,” He joined her looking up at the covered sky, “Let’s.”

The sky was already darkening by the time they entered the underground entrance again. Open Sky, the city oddly enough surrounded by thick forests, was closest to sector 12. Their destination. Elvin scanned their surroundings. Weapons of all kinds on many different kinds of people. Children, elderly, men, women, with traits of not only Straran, but from all over Eris. Elvin had only brought his foldable bow, which could double as a rudimentary sword if necessary. There was no telling if their weapons would be confiscated or not. Surface auctions would, but here, the rules didn’t seem to be the same. Zella just brought some random pieces of metal from her old costume. Luckily for her, her ability would let her morph them into whatever shape she needed, as long as there was the material for it. 

They entered the building. He already saw Grovner, who was waving from near the auction stand. Oddly enough, there was an efficient seating system. It cost 1000 credits for a seat, which made Elvin feel like crying for all the drinks he could’ve bought. Every item started around 5000 credits. Even a canteen that didn’t seem extraordinary sold for 15,000 credits. Were villains rich or something?

Elvin scanned the room. And he didn’t want to believe it. There were some pompous rich people from all different kinds of companies here. Many people he didn’t recognise too, but he definitely met some of them while being a hero. Not that he could place their names, but he’s definitely seen them before. Zella seemed to notice as well, since she was already gritting her teeth. 

“Next up,” Grovner announced, “we have the infamous Storm Twin’s Gear. We’ll be selling each piece separately, so get your pocketbooks ready.”

Each piece was sold off for such high prices, Elvin wasn’t sure if they would ever get the chance to buy a piece. And Zella’s conscience wouldn’t allow them to steal it. Elvin figured stealing from stealers and murderers would be fine, but not to her code of ethics. So they were kinda stuck. 

“Alright, and now for a pen. Found on the sister’s vest.” A couple people raised their hands. Including Zella. And somehow, she managed to win the pen. “Sold for 150,000 credits.”

That was about the amount they could bring with them. Elvin knew the pen well, since it was a gift Zella gave to her when she became a hero. It was just an ordinary pen. Pens weren’t even used anymore since everything was done through holodocs, but for some reason Zella and Nali–the sister–loved to write the old way. They would even send each other notes. 

Zella gripped the pen close to her chest after the auction was over. Elvin tried to get her to stop at least looking sentimental. But there was no point. 

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Grovner’s voice filled the auction house. Every person looked to him as he smiled, “We have one final event for the evening. 1,000,000 credits for the one who can bring me that pen.”

Zella’s eyes went wide. Elvin glanced between Grovner and all of the now hungry eyes staring at her. 

“Did I mention we have some special guests? They are heroes! Take them out and we’ll have two less bastards in our world. Anything on them… is yours.”

The auction house blew up in screams and stampeding feet. Some went for the exit, trying to keep their newly acquired wares with them. Although, not all of them made it. But there was no time to dread the murders right in front of him. He had to keep Zella safe. She had already made a shield out of the metal in her cloak. Elvin opened his bow and pulled back the string. Arrows made from tk energy flew as he hit villain after villain in the foot. 

Zella was on defense. She had already slipped the pen into Elvin’s pocket. He was a ranged fighter after all. Running and keeping away from dangerous combat was his specialty. Elvin climbed the nearest shelf, only to be pushed off by a gust of wind. Then he felt his hair stand on end. He barrelled to the side as where he once stood erupted in flames. His battle sense wasn’t gone at least. Zella came smashing through, knocking the pyromaniac and wind fanatic unconscious. She turned around and made two shields, blocking attack after attack. 

Elvin aimed his bow directly overhead. Finally getting a moment to build up the power in his shot he made an opening above. “Let’s go!” He shouted at Zella.

Zella slammed one of the shields into the ground and made it as wide as possible, hoping to slow at least some of them down. She threw the other under Elvin’s feet as he jumped, and she grabbed onto him. The metal pieces lifted them into the opening. They jumped as high as possible and landed on the roof. 

Zella almost gagged as they landed. On the roof was a body. Not just one, but parts of each missing hero, including Nali’s head, with a note that said; “Tormented yet, heroes?”

Zella fell to her knees, tears falling on the ground like rain. Elvin had never seen her so… defeated. He lifted her up and took a picture of the scene. “I have our evidence,” He said as he put her arm over his shoulder, “Now we need to get out of here alive.”

Elvin ran, and Zella stumbled along beside him. She managed to help make paths to the surface. With their identity exposed they were no longer worried about using their abilities. Zella made a path all the way to the entrance while Elvin did his best to keep her steady and fight off unrelenting villains. With this though, there was no way they wouldn’t stage a raid now.

“Come on,” Elvin said through heavy breaths, “Let’s go home.”

Zella shook her head, “No, we’re going straight to the Heroes. We need to take these villains to justice.”