For several hours, the thief and the sve moved through the lower district. The goblin constantly turned onto one street after another. The young man followed him. Korvus knew where to look for Madam Cudia and how to get to her. If he was right, she would help them. As the leader of the Guild, she knew the lower district better than she knew herself. She had connections that could ease their escape from the city. But could she be trusted? After all... the mission had failed, and only the goblin had survived.

  Korvus was lucky that he was a goblin. Thanks to his origin, the Dominion didn't kill him immediately but threw him into a cage, intending to publicly hang him at dawn. But, observing Korvus, Eugene began to understand that he was very different. Korvus had taught himself to read and write, studied magic, and tried to understand its nature. Eugene felt that not every goblin in this world was capable of such things. Especially since the Dominion couldn't have expected an ordinary goblin thief to open the cage locks and destroy the crystals. The Dominion made a mistake. And very likely, they wouldn’t make it again.

  If everything was clear with Korvus, it was not the same with Eugene. He was the Scum of Lyraeus. According to the ws of the Church of the Kirexian Dominion, creations of such ancient magic as Eugene should have been burned. Now he was a sve, driven by a curse that no one but Lyraeus could have made. But why did they want to kill Eugene? Why not help? It was highly likely that they knew they couldn’t break the curse and didn’t want others to know that even the Great Dominion wasn't all-powerful. Everything beyond the Dominion's reach had to be destroyed. Therefore, they would have to escape into the unknown in search of the Broken Hearth. But how? What if Madam Cudia refused?

  The exit from the city was guarded by Dominion guards. After the attempted robbery and escape of two criminals, the guards were likely reinforced. Which meant they wouldn’t be able to escape unnoticed. All hope rested on Madam Cudia.

  The pns Korvus wanted to finish today had taken too much time. The sun slowly, but surely, was moving toward the horizon. In a couple of hours, it would disappear behind the rooftops. Moonwhisper would be plunged into darkness. But even in such darkness, it would continue to live. What is hidden from view will appear. What is forbidden will be revealed. And at this hour, a new life for Moonwhisper would begin the life of the night.

  Turning, Korvus stopped. The street led to a dead end. At the end, a four-story building rose, seemingly covered with rows of small windows. The entrance was adorned with a massive metal door. Several Beasts near it were smoking pipes and talking about something. Before the building stood a small flowerbed with flowers.

  "Are we here?" Eugene took a few steps forward.

  "Wait," Korvus grabbed him by the hand. "I’ll talk."

  "Of course, but... what is this pce?"

  "Madam Cudia works here."

  "I got that, but... is it a restaurant, a hotel?"

  "Not exactly," Korvus let go of Eugene. "Once we’re inside, try not to talk to anyone. If they say anything unpleasant, ignore it."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Our goal is to buy time. Everything they say... it’s not your problem."

  "Alright... probably."

  "Let’s go."

  Korvus headed toward the building, and Eugene obediently followed him. As they approached, several Beasts fell silent and stared at them. Smiles quickly turned into smirks. What was the goblin doing here? And, more importantly, why was that red-haired, handsome young man with him?

  Korvus pushed the door, and it swung open. At that moment, Eugene realized where they were.

  "What the hell!" he excimed. The goblin turned around and shot him a fierce look.

  It was a brothel.

  Several girls in sheer dresses greeted the guests. Several almost completely naked young men sat at tables, waiting to be invited to the upper floors. Red curtains surrounded the hall, and soft music poured from a small box.

  One of the young men, hearing the door open, jumped up but froze when he saw the short goblin.

  "Hello," the dark-haired young man greeted them, gncing at Eugene. "Welcome to Madam Cudia's World of Pleasure."

  "Good... day..." Eugene examined the speaker. He was lean, yet muscur. Out of the corner of his eye, Eugene noticed how several girls giggled, pretending not to notice the goblin’s presence. But one of them smiled at Eugene.

  "I’d like to speak to Mother," Korvus addressed the young man. This was the secret phrase for Guild workers.

  After these words, the young man rexed as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He was gd the goblin wasn’t a client with whom he would have to fuck but was just working for the Guild.

  "Come in." The young man quickly turned around and headed toward the stairs. The thief and the sve followed him.

  The room was warm, perhaps too much so. Eugene thought it was done intentionally to make guests invite the girls and boys into rooms faster, to strip off their clothes more quickly. Considering how hot Korvus' body was, it must have been hard for him here.

  Following the doorman pleasure, Eugene climbed to the next floor, where he heard female moans. They echoed down the hall, touching something inside him. Something that grew like branches, entwining him from within. The burning sensation in his lower belly grew. He knew what it was. If before he tried not to think about it, now... Almost a day had passed since Lyraeus had cursed him. That meant the Lustful curse was about to awaken, locking him in a cage with no way out.

  Climbing to the top floor, the keeper opened the door and invited them inside. As soon as the goblin and the red-haired young man stepped over the threshold, he quickly closed the door.

  Partly, he bmed himself for rushing to greet the clients without spotting them from a distance. What if the goblin hadn’t been working for the Guild? What if he’d chosen him for his pleasures? He wouldn't be able to live, knowing he'd pleased a goblin. With this thought in mind, he hurried downstairs to tell the other girls how lucky he was. It seemed as though the old gods, long dead, had saved him from horror.

  Korvus and Eugene entered the hall. The entire upper floor belonged to Madam Cudia. White carpets, as pale as Eugene's skin, were spread across the floor. A few sofas, a few tables. Crimson stained-gss windows were covered by equally crimson curtains. At the end of the hall stood a massive, heavy table that could easily accommodate three people. Behind the table, in a chair, sat a woman.

  Her hair was as bck as the night in Moonwhisper, and her pale skin reflected the light from a desk mp. Several books were lying nearby. Behind her, tall shelves filled with volumes rose. In front of the table, chairs were arranged. The woman was rge, dressed in a red robe made of fine, silky fabric. This was Madam Cudia. She was writing something in a book.

  As Eugene approached, he looked around and noticed a girl in a sheer dressjust like the otherssitting at a small table by the window. She was eating écirs. Upon noticing them, her face contorted as though she had seen something extremely disgusting. It seemed she was ready to spit out the piece of écir from the disgust. At that moment, Madam Cudia lifted her gaze.

  “Little bastard!” the woman shouted. “Why didn’t you die?!”

  She smmed the book shut.

  “Hello, Cudia,” Korvus’s voice was low as usual, but now it carried something else. Seriousness? Sternness? Whatever it was, it made Eugene shiver as if the goblin's voice was the catalyst for Lyraeus’s curse.

  “For youMadam,” the woman said, her disgust and anger clear. “Cudia.”

  For a few moments, they stared at each other, as if their minds were locked in a silent battle.

  “Everything was supposed to be quiet!” Cudia finally spoke. “You get in, break into the vault, and get out before anyone notices.”

  “We got to the vault,” Korvus crossed his arms over his chest. “I started the hack.”

  “And what happened then? What the fuck could happen?”

  “What do you think? We got caught. Right at that moment, the guards decided to check the vault. They found us. And then the Dominion wizard showed up.”

  “And killed everyone except you?”

  “As you know, Cudia…” the woman pressed her lips together. “They love executing goblins in public. It’s fun!”

  Eugene stared at Korvus, unable to believe how authoritative and serious he could be. Just recently, he had been kind and polite to the young man, and now he was negotiating with the head of the Guild.

  “That’s it, Korvus… That’s it. They know about you, fuck it, everyone knows. A group of degenerates tried to break into the Dominion vault. You couldn’t even escape… Only the little shit survived.”

  “Wasn’t it you who sent us there?”

  “Everything was supposed to be quiet, Korvus. And now… The Dominion is patrolling every street in the Middle District. They’re checking every house. They’ll be coming for us soon… What the fuck do you think will happen when they break in here?”

  “Let me guess... The Guild will make a new agreement?”

  “The Guild?!” Cudia averted her gaze. Korvus caught something in her eyes. “The Guild can’t handle the Dominion. There will be purges, Korvus. And all because of you.” She exhaled. “You should’ve been hanged… And you, fuck it, decided to run.”

  “I love life,” Korvus snapped.

  “And because of that, soon there will be a crowd of wizards and guards here. They’ll search every house. They’ll interrogate everyone…”

  “If it’s everyone… it will take a lot of time.”

  “But first, they’ll come for us, the head of the Guild. Because of you, we’re all done for!” Madam Cudia turned and looked at the girl, who had been eating écirs the whole time. Then she stepped away from the table and approached her. “Sunshine… The gods gave you a throat to please our clients, not to eat écirs 24/7. Go work!” She pushed the girl, and she hurried out of the office.

  Only now did Cudia's gaze fall on Eugene.

  “And who the fuck is this?”

  “Let’s say… my assistant,” Korvus sat in the chair in front of the table.

  “You’re his whore, right?” the woman approached, studying Eugene’s face. “A whore ready to y down for a goblin? Pervert,” she drawled. “Such open views are welcomed in our house,” Cudia added, not hiding her mockery. “What’s your name, sunshine?”

  “Sit down, Eugene,” Korvus motioned to the chair next to him.

  Eugene remained silent, afraid to say too much. He didn’t even fully understand what was happening.

  “Sit down,” Korvus repeated in a commanding tone. The burning sensation in Eugene’s body intensified, and he obeyed.

  “Well done, training him like that,” Cudia smirked as she sat back down. “But still… why are you here? The Dominion will be here soon.”

  “What do you know about the vault?” Korvus remained serious. “Who told you about it?”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  “It is. I tried to break into it.”

  “And fucked up,” the woman pulled out a cigarette case and took one out.

  “Because of you…” Korvus smiled slightly.

  “It’s just a vault. A big safe. You just needed to crack the lock.”

  “Oh, gods…” Korvus smirked, baring his fangs. “You don’t know…”

  Cudia narrowed her eyes.

  “What don’t I know?”

  “Who got in touch the Guild? Who told them?”

  “Was it the Wolf?” Eugene interrupted. Korvus immediately turned to him.

  “The Wolf?” Cudia frowned. “What the fuck Wolf are you talking about? It was a private job. The Guild…” She paused for a moment.

  “They don’t know,” the goblin concluded. “You were dealing behind the Guild’s back.”

  “Shut up, bastard,” Cudia fred up.

  “Why? Desire for power? Money?”

  “Say one more word and I’ll cut your throat.”

  “Now I understand…” Korvus ughed. Eugene looked at him in confusion. “You wanted to change the power bance in the Guild,” the goblin continued. “You took a job to crack the vault. Sent us, the ones no one ever uses. The ones whose deaths no one cares about.”

  “Think you’re the smartest?”

  “But you were wrong.”

  “In what way? Didn’t take into account your survival?”

  “I offer a deal,” Korvus stood up and began slowly walking around the table, gncing at the books.

  “You?” Cudia ughed. “What could you possibly offer?”

  “You help Eugene and me get out of Moonwhisper and forget about us forever.”

  “Leave Moonwhisper?” Cudia frowned. “You’re an impressive idiot, Korvus.”

  “And in exchange…” the goblin grinned, “I’ll give you information.”

  “I thought you were going to sell your whore,” Cudia gnced at Eugene. “No information is worth the cost of escaping Moonwhisper, especially now.”

  "And most importantly..." the goblin turned to the woman. "You’ll tell me who gave you the order."

  "No!" The woman ughed.

  "The vault didn’t just contain an artifact for the Dominion’s wizards," said Eugene.

  Cudia and Korvus turned around.

  "So what was there?"

  "This is the very information I want to give you, in exchange for escape."

  "That’s why the Dominion captured a wizard," Eugene continued. "They tortured him, trying to find out what’s inside. Get to it. After all, what’s in the vault…"

  "…isn’t just an artifact?" the woman wondered. Looking at Korvus, she continued: "Answer the question… Why couldn’t you breeak it?"

  "Aside from a thousand locks, there was also magic."

  "I see." Cudia’s breath grew uneasy. "Well, let’s say I agree to the deal."

  "Wonderful." Korvus returned to his chair.

  "Then, fuck it, speak."

  "The vault was created tens, maybe even hundreds of thousands of years ago. As soon as we saw it, we realized how old it was. When I was thrown into prison, I met a prisoner there. A Wolf. A Dominion wizard who betrayed them."

  "Bullshit!"

  "No. He was the one who told me what’s hidden in the vault." Korvus smiled, knowing he held the winning card. "An artifact created from the remains of gods."

  "Go to hell," Cudia shook her head. "I don’t believe you."

  "Truth is always different from familiar reality."

  "That’s impossible."

  "And this is exactly why you sent the group. You set up the entire Lower District. The thing is, the artifact holds incredible power. It must, because it’s made from the remains of gods. With it, anything is possible. And here’s how the Dominion sees it: The Guild learned about the vault, wanted to steal the artifact and gain the power the Dominion itself doesn’t have. After all, how long has the Dominion had the vault? A hundred years? Two hundred? They still haven’t managed to open it."

  Madam Cudia began to fear. Her heavy breathing was even audible to Eugene.

  "If it were just a regur theft, they’d be angry. But you tried to steal what they crave the most." Korvus looked Cudia in the eyes. "But in reality, the Guild didn’t even know about the mission. So the question is: who gave you the order?"

  "Fuck…" Cudia whispered, lighting another cigarette. "Shit… Alright."

  "Then I’m listening."

  "The group. It was a group of wizards. There was no Wolf there. They appeared out of nowhere. They offered a lot…"

  "And a shift in the bance of power in the Guild?"

  "Partly. One way or another, they were willing to pay any price. To them, the artifact was the only thing that mattered. Whether those who went after it survived or not they didn’t care."

  The woman took a deep drag.

  "It had to go quietly. The Dominion wasn’t supposed to find out. But they didn’t say anything about the magic in the vault, or the artifact itself. Just that it’s important. I thought these wizards wanted to run their experiments on it. Or… how would I know what they do with magic? Maybe it’s just a crystal the group of rich wizards wants to get their hands on."

  "Why bypass the Guild?"

  "Are you stupid? Money, Korvus. The sum they offered…"

  "Why you? There are better thieves."

  "Thieves talk too much about their business. And whores know how to keep secrets."

  "Did they contact you after?"

  "No."

  "You got involved in matters far beyond our lives. And dragged me into it."

  "If you had died, Korvus, there wouldn’t be a problem."

  "Unlucky… Either way, now you’re in deep shit too."

  "Why your stupid goblin’s head think so?.." Cudia shot a gnce at Korvus.

  "You know about the artifact. You know about the wizards. The vault. You know too much."

  "Fuck…"

  "So here’s the deal." Korvus concluded: "We escape from Moonwhisper with Eugene, and you pretend it wasn’t you, but just a group of idiots trying to rob the Dominion."

  Madam Cudia shifted her gaze from Eugene to Korvus. She understood perfectly well what she had gotten herself into. If the pn succeeded, she could buy half of the Lower District and become the sole head of the Guild. But if the pn failed… her life would be worth nothing.

  And now, with the Dominion hunting for the thief, with the Guild becoming a threat… a war could start inside Moonwhisper. The Guild’s fracture, the confrontation of fragmented factions, and the Dominion.

  But what Korvus offered could save her. Let the thief escape, and tell the Dominion and the Guild that it was just idiots trying to steal the artifact. Fragile, but perhaps the only solution. Or not?

  "Agreed," Cudia said.

  "Then shall we shake hands?" The goblin approached the woman.

  "Not with you."

  "As you wish." Korvus headed to the bookshelves and took one of the books.

  "You don’t even know how to read, why do you need a book?"

  "I’ll look at the pictures," he replied coldly. "The sooner we leave the city, the better for you. In two weeks we’ll return here. The escape pn should be ready."

  "I know." The woman threw the cigarette butt into the ashtray. "Now get out. And take your whore with you."

  But then, looking at Eugene, Cudia smirked:

  "You’re smarter than I thought. I approve."

  "What are you talking about?" Korvus turned around.

  "Along with the thief from prison, Lyraeus’ scum escaped… The red-haired youth, cursed to please men for life or go insane." The woman ughed even louder. "They say Lyraeus is dead. And that means he’ll stay with you until he goes mad… and then he’ll become just a tool for your pleasure. That’s the only way a person could end up in bed with a goblin… Smart."

  Korvus didn’t pay attention to her words. He gestured for Eugene to follow him, and they left Madam Cudia’s office.

  A few minutes ter, under the watchful eyes of the brothel’s workers, they exited the establishment.

  After stepping away from the building, Korvus stopped.

  Eugene looked at him, trying to understand what he was thinking. Korvus looked unusually serious.

  "What do you think?" Eugene spoke, bringing the goblin out of his thoughts. "Will she help us? Or will she betray us to the Dominion?"

  "Madam Cudia?" Korvus gnced at Eugene. "She’ll definitely betray us. She’ll try to make a deal with the Dominion, lie to the Guild that she found the thief and Lyraeus’s Scum. One way or another, when we come to her, Dominion guards will be waiting for us, and I’m sure the wizards will be there too. But, as I said..." The goblin smiled at Eugene again. "We’ve bought time. Two weeks."

  "So, you’ve thought all this through?" Eugene ughed.

  "The advantage of being considered a stupid goblin is that they expect nothing but stupidity from you."

  "And now what?"

  "The book..." The goblin fiddled with the tome he had taken from Madam Cudia. "There are a couple of answers here. Let’s go home."

  Korvus and Eugene headed toward the thief's dwelling. Eugene still didn’t understand where and when to turn, so he simply followed the goblin. By the time they reached the house on the roof, the sun was touching the horizon. A few more minutes, and Moonwhisper would be plunged into darkness. Some streets were already lit by nterns. The flow of people had slightly decreased, but Eugene still tried to watch where he was going to avoid bumping into anyone.

  On the way back, Korvus bought something resembling a roasted piece of meat from a street vendor. Eugene realized again how hungry he was in Madam Cudia's world of indulgence.

  As Eugene waited for Korvus to open the door, he finally understood the feeling he had been experiencing all day. If before it had seemed like just safety and care when he was with the goblin, now he realized: it was confidence. Confidence that problems could be solved. Korvus, though he never said why he was helping him, dispyed a clear, cold calcution in his actions. It seemed as though any problem the thief encountered immediately found a solution. And knowing that Korvus was by his side, Eugene was sure: one way or another, they would find a way to break Lyraeus's curse.

  "It’s been a tough day," Korvus fell onto the couch, watching the sunset through the window.

  "I agree." Eugene sat beside him.

  "But..." The thief stretched. "We’ve done everything we pnned. Soon, we’ll go to sleep, and... tomorrow will be a new day."

  "What are our next steps?" Eugene leaned back on the couch. "Madam Cudia will betray us, so we can't escape with her help... How will we leave Moonwhisper? And where to? To the Broken Hearth? If it’s a secret pce, how will we find it?"

  "Eugene," Korvus looked at his companion. "You don’t have to think about that... Not today. We have time, and we’ll definitely use it properly."

  "Have you already thought of something?"

  "Something, yes," the goblin smiled, patting Eugene on the head. "I’ll tell you tomorrow."

  "Alright, then..." Eugene's face suddenly changed. He tried to stand, but immediately colpsed onto the floor.

  "Eugene!" Korvus jumped to his feet.

  At st, the hour had come. The hour when Lyraeus's curse completely filled the body and mind of the young man. If before it had only reminded him of its existence, now it made itself known in full force. The ancient magic had fully consumed Eugene, forever binding his soul to it. Eternal svery of desire.

  Eugene Mustfill tried to rise, but he couldn’t. He remained on his knees, feeling his heart beat faster, and his thoughts becoming tangled. The room blurred before his eyes. It seemed that his gsses only made the situation worse. The young man ripped them off and tossed them aside.

  His body began to tingle, the burning sensation below intensifying. He knew what he had to do. He knew how to stop the curse and buy some time. Action had to be taken immediately—every minute brought him closer to the edge, where madness awaited. Oblivion, into which he would fall and lose himself forever, becoming nothing but a willless, thoughtless sve, submitting only for pleasure.

  Only one thing could save him. A male body that would take him, that would use him. And only then would the curse subside—at least for a while.

  Eugene lifted his eyes and saw Korvus. From the side he had never seen before. His gaze darted between Korvus's lips, which he longed to kiss, and the strong arms that should hold him in an embrace. He looked at the goblin’s pants and anticipated what was hidden beneath them.

  He desired him.

  He desired to be used. Nothing else in this world mattered to Eugene, except serving Korvus

  "Eugene..." The Goblin stepped closer. The scent of his body only intensified the madness that consumed the young man.

  "Please..." Eugene begged Korvus, "Take me. I want you, please..."

  "Eugene, I can't..." The Goblin tried to refuse, but he understood where this was going.

  "I'll do anything you say. I don't care how goblins are treated in this world. I want you..." — Eugene repeated.

  “I don’t… I don’t want to hurt you,” Korvus tried to find the right words, but Eugene pressed his face against his groin, succumbing to the warmth of the goblin’s body.

  "Let's make a deal..." Eugene remembered how serious Korvus could be.

  "What kind of deal?" The Goblin knew how the lustful curse worked, but had never seen it in action before.

  “You will take me… You will fuck me… The way you desire” Eugene began to gasp from the desire that had built to its full strength. “As long I am cursed, you can fuck whenever you want… Please Krovus…”

  "Everything I want?"

  "Absolutely..."

  "Every time?"

  "Yes!"

  "I'm..." Korvus hesitated, choosing his words, — "I will be rough... and you will obey. If you make a mistake... you will be punished."

  “Yes..." Korvus' low voice consumed all of Eugene's attention. The world around him vanished. The world around him vanished. He stood on the edge of the abyss, where on one side was submission, and on the other — death.

  "Please..."

  Korvus had never been with a person before, but he had always been curious. In Moonwhisper, attitudes towards goblins were extremely derogatory – no one ever considered sharing a bed with them.

  Korvus recalled Madame Cudia's words. Had he truly exploited Eugene's curse to obtain something he'd cked for years? Was he grateful for the curse because Eugene would endure everything Korvus loved doing with his partners?

  Had Eugene become not only a sve to desire but also desired to be ensved by Korvus? To obey his every word…

  But on the other hand… If Korvus didn’t cim Eugene, the tter would go mad and lose his mind – equivalent to death. Practicality and pleasure merged as one in the goblin’s room. Desire and necessity had converged – useful and enjoyable. They became Eugene Mustfill.

  “Then…” Korvus trailed his hot palm over the Eugene’s cheek, who knelt begging him. “Be a good boy."