The damages in Thracia were far and few, but hit Ignis much more closely than the devastation in Thanatopia. The necromancer had on many occasions expressed the view that the people born with the death element should look after themselves first and leave those who rejected them to their fate, he’d even felt somewhat justified by the situation in Hades.

Now that he was back in Aether though, he could see that while those who had suffered the most were mostly bad people and detractor of death magic, it wasn’t always the case. Free hospitals, mass graves and even some small cemeteries, had been hit by the incident, and caused some collateral damage.

It was one thing to hear of the demise of an evil lord finally killed by his victim’s curse, and another to learn that most of the red-light district he ran had been wiped out in the explosion. Most of the workers there had been victims of bad times or worse, it was unfair for them to die because some exploitative bastards forced them here.

Sadly, that had been only the beginning. After the incident, many of the casualties had their misdeeds exposed – sometimes by the church, but far more often by their previous victims or their families themselves. That in itself was a good, however there was the situation of the collateral victims: were they sinner themselves? What of their family? Should they be ostracized in case of a second event?

In Philippopolis, Azrael and Ignis were having their dinner at their inn when they heard a conversation at the nearby table.

“Did you hear the news? You know Phyllis was killed during the incident.”

“Good riddance! This bitch got what was coming to her, always skimming on salaries, and kicking people out if they complained.”

“Well, that wasn’t all. Someone put the brand on their house, the father and son were mobbed last night!” After saying that, the voice erupted in laughter.

“You didn’t do it, did you?” The second voice didn’t laugh though, it sounded worried more than anything.

“I wish I did, I’d have loved to see it with my own eyes.” Said the first voice.

“That isn’t as funny as you think. Laelis and Navaea had to move out of their house, just because they worked in the baron’s stables.”

“What? But they’re super nice. Always lending a hand and everything.”

“That’s what I mean, anyone can be a target. We knocked Aelios’ teeth last month, what if he decides to get revenge.”

“But he’s a complete bastard, every saw we were protecting that wee girl.

“What does it matter? The brand is anonymous!”

The first voice was panicking now. “Maybe… maybe we should brand him first… Do you know where he lives?”

The pair felt disgusted; fear, vengeance, and good old opportunism already raised their ugly heads to breed even more violence and confusion.

“What is that brand they are talking about, master?”

“I don’t know, probably nothing special. Just a mark people put on others house to mark them as potential sinner. Fear and paranoia do the rest.”

“That’s awful, why doesn’t anyone do anything to stop it?”

“Maybe they fear to be branded too? Also, the highest local authority the lord died in the incident. Whoever remains is probably too afraid to step in.”

“But then…” Started the child.

Ignis interjected. “Then nothing. There’s nothing we can do, but get out of here as soon as possible. Finish your diner and go to your room. Tell Thracian to stand guard: we leave tomorrow at the earliest.” They were in mage robes and accompanied by a man in full armor. Only a moron would try something against them, but then again, mobs and small-time criminals aren’t exactly known for being clever and mage usually transported money and valuable artifacts.

“Thracian would do something about it.” Complained Azrael with a holier-than-thou.

“Yeah! He’d kill them until they stopped complaining. Listen kid, I’ve seen it before; this town has already gone over the rail, so unless you want to take over and enforce your will with violence, we better scram.”

“But that’s awful…”

“Ts, the world is like that, you and me know that better than anyone.” One had lost his family to an insane noble driven by paranoia and the other to a mob.

“No, we shouldn’t! We should do something.” Rebutted the youth with a strong voice, gathering the eye of the surrounding upon them in the process.

“Well done, you made us stand out even more.” Complained the older mage. “Let us go your room, if you can come up with a decent solution I’ll help, otherwise we leave first hour tomorrow.”