SVETLANA KNEW SHE DIDN'T WAIT FOR PERMISSION FROM NIKOLAI, but she knew it was granted regardless. She has been a good pup for months, doing exactly what was asked of her and what was assigned to her, he wouldn't dare deny this from her.

But she was still facing a bit of an obstacle; Sophia is insisting on coming back with her. No matter how much she argued, Sophia would find a way to convince Svetlana to let her come along.

"It's not safe." Svetlana had said, and Sophia brushed her off. "When was Ketterdam ever safe for Grisha? Hmm?"

"You can get really hurt"

"I've been through worse before surly."

"You don't know what you're getting yourself into."

"I'm the one who reported this to you, didn't I? I know exactly what's going on. Better than you."

Svetlana gave up eventually, and she let Sophia ride her own horse all the way to Os Kervo. They had to stop multiple times to let the animals rest, and they'd have a snack before riding into the night again. The sun was peaking through the dark by the time they reached the docks and got the paperwork that allowed them on board.

"You can still back out, you know? Go back to the Little Palace, sleep in big warm beds, have a good warm meal and refreshing baths." Svetlana had told her, one last attempt at getting Sophia to change her mind, but even as her mouth watered and her body sloughed, Sophia shook her head. "Those Grisha are my duty. Our duty. We have to do this."

Their eyes locked, and Svetlana searched deep within her, trying to find any trace of... anything, really. She wanted to understand her, get a hold of her mind, and decipher every thought that passed through. But as her pair of bitter coffee eyes stared back at her, Svetlana knew she was being truthful. There's nothing to hide here.

Three years ago, when Svetlana started up her 'business' in Ketterdam, in Little Ravka, she had sworn to keep the Grisha she could find safe and protected. She had made that vow to Sophia back then, and she's going to do her best to keep it now.

Karina Kozlov may be a con, a thief, and a liar, but Svetlana Milkovich keeps her promises. Even if she'd come to regret them later. She'd always keep her promises.

She'd missed this, Svetlana realized. Being out in the sea, feeling the salty breeze wash over the deck and sweep into the hood of her cloak. It felt good, and so, so much different from the last time she was on a ship.

She had been with Alina and Mal then, being held by the Darkling as he forced her brother to track down a mythical creature of deep waters and ocean horrors.

She didn't have the best experiences on sea, but this was calming and soothing. There was no Darkling here, there was no Sturmhond or pirates, it was just her, Sophia, and the True Sea.

When Ketterdam came into view, Lana almost felt her heart leap into her throat. She clutched at the railing as the crew worked around the deck, getting the ship to sail right into Fifth Harbor. Sophia appeared beside her, pulling her cloak back onto her head. "Welcome home, Karina."

Ketterdam looked exactly the same. Before docking into the harbor, the city lights were the only thing visible from the distance. The familiar fog had taken its rightful place atop the surface of the water and on the cobblestone ground. It still stank of that Saints-awful smell, and it still looked like death lurked at its every corner.

It was familiar though, and it felt more like home than Ravka ever did.

The moment she made it off the ship, a wave of nostalgia crashed into her. She remembers the first time she got here, off at this very dock, getting lost in the canals and alleyways of Ketterdam. She remembers the last time she left, hood over her head like she's doing right this very moment, a bag secured around her shoulders, and a dark future without the knowledge if she'll even make it past the Fold.

Sophia must have sensed her uneasiness because she hooked her arm within Svetlana's and guided her off the harbor towards the East of the city; towards the Government District, towards Little Ravka, towards home.

Svetlana almost felt like a stranger in these streets. She used to have them memorized like the back of her hand, she knew nothing better than the streets of Ketterdam, the crooked buildings, and the waterways, the canals connecting every place in Ketterdam to the other. She knew every dirty corner and shadowing crack in the walls of the alleys, she knew every secret that dared be passed between the residents of the city, she had something about everyone held tightly close to her and it felt like all of that was gone now.

She was an entirely different person now, but she held the same burning flame within her. She was still somewhat of a version of Karina Kozlov; a woman without morals, a trickster whose audience was the city, a ruthless thing that never dared to be disturbed.

Karina Kozlov had one hell of a reputation in this city, she maimed and killed, bought and sold, trafficked and smuggled, all in the name of justice. Her own justice. Because no one else was going to give the people who deserve misery their fate, so she would have to become a god— a saint, of sorts.

But she's been gone. No one had marked these streets with her name for years. It was a rumor that spread like wildfire; the woman who goes by Chivalry had escaped the city in the middle of the night. It was merely a spark, but that was enough to bring up the flame.

Her name was like nothing now, but Karina knew she could bring her reign back. She could make everyone shake as they fell to their knees before her, for even thinking about going after her people, for taking sweet Natalia from her— from Sophia. For messing with the wrongest crowd.

She was going to make this right, even if it meant burning down castles from within to do so.

Svetlana was so caught up in her mind with vengeance talk that she didn't notice the pair of them had crossed the bridge that led them straight into Little Ravka. They must've been walking for a couple of hours at least because in the distance, the ringing of three bells echoed across the Government District.

Svetlana's sigh was loud to Sophia. She knew she felt uncomfortable here, things are very different now, far different than she'd ever have thought. Sophia almost feels bad for the woman, but she remembers that she was the one left behind, that she was the one who had to look after the others on her own, that she was the one who had to stay here and watch the world move on without Karina by her side. She was the victim here, not Lana.

Before Svetlana left Ketterdam years ago, she thought this Little Ravka was exactly like home. But as she walked through its streets now, she realized just how wrong she had been. It looks nothing like Ravka. At least, not this new Ravka. People still wore old clothes, styled in the fashion of old Ravka. It's like she had stepped back in time, and she watched all these familiar faces walk around and past her. She wondered just how many of them knew her.

If they moved quickly, maybe she'll be able to bear her surroundings and gather information to look for Natalia before noon, before word of her presence got out to the world, because it will. This was Ketterdam after all, there was a spider hanging on every corner. But they needed to hurry.

Lana was grateful that Phoenix Bay was still the same. Her beloved shop was still in its place, hiding in an alley from Stadwatch but looking friendly enough to passers. The glass walls outside displayed all kinds of things; from little tourist souvenirs and rolls of world maps to books of all languages, Ravkan, Kerch, Zemini, and even Fjerdan.

It still radiated its welcome warmth, which Svetlana was immensely grateful for. Phoenix Bay had to be the first place she had made that gave her the sense of home she had so desperately longed for before. It gave her a home, and a family, and provided her with sanctuary and safety when no other place did. It was her safe haven. Hers and many more.

Inside the shop was a bit different, but it was still doing its job. Shelves of books on one side ranged from fictional to educational, and other shelves held up what appeared to be crystal orbs on metal stands, some sort of smoke floating within it. There was a stall with jewelry hung on it, varying from crystals to jars with herbs, some rings were there too, with beautiful rocks attached to the top and different styles made out of wires.

There were candles, cups, plates, bowls, cauldrons, gloves, coats, shawls, cloaks, fabrics of all textures and colors, First Army knives, mirrors, jars, and so many other random items.

This place has been thriving, Lana realized with a grin. She felt warmth ripple in her chest with the thought, and she turned to Sophia with a grateful smile. "What do you think?" Sophia asked and Lana could swear her heart skidded. She nodded, "You've done wonderful, it looks wonderful."

"We kept the business running, got into other ranges, and managed to stay afloat." A voice spoke out from behind the curtain on the side of the cashier counter to her left, Svetlana whirled and was met with Viktor, her trusty Fabrikator. He had created most of the items she was carrying in the bag over her shoulder and the cloak around her head.

She grinned at him and immediately hugged him close. He was still the same lanky and slander tall figure he'd always been, his bronze skin glowing in the dimly lit room and his purplish raven hair was slightly covering his eyes, all dry and fluffy on his head. His thick brows were raised in amusement and his eyes glistened with joy. He and Sophia had to be the closest people she'd been to before she left.

"You're actually here," he mumbled into her hair as he hugged her closer, "I didn't think she'd manage to get you."

"I told her about Natalia." Said Sophia, pulling her cloak off her shoulders.

Svetlana shook her head, "I would've come regardless."

"Would you?"

"Yes. I needed to be out of there anyway."

Viktor raised his brows, "You... you wanted to leave the Little Palace?" She realized now just how bad that sounded, especially since most of the people here were scraping the ground for a warm piece of bread. She felt selfish.

She closed her eyes and sighed, "It's not how you think it is. Things get a little... irritating, after a while."

Sophia scoffed at her, rolling her eyes as she dragged herself quietly into the hall deeper into the building. Viktor and Svetlana followed after her. Unlike Sophia's hostility, Viktor was more amused than anything. "Only you would say staying at a fucking palace would be irritating, Karina."

She almost flinched at the name, she hasn't been called it in years— well, until Sophia showed up yesterday. But regardless, she almost did, and Sophia caught her. She sent her a scolding glare as if telling her to tell Viktor the truth that she had to find out through strangers on luxury grounds.

Lana cast her stare to the ground, she wasn't ready yet. Maybe someday, but certainly not today. Today, she had a mission; find Natalia. That's exactly what she intends on doing.

She greeted and acknowledged everyone in the room, other Grisha that she had rescued and brought here over the years. There were some unfamiliar faces, people she'd later learn that Sophia brought here for protection. Because even though she was gone, their self-assigned job to protect the Grisha in this city was more important than anything else.

Before Svetlana left, Natalia had to be the youngest Grisha in this place. She was barely fourteen, maybe thirteen. Lana found her on the streets outside of pleasure houses. Panic had spiked through her heart in an instant and she pulled her away from West Stave, comforting her small shaking figure and doing her best to let her breathe before asking her questions.

She found out that she had been kidnapped, as most of the girls in pleasure houses, and that she had run away from her kidnappers when Lana found her.

She was such a small thing, pale blonde hair chopped to her chin, sky blue eyes staring back up at her in fear and wonder. Natalia had always been such a curious and brave little thing, always asking questions, always requesting to go on jobs with Lana or Sof, and always finding something to do around the place. They had been so worried about her that they told her to never leave the shop, at least not alone.

Sophia explained that she was with Natalia a few days ago when she was taken from her. She told Svetlana how they were heading back to the shop when the crowd squashed them apart, she told her how one minute she was holding Nat's hand and the next she was gone, slipping away from her and deep into the crowd of faces of strangers and friends alike.

Sophia told her the absolute horror that washed through her when the girl's eyes disappeared from sight, the way she screamed her name until her throat turned raw, the way she searched for her door to door throughout Little Ravka but couldn't find her at all.

She cried and Lana cried with her, she held her as she continued on about the failed search for Natalia, Sofia told her that she might be gone already, that they might be too late, but Svetlana refused to listen.

Natalia was out there somewhere, she was biding her time and she would wait until they'd come for her. She knew they'd come for her, Sophia and Viktor would come for her. She wouldn't be alone, but she'd have to be brave. Because Svetlana was coming for her, and she was going to raise hell on every living walking thing until she found her.