The group was dragged out of the tent, where they saw that the Titan Trappers had built a small altar with round stones and a crescent moon symbol. The fanatics were all gathered around it and seemed to be trembling with excitement, and in their midst, guarded and very securely tied, there was also someone they knew well. "HUNTER!" Willow screamed when she saw him.

The blond boy looked up at her. The Titan Trappers had ripped off his armor, leaving him bare-chested, and had wrapped him in so much rope that it was practically impossible for him to even close his fingers; he didn't seem to have been beaten, at least not too much, but judging by the way he continually closed and opened his eyes he must have been locked up in some very dark place all that time. He was on his knees not far from the altar, and at least five Titan Trappers were around him and watched him without ever losing sight of him; his weapon instead was stuck on the top of a wooden pole in the center of the camp, in plain sight for everyone. "This is problematic" Luz murmured; she hoped that Boscha actually had a good plan in mind, or at least that she actually knew how to free Hunter.

They too were brought before the altar, and there Tarak bade them sit down; even though they were still prisoners, it was clear that they were receiving different treatment than Hunter. The difference between how the Titan Trappers viewed them was evident. Then Tarak stood on the altar and raised his hands, and everyone fell silent; immediately afterwards Bill, who had replaced his skull, emerged from the largest tent followed by Raine and Darius, and even further behind by Adrian and Terra who dragged King, now weakened, who barely seemed to be able to hold his eyes open. Bill jumped over the altar and addressed the entire crowd: "Brothers and sisters! Today we will finally accomplish what we have waited so long for! From Titan Trappers we will become Titan Slayers! The Collector will appreciate this humble gift of ours, and will welcome us into his realm! We will show the Great Huntsman our loyalty and valor, and we will become part of his eternal army of Trappers!". The fanatics erupted in cheers, and Bill waited until they died down. "This occasion is too glorious for everyone here not to witness it; therefore even the prisoners will be able to see with their own eyes the sacrifice of the mighty Titan, and let its blood wash away their sins! And even the heretic, although he does not exist more salvation for him, he will be able to admire the Collector's power for at least a moment before suffering the great punishment that is due to him! Bring the Titan here now!"

Adrian and Terra lifted King and forced him onto the altar; the young Titan had a collar around his neck from which a chain hung, and Bill grabbed it, forcing him to raise his head. Because of this, Luz and the others could see that King seemed to have been dressed up like a party: he had a shiny leather bridle around his head, with brass buckles and studs, and the fur on his back was divided into many curls tied with little bows of red silk; a large gold and silver band was placed around the waist, and the tail was all braided with purple and light blue velvet ribbons. More than a sacrificial victim, he seemed like a gift for a child. "My brothers and sisters! I will not stand here and tell you lies about the great difficulties I have overcome in understanding and subjugating this creature. Observe, please, how much wildness exudes from its eyes, and how much power emanates from its thick fur; only a child it is, yet to bring it down required a well-thought-out plan and a lot of luck, and I had to resort several times to the affable dialect of the sword and the whip. I faced it myself, alone as befits a true hunter; but such kindness of mine, instead of making it like me, made it even more ruthless, and it tried to kill me with all its strength, and only its inexperience and fallacy could save me. And even after capturing it, I had to do a lot do to train it and make it a pleasant sacrifice for our god, who, as we well know, does not tolerate undisciplined elements. Observe how it is now ready to amuse him!" Bill waved the chain slightly: "Dance, Titan!"

King was clearly exhausted and humiliated, but nevertheless he began to dance slightly on the spot. Luz had tears in her eyes at seeing him treated like this and Eda let out a growl as well. The Titan Trappers instead cheered and cheered their leader as if he had done something incredible. "As you can see, it is ready to be sacrificed. It's time to begin the great ceremony! Come on, start playing the music that our god likes so much!"

Luz was desperate to say the least; she was racking her brain for a solution. She just had to create a diversion... but which one? Amity, however, seemed to have an idea, and whispered to Eda and Lilith: "There's no time to explain, but when Bill captured us King was able to put up a good fight before collapsing because of his lack of strength. You two have the same magic as him, right? Light magic? Do you think you can provide him with at least some of that?"

Eda looked surprised, and she looked at Lilith, then they both nodded: "We can try. But this would put him in danger... he still has all the eyes on him, if he tried to escape he would be in trouble. It would be better to free Hunter first"

Unfortunately this was true, freeing King was not a good diversion: it was better to do it after causing chaos. Something else was needed... but what? Nobody had any ideas. But when two Titan Trappers picked up some instruments and started playing, and Luz realized that their music was pretty mediocre, she suddenly had a stroke of genius; she didn't know how much chance she had of succeeding, but she was definitely out of options, so it was worth a try. So pretending to have just thought about it she said loudly: "Excuse me, but why don't you use Raine?"

At the sound of her voice everyone turned towards her. "What are you saying, puppet?" Bill asked confused.

"Oops! Sorry, I'm known for speaking before thinking" Luz replied. "I was just saying... well, you have the best musician in the world at your service, why don't you use them? In such an important ceremony shouldn't only the best of the best be used?"

"Luz, what are you doing?" Amity whispered to her, but the puppet ignored her and continued to maintain an idiotic expression.

Bill made an annoyed noise. "Tsk! They may be a good musician, but don't think they can harness the notes of the Collector's sacred music better than our sacred bards who have learned how to play it after decades of study!"

"But I can assure you that Raine is suitable for the role!" Luz protested. "You have no idea how good they are! While I listened to their music, it was as if I was experiencing the situations they were playing. When they played happy things I was happy, when they played horrible things I was scared, when they played beautiful things I saw the flowers and the trees and the birds, or even the magnificent colors of the Northern Lights although I have never had the privilege of seeing that show it live. If there is anyone who can please a god with their music, it is surely Raine! Anyone who's ever listened to them can tell you the same! Right, guys?"

Feeling called into question, her friends turned pale for a moment, but then they quickly said: "Yes... yes, that's right!"

"They are extraordinary!"

"Sublime!"

"Without equal in this world!"

"Theirs is angelic music! Indeed, angels bow their heads in their presence!"

The Titan Trappers listened attentively to their praise, and many began to whisper. Realizing that she had instilled doubt in them, Luz quickly said: "Test them if you don't believe it! Make them sing. You'll see, it will be the most incredible experience of your life! It could give you uncontainable joy or unparalleled sadness! It might even make you strong warriors cry!"

Bill laughed. "Crying? Wooden girl, perhaps you have no idea who is in front of you. It's certainly not with a little music that we big strong men cry"

"Well, I bet so! You should have your ears covered so you don't cry!" Luz replied trying to hide her grin, and raising her voice very well as if she wanted to be heard even from afar. "Let's test them! Order them to play and sing the most poignant music they can conceive in their heart! If only one person here is able not to cry, then I will take it all back!"

Bill was silent for a moment, and Luz broke out in a cold sweat, fearing that he had become suspicious, but then he shrugged. "Okay, so be it. We'll see if this man is worthy of playing the hymns for the Collector!" he said. "Terra, make your slave do what the puppet asks. Tell them to sing us the saddest music they can come up with!"

Amity approached Luz. "Please, tell me that you know what you're doing" she whispered to her.

"I don't want to make my nose grow, so… no, I'm mostly improvising" Luz admitted. "But if it goes the way I hope it goes, this will solve a lot of our problems". None of her friends seemed very encouraged by those words, but they decided to trust her anyway.

Having received Bill's order, Terra rolled her eyes in disappointment, but then she followed the request; after all, she couldn't disobey him in front of all the Titan Trappers. She cared about her life. So she put her hand on Raine's cheek and whispered to them: "Did you hear that, my sweet little dog? Take your lute and use it. Play and sing for us the deepest and saddest music that dwells in your heart!"

"Yes, ma'am" Raine replied, and without hesitation went to get their trusty lute. The Titan Trappers were clearly skeptical and amused, sure that the bard would fail miserably in the task assigned to them: after all, how could a little music move them, who were used to carrying out and seeing unspeakable atrocities? But when Raine returned everyone went silent anyway, since they were at least curious to hear it. Raine picked up their lute and began composing the notes.

Immediately, a low and deep music filled the air, and it almost seemed to have a texture, as if it were made of threads that wrapped around people's hearts and made them heavier. Every note was beautiful and perfect, but carried with it extremely great pain. Even though no one was crying, at least not yet, there was no whistle, no applause, not even a sound: it almost seemed like heresy to interrupt that music. And then Raine began to sing, and every word felt like a dagger into the hearts of those who listened.

"It is expected

an oath by blood to hold a fairy's heart,

and the starlight passes overhead

watch our story begging to let it starts.

I am a guardian,

a bard who sings of these ancient rites,

yet I find myself drawn from that path

on those dazzling moonlit nights.

Let me hold you,

keep you close to me,

I long to hear your voice...

But dearest, I know better now

I must give you this choice"

Raine's movements on their lute suddenly became faster, and the music grew in intensity and speed, becoming deeper but at the same time sweeter; the entire sky seemed to respond to that melody, and the stars suddenly seemed to bow to Raine and their mastery, but at the same time the black void between each of them seemed to become more oppressive, as if it threatened to devour everything it found, extinguishing all the light. The Titan Trappers were enchanted, and even Bill didn't dare say a word; even Terra and Adrian, who normally never showed any emotion other than wickedness, had remained speechless and stared at Raine with wide-open eyes and mouths. With each passing second, Raine's voice became filled with sadness and desperation, to the point that occasionally sobs could be heard amid the melody that sounded more and more like a plea.

"I can give you everything you need,

or do you want to hear me plead?

Just look my way...

Just look my waaaaay...!"

Although Luz was trying to maintain concentration, this was proving very difficult for her. Raine's music weighed heavily on her wooden heart due to all the pain it carried, but at the same time it was practically impossible not to listen to it. Even her friends had remained completely incapable of thinking: it was not possible not to listen to that celestial music, despite the suffering it brought in every note.

"Is there something more that I don't know

that you won't say 'til we've both grown cold?

Just say...

Please stay...

Look my way...!"

Lilith barely turned her gaze to stare at Eda; her sister remained motionless and seemed to have become a statue. Her expression was unreadable, but several tears were already flowing down her face. Lilith bit her lip, aware of what the bard was singing, and approached her sisters and, unable to hug her since her hands were tied, she simply leaned on her to give her at least a little comfort. Normally Eda would have made fun of her for that sugary behavior, but at that moment the fairy seemed to have even stopped breathing, and was unable to do anything but observe the sublime bard who continued to fill the air with their hypnotic music. Music that suddenly changed, becoming longer and more artistic, thick as a liquid, and for a moment it seemed that the world around the spectators had vanished and that they were all walking on an eternal expanse of water, while Raine was illuminated by the white rays of a wonderful and at the same time sad full moon like no night had ever seen.

"This unspoken contract,

a deed we forged stronger than a chain,

if that is all finished by now and you are not here

then what is this rooted pain?

I don't care what happens in the past generations,

or where can bring us these dark temptations,

why can't you understand?

Let me explain...!"

Raine fell to their knees and clutched their lute to her, as if desperately seeking comfort in it. Their body trembled, and the whole world seemed to do the same; the white rays of that majestic and sad moon enveloped them, and they sobbed even more forcefully as they looked up and stared at it, and for a fraction of a second their music seemed to recall the distant hoot of an owl.

"And I'm terrified, as I cry,

to make these feelings true!

What's left for me

and my broken heart,

if I cannot have you?"

Raine lowered their head, and a few tears leaked from their eyes; tears that fell with the same speed as a shooting star, and under the notes of the music I seemed to shine with the intensity of a diamond. The melody changed again to be slow and low, and the notes seemed to bring yet another form of pain... resignation, acceptance of loss, utter despair. The sky seemed to grow even darker, leaving only blue and reddish hues that appeared too quickly to be understood, but for a brief moment everyone could see a blue thread wrapped around Raine's little finger that traveled all the way behind the moon above which was a majestic owl which however hid its head in its wings as if it was trying to protect a terrible wound.

"Unless it's me

and no matter what in this world I could give,

it's not enough

to get through the walls you've conjured up to live?

Is this what you feel?

Scorned by a realm that cannot comprehend

what you are...

So I granted you this mercy and I accepted that bind

on our souls needed to end..."

Raine looked up again, and for a moment they looked defeated, destroyed, completely crushed by all that pain; they seemed to want to give up, lie down on the ground and never move again; but immediately afterwards the notes emitted by the lute reached an unexpected intensity, and they stood up with such ardor that they seemed capable of leaping until they could touch the sky with a finger. The hearts of everyone listening skipped a beat as they heard those last notes. Raine rose to their full height and raised their free hand as if hoping someone would come down from the sky and grab them and take them into that sea of stars.

"I will try to make amends

I'll fight for you until my end

Just look my way...

Please look my way...!

And if there's something more that I don't know,

I'll save us both before we grow cold,

if you'll stay, and just say,

'Look my way'...!"

Raine fell to the ground as if their strength had abandoned them, but they did that so slowly without ever lowering their arm, as if they were a sailor tossed into the sea by the storm and was drowning in the monstrous and dark abyss of the ocean, and hoping in vain that a fairy would appear above them and pulled them up saving their life; tears fell copiously from their face and hit the ground. The last note was longer and more intense than the others, and then Raine finally dropped their lute and remained on their knees, still crying silently; but just at that moment a light seemed to rekindle in their eyes which until then had remained opaque as if shrouded in a mist, and although they were quick not to let it be seen, they had just filled with a strange awareness.

When they stopped playing, silence fell over the camp, like a veil being drawn over them. No one had managed to remain impassive: the Titan Trappers all had tears in their eyes, including Bill and Tarak, and even Adrian and Terra, despite trying to hide it, couldn't help but cry; King and Hunter, despite the problematic situation in which they both found themselves, couldn't avoid to get lost in those celestial notes and a big tear was rolling down each of their cheeks. Luz and her friends, on the other hand, weren't even trying to hold back: the puppet was crying so much she looked like a fountain, and next to her Skara, Edric and Emira had shed so many tears that they almost became dehydrated; Willow and Gus were clutching each other desperately seeking comfort, and even Matt, who was normally unfazed by everything, couldn't help but tremble with emotion; Amity, for the first time ever in her life, didn't even remember that she should have at least tried to keep from crying and her eyes looked like a river. Even Katya, Amber and Derwin, despite having already heard Raine play and sing many times, couldn't help but sob; and even Darius had turned away and put his arm in front of his face to vent his emotions in the hope to maintain at least a little of his dignity as a djinn. Lilith's glasses were now useless due to how damp they were... but the attention of the older of the two Clawthornes was still focused on her younger sister. Eda hadn't moved a single muscle throughout Raine's performance; she seemed to have become a statue of ice. Only the whirlwind of emotions in her eyes betrayed the storm that was happening inside her, a storm that Lilith since she was a fairy could clearly admire by looking into her heart.

For a moment nothing happened: no one moved, no one made a sound. Then Bill finally seemed to recover: "Okay... I admit I'm impressed" he confessed. "Okay, it would be heresy not to exploit such a musician. Terra, order him to be part of the orchestra to play the hymns to the Collector"

"Sniff... yes, I'll do it right away" the woman said, trying not to show her emotion. "You heard him, little dog: go to the orchestra and do what they tell you to do"

"Uh... yes, of course, mistress!" Raine was quick to say, but even though they tried to hide it, they did so in a more confident tone than the flat and insensitive one they had spoken in before that song. But they actually didn't have time to take even a step. Without warning there was a pop, and then delirium broke out.

Hunter leapt up and grabbed the Titan Trapper closest to him, slamming him to the ground so hard that it shattered the skull on his head, and ripped off the sword from his waist; then he elbowed two other enemies hard, sending them to the ground, and after grabbing them he threw them against the crowd in front of him, opening a gap. "What!? How did he get free!?" Bill roared in fury. "Capture the heretic!"

The Titan Trappers recovered and charged Hunter roaring like elephants, with Tarak in the lead; but the boy raised his hands, revealing two seals drawn with his own blood, which emitted a strong magical light blinding his opponents; Flapjack, who had meanwhile been completely freed by Echo, wasted no time and flew towards him, and transformed into a magic wand in his hands. Hunter whirled him and moved using his incredible speed until he reached the pole above which his staff was located, and there he jumped and grabbed it.

"Okay, I guess it's time for us to get busy too" Amity said as she freed herself from the ropes now gnawed by Echo. "Lilith, Eda, now!"

The two fairies raised their still healthy hands and threw all the magic they had managed to conserve towards King, who absorbed it as if it were a sponge; the young Titan opened his eyes wide in surprise, but then he blinked and let out a roar. His body changed again and broke the chain that imprisoned him, becoming imposing and massive again; Bill made a sound of surprise, but he didn't have time to do anything else because King gave him a powerful paw and made him fly away. "Wow... ok, I wasn't expecting this, but it doesn't matter" Luz said standing up. "King, come! We have a plan... or something, we have to go!"

King looked at her, and he saw the puppet raise her arms as if he were about to leap at her and she should catch him. She was waiting for him instead of running away immediately, even though she could have done so, even though it would have been the logical thing to do… but it was obvious, why was he even thinking about it? Luz would never abandon him, he knew that for sure now. No one there would ever abandon him. Even in that terrible situation, where the risk of life was very real, they were waiting for him.

The young Titan felt his heart beat violently for reasons unknown to him. He wanted to do as Luz told him. He didn't want to stay there and fight: fighting was painful, it scared him. He knew well that he was not invincible. He was a Titan, but even though he acted as if that nature gave him the right to rule over everyone, he knew that he had never actually been king of anything. It was much easier and more comforting to hide behind Eda or Luz's legs, and let them solve the problem. He wanted it desperately... but then his gaze fell on Hunter, who was fighting dozens of Titan Trappers alone. The boy was strong, but was clearly in difficulty due to the number of enemies and was debilitated by his condition. He needed help right away: unlike King, the Titan Trappers would have had no problem killing him. King felt fear grip his heart like a vice, but still he opened his mouth wide and said: "Go. I'll wait for you here"

"What!?" Luz exclaimed. "King, this is not the time to..."

"Your friend over there needs a hand, and the friends of my friends are my friends too. Go and do what you have to do; I'll make sure he won't die until you get back" King said. He was clearly trembling with fear of having to fight again, yet his voice contained no doubts. "Luz... you were the first person to ever treat me like a friend. I know you won't abandon me, so I'm not afraid to stay here and wait for your return. And I wouldn't forgive myself for bringing you pain by letting someone you care about die here, not when I have the chance to do something about it. Go and do what you have to do; in the meantime I will prove to these imbeciles that even a young Titan can be a formidable opponent!" and with that he let out a mighty roar and charged into the fray, and several sound waves emerged from his mouth, knocking away the Titan Trappers in his path.

"KING!" Luz screamed, and Eda also weakly raised her arm in the young Titan's direction; but the others grabbed both of them and forced them to run away. They headed behind the central curtain, as Echo had told them to do, and as soon as they got there they found Boscha waiting for them surrounded by strange objects piled up in a pile. "Finally, here you are!" the girl exclaimed as soon as she saw them, but despite her annoyed tone it was clear that she was worried like few times in her life; her gaze ran over all her friends checking their conditions, especially Skara. "Quick, get a weapon! We must act while they are still confused and disorganized!"

"Where did you get this stuff?" Amity asked looking at the pile of items behind her friend.

"He gave them to me" Boscha said, pointing to a figure half hidden behind it, who came out into the open as soon as he felt called into question.

Amity, Edric and Emira opened their eyes and mouths in amazement. "DAD!?"

In case there are no Helluva Boss fans among you readers (if so, GO SEE IT NOW! Masterpieces should not be ignored), the song Raine sings is "Just look my way" by Stolas. Which, moreover, wasn't even invented by the author but by a youtuber, and then adapted by the author to the series. So if you want to hear the music Raine was playing go and look for the video, it's truly heartbreaking