The Oddities prisoners stayed in the Order Church's Dungeon, as they always had.
The difference was that the invisible restraints holding them had vanished. They could leave whenever they wanted.
And Crocodile Head was about to do just that.
Candle Head watched Crocodile Head pass by, carrying his True Body. "Where are you going?"
"Running away, of course." Crocodile Head said, his tiny eyes, clouded by murky corneas, fixed on the other Oddities. "Coming with me?"
"Running away? Why? We're already free."
"You actually believe that monster?" Crocodile Head spat disdainful slime from his snout. "Who knows if he's gone to find other Oddities so he can come back and devour us?"
The smiles faded from the Oddities, who had been brimming with joy and dreams of a new life.
"What do you mean?" Slug climbed onto a drawing board, got thrown off, then climbed onto Lanky Dancing Shadow's shoulder. Holding his head high, he declared, "He told us to wait here for him!"
"Idiot. Have you forgotten how many times he sold us out?"
Slug saw the other Oddities hesitate, so he raised his voice. "All I remember is that I'm free!"
Crocodile Head couldn't find a way to argue with that. "Don't say I didn't warn you... We're Oddities now. Those high-and-mighty Mages run when they see us. And with power like this, we're supposed to keep serving that bastard? Huh? City-States like Strange Tales City, where every race lives together in peace... Bullshit!"
"I only trust myself!"
Many of the Oddities Crocodile Head had persuaded left with him, including Candle Head. Slug looked at those who remained. Thank goodness... one, two, three, four, five, six, seven... Seven Oddities were willing to stay.
Just then, a flicker of fire returned to the Dungeon.
"Why did you come back?"