— Third Person —
The group of thieves watched in silence as Adel walked away, and even after a few minutes, they stayed alert for anything that might happen.
In the end, it was Beth who broke the silence.
"Am I the only one who found all this strange?"
"Strange? I'd rather say scary," answered Timmy, sitting on a crate. His hands were still shaking. "Didn't you feel that pressure? I really thought I was going to die."
"At least he didn't lay hands on you," muttered Tod, rubbing his bruised shoulder. "It felt like running into a wall of iron."
"Don't exaggerate, he didn't really hurt us," replied Lyra. "He just wanted to… intimidate us?"
Her uncertain words reflected the group's collective confusion.
"But in the end, what the hell did he want?" grumbled Ruth, ruffling his hair. "He shows up out of nowhere, beats us up, threatens us, gives his little speech, and leaves… am I missing something?"
The others nodded in agreement before Timmy drew their attention to himself.
"I'm just speaking hypothetically, but… if I found his speech kind of cool… would that be weird?"
"...Saying it didn't excite me a little would be a lie," Tod admitted, scratching his embarrassed face.
"Bah… in my opinion, he just threw out a bunch of nonsense to convince us into his suicidal plan," countered Ruth.
"Just admit you're jealous of his charisma, mister 'I want to become king of the pirates'," Beth commented with an ironic tone. "I can already see you with a crooked crown on your head, giving orders from the deck of a leaking boat."
"Y-You have no right to judge me, wannabe artist!" Ruth shouted, embarrassed that his secret had been revealed. "I thought those figurines you made were for cursing someone, but it turns out that for you, it's art!"
"What did you say, bug?!"
"Come here, arrogant snob!"
The two clashed foreheads, glaring at each other, ready to tear out the other's throat.
This time, it was Tod who had to separate them with his large body, but even then, they continued to throw poisonous looks.
"There's still the question of how he knows so much about us," Lyra interrupted. "I can understand Tod's dream, since it's not exactly a secret, but Timmy's, yours, Violet's, and… mine."
Lyra sighed faintly. "Also, it's even stranger that he knew the number of our hideouts. How long has he been following us exactly?"
Doubts, mysteries, and confusion grew more and more, as they discussed the figure who had left only a short while ago.
But within the group, there was one person, Violet, who was unusually silent, still staring at the passage where Adel had gone.
"You're strangely quiet, leader," Ruth pointed out.
"No, it's just—"
"It's just that she's wondering how that boy will confess to her, since he grabbed her tail so tightly," Beth said with a mischievous smile.
Immediately, Violet's ears and tail stood up, her cheeks slightly flushed.
"W-What are you saying! H-He's just a shameless bastard, that's all!"
Unfortunately, Violet's outburst only fueled the others' suspicion.
"No matter how you deny it, that face was really a sight to see. It's almost incredible how such a cute face can hold such a cold expression."
"You have strange fantasies," came Ruth's mocking comment.
"And I only hear jealousy, or am I wrong?"
Hearing Beth's teasing tone, Ruth wanted to protest, but had no way to counter. This time, she had won.
"Let's calm down and get to the most important point: what do you all think about this whole matter?" Violet asked.
"...I want to accept."
Everyone turned to Lyra, but no one spoke, waiting for her to continue.
"Even if I don't deny that person gives me a bad feeling, at the same time… it seemed like he cared about us… a lot. When he looked at us, I saw sincerity in his eyes."
There was also something else she hadn't said: with that person, she strongly felt she would finally be able to avenge her mother.
"So I wasn't the only one who felt something like that," Timmy smiled. "It was about time someone kicked those guys' asses."
"Don't try to see what he'll do as something to idolize. If what he intends to do is really what he said, it won't be a pretty sight."
Lyra's words made Timmy close his mouth, but even then, he didn't change his vote.
"I'm against it," Ruth said seriously. "There are too many unknowns, and we don't even know that guy. I won't sacrifice my life for a simple speech."
"I agree, it seems too dangerous," said Tod.
"...I abstain."
No one said anything to Beth. If she abstained, it meant she agreed with both choices.
The only one left was Violet, with the decisive vote. Still, no one showed anxious expressions or tried to convince her. Since they had formed their group, every decision had been made by majority, and even if you disagreed, you had to accept it.
Only in this way, only by moving as a united group, had they managed to thrive, and whatever choice Violet made, they would accept it. That was how much trust they had in her.
"I—"
— POV Adel —
The next day, I waited in the old shack I once called home. When I thought about it, it was incredible how, in the past, this small, shabby space had been my whole world, but it wasn't so bad.
Even if I had no memories of my father, I vaguely remembered my mother. In my memories, she was always calm, and I remembered how on the coldest days, she held both me and Lena close, hoping we'd stay warm.
She was a good woman, or at least that's what I thought. Maybe my opinion was altered by my childish memories, but even if that was the case, it wouldn't change anything. She was already dead, and what remained of her were only memories.
As for my "watchers," today I hadn't seen a trace of them, probably still tired from the previous night.
I stayed waiting in that place, hour after hour, absentmindedly watching the small fire.
I didn't have high hopes. I had said those words knowing full well that no one with a bit of sense would accept. Maybe my threats, the pressure I released, would make them think, but it was easier to believe they'd avoid me forever. And that was fair. I couldn't blame them if they chose to run.
Hours passed. The afternoon dragged on in a silence broken only by the rustle of the wind and the distant cries of seagulls. From time to time, I wondered why I was still there, stubbornly believing someone would have the courage to cross that door. Maybe it was just nostalgia, or maybe the stupid hope that at least a fragment of the past still wanted to intertwine with my present.
Not that I had the right to hope for something that good.
When the sun began to sink toward the horizon and the shack was immersed in shadow, I was convinced no one would come.
But just as that thought crossed my mind, the door opened. The wood creaked, and in the dim light appeared a familiar figure. Violet.
She looked around carefully, not lowering her guard for a moment.
What surprised me, though, was that she had come alone.
She closed the door behind her and remained silent for a moment, her eyes fixed on me.
"To be honest, I was starting to doubt anyone would come."
"...I'm still thinking about it."
I smiled and gestured for her to sit on one of the stools.
She approached stiffly, always keeping eye contact. I admit it was rather amusing, but I also wanted her to relax.
"Want some?" I pointed to the tea I had kept warm.
She looked at the drink strangely, then raised her suspicious eyes to me.
"No, Violet, it's not drugged." I drank a sip from her cup too, to prove it.
My gesture seemed to convince her. She slowly brought her lips to the cup, tasting it with her tongue. I noticed her eyes widen slightly, and she began to drink more calmly.
"Looks like you like it."
"...I've had better," she said with a huff.
"But your tail seems to say otherwise."
I pointed out that she was wagging her tail happily.
"Damn!" Embarrassed, she quickly lowered it, making me let out a laugh.
"So, Violet, what have you all decided to do?"
"...Before I give you an answer, I'd like to ask you a couple of questions, Mr. Adel."
"Just call me Adel, it feels weird if you speak so formally. I'm only sixteen."
If you could say so, anyway.
"Wait… what?! You're three years younger than me?!" she shouted, shocked.
Her reaction left me rather puzzled.
"Do I look that old?"
"Huh? Ah, no, actually, you still have a baby face, but I thought it was just genetics. You really are weird…"
"I don't know whether to admire or judge your courage to insult me right to my face."
Seeing my complicated expression seemed to satisfy her, but then she became serious again.
"So, may I ask?"
"If I have the answers, of course."
She took a deep breath.
"Do you work for someone?"
"Rather than for someone, I'd say with someone: the young master of the Merchants."
"So it'll just be a change of management..."
I immediately noticed her disappointed expression and corrected her.
"Don't get the wrong idea. The one who'll take command won't be another group, but Erik, the last heir of the Kingdom of Agorath."
Thut.
Violet's cup fell to the ground, and her mouth fell open.
"Y-You're really telling me someone survived?!"
I nodded.
"Proof… I need proof, and I want to meet him."
"I can do that, but first you have to accept."
"Then let me ask one more thing. What will you do with the people we point out to you?"
"I think I already hinted at it, and it won't be a nice sight. I doubt you want me to go into detail, and that's why I want you to choose people who really deserve what will happen to them."
I noticed her expression grow slightly pale, but gritting her teeth, she asked her last question.
"Can we… really trust you?"
"Indeed, I'll never harm you, but it would be a lie to say it won't be dangerous. I won't hold your hand or guide you through every step, but I will give you the tools to finally take control of your own fate."
Violet's gaze wavered for a moment before determination appeared in her eyes.
"We accept."