"So, what did Loik say?"
"Mister Loik said he does not wish to see anyone at the moment."
Sontra looked at Sinar, who was trying his best to avoid his gaze. A slight smile crept onto his face.
"Are you not worried?"
"What is there to worry about? It was just a minor inconvenience, that's all."
"You see, I believe you should go find Loik... You would be more helpful there than staying here."
Though no one had told him directly, he knew exactly what had happened.
"...Sontra, it's useless to try and manipulate me. I am here by the Elder's order, and I am here to stay."
"Is that so? That's amazing," Sontra chuckled.
"You are amazing, Sinar. I can't help but worry about Loik... Is he fine? And those hunters who just left-are they going to be all right? With their captain and vice-captain both absent..." Sontra continued.
"..."
"Are you sure this is the best place for you? It would be a shame if something happened, wouldn't it? But you could leave now... If he were my friend-"
TING.
His words were cut short.
Sontra stared at the cold steel a finger's width from his throat. The wielder of the blade was trembling, his eyes bloodshot, his expression vicious. If not for another sword blocking the hilt, the blade would have reached its target.
"Sinar, that's enough! And you... sir, there is no need to provoke us," the other hunter, tall and lanky, spoke.
He had been fortunate to intercept the strike before it connected. But to his alarm, the constant pressure against his blade was relentless. Looking at his friend's face, he saw the look of a man who had forgotten the meaning of consequence and fear.
As the tall hunter reached for Sinar's sword with his free hand, he called his name again. He was certain Sinar was in no state to be holding a weapon.
"Are you really not going to help find him, Sinar?"
"Si-"
Push.
Perhaps he was distracted, or reaching for the sword had compromised his balance, but the tall hunter was easily shoved aside by Sinar. Like a beast unleashed, Sinar lunged at Sontra, his sword thrusting toward the man's neck.
"Sinar!"
The tall hunter, stumbling, tried to grab his friend but only grasped empty air. In a last-ditch effort, he hooked his leg in front of Sinar.
Shhhrk.
He was falling, but he saw his long leg trip his friend. However, it only altered the sword's trajectory. The blade, aimed for the neck, instead pierced Sontra's chest.
Plop.
The three men fell to the ground in quick succession, with one exception: Sontra was pinned beneath Sinar, a sword in his chest.
"Where is he?"
"..."
Sinar knelt on top of Sontra, gripping the sword with both hands. The blade had penetrated only a quarter of a finger's depth. He wanted an answer, and he was prepared to drive the sword deeper to get it.
Perhaps the Arcanist was unaware of the gravity of the situation, yet his expression remained as calm as ever. The slight, mocking smile was still there, as if the sword in his chest were no more a threat than a fly. This only fueled the fire in Sinar's raging heart.
"...Where is he?"
"Who knows? Why don't you go and find him yourself?"
Splurt.
"Sinar!"
Sinar shoved the sword deeper, but his hands were hastily pulled back by the tall hunter, who had somehow regained his feet. Realizing Sinar was beyond reason, he pulled back his leg.
Smack!
The tall hunter drove his knee into Sinar's head, striking his jaw without holding back. The sudden blow took Sinar by surprise, allowing the hunter to wrench the sword from his grasp.
He felt no remorse for his actions. His attention immediately snapped to the Arcanist on the ground, not even sparing his friend a glance. Fortunately, the sword had not penetrated much deeper than its initial wound. Yet, his concern remained.
"Sir..."
The Arcanist's blood, a kind he had never seen before, was seeping into the dirt, staining the ground a vivid red. He knelt beside Sontra, unsure of what to do.
"Why...? Why are you people always..." Clenching his bloodied, cut jaw, Sinar weakly pushed himself up from the ground. The fierce, unwavering eyes he had fixed on Sontra in the house were gone, replaced by utter hopelessness.
"I thought you were a smart man, Sinar... You know I have nothing to do with your friend's disappearance. You know you would find nothing here. But look at you."
Sontra pushed himself off the ground. The tall hunter flinched at the sudden movement but quickly regained his composure and helped Sontra to his feet. He did this not out of concern, but from a pragmatic thought that it would be easier to restrain the Arcanist if necessary.
Fortunately, the worst did not come. Sontra stood motionless, looking down at Sinar.
"You..."
Sontra wanted to say more but stopped himself, realizing he was becoming too emotional.
"...Go."
He uttered only one word. Nothing more was necessary.
For the first time, the tall hunter saw raw emotion on the Arcanist's face. Sinar was the one who had been struck down, and Sinar would be the one most devastated if anything happened to Loik. Yet, the pain etched on Sontra's features seemed to dwarf Sinar's.
Whistle!
The hunter suddenly rushed to Sinar's side, whistling loudly. He hastily hauled his friend up and shoved the reclaimed sword back into Sinar's scabbard. Sinar was confused, but every attempt to speak was silenced by the tall hunter's fierce glare. The horse, summoned by the whistle, arrived shortly, and Sinar was unceremoniously pushed onto its back.
"Leave. Hurry. I will take care of things here."
"B-"
Before Sinar could form a word, the tall hunter slapped the horse's flank, spurring it into a gallop toward the town.
Heighh!
Watching Sinar ride farther away without looking back, the tall hunter felt a wave of relief. Truthfully, he didn't fully understand why he had acted that way, but he was certain it was right. The expression he had seen on the Arcanist's face left no room for positive thoughts.
However, the thought of being left alone with the Arcanist did not sit well with him.
"Haha... he really has a rock for a brain. I hope you aren't offended, sir," the tall hunter said, forcing a smile that crinkled his crescent eyes.
"There is no need for that, Vice-Captain. We have been watching the same moon together frequently enough."
"..."
The tall hunter fell silent, understanding Sontra's meaning immediately.
Several hunters had been tasked with watching Marvin's house over the past few days, but one had been there every single time: the tall hunter. Just as he had been observing Sontra, Sontra had been observing him in return. So, while they had never spoken, they were not strangers.
The hunter wiped the forced smile from his face. He was tired of pretending to care.
"Sir, why did you do that?"
It would be a lie to say he wasn't stumped by Sontra's actions. What he had witnessed was unexpected. He knew Sontra was not a man who acted without reason, but no matter how he looked at it, he couldn't comprehend why Sontra would go out of his way to provoke Sinar.
"Nothing profound. I am simply disgusted by that kind of person."
"Huh?"
"What is your name?" Sontra asked suddenly.
"I... don't have one," the tall hunter mumbled, still processing what he had just heard.
It wasn't that Sontra was unaware of what others called him. The townspeople often used nicknames or titles, mimicking the kingdom's military by assigning code names. The hunter in front of him was no different. People called him Lanky, Tall, Moon Eyes, and more. Sontra had never heard anyone use a name that sounded real. The fact that the tall hunter had no proper name was, surprisingly, fitting.
"What should I call you, then?" Sontra asked after a short pause.
"Gap."
"...If that is what you prefer."
"It's just a joke that aged with me."
Gap touched his two front teeth. True to his name, there was a gap, wider than usual, between them. He didn't really mind it. His focus was more on the sudden change in Sontra; the combative man from moments before was gone, replaced by his usual, calm self.
Sontra only nodded.
Perhaps reminded of his injury, he began to inspect the wound. Fitting for the minimal pain he felt, the cut was shallow and small enough to be of little concern. With his typical detached expression, he pulled out a shred of cloth that had been driven in with the sword, causing a fresh trickle of blood.
"I didn't know Arcanists could be cut by the likes of us."
"Of course we can. We are human."
"That's new."
The image of Arcanists Gap had built was based on tales, rumors, and mostly on the town's sole Arcanist, so he had formed the impression that they were untouchable.
"Sir," Gap called once Sontra had finished tending to his wound.
"What is it?"
"Do you perhaps know where the young Elder has gone?"
"Who knows. Perhaps he left town for a breath of fresh air."
"That is a cruel joke, sir. I thought they were lying when they said most Arcanists are born without a heart."
Sontra, who was in the process of removing his robe, paused and stared at Gap.
"Cruel? How so?" Sontra asked after a moment.
Gap's stare, initially full of disdain, shifted to one of questioning after a long silence. Watching Sontra, who had now begun to dust off his robe, Gap realized the man was genuinely unaware and not simply mocking Loik.
"...The young Elder was never permitted to leave. The town and the forest are the only places he is allowed to be."
"Not even this house?" Sontra asked as he put his robe back on.
"No?" Gap answered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Has he been here?" Gap continued.
"Not that I'm aware of," Sontra said convincingly, as if the memory of Loik's previous visit was nothing but a lucid dream.
Nevertheless, Sontra finally understood why Loik seemed to long for the outside world. He had never been told of Loik's confinement and had assumed it was a natural fascination with travelers. Sontra chose not to pry further, almost certain the only answer he would get was 'it is the town's custom.'
After a final, measuring stare, Sontra turned with a nod. It had been a long day; he wanted to retire and rest. However, he soon noticed the sound of footsteps trailing behind him. Ignoring it at first, he continued until he reached the front door, where he stopped and turned.
"Gap, there is no reason to follow me inside, is there?"
"What do you mean, sir? Are you not going to let me sleep inside? So it's true, one becomes heartless when they practice Arcane..."
"...This is not my house to decide."
"Mister Merchant already said it was fine."
"..."
"Well then, excuse me~"
Squeezing past Sontra, Gap casually walked into the house. Sontra, sensing Gap was telling the truth, followed without argument. Even if he was dissatisfied, he truly had no right to object. The owner of the house had already permitted entry.
"So, Sir Sontra, what is your answer?"
Gap stopped in his tracks. He looked down the hallway and up the staircase, but in the end, he turned and walked toward the room on his right.
"Where do you think the young Elder is?" Gap continued, having received no initial response.
Opening the door to the guest room, Gap walked in. He glanced over his shoulder at Sontra, his eyes curling into crescents. Showing no hesitation, Sontra followed him inside.