'So, is there any truth to the story of you noticing the discrepancy in the flowers on that unobtrusive shelf, and realizing that those were cursed?' Siel asked suddenly, his voice lowered.
…Uh, was that what had supposedly happened? Also, 'discrepancy'? What discrepancy?
'No,' Arin responded briefly.
Well, that at least, he could be certain of.
'Then, were there really even any unwilted flowers there?' the younger boy wondered.
Oh?
So the curse he'd supposedly noticed had been in the form of fresh flowers, tucked away somewhere, so as to not stand out against the wilted flowers that hadn't been changed out since everyone first fell asleep.
Thanks, little chatterbox.
But, well, if he'd actually seen something like that, he would've remembered.
And since he didn't…
'Not at all,' he answered Siel.
Understanding dawned on the younger boy's face.
They decided to return to the room they'd woken up in that morning. Siel's tracking had already confirmed that the source of the strange slumber affecting Silvershade lay somewhere in the village head's estate. And since they were there already, they saw no reason to see themselves out ahead of time.
Once they'd entered their room, Arin swiftly locked the door behind them. Siel then flopped down onto a chair and exclaimed, 'How interesting!'
Arin might've been inclined to agree, if not for the fact that he still didn't quite understand what was interesting.
'If the curse wasn't broken by you, senior brother, how did we all manage to wake up?' The younger boy had already started thinking out loud. 'It couldn't have been destroyed by someone from the estate. We'd seen they were all asleep. Did our entrance disturb something? Or perhaps…'
The boy's wide eyes widened further. Arin still hadn't quite gotten used ot the sight.
'Someone wasn't asleep. But why would they pretend - ?'
'Siel…'
'A grudge against the residents of the estate, that spread to the other villagers? Or an accident, perhaps -'
'Siel!'
'Yes, senior brother Rin!' The boy sat up straight.
'Use your talent,' said Arin.
Even though all the villagers had already awakened, and were therefore in no danger of withering away from thirst or starvation, he didn't feel like there was any point in wasting time.
'Ah… Alright, brother.' The younger boy nodded. He then shut his eyes right where he was sitting.
Looks like the kid didn't even have to necessarily touch a target in order to track something like the source of a curse.
Or maybe he was trying something different?
Either way, good for him.
Arin remained standing by the wall, arms crossed as he waited for Siel to be done.
A mere few seconds had gone by when the younger boy opened his eyes, and Arin had to, once again, bite back the shock of seeing his eyes glowing with that strange, cold light.
Siel was frowning a little. His gaze slid past Arin, to land upon the door he'd shut earlier.
'Brother -' he started.
At the same time, there was a loud rap against the wood from the outside.
Someone had come looking for them.
'Excuse me? There's something I'd like to talk to you about, sirs. May I please enter?'