The night air was cool against my skin as I moved through the narrow streets. Lanterns flickered, casting long shadows that twisted over the cobblestones, reaching for me like fingers. Every sound made me more alert—the clatter of a loose shutter, the distant bark of a dog, the hiss of a cart wheel over stone. I couldn't shake the feeling that someone—or something—was watching. Every shadow seemed alive, waiting for me to slip up.
Finally, I reached the market square. Fog curled around the fountain, and the square was almost deserted but still slightly alive. A few late merchants had packed up, their goods covered with tarps, and the faint scent of woodsmoke mixed with damp stone. Leaning casually against the fountain, hands in his pockets, was Eric.
He didn't look threatening—not yet. Ordinary, almost human. But I knew better. I stepped closer, keeping my movements smooth, measured.
"Thought you'd bail out," he said, voice casual, almost teasing.
"Bail out? I need answers," I retorted.
He removed his hands from his pockets and glanced around, the lanterns reflecting faintly in his eyes. "We won't talk well standing here. Let's take a seat," he said, nodding toward an open bar.
I followed him inside. The bar smelled of old wood and hops, faintly of smoke from the hearth. He paid for a two-person table in silence.
"Beer?" he offered.
"Uhh… no, I don't drink."
"Your loss," he said, ordering anyway. A bottle was brought with a glass, and he poured himself a slow sip, eyes never leaving mine.
"Who are you?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"My name is Eric McCalsky, young lad." His words were casual, but I could feel the weight behind them.
Eric McCalsky… the name sank like stone.
"You know, right? About me. About my family?"
He nodded, taking another measured sip. "I do."
I couldn't understand why he was so nonchalant. My thoughts raced.
"So why…" I began.
"Let's just say… the Daltons were unlucky. It'd be sad if such incidents repeated themselves," he said softly.
Anger surged through me. "They were innocent!" I clenched my fists.
"What did you do about it?"
His question caught me off guard. "You see… your father reminds me of someone I know."
Master Xavier? I thought. Eric looked slightly younger than Master. Could it be a coincidence?
"What?" I asked, confused.
He stared for awhile, clicked his tongue, leaned back, and let out a soft laugh. "Hunter, my answer to your question? If I'm with Purge Units?… Yes I am and it's because I outsmarted them."
"Outsmarted the Purge Units? Don't make me laugh, old man," I mocked.
"I'm the only Purge officer with magic, of course no one knows about that" he whispered.
My mind froze. A Purge officer with magic? How was this possible? I couldn't sense anything from him, yet I could feel it. My senses always didn't sit right with this man.
"I noticed your use of the Earth Rune earlier—clever. And the Erasure method at the market—equally clever."
" But how did you know?" I was eager to know.
"I've been perfecting the Erasure method for years," he said. "So well that I'm almost invisible. I joined the Purge Units to locate others like me… and sure enough there were. Fascinating, isn't it?"
It was. And terrifying.
"Most don't even know the method exists. They live ordinary lives, unaware. But I couldn't let my kind die. So I warn them, like I did for you, helping them avoid suspicion. I can only do so much without being caught."
"And the Daltons?"
"I wasn't on that case. Rumors of a man and his family living in solidarity caught the Commander's attention and needless to say, mine. I found you. Besides, the Daltons had no magic—how could I protect them?"
I considered his words. He seemed trustworthy, like one of us… yet that day, the Aetherytes had turned black over the Daltons. A magic user—him or Zarin? I couldn't tell.
"What about the Aetherytes' reaction to the Daltons?" I asked cautiously.
He sipped slowly, thoughtful. "I'm still investigating. Signs point to another magic user… but no traces."
No traces. Clever. Either Zarin or someone else.
"So… you save us because we're your kind?" I asked softly, more to myself.
He nodded. "I've survived the war, I saw kingdoms fall. I'd rather protect the remnants than wait for extinction. Someone has to do it, the Guardians are no more. I expect some one to arise and take my actions to the next level. I'm talking about full scale dimensional reconstruction... so we can head home."
He stared into my eyes, expectant.
He glanced around, pulling a pen from his pocket. In a flick, it morphed into a whistle.
I blinked. "Your magic…?"
"I can manipulate matter to some extent," he said. "This whistle works once. If you're ever in danger, blow it. Only I can hear it."
I caught it, weighing the risk. Dangerous, yes—but he trusted me. I owed him the same.
He paid his tab, and we left the bar.
"My next target seems interesting. I must reach him before the Unit does," he said.
"How do you find and track them?" I asked.
"Chance, encounters, coincidences. I bumped into him once," he laughed, mysterious as ever.
An hour had gone by already, we parted ways. Walking home, I passed Amanda's shop, shuttered tight. It's been a while since she last came around, I guess she was safe at home.
Returning, I heard voices in the common room. Master must have gone to bed.
"Hunter!" Jace called. "When'd you leave?"
"Hunter!" Jace shouted from across the room, excited. "When'd you leave?"
Everyone sat scattered, doing one thing or another.
"Does he need to inform you of his movements?" Annabeth teased.
"I know, right? Get married already," Katara added, causing soft chuckles around the room.
"I guess the flower shop was closed," Zayn mocked.
"Actually, I just went out for some fresh air," I said, clearing their questions.
"Shhh!" Tyra suddenly hushed everyone, her finger pointing at Cody, who was dozing off with a note in his hand.
"You don't get to see Mr. Cool snoozing off every day," Iris whispered. We all chuckled.
"I'll get him to bed," Zayn volunteered.
"Were you expecting anyone else to do it?" Jace mocked.
Zayn glared.
"Get on with it, Zayn!" Tyra said softly, as he struggled.
"Wake up and go to your room!" Zayn finally shouted, giving Cody a gentle smack.
"Uh… what? It's morning already?" Cody mumbled, confused.
Laughter erupted even from me.
The peaceful moments… fleeting, yet precious. I let myself smile.
Even after tonight, even after the Purge… there were still moments like this.