Chapter 254 – Beginning of the month

Chapter 254

The historic city of Layana, specifically on Passak Street in Eiyon.

After the escape, Captain Queen Seon Arzen found herself paying close attention to someone, unaware that this person was the very enemy being hunted by the three great cathedrals.

That was not all. Velnard had also chosen to accompany his enemy for one reason: love at first sight. Neither of them was aware of it, while Captain Queen found his presence helpful as she waited for the woman lying before her to regain consciousness. She intended to interrogate her before handing her over to the correctional institution.

"Do you think that woman was affected by that power?" Queen finally broke the silence, feeling awkward after sitting there doing nothing for so long.

"Unfortunately, I don't know," Velnard replied with a sigh.

"I see." Queen folded her arms, then leaned back against the padded backrest of her armchair.

Once silence settled over the room again, a servant from the department named Cevenose arrived. He was also the person responsible for caring for Maeressa.

Less than a minute later, the servant left after delivering the good news that his patient would regain consciousness soon. They responded with nods, neither making any move to leave their seats. Each of them kept their attention fixed on the woman lying before them.

...

Outside the building, Vice Captain Vaetan Gevano and Aswin sat leaning against a wooden railing, their gazes fixed on the pond and the natural scenery before them.

"By the way, do you have any objections to Velnard's behavior?" Aswin asked, his eyes fixed on his superior's face with keen interest.

Vaetan remained silent for far too long. He picked up a pebble beside him and tossed it into the pond.

For a moment, he heard the splash of water, followed by ripples as the fish in the pond snapped at the pebble.

'I don't know, but I'm curious about what happened. If that's true, then there's no doubt that the woman is a Receiver of a Sorcerer, specifically at the second level, Magician. However, my instincts tell me otherwise....'

Vaetan spread his hands wide and stared silently at his palms. For a brief moment, he saw a thin black mist lingering between his fingers.

Beside him, Aswin was baffled by his superior's change in behavior since the hunt that night. Vaetan had been constantly lost in thought and silent, as though burdened by countless worries.

'It's fine. I have duties to attend to today, anyway. Leaving him alone and returning to the others is a good idea.'

Aswin clenched his fist, then stretched out both arms, preparing to stand up. Unwilling to linger any longer in this beautiful place, he quickly bid Vaetan farewell by placing his clenched fist against his left chest before walking away.

Rather than reacting, Vaetan's vacant stare grew more intense as he continued gazing at the pond's greenish surface.

'It's filthy! Do the people here have no sense of cleanliness? And what kind of fish could possibly survive in water like that?'

As he became absorbed in his bewilderment, Vaetan suddenly remembered a letter from a mysterious person whose identity he already knew.

After remaining silent for a moment, Vaetan decided not to dwell on the strange matter any longer and hurried toward the infirmary where the captain and his subordinates were staying.

...

To the southwest of the major city of Kuranda, in Watunim, at a busy intersection near a park, two members of the Eistender hunter organization stood beside a telephone booth. One of them was inside.

"Yes, that's right. One more thing, about that matter, I can't discuss it here. Elvira and Maeressa is missing too, and I'm with Renneiver now. That's all."

After a brief pause, Michael realized he had forgotten to tell his companion something important. His companion had survived the pursuit by the three factions from the cathedrals and churches.

"Are you going to come and pick the two of us up?"

Click.

The telephone emitted an irritating buzzing sound, preventing his words from reaching the person on the other end.

"Could you repeat that? It's raining here."

"Huh?" Michael fell silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to the left to check the weather through the slightly tinted glass.

"Hey, are you kidding me? It's still bright and sunny here! What are you..."

"I'm in Rafess," he replied flatly, sounding incredulous.

"What did you say?" Michael's inner turmoil showed in the way the corners of his mouth twitched uncontrollably.

"Yeah... It's raining here, you see. Besides, this place is very safe because a bunch of idiots are crowding the main road, so we can contact you without any trouble."

"Wait a moment," Michael said, trying to recall something.

"Yes?"

A few seconds later, Michael stepped out of the telephone booth to meet Renneiver and discuss the pursuit before returning inside.

Click.

"Sorry for wasting your time," Michael said in a serious tone.

"..."

"I... I mean, we, have decided not to return."

The words lingered in Grace's mind far longer than they should have. He was one of the members who had recently been working harder to find someone and avenge them, to the point of sacrificing both sleep and meals.

"...Hey, are you joking?"

He couldn't bring herself to believe it immediately. He knew he companion's personality all too well. He liked to joke around even when tensions were high, though there was usually some hidden intention behind his behavior.

"Where's Renneiver? I want to speak with him right now!" He voice was no longer as calm as before. He shouted so loudly that the veins in he neck bulged.

Click.

Michael complied with her request and stepped outside to inform Renneiver. A few seconds later, despite the booth's cramped interior, the two decided to enter it together, as though they had some hidden purpose behind their actions.

Click.

"Hello, hello, hello. Can you hear me?"

"Hey, is what Grace said true? Are you really..."

Before Calvert could finish his sentence, Grace cut him off with a sarcastic, thunderous voice.

"Shut up, you useless man!"

Calvert didn't take he words seriously. Instead, he humbly stepped out of the more spacious telephone booth and returned to sit with the others.

"Yes, I can hear you," Renneiver replied in his usual calm voice.

"..."

For a moment, Grace hesitated to ask him the same question. However, he determination and the burning anger in he chest pushed he to do so.

"Phew."

Even through the telephone, both men clearly heard Grace's sigh in the small, stuffy booth.

"So, is it true that you can't come back? That you're leaving Eistender?"

"More or less," Renneiver answered calmly, paying no heed to his companion's feelings.

Click.

The conversation ended there. Each of them left the telephone booth and resumed their efforts to find a way out of their complicated situation.

...

On their journey to Vinohoshi Province, specifically Tafox County.

Still on the same day, after talking near the station, Zavi had learned several new things about this world.

'What about them? It seems using that with Evelina's help was the right choice, and it looks like "she" hasn't forgotten his promise to meet me. But... can Celvira handle all of this while the others and I head to that place?'

After various thoughts swirled through his mind, Zavi finally straightened up and strode confidently toward Aaron.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, his blue eyes fixed on his friend's inscrutable expression.

Aaron reacted by turning toward him, momentarily setting his thoughts aside.

"Nothing," he replied with a nod, attempting a friendly smile for the first time.

From a distance, Felina watched them with raised eyebrows.

'He smiled? I thought that man was his puppet.'

Her gaze remained fixed on Zavi for a long time as she considered the rumors surrounding the fight and the meeting that had taken place that day.

"Has Sir Zuhen found any clues that could lead us to that place as soon as possible?"

Zuhen's eyes widened. His fingers slowly slipped away from his chin and lowered to his side as he realized that Zavi was standing beside him.

"Don't worry. Tell is also looking for a safe place to take us there. It's just a little difficult because 'he' is far from our current location," Zuhen replied, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably. His expression soured after going several days without smoking.

As he waited for a response, Zuhen occasionally glanced at Felina and made gestures that only the two of them could understand.

Instead of responding positively, Felina turned away from him, her gaze settling on the empty cobblestone road, which looked like something left behind by history.

Realizing this, Zuhen couldn't help clicking his tongue inwardly. He considered it the greatest and most difficult trial of his life and hoped he wouldn't end up dying because of it.

'Damn it, this is so bitter. I don't have any money either because... Ah, I don't want to think about it anymore.'

Furrowing his brows, Zuhen turned around and took several steps before crouching down and leaning against the pavilion of a house overgrown with shrubs.

Realizing that Zuhen had left him behind, Zavi had no choice but to wait, hoping that his boredom would eventually be rewarded with something worthwhile.