Eve, without caring if someone was listening said, "Simple, that emblem shows Adam's mark. The soldiers everywhere have their pay increased and are forced to be subservient to those with that mark. How you get it is quite simple, Adam gives you one or you take it from someone who has one. People pay a pretty penny for it, you know?"
Then she leaned in closer, to say something else, "Then again, a kid like you, wearing an emblem meant for those who are truly cruel or truly strong means that you got lucky. Then, not again, after this, not anymore right?"
Zane wondered, "How did you know this?"
Eve said in a cutesy manner, "Adam's letter, it was quite interesting. Most of it is something an informant would literally die for. Well, it only tackles the important stuff. It also said to give information you would ask for, specifically. Though weirdly enough, most of the contents are about Maghim."
Zane then got upset about how well Adam thought ahead, even if his plans were slightly off.
The soldiers who had the horses ready were standing there in the distance firmly. Zane and Eve each took a horse and set off to the next place. Sighs of relief could be heard from the soldiers and villagers when they left.
At night, they took out a tent and made a campfire to cook some food. It was a loosely made camp but its still something that Zane was proud of.
After cooking some food and eating it, Zane asked a personal question, "What happened to you as a child?"
As Eve was about to enter the tent she heard his question and looked back, "Wouldn't you want to know? How about this, I ask you and you ask me once a night. That way, we can become closer." Eve 's face was right in front of Zane as she finished her idea.
Zane looked away but still had curious look in his face, "Fine. Go ahead."
Eve laid on the soft ground as she thought back about what happened, "My family was doing ok but then I was born. I had no talent, no beauty, no nothing. I was just nothing in their eyes, although I could've done something to earn their praise, they tossed me aside before I could do anything. A few noble families even tried to have me killed because I was someone who wasn't worthy of being a noble. My life in the house was a blurry nightmare, I had constant scars and bruises, I slept on the cold floor, ate food meant for pets to survive, honestly, I don't even know how I survived without his help."
Eve then gazed at the star-filled sky and spoke more, "My oldest brother had all the talent, my older sister had all the looks and I was just existing being a nuisance. I was enrolled in school just because they couldn't stand me. I lived there being ignored wholeheartedly, even though I was a noble, everyone there looked down on me and bullied me. The teachers were worse, they took every chance they got but luckily didn't go that far."
Eve then closed her eyes and reddened, "It wasn't until around a year ago that I awakened my trait but it still wasn't anything. I then met a weird fellow, you remind me of him, I asked for help and he listened. That's how I got here. Revenge on all those who wronged me and a fractured person."
Zane stood up and hugged Eve.
"You've always wanted to tell someone, right?"
Eve started to cry and Zane started to comfort her. After a while, after she settled down, Zane started to tell his own tale.
Zane let go of her and stared at the fire they had created, "I had nothing growing up, no family, no relatives, just me in an orphanage with almost no kids. Even then, I was content with what I had. I was weak and timid, nothing like what I am now. I seriously have nothing like your story, I only know Adam was looking for me for my trait but other than that, nothing else."
Zane leaned back with his arms supporting him, "I was taken by a few soldiers adopting me saying I'll be put in better hands. I went along since I had nothing else. After feeding me for a bit, he brought me outside where Adam came along and took me. He brought me to another mansion on his back since he wasn't training then, he collapsed as we got there. I met the doctor and we managed to figure out my trait and there Adam asked me if I wanted to be his bodyguard. I got here not long after."
A rustling then could be heard as Adam showed up with an applaud, "What wonderful stories! Both sad but equally wrong! Both of you left out a key detail in each other's story. You, Eve, didn't explain why you were so ruthless and you, Zane, didn't explain why there were so little children in the orphanage. Key details people!"
"I carefully looked at your backstories and honestly, my pity goes to Eve and my interest would go to Zane." Both Eve and Zane had wide eyes as they looked at Adam and then each other.
Both of them were apparently, surprised that Adam knew. They were each sure that only they themselves knew. They each made sure of it.
"Since I am the only person who hasn't shared then I'll go! This is a little fact that everyone here should know, we are all connected to devils. Fun, isn't it?"
Zane looked at Adam with confusion in his eyes, "What do you mean?"
Adam spoke in a clear manner, "Well, the soul has no body, the body has no mind and, the mind has no soul. Quite the riddle."
Adam glanced again then said, "Maybe not."
Zane looked at Adam with complete fear and said, "You don't mean that-"
Eve also looked at Adam but with clarity in her eyes, she knew what it was about.
"Quite the price, isn't it? Well, now. That's development there! Zane, at least wait for marriage! Still, I support your decision." Adam then disappeared into the night only leaving falling leaves.
Adam's sudden interruption cleared out something from the both of them, they both had secrets and they still held out on each other. Still, it doesn't change the fact that they shared a moment.
Zane sighed at what just happened and said in a bright smile, "Goodnight." Eve saw this and just nodded. They both went to sleep in separate tents.
The following morning, they continued their journey to the place marked on the map. Along the way, they met some traveling people. Most of them were hauling stuff to move into other areas and some of them were even adventuring in the forest trying to kill animals for gold. Everyone they met was nice and gave some helpful passages in the area provided that Zane gave them some gold.
After traveling for a few hours, they arrived at another encampment but it was much more refined than the one before. Under the soaring sun, Zane and Eve went and paid the entrance fee. Zane hid the emblem this time as to not stir up any trouble.
They asked around and found a suitable restaurant. While eating, Zane once again saw a black figure at the corner of his eye. Afterward, they ate their lunch and paid, leaving not too long after.
After leaving the encampment, they traveled until dusk and decided to rest. Zane caught animals in the wild and decided to use it for food.
Eve got curious, "Why did you hunt some animals? Don't we have more than enough rations?"
Zane answered, "That may be true but there's no saying how long Adam is going to play with us. Better save what we can."
Eve nodded and took the animals and efficiently prepared portions. Zane looked at this wanted to ask something but chose against it. It may have been due to her past so it was better to not say anything.
After eating their meal, they started to ask each other questions.
Eve now asked first this time, "What's your trait? We have been traveling together for a while but I've never seen you use your trait."
Zane felt a presence watching him but decided to answer anyway, "It's called Beacon. I can apparently empower other traits. It doesn't apply to any of the three main categories so you could say I am special."
Eve got curious once more then arrived at a plausible explanation, "Empower other traits? So that's why Adam was using you! He wanted you to empower his trait! Everything makes sense now, why he is so manipulative with mana even being more favored by mana than sorcerers."
"Hate to break it to you but Adam's trait isn't Mana Manipulation but its-"
Adam suddenly appeared and silenced Zane. He used mana to freeze Zane's throat so he couldn't even utter a single word.
Adam swung his finger from side to side, "No can do! There are only two people who know my trait and a select few who have a concrete idea of what it was. She still hasn't proven herself enough. Got it, Zane?"
Zane nodded and he regained his ability to speak once more.
"Well, to at least satisfy your curiosity. My trait doesn't even work on Adam. Like the doctor once said, what can you do against something that is already perfect?"
Adam sat down between the two of them and said, "You still think that? I can confidently say that my trait isn't perfect whatsoever!"
"Now, little Eve. Care to say how your trait works exactly? Zane here needs to know that so you two could work together!"
"My trait is Charm, if anyone finds me attractive in any way, I can command them at will. There are limitations however, like if I order them to do something they normally wouldn't do it would fail."
Adam stood up and started to walk away, "Well, its been fun! I am still waiting for you!"
Zane asked Adam, "Have you been following us this entire time?"
"Following you? You could say that. That shadow following you during the day wasn't me but someone else. Kill it if you don't want to suffer."
Adam disappeared once again into the night after leaving some advice. After he left, the calm and quiet mood once again settled back.
Eve leaned forward and eagerly asked, "Say, how strong can you amplify my trait?"
"I honestly don't know, the last time I have used it is a year ago."
Eve stood up and took up an enthusiastic stance, "Tomorrow let's check. I'll seduce the guards, worst-case scenario, we kill them all."
Zane stood up and put a hand on Eve's shoulder, "We don't kill, we run."
"Why not kill? You will eventually have to kill to protect Adam in the future."
Zane once again sat down, "I don't know, I feel like if I do, I'll lose something. It's not that I don't fear killing it's just I don't feel like I should."
Eve mocked Zane with his hypocrisy, "What's wrong with taking a human life? You took those animals' lives yet you don't feel guilt. What's the difference?"
Zane directly looked at the embers that were dying out in front of him, "Humanity, I feel like I should hold on to that for as long as I can. After experiencing that carelessness about everything when we fought, I felt like it would only lead me to ruin. After Adam told us that little riddle it solidified my conviction."
Eve poked her cheek with her index finger, "So you are telling me, you'll do it as long as you don't directly take another's life?"
Zane looked down at his hands and said, "Yes, I think that's what I mean. Even Adam doesn't directly take others' lives. There must be some kind of reason for this. This must be one of his tests, to see how long before I fail my conviction."
Eve then broke into a wide grin, "Then life just got a whole lot simpler! Break their bones and I'll make the final strike! That way, you don't break your silly conviction!"
Zane stared resolutely at Eve, "That's what Adam has been doing all this time, I guess I'll really start to become like him."