A small entourage has gathered in front of Quetz's residence by the time Mitsuki and Loi arrived at the corner, led by Lucious to avoid unwanted attention. They may be their lord's honored quests, but the girl knew full well that her and her brother's presence weren't welcome here, it seemed like she couldn't go anywhere alone without being hissed at by the younger Anacondrai or looked at distastefully by the elves and Valkyries. Even as they followed the Lord Inquisitor to the doors, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being glared at, and she was sure one of black armored Anacondrai just snarled at her, before being hushed by an older warrior. It was funny to Mitsuki, come to think of it, back at the village, she and Loi were the ones who have to comfort and shield Haru from being bullied, teased and worse, but here, it's the complete opposite, if it wasn't for the white haired boy's "grace", the girl was sure they'd have been torn apart by Quetz's kind.
- Ah, Monsieur l'Inquisiteur, you've arrived with our guests. - Jean's silky nasally voice was the first to greet them, Bloodsworn vampires accompanied him in their almost tattered and ragged clothing, a stark contract to the others' sharp and clean armors.
- That's Seigneur Inquisiteur to you. - Lucious snapped back, golden eyes dashing from side to side. - Ginji's not with you? - He questioned.
- He's busy preparing the others for the routine switching of the guards. - The pale man shook his head. - Along with the dispersing of the human. Taxing job, really, but c'est la vie.
The two of them continued to converse on the matters of states and garrisons, leaving Mitsuki and Loi dumbfounded as unfamiliar words and alien terms being thrown left right and center. The girl felt her brother tucked at her hand, a quick glance alerted her of his worried look. His dark eyes shifted from her, to the closed door guarded by the familiar dark elven guards with halberds, to the chattering men, as if urging her to do something. The girl sighed and smiled, rubbing Loi's shaggy hair and continued to look at the doors anxiously, waiting for them to open. She felt the same as her adopted brother did, he was worrying for Haru, they both were, this has been the second night they've been separated from each others, and it felt like a chunk of them were ripped from each of their very existences.
- …So by the time when we arrived, he'd be there to greet us. - The pale man with crimson eyes remarked with glee.
- I don't know about that. - Lucious replied grimly. - I don't trust Yith, I don't trust any of his kind.
- He's one of your father's oldest friends, and that's counting me. - Jean said, patting his former student's shoulder, before shifting his gaze toward the doors. - But that's for later, it's time.
- So it is. - The inquisitor nodded, tail waving at the two children behind him without as much as a glance. - Follow me please.
Loi scoffed distastefully as he followed the two into the courtyard, were their presences so beneath Lucious that he couldn't spare a split second to look at them? The tanned boy grumpily swallowed his anger, at least he has something to look forward too, he thought as he walked through the door and onto the marble path leading through the small garden and to the house. He felt him before he could see him, a warm, comforting sensation brushed against the tanned boy's very being, just before the sight of Haru sitting shyly on the chair in the middle of the living room waiting for them fell into his vision.
- Haru! - Loi called out, rushing toward the white haired boy and hugged him tightly. - Are you well?! Did you get hurt?! Did he hurt you?!
- I-I'm fine. - Haru struggled to answer patting his adoptive brother's back to calm him down. - It's all fine.
- Are you sure? - Loi pulled his head up, hands moving across the smaller boy's face and head, looking for any sign of injury. - He didn't…you know, you or anything?
- What? No. - The white haired boy giggled as he shook his head, causing the thing holding the base of his small pony tail shimmer and sparkled.
- Wait, what's that? - Loi stood back, pointing at the hair tie of glistening silvery fabric and the two small, shimmering orbs of amethyst gems.
- Oh, this? - Haru flinched, hand reached for the back of his head, or more specifically, for the hair tie. - Keto-san made it for me before we left the village.
- It…it's lovely. - The tanned boy forced himself to smile, while gulping down the scream inside him, of rage, of envy.
- Mon dieu! What's happened to you?! - They heard Jean shrieked, all turned to Quetz, looking so exhausted and paler than usual. - You look like the walking avatar of common cold!
- Father, you are unwell. - Lucious rushed to Quetz as he sat down next to Haru at the table, hand rubbing at his temple, dotted with pea sized drops of sweat. The black haired Anacondrai ungloved his hand, the plates and joints of the gauntlet pulled back, allowing his bare hand to touch his father's forehead, only to immediately retract. - You're scalding! - He exclaimed worriedly.
Jean rushed to his friend's side, pressing two fingers onto the white haired man's pulsing vein, before making a small cut on Quetz's neck, just enough to draw out a droplet of blood. Haru watched in horror, barely able to keep himself from pushing the other man away, shimmering violet eyes stared at Jean licking the blood from the claw. The man scratched his chin in contemplation, smacking his lips to taste the blood before spitting onto the floor with disgust.
- Poisoned, made foul by the black crystal. - The vampire hissed, cleaning his lips with a plum colored handkerchief.
- What?! - Haru yelped.
- No! - Lucious followed, baring his fangs in distress.
- Calm down, it's not deadly. - The pale man rolled his eyes as he clean his tongue of the poison's foul flavor. - Ik ill utkhs ake inh eol idhy, odhing ou oey aout.
- Speak clearly dammit! - Lucious slammed the table with his fist.
- I said it'll just make him feel dizzy, nothing to worry about. - Jean put the handkerchief away. - Still, I recommend not fighting until we reach the Sanctuary Forest. You need more than a handful of novice healers with basic healing spells.
- Fine. - Quetz nodded tiredly. - Prepare my carriage then.
- As you wish. - Lucious nodded, then turned to the huddling children. - You go with him, it'd be best if you three stay near Father.
- O-ok. - Haru nodded, holding onto Quetz's hand nervously.
- But where are we going? - Mitsuki asked, confused by the commotion.
- To the capitol city of this side of the continent. - Jean replied bluntly, turning on his heels and walked out of the courtyard.
Haru heard Quetz grunted, as he turned around, he saw the older male reached for his sword. Using it as a walking stick, the white haired man stood up, huffing as he did, tail coiling as one would curl up a fist. The white haired boy held onto the man's arm, or rather, he let the older male rest his arm on his shoulder. Compared to his usual speed, Quetz was painfully slow, each step was a struggle, causing the white haired man to pant heavily and almost fall to his sides more than once, much to Haru's horror. Yet he kept his balance, not even once did the boy feel the Anacondrai's hand pressing down on his shoulder.
- Keto-san, you can lean on me if you don't feel well. - Haru pleaded, pressing himself against the man to support him with his own weight.
- I'm fine, just a few more steps. - Quetz insisted, shaking his head to clear the sweats from his hair as they got closer and closer to the elevating platform.
From atop the cliff, Haru could already see the entourage gathered on the other side of the Maw, in the canyon leading through the mountain ranges. Hundreds, if not thousands of elves, Valkyries and Anacondrai, along with Jean's pale human, all lined up on both side of what looked like a box-shaped house styled like the residence on wheels, pulled by massive Bonefrills with Pumba at the helm. Nimble warriors with light armors on swift horses flanked the column's sides, reinforced by mobile watch towers on mechanical stilt legs with dozens of sharp eyed archers, along with tread wheeled, armored war wagons.
Lucious was waiting for them at the massive gate leading out into the canyon, wearing his jet black armor with a black, gold trimmed satin cape draping over his shoulder in a ceremonial fashion. Next to him stood the blond "high elf" Ginji, waving at Quetz and the three children before being hushed by a third figure that seemed almost as intimidating to the two of them as the white haired man was. Like Lucious, his hair was the color of raven feathers, strings of beads, bones and golden coins were knotted into his shoulder length hair, giving him a noble look. He bore a great, ornamental halberd, bending like a sickle sword favored by the larger, golden haired Anacondrai, sacred glyphs decorated his golden armored glinting under the sun, more intricately forged and styled compared to Lucious' and the black haired Anacondrai's simple plated armors. But most captivating were his eyes, glistening dimly under his helmet fashioned from the skull of a predatory beast reinforced with plates of metal, two amethyst orbs stared at them as they walked by, sending chill down Haru's spines.
- My lords and lady. - The warrior lowered his head slowly, causing the decorative strings to rattle.
- Lord Warden Kas. - Quetz nodded in acknowledgement. - How's Meirin?
- Funny you should ask. - The warrior's shadowed face glowed with mischievousness. - You've just missed her.
- Say what now? - Quetz's expression soured.
- Commander Ginji brought her with him in his visit, didn't you see her when the Lord Inquisitor made the report? - The warrior inquired.
- No, I did not. - The white haired man narrowed his eyes, glancing at Ginji as the blond elf tried to hide behind Lucious.
- But anyway, the young lady would be most pleased, - The Warden smiled, before turning his eyes to Haru with a comforting look. - now that her twin is finally coming home.
- My…twin? - The white haired boy jolted, this was the second time anyone has ever mentioned his twin sister, growing up amongst their people, unlike him, what would she be like, he wondered.
- We should get moving, - Kas remarked, looking at the sunlight slowly raising from the cliff. - the sooner we go, the sooner we can get you back to Sanctuary.
- That'd be agreeable. - Quetz nodded, before being escorted to the house on wheels by Jean and Ginji, the blond jumped as the man's whip-liked tail struck his bottom as a punishment.
The wagon was separated into two floor, the upper one overhung the lower one, with a small set of stairs connecting the two platforms of the floors. Haru let Quetz held onto his shoulders along with Loi's as they ascended the stairs, now truly feeling the older male's weight on him, he wasn't that heavy, though it's still difficult as each step caused the man to pant heavily. On the tail end of the second floor was the platform leading into it's living quarter, four interconnecting chambers have been prepared, with the spitting imitation of the living room in the residence's house being the first, followed by the library, bath room and finally the bedchamber. Two beds built under the glass windows like window sills, with a small door leading to a sideway window sill bed, the walls decorated with magical glyphs, while multi-color amulet hung on the ceiling, clearly built for Quetz.
- This is…nice. - Mitsuki said, opening the storing space beneath one of the bed to store her belonging as instructed by Ginji.
- This should be comfortable enough for you four till we reach Sanctuary. - The blond high elf smiled, watching his lord retreated through the door and collapsed onto the bed.
- I guess. - Loi replied, dropping his backpack on the floor next to his bed, before lying down facing the window.
- Rai… - Haru whimpered under his breaths, before sitting down next to his brother, stroking his messy black hair to comfort him.
- Welp. - Ginji rubbed his hands together as he slowly backed out. - If you need anything, I'll be at the front of the cart. And Haru, please keep an eye on Keto too, ok?
- O-ok. - The white haired boy nodded, looking into the small chamber, where Quetz's already fell asleep, exhausted from the mildly annoying poison in his veins. He gulped, before turning to the high elf with concerned violet eyes. - Is he…going to be fine?
- He'll be fine. - Ginji smiled as he reaffirmed, rubbing the boy's snowy white hair with his delicate but rough hand. - Just…don't mind his grumpiness.
- Haru, why don't you stay with Keto-san? - Mitsuki suggested, moving to sit next to the boys. - Me and Rai will be fine.
- If…you say so. - Haru nodded, slowly standing up and walked toward Quetz's bed and sat next to him.
Nodding in approval, Ginji exited the living quarter and moved to the platform in front of the second floor, right beneath Quetz's window where the driver seat is. Jean was already there, holding the reigns of the seven Bonefrills pulling the wagon, next to him was Lucious, riding his giant raptor classed in ornate black armor. The two were quickly joined by Kas on top of his feathery Axejaw drake, decked out in golden armor, vicious bladed claws reinforcing its already fearsome talons on its front limbs and powerful rear legs. The high elf quickly made his way toward them, a quick nod from him signal Kas to let the column move.
- …Six years and his demeanors haven't changed at all. - Jean remarked, shaking his head in frustration.
- Well what did you expect? - Kas replied, letting his Axejaw walk slowly next to the wagon. - He has to defend the entire area by himself.
- And suffering the…You Know What. - Lucious added, his voice became but a whisper as he turned his eyes toward the window of his father's chamber.
- Yes. - Kas nodded, sharing the younger Anacondrai's worried look.
- Relax, he'll be fine. - Ginji whined thrusting his elbow into Jean's side. - Just need to get him back there, toss him into the lake, problem solved.
- Agreed. - Lucious nodded. - I'll take a group of riders to scout ahead, see you on the other side.
They watched as the inquisitor took off, joining a group of Anacondrai and elven riders, before they too followed him deeper into the canyon. Inside the small bedchamber, Haru watched the column marched on, their sounds muffled, cancelled out by the walls and window. The boy gently stroked his Anacondrai companion's silvery hair, his fever has gone down, along with his panting, now that he's lied down in a relatively cool room, but he's still sweating a lot, his tailed swayed weakly as his raptorial legs twitched, as if he's running from something in his dream. Reaching for a small towel neatly folded on the shelves built into the wall, the white haired boy tenderly cleaned the man's forehead.
- How's he?
He turned around, seeing his adoptive brother entering through the small doorway and joining him on the bed.
- He's a bit better now. - Haru said in relief, before looking away. - How's your wound?
- It's fine. - Loi signed, rubbing his scarred face, elven medicines worked wonderfully on his wound, healing it overnight, leaving only a deep scar across his face. He reached for the white haired boy's hand. - I'm…sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable around these…people.
- No, Rai, it's alright. - The smaller boy shook his head, still not looking directly at this adoptive brother.
- Please, Haru, listen to me. - Loi begged, pulling onto the boy's wrist. - I think…I think they know something, something not even Quetz knows.
The white haired boy flinched, only the shuffling of fabric could be heard as he gripped the piece of fabric tightly.
- Please…leave us. - Haru whispered.
- Haru…please, - Loi scooped himself closer. - you need to know…
- Please… - The smaller boy mumbled, leaning closer to the Anacondrai.
The tanned boy was about to press on, but a firm hand gently pulled him back. He turned around, seeing Mitsuki quietly shaking her head, before slowly backed away to sit on her bed. Sighing in defeat, Loi retreated from the small chamber to sulk in his designated bed, quietly listening to his brother's sniffling, wondering to himself if it was such a good idea levying this burden of a suspicion onto him after all these events.