The inner courtyard of the Ylesse military barracks was teeming with people, as soldiers were already beginning to harness the mounts gathered near the large pool and trees usually dedicated to resting moments. It was already early afternoon, and all the while wagons had been chartered to bring supplies, rations and weapons to the temporary camp that would be set up in the mountains several miles away.
Silently, Pavas, sitting on one of the steps of a large building, had watched the adults with tense faces and serious looks move restlessly back and forth between the various buildings as if they were fighting an invisible fire. She didn't know what was going on, but even not knowing what these people were going to do and where, she knew that the military's job was to fight. So, all these adults were definitely going into battle, far away from here.
It was probably something serious, considering the number of people about to move all at once. She could still remember small patrols that had passed through their little village in the past, and their members could still be counted on the fingers of two hands. However, all the adults she could see were far more numerous than that. She had tried to count them, using the fingers of her hands and the toes of her feet, but even that had not been enough. There were 'a lot' of them; she just didn't know exactly how many.
She looked at the horses, who also seemed restless and shook their heads in annoyance. That said, Ewan's large horse was not among them, so they probably weren't going to leave with the military. Pavas wondered what the young man was doing, leaving her waiting outside like that.
She looked up at the sky where the sun was still shining through clouds that were too thin to block its rays, and wondered if the light would still be in the sky when she and Ewan would leave the city. Maybe soon they would be traveling at night. At least that was what she assumed, if they crossed the path of this huge reptile again.
A little anxious at the thought, she wrapped her arms around her knees before putting her head on them. She was afraid. That, she could not deny. However, could this fear be compared to the other times she had been terrified? She didn't know. It was all still too new to her mind. Maybe after all, she would be less afraid of this creature. Just a little bit, though.
Meanwhile, Carciem had called Finn and Ewan into his office to get their detailed feedback on the operation they had conducted the night before, and the two men quickly explained what they had observed in the underground auction room.
"So, an individual smelling very strongly of nepenthe has made an appearance, right?" Carciem asked to confirm what he had just heard.
Ewan nodded his head in agreement, while Finn spoke up again.
"I'm sure that this individual is a priority target for elimination," he said bluntly.
"Just because he has that smell? I didn't smell anything..." Ewan remarked.
"We know that the individuals who give off this smell, associated with a cold sensation, are closely linked to a curse," continued the young man. "That is, they have either been the curse caster or its vessel, since the medium dies during the operation. And the stronger these sensations are, the greater the number of curses and their power."
"Not everyone has the same mana sensitivity to detect these signs," Carciem complemented. "Finn, who you see there, is very sensitive, for example, and can detect any trace, even residual ones."
Ewan looked at the young soldier who was still giving him a hard look, and turned his attention back to his superior.
"So, this person we came across must have sacrificed a large number of people?" Asked the young hunter.
"Knowing that this is an individual belonging to the Circle, it is indeed more likely that he is the caster of curses than the receiver," clarified Carciem. "The more a person comes into contact with this form of magic, the more they give off that unpleasant smell. You're lucky, really, that you can't smell it. It's really unbearable for Finn sometimes, and it makes him sick."
With a sympathetic smile, Carciem pointed to his subordinate, who merely winced at the blond man's remark. He must not have liked to see one of his weaknesses being revealed to a stranger. Even if he had briefly fought with him.
Yet, this was not what concerned Ewan the most.
"You seem quite sure that this man is part of the Circle..." He said, hinting at the question he had in mind.
Carciem snorted loudly, and shrugged.
"We know this guy is one of them, because we've seen him with other Circle members," Carciem revealed. "But he usually commands troops and doesn't show his face, which is why I was surprised when you and Finn saw this guy..."
"So he wasn't supposed to be there last night?" Ewan asked, puzzled.
Finn crossed his arms, and frowned as he glared at Ewan. He always seemed to have something against the young hunter, without taking the trouble to say what was bothering him; which vexed the target a little.
"This man is on a whole other level, and clearly not one of the minions," Finn declared. "Which makes one think..."
"So we'll have to investigate him further when we get back," Carciem interrupted him. "But tell me, do you have your new destination planned yet, Ewan?"
Ewan felt the muscles on his forehead and between his eyebrows twitch briefly. He hadn't appreciated Carciem interrupting Finn, and wondered if it was intentional or not.
"I have plans to go to Mount Larshen," he replied slowly.
"Ah, Mount Larshen?" Carciem repeated, curious. "You always like to get away from the people, you..."
"Not especially," Ewan replied, a little annoyed by this remark.
Carciem laughed heartily, then, taking on a solemn air, declared:
"We'll be leaving ourselves in the next hour, but I hope we'll see each other again soon to catch up..."
Ewan smiled shyly. He didn't really want to cross paths with the blond man any time soon.
"And if possible, not because of a new catastrophe, okay?" Carciem added with a clever smile.
"That, I do not promise anything..." Said the young hunter, a little taken by surprise by this last joke.
The two friends shook hands quickly, exchanging a glance of challenge and complicity one last time, then Ewan left the office by closing behind him the thick wooden door.
Even though they couldn't stand each other that much, the two former military academy mates had still managed to form a bond, and still remain friends despite the distance and the passage of time. In spite of themselves, they had been grouped together during their teenage years, which had brought them closer together even though they had been completely different from each other in terms of attitude as well as personality.
Briefly, Carciem smiled and thought back to Ewan's embarrassed expression every time he had created a mess and put them in a difficult position. Reprimands from their instructors were never far away, even with his friend's efforts to keep him from acting up.
However, it seemed that over time the trend had been reversed, as now the one who was causing trouble was no longer Carciem, but Ewan.
With a serious look on his face, Carciem turned to Finn.
"Can you confirm what you told me earlier? Or not?" He asked sternly.
Finn nodded, not at all intimidated. He was too sure of himself to be.
"I felt it again." He said in a firm tone. "That kid smelled like nepenthe, even if it was rather faint..."
Carciem remained silent for a moment, before leaning back against his desk, distraught. Passing his hand through his blond locks, he pouted. Not knowing what to think, he could only whisper to himself.
"What the hell have you gotten yourself into, Ewan... "