Kingdom of Hallos, City of Beswind, Present day.
With the help of Adulfus, Xeto found the long passageway Anaria had taken out of the underground sanctum.
"You're a fortunate man," said Adulfus. "I wish a soft flower tugged at my heart."
The duo walked together, at their rear was Rebecca and Roy who seemed lost in conversation.
Xeto blushed lightly but kept his voice stiff. "She's a childhood friend, nothing more."
"I see." Adulfus motioned towards Roy. "He's a childhood friend of yours, I gather? Do you try tasting his lips as well?"
Xeto rolled his eyes away from the man. Something about the mercenary left a sour taste in his mouth. Perhaps it was his pompous-looking face, or muttered speech.
"If she's nothing but a friend, then perhaps I'll dedicate some time to her."
Xeto's ears grew warm. "Keep your distance." He shot him a glare. Every word from the man stoked his annoyance.
"She seems like a delicate girl, in need of protection. She is welcome in our den."
"She doesn't need your protection."
"She did more than you can imagine by saving my man. I would like to repay her in a way."
"You can. I want to know how that bitch of yours knows my brother's name." Xeto made sure to not meet the man's almond-shaped eyes.
Adulfus stopped. "Don't talk about her in that manner."
Xeto scoffed as he continued forward. "She attacked me without regard. I saved her and in turn she tried drowning me."
"Another insult towards her won't come without consequence."
Xeto gripped the hilt of his sword as he glared back at him. "Is that a threat?" He gritted his teeth as he stepped closer to the man who matched him in height. "Quite the nobleman when you speak to women, huh? Give me a reason, I'll make you bite that honied tongue."
Roy's worried glance bounced between the them. "Aye, lads, I think we all need some air, that's all."
Xeto put up a hand in defiance. "No, the man here is offended, let's see what he's capable of."
Adulfus smacked his lips. The glow of the surrounding stone luminated his rigid features. "You think you can spit insults in my den? You are just like that brother of yours. A dog off its lead." He lifted his hand but froze in place as Rebecca positioned her revolver inches from his head.
"Orders, Commander?" she asked. Her tone was cold, eyes filled with focus.
Xeto smiled. Seeing the man's bravado extinguished justified a snicker. "You were saying something about your den?"
Adulfus bit his lip as he extended his scowl to Rebecca. "Taking orders from a boy will get you killed, huntress."
Rebecca remained silent as she pulled the hammer back.
Xeto tilted his head. "I'm only returning the gratitude your companions showed me."
Roy put out his arms. "We shouldn't do this, lad."
His friend's words fell on deaf ears as Xeto took hold of Adulfus' collar. "How do you know of my brother?"
Like an obedient mongrel, he spoke. "It was about six or seven years ago. He came looking for our guild's leader."
"Why?"
"He wanted to find an Allseer. Erik, our leader, is one of the few people who's met with one."
Xeto insides churned. Allseers were nothing but a myth. A myth of men that used never-before-seen magic that was capable of molding a man's mind like clay. They were said to hold information of centuries past. Others said that they could predict future events alongside being able to pour untrue memories into the minds of others. They were to be recognized by their steel emotionless masks and by the violet stones that decorated the backside of their hand. Those two features were to be taken as a warning to turn tail if ever seen. "I give the signal and Rebecca paints your den's walls red." As the words escaped his lips, he felt a tinge of guilt for her. "Think long and hard before you lie to me again."
Adulfus shrugged mockingly. "I gave you what you wanted. You choose what you want to believe."
Xeto held him against the wall. "Say I take your word as truth. Why did Roxas want to find an Allseer?"
"He was careful on what he said. But from what gathered he simply wanted power, something equivalent to the Forbidden Auras."
Xeto's voice was caught in his throat at the mention of the words.
"Ah, so you know of them?" continued Adulfus in a disdainful tone. "Keilerah told me what happened at the cortigiana. She dug her sword into Chonsey's neck…his corpse warmed the floor for only minute before it was up and walking again. I'll admit that I thought the stories of people returning from the dead were just that. Stories. But it seems there's much more behind the curtain."
Xeto tightened his grip. "What else?"
"That's all I know." He chuckled. "Seems like your brother was nothing but a power-hungry fool that ultimately got himself buried."
Not a second thought entered his mind as Xeto drove a heavy-handed punch to the man's jaw. "Shut up!" He pulled his arm back for another strike but was stopped as Roy took ahold of him.
"Xeto, enough! He's just agonizing you." His friend pulled him back.
Adulfus had a single hand on the wall as he looked back up at them. A new cut decorated his lip as blood trickled down his chin. "Stuck a nerve, Alcazar?"
"Xeto?" called a familiar soft voice.
Xeto looked down the corridor to find a widened-eyed Anaria. A wave of shame came over him. It was a reoccurring emotion that presented itself any moment she witnessed him on the wrong side of his emotions.
"What's happening?" she asked, her hands on her chest.
"Commander, we should leave before his allies arrive."
Xeto nodded in agreement. "We're done here. Roy take Anaria, were leaving."
Roy obliged as he started down the tunnel.
"But—" shuttered Anaria before Roy turned her away from the scene.
"Come on, Little Sylph."
Xeto followed behind them in hurried pace as Rebecca shadowed him, keeping her aim locked on the aggravated mercenary.
Adulfus narrowed his gaze. "Keep following him and you'll all end up dead." His voice echoed through the tunnel.
It was the last thing they heard before escaping into the night.