She disappeared.
Later that dawn when Siegren went to Lumi's room, he was not greeted by a person, but rather; what welcomed him was a makeshift rope and an opened window.
The girl had left him.
The room was already cold, meaning she must've left as soon as they got into the inn.
Siegren closed his eyes, trying to feel her presence in the surroundings. He was too fixated into finding the numen that he didn't even think about her escaping.
Lingering divinity wafted through the air like butterflies fluttering in the wind.
But the girl who harnessed divinity was no longer to be found.
**
As Siegren leaped around the rooves and the infrastructures in Aclaria by following the remnants of divinity, he was able to arrive at a certain abandoned building.
The scent of blood.
Siegren knew it all too well.
It was something that he was accustomed to. The feeling of blood rushing resonated in his senses—a response his body built through the years. The desire to kill that was entwined in his nerves pulsated at every growing minute.
He continued to follow the trail until he was able to reach a certain secluded place deep in Aclaria.
The trail stopped there.
There was no divine power that was present in the place anymore. And in this very spot, the divine power vanished without a trace.
Siegren drew his sword.
"Now," he looked around at the place surrounded with towering edifices.
"Where to begin?"
--
The large double door crushed open, revealing a man whose greatsword was tinted with blood dripping down to the floor. As the dust cleared up, Lumi was able to see him.
He ambled his way forward, greatsword in his hand. Behind him was a trail of blood from the men that guarded the auction. They were lying flat on the ground unconscious and maybe even dead.
"Siegren!" Lumi exclaimed as she saw him.
Was that a plea for help?
Siegren doesn't know. Nonetheless…
She still had some business with him. And that's all that matters.
The Hawk felt his blood boil. His first-class merchandise costs a fortune to be maintained—holding this very auction is a big expense in itself.
This cannot be ruined at all costs. All his preparations to be ruined by a rogue? He wouldn't allow it!
"What are you all doing? Stop him!"
Multiple men then ran forward to contain Siegren, raising their swords and their axe to aim for his vitals. Siegren lifted his greatsword and then rushed to meet his opponents.
He swung his blade forward and then thrust through thin air, delivering quick lightning strikes. As the men fell to the floor from the impact, Siegren marched onwards calmly.
The Hawk recoiled as he saw how quick Siegren was able to subdue the mercenaries he hired. The nobles that were invited to the action were squirming, trying to rush to the door in order to leave the premise, not daring to cross a berserk.
Siegren continued to amble forward as the trader's men went to stop him. They attacked in hoards, with their axe and swords ready to kill. Siegren was able to parry their incursions with his greatsword. One man struck from behind, but the rogue was able to anticipate his foray. He turned around and then had the large surface of his blade deflect the broadsword of the man. The blade then cut the sword in half, which caused the assaulter to fall back harshly on the side as Siegren threw his body hereafter.
The utter chaos drove the Hawk into a corner.
But Siegren's eyes were fixated on one thing.
Her.
The Hawk gritted his teeth, realizing he must take extra measures in order to prevent this person to ruin everything. Then, he remembered something.
A certain person who gave him the bird...
'Become the Hawk when you need to.' The man said. 'Become one with HIM when you face utter danger… and when you do, strength awaits you.'
"You leave me no choice…" The Hawk mumbled.
With a whistle, a hawk then flew to the slave trader's shoulder. Siegren stopped as his eyes met the bird's eyes. The bird's eyes were glowing red and emitted a dark aura that had a sense of familiarity to him.
"You... you think you've won?" The trader said in a tremulous voice. "Don't make me laugh. You haven't even seen me in my ultimate form."
And as he said that, he pushed the bird close to his neck.
"Take me," he whispered.
A second later, the hawk's beak pierced the man's neck. Through that, it entered the man. The slave trader screamed and writhed as he howled animalistically.
The hawk was merging with the man who called himself 'Hawk'.
Siegren watched as the man slowly stood up as if he was being lifted from behind. The force started from the back instead of his lower limbs.
Black wings grew from behind the man as his bones cracked to adjust as his body's cells started to replicate at an abnormally progressive rate. His appearance began to become bird-like as he grew feathery spikes around his arms and legs. His clothes began to tear as his legs became talons and his chest bulged like that of a hawk's.
"Aha… AHAHAHAH!" The man laughed maniacally. "Now, you see what I mean by being THE HAWK."
Before Siegren could even take another step, the Hawk flew towards him and then with its hands that now grew talon-like sharpness, sliced on Siegren's cheek up to his neck. It grazed him with four claw marks.
The Hawk then went back to Lumi.
"Siegren! The talons have paralytic effects! Unchain me so I can help you!" Lumi exclaimed upon seeing the purple tint around the newly grown talons of the once human trader.
"Oh, but it's much worse than that, my dear priestess," the Hawk was now on Lumi's side, pulling her up from her hair.
"There is now toxin in my talons. A drop could kill an adult man. Not just any paralytic effect… but what awaits that rogue right now is simply death!" The Hawk then laughed.
"Ah… seriously. I can't believe this. Just for you, I may have lost more than I imagined! Be thankful I've even sacrificed my body for your sake!"