For weeks on end, Rhea resided within the quarters of the general's residence. However, as each day dragged on, she found herself crippled by the boredom that consumed her. Unlike in the capital where she could sneak out and hang out with the city gang.
Well, not the regular hang out, more like to fight the famous gangs. Or sometimes she'd beat up the spoiled noblemen who had no manners. But here in the border town, she had nothing to do.
Furthermore, she had became more wary of that imposter now, she had no idea who he really was or what he wanted to achieve by pretending to be someone he wasn't.
To make things worst, she'd been constantly having that weird dream every night. The dream always felt so real to the point when the shadowy figure got stabbed with the fire sword, she'd also feel the pain like she was the one being stabbed. This dream had only started to hunt her ever since she'd stepped foot into this border town.
It almost felt like she'd been tainted in this town.
Rhea wanted nothing more now than to leave this place. She had planned to go in search of the real serpent, but everytime she tried to leave, the imposter would always appear, it was as if he knew her every move even if he wasn't there. It was starting to scare her.
She knew now that he wasn't a serpent, but she didn't want him to discover that she knew the truth. Thus, she'd been acting causally around him, and also did everything he'd want her to do.
Including following him to the soldier camp every day.
"I'm done, let's go." Came the imposter's deep voice as he walked towards where she was sitting under the shade.
Rhea glanced at his back when he brushed past her to head towards where the carriage was parked at the far end of the street. As the soldiers normally used horses, carriages couldn't pass into the camp, so it was parked a bit far from the entrance.
Rhea yawned tiredly, then picked up the basket containing their lunch, before following behind him.
These days, this impostor appeared to be like a man in a committed relationship who wouldn't let his wife stay behind and instead, took her everywhere he went, like his tail constantly following behind him.
As Rhea trailed behind him sluggishly, a woman accidentally collided with her. Rhea suddenly felt a jolt as if lightning struck her. She glanced at the woman who showed no remorse towards her.
Lines were quick to form on Rhea's forehead, as she noticed something like a grey vapor emanating from the woman's body.
Feeling dreadful, Rhea thought to herself, 'not again'. This experience wasn't new to her as she used to see things that normal people couldn't, such as the death vapor when she was younger. But ever since old man Ju had drawn the talisman for her, she'd stopped seeing things like this until now.
Rhea stared at the woman's back. Although the woman's vapor was still light, it was only a matter of time before it would start turning darker until it resembled that of a ghost's black vapor. When that happened, it would mark the end of her life.
Now that she thought about it, she'd noticed a faint vapor around old lady Lila as well, but Rhea hadn't dwelled on it, as she'd thought it was only her imagination...
"Are you coming or not?" Came Jurian's impatient voice, snapping her out of the dazed state she'd fallen into after seeing the death vapor.
Rhea began to walk towards him with countless thought running in her mind. This fake Jurian was a mystery she couldn't solve. And perhaps even had an ulterior motive for pretending to be someone he wasn't, but she could tell his life hadn't been an easy one as well.
She wondered how he ended up here, or the reason why he was misleading everyone.
Rhea heaved a deep sigh. It was pointless thinking about the answers to all this when it was impossible to figure out what the latter was thinking.
Jurian turned his head to look at her, she lifted her head to meet his blue eyes, he looked pitiful, he must be enduring a lot. Rhea thought. Then she solemnly said,
"The sweet bean cakes remaining in the basket...you can have them all."
"...?" Jurian looked from the basket she was holding out to him then her face, before looking away, seemingly dismissive, "I don't want them." He remarked indifferently.
Rhea opened her mouth, she was about to tell him that for her, giving up her food was a very serious decision, however, just when she was about to speak and step inside the carriage, she stopped. Around the streets ahead, she happened to glimpse a familiar male figure standing in the middle of the road.
Rhea paused unwittingly, "What is he doing here..." She mused softly.
Jurian, who was also about to step inside the carriage stopped and turned to look at Rhea who was dazedly staring ahead. His bright blue eyes followed her line of sight and noticed who she was looking at.
A young man, wearing a coarse blue robe that seemed out of place in the town. He was standing in the middle of the road. There was an old man herding his geese, yet the young man didn't move, he just stood still in the middle of the road, lifelessly staring off into the distance.
"How is he here...?" She mused softly.
As Rhea approached the young man, Jurian attempted to prevent her from moving forward by extending his hand, but she managed to pass by him. He cursed under his breath in frustration as he rubbed his sore temple before following her hurriedly.
Rhea ran the entire way until she was in front of the young man. She sized him up for awhile, "Rinus?!" She called, however the young man didn't react to her.
The old man herding his geese was already getting impatient, he yelled out, "Miss, who cares about Rinus, get the hell out of the road, my geese need to pass!"
Rhea glared at the old man, before she quickly pulled the young man out of the road. After the impatient man passed with his geese, she carefully sized him up again. But seeing his light blue expensive clothes that should've been spotless, covered in mud, she couldn't believe her eyes. His expression was dull like he didn't hear or see anything. He only stupidly stared off into the distance. It wasn't clear what he was looking at.
Rhea almost couldn't believe that this man here was her infamous cousin. The arrogant, self-centered, Rinus Villden. The third son of the Emperor's brother. His fire magic was on peak, even Zoorah's magic was nothing compared to his. He was known everywhere in the capital, he was as famous as the Emperor's son's.
But a year ago, Birhhan was getting filled with the outcasts. Meaning, the creatures lurking in the dark, like the serpent. The Emperor had personally chosen the best of the fire controllers among the nobles in the capital, including Rinus to cast the creatures out of Birhhan, but Rinus disappeared.
The entire Villden's family searched everywhere, yet they never found any trace of him in Birhhan. At some point, they gave up on the search and thought he was killed by the outcast demonic creatures. Everyone in the capital had grieved over his "death" but who would have thought the infamous Rinus was in the border town...
"Rinus?" Rhea called out to him, yet he didn't even spare her a glance. "Rinus, do you remember me? I'm your cousin_"
"Insolent fool!" He suddenly said.
Rhea looked taken aback for a moment, "Huh. Rinus, I'm aware you and I never got along before, but don't insult me like that, or else I won't think twice before smacking your face." She warned.
Rinus's black orbs shifted to look at her. She raised an eyebrow. It seemed the idiot still remembered they didn't get along. She thought, then said, "Rinus, now that you've remember_"
"Shameless piece of trash!" He cut her off again.
The corner of Rhea's mouth twitched, "Rinus, I'm trying to help you despite the bad blood between_"
"Cursed seed! Disgusting!"
A vein throbbed in Rhea's forehead. He dared to insult her when all she wanted was to help him? She'd teach him a little lesson today!
Upon seeing that Rhea was rolling up her sleeves, Jurian who had been standing on the side quickly took a step forward and stood between them, blocking her from Rinus.
Rhea pulled on Jurian's clothes, "Move out of my way, I want to beat some senses into his head perhaps he'd remember me!"
Before Jurian could even speak, up head a woman's voice called out, "Rinus!"
Rhea and Jurian's head snapped towards the direction. A young woman hurriedly limped over.
Rhea raised a brow as she looked the woman up. What a coincidence, it was the lady she'd met in the forest. The serpent!
When the woman's voice called out, Rinus finally reacted at her call. He turned his head and faced the woman who ran over. The woman's gaze looked past Jurian's face to meet Rhea's eyes. Their gaze locked for a moment, yet she didn't say anything.
She supported Rinus, "Why did you come out?" She asked in concerned.
"You forgot your scarf." Rinus's voice was small, giving a childish feeling, "I came out to look for you, but I somehow lost my way. The scarf...I lost it in the woods." He dipped his head, "I apologise..."
The serpent woman seemed slightly touched, the corner of her lips pulled up into a smile, softly consoling, "It's fine, let's go back home. You haven't taken your lunch, I'll cook for you once we get home."
Saying that, she didn't look at Rhea and led Rinus away.
Rhea wanted to stop her, but was held back by Jurian. She glanced up at him and he shook his head. Rhea stood back and didn't go after them again.
She tipped her finger on her chin as she stared at the pair in thought.
The mentally confused-looking and stupid cousin of hers...and possibly the real serpent she'd fought with that day, who'd used a male voice to make her believe it was a male.
If her assumption was right, and it turned out this serpent and her cousin were in a relationship. Then she understood why this woman stole the treasure.
The serpent would never let it go even if it meant her death, because she stole it for love.
Her arrogant cousin was in a relationship with an outcast creature. Interesting.
But then, how did Rinus turn into a fool? Although she had never gotten along with Rinus because of his arrogant attitude, and how he looked down on her for being powerless. He wasn't the type to insult like that and act like a fool.
Perhaps, did this serpent woman cast a spell on him? Rhea would never believe that, even if a sword was placed on her throat. A mere demonic serpent could never cast any spell on a fire controller, only another person with the same powers could do so.
Rhea felt the longer she stayed in the border town, the more complicated things were getting.
"And you, why on earth did you stop me from beating that jerk?!" She questioned the imposter with her hands on her waist.
"Because I found his words to be true. You're the most shameless woman on earth." He remarked nonchalantly.
"...!" Although this man was usually taciturn, but when he unleashed his sharp tongue, not a breath was spared.
Rhea narrowed her eyes at him, then squinted them in suspicion, "Do you know who that man is?"
"Rinus Villden, the third son of the Duke of southern Birhhan." He said flatly.
"Oh, so you do know our Villden family."
"Yes, your family are quite famous everywhere, so I've heard of all of them." He said that when stepping inside the carriage, "Don't dawdle, get in let's head back."
Rhea hurriedly followed him inside the carriage, she sat across from him, then watched as he leaned back on his seat and closed his eyes.
For a while, silence engulfed the carriage but before long, Rhea broke the peace as she was aware he wasn't dozing off,"Do you know how Rinus ended up in the border town and became like that?" She asked.
Jurian's eyes popped open as he aimlessly stared into space before eventually locking gazes with her. He narrowed his eyes and queried, "Are you by any chance doubting that I have something to do with his condition?"
With a raised eyebrow and a chuckle, Rhea expressed her doubts. It was only natural for her to question him. If he wasn't the serpent, and his failure to break through the fiery barrier wasn't because of her ice spikes, then perhaps there was another explanation for why he couldn't enter the cave. She had absolutely no faith in this man.
However, she smiled, "Did you hear me say that? I was merely asking."
Without providing any further clarification, he harshly stated, "Your cousin's condition bears no relation to me." He proceeded to recline and shut his eyes, leaving Rhea to ponder.
She munched on a bean cake from the basket and commented, "Your behavior suggests otherwise. Why the temper, if you truly had no involvement?"