When they returned to Mystic Camp, Lukas went straight to the barracks. Crashing face down onto the same bed he used last time he was there.
He was still tired from the night prior. He hadn't had to perform such a reckless sprint since he first started training with Bene.
But also, while he was walking back to Mystic Camp he realised something. He remembered falling while chasing after the ghast, after snagging his foot on an exposed root. He knew he smashed his face on the floor, and scratched it slightly too.
But after using his Frequency, none of that remained. He didn't even have any sensations left over. Even if he went back in time, wouldn't he retain his injuries from the future he came from?
'Whatever... I can go back in time, who cares how it works? At least I can undo injuries.'
As the room's silence filled Lukas' mind, he began to wander. Naturally, he gravitated towards the ghast.
It was... wrong. Like it wasn't meant to exist at all. A foul mockery of nature's creations. Wouldn't killing something like that be good? Shouldn't that fill him with some sort of fulfilment or satisfaction?
Then why didn't he feel anything? All that was there was this sense of wrongness. A sense of something abhorrent.
As he lingered, dwelling in the subtle understanding of the chaotic unnatural nature of the ghasts, he heard the door open. Oak walked in.
"Welcome back!"
His voice was just as chipper as he last heard it, almost a week ago. Honestly, he could use something uplifting like Oak. Lukas gave him a pitiful attempt of a wave, and let his arm fall limp.
"You look awful, what happened?"
Lukas tilted his head, glancing at Oak from the corner of his eye.
"I'm just exhausted."
"You were gone for a while, what did you do?"
"We killed a ghast... I... I don't think I like it."
Oak tilted his head.
"What do you mean?"
Lukas sighed.
"Maybe it's not because I killed it, but because of what it is. But I get a weird feeling when I think about it... It feels... wrong."
"Well, take your mind off of it! I know what it's like to constantly think about something, it's exhausting! Come on, why don't we go eat or train or something?"
***
After a few days had passed, Lukas had brightened up a little. His clothes were clean, and he didn't smell of blood at least. More than that, his mind had drifted away from the ghast, and more towards mundane activities.
He didn't know what to do now, neither he nor Vesa had any assignments. They weren't needed anywhere either. So Lukas decided to continue training, constantly moving or practising with his weapons, Frequency, or both.
During one of these practice sessions, he heard a distinct cawing that grew closer. Until he saw a crow land on his shoulder. He nearly swung at it out of instinct but stopped himself.
It just stared at him, its eyes an empty pure white. Lukas didn't know what to do, so he froze for a moment.
"Hello... Do you need me for something?"
After the words left his mouth, he realised how stupid a question that was. Why would a crow need his help? Especially a crow that he doesn't know. He would've face-palmed if not for what the crow said.
"CAW... LU-KIS... CAW!"
'D-did that crow just talk?'
No, the answer was no. The crow merely mimicked something it heard. But Lukas had never really seen a lot of crows before. So he had no idea they could mimic voices.
"I'm Lukas, do you need something?"
"CAW... LU-KIS... OAK... CAW... VE-SAH... CAW! CAW... S-NAKE-WELL... CAW!"
'Snakewell?'
"The bird's telling you to go to Snakewell. Well, you, me, and Oak."
Lukas turned around to see Vesa standing behind him. For the last couple of days, she had snuck up on him and surprised him. Just to get a laugh out of it. He never knew how she was always so quiet.
She whistled to get the bird's attention and called it over to her shoulder before giving some small treats.
"Why? What do you mean?"
She sighed as she fed the bird.
"The bird called your name, my name, and Oak's name. As well as saying Snakewell. What else do you think it could mean? Also, I know why we were called, but not what will happen when we get there."
"What's Snakewell? And where is it?"
"North, just past Willowrest, maybe 1 to 2 weeks depending on your speed. It's a basecamp of sorts for the Fortissimo. Special division just uses it to hold meetings between the Hunters & subdivisions. You can take a straight path through the wilderness, or follow the main roads through Shadecross and Willowrest."
"Are you leading us there?"
Vesa threw a confused glance at Lukas.
"What? No. It's not like I could even if I wanted to."
She whispered something to the crow before it flew off to the north.
"You two can head out when the sun rises tomorrow. I have some business to attend to before I go. But I'll be there."
"What did you whisper?"
"I just told the bird what the status is between the three of us. You two will head out tomorrow, while I will depart later. But we'll all arrive before the end of the month."
'March is almost over already?'