Evan's thoughts raced as he stood before Wyiner, trying to mask his concern.
'I need to know where you sent him,' he thought. 'I know you'll never tell his father about this, and you probably don't trust me when it comes to Maxilin. But I'm worried too. I've already lost my parents, and I can't bear the thought of losing my friend. Maxilin is all I have left, and though I care about everyone here, he holds a special place in my heart.'
Evan realized that pushing further would get him nowhere. He needed to tread carefully, so he forced himself to relax and offered a resigned smile. "Uncle, that's OK. You're our leader, and if you decided to let him go alone, there must be good reasons for your decision."
Wyiner's face remained stern, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—regret, perhaps. 'Evan, I didn't want to send him there alone either,' Wyiner thought. 'But he left without my permission. If I'd known he was going to act like this, I would never have told him about the mission. This boy is going to drive me mad, just like his father.'
Wyiner's expression remained solemn as he addressed Evan and Benneth. "You two can leave now. I have somewhere I need to be." His voice was curt, leaving no room for further discussion.
Evan nodded, though his mind was still troubled. "Yes, Uncle," he said quietly. Benneth also nodded, casting a quick glance at Evan before they both turned to leave.
As they walked toward the barracks, Benneth noticed the distant look in Evan's eyes. He could tell something was weighing heavily on his brother's mind. "Brother Evan," Benneth called out, trying to catch his attention.
Evan snapped out of his thoughts and quickly forced a smile. "Let's take a look at your training, Benneth. It's been a while since I've seen you practice."
Benneth beamed, his worries momentarily forgotten. "Of course, brother! Let's go." He quickened his pace, eager to show off his progress.
Evan followed, but his thoughts were elsewhere. 'If I'm going to find out where Maxilin went, I'll need to search Uncle's chamber,' he thought, his expression turning serious again. He knew it was risky, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Maxilin was too important to him to just let things slide.
"Clop, clop."
Maxilin's horse came to a halt near the railway station. The train would be departing soon. He pulled his hood low over his face, obscuring his features, and his long Jedi-style robe concealed the sword at his side. After purchasing a ticket, he moved quietly toward the platform.
As he boarded the train, his presence caused a stir. Children were the first to notice him, their curious eyes following his every move. They were captivated by his mysterious appearance and the majestic hawk perched calmly on his shoulder.
Maxilin found a seat by the window, his gaze distant. Across from him sat a small family—a mother, father, and their young son. The parents seemed wary, instinctively pulling their child closer to them. The boy, however, was entranced. His eyes darted between Maxilin's hidden face and the hawk, clearly fascinated but too shy to approach.
Maxilin noticed the boy's curiosity. The child kept inching forward, trying to muster the courage to reach out and touch the bird. The hawk, sensing the boy's hesitant movements, ruffled its feathers slightly but remained still.
Finally, when the boy seemed ready to give up, Maxilin surprised him by lowering his hood, revealing his face. His features were striking — strong yet gentle, with an air of quiet confidence that made him seem both approachable and enigmatic.
"Would you like to touch him?" Maxilin asked, his voice soft but steady.
The boy's eyes widened in surprise and delight. He looked back at his parents, who were momentarily stunned by Maxilin's appearance. They had expected a rough, battle-hardened warrior, but instead, they saw a man of remarkable beauty and kindness.
Encouraged by Maxilin's gentle tone, the boy nodded eagerly.
Maxilin whistled softly, a signal only Hawki understood. The hawk fluttered down gracefully onto his outstretched arm. Maxilin turned to the boy, who was still wide-eyed with amazement. "His name is Hawki," Maxilin said with a gentle smile.
The boy, encouraged by Maxilin's calm demeanor, returned the smile and reached out hesitantly. "Don't worry," Maxilin said, his voice reassuring. "Just give me your hand."
The boy extended his small hand, and Maxilin guided it to Hawki's back. The bird remained perfectly still, allowing the boy to stroke its feathers. The boy's eyes lit up with joy as he petted the hawk, a bond of trust forming between them under Maxilin's watchful eye.
"It's not every day you meet someone with a hawk," the boy's father said, breaking the silence. His tone was curious, but there was an undercurrent of caution. "Are you a knight?"
Maxilin met the man's gaze and shook his head. "No, I'm not a knight. I am a hunter."
"A monster hunter?" the father asked, his eyes widening with interest. Maxilin nodded, a subtle acknowledgment that spoke volumes.
"But you're so young," the boy's mother interjected, her voice filled with concern. "Aren't you afraid of them?"
Maxilin gave a small, knowing smile. "I've been hunting since I was twelve."
"Twelve?" the father repeated, disbelief coloring his voice. "And your parents allowed that? They let you face such dangers?"
Maxilin's smile faded slightly as he glanced out the window, memories stirring. "It's the work of my ancestors," he said, his voice tinged with the weight of tradition. "It's what I was born into. It's what I'm meant to do."
The father nodded, understanding dawning on his face. "I always wanted my son to learn something like that," he admitted, casting a sideways glance at his wife. "But she's not keen on the idea."
Maxilin's eyes narrowed as he noticed the mark on the woman's hand. It was subtle, partially hidden by her sleeve, but it caught his attention immediately. 'What's that?' he thought, his curiosity piqued. The mark resembled something he had seen before, though he couldn't quite place it.
The woman seemed to sense his scrutiny. She averted her eyes, attempting to shield her hand from view, but it was too late. Maxilin had already seen it. He watched as the boy continued to play with Hawki, his innocent laughter a stark contrast to the tension building between the adults.
Maxilin turned to the man, who had introduced himself as a simple merchant. "Sir, what do you do for a living?" Maxilin asked, his tone casual but his mind sharp.
The man smiled, oblivious to the undercurrents in Maxilin's question. "I'm simply a merchant," he replied, leaning back in his seat as if the world held no secrets from him.
Maxilin's gaze flicked to the woman, who seemed increasingly uncomfortable. He pressed on, "It must be challenging to enroll your son in a prestigious institute on a merchant's income."
The man's smile faltered slightly, but he quickly recovered. "Not at all," he said, his tone still light. "Actually, my wife has a small flower shop. It helps with the expenses."
The woman stiffened, her eyes darting to her husband as she whispered urgently, "Will, please."
Maxilin caught the exchange, his mind racing. The woman's discomfort, the odd mark on her hand, and her anxious behavior didn't align with the simple story the man was telling. Maxilin smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "A flower shop, you say? How lovely," he said, his voice smooth, but his thoughts were far from the pleasant facade he maintained.
The woman's reaction had confirmed his suspicion — she wasn't an ordinary merchant's wife. There was more to her story, something she was desperate to keep hidden.
'If she is a monster, hiding among us in human form, it could be perilous,' Maxilin mused. 'But the mark… that mark… I can't doubt her because of it. My sword would have given her away if she were truly a monster. Since it didn't, she must be human. But why is she trying so hard to avoid me?'
Determined to find answers, Maxilin approached her, trying to make his tone as gentle as possible. "My lady," he began, his voice steady despite the unease gnawing at him, "if you don't mind, may I ask you a question?"
The lady started, clearly not expecting him to address her. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she hesitated before responding. "Me? What is it?" she asked, her voice wavering slightly as she avoided his gaze.
Maxilin noticed the tremor in her voice, but he pressed on. "I simply want to know about the mark on your hand," he said, his eyes never leaving her face.