Inside the dimly lit hut, the fire from the stove in the corner cast moving shadows across the wooden walls.
Lina sat upright on an old chair, her bright green eyes fixed on the door as if searching for answers from the outside.
Her brother, Draven, stood leaning against the wall near the window, his sharp gaze filled with curiosity. Lina's soft voice broke the silence, carrying a sense of unease.
"Brother, that man named Ethan did you sense something strange about him?" Lina began, her tone quiet but laced with tension.
Draven, who had been staring out the window, turned to his sister, eyebrows furrowed. "Strange? What do you mean, Lina? Did your power detect something, like usual?" Draven's voice hinted at a growing wariness.
As an archer, he relied on instinct and intuition, but he knew Lina's magical detection abilities were far more precise and keen than most mages.
Lina took a deep breath before continuing. "Yes, as you know, we mages store Mana in our hearts. That energy flows through our veins, marked by a blue aura, signaling its presence. For Hyak users, their energy spreads throughout their body, merging with their bloodstream and glowing with the distinct yellow aura."
Draven stepped closer, his curiosity piqued. "So, what's wrong with Ethan? What makes you feel something is off?" he asked, fully attentive.
Lina frowned, both confused and concerned.
"I didn't see any Mana or Hyak in his body, Draven. No energy flows like we usually see in adventurers or warriors. Instead…" She paused, locking eyes with her brother before continuing, "There's something in his abdomen, something emitting a red aura. It's not normal energy, Ka. And near his heart, I saw something else a strange golden power. Isn't that suspicious?"
Lina's words hung in the air, thickening the tension inside the hut. Draven frowned deeply, his mind racing to process the new information.
"Red and gold? That… is unusual," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "A red aura in his abdomen and gold near his heart? No Mana or Hyak user has that kind of energy."
Lina nodded, agreeing with her brother's assessment.
"Exactly. Out of all the adventurers, mages, warriors, or even common people we've encountered, none have had an aura like that. It's as if he's harboring something… not of this world, or maybe something hidden within him."
Draven straightened up, his thoughts growing more serious.
"As always, Lina, your observations are never wrong. But if Ethan is truly hiding something, we'll need to be cautious, even if he's Nyssa's ally. I won't let us fall into danger by trusting someone who might have ulterior motives."
Lina gave a faint smile, knowing her brother was always careful, especially when dealing with people they didn't know well.
"We'll need to watch him closely during this mission. If he shows any suspicious signs or tries to conceal that mysterious power, we'll be ready. But I feel there's something larger behind this, Draven. That red aura... it feels dark, yet incredibly powerful, like something being tightly controlled."
Draven looked at his sister seriously. "And the gold in his heart? Are you sure it's not dangerous?"
Lina shook her head. "I don't know, but the gold feels… strong and pure. It's different from the red, which feels fierce. It's like there are two opposing forces within him, bound together. Maybe that's why he seems so powerful, but also so strange at the same time."
They both fell silent, reflecting on what had just been revealed. Draven glanced out the window again, watching as the sunlight grew brighter.
"Alright, we'll stay on guard. I don't want any surprises during this mission. Trakan Village is dangerous enough without us dealing with extra problems."
Lina nodded in agreement. "I'll keep monitoring his energy. If anything changes, I'll let you know."
Draven turned back to her, his expression softer this time. "We've been through a lot together, Lina. Whatever happens, we'll face it together."
Lina smiled faintly, feeling a bit more reassured by her brother's words. "Yes, brother. Always together."
Despite their calm exteriors, both of them couldn't shake the unease that lingered in their hearts. Ethan was no ordinary adventurer.
Something powerful, possibly dangerous, was hidden within him. And in the mysterious Trakan Village, that secret might be revealed in ways neither of them could predict.