Chapter 27
Goodbyes in All Forms (Part 1)
The morning air was crisp, carrying with it the briny scent of the nearby sea. The small encampment bustled with quiet activity as everyone prepared for their journey to Norkif.
Aria carefully folded a cloak into a small satchel, her hands moving with practiced efficiency. Beside her, Karson knelt on the ground, sorting through a pile of neatly folded garments he and Aria had bartered for just yesterday.
"Hold this up for me, Aria," he said, handing her a bright green tunic.
Aria stood and unfurled the tunic, squinting at it in the morning light. "It's a bit big for Royce, don't you think?"
Though Royce was the biggest, he was still thinner than most kids. It was a problem still, especially since there were older ones among the group who was even thinner.
Karson shrugged, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "He'll grow into it. Kids always do."
But they believe it'll only be a matter of time for them to grow.
"Assuming he doesn't ruin it before then," Aria teased, folding the tunic back up. "We still need to save enough for the mainland. Prices in Norkif won't be as forgiving as here."
"We'll manage," Karson assured her. "Besides, I saw a merchant selling spell-enhanced fabric. Durable enough for active kids. We can get more when we arrive."
Aria nodded, her expression softening as she glanced at the children nearby. They were clustered around a low wooden table, their laughter bubbling through the air as they played a game of stones and chalk.
The morning was still quiet, the soft rustle of leaves and distant cries of seagulls the only sounds accompanying Karson and Aria as they sorted the last of the supplies.
The children who had returned late from Thermes's magic training camp were still sleeping soundly in their rooms— except for Nameless and Eliron, who had slipped out early after being summoned by Thermes.
"Excuse me…"
A soft voice drew their attention. A boy descended the stairs, rubbing sleep from his eyes. His brown hair was messy, and his yawn was audible as he reached the bottom step.
It was Finneas, one of the quieter older children in the group.
"Do you know where Nameless went?" he asked, his voice steady despite his drowsiness.
Aria paused, then offered him a warm smile. "Good morning, Finneas. She didn't say where she was going…"
Her words came out light and nonchalant, but inwardly she felt a pang of guilt. Nameless had made it clear she didn't want anyone knowing about the summons. Aria didn't want to lie outright, but withholding the truth felt no better.
Finneas stared at her for a moment, his face unreadable, before giving a small nod. "Thanks."
Without another word, he turned and headed toward the door.
Karson, who had been stacking crates, glanced up as the boy disappeared through the narrow alleyways. "He's headed for the docks," he murmured, watching the direction Finneas had taken.
Aria's gaze lingered on the empty doorway. "I hope he's not planning anything reckless," she said softly.
"He's one of the quiet ones, but he's sharp," Karson reassured her. "If he's looking for Nameless, he probably has a reason."
Even so, Aria couldn't shake the unease that settled in her chest.
To clear her mind, she decided to check on the other children. The faint creak of the stairs accompanied her as she ascended, her footsteps soft so as not to disturb the sleepers.
When she reached the hallway, she peeked into the rooms one by one. Most of the children were still buried under blankets, their soft breathing a comforting sound in the quiet morning.
However, when she opened the door to the last room, she froze.
Keith and Emman's beds were empty.
Her brows furrowed. She distinctly remembered seeing them sound asleep earlier—shortly after Nameless and Eliron had left. Where could they have gone?
Aria stepped further into the room, scanning for any clues. The blankets were tossed aside haphazardly, and their boots were missing from the small pile of shoes by the door.
From behind her, another door opened. Ynez came out with a yawn, checking the steps. Seeing it was Aria she greeted her.
"Good morning, Miss Aria," she called out, her voice steady but edged with confusion at the end. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, Ynez. By the way, have you seen where Royce and Emman went?"
The girl nodded, "They went out earlier. They always do that, please don't worry Miss."
Aria offered a small nod of thanks, though unease still churned in her chest. Something about this morning felt off, and she couldn't put her finger on it. After thanking the girl, she turned and headed downstairs, pressing a hand to her temple.
"I swear," she muttered under her breath, "they're going to give me gray hairs before I'm forty."
Just as she reached the front door, it opened, and Dynil stepped in, balancing several boxes. Beside him, Keith followed, his face red from exertion but wearing a grin.
"Chief!" Aria sighed with relief and rushed over to them. "Have you seen Royce? Or Emman?"
Dynil chuckled softly, his calm demeanor in stark contrast to her frazzled state. "Good morning to you too, Aria," he greeted, setting the boxes down with ease. "You look like you've been running around all morning. Take a breath."
Aria folded her arms but managed a sheepish smile. "Sorry, it's just… the kids keep vanishing on me."
Dynil chuckled again, brushing off his hands. "Don't worry. Emman's with the twins. Lemon and Lime have been keeping him busy helping with their market stall. As for Royce—"
Keith groaned dramatically, cutting in. "Miss Aria, you won't believe this. Royce is the one getting paraded around like a trained dog."
Aria blinked, surprised. "What do you mean, paraded?"
Keith sighed, shaking his head in mock exasperation. "Those twins, Lemon and Lime, they're advertising their stall, and they somehow convinced Royce to dress up and call out to customers. He's been running around the market like a carnival barker since earlier."
Dynil smirked, clearly amused. "They've got a knack for dragging people into their schemes. Royce was too kind to say no."
Aria sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead. "That boy… Well, as long as he's safe. But next time, could someone tell me where they're going? I swear I didn't see him at all by the lobby..."
Keith gave a sheepish shrug. "He was probably embarrassed to be seen with the dog outfit... But sure, I'll pass the message along, though with those two in charge, no promises."
Dynil patted Keith's shoulder, his tone light. "You survived the twins, Keith. That's an accomplishment in itself."
Keith grinned. "Barely."
Aria managed a small laugh despite her lingering unease. At least she knew where Royce and Emman were now. As Dynil and Keith moved upstairs to unload the supplies, she glanced out the window toward the marketplace, her thoughts briefly flickering to the sole boy.
"What about Finneas?" She looked back at the two, "He went out by the docks through the town center."
The two paused for a bit.
For a moment, Dynil glanced at the window with an unreadable expression before shrugging. "We didn't see him but I'm sure the twins will find him and drag him around too."
Keith didn't look back and went ahead, chuckling slightly at his words.
Aria acknowledged their words and went back to packing with Karson.
On the second floor, Keith dropped the crate he was holding with ease. It was empty.
Yet despite the weightless trek up the stairs, he was sweating.
Keith's blue eyes trembled, hands clammy, at the act he just did. He wanted to dwell on the fact that he did well than originally planned.
However there was one thing that pulsated in his mind.
"Nameless was right."
Dynil came from behind him, voicing Keith's thoughts aloud. He entered the room as well, it was the twins' room.
He casually sat on their bed and pulled out two briefcases from under there. It was a dull looking brown case with a broken lock, barely keeping some loose clothes from slipping out.
But he wasn't interested in the clothes.
He opened it wide, stretching his hand to the inner walls of the case. His hand, no, his forearm was swallowed by the clumsy wooden case.
Who knew there's a secret subspace inventory like this. It's quite smart.
While Dynil was busy pulling out more well-made clothes, the ones taken from Georges' castle, to place inside the crates... Keith swallowed dry.
He didn't know how to take another information Nameless had given.
Dynil is one of us now.
The sentry chief they trusted was loyal to Nameless, she says.
Though he was reluctant in understanding her words, it was evident with the act they just did, that it truly was the case.
Dynil will turn a blind eye when the group takes care of Finneas, the traitor.
"The plan... will be alright... right?" The boy asked, fidgeting slightly.
He didn't know how to behave with Dynil now. He was unsure if he was good or bad, as long as he is loyal to Nameless however, it means that they're on the same side.
The sentry chief finished putting content on the crates and looked up, nodding at the boy.
"It'll be okay. The twins, Royce and Emman are following him. Nameless said they've done it before too..." He trailed off, eyes looking down through the room's window, gazing at the back alley near the docks.
In a narrow alleyway, shrouded unnaturally in darkness, Finneas halted his steps.
The oppressive shadows seemed to swallow the faint cracks of light between the surrounding buildings, leaving the path ahead cloaked in an eerie gloom.
He frowned deeply, his expression tight with both frustration and unease. He had been walking this labyrinthine shortcut for half an hour, yet the docks still eluded him.
His thoughts churned as he clenched his fists. I failed.
Images of the recent battle flashed in his mind.
His attempts to incapacitate Thermes— subtly, carefully— had amounted to nothing.
The old warrior was stronger than he had anticipated, far beyond what Finneas could manage alone.
And I don't even know who or what Thermes truly is, he mused bitterly. But if the Demon King's unification is to proceed smoothly, someone of his caliber cannot be allowed to exist.
Yet here he was, skulking through a back alley like a cornered rat.
This wasn't the vision he'd imagined for himself when he vowed to be Pearce's eyes.
It was a week before the Demon King and his minions head out for a suitable land. Pearce wanted a watcher especially since Royce was loitering around.
Since then he was trained in his magic, both Earth magic and Dark magic.
He used the former to try and meet Four that time, but instead saw Nameless' slaughter.
Finneas didn't how exactly it happened because there were a few things amiss.
Ayu was emitting gold light and somehow Four went wild, ignoring Nameless from behind him, who used a dagger to behead him.
I couldn't have imagined she was already that strong. So he left before they noticed. Or maybe because Four was a weaker numbered than her?
Finneas exhaled sharply, trying to suppress the gnawing irritation, his new plan crawling through his memories.
If he couldn't take Thermes down, perhaps he could find another path to success.
His mind turned to Nameless.
She was a wildcard, reckless and unpredictable, but undeniably vital to the group she traveled with.
He had studied her, watched her tendencies, even modeled parts of his behavior after someone she seemed particularly fond of— Ayu.
Nameless is weak to her, Finneas thought, his lips pressing into a thin line. If I can make her see me as a semblance of Ayu, I could get close enough to gain leverage.
But doubt began to creep into his mind.
Now... His eyes narrowed, glancing at the oppressive darkness around him. Was I found out?
His pulse quickened as his thoughts shifted.
Could this path have been a trap?
When he left the inn earlier, he had sensed a faint but familiar presence, a ripple of dark magic hanging in the air near the docks. It had piqued his instincts, compelling him to take this shortcut in hopes of intercepting something... or someone.
But now, standing in the looping alley, the hairs on the back of his neck rose.
Just as his suspicions deepened, two figures emerged from the shadows ahead.
Though they were still under the transformation magic of yellow hair and green eyes, it was obvious who they were.
The twins. Lemon and Lime.
Identical faces twisted into smug smirks, their mischievous demeanor laced with malice.
They stepped closer, their footsteps echoing unnaturally in the stillness.
In Lemon's hand gleamed a dagger, its silver blade catching what little light pierced the alley's darkness. Its hilt was adorned with a crimson gem that seemed to pulse faintly, as though alive.
[Unification Dagger].
The relic was unmistakable— a dangerous tool capable of forging crimson gems, items of immense and volatile power.
But it wasn't the dagger itself that made Finneas's blood run cold. It was the dark aura hanging over the newly formed gem embedded in its hilt.
This magic... it's hers.
Nameless.
Finneas's instincts screamed at him. The gem had to be crafted from her blood. There was no mistaking the resonance. His fingers twitched, his muscles tensing as his mind raced.
To lure me, she used her blood to make a crimson gem...
He didn't know whether to feel honored or terrified.
After all, crimson gems were forged by dredging up the deepest despairs buried in a being's consciousness. To create such a thing required pain— immense, unyielding pain.
"You look lost, Finneas," Lime said, her voice lilting with mock concern as she tilted her head. The smirk on her face widened, dripping with cruel amusement.
"Didn't think we'd find you here," Lemon added, spinning the dagger lazily in his fingers, as though it were a mere toy. "But then again, you got caught."
Finneas kept his gaze locked on the gem, his jaw tightening.
Even if I die, if I could just get my hands on that gem and destroy it...
Lime stepped closer, her laughter a soft, mocking sound that echoed in the stillness. "What's wrong, Finneas? Cat got your tongue?"
Lemon stopped twirling the dagger, holding it aloft with purpose now. His grin turned razor-sharp. "Or maybe," he sneered, "you've finally realized just how much of a fool you really are."
Finneas's thoughts raced as he glanced around for an escape, sweat beading on his brow. He could feel the pressure closing in, like a vice tightening around his throat.
Aim for the gem.
The air around him rippled with dark energy as he unleashed his magic. From the void, a black, writhing tentacle emerged, its inky form reaching hungrily toward the dagger.
But before it could make contact—
A shadow loomed behind him, silent and sudden.
Hands clamped down on the back of Finneas's head. Another gripped his chin, firm and unyielding.
"Disgusting traitor," a cold voice whispered into his ear, sending a chill down his spine.
The twins smirked and stepped aside, no longer the threat but merely spectators to the execution.
"You thought you could touch Nameless?"
Finneas's eyes widened, his breath catching in his throat. He recognized the voice. He tried to turn, to resist—
Crack.
His neck snapped in one smooth, effortless motion.
The world tilted, his vision dimming as his body collapsed like a broken doll.
Royce stood over the lifeless form, in contrast to his funny dog costume his expression was calm and detached, as though what he had just done was no more significant than brushing dirt off his coat.
His amber eyes flicked toward the crimson gem, glowing faintly in Lemon's hand.
Then he crouched down, his gaze lingering on Finneas's body, now twisted awkwardly on the cobblestones. "Pathetic," he muttered under his breath.
Leaning in close, his voice dropped to a chilling whisper, audible only to the corpse.
"You were just a stepping stone."
He straightened, his posture as relaxed as ever, brushing his hands off casually. Turning to the twins, his tone was light, almost conversational.
"Take care of the mess."
The twins exchanged a knowing glance, then nodded with matching smirks. Royce walked away without a second glance, his shadow disappearing into the suffocating darkness of the alley.
From behind them, another shadow disappeared from the site.