Leon crumpled the paper slightly in his fist, his eyes narrowing as he stepped closer to Arial. "How did you find us so easily?".
"I made sure we left no trail."
Arial raised an eyebrow, her expression calm, almost amused. "You think you're that hard to track? Please. The knights might be bumbling fools, but I've hunted far more elusive prey than you." She gestured lightly toward the tannery. "You practically led me here."
"How?"
Arial let out a soft chuckle. "You think I don't know how fugitives think? You chose the most obvious hiding spot—a place no sane person would willingly go. That alone made it stand out."
Leon bristled but said nothing. Arial took a step closer, her piercing gaze unwavering.
"Besides," she added, "I have… resources."
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice cold.
Arial reached into her cloak and pulled out a paper, holding it up between two fingers before tossing it at him. "To see if you're as capable as you think you are. This city has bigger problems than knights looking for you. If you want to survive, you'll help me deal with them."
Leon snatched the paper mid-air, frowning as he glanced at the scribbled words. His eyes darted over the sharp, foreign characters, but they meant nothing to him. He scowled, lowering the paper. "I can't read this."
Arial raised an eyebrow, her smirk returning. "Really? I thought you were smarter than that."
Leon glared at her. "I speak your language. Reading it is a different story."
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment before she let out a faint sigh, as though slightly disappointed. "Fine. I'll translate it for you, soldier. It says 'Sentri.' Below that, 'Market Square. Tonight.'"
Leon frowned. "Sentri? What's that supposed to mean? Some kind of code?"
Arial studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "It's not a code," she said, her tone even. "It's… something that doesn't belong here. The kind of thing that doesn't leave witnesses behind."
Leon frowned. "You're being vague on purpose. Why not just tell me what it is?"
"Because if you don't already know, giving it a name won't help," she replied sharply. "But if you've got any sense of survival, you'll deal with it before it deals with you."
Leon snorted. "You want me to believe there's some threat hiding in the market square? Sounds like a bad joke."
He fell silent for a moment, his mind working. Sentri. That word. Was this the answer to what the system wanted him to find in the market 'Uncover the Secrets of the Market'? It hadn't given him much to go on—just the objective to uncover "the truth" about the place. Now, standing here, something clicked.
Leon didn't know what Sentri was, but Arial did. And if this was connected to his mission, he needed answers.
His expression hardened, his tone cooling. "Alright. Let's say I humor you. What do you want from me?"
Arial smirked faintly, stepping closer. "Good. You're catching on. Your job is simple—be in the market at first light. That's when the crows gather. Keep your eyes open, and when I give the signal, create a distraction. I'll handle the rest."
Leon raised an eyebrow. "That's your plan? Send me in blind while you swoop in and take care of the big bad? Convenient."
"You don't need to know everything," she replied smoothly. "Just do your part, and we both walk away alive."
"Why me?" he pressed. "If this Sentri is so dangerous, why not handle it on your own?"
Arial's smirk faded. She hesitated for just a second before replying, her voice quieter. "Because it's not just dangerous. It's unpredictable. I can't be everywhere at once. Having someone to draw its attention makes my job easier."
Leon didn't entirely buy her reasoning, but he didn't argue. Instead, he adjusted the strap on his rifle and gave a dry laugh. "Fine. I'll play along. But if this goes wrong, you're on your own."
Arial met his gaze, her smirk returning. "If it goes wrong, soldier, it won't matter who's on their own."
She turned, her cloak sweeping behind her as she walked away. "Be in the market at first light. And don't keep me waiting."
Leon watched her disappear into the dark. He didn't trust her, but she clearly knew more than she let on.
He glanced back toward the tannery, where Elys was still resting. Whatever this Sentri was, he couldn't ignore it. Not if it was tied to the system mission.
"Great," he muttered, shaking his head. "Just another day in paradise."
...
The market square was cloaked in the eerie stillness of predawn, lit only by the faint blue hue of the early morning sky. The occasional caw of a crow broke the silence, their dark shapes perched ominously on the rooftops and stalls. It was a far cry from the bustling chaos Leon had seen the day before. Now, the market seemed deserted, as though the life had been sucked out of it.
Leon crouched in the shadows of a narrow alley, his rifle slung across his back. His breath was shallow, every sound in the stillness making his muscles tense. The knights had been relentless in their search for him, forcing him to take the long way through side streets and rooftops just to avoid their patrols. His escape hadn't been clean—he'd had to duck out of sight more than once when armored boots echoed too close for comfort.
He scanned the square, his sharp eyes catching every detail. The crows were clustered around the stalls in small groups, pecking at leftover scraps. Their presence unnerved him more than it should have. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were watching, waiting.
"She better show up," he muttered under his breath, fingers twitching against the rough stone wall at his back.
A soft rustle to his left made him freeze. His hand instinctively went to the rifle strap, but when the sound came again—a deliberate shuffle of fabric—he relaxed slightly.
"Relax, soldier," came Arial's voice, quiet but clear. She stepped out of the shadows like a phantom, her dark cloak blending seamlessly with the dim light. "You're jumpier than I expected."
"You're late," Leon said flatly, straightening to his full height.
"I'm never late," Arial replied, her tone maddeningly calm. She surveyed the square, her eyes sharp and focused. "The timing had to be just right."