'As I thought. It was scared off by something.' Camin frowned. This wasn't a factor he accounted for. Had an Arc Beast shown itself? Just what was the origin of this place?
'This legend…' He contemplated, but his thoughts didn't interrupt his movements as he carved the creature with the precision of a practiced hunter.
"..." They all stared at him in silence, some shocked, some worried, and Baron's gaze was practically burning a hole through his skull.
But as if in mutual agreement, they all remained silent, as they waited for him to finish.
"Who are you." Baron seeing that he'd finished up the last of the pelt, could no longer hold back. His words sounded more like a command than a question.
But one couldn't blame him. It was too shocking. Their most recent member, Jean, had already been with them for over a year.
That then brought the question of how could Camin possibly understand his team better than him in what amounted to a few hours' worth of watching.
Was his Concept analysis based?
He grit his teeth, thinking of their next plan of action. He didn't understand the feeling, but, something about this smelt fishy to him.
In the end, he stared at the young boy who was now the biggest contributor to the hunt.
"Camin. Is something the matter." Camin scratched the back of his head with a smile, but in the same way Baron's question sounded like a statement, so too did his.
The two stared at each other for a moment causing Cole to smile sheepishly. What was this now?
"Hey guys, time is running out."
"There's tracks. We can find what scared it off." Camin lightly chucked. It seemed misplaced but he didn't seem to notice.
"The new kid sure is impressive." Jean, the archer of the group whispered under her breath. But in reality, her heart was probably beating the fastest.
Why? Because in order to hand out orders it meant that he had seen through her methods, which even Baron didn't completely understand.
While it was true that none of them went all out, a battle of that level shouldn't be something a carrier boy should be able to analyze.
If it wasn't clear before, it was now. He was no carrier boy.
"What was that? Jean's interested in the newbie?" Cole burst out laughing, taking full advantage of the opportunity that just presented itself.
What better way to calm the situation that try to lighten up the mood?
Plus this woman rarely said anything, if he didn't make fun of her now, when would he?
Jean on the other hand narrowed her eyes, feeling Camin's gaze turn to her with that smile souless smile.
She couldn't shake the feeling. This boy was dangerous. Something about him felt off. Especially those eyes. Where had she seen them before?
"Shut it, Cole." Jack pulled out a dagger, quickly placing it against Cole's neck.
"Woah there buddy. It's not that deep." Cole raised his hands with a light chuckle, seemingly oblivious to the imminent danger.
"Alright. Quiet down the rest of you." Baron sighed and stepped in.
"What was it, kid." After making sure everything had settled down he looked to Camin to continue.
"These tracks will lead us where we need to go," Camin spoke softly, scratching the back of his head.
"You sure?" Baron said, his expression unreadable.
"Yes, if im correct, this creature should have escaped in a panic, it was injured on its ankles and places that place great tension on movement." Camin smiled.
He had already scouted this place and found something, truly wonderful. However, it was uncertain if he would be able to take full advantage of it.
"Let's go." Camin stood up, adjusting the bag on his back.
Baron didn't hesitate any longer, he grabbed his bow and aimed it at Camin's face.
THWACK!
The arrow left the bow with such force that one could hear the wind whistle with it, creating a resonance that reduced resistance, further increasing its speed.
At this time, Camin was at point-blank range. Dodging wasn't an option or so it seemed.
Baron's party looked towards him with confusion, clearly still not having understood the situation, but he couldn't be bothered to fill them in, instead, he frowned when he saw Camin's reaction.
THUD!
No, he frowned because he didn't understand how he had missed in the first place.
He bored holes with his eyes through Camin.
"Woahhh! That was close! Hahahaha!" Camin felt his heart lunge in his chest, his heartbeat racing as he soaked in the adrenaline.
Laughing hysterically, he touched his face, only to feel blood pouring from the cut.
He didn't seem to notice though, the arrow having missed his head by mere centimeters.
"You're good. You are good. A Wind Force Concept. I didn't even know I could bleed like this." As if having said something funny Camin burst into laughter once more.
But the blood of the other members turned cold.
Was he… laughing? Was this funny to him?
Jean widened her eyes as she remembered. Those eyes... Dull, dead, and yet seemed to sparkle all the same. To think, she would find him here of all places.
But she didn't let it show, staying vigilant.
As for Baron, his face turned ugly. 'How did he…'
But Camin continued to laugh as if he didn't notice the excessive bleeding.
Truthfully he was laughing because he was shocked he got hit at all. The arrow was pitifully slow. It was just that, it seems this new relief his body gave him was already, dulling his knife.
Eventually, he got tired of it and his eyes turned cold. Standing up he sent a gaze towards Baron. Someone too weak to take advantage of such an opportunity wasn't a threat.
"So. Baron. You have one chance to explain. Why shouldn't I kill you." Camin rubbed his lips with his finger.
"Tch. See what you've done. How do you propose I stop the bleeding now?" Camin whispered under his breath.
"Are you-" Baron opened his mouth to ask only for a gust of wind to blow past him.
Raising his hand to touch his face, he noticed blood, leaking out, Behind him, a dagger fell, driving itself deep into the snow. Immediately his back was covered in cold sweat.
"If I were you, I wouldn't waste that chance." Camin picked his nose annoyed.
Paying them no mind, he sat down and started treating his would with the ointment he carried.
He knew what Baron wanted to ask. 'To think my cover would be blown so easily.'
If it was suspicion before, then that one-to-one, replication of his wound had definitely exposed him as the mastermind.
"What do you want?" Baron stared at him before relaxing. Truthfully he hadn't aimed to kill, he was suspicious before, but now it was all but confirmed.
This event was planned. And singlehandedly at that, although he couldn't be sure.
But it didn't matter, he was confident in his ability, and if not, the fact he was still talking to them at all meant he needed something.
If Camin could read his thoughts though he'd probably laugh out loud in contempt. People always lie to themselves.
"Is it the..." Camin muttered to himself.
"What do you want?" Baron gritted his teeth, asking a question for maybe the first time since they set out.
"Since we want the same thing let's work together. I'll help you, you help me. Once we get to the mountain, we can go our separate ways." Reaper let out a wild grin.
He had always been curious about it.
The supposed Mystery of this place.
Normally he would be headed straight to the next location on his father's web, but he had already invested too much in this endeavor to just drop it.
"Boss it's too dangerous." Jean stepped out with a wild grin, firing another arrow but Camin simply moved his head out of the way, before then turning to face her.
"Hmmm?" But he didn't say anything beyond that. Unfortunately the same couldn't be said for the rest of the team.
"Jean, are you trying to get us killed?!" Cole shouted at the top of his lungs holding her down, Jack joining him. He wasn't willing to fight where it was unneeded.
It was safe to say, they all believed they would win a fight if it came down to it, but that didn't mean they had to start something.
Jack didn't say anything. His actions already showed which side he was on.
"Will we go our separate ways with our lives intact?" Baron seeing as he was non hostile saw no reason to do the same, but first, he had to test the waters.
"Hehe. I like you. I can't promise your lives. If I do that means I would have to protect you." Camin shook his head.
"How about this? As long as you don't threaten my life I won't kill you, hmm? Okay, let's follow the tracks."
…
Reaper showed genuine excitement, he wanted to understand. These eyes of his were showing him the slightest hint of color for the first time.
Baron stood there conflicted about whether or not to help. But thinking of the value of information Camin heard, he grit his teeth.
'It's okay. It's not too late to take advantage of him after this.' Baron steeled himself having made a decision.
Unfortunately for him, this decision had sealed his faith, leaving that of his followers, unknown.
"Follow him." This time, he would take a gamble. It was about time they uncovered the secrets of this damn place.