Alhen remembered the short time he and this kid shared, and ultimately sighed heavily.

  “She didn’t deserve to die,” he softly muttered.

  “Yes, she did not, but this is the world we live in. Tragedies like this happen daily, more often than you could think,” Sloan commented on the side.

  Alhen remained staring at Vivi’s lifeless body, her mouth hung open, and her expression showed despair and fear.

  His exterior didn’t change, but inside, a storm was brewing.

  He responded to Sloan’s words with a nod, not knowing what else to say.

  “Where is Sierra?” Alhen questioned.

  “I lost sight of my sister, unfortunately, I am unaware if she lives or not. We told each other that we would meet once more in the cabin if we somehow got separated. I have been searching for you for quite some time now,” Sloan answered.

  “I’m sorry that I made you waste all that time. I was sent flying outside the village when the wiht made contact with it.

  "Let’s hurry and make our way into the cabin. Sierra must be getting worried by now,” Alhen said.

  “You are right, let us leave before more wihts arrive, I am sure it has been long enough for them to come here,” Sloan agreed before heading towards the exit.

  Alhen followed closely behind, feeling hollow inside.

  His mind was blank, following Sloan as if on autopilot.

  “Never look down,” those words repeated on his head like a broken recorder.

  Thoughts of the Father looking at him, while his body was riddled with blood, shook his heart.

  Reacting to the words, he looked forward, and that’s when he noticed tears staining his glasses.

  He took them off, looking at the ground to avoid looking at the moon, and tears flowed down like a waterfall.

  His expression twisted, and the only thing he decided to focus on was the back of Sloan in front of him.

  He had been subjected to many near-death experiences and a lot of traumatic events in a short amount of time.

  All the emotions he had bottled up until now were released all at once.

  Alhen struggled to remain silent, but with effort, he was able not to let out a single sound throughout the outburst.

  ‘Another failure,’ he thought as he calmed down.

  He wore his glasses once more, and it was only when they were about halfway to the cabin that Sloan spoke, turning to look at him.

  “Things like this happen all the time as a hunter. Being one is unforgiving. It will test your body, mind, and soul. If you can not stand it…” He opened his mouth but closed it soon after.

  “Forget it,” he shook his head and fell silent.

  Sloan looked at him with… pity? After that brief look, he distanced himself.

  Alhen could tell that he wasn’t great at dealing with complicated emotions like these.

  He understood why Sloan had decided not to say anything.

  Thinking about it, he shook his head and sighed.

  ‘What can you be besides a hunter?’ he wondered.

  He also couldn’t quit; if he did, only Father Vincent knew what would happen to him.

  ‘He seems to have great expectations for me, telling me that I’m the chosen one and that I’m his greatest gift,' Alhen frowned.

  'Why does he think that? He makes me go through hell, and I’m not even someone important, I’m a nobody,’ he thought.

  He gritted his teeth from anger, anger directed at himself.

  ‘No matter how hard I try, things simply don’t change. Father Vincent is mistaken, and I will make sure to let him know once I go back,’ he thought to himself.

  Alhen slapped himself on the face, feeling his mind clearing and focusing on the walk without distraction.

  They were still in the forest, and he had to remind himself that dangerous wihts were roaming around.

  He couldn’t rely on Sloan to watch their back for the rest of the way back; that would be too selfish of him.

  Just as he thought, wihts were more abundant on the way to the cabin.

  More than once, they found themselves hiding from stray groups that lurked in the shadows and behind the lush vegetation.

  By the time they arrived at the cabin, their legs and shoulders seemed to weigh one hundred kilos.

  They both audibly let out a sigh of relief before approaching the door.

  Sloan knocked on it five times, then waited three seconds, and knocked three more times.

  As soon as he finished, they could both hear frantic footsteps moving on and about inside the cabin.

  The sound became louder by the second until it reached the door, and it opened.

  Sierra threw herself into Sloan's arms and gave him a deep hug.

  She separated after a few seconds and looked at Alhen, offering nothing apart from a small nod.

  “I was worried sick for you guys. Why did it take so long for both of you to arrive?” She asked.

  Sloan looked conflicted, wondering what to say as he looked at Alhen.

  Getting Sloan’s signal, he spoke.

  “During the attack of the wiht, I was sent flying and lost consciousness in the forest. When I woke up, I headed to the village and met with him. That’s why it took a while to get here, it was because Sloan waited for me,” Alhen briefly explained.

  “That explains it, at least no one died,” she said, but after those words left her mouth, she realized her mistake.

  Alhen had a grim smile on his face, his expression telling her everything she needed to know.

  “I am sorry, I was not thinking at all,” she quickly apologized, and Alhen shook his head.

  “Don’t worry about it, I know that you didn’t mean to come off that way. I am sure that we are all tired."

  "How about we head for a nap before setting out towards the kingdom?” Alhen suggested, and the siblings nodded in agreement.

  They entered the cabin, which looked exactly as they had left it before setting out to go to the village.

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  Alhen settled in the corner like last time and lay down, not wanting to do anything else apart from resting.

  Exhaustion caught up with them.

  They had barely slept and had walked for almost a full cycle, their minds constantly focused and cautious of danger.

  The events earlier this cycle had taken a toll on their psyche.

  Sloan and Sierra lay together on the sofa and fell asleep almost immediately.

  Alhen didn’t bother raising his guard before going to sleep himself, not caring at all if something happened to him.

  He woke up the next cycle feeling disoriented.

  No dream had come to his mind, which was the first time it had happened since he arrived in this world.

  From the looks of it, he had been the first to wake up, and both sister and brother still lay on the sofa breathing rhythmically.

  He looked at his pocketwatch and saw that it had been only three hours, and somehow he felt rested and full of energy.

  Two hours remained on the clock before time to leave came, and with nothing to do, he slowly stood before looking at the siblings.

  He noticed their peaceful expressions; they slept without a care in the world.

  ‘I don’t know if it’s because I’m a kid, because they are too trusting, or simply because they are tired, but this is completely reckless,’ Alhen thought.

  He had forgotten he had done the same thing just a few hours ago.

  Walking to the cabin door, he took hold of the handle and looked one last time at the siblings.

  Alhen opened it and left for the waterfall.

  Alhen climbed a long rock a couple of feet away from the cabin with his only arm and reached the peak.

  He lay at the top and took off his jacket, using it as a cushion for his head.

  He rested the back of his head on his palms, which he placed on his jacket.

  His gaze landed on the moon with his glasses, and he continued to stare despite feeling somewhat afraid of it.

  His mind wandered to that time when a barely noticeable shape floated in the middle of the moon.

  At that time, he was out of it, and he wondered whether he truly saw it or if he was only hallucinating.

  'Was that the Nameless Lord? So the real reason people turn into wihts is not because of the moon, but because they gazed upon his figure?' he wondered.

  Unfortunately, no one could answer his question, but he held on to that thought.

  Maybe Alaran or Father Vincent could give him insights when he arrived at the Kingdom of Yhia.

  Whether it was real or not, he didn’t pay it any mind now.

  Alhen felt the cold air caress his face, and diminished his thoughts about the events earlier this cycle.

  He lost track of time, closing his eyes and letting himself relax.

  Things remained like this until he felt a presence climbing the rock.

  Alhen took out his revolver and aimed it where the sounds were coming from, and visibly relaxed once he saw that it was none other than Sierra.

  Sierra, looking down at the barrel threatening to blast her face, froze.

  It was only when Alhen lowered his weapon that she breathed a sigh of relief and took a seat next to him.

  “What a great way to treat a lady,” she commented, looking surprised.

  “I thought that your arm would be useless from your injuries, but it seems that I was mistaken. I am glad. I was worried you had escaped. What are you doing here?” She asked.

  “I couldn’t sleep,” he responded before scrambling to holster the revolver, fumbling and almost dropping it to the floor.

  “I don’t know why you are a hunter, but I am not going to ask; there must be a reason to do it at your age. How old are you?” she asked.

  “I’m nine,” Alhen responded, not offering more information.

  Sierra didn’t look bothered by his lack of speech and only asked more questions.

  “I see, what would you do if it were not for hunting?” She asked, and Alhen remained silent.

  He didn’t know much about the outside world.

  If he escaped from the church, he believed there was no way he could avoid capture.

  This world was mysterious, and nothing guaranteed that he would be safer without the church.

  Alhen ultimately scoffed in his mind.

  ‘The Church of Orgurd is the only reason I am not dead yet, but it’s also the only reason I’m suffering right now,’ Alhen thought.

  His situation was a blessing and a curse.

  If one thought it from another point of view, Alhen had been lucky to be reborn in a spot where his survival was somewhat guaranteed if he did everything he should.

  All he had to handle was a little torture and endless misfortunes sent his way.

  “I don’t know if there is anything besides being a hunter,” Alhen responded.

  Sierra sat silently until she noticed something barely poking out of Alhen’s jacket.

  “What is that you have on your neck?” She asked, and Alhen raised an eyebrow.

  He pulled down the jacket a little and revealed the number zero zero eight on it.

  Sierra opened her eyes widely, and her mouth slightly opened.

  “You are from ‘The Red Orphanage!’ That explains why you are a hunter.”

  “It does?” Alhen asked with clear confusion.

  “Yes! I think I get it now. You were born in the Red Orphanage before being sold off to someone, am I right?” She asked.

  Sierra sounded almost too proud of her discovery before she realized that what she said could be misinterpreted.

  “I am not judging you or anything. Sorry if what I said made you uncomfortable," she said.

  "I know that I can appear somewhat insensitive at times, but I am naturally curious, and I truly mean no harm with what I say,” she quickly explained.

  “The Red Orphanage? What is that?” Alhen asked.

  “I see,” she lightly shook her head.

  “The Red Orphanage is a place where parents either abandon or sell their kids. Some of them get sold off as slaves, others are tortured, and there are many rumours about other, more brutal stuff that they do to them.

  "If you do not remember the red orphanage, that means that you were sold or given to a church," Sierra rambled.

  Realizing what she had just said, she apologized once again.

  “I am sorry, if you do not want to talk about it, then it is fine. I promise that as long as you are with us, I will protect you.”

  She gave him a slight smile, but instead of feeling reassured, his heart turned heavy.

  He gave an unenergetic smile back before saying his thanks.

  “Very well, I am going to wake up my brother; we have to report the situation to The Crying Halberd as soon as possible,” Sierra said.

  Alhen nodded and watched as she descended swiftly down the rock.

  He followed after a few seconds, making sure to be slow and not rush lest he fall to his death.

  Going all the way down, he could see Sloan outside, who seemed ready to head back to the kingdom.

  Alhen approached and greeted him, and he got a brief wave from him before entering the cabin.

  He picked up the remaining stuff he had left in the cabin and felt his stomach churn.

  It had been a while since he had eaten anything, and his stomach protested without end.

  Sierra was busy packing her stuff when she heard it, and like a chain reaction, her stomach growled as well.

  She sent Alhen a nervous laugh, before taking something out of her bag and throwing it towards Alhen.

  “It is food, the same thing that you ate before going to the village. Eat up quickly, we are heading out in a few minutes,” she said.

  “Thanks for the food,” he replied before taking a bite out of the red meat Sierra had sent his way.

  Sierra was also hungry and started eating beside Alhen in comfortable silence.

  “Creak!” The door opened, and Sloan entered to find his sister eating with Alhen on the floor.

  “If I knew you guys were enjoying eating here while I was freezing to death outside, I would have entered sooner to join the party,” Sloan said sarcastically.

  Sierra sent an apologetic look his way before throwing the remaining piece of meat in her mouth and grabbing her stuff with her mouth full.

  Alhen finished eating soon after, and they headed out to the Kingdom of Yhia.

  The journey to the kingdom consisted of endless walking with nothing really happening.

  They avoided the weak wihts and watched out for strong ones.

  Being overly cautious kept them quiet for the hours they spent walking.

  It was hard to shake off the boredom, but they had to remain vigilant if they wanted to return alive.

  The repetitive scenery started to mess with their brains at one point in time, but otherwise, they arrived without a hitch.

  They entered the walls and headed straight to The Crying Halberd, where they walked to the front desk.

  As they waited for the receptionist to arrive, Sierra turned towards Alhen.

  “You don’t have to be with us to give the report. They will send a hunter party to make sure that our words match the scene, basically to make sure we did not lie,” she explained.

  “Very well, then, thanks for everything. I am ready to sleep for at least a couple of cycles until I no longer want to kill myself from exhaustion."

  Sierra sent him a brief smile before saying, “No problem, we won’t be able to take jobs during that time, so you can go ahead and go h-back; we will take care of this,” she said with a slight stutter at the end.

  ‘She was going to say home wasn’t she? I wonder what she is thinking,’ Alhen thought.

  Seeing that Sloan didn’t have any complaints about his departure, he left the establishment, leaving the siblings to deal with the situation.

  He headed back to the church, where he immediately walked to his room.

  Alhen could feel his body losing strength by the second, the familiar environment making him relax.

  Alhen threw away his thuls on the floor before jumping on the bed and closing his eyes.

  He fell asleep almost in an instant, the exhaustion finally taking over his body and plunging him into a deep sleep.

  “Knock! Knock! Knock!” Alhen opened his eyes.

  Someone had knocked on the door leading to his room.

  His body was still tired, and his groggy mind took a few seconds to process where he was and what was happening.

  The door didn’t have a lock, something that he hadn’t realized until the door opened and one of Father Vincent’s personal maids came in.

  She bowed slightly before saying, “Father Vincent is waiting for you in his office.”

  ‘Couldn’t he have waited until I was awake for him to call me?’ He wondered, irritated that he had been woken up when he still felt dead tired.

  Alhen sighed heavily and stood, leaving the room after taking his thuls.

  He didn’t bother to look at the nun and traversed through the prayer-filled hallways with a steady pace.

  His posture was the embodiment of perfection.

  He didn’t know what happened to him, but he knew that he didn’t want to feel weak anymore.

  Alhen arrived outside the office door and opened it without missing a beat, entering with determination to be better.

  “Where is Alaran?” Alhen asked immediately.

  “What? You don’t greet your father anymore?” Father Vincent shook his head, clearly disappointed.

  “Alaran went on a quest of his own. He should be back next cycle,” he said.

  “I see.” Alhen turned to leave, but Father Vincent stopped him.

  “Where are you going? The reason why I called you here is that I am visiting the king in a few minutes, and you are coming with me.”

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