Thorin shivered without a cold breeze. “I-I don’t think that’ll be the case,” he said. “I think so…I hope…perhaps…”
Clay clapped Thorin’s back. “That old man looks good even at his age. He doesn’t even hump like the other oldies. His granddaughter can't be that bad, don’t worry.”
Thorin shrugged his hand off and punched his shoulder. “You were so quick in selling me off,” he said. “What happened to your ‘within reason’?”
“It was within reason,” Clay said, laughing in embarrassment. “Think about it. We get to go out of this mess, and you get a promise of a beautiful bride in return. Not to mention the thick dowry. What are you complaining about?”
“But I hadn’t even considered marriage right now,” Thorin said.
“Consider it now,” Clay said. “If you’re worried about your heart, then don’t. You’re not dying, no matter what. So, start thinking about your future with her from now on.”
“I haven’t even seen her,” Thorin grumbled. “What future can I consider?” He grunted and scraped his steps on the pavement.
“That old man’s definitely not a weak Magus,” Quin said, lost in his thoughts. “It’s better to keep the promise or at least pretend to do so until you’re in a position to break it safely.”
“I don’t intend to break it,” Thorin said and took his cousins by surprise. “I gave him my word, and I intend to keep it on my end. Whether the marriage will actually happen or not now depends on his granddaughter and how much weight her opinion holds in this. Though I won't be interested in someone who’s not interested in me either.”
“Let’s consider that when the time comes,” Clay said. “Byram is probably waiting for us. Let’s hurry up.”
……
Byram indeed waited for them by the entrance of their shack. His downcast expression matched the shade of the tree he stood under, and the slouch in his shoulders narrated his mood.
“Did you hear?” Quin asked him when they entered the protective barrier.
Byram nodded. “Someone went around notifying all the mortals that live here. We have to leave the street market,” he said.
“It’s for the best,” Clay said and patted his arm. “This place is going to become a warzone. You can't stay here.”
“I understand,” Byram said. “I’ll go fetch Hyde and Brand.”
“Don’t worry,” Thorin said. “This won't be the last time we meet.”
Byram had to prepare his bulls, and the three cousins had to get ready for their departure as well. By the time light grey and soft purple undertones stained the dusk sky, the men were ready to say goodbye.
“Take care,” Quin said and bear-hugged Byram, squeezing the breath out of him. “Take care of your boys as well.” He went over to the bulls and gave them pats and hugs, and they licked him in return.
“After you get out of the market, don’t stay in the town outside,” Clay said, handing Byram a map of the area. He showed him an optimal route that would take the man and the two bulls back to their hometown safely, without any encounter with a Shepherd of a Magus. “Be safe, brother.”
Thorin smiled at him when it was his turn and ruffled his hair with a pat on the head. “Take this,” he said and gave Byram a spellcard for communication and two mana shards. “Buy a cart with one mana shard. You’ll get a good one if you use it in the town outside. And use another one to pay any Magus you can find to trigger the spellcard for you. You can contact us with that in case of any emergency. Just be careful, don’t expose these to anyone.”
Tears welled up in Byram’s eyes as he looked down and shed a few drops to the grass below. Before the cousins could say anything though, he wiped them himself and heaved a deep breath. His gaze now showed a steeled tenacity, as if he’d made up his mind.
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“It’s time now,” Clay said.
“We’ll see you when we see you,” Thorin said. Quin choked up on his words as his breath trembled, so he ended the farewell with a nod. The men went their own way, leaving the shack quiet and empty with their traces that remembered their past here. None of them looked back. They all just smothered their thoughts in their hearts.
……
Rayliegh’s token led the way with a soft tug at the expense of their mana. But since it only had eyes for its destination without any concern for the paths they were taking, the three cousins had to go through several detours. Some turns led them to dead ends, though the token still wanted to continue through the walls. While some corners reversed its pull. Finally, when the last traces of dusk bled into the darkness of the night, it stopped and hummed before a dilapidated villa.
“Is this it?” Quin asked.
“I hope so,” Thorin said, heaving a tired sigh.
“Should we knock?” Clay asked, holding the token.
“No shit,” Quin said.
However, the door opened with a squeal before their knuckles reached the wood. A cloaked man stood before them. “Granduncle Ray has already informed us,” he said in a deep voice, but the hoarseness couldn’t be more fake. The man was young, perhaps closer to their age. “Hand me the token.”
Along with the token, Clay also passed over the storage bag that the old man had entrusted them with.
“Come in,” the cloaked man said and welcomed the three inside as the door closed behind them, yet again with its creak. They now stood in a courtyard of a run-down villa where the grass and the weeds reached for their shins. When Thorin and the two were looking around, the man gave them similar cloaks whose hood shaded their eyes and showed them to a stone pavilion where they could rest. “Someone has gone out to test the guards. If our connection and bribery work, we’ll exit peacefully through the gate. If it doesn’t, prepare to fight your way out.”
“Are we going to fight the guild?” Clay asked as he put on the cloak. Thorin and Quin did the same, and they queried with their gazes as well.
“No.” The man chuckled. “You’ll know when the time comes,” he said and left them alone.
“What do you think?” Quin asked, sitting on the stone bench. Though they tried to sprawl and relax, their nerves remained taut. Regardless of their confidence in Rayliegh’s goodwill, they were in a foreign environment after all. They lacked control.
“About what?” Clay asked back.
“About how reliable they are,” Quin said.
“We’ll see,” Thorin said. “Not like we have any other option. Let’s just be ready for a fight.”
“How are your spells coming along?” Clay asked.
“Ah, right. Forgot to tell you guys with all this mess,” Thorin said. “I finished fusing all the spells. They’re ready for combat now, all five of them. What about you guys?”
“I already learned all the theories but haven’t been able to merge any so far,” Clay said. “Luckily, fusion spells for my arcanas were available in the shop.”
“Are you rubbing salt on my wounds?” Thorin asked with a click of his tongue.
Clay laughed. “That’s what you love to do,” he said.
“I just did it once.” Thorin snapped back.
“Fusions spells are so going over my head. I can't comprehend a single thing,” Quin grumbled. “I’d rather just stick to my
“Hit them hard with a fusion spell, they’ll die faster,” Thorin quipped.
“My claymore and axe would like to disagree,” Quin said. “And it’s so much more fun when you bash their heads in. You can't get the same feedback from a spell. It’s exhilarating.”
“Stop doing that,” Clay said. “Because of you, we’ve lost so many Fae-Cores.”
“Battle maniac,” Thorin said. “Your class really suits you.”
“I picked it with that in mind after all,” Quin said, chuckling.
The jests and the banter eased the tension in the air and relaxed their shoulders. But not for long. The gate to the courtyard creaked again soon enough. Another man in a black cloak strode in, and his first response was shaking his head.
“Alright.” The man from before clapped his hands and signaled everyone. There were three from his side, including the man who just came in. Along with Thorin, Clay, and Quin, the six huddled around with bated breaths. “Let’s move. We’re taking the tunnels.”