The first thing Kaztos noticed was how dark the entryway was. Curtains covered all the windows, so only mana lamps provided light. But they had been dimmed to maybe half as bright as they should be. It left the interior with a dreary feeling. Kaztos didn’t know why it was this dark, but he could admit it was a unique aesthetic.

  What made matters stranger was that everything else looked normal besides the lighting. The furniture and decorations were admittedly gaudy. But it was nothing out of the ordinary for someone with first generational wealth. They tended to fall into two categories: overcompensation or minimalism. The mayor appeared to be the former.

  It was a shame, since the village looked to be in need of some maintenance. While the people looked well fed and housed at the moment, the cracks of neglect were showing. Villagers clearly ate, but they were a little too thin. The houses appeared to be in good condition until you looked closer to see the chips, cracks, and stains. Things were fine now, but how long would that last? And don’t get Kaztos started on the current crisis Riverfront seemed to be in.

  Kaztos brought his attention back to the present as they reached the second floor. Zeltara still seemed nervous but better than before. Saiya looked disinterested at first, but Kaztos could detect the anxiety that rolled off her. This was an important meeting. They couldn’t afford to get kicked out of Riverfront at the moment. The failure of their quest aside, Kaztos didn’t want to be outside the shoddy walls when the next attacks came. He didn’t know if it was luck or timing that allowed them to make it into the village unimpeded.

  Deciding to gather some information, Kaztos asked the guard leading them, “So, can you tell us anything about the mayor? Or perhaps the captain?” The guard answered only with a grunt. No help there then. His Kaztos’ eyes wandered and saw a door slightly ajar. It was completely dark, so he slowed down to look.

  Just as his eyes were about to adjust, the guard slammed the door shut. “Stay out of things that don’t concern you.”

  “My apologies, I was just curious.” Beside him, Zeltara nodded her agreement.

  “Yeah! You shouldn’t have left the door open if you didn’t want anyone to see. But what was in there?” The guard turned and continued to lead them as they went up another flight of stairs.

  “You’ll have to ask the mayor.” It was a phrase that was beginning to sound too familiar to Kaztos. Riverfront’s leadership seemed all too willing to keep certain things a secret from the general populous.

  Zeltara said, “You know, we’re going to be asking the mayor a lot of questions at this rate. If only there were someone here to help.”

  “Just stop sightseeing and keep moving,” the guard said. They reached the top of the stairs. Kaztos noticed Saiya glancing back the way they had come. She appeared bothered by something. Kaztos wanted to know what she noticed.

  “Zeltara, keep the guard distracted for a minute,” he muttered under his breath. The elf heard him as she started to talk the guard’s ear off. Kaztos slowed down until he was beside Saiya.

  “Do you mind telling me what’s on your mind? Something has you agitated.” Saiya again glanced back towards the staircase.

  “I have a weird feeling about this whole thing. It started when we first got here, but it’s only been growing.”

  Kaztos asked, “Is it a bad feeling?” Was she picking up something he and Zeltara had failed to notice? Or, was it just her paranoia talking?

  Saiya glanced back to the distracted guard. “All of this secrecy is freaking me out. The mayor has to be hiding something. Why else would he keep his people in the dark? And then there’s all the problems that Riverfront is having. Attacks on the village, some killer from within, and the fact no one is saying anything. Nothing about the situation feels right.”

  “Well, we are outsiders. There’s probably a sense of suspicion towards us,” Kaztos said. “They’re already suffering from enough problems. Is it really a surprise that they act this way when a new potential one shows up? We are here to help them, but can they believe that after everything that’s happened to them?” Really, they had done nothing to earn their trust yet. Kaztos knew that they’d be getting cold shoulders until they proved themselves.

  “Maybe you’re right. But something still feels off. That room we passed? I saw something staining the walls and floor. It might have been blood.” Kaztos grimaced. As if they didn’t have enough to worry about.

  He turned back towards Zeltara and the guard. “Don’t jump to conclusions yet. That room was too dark for me to see clearly. I doubt your eyes had a chance to adjust properly. It could have been something else. We’ll just have to keep our guard up.” Saiya didn’t respond and walked quicker to catch up with the others. Kaztos whispered under his breath that Zeltara could stop. She finally laid off the guard, who looked ready to strangle her. Kaztos would too if he had to hear Zeltara go on about which correct hammer to use depending on what nail you have.

  The group reached a set of double doors at the end of the hall. Two guards flanked either side of the door. One stepped forward and said, “Sorry, but the mayor and captain are having a meeting right now. They asked that no one disturb them at this time.” Their escort gestured to them.

  “These three are an adventuring team from Mousafont City. They’re here in an official capacity on behalf of the city’s ruler and to provide Riverfront aid in its current crisis. Please notify the mayor of their arrival.” The guard at the door looked at them surprised.

  “Mousafont City? That’s over a thousand miles east of here. How did they make it to Riverfront?” The guard sighed. “Very well, but don’t be surprised if he sends you off. These past few weeks have been trying for him.” The guard entered through the double doors. Kaztos couldn’t hear anything, but he noticed Zeltara flinch suddenly.

  Noticing his gaze, she said, “They don’t sound too happy that we’re here. They’re letting the guard have it for interrupting their meeting.” Kaztos frowned. Already he didn’t like the mayor or captain that much. You shouldn’t shoot the messenger, no matter how stressful times are.

  Kaztos leaned over to Zeltara. He said, “We need to be on our best behavior then. They’re already not going to like us.” It went without saying that getting kicked out of Riverfront would be disastrous. The best-case scenario was being able to leave unaccosted and taking potentially weeks to find another settlement. It had taken them thirteen days since leaving Mousafont City just to find Riverfront.

  “I know that,” Zeltara said. “I’ll try my best here, but you’re better at this than I am. If it looks like I’m going to mess this up, then take over for me. Though hopefully you don’t need to.” Kaztos nodded. It might be best if he led the conversation from the get-go. But it wasn’t his place. Zeltara was their team leader, and that traditionally meant she led any negotiations with other parties. Other members could help, but having them take the lead was a sign of poor leadership.

  Kaztos didn’t want to cast his friend in a poor light like that. Unfortunately, Zeltara was inexperienced in diplomacy compared to him. It wasn’t her fault. She was young and lacked training. Unlike Kaztos, who had taken lessons back at the academy. He could give advice, but this was something that could only be truly improved through experience.

  It actually spoke of a lot of trust that Zeltara would allow him to take over if needed. He doubted she understood the significance, but in the world of the nobility, allowing another to speak for you was the ultimate sign of trust. It was all too easy for that person to stab you in the back. Kaztos would pay close attention to this meeting and jump in if Zeltara got overwhelmed. Kaztos hoped it wouldn’t be necessary.

  The door opened, and the guard slipped back into the hall. He looked harried after his few minutes inside the room. “You three can go inside. Just be quick about it. The mayor doesn’t like his time wasted.” The two guards grabbed a door handle and opened. Inside was a comfortable office.

  At the center was a desk with a map of Riverfront laid upon it. Various papers were strewn on top. To the side was a couch with a painting of a family hanging over it. The back wall had the only uncovered window, giving a view of most of the village. On the right was a large cupboard with various knickknacks on display. Behind the desk sat the mayor, with the captain sitting on a pulled-up chair to the side.

  The mayor looked to be in his late forties. His hair was brown with grey streaks running through it. Wrinkles appeared on his skin, giving him a tired look. He wore fine clothing that Kaztos felt was above what a small village mayor should wear. It was the appearance of a noble rather than an elected official. Kaztos wondered just where he got his wealth from.

  Meanwhile, the captain looked much older. He was bald, with a short white beard. A patch covered his right eye socket, with a scar going down his face. His steel armor was polished, and Kaztos could imagine that he had kept it well maintained for the years since the sixth crisis. A sword sat on his hip, and the captain’s hand rested upon it. He looked at them with suspicion. An aura of danger seemed to emanate from him. Kaztos didn’t doubt that if this came to blows, the captain could easily cut them down. It made him want to break out in a cold sweat.

  The captain stood up with a thump. Kaztos looked down to see he had a peg leg. He couldn’t imagine the battles this man had gone through. “So, a couple of outsiders decided to interrupt us during a meeting. I hope whatever you want is important or I’ll throw you out myself.”

  The mayor raised his hand. “Enough Bollin. My guards wouldn’t send them in if this didn’t require immediate attention.” He gave them a nod. “My name is Onrin, mayor of Riverfront. Who are you three?”

  Kaztos bowed, followed a second later by Zeltara and Saiya. Zeltara said, “We are Team Outsiders. An adventuring team of the New Horizon’s Expedition.”

  Before she could continue their introduction, Captain Bollin said, “What do you think you’re doing? Do you think we’ll allow such disrespect? Put your hood down so we can see your face.” Kaztos hid a grimace. This was already going wrong.

  “Um, well.” Zeltara stuttered as her hands grabbed the edges of her hood. She hesitated, stuck on what she should do. “I’d rather keep my hood up for this.”

  Mayor Onrin gave her an angry look. “Excuse me? You come into my village and try to dictate custom. No one is to hide their face in my presence. Lower your hood, or be forced from my village.”

  Coming to a decision, Zeltara finally lowered her hood. Kaztos could immediately see their eyes focus on her ears. The twin looks of contempt made Zeltara flinch.

  “Filthy elf,” the captain growled out. Kaztos noticed Zeltara’s hands shaking. Saiya was scowling but held herself back for the moment.

  Zeltara tried to continue their introduction. “As I was saying, my name is-” Mayor Onrin again interrupted her.

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  “Silence. An elf has no place speaking with me, never mind enter the village. I don’t know who let you in, but they’ll be punished for this. Captain, escort them out of here. If they try anything, then deal with them.” Kaztos needed to do something. This had quickly gotten out of hand.

  As the captain took the first step forward, Kaztos moved. He got in front of Zeltara and lightly pushed her back towards Saiya. Captain Bollin stopped as Kaztos grabbed his amulet and held it up for them to see.

  “My apologies, Mayor. I let my friend speak for me whenever possible. We didn’t mean any disrespect.” Captain Bollin scoffed.

  “You let an elf speak for you, noble? I had never heard of something so ridiculous.” The mayor similarly looked put out. Kaztos swallowed and preemptively apologized to Zeltara in his head.

  He made sure his voice stayed strong. “The elf has been under the protection of my family for some time now. I’ve known her long enough that she won’t do anything to betray my trust. Since she is rather spirited, I thought of letting her handle my introduction. I was going to take over once she was finished.” Kaztos held his breath, hoping the lie would convince them. It wasn’t often nobles had servants handle introductions. Most considered it an outdated tradition from a bygone age. Hopefully, the mayor would consider him old-fashioned. Though using an elf for the role could be considered disrespectful.

  Thankfully, Mayor Onrin said, “I see. Well, I can’t pretend to know how things work in noble circles. Just make sure to keep your pet under control from now on.” Kaztos silently sucked in a breath. His knuckles were white as he struggled not to say or do anything. “Now, may I get a name from you, sir?” Kaztos took a moment to center himself before answering.

  “My name is Kaztos. I cannot give you my family’s name. They are rather prominent and don’t approve of my adventuring lifestyle. Thus, they don’t want to have our name get out for their reputation and my safety.” The lie tasted bitter on his tongue. He hated having to hide, but the situation made it necessary.

  Captain Bollin leaned forward to examine his amulet. His single eye squinted, and Kaztos hoped he wouldn’t recognize it. It had been over thirty years. Maybe the captain had forgotten his former enemy's sigil. Kaztos kept his gaze confident, trying to hide his growing fear. The room felt devoid of air as the moments ticked by.

  Eventually, the captain grunted. “I can’t see for shit anymore. But that’s a genuine amulet. If he wants to hide who his family is, let him.” He walked back to his chair and sat down. Kaztos made sure not to let any relief show on his face.

  The mayor nodded. “Apologies, sir. It’s better to be sure about these things. People aren’t usually stupid enough to fake nobility, but these are trying times we’re in. Now, what business do you have with us?” Kaztos spared a quick glance back at his friends. Saiya had her hand wrapped around Zeltara’s. The elf’s expression was blank, so he couldn’t tell what she was thinking. It couldn’t be anything good. This had to be humiliating for her. Kaztos would apologize after this was over.

  He reached into his satchel and pulled out the patch the expedition gave him. “We are a part of the New Horizon’s Expedition in Mousafont City. We were sent out to find settlements for the Duke. Before I continue, do you know what happened a few months ago? Your people appear to be in the dark about it.”

  “Of course. That terrible day was the start of our misfortunes,” the mayor said with a troubled look. “That bright flash of light that knocked everyone out. Then, the entire village is in a new location. We used to be located on the plains. The ground was unusually wet, which allowed us to farm without a nearby river. But we found ourselves in a forest now. Do you know anything about what happened?”

  “We’ve been calling it the cataclysm. From what we gathered, it tore the world apart and assembled it back together differently. From what I understand, Mousafont City used to be over a thousand miles away from you?” The mayor nodded. “Well, it’s now under a hundred. Any neighbors you may have had are now gone. I don’t know if Riverfront is self-sufficient, but you need to make new connections if it’s not.” The two men looked at each other for a few moments, a silent conversation exchanged between the two.

  Kaztos took the moment to soothe his anxiety. The conversation started catastrophically, but he managed to smooth things over. He was lucky that they seemed properly deferential to his position as nobility. A funny thought, since it had been a negative for Kaztos his whole life. This hadn’t been ideal, but they should be able to accomplish their mission. He just needed to stay strong and convince them to accept their help.

  The captain finally said, “No, Riverfront is not self-sufficient. We grow enough food, but we need imports for just about anything else. We’re already having a problem with having enough tools.”

  “And we may start struggling with food production. The farms sit mostly abandoned at the moment. If nothing changes, then we may lose this year’s crops to the coming frost.” The mayor looked almost despondent at the thought. Kaztos grinned, seeing the opening he needed.

  “Well, you’re in luck then, gentlemen. Duke Mousador is offering trade and protection to settlements willing to give food. All you have to do is send a representative to Mousafont for negotiations.” He put the offer on the table. Kaztos knew that they’d eventually accept. But first, to deal with the concerns and doubts.

  Predictably, the mayor shook his head. “We can’t send anybody while the village is in danger. By the time help would arrive, it’s already be too late.” Just the answer Kaztos was looking for.

  “Then recruit us to help you. We’ll take care of any problems Riverfront has.” Captain Bollin let out a derisive snort.

  “Please. My sight may be going, but I can tell you’re wet behind the ears whelp. What can you do that the admittedly meager military force of this village can’t?” Kaztos felt it a fair criticism. They were inexperienced, but they didn’t know that for sure.

  Kaztos said, “We’re more than experienced enough to handle whatever peril is facing this town. I’ve already gotten the gist of it. There are two key problems. The attacks on the village and the serial killer who is on the loose.” As he finished his sentence, both the mayor and captain tensed up.

  “There are no killers in Riverfront,” the captain said. “Anything you’ve heard is just baseless fear-mongering.” The mayor nodded along.

  “Indeed. We’ve investigated and found that there are no killers in Riverfront. Please focus on the actual issues.” Kaztos knew they were lying. It showed in their postures and faces. The captain was defensive and ready to lash out at any challenge. Meanwhile, Mayor Onrin seemed to shrink in on himself. It was an incredibly guilty look.

  It made Kaztos wonder why the two denied reality. The reason couldn’t be ignorance of the matter. There was too much evidence to the contrary. No, this was a cover-up of some kind. But what reason would Riverfront’s leadership have to deny the existence of a serial killer? They weren’t protecting themselves, but maybe someone else. This was proving to be more complicated than Kaztos first thought.

  Despite this, Kaztos didn’t press. They weren’t in a position to argue at the moment. Maybe later, they could investigate privately. Until that time, he had to focus on one problem at a time. The attacks were the more important of the two. They would have his focus.

  “You’re right. I’m sure it was just a rumor. But you still have the attacks to worry about. Please allow us to deal with it for you. Then you can send someone to Mousafont.” Again, the two officials exchanged a glance. The captain gave his superior a nod.

  “Very well. We will accept your aid, sir. The village unfortunately doesn’t have much, so your reward won’t be much.” Kaztos considered that true from a certain point of view. The village didn’t have much money. However, the question was how wealthy the mayor was. Was he down on his luck, or just trying to undercharge them?

  It didn’t matter, as Kaztos wasn’t too interested in the money. “Then tell me everything you can.” The mayor sighed and turned in his chair. He reached into the cabinet behind him and pulled out a bottle of liquor and three glasses. Pouring two glasses, Mayor Onrin gave one to Captain Bollin and another to Kaztos. He declined the drink, so the mayor took it for himself.

  After taking a sip, Onrin said, “It all started around six weeks ago. We were still trying to get our bearings after the big shift. The farmers complained about a buzzing sound at night.” That sounded familiar to the monster his friends encountered. “It started quietly. Then it got louder. People began to see things. Figures in the treeline.”

  The captain said, “At first, people thought it was just nerves. Farmers seeing things out in the dark.” He grimaced. “Then, they went missing. Taken in the night to Amedori knows where. That’s when it was decided to raise a militia to defend Riverfront. I came out of retirement to help.” Bollin shifted his peg leg. “I can still handle myself in a fight, but that’s not what I was needed for. No, the mayor wanted me to train the recruits and give strategic advice.”

  Kaztos understood. Getting into a fight was one thing. They tended to end quickly. But battles dragged. It was one thing to cut down the first monster. What about the fifth, twelfth, or twenty-third? That sounded exhausting even for someone young like him. For a man decades out of his prime? It would be much worse.

  The mayor continued. “The militia were on standby for the next attack. They made up for their lack of training with enthusiasm. Once the buzzing came back, the militia investigated the source. That’s when they found the monster.”

  “What was it?” Kaztos asked. Mayor Onrin shook his head.

  “I don’t know. There are only the reports to go off of. A very tall humanlike creature. Darker skin with a starved appearance. It looked long decayed, with an appearance similar to a corpse. The buzzing came from the core of the creature. We called it the thin man.” That confirmed Kaztos’ suspicion. He couldn’t help but think that Zeltara and Saiya got lucky. If there were more than one of them last night, would the two have escaped? Kaztos didn’t want to think about it.

  The veteran adventurer cut in. “Now, these things aren’t too tough. Their movement is slow, and their attacks are barely worth a damn. The problem is that their skin is resistant to regular attacks, and they came in large numbers. Our militia was outnumbered, so they retreated into the village.” The mayor sighed.

  “That battle was a big mistake. Before, things were manageable. The attack changed everything.” The two men poured themselves another drink. Perhaps they were trying to calm their nerves. Kaztos now wished that he had accepted a drink himself.

  “So, what happened?” The mayor glanced out of the window. It had a view of the village wall.

  “They attacked us that night. We were caught by surprise and almost overwhelmed. The militia fought them back at the cost of a few lives. It was a disaster. They took many that night. Villagers dragged into the dark forest, never to be seen again. We managed to kill a few of them, but it didn’t matter. Over a dozen of us were missing when the sun came up. Even worse, the bodies of the monsters we killed were gone.”

  Kaztos was confused. “Gone? Did the thin men take the bodies? They don’t sound that intelligent.” Then again, what did he know? Kaztos might be the only person in the room who hadn’t encountered one yet.

  “No, their bodies seemed to disappear after death,” the mayor said. “We haven’t figured out the cause yet. They’re often gone by the time the battle is over. But someone would have noticed if they were being taken.” The mayor set down his finished glass and poured himself another. “After that, everyone sought safety in the village. We used everything we could spare to erect a wall. The farms were left mostly abandoned. Only the bravest will run out to tend the animals during the day. The crops lay abandoned.”

  The captain pointed down at the map. “Look here.” Kaztos leaned forward over the table. “Those thin men come every night from the north.” He tapped the forest area. “Often, they just move along the treeline, moving from west to east. But sometimes, they’ll attack.” His finger moved to the northernmost point of the village. “They concentrate their force here. There will be dozens of them. It takes almost our entire force to drive them off. But it’s a distraction.” Bollin then pointed to various sides of the village. “They’ll send others to different parts of the wall. We don’t have enough men, so parts are under-defended. They slip into the village and take people from their beds. Despite the buzzing, they can be sneaky.”

  Kaztos stared at the map in thought. One question filled his head. “But why are they kidnapping people? What’s the point?” Could it just be for food, or was there some other reason at play? The captain slammed his fist onto the disk. It almost made Kaztos flinch.

  “I don’t know! It doesn’t change the fact that we lose several people every attack. Dozens are already gone. If nothing changes, Riverfront will fall within two months.” A brief silence filled the room as Kaztos realized the gravity of the situation. Riverfront was a war, and it was losing. If nothing were done, then the whole village would be destroyed.

  His mind went to those kids from earlier. How they seemed to cling to them. How, despite their cheerful faces, there was a hopelessness growing underneath. Kaztos imagined them being grabbed from their beds in the middle of the night. Their muffled screams as they were dragged into the woods to an unknown fate. His hands squeezed into fists. He couldn’t let that happen.

  “So this is why you won’t send anyone to Mousafont. By the time they get back, Riverfront will probably be gone.” Mayor Onrin nodded. Kaztos took a deep breath, then gave the two men an intense look. “Then, by my honor as a noble, I swear Team Outsiders will help rid you of this problem. Allow us to move freely around the village and to investigate as we see fit. We’ll rid the world of these thin men.” The two men seemed surprised by his declaration. Perhaps they didn’t think he’d care this deeply. Well, they had never had to deal with Kaztos Molinar before.

  The mayor said, “Very well. You can move about the village freely. If you take care of this problem, I will send someone to talk to the Duke. Hell, I’ll even give the man a good deal. Those fellows up north likely will too.” That caught Kaztos’ attention.

  “People up in the north? You mean that there is another settlement? Where is it?” Kaztos asked. The mayor leaned back at the intensity of his questioning.

  “Yes, there is another town to the north called Ulyfall. We came into contact before the attacks started. There was communication between the two of us, but it has since stopped. From my understanding, wherever the thin men call their home, it is between our two settlements. Runners wouldn’t likely make it to the town, so we haven’t tried. It’s been a few weeks since we heard from them. So heaven knows how they are doing.” Kaztos contained his excitement. This was two settlements for the price of one. Were they a farming community like Riverfront, or did they specialize in something different? Either way, Kaztos couldn’t wait to meet them.

  The captain cleared his throat. “Either way, Onrin and I need to get back to our discussion. Do you have questions?” Kaztos shook his head. “Then I suggest visiting the wall first. The militia stationed there can give you more information on the situation.” He then tapped his peg leg onto the ground. “If only I were younger, then I’d be there too.” Bollin continued to grumble to himself.

  Kaztos gave a bow. “Then we shall take our leave.” He turned to see Saiya and Zeltara standing there. Ah, he forgot about them in the intensity of the conversation. Saiya looked around the room with a frustrated expression. While Zeltara seemed suspiciously calm. Then Kaztos got a look in her eyes and saw the underlying anger. He grimaced, still remembering how they go to this point.

  They started to leave the room when the mayor’s voice called out from behind him. “I wish you good luck on your mission. And remember to keep that elf under watch. Like I said, we have enough problems without something like her making it worse.” Kaztos followed the others out of the room without saying anything. If he opened his mouth, it’d ruin all the effort he had just put in.

  One of the guards escorted them out of the building without a word. Kaztos looked at Zeltara and tried to think of something to say. She walked in front of him, her hands in tight fists. He reached his arm out when Saiya grabbed it and shook her head. She mouthed ‘later’ to him. Kaztos nodded. Now wasn’t the time to have what might turn into an explosive conversation.

  The whole thing left Kaztos with a sense of disgust. He empathized with Zeltara as he had been treated similarly to her. But there was a difference. He chose to wear his amulet and announce himself a Molinar to the world. Even then, the conversation just now proved that not everyone would recognize his announcement. Zeltara didn’t get that choice. Everyone knew who she was when they laid eyes upon her. It was much worse for her. The words, the glares, and the ostracization.

  Kaztos could run away from it if he wanted to. Many of his family members did just that. Zeltara had nowhere to run to. There wasn’t a nation or even settlement that was majority elves. Her people were long scattered to the wind. Any place that had more than a twenty percent minority of elves would be highly unusual. For Zeltara, this was how life was going to be outside Urada. Kaztos could do nothing but support her whenever he could. It would start now. He would help her through this.

  They exit the manor. Immediately, Zeltara hurries down the street. Saiya and Kaztos followed her as she turned into the alley. Entering, they watched as Zeltara stood there for a few moments. Right as he opened his mouth to say something. She brought up her left arm and punched the wall with all her might. The wood cracked under the force, and Kaztos winced. Hopefully, the homeowner wasn’t around. Zeltara then spent the next minute uttering a long string of profanities. Kaztos couldn’t make out much from the rant, but what he did made him blush from the mortification.

  Finally, Zeltara stopped. She took a breath and turned to them with a wide smile. “Come on. Let’s go check the perimeter out.” She then walked past them out of the alley. Kaztos and Saiya exchanged a glance. Neither of them was sure what to do. They then rushed to follow her. This was going to be harder than he thought.