[He's just a human, after all.]

  [Like you, Dathur. And everybody here.]

  Spring water flows down along the road, its origin somewhere along the northern mountains.

  Alice leans on her horse at an impossible angle, passing a hand through the river.

  [Sip slowly, it's really cold.]

  [Thank you. Never would've guessed with my own fingers.]

  Kanell takes his gloves off, placing a thick cloak near the riverbank before kneeling.

  Droplets drip down the man's chin as he drinks.

  Washing his hands thoroughly as they take a rosy color, he lifts them, drying them off in the cold wind.

  Then, he fills his water skin and adds a lemon peel to it. Standing up, he pats frost and brown grass off his clothes before putting his gloves back on.

  [You think they're closing in?]

  Squinting, Alice places a hand over her forehead, looking back onto the road.

  [I hope. Night's going to fall soon.]

  [We're not going to make it at this pace. We'll continue through the night.]

  [Too risky. Night's even colder, Wierszy. Plus, we won't know what we'll have to deal with.]

  [Doesn't matter. If we cover as much as we can in the first few days, we can prepare better for the coming ones.]

  The tapping of hooves cuts their conversation short. A black horse, striding towards them with a deer's corpse hanging on its back.

  Two figures walk behind, clothed heavily.

  Alice watches as they approach, nudging Kanell.

  Kanell: [What?]

  Alice: [He doesn't seem tired to me, Dathur.]

  The man scoffs, calling his horse before mounting on the animal. His gaze rests on the floor, unfocused. Leather boots intrude on his vision.

  Raising his head slightly, he meets the boy's gaze.

  [Don't wash your face with cold water, Hinochu. You'll get sick.]

  Frost clings to Hinozu's eyelashes. Dryness coats his face in the form of white, flaky spots.

  [I won't from now on.]

  A neutral tone. Turning around, he approaches Alice, muttering something to her. Nodding, the girl gets on the horse, then helps the young man.

  [You are weaker than I thought.]

  Kanell looks to his right, raising a brow. A slight irritation clings to his features.

  [What do you mean, Garamond?]

  [You still have not confronted Wierszy about taking the boy in.]

  [I will. I don't think I can hide my distaste anymore. Letting him in was a mistake. So was telling him about the mission.]

  [The only thing he knows is that we need to pick a member of the Order. With fortune, we may see him disappear by cowardice when confronted with the Cult.]

  [Doesn't matter. I want him out.]

  Alfie nods.

  [Good. Because, to be honest...]

  [We need Dathur. Not you. The old one.]

  [The Blutfresser.]

  Kanell pats his horse's head, veering towards the road.

  [Both you and Wierszy are strong enough.]

  [As for me... I don't even know why I'm doing all this.]

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Soon, he follows along the road, leaving the rest behind. The sun begins to set, with the sky acquiring a dark gray color.

  The shiniest of stars start to show, serving as guidance.

  The three catch up to him, trotting through dormant grass.

  Alice: [Do we have enough lamps?]

  Kanell: [Yeah. Should last about 9 hours.]

  The girl nods, gazing at the sky. Hinozu retrieves a blanket from a large saddlebag, wrapping it around him.

  His gaze stays fixed on Kanell.

  The sound of scraping turns his attention ahead.

  [Don't fear them.]

  Bony, wolf-like creatures snap their yellowish gazes at the group, standing perfectly still above the unrecognizable carcasses of their prey.

  Hinozu focuses on the road, trying his best not to stare for long. The group passes by swiftly, increasing their pace.

  [What were those?]

  [Phobantropes. Wolves, but bigger, and they walk on two legs. They'll mistake you for prey if you get scared, so it's best to ignore them.]

  Alice glances back briefly, studying the boy's face.

  As soon as night falls, she lights a few lamps, letting them hang from the horse's sides. The cold intensifies, coupled with a strong wind carrying dead leaves.

  Silence reigns for the few following hours, with nothing but the gallop of the animals. Though as soon as Hinozu drifts off to sleep, Kanell drifts closer to Alice's ride.

  [What do you want, Dathur?]

  [Acting all good and virtuous again?]

  The man purses his lips.

  [We'll drop him off in the morning. The journey will only get harsher and harsher the more we advance.]

  [That's—]

  [And it's not only the journey, for god's sake. Anything could attack us. Anyone! He doesn't even know how to fight or survive!]

  Kanell shouts, earning a disappointed expression from Alice. Hinozu shifts, still in sleep.

  [All you know is abandoning people, or what?]

  [What are you even—]

  [You abandoned your daughter to work for the Order, or am I blind and dumb? If that does weigh so heavily on you, why would you abandon him, too?]

  [Alice!]

  Kanell furrows his brows, a hostile expression crowning him. Catching himself, he exhales sharply.

  [Listen, just listen to me. We—]

  [Not now.]

  She pulls the reins abruptly, halting.

  [What?]

  Kanell's eyes stay fixed on Alice as he continues forward.

  Then, he falls, rolling off the road.

  Quickly standing, he sees his horse.

  Or what's left of it.

  Red pieces of flesh, coated in white hide, scatter through the road.

  Blocking the road, five figures.

  Each wears sophisticated scale armor, with the helms shaped like a snake's head. Sharp metal fangs protrude above vertical eye slits.

  Heavy snakeskin surcoats rest atop each set, pale white in color with black shoulder pads.

  [Surrender your mission.]

  One of them speaks.

  [We are just messengers. You have three days to spin back towards the south.]

  [You won't be hunted at that time. We swear.]

  [By Anesh.]

  Silence follows after the words, tension heavy in the air. Alfie hums softly, trying to say something, though a sharp sound muffles it.

  One of the messengers drops to the floor, a dagger thrown perfectly through the slit of an eye. Alice inhales, grabbing another.

  Alfie rushes towards the figures. Both his hands press on a cultist's skull, cracking it with ease before gutting another with shattered bone.

  Kanell tenses, running to his horse's remains while he ducks below the sharp blades flying around.

  [Fuck, Wierszy! Why?!]

  Clawing at the remains, he retrieves a large saddlebag, opening it.

  With a swift but shaky motion, he retrieves a long metal pole, its surface engraved with swirling bats.

  Two grips divide the shaft, wrapped in bandages yellowed with age. The ends sharpen into curved claws.

  A loud shriek, from metal or something else, echoes as he drives it to the ground. Twin scythe blades unfold from either side.

  By the time he turns to the enemies, he finds them on the ground, squirming in pain.

  One of them hangs with his gut open, screaming hysterically.

  Kanell's heart drops.

  Throwing his weapon on the ground, he approaches, pressing both hands on the injury.

  A kick to his face jerks him back. Groaning, he presses a hand on the hurting spot.

  [Alf- Garamond...]

  [Do not dare to help the enemy, Dathur.]

  The tall man walks to the messenger, raising his foot over his head.

  Alice: [Wait, Garamond.]

  Stopping just short, he fixes his mask.

  [What is the matter?]

  Alice smiles, walking up to Kanell's horse before nudging Hinozu.

  The boy breathes calmly, eyes tightly closed.

  [I know you're awake.]

  The breathing stops.

  Slowly, hesitantly, he opens his eyes, averting his gaze from the carnage ahead.

  Though...

  A pat on his shoulder.

  [If you want to show your worth, prove it. The Order needs strength, so show it by defeating our enemies.]

  [Kill whoever's remaining.]

  She grabs his jaw, jerking his head towards the agonizing messenger.

  Alfie steps aside, ripping armor off.

  The anguished face of a woman. The man grabs her by the hair, hanging her high in the air. A weary groan escapes her.

  Kanell watches with clenched teeth and a breath long held.

  [Go on.]

  Alice shoves the boy forward.

  Seeing no movement, she parts her lips to speak again.

  [I'll speak with the Order if you do what I say.]

  [You could become one of us.]

  Hinozu's breaths hitch, caught somewhere between his chest.

  A vein almost pops around his widened eyes.

  Filled with possibility.

  Sliding off the horse, he steps.

  Towards the woman.

  [Wait, Hinochu! Don't do it, please!]

  [Wait, wait, wait!]

  [I-I'll talk to them! The Order!]

  [Just don't kill her!]

  His ears muffle Kanell's desperate screams.

  If this is what it takes...

  A blank face hangs in front of him, dead eyes staring back at him.

  Kanell runs towards him. A dagger cuts deeply into the man's cheek.

  It isn't much.

  The boy stays still, closing his eyes before forcing them open.

  First, he crouches, grabbing a dagger.

  It feels heavy under his weak grip.

  Then, he drives a shaky arm forward.

  Grazing the tip on the woman's abdomen.

  Something whizzes past.

  A dagger, piercing the cultist's face.

  Hinozu exhales sharply, falling back as Alfie throws the lifeless corpse aside.

  [No! No, no, no, no!]

  Kanell yells, gripping his head in disbelief.

  [Damn you... Damn you all!]