Later that night, the trio slipped away under the shadow of darkness.
No plan. No direction. Just movement, aimless and quiet.
They walked in silence, their boots crunching softly against the gravel path, lost in thoughts too heavy to speak aloud. Inside, each of them carried a storm, questions without answers, a growing unease, and the unbearable weight of a mission they were never meant to succeed at. A monster, they'd been told. An enemy. A threat even their superiors couldn't handle...was left now in their hands.
Ah, what a bunch of motherfuckers.
Such a heavy burden with no clear information?
Something didn't feel right. None of it did.
It reminded them of when they got scammed into giving a witch a priceless item, just because she told them she can see the exam's questions in her sleep.
Seems like she never woke up...
"I don't believe it," Delvin finally said, his voice low, breaking the silence like a stone through glass.
Katriel glanced over, frowning. "Don't say that. We don't know anything. Yet."
"You said it yourself. Yet," Delvin shot back, bitterness in his tone. "I can't keep doing this, Kat. How are we supposed to keep pretending? You really believe someone with that kind of power just suddenly turned evil? just because he didn't want to be their weapon anymore?"
Katriel turned his eyes away, lips pressing into a tight line. He didn't answer.
"He was a monster the moment he stopped being their toy," Vexra said quietly. It was the first time he'd spoken all day. His voice was raw, drained of its usual tease or dumbassness. "And now they're dragging in the fact that he's a half-blood. They're using that too, twisting it into part of the narrative.". He scoffed "They really thought they were slick with it. Did they thought no one would notice?"
Delvin and Katriel turned sharply to face him. There was a dangerous truth in his words, one they'd all noticed but hadn't dared to speak aloud.
Katriel shook his head, trying to push the thought away, but Delvin was quicker. "Exactly! Finally, someone's seeing it clearly." He gave Vexra a half-smile. "I love when you're the smart one."
"You guys..." Katriel's voice broke, desperate. "Don't do this. Don't jump to conclusions. We don't know anything yet!"
"That's exactly the point!" Vexra snapped, his voice suddenly sharp, startling them both. His usual calm was gone, replaced by frustration and something deeper...hurt, maybe. "We're supposed to know. We were sent to take care of this, weren't we? So why the hell are they keeping us in the dark? Doesn't that strike you as suspicious? Tell me, Katriel, why would they hide their own victory?"
His voice echoed in the quiet night. Delvin and Katriel stared at him, stunned. It was rare, unheard of, to see Vexra this shaken, this openly angry.
This is not good.
He exhaled sharply, turning away from them. "Stop with the 'we don't know anything' bullshit. It pisses me off." He muttered quietly, his voice cracking
"Hey, hey... it's all right," Katriel whispered, stepping forward and wrapping his arms around Vexra. He gently stroked the back of his head, trying to soothe him. "We're just confused. It's okay to be angry."
Delvin said nothing at first. He just stood there, watching the two of them. His gaze softened as he stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on Vexra's head.
"Vex," he said quietly, almost hesitantly. "do you know something we don't?"
Katriel felt Vexra freeze in his arms. His body went still, and for a moment, he didn't answer...just stared at the ground as if searching for something to say.
Delvin noticed too. He sighed and moved closer, until they were all huddled together under the moonlight.
"We're not forcing you to say anything," Delvin murmured, brushing a lock of hair from Vexra's forehead. "But if you do know something… we want to help. We're with you. No matter what it is. Always together. Always."
Vexra's eyes flickered, lost, as if fighting an invisible war inside himself. His shoulders trembled slightly, but he nodded. Just once.
Katriel tightened his hold on him, and Delvin stayed close, silent but steady.
Whatever the truth was, whatever they were about to uncover, they would face it together.
A few days had passed since that night, Vexra hadn't say anything yet, and they didn't force him to.
What was really concerning was how his mental state is declining a little every other day.
Whatever Vexra carried inside was not good. Really, it is as if something poisoning him.
The way his eyes are always lost, never quite focused.
His silence stretched for too long, lost in his own thoughts.
Sometimes they would catch him staring at a certain direction, as if hesitant.
Hesitant to do what? They don't know.
It reminds them of times when a letter from Vexra's father arrives, some letters did left him like this. But not like that.
It's different.
It worries them, but they can only do so much. So until he is comfortable enough to say whatever worries him. They are still there for him. Always.
They were preparing for the search, hunt, and were about to set off in a few hours.
Huh? Can't they catch a break?
They just finished their finals!
Now it's their turn to be used as tools, it seemed.
It is time.
An enemy?
Or the truth?