Before we proceed, let me introduce you to each other. This is my partner, Asher. And these two are Rayne and Zei."
Asher narrowed his eyes, gaze flickering between us. "Can I have some sort of explanation on why they are here, Kristen?"
"Hmmm, sure," Kristen replied, stretching slightly. "I was outside when I saw these two kids entering our shelter. They were planning on stealing our food and running, so I took pity on them and gave them our spare clothes and some of the food, as it was raining heavily outside. I couldn't just let them leave, could I?"
Asher stared at Kristen in disbelief and then sighed."But how the hell did they end up in Verulia? This place should have been long abandoned, as per the reports."
"That is the intriguing part," Kirstn said, glancing our way. "It seems like they have lost their memories and have been brainwashed. They don't remember how they ended up here either. They don't seem to know anything, no knowledge of runes, aether, profanity—nothing.
"How is that possible? Why would they brainwash them instead of just getting rid of them? And what proof do you have that they aren't lying?"
"That's what I thought at first as well," Kristen replied. "But think about it, why would these kids be here in Verulia without the Rune of Indemnity? That is just a death sentence for most people."
"They don't have the Rune?" Asher asked, glancing at us.
"No, they don't," Kristen muttered.
Asher seemed to be in deep thought, and after a while, he looked at us and asked.
"Tell me, how did you both end up here first?"
"We remember being surrounded by flames as our last memory, and after that, we found ourselves in the forest, and we encountered a horrifying creature there, and barely managed to escape, and then, after traveling further, we found this city and decided to stay here for a while."
Asher's eyes widened slightly as he looked at Zei.
"You are saying you came from that forest?
"Yes, that's right," I replied, uncertain. "Is there a problem?"
He stared at us some more and then let out a heavy sigh. "You truly don't know anything… do you?"
He continued, "The forest you were in is known as the Forsaken Woods. For more than 200 years, many people who have entered that forest have never been able to escape from there, even Aeriths don't dare to go close to that forest. It's a cursed place."
I stared at him, trying to process what he was saying.
Asher asked us a few more questions about what we saw in the forest, and we answered them all truthfully. After the questioning session was over, both Asher and Kristen had serious looks on their faces.
"We might need to relay this information to higher-ups as soon as we return," Asher said
"They will ask us to bring them as well," Kristen said, his tone serious. "They might use extreme measures to extract information from them."
"So you are going to hide such crucial information from them?" Asher said, and I felt a suffocating pressure envelop us, making us unable to speak.
"So you plan to send them to those bastards and let them do as they please?" Kristen's voice quivered with fury, his eyes blazing like embers. "Have you forgotten what happened to Maelora?"
Asher stared at Kristen with an indifferent face, "I am your superior, Asher. The information about the Forsaken Woods should never leave your mouth until I say so; this is an order."
"…Fine," Asher finally relented.
"What do you plan on doing with them then?"
"Ehh, I don't know. Let's figure that out tomorrow," Kristen replied nonchalantly.
Asher sighed and shook his head. The tension slowly faded.
"Let me give you some advice never mention the Forsaken Woods in front of anyone ever again, you might get in a lot of trouble."
"W-we understand," I said as Kristen stood up and placed his hand on Asher's shoulder.
"Now then, let's get them their runes first. Asher gives both of them the Rune of Indemnity first."
Asher nodded, "Bring your hand forward and stay still, it will hurt, but you have to bear it," He explained as he took out a black knife from his pocket.
I decided to go first, placing my hand forward. Asher started to chant something in a language I couldn't understand.
Suddenly, countless symbols on Asher's arm started illuminating, pulsing gently, and a golden radiance enveloped us.
"What you are seeing right now are called runes, they help us channel and utilise, and shape the Ember according to our will," Kristen explained.
He brought forth the knife and made a cut on my hand to draw out the blood, then he made a small cut on his hand and mixed our blood, using it to draw a symbol on my arm.
As he completed drawing the symbol, it flared to life, shimmering in golden radiance. Warmth filled my body, all my fatigue and body pain vanished, even the wound that he had just made was starting to heal.
"How does it feel?" Zei asked curiously.
"It feels incredible, all the pain and fatigue are gone, and the wound is also healing itself."
"Because that is a superior grade rune, " Asher explained.
"The superior grade rune I made by combining my blood will help you in healing wounds, and increase your vigor and stamina."
"This….I don't know how to thank you," I expressed my gratitude as Asher put his hand on my shoulder.
"It's fine, I just did what was necessary, besides, you both have been through a lot," he added.
"You can rest here for a few days until our operation is over, and then we can figure out what to do afterwards."
"He might seem like an asshole at first but he has a good heart, so you don't need to be wary of him" Kristen replied
"I will go rest in my tent since it's already 3 am. You guys can ask Asher anything you want." With those last words, he went inside his tent and closed it from the inside.