In search of that one priest, the demon had lured every priest who stepped foot in this town into the forest, Kael thought with a heavy heart.
The two men stood in silence for a long while until the sun finally rose. Kael moved, turning his head slightly to his left side. Beside him, Eryn remained quietly with his arms on his sides, his inscrutable gaze fixed on the shadowy outline of the forest as it softened under morning light.
"The world looked different in daylight…" Kael murmured unconsciously as he watched the morning sunlight sift through the leaves and branches.
The once dreadful silence of the forest was now broken by the soft stirrings of small creatures and the distant calls of birds. It was as though the night that passed was nothing but a mere nightmare.
"Is it? To me…," Eryn replied with a distant voice, "it was always just the same dark place."
Kael paused. He shifted, his body slightly turned toward Eryn. He was indescribably bothered by the young man's tone. Though he wondered why he felt that way, he did not forget to ask, "What made you say that?"
Eryn looked at him for a brief moment before he turned away, sheathing his sword into the scabbard as he did. "Isn't it like that when your guiding light is extinguished? A world swallowed in darkness is nothing different, daylight or not."
The 'world' the young man spoke of wasn't the same as the 'world' Kael had meant. It seemed like he was referring to something more personal. As they say, each person lives in their own world. Was the young man speaking of his own?
Having thought this, Kael felt the young man's loneliness. Had he been living in a world of darkness after losing someone? Since when? Eryn did not seem the religious type; thus, he was certain that Solvantar wasn't his guiding light.
Now, watching Eryn's back as he walked away, Kael could not help but feel sympathy, and in his eyes, that broad shoulder now appeared to be drooping. He sighed and followed the young man.
By the time they arrived back at the town, the bells tolled from the town square. The inn had already become a place of whispers and wide-eyed fear. The incident, bloody and beyond impossible, had thrown the townspeople into uproar.
The town's officials moved in and out of the inn's kitchen, retrieving the victim's remains and investigating the crime. They had discovered at least four heads in the cauldron, though many of the bodies were still incomplete.
One of the onlookers said in horror, "Great sun, Solvantar! Did the innkeeper's husband…eat the missing body parts?!"
Kael could not answer, but it was indeed the case. Humans had always been the source of strength to lowly, vulgar demons. They feast on them just like a human does when they are hungry.
Hearing this only sent the townspeople into a state of fear and tumult. Their heads, with eyes bulging in their socket due to disbelief and fright, snapped toward the innkeeper. But upon seeing her, disheveled and clearly distraught, they couldn't help but feel a twinge of pity. It looked like the poor woman was one sign away from losing her sanity.
Not long after, the temple officials arrived. Clad in blue robes with white tassels at their sashes, they rode in under escort and wasted no time. Their faces wore guarded expressions, a clear sign that they were aware of the unsolved disappearances of the priests in this town.
Soon, the stench of the forest wafted through the air, and by noon, the locals were all talking about the tale of the Forest of Unheard Prayers. What they once believed to be mere myth had turned out to be true, and worse, it had been right beside them all along.
Kael kept his distance while behind him, Eryn was just leaning on a tree, his arms crossed on his chest. He felt the young man's gaze on his back. Perhaps Eryn was watching over him. That thought somehow comforted him.
From a slope just beyond the treeline, they watched the town and temple officials move with cautious reverence, some priests muttering protective rites under their breath as they entered the forest.
One by one, the bones of the lost priests were gathered. Robes still clung to brittle joints. Some were folded into bundles. Others were carried in temple shrouds.
A local peered at the bones in white robes and asked in wonder, "Were they victims of the innkeeper's husband too? Tourists?"
Another cried out, "Look! Aren't those the four priests who disappeared years ago?!" This man was pointing at the set of bones in blue robes.
Hearing this, Kael instinctively glanced over his shoulder. He met Eryn's gaze only for a second. The young man quickly looked away, his face slipping back into a mask of indifference as he watched the commotion below with a bored expression.
Before, when he met the young man in the cave, he was suspicious, given that the place was near Devil's Mountain. It was also deep into the night, so a wandering spirit imitating a human wouldn't be impossible. It was also because the young man had spoken of things no ordinary traveler should know, like the old priestly garments—robes long outdated, even by temple records.
He had thought then: This young man couldn't possibly be a human. But they had parted ways, and nothing came of it. His suspicion faded.
Now, Kael couldn't help but be doubtful of the young man again. Even the old townsfolk couldn't tell that the bones in white robes were priests. And many of them were already in the ages between fifty and sixty. Yet this young man dressed in black, like any mercenary off the road, had known about this.
Kael cleared his throat. Eryn looked back at him. He offered a faint smile and said, "I was just thinking… I wouldn't have found this place if you hadn't invited me into your room."
Eryn's lips slightly curved upward. "Seems like fate pulled you into it."
Kael nodded. He believed in destined encounters. And it seemed like Solvantar had sent this young man to him. It would have been nice to keep such a capable companion by his side—youthful, sharp, and reliable. But with the lingering suspicion in Kael's mind, he couldn't bring himself to ask for the mercenary's service.
Not to mention…he was penniless at the moment.
"Also, I haven't properly thanked you for helping me back there," Kael said. He turned fully to Eryn and gave a respectful bow. "Thank you so much, Eryn. You are but a young man, and yet you've been nothing but dependable in all our encounters."
Eryn straightened slightly, tilting his head. "I'm not that young, Priest Kael. You'd be surprised how old I actually am."
Kael chuckled. "Oh? You're jesting. Surely you're not even in your twenties yet!"
With a subtle lift of his brow, Eryn approached Kael with light, unhurried steps. His movements were calm and deliberate, but there was something unfathomable in the way he stared at Kael.
"Though I'm glad you find me youthful and handsome, I don't want you to treat me like a kid moving forward," Eryn said with all seriousness.
With the young man, who stood a foot taller, towering over him, Kael involuntarily gulped. He rubbed the back of his neck and muttered, "Alright. I will…keep that in mind."
Their conversation was cut off by a scream. Both men turned their heads and saw the innkeeper kneeling on the ground, frightened but weeping. The head and headless body of her husband were taken last. Though bloodless now, the officials still wrapped them in separate cloths, as if fearing the head might still speak.
Kael lowered his eyes. Though he had never promised the innkeeper anything, he felt a twinge of guilt for failing to save her husband.
Turning away, he picked up his basket, then glanced at Eryn, who he noticed was quietly observing him. Kael offered a faint smile and said, "I'm alright. I'm heading this way now, Eryn…" he paused for a moment, "if you haven't taken another job yet…would you let me hire you?"
Maybe if he spent more time with the young man, he'd get some answers. With that thought, Kael looked at Eryn with quiet expectancy.
Eryn blinked, clearly caught off guard. But just as quickly, the surprise vanished behind his usual ease. He tilted his head slightly, a playful grin curling on his lips. "I should warn you, I charge more than most mercenaries."
Kael chuckled softly, unfazed. "I believe that's only fair. I've seen your skills firsthand." He adjusted the basket in his arms. "So, how much?"
The young man shrugged, his expression unreadable once again. "Depends on the job. I never set a price until it's done. That way, I know exactly what it's worth."
There was no hint of dishonesty in his voice, just that usual, elusive calm that made it impossible to guess what he was truly thinking.
Kael nodded, accepting the strange terms without hesitation. He told himself this: If he charges me a hundred or ten thousand golds, it doesn't matter. The temple will pay. Maybe next time, the High Priest won't give me this kind of task again.
"Alright. I accept. Then, let's walk together for now. I'll trust you."
Eryn's grin deepened. He stepped even closer to Kael and leaned forward, his cascading black hair almost brushing Kael's shoulder.
Kael was unprepared for this, so he just stood there, frozen. He felt a light tug on his basket, and so he realized Eryn was taking it from him.
"Since I'm your hire now, let me do the carrying. If you get tired of walking, I can also carry you," Eryn said jokingly.
Kael just let out a soft laugh and allowed him to take the basket. But the scroll wasn't in it. It remained tucked securely at his waist, hidden beneath the folds of his robes.