Maver rubs the back of his neck as he steps out of the interrogation room, but it does little to ease the strain. Oh, how he'd love to get a good night's sleep right now. Jack has gone missing, well, now thought to be dead after the gas explosion at Sekacity. An entire village was massacred. He can't help but feel guilty.
They barely made it out of there alive. Most of everyone in their group suffered burn marks, but thanks to Jari's blessing, they were all healed once they arrived at the hunter's institute in Mokacity.
There's no doubt the hound horde was chasing after them, the last remains of their previous mission out for vengeance. If they had avoided settling down at Sekacity, could all of the past events have been avoided?
Not to mention the sewage plantations. Multiple major cities have reported poor water quality, the institute they're at, included. A clean water supply has to be brought in, and that won't happen for hours, maybe even a few days due to the new demand.
"Is it over?" Jari asks. Maver blinks, shaking off his thoughts. There's no point in dwelling on it now. She sits in the small lobby, her red hair pulled back into a tie. She's covered in soot, and her arm, which had interacted with the poison gas, has already been healed. Farron is laid on the chairs beside her, his breaths even.
Now that there isn't any danger, he can see just how poor of a state he's in. He smells of sewage, his hair caked in dirt, as if it hasn't been washed in a long while. He's lucky to be alive.
They all are.
"Yeah." Maver sighs. He leans back against the wall and props his foot up. "I've been promoted to Captain."
An unsettling silence fills the air between them. Normally, Maver would be happy to share the news, but right now, it's at the expense of Jack. Jack wasn't a righteous man, not in the least. However, he was a strong force to deal with. Maver didn't want to make captain this way. He wanted to challenge Jack for the title, but now that's impossible.
"We've got orders to go back as well, with a second team." Maver continues when Jari doesn't say anything. "And they're putting out a bounty for the demon." He pushes off the wall and sits on the chair opposite of her. He drops his head in his hands and sighs. He doesn't want to think about anything right now. He just wants to switch his brain off until everything has been processed. "Where are the others?"
"Benson is still being questioned." Jari nods her head towards another locked metal door a few feet away from them. "Corey and the others were given a room to sleep in."
"What about the kid?" He nods at Farron.
"The kid's an orphan." Jari mutters. "They'll most likely take him to a home-"
"No!" Farron suddenly protests. He sits up straight, his hands going pale from gripping the edge of his chair too tight.
Was he pretending to be asleep the entire time?
"No, I'm too old to go to a home." He stares at Maver as he says it, his dark eyes wide and pleading, "I need to be a hunter." Farron continues, his voice firm.
"After all that, you want to be a hunter?" Maver chuckles weakly. He rubs the bridge of his nose and glances at Jari. She shrugs.
Like Maver, she looks exhausted, and he wonders if she's really okay? She watched a young girl melt inside of her protective barrier.
"That thing," Farron's lips curl as he glares at the panel flooring, recalling everything that happened, "it killed my friend, and then it killed my sister." He speaks through angry tears, "I can't let it get away."
Jari watches him with pity.
"Is that what you really want?" Maver asks. He stands up and steps forward, crossing his arms over his broad chest. Farron has to tilt his head back to look at him.
"Yes." He nods his head, "I want to go back with you."
"Very well-"
"Maver, you can't be serious!" Jari gasps, sitting up from her slouched position, "He's still a child." She scoffs.
"I'm not!" Farron jumps up and spins to face her. His tan face burns red, "I turned nineteen two months ago." Farron declares the fact.
"You're barely of legal age-"
"Look into that young man's eyes, Jari." Maver cuts her off. She goes to protest once more but he gives her a stern look that makes her pause.
Sighing, she gives Farron a good look and winces at the sorrow and rage she sees inside him.
"This is his choice." Maver turns back to Farron. "If you manage to survive us going back and killing it, I'll enroll you into the academy."
"The hunter's academy?" Farron asks.
"Yes."
Just then, a door opens with a creak and Benson steps out. Dark circles line his eyes, a contrast to his pale face.
"I should've just died back there." He mutters, "It would've been better than staying up all night, answering dumbass questions." He flips down on the chair next to Jari.
"If you're satisfied with my answer, go to bed." Markus grabs Farron's shoulder and squeezes. "Jari, go show him to a bed. And get some sleep as well."
"You don't have to tell me twice." She stands up and groans as her knees crack. The two men don't speak until Jari and Farron are out of sight.
"What's with the kid?" Benson asks. He leans his head back against the wall and closes his eyes.
"He's a temporary member of the team.* Markus shrugs. "He's got grit."
Ben shrugs and drops the topic. He opens one eye to look at his new captain, "There's nothing about a poison gas type in the system."
Markus gives a grim smile, he already suspected so. "Strange, isn't it? General Woodend didn't seem surprised though."
"You think they're hiding something?"
"I think Woodend found it convenient that Jack is dead."
"You want me to look into it?" Benson lifts his head, his voice quiet in the lobby.
Markus nods, "And keep an eye on Corey. He's a silent brute, but he was closest to Jack."