"So how does it work?" Kai asked, staring at the slight amber glow in his brother's eyes as they navigated the thick of the forest at Styria's outskirts.
Their search had taken them far from the central city, and into remote and unmarked parts of the city that had not been touched by the wave of urbanisation that swept across the city.
This time, they had gone past more rural areas on horseback, areas lined with ghetto houses and run-down shanks. The people here looked wearier, not even acknowledging the presence of the royalty that galloped past them. And unlike the main city, beggars filled these streets, groping and dragging at anyone who passed by for even a bronze nickel.
Kion had been leading the search so far with his supposedly new skill that was used for tracking. Kai was quite sure they would sooner wind up falling off a cliff before they ever got anywhere near the mercenary camp.
"When I was attacked in my carriage. Their leader, whose code name is apparently Mouse, tried to nick my signet ring after her lackey paralysed me with some kind of toxin."
Kion said as they galloped through a narrow winding trail in the forest, a ball of light in Kai's right hand illuminating the way as they went.
"Due to Shaman's poison dispersal lessons, I found a way to dispel part of the toxin from my body and regain some movement in my arms at least."
Kai frowned. "Shaman never thought me that."
"It's quite easy actually. It's just like removing excess mana from your meridians. You just have to focus—"
"I didn't ask for that part, Kion. Go on."
It was the first time his brother had ever called him by his name.
"My apologies. Well, after I got some movement in my arms I burnt her wrists with both arms."
Kai smiled upon hearing that.
"At least that bastard got part of what she deserved. What happened next?"
"Well that's it." Kion concluded. "That's how the skill works. When I burn something with my fire, or someone, it leaves a mana-amplified residue in the air that spreads for miles, a residue that I should be able to see or smell."
"Oh, like a smoke trail?" Kai suggested.
"Precisely."
"So that is what we're currently following now. A super strong smoke trail of the woman you burnt."
"You make it sound so basic, but yes, that is exactly it. The trail can go weak at times but as far as the burn marks are still fresh on my victim, then I should be able to retrace my steps."
"I have to say that is pretty useful." Kai commented.
"Well, thank you." Kion responded.
"So we're banking on the fact that she hasn't healed yet. What if she, or anyone else in her death squad, has healing ability from a body-domain category. Not everyone out there is elemental-domain category like us you know." Kai said after a moment of silence.
"Did you not see how they vanished in and out of being? How quickly they moved?"
"I didn't see anything. My head was wrapped tightly in a bag, remember?" Kai clapped back.
"Well while you're head was covered in a bag, we were dealing with a bunch of illusionists."
"So you're saying that they're of Illusion-domain?"
"Exactly. Your skills would come in handy soon. We're about to give them a taste of their own medicine."
"Illusion is my subdomain. I haven't mastered much skills in that area." Kai complained.
"From the way you were vanishing in our first fight, I'd say you've mastered enough." Kion snapped back.
The journey continued on in a bit of silence.
For a while, Kai seemed to be distant, his wandering eyes spying every inch and corner of the forest like some paranoid lunatic.
Kion hadn't noticed, because he too, was wrapped up in his thoughts.
He couldn't believe that Sacrilax still stood.
After all this time…
He had initially assumed that Sacrilax wouldn't have existed any more due to the current change of events.
In his past life, he was the leader and founder of the group. It was his way of ensuring that people like him among others could survive.
Surely there was no way it could exist in this timeline if he hadn't created it…
Everything's the same, just a little bit twisted…
Tyril had told him back in the dreamscape.
Meaning that somehow, despite the overwhelming odds that it wasn't possible, Sacrilax still existed.
And that Mouse lady was their leader.
Kion hadn't gotten a good look at her face earlier. He could vaguely remember her pink hair, but there was nothing else asides that.
He was sure he hadn't seen her before, but there was still a sense of familiarity. She'd reminded him of someone he'd known from his past life. Someone he'd loved.
He quickly dispelled the thought from his head. He couldn't align himself with the likes of her, with the likes of them. Not when he knew they were very well the enemy.
Sacrilax might have been a survivor gang fighting for a good cause back then—a refuge for all soulless—but that could change.
This Sacrilax wasn't the same one he knew or remembered.
He was prepared for the worst.
The narrow path widened to a vast clearing in the forest.
The trail ended here.
"Stop." Kion alerted Kai, who pulled the reins on his horse.
They had reached their destination.
Except there was no one.
No belongings, or any signs that pointed to the presence of killer mercenaries.
Just an empty clearing.
"You sure you cultivated that skill right?" Kai asked.
Kion only shot back with a glare.
He urged his horse to move a few steps forward, right to the middle of the clearing. Kai followed closely behind.
"I don't understand. The smoke trail stops here completely. She has to be here, one way or the other."
"Well?" Kai gestured at the empty space.
"It's obvious that no one's here. I can detect the light bouncing off people's bodies so I would definitely know if they were invisible with some illusion-mancy technique.
No one's here. This was just a waste of time. Besides, the sun is rising. Sir Gaius and the rest will soon be back for us to start moving out. Let's just go."
Kion's throat clenched. He couldn't have been wrong. Smoke trail was a simple [Uncommon] level talent that he had already mastered before leaving the castle walls. Something had to be wrong, but he wasn't going to stick around and find out, not when Kai was increasingly growing patient.
"Fine." He mumbled.
Their horses turned to go, galloping back to the main path.
THUD!
The steeds slammed into something.
Except nothing was there.
The animals neighed, their bodies uneasy as they suddenly came to a halt, refusing to move.
Kai stretched a hand to the space in front of them.
"What the—"
His hand pressed flat against the air, almost like there was some invisible wall blocking their way back.
"I knew you would come." Mouse's voice echoed through the clearing.
"Let's play a little game of hide and seek. I hide, and you seek. Begin!"
There was still no one present in the clearing, but somehow, the young princes flew through the air as an invisible force slammed into their bodies.