After washing her face, Amariel pulled her hood back on.
Without a word, she slipped into the dark again, resuming her patrol.
Daiki stayed frozen, still caught in that image of her under the moonlight. He finally shook himself, backed away from the river, and forced his eyes back on the trees.
"Night watch. Focus."
Hours passed. The two returned to camp.
"How's your date?" Ahrie asked, smirk tugging at his lips.
Daiki didn't answer… just stared at Amariel.
Ahrie's brow lifted, confused for a moment… then the smirk came back, wider this time.
"...Oho."
Ahrie strolled up to Luar's tent.
"BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP!" he mimicked, loud as an alarm clock.
No one moved.
"Time to switch up!" he barked.
Still nothing.
Ahrie's grin widened. He grabbed a pan and spoon—
CLANK!
CLANK!
CLANK!
"FIREEE! FIREEE!"
Luar and his Link bolted up, weapons drawn, eyes wide.
"Where?!" Olivia shouted.
Ahrie sat down cross-legged, posing like some half-ass noble.
"Good morning, fuckers. Time to switch up."
He rose with exaggerated annoyance, wandering off toward a tent.
Daiki trailed behind him, shaking his head.
Amariel turned away, heading for another.
Daiki laid back in his bedroll, silent.
"What's up with you?" Ahrie asked, side-eyeing him.
"I found her…" Daiki whispered.
"Found who?" Ahrie asked.
"My wife." Daiki smiled proudly.
Ahrie snorted, then giggled. "This simp bastard…"
They shut their eyes.
Hours later, Ahrie was knocked out cold, snoring soft.
Daiki still stared at the dark, wide awake—his thoughts a whirl.
His mind drifted—dating her, wedding rings, kids running in the yard.
Those thoughts made him grin like a pathetic simp in the dark.
Then—soft footsteps.
His body tensed. He shut his eyes and slowed his breathing, pretending to be asleep.
"...are they asleep?" a hushed voice whispered.
"Seems so." Another answered.
"Then we'll proceed as planned…"
Daiki's pulse spiked. He stayed still.
Silence followed. Too heavy. Too long.
Slowly, he cracked one eye open. Nothing. Just tents, faint moonlight but something felt wrong.
He sat up carefully, hand on his weapon, scanning the area.
His ears strained for any sound.
Daiki whispered, "Ahrie… psst…"
"I heard them," Ahrie's voice cut in.
Daiki blinked. "Oh… you're awake."
Thwack!
Ahrie's fist knocked his head down.
"Of course, you idiot. Survival 101 back at the facility. You don't remember?... Muscle head."
They slipped out of the tent together, eyes adjusting to the moonlight.
Empty… too empty… the fire had burned low, no one had tended it.
Luar's Link—gone.
Daiki's chest tightened. He jogged toward the other camp spots.
"...Amariel's gone too," he muttered.
Ahrie froze, his smirk nowhere to be found now.
His gut twisted. Something's off. Way off.
"I've got a bad feeling about this…"
They searched the nearby area, crouching low, eyes sharp.
Bushes—freshly trampled. Not by one, but many.
Ahrie and Daiki exchanged a nod.
They followed the trail in silence.
Minutes later—they found them…
Luar and his Link.
Holding a child.
The two ducked behind a thick tree.
Daiki's eyes widened.
A flower sprouts from the kid's head.
Just like hers.
"...Oh fuck," he muttered.
"Seems their village is close…" Luar grinned.
Henry smirked. "We can sell this for a large sum."
He crouched, grabbing the kid's chin. "Where's your village, brat?"
"I-I don't want to…" the child's voice shook.
Crack!
Henry's fist smashed across the kid's face.
The kid fell to the dirt, blood dripping from his lip.
Daiki's face went dark.
Ahrie watched him—then noticed something from above.
Daiki slowly walked toward Luar and the others.
Ahrie stepped in front of him.
"Why? Don't you see what they're doing to the kid?" Daiki hissed.
Ahrie kept his voice low. "Use your head. You could gut every one of them here and never find where they'll take the child. The big ones—those higher-ups…might vanish. Then do this again and again."
Daiki spat. Tch.
"If they plan to sell the kid, then the brat can lead you to where their den was.
Ahrie turned, already walking away. "Let's go back."
Daiki trailed after him, determined to save the kid.
Ahrie paused at the tree, closed his eyes, then looked straight ahead.
"Control your bloodlust," he said, softly.
Then they walked their way back to camp.
A drop of blood hit the dirt…
Amariel was there—perched on a branch, her pale hand clenched so tight it bled through her fingers.
Her eyes locked on them, sharp, then shifted back to the kid bound in ropes.
The kid's flower drooped, brushing against his cheek as he whimpered.
Amariel's jaw tightened. She stayed still, watching in silence.
Then, without a word, she backed off.
When Ahrie and Daiki returned, the fire had burned down.
Amariel was sleeping in her tent. Quiet as stone.
Daiki's step quickened, checking if Amariel is ok, but Ahrie's hand caught his shoulder.
"Sleep for now," Ahrie muttered.
Grumbling, Daiki let himself be dragged back to their tent.
Inside, Ahrie flicked Daiki's ear hard enough to sting.
"You better not act suspicious tomorrow, you idiot."
Daiki shot him with a middle finger before flopping down on his bedroll.
The camp sank into silence. One by one, they drifted off to sleep.
Morning came.
The smell of cooking fish drifted in the air.
"Oh, you're up. Pretty late if you ask me…" Luar greeted them, smiling as always.
"Nobody asked you though…" Daiki softly mumbled, shoulders were stiff but Ahrie nudged him.
"C'mon. Let's help."
The three of them—Ahrie,Daiki, and Henry headed to the river to fish while the others worked on the fire.
Later, Daiki slipped down beside Amariel. She sat quiet, eyes somewhere far away.
"So… u-uhm," he fumbled, "you don't eat meat, right? You hungry?"
"I pick fruit here and there," she said softly.
"I see…" Daiki stretched out his hand, nerves buzzing. "I'll protect you. No matter what."
For a moment, she hesitated. But the memory of his face—when the child was struck—made her take his hand and give it a small shake.
Behind them, Daiki's other hand curled into a hidden thumbs-up.
Ahrie, watching, smirked and whispered, "Phase one complete… Phase one complete."
They ate. Daiki leaned in and whispered, "You think they took the kid?"
Ahrie glanced toward Olivia and the small barrels. "Probably. Look."
Daiki frowned. "You don't care?"
Ahrie shrugged. "Not my problem."
"You d*ckhead—where's your heart?" Daiki shot back.
"Pay me if you want my help," Ahrie said flatly.
"Can I—"Daiki asked.
"Nope. No installments," Ahrie cut him off.
They finished their breakfast. Ahrie grabbed a fishing rod and walked down to the river.
Amariel sat near it, quiet. He dropped down near her, voice low.
"Four barrels. Three are diversions. One holds the kid."
Amariel's eyes went wide. "How do you know?"
Ahrie didn't look at her. He stared at the water. "Look at how they act. Luar shoves orders around—he's the kind who keeps the important stuff close. He'd hand the kid off to some piece of shit."
Amariel's face tightened. "Why are you helping me?"
Ahrie rubbed the back of his neck. "My idiot friend's obsessed with you."
She gave a small, stunned smile. "Thanks."
Ahrie's voice dropped, barely moving his lips. "Also—they probably know who you are too."
Amariel froze. Her eyes widened.
Ahrie watched her, then sighed. "I told you earlier to control that freaking bloodlust of yours…" he muttered.
Ahrie's line went tight.
Tug.
He yanked up—hooked something huge.
A fish the size of a motorcycle thudded on the bank.
"Woaaa—Chunk fish!" Ahrie yelled, way too loud on purpose.
Daiki barreled over, eyes wide. They both circled the monster fish like kids.
Splash.
Across the camp, Luar leaned toward Olivia. "You think they know?"
Olivia shrugged, bored. "Those idiots? Probably not."
Luar's gaze snapped to the barrels stacked near the cooking pit. "How's the kid?"
"The sleeping pill still working," Olivia said, calm.
"Perfect," Luar replied, satisfied.
Olivia hesitated. "What should we do with her?"
Luar smiled thin. "After we report back and get backup from Piggy, we'll catch her."
They packed up and made the trip back—straight to the Seekers Hall
The report was filed. Proof handed over. Payment counted.
Luar distributed the pouches one by one.
"Here, Henry."
"Alright," Henry grinned.
"Olivia."
"Thanks," she said.
"Aisyah."
She just nodded, no words.
"Amariel."
Luar's smile lingered as he eyed her hands before passing the pouch.
She took it without a word.
"Daiki. Ahrie."
Daiki accepted his share with a stone face.
Ahrie… slow to reach. He tugged the pouch, tilted his head. "Is this all?" His tone is arrogant.
"Yes. That's what we agreed—30 bronze eac—"
Ahrie cut him off with a smirk. "Then what about that one?…"
Ahrie stared at the small barrels.
They froze.
Luar blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, nothing." Ahrie waved him off, grin lazy. "Just mumbling. Nice working with you."
He glanced at Amariel, raised an eyebrow—then turned and walked away grinning.
Daiki hurried after. "Man, what the hell? Why'd you let them know you know?"
Ahrie shot him a look. "Muscle brain. Think for yourself."