...ah, right. Shit.
It made sense, of course.
Someone who'd already dealt with multiple cases would obviously notice that Elara's situation was different.
'What about it?' asked Arin, keeping his voice neutral.
'Hmm...'
The cloaked healer looked up at him again, and said, 'That's what I'd like for you to tell me, tower magician... Rin.'
...?
Had... had that man... realized something?
About Elara? Or, maybe about...
'Then, we shall take a look at this villager, and attempt to determine just what the issue is,' piped up Siel's voice from beside him. 'That way, you needn't trouble yourself with this, sir. Not when there are countless other innocents suspended between life and death as they await your aid.'
Arin nodded.
Well put.
Clearly, the man before them disagreed. He didn't grace them with a response.
The younger tower magician blinked. 'Uh. Truly, you needn't waste your time here. We shall come to you with any answers that we happen to find. We shall come to you at once!'
Very reasonable. Very convincing. But, did this guy feel the same -
'No,' came the short, hoarse, and rather final-sounding response.
...he didn't.
'Alright.' Arin stepped forward, until he was right next to the healer. He then crouched down low, casting a quick glance at the girl before leaning in close.
'Here's the thing,' he said in a low whisper. 'You are going to step away from her without making a fuss. You will let us take her away without raising the alarm. And you will mention not a single word of this to anyone else that's here. Or, well, anywhere.'
With every second that flew by, Arin was becoming more and more aware of the threat of the distortion. He didn't know what its evolved form would look like, but it didn't take a genius to figure out that things would end badly.
For him and Siel.
For all the villagers.
For all the healers and volunteers gathered here.
And who knew who the hell else, within whatever the new-and-improved radius of effect ended up being.
The cloaked healer didn't say anything.
It probably wasn't because he didn't want to.
He couldn't, because of the delicate needleworm beetle that had quickly slipped under the hood of his cloak at some point. It would currently be resting upon his upper lip, with its spike poised to strike.
Just as Arin had directed it to do.
Within the dream-world of the distortion, Arin had lost his silver illusion bracelet. Out here, though, it still remained safely wrapped around his wrist.
So, why not make use of it?
While Siel had been speaking earlier, he'd called upon just one beetle, just to test it out for the first time.
And when the needleworm had appeared, settling gently into the curve of his palm, with it's delicate legs tickling his skin, he'd realized something with a spark of excitement.
The white-haired tower master's illusion tool was, in fact, stronger than he'd anticipated. Even out here, in the real world, his 'summoned' beast was tangible.
And as long as it looked real enough, and felt real enough, he could make use of it to fool his target.
Besides, it was a beetle. Just one, single beetle. There was no way the stored magic in his bracelet would run out and jeopardize his plan just yet.
Arin sighed softly. 'Please know that I didn't want to have to do this,' he said. 'Trust me, sir, when I say this is a matter of life or death. For everyone here, including yourself.'
'Siel and I really must take Ela- this villager, away from here at once, and without letting anyone else know. Rest assured that my needleworm shall leave you unscathed. So long as you do not prevent us from doing this, no harm shall come to you at all. Just - just keep saving the people here, please.'
Still, the man remained silent.
Well, they'd already established why he couldn't speak, but Arin was starting to feel a bit bad about doing this to someone who was basically here as a savior.
'Listen,' he added quickly. 'We... We'll explain everything to you later, as Siel's already said. Since you're already involved, we won't keep you in the dark about why. But, for now, we really must hurry, so...'
'...sorry.'
Arin turned around and nodded at Siel.
Then, glancing around at his surroundings, to make sure everyone else was still either too far away to see, or too focused on whatever they themselves were doing, Arin leaned over to fully cover the sleeping Elara's frail form in her own blanket and...
...wrap it into a roll of fabric, hiding her entirely.
As he picked up the shockingly light roll, Siel quickly folded and kicked away the empty mattress into a nondescript corner. The boy then carefully dragged one of the other mattresses just a little closer, to make it seem as though nothing was missing.
As Arin turned to leave, he suddenly felt a tug at the base of his cloak. Turning around, he saw the cloaked healer, who was still sitting where he'd been, silently holding on to a corner.
He raised an eyebrow. Then he turned to Siel, and handed him the wrapped-up girl, before turning back around to look at the healer.
As he heard the younger tower magician's footsteps hurry away, he whispered, 'What? It won't hurt you! I'll keep my word so long as you don't -'
'I'm not concerned about that strangely-constructed needleworm of yours,' interrupted a low, hoarse voice.
The cloaked healer let go of his cloak, moving his hand to reach under his hood, and pull out a small, crumpled-looking thing, like some kind of half-melted hard plastic.
Arin realized with a jolt that that was all that remained of his needleworm.
'An almost perfect exterior, but nothing that functions as it should on the inside. Like a shallow painting, with nothing beyond the surface at all.'
The man held it out in his palm, and Arin could only watch as what was left of the beetle seemed to dismantle into little, formless pieces, before crumbling away into dust.
The man huffed in an amused way, before continuing, 'Just a little toy, built by one who knows nothing of how a living creature works. Built, or... Imagined? Perhaps?'
'Well, it matters not. I shall forgive you this once. Just this once.'
Arin felt a bead of sweat trickle down the back of his neck. He didn't say anything, even as the cloaked healer continued speaking.
'I will hold you to your promise. I shall find you after I've fulfilled my responsibility here, and you shall tell me all I wish to know...'
'...about that interesting little distortion.'