Aren subconsciously sat back down, no words or thoughts uttered.
"How are you, Lina?" asked Xander.
Lina smiled, her blue eyes fluttering. She put two small cups filled to the brim with hot green tea.
Before leaving, she slightly bowed and headed back inside.
"That was my daughter. She is still learning."
Aren nodded, something heavy twisting in his chest, stealing his voice. Yet, it wasn't bad.
He put his elbow on the table, then placed his hand over his face.
Xander picked up the tea, took a sip, and placed it back on the table before facing Aren again.
"As I was saying, they took your friend."
Aren's eye twitched slightly. "Why?"
Xander rubbed his beard and said, "For generations, their scholars spoke of a prophecy — that the Lady of the Heavens would return. That prophecy did indeed come to pass, yet not quite."
Xander continued, moving his hands upwards. He moved his fingers in an unusual motion, as if drawing something.
What came to sight was a slate blue crescent moon, one that Aren could recognize.
'I know that symbol… That was Faye's Shade.'
When Aren saw Xander's face, he couldn't help but feel slightly disoriented.
Xander's face was painted with guilt and remorse. It was practically written all over him, for a reason Aren couldn't understand.
"Their main source of worship was none other… than her. Not only them, but even in the outskirts here."
Aren froze at the revelation. Faye? Worshipped? What kind of nonsense was the old man even talking about?
It was unbelievable and an unimaginable thing to even say. Faye, even with her Aberration, was barely able to truly even be considered powerful.
For her Blessing, as far as Aren knew, she had never used it before. Which was mere speculation, yet he still believed she had no reason to.
Aren sighed, exhaling every bit of frustration that he'd been withholding ever since arriving at the Verge.
"Look, I have a bounty on my head, and I have people chasing after me. I need to find Faye. Tell me, where is the Church located?"
Indeed, the Order would've never stopped pursuing Aren. The blue-haired woman of Helmond's Order also followed inside as the portal emerged.
Xander held his cup of tea again, gathering his thoughts. Slowly, he took a sip and put it back.
"That is where the problems begin. Have you not questioned why you've aged so quickly? Despite only spending less than an hour outside the Fog?"
Aren raised his brows, 'I completely forgot about that.'
"I had more important matters to think about."
Xander sighed before crossing both arms as he stared into Aren.
"Time distortion, ground rumblings, and gravity disruptions all exist outside the Fog, particularly time distortion. You were fortunate to be summoned in an area considered low-risk."
'Low risk, and I aged years? My clothes barely even fit me. How bad could it be?'
Silence lingered, allowing Aren to think about the matter deeply. If they were talking about the Church that had abducted Faye, then Xander started talking about the area outside of the Fog…
Then, the thought struck Aren like an arrow piercing his head.
"The Church… It isn't situated inside the Fog?"
Xander snapped his fingers, "Precisely. Not only that, but we also don't know its location. We have not explored the world outside, and we aren't planning to."
"But that also means Faye is exposed to the time distortion. If I aged this much, what is gonna happen to her?"
Xander frowned, "Only the Mother could know. However, since I have provided you with the information you wanted, wouldn't it be fair for you to answer me in return? That way, we can be on equal terms."
Aren's eyes slightly widened, 'This man… he was just using me after all. I would leave… I should leave. But, something's holding me back.'
Something that Aren wouldn't recognize stopped him from getting out of his chair and leaving the small village to go back for Faye.
Although Xander explained what was considered common knowledge, Aren still had many additional questions.
If these additional questions were not to be answered, he would be the same as a lost child, especially in the Quantum Verge.
Aren exhaled, "What do you want to know?"
Xander crossed his arms. Then, he spoke again, "How is it like, on the other side?"
Aren raised a brow out of confusion, "What other side?"
The old man took a sip of his green tea before continuing, "...Nothing. That's all I had to ask."
'What? Is he being serious? What other side is there anyway, so that I could know about it!'
Aren's eyes drifted to the colored sky as a thought emerged in his mind.
'Could he mean the Primal World?'
Before giving Aren a chance to say a word, Xander took off from his seat using the table as leverage to stand up. Then, he looked at Aren.
"The Festival in Vanagir is almost here. Come, and it will help you uncover what you wanted to know."
Aren shook his head in disbelief, annoyed that Xander was offering him to go to a Festival, even after knowing Faye was abducted.
"You must be joking. I have neither the time nor the luxury for a festival."
Aren had to find Faye as quickly as possible. Who knows what could have happened to a fragile girl like her in this world?
Xander laughed slowly under his breath, "You pitiful child… Don't be in such a hurry, there is always time for everything."
For a reason Aren couldn't comprehend, chills were sent down his back as he felt a painful, yet familiar sensation that gnawed deep inside him.
The whole conversation he had with Xander was nothing more than a series of weird sensations, guilt, and… remorse.
If there had been time, he could have helped Faye. He could have at least seen who abducted her, and how.
Xander's words meant nothing. Aren clenched his fists tightly, accepting the harsh truth.