In a dark room devoid of any light, the scent of something rotten drifted across the room and a man sat quietly behind the wooden table.

The sound of door creaking open echoed and a man shrouded in black robe entered "The students from the Academy have arrived to assist the Apothecary."

"Then kill them. The academy bears no responsibility for deaths during missions." the man replied coldly, his voice sharp enough to cut steel.

"We’d have long done that, but one of them isn’t ordinary, she’s the daughter of the Azure Tower Master"

"Interesting, so you’re telling me I should be the one to handle it? " the man’s voice distorted, before it returned to normal.

"No, there’s no reason for a ’Branded’ like you to go in there, we’ll solve it ourselves" the man shrouded in black robe bowed, before he stepped out then politely closed the door.

________________

"Sleep here first, it’s already night" The apothecary smiled softly, then he went upstairs to take something.

"Pardon me, I only have this, it’s fine for the both of you right? " he asked, putting down a single mattress and one blanket. "The space upstairs isn’t good, it’s just for me, you both are young ones so you’ll manage" he winked before he went upstairs.

"Hey bastard, you don’t need sleep right? " Aeliz’ brow raised. "Still, even the blanket is uncomfortable" she clicked her tongue, then she went straight at Zeres.

"Give me your jacket. This blanket feels awful" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

__________

Zeres sat at the outside stairs, the cold wind bit at his pale skin, his hair fluttered behind him as his gaze drifted around the tall trees.

"Is there no cigarettes here? " he mumbled, head resting on his cheek.

’Somehow, looking at the surroundings, he felt like he’s back home. The humid air made him feel melancholic’.

Admiring the stars, he was alerted when he heard the sound of many humans heartbeats heading straight towards him.

’What could that be? ’ he stood up, his fist clenched slightly, unease coiled in his chest.

He stepped inside the door quietly, his steps hurried as he crouched down beside Aeliz who’s still sipping a tea. "Something will happen soon," he said, his voice low. "We need to observe first."

"What is?" Aeliz asked, already wearing Zeres’ jacket as if it was hers.

"The villagers, they’re all heading here," he whispered. He motioned for Aeliz to conceal her presence before the two leapt onto a tall tree overlooking the Apothecary’s hut.

"Old man Get out there! "

"We know you’re the one who’s responsible for the people’s disappearances! " Torches rose into the air. Voices crashed over one another.

The door that’s been fixed just earlier completely gave away as it slammed against the hard wooden floor. "Where on earth have you heard such thing!? " he shouted, stepping out, a sharp sword hung on his side as he glared daggers at them.

"We didn’t see any Forsaken, we thought you’d eventually admit it yourself that you’re the one responsible for the disappearance. But you even plan to involve kids on your nasty experiment?! " An old man, barely standing with the support of a wooden cane tried to yell.

"My son disappeared when he entered the forest!" An old woman shouted, her hand trembled as she gripped the torch tightly.

"The disappearance began when you started gathering your herbs! " a burly man with scars in his face scowled, his eyes never leaving the Apothecary.

"How many times do I have to tell you for your meager brain to understand that I am an apothecary not a witch!" The apothecary snapped, his old hand resting on the Hilt of the sword on his side carelessly.

"Hey bastard, what’s going on here? " Aeliz whispered, her head leaning closer.

"I don’t know, that’s why we’ll have to watch"

The shouting dragged on. Accusations overlapped until even Zeres stopped trying to follow. It continued for a long while, until a man stepped in. He didn’t look like someone from the village, he wore a trench coat, a top-hat on his hand as he curtsied.

"Greetings esteemed Apothecary, I am from the Capital, a Gifted of the Mage class. I came here on behalf of the request sent on the capital mercenaries, so would you mind telling me the whole truth? " the man smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.

’Who’s that? ’ Zeres tilted his head, it was an unusual sensation—that man’s heartbeat was way too steady.

"How should we proceed? " Aeliz asked, her hands flexing slightly and a smile tugged at her luscious lips.

’Right, this moron loves fights’ Zeres exhaled through his nose.

"All of the reports and request I’ve sent on the Capital was true" the apothecary declared, his voice forcing the villagers to be silent.

"Then if you’re innocent, Mr Apothecary, we can check your house right? " the man replied, his unnerving smile still there.

"Why should I? An apothecary’s greatest weapon is their secret ingredients, why should I show it all to you?! "

’So that’s it’ Zeres’ eyes narrowed, his gaze still focused on the suspicious man standing there.

"Don’t make me laugh, you even invited a vampire earlier! " the old woman stepped in, then she slapped the Apothecary.

"I guess there’s no point in continuing this, no matter how I look at it, you’re suspicious" the man in trench coat extended his hand. The air shifted before a magic circle was formed hovering before his palms. The villagers stumbled back, panic flashing across their faces.

The old apothecary froze. His hands trembled as he pulled his sword.

"An Apostle trying to act as a Mercenary? " Zeres’ head snapped towards the sound, Aeliz was standing there, beside the Apothecary.

"I almost got fooled for a second there, what artifact is that? " she smiled, a blue magic circle forming before her palms.

’Fuck, I told her to observe first’ Zeres shook his head. This was getting troublesome, he wanted to know more about what’s going on.

"Just pass the word that we did our mission splendidly" Zeres said loudly, then he moved—appearing before an apostle holding a bow while hiding behind a tall tree. The apostle stepped back a little too late, Zeres’ claw had already made its way straight at his throat.