Chapter 285 – Humming

Chapter 285 – Humming

“Are you alright, Mat?” Niel peered at him with a slight frown.

They left the residential neighborhood, crossing the town center toward the Hall of Seekers. Stark glass windows opened on empty shops, apothecaries, tailors, runesmiths and bakers. The shadows of the owners fluttering inside.

“Uhm?” Kai stopped fidgeting with the buttons of his coat when his boots splashed in a muddy puddle. Focused on Hallowed Intuition’s humming, he hadn’t paid attention to the uneven cobbles of the road. “Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“It’s just…” Niel made to pat his shoulder before letting the arm fall back down. “Look, it’s normal to be shaken after what happened. You almost died. This situation is more than anyone can handle.”

Is he worried about me…?

Kai blinked, studying Niel back. The dark circle under his eyes and day-old stubble made the man look older than his twenty years. He still maintained the friendly air of the guy next door, always willing to lend a hand. A buff guy next door, trying to act like the responsible adult.

Appearances could be deceiving, but the man hadn’t given Kai any reason to suspect him.

“I’m…” he caught himself just before saying fine—old habits die hard. “I’m good.” Not much better. “I’m just tired. Your sofa was quite lumpy.”

“It came with the house. We never thought we’d stay this long…” Niel chuckled with more gloom than mirth.

They crossed the main square and turned into Hayze’s Street, sharp gusts buffeting them forward. The few passersby hurried to their destinations wrapped in shawls and cloaks. It was like the whole town was holding its breath.

“You know, I’ve always wanted to leave the archipelago,” Niel broke the silence, hands in his pockets to conserve warmth. “When I was a child, I used to sneak into taverns to listen to sailors’ tales of wild and mystic lands. You know, Wildcliff was so dull, and I wanted excitement.” He let out a bitter laugh. “Now I would pay silver to listen to the waves crashing against the cliff.”

He closed his eyes and breathed in, shaking his head. “Sorry, I’m rambling. What I was trying to say is that I know the mainland can be overwhelming. Especially here.” His friendly wave at a duo of fishers across the street gained them a scowl. “It must be much more than you bargained for. More than anyone could, really. It’s very brave and kind to stay just to help us…”

Hmm… I didn’t really— wait! Is he suspicious of my story?

With all the questions, dread and confusion after escaping Herry’s house, Kai hadn’t paid enough attention to his cover story. A shadowy cult, corrupt officials and unexplained abductions were more than an old acquaintance would be willing to face.

Revealing his true relation with Kea would be harmless by itself, but once the first lie came out, the others would follow in a domino. He couldn’t deal with the fallout of breaking Matthew’s identity while unknown threats loomed over him. His time in the Hidden Sanctuary had accustomed him to danger, but human plots were uncharted territory.

“It’ll be alright.” Niel gave a reassuring squeeze to his shoulder, mistaking the reason for his unease. The pale green eyes shone with concern. “If you need to talk, I’m here.”

“I— thank you.” Kai hid his startle under a weak smile—perhaps he was overthinking.

Spirits, they’ve only been adventuring on the mainland for a year. This conspiracy is more than any of us bargained for…

“I want to find your teammate, so we can all leave,” Kai said truthfully. Two pale-faced kids observed them pass from a window, scurrying away in panic when he glanced back. Despite the clear air with scarcely any mist, Limgrell’s quiet streets left him with an unsettling knot in his gut.

“We agree on that…” Niel tightened his coat against the cold gusts. “I haven’t properly thanked you for your help at the old tower.”

“It’s nothing.”

“No, it wasn’t nothing. We might still be trapped there if you didn’t come. I know Mari and Caeli aren’t good at showing it, but we won’t forget it.”

Kai ran a hand through his hair. Did he deserve such praise? He had only cared about finding Kea, saving anyone else was a happy coincidence. “I’m glad I got there in time. It was a team effort. I would have been butchered by the cloud fairy alone.”

“Then it’s good you appeared when you did,” Niel said with a half-smile and gestured ahead. “Looks like we’re here.”

They spotted the slate shingles of the Hall of Seeker over the line of houses, and soon the brick contraction came into view. Hallowed Intuition hummed in approval as they neared without offering any further clues. There was an opportunity here, a lead, if only he could figure out what to do.

Niel stopped outside the heavy door. “Is there anything in particular you want from Belice?”

“I…” Kai froze, betraying himself before he could conceal his guilty expression.

From the young man’s smug smile, it hadn’t been by accident. “C’mon, there aren’t many other reasons to come. You could have just asked about her.” His voice lowered barely above the whistling wind. “Belice has been a great help since we arrived here. Probably the only help we got. She’s good at gathering rumors.”

Yeah, Kea said the same…

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That was why he had only mentioned checking on the quest and not the clerk. He’d rather not accuse one of their friends without evidence, but there was something odd with that girl. In the three days since he arrived, too many threads already led back to her. And the humming in his mind only strengthened his conviction.

“Why hasn’t the contract been updated? It has been months with no progress. The Hall should have asked the guards to intervene, or whatever they do.”

Niel threw a furtive glance behind him—the street was deserted. “The administrators manage the quest board. I’ve seen Belice send numerous requests to change the rating, but it’s pointless. They spout a bunch of bureaucratic nonsense and bounce the responsibility between them.” His eyes narrowed. “Don’t you already know this? How long have you been on the mainland?”

“Not very long.”

About the time to run from the Varsea to Limgrell.

“Well, it doesn’t help that the people officially missing are a fraction of the real numbers. I don’t know if an administrator was bribed or it’s just incompetence. But they’ll do nothing unless we bring some solid proof. And if we do that…” Niel let the words hang between them.

We risk being the one getting silenced…

If there was a traitor on the inside, any attempt to go through the official channels risked warning the culprits. They would likely end up dead in a back alley, or worse, another one of the missing like Caeden. The Hall and the Republic would be no help, not in the short term.

“Aren’t you curious how Belice finds her information?” Kai switched back to the topic. “From how you and Kea talk about her, Herry’s house wasn’t the first information she provided. And that guy sure didn’t expect to find visitors.”

Niel shrugged, still scanning the streets. “Rumors spread. Everyone has their skills. I admit knowing Herry’s location was a little unusual. Her tips are usually about gossip, but stranger things happen. Don’t you have any secrets?” His gaze seemed far too knowing. “You can’t demand to know everything about everyone you meet.”

Then how do you trust them?

“Hmm… I…” Kai failed to find an argument that didn’t require him to reveal Hallowed Intuition. “I’ll ask her about it.”