Their fight had ended almost at the same moment night began to settle around them, like a heavy curtain slowly being drawn over the forest. Even so, the darkness was not yet complete; it left them just enough visibility to make out the silhouettes, the shifting shadows, the fading remains of the specters. The air still faintly vibrated from the battle they had just fought, as though the tension lingered in every corner of the trees, in the earth itself. No one dared breathe too loudly, for fear of disturbing that almost sacred silence.
Lucian finally arrived, accompanied by Madame, advancing with a timid gait. The way he walked, almost hesitant, betrayed a deep discomfort: that of someone who did not quite know where to place his feet, or even where to place himself among the others. He instinctively came close to Kenzo, as though his body were searching for an anchor point, a familiar presence within this suddenly expanded group. Madame, meanwhile, retained her eternal unsettling majesty. Her great legs planted into the ground seemed to make the earth tremble slightly with every step, yet her movement remained strangely silent, as if she were gliding rather than walking.
Ananta was the one who finally broke the silence weighing over them.
– « I'd like to ask you a few questions, but I think we should first find a safe place for the night. »
Her voice was steady, calm, as though she had simply finished an intense training session rather than a fight against spectral entities. She radiated complete self-control. Her gaze was already analyzing the surroundings, evaluating risks, possible shelters, and the directions they could take.
Ophelia stepped closer in turn, moving with confidence, her face still marked by the adrenaline of battle. Her aura left no room for doubt: she was still on guard. Even tired, she looked ready to cut down the slightest suspicious movement.
– « Just so you know, we do not trust you at all. But you helped us, so we're going to show you where to go for tonight. »
Her tone was sharp, direct, without detour. She was not trying to be diplomatic or kind. Her words were stones. And her eyes pierced straight through Kenzo, as if checking whether he would become a problem later. It was exactly the kind of look that made it instantly clear how great the distance between two people could be.
Kenzo said nothing. He did not trust them either. They were powerful, yes. Impressive, even. But that did not make them trustworthy. And he would never forget that his kidnapping, his entry into this world of the Awakened… had been indirectly caused by Ophelia's role. Even if it was not personally her fault, it was still a reality that was hard to ignore when she stood only three meters away from him.
Lucian, meanwhile, tried to offer some kind of solution, his gentle voice sharply contrasting with the atmosphere around them:
– « If we all climb onto Madame… we can get to your shelter as quickly as possible. »
Ananta immediately turned her head toward him, first surprised, then amused. She let a smile spread across her face, briefly lightening the mood.
– « Madame? You gave your artifact a name? »
She let out a light laugh, almost charming despite the exhaustion.
– « Why not, » she added in an amused tone, as though she found the idea cute.
On the other hand, Ophelia rolled her eyes in a theatrical gesture, already exasperated by the mere idea of naming a giant spider. Her expression seemed to say: I'm surrounded by idiots.
Kenzo, not appreciating the way Lucian was being pushed too close to ridicule, spoke up firmly:
– « We'd better get moving. Let's take the fragments and leave. Oh, and I'm a Deviant, so leave the hearts to me. »
Those words immediately rang out in the icy air. The word Deviant caused an instant shift in Ananta's attitude. Her gaze grew sharper, more precise, assessing Kenzo the way one would assess a potentially unstable weapon. She stepped back slightly, not out of fear, but out of instinct.
– « And is the government aware of that? »
The question was not aggressive. It was purely pragmatic. She wanted to know whether Kenzo represented an unforeseen danger.
Kenzo took a deep breath.
– « Yes. Don't worry. And I have someone helping me. »
There was something in his voice that made it clear he was not lying. Ananta sensed it as well. Her shoulders relaxed slightly, just enough to show that she no longer saw Kenzo as an immediate threat.
– « Alright. You can have the hearts… but you'll consume them after we absorb our prana fragments. Just in case you lose control and decide to attack us. »
She pulled out a bag, probably meant for storing fragments or other resources. An artifact? Kenzo thought. Her efficiency was almost intimidating. She gave instructions as though she had been leading groups through dangerous Fragments for years.
– « Alright, come on. Let's quickly collect the fragments and the hearts and put them in there. »
Ophelia spoke up at once, irritated:
– « Why should we take hearts for him on top of everything else? He can do it himself. »
Ananta replied without raising her voice:
– « Out of courtesy. »
Ophelia pressed her lips together, annoyed, but she did not insist. The argument was too neat, too solid to contradict without seeming petty.
After a brief silence, Ananta asked:
– « By the way, what are your names? I assume you already know who we are, since you're most likely from the Royal Academy too. »
The question fell like a nearly diplomatic formality.
Lucian startled slightly, still lost between the whole matter of Deviants, the hearts, and the ambient tension. His voice trembled a little when he answered:
– « Lucian. »
Kenzo replied almost at the same time, in a calm voice:
– « Kenzo. »
Their names echoed through the night air, marking the end of their exchange.
It was time for each of them to get to work quickly so they could finally head toward a safe place.