The fire I had made crackled in the dimly lit room, casting flickering shadows against its worn wooden walls, making us feel alone in the world. It has been a day since I brought her here. I had sat down on a rickety chair across from Lira, watching her but saying nothing, simply bringing her some fruits to eat. What could I say? I had no idea... Nothing came to mind.


    In turn, she hadn''t spoken much since learning the devastating news, either, only reaching out and silently munching on the sliced apple.


    Finishing the small breakfast, she just sat on the edge of her cot, knees drawn to her chest, her still damp hair sticking to her skin as she woke up from a nightmare last night, drenched in sweat. However, after I calmed her down, she had changed into a dryer set of clothes after being soaked again; watching her, she looked smaller than ever. It was as if the weight of what she''d learned had physically shrunk her down. I felt bad... I couldn''t help it. Her arms wrapped tightly around herself, her fingers pressing into her arm, eyes looking dim, almost empty. What was a bit more worrying is... Well, she hadn''t cried. Not yet.


    "Auriel."


    I turned my head toward the new voice, and to my surprise, it belonged to Cravik, who I hadn''t even heard coming in. He was leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed, shaking his head. His expression was compassionate, and his voice was low enough not to startle Lira.


    "Go get some rest yourself. I''ll watch her so she does nothing stupid."


    I hesitated a little, glancing back at Lira, but I was indeed tired. I didn''t sleep since finding that unsigned bill for sale. What worried me once more was that she hadn''t moved and hadn''t even acknowledged us. Finally, my fingers twitched, wanting to say something—anything—but I knew there was nothing I could do right now. She had to open up first...


    "…Yeah," I muttered, pushing myself up. "I''ll check in later."


    ...


    ....


    ......


    By the third dawn, the Crowfoot had already put their ears to the ground everywhere in the city.


    Risa wasted no time, sending out informants and contacts across the streets the moment we left her home. Lira''s father was a well-known wreck of a man—tracking him down shouldn''t have been difficult. It shouldn''t have been...


    And yet, by the second day, they had nothing. By the third? Not even a sighting of the fucker.


    It made me nervous and restless, so I took matters into my own hands. I didn''t fully trust that the Crows were telling me everything, that Risa wouldn''t lie about something so serious. I was still... new. I didn''t have any contacts or networks, but I did make some brief connections and knew which tongue I could loosen with a few coins I had earned so far.


    My first success was with an old drunkard who had seen Lira''s father the night before stumbling around near the eastern markets. Not dead. Not missing. He''s just… gone after getting a fix that sent him reeling for ten minutes or so.


    It wasn''t much, but it was something.


    So, I followed the lead, heading toward the lower district''s eastern bars—places where people like Lira''s dad could turn up, alive or dead. Holes that were cheap and dangerous, not only because of the people frequenting them but because they may serve you so bad of a drink that it could kill. I didn''t expect what would come next... As I rounded the corner of an alley, a familiar figure stood waiting for me right there and then as if knowing I was coming.


    I had stopped immediately, my pulse quickening as someone wearing the Adventurer''s Guild Insignia leaned against the wall, arms crossed, measuring me.


    I hadn''t seen the man before, nor any other members, not since I walked away from the Guild. Glancing at his wrist, there it was, hanging from it like a decorative chain... his bracelet. Shining in gold. Damn it. I had no genuine concept of what each rank meant or what the requirements were to be promoted besides experience or fame... But I could easily see that being a bronze-ranked one and him a golden boy, I did not have much chance if I wanted to run.


    Reflexively, my hands curled into loose fists as I spoke up.


    "Didn''t expect to see you," I said, keeping my tone casual, trying to be unreadable. "You lost?"


    "We never met before."


    "I meant you, as in the Guild members." I rolled my eyes, not wanting to give him the impression I was afraid.


    "Lazlow," he smirked, pushing off the wall and introducing himself. "I was waiting for you."


    "Yeah?" I tensed. "Why?"


    "Well," Lazlow shrugged, stepping forward at a leisurely pace but in a way that blocked my route forward, and I had a nagging feeling backing out would simply put me in the sight of another group hiding somewhere. "I bring good news, actually. The Guild has decided to clear you, Auriel. More than that, if you had any past offenses? Forgotten. All of ''em."


    I couldn''t help but narrow my eyes. This was a trap. Why now? Why say it like this? Why not invite me into their headquarters? Something didn''t add up.


    "I don''t have any past offenses," I said slowly. Well, at least, if my memories as the young Auriel held up well enough.


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    "None that we know about." Lazlow chuckled. "So... No, you don''t. But let''s be honest, we were pissed you joined with a bandit group. Especially with how sudden of a switch it was." His gaze flickered over my shoulder, making me flinch, but I did not turn around. I felt how dangerous he was... I was not going to take my eyes off his hands if I could help it. What if he stabs me? "You even disappeared for a while. Then left the city. We know that, by the way."


    "I guessed as much," I muttered while keeping my face blank, but my gut twisted. Fuck. Lazlow was telling me something without saying it outright. They had been watching, and they knew where I had been. I thought the boys paid off everyone who had to be paid off...


    Well, so much for secrecy. And if they knew that… What else did they know about the Crows? As if reading my thoughts, Lazlow sighed, giving a mock, disappointed shake of his head.


    "Honestly, Auriel, we weren''t even mad about you joining up with Risa. Gangs change hands all the time. It happens."


    I said nothing, waiting... but damn, this means they also know Risa is the head of the organization. I wonder if she knows they know...


    "But we figured," Lazlow continued, his voice lowering just slightly, "that after a few months in the mud, you''d come back—a prodigal son of sorts. And you know what? We''re making it easy for you. You can return to us and keep yourself as a bronze-ranked adventurer. No penalties. No grudges."


    My jaw tightened, holding back myself from expressing anything on my face. I had expected a threat. I expected veiled warnings. This was worse... They weren''t demanding anything. Were they inviting me back? Just like this? I had faced so many sweet-talking opportunities before that this one was stinking from a mile away. And not because Lazlow''s hygiene was terrible.


    "Think about it," He smiled, seeing my silence. "No rush, of course. Just think about it."


    "Maybe," I answered as I shifted my weight, crossing my arms. "And if I don''t?"


    To that... Lazlow gave a slow, knowing nod.


    "Well… nothing, really." He sighed dramatically. "But you know how things are, Auriel. People talk. Trust is fragile. If you''re working with the Crows, you should know that better than anyone."


    What was he speaking about...? Could they...?! The thought alone made my fingers twitch.


    "There''s something I don''t understand," Lazlow continued, observing me. "You seem to trust them quite a bit. I mean, they''re still criminals, aren''t they? No matter how noble they act. They sweeten their deals, praying for the vulnerable. You were vulnerable, weren''t you? I know it was our fault, but we had to be careful, Auriel. You can see that, no?"


    That... may be right. But I didn''t get enough time to think as Lazlow wasn''t done speaking.


    "And you know," he added, stepping closer, his tone even quieter now, more intimate, "if there was someone the Crows didn''t want you to find… they''d make sure you never did."


    Hearing that, my pulse suddenly pounded in my ears. Lazlow watched me for a beat longer before clapping me lightly on the shoulder, starting to head out from the alley we were standing in.


    "Just something to think about," he said with a lazy smile. "See you around."


    And then, just like that, he walked away, leaving behind a carefully planted seed of doubt right in my own mind. As I turned to look at his back, I stood still for a long moment, watching Lazlow disappear down the street.


    My heart was still hammering, but not from fear. It was more from frustration. From uncertainty. I knew what Lazlow was doing. It was a game I was a victim of in the past. A test to see if I''d break. To turn me. To make me doubt. And yet… There was also truth in what he said. Why hadn''t they found Lira''s father yet?


    The Crows should be efficient—Risa wouldn''t waste time. She did not. If that bastard was still missing after two days, was someone keeping him hidden? Reaching that thought, I exhaled, running a hand through my hair.


    It was nonsense. It had to be.


    But as I turned back toward the shady streets I was about to visit, the unease remained, coiling around my thoughts like a viper. If we can''t find him in the same circles, we operate in...


    "Fuck..."


    For the first time since joining the Crows… I wasn''t sure who I could actually trust.


    ...


    ....


    ......


    In the end, I ended up wandering the streets aimlessly, my mind racing. Lazlow''s words echoed in my ears every time I tried to find a reason why nobody had seen Lira''s father.


    "If there was someone the Crows didn''t want you to find… they''d make sure you never did."


    Trying to chase it out of my mind, I shook my head, trying to dispel the thought, almost giving myself a concussion. Risa had been nothing but upfront with me since I joined. She had no reason to hide Lira''s father—unless there was something more at play.


    Did she lie to me about knowing about it?


    As I passed a group of working men unloading crates for a blacksmith, a thought surfaced in my head. What if the Guild has him? But... if that was the case, why wouldn''t they be using him already to crack down on us? Wait... why should they crack down on us? Ugh... I was missing pieces of a puzzle, and it was driving me mad. But I knew something didn''t add up. Maybe it wasn''t a good idea to join a group. There are too many secrets and too many threads that could end up entangling me and causing me pain. To avoid it... Maybe I should start my own business.


    Maybe.


    Maybe after everything is straightened out, I''ll leave. Maybe not. One thing was sure: suddenly, I felt trapped, and it wasn''t a good feeling. It was starting to be the same as in my old life. Didn''t I say it won''t be like that again? Tsk... come on Auriel. Get a grip; nobody but I can dictate my life.


    ...


    ....


    ......


    When I returned to the safe house, Lira was still sitting on the cot, her gaze fixed on the floor. Cravik had left, leaving her alone with her thoughts, which I wasn''t happy about. Didn''t he say he would watch him? Damn it. Still, she was still there... and I hesitated, standing in the doorway, unsure if I should disturb her. But then she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper, compelling me to come in and sit next to her.


    "Did you find him?"


    "Well..." I muttered, closing the door behind me, remaining silent until I was sitting, holding her hand. "Not yet. But we''re close."


    She didn''t respond, her fingers tightening around mine.


    "Hey..." I moved closer, trying to look at her face, hiding behind her hair, "Lira, we''re going to find him. I promise."


    "I just don''t know if I want you to find him." She finally looked at me, her eyes tired but with more light than before. It seems... she had time to think. "I don''t know if I want to meet him anymore."


    "I get that." I nodded firmly. "And it''s not your fault. None of this is."


    "No, it isn''t." She shook her head, tears finally spilling over. "I know that. But it... still hurts."


    "I know... it hurts a lot." I reached out, hesitating for only a moment before placing a hand on her shoulder and pulling her into a hug. I know there were times when I wanted to be hugged, but there was nobody who would do so... "But we stopped it before it could happen."


    "You stopped it..." She muttered, and she didn''t pull away. For a moment, the weight of her grief seemed to lift just a little.


    As I sat beside her, my mind drifted back to Lazlow''s words. If the Crows had her father, he would probably already be dead and would never have turned up. If the Guild had her father, they were using him as leverage to build something against the Crows. Against us. But for what? Haaah... This is a mess.