Ivan stared at the runes on the stone table, and each distinct mark carved on the table could be found on every individual's shoulder, a sign of their pact.
He leaned forward with his fingers interlaced, resting his chin upon them as he appeared to be pondering about something. The aura around him made the remaining six members share a collective glance, already aware of the answer to the question hanging in the air.
"There was no sign of any shard."
He leaned back in his seat.
"I cut her open myself. She had the evidence on paper, but no shard. Even if she knew the history behind the soul shard, I doubt she was crazy enough to swallow it. Perhaps I shouldn't have killed her so quickly. She screamed beautifully. Now I'll need someone new to occupy my time."
One of the members beside him shifted uneasily in his seat.
"But if you knew she didn't swallow the shard, why kill her like that?"
The lady who had been the first to welcome Ivan chuckled softly.
"I told you he's petty. He was probably mad that her brother came to his temple with that notice, so he decided to make the poor girl pay the price. But then again, since when has Ivan ever needed a reason to be cruel? It's his nature."
"If the girl didn't swallow the shard like you said, then where is it? The High Exclessiums are growing impatient with us. If we don't find Aetheros's soul shard soon, that is if it even exists, they'll never stop hounding us. What do we do now?"
One of the members seated across from Ivan voiced his main concern, and Ivan remained silent for a moment before speaking:
"It's quite obvious that not just Hunter, but even her siblings take after their parents. Even though the parents swore before their deaths that they never mentioned the name, Aetheros to their children, I doubt they left them completely ignorant. They must've hidden some clue that led Hunter to the soul shard. Sure, she might not have swallowed it, but I'd wager she kept it somewhere else… her home, perhaps? What are the odds?"
"And if it turns out she doesn't have it?"
"Then we'll keep searching." Ivan replied as though he asked a dumb question. "If I'm right, the Cabals themselves said there are four shards scattered across the realm. It could be in anyone's hands. If we're just lucky enough, whoever has it has no idea the kind of power it contains… yet."
*******
When Hunter had calmed a bit, she listened as the healer told her about how she was found at the entrance of the graveyard. The thought alone made her stomach twist. She couldn't blame Mr Harlow for hesitating to help. Who would willingly aid a dying girl in a place like that, anyway?
She doubted she would've.
Still, these people did. And for that she was grateful. But that was it. Whatever had happened to her, whatever had changed her appearance, it didn't seem to be their doing either.
The healer rose from the chair where she sat as though remembering something.
"You must be hungry, I'll quickly dish up something for you to eat. You'll need to gain your strength back if you wish to return home. Just a moment."
When the healer left, Hunter was alone with Harlow. There was silence for a few minutes before he finally asked:
"What's your name, kid?"
Hunter's lips parted, but no words came. The memories of what happened to her pressed in like a dark tide– the pain, the shame, and the haunting echo of the serpent's priest voice. Just the thought of him sent a shiver down her spine. Her fingers curled tightly around the blanket, her knuckles whitening as the terror in her eyes deepened.
Was it safe to say her name?
If they found out she was still alive… What would they do to her? Can she trust these people at all?
Her heart thudded painfully.
Amon and Laura… were they safe?
Was it safe to go back to them at all?
She couldn't trust anyone. No one at all.
"You don't have to say anything if you don't want to," Harlow said at last, catching on to her silence. His tone wasn't unkind, but just like her, he was equally guarded. "Whatever your story is, keep it buried. Knowing nothing at all keeps people alive in this city."
Hunter's gaze flicked toward him. For a moment, neither spoke.
Letting out a quiet breath, she asked: "What temple do you serve?"
"And what good will that information do for you?" He countered before rising from his chair. "For your own safety, don't go around asking such things."
He adjusted his hat before turning towards the door. "If you can't give us your name we'll stick with snow white."
And he left.
When the door closed behind him, Hunter's gaze lingered on it for a long moment. Slowly, she eased herself back onto the bed. The image of the serpent's priest flashed in her mind, the moment she believed was meant to be her last. His evil, yet subtle smile, the image of her pinned down as he approached with a tool. She squeezed her eyes shut, desperate to banish the thought.
Why did they do all those things to her?
A shuddering breath escaped her as the tears came. For a while, Hunter wept in silence until exhaustion finally pulled her under into a deep sleep.
When she awoke again, the healer had been the one to rouse her, insisting she eat something. Hunter didn't leave a scrap on the plate; she was that famished.
The healer was relieved to see she was eating well at least. However, there was something strange about the girl.
Her recovery alone was baffling; the deep gash across her abdomen, one that should have required critical treatment, was already knitting together at an impossible rate. She recalled the times before the girl regained consciousness, when she tried to change the dressings, and saw something she could hardly believe; The torn flesh and organs were slowly stitching themselves back together.
She hadn't told Harlow about it, fearing he would send the girl away, but sooner or later, he would start questioning the speed of her recovery.
Completely unaware of the healer's thoughts, Hunter finally set the plate aside and murmured gratefully.
"Thank you for the meal."
Her gaze shifted to the room again before she asked: "You said this isn't the Ash Quarters?"
The healer shook her head.
"No. This is Lemuris dock. Finding you that night was sheer luck. We rarely stray near the Ash Quarters."
Her brows furrowed.
"Were you… being buried alive or…?" She hesitated, feeling uneasy and almost sorry for the girl. "Considering the state we found you in, that's the only explanation that makes sense."
Hunter didn't respond. Her fingers curled into fist, and beneath the fears, a deep need for revenge burned in her chest. She knew she couldn't expose the priest, not when he made it clear he didn't work alone. Trying to avenge someone who was barely human would throw her life back into danger.
Her eyes held no light.
"It's a long story."
She needed to find her siblings first… maybe get them to leave the city… and start life anew. Lemuris was no longer a safe place to be.
But first, she needed to pull herself out of bed.