They exit onto the streets, and I follow. All around me people recoil, my naked blade glinting in the sunlight. I nearly lose sight of them, but the cloak gives them away as they rush through the crowd. I sheathe my sword as I run, too many people in the streets to carry that safely, and draw my dagger with my left hand, pressing the flat of the blade against my wrist.

Swapping between my senses as I dart through the crowd, I almost don’t notice as he sets up an ambush, a dagger darts toward my side as I enter an alley. I twist, pushing the blade aside and lashing out with a dagger of my own. It barely connects, sliding under his cloak to make an unseen gouge. He’s faster than I anticipate, shifting aside before sending a blow to my stomach, stronger than it has right to be.

I quickly step back, and he pushes the advantage, I catch his arm as he thrusts, pulling him toward me as I swap my dagger to an icepick grip, aimed for his throat. He shifts, pivoting so that my dagger meets empty air and my wrist is against his throat, I pull the dagger towards him, catching the side of his neck before he shifts it out of the way. He begins to laugh.

He kicks at my knees, and I reposition, pushing him away from me. His face is obscured by a strip of cloth, and the hood over his head obscures the rest. I swap back to a normal grip, his laughter continuing to echo down the alley. I manage half a dozen or so cuts on his arms as we dart around each other, but he fights as though completely unconcerned. After a few half-hearted slashes at my arms, he charges in with a stab at my stomach. Instead of stopping at the armour, the force of his blow drives it all the way through. I gasp, and he withdraws it, stabbing higher at my chest, with the same result. He steps closer, entwining a foot behind my own and pushing me onto the ground. By the time I roll to my feet I only see his cloak inexplicably receding past a corner.

[Your left lung is collapsing.] Page notes, as I draw out the dagger he left in my chest. [Try not to breathe too hard, this won’t take long to fix.] I grimace, restraining my breaths as I try to come off the adrenaline.

I lean up against the wall, Delving to make sure he was gone. How’d he pierce the Liaen? I turn the weapon he used in my hand, it was more akin to a stiletto than a dagger, even so though, the blade itself had bent, and the tip itself crushed instead of a sharp point. That shouldn’t be possible…

[I’d say it’s possible, but not with the ease he did it.] Page replies. [You are dealing with someone far more deadly than you thought.]

I hack up some blood. Is there blood in my lungs too? I sigh. Alida would be embarrassed at how I handled that fight.

[Yes, there is. He stabbed you in the lungs, what are you expecting?] Page asks, exasperated. [Alida would probably have put him on the ground in the first twenty seconds. But we never even got to fifteen. He’s much stronger and faster than you though.]

Probably wearing arm guards or something as well. I note, looking at the dagger I’d used on him. There wasn’t a single trace of blood or flesh on it, though it was remarkably unblemished as well. Wait… where’s Numen? I think, looking around.

[She probably stayed behind after seeing… him…] Page replied. Oh.

I find my way back easily enough, my heart in my throat as I come across Numen. Some relief comes to me as I see that she’s unharmed. She’s knelt down next to Rince, holding on to his hand. I kneel down beside her, and she flinches back, before relaxing as she looks to me. “Did you get him?” She asks. I shake my head, showing her the dagger he’d left behind. She doesn’t respond, simply turning back to Rince.

From the freshness of the blood next to him, he was still alive when I had chased the bastard off, now no longer… It looks like he hadn’t had the time for any mutilations, ‘merely’ satisfying himself with draining him of blood. “We should call the guards.” I say, my voice barely a whisper.

“We fought about you.” She says, her eyes never leaving him. Her voice sounded tired, dull. “It’s weird, he respected you a lot, admired you even, but he didn’t seem to like being around you.” She pauses. “I had hoped, that if you two worked together more, it would go away, that he’d see you the same way I did.” She screws her eyes shut, as tears threaten to spill from the side of them.

I bundle him up, but as I move to pick him up Numen stops me, dropping to one knee to do it herself. I nod, standing back. As we leave the alley people take note, watching us crowding around with hushed whispers until the guards quickly move to keep them away.

Jeff presides over the funeral, as Rince would’ve wanted. He gives a short speech, quoting lines from a book I’ve never read over his bundled body, the words blur together in the back of my mind. The entire guild shows up to mourn, slumped over as they watch the proceedings with bleary eyes. Rince’s body is cremated, where almost a hundred people show up as well. Sel is by Numen’s side, consoling her, having just returned from a long job before the rites began. I tear my eyes from the flames as a hand places itself on my shoulder.

Jeff is at my side, he holds out a wineskin, shaking it slightly. I shake my head, gently pushing the wineskin back. He nods, taking a quick sip. “How are you feeling?” He asks, peering intently at me. My gaze drifts back to the pyre, then to Numen. He hesitates, his face screwing into a grimace. “I know Numen has told you a little about what happened between them, and I don’t mean to presume anything, we never really did know each other all that well, but… it’s not your fault they fought.” I arch an eyebrow, cocking my head at him. “I knew I was worrying for nothing…” He mumbles a little. “Just… with so many dead…” His voice trails off.

Maybe I should’ve felt a little guilty, or perhaps even a twinge of concern, but as callous as it sounded, he had brought it on himself by doing what he had done. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of anger in fact. Numen was devastated, she hadn’t said a word since, just… leaning against the doors of the temple, shedding silent tears as Sel held her. All this… because of what? I gritted my teeth, letting out a growl.

Jeff looks taken aback, but as I sigh and shake my head he relaxes. “Maybe you should be talking to Numen instead.” I say, gesturing over to her. “She’s the one that’s most in need of the support.” Sel notices me gesturing, and shoots me an odd look.

[You’re not exactly at your most stable now either.] Page observes. I ignore it.

“No offence, but that feels like something you really should be doing.” Jeff says. “She was always aloof to those not a part of the irregulars, I think… I think she feels safe among you.” He takes another sip from the wineskin. “Eca, you saw what she was like during the wedding.” I did, she had almost refused to go along with the whole thing until we moved to a more private venue. “I’m just a priest, between the two I was a lot closer to Rince than Numen. He and I talked often, and I did what I could to soothe his concerns.” He gives me a wan smile.

I nod. “I won’t pry about what he talked to you about.” I looked over to Numen. “I’m not good at comforting people, I never know the right words, even if sometimes words aren’t necessary at all. All I’d do is make things more uncomfortable.” I sigh. “I don’t know how to locate this bastard. Somehow he’s always ready for me, ready to find a gap between us, exploit it.” I narrow my eyes. “Have you ever heard of anyone with such a burning hatred of us?” I ask, folding my arms and looking to the sky.

“No, I have not.” Jeff says. “Your group is respected, for good reason. With the way that Frejr set up the organization to aid and protect, it’s hardly surprising that nearly all the common peoples appreciate you.” He lets out a sigh. “The only people who could have a reason for killing any of you know better than to try. There’s talk amongst the people to repay violence onto the Republic, or the nobles, or reformed bandits, or whoever else they feel like blaming each day.” He shakes his head. “It’s getting hard to hold back.”

I bring up a hand to the side of head, giving a long sigh. “I didn’t really think of that. That could undermine a lot of the peace we’ve achieved. With the war just finished… you’d think they’d be too tired to start up more violence…” I lean back against a nearby wall. “I’d almost feel flattered if it wasn’t such a terrible outcome.” I snort, leaning back.

“I’m glad one of us can see the humour in this.” Jeff grumbles. “Such an outcome could very well be disastrous. Whoever is hunting you might have keyed in on this. Perhaps their goal is just… to sow chaos and discord.” He shakes his head. “It’s crazy of course, who would be deranged enough to do that?” He asks aloud. You’d be surprised. I thought to myself. “I have to continue my counsel, may Eca help bring justice to this madman, and may Qwell give you protection against them.” I gave him a small bow, and he leaves, heading back to the temple.

I made my way past Sel and Numen, taking a seat behind them. It was difficult for me to continue looking at the flames, instead I found my gaze settling on Sel and Numen. I didn’t know if she was going to be alright, Jeff was right, she had never seemed comfortable with anyone other than people like us. Aside Sel and I, I… honestly didn’t know if she had other friends.

By the time the flames had died, it was about night. Sel gently guided Numen away from the temple, making her way to her usual inn. “I’ll watch over her tonight.” Sel whispers to me. “I’ll talk to her, keep her company.” I nod, thankful for her presence.

“I’ll take one of the other rooms.” I say. “I promised them I wouldn’t go anywhere alone.” She shrugs at that, bringing Numen with her to have a meal.

The servers and innkeeper offer their condolences to us as they serve, the inn itself is quiet, with all their patrons gone home or their rooms. Numen nods her acknowledgements, half-heartedly taking her food. “You need to eat and keep your strength up.” I say gently, Sel echoes my sentiments, and between the two of us we manage to get her to finish about half her usual portion.

Sel brings her up to their room, while I stay down for a short while longer, having a few drinks before I bring a portion up to my room. Forcing the food down is difficult, but by now I’ve gotten used to it. I look out the window, these last few days all I want to do is go out there to track them down, but I don’t know anymore, it just seems so… hopeless. How long have I tried? With each time the madman acting one step ahead of me. I grimace, laying down on the floor as I bundle my pack under the sheets.