“So? How did it go today?” ZenTar asked, pouring himself a glass of wine. He’d spent the entire day running here and there, making sure everything was ready for their departure.

“Oh, it went great. The brat managed to completely suppress all my markings,” ZaiWin calmly replied and ZenTar immediately spat the mouth-full of wine he’d just drank.

“Wha-What?”

“Exactly what I said. It was as if suddenly I was four-years-old all over again. That damn brat! I almost bludgeoned him to death!”

“But how? I’ve never heard of anything even remotely similar to that.”

“That’s what I want to know. Aren’t Celestials supposed to make you stronger? All that the freaking brat managed to do up till now, besides killing my men, was leaving me as defenseless as a baby!”

“Well, knowing you, you probably threatened to kill him, right? Maybe that was a defense mechanism?”

“And that makes everything all right? The brat not only is a freak, he’s a menace as well, in every aspect. We have to find a way to get rid of him as soon as possible.”

“I doubt that will be as easy as it sounds,” ZenTar sighed, sipping his wine.

“No matter how hard, it has to be done. I never asked for any of this damn shit!”

“Well, you know what they say. A Celestial is always sent to those who are in need of enlightenment.”

“In my case, to those that are in need of an early death! That is if that’s even a Celestial!”

“You still have doubts?” ZenTar asked incredulously and ZaiWin averted his gaze.

“I agree he has some of a Celestial characteristics, but there are also many things that don’t add up. He’s a boy, for starters. And everyone knows that Celestials are always female.” ZenTar nodded in agreement.

“Girls with golden hair and golden eyes.”

“Which he clearly does not have. And then there’s that array. When have you ever heard of a Celestial casting such a huge, deadly array? And I get that he was tortured into doing it. But still … what exactly was that?”

“You didn’t manage to make him do it again?”

“I tried my best, short of breaking his legs. And that’s when I suddenly ended up as empty as shell.”

ZenTar took a deep breath, peering out of the window. The day was slowly dawning. They’d lost another night of sleep.

“However, that incident apart, it looks like he obeys your commands.”

“Most of the times. But who’s not to say that he doesn’t do so out of mere fear? You said it yourself. I terrify him, even though I can’t really understand why. It’s not like I’ve ever done anything to harm him. At least nothing I can recall.”

“Well, you’re hardly nice to the poor kid either,” ZenTar retorted critically.

“Why should I be? This damned brat only came to make my shitty life even more shittier!”

ZenTar sighed and took a seat, sipping from his wine cup. He knew it was no use trying to argue that. That ZaiWin hadn’t killed the poor kid the moment he realized what he was was a miracle in itself.

“Anyways, I’ve finished all the needed arrangements. We can leave whenever you want. And I see you’re already done with your reports,” he noticed, glancing towards the pile of papers carefully assembled over the table. “Have you talked with the Demon Clan’s CalDai?” he asked and, when he didn’t get an answer, turned to look at him. “Nox?”

ZaiWin blinked and stared back at him in confusion.

“What? What did you say?”

“I asked if you’ve already talked with Demon Clan’s CalDai. Are you feeling all right?” ZenTar added with a worried expression and ZaiWin nodded, waving a hand dismissively.

“Yeah, I just got lost in my thoughts for a moment. Yes, I’ve talked with him and we’ve reached an understanding. He has agreed to confirm my reports and to say that the one responsible for what happened was one of his kin, and that he died from the severe torture he sustained.”

“And you trust him?”

“I trust him more than I trust half the men stationed under me. You know how the Demon Clan works. They’re mainly warriors and, unlike us, they revere honor and pride above anything else. I think he was even relieved, since now he won’t have to feel like his indebted to us.”

“Well, that’s probably true,” ZenTar agreed. “And what about Wen NimRen-lar’s situation?” Again there was no response and when ZenTar looked up at him he found ZaiWin frowning, an uncommon distant look in his eyes. “Hey! Are you listening to me?”

“Yeah … it’s just that … there’s this annoying buzzing sound in my ears.”

“Buzzing sound?”

ZenTar tilted his head, trying to hear it as well. But then ZaiWin was suddenly walking in wide, rushed strides out of the door, as if he’d suddenly remembered something extremely important.

“Hey! Where are you going?” Zentar demanded, jumping to his feet, running to catch up with him. “What happened?”

“The fucking brat!” was the only reply he received, as he tried his best to keep up with his furious, storm-like steps.

ZaiWin opened the door to the bedroom where Snow had been staying with such force that it clashed against the wall, leaving a dent there. The heavy curtains were still closed, a single candle about to die out burning on a silver candle-holder placed on the table.

Taking a deep breath, ZenTar clapped once, and several small flames jumped from his hands, quickly making their way to their burners, brightening up the dim bedroom. The dim, empty bedroom, he concluded with one look. The large canopy bed was unmade, the satin covers thrown back, but there was no sign of the kid anywhere. Just to make sure, ZenTar peered under the bed and looked inside the large red-wood wardrobe, still filled with the Lord’s rich and excessively adorned clothes.

“Fuck!” ZaiWin spat, his anger smothering the light of the flames, and ZenTar sighed.

“Calm down.”

“Calm down?! I warned the little shit that if he tried to escape I’d fucking kill him!”

“Well, there’s nothing here saying that he ran away. Maybe he’s just somewhere else in the Fortress. It’s not like it would be the first time he went wandering around,” ZenTar tried to appease him but the hard, flashing blue eyes that looked back at him told him that he’d been completely unsuccessful.

“He’s not in the Fortress!” ZaiWin growled, to which ZenTar raised and inquisitive brow.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because …” his angry reply broke off half-way and a sudden expression of realization took over his face. “Because … I know …” he whispered, looking around as if he expected to see the kid standing right there, next to him, and then he was out of the door again, storming down the corridor.

“Nox! Damn it! Where are you going now?” ZenTar shouted, running after him once more, but, this time, there was no answer.