Arrieta dutifully looked over Neidr's wounds, soon concluding that nothing too dangerous had occurred. Seeing Arrieta so serious, he challenged her to a game of rock paper scissors. He had lost only once in their twenty games. He could read her face like a book. They alternated to playing tic-tac-toe, and rather than being competitive it turned into a teaching session where Neidr explained how to win almost regardless of what her opponent did. It was to the sound of laughing that the men who had previously captured these peasants awoke. Isaac tried to yell at them with anger, but no sound came out as he was gagged. Regardless of their newfound consciousness, Neidr continued to teach Arrieta in a good mood as she seriously studied, but alas... Neidr frowned as they were starting to get noisy and turned around. He walked up to the pudgy man who had pulled him up by the hair earlier and removed his gag.

"HOW FUCKING DARE KJHDSFBGASK" [Gerald] As soon as Gerald started screaming, Neidr put his gag back on, pulled out a knife and started sawing at his ear. He didn't stop until it was removed. The cartilage fell to the ground as Neidr spoke emotionlessly,

"If a man is unwilling to listen, does he need an ear?" [Neidr] One of the men jumped up and rushed over to Neidr. Although their limbs were bound, they weren't tied to anything, thus they had limited movement. Neidr rolled his eyes and slammed a knife into the man's throat, killing him. The other who started to get up immediately got back down, wearing expressions of fear.

"I'm going to ask a question. You're going to answer the question. If you don't answer the question, you die. Do you follow?"[Neidr] The four left hurriedly nodded their heads and Neidr removed another man's gag. This time, the person in question didn't dare to speak a word.

"How did you find us?"[Neidr]

"We happened upon the cave."[initiate] Neidr leaned back and asked,

"Why don't I believe you?"[Neidr] Neidr didn't think it was a coincidence, he was unlucky, but these people just happened to find the cave that he was in at night? The initiate remained silent and Neidr said,

"Tell you what, I'll kill everyone, but the person that tells me the truth. Is that your final answer?"[Neidr] The initiate nodded resolutely and Neidr placed the gag back on and killed him as well, he walked to the next man before lightly slapping his own head.

"Oh, just in case it wasn't clear, you'll all die if I don't hear the truth."[Neidr] Neidr shook his head like he couldn't believe he made such a silly mistake. He took the gag off the next man and asked,

"How..."[Neidr] Neidr was cut off by the man as he said,

"It was Isaac! He can track Susan's bracelet with his own! Zalar gave it to him since he's a family friends of the Cykes."[Inititate] Neidr clapped his hands and looked at the others in mock disappointment.

"See class, that's how you answer a question. Truthful and to the point. So, what is this Cykes family?"[Neidr] The initiate smiled and hurriedly answered,

"They are a Earl family from the land in the south on the border of Phantia. They possess the city of Chardell through which all trade to Pontifax flows."[Initiate] While the other initiates were staring at this young man with hatred, Neidr was pondering. Flirord was rather insular and only had a few cities with their commerce opened to the kingdoms of the south. Chardell was one of them, although this family was low in rank, their importance could not be understated.

"Which faction are they aligned with?"[Neidr] The initiate hurriedly answered with,

"The third Prince!"[Initiate] Neidr nearly laughed. The groups that tied themselves to the third prince are nobles seeking weak central power or spies trying to weaken Flirord. The third prince liked to live in luxury and didn't really care about succession. Neidr thought it was a hell of a faction if the person they wanted to instate wanted nothing to do with being instated.

"Did Zalar plot anything else?"[Neidr] The initiates eyes shot wide open and he said,

"As you might know, Palersa forest is located in the northern portion of the kingdom of Cassalin, our long-term allies. Zalar has made an agreement with the local Marchioness to use this forest for training, but this time, he paid her off to send some guards to make sure the nobles make it back safely."[Initiate] As soon as the initiate spoke about the deal with the marchioness, despite the possible repercussions, the other initiates couldn't take it anymore. They started rushing towards him, using anything they could to shut him up. They beat their heads against him, and tried to kick him. Neidr smiled wryly and pulled his blade. Arrieta took out her own and the both of them quickly reaped all their lives, even the initiates that was answering the questions one by one.

Judging by their reactions, the part that really set them off was when he said that guards were making sure the nobles were safe. They probably weren't die hard fans of Zalar, so the only reason to risk their lives to shut this man up was that it had to do with their lives. The fact that the guards hadn't immediately responded when the first couple of nobles died meant that they haven't arrived in this forest yet. Neidr believed these people had hope that the guards would eventually show up to rescue them. Neidr eyed the bracelets as they turned red one by one. It probably wasn't only Susan's bracelet that could be tracked.

Neidr let out a laugh and said humorlessly,

"Nothing is ever allowed to be easy."[Neidr]