After Vale was handed over to the proper authorities, they received a payment that barely felt worth the trouble. But what stung more than the thin stack of coins was the truth—the information on that bounty poster had been fake. A cheap lure, nothing more, meant to draw in anyone willing to capture a serial thief.
Eira cast an uneasy glance at Kaera, who was clearly disappointed, barely containing the anger boiling inside her.
"Looks like he was just a small-time thief with a sharp tongue. He didn't know anything about you. He just wanted to save himself by keeping you distracted," Eira said, trying to reassure her, though doubt slipped into her voice.
Kaera didn't respond. Her jaw clenched so tightly the veins in her neck stood out. The light that had filled her eyes earlier was gone, replaced by something dark—like a black hole forming inside her chest.
Without warning, Kaera swung her fist with full force into the stone wall beside the reward office door.
BAM!
Fine cracks splintered across the surface. Fresh blood welled from her knuckles, but she didn't make a sound. She didn't care about the sting in her hand—the ache in her chest was far worse.
Without looking at Eira or acknowledging the strange stares from the officials, Kaera strode away. Her steps were fast and rough, shouldering past anyone in her path, her aura sharp and freezing.
----
AT THE PORT OF ERYNPORT
They walked back along the quiet harbor route. The salty air that once felt refreshing now suffocated Kaera. Each gust of sea breeze felt like a quiet mockery of her failure.
Eira watched her from the side, her heart heavy. She had to half-jog just to keep up. She knew how high Kaera's hopes had been—this could have been a fragment of her past. But once again, fate toyed with her.
"You okay?" Eira asked softly, gathering courage beneath the strained silence.
Kaera stopped abruptly. She drew in a long breath, letting the briny air fill her lungs before releasing it in a bitter exhale. Her bleeding hand slipped into the folds of her robe.
"I'm fine." The answer was flat. But Eira heard the fragile tremor at the end—a lie they both knew wouldn't heal anything.
Kaera halted at the edge of an aging wooden pier. She stood with her back to Eira, staring toward the horizon where the night sky merged with the sea. Her injured hand remained clenched, red droplets falling one by one onto the rotting planks.
Eira didn't approach. Some spaces weren't meant to be crossed.
The cheap locket that had once seemed like a "clue" dangled loosely in Kaera's grip before she released it into the sea.
Plup.
It sank instantly, swallowed by the dark waters of Erynport.
"Kaera... even if that locket was fake, what you saw in that illusion—it was real to you, wasn't it? You're still searching for him."
Kaera stared into the vast darkness of the ocean, her sharp gaze as if trying to pierce every wave.
"My sword can't cut through illusions, Eira. But if one day I find anyone connected to that clan... I won't hesitate."
Eira offered a thin smile, trying to lighten the air. She stepped closer, closing the distance just a little.
"At least now we learned something. You can't fall for black market junk again. Next time, let me check the item's status first. You just charge straight in."
Kaera glanced at her. The tension in her shoulders eased slightly.
"Hm. Just don't let yourself get hypnotized too. You're way too quick to pity people."
"Hey! I am not!" Eira pouted in protest, her expression almost cute—but inwardly she felt relieved. The frost around Kaera had softened, even if only a little. At least her jaw wasn't locked tight anymore.
Eira hurried after her as Kaera left the pier behind.
"Okay, we didn't get answers tonight. But at least we got the reward , right? We can buy supplies, gather information in another city."
Kaera stopped suddenly. She stared up at the starless sky, something clicking in her mind.
"He mentioned Astaroth, Eira. Even if he lied... how would a petty thief like him know that name unless someone told him?"
Eira fell silent. She had a point. Astaroth wasn't exactly the kind of name people casually tossed around in taverns.
"You think... someone's watching us?" Eira whispered, goosebumps rising on her skin.
Kaera sheathed her katana neatly. "Either someone who sides with my father... or an enemy waiting for me to make a mistake."
She turned to Eira. The disappointment from earlier had sharpened into resolve.
"Split the money. Save half. We move at dawn. If that locket was a false clue, then it means we're getting closer to the real one."
Relief spread across Eira's face. Kaera was stubborn—but she didn't break easily.
"Alright, boss! Tomorrow we hunt for a clue that doesn't lie!"
The two of them disappeared into the mist of Erynport's night. They returned without answers—but one thing was certain. With every wound exposed, the bond between them grew stronger.
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