October 19, 1999 — Outskirts of Eva — Zone 47
Blood soaks the earth as much as the tears of those who say goodbye.
Timidly touched by the king star that still seeks to establish itself, Lozar's family seems more united than ever. On an infinite green lawn they gather wearing black. Children do not fully understand what is happening, but they can feel the pain of those who are there. A man with gray hair and white garments adorned with golden details recites some words of comfort.
In another corner of the cemetery, in a less green spot, with more trees and fewer people. A solitary tombstone sadly bears the name Draus. There, only Miriane and Miguel make a point of saying goodbye with bouquets of dahlias as red as the blood that is now consumed by worms.
"He still had a long path ahead." Miriane lets the words drift into the air and be carried away with the breeze that touches her face.
Miguel prefers silence while his gaze gets lost among the reddish petals.
"Sorry for the delay, I was stuck in a clan meeting." Apis also wears the most noble of all colors.
"And how was it with the mercenaries?" Miriane asks him without taking her eyes off the tombstone.
"According to the armed forces report, they were hired to collect a debt from the Neophyte." Apis finishes speaking while also getting lost among the bouquets.
"But why so many? And why did they have so many boars?" Miguel turns to Apis as he asks.
"As for the boars, according to reports from some residents who live farther from the village. Yesterday a herd of more than one hundred of them was seen at a lake nearby. Those were probably the ones that split off." Apis explains while now looking more directly at Miguel.
"One hundred of those? So we ended up being lucky?" Miriane speaks quietly with her fists clenched downward and her gaze turned to a tree beside her.
"Do not be hard on yourself. There are very few at your level who can deal with seven at the same time." Apis looks at the brown strands that sway over her black clothing, but what stands out the most is the sword sheathed at her waist with the reddish crystal still embedded at the tip of the handle.
"I agree, I even think you should go back to doing missions and rise again in the guild." Miguel also observes her, but from the corner of his eye.
"If yesterday is considered a mission, it will have been my twentieth as a shadow hunter." Miriane lets the words drift into the air again, now looking at the sky and at the tiny clouds that dare to challenge the celestial blue.
"Even without having a Silent Guardian at the site to accompany the mission. Due to the special conditions, the witnesses and the proven feats. It is very likely that the guild central will assign the mission to both of you." Apis even adjusts his eyepatch while speaking and receives some beams of light that pass through the treetop beside him.
"I still lack five, if this one counts, it will be four. I think I will go back to active duty as well." Miguel explains while also looking at the sky.
"You make a good pair, your specialties complement each other, that is my advice." A slight closed-mouth smile is all Apis allows himself at the moment.
"And about the mercenaries?" Miguel asks again, turning to him. Miriane also looks at him.
First he sighs.
"One of the mercenaries was found dead in the cell at dawn, the one you hit with the arrow." Apis looks directly at Miguel. "The other one that the girl captured gave his testimony. But apparently he was covering the three who were in the cornfield. In total, six mercenaries were hired to collect the debt. But they did not expect two Shadow Hunters to be nearby."
"That makes sense, their formation was very well set for that. But those three who came from behind... they were definitely watching us." Miguel speaks while looking back at the tombstone.
"The mercenary said he did not know anything about a third group in the mission. But he said he had already seen that man who was found dead. Something about him being from another faction that works for very dangerous people." Apis continues explaining while adjusting two dagger hilts in their sheaths, one on each side of his waist.
"Their internal structure is still very nebulous. It would be good if the armed forces took advantage of this case to investigate more deeply." Miguel speaks while lightly scratching the back of his neck with his fingertips.
"Lately they have been very overloaded with all the disappearances of children, and even more after the case of that android at the border. I think this case will not go very far." Apis finishes speaking with his gaze lost in the soil with traces of grass.
"And the students? How are they?" Miriane takes the opportunity, now with her gaze turned to the flowers.
"They are well, Lafral is the only one who will need more follow-up. The others have already been released." Apis explains while removing the dagger from the right sheath and staring at the silver blade with something subtly written on the metal.
"That is good! I hope they do not give up on the internship." Miriane also observes the silver blade from the corner of her eye.
"It would be understandable if they did." Miguel also cannot resist looking at that blade.
"Are you sure the report is completely correct?" Apis lets the question hang between the two while still looking at the blade in his hand. They look more directly at his face at that moment. "Three perfect shots and one that hit a boar that had not even come out of the cornfield yet?"
"That shot saved me from being caught off guard."
"She also hit one that saved the three of us."
"It really is a pity. Someone like her, in the future could easily become one of those legends that inspire poems." Apis's heart even races for a moment while his hair stands on end beneath the suit.
"After seeing what those two are capable of, still so young, I truly believe that humanity is getting closer and closer to being able to confront them on equal footing." Miriane speaks while gripping the handle of the sword firmly and looking at the tombstone once more.
"The boys also did very well, I did not even need to use my enchantment." Miguel says while placing his hand on his shoulder and sliding it a little to his back which feels lighter than usual.
"Speaking of that, what we feared is happening. They are already able to execute some as well." Miriane looks directly at Apis who is already putting the dagger away again.
"According to internal reports, it was only a matter of time. At least it should still take a good while for them to fully master it." Apis speaks while beginning to turn. "It is up to us to improve more and more, the world is cruel to those who stop evolving." He finishes as he starts taking his first steps away.
"Indeed! Well, I will be going too, I need to pick up my bow from repair." Miguel does not miss the cue to follow his path.
Miriane watches each of them go in a different direction, but unlike them, she remains for a few more minutes looking at the flowers, the trees, and getting lost in thought, until the moment she smiles lightly and along with the breeze that has now strengthened a bit more, she also follows her path.
The week that followed was marked by some news reports, obscure meetings, and by the results of the practical tests that left Marcela relieved and happy while she lovingly took care of Bernardo who was already much better, but still did not refuse such affection. Sarah, on the other hand, still undecided about what she wanted, chose to move forward and enjoy the moments with those two.
Another Saturday and Sunday passed with family while Leila admired her daughter's grades and also felt her heart almost stop when she told about the test. But she soon calmed down when Júlio pointed out that experiences like that are what make people stronger. She agreed while looking at an empty wall with a vacant gaze.
On television and in the newspaper, the forecast for the next days is of a storm.