Amara let out a long, tired sigh as she slumped into the wooden chair, the dull creak of old joints matching her mood. "Ugh… finding them in this city is harder than I thought it would be," she muttered, dragging a hand through her blonde hair in frustration.
Across from her, Crow flopped down into his own seat with a scoff. "What's this? I thought you were supposed to be the best tracker in the entire organization."
Amara shot him a glare sharp enough to flay skin. "I am. I've found them multiple times before, so don't insult my capabilities." Her voice was low but fierce, effectively silencing the wight.
She exhaled and leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "But this damn city's soaked in magic. Normally, I can find the brat easily—he radiates mana like a flare—but here? There are several sources just as strong, maybe stronger. It's like trying to pick out a candle in a room full of mirrors."
She tilted her head toward Crow with a pointed look. He scowled but got the message, reaching across the table to pour her a glass of water from a jug.
"So what now?" he asked as the water sloshed into the glass. He gestured vaguely at their surroundings—the modest inn he'd secured for them the previous night. "We just sit here and hope they wander past?"
Amara didn't answer right away. She took the glass, lifted it to her lips, and stared into the middle distance, thinking. *That's the question, isn't it? Sitting around won't get me anywhere… but without a trail, what choice do I have?*
She took a sip.
"That expensive!? What is this, a king's castle!?"
The familiar voice rang out across the room, loud and incredulous. Amara instantly spat out her water in a choking spray—right across the table and directly onto Crow's face.
"Hey!" he barked, wiping himself off with a sleeve, but Amara didn't hear him. Her eyes were locked on the man standing near the bar.
Wolf.
The same all-black-clad weirdo from the previous night, now with a black wolf-shaped mask dangling from his belt like some ridiculous trophy.
"That is the average price of accommodation, sir," the innkeeper said nervously. "I don't know why you're so shocked."
Wolf groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Haah… back in my day, coin like this got you a house. What kind of daylight robbery is this nonsense?" He reached into his pocket and slapped two gold coins onto the counter. "Here. Take your extortion money."
The innkeeper quickly slid a key across the bar, which Wolf snatched from his hand without a thank-you. As he turned around, he spotted Amara staring at him, still half-risen from her seat.
"Oh hey! It's the suspicious and very angry-looking woman from last night!" he called out cheerfully, striding over. "How's your day going?"
Amara stood up fully now, pointing an accusatory finger at him. "Stop calling me that! And why the hell are you here!?"
Crow blinked, glancing between the two. "You know this guy?"
"No," Amara snapped, sitting back down with a scowl. "He's just some idiot I ran into last night. An annoyance."
Wolf chuckled and pulled out a chair, spinning it around before dropping into it backwards at their table. "C'mon, blondie. Didn't I tell you to respect your elders?"
"Don't just sit down with us so casually!" Amara snapped, slamming a palm against the table. "And quit with the 'respect your elders' nonsense! You barely look any older than me!"
Wolf raised an eyebrow as he crossed his arms. "I'm way older than you, blondie, but I guess I don't look my age so I don't blame you for thinking that."
Crow leaned forward, tone low and pointed. "Could you leave us, please? If it isn't obvious—we don't want company."
Wolf turned his head toward Crow at that, his relaxed expression shifting ever so slightly. His gaze narrowed. "You… you're undead, aren't you?"
The air changed.
A crushing wave of intent rolled off Wolf like a storm front—thick, choking, and unmistakably lethal. The very air around the table seemed to tighten and shrink, pressing in from all sides.
*What—what is this? I can barely breathe…!* Amara's lungs fought for air as her limbs refused to respond. Her body sat locked in place, frozen by invisible weight.
*Move, dammit!* Crow's mind reeled, panic clawing at the edges as he screamed at his body to respond. *Move, move, MOVE! Why won't you—!?*
Wolf stared, unblinking, and for one agonizing heartbeat the room felt like a warzone held in place. Then—he blinked. His brow lifted, and he snapped his fingers.
"Oh, right—things like you are normal now!" Wolf said nonchalantly, as if the killing intent had been nothing more than a passing thought. The sudden change in his tone was jarring. "Sorry for the glare, it's just that in my time, there used to be a 'kill undead on sight' policy. But with the holder of the arena being a half-blood, it's clear that's not a thing anymore."
Amara gasped, finally able to breathe freely again. Crow sat stiffly, eyes still locked on Wolf with an unreadable mix of caution and fear.
*Who the hell is this guy?* the wight thought, watching him warily.
"Leave us alone," Amara growled, her teeth clenched.
Wolf raised both hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I said I was sorry. Look, let me make it up to you. Order whatever you want—this elder will pay." He even patted his chest for effect. It looked vaguely sincere… sort of… maybe.
Amara didn't respond. She just glared at him, jaw tight. But before she could say anything else—
Two new voices entered the inn, drawing her attention. "Those had to be some of the best matches in the tournament's history, right?" said one man, his voice full of excitement.
"Yeah, the way the arena shifted, and the roster this year? Whew," his friend replied, clearly enthusiastic.
"I think my favorite so far is that blue-haired kid, Xain. He's—"
A sharp crack of glass cut him off.
Amara was on her feet, her chair scraping back, the half-finished glass of water knocked to the floor in a spray of shards and liquid.
"You two," she said, her voice low and deadly as her eyes locked onto the men.
They turned, startled and visibly unnerved under the weight of her stare.
"Tell me everything you know about Xain."