At the Scarlet Lake Kain didn't have much time, he was busy escaping from Valkyra. He didn't know about Roland or Ignis's special status.
Yet, Ignis arrived at the feast, receiving more attention than all the Tainted and Awakened who came earlier.
Upon hearing her name, the guests raised their glasses in honor.
Kain tossed an apple, walking past the crowd. He didn't want to run into Ignis, their paths separated at the interrupted ritual.
'The Ash Feather? Roland? Hmm... I didn't get much of a chance, but he looks like one of the five mercenaries...'
Thump.
Immersed in his thoughts, Kain didn't notice as he crashed into something solid, falling to the ground.
A tall figure in a man's coat turned around, baffled, then smiling broadly.
Brigta, the giantess, one of the mercenaries working alongside Roland, towered over Kain.
"Boy, so you survived? Hah, how did you manage to escape from that crazy bitch? Even I couldn't pull it off."
"I have a question for you too," Kain frowned, glaring at the apple on the ground. "Why aren't you wearing a dress? You look comical in it, right?"
She smirked, clenching her fists tightly. "Tsk. You're still just as talkative."
"Which I am."
She helped him up as they looked at Ignis, who was greeting the guests.
"Why aren't you approaching her?" Brigta tossed him a new apple. "I saw how worried she was about you. That silly girl thought you wouldn't wake up."
Kain's eyes filled with coldness.
"If she can't help me get rid of the seal, then she's a burden. I can't waste my time on this."
"Well, the Ash Feather is a powerful clan, though only their rebel branch came here. The mother wanted to give Ignis as a Sacrifice to save her beloved youngest daughter. Family drama in all its glory."
He looked up. "You think they can help me, considering who's coming after me?"
The answer was firm and immediate.
"No. You have nothing to offer them considering how much they would have to lose."
Then, she turned around, walking away into the crowd.
"Run, boy, run. As you saw, I did the same. If you can survive another week, you can consider yourself the luckiest man in the world."
Kain grimaced.
"Shit."
...
At the same time, in one inconspicuous basement, a cunning man was examining a handful of glass clear crystals.
"Heh, you say brown hair, green eyes, and a slightly taller than you? New Tainted?" he chuckled, looking at the girl in front of him.
"Yeah, I might know where he is now, but..." the man pointed to the crystals. "I'm afraid you'll have to add as much more. You know, to help me remember."
The blade swept through his beard, pressing tightly against his throat, with a trickle of blood. Another movement and his head would fly off his shoulders.
Valkyra leaned in. "The next thing you say will be the place. No excuses or pleading, or I'll find another, more compliant informant."
The man gulped.
"The Fang Tower. It's practically guaranteed that he's at the Old Eye's feast right now like almost all of the Tainted and Awakened."
Saying nothing more, Valkyra walked away, ended up in an alleyway, the Fang Tower prominent in the distance, lights glowing from the wing.
Tap.
No sooner did she take a step than eight figures with long cloaks showed up on the rooftops, surrounding her like hawks or, rather, owls.
Not a hint of fear appeared in Valkyra's blue eyes.
"So, Kain Linch is there. You..." her gaze swept over the shadows. "Are you going to stop me?"
"Yes."
One silhouette dropped down, standing in front of her undaunted.
"Tomorrow, as soon as the sun rises, you can do whatever you want with this guy. However, right now, he's at the feast. Your hunting will ruin the Old Eye's feast. We can't let that happen."
Valkyra stepped forward, glaring at him disdainfully.
"Maybe I should kill you right here and now. It'll take me a few minutes."
"You can try."
Simultaneously, runes ran down the figures' arms, circles spinning around their wrists.
"Against someone like you, we'll use every artifact available. Sure, you'll get through us, but you'll be injured. In that state, you won't be able to handle Old Eye and all the Awakened that are at the feast right now."
The tips of her fingers twitched. Valkyra was strong but not omnipotent.
"Or..." the man waved his hand. "You can wait until the first rays of the sun. The choice is yours, the Shadow Blade."
...
The feast went on as normal until suddenly there was complete silence. Even Kain instinctively fell quiet, though he didn't know why.
Like a ghost, Morbia appeared beside him, leaning close to his ear.
'He's coming. Watch closely.'
Kain answered nothing, he only took a bite of the apple.
It was obvious who Morbia was talking about.
In a pale blue robe that rippled down to the floor, a man long past middle age emerged from the passage, yet despite his title, to call him an old man would be insulting. His long brown hair was down to his shoulders, with no more wrinkles than the average man and only a few gray strands showing through.
Over his right eye was an eye-patch, leaving him with his one, left gray eye, wise and sharp as an owl's.
It was Oldric, the Old Eye.
Instead of the expected announcement, the tension only increased as two figures walked behind Oldric, with their hands tied and bags over their heads.
"What the hell..." Morbia muttered in disbelief. "Judging by his grim face, this wasn't in the original plans."
Kain watched the figures in silence.
After a few moments, his eyes went wide - their clothes were familiar to him.
Old Eye pulled the rope, causing them to crumble to their knees.
"My dear guests, Awakened and our young talents - Tainted," Old Eye walked around the figures, his arms folded behind his back. "Today, I wanted to announce that our town has a valued ally."
He waved his hand.
"That at last we are closer to getting rid of the Torn Nest, the damned astral creatures hindering the growth of the Hollow Patch.
"BUT! I've been tricked!"
Old Eye clenched his fist and raised upward.
"No! All of us! The hopes of our citizens! Honesty and transparency have always been the foundation of the Twilight Owl and so I will allow everyone to see the culprits of my wrath!"
He pulled the bags off their heads, revealing a girl and a young man trembling with fear.
It was Roy and Anissa Fraun.