Tearha: The Number 139

Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Forge in Flames

Miguel and Luce were up and ready to go by the fade of midnight. To Nadier, the pair seemed eager to return to Valent, both their faces showing the outlines of a reluctance to spend unneeded time outside of the comforts of settlements. From what the dark elf knew of their stories, he was not surprised that they'd prefer to journey as little as necessary. They must have had enough adventures for their lifetime.

He asked Luce before she left, "Are you sure about this?"

The Titan Ranger replied, "The plan? No. Not sure at all. There's too little room for error, and not enough people to fix them." She re-tightened her scarf and pulled her long golden-brown hair out from behind.

Nadier crossed his arms in query. "And you are empathic of that?"

"No," she replied straightforwardly, doing a quick check on the sling of her rifle. "But you heard our options. None of them are particularly good in terms of casualty counts and wiggle room. As mad as this one goes though, at least no one dies."

Nadier nodded understandingly. "You know that there's no need for you to stay."

"Have you ever fought Titans?" she quickly asked, to which he replied with a gentle shake of his head. Luce continued, "They are sentient, but don't know they are sentient. These are beings made for being controlled, but have the capacity for individuality."

He theorized, "If they realize they are alive, it's likely they can become dangerous beings of destruction."

"Or they could evolve, become something more. The next breed of life." She looked over his shoulder at The Watcher who sat next to the campfire, engrossed in the Black Tome of information. "That man is terrifying. I think he saw through me. "Nobody dies," he said."

"Do you think that meant the Titans as well?" Nadier asked.

"Why else would he come up with such an insane plan? There are much better ways to gain trust. Much better ways to take down golems and infiltrate Everwind."

The two silently contemplated The Watcher, observing him from their distance as the flame flickered shadows of age across the man's face. A circle of dirt from melted snow laid an arena around him, fluffs of white ground away from the heat sparsely spreading. A soft snowfall dotted the air.

Miguel, having packed, walked towards them. "Ready to go?" the Enhancer asked.

"Sure." Luce replied. She turned to Nadier. "Make sure Adelaide doesn't die."

"I don't need you to tell me that," he replied matter-of-factly. He handed her a sealed letter as instructed by The Watcher. He continued, "But why are you so interested in her?"

Luce merely let out a breath of a laugh before turning away with Miguel. The two travellers walked into the forest of darkness. Since Miguel was a hume, his night-vision would guide their way back. Nadier watched them walk further and further until they disappeared behind rows of staggered trees. The dark elf turned and headed back to the camp.

As he stepped in the warmth of the fire, he announced to the time traveller, "They've left."

The Watcher looked up from his book. "Who?" His question was so fuelled with honest confusion that it managed to annoy even Nadier.

He bit back slightly. "Who else? Miguel and Luce."

"Ah, yes. The smart guy and sad girl."

"Sad girl?"

The Watcher closed his book and tucked the tome away under his coat. His tone dropped, "There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

Nadier stopped in his tracks. He was making his way to Adelaide's cave of a home, but if the dark elf had learned anything the past few days with The Watcher was to always listen at the lowering of a pitch. He stood half-turned, the flame's warmth heating up the left of his cheek.