Akida's gaze slid past Syryn and landed on Lucien's face where it stayed for a few agonising seconds. The avian's silence and deep look sent a thread of unease through Syryn.

Akida was an astute man. He was always paying attention, always noticing details, and then using the information to make swift decisions that had the best outcomes. The teen hoped that their avian guard hadn't noticed anything amiss aside from the scent of blood which was already a big red flag.

"It is dangerous for a child to sneak out in the middle of the night,

" Akida said.

"And also a matter of grave suspicion. You are not a native of Nua so your actions will be judged in a different light. Lucien, do not let this happen again.

"

Blood red eyes stared up at the avian whose arms were crossed against a wide tan chest.

"I killed someone,

" Red confessed abruptly.

Syryn's head turned towards the redhead so fast it nearly caused him whiplash. His mouth was ajar as he stared between the child and the towering avian who hadn't reacted to the shocking words.

"Lucien!

" He managed to hiss out after gathering his bearings. But he was ignored by the both of them.

"Why tell me?

" Akida asked the redhead.

How was he so calm when a child had just confessed to him of homicide? Syryn gaped at the guard with undisguised surprise.

"Because I need your help to clean up the scene,

" Red answered with a tiny shrug. In truth, he was planning to commit a double homicide tonight if Akida decided to turn them in. The guard was a liability and Red did not leave such loose ends unattended.

"You've killed a person in Nua, and you expect me to help you cover up your crime?

" Akida asked as he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. There was an easy deadly confidence in the way he moved.

"That's some **ed up sense of entitlement you've got, Lucien.

" A sharp grin lifted up a corner of Akida's mouth.

Syryn backed off and watched the confrontation between them with disquietude pooling in his gut. He shouldn't have brought Akida with him. But how was he to know that Red was out shedding blood in Nua? The violent brat could have told him he wanted to kill someone, couldn't he? Syryn would have helped him. But no, Red had to sneak out and worry everyone, and now look where they'd landed themselves? Facing off the guard that Syryn had scoped out. Akida was a treasure!

"Ah,

" Red exclaimed with interest.

"How interesting..

"

At the same moment, Akida's eyes narrowed dangerously. In a flash, he was beside Red. The avian's silver blade glinted in the moonlight and it was pressed against Red's neck.

Syryn was in shock at how fast the avian had moved. For a moment, he nearly lost control when he saw Lucien in danger of getting beheaded.

"Akida, don't want to kill me?

" Red taunted.

"I tried to kill you, you felt it, didn't you?

"

The avian's mouth was tugged down in a frown. He had been reminded of the other childlike Lucien, or Luci as he was called by Syryn. And he just couldn't do it, at least not until he received a proper explanation from the brothers.

"Who did you murder?

" Akida asked Red while his sword remained in place against the pale skin that was glowing with vitality. He could see Syryn at the edges of his sight - pacing, circling him with intent.

"A human merchant,

" Red replied.

"Why?

"

"Did Syryn ever mention to you how he found me? It was in a slaving caravan.

" Red smiled at the way Akida's eyes widened almost imperceptibly.

"Yeah, Kida, the man I killed is one of those. Investigate his activities and you'll find the names of many cute children who have gone missing, some could even be from Nua.

"

Akida's blade slid back into its sheath soundlessly.

"Murder in Nua rarely turns out well if you aren't a member of the enforcement,

" the guard informed Lucien.

"You should have told me before acting so foolishly.

"

Red stuck his bottom lip out. Was he being called sloppy?

"And then what? You'd turn him in? There's no evidence of his wrongdoing.

"

"Where is the body you need my help with?

" Akida switched tracks knowing they wouldn't get anywhere with their opinions on how to handle criminals. His eyes had been opened tonight. The brothers were much more they seemed. He had to reevaluate his assessment of their identities.

"At the bottom of the cliff. Give me a lift, Akida.

" Red stood on his tiptoes and stretched his arms out to garland the avian's neck.

The guard swept Red off his feet and lifted to the sky. Syryn watched them go and figured it would take some time for the clean up so he began to write another letter.

Rowan,

Lucien did a bad thing and Akida is helping him take care of matters. So here I am, writing you another letter.

Do you remember Altaire? I once mentioned to you how much I wanted to meet him. He's just as impressive as I had imagined. Altaire invited me to apprentice under him and I thought it was my imagination carrying itself away. I̶ ̶t̶h̶i̶n̶k̶ ̶t̶h̶a̶t̶ ̶i̶f̶ ̶y̶o̶u̶ ̶w̶e̶r̶e̶n̶'̶t̶ ̶s̶o̶ ̶a̶m̶a̶z̶i̶n̶g̶,̶ ̶I̶ ̶m̶i̶g̶h̶t̶ ̶h̶a̶v̶e̶ ̶r̶u̶n̶ ̶a̶w̶a̶y̶ ̶w̶i̶t̶h̶ ̶A̶l̶t̶a̶i̶r̶e̶.̶ ̶I̶t̶'̶s̶ ̶a̶ ̶j̶o̶k̶e̶.̶ ̶I̶ ̶w̶o̶u̶l̶d̶ ̶n̶e̶v̶e̶r I think I'd like to learn from him. There's no one else in this world more capable than he is of teaching me more about alchemy. I know, I probably sound like a lovestruck chit but that's all I intend to learn from him. You're my teacher in other matters, aren't you?

I had a dream about you. Did you miss me very much after I passed away? I think you did. I also missed you unbearably when I began my new life. Even back then, I kept dreaming about you and it felt so real. I wish I hadn't dreamt about you. I feel hollow.