“Sorry, since you came around last time, someone bought my entire stock out.” The human merchant said.

“Who bought it? What did they look like? Where can I find them?”

“Unfortunately, it seems to have been someone’s aide. They were covered head to toe in rags to conceal their identity. I didn’t ask too many questions as long as the money was good.”

“What if I paid you for some information, would that jog your memory?”

“I appreciate it, milord, but I’ve already told you everything I know.”

Amaro’s worst fears had been realized. Someone else had not only bought one of the love potions, but they had cleared his entire stock. He could only hope it wouldn’t be used against someone like Kaara. From what he heard, though, it sounded like there was only one culprit it could have been.

He would be keeping a close eye on Deka and his subordinates for the next week, “Thank you for the information, I guess.”

Amaro walked out of the caravan, his mind now swimming in a swarm of anxiety. He had to figure out who bought up all of those potions. If not just for Kaara, but for anyone else who might fall victim to the drug. He was looking for a person covered head to toe in rags, so perhaps one of the refugees? No, the merchant had told him it was someone’s aide, and he doubted a refugee would have enough money to purchase his entire stock of potions.

He wandered into the forest. What could he do? What should he do? If there was a chance someone had bought enough potions to take Kaara for an extended period of time… No, he was being too paranoid. Whoever bought those potions likely were not after her. How could they be?

A scream shattered his train of thought, “That sounded like…” He did not hesitate. Electricity surged through his body as he took off as fast as he could. He followed the sound to its source. Crouching above Kaara’s screaming body was a figure obscured by his cloak and scarf, a potion in hand.

Amaro’s heart raced as he charged towards the figure, “Get away from her!”

The figure turned towards Amaro, their face obscured by the shadow of their cloak. He slipped an incoming punch, only for Amaro to kick him halfway across the forest.

Kaara whined, her voice pained and hoarse. Rage flared in his gut. Whoever this was, he was going to take their head off, “Bastard, what have you done?!”

The figure remained silent, clutching his ribs.

“Not going to talk eh? Then I’ll make you.” Amaro said as he flashed forward, the roar of air collapsing around him as his body cut through it like an arrow. The figure slipped another punch as Amaro sent his fist through the stone-like bark of the Ingen tree behind him.

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Amaro struck and struck, but nothing landed. He remembered The Crow, and that only enraged him more.

“I’ll kill you!”

“You’ll kill her too if you wait any longer.” The figure said in a gruff voice, pointing at her.

Amaro looked to Kaara, spotting the numerous roots of the Ingen tree as they began to coil over her.

“Who are you? What have you done to her?” Amaro said as he turned to see the figure had vanished. He clicked his tongue in annoyance. He did not have any time. Whatever that figure had done, he was the only one who could save her now. He unsheathed his katana and cut through the roots, picking her up in his arms and sprinting toward the camp.

As he ran, Amaro’s mind raced with more questions than he had before. Who was that figure? Why were they attacking Kaara? Why had he told her to save her? Unless he had not been attacking her? But if that was the case then why was she like this?

Her body was cold, so cold that his hands were getting numb just holding her. Like trying to clutch a piece of cold metal. His warmth was being sapped from him by her.

As he arrived in camp, he shouted for a healer, begging for someone to help. The reaction from the Tibur was swift. One of the adults took her body from him.

“Get her to Shiira, this is serious,” One of them said.

“I’m coming with!” Amaro said.

“Do what you will, Shiira will have questions for how this happened anyway, so follow us.”

The Tibur guards led him to a nearby tent. It was filled with the scent of incense, a low burning flame provided a mild warmth, but the moment they entered Kaara began to scream and writhe in pain.

“It’s alright, Kaara. You’re okay. Shit…” The guard put her down in the furs, trying to keep her restrained. Amaro stood there, paralyzed by her screams.

The flaps of the tent swung open behind him. He turned to see a xia of astounding presence, “I got here as quickly as I could, what’s happened?” she said to the guard.

The guard pointed to Amaro, who stiffened up at her gaze. It was like she could see right through him. Those eyes reminded him of Absuos.

“What’s happened to her?” She asked, kneeling down to Kaara who now quivered in silent agony.

“I… I don’t know. There was someone dressed in a cloak standing over her. I think he inflicted her with some sort of curse or something. He drained a potion down her throat, I don’t know what it was.”

“So poisoning? I don’t see the signs of it-” She paused, waving her hand and extinguishing the flames behind her.

The wood burning in the fire had been made to bleed a sappy moisture over itself, “No, it’s something else. I don’t know if the figure is related, but these are signs of something much much different…”

She snapped her fingers, “Get the boy out of here, I’ve learned all I need to know to treat her.”

“Please! Let me stay with her.” Amaro said, struggling against the guard who was pulling him away, “I can help, I can-”

“No you can’t. You’re going to be in my way. I understand your worry, but don’t waste my time getting emotional. I’ve only got so much to spare before her soul breaks.”

“Please let me-”

She waved her hand, “Take a nap, kid.”

“What are you… talking…about?” Amaro felt dizzy all of a sudden. His vision blurred as he stumbled into the guard’s arms. By the time he woke up again, Sancta was standing over him.