For a carriage to get in or out on this farm, there were two roads. There were other roads for someone to travel on his feet.

The first considered the main. It was wide, straight, and neatly paved, while the second was cleaved between the giant trees of Ea forest. Thus, it had a lot of ups and downs, obstacles, and turns. It wasn't comfortable to use, but it served its purpose of providing a natural resort for illegal trespassers. As well as, it was a shortcut to quickly leave the Crocotta's territory.

Since it was the beginning of the spring, the village and the major road hardly contained a trace of snow. However, the secondary road looked like the winter had yet to depart. Chunks of snow resting on the tree trunks and branches, refusing to melt away. A layer of ice also covered the road. Anything passed above it will leave a trace of its path.

Savannah jumped from a tree branch to the road, inspecting the trails formed on the ice. She deduced that these trails complemented the wheels of the carriage she had seen the butler preparing. Although, those marks were profound, splitting and smashing the hardened ice like a piece of cookies. It led her to consider the possibility of not only the carriage loaded with goods more, but the butler is also being accompanied by at least three other Chimeras.

She hummed, the pleasure of practicing her favorite hobby worked its way to her head. Screwing with it.

Hunting under starless night rendered her delirious. Blind by the desire to catch up.

Slightly hooked tusks surfaced whenever she breathed through her mouth. Water fog culminated. She continued her mission, jumping from one tree branch to another, till she got to a spot where marks became a little confusing.

From her high standing, Savannah watched the positional discordance, the irregularity of the piles of snow in this place. The trail of the carriage was not disturbed, however, the snow gathered under and on the surrounding trees seemed tempered by a third party.

An in-place of quick inspection, pale yellow glittered, beamed thirsty. A third party joining the chase. Probably more.

One was following the carriage, relying on the tree branches to close the speed gap. While the other was below, lurking behind a trunk. Camouflaging his body beneath a layer of cold.

Savannah got the impression that those two people weren't likely working together, neither they were strangers.

The initial excitement that electrocuted her body channeled into a wave of seriousness.

Who could those two people be?

The one pursuing the carriage must be the one that Mr. Hendrickson had sent after the butler, whereas the second…

Judging from the footprints he left, he must be a man with a sizeable frame and a heavy body. The only individual she knew and matched this description was the Kerit. Also, this remote place was near his hideout. Savannah worked a fast decision. The starless night stretched long. The chase will be dull if concluded quickly.

To fulfill two distinct goals at once, she chose a hit-or-miss venture; Sacrificing a few minutes, confronting the Kerit, taking care of the Amarok issue. Then give them the permits of passage. They better be far away from this area before sister Surveen; the head of the investigation team arrives. By this, Savannah will feel less stressed about the two of them present within the Crocotta clan boundaries.

And about the identity of the other party whom he was after the carriage. The Kerit interrogation will reveal the veils of her uncertainty.

Dazzled by the brilliant multi-purpose idea, Savannah's face paralyzed in cheesed-off mimic. Something big was missing from the front of the old, tattered cottage.

Where could the giant form of a shape-shifted Amarok disappear?

"Could it be that the Kerit had shrunk the Amarok's body, or he turned him back to a humanoid form? " Adopting the optimistic view, Savannah answered her earlier question. Sadly, her positive reasoning never matched her reality.

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Refusing to acknowledge the gloomy shadow on Isidore's lineaments, she hung on to the last thread of hope.

Unbiased, begging herself to not snap on, no matter what the situation. The extreme urgency, the threat of being discovered, won't grant her this luxury.

"What happened? Where is the Amarok?" White fog raised from the ground, restless, adding to the hazy forest atmosphere.

"He tricked us. He wasn't actually unconscious. He sought the right moment and escaped."

The steam erupted, consumed the two individuals, then abated in a wink of an eye.

Calm down, calm down... The skeptical side of Savannah lulled her down. Was she going to believe in this man's words? Because she judged that he didn't make a thread to her. Because of his severe physical handicap?

This Kerit was targeted by Hendrickson himself. No doubt, his grave handicap was caused by him.

Whether Mr. Hendrickson's soft attack on this Kertit had fulfilled its aim or tossed in vain, Savannah could never rule out the possibility of this man's intentions were exactly as he had told her.

Did he truly believe that being stuck on this farm was a stroke of mere poor luck? Was he really oblivious to Mr. Hendrickson's ploy by luring him into this farm?

Unanswered questions surfaced, a little time to reflect upon them. Yet Savannah's restriction of not being able to kill the kerit or the Amarok in the boundaries of her clan territory was standing, even if she possessed her scythe.

The discovery of this Kerit or the Amarok dead or alive within the Crocotta territory will raise a heavy investigation and put her mother's authority at risk, both inside and outside the clan.

That's the last thing she wants to happen.

Curse you, Hendrickson. Now she is not just forced to clean after herself, but also after him.

"Where were you when he escaped?" She asked. This query is meant to play a light trap. The Kerit's answer will resolve her dilemma of believing or disbelieving.

"First, let me congratulate you on retrieving back this village without a damaging battle."

Savannah narrowed her eyes… a were-creature has a sense of agility, will feel the barrier's demise. But this Kerit acute senses were quasi destroyed by Hendrickson.

"I arrived at this conclusion when I saw the man who trapped me in this village fleeing. And I guess it was the reason behind your delay." Isidore explained.

The image of Mr. Hendrickson in his sorry state flashed between her eyes. "What?" She became confused. She was certain that Mr. Hendrickson didn't leave the main house:

"I saw him fleeing in a horse carriage. I am sure it was him, the one who cast the barrier in this village. I have experienced it before."

Savannah's ears detected the Kerit's statement. She realized that his logic was impeccable, but he missed the accurate information.

Or was it Mr. Hendrickson's intention...

At least, for the time being, she didn't need to worry about this man. Thou, if he pinpointed the tip of the cord, he will be a pain to deal with. No wonder Hendrickson wanted to shut him up.

Still, as it made her reassured of the Kerit unawareness about the details of Mt. Ninurta operation, as much as it made her wary about everything Hendrickson has told her.

No surprise, he has a lot of enemies. No surprise, her mother didn't shut up about the severity of working with this man as well as being careful around him. Perhaps Kanari's powerful hate radar was an unpolished rare sense to detect danger.

Mr. Nicolai Hendrickson's entire relationship is based on hypocrisy, lies, distrust. How terrifying to work with someone that will stab you the moment you blank. How can the honorable Savannah as she thinks about herself handle such things?

"Where do you think he is going to, the Amarok?" One more test won't do harm.

"His regeneration ability has sped up the moment he ate the Chimera meat. But don't worry, I do not think he got far." Isidore answered, not sure about the theory, but he wished that the young Crocotta won't get mad and kill the Amarok. If she does so, he will lose the ticket to learn about what has happened to the real Rokah.

" I know. I can't be much of help, but I can assist you in finding him."

Savannah didn't have much time for this, and it's obvious to her that the Amarok must be on his way to flee the Crocotta territory after the barrier broke. She hurriedly brought out the permits of passage and said: "This is what I have promised you. Those permits are temporary. They will expire before the new moon. Find the Amarok and get out of my territory. If I find one of you still here after the new moon… I won't be this generous."

"Thank you, my lady. I promise that you won't see us in your territory ever again." Isidore's voice was sincerely grateful. He didn't believe he was getting his ticket out this easily.

" Something else… you have said that you have seen the Chimera magus carriage. What else did you have seen?" Another testing question.

"Honestly, I didn't see much. The carriage was at full speed." Isidore paused and Savannah's eyes glowed with malice. "Though I am certain that I have seen the Chimera Magus, he was with other Chimeras."

"That's all." Savannah looked away, pretending to inspect the Amarok track for the purpose of shunning the malice on her face to be seen by the Kerit.

"No, I also have seen your servant following the horse carriage."

"Servant?"

"The doctor."

At last, Savannah looked directly into Isidore's eyes. She seemed satisfied. As a soft touch of breath, quick and cool, she disappeared between the falling snowflakes.

Isidore constricted chest relaxed. For a moment, he felt he was a goner.