“Sorry I left without saying anything,” Aio said, facing down the stern stare of Madam Roberta in her office. Her hair was almost completely gray now, tied up in a bun behind her head and she said nothing for a moment. Wearing a dark gray, long-sleeve shirtdress with a steel teal geometric banded design, she exuded the same strength of will that Aio had always remembered from her, though her sunken cheeks and crow’s feet eyes carried with it the passage of aging – something Aio felt saddened about for reasons he couldn’t quite understand.
“Young man, I do not think I could say more to you than I haven’t already said a thousand times before.” She was tapping a pen on a binder in front of her, thinking carefully of her next words. It looked like she was handling some paperwork before caretaker Linda and Trimbotin escorted Aio into her office upon Madam Roberta’s request.
Madam Roberta continued, “You think I’d be mad over the mere fact of you leaving to pursue your dreams of a hunter? Do you realize how many orphans from this facility has gone down the same route as you, and the number who had given up on that dream? No, young Mr. Semerand. It is not what you seek which brought you here before me. It is your callous disregard towards your peers, and those who care for you, which I cannot abide by.”
She slammed the table with her other palm, causing Aio to jump back. He couldn’t get a word in, fearful and respectful of the woman who had terrified him during childhood. Madam Roberta continued, “You do not leave your friends and family behind like that again young man, not without a proper goodbye you hear? Do you know how much your absence has affected us, and how much we had to adjust?”
“I’m sorry,” Aio said meekly, looking down at the ground.
“Sorry? No Aio, I am sorry. I am sorry that I was not good enough to teach you the proper way of being considerate. Maybe then you would have at least kept to the etiquette of farewells.” Aio looked up, and he saw an unchanged expression on Madam Roberta’s face. However, he noticed that her eyes softened, looking at him as the child that brought a bit of light into the Little Miracles orphanage, when the world outside was dark.
“When you leave this time,” she said, “just remember to give your companions and caretakers a proper goodbye this time, okay?” She smiled, something that looked foreign and more intimidating than her usual expression to Aio. However, he felt reassured, as if some kind of weight lifted off from within.
“Okay, I promise” he said, giving a small bow of the head.
“Good,” Madam Roberta responded, “You may go now. You’ll find some leftover sponge cake in the dining room table. Make sure you clean up after yourself. You were always a messy eater.”
Aio blushed a bit at that. He hasn’t been like that for a while now, not after he got scolded by Nyx for that. “Thank you,” he said, before standing up from his seat and walking towards the exit.
Out in the living room, he found a group of young children playing with some action figures on the ground next to a hearth. Two of the caretakers sat on a nearby couch, one of them knitting a small sweater in a rhythmic motion.
Some of the action figures the kids were playing with looked like shoddy renditions of famous hunters from previous eras. He only knew some of them by title, as history of these hunters get lost to time. There was the Arcanic, who was a Supplementor who had the ability to induce magnetic forces upon any nonliving object; the Orion, who Aio had been studying recently for one of the few hunter marksman who was able to get the kill-shot at impossible distances or angles; the Truthseeker, who was the previous owner of the infamous weapon Gloam of Stars – now owned by Taysa Polaris of the Paladins; and even…the Blackbird?
Riven noticed Aio watching the children playing and called out, “Welcome back hunter. I see you’ve survived hell.” Aio looked at his friend, brushing off nonexistent dust on his shoulder, as if Madam Roberta didn’t terrify the living ghost out of him.
“Blackbird! Blackbird!” some of the kids began saying when they saw Aio by the doorway. They all gathered around him, asking him about his adventures, wanting him to join them in some fun and games. Aio was somewhat overwhelmed by all the positive reception he’s been getting. He didn’t have much to say. Not counting his current mission, he only ever embarked on a few minor capture bounties and the Elite Enthipid hunt.
He shrugged sarcastically at Riven, as if to say it was no big deal. Something of a joke between them, as they were both terrified of Madam Roberta since childhood – the two played off encounters with Madam Roberta as proof that they have exceeded the other in a contest of bravery.
“Just another day at the job,” Aio said.
Riven laughed, and walked up to Aio, plate in hand. The sponge cake sat nicely on top, looking delectable. “Here, we saved this one for you.”
And so that day went by. Aio played board games and role-played the hunt with the children, and he caught up with Riven and the caretakers about his time spent with the Blackbirds. They were intrigued as Aio rehashed how Caz picked him up trying to outmaneuver him in the streets during the rebellion, his studies of hunter law and tactics under the tutelage of Calli and Abe, and his training sessions and lessons on hunter mindset with Cyr. His most proud memory was his first ever bounty hunt, where he worked with the team to capture a local group of mercenaries who attempted to take hostage a high-ranking district council member in order to prevent the passage of new hunter policies which would create stricter screening procedures for identifying hunters in New Celebrant.
Caz had showed how capable he was at that time as the leader, evacuating pedestrians to remove the chance for collateral damage, before navigating a coordinated effort with his team that forced the mercenary group to take a route which led to a dead end. Aio had admittedly been bait at the time, as his presence intimated the impression of an easy target, and the mercenaries ended up chasing after him before turning into an alleyway that resulted in a flanking maneuver by the rest of the Blackbirds. Aio definitely made his part of the story sound more impressive than it was, and the children seemed ecstatic about it.
After a few hours, the caretakers took the children to their rooms to sleep, leaving only Aio and Riven behind.
“So,” Aio began, “whatever happened to Rebecca?” Rebecca Caltrop, Riven, and Aio formed a trio back then that was more tight-knit than any other group at the time. She was always the mature one between the three best friends, keeping Riven and Aio out of trouble whenever they decided to play one of their local pranks on the caretakers. She would scold them when needed, and play with them when needed, and always seemed to know exactly what to say, whenever Aio was having a bad day. Aio wondered how she might have felt about his departure all those years ago?
Looking at the gloominess etched across Aio’s features, Riven put his hand on his shoulder, “Hey, you good?”
“Yeah,” Aio responded. “Just wondering how she took my…y’know, leaving you guys and all.”
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“Not very good haha,” Riven said jokingly, but his tone was still serious. “You really hurt us, y’know, when you left without telling. We made a promise to each other that we wouldn’t keep anything from each other like that. I took it somewhat personally, but I respected your decision in the end. After all, being a hunter has always your dream, and if I were in your shoes and met the Blackbird himself, I probably would’ve just let them whisk me away the same way.”
Aio opened his mouth, but couldn’t think of the right words to respond with. Instead, he drew his lips into a line, and nodded.
“Rebecca especially didn’t take it that well. I had never seen her so angry before. At the time, I didn’t say anything. She was smart and I thought she would cool down, given time. I never expected –” Riven said. His words trailed, but only for a moment. “I never thought she would go after you like that. Said she was going to be a hunter too and find you.”
Aio shuddered. He knew Riven probably meant to say she would look for him, but sometimes she didn’t have that glint of ferocity in her eyes that made Aio think she might be serious in wanting to end him whenever he was up to no good.
“So, she just left? Why? She never wanted to be a hunter. She knew about my hunter dream, and listened to me ramble on about it for days, so I don’t see why she would leave to go after me?” Aio said.
“You really don’t get it?” Riven asked, but Aio shook his head. Riven only smirked and patted Aio’s shoulder.
“Then don’t worry about it. Whatever you may have remembered about her, she still chose to be a hunter in the end. I wouldn’t be surprised if you bumped into her in your next mission. When that happens, I’m sure you’ll be able to handle whatever happens next,” he said with a mirthful tone.
Aio looked questioningly at Riven. He didn’t get Riven’s vague phrasing of words sometimes. Either way, he’ll have to find Rebecca one day and apologize to her properly.
“I need some fresh air,” Riven said. “C’mon, let’s head to the balcony.”
Aio walked with him and opened the screen door leading to the orphanage’s balcony. From here, he could see most of the Night Market down the hill below. Its lights fanned out like fireflies in a cave. Along the walls of the cavern he could see bright neon lights, Johrei-lanterns, which were set up by the local mining crew to help travelers navigate their way into the district. Aio, Riven, and Rebecca used to frequent this sight, talking about life, and watching the lights dance in front of them, illuminating the cavern in an almost ethereal fog that ignited a sense of nostalgia and peace within Aio.
“So, we going to talk about life and games like we used to?” Aio asked, leaning over the balcony, resting his head on his arms, and looking at Riven.
“Not this time,” he said. For a moment, he looked at the lights in front of him, and spoke, “Aio, why did you come back this time?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I know you. You’ve always been an independent spirit. You’re not tied by the notions of sentimentality, and honestly, I could only picture you ever coming back to visit once you’ve become a full-fledged hunter, which, by the way you described it, you are not.”
Riven’s glare was daring Aio to prove him wrong. Aio acquiesced. There were times he felt his best friend knew him better than himself.
“I’m here to visit the Guardian’s Village. Apparently, that place has clues, or some kind of insight, to a major hunt I’m currently part of,” Aio said.
“Sounds like a big deal, though I’ve never heard of this Guardian’s village,” Riven responded, looking thoughtful. The lights in the distance flickered and moved, as businesses began closing for the night. “Then again, the caverns down here are almost as big as the city above. I wouldn’t rule out other villages as prominent as this one.”
Aio thought about it, realizing just how little of these caverns anyone’s explored. Perhaps it was the fear of the native Enthipid hordes which lurked in the dark corners of the underground, but Aio felt that it may have to do more with everyone’s attachment with this Market and the simple lifestyle it offered. There had to be more people out there, settled down in their own little communities, thinking the same things Aio was thinking about now.
Silence passed for a while, interrupted by a rustling beneath them. Aio activated his Johrei on instinct. Perhaps he was being a bit too cautious.
His vision sharpened and the blurry atmospheric darkness that encompassed the landscape in front of the pair became clear to Aio. He could hear the sound of footsteps below him somewhere and tried to peer closer at the source. A silhouette of a woman began inching closer towards the lights of the orphanage.
“I couldn’t help but overhear you two talking up there,” a voice said. It was Vera, walking clear into Aio’s view from below. Riven looked at her curiously as well. “Guardian’s village right? Yeah, I know about that place. I can take you there.”
“Friend of yours?” he asked.
“More like a guide,” she said. Aio was relieved it wasn’t anyone dangerous who showed up and began to release his enhanced perception. However, right as his ability began to flicker out, he caught a familiar scent. An empty scent.
Again? he thought. Something about that scent nagged at him. It had a familiar quality to it that he couldn’t quite pin down.
He hesitated to fully let go of his ability but realized how ridiculous he must be acting right now. She was not an enemy, though something felt off in the back of his mind – a hunch. And Cyr taught him never to disregard hunches.
“There’s a reason it happens,” he would always say. “So why not give it it’s due respect?”
Thinking about him, Aio noticed someone missing. “Where’s Cyr?” he asked. “Didn’t you accompany him?”
Vera responded nonchalantly, “He said he was going to get something from the Market and told us to go on ahead to the village first. He said he’d rendezvous with us later after he’s finished his business.”
“Oh ok. Lemme just confirm with him then,” Aio said. A chill ran down his spine, and he swung his head towards Vera. However, all he saw was a smiling, unassuming face.
“Sure thing. Just let him know we’ll head out now,” she said brightly.
Was that just Aio’s imagination?
Putting aside that odd feeling for now, Aio issued a non-verbal command to a communications device located within his ear canal. However, all he heard was a light static coming from the other end. It seems like there was no reception here either.
Riven just looked at Vera, and he seemed pretty fixated on her. His expression barely faltered since the conversation began – a cold expression, which Aio knew as Riven’s poker face.
“Comms are down. I don’t think I’m getting a signal from here,” Aio said. He noticed Riven give a slight head tilt towards the living room behind them.
“Hey, Vera. I’ll be down there in a bit, but do you mind if I spend a bit more time catching up with my friend here?” Aio said. “It won’t take long, I promise.”
“Of course not. Go ahead,” she said, eyes smiling.
“C’mon,” Riven said, walking back towards the inside. He paid Vera no heed as he opened the screen door and walked into the living room. Aio followed suit.
“What’s up?” Aio asked, as Riven shut the screen door behind them. Riven kept an eye back towards the outside where Vera was before turning to Aio.
“I don’t trust her,” he said. “The inflection of her voice, the way she carries herself…you know I’ve had to deal with a lot of liars in my life before.”
“Yeah, I remember” Aio said solemnly, remembering Riven’s family hailed from Vitadale. His parents were scheming nobles who had always lied and mistreated him, and met their ends when they were marked and killed by hunters hired by lesser branches of the family. Though Riven expected his uncle and aunt to take care of him afterwards, but they wanted to have him killed too, to remove him from the line of succession. Luckily, Riven was naturally perceptive to other’s intentions, and ran away before anything could be done to him. A chance encounter with a surprisingly trustworthy Auditor afterwards led Riven to Madam Roberta’s doorstep, but the burden of his past always remained with him.
“I don’t know what she wants from you, Aio,” Riven remarked, “but you shouldn’t trust her either. I don’t think Cyr left for the reasons she said. I want you to promise me you’ll not do anything reckless, okay?”
“Okay,” Aio responded. He took Riven seriously on matters of people, as Riven had always been the sharpest one amongst his closest friends. “I’ll be careful.”
“And if you see Rebecca, tell her she was wrong, and I got to see you first haha,” Riven added. He laughed and Aio had smirked in response.
“Take care now, okay? See you again in a few years.”
“I promise I’ll visit sooner next time,” Aio said. He gave a content smile, knowing it would be a while before he saw his friend again. “Take care too, Riven.” He opened his arms wide and the two best friends embraced each other one more time.
Moments later, Aio stepped out the door and joined up with Vera outside.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Lead the way.”
And Vera smiled silently.