Onyx sand crunched under Talia’s boots. Scarlet marks were in her wake like bloody patches of earth. But soon, the sand shifted, covering her footprints in darkness.

Of all the places for him to be, here would have been the last place to search. It was a good thing she had asked for Lamin’s help. She tried to convince herself, to silence the voice deep down that whispered of the grave mistake she had committed to agreeing to Lamin’s terms.

It wasn’t like she intended to start the trials anytime soon.

But Lamin’s help in getting rid of her stalker—for nothing in return—was still nagging at Talia’s mind. Lamin never did anything for the goodness of her heart. She was ruthless. Always thinking about how anything was beneficial for her.

It was a silent walk around the beach till she finally noticed Adyl’s hunched form, sitting atop a pile of rocks, a fishing rod in hand, its other end extended towards the black waters in front of him.

Talia paused, frowning at Adyl’s lone figure.

Fishing? Fishing for what?

This sea was called the undead sea for a reason. It had nothing alive, no fish, nothing.

Her hand curled into a tight fist. Is this what he deemed more important than his work? Is this what he abandoned her and Aseel for?

Fishing in a fishless sea?

She trudged forward, her feet digging deeper into the sand. She spared a single glance at the bleeding earth before her anger took over, and her eyes zeroed in on her target.

“Such a nice weather, isn’t it?” Adyl’s voice greeted her.

She huffed. She took a seat next to him, refusing to look at him. She heard him sigh. And something was extended toward her. It lasted no more than a few seconds before she caved and glanced at the offending object.

A fishing rod.

She scowled. “I’m not here to partake in your mindless hobby, old man.”

He laughed softly. “Of course, of course. But who knows.” His eyes had an amused glint that both irked and placated her. “Maybe you’ll grow a taste for it.”

She snorted. “I doubt that.”

His laughter was deafening in the dead world around them.

Despite her words, she took the offered object and threw the fishing line with the absent bait into the water. A comfortable silence reigned over them. Talia watched the waves as they gently broke against the rocks.

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“What brings you to my humble abode?” Adyl finally asked.

Talia hesitated. She didn’t know how to broach the subject; She could still see Aseel’s displeased face at her not-obsession. But knowing Adyl, the old man would quickly figure out the reason for her desperate search for him.

“Trouble at the hall?” he mused.

She hesitated before nodding.

“A soul giving you grief?” he added when she said nothing.

Talia huffed. If only he knew.

“Ah.” He nodded, pinching his chin in thought. “I believe I’ve had the same predicament once.”

Talia fixed the soft ripples on the surface of the water and said, trying to sound nonchalant, “You did?”

“Of course. I’ve been in charge of the scales more than I can remember being without. With so many years in the profession, something peculiar always ends up occurring.”

“There is this soul—” She hesitated. “He refuses his second chance. I’ve tried and tried. Still, he doesn’t want to return to his world.”

Adyl hummed. “Have you asked him why he wants to stay in Idir?”

Talia frowned, skeptical. “Why would he want to stay in Idir? There’s nothing here for him.”

“Is there?” Adyl’s voice was cryptic, as if he already figured him out in seconds when she had spent days agonizing about him. It only deepened her frown.

“Know that each action has a reason. Nothing is groundless. Even our breathing is a subconscious act to sustain life. Even when it’s no longer needed.”

His words brought her thousands of years back. As he patiently taught her things about the world outside the void she had come from, her lips pulled into a smile. She didn’t think she would miss those years, yet here she was.

If only things went back to how they were.

She shifted the rod in her hands, watching the line dip deeper into the dark water.

“Why then?” she asked.

“I’m not acquainted with this intriguing soul. I’m afraid it’s for him to divulge.”

“Don’t you have an idea why? Anything can help.”

He paused before saying, “Perhaps he would leave after finding what he came looking for. You might offer him your help, but let it not distract you from your duty to uphold the rule.”

“I know, I know. I must ensure the safety of Idir. Don’t worry, old man. I still remember the rules. Besides, he will be stuck there till he either caves or his soul perishes.”

“Not necessarily.”

“No one can leave my domain,” she insisted.

“Souls are more complicated than anyone can imagine. It’s true that the seal around the castle would prevent them from leaving. But things are rarely this simple. There is always an exception.”

She sighed. She knew. Of course, she knew, after all, she was one of those exceptions.

So there was nothing he could help her with. Despite that, she couldn’t find it in her to feel disappointed. She kind of missed having him a round.

“Was I this difficult to deal with.”

His soft laughter reverberated through their dead surroundings. He didn’t answer her, but she knew she was by far the most challenging thing he had to deal with. She could still remember when she first saw him enter through the fissure in the abyss, looking like a creature much like herself yet so different. She lunged at him, ignoring his gentle words, her sword raised to strike him down, hoping, deep down, that his sword would find her first.

She sat there beside him, watching the fishing net dip into the black undead sea—the silence around them was a comforting companion.

“Maybe this will grow on me,” she said. “Someday,”

He nodded, smiling. “Of course.”