Alvyn hit the gunnysack that hung from the ceiling in front. He pounded his fists into it over and over. Sweat ran down his face and occasionally got into his eyes.

But he didn't stop because of that. Only after his lungs were burning and could barely keep providing him oxygen he paused.

By bending over, he tried to calm his breathing enough so he could continue.

»Do you want to come with me? I want to go outside to eat something.«

Alvyn was startled by the voice behind him and turned on the spot.

»How long you've been there?«, he asked Kieran, who stood in the doorframe.

»Well … not that long. You wanna come or not?«

»No! Actually … now that I think about it … I'll come in a few minutes if you wait that long.«

»Oh, really?«, Kieran replied, visibly surprised.

Alvyn nodded and then turned his attention back to the gunnysack.

He couldn't understand. How could Kieran be so calm?

After a few more punches, he called it a day. He took his towel to wipe the sweat off his face and picked up his sword that leaned against the wall as he left the room.

In his bedroom, he quickly changed before he met up with Kieran in the living room. They had been staying together in the Feuerstein mansion ever since returning from the expedition into the Black Forest.

At the same time as they left the house, little snowflakes started to flutter from the grey sky above. Their boots compressed the few centimeters of snow that already covered the ground as they walked into the city center.

Regardless of the freezing temperatures, the streets were as lively as ever around noon, and they had some trouble finding a place to eat that wasn't overcrowded. But eventually, they took a seat at a small corner table in an inn offside the main road.

»I am surprised you came with me«, Kieran said after they had ordered their food. »Are you feeling well again?«

»I've always felt well«, Alvyn replied annoyedly. »I also wanted this as an opportunity to talk about something.«

»Oh?« Kieran raised an eyebrow, but his face showed he already suspected what this was about. »If that's the case, let me eat my meal in peace first.«

Alvyn nodded, and they silently waited for their food to arrive. After wolfing down every last bit of his own, Alvyn patiently watched Kieran finish his.

»So what's this about?«, Kieran asked, looking at him as he pushed his empty plate aside.

»I want to go and look for my brother.«

Kieran sighed. »Well, I don't think we can do much in that regard. Or did you get some new information on his whereabouts? If not, we should really let officials handle this. I doubt we will be any more successful.«

»Well, I am serious this time. I'll go whether or not you agree to come along.«

Kieran looked probingly at him for a moment, but Alvyn didn't avert his gaze. Then Kieran raised his hands in defeat.

»I don't really know what you're trying to achieve. We should maybe discuss this with your father and–«

»Definitely not«, Alvyn interjected. »We both know they wouldn't agree. But not that I care too much about that, anyway. So are you in or not?«

»What is your plan then?«, Kieran asked instead of answering. »Where do you want to search?«

»I thought about the mountains in the north he had mentioned. Considering that we can't assume anything he told us about is true, I think we might have a good shot of finding him there. And I doubt anybody else is looking there, as this area is too dangerous for most people.«

»Nah, I don't know. Sounds like a terrible idea.«

»I'll go either way. If you have a better plan, I wouldn't mind hearing it.«

»Fine.« Kieran sighed. »Fine, I'll come with you. Happy now?«

»Not quite«, Alvyn replied but smiled thankfully. »I need you to get us some mana rings for this journey.«

»What? Why me?«

»You know why. I don't have any access to the royal palace anymore since my family dropped significantly in status after … this incident. So it would be more … difficult for me to get them.«

Kieran looked at him in disbelief. »But how would I get them? You don't want me to try and steal them, do you?«

Alvyn shrugged. »Well, for the record: I didn't suggest that. But I think you'll figure something out.«

Kieran shook his head. »That's insane.«

»Well, our journey would be way too dangerous without them, don't you agree? However, if we can't get them, it won't stop me from going.«

»Yes, I understand«, Kieran replied while still shaking his head. »I'll see what I can do.«

»Only inform me beforehand when you're choosing robbery so that we can leave immediately«, Alvyn said, his tone suggesting he was joking. But that didn't lighten up Kieran's mood.

They left the inn shortly after and silently walked back to the mansion.

The next day, Kieran went to the royal palace to request mana rings. That surprised Alvyn a little since he had expected him to try stalling for time. But he was even more surprised when Kieran came to his room later to announce that they would get them tomorrow.

»Really?«, Alvyn replied. »I didn't think you would get them so easily. What did you say to convince them?«

Kieran averted his eyes. »Nothing special, just told them that you would go either way and couldn't be reasoned with. They do not give you any fault in what happened, you know? It's not like they want you to just go off and die somewhere, so it wasn't too difficult.«

Alvyn's face darkened. »You're not against me, are you? I hope you're not just coming along to surveil me.«

»If you don't want me to tag along, you can just say it. Besides, keeping an eye on each other is what we should be doing as comrades, or do you disagree?«

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»Well …« Alvyn sighed. »You're right. I am sorry. Let's use the rest of the day to finish our preparations.«

Kieran returned Alvyn's smile and agreed.

They planned their route on a map and discussed what supplies they would need for the journey. Then they went into the city to get what they still lacked and prepared everything in advance for the following day, even before the sun had fully set.

Subsequently, on the following morning, they rose before first light and put on their equipment. They had decided to travel light with many stopovers that would allow them to replenish their sparse food and water supplies. Alvyn had decided on this exact route since he wanted to stop by many towns and small villages where he might get information on Vern's whereabouts. Although these chances were slim, they weren't zero.

They headed out in high spirits. It was just like back then when all four of them were still together. Being reminded of the absentees, Vern's mood was dampened a little, but he tried not to think about it too much. On horseback and at a walk, they left the mansion behind and headed to the meeting spot Alvyn had told him.

When they arrived in the rather remote area, a single hooded figure awaited them. Bertio revealed his face as he saw the two horses approach and greeted them.

He looked much older than Alvyn had remembered him. Although he hadn't seen him for some time, it hadn't been that long.

»I hope you two won't do anything reckless«, he said as they descended. »There have already been enough casualties as of recent.«

»Don't worry«, Kieran swiftly replied. »You know us. We aren't unreasonable.«

»Yes«, Alvyn chimed in. »This is just a thing we have to do. I hope you understand.«

Bertio lowered his eyes for a moment. »Yes, I do. But make sure you both come back.«

When he looked up again, he had a forced smile on his face. »Here.« He handed each pouch. »You better not lose them, though. Would be a hassle to deal with the consequences.«

While Alvyn had already opened his to look inside and find five mana rings, Kieran patted Bertio on his back. »We'll keep them safe. You don't have to worry. And if we don't, we'll handle the fallout ourselves entirely.«

Bertio didn't seem too convinced by his words but nodded in the end.

»I wish you good luck«, he said as they got back on their horses. »I hope you'll find what you're looking for.«

Without any further ado, they left the capital behind them, heading further north.

After visiting many villages where they only spent a night and looked around briefly, they eventually neared the end of their journey. The few towns in this area were the last populated areas. Beyond them, there were only coniferous forests and mountains left. Alvyn had hoped to find traces of Vern before reaching this point, but he hadn't been in luck. Now he watched the towering mountain ranges in the distance from his accommodation, mentally preparing himself to go there.

»We can still have a look in other towns, you know?«, Kieran said behind him.

Alvyn turned around. »No, I'm sure he is hiding there. Why else would he have warned us of this area?«

»Well, I don't like that you're assuming he always lied to us like this. Sure, he definitely didn't tell us everything. I do agree with that. But what you're saying implies that he has intentionally deceived us from the beginning, which I personally don't see. Maybe you should reconsider–«

»No!«, Alvyn snapped at him. »Have you already forgotten what he has done? How can you believe anything he had ever told us after this?«

Kieran backed off a little, surprised by Alvyn's sudden change of tone. »Of course, I didn't forget! But we should still make reasonable assumptions.«

Alvyn turned to the window again to calm down. »If you think I am unreasonable, you don't have to come with me! So don't bring it up now and try to convince me otherwise. Either stay or leave. I don't care.«

He heard Kieran sigh in resignation and drop on his bed. No more words came from his direction. Alvyn watched the sun bit by bit vanish in the west as he filled his lungs repeatedly with chilly air.

He couldn't forget nor forgive what Vern had done. Ever since he had first told them, he always found his story hard to believe. But he had given him the benefit of the doubt since he was his brother, after all. He should've known earlier that something was off – well he did, but he had just ignored it.

Alvyn hit his fist on the window sill, and the pain traveled up his arm into his brain. He had to deal with this on his own since everyone else was way too casual about things. It didn't matter if he was his brother. The old Vern had long been dead, and Alvyn had felt it even before that snake in his brother's body had told them that story of his. There was only one thing left to do: Free his body and give him a proper burial.

He closed the window and walked towards his bed. After lying down and closing his eyes, the images that had been haunting him for months immediately replaced the darkness of his eyelids. Her black and facial features moved so elegantly when she had been alive – just to turn into that dead, motionless stare.

The next day, he and Kieran began the toughest part of their journey, heading to the uninhabited areas of the north. Although Kieran tagged along without another word of complaint, Alvyn could feel doubt still radiating out of him. But he didn't let it affect him.

Why would he even come along if he wasn't on board? Alvyn didn't think too deeply about it since his mind was always somewhat busy.

He only hoped he would find peace this way – for himself and for all that had died.