Backtracking was uneventful. Despite her alertness, Mila found nothing but empty forest. She tried to keep her mind sharp, but her mind kept wandering.

The constant vigilance and scouting after the last night…

Mila could not help but recall all those people she had failed to save. So many died in the city. The sacrifices trapped under it. The people in Stilag’s surroundings.

And the latest failure…

It all took a toll. Mila tried to reason herself into a better mindset, but it didn’t work. She probably still could do it, but…

That would mean going back to disregarding human life as a whole. Mila didn’t want that. She had worked hard to change herself. She truly believed it was for the better.

“If only it didn’t include compassion.” Mila sighed while looking at a trail of smoke rising in the distance.

It wasn’t far. If pursuers were after Mila’s group, they would head there as well. “What are they doing? It’s not even an evening yet.” She grumbled, sacrificing a bit of stealth to move faster.

Mila changed her course slightly, drawing nearer the camp as she ran. She tried to decide whether or not she should help.

It depended. It always did. She just wished she had more information. Mila pushed away a strand of her hair from her dry lips and licked them.

Had the hunters captured anyone from that group and questioned or not?

Mila leaned towards a ‘Not in depth’.

This whole pursuit was to stop the spread of information. Mila knew the Temples would not allow their dogs to learn anything more than the number of people they had to hunt.

It was safer to assume the pursuers knew of Mila and her group. But not what they could do or how capable they were.

Mila sighed again. Then, feeling it was becoming a habit, she clicked her tongue. But it only increased her irritation. It had made her recall the loss against that baldy.

“Just let them be more reasonable…” Mila decided another sigh was in order before she spoke to whoever had set up the camp.

But…

The camp had only corpses in it and a fireplace burning happily with charcoal above it. Five died because they had found a forest critter to cook.

Mila studied the bodies and the camp itself. She saw the still-wet blood and the hacked belongings of the deceased. She saw how the four adults had tried to save the one child - sending her towards the further side of the camp - opposite of where the hunters had come from.

They had not succeeded in saving the girl. An arrow had caught the child, ending her life before she could reach the bush.

Then, Mila looked at the path the culprits had taken. It led towards one of the fake trails she had made. She gripped her dagger harder, feeling a thirst for revenge - for payback for these innocent lives taken.

Mila-

Stopped.

“Now you nudge me?” She questioned the sudden and unasked for input. “Why?” Mila reflected on what was happening.

There was no hope of getting a clear answer, so Mila tried to decipher the meaning of the old ghost’s interference by herself. She pursued the killers, but her bloodlust was…

“Was it about the mindset?” She guessed and received affirmative feedback. “I don’t plan to forgive them.” Her mind was set. “But that’s not what you tried to imply, correct?”

Mila continued to run, heading back into the treetops and using branches as steps. “Is it because the path of revenge is filled with just suffering? Is it because I can’t feel responsible for every death in my path? Is it because I can’t lose sight of what is important? Is it a mix of these? Is there more?” She questioned.

All of her questions received an affirmative answer. Mila frowned, hearing voices ahead. “You are much more annoying now.” She noted. “Will you now interfere more often?” Her soundless movements draw her nearer and nearer to her targets.

Even without an answer, Mila assumed the decrepit piece of consciousness would take a more active spot in her life. He was recovering - for better and worse.

The simple poke had shifted Mila’s mental state. She was still filled with the thirst for death, but it was not a burning urge anymore. It was replaced by a cold, calculating purpose.

Mila didn’t mind this. A clear mind would allow her to enjoy taking the perpetrator's lives. She could even torture them a little.

Part of her waited for another reprimand. Mila stepped on a particularly large branch and hid behind the tree trunk as she laid her eyes on the group of mercenaries.

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The reprimand was still not there. Mila watched the three men and two women follow the trail as she dismissed the thought of torture. It wasn’t who she wanted to be.

But…

Her ears picked up something that made Mila’s rage rise.

“-second time they try to protect kids. The two mothers before also were like that.” A woman with a bow in her hands conversed with one of the swordsmen.

“That’s how a parent should be.” The man shook his head. “It’s a pity. I don’t get why-”

“Because we got paid a lot.” Their leader stopped the idle talk. He checked one of the foot imprints Mila had left before and signalled for them to keep walking. “And we get paid to not question anything.”

“Yes, yes. But I still feel the God of Hunt will not look favourably upon this.” The swordsman complained. “There is no honour in this. There is nothing in this for us to gain.”

“Shut it, Ka.” The leader hissed. “We wouldn’t have accepted you and Melly if we knew you would complain that much.”

“You would have anyway,” Ka shrugged. “You three needed Melly to track these lambs for slaughter.”

“This is a fake trail, by the way,” The woman with a bow pointed out.

“The fuck you said?” The leader’s eyes bulged. “And you say it now?” His veins were popping. But the next moment, he calmed down. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner?” He kicked a root, which predictably just tripped him.

“I wasn’t sure before,” Melly admitted. “But I am now.”

“Shit,” The leader looked up towards the sky while continuing colourfully cursing. “-and in the ass.” He finished. “There have been too many of these. Are you two sure whoever made these will be someone we can take?”

“Of course.” Ka nodded. “We are sure it is worthwhile.” He bumped against Melly’s shoulder. “Right?”

“Right,” Melly nodded.

While the conversation continued, Mila observed her targets. They were nothing special - not for the current her. But the mention of the God of Hunt made her hesitate.

Not because she had changed her mind. But-

The leader had realised something from Ka’s earlier words as well. “Wait.” He suddenly stopped and gave his other two comrades a sign to pull out weapons. “What do you mean by ‘worthwhile’?” He glared at Ka and Melly. “Didn’t you… No. You never said we could kill the target. You didn’t.” His voice turned into a growl. “What are you two up to. Depending on the answer…”

The three of the old group surrounded Ka and Melly. They brandished their weapons, expressions full of suspicion.

“Well,” Ka scratched his cheek. “We really needed someone local to help navigate this Kingdom.” He explained. “The Temple of Eternity isn’t exactly forthcoming. The Hunt isn’t an enemy of Eternity, but we are not friends either. You know?”

“I don’t.” The leader lowered his stance. “Continue speaking. And better have a good reason. Or else…” He threatened the duo with his sword.

“We don’t wanna fight!” Melly raised her hands in the air. “We are just here to follow the revelation.” She slapped the back of Ka’s head. “Apologise.”

“Yeah, that.” Ka nodded. “Sorry?”

“What revelation?”

This was the question Mila wanted to know an answer to as well. Her mind was racing, recalling the two siblings she and Isabel had killed. They, too, had been followers of the God of the Hunt. And they had searched for someone.

The chances of that someone being Mila or Isabel were…

“Eh, about a worthy hunt. It isn’t important for non-followers.” Ka avoided answering.

But upon noticing the Leader’s mood dropping, Melly continued. “We truly wish to help.” She placated. “And we did, didn’t we? Without us, you would not have found the two previous groups.”

“It didn’t have to be you.” The leader scoffed. “Others were wanting to join us. You two weren’t the only ones.”

“Ah,” Ka seemed a bit embarrassed. “Well… Those, too, were fellow hunters.” He let out a short laugh.

“What?” The leader didn’t seem to believe.

But Mila did. She had almost struck when Melly had mentioned the innocent people they had hunted down, but she had held back.

And it was good she had. The implications-

“That’s how it is.” Ka also opened his arms in a surrendering gesture. “After our God’s blessed one was killed… Well. It is now clear there is something in Tordgo worth pursuing. And whoever finds that target.” His expression turned hungry. “And whoever kills it…”

“They will be granted incredible boon from our God.” Melly finished. “The Hunt is on. Tordgo will be swarming with hunters. And we-”

Mila didn’t let the woman finish. She was done listening. Her presence was fully hidden as she left her hiding spot. She arrived behind Ka, who was the strongest person there.

The man’s death was swift, Mila’s dagger piercing his heart from behind. Before anyone could react, she was already moving towards her next target.

Melly didn’t offer any more resistance than Ka had. She died with her neck slashed, not even able to take a glimpse of her assassin.

Only now did the leader of the group realise what was happening. His expression stiffened as he breathed in to prepare for a roar. He began raising his sword while simultaneously turning around.

It was clear the man was preparing to run. Mila dispassionately looked away from the man, choosing to kill his two henchmen first. Her body allowed her to move at an incredible speed, robbing two lives before shooting after the last one.

Mila found the leader immediately. He hadn’t managed to get away for more than a few meters. She stepped in front of him, allowing him to see the deliverer of his end.

“P-p-please-” The man broke into a sob. His lower lip trembled, and his body went limp in front of the reaper. “P-please.”

There was no mercy in Mila’s heart. She raised her dagger.

But the icicle was what drilled into the man’s eyes, destroying his brain and melting away immediately.

Mila turned away from the collapsing corpse. She cleaned her black blade and let it vanish in her garb. Her mind was even more tumultuous than before.

What Mila had learned just now… She began running back to where her group was.

If she was the target, she had to part with Mortimer, Vatim and Kanna as soon as possible.

Because, for those who followed the God of Hunt, there were ways to track Mila. She had no doubt it would bring new dangers on top of the already existing ones.