“This is just like that story Toklo told us-”

“Anuk, I am literally begging you to be quiet. You wanted to tail this guy, so we’re tailing him. And if you don’t pipe down, we’re about to be fighting him. So just hush up and stay in the bush for a while until he starts moving again.”

Leaning back with a groan, Anuk regarded the small figure in the foliage with great interest. The guy was certainly dressed like an assassin, even if he wasn’t one, so there was a good chance that he had something equally entertaining going on.

Erza and Anuk had been following the guy in black for at least an hour now, and he still had yet to do anything notable. His black jumpsuit matched the spiky hair under his hood, though why he needed a hood when his collar was practically over his chin, Anuk didn’t know. No matter; the hood was inconsequential. What Anuk wanted was to know who this was and where he was going. He also wanted to know why this person was so short, but he already knew that wasn’t something Erza would let him ask. Supposedly Erza was only in this to stop Anuk from getting himself kidnapped or worse, but the younger boy knew that the mysterious boy in black had piqued his friend’s curiosity, as well.

There were many mysteries that Anuk had yet to solve; he wanted to know why some people’s affinities were so much stronger, and why others’ were so weak they barely manifested at all. He wanted to know the cure for ice flu and how to heal the deadly mog virus that had been sweeping the Aji Islands for the past few years. He wanted to know why the Two-Century War had even started in the first place, and if the tribe leaders knew the cause. And if they did, he wanted to know why they wouldn’t share it with their people. He wanted to know why it was bad luck to tie three knots wrong in a row. He wanted to know why Erza was tugging at his arm, shaking him and hissing insults about how Anuk was a gull-brain who never listened.

Wait.

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

Oh.

“What?” Anuk whispered. “What’s the problem?”

“He’s leaving!”

“Oh, squid guts! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I tried, but someone-”

“Where did he go? Maybe we can-”

“Who are you?” A new voice cut in from behind them, rough but still quiet, retaining a hint of youth despite the scratchiness.

Anuk and Erza whipped around, coming face to face with the boy in black. His face was shadowed by the fabric of his hood and the high collar that hid his neck, but Anuk could clearly see the odd color of his eyes, a conspicuous gold that seemed to hold an intense heat like molten metal. The boy with the red-gold eyes was going to be very interesting, indeed.

----------------------------------------

Erza’s heart was pounding. How did he get behind us so fast?

Only a few moments ago, the one they were trailing had definitely been in front of them, and by quite a bit. Next thing Erza knew the guy was gone, and it had barely been a minute before he was behind them. Who even was this guy?

The boy raised an eyebrow. “I’d like an answer. That wasn’t a rhetorical question.”

Before Erza could stop him, Anuk was already rattling off their names.

“I’m Anuk, and that’s Erza. Who are you? Your clothes are kinda noticeable in a town like this.”

“...Like what, exactly?”

“Well, this is a trading port, and you’re over here dressed like an assassin. Didn’t anyone tell you that all-black clothes make you stand out more?”

The boy’s brow furrowed slightly, as if he wasn’t sure whether Anuk was joking or not. Erza almost shook his head in sympathy; he could certainly relate.

Instead of sympathizing, though, Erza decided to intervene. “We told you our names, but you didn’t tell us yours. Care to share?”

He was quiet for a moment before mumbling, “Ji. Just call me Ji.”

“All right, then. We’ve met Ji, and he’s met us. So, Anuk, are you satisfied? Can we go back to finding someplace to eat now, or maybe going back before Koda has our heads?”