Kova sat within his endless Void.
Beside him lay a bound figure missing three fingers, a silent testament to failure. Kova paid it no mind.
His consciousness was tethered to the physical world as he observed the hunt through layers of shadow.
The darkness here was not empty. It was a pressurized chamber of his own making. He could feel every breath his prisoners took.
He could sense the girl's pulse quickening as she tore through another wave of manifestations in the dark. Her pink flames flickered weakly against the black.
She was becoming what he needed her to be. A weapon forged in isolation.
His true focus remained on the effigies rising from the black sand at his feet. The sudden spike in Hykee's aggression and Lokee's fear echoed through the Void like a struck bell.
Kova opened his obsidian eyes as the sand rose to form the heavy shapes of the three hunters. He watched them approach a small shuttered shop at the end of a sparse lane.
Kaola walked with rigid stiffness. She was desperate to reclaim authority that was slipping away. Her pride blinded her to the signs the environment was giving. The boy they followed was not a creature of clean victories. He was a walking disaster.
"They're breaking," Kova whispered into the dark.
Kaola kicked the door open with more force than necessary. The old apothecary inside jumped back from his counter, hands covered in green paste. He looked terrified as Kaola stepped into the light.
"The boy," she growled. "How much medicine did he buy?"
The old man trembled. His eyes darted between the three of them before he finally spoke.
"I… I haven't sold suppressants in over a week. I saw them from the window, but they didn't stop. They were moving too fast toward the tree line. I only saw two of them… and they didn't even look at the door."
The moment the words left his mouth, the man realized his mistake. He had just confirmed seeing a second person without Kaola ever mentioning one.
Kaola grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the shelves.
"You saw them," she hissed. "And you knew they were running. So why are you shaking if they were just regular travelers?"
"I was scared!" the man shrieked. "Anyone who looks that sick and moves that fast through a quiet town brings trouble! I didn't want to be involved! They didn't stop here, I swear it! They just kept going toward the woods!"
Kaola released him. Her hand was trembling.
She turned to look at Hykee and Lokee. The silence in the shop was deafening.
By assuming the target would take the easy path, she had wasted precious time. The lead was growing wider.
Kova watched from the Void, his expression unreadable.
She outsmarted you, Kaola. The girl chose the harder path.
Kaola walked out of the shop without another word. She stood in the center of the dirt road, staring toward the dark woods.
The grass at the edge of the path was already beginning to wilt. The leaves on the nearest bushes were turning a sickly grey.
The Yen was leaking from the boy. The flare-ups were poisoning the environment.
"He's in the woods," she finally said, voice small. "We missed them."
Hykee stepped up beside her, his shadow looming over hers.
"You missed them," he corrected, voice low and raspy. "We followed your lead. If we lose him because you wanted to play god, Koma won't be the one you have to worry about."
Kaola turned on him, eyes flashing even as she leaned away from his reach.
"Play god? I was told to lead this mission. If I fail, I'll answer to Koma or Kova. If you want to keep hitting me, go ahead, but it won't help us find Kota. If you actually want to finish this, then let me do my job."
Lokee stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension with cold clarity.
"Do your job as the scout and the leader. Because without us, this mission is impossible. And Koma isn't a god. Stop this silly idolization."
Hykee let out a low, guttural growl. He turned his gaze toward Lokee, eyes darkening.
"Be quiet," he snapped. Then he looked back at Kaola. "Do your job. It's time to move on."
Kova watched the interaction from the Void, his lips curling into a thin, dangerous smile.
Hykee is starting to lose patience. I may actually have to step in soon.
He turned his gaze toward the far corner of the Void, where the girl remained. She was panting, her body covered in the soot of the demons she had slain.
"You've been in solitary for some time," Kova said quietly to himself. "I think it's time for you to show me your resolve."
He reached out, his hand hovering over the bound figure beside him.
The woods wouldn't be kind to the hunters.
They only cared about who survived the night.