The deeper parts of the settlement were quieter.
---
Fewer people.
---
More eyes.
---
---
The buildings changed.
---
Less worn—
---
More deliberate.
---
---
Stone reinforced with iron frames.
---
Doors thicker.
---
Windows narrow.
---
---
Not homes.
---
Places that expected trouble.
---
---
Thalren slowed.
---
Not by choice.
---
By instinct.
---
---
Something here was different.
---
---
"…You feel it too," Alric said quietly.
---
---
Thalren didn't answer.
---
---
He didn't need to.
---
---
Kaizen stopped beside them.
---
His gaze fixed ahead.
---
---
"…Someone's watching," he said.
---
---
Not a guess.
---
---
A fact.
---
---
A voice answered.
---
---
"…Of course."
---
---
Calm.
---
Clear.
---
---
Not hostile.
---
---
A figure stepped out from the shadow of a narrow structure.
---
---
Tall.
---
Lean.
---
---
Dark coat.
---
Edges worn—
---
But maintained.
---
---
His eyes moved first.
---
Across all three of them—
---
Slowly.
---
---
Not judging.
---
---
Measuring.
---
---
"…You're not locals," he said.
---
---
Kaizen replied.
---
"…We don't plan to be."
---
---
A faint shift in the man's expression.
---
Not quite a smile.
---
---
"…Good."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…People who stay too long here…"
---
---
His gaze flicked briefly toward the sea's direction—
---
Even though it wasn't visible.
---
---
"…tend to learn things they shouldn't."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Alric stepped forward slightly.
---
---
"…You've seen something," he said.
---
---
Not a question.
---
---
The man's eyes settled on him.
---
---
"…You understand enough to ask that."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…But not enough to stop."
---
---
Alric didn't deny it.
---
---
"…We need information."
---
---
The man considered that.
---
Brief.
---
---
Then—
---
"…You won't get it for free."
---
---
Kaizen's hand rested lightly near his blade.
---
Not threatening—
---
Ready.
---
---
"…We're not here to bargain long," he said.
---
---
The man ignored the tone.
---
---
His focus shifted.
---
---
To Thalren.
---
---
He went still.
---
---
For a moment—
---
Something in his gaze changed.
---
---
Sharper.
---
---
"…You," he said quietly.
---
---
Thalren looked at him.
---
---
"…You've been closer than you should be."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Kaizen's eyes narrowed slightly.
---
---
Alric didn't speak.
---
---
"…The sea touched you," the man continued.
---
---
Not a guess.
---
---
A statement.
---
---
Thalren didn't confirm.
---
---
Didn't deny.
---
---
The man exhaled softly.
---
---
"…That explains it."
---
---
"…Explains what," Kaizen asked.
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…Why it's moving."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
The air shifted slightly.
---
---
That same faint pressure—
---
Present even here.
---
---
Alric's voice lowered.
---
---
"…Say that again."
---
---
The man's gaze didn't leave Thalren.
---
---
"…Things out there don't come closer without reason."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…Something changed."
---
---
His eyes sharpened slightly.
---
---
"…Or someone did."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Kaizen stepped forward.
---
---
"…Careful with your words."
---
---
The man didn't react.
---
---
"…You should be careful with your presence," he replied.
---
---
The tension held.
---
---
Then—
---
He stepped back slightly.
---
---
"…You want information," he said.
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…There's someone who knows more."
---
---
Alric's eyes narrowed.
---
---
"…Where."
---
---
The man turned slightly.
---
---
Pointing deeper into the settlement.
---
---
"…Old records."
---
---
"…Old ruins."
---
---
"…Old mistakes."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…He studies all of them."
---
---
Kaizen glanced briefly at Alric.
---
---
Alric understood.
---
---
"…A scholar," he said.
---
---
The man didn't confirm.
---
---
But didn't deny either.
---
---
"…If you're staying," he added—
---
---
"…find him before night."
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…After that…"
---
---
His gaze shifted again.
---
Toward the unseen sea.
---
---
"…things become harder to ignore."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Then he turned.
---
---
And walked back into the shadow—
---
Disappearing as quietly as he appeared.
---
---
No one followed.
---
---
The air settled again.
---
---
But something had changed.
---
---
Kaizen exhaled slowly.
---
---
"…That was useful."
---
---
Alric nodded once.
---
---
"…More than he intended."
---
---
Thalren remained still.
---
---
"…He wasn't wrong," he said.
---
---
A pause.
---
---
"…Something changed."
---
---
Silence.
---
---
Kaizen glanced at him.
---
---
But didn't press.
---
---
"…We have to find this scholar," he said.
---
---
Final.
---
---
Alric adjusted his glasses slightly.
---
---
"…Before night."
---
---
The wind moved through the narrow path again.
---
---
Carrying a faint sound.
---
---
Distant.
---
---
From the direction of the sea.
---
---
Still there.
---
---
Still watching.
---
---
And now—
---
They were walking deeper into a place—
---
That might finally explain why.