"I think someone needs an emergency bath," Dai pulled his hair back in annoyance, finally realizing he needed a barber unless he wanted to compete with Ren for the longest hair. His wavy locks had reached his chin—how irritating. Everyone's eyes were fixed on Matteo, who was staining his lips with the vibrant pink hues of wild berry juice.
"What? No one here needs a bath," Matteo sniffed his shoulders with a puzzled look as he sucked the juice trapped between his teeth. He loved piercing the berries with his teeth to extract the juice, savoring the shiver of tartness that ran from his tongue to his throat. Meanwhile, a different kind of shiver ran through Colin's body, who had sworn never to put wild berries in his mouth after his first experience. How could anyone enjoy a fruit that made their body recoil from bitterness? He added after the shivers subsided, "You must've gotten used to the stench over time. I meant to bring this up earlier, but hunger took over."
Ren said, "The smell wasn't strong at first, but it's coming from your clothes. Did you fall into something in the capital?"
Matteo stopped eating the berries and gave Sai a long look, while Sai's facial muscles remained frozen as if he were a corpse. Matteo knew he'd have to explain what happened on his own—Ren wouldn't let him off the hook this time. He began, scratching the back of his neck, "Well, I didn't exactly fall into something... more like crashed into something..."
Colin asked, "Something? Like what?"
"A boy... but he wasn't hurt. Maybe just a little."
Matteo looked at Ren with a silly grin, but he knew it wouldn't placate her anymore—its effect on her wasn't as strong as before. Ren, on the other hand, raised her eyebrows at him before turning to Sai, who was feigning a blank expression. But she knew he was involved too—his face was as transparent to her as sunlight. Still, she didn't want to lash out at them now, though she was fed up with her brothers' recklessness. Over the past three years, not a single part of their bodies had been spared from wounds, scrapes, and sometimes bleeding due to their childish antics. Returning from what should've been a peaceful shopping trip—Colin with a swollen nose, Matteo limping, and Sai with a bleeding forehead (with the roles often swapping)—had made her so furious that they now avoided trouble just to escape her herbal medical experiments.
Dai always tried to stay out of their competitions to avoid harm, despite the many problems they'd gotten into because of his short temper when bumped into by passersby. In the end, his body was always the least injured, and he often stifled laughter when Ren scolded them, as he was doing now. He even praised them for how quickly they got hurt—without them, Ren wouldn't have become such an expert in healing.
After a long sigh, Ren—who had already pieced together the full scene of Matteo crashing into the poor boy—said, "We'll stop so you can change and wash in the river. As for your clothes, Sai will help me wash them." Sai swallowed hard as he followed them to the riverbank, handed a bag of their modest spare clothes by Colin. The bag had been hanging on a pine branch near the rock where they kept their money. The clothes bag, the cooking tools pouch, the herb bag, and the money box combined weren't even half the size of the smallest noble's luggage, but traveling light was easier.
Ren hadn't scolded them—her tension from Mr. Abrahams must still linger, even though they were five hours away from the capital. They'd decided to leave the capital for another city; it was no longer safe after Mr. Abrahams recognized Ren, given his power and influence there. Though they'd memorized most of its streets, districts, and trades, work was work no matter the city. They could let go of the dazzling capital for the sake of their safety and distance from any respectable yet twisted gentlemen.
Matteo stepped into the river, his body shuddering from the initial cold bite before relaxing slightly to adjust. The great river of Lucidem stretched from the depths of the forest into the heart of the city from the east, then continued south through the royal palace's borders before circling back to the forest. Its crystal-blue branches watered fields and farms, guiding their small family to various regions of the Western Kingdom. They had no idea which city they'd work in next, so they left it to fate—trusting it caused fewer side effects than making plans that fate would just destroy.
Dai and Colin sat on a rock by the river, watching Matteo, who had forgotten he needed to hurry before nightfall. They needed shelter—the clouds might weep tonight. After a while, Dai said, "Don't you think crashing into someone wouldn't leave such a strong stench?"
Colin replied, "Yeah, I think so too. The smell's weird—I can't place it."
Matteo shouted from the water, "I agree! And we never smelled this on Dylan!"
Dai called back, "Who?"
"Dylan—the boy I crashed into."
Dai and Colin exchanged puzzled glances. If the smell didn't come from this "Dylan," then where did it come from?
Meanwhile, Ren was scrubbing Matteo's shirt fiercely with cleansing herbs at a small water inlet. Sai held the fabric's edges as she tried to remove a stubborn brown stain reeking like a wild animal. But her efforts failed—the stain wouldn't budge.
"Ren, that's enough. I don't think it's coming out."
"Wait a little longer. I won't let this stain defeat me."
"The sun's setting."
Ren looked up to see the sun slowly dragging its light below the horizon. They were running late, but her pride refused to let the stain win—she'd never lost to a stain before, even before knowing her brothers. Finally, she admitted defeat. Unfortunately, that blue shirt had suited Matteo's eyes, making him look aristocratic—if only he actually were, Ren mused.
They regrouped after Matteo changed into his spare dark shirt and knee-length pants. He was genuinely sorry when he learned Ren couldn't salvage his favorite shirt, and Colin decided to deduct his share of stable earnings to buy a new one—leading to a fight Ren stopped with a single glare. Poor Matteo just wanted to buy a small, precise spoon for salt measurements.
Ren wanted to keep the shirt to salvage the still-usable sleeves for sewing, but Dai objected after sniffing it deeply. "I have suspicions about this smell. Better to get rid of it." No one argued—they trusted his judgment, even if they didn't trust his people skills.
Dai grinned mischievously. "Well, brothers, let's honor Matteo by letting him throw his beloved shirt into the river." The sun had long set, and the sky showed no signs of rain, so they lit a fire near a riverside rock formation resembling a small cave. Colin chimed in, "Agreed. Whoever thinks we live on a gold mountain and ruins clothes deserves this grand honor." Sai handed the shirt to Matteo, avoiding his gaze—the traitor was somehow responsible but did nothing to stop the bullying. How Matteo hated when Dai and Colin teamed up—they knew exactly how to provoke him, and they only ever agreed when it came to tormenting him. Devils!
He said nothing—anything he said would just make them laugh, and Ren wouldn't intervene unless fists flew. Besides, now wasn't the time. They needed sleep—tomorrow's journey distance was unknown, and neither were the creatures lurking in the forest's depths. Maybe they'd encounter broad-winged raptors, giant insect-eating plants, or wolves. Or, miraculously, a lion! Matteo had always wanted to see one—every time he saw artists' paintings of those golden-maned creatures, his excitement grew.
The three stood behind him, waiting for him to toss the shirt, while Ren watched the stain from the corner of her eye. Maybe she wanted to throw it herself for revenge. Nothing stopped Ren's glares when angry, though her eyes stayed silent when afraid, as she'd proven yesterday. Matteo raised the shirt, ready to throw—until a powerful bark echoed behind them. Instinctively, he froze, turned, and grabbed Ren's hand as the others circled them, knives drawn.
From the bushes emerged a reddish-brown greyhound. Their fire gradually illuminated its scarred jaws. It barked again, the sound reverberating through the trees over the river's murmur. The dog sat motionless.
Colin exclaimed, "What's a dog doing deep in the forest at this hour?!"
Dai gritted his teeth. "Damn it! My fears just came true."
"What do you mean?!"
Dai eyed the iron cylinder hanging from the greyhound's neck. "That stubborn stain on Matteo's shirt—it's a substance that releases its stench upon air exposure, growing stronger over time. This dog must've tracked us here using it. And we all know who planted it on your shirt, Matteo."
Sai glared at the dog. "I knew he wasn't really unconscious. Damn it!"
Colin growled, "Hell, that pervert's been watching us the whole time."
Ren clenched Matteo's hand, but her eyes shone differently than yesterday—not fear, but readiness for confrontation. Relieved, Matteo said, "That pervert sent us a message. What do you say? Should I send this dog back untouched, or do we check the cylinder?" He hoped they'd choose confrontation—this was a direct challenge that had cost him his favorite shirt. But he wouldn't force his siblings into danger they could easily avoid by leaving.
Their uncertain gazes met. Matteo could easily dismiss the dog—it was clearly trained for violent hunts, judging by its scars, yet it sat calmly around him, as animals instinctively did.
They all knew returning to the capital now was dangerous, but they also knew Dr. Hans was still there, trapped in that respectable pervert's grasp. Torn between protecting their sister (and themselves) and worrying over the fatherly doctor, their emotions clashed.
Ren cut the silence firmly. "Let's open the cylinder." All eyes turned to her. Matteo added instantly, "I think that's the right choice. We won't sleep tonight worrying about Dr. Hans anyway."
They nodded. Matteo approached the greyhound slowly, petting its head before untying the cylinder. The dog bolted into the darkness—hopefully, it'd find its way back safely.
Huddled around the fire's glow, Matteo carefully unrolled the parchment inside: the numbers "00" and a straw piece glued below. The message was clear.
Colin raised an eyebrow. "Straightforward time and place. I expected some twisted riddle."
Matteo tossed the paper into the flames. "Better this way. Confront him, end him, ensure Dr. Hans is safe, and leave this capital for good—all in one night. No games. How long till midnight?"
Dai checked his pocket watch. "You plan to *kill* him?! We've got six hours."
"We'll make it to the stable in time."
Colin shrugged. "You know Matteo never backs down once set on something. We'll manage."
Smiles spread—their bond was stronger than any power Mr. Abrahams held.
Sai smothered the fire with damp soil. They packed their meager belongings, hiding them under their usual money-rock near the capital's edge for easy retrieval if needed. The night journey back was harder—clouds choked the moonlight, and winds snuffed their torches. Colin mentally noted to buy an oil lamp with their next earnings.
At the rock, they stashed their bags in the hollow beneath it before heading toward the capital's colored lights. But Ren suddenly stopped them, her voice firm. "Promise me you won't do anything reckless." Her words carried a plea, not a scold.
In unison: "We promise!"
Then they flexed muscles, bragged about speed—even Sai flipped his knife, sparking a spinning contest despite their time crunch. Ren laughed. For that moment, she wished their antics could last forever.