The hunters backed up, hesitant to attack now after seeing their leader get killed by the small girl.
But they couldn't leave. Even seeing their leader die in such a brutal method, they were still desperate.
They needed to take the bounty on the crew's heads and live up to their names. They were still outnumbering the mere three people, only two of which were Aberrants.
The group of hunters were overconfident.
The ancient-looking rings that were formed around Faye's wrists were shrouded in mystery, seeming like an ancient power.
Aren was in more of a dilemma, memories of his traumatic past as a child flashed in his head.
His eyes twitched. He felt anger, but he also felt guilty. For a reason he couldn't quite make up, his eyes kept twitching uncontrollably.
'I should've cut him when I had the chance.'
These thoughts pursued in his head, nothing else started mattering.
Kellen took a few steps forward, releasing a crunchy sound from the snowy earth.
He stood in front of Aren, towering above him to intimidate. He was holding himself back from grabbing Aren by the robe.
"You Aberrant filth. Look at what you've got us into!"
Kellen was a strong, faithful man. He didn't want to work with Aberrants such as Faye and Aren, but he had no choice.
It was his lack of experience in the harsh Primal World that led him to work with Aren and Faye.
Aren was about to snap back at Kellen, as the cruel thoughts were only increasing rapidly in his mind.
Pushing aside the pointless thoughts for now, he turned his back to Kellen and said in a cold, yet sorrowful tone:
"Then go. I never told you to follow me."
Kellen clicked his tongue.
Watching the disorientating crew, the hunters thought it would be best to attack first.
Stuttering, the man that was ranked second to the leader muttered, "Attack.."
He raised his voice for all the other hunters near him, "Attack!"
Hearing them, Kellen froze. He was too inexperienced with little to no abilities at all besides having a muscular body.
"Stupid old man!" Aren finally snapped, pushing Kellen on the ground who'd been bothering him and only reaching closer to his face.
He pulled the dagger which was tucked into the belt that circled around his robe and pulled himself into a stance.
Faye stood still, a calm expression on her face, like she wasn't worried at all.
Three hunters jumped at Aren, who was at the lead.
Aren ducked, avoiding their sharp metal blades. He pulled the dagger upwards and slid it across their stomachs.
Blood spewed out, much was spilled on Aren's face.
The three hunters collapsed, their crimson liquid forming a pool of blood.
Blinded, Aren jumped backwards. Faye took his spot by unleashing another beam of light from her open palm, the rings glowed faintly as she released the beam.
With no chance to fight back, the hunters started fleeing into the forest and back to the other side.
"Tch… They're going to report us to the patrols near Helmond City." He muttered to himself.
Aren turned his head backwards, shifting his gaze back to Kellen.
"If you hadn't intervened, we could have killed them all!"
His knee bent, Kellen slowly replied, "All you talk about is killing others… Don't be so selfish!"
Aren walked up to him, he grit his teeth out of annoyance, "It's not like I want to be here either! You soft old man.. You might be older than me, but you still don't realize the reality of what it's like outside the cozy walls of the city… If you don't want to continue with us, then go by yourself. I don't care."
Aren knew there were other options, but he always chose the best option. Negotiating with hunters would only bring betrayal.
After all, he'd tested it before and went through a gruesome experience that he'll never forget.
Suddenly, another beam of light erupted from behind Aren.
He looked back only to see Faye was still attacking, not knowing the hunters ran away.
Aren's eyes twitched, remembering that Faye can't see using her eyes.
"They're gone, Faye. They retreated."
Faye stopped. She looked at Aren, then said in an ethereal, unsettling voice:
"I know."
Kellen put on a face of pure discomfort, perhaps even disgust. He never liked Aberrants, and now he was sure he'd never do.
He thought to himself, 'What is the Velione of Choirs doing outside Northeim City in the first place? Why would a Choir be accompanying this cynical child…'
Aren was more used to Faye's eeriness. It seemed he had journeyed with her for a long time now.
"Our path to Necropolis is a long one. It would be wise to avoid getting distracted." Faye spoke, facing both Aren and Kellen.
Aren slightly nodded, unusual for him to accept that quickly.
The blue slate rings around Faye's arms started to vanish into thin air. Slowly, she stepped closer to Kellen, "Will you accompany us?"
Kellen finally got up from the ground.
He wiped off the snow that got onto his clothes and answered, "Does it seem like I have a choice?"
Despite him even loathing Aberrants like Faye and Aren, he still chose to go. If not, he was gonna die a cold, lonely death.
Aren, in the distance, was inspecting the dead corpses' clothes. He seemed to be taking their belongings.
"How are we supposed to find the Nameless Necropolis?" Kellen asked Faye.
"The path to Necropolis is not on any map. It is a scar on reality. I can feel its wrongness, but I cannot see the landmarks that navigate the way."
Kellen raised a brow, turning only more confused. Faye looked at Aren.
"That is what he will provide."
***
Continuing their way, they passed through the abandoned village and now they were in a vast land called the Pale Verge.
Many jagged, crystalline structures that looked like thorns of ice jut from the ground, glowing with a faint, unsettling blue.
The Pale Verge was home to many monsters that followed the Cycle of Starvation.
Faye suddenly asked as the crunchy sound of their footsteps on the snow loudened, "I don't recall seeing you use your Aberration. Why?"
Aren stayed quiet for a few moments, thinking of how to answer her.
It was hard for him. When using his Aberration, something wild, and deep stirs up inside his body, causing his body to explode in pain.
Granted, he gains power. But at a cost. He cannot handle such a degree of pain that erupts from within his body, perhaps even from his soul.
To Faye, he simply replied with, "I don't know."
He lied. He hated that it made him feel like a real person.
Every time he touched that power, something inside his body screamed. Like it wanted him to be burned alive inside out. Like it was clawing at his ribs, begging to be let out.
He hated that it felt good. And most of all, he hated that he couldn't control it.