It took a few seconds for those words to register in Vigil's head. But when they finally did, it was as if a giant hammer had come crashing down.
'11th birthday? A month ago? I know that I've spent a lot of time out here but-... Two years?'
While these thoughts were racing through the young boy's head, Witch started questioning Leonide.
"What do you mean '11th birthday'? How would you even know something like that!?"
In response to her words, the old man flipped around the object that was, as of now, being tightly gripped in his hand. On it was a report that showed how the Gravolta Kingdom had met its demise within the span of a single day at the hands of Zoul.
At the top of the report was the date that it happened, exactly two years and one month ago.
Seeing this, Witch immediately turned her head to look at the shocked boy.
She didn't know what to say at this moment, and she wasn't alone in that. Leonide was at a loss for words as well.
So, in fear of saying the wrong thing, they decided that it would be best to stay quiet and allow the shocked child sitting before them to come to terms with this revelation.
And just like that, the rest of the day had passed in silence and it was now sundown.
The convoy had stopped and was now setting up a camp that consisted of a singular tent for cooking and eating, a few tents for rest, and a couple of bonfires for the people that weren't on watch to enjoy themselves and talk to each other.
While they were setting up the camp, Vigil had exited from the vehicle positioned in the center of the convoy, leaving his weapons inside.
When he had done this he didn't have his helmet on, so all that people saw was a young boy, beaten and bruised with a few scars on his face.
At the sight of him, most people stayed silent and just stared.
As they were doing so, Vigil went up to someone that looked to be important and asked if he could help with anything.
When asked why, he told them that Cardinal Leonide had hired him.
Hearing this, the man then pointed towards one of the groups that was currently setting up a tent and told him to help them put it up.
Vigil then nodded and walked over to the group that consisted of two women and two men.
The group was one of the few that only just glanced at the boy then immediately went back to work, so it was only by the time that Vigil had arrived at their location that someone noticed his company.
"Hmm? Hey guys check it out, it's the kid that came from the Cardinals vehicle."
It was at the sound of one of the men's voices ringing out that the rest of their little group turned around to see who had just joined them.
Noticing that he'd gotten everyone's attention, Vigil introduced himself and told them why he was here.
"I was told to come over and help you out... I go by Dread, by the way."
After hearing him, the whole group turned to look at one another, then back at Vigil. They then began to examine him up and down, almost as if they were looking at some rare mythical being.
"You're Dread?"
One of the women asked.
'Oh no, not again...'
In response to her question Vigil nodded.
Seeing him nod his head in assertion seemed to immediately flip their switch.
"Holy crap... Hey kid, so if you really are Dread then that also means that you're a Child of War! Can you tell us some stories? Like what did you normally do every day or what did you normally eat?"
It was only then that Vigil had realized just how well known and popular he seemed to be.
And boy did he not enjoy any of it.
'This is going to become a common occurrence isn't it?'
At the moment Vigil really wanted to go back into the vehicle that held Witch and Leonide, because although it might be a bit awkward in there, at least he wouldn't have to deal with these people.
Thankfully, Vigil didn't need to deal with their stampede of questions for much longer, as soon, a loud voice cut them off and halted their ever increasing curiosity.
"Hey, what do you guys think you're doing!?"
'...I know that voice.'
Vigil thought to himself then turned towards the vehicle in which he'd just stepped out of a few minutes ago.
When he did this, his eyes landed on a singular woman, Witch.
He wasn't the only one that saw her however, as Vigil could soon hear the voices of the small group standing beside him ring out, now talking to each other.
"So... Does anyone know why the captain looks so upset?"
"Nope."
"Couldn't tell you."
"It's because of Dread you guys!... Although I can't say why it's because of him..."
Hearing their conversation, Vigil took notice of something that the first voice said.
Captain.
'What do they mean by captain? Could they be talking about Witch?"
However, Vigil didn't have to ponder too long on those questions as Witch herself had pretty much answered them all in the next sentence.
"Dread, sorry about my warband, they're just a little curious is all. They didn't mean to upset you or anything."
Now although Vigil had absolutely no clue what a "war band" was, he could at least gather that it was probably something akin to the parties he'd read about in books when he was younger.
But right now, that was besides the point.
"No, it's fine. I can speak from experience when I say that I understand how some people's curiosity may take over their thoughts."
Those words brought a small smile to the half-elf's face.
"Thanks for that, but uh... What are you doing here with these guys?"
Vigil then began to explain everything that had happened since he left the Cardinals personal vehicle.
While listening to his explanation, Witch began to nod her head up and down, seemingly understanding the situation in its entirety.
It was only when he'd finished talking that Witch had spoken again.
"Well then since we're all here, let's get started on building the tent and while we do that, allow me to introduce everyone."
Then, starting with the two humans of the group, she began her introductions of everyone there.
The first one was the human male, Mammoth.
He was about 2 meters tall (~6'5"), mainly wore plate armor with small amounts of chainmail, and had light brown hair accompanied by the same color of eyes.
Next up was Rose, the human woman.
Contrary to her name, she had nothing that was a flower or of the color red anywhere on her person. Instead she wore neat leather armor and had blonde hair with blue eyes.
She then introduced another one of the ladies, this time a dwarf named Elata.
Just like most dwarfs, she was tan-skinned and stood at around 1.3 meters (~4'3") short. She wore a pristine purple robe with the same colored witch hat sitting atop her head almost covering her short brunette hair and closed eyes.
...Closed eyes?
Vigil couldn't quite wrap his head around the fact that she kept her eyes closed, so he interrupted Witch right before she got to the last person, and asked why Elata had them that way.
"Oh, well, we don't know. I mean we know that she isn't blind but..."
Vigil could only stare at the dwarf in wonder and confusion.
'I mean, I guess.'
After that... Revelation as Vigil will now be calling it, the fourth and final member of their group was brought to his attention. This time it was an orc male named Blanch.
He stood about as tall as Mammoth did with his light green skin and braided black hair. His attire consisted of ivory colored baggy pants with many pockets on them... that's it.
'These people are so weird.'
But besides the small peculiarities each of them had, they seemed to be nice people.
When the introductions were finally over they had talked on and on about several different things while setting up the tent.
What they talked about ranged from Mammoth's small squabbles with his wife and children to Vigil and how he'd eaten some crazy things just to have some form of sustenance out in the wild.
By the time that Vigil and the rest of their small group had finished putting everything up, dinner was already being served to the rest of the convoy.
Seeing this, they decided to head over and get themselves some grub.
But when Vigil tried to follow, someone grabbed him by the wrist, stopping him in his tracks.
Turning around, Vigil lifted his knee towards the arm that was now attached to his hand, intending to break it in order to be free from the person's grip.
However, his knee was suddenly stopped by the person's other hand just before it had connected to their arm.
Following the block was the sound of a woman's voice.
"Woah, calm down a little, kid. I didn't mean to startle you like that, sorry."
Hearing and seeing Witch apologizing had snapped Vigil out of his seemingly trance like state.
"...Whatever, just don't do it again."
Leaving those words hanging in the air, Vigil walked off to the food tent.
Feeling someone grab him was something that Vigil didn't like. This was because it signified that he was unable to escape his current predicament and was therefore in danger.
So at this point in time, it had become akin to a natural reflex to stop what he was doing and get away no matter the cost when someone grabbed him.
As Vigil was walking away, he remembered the face that Witch made when he attacked her. From how he saw it, she seemed to have been concerned about something.
Thinking this, he thought of turning around and quickly apologizing for his actions.
But those very thoughts were cut short by a different train of them.
'No, it doesn't matter. I'm only here to get to Mercy, nothing more, nothing less.'
Although the boy did have a bit of fun today, he still couldn't trust anyone.
At least, not for now.