Leafa and Rapheal stepped out to handle paperwork with the doctor, leaving Anasha, Reinhard, Marie, and Joseph alone with Ven.
Joseph leaned forward carefully. "Ven, if you think you're ready, can you tell us where you went?"
Ven blinked while Anasha nodded rapidly, her voice filled with worry as she said. "You've been gone for four days. Where have you been?"
Ven's eyes widened in disbelief. "Four days? But it only felt like a day..." He paused, collecting his thoughts. "I remember after eating at the cafe, I went to the oldest section of town."
Anasha bit her lip. "Was it because of me?"
Ven smiled and shook his head. "I didn't plan to go at first, but then I saw some Phantasm Beasts moving around the area at night with no guards present. I wanted to make sure I wasn't imagining things before causing a false alarm, so I went to investigate."
Anasha's eyes widened. "Oh, that's why..."
Ven raised an eyebrow and gave a snort. "What? You thought I went because of your words? Don't be silly!" He rubbed her cheeks playfully, earning a glare and a swat at his hand.
"You annoying brother." Anasha muttered in annoyance.
Reinhard, Joseph, and Marie exchanged knowing looks. They could see through Ven's lie, he had indeed gone because of Anasha's curiosity, but was protecting her from guilt by creating this cover story.
What a good older brother.
Reinhard smiled. "I'm guessing you searched the area before finding a cellar entrance?"
Ven nodded. "I was curious where it led, so I went down… But in hindsight, I probably shouldn't have done that."
"You think?" Anasha glares at Ven, making him chuckle nervously.
Marie blinked in surprise. "That's pretty brave. But why didn't you leave and tell the guards?"
Ven bit his lip. "If I did, I would be scolded and not get the chance to explore."
Marie laughed. "I can see why. I would probably do something similar."
Joseph sighed as he brought a hand to his face. "That's not something you're supposed to say. Please don't copy or take what she says seriously."
Both Ven and Anasha laughed at the exchange while Reinhard continued his questioning. "Then you found the hole leading to the underground tunnel and went deeper. What harmed you down there?"
Ven furrowed his brows. "I... I don't know. I remember walking forward, then everything went black. When I came to, I was on the ground in pain and bleeding."
Anasha gripped Ven's shirt, staring at him with worry while Reinhard stroked his chin thoughtfully.
"Maybe Phantasm Beasts?" Joseph suggested.
Marie nodded. "There's a chance some are living in the tunnels."
Ven's face scrunched up as he gripped his head, causing Anasha to worry further. Then he smiled faintly at her. "I think it might be... I recall a Werefang staring down at me."
"Alright, so we have an idea of what happened," Joseph concluded.
Reinhard nodded but knew Marie and Joseph were also thinking the same thing. If a Werefang really did attack Ven, why did it leave him alone after injuring him?
But then Reinhard recalled Mimir's words about an illusion and the two odd Werefangs.
Could it be that Beast Master saved Ven? But then they left him to die?
Anasha furrowed her brows. "Are you guys going to explore the tunnel?"
Reinhard put a finger to his lips with a smile. "Keep it a secret, okay you two?"
Anasha and Ven glanced at each other before grinning and nodding eagerly.
Reinhard then explained the cover story Ven should use with his parents and the guards. Ven's eyes lit up as he nodded. "Thank you! With this, I can escape most of the punishment."
Anasha hummed thoughtfully. "You're still going to get scolded by Dad."
Ven grimaced and sighed while Marie laughed at his resigned expression.
"We're leaving now," Reinhard announced. "But we'll come check on you later tonight or tomorrow."
After Anasha waved and Ven smiled his farewell, they departed the clinic and found guards dispersing the remaining crowd. They blended in with the departing residents before making their way back toward the restricted area.
The return journey to the burnt district required them to sneak back inside. They waited for patrol routes to clear before slipping through gaps in the barriers, then moved quickly through the damaged buildings to their previous entry point.
The descent through the cellar and down the old ladder felt different this time since now they knew what dangers might await them in the darkness below.
Marie's spear illuminated their path as they reached the tunnel floor and began moving forward with heightened caution.
They passed the bloodstained area where they had discovered Ven. The dried patches served as a reminder of how close they had come to finding a corpse instead of a living boy. Beyond this point, the tunnel continued deeper into unknown territory.
After several minutes of careful progress through the narrow tunnel, the passage opened into a much larger underground chamber. Reinhard paused at the threshold, the light from Marie spear casted an eerie glow that revealed the contents within.
The room had been arranged like a gallery.
Werefangs and Autumn Deer stood positioned throughout the space, but Reinhard's eyes widened in shock. He realized none of them were alive as the lights in their eyes were dull and no blood was leaking from missing limbs. T
hey had been preserved and placed in deliberate poses that created an unsettling artistic display.
Near the entrance, an Autumn Deer stood upright on its hind legs, its front hooves raised as if reaching toward something unseen. The preservation process had maintained the creature's autumn-colored fur perfectly, though its eyes had been replaced with polished stones that gleamed in the gas lamps in the wall.
To their left, three Werefangs were arranged in a circle, their heads tilted upward toward the ceiling where chains hung empty. Their poses suggested they were howling in unison, though no sound would ever emerge from their throats.
Along the far wall, more elaborate arrangements caught the light. A massive Werefang sat in a throne-like position, its clawed hands resting on what appeared to be smaller creatures positioned as armrests. The composition created a hierarchy of predator and prey frozen in display.
In the chamber's center, the most elaborate piece commanded attention. Several Autumn Deer formed a semi-circle around a single Werefang, their poses suggesting they were bowing or submitting to the predator.
But Reinhard also saw some were missing limbs that had been cleanly severed, while others had holes and deep cuts. On the ground, more creatures lay in various states of dismemberment.
Marie's light wavered as she took in the grotesque scene before her in slight disbelief. "What the hell is this..."
Joseph's face became grim as he began glancing around. "Something we probably shouldn't have discovered... And most likely what the missing Inquisitor team came to investigate."
Each arrangement showed careful attention to positioning and presentation. The creatures had been treated well and maintained their natural color while preventing decay. Wooden platforms elevated some displays, while others were positioned directly on the stone floor with careful attention to lighting and viewing angles.
Tools and materials scattered throughout the room suggested ongoing work.
Reinhard moved forward despite his feeling of wanting to ignore this room, forcing himself to examine the room more closely.