At noon that day, after they came out of the forest, a small town showed up at the bottom of the hill. Not many people lived there, but there was a local market, a few old inns, and an abandoned train station.
"Find a small place to rest, and maybe hear some news," Noir said quietly.
Orion rolled his eyes, smirking.
"Sure, but please cover that eye. If someone recognize you, we're not going home anymore."
When they got close to the town, they split in pairs. Specter walked with Noir, while Orion took Kaelith and slipped into the noisy crowd.
Kaelith looked around while walking, almost amazed.
"Wow…It's been so long since I saw a place like this. It feels… warm."
Orion snorted a little smile.
"Warm here is just a cover. In this crowd, someone might be waiting to report us to the organization."
Somewhere else, Noir walked beside Specter. His voice was low.
"Do you… think Aurel will accept helping us? If he's scared, all our effort becomes nothing."
Noir didn't stop.
"If he doesn't help, I will make him help."
Specter smiled a bit. It looked like admiration, and also a quiet kind of pain.
Behind them, a group of villagers were dragging carts stacked with hay, rushing forward and forcing people aside. The carts got closer like they were about to crash into Noir, but she was too focused on the notice board far away, where she could faintly see her own face on it. Her mind slipped for a second, and Specter, afraid she'd get hit, quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the side.
"Careful!" Specter said *pulling*
The sudden move made her flinch. When she turned, she found herself leaning against Specter's solid chest while the loud carts rushed past them. Noir tried to pull away but Specter kept her hand lightly and whispered.
"Shh, wait, don't draw attention. Just act a bit weak." His gaze was fixed on the carts going by. Focused, serious.
Specter's chest rose and fell, half from nerves, half from being flustered. Noir also felt something odd, like her heart beat a bit faster.
When the last cart went by, Specter finally let go. Noir stepped back a little, turning her head away.
"Thanks."
"Next time just call me, you don't need to do that."
Specter only smiled and nodded.
"Umm."
By the end of the day, the whole group gathered at an old inn. Orion dropped a few wrinkled papers onto the table.
"Good news! People said there's an old man on the northern mountain, super good with tech. Must be Aurel."
Noir nodded, eyes cold but sharp.
"Good. We leave tomorrow."
That night, they stayed at a small inn. Orion caused some harmless distractions again to keep attention away from Noir, thanks to that, they slept better.
The next morning, they started early. The road up the mountain was rough, small rocks rolling under their boots. The sky looked dull, thin fog curling around tree branches like hiding something.
Noir led the way, her blue-green eyes flickering under sunlight. She spoke quietly.
"It feels a bit safer here. I can feel they haven't sent patrols yet. But stay focus."
Orion let out a short whistle, smirking.
"Yah got it ma'am. But seriously, climbing like this, I might lose my shoe tomorrow."
Kaelith giggled softly.
"If your shoe breaks, I'll fix it. But… if it's dangerous, you block for me, okay?"
Orion looked back, winking.
"Now that's cheating."
Noir glanced over, voice cold.
"Stop joking. This isn't a trip."
Specter walked last, still watching Noir. He kept thinking about what happened the other day. It made him weirdly… happy.
/Not bad at all…/
Noir stayed silent, her silhouette cutting through the fog like a blade.
They had walked for hours, from morning to afternoon. Suddenly, strange rustling sounded close by. Noir raised her hand, eyes sharp. The group instantly split up.
From the bushes, three strangers jumped out, armed with crude weapons, eyes full of greed. Mountain bandits again.
Orion rushed in first, knocking one down with a shoulder slam.
Specter reached for his gun, but Noir signaled him to keep quiet—no noise. She slipped forward, grabbed the bandit's wrist and snapped it cleanly.
Kaelith stepped back on instinct, her knife shaking. Orion blocked her with a half-smile.
"It's fine, I got it."
The fight ended quickly. Noir wiped a streak of blood from her hand, not even blinking.
"Let's go."
After crossing more narrow paths, they stopped in front of a small wooden house hidden on the mountainside, covered in green moss and vines—pretty in a quiet way, not filthy. The door wasn't locked, and warm dim light came from inside.
Noir raised her hand. They entered.
Inside, an old man with a thin frame and white hair sat at a table full of circuits and old papers, his hands still surprisingly quick. Beside him stood a middle-aged woman with a calm posture and strange blue eyes, almost transparent.
The old man looked up, startled by the four strangers.
"Who are you?" His voice was hoarse but firm.
Noir stepped forward, tone steady.
"I came here for you, Doctor Aurel. We need your help."
The name made Aurel freeze, his hand trembling slightly. He muttered.
"You… know me?"