With every second that went by, the carriage wheels got smaller as they rolled over the stone road.
With his hands silently in his pockets and his gaze focused on the fleeing car, Sévon stood at the compound's entrance.Only then did the aristocratic whispers behind him start to grow louder once more.
As Kiichi exited the estate, he looked back at Sévon's motionless form from the road.
Kiichi muttered as he approached him, "There's no way in hell you just said 'interesting.'" "By that, what do you mean?"
Sévon didn't even look or respond. Kiichi regretted asking, but the silence lasted just long enough. Sévon turned and started to leave the compound gates without responding. Tasia followed right away, her steps quiet and deliberate.
Kiichi blinked.
He called after them and said, "You won't even explain?"
As they emerged into Yorna's streets, the estate gates towered over them. The noble district was as immaculate as ever, with silk banners dangling from balconies, polished walkways, and far-off conversations in elegant tones.
But beneath that grace, there was a sense of unease. Kiichi ran to catch up.
"Sévon. You can't simply say something like that and then stop talking."
It appeared as though Sévon had not heard him at all for a brief moment. Then he spoke at last without slowing down.
"Come on. Let's return to the inn.
Kiichi scowled. "Return? Is that all?
"We'll carry on tomorrow."
It was long since quiet in the inn.
In contrast to Yorna's aristocratic estates, the ryokan-style inn welcomed calm instead of conflict. The air smelled faintly of warm cedar, paper-paneled doors closed softly, and wooden corridors stretched in neat lines. A wind chime rang once in the distance before fading away into the darkness.
Sévon was sitting close to the low table in his room, holding an open book.
After a few minutes, he stopped. His eyes moved to the shoji window, and he reached out and opened it a little.
Yorna was already in the dark outside. The distant silhouettes of pagodas stood silently against the dark sky, while lanterns along the streets glowed like strewn stars. At night, the city's elegance remained; it just grew more subdued and cautious.
Sévon put the book aside with a gentle thud that reverberated throughout the room.
He stood silently.
He moved slowly and deliberately. After adjusting his sleeve, he went out into the hallway and headed for the late-night bath.No one else appeared to be awake, but the wooden floors creaked slightly under his feet.
Even though the pages were chock-full of dense text, his eyes glided over them with effortless focus, as though the outside world had been completely blocked out. Beside him, a lantern flickered softly, illuminating the plain interior and the tatami mats with a warm glow.
No one else appeared to be awake, but the wooden floors creaked slightly under his feet. After a long day, the guests of the inn had either retired for the night or decided to stay in their rooms.
A faint stream of steam rose from the bathing area in front.
After putting his folded clothes away neatly, he entered and moved toward the hot spring bath. Warm and soothing, the rising mist encircled the room, obfuscating the lantern light's edges.
Then he intervened. Instantly, the water was warm, steady, and comforting against muscles that had been tense for much longer than he appeared to have.
A quiet exhale escaped him and only the gentle ripple of water and the faint hiss of steam filled the air.For a while, he did nothing, just simply soaked. Eventually, though, his eyes half-lidded not from sleep, but from contemplation. His thoughts replayed Esyn's expression with an unnatural clarity.
His fingers lightly drummed the water's surface, causing tiny ripples that warped the lantern's overhead reflection. Most people would freak out if they were accused of murder in front of witnesses in a posh estate. Protect themselves. Be afraid. Be angry.
Neither had she displayed. Instead, when she passed him, her eyes had directly met his, and she listened before leaving as though the whole accusation didn't matter to her.
Sévon's eyes dropped to the water's surface.
"Dead body," he whispered to himself.
The next morning Kiichi was walking the halls, his movements were very tired. As he arrived at the table where they all sit he was surprised to see Taisa already eating. She did not even waste any of her time waiting for the others to wake up.
Kiichi was a little bit annoyed at first but shrugged it off and also started to eat his share of the food as well. Whilst they were eating Sévon arrived as well. Both Kiichi and Tasia look up to see him.
He was still the normal Sévon, but something was a little bit off about it. Someone would say he did not get enough sleep but that was not the case at all. Sévon started to dig through his pocket and eventually took out a velora, a soft red, not just bright but also rich, like a sunset before night. The borders would be smooth and refined, but also slightly layered.
Kiichi and Tasia glare at the flower that was thrown down to their level, confusion showing on their faces. Then they looked at Sévon who was still quiet. That's until he spoke and said,"I may have found out who our suspect is."
Kiichi looked at Sévon extremely confused
"Wait, what?"