~Hope’s view

That boy has to be out here somewhere. Maybe the blood wasn’t his, there wasn’t any corpses in the area, not even a bone left behind. Who or what died there, I can’t be reasonably sure, but the boy could still be alive.

All that matters is that we find him, and soon.

If it was a bandit—and no beast would use a sword, so it must be—the boy must’ve upset him in some way, and been hurt? No, why would the bandit leave behind the sword, and take the boy’s body?

I don’t know.

I don’t know anything.

We need to find the boy; we need to save him.

The weight of the bag on my back helps to ground me as I follow the vague trail. Something that the little girl—Sara? I think Fate called her—somehow sees more clearly than any of the rest of us.

After our initial sprint, our pace has slowed considerably, both Sara and Fate are unsuited to running about for any long distance. Even moving downhill for the most part, they’re pushing a fast walk and still breathing heavy for the effort.

“We should go back to the village.” Sara’s mother insists, coming to a stop and shaking her head. I know that the image of the spilt blood and the copper blade still sticks in her mind the same as it does for the rest of us. Her pale face admits to that without her needing to say a word.

“But Luek.” Sara cries out as her mother holds her close, frightened that she’ll run away again.

“Sara… there was too much blood. Luek, has reached a moment of perfection. He’s gone now.” Her mother says, slowly running a hand over her daughter’s head. “You can play again next year.”

“We don’t know that he’s gone!” The little girl cries out, but her mother only shakes her head sadly.

“If he’s still alive, I’m sure these lovely travellers can search for him.” Her mother says. “I won’t allow you to put yourself in any more danger. A search with the rest of the village was bad enough, but this… No.”

“But mum!”

“No buts.” Her mother insists, shaking her head and holding her daughter closer.

“I’m not sure we have a choice.” I say, as the girl once again points out the way onwards, seeing something that I can’t. “We don’t know how to get out of here, and we’re moving downhill, the same as we were planning. Unless you want to try wandering the forest?”

“Wandering our way back, has to be safer than this.” Her mother says, and if there are bandits out here, then I can’t completely disagree with her assessment.

“Just to stumble onto the bandits on our way back?” I ask.

“It’s better that than hunt down the bandits, as we are.” the mother says, “I’m not putting my daughter at risk for this.”

“I’ll protect you.” I say, turning away and feeling my conviction slipping away. “We have to try. The boy could still be alive, the longer we take to find him…”

“Mum.” The girl pleads, turning to face her mother from up close. “It’s only a year mum. If the evil bandits catch us, all we lose is a year. Can’t we try to find Luek?”

“Sara…” The mother holds her daughter close.

“Please mum.” The girl begs, and the mother’s expression darkens, but finally she nods her head.

“Fine, just… we’ll follow this trail out of the forest, but we’ll be careful.” The mother says, her expression twisted. She pulls a dagger from inside her skirt, looking at it’s blade closely as she bites her bottom lip and nods her head.

The young girl continues to point our way onwards through the forest. I peer into every shadow, looking for an ambush, or for some sign of someone else passing through ahead of us. I see nothing, not even a footprint in the soft earth.

“You said earlier that he’d reached perfection.” Fate says, turning to Sara’s mother. “Do you follow the Seraph’s teachings?”

“I do.” She replies, looking back towards Fate with a cautious glare.

“I’m not too religious.” Fate says, waving her hands in placation. “It’s just a rare faith where I come from.”

“The Seraph’s teachings?” I ask. It’s actually a little nice having this chance to discuss these sorts of things, though I still don’t really like dealing with people.

“When Sanguine and Cerulean meet.” She says, “The eternal curse will be undone, and perfection will once more be realized. When the two lovers embrace, we’ll be our perfect selves, and we’ll once again know the company of those who reached perfection before us.

“Those who are dead, still live in the hearts of the gods above us. We’ll be reunited with all those we’ve lost.” She smiles warmly at the thought, perhaps a particular person fills her mind.

Her dreams are as delusional as Fate’s, and I know better than to keep such faith.

There are no gods, and we won’t be saved.

We won’t live on in the hearts of the divine gods, there will be no salvation through mad quest as Fate so desires to be true.

We’ll die, but that isn’t all so bad really.

There will be no more burdens, no more pain. An end to all suffering. There is much to be desired in that emptiness that awaits us. The nothingness of non-existence.

The thought alone almost makes me feel at peace, but there is one last thing that I must do before the end. A promise that I must keep.

“Hope.” Fate says my name and tugs at my arm, “Perhaps we’d do well to pause a moment and consider the situation we’re in. That, and your expression is truly awful at the moment, I ask that you take a moment to calm yourself.”

“If my face looks so awful, then stare at the ground instead. We’re chasing murderous bandits, what’s there to question?” I reply, but her grip on me is rather insistent. She doesn’t let go until I come to a stop.

“We’re not pursuing bandits.” Sara’s mother insists. “We’re finding a way out of this forest.”

“That as well.” I concede grudgingly. It would be rather unfortunate if we didn’t find the bandits on the route out, however. I’ve spent more than enough time chasing after ghosts in the desert, I’d like for business here to at least be finished quickly so I can get back to my own quest.

“Setting all that aside, I have my doubts that these are even bandits at all.” Fate says walking around tapping at her lips as she thinks. “What sort of bandit leaves a perfectly good sword behind?”

“One who is rushed and panicked.” I suggest.

“There was no sign of a rushed escape. I saw no trail in the dirt, and the blood almost seemed untouched but for the marks leading us to the scene of the supposed ‘murder’.”

“Supposed?” I ask in disbelief. “With all that blood, what else do you think it could have been? If anyone spilt that much blood trying to fake their own murder it would end up a suicide instead.”

“Perhaps, but that would leave a body behind as well, no?” She asks.

“If it’s not bandits, then what trail are we even following?” I ask, glancing down at the little girl who has been pointing us a path through the forest.

“That’s a good point.” Fate says, kneeling down to face the child. “Where have you been taking us?”

“There’s something this way.” She insists, pointing further ahead. “It’s… you can’t see it?”

“I can’t see what you can, but a city kid like me gets lost the moment I leave the road behind.” She says, “If there is a track of some sort, it is worth us following. I’m simply not convinced that it’s bandits.”

“What else could it be? You think a mountain cat has learned to use a sword?” I ask, shaking my head and breathing a long sigh.

“It could be. It sounds almost as likely as a bandit, running into the forest and leaving behind that scene for us to walk into.” She taps at her lips, looking up at the canopy. “There’s something more going on, but we’ll have to follow the trail to figure out what.”

“Then let’s get moving again.” I say, rubbing at my temple and following the path pointed out to me.

“You’re too worked up.” Hope says, stepping to my side and looping her arm through mine. “Solving problems gets exponentially more difficult when you fail to take the time to think them through.”

“It gets harder, when you have to work with one hand.” I say as I try to free my arm, but her grip is like iron. After a few moments more of struggle she gives up and lets me go.

“I know you’re bothered by this, but you mustn’t let yourself be caught in a trap.” Fate says, looking about the forest as if trying to find some scoundrel hiding in the bushes. There’s nothing there, however.

She backs away, and we continue along, following the guidance of the girl most familiar with our environment. Her mother is building up a sweat, though more from stress than the effort or the heat, I assume.

“Sara,” Fate asks, gazing up towards the sky, though the canopy blocks her view of it, she doesn’t seem to mind.

“Yes?” the girl replies.

“What do you want to do when you grow up?” She asks, still staring upwards.

“What do you mean?”

“What do you want to do? Do you want to travel somewhere? Do something? Start a family of your own?” She asks.

“We’ll all be in the gods embrace by that time.” Sara’s mum replies.

“But I’m sure the gods will let us do things, won’t they?” Fate says, “I want to travel. I want to meet new people and talk and celebrate the passing seasons.”

The girl looks between Fate and her mother before answering.

“I don’t know.” She says simply. “I want to play with Luek.”

“A good answer.” Fate replies with a smile, turning away from the distant skies. “A very good answer. What about you Hope?”

“Sleep.” I reply.

“You want to spend more time in sweet dreams?” She asks.

“I don’t dream.” I reply. “I fall asleep, black out, and wake up again in the morning.”

“You have to dream. Everyone dreams.” Fate says, “Maybe you just forget it easier than others.”

“What does the difference matter?” I ask, stumbling over a tall root.

“If you want to sleep more, then you must have happy dreams.” Fate concludes, and we fall into silence again. Fate fiddles with her dress, her breath getting heavier for all the effort of walking through the humid forest. It’s a good thing that the air is cool, else this would be even more difficult for her.

The birds and insects are still at it, competing with one another to see who can best pierce my ears, and stab my mind with their incessant screaming.

“What do we do if we do find bandits?” Fate asks, glancing down at my sword with a frown.

“I’ll fight them.” I say simply. “What else is there to do?”

Her expression sours, and she looks at the dirt beneath our feet, and the footsteps that we’re leaving behind. In a fit of energy, that she’s summoned from some dark depth within, she steps ahead of me and starts walking backwards. She doesn’t make it two steps without nearly falling, but she recovers and continues like that for a few moments more.

She brushes her blonde hair out of her face, and I glance the sad smile behind.

“What is it?” I ask, “You weren’t so bothered about it before. Killing bandits isn’t really anything bad.”

“It’s not the bandits.” She says, “It’s just… It’s sad that we don’t have any better options. If I was better with a sword, maybe… No, I’m awful with weapons, but perhaps I can talk them down instead.”

“That worked so very well the last time… It’s fine.” I say, “Just look after yourself, and I’ll take care of things. What is it, you don’t trust me?”

“That’s not it at all.” She replies, hopping a step ahead and looking away from me. “You don’t like killing.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, it’s absolutely a good thing.” She says, turning back towards me and flashing a smile, “I wouldn’t want to travel with someone who does enjoy killing people. It’s just that… never mind. I’m being silly again.”

No matter how long I peer at her shining gold hair, I can’t begin to guess at what it is she’s thinking.

“You are.” I confirm her suspicions.

“You didn’t have to agree with me.” She pouts. “What I mean to say when I call myself silly is to say that I shouldn’t bother trying to make you understand. While I wouldn’t call you stupid, it’s clear already that you don’t always put thought into your actions. I suppose that such a kind heart precludes too much thinking.”

“Or maybe too much thinking has shrivelled your heart.” I reply. “Seriously, after what we’ve seen this conversation…?”

“Is a good distraction, no?” Fate replies with a smile. “To calm you down and distract you from your own overbearing passion?”

I must admit, the conversation has calmed me down enough that I can more clearly recognise the strangeness of this forest, and the strange quest that we’re on.

“Shouldn’t we be quiet?” Asks Sara’s mother in a whisper. She looks about the forest, her eyes wide with fear, as she clutches her daughter’s hand.

“Probably.” I agree. I’ve never hunted bandits before, but it does seem a good rule to follow.

“That way.” Sara insists, pointing ahead of us.

I catch a faint wisp of smoke and slow down, drawing my sword and waving the others to be quiet. I’m not used to the forest, and I’m sure that my footsteps aren’t nearly so silent as they could be.

Slowly and carefully, I approach the fire that is crackling through the trees. It flickers as it sways back and forth, waving me onwards, a strangely light tune fills the air. It’s almost playful, though the tune falls apart here and there, the musician playing is clearly lacking the skill to play properly.

A single man sits by the campfire, and while I don’t recognise him, he’s dressed much the same as the bandits were. Filthy rags, and a leather jacket that’s lived for far longer than the man himself and wears many scars to show it.

There are no spaces set aside for others, no seats, bedrolls, or tents. The small fire looks barely fit for the one man sitting by it.

Sword drawn; I approach the small fire from the side where the bandit should see me coming.

The bandit’s pan pipes clatter as he drops them, nearly flipping backwards over the wooden stump he’s using as a seat, as he backs away from me.

“Oh, it’s you!” He shouts, sighing in relief. “If you’ve come to finish the job, I’d ask that you didn’t. I’ve given up a life of banditry and taken on the life of a bard! Or I will, when I can actually hold a tune with these damn pipes. They’re broken, I swear.”

I pause, looking at the man. While understandably nervous, he doesn’t seem the least bit guilty. I can’t see or smell a hint of blood on him, either.

“I’m Jacob, by the by. Did you want to share the campfire, I don’t really have much with me, as you’ve already seen, I wasn’t much of a bandit. Even dropped my weapon when I was running away.”

“You dropped your weapon?” I ask, looking him in the eye.

He swallows, my gaze apparently enough to intimidate him. Oh, and my sword, I forgot I had that out.

“I did. If I kept hold of it, I could’ve sold it for a better instrument. If you’ve picked it up, I won’t ask for it back, of course. A joke of a bandit I might’ve been, but not to that degree.”

“Was it a copper sword?” I ask, taking a step closer.

“Why yes, yes it was.” He replies easily, “It wasn’t much of a weapon, but I did take good care of it. Should shine quite nice, and the grip should have a nice fine cloth wound about it, don’t mind the reddish colour, the blood is all mine. Learning to fight from a bandit was not the smartest idea I’ve ever had, I was lucky that it wasn’t my last.”

“The blood was all yours?” I ask, “If you’d bled that much, I don’t think you’d be sitting here talking with me.”

“Pardon?” He asks, apparently confused.

“The copper sword. We… I found it in a puddle of blood, up in the forest. Right where a boy went missing.”

“Oh… that’s…” He breathes out a long sigh, picking up his instrument as he slowly taps his foot. “It was my sword?”

“If you didn’t lie about what it looks like.” I say.

“Then I’ve truly done a terrible thing in dropping it.” He says, staring into the flames. “Did you find the killer? Or the boy, though I suppose from how you’re talking…”

“You’re the killer, aren’t you?” I ask, trying to sound confident, though I already know that he’s probably not the killer.

“I’m not.” He replies lightly, “Though I won’t begrudge you for not believing it. I suppose I still wear some of the blame, since it’s my sword that was used in the crime.”

He lifts the pan pipes to his lips and runs through the notes, trying to start up a sad song, but failing rather pathetically.

“I believe him.” Fate says, stumbling through a bush to join us. The mother and child follow soon after her, seeing that I’m the only one here with a weapon, I suppose it seems safe enough.

“What happened to Luek?” Sara asks, looking at everyone standing around the fire.

“I’m sure we can figure it out.” Fate says, her voice rising to a high pitch as she desperately looks around for a solution that’s not appearing. “It’s like one of those stories you read about.”

“What stories?”

“Murder… mysteries.” Her smile drops as she realizes what it is she’s saying. “I’m sure he’s fine.”