Chapter 24 - Mystery (2)

At the same time.

_ Ayden: “ When I think about this double exploration, I was unable to do anything. I just gave a few instructions. I need to pull myself together. ”

I rest my chin on my fingers, uncertain about the current situation.

_ Ayden: “ And then, I still remember what the Reclus said. Their ignorance about the current emperor is not normal. ”

_ Hazel: “ What are you doing sitting alone on a bench in the middle of the square? ”

_ Ayden: " Is that you, Hazel? Not much, just thinking. “

_ Hazel: ” About what? "

I get up from the bench and decide to wander through the village with him.

_ Ayden: “ During my last exploration, some Recluses were near us. Listening secretly, I heard two things. First, a group wanted to attack our village. ”

Hazel stops walking.

_ Hazel: “ What?! ”

_ Ayden: “ Don't worry. They're all dead. ”

A look of confusion crosses her face.

_ Hazel: “ O... Okay. ”

He resumes walking.

_ Ayden: “ Secondly, and this is what strikes me the most, the other group mentioned the former emperor of our village, saying that he is still alive. ”

_ Hazel: “ But he's dead. ”

_ Ayden: " That's right. How can they not know about it when the war took place eight years ago against the Recluses? “

_ Hazel: ” Exactly, on that subject, don't you find this whole thing strange? "

I squint my eyes slightly.

_ Ayden: “ What, do you have an idea? ”

_ Hazel: “ I've been thinking about it too, but not for the same reasons. ”

Slightly isolated from the crowd, Hazel stops walking again, leaving a few feet between us. Then she stares at me with a neutral expression.

_ Hazel: “ Our village went to war in 1310. Don't you find it strange that no Recluse has led an offensive in eight years? ”

A look of concern appears on my face.

_ Ayden: “ He's right. Such a long period of time without breaking this peace is suspicious. ”

_ Hazel: " In principle, in a battle, if an army is weakened, it's the perfect opportunity for other attackers to finish the job and, why not, bring down the empire. The entire southern Zone must know of our existence. On the one hand, because we are the only dominant village. And on the other hand, because the war has inevitably caused a stir. Yet, in eight years, there has been no attack. "

This information, which had been overlooked despite being so obvious, hit me hard.

Hazel looks around him.

_ Hazel: “ Given the partial state of the village, a battle has indeed broken out. ”

Indeed, huts with broken roofs, cracked walls, and, for others, burned facades, lie like carcasses after a pitched battle.

_ Hazel: " That's not all. There are no guards at the village entrance to secure the perimeter. As if there's no point in doing so. “

_ Ayden: ” It's true that we were able to leave and return to the village unhindered for exploration. “

_ Hazel: ” To draw a parallel with your question, it is indeed strange that they ignore the current emperor. But there is one thing that all these mysteries have in common… "

With a persuasive look, he frowns.

_ Hazel: “ That's the origin of this war. ”

Convinced, I immediately understand.

_ Ayden: “ If we want answers to all these questions, we have to discover the village's past. ”

With heavy steps and wandering minds, we wandered through the village streets, lost in our thoughts. Shortly after, we bump into Shailly and Maïko, who seem to be in a hurry.

_ Hazel: “ You're out of breath. What's going on? ”

_ Maïko: “ Good thing you're here... Have you seen the other one?” she says, catching her breath.

_ Hazel: “ The other one? ”

_ Shailly: “ Kaya... She's talking about Kaya. ” she said, her hands resting on her knees

_ Hazel: “ Oh, no, why? ”

_ Shailly: “ We're heading to the training ground, she might be there. ”

_ Hazel: “ But that's forbidden. ”

_ Maïko: “ Yes, but there's something more urgent. Come if you want, we'll explain on the way. ”

A knowing silence descends as our eyes meet. An instinctive, mutual understanding passes between us. Without exchanging a word, we follow the movement. During the short journey, each group discusses their respective issues relating to the same subject.

_ Maïko: “ I had never thought about it... eight years without an attack… ” she said, surprised.

Immersed in this fast-paced subject, a flashback came to me.

_ Ayden: “ I'm thinking about it, but you don't know who the guardians are, do you? ”

_ Hazel: “ No. ”

_ Ayden: " I never had the chance to tell you about it, but I think this information is worth sharing. “

_ Maïko: ” Snitch. “

_ Ayden: ” On the very first day, in the evening when the guardians entered our village, I was there. I learned that they are the sons of the former Emperor Oku. "

Eyes widen.

_ Maïko: “ Seriously!? ”

_ Hazel: “ I suspected they were from the Cursed Village, judging by the color of their irises. However, I didn't know about the connection to Emperor Oku. ”

Shailly's pupils dilate.

_ Shailly: “ So maybe they have information about the war? ”

_ Hazel: “ That's right. ” he continues, turning his gaze in my direction.

_ Ayden: “ Actually, no. They didn't participate in that war. ”

The glimmer of hope in Shailly's eyes disappears.

_ Shailly: “ Oh no… ”

_ Ayden: “ We can ask ourselves the following question: Why? ”

_ Hazel: “ And above all, how did they survive outside for eight years? ” he replies

Fed up with all these unanswered mysteries, Maïko buries her face in her hands, her head raised to the sky.

_ Maïko: “ Ahhhh, this is too much! I'm sick of these endless riddles. I'm going to explode! ”

Two open palms stretched out toward her appeared in her field of vision.

_ Shailly: “ It's going to be okay, Maïko. Stay calm. ”

We arrive at our destination and see Kaya doing sit-ups.

_ Maïko: “ Well, she's determined. Doing that in the early afternoon with the sun beating down, I couldn't do it. ”

Shailly joins Kaya without wasting any time.

_ Maïko: “ Hey! Wait for us! ”

No sooner has Kaya finished her exercise than she hears someone calling her name behind her. Turning around slowly, she tries to identify the source of the voice. Shailly appears in his field of vision. Unperturbed, she picks up her towel to wipe her sweat.

_ Kaya: “ What do you want? ”

We explain the situation to Kaya.

_ Kaya: “ I see. Sorry, I don't have any information to give you. ”

Unsurprisingly, no clues are found. With her head slightly bowed, Shailly replies.

_ Shailly: “ What can we do now? ”

In this heat, I take over, clenching my fist with conviction.

_ Ayden: “ Let's sneak into the boss's office. ”