Chapter 67 - Interrogation (Start of Arc 3) [Last Arc]

Arriving at the stream's edge, the riders let their horse drink in deep gulps. Gwen, pressed close against the horse, watched it with a vacant stare, lost in thought. While Ay, standing alone against the tree with hands in pockets, displays a cold indifference, Gwen speaks up once the steed is refreshed, breaking the silence.

_ Gwen: " We need to start looking for leads again. "

_ Ay: " No problem. Unlike the South Zone, the search will be much faster. "

_ Gwen: " Why? "

_ Ay: “ I know the hidden nooks and crannies of this Zone by heart, as well as the high-risk sectors. “ she said, moving closer to the horse while rummaging through one of her pockets.

A pill comes into view. Arriving at their feet, the doctor places her hand on the muzzle, under the gaze of her partner.

_ Ay: " He is ready. Don’t stop me. " she said, watching the latter out of the corner of her eye.

_ Gwen: " … "

The horse grows restless following Ay's attempt, closing its mouth forcefully. After several failed tries, she attempts a new approach. She walks toward the stream, cups her hands to fill them with water, and then, using her Source, alters the water's hue to remove its transparency, thereby concealing the presence of the pill. She approaches the horse once more, which, after several seconds, finally opens its jaw, taking the bait.

_ Gwen: " By the way, why didn't you just use your Source to hydrate him? "

_ Ay: " My water isn't drinkable. I tried drinking from my own Source once, and to this day, I still remember that taste of piss. "

_ Gwen: " Wait, you've actually drunk piss before? "

_ Ay: “ Silly, it’s an expression. Anyway, horses are very wary of the water they drink. They only want clean water. "

_ Gwen: " And is this stream one of them? "

_ Ay: " Yes, the water is clear and contains no toxic substances. "

_ Gwen: " I see. "

The young girls take turns mounting the horses and set off on their journey once again.

_ Ay: " There's a horse in the village and you weren't even aware of it? "

_ Gwen: " I wasn't in the village for years. "

_ Ay: " How come? "

_ Gwen: " I'm new too. You arrived just three days after me. "

This comment leaves her perplexed.

_ Ay: " What?? What are you telling me now? I’m starting to get lost here. "

_ Gwen: " In 1310, my brother and I left the Cursed Village just before the war. We only came back this year. "

_ Ay: " Wait... You were away for eight years?? "

_ Gwen: " Yes. "

In a neutral tone of voice, as usual, Gwen provides a piece of information that raises a new question.

_ Ay: " So, how did you manage to survive all this time? "

_ Gwen: " Thanks to nature's resources. "

_ Ay: “ You irritate me. I am speaking of the Recluses. Even with your might, it is difficult to endure for so long, particularly as you had to manage your younger brother to boot. Did you at least have a base? “

_ Gwen: " No. We changed positions every half-day. "

Not satisfied with the information provided, Ay adopts a new approach.

_ Ay: " I see. And why did you leave your village at such a young age? "

_ Gwen: " It’s a long story. We'll talk about it later. Let’s focus on the children for now. "

Faced with the obvious obstacle, Ay, positioned right behind the rider, gave up on pushing further and settled for staring at her with a neutral expression.