The carriage continued moving, rolling steadily through a path in the forest. It was different from the routes the Academy carriages usually took to the cities where expeditions were held.
This particular path led to the villages. Like the Academy, most of the villages were located outside Starshine City, but despite the distance, they were still considered part of the city's domain, simply lying beyond its borders.
Tessa's frown deepened as she glanced at Arin, who was staring out of the window with an indifferent expression. The two sat in silence, their thoughts occupying the space between them.
'Maybe I really am overthinking things,' Tessa thought, sneaking another glance at Arin. 'I mean, there's no way he can be Chaos, right? He doesn't seem like someone capable of hiding his identity.'
She wanted to dismiss the idea entirely, but no matter how much she tried to convince herself, a small voice in her mind refused to let go of the suspicion. The similarities she had noticed were too hard to ignore.
It wasn't unusual for others to have indifferent expressions or give short replies, but the combination of those traits and his ability to use the Water Element made him a concrete suspect in her eyes.
'I can't rule out the possibility,' Tessa thought. 'I'll keep watching him.'
Meanwhile, Arin had his own concerns.
'She's been glancing at me for a while now,' he thought, catching Tessa's quick looks from the corner of his eye. 'What's going on in her head?'
The carriage jolted slightly as it hit a bump, and Tessa shifted her gaze to the road ahead. Her thoughts moved on.
'Classes resume tomorrow, so I'll see him in class. I'll keep observing him closely to see if he really is Chaos.'
Suddenly, Tessa furrowed her brows as a new thought crossed her mind.
'Speaking of Chaos, I forgot to ask him about that other Vampire I partnered with to fight Alex.'
When Seraphine had appeared to battle Alex during the expedition, Tessa had been as shocked as Alex himself. She never thought Chaos would work with a Vampire, but she had hidden her surprise. Any visible reaction would have shown Alex that their plans weren't as organized as they seemed.
'I didn't ask about it because I was more concerned about him being a Vampire than him bringing one,' Tessa thought. 'Though, I have an idea who that Vampire might be.'
The carriage continued down the path, flanked by trees on either side. The sound of wheels crunching against the dirt road filled the air. Minutes later, they reached a village with walls made of rough, weathered wood.
The driver's voice rang out. "On the tag, it says Brownleaf Village. That's the village after this one."
"Alright," Tessa and Arin said in unison.
The man fell silent, and the carriage continued forward. Two guards, clad in worn-out armor, stood at the wooden gate. Upon seeing the Academy's insignia on the carriage, they instantly opened the gate and bowed their heads.
The driver exchanged a few words with the guards before the carriage rolled into the village.
"Such respect," Arin whispered under his breath. Tessa caught the comment and turned to him.
"That's how anyone from the Academy is treated," she explained. "Those guards bowed not just for the driver but also for us inside."
Her tone carried the air of a lecture, though it was information Arin already knew. He merely replied with a short "Hmm."
'Of course, that respect only comes from villagers or those in the city who attended less prestigious academies,' Arin thought. 'Higher-ranked individuals wouldn't bother with such displays.'
The streets of the village were unpaved, and the houses were far from luxurious, yet the residents wore wide smiles. Their faces radiated happiness, a stark contrast to their modest surroundings. As the carriage passed, the villagers paused their activities to watch in awe.
At the village's exit, another wooden gate came into view. The guards opened it promptly, and the carriage moved on toward its destination.
Back on the forested path, Arin closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The refreshing scent of the trees filled his senses. For a moment, he let his thoughts drift away from Alex, the blood he needed to drink, and his most recent thought... His family. Instead, he focused on the soft breeze and the calming atmosphere.
Before long, they arrived at another village. The wooden gate at the entrance bore the name "Brownleaf Village." As the carriage entered, it was evident that this village was different. The residents didn't gather to watch the carriage. Instead, most of them hurried into their homes, their fear evident.
The carriage came to a stop, and Arin and Tessa stepped down, scanning their surroundings.
Instantly, The driver addressed them.
"I'll take the carriage to an empty space in the village and keep watch over it. Once the mission is over, we'll head back to the Academy."
They nodded in response before the carriage rolled away.
Even though almost all the villagers had entered their homes, three men approached them. One was bald, while the other two had thick black hair. The bald man stepped forward and spoke first.
"Welcome, honored Mages of the great Greenfield Academy."
Arin and Tessa nodded silently. They hadn't spoken much during the journey, both consumed by their own thoughts.
Tessa opened her mouth to respond, but Arin stepped forward, his hands clasped behind his back. He had taken this mission, and Tessa was merely observing him. He wouldn't let her take control of the situation. Apart from when it would be time to fight the bandits, he had to show that he was capable of handling matters.
"Greetings," Arin said, his tone firm. "We don't have much time. Tell me—how long until the bandits arrive? And where do they usually attack from?"
Tessa was caught off guard by Arin's directness.
"So straightforward...." she murmured.
The bald man, noting Arin's seriousness, answered immediately. "They could arrive at any moment. In fact, they might already be on their way."
Arin raised an eyebrow. "Good. Then I won't have to wait long."
This mission was more than just a task. For Arin, this mission will solve three of his problems. First, he'll be able to get a weapon after this mission, and as for the other two problems, they were pretty serious.
Did you guys remember that Tessa hadn't spoken to Chaos about Seraphine? Just wanna get your response!