The temple air was cooler than the desert, though still filled with that ancient, cursed atmosphere that whispered "something's watching you."
Zane dropped the bound girl unceremoniously onto a stone pillar that had collapsed centuries ago. Shadows slithered up, tightening the ropes. She didn't resist — mostly because she still couldn't move.
Nyx hovered behind him, arms crossed. Link floated lazily in a loop around the girl's head like a bored predator waiting for snack time.
Zane knelt in front of her, resting his arms on his knees.
"Alright," he said, voice calm. "Let's start with the most important question."
The girl narrowed her eyes, expecting something profound.
Zane pointed behind him. "How the hell did that tree get in the middle of a desert?"
Nyx slapped her forehead. Link facepalmed mid-air with both hands. "By the Void, really?" he muttered.
The girl blinked. "...That's your first question?"
"Yes." Zane didn't flinch. "It was a perfectly symmetrical acacia tree. Full leaves. No signs of dehydration. Where did it come from? Are you guys just... planting emotional support trees in the sand now?"
She opened her mouth, paused, then closed it again. "...I don't know. I didn't plant it."
"So it wasn't yours." Zane narrowed his eyes. "Interesting. We'll circle back to the botany."
Nyx floated down next to him, sighing. "Maybe start with who she is or why she tried to shoot you?"
Zane shrugged. "Fine. Next question." He leaned in closer to the girl. "Who are you, and why are you trying to assassinate someone with this level of jawline?"
Link let out a snort. "You did not just say that—"
"I'm serious!" Zane gestured at his own face. "You don't shoot a face unless you're evil, insane, or jealous."
The girl rolled her eyes, but something twitched in her expression. Recognition. Annoyance. Maybe both.
"I'm part of the organization," she muttered. "You know... the one you and your little team love calling 'the anomaly group.'"
Zane raised an eyebrow. "So you guys don't have a name? That's lazy branding."
"We have one," she said, smugly.
Zane leaned forward. "Then tell me."
He leaned back. "Okay then, back to the tree."
Link was actually laughing now, looping in slow circles. "This is the dumbest interrogation I've ever watched and somehow it's working."
Zane stood, circling her slowly, arms behind his back like a disappointed teacher. "You tried to kill me, but then again, so do most people I meet within five minutes. So I won't take it personally. But I want to know why me specifically."
She hesitated. "Orders. You're... marked. Your signature came up on our anomaly tracker the moment you entered this region. We were told to intercept and capture you if possible."
"Capture?" Zane raised a brow. "You really thought you were going to capture me? Alone? With one arrow?"
"I had backup," she grumbled.
He looked around. "Where?"
"...They didn't make it through the sandstorm."
Link burst out laughing again. "So you got lucky with the magical cactus tree and decided to be the hero?"
Zane turned away, hands behind his head, walking a few steps with exaggerated casualness. "Man, if I had a coin for every assassin that underestimated me, I'd be rich."
"You are rich," Nyx muttered.
"Yeah, but I want petty coins."
He spun back around, eyeing the girl thoughtfully. "Last question for now—do all of you have powers, or are some of you just bow-wielding tree enthusiasts?"
She glared. "I'm not answering that."
"Fair enough. I'll let the shadows ask next time."
The ropes around her tightened just slightly, like the shadows were grinning.
Zane looked at Nyx and Link. "Well, she's definitely from the group. And she knows I'm marked. Which means..."
"They're tracking you again," Nyx finished.
Link's grin faded slightly. "They'll send more. Stronger ones."
Zane smirked and turned to face the temple exit again. "Then let's get moving."
He paused and looked back at the girl.
"...Also, I'm keeping the tree. That thing's a legend."