"Can you brief us now, Cassian? Sergeant Hally didn't provide much detail," Alix said, glancing at the report Cassian had prepared. He considered pointing out that everything was already in the report but decided against being curt with his superior. Instead, he explained, "Detective Alix, it started with Daniel, a carriage driver who ferries people through this jungle. One of the murdered families had used his carriage to travel here. Unfortunately, we couldn't get any information from him earlier since he was out of the city for several months and only just returned..."
Alix and Lumine listened intently. They were the reinforcements Sergeant Hally had assigned to assist Cassian, along with several constables from the regular unit handling minor tasks. Meanwhile, the special unit members were focused on pursuing the main leads, as it appeared that there was more at play than just the massacre of families.
Cassian would soon learn more when they reached Surock Village again, as Cassandra and Dallas were due to return with information about the other families the pastor had helped relocate to the city.
"That pastor guy seems the most suspicious," Lumine said, deep in thought. Any trace of her initial embarrassment from when Cassian kissed her was now gone, but Cassian could tell she was still a bit self-conscious, though she had mostly returned to her usual demeanor.
"True, but the villagers treat him like an avatar of some god, praising how he protected them during the last monster wave and saved countless lives," Cassian replied, a hint of confusion in his voice. "It just makes everything more complicated."
While it might be a coincidence that the family he helped relocate ended up murdered, the fact that he led Russella to pray to some unknown god known for tormenting its followers raised questions about what kind of person the pastor really was.
"Nothing is complicated—it just seems that way," Alix said after a moment's thought. "Let's first get to the church where that family used to live, and then we can decide on our next steps once we catch up with Cassandra and Dallas."
"We still have more than half a day to go. We'll probably arrive half a day later than the detective and sergeant, if everything goes as planned," Cassian said, glancing up at the sky. The morning sun hadn't fully risen yet, still hanging low in the sky, as Sergeant Hally had sent them off with the first rays of light.
The carriage fell into silence, the only sounds breaking the stillness was the rhythmic pounding of hooves and the occasional creak of wooden wheels rolling over uneven terrain. The wind whispered through the trees, adding to the atmosphere of anticipation that hung over the group.
There were two carriages this time, both belonging to the department. In the first, Cassian sat across from Alix and Lumine, each lost in their own thoughts as the landscape blurred past. The air was heavy with unspoken tension as they neared Surock Village, the uncertainty of what lay ahead pressing on them like a weight.
In the second carriage, a team of constables from the regular unit rode along, their chatter quieted by the seriousness of the mission. They were tasked with handling any logistical needs and assisting in whatever way they could, but they could sense that this investigation was unlike any routine assignment they'd faced before.
Cassian was feeling bored. He wasn't sure why, but he liked to talk when his mind wasn't occupied with something else. His gaze drifted to Alix, sitting beside him, her eyes scanning the tree line like she was trying to read hidden messages in the swaying branches.
Unable to think of a topic to start a conversation with Alix, Cassian glanced at Lumine, who was seated in front of him, gazing out the window and seemingly lost in thought. A smirk crossed his face as he found a target for his amusement. He shifted seats and settled down beside her.
Startled, Lumine turned to him with a questioning look. "So, Detective Cassandra is your older sister, huh?" Cassian said.
"Yeah…" Lumine replied, feeling a bit uneasy.
"It must be amazing to have a Circle Warrior as a big sister?" Cassian added in an overly friendly tone. This sudden shift made Lumine feel even more uncomfortable, as Cassian hadn't spoken to her in that manner since the kiss incident. Now, here he was, acting chummy again.
"Just trying to start a conversation," Cassian said, sliding a bit closer. Lumine's cheeks turned a little red as she whispered, worried that Alix might hear, "Then talk from over there. Why are you getting so close?"
Now sitting shoulder to shoulder, Cassian caught her subtle, sweet, slightly sweaty scent that he found surprisingly nice. With a playful grin, he added, "I like talking up close. Makes the conversation more engaging."
Lumine was at a loss for words, unsure why Cassian was even doing this. 'Can't he see Detective Alix sitting right there?' she thought.
"Go away..." she muttered, giving him a push with her shoulder. Cassian just chuckled, letting her push him without resistance. The unexpected shift made her lose her balance and fall against him, only to find his playful smirk inches from her face. Flustered, she quickly straightened up, looking away as her cheeks burned. "Don't tease me, or I'm going to get mad..." she warned.
Cassian chuckled again, amused by how red Lumine's cheeks had gotten as she looked out the window. Ignoring her warning, he pressed his shoulder against hers once more. This time, his arm slid behind her, wrapping around her waist. Surprised, she froze as he spoke. "I'm not teasing you. I just wanted to apologize properly for that day since we haven't talked properly since then."
Lumine seemed distracted as she replied, "That's fine with me..." Her eyes flicked to his hand on her waist, and she pointed at it, adding, "But what's the deal with this?"
Cassian smirked, his tone casual. "It is what it is. I kissed you, so now you're my girlfriend." He squeezed her waist, making her gasp, then leaned in slightly and added, "And I can at least hold my girlfriend by the waist, can't I?"