“This damned wretch. Accursed wretch!” Aselom paced around the wooden table. He had knocked his chair over and muttered furiously.

  This didn’t surprise Belo and Faoros at all. Since entering the Game, they had visited their headquarters to report to Aselom. He had remained sane for over an hour. Such an outburst was no different than the sun rising.

  “I think I should finish my report first.” Faoros didn’t move from his chair, but he could clearly hear Aselom labored breathing behind him. He had come prepared to ask about the raven-haired woman, but seeing him like this filled him with doubt.

  “Yeah, yeah. The raven-haired judge them, but this Lord is scheming… When did she get wind of us? A scavenger that can’t hide is no more useful than a dead ant. It’s better left behind. When?” Aselom kicked his chair in and, with a swift maneuver, sat down. He slapped his face twice, and his muscles suddenly relaxed. His expression was one of pure indifference. “My juniors, you had a hard time. Go ahead and finish your report. Then, I will reward you and announce your next assignment. Please, go ahead.”

  “Well,” Faoros stuttered and almost choked on his saliva. “From Vione’s correspondence, we could summarize three points. First, she wants me to infiltrate the Scavengers and get close to you.” Faoros paused. Aselom nodded and gestured for him to continue. “Then, they want to learn your real identity. Miss Vione said she’s interested in the person behind the Alter named Aselom.”

  “That will be Faoros’ second task, so think carefully about your next actions, Aselom,” Belo warned, his eyes sliding his way.

  “Speak.” Aselom dismissed Belo with a shake of his hand.

  “My third and final task will be to come into contact with you in reality. They want me to question you about the raven-haired woman’s identity. That would conclude my end of the deal.” Faoros pushed his chair back. He stood up, but hid his trembling hands behind his back.. “But that’s not my deal. I wish to speak with the raven-haired woman to learn the meaning behind the words she whispered to me. Why did she choose me? Why risk exposing her identity to a stranger? I could report her immediately, and the higher-ups would resolve this Game anomaly without hesitation. I—”

  “You want me to trust you?” Aselom interrupted and turned to face Belo. Silence filled the large room. The table could fit more than twelve Etal, yet Aselom’s presence dominated the area. “Tell me, should I?”

  “If you are seeking to spread discord among the Etal, I won’t forgive you. We struggled hard to achieve this way of life. Our ancestors gave their lives for us to atone for their sins and offer us this future. I won’t betray them for any simulated woman or hidden game you might be playing against the Lords.” Belo paused to catch his breath and scratched his cheek. “But I hope that, as an Etal, you have no ill intentions behind your actions either.”

  “Well said. Your words honor the mind behind your mouth.” Aselom clapped loudly as he left his seat. He passed by Faoros, who stood dumbfounded by Belo’s words, and patted his shoulder. Then, he headed for the exit, “I am satisfied by your hard work. There are a few details I have to confirm first regarding your report. It will take some time, but after I verify that you haven’t lied to me, I will reward you accordingly."

  “Wait a minute!” Faoros exclaimed and reached Aselom without realizing it. “I thought we would be rewarded for this task. We risked our lives by lying to the Vice-Principal! You can’t leave like that.”

  “Oh.” Aselom grinned and pushed the door open. “But I can, and I will. Tiole is your senior. She will reward you for this task as new members of the Scavengers. The raven-haired woman has personally put something extra for you. But regarding her identity, your work has to be proven worth the risk.” He smiled warmly at Faoros, then left the room, his voice echoing through the outside corridor. “If you follow the truth, then the truth you shall have.”

  Faoros returned to his seat and collapsed onto it. “It’s all about chasing this and finding that… when did I find myself playing Chase the Lord?”

  If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.

  *

  Despite not receiving their promised reward, Faoros had to admit that the Scavengers were not scrooges. They offered them long, ankle-length, brown, woolen robes and loose-fitting, color-matched trousers. Their feet were finally protected by leather boots, and they had long backpacks to carry their gadgets. A Scavenger always had more than one way to protect himself. The numerous pockets on their robes were proof of that. Faoros hoped to ask Aselom more regarding his equipment but only Vione saw them outside.

  “Take care of ’our arsenal, boy.” Tiole smoked her cigarette slowly. She was leaning casually on the wall of the ruined home that concealed their headquarters like this was no Danger Zone at all and beasts roamed about. “Got an extra for you. Don’t make ’em mad.”

  “That’s not stressful at all.” The peer pressure of this statement was worse than his annual exams at the academy. “Which one is it?”

  Tiole knocked her pack and a cigarette came out. “Second Chance’s the best smoke you

  ’an find. Wan’ one?”

  Faoros frowned but did not accept her treat. “Don’t you know, our dear senior?”

  “Nope.” Tiole turned them her back and waved gracefully, the cigarette burning amidst her fingers. “Best luck, friends!”

  The two friends chose not to delve deeply into Tiole’s behavior. They found their own way out of the Danger Zone. Faoros had to admit to the usefulness of his prior training and the foundation they had laid. As long as he focused on this territory, he had a clear idea of where any moving object was headed. “I must admit, the Scavengers are doing a fine job using merits in constructive ways beyond simple currency.”

  “It’s just the science student inside you talking now.” Belo hurried to rebuke.

  “Perhaps that’s the case.” Faoros had already picked up a leather glove imbued with merits from his backpack. It was a hunch, but this invention was different from the rest. It resembled Vione’s patch, but instead of electricity, a different source of energy spread through the glove and toward its surroundings. “It’s as if this thing is forming its own territory around it. I must test it first, but I am quite certain that it can communicate with merits in a rather vast area around it.”

  By the time they reached the borders of the Danger Zone, Belo gestured for his friend to put away his weapon. “So, what are you planning to do now that you’re armed and ready? You know, you should have a clear advantage with the values on your Pilot lowered now.”

  “No, not really.” Faoros patted his body and formed a weak smile with his lips. “I expected them to make this feel more like a game, but I just feel numb. I doubt it will be useful in combat. Next time, I’m going to complain to Rino directly.”

  “Rino? Where are your manners?” Belo scolded him but his voice quickly turned into a whisper. “So, what’s next? We have more pressing matters at hand.”

  “Yeah, Mr. Rino isn’t important at the moment,” Faoros muttered when he grabbed the leather flask hanging from his backpack. After drinking its dirty water dry, he elaborated, “Since our identity as a Scavenger member is enough to provoke trouble by most that hear it, I am thinking of joining a different faction for cover.”

  “It’s not a bad idea at all.” Belo nodded in agreement. “Look, the Scavengers could help you uncover the mystery of this woman, but we should cover our backs. They introduced us to most of the factions when I was younger, but I doubt they’re better than the Guards. They should be our best option in case anything goes the Lords’ opposite way.”

  “I couldn’t agree more.” Faoros tilted back his head, his gaze on the grey skies above. “Vione warned me to stay away from the less profitable factions, the Vigilantes and the Plunderers, but that’s not our goal now. I am going to join the Vigilantes and expand our network. Aselom is our main lead, but that doesn't mean he should be the only—” Before Faoros could finish, Belo hugged him tightly, cutting off his breath. He could feel Belo’s shaking hands and sobs as clearly as if they were happening in real life. “What has gotten into you?” With enough effort, he pushed his friend back and gasped for air.

  “Are you kidding me? I was afraid this raven-haired thief and her lunatic buddy had taken over your mind. You were becoming extreme! I was just worried about my friend, that’s all…” Belo confessed, quickly turning around to hide his misty eyes. “I know this sounds weird, but this is goodbye for now. That’s as solid as it gets. We have to go our separate ways for a while. Don’t get into trouble while I’m away. It’s not a long way to the Central Bank for me. What about you?”

  “You are right...” Faoros lowered his gaze. He was easily swept away by circumstances, hurting those he cared about most without realizing it. “I promise I will be careful.” He used his wide smile to hide his worries. “I’m going to play it safe. I’m heading to the first tavern I can find and will stay there to gather information. No Faoros Initiative Actions, I promise.”

  “That’s good.” Belo embraced his friend again and turned to go. Faoros followed suit. He kept his head up and walked away. He was overwhelmed by an unfamiliar sensation, as if a tiny bird had flown inside his heart and was pecking a hole there. It was strange that a fake world, a simulated reality, could affect him so deeply. Even with Miss Vione’s advice, how could he deny that his emotions were real now?

  ?? From the Desk of Schwarzburg:

  We reached halfway through Arc I, Trails of a Raven! Thank you for tagging along. A sidenote: always be careful when saying goodbye to a friend. Faoros did not know this.

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