'Deceased? Arsonist?' Maya reeled in shock.

"Ah, so you managed to unearth it." Erik's tone hardened as he crossed his arms, his demeanour shifting instantly upon interaction with Elena. "I should've burned that file…" his words carried a sardonic jest.

"Tch," Elena gritted her teeth, barely concealing her anger. "You almost got me in a lot of trouble."

It was evident how pissed she was simply by the way she slammed the door shut.

"Well, you shouldn't have ventured into the restricted archive," Erik sneered.

"How about the heads-up about the silent alarm? You knew I was going to look!" Elena growled.

"Excuse me. Should I have known that you would break through at least three locks just to get the information I would've given if simply asked? I didn't realize you were this infatuated with me, love," he taunted.

Maya was stunned at how this warm and polite person suddenly transformed into this cold and sardonic figure in Elena's presence.

Elena's fists were clenched so tightly Maya feared her bones could start snapping. Elena shot a quick, sweeping glance around the room before turning to Maya, her gaze filled with disappointment. "I told you to spray him if he touches my things."

'He touched one thing. How could she possibly know what was moved in this chaos, even if she remembers where everything was? Does she play Hidden Object Puzzles in her head?'

Upon Elena's arrival, the atmosphere shifted instantly. Their conversation spiralled into a tumultuous exchange, with Maya struggling to follow their rapid-fire banter. Each remark grew more incendiary than the last, as if they were competing to deliver the most provocative and searing line.

So far, Erik was winning this verbal sparring, his words stoking Elena's simmering anger while he remained cool and composed. Maya wondered if it was his payback for Elena's aggravating comments the other night.

Despite the hindrances, they managed to arrange their next meeting at Maya's insistence. She wished to avoid the purgatory of waiting for his next contact. Erik's story was yet to be fully told.

Though Erik didn't appear overly eager to reveal more about himself—hinting at its unpleasant nature—Maya convinced him to make a promise. She held him to their agreement by setting a specific time and place for their next meeting and insisted he elaborate on the mystery of his missing element.

"I'll tell you what happened to me. I can even show you if it will be easier to believe…" he offered.

"Okay," Maya agreed, taking him by surprise.

It was clear he had offered it out of courtesy, not genuinely expecting to follow through. However, Maya knew Elena well—solid evidence would be far more persuasive to her than mere words.

"Does that vermin need to come along?"

"We're a package," Maya responded with a smile.

As agreed upon, Maya and Elena arrived at the designated meeting point nestled in the forest beyond the town's protective walls. The winter sun bathed the landscape in a deceptive warmth, while the air carried an unmistakable bite that nipped at exposed skin. Sharp but delicate frost lingered in the pockets of winter within the shadows of towering conifer canopies, resembling a strange creature bristling at threatening sunlight.

Maya, an avid enjoyer of winter, was mildly disappointed at the lack of pristine snow blanketing the mountainous landscape. Nevertheless, she found herself captivated by the interplay of golden sun rays dancing against the intricate crystalline formations of frost patterns. Elena, on the other hand, was less appreciative, squinting irritably at the sun's glare in her eyes.

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Just as doubts about Erik's arrival began to creep in, a tall, dark-haired man emerged from the woods. This time, he wasn't as heavily armed, but the sword remained strapped to his back as his signature weapon.

Even Maya, who had limited knowledge about weaponry, recognized the sword as an impressive piece. The long, slender blade emanated a peculiar, deadly elegance, even while resting in its sheath.

With less gear, Erik appeared less intimidating. His slightly dishevelled hair gave the impression of having just woken up, even though it was nearly noon. A smile sparked on his face when his gaze landed on Maya, but a hint of trouble lingered, like a dark cloud following him everywhere.

"Are you ready?" he asked, his focus solely on Maya.

"Ready for what?" she responded, her curiosity piqued.

"We're going for a hike."

Maya, although uncertain about what the hike entailed, felt prepared given her readiness to descend the town walls. She enthusiastically agreed, "Sure, let's go."

Elena remained silent, and the two of them didn't even exchange glances.

The two women followed behind him through the dappled forest light, an uncomfortable quiet settling between them like morning frost. Maya's expectant glances were stabbing at his back.

Erik moved through the wilderness as sure-footed as he would through his backyard, but his broad shoulders retained a trace of tension. He seemed to sense Maya's persistent stare. Finally, he sighed softly and turned his head slightly, breaking the silence with his deep voice.

"I'm aware I owe you a few clarifications, particularly regarding my presence in this world," he began.

At his words, Maya and Elena shared a glance. Maya was confident he would clarify things, whereas Elena had already voiced her suspicions.

To Maya, Erik was nothing short of an enigma, a puzzle that she felt utterly compelled to solve. His story was filled with intrigue—a disallowed arrival, a hunter who had lost his element, a man whose existence was acknowledged by Anastasia, and someone deemed trustworthy despite all the secrecy. It felt as if he had gone through tremendous effort to locate her, only for her to stumble upon him instead.

However, it seemed he was having trouble deciding how to begin again.

"It's okay. You can start wherever you feel comfortable. I'm listening," Maya wanted to reassure him.

A soft chuckle escaped him, touched by her earnest attempt to soothe his discomfort. "Apologies, I'm not accustomed to discussing my personal affairs and my peculiar situation. In fact, I was never supposed to divulge any of it."

"Oh?" Maya probed, intrigued.

"However, I understand that for you to comprehend the matters at hand, it's essential that you know my backstory."

Maya's eyes mirrored her growing anticipation, her undivided attention on Erik's unfolding narrative.

Erik sighed. "It's all thanks to my dear ol' family," he continued, the scorn in his voice undeniable. This unexpected revelation startled Maya, unaccustomed to such intense familial animosity.

"You see, I come from a Great House of fire mages," he explained.

It was clear from his tone that he held no affection for his kin, nor did he find anything about them worthy of the term 'great'.

His demeanour was resigned and his gaze fixed straight ahead. His words felt like a reiteration of a long-learned speech. Maya studied the back of his tall figure leading the way, thinking how lonesome he looked in the harsh sunlight.

"My ancestral lineage traces back to the Middle Ages. Back then, we were an indomitable force of fire mages and loyal vassals of the Prima Magae Family…"

Maya noticed Erik's demeanour had changed from before. When he walked her back to Amellan the other morning, he'd been attentive—a steady hand ready to guide her over fallen logs or treacherous roots so naturally. Now, even as the incline steepened and the path between old trees became more strenuous, the absence of that reassuring presence was felt. He walked ahead, shoulders rigid, as though physically distancing himself from the story he was about to unfold… or from her.

Drawing a deep breath, he resumed.

"To this day, my family clings to their bloated sense of superiority because ancestors, long removed, played a part in the rescue of Christine's child."

His jaw tightened visibly, the muscles working beneath his skin as though the admission itself tasted bitter on his tongue.

It seemed that Erik's historical knowledge was intimately connected to his family legacy. They weren't merely aware of the secret—they were its architects.

'If this loyalty persists to this day, was Erik sent here to fulfil his family's ancient pledge to the Prima Magae family?' Maya wondered if Erik was just a victim of an ancient obsession of a clan that could not let go of the past.

"So your family played a part…" Maya muttered.

"Yes." His voice softened, tinged with reluctant acknowledgement. "They guarded this secret through generations like a sacred flame. I suppose we owe them that much—their centuries of meticulous devotion are the reason both of us stand here today."

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