Weak

"You've got to be kidding me… What the fuck? Why can't I use magic?! What the hell happened!?" Adam shouted, his voice echoing through the dense forest. He stretched out his hand, willing a familiar flame to appear, but nothing—not even a spark—responded to his call.

"Why?! Oh god, don't tell me… Was it time-based? Did I only have magic for a while and end up using all of it?! Fuck, please no! Don't let that be the case!" His voice rose to a desperate pitch as he ran a hand through his already disheveled hair.

Adam took a deep breath, steeling himself for one last attempt. "Okay, okay. Just one more try. I'm sure something will happen this time!" He stretched his hand out again, focusing as hard as he could, visualizing the fire, feeling the energy, reaching for it with all his might.

But nothing.

Not a flicker, not a hint of warmth. It wasn't just that the fire wouldn't ignite—it was as if the very process of gathering magic from the world had stopped. He couldn't feel the flow, the rhythm of energy he'd grown so accustomed to. It was like trying to use a limb that wasn't there.

"What the hell is going on?" Adam muttered, his frustration simmering into anger. "I could do this just fine before! Even here in this damn forest, I was using magic perfectly! So why now?!"

His mind raced, turning over every possibility, every strange event that had led him here. "Wait! That's it… Those bastards!" Adam's eyes widened as he remembered the strange moments—those eerie, disjointed flashes when his body had been controlled, moved against his will by forces he couldn't understand. "You weren't satisfied with just messing with my body, huh? Noooo, you had to mess with my magic too!"

He paced furiously, kicking a loose rock into the underbrush. But then, a nagging thought pulled him up short.

"Wait… That doesn't make sense." He frowned, the anger in his expression giving way to confusion. "Why would they take away my magic if they still want to control me? They've used me plenty of times before—what's changed?"

His mind replayed the moments when magic had felt effortless, almost second nature. The battles in Erak, the incidents in the heart of the empire… The magic had flowed through him then, but was it really his?

"Maybe… I was being helped?" The idea sounded absurd at first, but the more he thought about it, the more it seemed to fit. "Like, what if it wasn't me doing it at all? What if someone—or something—was making it easier for me to use magic? Back in Erak, it was like second nature… and even in the empire, it was the same. But maybe it wasn't the place. Maybe it was a person. Or one of those things that wanted to control me…"

Adam's eyes narrowed as a chilling realization began to take shape. "What if… whatever was helping me decided it's done with me? They lost interest, and now I'm stuck like this—completely useless without them!" He groaned, slapping his forehead. "Aha, I'm a genius for figuring this out… but wait. This isn't good!"

The weight of the realization sank in as he slumped against a tree. If his magic had never truly been his, and if whoever—or whatever—had been aiding him was now gone, then he was back to square one. Alone. Vulnerable.

Adam groaned again, muttering to himself. "Perfect. Just perfect. Not only am I stuck in this damn forest, but now I'm powerless too. Fantastic. Really living the dream here."

He looked at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists as if sheer willpower might bring back the magic. But deep down, he knew it wouldn't be that easy. Not this time.

"Oi! Can you stop yelling? I'm trying to kill someone over here!" a familiar young voice rang out, cutting through Adam's frustrated monologue like a sharp blade.

Adam froze mid-rant, blinking in surprise. "Wait… what? You heard that? I didn't even notice you were here! What the hell, man? Can't I have some privacy? Like, if you're gonna complain, at least do it face to face!" he shouted back, spinning around in all directions but seeing no one.

The voice answered again, this time with an exasperated tone. "I'm not near you, genius. I just have a loud voice and really good ears. Also, you're the one being loud! What if Hemlok hears you and runs off because of your insane ramblings? Huh? Ever think of that?"

Adam's jaw dropped in disbelief. "How the hell are you even hearing me, then?! Are you spying on me or something?"

Kair's voice grew even more frustrated. "No! But you're practically broadcasting your life story to the entire forest! Listen, I know we're in the Republic of Has and it's all, 'Oh, everyone's welcome!' But that doesn't mean you can just scream crazy stuff and expect people to be okay with it!"

Adam rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath. "What kind of psychopath is eavesdropping from God knows where and then has the nerve to lecture me…"

Before he could yell something angry and probably regrettable, an idea popped into his head—a brilliant, cunning idea. Or at least, he thought so.

"Hey, Kair!" Adam called out, his tone suddenly chipper.

"What?" Kair snapped back, clearly annoyed.

"You got any way to start a fire? I kinda need one since it's getting dark!" Adam yelled, smirking at his own ingenuity.

There was a long pause. Then, with a sigh loud enough to rival a gale, Kair replied, "Can't you see in the dark? It's not even that dark yet."

Adam frowned. "What kind of question is that? No, I can't see in the dark! What do you think I am, a bat?"

"Fine, fine, hold on," Kair said. Adam could practically hear him muttering complaints about amateurs and how no one appreciates true craftsmanship anymore.

"Take it!" Kair shouted after another pause.

Adam furrowed his brow. "Take what?" he called back.

Before he could get an answer, a sharp thwack startled him, and he looked down to see an arrow embedded in the ground just inches from his foot. His heart skipped a beat. "Holy crap!" he gasped, stumbling back.

Attached to the arrow was a small piece of flint, and the arrowhead itself was made of steel. Adam stared at it, momentarily speechless.

"Oh… thanks, Head Guy!" he finally shouted. "I'll give it back in the morning, I promise!"

From somewhere in the forest, Kair's voice echoed back, dripping with sarcasm. "Yeah, because retrieving an arrow you're clearly too stupid to aim properly isn't going to be a waste of my time. You're welcome!"

Adam snorted, shaking his head as he grabbed the flint. "Weirdest guy I've ever met. And that's saying something," he muttered as he started gathering sticks for his fire.

Adam sat cross-legged by his freshly lit campfire, the faint crackle of the flames breaking the forest's eerie quiet. He leaned back on his hands, exhaling in triumph as the warm glow flickered across his face. "Haah, finally! Sweet, sweet light!" he muttered, gazing at the small but steady fire. The light danced on the surrounding trees, their shadows stretching out like elongated phantoms against the uneven forest floor.

The clearing was still and quiet except for the occasional rustle of leaves in the faint breeze. Crickets chirped somewhere in the distance, and the faint, earthy scent of moss and damp wood filled the air. Adam let himself relax for a moment, feeling the warmth from the fire seep into his skin.

But his thoughts returned to the frustration gnawing at him. "Now, what to do about magic… or the lack thereof," he muttered, staring at the fire. His gaze grew distant as he recalled the first time he'd ever used magic. "Guess I'll try to replicate what happened back then with Ligh. Maybe there's a trick I'm missing…"

Adam raised his hand over the fire, palm upward, and closed his eyes. Darkness enveloped him as he concentrated, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts: (Flame… fire… friction… oxygen… air… fuel… friction…) The words tumbled over one another, a desperate mantra as he focused on his goal.

A faint heat began to build in his palm, and Adam's heart leapt. (Heat! There's heat!) A grin tugged at his lips as he willed the warmth to grow into a spark. His breath hitched, his fingers trembling slightly. But no flame appeared, only the persistent sensation of warmth teasing him.

Adam's grin faded. "Odd. I can feel warmth… but it's not manifesting. What's different?" He frowned, lowering his hand to his lap. "Was I really depending on some invisible force? Some ghost or something? And here I thought I'd actually found something I was good at."

With a heavy sigh, Adam hung his head, staring into the dirt. "Not like I've ever been good at anything else," he muttered bitterly. The fire crackled in response, offering no comfort.

The sound of rustling leaves snapped him out of his thoughts. Adam tensed, his eyes darting to the trees. A faint thud echoed nearby, followed by a voice.

"Oi! I said to keep it quiet!" The voice belonged to Kair, his words dripping with irritation. "Damn @!###," he muttered, finishing with a curse that Adam couldn't quite understand.

Adam blinked in confusion, his face twisting with concern. (Wait… why didn't that translate? Is my crystal broken too? Oh, no. Please, not that. Anything but that!) His thoughts spiraled as his expression darkened.

Kair emerged from the shadows, his figure silhouetted against the campfire's glow. "What's with that look? It's rude to stare at someone like that. Did your mother not teach you manners?" he quipped, sitting across from Adam with a huff.

Adam, relieved to hear Kair's words translate again, shook his head. (Thank God it's working… but why didn't it translate that curse word earlier? Weird. I'll have to test this later.)

"Oh, sorry," Adam said, attempting to shake off his nerves. "I really don't think I'm that loud. Maybe it's just a you issue…"

Kair tilted his head, his lips curving into a smug smile. "Fine. I accept your apology! But only because I mentioned my mother. I wouldn't want her hearing about me being mean to someone." He sighed theatrically, leaning back against a nearby log.

Adam snorted, the absurdity of the conversation lifting his spirits slightly. "Well, lucky me. Mother's approval saves the day."

"Damn right it does," Kair replied, pulling a small twig from the ground and tossing it into the fire, where it sizzled before being consumed. "Now, what's this nonsense about you and magic?"

Adam shrugged, staring into the flames. "Just… trying to figure out why I can't do it anymore."

"Sounds like a you problem," Kair deadpanned, smirking.

Adam sighed. "Yeah, I'm starting to think that too."

The fire crackled softly, casting flickering shadows across the dense forest clearing. Adam leaned back on his hands, his eyes wandering up to the canopy of leaves that barely let the moonlight through. He turned his attention to Kair, who sat across from him on a flat rock, poking absently at the fire with a stick.

"Any luck with Hemlok? Or whoever you were talking about earlier?" Adam asked, breaking the silence.

Kair sighed, his face scrunching in frustration as he tossed the stick into the flames. "No," he muttered, ruffling his hair with both hands. "I don't know why, but he hasn't shown up at all. Maybe my intel was wrong…" His voice grew bitter. "At this rate, my pay's gonna get cut for bad performance. Again!"

Adam raised an eyebrow. "Pay cut? You sound like a corporate drone or something."

Kair shot him a glare. "It's not that different. Being a headhunter is hard work! But Mother always said to work hard at everything you do…" His voice softened for a moment before he straightened up. "So, I'll keep at it for now. At least until I find something similar that doesn't involve running around in forests and dangling from ropes."

Adam chuckled. "Yeah, can't imagine this line of work has great benefits."

The firelight illuminated Kair's face now that his hood was down, and Adam got a proper look at him for the first time. His features were sharp and youthful, his hair dark and slightly messy from all the running around. If Adam had to guess, Kair was probably only a year or two older than the body he currently inhabited.

"Should someone so young really be working as… what did you call it? A headhunter?" Adam asked, curiosity laced in his voice.

Kair leaned back on the rock, looking up at the sky through the trees. "Should I? Probably not," he admitted with a half-smile. "But I'm good at it, and it pays well. Plus, there's something satisfying about tracking down your mark. It's like a puzzle. You figure out their habits, their routines… until eventually, they slip up, and boom!" He clapped his hands together for emphasis, grinning.

Adam frowned slightly, unsure whether to laugh or feel uneasy. "You're way too enthusiastic about this."

"Hey, it's a job," Kair replied with a shrug. He pulled a small knife from his belt and began idly carving patterns into the stick he'd been playing with earlier. "Besides, it's not like I'm running around killing just anyone. Hemlok's got a bounty on his head for a reason, you know."

Adam looked around the clearing, the faint rustling of leaves and chirping of insects filling the silence between them. "So… where do you think Hemlok is, then? If your intel's wrong, what's your next move?"

Kair didn't answer immediately. His eyes were focused on the stick he was carving, his brow furrowed. "If he's not here, then I'll wait," he said finally. "He's bound to show up eventually. People like him don't just disappear. And if I can't find him, I'll head back to my handler and see what they know."

Adam nodded, though he was still trying to wrap his head around the concept of someone like Kair being a professional bounty hunter. "And what happens if you don't catch him? You really get your pay docked?"

"Worse," Kair said, his tone suddenly serious. He tossed the stick into the fire and stood up, stretching. "They might blacklist me. No jobs, no money, no reputation. It's a cutthroat business, literally."

Adam watched him with a mix of amusement and unease. "You really picked a hell of a career path."

Kair smirked as he pulled his hood back up. "What can I say? Mother always said I had a knack for trouble." He turned to walk toward the edge of the clearing, disappearing into the shadows with barely a sound.

Adam shook his head, staring into the fire. "Weirdos, man. They're everywhere," he muttered, before leaning back and letting the warmth of the fire lull him into thought.

Adam shifted uncomfortably on the log he was sitting on, the firelight flickering against his face. The forest clearing around them was eerily quiet now, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. He glanced at Kair, who sat on a nearby rock, absently sharpening his knife with a whetstone.

"Wait a minute," Adam said, breaking the silence. "Did whoever sent you out here specifically say you had to kill this Hemlok guy? Or is there wiggle room in the plan?"

Kair didn't look up immediately. Instead, he focused on the blade, running the whetstone along its edge with deliberate care. "...Dead or alive," he said finally, his voice casual, as though discussing the weather. "But I usually find it easier if they're dead. Less struggling. And, you know, it's simpler to carry a head back when it's not attached to the rest of the body."

Adam blinked, taken aback. His thoughts raced. (What is wrong with this kid? Where are your parents?!) He stared at Kair for a moment, trying to decide if the young bounty hunter was joking or genuinely unbothered by his own words.

With a sigh, Adam leaned forward. "Look, maybe I can help you out," he said, trying to sound persuasive. "In return, you could show me around town in the Republic. That's where you need to take Hemlok anyway, right? You get your bounty, and I get a guide. Win-win."

Kair finally glanced up from his knife, his brow furrowed as he placed a thoughtful hand on his chin. "Hmmm… Maybe," he mused, tapping his cheek with his finger. "But if you're helping me, that means I have to split the pay. Which means even less money for me." He sighed dramatically. "Nah, no thanks. I'll just kill him myself."

Adam groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Dude, I don't need the money! You can have the whole bounty, no questions asked. I just want a guide! I'm probably going to live in this place for a good long while, and it'd be nice to know where not to step."

Kair tilted his head, his expression skeptical but curious. "So, you're saying I get all the money, and you help me take down Hemlok?"

"Yes," Adam said firmly, holding up a hand to stop Kair from interrupting. "On one condition—you agree to take him back alive. No decapitating him, no dragging a corpse through town. Just cuff him or whatever it is you headhunters do."

Kair leaned back, crossing his arms as he considered the offer. The firelight cast flickering shadows over his face, highlighting his sharp features. "Alive, huh?" he muttered. "That's a lot more work… but fine. If you're really willing to help, I'll bring him back breathing. Just don't slow me down."

Adam grinned, relieved. "Deal. And I promise, I'm not as useless as I look."

Kair gave him a long, assessing look before smirking. "We'll see. Just don't start crying if things get messy, alright?"

Adam chuckled nervously, deciding not to mention his currently nonexistent magic. "Yeah, sure. Messy's my middle name."

Kair snorted and sheathed his knife. "Alright then. We move at dawn. Don't oversleep, or I'm leaving you behind."

With that, Kair stood and stretched, disappearing into the shadows of the forest to set up his own camp. Adam watched him go, shaking his head in disbelief.

"Where do I find these people?" he muttered to himself, lying back on the grass and staring up at the stars.

___________________________

Varin stirred awake, the faint aroma of grilled meat and sweet fruit wafting through the air. She blinked, groggily sitting up and realizing she was lying on a plush bed, the room around her illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns hanging from wooden beams. The walls were a rich, dark oak, and the window beside her offered a view of towering, snow-dusted peaks bathed in early morning sunlight.

"Ms. Eldez… did you carry me here?" Varin asked, her voice hoarse but laced with curiosity. "Also… where even is here?"

Ms. Eldez was seated at a nearby table laden with an array of food that could rival a royal banquet. Plates of steaming roasted meats, bowls of vibrant fruits, and ornate glasses of deep crimson juice adorned the polished surface. She turned to Varin with a small smile and handed her a slice of something colorful.

"Well, something like that," Ms. Eldez replied, her tone casual. "Here, try this. It's good for your hair and tastes sweet."

Varin took the slice and inspected it. The fruit was a vivid purple, with an almost shimmering skin and a juicy, translucent interior. She bit into it, and her eyes widened as the flavor of honey and citrus burst on her tongue.

"Wow! What is this?" Varin asked, her words muffled by her eager chewing.

"That's sazo fruit," Ms. Eldez explained, taking a dainty sip from her glass. "They grow here near Haz's northern mountains, just outside the Republic. It's a delicacy, particularly popular during this season."

Varin reached for another slice, then another, barely pausing between bites. "This is amazing! And this meat—what is this? It smells incredible!" she exclaimed, eyeing a platter piled high with slices of perfectly seared meat garnished with sprigs of fresh herbs.

"It's called rynstag," Ms. Eldez said with a small chuckle, motioning toward the meat. "A type of wild mountain deer. It's marinated in spiced berry wine and grilled to bring out the natural flavor. Eat as much as you like—it's my treat for accompanying me."

Varin paused mid-bite, her eyes sparkling. "Wait, really? Then I'll follow you to the ends of the earth, as long as I get food like this!" She raised her glass of juice enthusiastically before taking a big gulp.

Ms. Eldez smiled knowingly. "You really are a Vinarian."

Varin froze, her expression shifting from joy to curiosity. She set down her plate and looked at Ms. Eldez intently. "A Vinarian? What does that mean?"

Ms. Eldez leaned back, folding her hands elegantly in her lap. "Vinarians were a race of warrior giants renowned for their absurd strength and hearty appetites. They were said to be able to lift mountains and defeat armies with their bare hands. It seems you've inherited some of their blood—your strength is nothing short of extraordinary."

Varin blinked, her mind racing as she tried to process this revelation. She flexed her arm absentmindedly, as if testing her strength anew. "Warrior giants, huh? That's… kind of cool, actually. So, I'm, like, part giant or something?"

"Possibly," Ms. Eldez said with a serene smile. "Though the traits you exhibit are quite rare, even among those with diluted Vinarian ancestry."

Varin leaned back in her chair, letting out a low whistle. "Well, that explains a lot. Guess I know why I've always been weirdly strong." She laughed, then grabbed another piece of sazo fruit. "Alright, then! I'll just embrace it. And if it means I get more food like this, I'm all in!"

The two shared a laugh, the cozy room filled with the sound of crackling wood from the fireplace, the aroma of delicious food, and the peaceful ambiance of the mountain retreat.

____________

"Vinarians were also known as witch hunters," Ms. Eldez murmured softly, her voice barely audible over the gentle crackle of the fireplace. She sat gracefully next to Varin's bed, her hands folded neatly in her lap. The dim glow of the room cast flickering shadows across her face, making her features seem ethereal and distant. Varin, still deep in sleep, remained blissfully unaware of the words spilling from Ms. Eldez's lips. 

"They were crucial in taking down the Witch of Sunlight during her prime," Ms. Eldez continued, her eyes distant as if gazing into a memory long buried. "Though this action ultimately led to their destruction. The Witch of Sunlight, Phynx… she couldn't simply die. She would always revive." A faint, melancholic smile curved her lips, her voice dropping even lower. "I wonder… will you help me find her? My sister… Phynx." 

Ms. Eldez leaned back, her gaze resting on Varin's peaceful face. For a moment, a flicker of something—regret, longing, or perhaps unease—crossed her features. She reached out, as if to brush a strand of hair from Varin's face, but stopped herself. 

"…Chaos…" she whispered, the word carrying an almost reverent weight. "It's getting closer. One of our own… I wonder… could it be him?" 

Without another sound, Ms. Eldez vanished, her form dissolving into the faint shimmer of the lamplight. The room was silent once more, save for Varin's steady breathing and the faint rustle of leaves against the window. 

The streets outside were bathed in the cool, silver glow of moonlight, their cobblestones slick from an earlier rain. Ms. Eldez reappeared, her heels clicking softly as she walked the nighttime roads. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and distant pine. Shadows danced in the corners, and the faint hum of nocturnal insects added a strange rhythm to the stillness. 

Her movements were slow and deliberate, her thoughts seemingly lost in the labyrinth of her past. The echo of distant voices—laughter, anger, and cries—seemed to drift from the recesses of her memory. As she strolled, her gaze wandered upward to the sky, where stars glittered coldly against the void. 

"Phynx," she murmured, her voice carrying both an ache and a resolve. The name lingered on her tongue, an anchor to the tumultuous swirl of her thoughts. "Sister… where are you now?" 

Her fingers brushed the edge of her cloak, and for a fleeting moment, her expression hardened. Whatever memories plagued her, they seemed to spur her forward, her steps echoing louder in the quiet. With each turn, her presence seemed to blend seamlessly into the night, becoming one with the shifting shadows until, once again, she was gone.