Loose Ends

Two days had passed since the festival, and in that time, Hugo had put Abell and Gaius through relentless training. They spent their days battling Malignants on the outskirts of Hallion, never sparring against each other due to Gaius's orders. Despite the tension between their personalities, the battles proved fruitful, with both sharpening their skills.

The outskirts of Hallion were eerily quiet, the crunch of leaves underfoot the only sound as the trio moved through the dense forest. Hugo led the way, his sharp eyes scanning the shadows.

"Stay sharp," he said, his voice low. "The Malignants have been more organized lately. They're not just attacking blindly anymore."

Abell frowned, but before he could ask what Hugo meant, a guttural growl erupted from the darkness. Moments later, a twisted figure staggered into the clearing, its hollow, stretched skin glowing faintly. The malefic orb in its chest pulsed with an eerie light, sending a shiver down Abell's spine.

"Here we go," Hugo muttered, stepping back to give them space. "Your turn. Show me what you've got."

Abell tightened his grip on his blade, adrenaline coursing through him. "I'll take the lead."

"No need to announce it," Gaius said calmly, already slipping into position with quiet precision.

The Malignant shrieked, its glowing orb flaring as it lunged at Abell. He stepped forward, dodging the swipe of its claws and delivering a clean slash to its arm. The creature hissed, staggering back.

Gaius moved swiftly, circling behind it. His dagger flashed as he struck its leg, forcing the creature to stumble. The faint flicker of his Mirage Arts sent a distracting afterimage across the clearing, momentarily confusing the Malignant.

Abell seized the opening, his blade striking the glowing orb dead center. A ripple of energy coursed through the creature, sending it into a frenzy. It lashed out wildly, forcing Abell to leap back.

"You're hesitating," Gaius said evenly, his eyes locked on the Malignant. "Finish it before it gets a second wind."

Abell nodded, steadying himself. When the Malignant lunged again, he sidestepped and delivered a decisive slash across its torso, severing the glowing orb. The creature collapsed, disintegrating into black mist.

"Better," Gaius said simply, wiping his dagger clean before sheathing it.

Hugo stepped forward, clapping his hands. "Not bad, boys. You didn't embarrass yourselves, at least. Maybe you're ready for the academy after all."

Abell rolled his shoulders, his breath steadying. "It's getting easier."

"Don't get comfortable," Hugo warned, his tone serious. "These are the weakest ones. The academy's going to throw you into fights a lot worse than this."

Gaius glanced at Hugo, then at Abell. "We'll be ready," he said with quiet confidence.

Final Morning in Hallion:

The final day in Hallion began early—too early for Abell's liking. He woke with the sun, eager to finally leave for the academy. As he sat up, he glanced over at Hugo's bed, only to find it empty.

"That man barely sleeps," Abell muttered. Shrugging, he got ready quickly. "Whatever. I'll head to Gaius's family shop alone."

The inn was only a short walk from the tavern Gaius's family owned. His mother had insisted they eat for free during their stay, though Camus, Gaius's gruff father, frequently complained about the expense.

As Abell approached, he saw the family gathered near the entrance, hugging one another.

"Maybe they're saying their goodbyes," Abell thought, watching the tender scene. His mind wandered briefly to his own family—his mother, fighting off Malignants back home. "Hopefully Torin's helping her out now," he thought with a small smile.

Pushing the thoughts aside, Abell stepped into the tavern, greeted immediately by Gaius's mother, Gia.

"Good morning, Abell!" she said warmly. "How are you, dear?"

"I'm fine," he replied. "Just here to grab some food before we leave."

Gia's smile faltered slightly, emotion creeping into her voice. "Don't remind me. My little boy is leaving me—I can't believe it."

Before Abell could respond, a voice from the back of the tavern cut through the air.

"Don't cry, Mom! You still have us!" Gio called out, flexing his arms as he stepped forward.

Millia, his younger sister, walked in behind him, stifling a laugh. "Yeah, because you're so helpful, Gio. Big brother's way stronger than you."

Gio's face turned red as he glared at her. "I'll be stronger than him someday! Then you'll stop teasing me!" he shouted, chasing Millia around the room.

Gia sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I swear, those two never stop arguing." She turned toward the back of the tavern. "Camus! Gio and Millia are at it again!"

Camus appeared moments later, his expression already annoyed. His gaze fell on his children running in circles. "What did I say about running around during store hours?" he barked.

"Millia started it!" Gio protested.

"Gio started it!" Millia shot back.

"I don't care who started it," Camus said firmly. "If you're not helping in the store, go to your rooms. Now."

Both siblings groaned but complied, shuffling away under their father's sharp gaze.

"Damn kids," Camus muttered, shaking his head. Spotting Abell, he crossed his arms. "Good morning, kid. Here to grab some food, huh?"

Abell nodded with a polite smile. "Yes, sir."

"Good. We're not running a charity, but you've earned it." Camus waved him toward the counter. "Gia will get you sorted. Just don't let Gio or Millia slow you down."

Where's Hugo?" Camus asked, looking around.

"Honestly, I have no idea. He's a mystery," Abell replied, shrugging.

Camus chuckled. "He's just like Gaius in a way."

Abell smirked faintly, but Camus's expression turned serious. "So today's the day? You three are finally leaving for the academy?"

"Yeah," Abell said, his lips curling into a battle-hungry grin. "I can't wait to go."

Camus regarded him with a proud smile. "I knew he'd influence Gaius," he thought. Then, leaning closer, he added, "Abell, promise me something. Keep Gaius in check, will you?"

"What can I do? it's not like he listens to anything I say."

"Just promise me, okay?" Camus said firmly.

"Alright, alright, I get it. No need to get pushy," Abell replied, shaking his head.

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to prepare more food. The tavern doesn't run itself," Camus said, disappearing into the kitchen.

Moments later, Gia emerged with a plate of food. Abell thanked her before digging in, eating alone as the tavern buzzed with low chatter. A few customers came and went, the air calm but charged with an unspoken tension.

Two city guards entered, quickly ordering their meals and sitting down near the door. Their hurried conversation caught Abell's attention.

"Did you hear? Something was stolen from Noctua Hall."

"Yeah, and it sounds big. Cedris has been sending people everywhere to track it down."

"No idea what it was, but it must've been important if we're hearing about it. Between that and the Malignants, it's shaping up to be a tough week. Honestly, I'm tempted to quit."

With that, the guards finished their food and left, their words lingering in the air.

"Interesting, right?"

Abell jumped in his seat, spinning around to see Hugo leaning casually against the wall. "Hugo! Where have you been?"

Hugo grinned. "If you were paying attention to their conversation, I'm sure you could guess."

"You were investigating that situation?" Abell asked, his curiosity piqued.

Hugo smirked, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Something like that."

Anyways, have you seen Gaius? We're supposed to leave a little after the morning to reach the academy testing grounds," Hugo asked, leaning against the counter.

"Nope," Abell replied, taking another bite of his meal. "I've just been here eating."

Hugo scanned the room briefly before walking up to Gia at the front counter. "Excuse me, Miss Gray. Do you know where your son is? We need to leave soon."

Gia smiled at first but quickly sighed. "Good morning, Hugo! Honestly, we haven't seen him today. Maybe he went to clear his mind." Her expression shifted into frustration. "That boy of mine… even on an important day like this, he's still causing trouble."

Hugo held up a hand reassuringly. "It's fine. No need to worry—it's not that big of a deal." Turning back to Abell, he smirked. "Hey, Abell, go find Gaius. We haven't got all day."

Abell frowned, pushing his plate away. "Why me? We don't even get along."

Hugo's grin widened. "You two have more in common than you think."

"No, we don't. Not at all," Abell said flatly, crossing his arms.

"Please, just go find him," Hugo said, exasperated but still amused. "I'll stay here and talk to his parents about the details."

Abell groaned as he stood up. "Whatever," he muttered, grabbing his gear and heading toward the door.

Abell walked out the door with a heavy sigh, wondering where to even start looking. "I guess I'll try some alleys or something," he muttered, scratching his head.

The streets of Hallion were as busy as ever, but Abell couldn't ignore the noticeable increase in guards patrolling the area. Probably because of that theft Hugo mentioned, he thought.

After several minutes of wandering aimlessly, frustration bubbled over. "Argh! I can't find him!" he cried out, earning a few odd looks from passersby. "Of all days, he decides to vanish." He scanned the streets one more time for any sign of Gaius, but there was nothing.

"Whatever. I'll just head back to the tavern," he grumbled.

As he turned to leave, his gaze landed on a familiar structure in the distance. "Hey, I didn't realize I was near Noctua Hall," he said aloud, stopping in his tracks. A mischievous grin crept onto his face. "Maybe I should check on the old man one more time… or better yet, challenge that grandson of his to a fight."

Just as Abell placed a foot on the first step leading to the hall, a voice cut through the air.

"I wouldn't go up there if I were you."

Abell froze and turned around, immediately recognizing the source. "Gaius? Great. I guess all that walking around wasn't for nothing."

Gaius stood a few feet away, his usual calm demeanor intact.

"Hugo asked me to find you. We're supposed to be leaving soon," Abell said, crossing his arms.

"I know," Gaius replied curtly. "I'll be back before it's time."

Abell raised an eyebrow. "So…?"

Gaius sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm doing research," he said, his voice laced with annoyance.

"On what?" Abell asked, clearly exasperated.

"I don't think I need to tell you." Gaius turned to walk away.

Abell squinted at him, suspicion creeping into his voice. "Wait… are you here to check out how strong the grandson is?"

Gaius froze mid-step, his back still turned to Abell. For a moment, there was silence before he muttered, "Just go tell Hugo I'll be there soon, okay?"

Abell's grin widened. "No way, I thought you weren't a battle-hungry meathead like you always call me. Guess we're more alike than I thought."

Gaius turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "I have my reasons. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go."

Abell stepped closer, refusing to back down. "I'm coming with you."

"Why?" Gaius asked with a tired sigh.

"I want to see the strength of someone from one of the four families," Abell said, a challenging smirk on his face.

Gaius stared at him for a moment before shaking his head and continuing to walk. "Fine. Do what you want. I won't stop you," he said flatly, though his tone suggested mild irritation.

Abell watched him, trailing close behind. "Why be so difficult."

Gaius didn't respond, his focus fixed ahead as they approached Noctua Hall.