Suspicion

Seconds later, they all took out glass tubes from their Arcane Pockets. Tubes that held pitch liquids; the voyagers gulped down one after the other. Jane and Ann - the composed Summoner - tended to Kael, who was unconscious. After consumption, like the others, his body glowed with energy.

His wounds closed and blood vanished from him like a secret erased by silence. Yet, he didn't wake up.

This made Jane call Timothy to attention. "I suggest we find somewhere safe to stay for the day. Kael might need some rest to regain his consciousness."

Timothy was a few meters ahead of her. He gazed at a small brown map in his hand before announcing, "Let's move on. There's a hospital to the north. We'll pass the night there and scavenge for some drugs to bring along."

Everyone nodded.

Axel walked past Timothy and knelt beside Kael. He said to Jane, "Lift him onto my back."

After Axel got Kael on his back, the team descended the vast field. Timothy pointed at an alleyway at the end as their next path. Leon stood still, listening to indistinct footsteps echo in his ears. He couldn't shake off a feeling. One of being pointless here—his presence was like red mist kissed away by the wind.

Jane walked closer to Timothy. She whispered, "What do you think about that monster, Mister Cross?" She stared at him to see if he also felt the same way as she.

"Too strong for a C-rank beast," Timothy replied with a strained voice. "Raises implications that specific monsters out here have evolved. That terrible strength back there is of a B-rank beast."

Jane nodded, swallowing down. An evolution? Hell... that complicates things.

Leon faced front. 'A monster that can evolve? Damn... that's so related to what the prophecy says!'

Unbeknownst to Leon, Ariana shifted her glance backward at him. She furrowed her brows before looking away.

***

Soon after, they reached the hospital forecourt. Bones and skeletons lay scattered on the ground. The hospital was a two-story building.

"We're here," Timothy whispered to the team. "Come on. Let's go in."

After they got close to the door, Timothy broke the lock with his sword. They stepped in. Jane then cast a petal-like flame magic to illuminate the dark interior. 

Soon, the team climbed the stairs to the next floor. They strode into a long walkway found next. 

GRHHHR!

The air thickened abruptly with the deep growls. Far into the walkway were two doll-like creatures with gleaming red eyes. The next second, Timothy threw his sword forward. It rolled at the creatures, severing their heads before they even knew it. And came back to the man's grip like a boomerang.

...

"Here's a ward we can stay in." As the voice called out, everyone glanced to the right to see Leon holding the door to a ward open.

As they entered the room, Ann rushed to grab a metal bar she found nearby. She then slid it into the latch, locking the door. Axel placed Kael on the wrecked bed.

A warm breeze blew through the shattered window. Leon immediately picked up a faded blanket from the floor. Together with Ariana, he covered the open window.

That should at least shield them from the view. But not enough to block the breeze. Axel opened the lockers for drugs. Everyone else sat on the floor, leaning against the bloodied wall. But he found things he regretted even seeing.

Timothy, sitting at the edge of a desk behind Axel, asked,

"Nothing there either?"

Axel turned to him. "No. Uhm... why not split out to search in other wards? We could find something in places like the doctor's office..."

"That could be risky," Jane said, "since we don't know the hospital's layout. We do need those drugs, but wandering in this unfamiliar place is suicide."

Axel and Timothy nodded.

"Well," Timothy voiced, "let us discard that for now. Time will tell."

Moments later, the room went silent. The crinkling of nylon echoed, everyone eating to regain their energy. In a moment, Timothy moved to Leon's side and sat. Leon had a blank expression, as though he felt disconnected from the team.

He was the only one not eating anything.

"We have been out of the city for two days now," Timothy started, looking at Leon. "You should eat something to survive out here."

Leon nodded. "I will. Just holding on for a while."

Timothy smiled with understanding. He added, "You may be the only new face here, Mister Vale. But try associating with the others. Know that we depend on one another now. So we must stay close together."

Leon replied with a tight smile, "I understand, Mr. Cross. I will do so..."

Timothy looked forward. He saw the spectacled Assassin-class lady, Ariana, walking toward him. He asked her while standing up, "What is it, Ariana?"

Ariana said in a broken tone, being a stammerer, "I-I don't know what you guys feel. B...but why don't some go to the... temple nearby and get a snap of the bigger map?"

"Oh, are you talking about the map that covers a fifth of the journey?" Timothy asked Ariana.

"Yes, Mr. Cross," Ariana replied.

"That thing is real?" Jane asked. "I thought it was only a mindless rumor. But who draws a map not only in a temple, but also on the statue of the invoked god?"

"Years ago, travelers did that to help people like us on their journey," Timothy said. "After reaching a point, they came back to put the map down. Having a copy of the map alone makes the journey straightforward, thus easy. Once we reach the endpoint, we will look for the next one. Everything is seven or something; I'm not sure."

Adjusting her spectacles, Ariana took out a box camera from her pocket. She said, "The map is drawn small, so... I can snap it and... bring the image back for Sam to expand."

Jane turned to the slender, blue-haired male Tanker. "Are you with your drawing materials, Sam?"

"Not high-tier ones, but I have enough," Sam replied.

"All set," Timothy affirmed. "Others stay here. I, Jane, and Ariana will head out now. And for safety purposes, we will find somewhere to stay tonight. So, let's all meet up before the hospital by daybreak."

Ariana pointed at Leon. "Actually, the camera... belongs to Mr. Vale. So, he should come along... to operate it."

Leon tilted his head. What was she pulling?

Everyone shared glances. For some reason, that seems too hard to believe.

Timothy asked her, "Oh... you guys have already... started talking?"

"Y-yes," Ariana replied with a nod. "Around... when he came... to t-the clan first."

"Alright, then. Come on, Mister Vale," Timothy said. "I will be accompanying you guys."

'She has something up her sleeve,' Leon thought, frowning. He walked forward. Even though he knew she was lying to do something, a part of him wanted to play along. 'Things could turn out to be fun.'

As ready as he was to face any betrayal anytime, so was he to erase anyone who stood in his way. Because he had a rare cheat - the Paradox System.