Chapter 18: The Hollow Seekers part 2.

The Ashen Brokers were not like ordinary merchants. They did not peddle food, weapons, or trinkets of value. Instead, they dealt in something far more dangerous—information.

To approach them was to walk into a negotiation where the price was rarely gold.

Kainon moved forward first, his steps careful but unhesitant. Zereth followed, his gaze steady as he observed the figures draped in layered robes, their faces mostly obscured by deep hoods. Despite their stillness, there was an undeniable presence about them, as if they were more than simple traders.

One of them turned slightly as they approached. A faint shimmer passed over the fabric of their hood, as though light itself refused to settle upon their form.

"Hunter," the figure greeted, their voice smooth yet weightless.

Kainon inclined his head. "We need answers."

The Broker let out a low hum, a sound neither pleased nor displeased. "Many do."

Kainon's expression remained unreadable. "The Hollow Seekers. Some of them are missing."

The Broker tilted their head slightly. "Missing is an assumption. Some would say they are simply… elsewhere."

Zereth remained silent, watching the exchange. He could sense it—the way the Broker measured every word, every breath, as if gauging how much to reveal.

Kainon exhaled sharply. "Cut through the riddles. What happened?"

A long pause. Then, the Broker leaned in ever so slightly, their voice barely above a whisper.

"The Hollow Seekers who spoke too loudly… are now silent."

The words sent a chill through the air, though the Broker's tone never changed.

Zereth felt a shift beside him. Kainon's shoulders tensed, though he quickly masked it.

"What do you mean?" Kainon asked, his voice quieter now.

The Broker's head tilted again, as if amused by the question. "They are gone. Some say they were taken. Some say they walked into the dark willingly."

Zereth's gaze sharpened. "Who took them?"

For the first time, the Broker turned toward him fully. Though their face was hidden, Zereth could feel their attention settle upon him in a way that felt almost tangible.

"Not all Seekers seek the same truth," the Broker said. "There are those who believe the past should remain forgotten. And then there are those who would dig too deep, even if it means being buried with what they find."

Kainon's expression darkened. "This isn't the first time, is it?"

The Broker let out a faint chuckle. "No, Hunter. It never is."

Silence settled between them. The meaning was clear—this was not a new occurrence. Those who searched for too much had a tendency to disappear.

But was it by force, or by choice?

Zereth let the words turn over in his mind. He did not yet know the nature of this world's conflicts, but he recognized something familiar in what was being said. The fear of truth. The weight of knowledge that should not be uncovered.

His own existence was proof of such things.

Kainon's jaw tightened before he spoke again. "Who would want them gone?"

The Broker's shoulders rose slightly, as if in a shrug. "Many hands move unseen. Some reach from the past, others from the present. The only question is—" a pause, then a slow tilt of the head, "—who benefits from their silence?"

Zereth caught the shift in Kainon's expression. He understood what was being implied. Someone had reason to ensure that the Hollow Seekers did not uncover whatever lay hidden.

"You know more," Zereth said. It was not a question.

The Broker's lips curled under the hood, though the amusement did not reach their voice. "Perhaps. But knowledge is a currency, and you have not paid."

Kainon exhaled sharply. "Nothing is free with you, is it?"

"Not in this world, Hunter."

The conversation had reached its limit. Without a price, the Broker would say no more.

Kainon looked at Zereth, as if considering their next move.

Zereth simply met his gaze.

There was more to uncover. But at what cost?

The conversation with the Broker left a heavy silence between them as they stepped away from the dimly lit corner of the Market of Ash. The weight of unspoken truths lingered in the air.

Zereth followed closely behind Kainon, his expression unreadable. He was still adjusting to the world, its strange politics, and the delicate balance between truth and secrecy. But this much was clear—something was happening to the Hollow Seekers, and Kainon knew more than he was willing to say.

Kainon exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Damn those Ashen Brokers… Always speaking in riddles, never giving straight answers unless it benefits them."

Zereth remained quiet for a moment, then spoke. "You knew this would happen."

Kainon stopped mid-step, turning to face him. There was no anger in his expression—just a resigned acceptance. "Not exactly. But I knew something was wrong."

Zereth tilted his head slightly. "What aren't you saying?"

Kainon hesitated. His gaze flickered toward the marketplace, where whispers and half-glances followed them. It was clear now—they weren't the only ones listening for news.

After a long pause, Kainon spoke. "The Hollow Seekers are not a single group. People think we are, but the truth is… we're fractured. There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowing. There are those who want to find the truth only to bury it deeper. And then…" he trailed off, glancing away.

Zereth studied him. "Then?"

Kainon let out a slow breath. "Then there are the ones who would burn everything down just to uncover what lies beneath the ashes."

Zereth didn't miss the way his fingers curled slightly, tension building in his posture.

"You're saying there's another faction of Hollow Seekers?" Zereth asked.

Kainon nodded. "I don't know if they're responsible for the disappearances, but… there have always been rumors. Some Seekers believe the Forge should remain lost. Others…" He looked away, his voice lower now. "Others believe it should be reclaimed, no matter the cost."

For the first time, Zereth felt the pieces shifting into place. It wasn't just about those who vanished—it was about what they had been searching for.

"The ones who vanished… they were searching for something important." Zereth's voice was calm, but certain.

Kainon didn't deny it. "Yes. And now they're gone."

The implications were clear. Someone had silenced them.

Zereth's mind turned over the possibilities. Were they taken to prevent them from speaking? Or had they willingly walked into something far more dangerous?

He turned his gaze back to Kainon. "Who leads them?"

Kainon's lips pressed into a thin line. He hesitated before finally answering.

"No one knows. They don't have a name, a leader, or even a defined purpose. They exist in the shadows, moving unseen, speaking in whispers."

Zereth narrowed his eyes. "Yet you fear them."

Kainon let out a bitter chuckle. "I don't fear them. I fear what they might be capable of."

A quiet moment passed between them. The weight of the conversation hung heavy in the air.

Zereth finally spoke. "Then we find out the truth."

Kainon huffed, shaking his head slightly. "You say that like it's simple."

"Truth often is," Zereth replied. "It's people that make it complicated."

Kainon gave him a long look, then let out a breath. "Fine. But we do this carefully. No sudden moves. We don't know who's watching."

Zereth simply nodded.

The first step had been taken. The question was—what would they find at the end of this path?

The streets of the Market of Ash pulsed with a slow, eerie rhythm. Conversations whispered between merchants, glances lingered too long, and the weight of unseen forces pressed against the air. The tension was unmistakable. Something had changed.

Zereth and Kainon found themselves standing in front of a familiar dark-robed figure—an Ashen Broker. The scent of burning incense lingered around him, mingling with the metallic tang of the city's ever-present smog.

The Broker's hood barely shifted as he spoke. "You ask for truths that should remain buried, Hunter." His voice was smooth, yet held an unnatural stillness, as if it lacked true origin. "Are you certain you wish to pay the price?"

Kainon's expression darkened. "Nothing is ever free with you people, is it?"

A soft chuckle. "Not in this world, no."

Zereth watched, silent but observing. The Broker's presence was unlike the other merchants. There was a weight to his words, a knowledge that extended beyond the marketplace's shifting deals.

"You want payment," Zereth stated, his voice even. "What is your price?"

The Broker finally turned toward him, his concealed face unreadable. "Ah… the quiet one speaks." There was amusement in his tone. "And what would you trade, I wonder? Gold, power, secrets?" His voice dipped lower. "Or something greater?"

Zereth held his gaze. "Name it."

The air shifted. The Broker leaned forward slightly, as if savoring the moment. "Information for information. You wish to know of the Hollow Seekers who vanished? Then bring me something of equal value."

Kainon exhaled sharply. "This is a waste of time—"

The Broker raised a single finger. "Patience, Hunter. This offer is not for you."

Kainon stiffened, but said nothing.

Zereth, however, remained still. He could sense it—this was no mere trade. The Broker was testing him.

"What do you want?" Zereth asked.

The Broker's lips curled into something resembling a smile. "A single name. A whisper of truth, long buried." He tilted his head. "Find me the name of the one who walks unseen, and I shall give you the knowledge you seek."

Silence.

Kainon tensed beside him. "That's impossible. No one knows their name."

The Broker simply smiled. "Then I suppose no one will find your missing Seekers, either."

Zereth considered his words carefully. He had no memories, no ties to this world—yet something about this exchange felt familiar. As if it echoed something forgotten, something important.

He spoke without hesitation. "We'll return with your answer."

The Broker inclined his head slightly. "Then I shall be waiting."

As Zereth and Kainon turned away, the weight of their next step settled between them.

They had a name to find.

And the truth was waiting.

End of chapter 18...