8 years ago...

  A ball was being tossed back and forth by tiny hands.The vilge children were pying tag with a ball.The breeze flew by,rustling branches and blowing leaves on the ground.A kid went back a few steps,aiming the ball,then unched it.The ball went overhead and nded on top of a tall branch.

  One kid was about to climb but noticed the ball was moving on its own,flinching.It fell down elegantly,like the wind itself was guiding its descent.A nearby kid with blue eyes and white tattoos all over his body picked the ball up,offering to the other children with a cheery smile on his face.

  Instead of gratitude,he was met with apprehension and murmuring.A younger kid went behind an older one,scared.

  "W—we should leave,"one suggested.

  And they did,leaving the tattooed kid alone with the ball.He tilted his head with confusion and looked back to the swirling wind above him.

  "Guess they don't like you,huh,"he regarded to the wind spirit above.

  ...

  Back to the present...

  "Your daughter,"Amallis said,"Could it be,your daughter is one of the missing people?"

  He looked at Sae,"Sae?"

  "I don't know about that,"she said.

  "Well,I'm sorry for tackling you then,mister Azzam.I acted on impulse,"he bowed to Azzam.

  "Apology accepted but what are you youngsters doin'?,"Azzam asked.

  "We—,"Amallis started.

  "Do you know any hunters who used to frequent the forest?,"Sae cut him.

  "S—Sae,"Amallis looked at her.

  "No time to waste,"she simply said.

  "Who used to frequent the forest?,"Azzam said,"I know no one,except the apothecary."

  "Are apothecaries included?,"Amallis asked.

  "They can be excused through foraging,"Sae answered.

  "Are you young ones investigating something?,"Azzam asked.

  "Yes,regarding hunting,"Sae answered.

  "I see.Is it about the issue of overhunting?"

  "How did you know?,"Amallis asked.

  "I was interrogated by the officers,"Azzam answered.

  "Well,young ones,I'm sorry I couldn't help you,"he stood up,his knees cracking."Boy,you shouldn't tackle anyone of age again,"he reprimanded Amallis.

  "I'm truly sorry,sir!"

  Azzam sighed and headed to the bushes,rummaging it.

  Amallis turned to Sae,"What now?"

  Azzam finally found what he was looking for,a hair pin.Bronze with carved small leaves on it.

  "How long is your daughter missing?,"Sae asked.

  "2 weeks,"Azzam answered.

  "Is that your daughter's?,"Sae asked about the pin.

  "Yes and she went here,"he said looking ahead.

  "Do you believe that she's still alive?,"Sae asked.

  "Sae,that's—,"Amallis commented.

  Azzam didn't answer only a grave look at the ground.

  "I don't know but I have to find out what happened to her."

  "Did you consider the possibility that she got killed by some predator?,"Sae asked.

  Azzam softly chuckled,shaking his head,"It's an easy conclusion isn't it,"he stopped shaking his head."That's what everyone is saying."

  Sae narrowed her eyes,"Then what do you believe?"

  Silence,even the forest itself.Azzam looked at Sae.

  "I believe...she was murdered."

  ...

  2 months ago...

  Polyo was waiting for Kuru in his residence.Sitting on a wooden stool beside a fire.The door opened,Kuru went in then closed the door clutching his arm.Blood dripping on the dirt floor.

  Polyo stood up,"Kuru?"

  Kuru suddenly looked up.He was startled to see him.

  "My,what are you doing here?"

  "I was waiting for you,"Polyo said while walking towards Kuru looking at his bleeding arm."What happened?"

  "I was hunting,"Kuru smiled."I don't want to see you worried so I will go to the doctor."

  Kuru excused himself and left Polyo inside.

  "Why did he just lie?"

  ...

  "I see,"Sae nodded.

  "You don't believe me?,"Azzam asked.

  "Maybe,but may I ask another question?,"Sae said.

  "Go ahead."

  "Did you notice anything different to your daughter before she disappeared?"

  "She had a cold,"Azzam answered.

  Sae nodded,"Do you have any suspects then?"

  "None as of now,"he shook his head,"I asked her best friend if she had any enemies and he said none."

  "And do you believe him?"

  "Vey and Lukas are best friends since childhood.I find it hard to believe that he would hold a grudge on her and if they did have a fight she would have compined to me."

  "I see and where is this Lukas' residence?,"she asked.

  "Why?,"Azzam said,puzzled.

  "You don't mind letting me look into this,right?,"she asked.

  "I don't really mind,little miss,"he nodded.In fact,if she can find any information he didn't yet,it would be of great help.

  Sae and Amallis left with Lukas' location.

  Sae is deep in her thoughts while Amallis is looking at her with a puzzled face.

  "Alright,"he said,"Can you tell me what's going on?"

  "Huh?,"she said,turning around to Amallis.

  He sighed,"Why are you investigating her missing daughter all of a sudden?"

  "..."

  "I was curious,"she answered.

  "Seriously,"he answered."Isn't there more important matters to be investigated?Besides,her hair pin was found here in the forest,she may have been killed already by some animal."

  "That's highly likely,Amallis,"she nodded thoughtfully.

  "See?Mystery solved!So let's go back and do something that actually matters,"he went behind Sae and touched both of her shoulders."Alright?"

  "Hmmm...,"she hummed thoughtfully."But why is she here in the first pce?,"Sae excimed.

  "Foraging?,"Amallis answered.

  "Hmmm,but why and what is she foraging?,"she asked him."Can you answer that for me?"

  "..."

  "Fine,"he finally said,"If you want to investigate then sure,go ahead but please,"he looked Sae eye to eye,"Come back tonight!"

  "Since when did I need your permission?"

  "I was just trying to steer you to more important matters,Sae!"

  "You don't think someone's missing daughter is important?,"she asked.

  "That's not—ugh,"he sighed."Just go already."

  "Alright~,"she turned around and started walking.

  "Don't forget about our DEAL!,"Amallis shouted behind.

  "Yeah yeah,shut up before predators will hear you,"she mumbled.

  ...

  Inside his residence,Polyo was drinking from a wooden cup reminiscing 2 months ago.

  "He has no reason to lie,"he said to himself.

  2 months ago when Polyo visited Kuru's residence,he rounded his house to see if he was home.He saw his bow and quivers which Kuru usually uses for hunting.To come back and reasoned that he went hunting when he didn't bring his bow.Also,he asked some hunters if they saw Kuru,they didn't.

  "What is he hiding?,"he thought to himself.

  He checked Kuru to see if everything was alright because he was busier than usual.He rarely attended meetings.However,Kuru suddenly stopped being busy and that was a few weeks before the attacks.

  Could there be a connection?

  Polyo shook his head.It's not good specuting suspicions on his fellow elder.Thinking back Kuru spoke a lot to Alis, Micha's daughter,before her death,nothing suspicious.Alis developed complications on her health after that..."incident."It was a pity,Alis was supposed to be the head shaman after Micha but...

  Polyo sighed.He said it's not good being suspicious based only on specutions but there's nothing bad if he will investigate Kuru,however,he can't risk himself and the whole retionship of the council.

  He has to ask someone.He already knows who.

  ...

  Amallis returned to his vilge.He tried,really tried,to look forward,but as the stares continue and so as the whispers.He eventually looked down.

  He opened the door and closed it behind him.He stood for a while,back against the door,before he slumped on the dirt ground.He sighed.

  His eyes settled on a basket with a cloth covered on top of it.He lifted the cloth and a glowing yellow crystal was revealed.It was slightly humming.Amallis slowly reached it,the stone shone brighter for a moment,he picked it up and examined it.

  For some reason,memories of her mother resurfaced.Her frail and bony mother,her blue eyes sunken in her cheekbones yet despite that she still smiles to her son whenever he visited her.She still lifted her bony hand to pat her son's hair.

  Her child's clear blue eyes,those precious eyes,looked at her,puzzled and confused.

  "Mama,what happened to you?,"he asked.

  But she simply shook her head with a sweet smile.

  "It's alright.You don't have to worry,Amallis."

  Amallis id his head to her mother's p and closed his eyes.His mother gently caressed his son's hair while humming him to sleep.

  Amallis traced the indentations of the crystal.He suddenly felt mencholic.

  "Mama,"he thought.

  ...

  "Is this it?,"Sae thought while looking at a brick house.

  She went to the door and knocked gently.No answer.She knocked with a little force,yet no answer.She was about to knock again when a voice boomed behind her,making her heart jump.

  "My apologies,I was in the garden."

  She turned around to see a blonde tall man dressed with a white tunic.He looked schorly.

  "Are you Lukas?,"Sae asked.

  "Yes,"he answered.

  "Do you know any reason why Vey went to the forest?,"Sae went straight to the point.

  Lukas blinked several times before he finally registered it."I—is this about Vey?"

  "Yes."

  "Wait,how did you know she went in the forest?"

  "Her father found her hair pin,"she answered.

  "I—I see,"Lukas looked away with pursed lips.

  "My condolences,"Sae said.

  Silence...

  "I—I am sorry,it's just...I miss her,"Lukas finally said,softly.

  "Let's talk inside,"Lukas opened the door.Sae followed.

  Lukas set a tray of tea and biscuits on the table.Sae picked one then munched on it.

  "To answer your question,miss,"Lukas said while sitting down in front of her,"It may be of no use but,she never showed any interest to the forest before."

  "I see.Did she acted strange before?,"Sae asked.

  "Nothing in particur,she was sick so she frequented the apothecary,"Lukas answered.

  "Hmmm,"Sae pondered thoughtfully,after a few seconds of silence.She once again asked,"When did the first person disappeared?"

  "The fourth week,st month,"he answered.

  "I see,"she stood up,"That's all,Lukas.Thank you."

  "Wait miss,I—,"but she left.

  Last month,st week and serial disappearances.Is it a coincidence?The young people who disappeared,the forest's hostility,and how about the shadow fiend heading to town that night?What do these events have in common,are they even connected or are they separate unfortunate events.

  "Something doesn't add up,"Sae thought.

  ...

  The bell rang.

  "Welcome,"Keeran cheerily said.

  When he saw who entered,he perked up.

  "Oh miss,you finally visited me~"

  Sae settled the bundled hairy curved stalks on his desk.

  "I have a question Keeran."

  "Sure,ask away."

  "Do you know Vey?"

  "Oh yes,she used to visit me because of her cold.I hope she's feeling alright now,"Keeran answered.

  "I see,"Sae noted.

  "Ehem,"Keeran nodded.

  Silence between them.

  "I'll be leaving now,"Sae turned away.

  "Wait!You're leaving just like that?!,"Keeran called behind the counter."How about you stay for some coffee,miss~"

  "I'm busy,"she simply said before closing the door.

  Keeran sighed,"My~my~"

  ...

  "Miss Sae!,"a vilger called.Sae turned around and she saw them gesturing her to follow.

  Polyo was sitting,waiting for someone when the door opened.The outsider entered then sat in front of him.

  "I'm going to be straight forward,"he said."I want you to look on someone."

  "And why would I do that?,"she asked.

  "I wanted some of my questions to be answered,"Polyo straightened his back."It's about Kuru."

  Sae raised her eyebrows,"Oh."