As they rode away from Norgate, The snow beneath the hooves of the horses melted away and soon revealed the grassy soil and the lovely, colourful sea of flowers beneath. Trying to get used to his new horse as he was thinking about the past, Bryce didn't talk as much as usual. Merlin kept his silence as well, until the cold atmosphere between the two of them finally managed to irritate the dark haired ranger.
"So, you ever been to Ghoulsbane?" he asked in an uninterested tone.
"Huh? Oh... No, I don't think so." Bryce answered, obviously deep in thought.
"It's been Darc's Fief for a while, so don't have high expectations." Merlin said jokingly. Darc was also in both his and Bryce's circle of friends, but as a rather busy person, he hadn't joined them for a while. Seeing as the horses were silenced by the tension, Merlin thought he could lighten up the mood by talking about a familiar person, but seeing the gloomy look on his old friend's face, he knew he had failed.
"Hey... Look, I know you aren't in the best mood right now, but at least try to focus on something else. You didn't force me to take you with me for nothing, did you?"
Merlin tried to snap him back to reality.
"I am fine, Merlin. I was just thinking about... Well, just don't mind me."
"I am minding you because you're acting unusual!" Merlin snapped. "Seriously, the first time I admit I need your help, and what happens is this? You need to shake yourself awake! Nobody solves problems by brooding!"
Bryce looked at him with a blank stare and turned his head to his front without saying anything.
"I'm just... Forget it. Let's just go to the Fief and get this over with." Merlin ended the conversation.
Finding curious traces of glass shards and prints of hooves along the way, the couple of rangers had been assured that the cultists had indeed taken the route that went through Ghoulsbane. Approaching Ghoulsbane, Merlin took a glance at the Fief surrounded by a slim wall, along with the cemeteries that gave it its name, that appeared past the small forest surrounding the north of the town.
"Here we are." Merlin got off his horse and greeted the town guards, and passed through the gate with Bryce.
The following hours were desperate, yet futile attempts at finding traces from the cult from anywhere possible. Starting by visiting Darc's hut, Merlin headed to the forest while Bryce handled renting the rooms in the inn and hearing the gossip flying around. Being a mostly empty place, the peaceful looking Fief only had one inn and tavern in it. After being done, they met in the town square to share their information.
"I should have known, Darc is in a mission. What an unreliable guy, now we have to take care of his Fief's problems." Merlin complained as usual.
"I got the room. The townsfolk has no gossip or witnesses about the cult." Bryce explained his side of the story shortly. Seeing as the sky had started turning into its familiar black color, they moved to their room in the inn.
"We'll find some sort of trace. I'm sure." Merlin reassured his friend before laying down on the bed and seemingly falling to sleep instantly. Looking at him, Bryce took a deep breath and laid down on another bed. He was in a total confusion whether it was about his emotions or his thoughts. Wishing to snap out of the desperate form he had taken, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.
"Bryce, come with us! Look at the skirts of that hill, full of white lilies!" a beautiful woman in a lime coloured dress pointed at the gorgeous view of the place.
"I'm coming!" The shaggy bearded ranger took quick steps towards his wife, and saw a small spot in the view become bigger and bigger as he realized it as his daughter.
"Papa, papa! Look, I made you a flower crown!" The shoulder length hair of the girl was decorated with flowers. Running towards his dear father, she lifted the crown high up.
"There you are. I missed you so much!" The tall ranger kneeled down and embraced her as she put the crown on his head. His wife had also come as they talked. Looking at the two of them, Bryce felt unbelievable joy brimming from his heart. How could he not? These were the people he had dedicated his life for. It would explain how empty he felt now that they were gone because of his failure. There were no more flower crowns for Bryce. He didn't deserve anything.
Opening his eyes, Bryce felt a familiar, eerie feeling as he realized he had seen a nightmare for the first time since months. His hands searched for the white lily he had as a memento of his late wife and daughter, but then he realized that it wouldn't help. After all, Clyde was in danger because of his incompetence. How could he relax by holding a dried flower at a time like this?
"Hey, you awake too?" Merlin asked suddenly, slightly startling him.
"Nightmares." The long haired ranger turned his back to his friend.
"Figures..." The blue eyes of the young man looked rather concerned and pressured. He looked up into the ceiling and released a small sigh.
"You know... I don't really understand how you feel." Merlin started to open up.
"Or rather, I can't understand. Because I've been born into this job. You became a ranger, I was always a ranger. I've learned to deal with feelings the hard way. So whenever something like this happens, it just... Gets in the way." He looked at his friend beside him as if he was afraid of making him feel worse.
"I know, but can't change how I feel, Merlin. It's not easy to shut yourself off like that." Bryce turned towards the dark haired ranger. His eyes had the look of someone who experienced pain far too much than necessary.
"I'm not telling you to do that, but you need to... You need to shake yourself awake already!" Merlin rose. "I'm not good at comforting anyone, and you don't need comfort for this. Be afraid, be anxious, it doesn't matter as long as we do our job!" He breathed quickly and laid back on the bed.
"That's how you grew up." Bryce sighed and turned away from him once again. "Let's just sleep. I don't want to talk about this."
Merlin silently turned away on his bed and sighed as well. Every time he tried to be gentle, things had always ended up like this. I've gone and done it again, he thought as he forced himself to sleep.
As the sun rose up in the sky again, the couple of rangers had left their room and went to the inn counter to order a light breakfast. Bryce and Merlin waited and checked around the inn for any suspicious activity as the innkeeper boiled some eggs and took out a wheel of cheese to cut and put some over the plate, along with some greens and fresh tomatoes.
"It's like before, nobody is acting like something's up. So weird..." Merlin looked around with a judgemental stare.
"They aren't the usual kind, I can tell." Bryce replied. "Targeting people one by one to build what is essentially a network that tricks people to join them... Just how complicated could they make it? It truly doesn't make sense. And Clyde..."
"Not the time nor place for that, Bry. Let's just eat." Merlin cut him off before he could remember the painful details of his memories coming from a both days and years ago.
After they finished their breakfast, the rangers went to the town square that was slowly starting to get more lively. It could be the most cheerful atmosphere this Fief could have, as the morning sun shining on the newly set stands and people running about in their ordinary life made the place look much more lifelike than it was in the evening. Walking through the town square, green caped rangers looked around the stands and couldn't find anyone wearing red, let alone in robes. Finally reaching the end of the circular town center, they decided to check the stands one by one. There were people selling stuffed toys, hats and scarves, fruit and vegetables and anything the everyday townsfolk might buy, except for the last stand, which looked suspiciously alien to the chain of stands with its worn out look. Looking through the crowds and seeing the man running the stand, Bryce paused for a second, then moved swiftly without warning and reached the back of the stand. Merlin followed him, wondering what he had in his mind.
"So, the royal family is actually not completely Araluan, therefore you ca-"
"You!" Bryce, interrupting the conversation of the brown haired person in the lavender colored clothes that has obviously been going around for a while.
"I... huh? Eeep!" The writer, being found out once again, tried to run away in desperation, but was caught easily.
"So, we meet again. You said that you would see me later, right?" The tall ranger said in a carefree manner while holding the man's arm firmly.
"I didn't mean it this way, idiot!" He tried to struggle his way out with no success. The crowd in front of the stand had already disappeared. Bryce walked back towards the inn while dragging the writer behind him.
"Are you really going to arrest me? Come on!" He shouted furiously.
"Hey Bry, is this guy, like... Bad news?" Asked Merlin who was just silently following them until then.
"Sort of. But I'm not taking him to the judges." Replied the ranger.
"What? Then where are we going?" Asked the writer.
"To the inn."
"What, we are drinking buddies now? Spill the beans, what are you going to do to me!?" The man, once again, started to struggle violently until Merlin took out one of his knives and poked him in the back in a manner that could be described as anything but gentle.
"I don't know what we'll do there, but I know what I will do if you don't shut up right now." He said in a slightly annoyed tone.
After finding a silent spot in the inn, they sat on some chairs, Merlin and Bryce picked their chairs so that the writer was trapped in the corner.
"So, who is this guy and what did he do to you?" The dark haired ranger asked Bryce.
"Oh, just a writer named Gilbert that spread gossip about your majesty himself." The long haired ranger chuckled.
"Then why did you make us bring him here, don't we have more important things to deal with?!" Merlin rose up furiously.
"No, I don't think we do. Do you see any leads we could check outside?" Bryce asked.
"So what, he knows about these red people and 'their Lord' Hryd... something?" Merlin asked back in a sarcastic manner.
"Well, what I'm saying is that we looked for new gossip and we have it right here." He pat the back of the writer as he finished his sentence.
"Okay then, you can talk." Merlin lowered his hand that held the saxe knife.
"Whew... You don't mean harm, after all." The guy in lavender released a breath of relief. "So, you two are my new customers? In that ca-"
"No, no. We aren't customers." Merlin cut his words. "We probably will arrest you right after we're done, so do us a favor and avoid the small talk."
"In that case... I... I refuse to speak." The writer crossed his arms.
"Oh? My friend disagrees with that." As Merlin said that, The writer looked at the tall ranger beside him in visible fear, but Bryce wasn't doing anything.
"Not that one you dolt, this one!" Said Merlin as once again raised his saxe knife.
"So, you're j-just going to play the hard way, huh..." Gilbert uttered in defeat.
"What do you know of those red cultists that have been going around?" Asked Bryce.
"Red? Y-you mean the Crimson Mist. Those guys are dangerous, don't mess with them."
"Too late. Tell us more." Merlin threateningly shook his knife.
"Okay, okay! I will!" The writer said in retaliation. "The Crimson Mist cult, they apparently follow something they call Hyrd'mis. They have talented alchemists and apparently they kidnap people."
"But why kidnap people, exactly?" asked a curious Bryce.
"I-I don't know, the rumors say they have big plans, not like an usual cult."
"So you heard that, but not what they plan... really?" Said Merlin, really annoyed.
"I-I know, right? Welcome to the world of gossip." Gilbert shrugged, sounding somewhat concerned.
"Let's cut to the chase. Do you know where they are right now?" Bryce asked, getting agitated by the minute.
"Erm... W-will you really kill me if I say no?" Gilbert looked really frightened for a moment.
"Depends." Merlin answered shortly.
"Okay... The fact is, um... That is..." The writer's face was a dark blue. For some reason, Merlin's carefree threats seemed to be more effective than usual. But is that the only thing? Bryce thought to himself.
"Look, we won't actually kill yo-"
"Okay, I'll tell! I swear, I'll tell! I know where they are!" Overwhelmed with emotions, Gilbert suddenly jumped and clinged to Bryce. "Please, help me! You have to, I've got nowhere to go!" He uttered desperately.
"Wait, wait, calm down now. Deep breaths." Said a surprised Bryce, silencing the frightened writer as he looked over to see if the innkeeper was looking at them.
"We can't talk here. Come." Merlin suddenly got up and signaled the others to follow him.
Going through the noisy town square to the stable, The rangers and the writer kept talking.
"Now... What is it? Why do you need help?" Asked Bryce.
"The Crimson Mist... Help me..." Gilbert was shaking in fear.
"The cult reached out to you?" Merlin asked, surprised.
"T-they are going to kidnap me too. I know it. I'll betray them and help you, so save me!" Gilbert was clearly afraid for his own life. Merlin quieted him and kept talking.
"What is their objective?"
"They are taking over Araluen! Pulling talented people in one by one and spreading everywhere..."
"Did you see a ginger headed boy with them?" Bryce asked excitedly.
"Yes, I think so. I didn't look carefully, but..."
"Clyde... I promise I will find you." Bryce uttered to himself.
"So, you know where they are? Then you will lead us as we ride." Asked Merlin once again.
"Yeah, I will. I promise." The writer answered.
"Good. If you are leading us to a trap, or we see that you were lying, you know what will happen." He said with a threatening, ice cold face. Gilbert swallowed nervously.
Finally reaching the stable, they took the horses. Bryce rode on Pfeil and Merlin rode on Ace. Gilbert stood there awkwardly.
"You ride Ace, too." Said Merlin.
"Which one is Ace?" Asked the writer.
"The smarter one." Answered Merlin, earning himself the smoky cream colored horse's glare.
Once they were on the horses, they went out from the gates of Ghoulsbane.
"Where do we go?" Asked Bryce.
"We go to the Redwood Town." Answered Gilbert. "I'm sure they will start taking over soon."
"So, is the boy ready yet?" Asked the man with the dark, creepy yet gentle looking eyes to the woman in red clothes.
"Yes, I believe so. Why don't we check, William?" answered Ruby, smiling devilishly.
"If you insist. Oh, Cleo? Won't you come over here?" William called in a man with a thin mustache.
"Alright, what do you suggest I do, William?" The thin man answered.
"Just show the results of our research." The smile on the old man's face couldn't belong to anything but the devil.
Cleo nodded and signaled the boy to come. Having goggles with red lenses fastened on his head and wearing the same red clothes as anyone else, Clyde was looking just as emotionless as his mentor had found him starving in the woods.
"Tell me, do you love Hyrd'mis?"
"I do. Hyrd'mis is the only one that understands me."
"Then tell me, what is a ranger?"
"The enemy. They want to hurt me. I will kill them." The boy's expression behind the crimson goggles was grim.
"And..." The man paused for a second.
"Say that you love me."
"I love you, Cleo." Said the ginger headed boy in a monotone, apathetic way.
"Say that you love me with a smile."
"I love you, Cleo." Clyde gave the thin man a smile that didn't belong to himself.
"Well done, well done!" William clapped at the sight of the slave in crimson.
"This was the final step. The invasion shall start soon."