Chapter 19
As the sun had been setting over New Tristram, the trio had returned the mostly uninjured children back to the village, allowing each family to regather their members. The village had celebrated the Renegade Wizards and Demon Hunter, but it was easy to tell that Fan-Min, though she did enjoy the praise a bit, was more interested in the praise of someone far more important to her. She left back to their room in the Slaughtered Calf Inn and went to bed immediately. Fan-Haung had followed just a few minutes later after bidding Marina Vale a civilized farewell.
Fan-Huang arrived in the room to find Fan-Min intentionally hogging the entire bed. It was fine. She wasn't really on the top of his favorites list at the moment either. Removing his overly intricate wizard's apparel, he curled up on the floor under the warmth of a heavy blanket in the chest at the foot of the bed. The fire was burning low, but enough to provide some light and a decent amount of warmth. After all he'd been through, it didn't take the young wizard long at all to slip out of the land of the aware and into the darkness of slumber.
Hours passed by before Fan-Min, certain that her brother was asleep, slipped out of her bed. She had had the covers pulled all the way up to her chin to cover the fact that she was still dressed in her wizard's gear. As quietly as possible, which for such a small girl was pretty quietly, she crossed the room and left the inn without once looking back.
The sun was long dead and the moon was shining brightly overhead. This was how she should have left the Yshari Sanctum in the first place. This was how she should have gone about her quest to find Li-Ming to begin with. Alone.
Without alerting anyone to what she was up to, Fan-Min snuck out of the village and back into the Cursed Woods. Soul Crystals were arcane artifacts. If she got close enough she knew she could feel it. Given that she had encountered the Dark Fairy Rin in the Cursed Woods, it seemed as good a place as any to begin her search. Regardless of whether or not this would attract Li-Ming's attention, she was going to kill Rin, and then she was going to butcher Avator. Rin had made this personal when he got away. No one got away from Fan-Min.
As she took her last step from within the limits of the village, she glanced back just once, to see if her brother was following her. He was useless and usually in the way, but they were family. Even if it seemed to him that that didn't mean anything to her, it did. That's why she should have gone about this alone. He was in danger every second he was with her. The work she was going to be doing was going to be dangerous. He wasn't ready for it. He'd be better off left behind. Maybe Kazur would find him if he stayed put. She laughed to herself. He wouldn't stay put. As soon as he woke up and realized she was gone, Fan-Huang was going to be on her trail like a hunting dog. That's why she knew she needed to be fast and precise. She didn't want him catching her and then being a target to Avator. Besides, it would look more impressive to Li-Ming if she handled this all by herself.
Marina Vale watched as the young female Renegade Wizard left the village under the cloak of night. It was curious to her that she was without her brother, but given her outburst earlier, it wasn't too curious. The wizard slipped out of town and Marina watched her go back into the depths of the Cursed Woods. Without a hint of concern, the Demon Hunter drifted back to sleep on a large branch of an old tree near the Slaughtered Calf Inn. She wasn't really sure if the village was safer with Fan-Min gone, or if somehow that bitter woman was an asset to the town.
Hours went by before the sun shone above the rickety rooftops of the cursed village of New Tristram. Fan-Huang woke up ready to apologize and possibly fight with his proud sister. However, when he scanned the room, he was alone. "Maybe she's out getting something to eat or something." He said quietly to himself.
He wandered throughout the Slaughtered Calf Inn in search of Fan-Min, but found her nowhere. Finally, he headed out into the village. As he looked about the area from in front of the inn, he came up empty.
"She's gone." Came a familiar voice.
Fan-Huang looked about until he spotted Marina Vale resting on the branch of a nearby tree. "What do you mean?"
"She left without you." She shrugged and jumped down from the tree. "Sorry, boy."
"Where'd she go?"
"The Cursed Woods."
Fan-Huang sighed with clear frustration. "Seriously?" He complained to himself. "I've come this far with you and you just ditched me?"
"She was pretty mad yesterday."
"She's always mad."
"Then why do you stick around with her?" Marina questioned as she stood casually before the wizard.
"She's my sister."
"Lots of people have sisters." The Demon Hunter stated. "That doesn't mean you're required to be together all the time."
"She's all I have left."
"Ah." Marina nodded in understanding. "Then what are you going to do?"
"Find her." He said with a plain face, like it should have been obvious. He headed back into the inn and gathered his belongings and prepared himself. Once ready, he darted back out of the inn and toward the Cursed Woods. As he approached the village's exit, he noticed Marina standing at the doors.
"What do you want?"
"I'm coming with you." She said matter-of-factly.
"Why?" Fan-Huang stopped in confusion and a bit of shock. "You barely know me."
"I know you're weak." Marina stated. "You'd never survive out there alone."
"I'll manage." Fan-Huang said in faux-confidence as he marched out of the village. "Watch me."
"I plan on it." She said as she caught up and walked beside him. "Plus, you're a Renegade Wizard. Word has it spellcasters like you are dangerous to be left free."
"Are you going to kill me?"
"Obviously not." She laughed. "Or I wouldn't be here with you." She walked alongside him a bit more in silence. "But I am going to keep an eye on you."
"Suit yourself."
"Plus, we're hunting a demon." She looked at him with a smirk and lifted one of her crossbows up to make a point. "I'm a Demon Hunter. This is kinda' my thing."