The market street was busy, with many noisy vendors and hurried customers walking back and forth. It was a lively and even adorable scene, but Darka couldn't enjoy it at all since the news of the guard officer was still swirling around in his mind. Daena was the girl from before, actually rather irritating and stubborn, but he hadn't wished her any harm. Even though he had bound Daena with the chains, they would fall apart in a couple hours and the girl would probably go to Fawn. Maybe she was still there and didn't tell anyone.

Miko was commenting on the products as they passed by the stalls, but Darka just waved absently.

— Sir... Are you tired? We can stop and rest, maybe eat too.

— What? Oh. Sorry, Miko. — Darka recovered himself, lifting his hair and tying it in a ponytail. — Did you say anything about eating? I think I'm really hungry, the smell of the food here is driving me crazy.

The two chose a stall that sold some kind of broth with leaves and what looked like shrimp. Darka lowered his mask a little to smell the aroma better and his stomach tightened.

—Aren't you hot in that mask, sir? It will be difficult to eat with it too, isn't it better to take it off?

— Ah... damn. — Darka lifted the mask again. — It's just... I have these huge marks on my face, you know? Then people don't like it, they think it's weird.

— But how absurd! Mr. Darka is very handsome!

— I didn't say I was ugly, Miko. And you're still calling me mister, stop.

Miko took out of their bag a piece of gauze and a small roll of tape that Darka identified as one of those stickers that you put on bandages. Motioning him to get down, Miko began to cover the marks on their friend's face, while the gauze was wrapped around his nose.

— With this here you can hide it! And the mouth sticks out, so you can eat too.

— Cool, I'm giving the Reita from TheGazette vibes. — Darka smiled as he felt his face. — Thanks Miko, now I hope they don't reco... con... confuse me with someone else.

The two sat on the bench next to the stall after buying the broth, and watched some soldiers passing in a group along the street in an intimidating manner.

— Miko, do you know the "princess of Talphen" they're looking for?

— Not personally, but they say she is very kind and polite, despite being a little impatient sometimes.

— Kind and polite? Ha, she's a great liar too.

— Liar? Unlikely, sir. The governor is very strict with her education, I don't think she would lie.

— Anyway, I think it's unfair to put the blame on me, she's old enough to know where she's going. That thing about the right to come and go, she must just be exercising her right, y'know? — Darka grumbled.

— That's true. — Miko suddenly paused as if they had noticed something and observed Darka for a few seconds. Realizing what he had said, Darka stopped with the gourd of broth still in his mouth.

— Maybe we could go look for her! — Miko exclaimed.

Darka almost choked, partly relieved that Miko didn't notice that he almost gave away his identity.

— What? Why?

— I see that you seem very worried about her. And if the Unpronounceable is with Lady Daena, we can capture him too! — Miko's eyes shone. — Then we will be able to rid the world of evil and even save the princess of Talphen!

— Wait a minute, ok? You're thinking too high for someone who's one meter tall. What happened to "he's scary, I hope I never meet him"? In fact, I'm sure that Unpronounceable guy isn't even with that crazy girl, if he was, he would have already returned her because she is so annoying.

Darka spilled the broth, wanting to end the matter quickly. But a mixture of remorse and guilt still hovered in the depths of his consciousness.

"It's not my fault, if she had been less violent and stubborn she would have been here before us. Amara won't believe it when I... wait a minute."

He turned to Miko, who was still finishing their broth, pouting in frustration. — Miko, let's go after Daena.

✰★✰★✰

Before she even opened her eyes, Daena realized she was sitting on the ground, tied to a tree and wearing a blindfold. The humid air of the forest entered her nose, making her even more uncomfortable.

— Hello?

From the echo her voice made, she realized that she was probably in a glade and tried to move to loosen the ropes, without success. She stopped when she heard footsteps crunching through the leaves.

— Noite, she woke up. — The figure walked towards Daena, lifting her blindfold. A black and white mask faced her, with details that resembled a sun. — Hello, Miss Evelot! I hope you had a good rest.

— Who are you?! If you're looking for a reward for me, forget it! My father won't...

— Do not confuse things. — The figure interrupted. — You are here for disrespecting our master.

— Master?

A male voice interrupted.

— Yes, our master and Lord, destined to subjugate this world. — The other person replied Daena. — Your audacity in trying to capture him was worthy of laughter.

— Are you talking about that idiot Darka? Do you work for him?

— How dare you speak of the Lord like that! — The young woman squeezed Daena's cheeks, who tried to kick her but was unsuccessful. Night approached and held his sister's shoulder trying to calm her down, but she just snorted and turned her back to the prisoner.

— Be careful what you say, Miss Daena. We do not tolerate slander against our master.

From his posture and voice, the young man seemed to be a little older than her. Daena stared at him, trying to decipher his intentions, but it was difficult since he also had the upper half of his face covered by a mask.

— Are you mad just because I almost caught Darka? Oh, do me a favor, ok? Who are you? His fan club?

— It doesn't matter to you who we are. And why do you call the Lord "Darka"?

— Oh... don't you know? — Daena activated smug mode. — He himself told me to call him that. Only friends and enemies call him that. Didn't you know that? Oh my...

— What... You're lying! Enough of that. — Night turned to leave. — Your punishment will be to be eaten by wild wolves. Your death will be a sacrifice for Lady Yrina.

— Wait! — She added a little drama to the performance, trying to get more information from both of them. — If I'm going to die, can I at least know who exactly my captors are? A worthy enemy presents itself, no? I knew that the great witch was a person very adept at education and...

"I hope they're dumb enough to believe that..." Daena thought.

— We are Dia and Noite. Those who open the way for the coming of our master! Those who build the pillars for the Lord's mission x's darquicha... of Yrina's son.

"They are dumb."

— Wait a minute, does that mean you've been helping Darka this whole time?

— But it's obvious! — Dia took the lead, acting proud. — We are the guides. We are the ones who put him on the right path!

Night took Dia's hand and pulled her, nodding to the prisoner.

— Goodbye, Miss Daena. — The two turned and left.

— You didn't answer me correctly! Rude! My aunt... I'll catch you!

Daena made sure she didn't hear any more of her captors' footsteps before she stopped fighting. She knew very well that there were no wolves in the forests of Oenith, and the only animals that were likely to feed on her were those damned mosquitoes. She began to analyze her situation as her aunt had taught her, realizing that her hands were trapped around the tree and her feet were tied by ropes, making any attempt to escape difficult. The fact that she didn't know exactly where she was was also a challenge, but she wasn't going to give up, after all she still had to have a word with the Unpronounceable.

✰★✰★✰

Darka and Miko managed to hitch a ride with some merchants in a noisy truck, arriving at dusk on the road where Daena was the last time Darka saw her. Recognizing the bush where she threw him, he signaled to the driver and they got out.

— I wish I had this idea before, walking the whole way is a hassle. On the way back we'll hitchhike again, Miko.

—But I still don't understand something, sir. You said you didn't know her, but you know where she was last.

— Well, I don't really know her, but I saw her here. — Darka seemed to do some calculations in his mind, then grimacing in frustration. — Although it's been two or three days...

— Three? Is she okay? There are many days!

— By now she must have... — Something hidden among the leaves caught his attention. — What is that?

— What? Did you see anything suspicious? — Miko hid behind Darka. — Is that her skeleton? She died?

— It's Daena's shotgun. I would recognize this crap from afar, she tried to shoot me with it.

— She tried to shoot you?! Why??

— It's water under the bridge, Miko. And water under the bridge doesn't move mountains. — Darka looked serious when he said this and Miko just nodded, thinking it would be rude to correct him. — Okay, can you smell it and follow it by smell?

Miko looked at him with a look on their face asking if he was serious.

— I'm not a dog.

— Oh... — It was the first time Darka had seen Miko speak so seriously. — I'm sorry.

— But it looks like there's a trail here, let's follow it! — Miko exclaimed, smiling again.

Following the trail was not an easy task, as the path often seemed to disappear into the vegetation, but thanks to Miko's sharp eye they managed to stay on the route. After about half an hour of walking, the sun had already set when the trail ended in a wide clearing that was illuminated by the light of a small fire. If there was anyone there, they had left recently.

— Mr. Darka... I don't know if we should continue, it's already getting dark. Maybe we can enjoy this bonfire and rest here.

— But we're close, I feel it! — Darka raised his voice, as if he wanted to be heard throughout the forest. — The stench of a spoiled brat, can't you smell it? Disgusting teenager smell!

A noise came from above, and Darka looked up just in time to see a very angry girl falling towards him. By a few centimeters he avoided getting hit in the head, dodging Daena's surprise attack.

— Bastard! I knew you would come back here! — Daena stood up, with a fierce look towards Darka. — You came to finish the dirty work, right?!

She advanced towards him, now armed with a small dagger. Darka took a deep breath and began to remember the spell commands, doing something he was eagerly waiting to test. As soon as Daena approached, he extended his hand and an energy shield formed, blocking the girl's attack. Wasting no time, his free hand summoned the chains he had already used before and tried to restrain her, but she dodged it in time by taking a few steps back.

— You treacherous! I won't fall for that again!

— Can we talk without you trying to kill me? Just for five minutes!

— Shut up! I've heard you talk too much!

Daena aimed a punch at his opponent's stomach, but as soon as she took two steps towards him she began to stagger, about to faint. Before she fell, Darka was already beside her to catch her.

— Daena? Hey, what happened? Daena?

Seeing the scene, Miko came out from behind the tree where they had hidden, running towards them.

— Mr Darka... — Miko whispered. — Did she die?

— Oh my god,  Miko, of course not! Firstly, stop asking if the others died, it's rude! Secondly, just call me Darka and help me put her in a more comfortable place.

The two approached the bonfire and arranged the place to spend the night. Darka used his cloak to serve as a bed for Daena, who was still unconscious, while Miko went out to get some more firewood. Some fruits they bought at the market were now roasting on the fire.

— It's been almost three days since I arrived here, I took three steps and came back two. — Darka grumbled while eating a handful of berries. — At this rate I'm only going to see Amara next year.

A noise brought him out of his thoughts, and he turned to see Daena sitting pointing a dagger at him with her hands shaking. Darka just looked confused for a few seconds, then rolled his eyes and took a canteen of water from his bag. He handed it and an apple to the girl, who looked from the young man to the items.

— I know you don't trust me, but I have no idea what happened to you in the last few days. If it was something caused by me arresting you, I'm truly sorry. You may not believe it either, but I'm trying to help you here.

— I will never believe you, you are the Unpronounceable!

The sound of falling branches caught their attention. Miko was standing a few meters away, with a confused expression.

— ...Unpronounceable?