The rising comes much too swiftly. It was foolish of Theory to abandon proper rest in favor of drinks and the company of a stranger. Especially since he had been scolding Niro for not taking proper care of his own bodily needs for the past few weeks.

With a throbbing in his temples, Theory hobbled downstairs for a meal. He expected to see Niro down there, but there were none but a couple of patrons he did not recognize, sitting at their tables eating what must be leftover stew. 

Sliding onto a stool at the bar, he doesn’t have to wait long for the Keeper to slap a bowl of stew and some stale bread before him. He slid her a coin before tugging the bowl closer. 

“Have you seen my companion?” he asked her before she could disappear in the back. 

“Went out to check on yer horses.”

Theory nodded his thanks before shoveling down his food then heading out to the stables. They needed to start making their way to the shops to replenish their supplies. The quicker they got them, the quicker they could be on their way. 

He was inclined to go without the Breeder, not wanting to be in his company more than he had to, but if they had to make another stop along the way because Niro hadn’t gotten the supplies he needed, it would only inconvenience Theory in the end. He couldn’t afford any detours, not with his heat approaching. He couldn’t keep taking the tonics to hold it off, he needed to make them last.

Seriously, one would think a Breeder his age wouldn’t need supervision. Why did he feel like Niro’s keeper rather than his partner on this task? Did the others who paired with him on missions have to keep tabs on him too, or were they oblivious to the fact that the male never slept?

Shaking his head, he almost rounded the corner of the stable when he heard the male in question speaking in low frantic murmurs. 

Theory had never been one to eavesdrop, honestly not caring enough about idle gossip to make the effort, but something stopped him from making himself known. Instead, he curled into the shadows, folding along the edge of the worn wood, out of sight, but just within earshot.

“No. No. It’s not time yet!” Theory heard Niro hiss, the deep baritone a guttural noise. 

Pause.

“You can’t! I need more time.”

Who was he talking to? More time for what?

“Wait! Six more moons, I need six more moons.”

Desperation was heavy in his tone, all of the alarm bells rang out true in Theory’s head. He knew Niro was up to something. Six moons for what? What was he planning?

It was hard to pry context from the panicked whispers when there was no responding voice to be heard. The one-sided conversation hardly made any sense. 

“One isn’t enough–”

Theory leaned closer. 

“Fine!” Niro snarled. 

When Theory didn’t hear Niro or anyone else speak again, he braved a chance to peek around the corner. 

Niro stood there, alone, furiously rubbing the red amulet between his fingers. No one but him and the horses were there and with Theory standing next to the only entrance and exit, it was likely no one was there to begin with.

Was he talking to himself? Was he…mad?

Unsure of what just transpired, Theory took a tentative step back. Apprehension curled in his gut like something foul consumed…or maybe it was the stew. 

Without making his presence known, he slowly retreated, deciding ultimately that leaving Niro alone was the best option.

Confusion swirled in his head as he contemplated what he’d just witnessed while making his way to the market. All the while, walking along the rain-slick stones, tightness curled in his gut. The feeling was a familiar warning that something nefarious was underway. 

An orphan like Theory didn’t survive as long as he has without listening to his instincts. Niro’s behavior sent all the warning bells ringing in his head, he couldn’t possibly ignore the situation any longer. Though the likelihood of getting any answers from Niro seemed slim to none. At this point, was it even worth it to continue on with the mission?

Theory trudged towards the village markets, the cobblestones cool and damp beneath his heavy boots, a mist hanging low like a veil over the awakening village. The old wooden stalls were just beginning to bustle with early rising merchants displaying exotic spices, glinting armor, and shimmering fabrics that caught the first hesitant rays of the sun. 

In any other circumstance, Theory would have been captivated by the kaleidoscope of colors and life around him, but his mind was ensnared in a tumultuous maelstrom, unable to determine the best course of action.

Walking past a merchant boasting an array of exotic tinctures and potions, Theory lingered for a moment, his thoughts adrift. The mission that had once seemed so clear-cut was now muddied by Niro’s unpredictability. How could he possibly focus when it seemed like he was intentionally being led astray? Niro’s contributions to their mission had dwindled into mere grunts or vague, noncommittal murmurs. Trying to extract any useful information from him was like navigating a labyrinth in the dark, with no promise of an exit.

Were the Captain and Lieutenant aware of Niro’s…ailments? Had they sent Theory on this mission knowing that something was wrong with the partner they chose for him? Perhaps that was why they chose Niro to be the holder of the package, tasking Theory with protecting him. 

He hadn’t heard anything in the barracks before but surely this couldn’t be the first time his odd behaviors were discovered. Privacy was not a luxury they could afford in the barracks and certainly not as a low-level warrior, no more than a grunt in the Astorian Guard. How had no one else noticed how his sleepless nights had evolved into a series of unsettling behaviors?

They had to know. Which only made Theory wonder more why they were chosen. Surely they could have gotten one of the actual Elves to come to deliver the message. The time and effort it took to find potions and fund their mission seemed disproportionate to the importance. Sure, the treaty was important, but it’s not as if the Elves or Shifters were involved in the discourse between the Kappas and the Nymphs. He couldn’t help but think the timing of it all was strange.

There was more to this than he was informed of, that much he was sure. His role in the guard made that a common occurrence. The part that bothered him, was the sinking suspicion Niro knew something about it. Why would they tell him but not Theory?

Or Niro had his own agenda. Either way, not knowing put Theory at risk. Something he never did unnecessarily. Becoming a member of the Astorian Guard was a means to an escape. He did not have any passions or desires to protect anything that wasn’t his.

Theory passed a stall where a merchant was setting out an array of glittering swords and intricate crossbows. He paused, his hand hovering over a finely wrought blade, the cool metal crafted with the utmost care. It was a momentary distraction from the gnawing dilemma that plagued him. To continue with Niro was to venture into the unknown, risking both their lives and the mission. But to abandon him…

Well it meant abandoning coin. Theory could honestly care less what happened to the insufferable bastard. His dream was close enough to touch, but that meant being swept up in whatever this was…and being okay with it. Was he alright with being played?

The aroma of freshly baked bread and the sound of a lute player trying to earn his day's wage floated through the air, but Theory barely registered them. He stopped by a fountain, watching as the water danced and sparkled in the early light, each droplet seeming to shimmer with certainty. He envied that simplicity, that sense of purpose. ​​ 

With a deep, steadying breath, Theory turned from the fountain, a resolve slowly crystallizing in his heart. He would not abandon Niro; he couldn’t. Not yet at least, he had to make sure he received the reward.

After making a few purchases, assuming Niro’s needs based on what he had observed and with no more insight than that, he made his way to a blade stall. There were a few materials he needed to care for his daggers, something he was still not all that used to. It wasn’t that he was inadequate with the blades, they were simply not to his taste.

Elves fought with daggers and spears, not swords, so he had to leave his at home. Some viewed his use of a sword as a weakness, shifting was all he should need to defend himself…but his conditionprevented that. 

He wouldn’t have to care about any of that if it weren’t for his frequent heats. Maybe if he knew what kind of Shifter he was, he’d be able to combat it. Or at least get a little bit more insight on how to manifest the change. Perhaps there were certain conditions that initiated the change? 

With a sigh, he bought the last of his supplies before heading back to the Inn. He headed straight for the Keeper at the bar to pay the rest of what they owed.

The tiny female frowned at the coin on the bar before looking up at him. Of course, she didn’t let it sit there long, snatching it up and tossing it in her pouch. 

“Yer leaving already? Surely you’ll stay for the Lunar Festival t’night?”

Before Theory could answer, Niro appeared beside him and replied. “No, we must be on our way. We have a long journey ahead.”

The Keeper’s frown deepened before she shrugged. “Careful on the roads. Pixies’ll be drunk on honeysuckle wine. Don’ wanna get caught in their tricks.”

Theory remembered quite clearly how nasty pixies could get when drunk on honeysuckle, someting he did not want to experience again, but he was confident in looking for the signs of their mischief and knew how to avoid them. 

With a brief glance at the dark haired male, he scanned for any signs of the mania he saw before. Those odd red and green mismatched eyes stared back at him, eyebrow quirked in a challenge. 

Theory curled his lip and turned for the stairs. He gathered his belongings, checking to make sure no one had snuck in while he was out, before heading out to the stables. Niro was already there, steed mounted. 

They still had a ways to go before they reached the next safe village. He had taken the time the night prior to scope out the map and trace the best path, taking into account all the information he had heard while eavesdropping on patrons’ conversations in the tavern. 

With a reluctant sigh, he approached the male with his map already glowing on the screen of his orb disk. Zoomed in on the highlighted path he had discovered. They couldn’t travel long, seeing how they had such a late start, but Theory had taken that into account when finding the path. 

“We should head north. I’m noti n favor of adding a day but if we continue on west of this path, we’ll run into a newly settled Siren nest,” Theory started. Both shuddered at the thought of the Sirens. They were known to be very territorial in the first few years of settling. “Once we get to the village here, we can spend a night and then continue west. This path should avoid any of the neighboring villages and temples.”

Niro grunted in response. 

Typical.

With a shrug, Theory decided to take that compliance, heading to mount his own horse. But not after noting thankfully that the circles under Niro’s eyes had faded. They weren’t gone completely, but he was relieved to see it hadn’t worsened. His task would be much more difficult if he was dealing with a sleep deprived and mentally unstable Breeder. 

The pair head off, riding slowly side by side, not wanting to overwhelm the horses so early on.

He stared at Niro again, catching the glint of the amulet around his neck shining in the sun’s rays. He had only briefly noticed it in the barracks, trying not to run into the bastard too much, but one thing he did remember was that Niro never took it off. He even bathed with it on.

What was the importance?