“So, that person you’re looking for. What do they look like?” one of the masked men asks.

“Well, last time I saw her… She shouldn’t look too different now, even though it’s been 3 years… She was a little taller than me. Maybe around here? She has really dark hair, but she liked dying it red at the ends usually. She also has pink-ish eyes, or more toward crimson, I think…”

“Is that…?” the others look at each other, before starting to laugh.

“No way! How would this girl know Inferna? It’s probably just a coincidence.”

“It’s definitely a coincidence. I know like 5 other people that look just like what she described! Maybe the person she knows is another fan of Inferna?”

Ili looks around, confused by the laughter. A nearby member places his hand on her shoulder, chuckling.

“Confused? The person you just described sounds exactly like our boss. The supreme leader of Æhre, Inferna. Well, I’ve never really seen her, but I heard she looks just like what you described.”

“I have seen her,” another says. “And she looks exactly like what she described.”

“Really? Can I meet her?” Ili asks, her eyes bright with hope.

“Well, not for another week or so, at least. She is quite far away from here. Besides, before we introduce you to her, we’d have to make sure you aren’t a spy and all that good stuff…”

Suddenly, the air feels tense. Before Ili can reach for her sword, a dagger presses against her neck. Misha, the group’s leader, is the one holding it. Ili releases the hilt of her sword, raising her arms in surrender.

“Not a smart move.”

“I’m not a spy. I acted on instinct…”

“Quite an interesting instinct for a girl your age.”

The wind blows coldly through the forest. Silence takes over the scene for a moment. At last, Ili speaks in a soft tone, trying to calm the situation.

“The person I’m looking for… she is like a big sister to me. She left 3 years ago, and I haven’t heard from her ever since. I just want to meet her, and talk to her… I don’t know if she is the Inferna you’re talking about. I find that unlikely… But if it really is her, I won’t ask for anything more than just to meet her. You can tie me up, blindfold me, anything. As long as she can see me and decide if she knows me or not, it’s enough. If it’s not her, you can just erase my memory afterward, and leave me somewhere far away from your camp.”

“Very well, then. I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.”

The members relax as Misha lowers his dagger. He looks around.

“We should make camp soon. We’re deep enough in the forest to not worry about patrols. Tomorrow, we leave for the main camp.”

They clear the snow in a small area between the trees, lighting a campfire in the center. They place some blankets around the fire, forming a small sitting area.

Staying around the fire, the Æhre members take off their masks and lower their hoods. Much to Ili’s surprise, they all looked very… normal? There were four men and a female. Misha seemed to be the oldest, bearing a long scar across his cheek, down to his lip. He looked to be in his mid 30s, with the others still relatively young. The girl looks at Ili and smiles. She had short, red hair, with hazel eyes that bore into hers.

“What’s your name? I’m Nina!”

“I’m Ililith…”

“Ililith? That’s a… unique name.” she chuckles. “I’ve never heard of someone named Ililith before, but I’ve heard of Nina plenty of times. I have at least 4 friends named like me…”

“Is Nina that common here?” Ili asks, curiously.

“Well, it… depends. Orphans are usually given one of a few names, and Nina is one of them. It means ‘weak’ or ‘fragile girl’, perfect for someone like me, who looks the part…” She chuckles softly. “Unlike the others here, I’m not too good at fighting. I’ve never really fought in a real battle before…”

“Don’t be so harsh on yourself, Nina!” another speaks. He turns to look at Ililith. “You know, Nina is one of the best healers in the southern camps! She tends to downplay her abilities a lot more than necessary.”

Nina’s cheeks turn beet red, looking away. “Don’t be like that, Icar… I’m nothing special. Anyone can use a little healing magic…”

“Aww, your face is all red! Isn’t she the cutest?” Icar teases, smiling widely. Nina pulls a blanket over her head in embarrassment.

“Stop teasing Nina,” Misha says calmly, sipping from a cup of warm tea.

The atmosphere calms a little. The fire flickers brightly. A boy gets closer to Ili, smiling, offering her a cup of tea.

“I’m Castor. I noticed you don’t have a cup. Here, share mine.”

“I…”

“It’s really no problem! I’d be thrilled to share my cup with a beauty like you!”

Ili looks at him with wide eyes, a little taken aback by the compliment. “I…”

“Stop flirting with the spy.” a voice is heard from behind.

“Shut up, Pol! You’re ruining the moment!” Castor retorts, turning toward him. Looking at them side by side, the two looked quite similar facially, Ili noticed, although Castor seemed to have the better physique. Castor turned back towards her, shrugging what just happened with a nervous laugh. “Don’t mind my brother. He just can’t appreciate beau—”

Before he could finish, he noticed that Ili wasn’t even paying attention to him anymore, sitting and talking with Nina.

After a while, they all went to sleep, save for Misha. He stood awake for quite some time, looking ahead aimlessly, without any particular emotion in his eyes. At long last, he put out the fire and cast a protective barrier around them, to protect them from enemies or wild animals, closing his eyes, resting against the tree.