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The boy continued to cry and ramble, “Syrus–I.”

“It’s okay. Let me handle this.”

“No–I messed up; it’s all my fault..” Tears rained down from the boy's face, believing his own action caused the worst for his best friend.

Cobalt pushed his head out of Anlesa’s bag and jumped onto Ethan’s face, licking the tears away.

“It’s okay, Ethan; remember, I’m going to make sure everything will be okay.”

Syrus felt there was no reason to push the boy for answers. It would just be giving him more emotional stress.

[Eva, is there any lingering magic on Cobalt or Ethan?”] (Syrus)

[Wait-um, what-let me check.] Eva quickly went to work, though she wasn’t sure what exactly she was looking for. Her Manipulation mana spread out and covered the two.

[Yes… I’ve found something strange on Cobalt. Nothing on Ethan.] (Eva)

[Okay, don’t remove it. It’s likely a tracker.] (Syrus)

[...how would I remove it…] Eva had never seen anything like this before. This, tracking magic, wasn’t something she had seen or read about.

[Crushing it with mana or having Cobalt push at it with its own mana should work. It should also go away after a short while.] (Syrus)

[Why... aren’t we going to remove it?] Eva asked; this magic seemed dangerous and would keep Cobalt and Ethan in danger. Her mind was chaotic, barely able to focus, completely worried about every possibility that could happen to the two children.

[It is the best way for Ethan to be safe.] (Syrus)

Syrus tapped Ethan’s shoulder to ensure she had his full attention. “Ethan, you are going to hide at the location I told you about before, where you got the potion, okay?”

He nodded.

“Okay, good, Cobalt. For the time being, you will come with me.”

“Roo….”

Anlesa couldn’t understand the pup but still rubbed its ear. “Don’t worry, Ethan will be safe, I promise.”

“...When do I go?” The boy asked.

“Immediately, and take this.” Syrus pulled out a cloak from her bag. “Wear it and stay out of trouble; go to your destination and don’t get distracted.”

Ethan grabbed the large coat and put it on. Syrus quickly helped tie the long coat up so he could properly walk. Then she pulled down the hood.

“If you are nervous, then just pretend to be cold.” The weather was already cold, so there was nothing wrong with Ethan wearing something large and warm. “Besides that, you can pretend to be sick, but don’t overdo it; don’t try to cough or anything like that. Property one is to make it to the destination, got it?”

Ethan nodded again.

“Good, now, let’s book it.”

Syrus had Ethan leave first, and she kept an eye on him for a while before disappearing into the streets.

Brown Oak Guild and Ash’s shop was a small journey. The guild was on the southeastern side, while the apothecary was on the western side on the fourth street.

Anlesa trusted Ethan wouldn’t be in too much trouble, as the tracker was still with her.

Syrus, with Cobalt in her backpack, left town and headed to the forest. They weren’t able to afford to take a detour home for their weapons, so what they had on hand would have to do.

On the way to the Eastern Forest, Syrus asked Eva if she could keep an eye on the near-invisible tracker on Cobalt.

Finally, she found a spot, in the forest, but very close to the outside, where she set a fire, sat down, and grilled dried rations that had been stored in the backpack.

The fire could be seen from the opening, and to anyone, it simply looked like someone had chosen to come out at night.

It was getting late, but the afternoon sun with its orange light was still visible.

[...n..n...n...n...n..n...n.n...] (Eva)

[Eva, calm yourself.] (Syrus)

Syrus could feel Eva’s emotions starting to stir–guilt, worry, concern, distress–everything was mixing.

[How can I?! What if they grabbed Ethan? What if they harmed Ash? Ethan is just a boy, and Ash…] (Eva)

[She is a grown adult; she will be fine.] (Syrus)

[That means nothing! Not right now nor... back then.] (Eva)

Syrus continued to calm Eva, as she was the only one who at least could. [It does mean something now, we are in a city, a big one, and if there is noise to be made, Ash can do it, you know better than I what toys exist in her workshop.]

[You shouldn’t call those chemicals toys.] (Eva)

[That’s the spirit.] (Syrus)

After a while longer of silence.

As expected, people arrived.

“Hello, are you the one now in possession of the pup? I would like to make a deal.” Asked the visitor.

A woman with greyish hair and a slightly wrinkled face walked into the forest. She wore clothes that bore a resemblance to what a well-off merchant would normally wear. Multiple layers of fabric and leather, warm reds and browns, and unusually clean white accents.

Her golden eyes, which shone a cold light, examined the girl in the woods.

Followed behind, near the entrance, were three guards, standard escorts for a merchant.

But there was nothing standard and normal about this encounter.