The crunching of dead leaves and twigs, coming from the forest floor, echoed through the silent forest. Leos walked with a stiff posture. His back was straight with his head staring right ahead. His ears highly sensitive as he listened to another set of a footstep behind him.

When he deemed his distance far enough for him, he halted. Without turning around to face the man that forced him to leave Klerien, he took a deep breath. The sounds of the rare chirping of birds became silent while a flock of birds flew above their heads along with the breeze of the cold winds.

“What were you doing back there? Weren’t you supposed to guard your lord?”

Leos would not risk Klerien’s presence. If the man behind him found out that someone had been snooping around his place, it would be instant death. Leos did not want to risk anything. It was a good decision to abruptly leave and distract him. Leos knew first-hand how dangerous the man could be.

A chuckle came with the brushing of shrubs against each other as they dance with the breeze. “Believe me, Herr Za-”

In a flash, Leos glared at the man. The sudden movement of his feet pinned the man on his position. His hands froze in his pockets as Leos gave him a warning glare. Those amber eyes turned into a darker colour of tinted gold. The scar on the man’s temple twitched. Then his laughter disturbed the intimidating silence between them and nature.

“Ha… Forgive me,” His chuckles caused a sting in Leos’ ears.

“Leos.”

“Yes, forgive me, Leos. What a surprise! I didn’t know that you were already back in town.”

“You should immediately report to your lord.” The man chuckled in mirth and amusement at Leos’ attempt to be intimidating. The young lad hadn’t changed, that was certain. He still had darkness lurking behind his golden eyes.

“As per your question, I am quite certain that I am already guarding him. And, please, would you cease labelling him as my lord? I would never consider any lords above me.”

“Now, shall I escort you? He’s been anticipating your return. It would greatly please him if I went to his mansion with his…”

“If you finished that sentence, I would not have any choice left but to cut your disrespectful and vulgar tongue, servant.” Leos warned. His chest clenched at the thought of reality chasing him. He left Hemlock for almost half a year and he hadn’t had the impulse to come back. Circumstances pushed and pulled him towards the cursed town.

“Tell your lord that I won’t be returning anytime soon. He gave me his word, he should honour it.” Leos gritted his teeth in suppressed ire.

“Tell him yourself. The place is but a few distances from here.”

“I won’t repeat myself.” At that remark, Leos’ feet started moving forward towards the smirking man. He would never forget the man’s features. It was a wonder how the people of Hemlock allowed his presence in their town. The scar on his temple beside his eyes twisted and contorted with every expression he maked. Especially when he laughed, which he mostly does, his scar would ruin the bright but heavy tone that his expression set. Their eyes met for a second before Leos passed by.

“Then, what were you doing at that house, lad?” Leos inwardly grunted.

“Nothing to concern yourself with. Leave me alone and go ahead with your errand. You’re dismissed.” His tone was straight, unwavering, and strong. However, Leos felt concerned with what the man’s lord might think, especially his righthand man.

Again, the only noise in the area was the sound of crunching leaves and faint footsteps of Leos, until he heard a chuckle. “This attitude of yours will not sit well with my lord as you put it. Remember your duties to your family business, Leos.”

Leos ignored the man’s words. He couldn’t afford to show any hesitance. If they knew that there was even a small chip in his armour, they would take advantage of it and slowly worm their way in.

Leos, you do not have enough time.

ՓՓՓ

“What were you thinking?” Konrad stood in front of Leos as soon as he opened the door. His hands are crossed with his shoulders squared with firmness. The tone of his voice was accusing and tight as he glared at Leos’ face.

“Konrad, I-”

“Well, you could defend yourself later.” Konrad murmured before he could finish his sentence. He figured he will be merely vexed by his words. It was better if he was the one who spoke first to calm his mind and innards.

“Listen, I suddenly remembered an errand that I should have done immediately.” Leos casually said, without a trace of remorse. Konrad ignored him as he briskly walked towards his room. “I was only gone for but a minute, I swear to you, Konrad. Why would I find it necessary to lie?”

He stood firm as rushed at the brass box. Leos frowned at the content of his hand. That box… “I immediately went back to find you gone. I had searched everywhere. Did you know what kind of thoughts entered my mind when I realized that you were nowhere to be found?”

“You don’t have to report your actions, I understand. If my memory serves me well, I know that I told you to leave if you had to handle something. However, next time you decide to disappear, at least inform me.” With a loud thud, the brass box fell from Konrad’s hand on the side table, causing the silent Maximillian to jump and flinch. Leos’ eyes narrowed at the stubborn man’s actions. Will there ever be a time where they won’t spend a time with each other arguing?

“I couldn’t seem to open this box. There should be something here,” he murmured. Leos watched as the man’s long and dainty fingers examined the box for any openings. Leos could not help but add his words while he glances at Konrad.

“-or, it could be just personal belongings.” The spitfire ignored him.

They started tweaking with the small storage box after Klerien ignored every word he said to attempt a conversation. Leos inclined his head to the right after half an hour of rigorous glaring and sighs. His sight caught a tiny latch located at the upper right most corner of the brass box.

“Let me.” Leos pushed the latch before pulling. The cover popped open. The inside was filled with various multi-coloured parchments. It seemed that the top half was still new, while the bottom half already has discolourations and signs of ageing. This must be a collection of notes throughout the years.

“Meet Herr Linton at the docks. Arrive in the morning when the birds flocked towards west.” Konrad’s voice trailed off as he read the first parchment that he grabbed. The two browsed and skimmed the contents of the notes.

“Missus Cock requests the maintenance of her husband’s stable. The horses had a contagious disease, immediately dispense it.”

“Visit the Church after strolling in the market. Meet the council and my lord.”

“Attend little Joy’s coming of age. Build a tiny house for his birds as a present. Proceed cautiously.”

“This was useless.” Konrad groaned, throwing his derriere at his cot. Leos ignored the exasperated sigh from his side. He believed that due to Konrad’s desire to find anything, he might be only hoping for something inside a family’s private belongings. However, as he scanned some certain parchments, a cloud of darkness covered his head.

Leos recognized some of the handwriting. Sometimes, it was the whole note. Mostly, it was the signatures below each note. A foreboding feeling crept in his bloodstreams. Earlier, he talked to one of his henchmen. Now, he found notes containing another set of his right-hand man’s handwriting.

“Was that why he asked the reason for my presence there? Was it possible that he was destroying all traces that they may have left? But the…” He whispered under his breath. Fortunately, as he glances towards the frustrated man beside him, Konrad was clearly absorbed in his own thoughts.

Leos almost crushed the parchments in his hands. It was certain that Reiner Stumpp was somehow connected to the men that Konrad was chasing and to those who chases him. It was certain that they are all connected in some way. Leos avoided talking to Konrad about his personal motives, but it seemed that it would be sooner than later that he would no longer have a choice but to directly ask.

“It was just a collection of notes of transactions and… mundane errands.” Parchments flew and spread throughout the sheets on the cot. Konrad threw the notes in his hands then grabbed strands of his hair. His elbows settled on his parted knees as he caught his lowered head.

“No, this was not mere transactions. I will never not recognize this handwriting. That bastard.” Leos cursed inwardly, gripping the parchments that he needed in his tightly clenched hands. Should he tell this piece of information to Konrad? Leos glanced at the slumped form of the man.

No… but, this was different.

“This might not be simple transactions.” He said, observing Konrad’s reaction. So far, nothing. “Why would they keep notes of, as you word it, mundane errands and transactions? There should be more.”

Konrad jumped at Leos’ tone and voice. He did not sound uncertain at all. In fact, it sounded like he was casually informing him something that he should have known for a long time. “What do you mean?”

“Look at this. It reads, a little dock, then there was a large space left between gills and fishes.” He watched as his eyelids lower and his lips purse into a thin line. “The little nuances and oddness written in it might be a code or…”

“But, why would they keep something that contained their correspondence. They even went ahead and wrote it in codes.” The corner of Leos’ lips twitched. He almost chuckled. There really was no fooling this man.

“I…” He shrugged. His mind was preoccupied about thoughts of mauling the scarred man. That man might have thought about this. If his purpose was to dispose of this box, then his presence around that place makes sense.

“What if he reached the conclusion that I was on his errands. He will definitely inform that bastard of my movement.”

“Leos?”

“They might send their men to look for me. Then, they might find Konrad’s involvement with me. I should not involve bystanders. Worst, they might be searching for me right now.”

“Scheiße.” He cursed.

“Leos!” The hand that clasped his shoulder pulled him from his thoughts. He remembered where he was, Konrad sat beside him, and Maximillian stared at him by his feet. Leos’ amber eyes widen, seeing emerald eyes glaring. Closing his eyes, he swiftly pushed his thoughts, avoiding the risk of Konrad reading his mind.

“What was it? You were gone.” Leos looked away from those striking green eyes. Shrugging Konrad’s hands from clutching his shoulders, he shoved two random parchments in Konrad’s hands.

“Two of those held written locations. They might provide some leads.” He said with a blank tone. Konrad frowned at the notes. The first parchment contained the name of the chapel while the other was an unknown address. Silently, he lowered his hands before clutching the two parchments, crumpling it.

“I left some food inside the ransack. If you’d want, eat.” The words slowly came out of Konrad’s mouth, sounding like he’s in a trance. When he stepped, Leos’ hand instinctively reached for his left arm.

“Where do you think you’re going in the middle of the night?”

“I need fresh air.” Abruptly pulling his hands from his hold. The door slammed after his disappearing figure.