When Devvyn stepped into his room, his gaze went straight to the loose floorboard. The sight hit him like a punch, and for a moment, his anger flared but the heat dissolved almost as quickly as it came, replaced by a knot of worry. He hoped Jelric and his father were safe, wherever they'd gone. If his father had taken him away like that, it had to be serious.
Shaking the thought off, Devvyn bent to lift the small box he'd packed. He hadn't packed much, only what he'd need for the next two or three months. He carried the box downstairs, set it in the sitting room, and hurried to Aela's.
When he got there, Aela and her siblings were already ready to go. Two bags sat by the door. Orryn and Melo practically buzzed with excitement, but Aela's expression was clouded, her eyes distant.
Devvyn didn't need to ask why. "We'll find him," he said quietly. "Don't worry. Grandmother already has someone looking for them."
Aela's lips pressed into a thin line. "Yeah… but I can't help worrying. Jelric's dad wouldn't just uproot them like that unless they were in real danger."
Devvyn nodded. "I thought about that too. But Jelric and his father are smart. They'll survive."
"Yeah," she murmured, not sounding convinced.
She adjusted the strap of one bag. "Since we only have two, we can just carry them to your place. No point having the truck come here."
Devvyn took the heavier of the two bags while Aela carried the other. Together, they set off for his house, Orryn and Melo skipping along beside them.
When they arrived, Maelis and the truck driver were already outside, loading crates and furniture into the back of the vehicle. She looked up as they approached.
"Oh good, we were just about to come get you," Maelis called.
Orryn and Melo spotted her and dashed forward. "Aunty Maelis! Aunty Maelis!" they cried, wrapping themselves around her legs.
Orryn's face lit up. "I built something! I want to show you!"
Aela gave him a gentle nudge. "It's in the bag, remember? You'll have to wait until later."
Maelis smiled warmly. "I can't wait to see it."
Once everything was loaded into the truck, they all climbed in and began the journey toward the Golden Fields, following the road that linked it to the Lower City. It had been years since any of them had taken that road. As the truck rumbled along, memories came flooding back.
"Remember that time you, me, and Jelric stupidly decided to walk to the Golden Fields?" Aela said, grinning at the thought. "We got lost, Jelric fainted from hunger, and you kept crying until Maelis found us."
"I did not," Devvyn said automatically.
Maelis chuckled from her seat. "We found you covered in tears and mucus."
All of them burst into laughter, including the truck driver, and even Devvyn couldn't keep a straight face. "Alright, fine," he admitted. "I really thought we were going to die out there."
They rode the rest of the way in easy, lighthearted chatter until the truck finally slowed to a stop in front of their new home.
The house was a single-story building. It had a fresh coat of pale cream paint, a shallow-pitched roof, a veranda, and a modest shed tucked neatly to one side of the yard. A small garden sat at the front, its shrubs trimmed and flowers already in bloom, giving the place a warm, lived-in feel. In many ways, it looked almost identical to Soren and Leonara's house—simple, sturdy, and undeniably homely.
Inside, the bungalow felt even more welcoming. Polished wooden floors ran the length of the house. The sitting room was modest but comfortable, with enough space for everyone to gather without feeling cramped. A kitchen branched off to the left, its shelves stocked with basic cookware, and a long hallway led to several small bedrooms. There were just enough rooms for each of them to have their own space.
They quickly offloaded the truck, stacking their belongings in the hallway and kitchen. Once the truck driver left, Aela glanced toward the door. "I want to go enroll Orryn and Melo in the school before the day ends," she said as she brought out a map of the Golden Fields from her backpack.
"I wish I could come with you," Maelis said, rubbing her lower back. "But all this moving and the work before it has left me with an aching waist and back." She fished five bronze coins from her pouch and pressed them into Aela's hand. "Buy some snacks for everyone."
Then she turned to Devvyn. "Go with her. I'll handle things here with Orryn and Melo's help."
"Alright," Devvyn said.
Maelis crouched to look at the two children. "What do you say we organize this place a little, and then you can show me what you built?"
"Yay!" Orryn and Melo chorused.
"Devvyn, don't forget to take the cold ball with you," Maelis reminded.
"Right. Thank you grandmother."
Devvyn and Aela stepped out, heading down the street toward the school, using the map for directions.
They followed the street signs, weaving through the unfamiliar city in search of the school. The Golden Fields was nothing like the Lower City, wider streets, cleaner pavements, with enough street signs to guide people from getting lost. Still, after a few turns too many, Devvyn realized they were indeed lost.
"Alright," he said, scanning the quiet road. "I'll just ask someone for directions—"
He stepped toward a man unloading a cart, but before he could open his mouth, Aela tapped his arm. Once. Twice. Then again.
"What?" he asked.
"Look," she murmured, tilting her head toward a figure across the street. The man wore a black cape, hood drawn low. "I'm not sure, but… he kept glancing over here. I think he's following us. And I caught a glimpse of his eyes. They're scared."
Devvyn's stomach tightened. "The Black Market guy," he muttered.
Before Aela could respond, he called out, "Hey! Hey!"
The man's head jerked up. He turned and began walking faster.
"Come on!" Devvyn said.
They broke into a run. The man tried to flee, but his gait was uneven, each step betraying a limp. After a short, desperate sprint, he stopped and faced them.
Aela froze at the sight of his face. The jagged scars around his eyes, the faint milky haze in one iris, she clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh my…"
The man smiled thinly. "Scared, girl?"
Devvyn didn't flinch. "You knew what the whistle would do to me." He said as he drew the chain from beneath his shirt, the small whistle dangling from it.
The man's lips curled in something between a smirk and a snarl. "I told you to keep it hidden," he hissed, tapping Devvyn's hand.
"Don't touch me!" Devvyn snapped. "I almost died!"
"Well…" the man shrugged, "you're here, alive, walking, talking. Aren't you? The whistle was simply bonding with you. Now that the bond is complete, you're out of any danger. Do well to never remove the whistle, Devvyn Arkwright, for it will protect you in the days to come from the Remnants."
Aela made a sound with her teeth and tugged at Devvyn's elbow, pulling him back, as if then realising that the man was probably crazy.
Devvyn's temper flared. "Remnants are ancient history, cuckoo man. I swear to Mizuho—"
"Wait," Aela cut in sharply, stepping forward. "Protect him from what exactly? Why were you following us?"
The man's expression shifted, sly and knowing. "To deliver a message from the one who entrusted me with making sure Devvyn got the whistle."
"Who?" Devvyn demanded.
"I'm not at liberty to say," the man replied. His tone turned flat, his eyes locking on Devvyn's. "But listen carefully, boy. I won't repeat myself."
Devvyn held his breath.
"Chaos is coming, Devvyn Arkwright," the man said. "And you… are its harbinger."
