The sun was high by the time the workday wound down. Sweat and dust clung to every Postknight's armor, and the clamor of construction faded into the softer murmurs of mealtime. The scent of freshly baked bread and steaming stew wafted from Maglina's inn as the village's protectors filed in one by one, some slumped with exhaustion, others chatting animatedly about the day's progress.
Solis collapsed onto a wooden bench, letting out a long breath. Ada and Vaidya joined him, each holding a metal tray piled with food—steamed carrots, seasoned meat, and Maglina's famous barley soup. The inn, despite the chaos outside, remained a warm and reliable shelter.
"Finally, a moment to breathe," Ada sighed, dipping her spoon into the soup. "I feel like my arms are going to fall off."
"Your fault for using a log the size of a bear to build that wall," Vaidya quipped, biting into a piece of bread.
Solis chuckled but didn't speak. His thoughts were wandering again—back to Pasture Lane, back to Almond's unexpected cooperation, and back to the weight of responsibility he felt growing heavier with each day.
Just as Solis reached for his soup, the crowd in the inn parted slightly, and a familiar figure emerged. Clad in the signature dark uniform of the Postknights, a girl with sleek black hair and an expression that never quite changed approached their table.
"Razille," Ada greeted with a smile. "Hey Raz! What brings you here, mate?"
Razille's face remained unreadable, but her gaze fixed firmly on Solis. "I actually wanted to talk to Solis. Can I have a moment?"
Solis looked between Ada and Vaidya, clearly unsure. Still, he nodded. "Uh, sure. Excuse me, guys."
The two stepped toward a quieter corner of the inn, away from the chatter and clinking of plates. The air was cooler there, and Solis could hear the creak of the old wooden beams overhead.
"So... what did you want to talk about?" he asked.
Razille stood with arms folded, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly. "Is it true you went deep into the mines?"
Solis blinked, caught off guard. "Yeah... I did. Phill was trapped. I had to get him out."
She gave the faintest nod, almost as if confirming something in her own mind. "Oh. Impressive. Okay, no problem. You may continue your meal with your friends."
Before he could ask anything else, Razille turned and walked away, her boots clicking softly against the floorboards.
Solis stared after her, dumbfounded. "That was... weird."
He returned to the table, sliding back onto the bench.
Ada raised an eyebrow. "What was that about?"
Solis shook his head. "It's nothing. Just a quick question."
"Hey—" Ada leaned forward, grinning mischievously. "Is there something going on between you two I don't know about?"
"What? No! It's really nothing."
"Hmm..." she said, tapping her spoon against her chin dramatically. "Suspicious."
Vaidya smirked but said nothing, focusing on his soup.
Just then, Maglina burst into the room, nearly dropping the tray she was holding. Her face was pale, and her eyes wide with panic.
Vaidya was the first to notice. "Maglina? What's wrong?"
She didn't answer right away, her chest heaving. She clutched the edge of their table like it was the only thing keeping her upright.
"Phi... Phill is missing," she gasped, barely getting the words out. "I can't find him anywhere."
Solis's bowl clattered as he stood. "What? When did you last see him?"
"After breakfast! He said he was going to help sort herbs in the back garden... but when I went to call him for lunch, he wasn't there. I searched the whole inn, the garden, even the road toward the smithy. He's just... gone."
Ada pushed her tray away and stood, already pulling her gloves back on. "Let's not waste time. We'll help search."
Vaidya was on his feet, scanning the room for clues. "He wouldn't go far without saying anything. Unless something lured him."
Solis's heart began to pound. The memory of Razille's strange question and her sudden appearance suddenly felt more ominous than curious.
He clenched his fists. Something is wrong.
He turned to Maglina. "Did Phill mention anything strange this morning? Any odd visitors?"
Maglina shook her head quickly. "No, nothing. He was cheerful. Said he wanted to help more today. That's all."
Ada looked around. "Let's split up. Solis, check the back garden and the road to the smithy. Vaidya, the eastern edge of the village near the fields. I'll take the western side and the well."
Maglina added, voice trembling, "I'll ask the villagers if anyone saw him leave."
Solis was already on the move. The sun's glare stung his eyes as he stepped out behind the inn and into the herb garden. Everything looked undisturbed—the baskets of herbs, the lined rows of mint and basil, the watering pot. But no Phill.
He ran past the garden and down the winding trail toward the smithy. Old cobblestones clicked beneath his boots. He passed two villagers, both of whom shook their heads when he asked about Phill.
At the smithy, Hayden looked up from his forge. "Phill? Haven't seen the boy since morning. Everything alright?"
Solis nodded stiffly. "We're looking for him. Let me know if he turns up."
As he sprinted back, thoughts swirled in his mind. Razille's arrival. The sudden disappearance. The rumors of a cult lurking in the region. He couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't just a coincidence.
They regrouped at the inn within half an hour, sweat dripping down their brows.
"No luck," Ada said, frustration clear on her face.
"Me neither," Vaidya added.
Maglina returned last, nearly in tears. "No one saw him leave. No one."
Solis looked at the others. "This isn't normal. Phill wouldn't just vanish. We need to widen the search. Tonight. Even if we have to search the forest's edge."
Ada nodded. "And if this has anything to do with that cult the rumors are about... then it seems really bad."
As the shadows lengthened outside, the village once again sat on the edge of a new mystery.
---
The sun dipped lower as the three regrouped near the edge of Maglina's garden. Despite combing different areas, none of them had found a trace of Phill—or Razille. Their boots were coated with dust, and frustration hung in the air like a stormcloud.
Solis leaned against the fence, running a hand through his damp hair. "This doesn't make any sense. He couldn't have just vanished. Someone had to have taken him—and I think it has to do with what's going on underneath all of this."
Vaidya glanced at him. "You mean the mines?"
Solis shook his head. "Not just that. Razille's question... how she mentioned the depths of the mine, not just the surface. It's like she was trying to confirm something. I've heard whispers around camp—Postknights talking about strange sightings, symbols carved into the rocks, things vanishing."
Ada folded her arms. "You're saying someone's hiding something... but what? And what does it have to do with Phill?"
Vaidya hesitated. "There've been rumors," he said carefully, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Not just about the mines. About a cult."
Ada blinked. "A cult?"
Vaidya nodded. "I overheard some workers at the forge talking a few days ago. They said strange people have been seen around the village at night. Not just strangers—locals too. Disappearing into the woods. Carrying symbols. One of them called it the Ashlight Circle or something like that."
Ada's expression darkened. "I've heard the name before. Not from Postknights—locals. They say it's just old superstition. But when I pressed, they changed the topic. Almost like they were scared to speak of it."
Solis glanced between them. "You think it's real?"
Ada looked down at the crushed mint leaves on the ground, where Phill's gloves still lay. "I didn't. Not until now."
The trio stood in stillness, the wind brushing past them, rustling the tall grass beyond the fence.
"We have to talk to someone who knows more," Ada said. "We can't keep chasing shadows."
"Then we should find Razille," Solis replied, eyes narrowing. "And this time, I hope she gives us answers."