Chapter 201 - Purple Flower

“Isn’t it nice to be out of the house?” Syrus asked as she and Lavender strolled down the street right outside the manor.

Lavender replied. “I’ve been out a few times.”

“The majority of the time has been spent inside, though.”

“Yeah, I have been half protected in case something happens and half enjoying the luxuriousness of the noble class. Somehow, you got attacked by damn assassins twice.”

“Impressive, I know.”

“God, your cocky attitude can be annoying.” Lavender sighed. It was hard to deny that the woman got results, and not to mention surviving two assassinations was genuinely impressive. Hunters may get into pub brawls or fight off bandits, but human combat was usually not a common occurrence.

So one of the extremes of human violence, an assassination, was not something hunters expected or were prepared for. It did make Lavender curious about Syrus's past. She didn’t know how each attempt was performed, but the second one had to have learnt from the first attempt, and still Syrus survived. She had learnt from Syrus that everyone managed to vanish in the first, and that while she had killed someone in the first, it was deep underground when it happened, and they hadn’t been caught.

The fact this group could try to assassinate someone and, in case of failure, use uninvolved people to catch Syrus in case they failed told Lavender she needed to be careful. Which made these short little trips annoying, as she wanted to stay inside in case of a more direct attack.

Outside, carrying a weapon would be strange, and she wasn’t confident that she could handle a sudden attack unprepared.

Syrus replied. “My attitude is one of my perks.”

Lavender rolled her eyes. “Sure it is.”

However, Lavender did suspect something was up and decided to play along. Despite Lavender's words, Syrus was acting differently than how she normally would. Sure, she could make a joke or brag, but she was mostly blunt and serious. It was as she turned up the switch today for their trip, and while Lavender wasn’t sure why, she chose to play along with it.

Most of Syrus’s fun came from interacting with her head friends, and while sure there was a laugh from annoying Lavender a little bit, she was setting up for the future. She didn’t know who was a spy, but she wanted to paint a picture of a slightly cocky and annoying woman. Though she was having fun doing this, a little bit of acting and stealth in the performance wasn’t something Syrus had ever done before, but she was enjoying it.

The two of them did laps of the area. Technically, what they were doing was guard duty, so it had a purpose. Lord Hall had requested a sweep of the area and wanted members of their group to do it. The advantage of having an outsider's perspective to catch something he usually guards hadn’t.

[Everyone! Alba is peeking around the corner.] Eva controlled their eyes, and now the boy was within their sight.

Alba looked better than before; there was a little more fullness in his face, but there was still a concerning lack of colour in his general appearance. It appeared he was trying to be stealthy… but he certainly wasn’t doing a good job about it, and based on where he was looking, it was the manor.

Syrus began walking towards the boy. Lavender raised her eyebrow and followed, but the moment she saw the boy, she understood Syrus’s sudden movements.

“Hey, kid, what are you doing?” Syrus quietly walked up and leant over the boy.

“Eeh!” The familiar boy jumped back. "NOTHING!"

[Alba is here… ] Luna thought it was curious that the boy would be around their home. There was the chance it was because of their meeting, but even she felt that was low. Going back to the theory, if he was some powerful person’s child, then becoming accidentally aware of the royal family was possible.

[Certainly, it seems like the smell has leaked.] (Syrus)

[Was that the best way to describe it?] (Luna)

[Nope.] (Syrus)

[Should he be out, we have treated him, but he still looks pale…] (Eva)

“Bully kids now, Syrus?”

“Nah, but look at this kid.”

“Yeah, I can tell.” Lavender eyes glanced over the little bag on Syrus’s waist.

Alba was a lot less arrogant compared to their first meeting. He kept looking left and right as he was uncomfortable in this environment.

[Home-field advantage really does wonders.] (Syrus)

“Kid, are you alright?” Syrus crouched down to the boy’s level. “You look a little pale?”

“I’m fine.” He turned his head away, his tone firm.

“Hey, Lavender, do you hear what this kid is saying?”

“Sigh, yes.”

Syrus stared at the kid. “So, what were you doing?”

“I said nothing.”

“So why were you staring at our house?”

He immediately rebutted, “That can’t be your place.”

“So you were staring, and yes, that is where we are currently staying. Interesting house, I say.”

“I got some potions.” Syrus began reaching for her bag.

“I don’t need anything!”

Syrus scoffed, “Dude, you look like shit.”

Her words caused Alba to shake for a moment, as they reminded him of a person he hadn’t been able to meet since that day.

“Do I look sick to you…?” He stared hopefully and cautiously. Perhaps he was wondering if Rose was around.

“Anyone should, what does no one?” The tone of voice made it sound like everyone–including him–was an idiot.

Alba didn’t respond. This certainly wasn’t the same person.

Syrus asked Lavender, “What are your thoughts?”

“Based on visuals?” Lavender was still wondering where Syrus was going with this. Interrogating a kid was strange even for her, but she chose to trust Syrus. “He looks awful.”

“See?” Syrus turned back to the boy. “Two people not from the city who took one look at you and said you look awfully unwell. Perhaps if you head out, you will find more people who say that.”

Syrus held the potion in her hand. “Now this is free, on the house.”

“No.”

“You sure?”

“No.”

“So you want to drink it?”

“No!”

Lavender sighed and created a small blob in her hand, and when Alba said ‘No’ again, she flicked it into his mouth.

It bounced inside, and the boy reflectively swallowed. “Yuck.” He tried to cough it up, but nothing came up. “That tasted awful!”

“You tasted that?” Lavender paused before nodding. “Wow, you got some good poison resistance there.”

“Huh…” The boy froze.

“She threw poison in your mouth. Lavender, it was something to knock him out, right?”

“Actually, no, but it would’ve made it harder for him to speak.”

“...”

“...”

Both parties stared at Lavender for a moment. Syrus then pushed the potion into Alba’s hand. “I’m not sure what kind of poison resistance you have, but that potion will give you more energy.”

Alba held the potion tightly. He didn’t speak immediately, but when he was finally ready, he said something.

“So, you mind telling us why you are here?” He was interrupted.

“No.”

Syrus shrugged. “Well, if you change your mind, let us know, and we could get you access inside the house.”

That caused the boy’s eyes to glint. He quickly closed his eyes to surpass the urge. “I’m fine.” He stood up and began to walk off, but as he did, he looked down at the potion in his hands and took a massive sip of it before throwing it to the ground. “Thank you.”

[He shouldn’t do that…] Eva was worried. [What if that broke the glass… someone could be hurt by the shards.]

With the boy walking off, Anlesa turned to Lavender. “Neat how you can make different poisons,” Eva replied, and she began thinking of perhaps inviting Lavender to a potion-making session. Different poisons could be interesting ingredients.

“I can't," said Lavender, and she turned to go back on the path of their loop.

[Do you think you might have irritated her too much, Syrus?] (Eva)

[Probably not.] (Syrus)