Jack turned his head towards the stairs, his gaze firm and patient. There came Commander Braum. His body as big as before, his tattoos covered by a simple coat, his nose slightly red, his baggy eyes determined, without a glimpse of fear.
He took the last step, finally reaching their level. He was alone. Uninterested, he walked towards the right of the room, almost seemingly ignoring them, inspecting the wood-made wall. Jack's eyes turned wide in confusion. But right before Jack could speak, Braum's gaunt voice — now seemingly weaker — echoed out, still not facing any of the three.
"You gave me a hard time, kid…"
Jack's mind echoed in thought.
What is he staring at the wall for?
"Do you know why it's called the interrogation room?"
The whole room became quiet once Braum pressed a hidden button on the wall next to them.
Click.
"This is why."
Right at the level of Braum's waist, a drawer appeared from within the walls.
Jack froze once again.
What do these people have with hid—
Jack's thoughts were interrupted by the sight of the drawer. The inside was filled with weapons of torture and killing — axes, saws, and specially crafted blades. Braum's hand reached inside, grabbing something small kept in a box and a piece of paper from within.
He approached with the box and the paper, closing the drawer behind. He walked to the table. The atmosphere grew heavier. The three of them wore looks of uncertainty.
He placed the mysterious box on the table and opened it. Jack watched the inside closely.
What?! A pen?
A small feathered pen and a jar of ink lay inside. Braum took both out, now lifting his gaze at the three guests. Jack spoke.
"That's your weapon?"
"A pen…"
Braum's voice echoed through the room.
"Knowledge is the strongest weapon. If you don't know that, then you'll die learning that lesson."
The three of them, taken aback by the pen, froze.
"Now tell me, what do you know about the village's attacks?"
Jack, Maya, and Aos stared at each other. Jack regained composure and started speaking.
"Why should we tell you anything at this point?"
Aos's eyes widened hearing Jack's words. He quickly interrupted.
"Sir, I'm sure he doesn't—"
Jack kept speaking, ignoring Aos's words.
"After you treat us like this?"
"We shouldn't be prisoners, you know?"
"We came to help."
Aos's face turned pale.
Braum's voice echoed once again, now stronger than before.
"I won't let my guard down. These people in the village won't get hurt because their leader is naïve."
"You are in no position to talk like that, brat."
Jack stared at him sharply.
"Am I not?"
His eyes shone blue, slightly.
Braum reached to his back, throwing a small kitchen knife — almost cutting Jack, only grazing his hair.
His mind resounded.
Quick…
Maya touched Jack's shoulder, speaking to calm him down.
"Jack…"
Jack sighed.
"Fine…"
"I'll tell you."
Jack, Braum, and the three of them spoke about the matter — and the return of the Monarch of Winter. Jack told him about his connection, although telling Braum he was a distant lineage wielder, derivative from the Frost.
Braum took note of it all with his pen and paper.
Braum leaned back, cleaning his nose of mucus. He spoke gruffly.
"Makes sense you're a lineage derivative from Frost."
"I had to use quite the heat to stop you from using your powers."
"But I won't forgive you for tha—"
Achu!
He cleared his throat.
"That quick temperature change took quite the toll on me."
He looked at the three of them.
"Fine, I believe you guys…"
"As I said before — that does not mean trust."
He looked at Aos suspiciously.
"Especially that sword. If it is as you say, then it's connected to you in some way."
"Yet you say you don't know much about it?"
Aos raised his shoulders lightly.
"I really don't."
He then mumbled to himself.
"She will have to take a look then…"
Jack asked with intrigue.
"What?"
Braum coughed once again.
"Nothing, I just want to rest now. Let's talk about the details tomorrow."
Braum stood up, grabbing something from his pocket.
"Here."
A set of keys landed in Jack's hand.
"It's tree number forty-two."
Braum left, his footsteps still firm.
The three of them relaxed.
Aos spoke.
"Phew…"
"He is quite scary."
Jack and Maya nodded.
Maya scratched her head.
"Uhm… guys?"
"How do we know which is tree number forty-two?"
They all stared at each other.
Aos shrugged.
"Let's go outside and look."
**
Aos had bags under his eyes. Jack was sitting, looking at the floor right next to him. Maya was covered, with her hands over her eyes. She spoke.
"We are never finding it, are we?"
Aos's mind resounded.
How is it that there is no one awake…
Damn that Braum…
Aos spoke desperately.
"How are we supposed to find it if there are no numbers on the trees?"
Jack whispered under his breath.
"Sleep, sleep, sleep…"
Suddenly, a kid around their age with white hair and one eye covered with a patch walked past them. His left eye was exposed — black in color. His jacket was brown, with white fur on the inside. About Maya's height. He was scratching his chin as he walked toward the tree next to them, looking up at the branches. In his back a bag hanged filled with herbs.
He was whispering numbers quietly, and then spoke.
"This is it."
The young man pressed the tree, revealing a knob.
Jack looked at him with wide baggy eyes and ran to him.
"You!"
"How did you do that?!"
The young man looked at Jack, confused.
"Do what?"
"Find the tree?"
The young man looked even more confused, gave Jack an indifferent look. His eye deadpan.
"What do you mean?"
"It's right here."
He pointed at the tree in front of him and looked at Jack with a hint of worry.
"Are you okay?"
Jack's eyes widened. He grabbed the young man's coat with both hands.
"I'm NOT!"
"We've been looking for tree number 42 for about two whole hours!"
"PLEASE—"
Aos grabbed Jack from the waist, pulling him back. He bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry, he couldn't really sleep much."
"He isn't in his right mind."
Jack, furious behind him, spoke.
"WHAT—TELL ME RI—"
Maya grabbed Jack, covering his mouth, and gave the stranger an embarrassed smile.
Aos spoke once again.
"Do you know where tree number forty-two is?"
The man looked at them curiously.
"Forty-two?"
"Hmmm… let's see."
The young man looked up once again, glancing at the trees next to them. He whispered quietly.
"One, two, three, four… eight…"
"Yup!"
"It's that one."
He pointed, signaling a tree not so far away.
Jack's eyes widened, his mouth still covered. His mind was puzzled.
It was the branches… That kid counted the branches…
That's how they number trees here?
Who in their right mind—
Aos let out a wide smile.
"Thank you, sir!"
The young man waved his hand in front of him.
"Yeah, sure."
He entered the tree in front of him.
Whispering to himself once again. Unheared by the rest.
"Why did that old hag want all of these herbs?"
Jack, Aos, and Maya approached the tree he had pointed to. Maya pressed a branch, making a knob made from the tree's branch appear. Her eyes glistened with happiness.
"Yes!"
Jack, Aos, and Maya finally entered the spiraling stairs that led below. There was a cozy room under the tree with three beds next to each other. A bit smaller than the interrogation room, but the beds looked comfortable and the pillows soft.
They each changed into a more comfortable set of clothes in the bathroom — a small room next to it.
They all slept better than they had in quite a while.
**
The three of them woke up, wearing the same clothes they had on when they left the village. Although their weapons were still confiscated.
They got out of their tree and opened the door. Now the light of daylight brushed over their faces. Tens of people were outside — buying, others selling at carts.
Jack yawned, his mind wandering.
Such good sleep.
I should tell Nicholas about improving beds.
He looked around.
So much more lively…
Maya spoke excitedly.
"This is beautiful…"
She looked around at kids playing in the snow, laughter echoing through the surroundings. People were buying fruits and fish.
The village was small yet lively. A hint of friendliness surrounded the area.
Yet, the three of them caught some glances from people. They weren't being received as friendly.
Suddenly, a small ball rolled into Jack's foot. A small kid approached, grabbing it from next to him. The small kid bowed.
"Sorry, sir."
When the kid looked up, his eyes widened. He ran quickly away from them.
His mother, a few meters back, spoke to the kid while sparing them a distant look.
"I told you not to talk to them!"
"They aren't part of us."
Jack looked at the mom and the kid. A thought passed through his head.
So, we aren't quite welcome here — even among the people.
Then, next to the three of them, Braum was approaching with two of his men beside him — his cloak now with the hood off. One was a dark-haired woman, the other a brown-haired man.
Braum was wearing the same jacket as yesterday. His nose wasn't red anymore. He finally reached the three of them, speaking once again in his gruff voice.
"Good morning."
"It's time for your trial."
Jack's eyes gave a curious look.
"Trial?"