At the outer edge of Paramount, Haven’s faction patrolled the abandoned area in a party of five on a mission that had been waiting long enough. Whatever erratic situation had been looming over the area, they were there to finally resolve it.

It started months ago. Citizens were acting unusually, a behavior no one could explain. Many parties had been sent in. Some came back with nothing, others never came back. And it didn’t take long before the people here started dying as well.

The area had been evacuated and left to its abandonment, but the mystery never left with it. The Captain of the Sixth Base had placed the mission in Haven and her party’s hands, hoping they would find the root of the deaths and clear the way for the citizens to return.

"From what I know, you specifically made sure I joined your party... yet you don’t speak to me. Not even a single word."

Purple walked just behind Haven. Something about Haven had changed, her appearance and her behavior alike. She had once stayed close to the base, waiting for a chance to face a Hostile-level Scarlet Kin, but now she wore silver armor across her chest, arms, and legs and had gone as far as requesting her own faction from the Captain.

But none of that was what bothered Purple. She had sabotaged Haven’s relationship with Scar, and yet Haven had still asked her to join her party. The unease that came with that wasn’t easy to shake.

It was their second day into the mission. They hadn’t returned to the base, had been roaming and searching without pause, and still, nothing pointed anywhere worthwhile.

Purple had figured out a few things, though. Before they had even arrived, she had known a God Killer died somewhere in this area, and the mystery had taken root not long after.

But everyone around her was insufferably arrogant, so full of themselves that the mere thought of helping made her blood boil. Haven was the only face she knew, and Haven wasn’t speaking to her. She was already missing Scar and Julien.

"You shouldn’t be like that. Being mysterious won’t really help you, you know?"

The moment Purple spoke, Haven paused and fixed her with a cold stare, the kind that could threaten a soul. Purple smiled back as if it were nothing more than a friendly exchange.

Haven said nothing in the end. But Purple wasn’t done. She knew what she had broken, and she knew she had to fix it. Though above all else, there were a few things she needed to take care of first.

Scar wielded the Inheritance of Morningstar, and unlike most Inheritances, where a link existed between the wielder and the force behind it, his situation was different. He hadn’t just linked with Morningstar. He had synchronized with him.

Having Scar on her side would mean everything, but she knew he didn’t fully trust her. And there was no other way to get to Scar. Only one path existed. Through the person he loved.

Even so, she knew something was wrong. Haven had changed, she was certain of it. She had first noticed it two weeks ago, while weaving through Scar’s fate.

She turned to check that no one was listening. The other two were far behind, drifting in and out of empty homes, their frustrations the only sound filling the silence around them.

"I’m sure you know... what I did has nothing to do with whether Scar meant his proposal or not. You and I both know he did."

Haven paid her no mind and continued walking.

"That doesn’t answer everything. Why did you attack Scar when you saw him at the auction?"

Finally, Haven paused. She didn’t bother to spare Purple a glance, and the irritation on her face made it clear that whatever she was thinking wasn’t good for her temper.

Haven exhaled.

"He was a criminal. Whatever his motives were, he tried to take something that wasn’t his."

Purple furrowed her brow.

"Then why didn’t you report him?"

Haven finally turned toward Purple, and her gaze shifted into something frightening. Purple remained unaffected, as though the look meant nothing at all.

"Don’t mistake my leniency for weakness. If it means protecting others, I’ll draw my blade against him without hesitation."

"Are you sure?"

Haven didn’t respond. She had more than enough of Purple’s questions.

Purple sat with her thoughts for a moment. She didn’t know Haven the way Scar did, but a few days in each other’s company had been enough to figure something out.

There was something weighing on Haven’s mind, something far bigger than a failed marriage. As for why Haven had chosen her to join the party, Purple suspected Haven was looking to give herself a reason.

Giving her badge to Scar had been an indirect proposal in the ways of nobility. She had her reasons, but she hadn’t anticipated Scar doing the same thing with Haven.

Had Purple not taken advantage of Scar’s obliviousness toward aristocratic customs, the relationship between Haven and Scar would never have spiraled the way it did. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Whatever Haven was carrying, she wanted Purple to stay. To stick around and give her every reason to place the blame on her for all of it.

"Hm. That’s an interesting theory. She’s even altered her appearance. This must be tied to her father. If that’s the case, I can’t give her what she wants."

Purple muttered. Haven needed to be accountable for her decisions. But before that, she needed to be free enough to make them.

Purple wasn’t entirely sure what was happening, but she knew enough about Karl. The man was cruel to everyone. His own daughter included. And Haven was probably only now beginning to come to terms with that side of her father.

"I just need to prove why Scar keeps me around."

Her eyes moved across the area, and there, in the distance, were a few things that offered the first real hint of what might be happening here.

She moved closer to Haven and gestured toward the distance, then led her to a trail of footprints and ash stains marking the wall.

"There’s someone here... it might look like a homeless person staying in an abandoned place, but trust me, it’s not. We’ll have to capture them and find out who they are."

The confidence in Purple’s voice caught Haven off guard. She couldn’t help but trust it.

"Let’s find them."