24. Kazrith

My sack of personal belongings clamps shut with an echoing finality. I hoist it over my shoulder, the action taking me a step closer to the end of my relationship with Hanna.

It's almost all I can think of this morning, knowing I won't be returning to Ikoth with her.

How does a facade feel more real than anything else I've ever experienced?

It's a question that'll haunt me forever. I know things won't be the same once Hanna and I go our separate ways.

I wish she'd come with me. But I will not force her away from her desired reunion with her father.

At the very least, we'll have put an end to Zathex when this is done.

It's been a quiet morning with a few words exchanged between Hanna and me.

I wonder if she feels the same way I do about leaving or if she's just nervous about returning to New Solas.

"Probably both," I mutter, looking to the distant port of New Solas as it approaches. I swallow my pride, remembering the mission and why we originally came together.

Hanna joins me, resting her arms beside mine on the railing. "This place looks a lot uglier than I remember," she says.

"Seems to happen each time I return. Are you ready?"

"Yeah," she says distantly. "But before we go, Kazrith, I just want to say thank you. For everything. I don't know if I'd have found my way without your intervention, but you made the journey easier."

I turn to her, smiling through the lingering sadness.

"I suppose I should thank you, too, for your company, your friendship, and those warm nights."

She gently grasps my hand and squeezes it. But it seems neither of us wants to bring up the fact our partnership will soon be over.

"We should talk about the plan," I say, distracting myself from my feelings. "My contact says Zathex is usually in the xaphan territory at this time of day. Our first move should be to apprehend him and then –"

"No," Hanna interjects, shaking her head. "We can't go for Zathex, not until I've seen my father."

"We shouldn't wait to act on our information."

"Kazrith, I haven't seen my father in far too long, you know that. I need to know he's safe," she says with conviction. "Trust me, we aren't letting Zathex get away with what he's done, but my father is my number one priority."

Relenting, I nod in agreement. "Very well. We'll have to be careful here, though. It won't be as lax as it is in Ikoth. We'll be walking beacons of attention."

"Maybe we should take a quieter route than through the main streets," Hanna suggests. "The only thing is that it's morning, so everywhere's busy."

"No, it's a good idea. We can't dodge the eyes of humans, but I'd rather deal with them than xaphans."

A few minutes pass as the vessel docks at the port. One by one, the ship's passengers disembark. As we step closer to the exit, Hanna wraps a hand around my arm.

The main roads ahead are far too crowded for us, swarmed with carriages and zarryns looking to head to the heart of the city. I look around for a quiet route, using my shadow powers to enhance my vision past the bustling roads.

"What do you mean you won't take us?"

Hanna's voice catches my attention. I'd been too focused to notice she broke away to a nearby carriage, where she is now arguing with the driver.

"I don't give rides to demon scum," he spits.

"You're lucky I have business to attend to," I call out to him. Grabbing Hanna's arm, I lead her away.

"Bastard," she hisses.

"Indeed, he is, but Hanna, don't approach anyone without me. We're better off making the journey on foot by ourselves. For all we know, Zathex has eyes on us right now."

"I just want to get back home as soon as possible."

"I know you're eager, but we have to tread carefully!"

Our grip on each other's hands is tight as I lead the way. Maneuvering through the crowd is easier than I thought with my massive frame, mostly due to others backing out of the way as I approach.

Of course, with that comes their disapproving looks. Many of the humans still seem almost brainwashed by the xaphan propaganda despite the rough treatment the so-called heroes give them.

Sad, really.

We take a narrow side street eastward in the direction of the human settlements. Passersby gawk at us, some of them whispering and pointing while others don't hesitate to scoff.

"I don't like all of this attention," Hanna says.

"Me, neither, but there's nothing we can do about it."

Our route takes us through one of the many market areas, but this one isn't as seedy as the main trading hub where the slave auction house resides. Though stall vendors usually call out to passing citizens with enticing offers and samples of their products, they go completely silent at the sight of us.

"I can't believe I used to live in this forsaken city."

"They're just behaving like this because I'm with you. Let's face it," I point out.

"I never realized the toxicity of New Solas until I got away from it. I only wish I saw the truth sooner."

"Then you probably wouldn't have met me," I observe, attempting to break through the tense atmosphere.

But Hanna doesn't react. Her focus remains on getting to her family home. Her anxiety seems to worsen as we progress.

For that, I cannot blame her.

"Not long now," I say once we leave the market district.

The sooner I reunite her with her father, the sooner I can confront Zathex. Turning a corner, I look up ahead, spotting a xaphan military convoy.

"Get down!" I exclaim, throwing myself and Hanna into a nearby bush

"What's going on?" she says with a gasp.

"Be quiet!"

My shadow powers throw a dark shade over our form, blending us in with the nearby shrubbery as the convoy passes.

My powers beg to be let loose on them. It feels like my own personal torment to keep them restrained. It would bring me so much satisfaction to tear those xaphans apart, limb from limb

I gesture for Hanna to stay quiet, waiting until we're out of the xaphans' line of sight. I retract my powers and rise to my feet, pulling Hanna up with me.

"See that?" I ask. "We'd look too suspicious to them."

"I don't like that they were coming from the human settlements," Hanna whispers, her voice unsteady and worried.

"We'd better hurry."

We continue our journey. Soon, Hanna stops speaking altogether, and the only sound I can hear is her quickening breathing as we spot the human settlements up ahead.

She starts jogging. Running alongside her, we enter the settlement, eyes darting around for any further signs of xaphan activity.

"The coast is clear. You lead the way from here," I say.

"This way. It's just around the corner."

She gestures when her home comes into view, indicating a small structure with a doorway I must stoop to enter through.

Half-cut vegetables are scattered across the counter. Set on the table are places for two.

"Must have been expecting you back… Hanna?"

Hanna's wild gaze darts around in search of her father. She moves into another room, repeatedly calling for her father, each time growing more frantic and worried.

"Dad? Where are you?"

I peer closer at the half-prepared meal, noticing the wilted state of the vegetables. They've been left here to rot for some time. That's when I realize what's going on.

I'm half-tempted to tell Hanna that he might just be outside, running errands. I can't bring myself to lie, but I also hesitate to tell her the reality, knowing it'll break her heart.

"I'm sorry I ran away," her voice echoes between each room. "I can explain it all, please! Dad, where are you?"

I think she already knows as she rejoins me, dropping to her knees.

"He's not here," she whispers, a tear cascading down her cheek.

I kneel to her level, dashing the tear away before it can fall to the floor.

"Hanna," I say. "Try to keep yourself together."

Her head rears up, her reddened, tearful eyes now aiming anger at me.

"How can I keep myself together when he's not here?" she hisses. "We don't know how long he's been gone!"

Her face falls into her open palms, her body twitching with each howl of pain. I lay a hand on her back.

"The food hasn't been sitting for that long. He could still be alive."

She sniffles and wipes her face. "Yeah, maybe. He had to have been taken, though. He's not the type to run away."

My hand retracts, balling into a fist. "I think we know who's responsible for taking him." I growl, thinking of Zathex and his shit-eating grin.

"Zathex," Hanna agrees. "He must have come for my father as retribution when I escaped. Motherfucker… My dad probably tried to cover for me, too, and that only made things worse."

"Come on," I say, rising to my feet and offering her a hand. "We won't get him back by sobbing here."

She takes my hand, dusting herself off as she stands.

"I'm sorry for yelling," she says.

"Don't be, you're upset. You should save that energy for Zathex."

"We need to get my father back."

"Then let's go rescue him, but Hanna, listen to me." I grab her shoulders, looking at her in her beautiful eyes. "This is going to be harder than we thought. Killing a xaphan in their territory is tough enough, but a rescue mission is almost suicide."

She unexpectedly smiles, the sight of which seems out of place on her flushed face.

"What was it you called me during dinner in your house? A strong ally?"

I nod and chuckle.

"Yes, but even the strongest can fail. Are you ready to get your father back and put Zathex six feet under?"

She exhales as her fists tighten.

"Let's do this."