615 A good conversation
Erik's curiosity was piqued as Rebecca's story unfolded. Her voice softened as she recounted an intense memory.
"You know, there was a time my mother brought me to Frant to assist with a grave situation," she said, her gaze distant. "They were facing an invasion because of a thaid. The Heniate, I believe it was called."
Erik's eyes widened as he recognized the name. "The Heniate?" he exclaimed. "I've heard of it. A monstrous Thaid that caused untold destruction. Do you know if Frant killed it?"
Rebecca shook her head, her expression thoughtful. "I'm not sure. We were only there briefly during a chaotic period. The Heniate was a menace like no other, and I heard it was in their territory for a lot of time."
They sat in silence for a moment; both lost in thought, the weight of the memories heavy in the room.
Rebecca's voice broke the silence, her tone tinged with curiosity. "You know, there's something else that's been bothering me about Frant. Are you aware that they had, or perhaps still have, an awakener?"
Erik's heart skipped a beat at the mention of an awakener. He nodded, his mind racing. "Yes, I've heard about him. Why do you ask?"
Rebecca leaned forward, her eyes searching Erik's face. "Well, it's a strange story. Apparently, this awakener disappeared without a trace. There is uncertainty surrounding his death. It's all very mysterious."
Erik's brows furrowed as he considered her words. The information was disconcerting, and he couldn't shake the feeling that it was significant.
"A missing awakener," he murmured, more to himself than to Rebecca. "That's not something that happens every day."
Rebecca's eyes sparkled with a mixture of intrigue and concern. "No, it's not. Awakeners are rare, and their abilities are sought after. For one to vanish like that... it raises many questions."
Erik leaned back in his chair. "What do you think happened to him?" he asked, his voice above a whisper, eager to know what the Band of Giants knew about him.
Rebecca shrugged, her expression filled with uncertainty. "I wish I knew. The whole thing is shrouded in secrecy. Some say he went into hiding; others believe he was silenced by those who feared his power. The truth could be anything. Rumors suggest he had enemies in criminal organizations, and that they killed him."
<They covered Nathaniel's father's matter well. I bet this was Caiden's job.> They continued to talk, exploring theories and possibilities, but the answers remained elusive. For Rebecca at least, as the truth was, though, that the awakener they were talking about was right in front of the woman.
Erik listened as Rebecca shifted the conversation to a more personal topic. Her eyes held a glimmer of admiration as she leaned back in her chair.
"You know, I had the chance to see him in action," she began, her voice filled with genuine respect. "I watched him fight through some drones when the monsters entered the city. He was strong for his age. I'd say he'll be as strong as me in less than a year. That's a sign of immense talent."
"Really?" He asked. "What power did he have?" he asked, faking ignorance.
"He could grow plants if I'm not wrong. That was his birth power. Pretty pointless one, to be honest. But he could also sharpen things to high degrees. It wasn't the best power out there, but it was a proper one for combat."
Erik looked at her, intrigued. "Cool…"
Her expression became more serious, and she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. "As I was watching him, though, something strange happened. I lost connection to the cameras that were showing his escape through the city. It was like they were deactivated by someone. The technicians couldn't explain what happened."
"Deactivated?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Do you believe he did that?"
Rebecca's brow furrowed as she considered the possibilities. "It's impossible. He was fighting at that time. He lacked access to computers and similar technology. But it's clear that someone didn't want us to see what he was doing. Someone with enough skill and knowledge to bypass our security."
The conversation between Erik and Rebecca shifted to lighter topics as they continued to talk; of course, Erik had many thoughts in mind, but couldn't his doubts betray him, so he faked being okay.
They discussed their training methods, shared stories of past missions, and even joked about some of the more humorous aspects of their respective backgrounds. The connection between them deepened, and mutual respect and friendship formed.
Erik realized it was getting late as he looked at the clock. Before calling it a night, he had a question for Rebecca.
"Hey, Rebecca," he said, leaning back in his chair and looking at her with a casual smile. "How would you feel about joining me for a hunt tomorrow? I think it would be a fun idea."
Rebecca's eyes lit up at the suggestion, and she grinned. "I'd love to! I'm sure I could learn a lot from you."
Erik chuckled, feeling embarrassed by her enthusiasm. "I don't think you are the only one who can learn here."
Rebecca nodded, her excitement clear. "I'm looking forward to it," she said with a smile that could throw countries to ruins.
Fatigue took its toll as they chatted. Their words became fewer, and the pauses between sentences grew shorter as tiredness crept over them.
Erik let out a soft yawn and stretched his arms above his head. "I think it's about time we called it a night. We've got a busy day ahead of us."
Rebecca agreed, rising from her chair and stretching as well. "You're right. Sleep sounds wonderful right now. Goodnight, Erik, and thanks for everything so far."
Erik stood and offered her a warm smile. "Goodnight, Rebecca. Rest well, and I'll see you in the morning."
They parted ways, each heading to their respective rooms, the echoes of their laughter and conversation lingering in the empty corridor. As Erik lay in bed, he couldn't help thinking about the conversation he had with Rebecca and a thought began to nag at him.
She had mentioned that she had been monitoring him while he was in Frant. The idea that she was able to watch him from a distance was surprising enough.
Given all the findings he had made about Uncle Ben and the mercenary guild in Etrium, it was not that unexpected that the band of giants was monitoring him at that time.
Erik rolled over, trying to shake the thought from his mind, but it lingered, growing into a gnawing suspicion.
Erik mentally resolved to investigate Rebecca and the giants and to monitor any abnormal incidents before dozing off.
With a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes, resolving to face the challenges of the next day with a clear head and an open mind. But the questions lingered, weaving themselves into his dreams, leaving him with an unsettling feeling that something was amiss and that the answers were still just out of reach.
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