The sun cast an orange hue on the wooden floor as Onia sat on a chair provided by the hotel, engrossed in her book. Beside her, Ghaarsh slept soundly on the white bed, and behind her, Bramon was also reading on the floor.
They had just returned from buying burgers and were waiting for Klad and Brent to get back. They’d already eaten their share, as the duo was running late, leaving only two burgers uneaten. Onia sighed, thinking about the burgers—she had to convince Ghaarsh to take a nap to keep him from devouring another one.
It felt like raising a hungry baby, except he was 15 and had an enormous appetite.
Still, Onia understood why Ghaarsh wanted more. The burgers were a uniquely good al, and not too expensive either. Maybe she should have bought more, just as Ghaarsh had suggested.
Knock, knock, knock.
"It’s unlocked," Onia called out, excitent in her voice.
The door creaked open, and in walked Brent, the blond-haired guy, and Klad, the black-haired one. They were about the sa height but exuded completely different vibes—one of a royal and the other of a farr.
"Did you find anything?" Onia’s question woke Ghaarsh up. Klad scratched his head under Onia’s expectant gaze.
"Holen is busy with other investigations. He’s full this month. We could make a down paynt to reserve a spot for next month," Klad said, avoiding Onia’s eyes since he knew what was coming. Brent also strays silent avoiding a stray from what is about to happen.
"What!? We offered 20 whole stacs as paynt! Couldn’t he prioritize us a bit?" Onia lashed out. That amount of money could feed a family for a year.
"That’s what we asked too, but he wouldn’t budge. He said, and I quote, ’This gentleman loves money, but this best detective doesn’t have the ti,’ end quote," Brent said in a mocking tone, clearly displeased with how the deal had turned out. Holen had rejected them in a roundabout way. Bretn finds it distasteful but Onia absolutely hates it.
"That lying bastard! He loves money more than anything! Why would he turn down 20 stacs? He could rent his shitty office for the next six months with that money," Onia fud.
"I guess the rumors were wrong? Shocker," Ghaarsh chid in, still skeptical of the whole plan. He hadn’t been on board with this private investigator from the start. Before they arrived in Tumidus, they had discussed how to find Theia in such a large port city, and the best way seed to be hiring a local investigator.
From their research, Holen was a Lmore citizen who had moved out due to competition and found success in Tumidus. Rumor had it that he would take any job as long as the money was right.
"I don’t think the royal palace’s information is that inaccurate," Brent countered, denying Ghaarsh’s skepticism. They had obtained this information from royal spies, who were hardly ever wrong about what was happening in Lmore.
"Then why didn’t the guy work with us?" Bramon asked, still reading his book while listening in.
"I’ve been thinking about that," Brent said, his tone serious. "Why would a money-hungry private investigator turn us down when we had the money... and I have one conclusion. I think he was paid by soone else not to take our case."
"Tch, you city people and all your money," Ghaarsh muttered in disdain. This kind of monay motive confuse him the most.
"Who paid him? Reeva and my sister don’t have enough money unless they use the entire 100 stacs that Father gave them. And I don’t believe that idiot Reeva wouldn’t blow it all on gambling," Onia grumbled. It was well known that Reeva loved indulging in gambling and expensive restaurants.
"I know," Brent said, "I know that better than anyone. There must be sothing we’re missing…."
Brent was the one who had suspected Reeva of being a heretic, but this situation didn’t make sense. How could soone make such a smart decision when they’d been an idiot all their life? There had to be a change, sothing drastic.
"Body swap," Klad interrupted Brent with his answer. "Rember the news about the body-swapping heretic?"
Brent’s eyes widened while Onia gasped. Brent almost couldn’t believe he’d missed this possibility.
"That… does make a lot of sense."
"What? Do you actually believe that?" Ghaarsh scoffed. "That’s just a lie to control us. If we anger the Sun God, bam! You’re now a body-swapping heretic."
"Watch your mouth, jungle brat," Bramon snapped. Slandering the Sun God was not okay.
"Or what…?"
"Klad does have a point," Brent interjected before the situation could escalate. "The Church doesn’t need petty tricks like body-swapping heretics to control people—they could just declare any of us heretics and arrest us right now."
Ghaarsh wanted to argue, but Brent’s logic made sense.
"If Reeva got possessed by a heretic, that would explain a lot," Brent said, holding his breath for a mont before continuing. "Like how he managed to evade city surveillance or how he’s fine after suffering a Circle Break. There must be a heretic possessing his body."
"Then let’s bring this matter to the Church," Bramon suggested, more invested in the story now that it involved a possible heretic. However, Onia’s face shifted to an uncomfortable expression as she realized sothing.
"I think… we should go tomorrow," she said, unsure of herself.
"What? You don’t want to find your sister?" Bramon asked, confused by Onia’s sudden lack of enthusiasm. Everyone in the room could sense her hesitation, but no one wanted to address it directly.
"I an, we’ve just arrived and have been walking all day. Honestly, I’m a little tired," Onia said, standing up and leaving the room.
The others didn’t know what to say after that and decided to stay silent. Klad and Bramon eventually left for their room, leaving Brent and Ghaarsh alone in the double-bedroom hotel.
"Are we not going to find Theia anymore?"
Grash asked innocently, Brent stayed silent
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