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The fire crackled like paper being crushed into a ball. It charred the wood it danced upon, actively destroying its own stage the longer August kindled it. The smoke lifted into the fog, invisible at first glance. Yet the smell still tickled the gentleman’s nose.
The grass was dry and unpleasant to sit in, but it was preferable to the stale air of Prehevil. Not to mention the oppressive atmosphere warning of nearby danger. Or rather, the constant threat of something lunging at him from broad daylight, its moans indistinguishable from pleasure or pain.
At least August had found a nice clearing to relax in. It was unlikely that enemies would wander through this part of the woods, and whatever threats remaining could easily be shot down with an arrow or two. Still, it was good to be cautious.
August turned his gaze from the sparks of gold, the crunch of a leaf stealing his attention. He made no effort to grab his bow, however. He sighed, rising to his feet.
“I know someone is out there,” August called out, yawning. “And I have a pretty good hunch as to who you are.”
Nothing. It seemed whoever was hiding in the trees was adamant on dragging this out.
“If you have a weapon, I highly encourage you to drop it. No need to get ourselves into an altercation.”
A gale rusted the leaves of the clearing’s plant life. They seemed to answer for the hidden stranger, as the sound of clothes creasing was perfectly audible. No matter.
August tutted, shaking his head. “Alright, then. I’ll leave you be. ”
As he lowered his body to the grass, distant foliage snapped and bent beneath something heavy. The hidden contestant’s lean form left a shadow on the spiky grass, growing bigger and clearer. Within the dense trees, army green and knee high boots became bathed in sparse light, confirming to August as to who this unseen person was.
Pav crossed his arms, limbs held tightly against his body. His chin was turned towards the sky, eyes refusing to meet the gentleman’s as they stayed fixed to the side.
He stood on the other end of August’s campfire. Both remained in their own spot, the latter having returned to his former position. August looked up in amusement at the lieutenant. He had to bite the corner of his mouth to prevent a smile.
Pav huffed, hand on his hip with the other behind his neck. He strut forward, rounding the fire to seat himself right by August’s side, still not looking the other in the face. A lengthy sigh escaped Pav’s lips, body leaning back as his hands dug through the harsh green.
“…well? Aren’t you going to say something?”
August frowned, head tilted to the side. “What do you want me to say?”
“I don’t know! Something like- fuck-” Pav hid his face beneeth his cap. “Like why I was following you?”
“We all get lonely at times, I suppose.”
“You-!”
Rich laughter echoed throughout the forest as August struggled for breath, hand clutching his stomach for support. “I’m joking, I’m joking! Relax.”
Pav twisted his whole body away, limbs tense and ears flushed a bright red. His blonde locks, unkempt, were all that faced the other contestant as Pav muttered obscenities to himself.
August craned his neck, trying to examine the soldier’s face. But Pav, somehow, noticed and immediately jumped up. He paced back and forth, a hand guarding his expression from view. He was walking so fast that Pav stired the fog, tall boots stomping and mangaling dead leaves as August continued to watch.
The haze was growing thicker, and so it was more difficult to discern the other man as he began to mimic a blur. August lifted himself, legs planted firmly on the dull grass. He marched towards Pav and placed a hand on his shoulder, freezing the lieutenant in place.
August stepped in front of Pav, locking their gazes together with a silent command. Stern, gray eyes met their wild counterparts. Pav swatted the other’s palm away, hands gripping his own hips.
“If you’re not going to do anything useful, I might as well start tailing someone actually doing something.”
“What’s the point?” August breathed. “I doubt anyone is going to be useful soon enough.”
Pav’s frame finally relaxed, though a cautionary survey of August took its place. The lieutenant’s eyes darted to his head and pockets, landing on the lining of August’s suit.
August didn’t even have time to blink when he found Pav several feet behind him, the gentleman’s arrows in hand.
“What’s with the green glow?” Pav demanded, taking a step back when August advanced. “I’ve never seen arrows like these before…”
“You shouldn’t have.”
August continued forwards until Pav was backed into a tree, irises still trained on the other. Pav’s legs were bent, ready to flee if need be.
“If I am to deal with the Kaiser,” August drawled, near silent. “Then I’ll need those back.”
Pav raised a brow, eyes narrowed. He held the glimmering projectiles close to his chest. “Then tell me what you mean by ‘No one is going to be useful.’”
“It’s…”
August paused, fingers supporting his chin. Pav was another part of Termina, after all. So he supposed the man deserved an explanation. Still, he needed to ensure Pav wouldn’t do anything stupid given how jumpy he appeared to be.
“Hand me half of my ammunition, and I’ll tell you. Afterwards, you have to give everything back. Got it?”
Pav’s eyes searched for a trace of deception. He gave in, eventually, and did as directed.
August breathed, a long puff of air drawn from his lips as the information settled on his tongue. “Surely you have felt the moonlight before?”
Pav scoffed. “Where do you think I’ve been living, in a trench? Of course I have.”
“Then you have noticed how different it is here in Prehevil. How everything touched by it becomes… tainted.”
It seemed August’s limited knowledge of Rher and the gods of old still held their potency. As his explanation grew more and more lengthy, the lieutenant’s face changed accordingly. One moment Pav would be appalled, the next absolutely horrified. The gloved hand resting against his chest quivered ever so slightly.
“Wait, so,” Pav shuddered, shaking his head. “What you’re saying is, by nightfall we’ll… become one of them ?”
“Moonscorched, yes.”
Pav went pale, taking off his hat to smooth back golden hair, eyes weighed to the ground with knowledge humans shouldn’t have. The lieutenant had dropped the arrows without realizing.
August sighed. “We’re all running out of time. Soon, there'll be nothing left to do but to take part in the festivities.”
“…”
His eyes shook as they shut tight, brows and lips tensing into a pained expression. The soft inhales Pav took became loud and languid, each breath longer than the last.
“And when that happens,” Pav muttered, a glimpse of gray apparent beneath his eyelids. “What do you suppose we do?”
“…I have a knife stashed away.”
The lieutenant laughed, pitiful and small. “I’ve seen Breman and Eastern Union soldiers alike take their own lives before. Doesn’t seem too difficult.”
“It would be the kinder fate, I suppose.”
August, with a heavy sigh, retrieved his arrows and turned away, settling down at his campfire. Or at least, its charred remains. No flames curled around wood, flickering throughout the dense air that flanked the clearing. The area no longer seemed as calming as August once thought.
With the fire dead, a chilly breeze rustled the plant life, brushing past warm skin. It reminded August of what he set out here to do.
Becoming part of the festival of Termina had been expected. Hell, he had a whole backup plan in case that didn’t happen. Yet August had only managed to gather a meager amount of information, not even seeing the Yellow King himself. He hadn’t done a good job at concealing his goals either, for the one still pressed against bark had figured it out with a single gaze.
Where could the Kaiser be? Pav had encountered him at the Temple District- on the very first day, no less- and as soon as August left the soldier on the train, he ran straight there. Yet there were only malformed creatures on the streets of Prehevil.
August looked up at Pav. The lieutenant was tugging on the collar of his jacket, shuffling his weight as he refused to move. August wondered, for a moment, how he’d look without the Breman overalls. Instead fitted into something normal. Would Pav always wear his neckline that low? Would he swap out his boots for sneakers like that other soldier? A clear picture never came to mind.
“How long have you been in the Breman Army?”
Pav winced, as if struck. “Since the First Great War.”
He had been planning his vengeance for so long… poor lad.
“Why did you come to Prehevil?”
August hesitated, the words stuck in his throat. “The Kaiser is one of my reasons, you already know.”
“Then tell me something new.”
The gentleman frowned at this. “I can’t just divulge my whole mission. I have no reason to trust you.”
Pav’s face fell, the singular spark in his expression dead and somber. “And yet you didn’t deny wanting the Kaiser’s head?”
“…strong wording, but I guess so.”
“Well stop guessing, then!”
The lieutenant marched towards August and knelt down to his level, an accusatory hand shoving him back.
“And here I was, tailing you, thinking I’d finally figure out what you were up to!” Pav’s voice dropped to a low, sarcastic purr. “But I guess the big bad gentleman can’t decide who his prey is~”
August stood at the exact moment Pav did, exhausted. As he took a step to round the other, Pav got in the way and smirked. “Hm~? Tired of me already, old man?”
“I will be if you don’t move.”
Pav faltered, gaze trained on the green below them. His voice hitched as he snarled, low and quiet.
“Have it your way, August .”
The gentleman watched as the soldier strolled away, the smile Pav wore never gracing his eyes. He became obscured in fog as August let out a breath, fists unclenching. A small voice told him to reach out, the word “wait” ready to leap from his tongue. But August merely stood there, refusing to act.
August waited until the crunching of boots was inaudible before trudging down the clearing himself, wanting to be sure that Pav was nowhere to be found. And like he said himself, they were running out of time.
How was it Day 3 already?
He needed to be productive, despite the urge to stay being stronger than his will to carry on at that point.
Pav’s attitude was sure to get him killed. The way he held himself, head high and tone sardonic was proof enough of that. Hell, it wouldn’t be a surprise to find another wound tearing into Pav’s body. Yet, if that were to happen, it would be a mercy just to let him bleed out.
August couldn’t get attached to anyone. Despite that, he always found himself helping contestants that were near death. Pav just happened to be the first.