A voice rang out. "Halt! Don't move until we verify who you are!"

Reinhard looked ahead to see three figures emerging from the village gates.

A woman walked at the center, her violet eyes scanning them beneath short black curls that framed her face like dark waves. Her coat with belts, buckles, and strategic straps hugged her frame and went down to the knees.

Beneath it, leather pants disappeared into thigh-high polished boots, and gloved hands ended where sleeve cuffs began. Sunlight caught the silver insignia on her arm of a crow with wings spread wide, backed by crossed swords. A necklace-earring hung from her right ear, swaying with movement, with two rings adorned her fingers, and catching light as her hands moved.

The two men flanking her wore similar uniforms with coats cut low, crisscrossed with belts, one carrying a silver-clasped pouch. Their white shirts and narrow ties peeked from beneath black layers, while swords hung ready but sheathed at their sides.

The woman walked closer and as she opened her mouth to speak.

"Amiya, is that you?" Janus said with excitement, with a grin spread across his face. "It's me, Janus!"

Amiya stopped before she blinked, before tilting her head. Then she leaned forward, squinting slightly as if doubting her vision, and then her eyes widened suddenly in shock.

The two men beside her trembled before their mouths fell open simultaneously. All three spoke together, voices overlapping in disbelief. "Janus? It really is you!?"

One man stepped forward, his expression shifting rapidly between relief and exasperation. "Where have you been! The Mayor has been worried sick about you for months, to the point that the rest of us had to suffer."

Janus chuckled nervously, his hand coming up to rub the back of his neck before he gestured to Reinhard and the others. "These are my teammates from the academy. Reinhard, Marie, Joseph, and Brunhilde."

He launched into explanation, words tumbling out quickly. "The academy wouldn't let me come back alone, not with reports that the forest has gotten even more dangerous. But when these guys pushed forth a mission to come here, the academy added me on and here."

Amiya sighed, though a smile tugged at her lips, and she nodded. "That was smart of them. The forest has gotten more dangerous to the point where we had to stop the Naraku people from hunting animals anymore."

Janus's eyes widened. "It's that bad..." Then his gaze swept over their uniforms. "Wait, what's up with the clothing? Don't tell me you guys-"

One man nodded enthusiastically, pride evident in his posture. "We became Seekers!"

The other man's grin widened. "We were recruited by the Ancestor Vlad!"

Janus' jaw dropped in shock, while disbelief appeared on his expression, and near him, Brunhilde blinked in surprise.

"Then Vlad must have seen a lot of potential in you." Brunhilde said with a chuckle. "I heard he rarely takes an interest in others."

Amiya blushed before looking away and then said quietly. "He was just being nice to us, that's all."

The two male Seekers burst into laughter, immediately leaning toward Amiya with knowing grins and teasing expressions. She turned her glare on them while Janus laughed, his body relaxing and his shoulder slumping.

Janus sighed with a faint smile. "Ahh, I missed this."

"Anyway, let's enter. Staying out here isn't good." Amiya said, with the other two Seekers nodding.

The bone spears sank back into the ground before they all began walking towards the town gate.

Amiya continued moving with her Seeker coat swaying with each step, the crow insignia catching sunlight. "We're still Inquisitors in training, but we were given tasks."

One of the male Seekers fell into step beside her, his hand resting casually on his sword hilt. "We're guarding and watching over Naraku Town."

Janus's eyes widened, his orange gaze darting between them. "The Mayor allowed it? I thought he disliked the Seekers?"

Amiya nodded, a sigh escaping her lips as her curly black hair shifted with the motion. "He does, but he cares more about the town's wellbeing than any grudge. So he made a deal with Ancestor Vlad to allow Seekers inside the towns if they act as guards and protectors."

The village unfolded around them as they walked. Wooden buildings on the packed dirt streets with smoke rising from chimneys, carrying the scent of cooking fires.

Children's laughter echoed from somewhere nearby.

Janus's expression softened. "Where is Mayor Nigen at?"

"The place he's always been in the Inn." Amiya's violet eyes gleamed with amusement. "Although I'm sure he'll be in for a surprise if the others haven't already told him you're back. I already saw some of them rushing after seeing you."

Janus laughed. "They probably won't say anything but wait at the Inn to see the shock on Nigen's face when I arrive."

Amiya and the other two Seekers burst into laughter, nodding agreement. Reinhard glanced around before inwardly nodding as he could see why the years and distance didn't break the bond between the three.

In a small town, he was sure these three had constantly played and done everything together for years.

But then Janus's expression shifted as his brows furrowed as he glanced back at Reinhard and the others. Reinhard raised a brow when he saw worry appear on Janus' face and him tensing his shoulder.

Is he not happy to meet his dad? Or could it be that his dad might have a conflict with us? Reinhard thought.

Marie caught on instantly, with a smile spread across her face, she stepped forward and flicked Janus's forehead with one finger.

"Ow!" Janus blinked, hand coming up to rub the spot.

"Why are you worrying?" Marie asked. "Go spend time with your dad. We'll be fine."

Understanding dawned on Reinhard and the others.

Joseph nodded, bright green eyes encouraging, Brunhilde smiled at him, and Reinhard gave him a thumbs up.

Janus frowned, his hand dropping from his forehead. "But you guys need a guide in the forest. I want to help after you-"

Joseph chuckled, cutting him off gently. "It's fine, Janus. We're only going to check the direction of the signature and come back."

Janus blinked before he nodded slowly, and then another concern surfaced. "But that means you're delaying your mission because of me..."

Before anyone could respond, Amiya spoke up. "It seems your team needs a guide?" Her violet eyes swept across the group. "If so, I can help guide them through the forest while you spend time with Nigen."

Janus turned to her, surprise evident. "But don't you need to watch over the-"

The two male Seekers waved dismissively, grins spreading across their faces. "It's fine. The two are more than enough to watch over everything. Besides, Amiya isn't much help since we can do it all by ourselves."

Amiya smiled, though her eyes promised retribution later. "Ignoring what these two fools said, the town will be fine without me. There are some other strong people here."

Reinhard blinked at those words, his gaze shifting to Brunhilde, who caught his eye, and then she nodded. Reinhard inwardly hummed as he was surprised there were other Beast Masters in this town.

Janus nodded reluctantly. "Okay, but please be careful."

Amiya rolled her eyes and then smiled. "Oh, just shut up and go, you worrywart. Even with the months passing, you still haven't changed."

Janus laughed again before departing, his black-blue coat disappearing between buildings as he headed toward the Inn.

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