When they reach the Fiti River, Saigid is... mildly surprised. Not only are people here surprisingly normal, but the evacuation organization is... quite orderly. As if being brainwashed doesn't have much of an effect on their ability to build tents and hand out water bottles.
Saigid can't help but be puzzled as he glances around.
"Either these people are just... built different," Saigid comments dryly, glancing between the tents and emergency supplies. "Or that suggestion really doesn't make a damn difference."
He glances toward the river, eyes searching the riverbank for any sign of Yushai. "Where is he... ?"
Saigid frowns as he realizes that Yushai is, unsurprisingly, nowhere to be seen.
"You're joking," he says flatly, looking around the area. "He's already off running hell knows where and expecting us to find him."
He glances back to Lyutich and Kakhach. "Of course he is... why did I think that man would stay where he was told?"
Saigid's phone is ringing. Hanchu's name appears on the screen.
Saigid answers the call immediately, putting Hanchu on speaker so Lyutich and Kakhach can hear.
"Hanchu," he says sharply, voice edged with impatience. "Tell me you know where Yushai ran off to."
...Please don't say he's gone off chasing another damn disaster alone.
Hanchu doesn't answer. A tense silence blew around.
Saigid' grip on the phone tightens, his jaw clenching.
"Hanchu," he repeats, voice dangerously low. "If this is some kind of joke—answer me."
A beat. Then another. Still nothing.
He exhales sharply through his nose, the first flicker of actual worry curling in his chest before he smothers it with irritation.
He looks at Lyutich and Kakhach, eyes sharpening with restless energy.
"I do not know where he is..." he said softly, "I thought he was with you next to the river."
Saigid' expression darkens, his knuckles whitening around the phone.
"I am right beside the river," he bites out, voice edged so roughly it's almost a growl. "And he's not here."
"What are you yelling at me for? Call Yushai yourself, ask him where he is," offended, Hanchu hangs up.
Saigid lets out a string of sharp curses, his eyes flashing with irritation.
"Typical," he mutters through clenched teeth. "Never around when I actually need him."
He pulls up Yushai's contact and dials, waiting as it rings.
"Come on," he mutters, drumming his fingers against his leg with restless impatience. "Pick up, idiot."
"I'm listening"
The moment Yushai's voice comes through, Saigid cuts in—sharp, tense.
"Where are you?" he demands. "We're at the river—no sign of you."
A pause. Then, quieter: "...And I'm not running after your reckless ass if you've wandered into another mess."
"Is that all?"
Saigid grits his teeth, frustration flaring through him at Yushai's cavalier response.
"No,that is not all," he snaps. "Tell me where you're at—now, idiot. Or I'm coming to find you myself."
Saigid exhales deeply, his eyes closing for a moment as he struggles to keep his temper in check.
"And you're missing," he counters, voice low and sharp. "Circumstances have changed. Now tell me where you are so I can come get your reckless ass out of whatever mess you've gotten into this time."
"No"
It's all Saigid can do not to throw the phone in frustration. He closes his eyes a moment, jaw clenched tight.
"No...?" he repeats, voice dangerously low. "You... are kidding me. That's your response? A simple 'no'? You're off on some suicidal mission and I'm just supposed to sit here and hope you don't get yourself killed?"
"Then don't," and with that, Yushai hangs up.
Saigid stares at the disconnected call, stunned into silence for all of two seconds before pure frustration erupts.
He barely resists the urge to hurl his phone into the river—only because he needs it—and instead lets out a sharp breath through gritted teeth.
"That stubborn, infuriating little—!" He cuts himself off with a growl, shaking his head before turning on Lyutich and Kakhach. "We're tracking him down," he says flatly, already moving toward the treeline. "Now."