After parting ways with Ezra, Arsh quickly returned to the manor. Today luckly was one of the days Professor Reiner was at home. Usually he was in the glasshouse at this hour. As Arsh headed that way, he ran into Madam Hilda.
"Arsh, where are the things you bought? Weren't you supposed to go grocery shopping?" she asked.
"Madam Hilda, I need to see the Professor right away. I'm sorry, I couldn't do the shopping," Arsh said, passing her with quick steps.
When he entered the glasshouse, he found the Professor tending to his plants as usual. He was gently picking the petals of a flower and put them into a jar. At the sound of the door, the Professor turned his gaze toward Arsh.
"Arsh, have you returned?" he asked with his usual gentle smile. However, when he saw the expression on Arsh's face, his tone changed. "Did something happened?"
"Professor Reiner... there is something I need to tell you. To be honest, I did something without your knowledge," Arsh said.
Professor Reiner's face grew serious when he heard Arsh. He pulled off his gloves and approached him.
"I told you not to go seeking revenge on your own. What have you done?"
"No... no. It isn't about that... Do you remember the thief Herman has been chasing? I found him," Arsh said. Although Professor Reiner's tension eased slightly, he continued to listen with a serious expression.
Arsh told him about Ezra's ability, the children, and the real reasons behind his thefts. Although he hesitated for a moment, he also told him that he planned to ask for Ezra's help about research center in Hals. After Arsh finished speaking, Reiner spoke following a brief silence.
"Arsh, you did well. But I told you—do not act on your own. I understand your intentions. However, if something had happened to you, it would have taken us a long time to find you. If this man had been truly dangerous, I doubt you would have made it out alive. Moving alone is risky."
Professor Reiner was right. If it had been someone other than Ezra, he would have been dead by now. After all, the man had approached him without making a sound and held a knife to his throat.
"However, Professor Reiner… I gave him my word. You won't go after him, will you?" Arsh asked.
"Alright, we'll do it your way. If he is the kind of man you describe, he won't continue stealing once we have taken care of the children. Besides, the people he stole from have plenty of money to make up for the loss. In my opinion, the police chief can tolerate the grumbling of the wealthy for once. It will be forgotten after a while anyway. I'll speak with Herman, don't worry," the Professor said.
...
It didn't take long for Professor Reiner to send a few telegrams and make the necessary arrangements. Before long, they were on their way. They headed to the ruined neighborhood following Arsh's directions.
As the carriage traveled through the streets, it jolted constantly because of the potholes. It was obvious from the state of the roads—and the looks on the faces of the residents—that the people of this neighborhood were not used to seeing a carriage in these streets. Women pulled their children out of the way, and people watched them with curious stares as they moved slowly along.
When they finally arrived in front of the single-story house, the old woman Arsh had seen that morning appeared at the door. From her swollen, red eyes, it was clear she had continued to weep even after he had left. Arsh thought it must be difficult to say goodbye to children she had looked after for so long.
After a brief greeting, the woman let them inside without saying much. Unlike this morning, the children had stopped playing and were all sitting together on one of the beds, watching the strangers with eyes full of fear. The children who had been lying ill earlier were also watching them now, in a semi-conscious state.
Professor Reiner slowly approached them without frightening them. He ran his hands gently over an open wound on one of the children's shoulders. Then, with the old woman's help, he checked the wounds of the other three who were unable to get out of their beds.
Meanwhile, Arsh and Walter, who had come along with them, were talking to the other children, trying to soothe their fears. When Professor Reiner finished his examination, he signaled for the two of them to come into the hallway.
"I will take the children in critical condition and go to the orphanage first. I have already informed them that we are coming. Their condition is not good, they need immediate treatment. Arsh, come with me. You can come back later with other caariages to pick up the other children. Walter, you stay here in the meantime" he said.
The process was handled quickly after that. When night fell, Arsh returned home, but this time Mes headed to the orphanage with the supplies that Professor Reiner requested.
The night continued in a state of complete chaos.
…
The next day, when Arsh went back to the orphanage to help out, Herman was there too. Arsh could tell from the look on his face that he had questions he wanted to ask. From what he understood, Professor Reiner had told him not to press Arsh. Still, the moment they were out of Reiner's sight, Mr. Herman followed after him.
"Hey, Arsh... I heard you found our famous thief... hmm. But you didn't tell me anything... Anyway, I won't say anything this time. I heard you're going to meet him again. When is it?"
Arsh looked at him with a questioning gaze.
"I'm not going to follow you, I'm just asking... You're not going to tell me, are you?" he said, rubbing his temples.
"Anyway, tell him to stay away from the city for a while after. If he wants to keep robbing the wealthy, it would be better for both him and us if he took a break for a bit," he said.
Arsh wasn't sure exactly how much pressure Herman was under, but the dark circles under his eyes made his exhaustion obvious. After the latest robbery, every newspaper had covered the story and accused the police of incompetence. Although Herman usually appeared energetic, it was clear that the last few days had truly taken a toll on him.
Even though he felt a bit sorry for him, there was nothing he could do to help. For now, Ezra would have no reason to trouble the police.
In the late afternoon, Arsh went to the park where he had agreed to meet Ezra. He found an empty bench near the statue and began to wait. Since it was a mild evening, the area was quite crowded. Many couples and families were strolling through the park, sitting on benches, or playing games. After watching people for a while, Arsh noticed someone sit down beside him, but he didn't feel the need to turn and look.
It was only after a little while, when the man sitting next to him started speaking, that Arsh realized who he was.
"I wasn't sure if they would send someone to follow you. But it seems they really didn't. The man you brought with you yesterday to pick up the children was quite powerful."
"Were you there yesterday?"
"I went back and spent some time with the children after you left. I was there when you arrived, too. I had to see for myself if you would keep your word, and I needed to see these people up close. That man you called Professor Reiner... even though he saw me, he pretended not to."
Arsh didn't have a clear idea of just how powerful Professor Reiner was. The others had only mentioned a few times that his healing abilities were top-tier.
"The children have been settled in, just as you requested. Professor Reiner is a healer, and he is personally looking after them. He said they are already doing better. Three of the children don't have any siuni. They will be moved to another orphanage later. They won't lack for anything and will be protected. They asked me to pass this on to you."
"Thanks... pass my gratitude on to them."
"I will."
"Now, tell me what you want from me."
Arsh told him about Professor Millway and the research centers in Hals. What he wanted was for Ezra to gather any information he could find there and find the translations. He described the kind of things that would likely be written in them so Ezra could recognize them. He also explained the information he had received from Bera. Security was tight, and it seemed there were many people with siuni in the building, including the staff and the guards.
"It can be dangerous. You don't have to do it if you don't want to. Regardless, those children will remain under protection even if you don't help us," Arsh said.
"I won't know what I'm capable of until I go there and see it with my own eyes. You don't know what kind of siuni the other side has, do you? It's impossible to know without coming face to face. As long as I don't run into someone like Professor Reiner, I think I have a chance of getting inside without being noticed."
Arsh tried to look at the man's face for a moment, but all he could see were those blue eyes. Instead of the handsome man he had seen before, he saw a blurred face once again.
"How do you do that? I'm having trouble remembering your face."
"Didn't they teach you that you shouldn't ask someone about their siuni?" Ezra said. Even if it wasn't clear from his face, you could tell he was smiling by his eyes.
"I was trying not to ask directly."
"You're not very good at beating around the bush..."
"I know... Actually, I think I understand your ability. I just can't put a name to it. You aren't invisible or anything. I can see you. But your presence is so faint. I don't notice you approaching or passing by me. I can't even remember your voice or your face. I see you, but I feel like I don't truly see you."
"Hmm... I'm just blending in. I'm here, but no one sees me. Even if I somehow catch their attention and we make eye contact, they just pass me by as if they aren't even aware of my existence. A piece of furniture in a room, any random person on the street, maybe a tree in the park, or a pebble on the road—whatever they are, that's what I am... But you saw me, didn't you? You don't seem that powerful, so I'm curious, how?"
"I don't know. I really don't. Maybe it's related to my siuni."
"What is your siuni? Right... I shouldn't have asked. Let me guess. Is it something that helps you track people?"
"Something like that."
"You managed to find me somehow, too. So, does that mean you can find me no matter where I go?"
Arsh thought for a while. He wasn't sure. Even though he'd had a chance to see Ezra's face clearly before, the memory of it was now a blur in his mind again. He wasn't even certain how he had managed to find him in the first place.
"...If I can remember your face... then yes, I can find you. Can I see your face again?"
"That's a bit scary. It's like you're my natural enemy."
"Are you not going to show your face?"
"There's no benefit in that for me."
"You never know. I could find you when you need help."
Ezra threw his head back and laughed. But no one around them even turned to look. It was as if no one had heard him.
Then he looked into Arsh's eyes. All Arsh could see were those sharp blue eyes.
"I have nothing to lose. Let's see if I'm inviting trouble into my life," Ezra said.