-Sar’en-
The Hunters had a late start on their second day, with Jarou having slept in again and Kuro getting caught up listening to a conversation between Rel and Vel. Once Jarou finally peeled him away from the conversation, the two decided to visit Enne Reil’anum’s household first - mostly because it was the closer of the two remaining houses to visit. The Reil’anum manor was near the Western wall of the city. Getting there was as simple as going down near the Pilgrim’s Gate, and heading South for roughly ten minutes.
It was a lavish building, built not unlike a castle. The front of the building alone had nearly twenty windows between its two floors. Lady Reil’anum was often referred to as the most prolific of the Eight Lords, having by far the most children. She also had the largest number of noble families in her employ, and liked to keep as many of them at her house as possible. Kuro could imagine a lot of the noble’s duties involving caring for her various children.
One of the noble’s at the house answered the door, a young child hiding at her legs. She was a kindly older woman, with a portly figure and light brown hair that she tied in a bun. “Oh, welcome Hunters,” she said, patting the child on the head as they fidgeted, “What can we help you with?”
Jarou explained this time. “We were hoping to speak with Lady Reil’anum about the recent threat made against the Lords by a Necromancer. Is she in today? Or is there anyone here who may know anything?”
“Oh, unfortunately the Lady is not home. Have you heard that Lord Ten’anum disappeared the other day? She’s gone to investigate his disappearance. I do recall hearing that she’d made a breakthrough about that Necromancer business shortly before we received word about Ten’anum’s disappearance.”
“I see, did she by chance say when she’d be coming back?” Jarou asked.
“I believe she should be back tomorrow around midday. If you show up then, she’d probably be able to sit down and have a meeting with you two.”
“That’s not ideal, but it will have to work. Thank you for your help,” Jarou said with a short bow, which Kuro mimicked.
The woman returned the gesture and thanked them for stopping by, before gently pushing the child at her legs back inside so she could close the door.
“Well that was a bust,” Kuro said as they exited the property back onto the main street. “Where to next?”
“The last Lord we haven’t at least tried to contact is Sar’en Yun’anum. I’m not terribly comfortable with Lord Yun’anum. Would you mind doing the talking there? It may even be best if you go in alone.”
Kuro looked at him, confused. “I mean, sure, I can. Any particular reason why?”
Jarou shrugged, “I just always get the impression the Lord doesn’t like me for some reason. He seemed to get along well enough with the other Clans’ Chosen, so I’m not sure what it is about me that he doesn’t like.”
Kuro accepted that explanation, and the two began the journey to the Yun’anum household.
It was clear on the other end of the city, and they ended up stopping for lunch on their way there. Much like Lord Er’anum’s home, the Yun’anum complex was situated a stone’s throw from one of the city’s massive gates. Unlike Er’anum, or any of the other Lords for that matter, Yun’anum’s “home” was an entire city block of buildings. The actual mansion the Lord lived in was at the center, surrounded by other houses and office buildings. Entering this complex felt like entering a different city entirely. Some of the office buildings stretched as high as seven floors. There were even restaurants and grocers within the complex, all run by noble families in Yun’anum’s employ.
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Coming to the center of the mini city, they were met with the stunning view of House Yun’anum: an impressively large house constructed from large, light gray stone bricks, which Kuro was able to recognize likely came from Quarry. The house also featured large, floor-to-ceiling windows on all three floors. The windows near the entrance spanned all three windows, and Kuro could see from outside that the entrance hall formed an impressive atrium.
Kuro approached the front door alone, leaving Jarou at the bottom of the steps that lead to the door. After ringing the doorbell, a young woman with pinkish hair, tied in a high ponytail answered the door. Maybe only two or three years older than Kuro, she had a cute, lady-like appearance and was dressed in a soft blue dress. “Oh, a Hunter! Welcome, what can we do for you?”
Kuro was surprised at her apparent excitement at seeing a Hunter at her door. The various Lords and Nobles welcomed them with kindness and respect, but never excitement. “Hello, I was hoping I could speak with Lord Yun’anum. I am investigating the Necromancer that recently publicly threatened the Eight Lords, and wanted to see if I could get any information from him.”
Her expression changed slightly, but she responded in the same tone. “Oh, father is currently in a meeting, but he should be free in a few minutes. Would you like to come in to wait? I can go let him know you’re here..” She opened the door a little wider in a gesture to invite Kuro inside.
“That would be nice, thank you.”
She smiled at him while he stepped inside. He couldn’t help but look up, admiring the impressive atrium formed by open walkways on the higher floors. The young woman led him to a sitting room a little further into the house, passing through the first hallway. The interior was mostly whites and grays, making the red velvet chairs and sofa in the sitting room a refreshing splash of color. The walls felt barren, with only a single painting of the old royal palace above the fireplace being the only decoration in the room. She had him sit on the couch, before scampering off to fetch the Lord.
She came back moments later, and reported “He said he’ll be here in about fifteen minutes, is that okay?”
Kuro nodded, “Of course, I’m in no rush.”
She nodded, then looked around the room, fidgeting a little, before finally speaking again, “You’re a Hunter, at such a young age?”
Kuro nodded again, “That’s right. Though, I’m technically still an apprentice right now.”
“Even then, you probably have some fun stories to tell, right?”
“I suppose so,” Kuro said, putting a hand on his chin and looking toward her. She had an excited, expectant look on her face that told him she wanted to hear some of his stories. He decided to tell her about the last time he’d hunted a Necromancer a few months back. It didn’t involve as in-depth an investigation as he was doing now, but the battle had been an intense one. He couldn’t help but muse about his thoughts on Gold Port, which is where the hunt took place, as it was his first time there.
She seemed excited to be hearing about his experience, listening intently with bright eyes. “Would you like to hear another story?” He asked after he finished. She didn’t get a chance to answer, however, as the door to the sitting room opened loudly and abruptly.
“Seres, please leave us to discuss.” Lord Yun’anum, a large man, more round than his brothers, said sternly. Before she had a chance to object, he raised a hand, “I don’t want to hear it. You know I don’t want you associating with these people. Go to your rooms until he has left.” Dejected, the young woman stood and walked out of the room. Kuro narrowed his eyes a little at the Lord’s last statement. It seemed this Lord was not fond of Hunters in general.
The older man sat down in one of the chairs, and propped his head on his hand. “So, out with it. What do you want from me?”
“My name is Ku-” Kuro began, but was interrupted.
“I know what you are, I don’t need to know you are as well. Get on with it, I’m a busy man.”
Fine then. “I’m investigating the Necromancer who recently threatened you and the other Lords. I’m hoping to find out who they are targeting, and if at all possible, who they are and what other combat capabilities they may have.”
“I have no information to give you. And even if I did, I probably wouldn’t go to your clan for help with it either. If that is all, I have other business to attend to.” He stood, heaving himself out of his chair with a small groan. “Good day, sir. See yourself out.” Reil’anum walked out of the sitting room, not even giving Kuro another chance to speak.
What a rude man. Kuro knew from first hand experience that not everybody respected the Hunters, or even Half-demons in general. Many even despised them. But never had he been so thoroughly, and straightforwardly been disrespected like that. It irked him, but he swallowed his frustration and walked himself to the entrance. He saw Seres in the hallway, who silently slipped him a note as they walked past each other. He waited until he was outside to open it. It was a note simply apologizing for her father’s rude behavior, and thanking him for telling her stories of his adventures.
“How did it go?” Jarou asked as they regrouped, walking back towards where they entered the complex.
“Poorly,” Kuro said, tucking the note into one of his jacket pockets. “I think he may just hate Hunters and the Tsumi in general.” He recounted the encounter, brief as it was, to Jarou. The two agreed that the Lord’s behavior wasn’t a little suspicious, and decided to call it a day for their investigation.
