Chapter 38 Continuing the Search for Information
Dareth’s POV
The market slowly faded behind me, but the conversation from earlier still clung to my mind like a voice that refused to disappear. Too many fragments clashing against each other. Too many possibilities that didn’t fully align. And the most troubling part… none of them gave a definite answer.
Althea left. That much I could almost confirm now. Not just taken by force. There was a choice there. A decision. But that decision didn’t stand on its own. There was always something pushing a person far enough to take that step.
Medicine.
Pregnancy.
Black Hollow.
Those three things circled in my head, connected but never forming a straight line.
My steps remained steady, unhurried, even though my direction was now clear. I left the main market area, moving into a narrower path where houses began to replace rows of stalls. This area was quieter. Not as crowded as the market center, but still alive. Children ran along the roadside, a few women chatted in front of their homes, and the faint scent of cooking drifted through the air.
A residential area.
The address I had gotten earlier resurfaced in my mind. Not specific. Just a rough indication of where Althea’s family lived. Not enough to find the exact house… but enough to bring me here.
I slowed my pace. Observing. Absorbing.
If something significant had happened here—the disappearance of a pack member, especially tied to rumors like these—then the traces wouldn’t completely vanish. Something would remain. In conversations. In the way people moved. In the atmosphere.
And I saw it.
Some houses looked normal. But further ahead… there was one spot that stood out.
More crowded.
People going in and out. Not like a normal visit.
My steps shifted slightly, moving closer without drawing attention.
But before I could get any nearer, the sky that had been cloudy finally broke. Rain poured down without warning. Heavy. Fast. Within seconds, the ground turned wet, and the sound of rain hitting rooftops filled the air.
I clicked my tongue softly.
Damn.
The best option now wasn’t to push forward in the rain like someone suspicious. I needed a reason to stop.
And my eyes immediately caught the perfect place.
A small roadside stall. Not big. But enough to take shelter. A dim yellow lamp hung in front, and inside there was only one long table with several wooden benches.
A coffee stall.
I stepped in without hesitation.
The atmosphere inside was warm, a sharp contrast to the cold air outside. The scent of tea and coffee greeted me instantly. There were no other customers. Just a middle-aged woman behind the counter, pouring something into a cup.
She lifted her head when I entered.
Her gaze assessed me quickly. Then softened.
“Heavy rain,” she said casually.
I nodded slightly. “Came down faster than I expected.”
“Stay here until it eases up,” she continued. “What would you like?”
“Hot tea,” I replied.
She nodded and began preparing it without much conversation.
I took a seat facing outward. From where I sat, I could still see the house that had caught my attention earlier. People were still coming and going despite the rain. Some even ran lightly to avoid getting soaked, but they still headed toward that house.
Interesting.
The woman placed the cup in front of me. Steam rose gently, carrying a calming aroma.
I took it, letting the warmth seep into my palm before taking a small sip.
Then, as if making small talk, I gestured outside. I was sure this woman would be easy enough to draw information from.
“That house… who does it belong to? It’s quite crowded. Someone from the palace?” I asked casually.
She followed my gaze, then let out a quiet sigh.
“That’s a family going through a misfortune,” she said.
I tilted my head slightly. “Misfortune?”
She nodded. “Their daughter is missing. It’s been a month.”
I widened my eyes just a bit. Enough to look surprised, but not excessive.
“Really?”
“Mm.” She leaned slightly against the table. “A girl. Her name is Althea.”
Inside, I held my breath.
Bingo.
I looked back at the house, as if just realizing.
“That’s unfortunate,” I muttered. “I just passed by. Didn’t know something like that happened.”
“You’re not from here?” she asked.
I shook my head. “From near the border. Don’t come to the central area often.”
She nodded, as if it made sense.
“No wonder,” she said. “News like this spreads fast here.”
I took another sip of tea. “How did she go missing?”
The woman paused for a moment, choosing her words.
“Last seen heading north,” she said finally. “Then she never came back.”
I nodded slowly.
A short explanation. Enough.
“And now…” she continued, glancing at the house, “…everyone’s coming. Either to help, or just out of curiosity.”
I followed her gaze.
“No one knows for sure?” I asked.
“No,” she answered. “Only guesses.”
Silence lingered for a moment. The rain still poured heavily outside. Then the woman spoke again, her tone shifting slightly.
“The unfortunate one… isn’t just her.”
I turned to her.
“What do you mean?”
She looked at me briefly, then said softly, “Her older sibling.”
I frowned slightly. “Her sibling?”
“Yes,” she said. “Now they’re the talk of the town.”
“Why?” I asked.
The woman exhaled. “Because of their condition.”
I waited. She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
“Sick,” she said shortly.
That piece clicked into place in my head.
“For a long time?” I asked.
She nodded. “For a while. But recently it’s gotten worse.”
I leaned back slightly. “And people are linking it to Althea’s disappearance?” I guessed.
“People always connect everything to anything,” she replied flatly.
I gave a faint smile.
“So what actually happened?” I asked.
She looked at me again. Longer this time. As if deciding whether I deserved to hear more.
Then she said, “A few days before she disappeared… Althea came here often.”
I leaned forward slightly.
“Here?”
She nodded. “To buy herbal medicine.”
“What kind?”
“For body aches. Headaches. Fever.”
I froze for a moment.
Fever. Illness.
That hadn’t been mentioned before.
“Really?” I asked, keeping my tone casual.
She nodded. “Her face was pale. Sometimes she had cold sweats. But she never talked much.”
“Didn’t she go to a healer?” I asked.
“Not right away,” she replied. “That’s why she bought the herbs first. Said it was just exhaustion.”
I nodded slowly. That didn’t make sense if it was just exhaustion. Or… she was hiding something.
“Did she come alone?” I asked again.
“Always,” she said. “And in a hurry.”
I looked outside again. The rain was starting to ease. My thoughts moved quickly.
Althea was sick. Feverish. But still moving. Still going places. Even toward the border. That wasn’t the condition of someone stable. That was the condition of someone… desperate.
“Did she look scared?” I asked quietly.
The woman thought for a moment.
“Not scared,” she said. “More like… pressured.”
I didn’t respond immediately.
Pressured.
Yes.
That fit better.
“And then?” I asked.
She looked at me again. This time more serious.
“Yesterday,” she said softly, “her family managed to find someone.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly.
“Who?”
“An old healer Althea supposedly visited.”
I didn’t move. But my entire focus shifted there.
“From where?” I asked.
“From outside the territory,” she answered. “Hasn’t been seen here in a long time.”
That made sense.
If they were looking for answers, they’d go to someone who knew more.
“They brought him to that house?” I asked, pointing outside, pretending to be intrigued.
She nodded.
I swallowed slowly. This was a key point.
“And?” I asked.
The woman didn’t answer immediately. She looked at the cup in her hand. Then outside.
The rain had almost stopped now. The outside view became clearer. And when she finally spoke, her voice was lower than before.
“The result… wasn’t what they expected.”
I didn’t blink.
“What do you mean?”
She lifted her gaze. Looked straight at me. Then said,
“Althea… had gone to that healer before to terminate her pregnancy.”
My eyes widened. “What?”