Page 168 of A Soul to Touch

There was nothing there.

That’s odd. I expected them to respond to me this time.

The guild had never responded to a single message from her. However, with the fact they’d kept her pigeon for a month when usually they’d return him sooner, Mayumi had been expecting correspondence.

“Did you lose it?” Mayumi asked as she scratched her fingertip against the front of his neck before going up the side. “You were gone a long time, so did you not come home straight away?”

It wouldn’t be the first time her pigeon had taken its sweet time returning.

Mayumi turned to her front door and then paused at it, the weight of her pigeon seeming heavier than normal.

Maybe I should go back,she thought as she stared at the distressed timber of the outside wall.I could go through with the procedure and return to my rank. They said I could return at any time if I chose it.

It would be better than sitting in this cold, empty house by herself once Faunus was gone. Her house was becoming a tomb of painful memories.

Her mother’s coy, brash laughter was gone. Her father’s stern but protective gaze was gone. And already Faunus’ radiating personality was dimming.

What would she do here? Drink herself stupid and lay in the dark thinking of all the fond memories she had of all the people who no longer existed?

Her mind would decay.

Once her mind was made up, she pushed her door open.

I’ll go back. I’d rather that.

So lost in thought, Mayumi didn’t hear the crunching footsteps entering her clearing until it was too late.

“You’re becoming negligent after being away from the guild so long,” a familiar, deep voice stated. “You even let us sneak up on you, Mayumi.”

Her sudden spinning around spooked her pigeon, who flew off to the side before going into the air. Her door naturally slammed closed behind her.

Mayumi’s eyes scanned over the five men and four women clad in black Demonslayer uniforms, each of them bearing a golden crest on their uniforms.

“Elders?” Mayumi asked with her brows furrowing before her gaze finally landed on one additional person. It narrowed at the medallion glinting against their chest. “And Head Elder, Cordon Hansley?”

Resting neatly over his Demonslayer insignia etched into his uniform, the medallion caught the bright sunlight showeringinto the clearing. The big chain links reached a round, golden medal that had a sparkling black crystal in the centre. It was polished from chain links to stone, all of it glinting.

“Long time no see,” Cordon said as he bowed his head slightly. Not far, just enough to show his respect. “Your father almost took my position, and I worried for a long time that you would do so as well, considering you are so much like him.”

His voice was light and filled with humour, but the way his head reared back and stood high showed his obvious superiority. His eyes were hard, unfeeling, and she’d always thought they appeared hostile – like he expected a Demon to burst through the chest of every person he passed.

Mayumi strode a few steps forward until she was standing at the very edge of her porch. She folded her arms across her chest.

“What are you all doing here?” The suspicion in her tone was unmistakable.

These were the last people she wanted to see here. She was currently harbouring a Duskwalker in her home, one who was injured and most likely unable to fight for himself.

Stay inside, Faunus.She knew he would be listening andwilledhim to stay hidden.I’ll get rid of them.

It was impossible to see their faces under their black hoods and masks to the point Mayumi struggled to make out who was who. There were more Elder members than this for the northern sector. Three times as many, in fact.

“Are we not allowed to visit?” Cordon asked.

“We told you we may return at any point to speak with you,” Claudia, one of the female Elders, stated matter-of-factly. Her voice was distinct as she had the same deep tone Mayumi’s did.

“It's a three-day journey in the dead of winter, if not more, from Hawthorne Keep,” Mayumi stated with her gaze slipping to Claudia.

There weren’t enough hours in the day this time of year, and the snow made it treacherous. Just getting to the base of the mountain could take a day of careful walking on sleet-covered steps, and that was still within her ten-mile radius that she had to avoid.

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