4



"Atemu, I'm going for a little walk"
"Aren't we running enough already?"
"I'm brewing fresh air, otherwise I'll go into this little room that we rented for one night!"
"Oh, can I come with you?"
"You'd better stay here and take a rest! It's still a long way to Thebes"
"I know. But after all, I need fresh air, too," Atemu contradicted.
Cleo said nothing, just looked at him.
"Cleo, you don't want me to come with you, do you?"
She nodded silently.
"Then tell me if you want to be alone", Atemu asked her.
"I didn't mean to hurt you," she muttered.
"Oh nonsense. Everyone wants to be alone for once! That is important and I already understand that"
Cleo nodded again and gave him a weak smile. Then she turned and disappeared behind Atemu. This waited a moment and then followed her inconspicuously.

Cleo's path led them across the streets of the small village in which they had ended up. It was really a very small village. And the further Cleo went from the hostel, the fewer people she met and the harder it was for Atemu not to be discovered. Finally she turned into an alley and stopped there. She was waiting. On somebody? To something?
Atemu's patience was put to the test. Suddenly someone shot around the corner. The person was completely wrapped in a cloak. The only thing Atemu could see were bright red eyes.
"Here"
The voice was male. Atemu caught Cleo's eyes. It was hard, cold.
"Don't look so angry, my little one. Be glad that you have such a well-paying job," said the dark voice.
"Well paid or not. That doesn't make the job any better either"
The emphasis was on work, as if mocking the word.
"Either you do the job or ..."
"Yes, yes, I already know. Who is it this time?"
"One boy. Twelve. He's one of the rebels. His father is their leader"
Cleo exhaled audibly."Twelve," she repeated softly.
"Just do your job. And don't get caught by the other mercenaries again. Next time they'll kill you instantly."
"You can try that," Cleo muttered.
"They have captured you before"
"I won't make a mistake like that again"
"Good. Get to work. The rebels have a camp not far from here. You can find everything in there," the man pointed to the piece of papyrus that Cleo was holding.
She nodded and instantly the person disappeared around the corner. Cleo leaned against the wall.
"I'm sorry," she whispered before setting off again.
It was going to be easy, she already knew that. Atemu noticed how they approached some people. It had to be the rebels! Some children played away from the troupe. The oldest was about twelve years old, the others were a lot younger. The Crown Prince did not even notice that he was losing sight of Cleo. He searched every piece with his eyes. Then he saw a piece of her hair. But he didn't get to run in their direction, because the next moment he saw an arrow flicking out of their direction. He heard a shrill scream. And then Atemu knew what had just happened. He didn't even have to turn around. The arrow had pierced the boy's body. Most likely in a vital place. It was inevitable ... He was going to die. At once Atemu saw Cleo, who had now run out of hiding. The rebels were more preoccupied with the screaming child than they could have noticed Cleo. Atemu ran after Cleo as fast as he could. In the end he caught up with her and brutally yanked her shoulder back.
"Say are you still clean?"
Cleo gave him a startled look. She probably hadn't expected him. But Atemu was also shocked. Cleo's eyes were red and tears graced her narrow cheeks. Why was she crying for a dead man she had killed?"Atemu," breathed Cleo.
"How could you do something like that?"
Silence was the answer to the Crown Prince's question.
"What was that supposed to mean?"
Remain silent.
"Do you realize what you've just done?"
Remain silent.
"Please answer me when I ask you something!"
Atemu roared so loudly that the few people on the street turned curious glances at them, but he didn't care at the moment. They were now more than far enough away from the rebels. Cleo could only be silent. Slowly she stepped past Atemu and then ran away.
"I was so wrong about you! I never want to see you again!" He shouted after her in anger.
He still wondered how she could have done such a cruel thing. He just didn't know. All day and all night even two more days and nights after that, he pondered it without finding an answer.

But the answer came. Cleo entered the small room on the third morning. She looked far from good. Atemu's anger had subsided somewhat, and yet he wondered how she could have done it.
"I just wanted to get my things. Then I'll leave. I'll pay for the room. Caravans are setting off from the next village, maybe you can join them," she said. Her voice was low and flat, as if she was just telling him that. As she was about to step out the door, Atemu asked:
"Why did you do that?"
This time she was not silent. Instead, she just said:
"There are a lot of things you don't understand, Crown Prince"
"Then explain it to me. I want to understand! Why did you kill the boy"
"Because I'm good at it"
That answer was the last one that would have occurred to Atemu. Still, it was so damn easy and simple.
"Does that mean you kill for fun"
"No, I kill because someone has to do it"
"I do not understand"
"The boy ... he was sick"
"Ill?"
"How do you mean?""His heart was sick. He should have died anyway"
"Where do you want to get that from?"
"I just know it"
"Would you please give me a decent answer"
"Nightshade grows in his heart"
"Nightshade? Where have I heard that before?"
"It is actually a partially poisonous plant. We call it that because the darkness grows in its heart"
"All right. But back to my question: How do you know that"
"Every plant needs a seed. This seed was in the boy's heart"
"And you know that from where?", Atemu asked again.
"There are demons who have the ability to see or feel the seeds. We call them seekers. Then there are people who deliver the orders. These are the couriers. Neither seekers nor couriers are dangerous. Then there are those who receive the orders and ensure that the target persons ... "
"get killed", Atemu finished the sentence.
"Yes," Cleo's voice was very low as she continued. She sounded kind of sad.
"People like me are called hunters. There are very few of them in the world. Because like the seekers and the couriers, we are chosen. Had someone else tried to kill the boy, he would have failed."
"Who will choose you?"
Atemu had become quite curious by now and tried to make eye contact with Cleo, but she couldn't look him in the eye. Not now!
"The fourth and last group: the angels"
"Angel?"
"You lead the soul of the good person, whom we cannot save, over into Osiri's realm. You are messengers of the gods"
"What would have happened if you hadn't killed the boy?"
"He would have become what we call a phantom. Terrible creatures with great power. They are cruel and brutal"
"Nonetheless, you get paid to kill people!"
There was a slight anger in the crown prince's voice.
"After all, I have to live on something too. Atemu, I know that you now hate me for what I've done ... But if I don't, more phantoms are born and the more there are of them, the more fates there are it, like mine! ""Like yours? What is your destiny?"
"I've never done it before, but I'll show you what I haven't shown before. Do you trust me?"
"Yes," her Atemu replied. Strangely enough, without hesitation.
"Then give me your hand"
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