All that patience and quietness shattered suddenly as a dagger whizzed through the air. It hit the base of the tree with a thunk and the blade stuck in the bark, the hilt vibrating for a moment from the impact. The coeurl had fled when the blade was loosed, so now, the little bit of forest was seemingly empty.

A blond young man, dressed in freelancer armor, stepped out of the shadows and strode over to the tree's base to retrieve his weapon. He had a small, satisfied look on his face.