CHAPTER 302: RED EYES

Coco walked through the main hall, her footsteps quick and rhythmic.

She followed closely behind Sinclair and Alithe, who were leading the way with purposeful strides, the sound of their footsteps reverberating around the large space, the echo making their presence known to the other hunters and guild members in the area.

Coco’s gaze flickered around, taking in the sight of the different individuals in the hall, her eyes darting to and fro as she observed the people around them.

As Coco walked through the main hall, her eye was quickly drawn to a pair of red eyes peering out at her.

A man whose face is largely concealed by the upturned collar of his clothing, the fabric covering his lower face like a makeshift mask, was glaring at her from his spot, his arms crossed and his back leaning against the wall.

His hair blending well with the shadows surrounding him, the mere sight of him sending a shiver down Coco’s spine, an inexplicable sense of unease creeping over her.

"Scary." Coco mumbled, quickly turning away from the man, her body moving on instinct.

Her heart was beating rapidly, her mind racing with thoughts about the man with the red eyes, and to avoid it, she refocused herself and ran after Sinclair and Alithe, who had just opened the door.

Her steps quickened, her mind still occupied with the unsettling feeling the man’s gaze had left her with.

As she approached them, eyes wide and lips parted, Alithe raised an eyebrow at Coco, noticing the spooked expression on her face.

Concern flickered across his features as he took in her expression, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took a moment to study her, wondering what had caused her to look so alarmed, her expression betraying a hint of unease.

Alithe’s instincts told him that something had happened so he made a mental note to ask her about it once they were alone.

Beside him, Sinclair looked concerned as well, his expression mirroring Alithe’s worry.

Being Coco’s familiar, no matter how short it had been since he became hers, he knew better than to ask her about her spooked expression in public, so he kept quiet, leading her out of the guild.

His eyes were wary, his senses on high alert as he guided her out of the noisy building.

Sinclair suddenly stopped in front of her, his sharp whistle piercing the air, the sound was so loud that the people around them paused to look at them, their attention drawn to the group.

Coco jolted at the sudden and unexpected noise, her attention shifting from her thoughts to the sound.

She blinked, looking around as other people looked their way, their gaze fixated on them, the sound of the whistle still echoed in her ears.

Coco opened her mouth to ask why Sinclair whistled, but before she could speak, she was interrupted by the loud sound of horses neighing in the distance— the sound reverberating in the air.

She paused, her words catching in her throat as her attention turned to the horses, most likely heading towards them.

Coco saw the same carriage she had ridden with Sinclair earlier pull up, the horses’ hooves clopping on the cobblestones as it came to a halt in front of them, the sudden stop surprising Coco as realization dawned on her.

However, Coco looked confused, her gaze flickering between Sinclair and the coachman who sat comfortably on the front.

"What.." A puzzled expression crossed her face, her brow furrowed as she tried to process some things.

How did the coachman hear Sinclair’s whistle? Where was the coachman before he heard the whistle? Why was he here now? Why was Sinclair using a whistle to call a coachman?

She looked at Sinclair, hoping for an explanation, but he remained silent so she turned to the coachman, her gaze fixated on his face, waiting for an explanation.

Before Coco could ask any questions, Sinclair opened the carriage door, his tone firm, but soft. "Come on."

Raising a hand and gesturing for her to get into the carriage, despite her confusion, Coco obediently stepped towards the open door, her mind still trying to understand the situation.

She moved toward the open carriage door, her movements cautious as she stepped inside, then Sinclair entered the carriage as he followed behind Coco, taking a seat opposite her.

Alithe was the last to step inside, closing the door with a soft creak, and once they were all seated, the carriage suddenly lurched forward, the horses tugging at the reins as the wheels of the carriage let out a grinding sound.

Coco could feel the movement of the wooden vehicle, the subtle rocking motion as the vehicle moved forward, the ground beneath them growing unsteady.

She glanced around and saw Alithe and Sinclair sitting stoically, their faces giving nothing away.

Alithe and Sinclair shared a look, their expressions subtle yet blank, a silent conversation seemed to pass between them, a moment of a nonverbal communication.

Alithe’s gaze held curiosity while Sinclair’s eyes held a hint of wariness.

After a moment, Sinclair spoke up, his tone cautious and voice soft, "Master.. Back there, you looked like you had seen something monstrous, and I felt your fear.. Are you alright? What did you see?"

Coco blinked, not expecting such a question from Sinclair.

She nodded slowly, her laugh quiet and tinged with a touch of embarrassment. "I am... I was just paranoid.. I guess?"

She could feel her face getting warm as she admitted her fear, the realization of her earlier spooky encounter left her feeling slightly foolish, the memory of her moment of uneasiness flashing before her eyes.

"I have seen red eyes before, but I saw this man who looked like he was glaring at me, and yeah.. That scared me."

"Red eyes?" Alithe repeated her words, "There’s no other hunter who has red eyes except for the rookie.. Hm.. I think his name is Greinzer? I’m not su.."

Coco perked up, eyes sparkling with recognition.