[b][center][h3][color=72a0c1]Ifrari[/color] & [color=b83345]Rex[/color][/h3][/center][/b]

They did indeed had to ask around about the disappearances, though Ifrari didn’t notice anything outright suspicious at any of the small villages they’ve gone to. They were travelling on foot, since taking any sort of vehicle or mount would have only drawn attention to them and might have not been worth the hassle in any case.

Ifrari and Rex were able to narrow down the disappearances to somewhere in the beginnings of the hilly terrain, on the westward side of the road toward Haestings. If they were to make their way straight to the west from where they were, they’d make it to Keelgravv, but Ifrari really didn’t think that city was involved; it was too distant. As it was, the pair of adventurers had made it to a crossroads, the land around them desolate. The question was, which fork to follow, if any?

[color=72a0c1]“I can cast a spell to increase eyesight or hearing for a few minutes,”[/color] Ifrari began, speaking in a whisper. [color=72a0c1]“I’d prefer not to use both on myself, because it’s kind of overwhelming to suddenly possess two heightened senses, but I could cast one on me and one on you. If you agree, it’s up to you to decide whether you’ll be seeing or hearing better for a while. Just pick whichever you think you could use to search for clues more easily,”[/color] the dark elf explained.

[color=b83345]"Magic senses?"[/color] Rex barked. The hundi looked at Ifrari suspiciously, keeping an eye on the position of his hands. Rex was admittedly not the greatest fan of magic; mostly because magic casters were his greatest weakness. Though, out here in the hilly terrain, he could see the benefit of being able to sense more, especially when he accounted for the very real threat that they may be ambushed. [color=b83345]"Well, if you insistin', I'd rather be seeing farther than hearing louder."[/color]

[color=b83345]"Hocus-pocus aside, I'm havin' trouble thinkin' where we've oughtta head after this crossroad here. I'm from down in Ithillin, only been here in Estival some moon cycles, so I've not a clue where we are. And though them villagers were real helpful, there's still a whole host of barrens we've gotta scour if we're gonna find our target."[/color]

[color=72a0c1]"Yes...magic,"[/color] Ifrari drawled, rising a brow at the Hundi's bark. Seemed like the youth wasn't too much of a fan, though he did agree in the end. [color=72a0c1]"Mm, alright then, seeing it is. I'll also step away a bit, so your breathing and heartbeat won't bother me,"[/color] he remarked. With a brief touch to Rex's arm, the dark elf intoned, [color=72a0c1]"Skeptomai,"[/color] which was all that was needed for the enchantment to take hold. As he'd said he would, he then walked a few meters away, though remained well within sight. With a blink, he chanted, [color=72a0c1]"Akouo,"[/color] and after a short-lived buzzing in his ears, he could suddenly hear much more clearly. First was the pounding of his own heart, the rush of air on each inhale and exhale, the faint noise of his lifeblood sustaining him. Then, the breeze, the shifting of grass, the rare critters crawling away, the minute crunching of small stones and loose earth with even the slightest of his movements. Breathing deeply to center himself, Ifrari closed his eyes, and listened intently, ignoring Rex's and his own presence with a practiced focus. He was seeking any and all oddities within the environments sounds, seeking auditory clues.

Rex, on the other hand, had taken to his newfound sense of sight far less gracefully. As the scope of his view widened and the resolution of his glare narrowed, rather than seeking visual clues to compliment Ifrari's search, Rex immediately closed his eyes tight. It was clear to him that he'd have to open them eventually, but for now, he required a moment to gain his bearings.

Opening his eyes, the visual signals hit him like a truck. Ifrari was not joking when he said that magic sense could be overwhelming. Each and every blade of grass oversaturated Rex's few, each glint on the horizon stole his gaze. It was a breathtaking experience, out here in the tonelessly jejune hills, but it was also extremely stressful. Rex had never had particularly good eye sight, so for him to have been met with such a plethora of color and activity was nothing short of an overload. He shut his eyes tight again, after not even a minute of searching around.

Rex was hardly one to give up. He cracked his eyes open, slower this time. An extreme effort was made to keep his gaze focused on the horizon. With his steel-clad willpower, Rex painstakingly raked his vision across the rocky hills. He would certainly have a migraine later, but that was a problem for later Rex to worry about. For now, he must search for any clue whatsoever. Ifrari was depending on him, and Rex could [i]not[/i] let him down.

[@Raineh Daze][@SilverPaw]