30: It’s a trap

[Year 21 Month 3: Continued]

I let out a sigh. Those two may need a bit of help with their acting skills. It was rather apparent to anyone watching carefully that the two really didn’t mean what they said, at least when it came to the fighting. Salfi truly didn’t enjoy how we basically kidnapped a ‘maybe’ guilty person.

Unfortunately, I had a few more people to worry about than just her. With me being the ‘guardian’ of Runehold and Gorn, it put a good deal of responsibility into my hands.

I am just lucky I have some supercomputer assistants to help with it all. I still get a headache from trying to take in all the data.

Turning back to the captive, I gave him a moment to think. While I knew his name was Dain, it wasn’t because I was actively paying attention and searching for it, I just got lucky.

It just so happened that he slipped up when paying for his room within a local inn, which was picked up by Metis.

She has a ‘program’ that automatically registers the names people refer to themselves as, whether that is a moniker or their given names. It’s surprisingly helpful in a world with little proof of identity. I mean, adventurers have their tags containing some information on them, but many of them register under aliases that can make it hard to connect their false identities with their real ones.

Anyways, highly unethical practices aside, using his name did seem to send him off balance, and considerably wearier.

“So Dain, what am I to do with you and your two stalkers?”

“Stalkers?” The man spoke, looking upward as if he would see me on the ceiling. He rubbed his face for another moment, “I was hoping they lost my tracks…”

“Well, unluckily for you, they didn’t,” I replied, letting my words settle, “They are definitely persistent, and very close.”

Dain gulped, with his eyes momentarily cast toward the door, as if he expected them to run through it any moment.

I continued, “The elf has been prowling the city’s walls for quite some time now, like a predator searching for its next meal, and for whatever reason, you are that meal.”

To his credit, the man kept his composure quite well, considering the circumstances, so much so that he found his voice, “I didn’t choose any of this.”

“I assumed as much.” I said, “Alas, choice or not, the consequences are quite real, so let’s ask the real question.”

Dimming the lights enough to be noticed, I let my voice reverberate in the room.

“Why are they hunting you?”

I watched Dain carefully. It was obvious he had expected the question, but it was evident from his wrinkled brow that the man didn’t want to answer.

Seeking to both comfort and continue my digging, I gave him an assurance, “If you are innocent, you will be sheltered accordingly.” Even if I wasn’t the best of people to exist, I still had some morals, especially when it came to protecting those in need.

After several moments of conflicted thought, Dain sighed deeply and muttered a short prayer for safety. Coming to his conclusion, he answered my question, “Fine, remember what you said about choices and consequences? You chose to help me.”

Suddenly, a small bit of mana left his body, a sigh that he was using an ability. While I was cautious, I doubted it was anything dangerous, considering this room was rather remote.

Instead of reacting, I watched as a tiny patch of concealed mana faded into existence on his shoulder. Strange… I didn’t even notice it.

Watching as the mana patch slowly unraveled, I felt a strange energy pour out from under its weave.

Curiously, the energy looked different than mana; it was unlike any that I had seen previously, and not by a small margin. Just the way it interacted with the world around it felt special, more dynamic.

Yet, despite my lack of knowledge, the feelings evoked by the new energy made it obvious what it was and what it represented.

Well, isn’t that interesting?

****

“Come on, Arnold, we are going to miss our meeting. I swear if I have to reschedule again, because of your drinking habits, I’m gonna…” Vaelen trailed off as she realized Arnold wasn’t listening. His being in a drunken stupor was normal, but definitely annoying at times.

“Whaa?” The man slurred; her words didn’t reach him. He had burned through several barrels of alcohol in the last few days as the mage navigated through the surprisingly complex bureaucracy of Runehold.

Vaelen rolled her eyes at her companion, slightly elevating the man’s head before uncorking a potion with a little pop.

Recognizing what was held in the little woman’s hands, the brawler struggled against her, but in his state, Arnold couldn’t fight back as she poured the liquid down his throat.

Within moments of it touching his throat, he felt his drunkenness quickly alleviate.

With the vial empty, Vaelen stood, picking the much larger man up and setting him on his feet. “Ready to go? We have a meeting to catch.”

Arnold wiped his lips with his arm, “Could’ve left me behind, I don’t like this type of stuff, and you know it.”

Despite his protests, Vaelen merely shook her head and dragged him out of their room, which amused many of the inn’s patrons as they continued out onto the street.

It was still strange to Vaelen how advanced this backwater city was. It reminded her of the Western Continent with how the streets seemed to never get cold or truly dark. Even though the autumn winds were blasting across the region, the warm stone underfoot gave her plenty of comfort while keeping any frost from building.

‘If only there wasn’t a spirit, I would love to live here,’ the Umbrian elf thought to herself. ‘Especially considering the live entertainment,’ she couldn’t help but lick her lips at the thought, her eyes being drawn to the several boys running about the streets, despite the morning rays just now creeping in.

While Arnold had his own charm, he was a bit more like a well-behaved pet, rather than these little sheep running about. ‘Not to mention the brute has too many muscles for my taste,’ he had his uses, though, and so Arnold would stick around.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Shuddering slightly in excitement, she turned her attention away from the prey around her, ‘Maybe I can partake later, this is more important.’ Despite her perversions, she knew that if the prince didn’t die soon, they would find their own heads rolling instead of the little bastard.

Fortunately, it was still rather early in the morning, and as such, they made good time to their destination.

The city’s governess had agreed to meet them in the city hall, which was quite a grand construction compared to its surroundings. Its walls were made of a stone only found in some of the deepest mines, meaning they had incredible durability, ‘and cost a small fortune, Vaelen couldn’t help but think. It would be almost impossible to source from other cities, which meant they had a supply here.