The moon shone in the sky over Eldenreach, its rays crept through the window of the apothecary, lighting up the whole room.
Mera was sitting at her alchemy station, concocting potions and poisons the villagers had requested.
But her mind was elsewhere.
When is that giant oaf going to be here? He said he'd look into it two days ago, and still I haven't heard a thing from him. Gabriel's still not back, he's been gone for three days with that harlot. I haven't –
DUFF, DUFF, DUFF.
The door shook in its frame.
Mera rolled her eyes, wiped her hands on her apron and marched towards it.
"Hanitz, if you break my door knocking like that, the guild will be paying for a new one"
The door swung open mid-scolding.
Hanitz blinked down at her "How did you know it was me?"
"Because you're the only one in town who shakes the whole house when you knock, you oaf. Have some restraint," she snapped back
"Sorry, Lady Mera, the doors are much sturdier in Gorsen. Takes all your strength just to make the slightest sound."
"You've lived amongst humans for half your life." Her face tightened.
"Sorry again, Lady Mera, I just like the way it sounds. That's all."
Hanitz looked over his shoulder.
"Bring them here, lad."
Gilbert stepped out from behind the giant's frame, two corpses strung over his shoulder.
He approached the door and dropped them on the porch.
Mera froze, mouth open, eyes wide.
"Are these the ones?"
Hanitz nodded.
She looked down at them.
The first was a human, its face crushed so completely not a single feature remained. The second was smaller, a Dwarf. One clean spear wound through the heart.
"How am I supposed to question them?" She raised her head slowly towards the giant.
"Don't worry, Lady. The first one refused to talk."
A proud smile crept across his face.
"The second one got real chatty when he watched me stand on his friend's face. Ha, ha, ha."
Mera stood up. "Your brutishness doesn't impress me. What did they say?"
Hanitz opened his mouth to speak.
"They're gathering information on the freak." Gilbert chuckled.
Both Hanitz and Mera turned their heads slowly in unison, staring at the C-ranked adventurer.
The smile wiped off his face instantly.
"I think it's time you get back to the guild lad. Before the witch adds you to the corpses".
Gilbert was paralysed to the spot, the Guild Master and the Apothecary. Two of the most important people in Eldenreach were staring at him like they wanted to skin him alive.
He mustered his strength, "Yes, Guild Master." And went on his way.
Hanitz turned back to Mera, the moment Gilbert had left his sight.
She was standing there, arms crossed, tapping her fingers against them and glaring daggers at the giant.
"Witch?"
Hanitz pretended not to hear her. "They were sent from Galveston, to check on the lad."
The small one said the lady paid them one gold coin each.
"And who is this woman?"
"They didn't get a name, only a description."
He raised his hand to his chin, thinking for a moment. "A young woman no older than 20, she had long pitch-black hair and purple eyes that sparkled when the sun hit them.
"A gentle voice like a sister of the church."
Mera's fingers stopped mid-motion.
"Also, she's a repeat customer. This is the third time she has hired them in the last two years."
"Is that all?" Mera's fingers began tapping against her arm again.
"I believe so, Lady, I'll leave you for the night, try to get some rest. When I'm back at the guild, I'll send some adventurers over to watch over the house for a couple of days."
Hanitz began turning.
"Are you not forgetting something?" Mera quizzed.
"Huh?" the giant replied, trying to remember if he had told her everything.
"The bodies! You oaf. Get rid of them"
Hanitz bent down. "You know I'm the one doing you a favour," he muttered as he picked up the corpses.
"And Hanitz, thank you. I couldn't have asked anyone else to do this for me." A small smile crept on her face.
…
The screams of the chief's wife and son tore through the room. Tess was standing in the middle of the room, her blade firmly planted right in front of the Chief's eye.
"I will ask you one more time, why are you sending adventurers to their death?"
The crowd of villagers grew, they were mere feet away from the door to the Chief's house.
Gabriel was standing in the doorway, half facing the crowd and half facing Tess and the Chief.
The former Paladin turned to face the crowd, blocking any exit or entrance.
"Let them out." A voice shouted.
Yeah, let them out." Another followed suit.
Gabriel reached his hand towards the hilt of his blade.
His eyes lighting up with an ominous red glow.
"Look at his eyes."
"He's a Demon"
The crowd continued.
"The Chief must've summoned him"
"Let the wife and child go".
Gabriel's eyes widened.
He's a mage.
He pulled his sword from the sheath. And spun.
Tess twisted to the screaming woman and child, "I'm not going to hurt you. Stop screaming." Her blade pulled back a little as she turned
A smile crept over the Chief's face. His hands raised in front of his body, forming a triangle with his fingers.
Gabriel dashed into the house, his eyes met the chief's
He raised his sword.
The chief opened his mouth
"Ascanta sí"
Tess turned back towards the Chief, panic grew in her eyes as she looked down at his hands
The former Paladin slashed down.
An orange glow began collecting in the Chief's hands.
Getting brighter and brighter.
Then nothing, the light disappeared.
Screams rang out as the Chief's hands flew through the air, spinning, blood squirting from the stumps. As he raised them up, screaming into them.
Tess looked to Gabriel. A confused look on her face. Her sword still pointing at the chief.
A pained look on his face. "He's a mage," he let out, as he dropped his sword to the ground.
She nodded towards Gabriel, half in appreciation and half in acknowledgement of what she had to do.
Tess walked over to the still screaming mage and thrust her sword through his chest.
Ending his screams.
The voices of the crowds echoed around. In the chaos, they had closed in on the door, surrounding it like the wooden wall around Eldenreach.
"He's dead!" one voice said.
"He is," another replied.
Oh, thank the creator."
Tess and Gabriel glanced at each other.
"Oh, they've saved us".
The Chief's wife stood up, hugging her son tight. Tears streaming down her cheeks.
"Thank you. Thank you."
"You've saved us." Her lips curling upwards.
The crowd at the door began erupting in cheers, raining down admiration on the two.
They just stood silent, flitting between looking at one another, the crowd, and the Chief's wife.
A smile formed on Tess's mouth "What is happening?" she whispered towards Gabriel.