By grace Mishel and Garrick arrive at the scene before the situation turns appalling. Through their entrance, did the ungodly presence cowers away, sterilizing the once corrupted temple.
Aid came upon the traveler— in a single glance, Mishel and Garrick already tell Natalak's wounds were dire. The armor that cost only a copper isn't enough to protect his flesh. Providentially, Garrick was an expert in dealing these kinds of damages.
Fire burns and fire give life— A pale green of flame burst from Garrick's palm. Pressing where the wounds are, its fire spread all over Natalak's body, burning the corrupted essence injected from his veins.
Watching— Ashalain couldn't help, and quickly tries to offer her healing flame.
"Ashalain." Garrick spoke, his words were calm but the tone of intent was there.
Heeding Garrick's words, Ashalain extinguished her flames. All she could do was kneel and scrutinizes the scene.
"Lady Mishel if you could." Garrick orders, once the curing is thru.
Carrying Natalak, while Mishel brings out a scroll of teleportation, they were swiftly teleports at the inn, the Ale and Hammer. It was still midday and when they barge the door, hurriedly they ask the taverner for a spare room.
Laid down on a bed, his heart finally regains its life. In time Mishel cast one final spell for further examination. Fishing out a lush luminous flask, in turn, the glass dissipates the moment the mage gave a simple squeeze. Like moth to a flame, her hand magnets the vial's essence.
A sweep of her hand it spreads the verdant mist, giving Natalak a glowing sight.
"He'll be fine." Said Mishel, once the magic dissolved.
Regarding Ashalain, her face was avoiding sir Garrick, while giving a guilt expression.
"I'll go have some food downstair." Mishel continues leaving the two paladins for a talk.
Once the door closed and Mishel decent down, Garrick grabs a sit. Groaning slightly as Garrick position himself— from the looks of his movement, it looks like old age is coming.
Garrick looks at Natalak— a slitted eye of a half dead man. Inquisitive, the old paladin asks without leaving his eyes toward Ashalain.
"Is there anything more that I should be inform of?" Garrick's voice and tone were calm, like a father probing his daughter.
Ashalain was still silent, still unable to look at the old paladin. Her tongue was chained by guilt and indignity. Then a thought came— she thought of the bag, the void bag that Natalak carries. She ponders if she can use Natalak's bag for her reason.
"I-" Ashalain stammer. "I thought he was something else, a spy or someone that needs to be investigated."
"And your findings?"
"He's just a simple traveler who was seeking for some ends meet. And about him stealing my sword, it was my fault—" Ashalain stammer. "I was the one who barge into his room and strains interrogate him."
"Interrogate him? By which using the ones that I always advice you not to do?"
"Yes." Ashalain nods slightly as she glances at Natalak but avoids Garrick's sight.
"Mm-hmm…" Garrick grouse, as he massages his forehead. "And in his retaliation, he stole your sword without knowing it's worth."
Ashalain nods, gradually constricting her fist.
Garrick sigh deeply and before he could follow another statement, a knock of three came from the door.
"It's me Mishel— there's a letter for you sir Garrick. Is it okay for me to come in?"
"You may." Garrick responds.
Mishel enters on her palm was a fowl the size of a tennis ball. Alive and chirping it gradually morphs into a parchment, a message.
Minutes of reading, Garrick's eyes stiffen.
"I need to head back at Ravalind. Mishel do you still have some scroll."
"I do, but why are you in a hurry." Mishel replied.
"There's a trouble brewing, and the king's royal advisor needs my presence." Garrick answered.
"I'll come with you too." Ashalain blurts.
"Ashalain." Garrick's words were stone-cold to her ears. Though the tone was soft but his expression shows other sentiments. "And what of him?" He continues pertaining at the half dead man lying on the bed.
Ashalain was silent, there were no thoughts of reason for her to give words.
"I would ask you to tend to him and settle your difference. And if ever I won't be hearing another temper when this is finish." Garrick suggest.
Ashalain then let out a heavy sigh of acceptance. "I shall do as you command."
"Then it is settled— Mishel if you could."
Mishel affirms, but before she could activate the scroll, she gave Ashalain an inspiring farewell. Enough for the lady paladin to sigh in relief.
Once her comrades were gone, Ashalain sits and gawk at the man of mystery.
"Just who are you?" She ponders inquisitively.
Examining — Ashalain perceived Natalak's armor was tightening or rather choking his breath. Strip did she quickly removes his armor, and swiftly Natalak let out a deep breath, as if he was pulled from drowning.
Her curiosity grew when her eyes sight at the void bag. Head glance sideways, Ashalain goes shutting doors and windows, followed by a sealing spell. Recalling Natalak's action how his bag swallowed dozens of trinkets back at the dwarven tunnel.
When she opens the sack, she was in a mix of disappointment and staggered emotions. The bag was empty to see, that even if she tries to dip her hand for study, there was nothing she could find.
"So, this is what a void bag is."
As for the traveler in question, Natalak awaken what appears to be a dream. As he onsets to walk, there he saw.
A horseman riding in white, a pure white king holding a bow. It's crown so golden, adorn full of jewelry and captivating that turns a pure mortal to sin, to have it to themselves. Glancing more, there were no quiver of arrows at his disposal, not even a single weapon to be seen. But was replaced by a sack, and inside was dozens of tongues, of men and full of gold coins.
The expression the white king gave was fatigue, and the emotions of endless moving. Though the horse's look were frightening to the eyes. It's eyes greed, its mouth dripping in greed, of hunger, it is the expression of men who holds power over the throne.
When he and the horseman stares, there were no words spoken. The entity simply nods at Natalak and strides forward.
Two days later— Natalak finally awakes to his rest but not in full recovery. He can still feel the slight pain surging through his muscle, bones, and even his organs as if turned to solid stone. He tilts his head, to see Ashalain without her armor, wearing only a black dress. Her eyes were closed, sleeping on the chair, guarding him during his recoveries.
To Natalak's surprise at how he was brought to this place, he looks around. Forcing his body to stand and with little effort, Natalak manages to lift himself. Subsequently Ashalain opens her eyes.
When he saw her eyelids ploddingly opens— facing sideways away from her view he slowly tumbles to sleep again.
The paladin however already notices his demeanor act, a pretentious sleep.
"Doing like that won't get you off the hook." Ashalain spoke with a straight face. "Wait here… I'll go get you some food." She continues, treading towards the exit. "And don't do anything stupid, like escaping."
When he heard her footstep faded, Natalak quickly gathers his strength, looking for his bag. However, as he tries to walk away, his legs started to shake, trembling— resulting a tumble on the ground.
"Okay?" He mutters, crawling through the floor.
Forcing his legs to walk, to recover, but barter in the sweaty body and aching muscles.
Once regaining his chance to walk, he panicky searches for his bag. Sighting under the bed, opening drawers and cabinets.
"Where did she put that bag of mine!" His voice— panic as to his hands.
Just when he had enough, Ashalain opens the door holding his meal, a simple small bowl of porridge and few meats on top.
"Judging by your full of energy, I see you've fully recovered." Ashalain shrug, closing the door.
"Where's my bag?" Natalak calmly said, intently looking at the paladin.
"You should eat first." Replies Ashalain while she placed his food on top of the cupboard.
Without furtherer ado, Natalak slowly spoons the food, conscious as possible he was hesitating to have his tongue take a test. This turn Ashalain flustered.
"Do you want me to taste every portion of your food?" A bossy tone coming out from a child after she'd swallowed a portion of his food.
Once he saw how Ashalain's action, and quick change of emotion. Natalak became perplexed by the paladin's personality, or rather he was careful at her volatile behaviors.
Nevertheless, his stomach is empty, and the food that Ashalain offers makes his mouth waters. Hungry as he is, there's still some etiquettes left to show, startling the noble paladin.
Half way through his meal, Ashalain then goes to retrieve his bag. Commonly, she conceals not in their room, but to who knows where she hides it.
Return, and before the paladin could continue her inquisition. The door was sealed by a wave of her hand, the windows shut tight that brute strength won't do a thing. Hidden from Natalak's eyes, she was holding a truth-seeking orb, the eye of Adra.
Patiently, she sits, waiting for Natalak to finish his meal. Mortified as he may be, Natalak had no choice but dine at the presence of the noble paladin.
"I'm finished and I thank you for the food."
Natalak said after he'd organized his plate. Though his stomach says otherwise.
"You sure? That kind of meal won't fill such appetite to a man who didn't eat for two days. You know I can get you some more if you want." Ashalain raise her eyebrows.
"That won't be necessary, I'm already full." Natalak replied.
"Hmm?"
From her palm, Ashalain reveals the truth-seeking orb and somehow it shows a growing spot of darkness staining the crystal ball. And once again creating a discomfited look from the two.
"Do you know this crystal ball that I'm holding?" Ashalain implores, obscuring the dark mist-like spot from the crystal ball, through the use of her palm.
"Yes, I do know a little."
Just as Natalak answered, the dark spot quickly expands.
"Then tell me what does this crystal ball do?" The paladin follows.
Natalak didn't responded, only silent he shows.
"I only know a little of it." Natalak respond, though the dark spot from the crystal didn't shrink but expands more.
It was enough to make the paladin giggles not a flirtatious titter, but a mix of amusement and dumbfounded. For Natalak, her expression was rather a ridicule to his understanding of the crystal ball, equally to the world of Vashkeil.
The more Ashalain tries to suppressed her laughter, Natalak's head slowly shifts away from Ashalain, out of embarrassment.
"Just for you to know, this crystal ball is the eye of Adra. And it detects lies— the dark spot you see is the lies you created." Explained Ashalain after she'd placed it on the table.
"Now for the next question. Who really are you? And why are you holding such artifact?"