Faced with uncertainty, Natalak froze upon the presence of the woman he wished he had not met. Bound and nowhere to go, all Natalak could do was sit in silence.
Ashalain, too, was astounded that the man she thought she would not see was yet right in front of her.
"Um, can I ask for my bag?" Natalak spoke, eyes unable to look up.
It took time, but after a minute of assessing the man, the lady paladin did respond.
"Rest first… your injuries are still in recovery."
"I'm already recovered."
"Stubborn man." She scowled.
Persistent, Natalak stood from his bed only to fall on the floor.
"What the? Why can't I?"
Staggered by the situation, he felt his legs turn heavy, paralysed the moment he tried to stand. Yet when at rest, the muscle relaxes.
Desperately crawling back to his bed, Natalak was sure that it was Ashalain's doing; the gleaming rope that binds him was his suspicion.
"I don't know what happened to you, but if I were to guess. Some entity, or something from the spirit realm, seized control of your body. The rope merely prevents you from scurrying away." Ashalain assert. "Are you—" She paused.
"What?"
Hesitating to continue, "I was sure that the demon and a mysterious man were moving from this village. And suddenly, why are you here? Are you the one who—" Ashalain stops when Natalak's hunger begins to growl.
Ashalain sighs, "Stay put, I'll bring you some food. And don't worry about your bag, I kept it safe."
Once the door was closed, her presence was no longer to be heard.
Unable to control his tolerance, Natalak quickly rummaged through the furniture. And when there's nothing that could fill his pilfering hand, he shifts to other corners.
Crawling, dragging himself on the stone floor. But all in all, there was nothing that he could loot, not even a single item was present.
At the right time, when Natalak returns to his ward, the door opens, and Ashalain returns with a plate full of food. Not a peasant meal, but rather more noble than he had expected.
To Ashalain, she was met with surprise again when he saw the man sweating and heard his uneven breathing. She can tell that Natalak was trying his best to muffle his panting. The dirt on his hands and clothes is enough to suggest he was perhaps pilfering the room.
"Take your time, I've already asked the owner to clear all his belongings."
"I'm just searching for my bag." The man reasons.
Ashalain's eyebrow cocked, "This man—you sure don't know when to stop twisting your tongue."
"You should eat… it would be a squander for such food to be wasted." Ashalain placed the plate atop the drawer before sitting, stationed at a distance near the door.
Sitting with legs and arms crossed, and eyes closed. The paladin was still as a statue, firm and discipline to the looks. To the other side lies Natalak, slowly and silently munching the food.
It took time, and after two hours of silence and rest, Natalak was able to walk without any problems. Though one crisis remains—
"How do I remove this cursed rope?!"
The man then attempts to pull the rope free from the orb, but he is unsuccessful.
"You won't gain anything from struggling." Ashalain interrupts. "And even if you do break out, you won't find your precious relic back."
The straining stops, and the room falls silent as Natalak gains some senses.
After a little time, Ashalain came back holding an iron ball. And once inserted on the glowing orb, it was consumed by the iron ball, releasing Natalak's hand.
He can't do much without his items; navigating the world would be difficult for him. Alas, a thought came to him, starting from square one would be a difficult one, only if—
"Should I? Nah, the blacksmith might have already used all the ingots by now. Plus, I've already entered into a contract with him… As for this woman, what are you planning?"
"Um, is there a way to get my bag back. It's a very sentimental value from my father." Natalak's eyes hardly try to make contact with the lady paladin.
"Come with me."
"Um, may I know the reason why?"
Ashalain didn't respond; instead, she picked up the empty plate and slowly headed toward the door.
"You coming?" She said, after pushing the door open.
Natalak followed, and once she had settled with the house owner, the two marched through the village. And while Natalak was closely behind Ashalain, he could hear whispers and murmurs of townsfolk.
"By Shar… do you think it's a dragon?" Whispers one maiden.
"I think not, probably a demon." Replied the other.
"Could it be related to what had happened in the past? There at Aghraim?" Comes the third.
"I was thinking of moving to Mavigrid. This kingdom faced many problems. And I fear war is coming upon us. I've seen too much death already."
The pacing was slow, and much of their gossip was heard by Natalak's ears. And when he looks at Ashalain, if she had heard their words, already he can tell, from the dejected expression she gave, that it was enough to answer his query.
Passing more distant houses and guards, the two find themselves in one of the adventurers' guild branches. Invited he was, though Natalak very much declined; his experience already filled him with abhorrence.
"I'll wait for you here," Natalak said. "Don't worry, I won't be leaving without my bag."
Ashalain didn't respond; she merely looked at him, measuring his facial expression. Alas, the leverage she had was sufficient to stop Natalak from running away.
A faint grunt of approval followed by a dim nod before the paladin continues.
From the façade of the guild, ten meters away lies a fountain. Drawing Natalak to make a small refuge or perhaps something else in his mind.
Circling the fountain, his eyes watch for any gleaming metal, a coin—there was none he could find.
"Shiii… show me some coins, will ya?" Mutters Natalak keenly eying the corners.
Grabbing a twig, the man nudges the ground as he contemplates the arrival of his situation.
The door opened on its own, and inside was a barren place. No fellow adventurers are sitting or drinking; there is only silence. The only people who filled the place were two female receptionists and four guards stationed at the four corners. Two are near the lobby.
"Ah, good day, Lady Ashalain." Greetings from one of the female receptionists.
"Good day." Ashalain nods, "I would like to know if the items I sent have already arrived."
The receptionist nods and searches the drawer. Inside were letters.
"Let's see here—ah…" The receptionist continues: "The item you sent has arrived at its destination. Is there anything you need from here?" She continues offering Ashalain two documents.
As soon as she signs the document, "Nothing more… did the item arrive via teleportation stone?"
The receptionist nods. "Yes, though after that, the capital had shut off all teleportation. You will need to use horses or other means of transportation to return."
"Thank you, madam, that's all I need to hear." She then gives back the documents.
Upon her exit, she saw Natalak dip his arms in the fountain. From the looks, he was struggling—
"What are you doing?" She calls.
During her call, he swiftly seized a single copper coin and concealed it in his pocket. However, her perception of his action was quick. The coin was old and weathered that even a beggar would throw it away.
"By Shar." The paladin gave a disappointed look. "I can't with this man."
"So, um… when do I get my bag?"
To Ashalain, it feels like a significant setback due to the man's attitude.
Just as she ponders how to deal with Natalak's characteristic, a man came racing towards them. A messenger of the guild. Satchels filled with letters and a sigil badge in his uniform.
"Lady Shilvia." The man calls.
Facing the dashing man, there was a faint anticipation she felt.
"My lady… a letter was sent to you from the estate." The man continues, handing her a letter before parting ways.
Wind gushes over her, and upon reading the letter. She paused as the breeze gradually bolstered. There was no sadness, only the expression of relief.
She turns at Natalak, only to find him scavenging the fountain again. Moreover, he was unbothered by her emotional processing.
"What?" The man gazes back before returning to his duties.
She found it embarrassing that the locals and adventurers were staring awkwardly at them, followed by a murmur of gossip.
"That's enough." She interrupts, pulling Natalak from his shenanigans. "Have you had no shame at all?"
"I don't know, ask a strip beggar if he has some shame."
Ashalain sighs, clutching her face. "How do I deal with this mongrel?"
"Can you just tell me what help you need. I really want my bag back."
"Come with me first, I've already placed your bag in a safe location."
"And where on this world are we going?"
"At my father's estate."
"Really?"