Rain pours but only after a minute or so… The gloomy cloud that shades the sunlight slowly marches away, letting dusk take the stage. Still, you can hear rumbling thunder as the sky is now painted crimson.
Through the woodland forest, through the bandits' camp, through where the battle took place. Natalak was doing a twofold job, bashing craters and barrels. Prying the lids of jars and barrels, he queries the much older people to prepare the pots as he drags the crates and barrels full of provisions to the bonfire. From the looks of it, the bandits sure make a decent haul from their captives.
"Cook anything you like… I tend to the corpses. My partner should return any minute." Natalak suggest.
He looks at their shaking hands; their feeble movements already tell that they were starving.
"You can call for my aid if heavy lifting is needed." Natalak continues.
The people nod, and quickly he goes, dragging the corpses away from the camp, away from their sight. What followed was a despoiling action. Stripping their armour down to their boots. Pulling gemstones and Shars from their satchels. Anxious to be caught by Ashalain, he often turned around towards the camp. Once he had satisfied his greed to the fullest, Natalak hurried back to the camp.
Upon his return, the people now serve meat and beans from the pot. Sharing bread with the children, Ashalain soon arrived. And for some reason, her armour was dripping wet, as was her hair, and her bleary eyes caught Natalak's attention.
"It's the effect of the explosion… come, we should help the people," Ashalain said, quickly passing Natalak's gaze.
"I've already prearranged the bandits' corpses; you can give them a proper burial."
"That will do tomorrow; I've sent a message to the capital. They might arrive tomorrow morning. I'll go place a warding stone; that should keep away predators or monsters."
"I think I should be the one. You should go help heal their minor injuries. I saw some of them are still bleeding."
Perceiving a hesitation from the paladin, Natalak was surprised when Ashalain silently gave him the ward stone.
"How do I use this?" Natalak said, meticulously scrutinising the stone, which resembled a river stone.
Ashalain extended her hand, gesturing for Natalak to hand over the stone. Clueless, he saw the stone begins to glow with runic sigils in green embers when Ashalain injects some of her essence.
"Place this near their bodies; it will float by itself. That's all you need to do." The paladin spoke softly before leaving Natalak.
Upon his return to their corpses, Natalak didn't place the stone. Instead, he again rummages through their corpses, unfazed by the entrails and gore. Sapping all that he sees as fortune. And when his satisfaction is at ease, he quickly placed the stone, watching it as it slowly levitated one meter from the ground. Before dashing out of that area, Natalak saw a very peculiar cloak and instantly wore it without any thought.
When he returned to the camp, dawn was already approaching. Dozens of orbs floated around, flooding the camp with light. He looked at Ashalain and saw she was now dry. And in a few minutes, the food would be served.
He searches for plates, but the explosion destroyed most of the tableware. There were a few, but not enough to provide for their numbers. Not a second to waste, he searches for anything that resembles a bowl or a plate. Even then, only he and Ashalain didn't have plates.
Funny enough—
"So, what do you like, the pot or its lid? We don't have enough plates or bowls, though we do have enough spoons." Natalak spoke, carrying a large, thick metal pot. "Or you can wait for the others to finish their meal before using their plates."
"I-I'll take the lid," Ashalain said, quite alarmed by his strange contrivance.
Dinner was served; frankly, Natalak was the only one eating from a large pot. Even as they gaze strangely at him, Natalak didn't much care about their thoughts or their eyes. Let alone lifting the pot like a plate. Scraping the leftovers as if dinner were about to run out.
On the other hand, padding thick clothes at the bottom of the lid. Ashalain displayed a more noble posture and manner of eating than the man munching right beside her. Though one can see that her expression gave a melancholic presence, perhaps drained from the last battle.
"Natalak…" Without glancing at the Natalak, Ashalain placed her hand on his shoulder. "Prolong noise and ruckus will attract monsters at this time of night." She continues to which Natalak quickly gave discipline while eating.
As nightfall turns late, and the people need their rest—
"I'll take the early night watch; you should go to sleep," Natalak spoke.
"Take care then." The paladin replied before sleeping near the bonfire.
A few hours pass, and there Natalak sits in the tree watching anything that moves, anything that rings his sense of danger. In his secluded time, he brought out the pouch full of gems and Shar. Counting and separating the three different Shar, easing the silent night.
Three hours before Ashalain's shift commences, she had already awakened from her slumber. The lingering emotion still haunts her, preventing her from sleeping. She looked at the fire and saw it was now embers, unfed during Natalak's shift. There was no dander in her, no disappointment towards Natalak. She quickly gathered the wooden shards and fed them to the bonfire.
Unable to sleep and with nothing to do, the paladin searches for Natalak. Nearby, just ten meters from where they slept, Natalak sits quietly, head bowed as if fiddling with an object in his hand.
Ashalain, resting only two feet from Natalak, paid no mind to his condition.
"There's something I want to talk to you about, Natalak…" Ashalain smiled, hands fiddling. "Before meeting you… People die in my arms, and no matter what I do—"
She paused, gazing towards the night sky, before bringing her sight to the ground.
"You could say I was a fire that consumes life…" Ashalain hesitated as she raised her head towards the sky again. "I tried everything I could; in the end, they all perish. But then you came…"
She looks through the camp as she waits for Natalak to reply; however… when she senses there was silent—
"Natalak?" Ashalain reached out her hand, and with a slight nudge, Natalak fell to the ground. And in it, a sound of coins spilt through the ground.
Ashalain stood, her heart pounding. But when her gaze fixed on his face, silently sleeping. The fear in her eyes diminished, and would soon be replaced by a warm smile. Though disappointed when the wind lifted his cloak, revealing his hand still clutching the coins and the size of the pouch he tucked.
Ashalain sighs heavily. "You really are but a stubborn man, Natalak. And do forgive me for my actions…"
Morning arrived, and the mist and the grey clouds that rumble thunder once again returned. In the cold, damp air, Natalak was relishing on a thick blanket near a bonfire, squirming, rubbing his face on the mantle, until he realised—
"Wait! How did I—"
He stood, patting down the ground, searching for the pouch of coins.
"Where is it!" Natalak mutters, his eyes searching through the ground, through the craters and barrels until Ashalain pass by.
"What?" The paladin said, faintly hiding her sniggering, as she gazes back at Natalak's brooding expression. "You should fix yourself up; reinforcements should be coming at this hour."
After finishing their breakfast and resting for a few minutes, Ashalain, with her sharp eyes, spotted a speck of griffon riders coming towards their direction.
Raising her sword, from which a golden light emanates. As soon as the energy flows through her blade, it unleashes a bright beam that lasts for a full minute, once she sees the four gryphon riders lock on to her location.
Arriving, when the four gryphons descended, their wings blemished the ground with powerful wind, causing some debris to scatter. Ashalain stood his ground, sword sheathed, unfazed by the powerful wind. She only needs to glance sideways, squinting her eyes until the four-beast land. And when the leader of the rider met her—
"Captain Erevon?! I didn't think you'd be the one to receive my message." Ashalain initiates.
The knight captain had long, rugged brown hair and a stubble beard. Fully armoured in plate mail, and through his chest was the sigil of Keshoval.
"After the disruption at the capital, your guild members were spread too thin. They had to call on me for reinforcement."
"I see, so how's Ravalind?"
"The tension eased, but the investigation is still ongoing. But leaving that aside, any reports that I should be wary of?"
"Cults?" Ashalain respond, glancing at the released captives.
"Cults?" The captain gave an arch brow.
Ashalain nods. "Yes, the captives told me they were to be sold by some followers of Agum."
The captain gave a heavy sigh. "Bandits and followers of Agum are increasing after that Abyssal crisis. Anyway, we'll take it from here. You should take a rest, Lady Ashalain." The captain then extended his hand for a shake.
"Thank you, Captain Erevon." Ashalain, without hesitation, accepts the captain's hand.
"Oh, you can use one of my gryphons."
Ashalain glanced at Natalak. Sitting near the campfire, his hand placed on his cheeks, drilling the embers, still sulking from the loss of his pouch of coins.
Returning her sight to the captain. Ashalain then followed a smile. "I think I'll take the road instead; my partner still travels that way."
The captain's eyes broaden. "Are you sure, Lady Ashalain, your father needs—"
"Yes, I've received the message. I'm just glad he's alright."
"I understand, if only I had the authority to allow you to use teleportation. Sadly, it might take weeks for the kingdom to resume the use of teleportation."
Ashalain shakes her head. "There's no need for that. I believe some people need my aid ahead on the road… Almost forgot, the bandit's corpses are placed just east of the camp, and, if very much pay no heed to what their bodies are like."
"I see what you mean. Then we should make this as quick as possible." Erevon then nods at his three men.
The three men quickly get to work. Pulling out three peculiar rods from their bag. A short observation: the head of the rods had an eye-like design. Swiftly, then they nailed it to the ground in a triangular position with a distance of five feet from each other. And when the captain placed a glowing azure stone from the centre, the three rods began to hum.
Half an hour later, the object revealed its purpose as five soldiers were teleported, then another, until the camp was overrun by soldiers and mages. As for the two—
On the road, after leaving the forest part, the two would again find themselves in a grassland. Thanks to the clouds, the two travelled without a stop.
"Can you stop sulking? I promised I would pay you back once we reach my father's estate."
"I had more than four gold coins in my hand." Mutters Natalak. "Four gold coins!" Natalak continues, hand-clenching tightly.
"Dusk is upon us; we should arrive at a small village before sundown. It's best we hasten our step." Ashalain said, ignoring his grumbling.
"Then may I ask you where you sent those Shars?"
"I handed it over to the captives. While you were asleep, I counted all the coins you'd collected and distributed to them equally. I'm sorry, Natalak, but it's not our money to begin with; they've earned it through their hard work."
Silent by her words, the two would soon arrive at a small village. There were thirty houses, but rest assured, the village was well protected by walls and soldiers. Natalak looked at the open field and saw acres of farm land. Giving the distinct income of the village.
Entering the village inn, this time there was no guild logo etched on the signboard…
"Good day, sir innkeeper, do you have any two separate rooms?" Ashalain initiates.
Before the innkeeper replied, the man measured the paladin.
"Aye, we had some. Ten coppers for the other and a silver for the noble's chamber. If you need a fine meal for today and tomorrow morning. Thirty coppers should suffice." The innkeeper answered.
"Two for the ten, and we'll take the thirty shar," Ashalain said, placing one silver coin on the counter.
Upon seeing the silver coin placed on the innkeeper's desk, somehow Natalak recognised it by the cut.
"Is that?" Natalak shifts his gaze to the paladin.
"What? I-I only took a silver." Stammers Ashalain as she looks away.
"Yeah… not our money, you said."
"By Azarus's flame." Mutters the paladin. "Sir innkeeper, I would like my dinner to be at my room if you would."
The innkeeper nods and quickly gives her the key. "And what about you?" The man continues, gawking at Natalak.
"I'll eat in my room, same as her."
The innkeeper nods. "Aye-aye, kid, here's your key… your dinner will be coming shortly." He adds, giving Natalak his room key.
In the midst of their dinner, the rain poured heavily, accompanied by thunder and lightning. Glass windows pitter-pattered as heavy rain hit its surface. The only light Natalak had was a simple candle, but for Ashalain, a glimmer of her blessing lit the room.
As Natalak would finally take a full night's rest, a knock came from the door.
"It's me, Ashalain."
"What is it now?" Mutters Natalak.
Thanks to the constant lightning, he was able to open the door without any wall-hugging.
"Need something?"
"Can I talk to you inside?" Ashalain replied, casting a ball of light.
Yet when the two sit for a conversation, there is a long pause between them. The only sounds were the rumbling thunder and the rain hitting. Ashalain didn't even look straight at Natalak.
"So… is there something you need to say?" Initiates Natalak.
"Natalak… how would you like to become a member of the adventurers' guild?" The paladin gave a melancholic expression. "I could help you get into the guild without any restrictions."
Natalak scratches his head, too unable to gaze at the paladin. "I don't know… I don't have any magic or good combat to begin with. I don't even have any proper equipment."
"I could help you train, and if you want, there's some special equipment that I know we can buy."
"I-I don't have any money." Stammers Natalak.
"If it's okay with you, I'll be the one to cover the expenses."
"I-I…" Natalak's eye wandered except for the woman in front of him. "I think let's take one step at a time."
"I see." Ashalain gave a disappointed look.
What followed next was a long silence. The night was getting late, and soon Ashalain returned to her respective chamber.