Dawn breaks the nights; the traveller was awakened to find a rat bedding to his chest. By his quick hand and successfully grabbing the rat, out of curiosity—
"What if I put a live one in this bag?" Natalak says, picking his magic bag and stuffing the rodent.
The moment he plunged the rat, it quickly disappeared, consumed by the dark void.
"Well, I'll be dammed!" Natalak chuckles. "Best to get some food downstairs."
Stepping down the stairs, he saw that a few people were occupying the area. Still, the royal party arrived earlier than he thought. Worst, they are closer to the taverner, rendering it hard to procure information.
Sharp and quick observation, Natalak can tell the lady paladin was still soiled from last night's affairs.
Sitting as far away from the group as possible, he then orders a morning meal. A porridge with a few slices of meat and two tasty breads, a meal for a peasant. It is there he waits until the group departs from their seats. Meanwhile, his mind was full of thoughts, thoughts of words on how to engage a conversation with the innkeeper.
Controlling his meal, Natalak times the situation slowly empties his plate, waiting for the group to disperse. And when he saw the faction of adventurers open the table, Natalak quickly engaged.
"May a trouble you good sir for a word," Natalak spoke after sitting face-to-face at the taverner.
"You may, what troubles you, young man?" The innkeeper replied.
Natalak clenched his jaw before entering a discussion.
"I'm a foreigner to this land, and I'm planning to head towards Ravalind. Any tips and things for me to know?" Natalak's tone was soft yet thoughtful.
"Ravalind, I see. Are you perhaps memorable with the adventurers' guild?"
"Adventurers' guild?"
The Taverners nods.
"Say, what's your reason for visiting Ravalind? Young man, are you perhaps a scholar of some country?"
"Yes-yes-yes, I'm a scholar from Earth, a traveller so to say. It's a long home, and I was ambushed by some creatures from my journey. I did manage to escape their claws, but I lost some of my things."
"Hmm, sounds to me like you're in a rough travel, my friend. So why do you want to go to Ravalind?"
"To get some supplies, and seek some opportunities if luck be with me." Natalak respond.
"I see." The taverner said as he organised the bottles.
For a moment, Natalak orders a bottle of Ale, wetting the tongue for another good conversation.
"Is it okay for me to ask about some political tensions between Keshoval and Endregar?" Natalak, after taking five sips.
"I'm surprised you're into politics; it's nothing more than a small tension. Kings are hungry this time; if I were you, it's best to leave it to those politics. Ears are all over the place."
Shifting for another talk, Natalak asks what kind of place Ravalind is, to which the innkeeper happily engages. Indulging in their conversation, Natalak notices Ashalain's party were preparing to leave. And with a fine earshot, the lady paladin was conversing with her crew.
"You go on without me. I have something to do," Ashalain said.
"Just don't do anything reckless, you still haven't fully recovered, even your power," Garrick responds with a serious expression.
Through and all her party agrees and exits the inn while she goes upstairs.
Torpid to Ashalain's doing, Natalak takes his last sip before retrieving his bag, then, when the Innkeeper sees Natalak leaving his seat.
"Hey, kid, if you reach Ravalind, give this letter to Barry. He is a blacksmith there, famous for his craftsmanship."
Receiving the letter, Natalak then asks the innkeeper's name.
"Call me Garry."
"So, where is this place your brother lives?"
"You'll know when you reach there." Garry smiles.
Stopping for a moment, Natalak then asks.
"Why would you trust someone, a stranger?"
"Mm-hmm, good point— Well, I get the feeling that you are someone to be trusted when we had a little chat. And a small piece of advice, if some guards screen you, you can use that letter for entry, it saves you some coin."
Natalak nods. "I heartfully thank thee for your help. By the way, what is this inn called?"
"Ale and Hammer," Garry replied.
"I see to it then." Natalak continues, climbing upstairs to retrieve his bag.
Unfortunately, when he opens the door, Natalak comes face-to-face with Ashalain, who is sitting on his bed, staring out the window. Questions start to fill up his mind.
"Why is she here?! Did I do something that provoked her last night?" Natalak ponders.
"Madam, can I help you with something? You must be in the wrong room." A passive tone, Natalak said.
Recognising his presence, Ashalain gave him a serious stare as if Natalak had just butchered and eaten her dog.
"Okay, I'm in trouble," Natalak concluded, thinking of an escape.
The first thing that came into his mind was—
"If I could get closer to get my bag on the corner of the bed. I would either run out of this room or jump out of that window. If luck be with me, I might not break my leg."
"I see, you're the man from last night." An intimidating tone, Ashalain expresses.
"Sorry for last night, but it was my friend, so I apologise on behalf of my friend for speaking vulgar—"
Cutting Natalak off. "Ho? I didn't see any of your companions here, even when you came last night." She says, crossing her arms and legs.
"By the creator, she's a sharp observer. This woman is dangerous as hell." Natalak considers.
Ignoring her intimidation, Natalak walks to get his bag when a sword suddenly stops his movement, edging the blade to his throat. He could feel a powerful force radiating from the blade, a holy one.
"Blondie? How barbaric are you?" Natalak jokes.
Ignoring his words, Ashalain grills her dagger-like eyes as she examines his every outfit, top to bottom.
Still edging her sword at Natalak's throat. "I've been observing you lately, your clothes are different from what I've ever seen before. The way you speak to the innkeeper is something. Who are you? Tell me the truth, and no blood shall be spilt today!"
"I'm a man, not a primate—" Natalak responded when his words were disrupted.
"Are you a spy or an assassin? Answer me!" Ashalain implored, her voice was sharp and blunt.
"I don't know what you're saying. Take a look at me if I'm an assassin?" His eyes showed truthfulness.
The paladin laid down her sword and, distancing herself, until— When Natalak tries to get his bag, Ashalain quickly again unsheathes her sword, and this time it was in his hand.
"Does this lady have no limits!" Natalak's teeth were gritting in frustration.
"I've been watching your eyes. It seems that you've been concerned about that bag when you always look at it." Ashalain Usher.
"Well fuck me, how many talents does this lady have?" Natalak's face turns stone cold.
"It's just a bag, nothing more, nothing less—"
Ashalain interrupts and quickly seizes the bag. As she opened, the rodent Natalak had stuffed suddenly came out, surprising Ashalain. Using this opportunity, Natalak quickly sweeps her feet out, balancing herself.
In a rush, Natalak immediately grabs his bag and relinquishes his weapon.
And in that precise moment, the second he felt Ashalain had given up on the bag and her sword. It was there that he took the opportunity—swiftly grabbing both her sword and his bag. Natalak then hurriedly paced out of the room.
Running away downstairs, Natalak plunges the sword from his magic bag, to which Ashalain took notice. In just seconds, he heard a door slam open, and when the traveller took a slight view. He saw her in anguish, raging and ready to rip his head.
"What a barbarian!" Natalak says as they reach the first floor.
"I promise to deliver that letter." Natalak jags, opening the front door, but Ashalain too had already reached the first floor.
"She's fast!"
Fear overwhelms the body as adrenaline surges. When the door opens, Natalak run as wildly as he can; however, Ashalain is closing the distance. Thinking quickly, Natalak notices a creek. A gorge of twelve meters in height.
Gambling—just as Ashalain tries to grab Natalak. The traveller quickly initiates evasive manoeuvres. Luckily enough, Ashalain was caught off guard, enabling Natalak to push her off the cliff.
With a deep and calm current, the creek was able to absorb the impact of the fall. Later, he saw the paladin crawling at the edge of the creek, panting heavily.
"Sorry for what I did, it's okay if you don't forgive me, this world is a big place!" Shouts Natalak.
"I SWEAR IF YOU DON'T GIVE ME BACK MY SWORD THIEF! I AM GOING TO BURN YOU!" Ashalain shouts furiously, her heavy breathing mixed in. Ashalain furiously starts shouting.
"Yayks!" Humours Natalak pacing out on that place.
Still, on the verge of running like a horse, Natalak sighted a group of people resting in a tree. Drawing closer, he quickly realises it was Ashalain's companion.
Reducing down to a normal walk, Natalak silently passed the group like a simple pedestrian.
"What a strange dress," Mishel said, gawking at Natalak's Earthly appearance.
"Beats me, what I'm concerned about is why Ashalain is still not here. She should be here by now." Baron follows.
As they waited for more than half an hour, Garrick stood.
"You two should wait here. I'll go and check on her."
"Come on, Garrick, she just took three golems all by herself—"
Cutting him off. "Wait here, Baron. And take this—"
Garrick then offered Mishel a piece of his item, a cloak.
"Well, do as you please." Baron shrugs.
When Garrick starts to head back on the road, Ashalain comes running towards the group, wheezing in a distressed look.
"Did someone pass by, a man carrying a bag wearing strange clothing?!" Ashalain expressed immediately.
"Calm down, Ashalain, and why are you soaking wet?" Garrick asks.
"Ah? You mean that guy, yep, he just passed us maybe a few hours ago." Baron blurts. "Don't tell me?" His words turn cold upon seeing the empty sheath belted on the lady paladin.
"That thief stole my sword." Once she recovers from her gasping.
The moment she spoke, her companions were in disbelief.
"So, how did the sword get taken away?" Baron implores.
"I don't know, but the moment I let go of his bag, he immediately took my sword. Worst was, he even outsmarted me when I was chasing him." Ashalain says, in anguish and mortified.
"Ashalain, stay still. I'm going to cast recovery magic on you, so stay put." Mishel says, chanting some words.
"Please don't do this kind of recklessness, you're still recovering from the past mission." Mishel continues.
"I know that Mishel, I… I thought it might be easier for me, so I just did it alone, knowing that it might be quick." Ashalain said, unable to look at Mishel's face.
"Arguing like this won't solve the problem. Come, let us make haste, and while we're at it, I'll explain on the way." Garrick spoke.
"So, what's the plan, boss?" Baron implores.
"Is there anything we should know regarding the person who stole your sword?" Garrick questions Ashalain.
"Well, there is one that I heard. That man said he was heading towards Ravalind." Ashalain replied.
"Lady Mishel, do you still have some teleportation scrolls?" Baron said.
"I don't have any, I have already used our emergency at Starhim."
"Sucks to be at Shar's bad luck."
Without a complaint, the group hurries towards the road as Garrick begins explaining what to do.
"Okay, first things first. Once we enter Ravalind, Baron and Ashalain will search every shop and store for that sword. While Mishel and I will gather information regarding the man who stole your sword."
His words are solemn, and Ashalain senses that Garrick is serious about this, as if he values her sword more than his life.
"Ashalain, if we're to find your sword, make sure to buy an extra one, will ya?" Baron said, in a joking tone.
"Fine, Baron! I will! So, stop making jokes like this."
Running nonstop, Natalak's body is overcome by fatigue, and he tumbles onto the road. And in seconds, he can feel his legs shaking in tiredness… worst, his stomach begins to feel nauseated, vomiting thrice on the road.
After a minute of break, Natalak slowly gets up and starts walking again. As he corners the road, he begins to see people, walls, and houses.
"This must be it! The place of the legendary heroes." Natalak smiles.
Asking outside folks for confirmation and information, he smiles. Nearly reaching the gate, one of the guards, clad in plate mail armour, clutching a halberd, is suspiciously looking at Natalak's strange clothing.
"You there! The young man in strange clothing, may I have a word with you?" Announced the guard.
"Damn... I don't have time for this, but I should not be in jail just because of avoiding this guard." Natalak scoff.
"Say, lad, I don't recognise you or any of your clothes from here."
"Ahh... Oh, this, to be true, I am a merchant who came from a village called Earth. But sadly, I was ambushed by a group of creatures last night. So, I heard that there is a guild here that I would ask for some help to recover my wares." Natalak softly pleads just as he reveals Garry's letter.
"There's this letter from someone that I wanted to deliver to the adventurer's guild." Natalak continues.
"Just take the damn bait, you dimwitted guard. I don't have enough time, and that barbarian lady might be after my life."
"Hmm..." The guards inspect the letter. "I let you off this time, but be wary, make a commotion, and you'll end up in a dungeon." The guard's head nodded towards the gate.
"Thank you kindly, sir. I will heed your warning." Natalak politely nods.
"Okay then, be off with you! I got more things to do!" A bossy tone he ushers.
As Natalak finally stepped into the town, he was grinning with enjoyment.
"Shii... lucky son of gun!" A devious and mocking jag, Natalak utters.