The atmosphere shifts— Natalak hopes to have a great time with Sheila's companionship. But in his entrance to their home, a familiar presence quickly disappoints his expectations. He wanted to leave, but of guilt, debt and the needs of his items.
Sitting on a table, Chifya sits in what you can describe as a visitor's manner. No weapons tucked on her, no armour can be seen, just a respectable woman drinking her tea and reading books.
She wore a dark, high-collared robe of fine weave, the fabric of which was then layered with fine cloth. Sheer sleeves that fall gracefully along her arms. There were thin chains of blackened silver that ran across the garment, forming a subtle design rather than mere decoration.
The robe is belted at the waist with a narrow, polished-metal clasp, practical enough to allow movement yet elegant enough to suggest courtly refinement.
Her eyes were sharp and steady, carrying a quiet intelligence. They do not wander; they measure.
"Ah, you're back," Chifya said, with an expression of uninterest.
"The f! — I should have asked Sheila for my bag."
"Hmm…" Natalak nods, returning a disenchanted look.
He searched for another chair to sit, but regrettably, there were no other chairs to comfort his sore ankles. Concede, he then sits on the farthest side of the table, away from Chifya. And what follows is a long strip of silence. The only ruckus was in the kitchen area, where Reith was busy making lunch.
Agitated from doing nothing— Natalak fiddles with his fingers, cleaning dirty nails and sometimes nudging the top of the table. As time passes, he then shifts to his cloak, pinching its fabric and quietly studying its materials. Suddenly, a thought came to him.
"I forgot… the gun."
For Chifya, she was rather intrigued by the man, how his fidgeting action now turns to a silent stillness. Oftentimes, she would take a glance at him, measuring and analysing his behaviour. The only thing that was moving was his right index finger, steadily jolting the surface of the table.
Though calm and uncomfortable, the stillness was shattered when Sheila entered, bringing Natalak his bag. The minute Chifya saw Sheila bringing his bag, she quickly massaged her forehead—as if Sheila had made a mistake.
Once given, Natalak was surprised to find brooms and unnecessary items placed on the relic.
"By the way, Natalak, how were you the only one who could pull out those items. And how do you do that?" Sheila asks.
"I don't know, it's just resonated with me. I somehow knew it, like it was my stomach, the things it ate." Natalak answered, reckoning they've already known his secret, he let it pass, perhaps too tired of keeping secrets.
"By the way, what happened to that tree speaking thing?" Natalak said, shifting the subject.
"Well, we did seal it before withdrawing from that place," Sheila answered.
"Seal it?"
"Well, if the fire had burned the tree, it might release the entity that Chifya's uncle placed in it. You could say it like putting a monkey in a pot, but if the pot is destroyed, the monkey would be free. But it's no concern, the higher-ups have already finished that thing into oblivion."
"I see, but I'm quite curious about that entity."
"Well, I think Chifya would be the best to answer your question." Sheila smiled at Chifya, nudging her head towards Natalak.
"Those are the entities born from the Anti-Realm. My uncle was one of the druids who could enter the Sylvian Realm, but the entity was too powerful for my uncle to handle. So, he sealed it on a tree…" Chifya said, her eyes unable to look at Natalak. "And I thank you for what you did to my uncle, and for me." She continues, now with a soft-spoken voice, counter to her sharp expression.
"It's not me you should be thankful for, it's Miss Sheila."
He looked at what he got, and it was a disappointing look.
"What?" Natalak ask.
"Nothing." Sheila gave a tired sigh.
"Hmm…" Natalak expressed, pulling out the items from his bag.
Just as Natalak placed the book he looted there in the dwarven tunnel, a simple glance at it enticed Chifya.
"Oh, should you go and appraise that book from the guild. I could be your referrer in joining the guild."
"I'll think about it," Natalak replied.
"You have quite a book," Chifya said. "Might I take a look?"
"Sure, go ahead." Natalak freely gave in; he was more attached to his newly found treasure than the old one.
"Ah, what a relief."
Natalak gave a faint smile upon pulling the weightless sword.
"Perhaps Barry the blacksmith might be interested in seeing this sword of mine and those silvery ingots." Reckons Natalak, gleamingly staring at his newly found toy.
He looked at Chifya and saw she was more invested in the book.
"These symbols… somehow, it's familiar from that dragon's lair I stumble upon." Chifya's eyes were glued to the pages. "But why can I not feel any lingering magic on this book?" Chifya glances at Natalak, happily analysing his sword.
"Might I ask where you found this book?" Chifya said, now with a serious tone.
"At some dwarven tunnels," Natalak answered, unconcerned with her call.
Just then, Chifya gave a pause— placing her fingers on her cheeks, and for a three-second glance at Natalak, she smiled.
"I think I might have a way to decipher this book." Chifya blurt. "This book is not something to be just sold in a shop."
"What do you mean?" Natalak's face turns enticed.
"That this book is ancient or has worth. And if you're again doubtful, which I can tell you might ask some stupid questions, we can use that Crystal ball of yours."
"I'm not doubtful." Natalak lied, placing Adra's eye back in his bag. "But what kind of method?"
"I think the elders might perhaps know something about this. There's one that has similar inscriptions at Ma' Kathal."
"So, we need to travel to your place?"
"Obviously." Chifya frowns, quite rattled by his baffling demeanour.
"May I ask, sister Chifya, how far is your home from here at Ravalind?" Sheila intervenes.
"Ah, my grove is quite far from the borders of Keshoval and Ravalind. Probably more than half a month to reach. But from here, it might take us two months to reach my village." Chifya's tone quickly softens as to her expression.
"That's rather far, but what about teleportation. Does your village have those teleportation stones?"
"Yes, there's one we used it: but it is more of the traditional one. And it's located in a nearby village, just three days' walk to my grove."
"Forgive me for intruding on your conversation, but might I ask what a teleportation stone is, and the scroll you've used? If you don't mind me asking." Natalak blurt.
"Just what kind of village—" Chifya paused when Sheila secretly gestured her hand.
"Teleportation stones, or Stone of Mun Vintan, to what it's originally called, is much the same as a teleportation scroll. Their difference is just models, though they are slightly different in purpose."
Natalak nods; he wants to understand more, but since he can tell it's a common thing in everyday life in this world, Natalak looks for another topic. It baffles someone when a stranger with an unprecedented artefact is begging for information. In the end, there was none that he could think of.
"Sorry to disturb you for a second." Reith arbitrates. "The food is ready."
Pulling all his gears back to his sack, the group takes their time in the midst of their lunch. And as they ate, Chifya noticed that Natalak was different. Pausing to eat his meal for a small contemplation, from that slight action as to his expression, she already suspected his assessment.
Sei and Riya were absent, probably at the guild doing their thing as members of the adventurers.
"Should I stay here for a bit or should I leave?" Natalak ponders. "I really need to ask Barry about the armaments that I saw."
"I'll go grab a drink," Chifya said.
Pondering for a second, Natalak asked for a private room, and in his request, he was given one. After that, once he exited the room, there was a distant gloom coming from Sheila. The cloak that she bought was neatly folded, and the battered armour was changed into a commoner's clothing. And one can tell, he had already made a decision.
"Y-you're going?" Sheila implores.
"Perhaps," Natalak said, placing the cloak on the table.
Grabbing the drink that Chifya placed, he didn't bother to hesitate and quickly gulped all the tankard in one go. He looks at the light coming through the window, and it's still past lunch.
"There is still time."
Natalak stood, and suddenly he felt a little dizzy engulf his mind. His body was too heavy and tired to move, leading him to collapse on the floor.
"Hahahahah… serves you right. Did you think I didn't come prepared?" Chifya says, sniggering at her actions.
"What did you do?!" Sheila was intently looking at Chifya with a confused look.
"Relax, I only give him a dose of my potion. He won't be up for a while."
"But why did you do that?" Sheila asks.
"He was eager to leave, and he didn't answer my request. I can see how worried you were when he was about to leave, weren't you?" Chifya smiles.
Sheila was silent; she was really in blue when Natalak was about to leave. And Chifya sure did something.
Entering through the northwest borders of Keshoval, a wyvern clad in armour flies above the mountains. Only a few two to three miles, the wyvern rider was intercepted by two gryphons carrying the sigils of Keshoval.
Noticing their presence, the wyvern rider descended on the road, followed by the two gryphons. There was no tension, only border certifying, when, upon closer inspection, the wyvern was carrying the flag of Endregar. And with documents containing the seal of Endregar's highest known priestess.
"I've come bearing news." The wyvern rider said.
Minutes after verifying the papers, the Endregar's messenger was then escorted by the two gryphons. Upon reaching the terminals of Ravalind, they then descend in altitude, flying only at 60 meters above ground until they reach the heart of Keshoval.
Through a private room where the king and his advisors reside, the door was quickly opened.
"My lord, I've come bearing news." The messenger announces. "Lady Ferish will be visiting."
"Well now, any other reports?" The king implores.
"Nothing, my lord." The messenger follows, placing the parchment on the table.