Morning came, and bless that no rain fell. In the city of Ravalind, through the bustling market streets, their wares and iron wheels rattled over the stone pavement. There in the centre, a gnome, a town crier's voice rang above the masses' noise as ten unopened parchments levitated at the back of the gnome.
"Hear ye!… Hear ye!…"
Through a ring of his loud and magical brass bell, gathering the wandering ears of merchants, adventurers, labourers, and common folks alike. Even some noble folks measured down their pace, awaiting what the gnome would say.
And when the first parchment was open—
"By the decree of the Adventurers' Guild and the authority of the Kingdom of Keshoval."
The gnome didn't bother to grab the first parchment to read. Instead, it floats two meters from the ground, revealing the parchment's stamp, one from the guild, one from the kingdom.
"Lady Ashalain de Shilvia, alongside an unnamed adventurer companion. Has triumphally dismantled a bandit encampment near the Bent Tree Road!"
Murmurs quickly spread throughout the market.
"The operation led to the liberation of dozens of captives intended for illegal trafficking beyond the borders of Keshoval! Women, children and travellers alike were rescued from the hands of marauders and suspected followers of the Agum!"
The market slowed, and the noises faded; merchants paused or slowed their counting. Blacksmith's hammers soften, even as wandering adventurers… powerful or not, stop their tracks.
"The kingdom's knights and guild investigators, acting upon evidence recovered from the encampment. Have uncovered traces of illicit transactions between outlaw cult factions and multiple bandit groups operating near the eastern route!"
Another bell rang as the gnome recovered his voice.
"Hear this well! Oh, citizens of Keshoval… the sized documents, a few surviving bandits and captives… and the intercepted routes have allowed authorities to prevent further trafficking operations and save hundreds of women and children. That is believed to extend towards the border of Endregar and the lower trade roads of Mavigrid."
As the town crier paused for a second, whispers erupted through the streets.
"By Shar!" One of the noble women gasps. "Thank the Gods, Lady Ashalain was there." She continues placing her hand on her chest.
"So, the rumours were true?" A peasant or a commoner smiled as if his conspiracies were brought to fruition. "But I think there's more to that."
"Cults again? They are getting rampant these days!" A maid said, holding a basket full of provisions.
"The roads are getting worse and worse by the day. What are these adventurers and kingdoms doing?" A merchant scoffs.
Then the crier lifted his voice once more.
"Furthermore! Captain Erevon confirms that several missing person reports are now under active investigation following discoveries made within the encampment. As some merchants are involved in this organised crime."
A mother who stops by at the market and, after hearing the gnome's news, her hand clutches tightly around her child. As nearby merchants exchange uneasy glances, shaking their heads in disappointment.
"The guild and the kingdom advise all travellers to avoid isolated woodland routes until further notice! Additional patrols are now being dispatched towards every main road of the kingdom."
Then after a second pause—
"For her bravery, swift action and successful rescue of innocent lives that led to the rescue of many more lives… Lady Ashalain de Shilvia is hereby commended by both the Adventurers' Guild and the crown of Keshoval!"
The bell rang one final time, concluding the first parchment.
"Hear ye… hear ye…"
Following the first report, the first parchment didn't close, but stayed open, allowing others who hadn't heard the news to take a look. The second parchment opens, and again it levitates beside the first parchment.
The crowd's noise dimer, and soon the gnome continues for another cry. An hour had passed, and all ten parchments were open. Floating in the air, those who didn't reach the news are welcome to read.
Small crowds gathered, children and orphans most likely and when they saw Ashalain's name. Their eyes glimmer in admiration.
"I really want to meet Lady Ashalain someday." A girl said her clothes were those of a commoner, an orphan, to be precise.
"You seem to really admire her." A boy implores, and from his clothes one can see that he is the same as the girl.
"She's the reason why we have good food and a warm bed. I really wish all nobles were like her. But I wonder why she never visits us." The girl clasped her hand, praying and at the same time thanking the noble paladin.
Further away from the city, and enter a certain village of Phelenar. At the Shilvia family estate… there in a certain hallway… two women are in a dispute. Dressed in golden, Ashena leaned against a wooden wall, cornered. Her arms crossed, her posture relaxed, and her eyes half closed, unfazed by the person in front of her. To her opposite was Ashalain—garbed in a gothic dress, and her is a furious voice.
"HOW COULD YOU! WHY DID YOU HELP HIM LEAVE?!" Ashalain exclaimed, awaiting her sister's side. "ANSWER ME! ASHENA!" She continues, furious at Ashena's silence.
Ashena neither spoke nor gazed at her sister; she merely sighed, as if jaded by her uproar. Five meters from the two, three maids are on standby, one is old, the other are in their fruitful age. Their expression tells of unrest while watching the two.
"I'm tired of this," Ashena mutters, gently swatting away Ashalain's blocking arm.
"Don't you walk away from me!" The paladin voiced, grabbing her sister's wrist.
"Do you want to show these people our childhood days? Father is still recovering, and brother Lycand will be coming today," Ashena said, her voice… cold and challenging.
Sensing her sister's fading control, Ashena yanks herself free from Ashalain's grip and quickly resumes her step. The servant watches Ashena depart from the scene, while Ashalain tries her best to ease her own emotions, her hand tightening, teeth clenching. And eyes hold both fury and sadness, unable to look at her sister, Ashalain, too, departed from that area.
"Shar's be praise." Sighs the older maid. "Come, we should return to our duties." She adds, pulling the other two towards the kitchen area.
And when the three maids return to the kitchen—
"Madam Flayne." Ask one of the younger maids, the one with short hair. "Were Lady Ashalain and Lady Ashena always like this?"
"If I'm wrong, I heard from the guards that it was about a man that Lady Ashalain brought. Could it be that person was the unnamed adventurer from the news?" Follows the other maid, the one with long silver hair.
"Hush, you two… keep your voice down," Flayne said. "Guards might hear you."
"Madam Flayne, can you tell us more about Lady Ashalain and Lady Ashena?" Implores the short-haired maid.
Flayne sighs, "In their younger days… those two used to fight over everything." Flayne said while chopping the meat. "Toys, dress, books… even sweets from the kitchen." She adds.
"Really?" The silver-haired maid said.
"It was hard watching those two. At first, it was easy to dissolve their bickering, but as they got older, it took four of us maids to separate them. To the end that we had to rely on the guards." Flayne replied as she prepared other ingredients. "But I doubt that any guards today would separate their contest at their age."
"You really had it hard back then." The short-haired said, helping Flayne peel the ingredients.
Flayne smiled. "Truly, but oddly enough, if one disappears for over an hour, the other would turn the whole estate upside down searching for her… whenever one went, the other followed."
"That's quite an odd sibling relationship." Says the maid, while the silver white hair giggles.
Flayne tithers. "Indeed… anyway, we should concentrate on our duties, master Lycand will be coming at any hour."
The maids return to their work, but no matter how serious their job may be, gossip is just around the corner.
As the sun reached its highest peak and shadows shrivelled back to their origin, a noble carriage passed through the estate's gate. And upon reaching the mansion's façade, five people exit the carriage.
Welcomed by butlers, maids and guards, but the one who stood in the centre was the two sisters, who are now hiding their vexation.
Dressed in gentlemanly attire. And when they come face to face with the two sisters, the man gently removes his top hat. From the looks of it, the man was much older than Ashena or even Ashalain.
"This place hasn't changed a bit," Lycand said, and by his side was a stunning snow elf.
"Welcome home, brother Lycand and sister Filamir." Ashalain greets.
Behind the two couples stood three children. Their mixed heritage—half snow elf and half human—revealed that they were Lycand and Filamirs' children.
Lycand nods back. "Thank you…" Lycand said, gazing at the mansion. "How's the old man by the way?"
As their reunion progresses and the wind breezes through the estate, carrying autumn leaves. Through the heart of Keshoval, through the bustling city of Ravalind, enter the house of Sheila. The lunch was late, and three people sat in silence. Their meals were warm, but the atmosphere was opposite.
"I really should have stayed at an inn." Natalak slowly stirs his stew whilst tearing the meat into pieces. "Should I lie?" Natalak glances at Chifya.
"Um, Natalak," Sheila spoke.
"Y-yes?"
"You seem to be exhausted… is the food not to your liking?" Sheila followed.
"No-no, the food is good, it's just too hot for me to handle. I'm just waiting for it to cool." Natalak lied.
"I see…" Sheila nods three times.
"Um… by the way, about that cemetery dungeon thing… any news about it?"
"We haven't got any news, unfortunately. When Sei and Reith arrive, the guild and soldiers have already barricaded the place. As for us lower adventurers, only the higher-ups are the one who knows what happened inside that dungeon." Sheila replied.
"Should you be the one to know more about what that dungeon holds?" Chifya said, slightly tilting her head towards Natalak.
"I–I think it's best to finish our meal first." Natalak stammer.
An hour later…
Still at their table, still in their seats—and the bowls of porridge and meat change to tea and coffee.
"So, ah… There were children." Said Natalak, fingers nudging the cup. "And it was dreadful."
"Veilmage Experiment." Chifya blurt.
"What?" Natalak quickly shifted his gaze to her.
"What you've encountered was an experiment that will turn an ordinary person into a Veilmage by means of using abyssal magic and cells of past Veilmages," Chifya said, sipping her tea. "If I remember, I've encountered four experiments, and it's not something an ordinary person should see. But there's one I stumble upon that uses the souls rather than the common way." She continues, with eyes filled with grief.
"No wonder the guilds and the kingdom quickly sealed that place."
"Well, uhh… I may have released some dark thing from there. It was encased in a box-type thing, and when I grabbed it, a dark entity possessed my body." Lied Natalak, whilst giving the two a straight face.
"And how did you recover? Last time, we saw you confronting the demon? In some way that no simple humans could do." Chifya's voice hints of authority and suspicion.
There was a pause, and Natalak's face froze. Then he remembers Ashalain.
"I ahh… a paladin was able to help me."
"A paladin?" Chifya raised an eyebrow.
"Yes-yes-yes…" Nods Natalak. "Believe it or not, it was thanks to that paladin. We could use the eye of Adra if you don't believe me."
Chifya didn't respond; there was only silence, but Natalak could still see… that there was suspicion in her eyes. After receiving no response from the half-elf, Natalak continued filling the book. This, however, was not the Earth's invention, but tall tales of stories from Earth, or maybe true stories.
After four days and four nights, in the estate of Ariendal, a package was delivered not by the lord of the house but to Ashena. Upon hearing the delivery, Ashalain races to the gate only for Ashena to take hold of the package.
Bound by leather and ropes. Curious about what the package holds, Ashena carefully unwraps it and finds a simple book. But in Ashalain's eyes, she recognised the book, the very same book which she bought for Natalak.
Perceiving her sister's gaze, Ashena let out a faint smile as she passed through Ashalain's aloof atmosphere.
"Oh, sister…" Mutters Ashena, clutching the book tightly on her chest. "You never change."