Chapter 16

As the sun was rising, they arrived back home.

Leya: “I'll see you guys later. I need a shower.”

Arden: “Me too. A very long shower.”

Nireh: “Okay... see you later.”

Nireh: *I'm gonna leave my pack and see how Norkai's doing.*

Right before he was about to open his room door.

Nereea: “Nireh, where have you been?”

Nireh: “On a mission. With Arden and Leya.”

Nereea: “Is that so. Without training with me first? How did it go?”

Nireh: “I think it was okay. I tested the power with them before leaving.”

Nereea: “Very well. You'll tell me later how it went.”

Nireh: “But there's something you should know.”

Nereea: “What happened?”

Nireh: “I think something is happening in the fairy's world.”

Nereea: “Interesting. Why do you say that?”

Nireh: “We got attacked by a creature... and the fairy said: ‘Mean fairies’ brought it here.”

Nereea: “Are you sure about that?”

Nireh: “Yes, I'm sure.”

Nereea: “Now that is a problem. What kind of creature?”

Nireh: “A very scary werewolf.”

Nereea: “You're kidding. Is he dead now?”

Nereea: *I knew something was happening there. This is not the first creature I hear about.*

Nireh: “Yeah. We barely killed it.”

Nereea: “Good. Did she say anything else?”

Nireh: “No.”

Nereea: “Alright. You don't speak about this to no one. If she gives you more details... you come to me. Got it?”

Nireh: “Understood.”

Nereea: “Good. Now pack your bags. We are going to Velen.”

Nireh: “Right now?”

Nereea: “Yeah. Is there a problem?”

Nireh: “No... it's just... unexpected.”

Nireh: *Dammit. I need to see Norkai before I leave.*

Nereea: “It will be a nice experience for you. I'll be back in one hour.”

And she disappears.

Nireh: *I need to go now and be quick about it.*

A few minutes later.

Knock, knock.

Norkai: “Nireh... why are you knocking at the door? It's your house too.”

Nireh: “I just... didn't want it to be awkward.”

Norkai: “Too late for that.”

Norkai: *He's being so weird lately.*

Nireh: “I can't stay for long. I'll be going to Velen for a few days.”

Norkai: “I guess you're pretty busy these days.”

Nireh: “Yeah... I know. Sorry about that. When I come back... we'll talk more.”

Norkai: “Fine. I'll be here... leaving my boring life.”

Nireh: “Come on... your life is not boring.”

Norkai: “If you say so.”

Nireh: “I need to go now. It was nice talking to you.”

Norkai: “Yeah... I'll see you later.”

He packed his bags and was ready just in time for his first visit to Velen.
After a few hours on the road.

Nireh: “Nereea, how is Velen?”

Nereea: “Like Yllera in many ways... but also different.”

Nireh: “Do you think my mom is still there?”

Nereea: “Your mom? Didn't Roy tell you?”

Nireh: “Tell me what?”

Nereea: “Well... it's better you ask him.”

Nireh: “Did something happen?”

Nereea: “Trust me. It's better you find out from him.”

Nireh: “Okay.”

Nireh: *What is Roy hiding now?*

Nereea: “It's been a couple of hours on the road... do you wanna take a break?”

Nireh: “I think I'm fine.”

Nereea: “Okay. Then we'll stop later. A village should be nearby. We'll take a room there.”

The next day, they reached the border.

Garik: “Miss Nereea, what a pleasure to see you again.”

Nereea: “Garik... it's been far too long.”

Garik: “Indeed. Business trip again?”

Nereea: “I'm afraid so.”

Garik: “Is this your brother?”

Nereea: “Haha. Charming as always. He's my new colleague.”

Garik: “Interesting. A very young colleague.”

Nereea: “Yeah... it's his first time to Velen.”

Garik: “I see. Well... I hope you'll have a pleasant stay.”

Nireh: “Thank you, sir.”

Nereea: “It was nice seeing you, Garik.”

Garik: “Likewise, miss. Take care.”

They spent the rest of the day on the road, heading towards the main village.

Nereea: “What do you think?”

Nireh: “You were right... it does look like Yllera. But at the same time... not really. Especially the colors.”

Nereea: “Yeah... we'll see the village tomorrow. Now it's already late. Let's get a room. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

Nireh: “Okay. Are we going to the Government?”

Nereea: “Not this time. I want some privacy.”

Nireh: “I understand.”

In the morning, they woke up early and went straight to Velen's Government.

Nereea: “The buffet is there. Go get yourself something to eat. I need to talk with some people.”

Nireh: “Okay.”

Nireh: *She leaves me alone? I don't even know a person here. And everyone is staring at me already.*

While waiting in the buffet room.

Frostik: “Aren't you a little young for a Legend?”

Nireh: “You don't look so old yourself.”

Frostik: “I guess that's true. I'm Frostik. You?”

Nireh: “Nireh. Nice to meet you.”

Frostik: “I guess you're not from around here, right?”

Nireh: “Yeah... I'm from Yllera.”

Frostik: “I thought so. Everyone here knows our Legends. Which is why... I bet many will stare at you.”

Nireh: “I've noticed. Being a Legend for long?”

Frostik: “Not really. Around a year or so.”

Nireh: “Still longer than me.”

Frostik: “I see. So... did you see the village?”

Nireh: “No. We woke up and rushed here.”

Frostik: “Then let's get out of here. I'll show you something Yllera doesn't have.”

Nireh: “I don't know... I'm supposed to wait here.”

Frostik: “Come on... we'll be back in no time.”

Nireh: “Hmm... fine. I don't know how long I have to wait here anyway.”

Nireh: *I hope Nereea won't get mad at me.*

After a couple of minutes they arrived in the middle of the village. There was a beautiful park full of trees and stands, filled with lanterns of every color hanging above the pathways.

Nireh: “This park is huge. And it seems... there's a festival going on?”

Frostik: “A never-ending festival.”

Nireh: “That sounds insane.”

Frostik: “Haha. I knew you'd like it.”

As they were visiting the stands, a customer was drawing too much attention.

Mysterious man: “How dare you? Do you know who I am?”

Guard: “No, sir. Please leave. This stand is closed.”

Mysterious man: “My name is Soy Vecna. Remember it. I will become someone great one day.”

Frostik: “Never heard of that guy.”

Nireh: “Me neither.”

Nireh: *What is he doing here?*

Frostik: “I guess there are all sorts of people here.”

Nireh: “Yeah... let's move on.”

A few moments later, a stand caught Nireh's attention.

Nireh: *That mask... doesn't it look like the one from back then? The blonde guy?*

Nireh: “What do those masks symbolize?”

Frostik: “Just the old families. A long time ago Velen was ruled by them. But they don't mean much now.”

Nireh: “I see.”

Nireh: *I guess that explains how that guy could afford a convoy.*

Meanwhile in a meeting.

Gredik: “I told you Nereea... there is not much that we can do.”

Nereea: “I wasn't talking to you.”

Mr. Marvik: “Let's keep this meeting grounded.”

Nereea: “I'm trying... but your counselor is being more irritating than usual.”

Gredik: “Look... we get that you hate Sevren. But putting a high-level team to track his movements while he's in Velen seems exaggerated.”

Nereea: “Exaggerated? Was it exaggerated when he almost started a war with Averon?”

Mr. Marvik: “How is that investigation going?”

Gredik: “Why don't you focus on that? Instead of causing trouble for us.”

Nereea: “Not great. Velmir has been keeping a low profile since the day he sold the meeting to Sevren.”

Gredik: “Do you have any evidence he sold it to Sevren?”

Nereea: “No... but I'm sure it was him.”

Gredik: “Without evidence there is nothing we can do.”

Mr. Marvik: “Find something solid Nereea, and we'll speak again.”

Nereea: “Fine. When he destroys Velen... don't say I didn't warn you.”

Within half an hour, Nireh returned to the Government.

Nereea: “Where have you been?”

Nireh: “I saw the big park... with a local Legend. Frostik.”

Nereea: “Frostik? I don't remember him.”

Nireh: “He said he's only been a Legend for a year or so.”

Nereea: “I see. It's good that you're making new allies. You might need them some day.”

Nireh: “I guess. What now?”

Nereea: “I don't know... let's see the rest of the village and go home. This trip was a waste of time.”

Nireh: “How come?”

Nereea: “Remember that mission when your team saved those two fighters?”

Nireh: “Yeah. Funny that you mention it... I just saw some masks in the park, very similar to what the blonde rich man was wearing.”

Nereea: “Is that so? Where did you see them?”

Nireh: “At a stand. Frostik said they symbolize the old families from Velen.”

Nereea: “Interesting.”

Nereea: *If I recall... Gredik comes from such family.*

Nereea: “This trip might not have been a waste after all. Nice save, Nireh.”

Nireh: “I don't understand.”

Nereea: “Velen might have a rat as well... not just us.”

Nireh: “That... does not sound good.”

Nereea: “True. But now we know who to keep an eye on.”

Nireh: “I understand now.”

Nereea: “Good. Let's get out of here.”

They spent the rest of the day visiting the village and then went back home.