Chapter 63: A Curious Trail (1)

It’s been hours already, and this guy is still going...
[What exactly did you expect, my liege? I warned you, and you didn’t listen. You shouldn’t have humored this rambling drunk to begin with.]

“Ye have ta swig tha lot till it’s empty, stripling! A quick one-two an’ nothing’ in between or after, ye hear? A tap o’ ta sweet divine unbeknownst ta ye soft-skins, best feel honored! An’ thank ya meager Goddess for such fine ale an’ fine company!”

A plump, pilgriming dvergr sat across from me, holding a wooden mug that was filled to the brim with an ill-scented brew. And in a matter of seconds, he downed the entirety, flashing a smile my way while expecting me to follow his lead. I could feel my stomach churn at the combination of the odor that permeated throughout the small carriage and his shit-eating grin.

Yeah, that’s not happening. I can’t drink this. My weakness to alcohol aside, this bastard said he made it himself. That’s a death sentence if I even take a sip, isn’t it?! There’s no way that it ISN’T one!

In my hands was a similar mug, untouched with an oozing fragrance, which alone was sending my senses spiraling into a preemptive hangover. I winced as my twitching eyes slowly darted between the mug and the coercing, eager-eyed dvergr, one that held an alcohol tolerance well beyond a human’s.

Haifalaura...
[No, I warned you already. I don’t want any further involvement.]
C’mon! Can’t you do something about this without him noticing...?
[Do you want me to take his head in a single clean bite? That will certainly remove your issue.]
I don't really think the most violent choice available is even a choice at all, anywhere or anytime!
[Then explain that idea from earlier about accidentally swinging your stave at him and knocking him unconscious. Don't pretend that his reek isn't currently challenging your own morals.]

Haifalaura was almost criminally invasive, never allowing a stray thought of mine to go unread. And she would do so regardless of my opinion on the matter.

Please stop reading every and all thoughts I have... And that one was strictly for therapeutic purposes and nothing else!
[So, do you want me to magically drink it in your stead? Hmph. That’s a hefty request from one that disregarded my grievance from earlier. Oh? What’s this? I feel an onset of busyness spurring from within.]

A primordial nuisance kept my thoughts company in a rather disinterested way. While her true form was that of a sizable, cobalt wolf, she seemed like a long-lived cat that preferred lazing around more than anything else. And surprisingly, she was one to hold grudges, too.

Wait, there’s no way you’re still angry about that!? Look, as I already stated, they’re simply MANA in the form of a wolf. That doesn’t make them living wolves! And it wasn’t as if I was sending them to die without a valid reason. No, it wouldn't even be 'death' to begin with!
[I’m not angry.]

I didn't even have to see her to know she was lying through her fangs. In a stark disagreement, Haifalaura had scolded my way of using spectral summons—but not all of them—just specifically the wolves. It apparently didn’t sit right with her given her own form, and she vehemently made that known as we spent our entire time in Ruoul, hammering our points against each other's.

I can’t believe after a week’s worth of traveling together, you’re still angry about this...
[Just let it be known; if I did something similar with spectral humans, I’m certain your tune would change drastically.]
You can read my mind, so you know I wouldn’t care about that as much as you’re trying to make it seem I would. It would still be mana with an altered appearance and nothing more.

I had already made it known to her, too. I wasn’t particularly attached to using spectral wolves as sacrifices, but on every occasion, I had to make use of what I had. It was as simple as that.

[I’m essentially mana, too. Am I correct in expecting similar treatment going forward? O’ my dear liege, please have mercy upon me! Spare me from your vicious schemes!]
Here we go again...

“Oi, stripling! Nae better a time than now, so get to swiggin’!”

The dvergr was already filling another mug from his nearby luggage, a barrel with back-straps attached to the rear side. He had stated that it was so he could carry it all over Aerith during his pilgrimage.

“Travelin’ without ta finest ale is nothin’ short of a cruel punishment!”

Is what he said with a straight face. That aside, I couldn’t figure out who was more annoying currently: the voice in my head or the insisting dvergr. Which was a shame, since I hadn’t seen a dvergr during my travels until now. And they were just as I remembered them from MO.
Like the one before me, they were odd creatures that appeared as stout and bearded humans, yet the game’s lore surrounding their origin was hinted to be monster-like. From larva, they were said to spawn as broad, festering maggots, and feasted on the minerals of their burrows in the desolate, bleak mountains of the far north. It was unfathomable to even consider that, the man drinking in front of me now, was once such a creature, and his age could be anywhere from still a child to even ancient.

I thought those on a pilgrimage had to abide by certain rules?
[They do but it's dependent on one’s faith. His own may allow for it, unlike those under the shade of the Church of Evening. Since they must refrain from drinking, committing sexual or reproductive acts and any other kind of degeneracy during their travels. Such a boring, no-nonsense bunch.]

“Hmph. A soft-skin, without a doubt. As could be expected. Well, it ain’t goin’ to drink itself—so give it on ‘ere.”

His voice was filled with disappointment as he was in the process of downing another filled mug with his other hand outward. He gestured for me to return the untouched brew and I did so without hesitation.

“Sorry, I’m not much of a drinker...”
“We all have our flaws, humans more so.”

His quip was a dagger to my side, but I was still relieved as he took the two-pint enemy from my hand and immediately vanquished it in one fell swoop. I sighed, looking around the interior of the carriage. There was only one other passenger besides the two of us, at a distance, and they had avoided mingling thus far.

With this drunk as a passenger, that's a fair choice. I’m even a bit jealous, but...

While their face was hidden under their cloak, they couldn’t exactly hide their physique, which was obviously lacking. A short and small build, almost child-like. And despite that, they were seemingly traveling alone.

Do children normally travel by themselves in this world? It is a kid, right?

Haifalaura neglected to respond immediately, only giving the results of her quiet observation after a few minutes had passed.

[It seems like it, and then some.]
Hm? What do you mean by that?

“Hey, you two in the back! We’re pulling to the side for a short break. There’s a large group ahead of us, so we need to clear the path.”

A sudden shout came from the coachman, and with it, the jerk of the carriage as we moved to the side of the road. We were currently on the path toward Port Lindes from Ruoul, and while it was normal for others to use the same road, I was under a separate impression.

A large group? When we left Ruoul, didn’t they say the road was currently under heavy restrictions due to some ongoing investigation? We were only able to leave due to the Queen’s permission, too.

We had initially planned on leaving Ruoul on arrival, yet we were unable to as the guards insisted that we remain in the city. They had also refrained from giving us any details, stating that unless we had a sufficient reason for traveling or if it was for religious matters, we were unable to head to Port Lindes for an indefinite duration. Leonora had received word of this apparently, sending a letter that allowed for our travel a day later.

[Maybe it’s a group of ravenous monsters disguised as humans.]
This is an area for lower levels. I don’t think there are any monsters with abilities like that around these parts... At least, none that I remember.

In MO, there were only a handful of dungeons in this region, specifically aimed at newer players. And the two main areas for farming EXP and loot were a small forest near Ruoul and the other was a cave dungeon by the name of Ordell Den near Lake Ranka. A player could find basic materials for crafting lower tier weapons, armor and items here.

[Then it possibly has to do with whatever that investigation is. Look, here they come now.]

Crossing near the cloaked child, they remained seated, possibly even asleep as I decided to exit the carriage to get a better view. The traveling group was already passing, and my eyes shot open upon seeing them.

A group of knights, and they’re all injured...?

They were dressed in silver, separated armor that overlapped their white robes. The group seemed heavily defeated and exhausted as four carriages were slowly passing by ours. Each was filled with knights bearing a familiar golden crest on their shoulders. An emblem of a woman holding a flower.

“Are they with the church...?”
“What’s this, lad, you never seen the Twilight Templars in person before?”

The coachman had circled around the cart and stood by me now, keeping his eyes on the passing group. I certainly knew of them from their lore, but I hadn’t seen their armor in person until that moment. My only interaction with one of the church’s personal forces was Vostoun. And even though he was a part of the Templars, his armor was rather unique.

“Hmm. It looks like they’re having a difficult time with their investigation after all. I believe this is their second retreat, but I wish they’d hurry it up already. Anyway, get back inside, I’m on a schedule here. Can’t be dilly-dallying too much or I’ll get fined.”

He didn’t spare a moment in readying to leave as he made his way back to the front of the carriage. The wounded group of Templars had already passed, and I could hear the reins of the horses up front. I decided to head back inside, but as I stuck my head through the drapes of the carriage, there was something out of place.

Huh? The child is missing...?

I took a glance around, and only the dvergr remained. It was odd, since I would have heard them leave if they had jumped from the rear exit. And their only other option was to crawl through the front, which was only a small window leading to the coachman’s seat.

But why would they leave to begin with? Wait...

“Hey, you two in the back!”

“I understand that, but...”
“You can’t help but want to find out why, right? And if you simply leave that child alone, that decision may result in their death. After all, those Templars even had a hard time despite their training and numbers.”
“...”

I didn’t have to give it any more thought as I nodded to her. I couldn’t see myself ever regretting such a choice, even if nothing came out of it in the end. On the other hand, if something were to happen while I did nothing at all...

“Can you track their scent? They shouldn’t be that far out yet.”
“Of course. It shouldn’t be that difficult either, since that child isn’t human.”
“Then let’s start following their trail—?! Wait, they’re not human...?”

My head spun in her direction, yet she ignored me and continued walking toward the trees. With her hand above her brow, she was looking over the thin forest with keen eyes. She certainly knew the whole time, yet didn't say anything until now. I couldn't help but sigh and continue.

“If they’re not human, then what exactly are they?”
“Who knows. Can you recall every single scent you’ve ever smelled? And even then, could you properly, without fail, give a name to each of them?”

She had a point. She was still a primordial creature, one that didn’t have memories before our meeting, too. I couldn’t exactly fault her for not remembering. Standing by her side, I instinctively placed my hand on her head as she quickly swatted it away.

“Well, as long as we can track them, it should be fine.”