Chapter 133

“Then if you need us, young master, just visit us here.” Said one of the merchants who they traveled with.

Naell in response bid them all farewell. Since the merchant would need to stay for several days in Awdita, Naell, and Owly decided to go and tour the kingdom.

Do you think in Taglagas, the merchant guild is as big as this, HOOT? -

I think it's bigger… I kinda want to go next time. -

Me too, HOOT! -

Currently, both were discussing how spacious the merchant’s guild in Awdita was. Much like the Adventurers guild, the merchant’s guild has its own institutions throughout every kingdom.

However, unlike the adventurer's guild which has its own guild quarter in small estates or villages, the merchants only have association inns run mostly by old or retired merchants.

Often they would become innkeepers in their own hometowns to specifically cater to the traveling merchants. Just like in Beryldot with Talus who was one of the association leaders.

Since Naell and Owly had already been inside that kind of inn, they knew that the merchant guild would not be shabby. Yet even so, they still got surprised.

Occupying a whole street with gates as big as what nobles usually have. Security was also tight, having no less than skilled adventurers that Naell and Owly could sense.

Yet what made it quite ridiculous to Owly was the reason behind its large edificial structure. The commodious interior was not for storage as spatial accessories were primarily used for inventories, but it was truly just to flaunt how rich the merchant’s guild was compared to other guilds.

I do feel sorry for the scholar guild we visited in Taglagas, HOOT -

Naell nodded remembering the time when they went to fetch his spatial ring. That was also the place where they first met Drhys and Sajae.

So we have 1 week to rest, where do you want to go? -

Asked Naell. Ever since the meeting they held in Beryldot, he often saw Owly either in deep thought or unfocused from morning till night.

That was why Naell would often initiate small conversations. He would atleast see to it that Owly would divert his thoughts onto different things, yet often their conversation would just die down.

Naell would of course understand, as until now, the whereabouts of Athena, and the other guardians were still unknown.

And the fact that the pieces of Lucile were the ones who ambushed the guardians, gravely burdened the young owl’s mind.

If it weren’t for the assurance that Athena was still alive as her guardianship was still present, Naell knew Owly would have broken down.

Nevertheless, Owly would still try hard to hide the fact that he was bothered, yet that only made it more so noticeable to Naell.

‘I was like that in the past too.’

Naell vividly still remembers how he would try to hide his emotion as breaking down was not an option for him.

‘And that was foolish of me.’ He thought as now, surely, if things became hard, he had family and friends in Mundo to confide in.

‘No one deserves to go through that. Neither do you, Owly.’

While waiting for his companion’s reply, they went to the adventurer’s guild. Naell immediately noticed that it was comparably smaller than Taglagas', and only a few adventurers were present.

Considering that was in the prime time, Naell surmised that perhaps Elves also didn’t like to commission, and just as he thought, the board was fairly empty with only B and higher ranking missions.

Will we be doing a quest, HOOT? -

Owly asked. Truth be told, he wasn’t actually paying attention to where they were going.

Do you want to? -

No, but if you want to, HOOT. -

Same! I was just curious about how the guild is faring here. -

Then let’s just eat, HOOT! -

Since the missions were all quite difficult, Naell was quite glad that Owly wasn’t interested. Therefore they also left the premises and went to find a restaurant to eat.

.

.

.

As the night finally settled, Naell and Owly managed to find an inn where elves weren’t really that much of a butthole towards other races.

Just like how hard it was to find a restaurant where they would be entertained, the difficulty to find an inn took a lot of their time.

Yet what troubled Naell more was how Owly was blaming him for their misgiving. Going as far as calling his look “exasperated" hence why no one dared talk to them.”

That was why both regretted leaving the merchant’s guild, yet they decided not to return. For Naell it was because he was embarrassed. The merchants and escort they had traveled with already told them of those circumstances.

“Elves are quite discriminatory, they only really respect fairies.”

Yet even Owly never thought that the elves would treat them like that. He knew, and would not dare say, it was solely because they found his companion’s appearance so majestic that they couldn’t find it in themselves to talk to him.

And so, the young owl did not in any way wish to go back, as that would truly be annoying to deal with.

Luckily, they soon managed to find an inn before the sun could really bid them adieu.

“Not that they are actually racist, to begin with, some elves just aren't used to other races, right?” Said Naell. He had just finished cleaning himself when Owly brought up the subject of racial prejudice.

‘It seems stress really does make you think about life huh..’ Naell thought considering it was quite deep for the gluttonous owl to dwell on such things.

Owly on the other hand has a different view on the matter as he replied, “Well they do hole themselves up in their own kingdom for the rest of their lives without mingling with other races, HOOT.”

Still, Naell rebuked, feeling pierced with a dramatic arrow to the heart knowing perhaps that wasn’t the case.

“Some don't leave their nest because they don’t like socializing with others Owly.”

“So what, HOOT.”

“The elves seem sociable with each other- I think they're just lazy…”

“That’s why you can relate, HOOT!”

“...”