Chapter 15 - The Fool

It was still too early to retire to their rooms, so after finishing dinner, Mila and the rest put on their armaments and left the inn.

After intense discussion, which had taken an immense toll on Mila, as she had to be the interpreter, the decision was to show themselves walking around for a while.

They were currently chatting while rounding the central square. Mila was studying the local Temple with interest. While the base of it was made of stone, most other places were made of shaped trees and bushes.

It wasn’t high standing either. The buildings surrounding it were taller. Mila noted the few servants walking around in robes, conversing in hushed tones.

“What do they worship?” Mila asked Kefo.

“Nature in general, but this particular temple prefers to put emphasis on the beauty of nature.” He explained. “That’s why they are running that place.” Kefo pointed at the building next to the temple. “Although I don’t know more than that. Our last visit wasn’t lengthy.”

“Why beauty?” She didn’t understand.

A person just exiting the temple overheard them and scoffed. The woman in her forties started to explain unprompted. “Because the King likes it. Brownousing fools. The harvest will continue to suffer for this foolishness! Mark my words!” She exclaimed while walking away, leaving them speechless.

Before they could resume their conversation, a loud shouting started somewhere in the west. Soon, it grew louder and more widespread.

People started to curiously walk towards the commotion, Mila’s group included. She stopped one of the people walking from the bustle. “What’s happening there?”

The man glanced back and shook his head. “Those Eternity worshipers are claiming they caught a whiff of one of the heretics. They are currently chasing a trail leading out of the town.” He spat on the ground. “Ever since they arrived, it’s always the same shit. Can’t have a day without them making one claim or another.” His tone grew grumpier by the second.

Mila thanked the man. They exchanged glances and turned around. Whatever Martin had done worked.

“Let’s go to that beauty parlour, maybe?” Isabel suggested. “I kind of want to see what they are offering.”

While Andrew groaned and Mr Crow cawed in protest, they still made it back towards the temple.

Inside the parlour, they found a bored-looking woman standing behind a counter. One of the walls was covered in various concoctions in bottles and jars.

“Quiet evening?” Mila politely asked, while Isabel exclaimed and ran towards the shelf of products.

“More like a quiet year.” The woman complained. “Farmhands have little interest in this. Travellers like you are rare.” She sighed. “Hey, no touching!”

Isabel jumped back from the shelf and pretended to simply look around. While Mila was enjoying her friend's antics, Kefo unexpectedly spoke with the woman.

“We wanted to take a bath.” He explained.

Mila looked at the boy in suspicion. But before she could voice her concerns, Isabel and Tiff were already entering the doors leading deeper into the building, where they split into two groups.

“Right.” Mila looked at the woman. “I guess we are taking a bath.” She looked at the coins Kefo had left, then followed after her friends.

The baths turned out to be well-lit, well-built, warm and spacious. When Mila arrived, Isabel and Tiff were already inside.

A few other patrons were also washing themselves, but with the large basin, it was not hard to find a place to stretch her legs.

Once inside the bath, Mila spent the time enjoying Isabel's attempts at subtly stealing a glance or dozen. At times, she purposefully stretched her arms, revealing more of her nakedness for her friend to appreciate.

And it did have an effect. Seeing Isabel catching herself staring and pretending she hadn’t was fun. It also did wonders to mend Mila’s self-esteem. Being short didn’t mean she lacked completely in the curve department. The regular meals had improved her condition to where she wasn’t all skin and bones. She reached for the soap and ‘accidentally brushed her feet against the brunette’s legs, making her yelp. Indeed, it was fun.

And wrong. Mila kept reminding it to herself. She really shouldn’t do this. But when she met Isabel’s brown eyes, her leg once again ‘slipped,’ and her toes pressed into her friend's thigh.

“Why, my apologies.” Mila caught herself saying with a smile on her face. “No, um, sorry, that is.” She tried to correct herself and pulled her leg back.

This was getting out of control, and Mila knew it. At some point, she would have to reevaluate what she was expecting to happen. At least she still had the mind to avoid checking out Isabel’s body openly. She did have nice- And once again, Mila forced her mind to halt.

But soon, they were done. They donned their outfits and walked out to find Andrew, with Mr Crow on his shoulder, restlessly chirping.

“Where is Kefo?”

Tiff’s voice surprised Mila. She looked at the girl, whose face was rapidly paling.

“Don’t know, he didn’t come in with me. Said he forgot something at the inn.” Andrew explained.

The very next moment, Tiff was running outside. The trio followed and found the girl standing in the middle of the square, looking around helplessly. Tears ran down her cheeks as she looked back at them.

Mila’s eyes met Tiff’s, and for the first time, the girl did not flinch away. The next moment, Tiff was running towards her. She grabbed Mila’s clothes and started to beg.

“Please, you have to help me find Kefo.” Tiff desperately clung to Mila. “Please, you have to. Please!”

Somewhere to the side, Andrew spoke up. “Wait, what’s wrong? What happened to Kefo?”

But Tiff only saw Mila. She repeated the single word ‘please’ over and over. Only when Mila repeated Andrew’s question did the distraught girl answer.

“He went after them.” Tiff sobbed. “H-He is not strong enough. They’ll kill him.” She fell on her knees. “P-please.”

Mila glanced around. They were making a scene. Some of the wandering people were starting to take note of them.

“Grab Tiff, and let’s get a quieter spot,” Mila instructed Andrew, who immediately moved.

Andrew plied Tiff off of Mila, and they rushed towards the closest alley they could see. The girl struggled and kept pleading for Mila’s help.

“Why is she insisting on you helping her?” Isabel whispered.

“I don’t know.” Mila was confused as well.

Once they were off the public space and behind a few barrels, which concealed them from curious passersby, Andrew put Tiff down, and she rushed to cramp her fingers in Mila’s clothes again.

“Please!” Tiff was growing hysterical.

“Okay, I’ll help.” Mila saw no other choice but to entertain the girl. She did not know how to help but decided to try anyway. “Now, calm down and tell me why you think Kefo is in danger.”

Tiff’s eyes widened once Mila agreed to help. She took a couple of deep breaths before trying to speak. “H- He went after them. Kefo couldn't wait.” Tiff struggled to explain. “Stupid Kefo.” She sobbed.

“Went after who?” Andrew tried to make sense of Tiff’s words.

“After the hunters.” Tiff spat out bitterly, not hiding her hate. “They killed them. Mom and Dad. Kefo’s too.” She rambled.

Mila sighed and rubbed Tiff’s crown. She hugged her and whispered. “So, Kefo is trying to get revenge for it. What do you want me to do?”

Tiff buried her face into Mila’s shoulder. “Help him. Bring him back. Something. Anything!” She whispered. “Get rid of them.” Her voice was barely audible. “Kill them.”

And now Mila understood why Tiff had chosen her. The girl believed she could not only help Kefo but also do something about her targets of hate. She didn’t know why Tiff thought she would be able to do something so horrific, but-

Was Tiff wrong?

Mila felt her body tremble. Of course, she had thought about it ever since coming here, and the answer-

“What do we do?” Isabel interrupted. “Do we search for Kefo?” She looked up at the dark sky. The night had snuck on them unnoticed.

“Yes.” Mila decided. The fool had to be found. If he really fell into enemy hands, their whole group could become targets. “Can Mr Crow help with the search? We have to find either Kefo or the group he went after.”

“Can you?” Andrew asked.

The bird chirped and started to flap his winds. Another moment later, it shot up to the skies.

“Isabel,” Mila addressed her friend next. “You’ll have to stay with Tiff. She is-”

“No!” Came an unexpectedly fierce answer. “I will come with you.” Isabel decided. In her

hands, a shield started to form. She looked at it in surprise but did not flinch otherwise.

“Andrew?” Mila tried, but he also shook his head.

“I agree we can’t leave Tiff alone, but think about it for a second. What can we do? We should not rush in. It’s been a half an hour already.” Andrew reasoned. “Can’t we call for guards or something?”

“No!” Tiff resisted. “They won’t help! They never do!” She cried.

“I agree with Tiff.” Mila hardened her resolve. “And I’ll go alone-”

“Caw!” Mr Crow fell from the sky, landing back on Andrew’s shoulder. He started to gurgle and chitter, explaining what he had seen.

“He said he found Kefo.” Andrew translated. “He seems to be captured.”

“I said I am joining!” Isabel glared at Mila, and her shield started resonating with her anger. It seemed to swell with power.

“Isabel, you can follow after. I am the only one who knows how to scout out the danger. I can’t do that if you are next to me.” Mila chided.

These words made Isabel pause. She hesitated, neither backing down nor pushing further.

Mila used the moment of indecisiveness to address Andrew. “Where?”

“Uh,” Andrew glanced at his buddy, who tweeted. “He can guide you.”

“Then let’s go.” Mila did not wait and headed out, with Mr Crow taking in the air and gliding in front of her. “After I scout out the situation, I’ll send Mr Crow to get you.”

“Wait!” Isabel’s voice called behind her

There was no time to waste. Mila would have to apologise to Isabel later. For now, she had to make sure Kefo did not say anything unnecessary. “Here first.” She pointed at an alleyway.

Mr Crow abruptly changed direction, and Mila followed. She heard Isabel’s steps behind and jumped over a fence. Her steps were quiet and soft. Mila managed to shake off her pursuer in moments.

The trek towards one side of the sleeping town was short. Mila soon saw Mr Crow land on one of the buildings with a large, walled yard. She heard a few voices arguing behind the obstruction.

Mila checked for any guards and blended in with the shadows. Her fingers found the hidden dagger beneath the tunic and pulled it out, its blade making a quiet promise of blood to flow. She stilled her breath and started to sneak forward.

Soon, she reached the simple wooden wall. Mila checked for a way over it while listening to the voices.

“I am saying he is one of them.” A gruff voice declared with conviction.

“And I am not disagreeing.” Another followed. “But we have to wait for the boss before we start torturing him.”

“Why? If there are more, we have to find out now! Before they get away!” The first voice argued, and a sound of an impact resonated through the yard, followed by a groan.

“Don’t just kick him.” The second voice sighed. “Can’t this wait until tomorrow when the tracking squad with Boss and Inquisitor is back?”

“And what? Leave all the rewards to that Temple’s dog to reap?”

“You-” The second voice paused. “You make a good point.” He admitted. “Still, be more careful with what you say. We are Temple’s servants as well.”

“Pah, just in name.” The first voice spat. “Do you know where the tools are?”

Mila carefully extended her senses. She found a barrel and peaked over the wall, finding Kefo tied on the ground with robed figures surrounding him.

There were four in total, and from what Mila could tell, only one of them had any mana to speak of. It was the second voice and likely their current leader.

And furthermore, Mila felt the embroidery on those robes was awfully familiar to her. Not an exact copy, but something she recognised.

The embroidery depicted the same heraldry she so often saw in her dreams. Only now, beneath the star, there was a simple, white pillar.

The same the enemy soldiers proudly carried in battles. Mila's breathing quickened. She struggled to keep her calm as her fingers tightened around her dagger's handle.