The two brothers Uldan and Irald brought Roland to the cell where Alex resided in. Roland was eager the converse with the child they were talking about. Before heading to Alex, he had seen the famous sword Uldan mentioned. It was true that it wasn't a normal sword. He even felt it had hidden runes inscribed on it. Not to mention the warhorse, he couldn't even get near it. Roland wondered how these two old men even managed to tie it.
The moment they arrived in front of the cell, they were greeted by the loud snores of Rulf, Alex's cellmate. The little boy too was asleep, but he was sleeping soundly unlike the thin man in the corner.
"What'd he do again?" Roland asked.
"Rulf? Mad lad tried sneaking in the blacksmith's shop. Little did he know that the guy stayed there for the night."
The bald Irald was quite acquainted with the blacksmith. He even gave a discount for making his and Uldan's swords. He still hasn't seen him fight but seeing how thick his arm was, it'll be the same as fighting against two-fluid pair of logs. It was an even a big surprise that Rulf looked unscathed after taking a direct hit in his guts. He was even sleeping comfortably till the point he could snore. If it were him, he'll still be clutching his stomach with both hands.
"That guy's always up to something. It's the third time he ended up here this week. Can't believe you two are the same age. When I was your age, I have already accomplished many feats." Uldan proudly puffed his chest as he pityingly stared at the poor middle-aged man.
"Last time I checked you're still a mere townsguard..." His brother, as usual, rebuked him.
"Well, if not for some circumstances I would be a famous High Mage living in a tall tower filled with beautiful women by now."
"Wow, didn't know my brother had this much-wasted potential. I too remember the time where I almost became a legendary sage. If not for that goddamn ale that diluted my mana affinity..."
The two brothers' argument was starting to get loud. Alex who was peacefully sleeping slowly awoke from his deep slumber. His view was blurry but he could still catch the figures of 3 people in front of him. After scratching his eyes, he could finally see clearly the two old men who threw him in here and a man he'd never seen. The two were fighting over something, while the other was looking at him. It wasn't just looking, it was more like analyzing.
Alex felt quite uncomfortable from his gaze. His eyes were dark and scary. Accompanied by his cold facial expression, he looked like an ice demon awaiting its prey to show weakness. Alex didn't dare look into his eyes anymore. It was an experience he didn't want to feel again.
"Hey, he's awake you can get him out of that cell."
Roland interrupted the brothers who were now grappling each other fiercely. With his comment, they quickly regained their composure and let out a couple of dry coughs. Uldan took out the key and unlocked the door.
Meanwhile, Alex was looking dumbly at what was happening. He was confused and didn't know what to do. He thought of seeking assistance from Rulf but he was still in deep sleep.
"Come here, kid. We wanna have a small chat with you."
"..."
"G-give me my sword first..." Alex mustered every ounce of courage left in him just to say that sentence. He had already lost his sword once. He wouldn't want it away from him anymore.
"Give him back his possession Uldan."
"You sure? It's not that I'm scared or anything but-"
"I'm sure he stole it," Uldan whispered after slightly approaching Roland.
As if by intuition, he foresaw the next look Roland might give him so he quickly ran to the storage and took the sword. Uldan handed the sword to Roland since he didn't want to give it to Alex.
"Come take your sword if you really do value it."
Roland held the sword from its tip, pointing its handle towards Alex. Of course, it was in its scabbard so it wouldn't harm either of them. His mere actions seemed like a harmless offer, but in reality, it was a test. He would know whether this sword is truly Alex's based on how he would react.
Alex too instinctively knew that a wrong move from him would be fatal from the look the man in front of him had. Although he was scared, it was his father's sword that was at stake. He didn't want to repeat the same mistake twice so he stood up and approached the cell's bars.
He stood up in front of Roland but this time he looked straight into his eyes. The eyes that he didn't dare to gaze at earlier. It was true that he was scared but the mere thought of losing the sword was scarier. So he decided to choose the lesser fear and face the gaze of the scary man in front of him. He placed his hand in the sword's grip but didn't pull the sword.
"This is MY sword."
With his other free hand, he also grabbed the scabbard and pulled the entire sword from Roland. Although he got the sword, he still didn't know if they changed its blade so he unsheathed it and checked its blade. He was relieved when he saw it was the one.
Roland was satisfied with his decision of coming here. Were he not here, he wouldn't know what kind of decision the two old men would take. The brothers in question too were even starting to realize the mistake they made.
"I think it'll be better if we talk in a more... hospitable place."
Roland got off the cell's door, opening the way for Alex. At last, Alex's body and mind could finally relax. He got his sword, and soon he believed he'll recover his horse. Up next is finding Roland. For now, he'll just follow the man who got him out of here.
"What about him?" Alex pointed at Rulf still sleeping in the cell.
"That guy? He'll have to sleep on the floor for the next two days." Irald answered.
Alex was just curious about the man that kindly offered him a cig. That was indeed a generous move, but it wasn't enough to make him request these townsguards to be more lenient on their punishment.
On the way, the two brothers apologized to Alex after letting go of their pride. They were straightforward people. They didn't like it when they have thoughts pursuing them whenever they do anything. The feeling of constantly having to taste the bitterness of the things you've done isn't pleasant. The only way to let go off that bitterness in their tongue was to apologize. They'd rather get charged at by an enraged bull than to get chased by their own thoughts.
"We were too hasty in our judgement...and we weren't doing our job too seriously." Uldan slightly bowed his head as he apologized.
"Yeah, and I was angry because of 'some person' so I had to vend my anger on you... I'm sorry about that."
'At least apologize properly asshole' Uldan rolled his eyes when he heard his brother.
His brother was already old yet still didn't have any manners. His entire existence defies the statement "the older you get, the wiser you become".
Still, Alex felt that their apology was truly sincere. He no longer saw them as strange creepy old men any more. They even brought him to see his horse and gave him back his bag. Alex was happy that we were complete once again.
Roland didn't lead them to an unfamiliar place. It was none other than his inn. He immediately brought them to his office since he didn't want to talk while being surrounded by his clients. His office wasn't soundproof or anything like that but it was enough to have a peaceful undisturbed conversation.
"Um...we don't have to stay Uldan. How about getting a little drink downstairs."
"Go if you want. I'm curious about the lad's story."
"But HE took us away in the middle of our drink!" Irald loudly whispered.
Uldan ignored him and sat down on a chair nearby.
"Seriously?!" Irald loudly sighed as he too took reluctantly his seat.
"So, I believe we still haven't done our introductions."
"Allow me!" Irald quickly stood up. Since he couldn't have fun with ale, why not trying having fun here.
"The name's Irald Pristle. A guard of this town."
"Uldan Pristle. I'm his older brother."
"I'm Roland Oldea. Owner of this inn."
'Roland?' He immediately got Alex's attention the moment he mentioned his name.
"You seem to know me although you don't. Care to explain."
Of course, Roland caught Alex's expression. He wondered whether Alex was lying or not about knowing him. In front of that, Alex's response was simple. He grabbed his bag and took a box out of it. It was the box his mother gave him. If the man in front of him really was the man Alex's mother mentioned, he should react from what was in it. As his mother told him, he gave the box to Roland.
He took the box and opened it. Its content wasn't bright, it wasn't shining, it wasn't sparkling. It was nothing amazing. Yet, the look on his face when he looked at the item said otherwise. He felt many emotions he hasn't felt in years the moment he looked at it. Sorrow, happiness, heartbreak...hope. The item brought back memories from a long time ago. Memories he wished would never resurface anymore.
"Who are you?" Roland asked Alex.
"I'm Alexander Vartraud."
The two brothers who were peacefully spectating almost fell from their chairs. Vartraud was the family name of a well-known knight family. A name a brat with such shabby clothes would never have or even deserve.
"You better not joke with us kid. Stealing names is considered as a crime in Elrod." Uldan stated.
"Why did Violet send you here?" The two brothers were totally ignored by Roland. If Alex really possessed the name Vartraud, he was surely her son.
"My mother...she told me to tell you to bring me to a certain Raz."
"Hmm, why couldn't she bring you there? What about your father?" Roland found it strange that a woman like Violet would let her son get here all alone. She wasn't the kind to leave a loved one in danger. It was true that Violet was a careful woman but he didn't know of her and her husband's fate.
"They're both...no longer in this world."
Surprise, disbelief, shock. These feelings simultaneously assaulted him at the same time. Roland's eyes widened as he processed the awful news he just heard.
"I must go Roland. This country is no longer safe for us merchants. It is no longer safe for anyone..."
"Won't you go with me? I'm sure we'll be able to open a fine business in Plicus."
"Okay...I understand. Just stay safe. The rebels will need a lot of resources and you are the ideal target."
"A gift? Isn't this your favorite pen? You don't have to."
"If you insist then. Don't worry, I promise I'll return it back to you one day."
She never came back, but she still kept her promise. Roland took the pen and placed it in the pocket of his shirt, right in front of his heart. Where it was always supposed to be. He then looked back at Violet's son. He could see a small resemblance to her upon a closer look.
Roland has never met Violet's husband but from how Violet described him in her letters, he could tell Alex inherited his green eyes.
"I'm sorry for your loss Alexander."
"Thank you, sir."
Not only Roland, by the two brothers too felt sad for the kid. So young, and already an orphan. Uldan and Irald didn't even know how to react in front of what was happening. They were starting to regret listening to their conversation. It got too personal. They just couldn't sit there and do nothing.
It was at that moment that Alex felt a large warm hand patting his head. He turned his head saw Uldan smiling at him as if saying 'cheer up kid'. He could also see behind him the old man Irlad giving a big thumbs up with a smile wide enough to reveal all of his teeth. Some of which were already nonexistent.
Although these were just small gestures, they were enough for Alex to slightly feel better. He hasn't received any human kinship for quite some time now. The past days have been hard on him not only emotionally but also physically. Even the smallest of kindness mattered to him.
"Listen, Alexander. I'll get you a room for tonight and we depart in dawn."
Roland rummaged through his desk's drawer and took out a key. He owned an inn, so obviously there wouldn't just be food and ale in the place. There were also sleeping chambers.
"Hmm, you can't just go suddenly like that Roland." Uldan let go of Alex and addressed Roland.
"That's true! The inn's gonna close and we'd have no more good ale! The tavern's ale is no different than horse piss! I'm not drinking there!" Irald too, with his grumpy voice, aided Uldan in his protest.
For once, the two brothers took their role as elders and gave their opinion on Roland suddenly leaving. In front of that, Roland fell silent because he knew that they weren't wrong.
"The town needs you," Uldan added.
"..."
"I'm sorry Alex, seems like you'll have to stay here for a day or two."
Roland threw the key at Uldan.
"Bring him to his room. Tell Maria that food and lodging are on the house."
"Us too?!" Irald took the opportunity to alleviate the mood by cracking a small joke. Still, it would be a complete win-win situation if Roland were to give even the slightest nod. Getting a meal at the inn was no small matter. Only passing travelers and adventurers had the means to procure the services here.
Unfortunately for him, he didn't expect that Roland's mood would be worse than he thought since he didn't even give any signs of reaction. Instead, he just turned his back to them and sat down.
The two could clearly see that he wasn't in a good mood so they quietly grabbed Alex and closed the door. They could now see that he was greatly shaken by the news they've just heard. This made them wonder who was this Violet that affected him his much. It was the first time they've ever seen Roland like this. Since he arrived in town, he's always been a calm and calculating man. He even managed to open up the most thriving business in town despite being an outsider. The brothers were slightly worried of their friend's wellbeing. Still, they understood and respected Roland's decision of wanting to be alone. Not everyone wants to be comforted in sorrowful moments. Sometimes he self is the best remedy.
Of course, that was what Roland thought. Not only did he not want anyone to see his fragile state but also wanted a moment alone to calm his mind. After closing his eyes for some minutes, he decided to work on making flyers for finding someone to replace him for a few days, maybe even weeks.
Roland took out some papers and a pen from the drawer. He preferred immediately doing it now so he could just spread them the next morning. Strange thing was that he stopped the moment he was about to reach for the pen. He remembered that he now had Violet's pen in his possession. He found it somehow funny that he would feel so many emotions from something that was originally his. He decided to use it since it was already with him. Just the feeling of touch made Roland nostalgic. It was his favorite one.
"Hm?" The pen wasn't working. Only invisible lines were seen when he wrote with it.
He then realized his mistake. Of course, the ink would've run out long ago if Violet's really been using it since she has had it for more than 10 years now. Roland wouldn't just let his once favorite pen go to waste. So he headed downstairs to refill the ink. He always kept a box of ink in the storage room just in case his pens would dry out.
His staff were still working. They still had to clean the entire place and the dishes before going back to sleep. Roland was a very strict man when it came to cleanness and order. He believed that these two traits alone could almost rival talent.
"Is there anything you need sir?" A girl nearby stopped swiping the floor and asked Roland.
"It's nothing. Continue what you're doing." Roland didn't even bother facing her. He immediately headed to the storage room.
The girl paused for a moment. It was true that her boss was cold and distant but she saw something different in his expression. When she stared at his back unlocking the door, she somewhat caught his hands slightly shaking.
'Hm...' She wondered if she was just seeing things.
Just as Roland entered the storage room, she couldn't see behind her was her senior raising her hand preparing to wake this girl up.
"Stop daydreaming Sabrina. He doesn't pay you to stare at his butt." Her superior, Dale slightly hit her head.
"I wasn't staring at his butt..." Sabrina silently murmured as she continued to sweep the floor.
Roland didn't need a lamp or any fire or light magic to illuminate the room. He just had to activate the magic crystal and it would trigger the magic circle to light the room. He found these magic items convenient but slightly expensive. The worse part is that the magic crystal could last for about two weeks. That was one of the reasons why the lodgings in the inn were quite expensive. Every room was equipped with that technology.
'Found it'
Roland immediately replaced the pen's ink. He scribbled a few series of small curves on the back of his hand. A small smile surfaced on his lips. Although it only lasted for a few seconds. He realized that no matter how well he fixed the pen, he couldn't muster any form of happiness in his heart. The smile from earlier was nothing more than an empty one. A useless action to muster some hope in a situation without one. Roland hated the pain he felt in his heart. He hated suppressing the tears that were gathering around all over his eyes. He hated not being in control.
In such desperation, Roland decided to use unethical means to stop all of this from once. He reached out a cig from a box nearby. He opened the window at the corner in the room and leaned on it.
"Flame..." With one whisper, he summoned a small flame to ignite his cig.
He took a small puff and briefly exhaled. It was evident that it wasn't Roland's first cig. It looked more like it's his first one in years. Roland stared at the scenery as he tried to enjoy the smoke. He looked a the dark forest far away, the glowing stars in the sky, the giant full moon pointing right towards him.
Roland took another puff.
No matter where he looked or what he did, she just couldn't get out of his mind. It's true that the cig calmed him down, but in another way, it made him feel more vulnerable to his emotions.
Time passed and the cig was now just ash laying on the ground. Roland also felt something warm caressing his hand. Without even realizing it, Roland shredded some tears during his smoke session. When he checked his hand, he observed that the pen marks he did earlier where now blurred from his tears. The moment he laid eyes on the small ink puddle, his eyes suddenly widened.
"You promised me you wouldn't smoke anymore."
Roland could see her face materialize from the ink. He could even hear her voice coming out of it.
"Violet?"
Roland called her out but didn't receive any response. She was no longer there. All that was on his hand was a puddle of ink. Nothing more.
Roland disappointedly exited the storage room. He entered the room empty and exited with the same exact feeling. Fetching ink was just one of his reasons for entering the storage room. He truly wanted to help Alexader in a clear state of mind.
Roland was quite surprised when he saw that there was barely anyone left when he got out of the storage room. He didn't realize he spent a lot of time there. Only Sabrina was left. She was probably thirsty so she went down to hydrate herself. She didn't expect that her boss would suddenly appear from the storage room.
"..."
"Um sir, there's something on your mouth." Since she didn't know what to say, she just randomly commented on what she saw.
What did she expect? Like before, her boss ignored her and immediately headed to his office as he wiped the black stuff off his mouth. This time, what she noticed was Roland's unusual fast-paced steps.
'Why is he in such a hurry?' She wondered.
She shrugged her shoulders. Maybe he just wanted to go to the toilet. She didn't want to overthink why Roland took so long to stay in the storage room or what was the substance on his mouth. She just came down to grab a cup of water. Nothing more. Her bed was still waiting for her. Tomorrow will be another long day.