Oresus used the 'three walks' to reach the town's wall. It completely surrounded the whole town, only allowing people to leave through the main gates.
However, for Oresus, it wasn't an issue as his movement technique allowed him to step on air, water and earth as smoothly as if it was flat land.
He stood 20 meters above the ground, observing the guards make their rounds, then his eyes peered into the night.
Beyond the town, all his purple eye could see was cultivated fields and trees extending beyond the horizon.
Even by increasing his perception to the limit, he could not see anything in a large radius.
After a few minutes of contemplation, he used the 'three walks' to return to the old man's house.
Nectas was sitting outside his door, looking at the red clouds grow darker.
He wore clean brown clothes that outlined his white hair and grey eyes. Unlike before, he no longer looked like an old man, deep stability emanated from his eyes, making others want to rely on him.
[I'm back.]
The figure of Oresus appeared by Nectas' side, surprising him, then a large smile extended on his face.
[I knew you would be back. The town is no longer safe, not as it used to be. My house is small and is located in a poor district, but at least it's quiet here, nobody come to disturb us. You can stay as long as you want. I still want to thank you for saving my life.]
Saying so, he led Oresus inside. He wanted to give him the sole bed in the house, but Oresus was much more stubborn than he was.
He sat on the ground, closed his eyes and ignored everything else.
The next day, after Oresus and old man Nectas had breakfast. They left together.
Nectas worked as a groom in an inn, taking care of traveller's horses.
Whenever he spoke about it, he always smiled, saying that it allowed him to feed his daughter as she grew up.
Oresus left his side to wander deep into the town as soon as the old man started rambling about how talented and pretty his daughter is.
He did listen to him at first, but as his tales grew exaggerated, Oresus didn't hide the scepticism on his face about this mythical daughter of his.
There also were no feminine item in the house that would make one think a girl lived here.
Oresus ended the man's monologue by leaving his side. Strolling in the town on his own, he avoided the occasional guards patrolling the streets, before arriving in front of a furniture store. The shop was situated in a residential district in the south end of the town, above the entrance, a big dark bird was poorly engraved on a wooden plaque.
There were no libraries or apothecary in this town, at least Nectas had never heard of it. He indicated that the furniture store was the only shop who possessed books, and was willing to sell them.
No one was educated enough to read them so the shop only had a few, mostly old, discarded books that were left by travellers.
Inside the shop, a variety of items were displayed haphazardly, some chairs and shelves took most of the place. Some rusty bronze tables were pilled on top of each other in a corner. It wasn't only furniture, it also sold paintings and tools.
Oresus gave a glance to the owner who sat in a corner with a young child in his arms. The middle-aged man was reading a book to the child, not sparing any attention to the customer that entered his store.
The boy also didn't seem to notice his presence, his eyes never leaving the book.
The books in the store were gathering dust at the end of the alley, behind all the other items.
Most were biographies of famous people, emperors, princes, explorers, merchants...
One book was about navigation, which piqued Oresus's interest as it recorded many important clues on astrology: the art of reading the stars.
And the final one was a story for children about a mouse that created an empire for its kind.
Not caring about the genre, Oresus opened all the books one by one, flipped through the pages rapidly before putting them back where he took them.
Right when he was about to leave the shop, he noticed the last book which was held by the middle aged man.
He was still reading it for the child.
From the content, one could deduce it was the story of an adventurer that travelled around the world to slay powerful creatures.
Oresus appeared interested in hearing more, so he remained behind a bookcase, listening quietly.
[...after Jorjes became the strongest martialist in the kingdom, he wanted to return to his home city to celebrate his success and meet with his family.
It took him 5 days and 5 nights, he never stopped at any village or town, in a hurry to see his family again.
However, when he reached the place where he was born in, he only found ruins.
Walking deeper into the fallen city, he found what was left of his clan estate. Inside a devastated manor he used to live in, moving picture hovered in the air, showing his mother, his wife and child fleeing from magical beasts. Every few minutes, the terrifying scene would replay in the moving picture.
Furious, he punched the moving picture, yet, it proved futile. For the first time in a long time, he felt powerless. The moving picture kept showing him what he had lost as if mocking him for being late.]
The man turned the next page and continued reading with a monotone, rough voice.
[After two weeks of doing nothing but sleeping and drinking in a nearby town, Jorjes decided to avenge his family by killing every last magical beast in the region.
He hired many mercenaries who were lured by his prestige, together, they raided the forests and rivers, lakes and mountains. No grass was spared, and countless dangerous magical creatures were cleared so that no harm would befall humans in this region.]
The man then stopped for a moment, he looked at the child who was gripping his fists, his eyes staring holes at the book, the anger on his face revealing the emotions swirling inside of him.
A thin smile appeared on Oresus as he thought back to his own father. And how he would also read him story late at night when he was a child.
[But then, something unexpected happened. A mercenary team who was battling a giant bear came upon a group of bandits.
After capturing the bandits, they decided to also clean their hideout and pillage their treasures. Jorjes did not participate in this battle, as he was the main force of the expedition, he was responsible for battling the strongest magical creatures of the region, and he disliked using his fists to harm people.
However, the mercenaries who cleared the bandit camp found hundreds of citizens imprisoned, soon to be sold into slavery.
When Jorjes heard the news, he fled the magical beast territory he was in and rushed to the bandit camp. Only to find his lost family starving and crying in a corner. Jorjes held them tight against his chest, he begged them to forgive him, tears streaming down his unshaven beard.]
Another page was turned, the ending of the book was about to come.
[The citizens who fled during the magical beast rampage only managed to make it to the forest before being captured by bandits. During the three weeks they were held captive, only the faith that Jorjes, the strongest mercenary in the kingdom would save them, kept them alive. As time passed, more and more people became doubtful, submiting to the bandits, only to have a terrible end.
Only those families that stood to their values, despite the hunger, the cold and fear managed to make it till they were saved.
Together, they later cleared the ruins of their city and turned it into a resplendescent place where everyone cared for each other. Jorjes became the mayor and never again called himself a mercenary, so that he would always be present for his people.]
The child clapped his hands happily, the gloom cleared from his face as if it had never existed. The man brought the book back to the bookcase, before returning behind the counter. Only now did he look at Oresus, examining his clothes and silent demeanour.
[Hello customer, thank you for your patience. How may I help you?]
[Good morning. I heard the story, it was interesting. I am visiting this region for the first time, may I know if there are any dangerous magical beast here, like in the story?]
Oresus came to the counter, gently dropping a darkiron on it.
The man with short brown hair gave the coin a glance before placing it in his pocket.
[Of course, there are, those pests are everywhere. But don't pay too much attention to that story. Jorjes never existed and the kingdom described has long ceased to exist. It wasn't by the magical beast hand though, a war destroyed that kingdom, it now became the territory of the Stinloae Empire.]
[I see. Do you have a map of the region or bigger? Anything is fine.]
The owner raised an eyebrow, observing the young man thoroughly for the first time.
[All maps bigger than city size are restricted by the kingdom. It's the same in every place, they are considered a military secret.
It seems to me you haven't been to many places young man. I don't have what you seek here. Maybe you can try your luck in the regional city, they would have more books at least.]
Oresus nodded his head to thank him, then left the shop.
[Who was he?] asked the child while hugging his father's leg.
[A fellow looking for trouble. Don't mind him and go play in the back.]
Walking on the street, Oresus stopped at a restaurant before returning to his host's home.