- RASOC, SEA DRAGON'S NESTLE -
Even though this half-mortal seemed less feral than the others, it was wise that Hielgan remained vigilant since he would be carrying the half-mortal on his back.
Hielgan looks at the unconscious guard one last time before making a break for it.
Moments later, Hielgan pushes the last exit door open and comes out into the back alleyway from earlier. Without wasting a second, Hielgan slams the door shut before making his way back into the streets of Rasoc.
Having made some distance between himself and the Sea Dragon's Nestle's HQ, Hielgan slips into the crowded streets hoping no one from the guild followed during his escape, he had been fortunate that most of the Nestle's members had been at the docks during his infiltration.
'The half-mortal has barely moved.'
Hielgan wondered as he moved his head closer to the half-mortal on his back to check on its breathing.
With a sigh of relief, Hielgan breathed easy as he heard the half-mortal's weak breath from underneath the cloak.
This relief was shortlived as Hielgan realized his exposure to the citizens of Rasoc, it would be easy for anyone asking around for him to trace him if too many mortals saw him carrying a bundled cloak around.
'Just like how I snuck out during the incident at the docks.' Hielgan recalled. 'The Innkeeper was surprised to see me walk in through the front door in the morning.'
Hielgan had been ashamed for his lack of manners at that moment, but he was sure the Innkeeper paid it no mind.
After all, he was a paying customer.
- RASOC -
The window made a few creaking sounds before closing shut, Hielgan had managed to sneak the half-mortal into his room without being noticed.
'As far as I could tell anyway...'
Hielgan had used [Presence Reminder] to scout the area around the inn before leaping up to it and making his ninja-like entrance.
He then gently placed the half-mortal on his bed and then slowly unwrapped the cloak covering it. As the cloak revealed the half-mortal underneath, Hielgan could see the feminine features behind a mound of scales.
'What's this?'
Hielgan slowly moved his hand across the half-mortal's face and felt the ruggedness like a thousand pebbles in the sand.
'Healer. I need a healer.'
The half-mortal needed a healer, but Hielgan did not know any in the town, nor did he have the luxury of making new acquaintances.
'Plus, none of them can be trusted.'
An organization like the Sea Dragon's Nestle could have hands in every nook and cranny of this city, it would be unwise to rush and acquire aid from just anywhere.
Hielgan sighed with a subtle agitation.
[Knock*] [Knock*] [Knock*]
Suddenly Hielgan heard a knock at the door, but he was not expecting anyone at this time.
Dusk was a few hours away so he could not say it was too late to be expecting any visitors, however, he had not made any friends in this town and even if he had, it would have been a bit too soon for them to make a surprise visit.
'This can only be...'
Hielgan got up from the bedside and cautiously walked toward the door, half-sure of who the visitor may have been.
"Hielgan! It's me Garlial!"
"Sir Garlial..." Hielgan voiced his answer with relief.
It was odd, Hielgan had not known him until early this morning when he agreed to take on his infiltration mission. However, Hielgan was skeptical about trusting him with the half-mortal.
"Hielgan, I need to talk to you."
In terms of overall strength and ability, Sir Garlial would stomp Hielgan in both. However, he still had that one boon that he hardly ever used, if that did not put him up to his level, it would at least be close enough.
"Alright."
Hielgan opened the door and was greeted by a fairly lazy expression, it seems like Sir Garlial's loath for hard work was still gnawing at him. Hielgan could only imagine what he had on his mind, or his hands.
"Denied. They denied everything!" Sir Garlial suddenly blurted exclaimed as he walked into Hielgan's room. "They insisted that I go with them and extensively search their warehouses."
"So did you?"
"Course not, I delegated it."
Sir Garlial strolled across the room while ranting more complaints about the tasks he had ahead of him.
'I wonder when we became so close...'
Hielgan pondered on the Holy Knight's demeanor as he spoke his heart out, regardless of how he spoke, it felt blissful for Hielgan to be interacting with Sir Garlial.
"Sir Garlial..." Hielgan felt guilty for interrupting, he knew this was from his sense of admiration for the Holy Knights.
It was true that what the Knights had done for the people of Morland can never be repaid, but Hielgan could not help but wonder if the Knights were still the same as they were two decades ago.
'Did they still fight to protect people? Or where they complainers like...'
"What is it Hielgan?"
"It was horrible..." Hielgan started. "They had them in cages! Like animals! They are being kept down there!"
"Who?" Sir Garlial queried.
Hielgan slammed his hand against the wall with incredible might and immediately heard the innkeeper curse the racket from down below, unlike Hielgan he was more concerned with the durability of his inn.
"The half-mortals. The Sea Dragon's Nestle is behind the smuggling, we need to take them down now!" Hielgan growled.
"Wait!"
With a loud clap, Sir Garlial smacked Hielgan's cheeks moderately to snap him out of his confused state.
The room enjoyed a moment of silence before Hielgan pulled back and glared at Sir Garlial with a "How dare you" look on his face.
"If you go back there now, who will look after this one?" Sir Garlial's asked Hielgan while looking straight at the half-mortal laying in his bed. "She was there too, wasn't she?"
Hielgan knew Sir Garlial would find out about the half-mortal and had prepared himself for the worst if it came down to it. Fortunately, Sir Garlial appeared to have no ill intent for the defenseless half-mortal.
"I am not taking her back there." Hielgan stated firmly.
"May I see her?" Sir Garlial asked Hielgan while looking at the half-mortal. "I can help her Hielgan."
Without a word Hielgan allowed Sir Garlial to take a look at the half-mortal, he was running out of time, and the only feasible assistance he was standing right in front of him.
'How can I refuse...'
Sir Garlial took a moment and examined the sickly half-mortal, Hielgan stood close by and watched the knight. It was odd that he had suddenly developed a sense of overprotective for this half-mortal he did not even know.
"She is mostly fine." Sir Garlial closed his examination with those words.
"I still think we need a healer." Hielgan replied. "Then maybe we can have a go at those Nestle bastards."
"Don't worry about the Nestle, before I came here I already confirmed that most of the half-mortals you found were barely mortal anymore."
"What? When did you?"
Sir Garlial pulled out an amulet from his greeves and showed it to Hielgan who was immediately taken aback by the item.
"You must have dropped it." Sir Garlial placed the amulet back in his greeves. "I came immediately after I could not reach you."
As a Holy Knight, Sir Garlial was well versed in light magics and had used his clairvoyance to check if the minds of the caged half-mortals in the Nestle's HQ and none of the ones that were remaining could be saved.
"Don't tell me you..."
"At least they won't suffer any longer." Sir Garlial explained. "Since I couldn't find you, I sent my squire to search the rest of the Nestle's warehouses."
"I have lost my sanity many times before, but what you did was never the solution." Hielgan stated.
"Every half-mortal's primal state is different, yours doesn't turn you into a literal beast Hielgan." Sir Garlial deduced. "Even I exerted myself to restore the Ticigirian's mind in order."
"He's fine?"
"Yes, but the others had been in their primal forms for too long..." Sir Garlial lamented.
Hielgan could feel Sir Garlial's aura, it felt like a calm sad breeze from the ocean relentlessly battering the shoreline.
'Perhaps a few good knights did remain...'
Sir Garlial walked to the door and reached for the door handle, but before he could open it he turned to Hielgan.
"I already called some old friends for you."
Hielgan looked at Sir Garlial with a perplexed expression then watched as he open the door to a familiar trio. Hielgan's face brightened at the sight of the three and before he could say a word, a familiar voice spoke first.
"When the Holy Knight said a young man with red hair needed help, we had to come to see for ourselves if he was talking about you Hielgan."
"Hi, Hielgan."
"It seems like you have grown, lad."
"Sarai, Rocky, Shaemus." Hielgan exclaimed with teary eyes. "What are you doing here?"