***Kairo's POV***
The rest of the day was spent moving in and getting stuff for the apartment.
While we were shopping I figured out that almost everyone else had risen to level one as well. Defeating the trolls and general had done it for Alcon and Bernadette, while healing my grievous shoulder wound was Natalia's ticket.
The only one left out was Matt, who had used most of his magic on the weaker enemies. When he came to this realization, Matt's face lit up bright red.
He didn't stop muttering to himself until they had reached the dorms.
We finished putting groceries away and Natalia made a delicious stew.
The table was silent for the most part, everyone either tired or lost in thought.
Now, I'm laying in my bed.
Alcon and Matt are fast asleep, at least I think they are.
There's heavy snoring coming from Alcon's bunk. I could hear soft, even breathes coming from the bunk above me.
I can't stop thinking about the battle. The image of Ian haunts my mind.
If I'm not thinking about that, then it's the map I found in Ghal's pocket.
Eventually, I fall into a troubled sleep, trauma filled dreams haunting me.
When we all wake up in the morning, a vote for a day off is unanimous.
We eat breakfast together, then each go our separate ways.
***Alcon's POV***
The boat underneath me bobs in the water.
For once I can sit relaxed, calmly waiting for the line on my fishing rod to go rigid.
The lake surrounding me is crystal clear. A stray breeze sends ripples travel across the surface.
The distant roar of a waterfall and the song of birds singing to each other surrounds me.
Right as I'm about to reel in the line and recast, I felt a slight tug on the line.
With a grin, I get ready. A few small yanks later, there's a larger one and I pull with all my strength.
After a few seconds of struggle, a massive fish erupts from the lake.
Laughing loudly in victory, I start rowing to shore, mouth already watering thinking about the meal I'm about to have.
***Natalia's POV***
I let out a short breath, glad that I had managed to finish up the lake before the boat had moved away. Now I can turn my attention to the rest of the scene.
The cliff I'm sitting on overlooks a lake and the dense forest. From here, I can see a waterfall crashing into the river that empties into the lake.
After taking a deep breath of the clean air, I dip my brush into the paint on my palette.
I take my time, mixing short and long strokes, thin with broad, and gradually put the full scene together.
In the end, the canvas sitting in front of me has an image identical to the one stretching out in front of me.
'Hmm...there's something missing…'
After a second, it clicks.
Using the picture in my memory, I paint a small figure holding a fishing pole, sitting in the boat floating on the lake.
With a smile full of satisfaction, I start cleaning up the painting materials.
{Matt's POV}
It's incredibly quiet. After all, that's how a library should be.
A mountain of books is stacked precariously around me as I flip though book after book.
The one in my hands right now is "The Detailed and Unbiased History of Halkan". The cover was faded but you can still clearly read the title written in gold letters.
As I read through the book my head nods along.
"How interesting."
I unconsciously mutter under my breath.
"So the fourth king was an imposter for five years until the actual one escaped from prison and toppled the tyrannous replacement. Intriguing."
I flip to the next page and my eyes bulge.
"That's preposterous!"
After apologizing to the people around my for my outburst, I get back to the rest of the book.
When finished, I gingerly set it in the read pile and reach for another book.
***Third Person POV***
A cat meows cutely, then turns a corner down an alley.
A girl no older than eighteen sneaks after it, stealthily peeking around the corner.
As she steps into the alley, two drunk men burst out of a side door.
They stumble around trying to support each other, their bright red faces lit up with smiles.
When their eyes locked onto this beautiful young girl their faces got even redder and grins broader.
One of them approach her while his friend stood back to watch.
"Hey, do you work at a sandwich shop? Cause you give me-"
"No, I don't."
She interrupts the man before he can finish his sentence.
The other guy could see that his friend got flustered, so he stepped up.
"Hey, we could give you a good time. What do you say?"
The girl looked back and forth between the two before walking past them.
"I'm following this kitty. Maybe another time."
'How dare she ignore me!'
The man grabbed at her wrist and pulled so she would have to face them.
At least, he had tried to pull her back, but found that she didn't budge an inch.
"I said I'm following the kitty."
She glared at him icily before slamming her fist into the top of his head.
His friend froze, shock at the crumpling body had make him like a statue.
Her annoyance now swatted away, Bernadette turned and ran to catch up to the cats waving tail.
***Kairo's POV***
"It' not that either? What else could it be?!"
I'm sitting at a table, a variety of tools and liquids scattered across the surface.
The map is laid out in front of me.
'Maybe there's nothing more to it? Maybe it's just a shitty map? But what about this?'
I hold up a slip of paper with orcish written across it. It was folded in the map, and I had already translated it.
'This attack is the first of many. You're just starting the war! If you must return home, wait for the night of cursed wolves. Good luck Chief Ghal. Hail King Graag!'
I've read over it multiple times, and only one thing really stands out.
Books about goblin festivals and holidays are stacked next to me, already read through, but I found nothing about the night of cursed wolves.
Looking outside, I can see the sun setting, which means it's about time for us to meet up.
"Well, guess I'll put this away."
I quickly clean up the table, putting everything back into the case I brought from Rogue Mansion.
Going to the small attached bathroom in our dorm apartment, I wash my face and fix up my messy hair.
I was headed out the door before I paused to remember the place Alcon had wanted to meet at.
'He said it was...the Wyvern's Head?'