I have been roaming around block after block and checking on the most popular facilities Travellers have visited. Alas, I got nothing.
In the later part of my search, I gave up and decided to just do what I am meant to do here-- Harvest the Morning Glory.
Currently, it was time for shops to lighten up in preparation for the night. I do not plan to stay another night, so I went to the most appetizing food place to look at for my dinner.
The place I have chosen has no Travellers as their customers that is why I felt comfortable choosing this place. I only ate a light-hearted meal and when I was done with it, I hopped to a simple bar next.
I am going to drink lightly to ease my disappointment for today picking a bottle of their most popular drink.
The bar having few customers right now gave it a charm of being a peaceful place compared to everything that was happening outside. I also see no Travellers here. So while I was waiting to be served, I began to analyse the places where they always go based on what I observed.
From the get-go, more than half of the Travellers I saw were outside the city. And when I checked inside, they were either in the blacksmith, general shop, or running around.
"Here's your drink… What's wrong boss, you look down today."
"Are all Travellers like that?"
The barkeeper seems like a good guy and was open for a talk. The few customers also help to the fact that he has all the time to be talking to customers like me. I was still wearing my disguise, so he had an easy time striking a conversation.
"You're not the first one to have problems like that. I'm guessing you are from the capital. Give it a day or two, you'll get used to it."
"All people from this city have adapted quite quickly, huh."
"Oh, we didn't. We have prepared for a long for their coming after the Pope have relay the message of the Holy OverSeer."
"!? When did that happen? I never remembered the Pope publicizing information about the Travellers."
"It happened 5 years ago. Everything that has come has been foretold by the prophecy given by the Pope. Our city has prepared for their coming as long as I remember. Since you came from the capital, I assumed you have known this for a long time also."
He casually told me something big.
'They know about Travellers for five years! Why was there no news in Opidelhm?'
"Can you tell me more about this prophecy of the Pope?"
"For a fair price, I will tell whatever I remembered."
This was a standard exchange for many bars across the Kingdom, so I slipped a few gold coins on the table. Although, I felt quite stupid doing so because, in his words, this information has been officially known for years already.
I do not know how this could happen that even the King of all cities has never heard about this crucial prophecy. More so, the Pope which also reside in Opidelhm did nothing significant from what I remembered.
No matter how much Isaac wants to hide anything that has any relation with the world outside, it would be difficult to have everything bypass all of us, especially me.
As I am recalling the oddities back in the capital, the barkeeper served his last customer before going back to me.
"Your question is an unusual one, but since you asked, I'm gonna tell you everything-- First off, as I told you, the Pope was the one who gave us instructions about everything to do at the time when the people blessed by God will walk on the same soil as us. The first instruction given by to us common people was to avoid interacting with them as much as possible unless asked to."
"Why so?"
"Travellers, as he labels them, are supposed to be beings above us. Aside from the fact that the HolyOverseer has given them life without death, they're destined to save Astrea from the upcoming calamity which was written in the old books."
His words made me recall at one of the books I read a long time ago about Astrea meeting its demise at the hands of the God of Chaos, Apophis. It never stayed with me because the book was filled with myths from many past.
That book was all I can remember mentioning any predicament of the end of the world, and I have read many books.
"But why do I see some Travellers socializing with the local citizens?"
"People in power such as the military are given the privilege to introduce our city to them. We also have the opportunity to talk to them if travellers let you so. I heard that you could ask anything you want from them and they would help you most of the time.."
"Are you okay with them acting like that in your city? Treating them with high regard even if they don't treat you fairly?"
"It's a small price for having the future saviours of Astrea...That's everything I remember that was given to us by the Mayor. There were more, but because many of them don't concern common people like us, I did not bother remembering them."
I am not one of the common people I am afraid, but I cannot tell him that.
Looks like that was all I can get from him. Quite lacking and in fact, it gave me more question than answers. But something is better than nothing.
Finishing up my drink, I left the tavern after leaving a few more gold coins for entertaining me.
It is now time to head to Moonshire where the plant is supposed to be. There are too many questions in my mind that I want to go back to Opidelhm immediately to validate the words of the barkeeper. There might be secrets that even the King does not know about Astrea.