As seconds of silence passed in the Titan Guildhall, Jorael only thoughts were on how he could safely get out of this situation.
"It's here right in front of you!" shouted Catherine to captain Jonathan of the city guard while the Traveler looked at her speechless.
"Well, well ..." the man whispered as he arrogantly approached the Traveler, followed by his men geared in noisy metal armor echoing across the silent hall.
The captain was a tall slim man in his forties with a bald shining head and haughty light blue eyes. He was the only one of his regiment without the metal helm.
"I need to face my actions... what should I do?!
That woman deserved to die...
I don't know what to do...
Why did I get into this mess?!..." thought Jorael in the little time he had at disposal before the head guard was right in front of him.
"What's your name?" asked tyrannically Jonathan addressing the Traveler.
"Jorael."
"Did you really complete Madam Francine's request?" asked again the captain.
"Yes..." Jorael replied nodding but he got suddenly interrupted by Catherine speaking:
"Yes! I guarantee it! The contract was signed by the requestor so it's sure..."
"SHUT UP YOU WOMAN!" yelled angrily Jonathan abruptly interrupting the surprised Secretary and then continued:
"I'm talking to this adventurer, don't butt in and mind your own business if I don't ask anything to you woman."
The guards started laughing profusely, leaving Catherine embarrassed and displeased while Cyn'Thia was trying to comfort her by holding her hand. The rest of the hall comprised of adventurers continued to remain in silence.
"So, Adventurer, you retrieved the Madam's pet and gave it back to her?" asked the captain reprising his interrogation.
"Yes, it was early morning, she signed the contract and then I left her mansion," replied Jorael.
"Who was present in the mansion?" asked again Jonathan confidently.
"Madam Francine, her slave, and the cat Pancelot." lied the Traveler whilst looking at the man's eye in front of him.
"Well... sadly I inform you that Madam Francine perished to a brutal death." nonchalantly admitted the captain, making sure to carefully stare back at Jorael's eyes.
"What? how?" asked feigning naivety the Traveler, to the stupor of Catherine and Cyn'Thia.
"So, Adventurer, you don't know better? Was she still alive when you left her villa?" questioned Jonathan.
"Of course, both she and her slave were so relieved I found Pancelot. What about the slave, did she die too?" asked Jorael.
"DON'T ASK ANYTHING! I'm the one doing the questions here." exclaimed the captain losing his temper again, then continued:
"The slave and the cat are nowhere to be found."
"Oh, that's strange..." whispered Jorael.
"Don't you fuck with me..." said Jonathan while he was almost grabbing the Traveler by his neck, only to be interrupted by a familiar manly voice:
"Captain Jonathan! How nice of you to have come here in my home to greet us, adventurers!"
A mighty tall and muscled figure arrived and approached the guards. It was adventurer Arnold, one of the three Titans.
"S-sir Arnold, how long has been since last time I encountered you... I apologize for not noticing you were here..." quietly said the captain bowing his head saluting the Titan.
"Oh, don't mind it, I've just arrived.
May I know why you're here with a full regiment of guards?" asked astutely Arnold while looking at Jorael.
"I-I was interrogating this young adventurer as it seems he may be involved in nasty stuff..." said Jonathan.
"Who? Jorael?
Ahahah… don't make me laugh!
He barely knows how to fight...
Come on Captain I guarantee for him!
Let's go have a drink..." said Arnold while he was trying to friendly take the captain by his arm.
"Uhm w-wait Sir! You're safe for now Adventurer Jorael...
W-wait don't push me!" whispered the captain to Arnold as he was forced to leave the guild building carried by the Titan.
The rest of the guards followed out Arnold and Jonathan. Everyone and everything turned back to normal.
"Sir Arnold always looking after the guildmates... I think you owe him one!
That dammed misogynistic captain..." exclaimed Catherine upset.
"Yes, and the unlucky me would have wanted to exchange some words with Arnold..." whispered the Traveler while Cyn'Thia silently nodded.
"I wonder what happened to the poor Noblewoman...
Anyway, will you two go to Teguria?" asked the secretary to change the mood.
"We shall go." replied both the Adventurers.
...
After safely getting out of the dangerous situation, the duo Jorael and Cyn'Thia were walking in the South District direction.
"Are you sure about this?" asked Jorael.
"Yes. Please Master let me assist you, and I kindly ask for a weapon." replied convinced Cyn'Thia.
"Well then... can you stop this master thing already?!" asked upset the Traveler.
"Master... the stupid Human guard... was he telling the truth?" asked the Elf worried.
"Yes. I told you I sinned." answered with grief Jorael as they walked through Rivella's plaza.
"Did you save the poor slave and the cat?" asked again Cyn'Thia.
"Of course."
"Then it's for the good..." said the Elf while smiling, but still her Master looked conflicted.
After a while, they arrived at Master Ercante's workshop in the Merchant quarter.
"Good morning!
Master blacksmith?" asked Jorael entering and looking around the workshop with Cyn'Thia at his side.
"Who's there?" yelled a distant voice from far back. Some metal tools could be heard being dropped on a table.
"Oh... young man you're here again, but too soon I would say," said Ercante as he arrived at the shop counter after few seconds.
"No, I'm not here for my sword. I'm here for her. She's Cyn'Thia, my sla... my helper...." explained the Traveler shily as he was introducing his aide.
"Nice to meet you Master Ercante." said the Elf bowing her head politely.
"hmm. Nice to meet you Elf...
A slave?
Are you going to arm a slave?" asked a bit confused the blacksmith.
"Any problem with that?" asked Jorael.
"No, young man. If you're fine with it that's good.
I'm a bit surprised you have a slave, to be honest..." replied Ercante.
"Well, I sav… I bought her on a whim... ahah..." whispered the Traveler trying to avoid replying.
"Master is nice and kind. He bought me to avoid me going to a fat Human." explained Cyn'Thia to her Master embarrassment.
"Ohohoh, everything is settled then.
How can I help you?" asked the blacksmith smiling.
"I'd like Master to buy me a bow." exclaimed the Elf.
"A bow... such cliché from an Elf..." thought Jorael.
"oh yes, a bow. You may find plenty of them there." said Ercante while pointing the shelf with the bows.
Cyn'Thia quickly went to check on the weaponry, to carefully check if there was a bow fitting for her.
"Lots of Human junk here... not this... not that..." she was whispering.
After a while, a weapon seemed to have picked her interest. She grabbed it and shouted while looking at it: "This might do the job!"
"oh, that one. I knew she would choose that bow..." said confidently Ercante.
"Why?" naively asked Jorael.
"Simple, it's the only Elvish-made bow in my shop, and Elves are particularly attached to their land and traditions." explained the blacksmith.
"Oh yes, I can clearly see why now..." whispered the Traveler.
"Look, Master! I found the one!" shouted happily Cyn'Thia as she was showing Jorael her choice.
It was a finely silvery decorated Elvish wooden bow. Silver leaves were inlaid in the hard and resistant, but still flexible wood.
"Looks fine to me, but what about the price?" asked worried Jorael after inspecting the weapon.
"50 gold coins" replied Ercante in a blink of an eye.
"What?!
I don't have that much, unfortunately. After savin... after I bought Cyn'Thia I'm a bit low on the money... ahah..." exclaimed the Traveler laughing hysterically.
"hmm... are you perhaps engaging in a quest?" asked Ercante.
"Yes, but as we are still low ranks, rewards most of the time are not that high. I'm afraid I won't be able to cover that amount even with the reward of our current quest... ahah..." replied Jorael while Cyn'Thia was putting on a sad face.
"Young man, worry not!
Your actions did move this old man.
Last time you did not waver and paid me full in advance to restore your sword.
This time you saved an Elf from slavery and wasted all of your money on a whim you say.
Just take the bow.
You'll pay me whenever you can, Jorael." Explained the blacksmith to the adventurers' utmost surprise.
Cynthia's azure and green eyes started brimming with a new light, as the hope in Humanity was renewed, partly washing away what she experienced. Jorael was left astounded, and after few seconds of wonder he spoke:
"Master Ercante, I cannot accept such a generous offer as I'm a bit worried this may be your usual reasoning, but I don't want to sound unpolite but have you thought customers may run away or die with your unpaid weapons?"
"hmm… young man, I reserve this treatment to very few customers, so you have to be more grateful. As for your concern; you already paid me in advance and I have your sword. Why would I fear you running away or being dead?" rhetorically asked Ercante.
"Now I get it. I was the naïve one.
Then let me express my gratitude, and sorry if what I said offended you." Replied Jorael.
"Do not worry, young man. You have not offended this old man but showed your sincere concerns.
Now, Lady Elf, you'll need a quiver and arrows to complete your set…" said the blacksmith while he was rummaging in a crate at his side. He then brought out a silvery leather finished quiver and some arrows and continued to talk:
"This is a gift from this old man. Please accept it and don't bother about it like your master."
"Thank you so much Master Ercante!" shouted Cyn'Thia as she was gladly taking the gift.
As soon as she took the quiver, she attached it with a belt to her left hip, and then she filled it with the arrows.
"Now you look like an adventurer Lady Elf!" exclaimed the blacksmith complimenting her.
"Thank you again for your kindness, Master Ercante. We will not forget it." Said Jorael whilst bowing politely his head.
The two adventurers after thanking the man were ready to depart for their quest, but before leaving the workshop, something caught the attention of the Traveler.
"What's this?" asked Jorael while pointing to a tiny metal object on the shelf.
"What? You're an adventurer and don't know what that is?
So, it stands true you're still low ranks…" replied shocked Ercante shaking his head in disappointment.
"Maybe is a…" was whispering the Traveler when the blacksmith completed his sentence:
"…Compass."
"What?! The Old Man from Vas'Anellir never said anything about this…" was thinking Jorael.
"What is it?" asked Cyn'Thia.
"You're an Elf so I'm not really surprised you don't know what it is, also its creation is fairly recent…" was explaining Ercante, capturing all the attention of the two, then continued speaking:
"It's an object that aids you when you're traveling because if you open it there's a needle inside that's shaking continuously, but the tip of the needle points always…"
"To North." Said Jorael completing the blacksmith sentence, but in return, the man was as if he had seen a ghost. His mouth was and his eyes were left wide open, and no sound was coming from him until after few seconds the man started laughing and finally spoke:
"You know, young man, everyone would have just laughed at your affirmation because everyone knows the compass needle always points to South.
But this is the second time in my life that I heard this nonsense, uttered in the same manner, with full belief."
"Damn, I need to be more careful…" thought Jorael while Ercante was reminiscing a distant memory explaining it to the duo:
"It's not widely known, but 20 years ago, me and my Master, discovered the mechanism behind the compass and we invented it. He was labeling this phenomenon as Science, not as Magic. After this many years, I'm still not quite sure how it works, but the needle always points to the South.
The first time my Master had the idea of the compass, is when I accidentally dropped a thin piece of metal in a bowl full of water. The metal piece realigned on the surface, pointing to South, but my Master as soon as he saw the phenomenon shouted "IT'S POINTING TO NORTH!".
I corrected him making clear it was pointing in the opposite direction, but he was in distress believing it was pointing to the South.
So, young man, I don't know who you are, but I expect great things from you."
"Who was your Master?" asked Jorael intrigued.
"Unfortunately, he's not here anymore. The legendary Dwarf Master Blacksmith that taught me anything." Replied bitterly Ercante.
"oh, ok then, can I buy the compass?" asked the Traveler.
"Sure. 5 gold coins." Answered the blacksmith right away.
The adventurers paid Ercante and left his shop, but as they were walking away a thought was creeping into Jorael's mind:
"It's sure weird we both known compass' needles point to North…
Wait.
Could he also have been a…?!"