"Are you guys, by any chance, nobles?"
That was the last question I was wishing to be asked, as I and Oswin stared up at the two travelers towering over our table.
Not here, not now. I didn't want to encounter Auris nobles right away.
These two travelers were suspicious enough when they sat in silence while throughout their time. And they now walk up to us with chest held high and look down at us?
"No." I answered immediately.
"Yes." Oswin cut in.
I shot him a sharp look. "We are not, he's kidding."
"What if we are?" Oswin asked, eyes trained on me. He should have known better than to play around at a time like this. Could it be that.. he's one of them and he lead me here to the trap?
"You better not be lying," One of the two travelers looked at me. "If you are, then you better go into hiding. We heard your conversation from earlier, and it's not like commoners could do any of the stuff you talked about."
"Were you eavesdropping?" Oswin scoffed. "Don't you know it's a terrible sin to do so?"
"We were just making sure you weren't nobles. This is a warning, kid." The other traveler with a thick baritone pulled his hood on. "Since you both only seek to train, if you know anyone who can help, ask them to go to Oldwest town. Spread the word."
The two men turned around, presenting us one last nod of acknowledgement and walked out.
There were so many questions going through my mind and I could say the same thing about Oswin but the only question I could blurt out was a tiny little "What?"
"What were they talking about?" Oswin squinted his eyes. "I understood nothing. Is something going on in Oldwest? Is it an event?"
He actually looked clueless. I was just as clueless as him before I heard it from father. Maybe it really is true.
Something in me shattered. Was it the hope that I held? Hope that made me want to prove father wrong. But it won't be possible anymore, I suppose.
And keeping Oswin in the dark would not result in anything profitable.
"I have something to say."
"Wait a minute." Oswin's eyes narrowed, and I could see some sort of dread in his pupils. "Before you passed out, you asked me to beware of Auris nobles? Is all of this related?"
I gave a small nod.
I said that at that time thinking I was under a spell while I slipped into that horrendous dream. I wanted Oswin to watch out while I was out cold.
"Auris clan are slaughtering all the nobles. It's for a blood sacrifice. It seems only few commoners know about this matter."
"Wait what?" His lips parted in bewilderment.
This was going to be a long day.
It was now Oswin's turn to be dazed while we walked to the next place. He definitely took the information better than I had expected, though he had a few dramatic reactions.
He even considered going to Oldwest town with me, but I had to ensure him that I was going to be just fine. I didn't tell him I was going to 'help', and I wanted to keep it that way. He might end up joining me if he knew and I can't afford losing him to a stupid battle.
I think I knew why the travelers were sitting in silence. They were in mourning.
"Are you tired?"
"A little." I answered.
"We're almost there." He smiled brightly, driving away the gloomy atmosphere we had entered into.
"How do you know we're almost here?"
"The broadened pathway and the drain system. They dug up the sides of the roadway for the water to flow into from the path." Oswin pointed to the mentioned and continued speaking, "It's hard to notice, probably decade old or so, and the drains are almost flattened out."
I blinked in amusement, because, if it were me, I would have never cared about such a tiny detail.
"The village is near, I see, that's all I care about." I brushed him off.
There definitely was something new to learn everyday. Mass murder to tiny road details. I and Oswin knew the day was going to be rough until one of us actually holds a real conversation.
I can see it on his face that he wants to ask me a bunch of questions all together, but maybe it's better if he does not know that little bit of information.
Afterall, not even I can accept the fact that I'll be training to fight one of the strongest nobles among all the four clans, all helpless and as a commoner.