Xavier picked up one of the bodies and struggled to carry it outside of the flying chair. He more so held them under the shoulders and dragged them out of the bar. Following the others, he dragged the man to a nearby pen and dropped the man's body on the dirt and searched him for some coin as he had been told before. He found the large man and handed the money over to him and the man smiled at him a bit. "Good bit kid, you's with Archvald yeah?" Xavier nodded and began to walk back to the bar where he seen Devi and Tyler working together to carry a body out. Xavier felt a hand grab his shoulder cover it solely with the one hand and turned around to see the large man grabbing him.
"You earned this one kid since you knocked one out." The man raised his free hand and presented a yintu to Xavier as he released his shoulder. "Thanks, sir I just wanna ask are you sure they won't come back once they get up or go to authorities?" "The man smirked and patted Xavier's shoulder walking over to give Devi and Tyler their money as well and Devi dropped the man's head to the ground clapping excitedly. She picked him back up and apologized to the unconscious man and continued to carry him with Tyler.
Xavier walked back into the bar waving to them as he passed making Devi almost drop the man a second time as she waved. Walking back to the corner he noticed Archvald talking to the others and began to try listening but Archvald noticed Xavier's return and raised his bottle. "Welcome back kid, you look like you took a good hit or two there." Xavier smiled and flashed the coin in his hand. "Seems worth it to me if this is regular." The older man laughed and pulled Xavier in and handed him an unopened bottle. "Drink and celebrate boy, you and those other two earned it for a fight well fought." Xavier took the bottle and raised it cheering as Tyler and Devi rejoined the group and they were also handed a bottle of ale each. The group gave another cheer and everyone enjoyed their evening chatting and getting to know the bar's regulars as Archvald introduced them.
The one who had helped Xavier up was a man named Riley and he ran a tanning shop for leathers and hides. The shorter man was named Hamself and he was a halfling who worked for a pawnbroker. Several others also worked in the city in various trades and services and had met Archvald while he was still a regular soldier. As they recounted the stories of a younger quartermaster Xavier noticed the bar owner looking in their corner's direction as he cleaned some of the glasses and plates behind the counter. Xavier poked Riley's shoulder to get his attention while Hamself stood on the table to share the story to the group. "Sorry to bother you but can you tell me who the bar owner is over there? And possibly why he's staring at us." The man looked over towards the bartender and chuckled to himself a bit amused. "He likes to try and get a feel for new patrons. His brother may have brought you here but he still won't leave you be till he thinks he understands your character."
Xavier quickly looked to Archvald then to the bar owner. "Are you sure their brothers they don't look alike exactly?" The man shook his head and leaned in to whisper to Xavier getting a glance from Archvald. The look made the man stop but he nodded and looked back to Hamself dancing on the table as he continued his story. "They aren't blood brother. They don't even know who their own blood is. They were both lefts at an orphanage under the church and raised there. Children who ain't adopted get trained as soldiers or bishops so that they can easily defend themselves in this world. Archvald kept true to his training and became a great soldier until some unfortunate incidents occurred." Archvald glared daggers at Riley hard enough for Xavier to see that he shouldn't ever ask about what had happened. Riley's face could show how nervous he was as he coughed a bit and continued. "Anyways that aside his brother here Derek instead spent a year as a soldier and used all the money to buy this tavern. He's the best bartender we have and his wife is the most badass barmaid in all of I'llgard." The barmaid smirked as she set some food on the table going by.
"You only say that cause you know Derek'll never let you have another drop of his brew otherwise." Riley grabbed his chest and pretended to fall back in his chair a bit. "Oh no, The thought of that alone wounds me heart. Pray to the goddess that never happens." Riley then began to laugh and the barmaid chuckled a bit as she walked back to the counter and entered the door behind to the kitchen. Xavier then continued listening to the stories that were being told by the halfling on the table and enjoyed the rest of the evening with his squad. He noticed that some of the others had begun to nod off after a few hours had passed and he nudged Archvald to show him the ones falling asleep. "Think we should head back now sir?" Archvald looked at them and sighed pushing himself up out of his spot in the corner. "I guess. Alright, everyone time for us to go." He shook the ones that were falling asleep and raised them up. As everyone walked past the counter they thanked Derek and his wife. Archvald paid for everything they ate and drank through the evening and slipped him a piece of paper as well that it seemed only Xavier noticed.
The group walked through the quiet streets and Xavier could see just how different the city was at night. Some people were packing up some stalls for the festival or displays for their shops but otherwise, it was eerily silent. As they walked he noticed that they were taking a slightly longer route around the center of the city and Xavier looked up towards Archvald questioning him with his eyes. The man glanced at Xavier and shook his head slightly and Xavier instantly felt chills crawl down his spine. As they walked he noticed that there was someone matching pass with them on the street parallel to theirs and was matching their pace. Xavier looked to his group and noticed some of them were still a bit sleepy and dragging themselves along with the group. Xavier lightly pinched everyone's arms not enough to hurt but enough to shock them and get their attention raised.
Xavier watched the man following them and swore he could see a few other movements out of the corner of his eyes as they continued. Unsure of if he was seeing anything or not he was taken by surprise when he felt the quartermaster shove his back and he said quietly so the group could barely hear him. "Run kids." He began pushing everyone down an alley and everyone did as he said and ran letting the man lead them silently giving directions as he held the rear and constantly looked over his shoulder. "Damn it we may not make it." Rachel shouted out in protest. "Why are we even running in the first place." Archvald snapped at her. "Just be silent for once. Focusing on running and nothing else." Ethan then got inquisitive towards him as well. "No, tell us what is going on or we'll stop." Ethan stopped and Sintarra and Rachel copied his lead. He stood defiant and boldly stared down the quartermaster. "Listen kid keep moving or else they'll catch." The quartermaster was cut short as a blade came flying over Tyler's shoulder and barely scrapped Ethan's cheek leaving a small cut that began to slightly trail blood down his face. "God damn he caught us already. Kids run and ill try to stop him, Just focus on getting them to the forbidden alley Ethan."
Xavier began pushing Rachel and the rest of the others pushed Sintarra and Ethan as their faces went pale. After they had gotten them going Ethan began to guide them through the alleys and cut across streets as he panicked trying to focus on where they were. "What the hell is going on?" Sara shouted at them and Xavier had a flashback to his first morning when he was attacked by Archvald. "He's a damn woken killer. An assassin trying to kill us." Everyone was shocked and Xavier had to again push against one of the girls to keep them moving. "We can't stop we need to do as the quartermaster said." Ethan nodded to Xavier and continued leading them. Ethan lead them into a street and pointed towards an alley that looked damp and decrepit. "Down there and we should make it to the forbidden alley." The group went to take off down it but we're cut off by a man dropping down from the rooftops above and blocking their path. "Now now is that anyway to treat a man running away from him for no reason without knowing his intent?" Everyone stayed silent and tried to gauge the man as he lifted he cloak revealing his arm and in his hand was a bloodied dagger. "Now shall we play a game kiddies?"