Night sets in and the two of us went to the tavern to have a meal. Admittedly I was disappointed to see stalls close up early in the evening. Unlike the town we went from before, the town of Milera is awfully quiet at the evening. Stalls close up before the sun even fully sets down, shops then follow suit and the only establishments you'll see with light on are the tavern, the inn and the guardhouse.
Yet the tavern is quick to empty itself. Customers leaving with haste after they had their fill, no loud chattering and no bantering. The tavern itself seems dead, and there are nobody even drinking mead. In a way, it has lost its soul.
"Stay close to me. The town people are cautious."
Robin tugs on my shirt and pulled me closer. The people at the tavern all stared at us after we've opened the door. Even as we take our seat their stares continued, but it soon calmed down when a waitress approaches us with two mug of water on her hands.
"Welcome! Is there anything you'd like to order?"
The waitress looks cheerful, greeting us with the brightest smile, which is contrary to the people we've met eyes with.
"Pork and vegetable stew, grilled potatoes and bread will do. Also a mug of mead."
"Meat skewers and grilled potatoes."
"You have to eat more, Nathan. Especially if you're intending to grow."
"Excuse me but as far as I remember my height is about the same as in my age group."
"Hehe, it's been a while since I saw cheerful travelers."
The waitress giggled at our exchange.
"Are you certain about taking alcohol, Maam?"
Strangely, the waitress is asking for Robin's certainty on taking alcohol...in a tavern. Searching my memory, I remember the hanging sign outside is telling us that this establishment is a tavern, rather than a diner.
Robin glances at me, confused but I could only shrug.
"Is there something wrong?", Robin asks. Hearing Robin's response, coupled with her intimidating expression, the waitress showed an obvious expression of fear.
"O-oh, it's nothing. I'm s-sorry, I will be going--"
Just before the woman exits our table, I called out for her attention.
"Miss, wait! We're just asking. We've noticed it when we entered the town but is there something wrong?"
The waitress stops and listened to my voice. In a haste, she closes in to our table and whispered.
"There's been cases of murder at night recently. We've been kind of tense since then.", the waitress said in a quiet voice.
"Alright, I'll be going now. Please wait for a moment.", she quickly changed her tone into bright one and left the two of us for ourselves.
"No wonder. Nathan, keep yourself in high alert."
"Let's go find the murderer.", I said casually.
Robin stared at me when she heard my casual suggestion, before she smiles faintly and shrugged her shoulders.
"Yeah, we should. But stay close to me, I can't risk you getting injured."
"Got that, Captain.", I answered.
Soon the waitress came back with our meals in hand. She warned me to not drink too much, be careful on the road. It was obvious that she's talking about Robin, but I think she's still afraid of facing her.
The brushes of the wind is cold and it's whistle roars loudly in the dead of the night. As we get further from the tavern, light and noise left us and we could only navigate the streets with the moonlight. I made my eyes sensitive to the spirits, searching for suspicious people hiding on the alleys. So far I find nothing.
We went on a patrol for a little longer. Strangely, the streets were not secured by patrolling guards.
"We haven't encountered any guards."
"That is true. Perhaps we should check their quarters.", Robin suggested.
Agreeing to her suggestion. The two of us head our way to their quarters. On the west side of the town where the gate is near.
Looking from afar we see lights in the guardhouse. At their doors we see one person head out. It should have been a guard of the town, yet he isn't equipped appropriately for patrol. Noticing something is up, recognizing this feeling I used my spiritual eyes to see his spirit.
It was rather normal. No mismatch. Yet I still can't shake the feeling of strangeness, tingling in my senses. I try to look closely, but I simply can't notice any difference from his back.
"Captain, let's follow that guy. I feel like there's something wrong with him?"
"Sure. Let me lead you."
Robin and I went to a shortcut in an alley. Expecting he would go across the streets in front of it, I simply focused my attention on the road. Eventually, the guard passes by and I was able to get a good look. It was the same as before. There are no changes to his spirit.
Perhaps that's just one weird guy...
"Found anything?"
"No, his spirit seems normal."
"Let's keep following him. He is suspicious."
As we proceed to follow him, I try to look one more time for clues. Any observation. It isn't in the verge of disappearing, the presence is strong enough and it's following the body.
Hm? Why is it following the body? Shouldn't it be in one with the body?
Noticing the weird way the spirit is connected to the body. I focused on the speed to which the spirit would follow the movement of the body. The foot steps on the ground and the sway in his hands as he moves forward, it may seem like his spirit is in sync, but there is a lag. It was as if the body is dominating control, instead of having shared authority. That authority is the subconscious and conscious. The body the subconsciousness and the spirit being the consciousness of a person. If the body is dominating, then the subconscious is being affected.
I feel a sharp pain in my head. It's as if memories are being flooded into my mind. I flinched slightly, and held my head, but I recovered in a moment. However, it doesn't matter. I now know the answer to this strange behaviour.
The guy is being charmed. His body tempted at the promise of sexual satisfaction, now it moves by itself, blinded by lust. It's akin to sleepwalking, the person will feel like he is in a dream but in reality he is not. The culprit, most commonly known for draining the life of her victims, said to be capable of invading the dreams of men, a succubus.