The sun rises, people gather in one place, and the sounds of many people reach the inn. The noises coming from outside the window woke them.
"Why's it noisy early in the morning? Did something happen?" she asked hoarsely, seating up, and rubbing her eyes.
"I'm heading out, stay here... I will be back," he said and exits the room.
Geld arrived at the town square of the village where the dead body of a woman was discovered, there were so many people gathered in one place that he couldn't easily pass by.
People became anxious after witnessing the scene and began to gossip.
The woman's body had been ripped apart, and her body parts were floating in the water. The sight was so gruesome that it gives them a shiver down their spine.
As he couldn't pass through the surging crowd he instructed some of his people to make a way for him to see the scene.
After the path was made he goes nearer to the dead body and rummages through the body hoping to find evidence but found nothing.
He orders some of his people to clean the fountain and bring back the woman's dead body to the guild for an investigation, as well as contact the woman's family.
Roswald arrives on the scene after the dead body was cleared,
"What happened here?" he asked.
"I don't know either, someone suddenly come to the guild and made a report, early in the morning," Geld responded.
"Did the village chief know?" he inquired with a stern face.
"I'm sure he knows, he's the village chief after all," Geld said and shrugged.
"I see, but isn't this bad?" he said with a stern face as he looks around him.
"Why do you say so?" Geld inquired.
"There are many people gathered here, the air seems strange," he stated.
"Strange? How so?" Geld asked confused.
"You didn't notice the black mist surrounding the air?"
"What do y-"
While they were distracted, the top of the fountain suddenly blew up, scattering the rocks and striking those nearby with tiny little pieces of rocks.
People scream and run, bumping into and hitting each other.
The sudden outburst causes a crack throughout its body and to the ground surrounding it, causing the fountain to collapse and water to scatter from the ground, spraying out like a hose, wetting and painting many people in red.
Roswald and Geld were the ones who were most affected by the outburst and were injured as a result of their efforts to protect those nearby.
An alchemist arrives on the scene and uses a potion to heal the people who have been scratched by the small rocks.
Mario approaches the two and hands them a potion to heal their wounds,
"You two alright?" Mario asked.
"Why are you here?" Geld questioned back.
"I'm here from the very beginning, blended with the people... look my carriage is right over there," Mario stated with a smile on his face.
"What?! You were?" Geld yelled dumbfoundedly.
"Master, the people have been told to not be near this place." the butler said formally and bowed his head with his hand placed at his chest.
"You did well... you may go back first," Mario said and gesturing his hand.
"Yes, as you commanded. Should I prepare some tea when you come back, master?" the butler inquired.
"No need," Mario replied nonchalantly.
"I see, then I shall excuse myself." the butler said and disappeared in an instant.
"You can have this back..." He said, standing up from the ground.
"What? you didn't drink it?" Mario asked, shocked.
"It's just a small wound no need for potions," he said coldly.
"I see," Mario sighed.
("He's a hunter after all no different than being a knight.")
After the lengthy conversation, Mario excuses himself from the two and departs.
Geld tap Roswald's shoulder and said, "By the way, you need to come with me to the guild. We have something to discuss."
"What is it?" He asked.
"Let's talk inside my guild office." Geld insist.
"Alright,"
"Hm," Geld nodded in agreement. ("Glad he agreed.")
They went to the guild to continue their conversation. Whilst, simultaneously, the alchemist and guild members helped to calm the crowd as Mario explained the situation.
They enter the guild's office and proceed to Geld's office.
He seated down and asked right away, "What is it that you want to talk about?"
("Can't you be patient?") Geld thought and say's calm, "Sit down first."
"What do you mean what is it? The customer that posted the job filed a complaint saying that only two sheep were returned." Geld scolded.
"What can I do? There were only two alive when I arrive at the plains," he said with a straight face.
"Hayss, well, that is the problem. Why did you even take that job?" Geld sat back in his chair, rubbing his head, and sighed.
With a solemn expression, he stated, "I pick randomly."
("Hoy! You should read the job first before you've taken it.") Geld yelled inside and sigh.
"How were the people, you bought along?" he asked.
"Sheena is handling them and giving them a job, and home to live in. Some headed to the capital back to their family." Geld explained leaning his back.
"I see,"
"More than that, the complaint what do you do about that? The guild was affected because of that." Geld stated with a troubled expression.
"Don't worry I'll pay for the compensation." He said calmly.
"And how will you do that?" Geld asked, gesturing his hand.
"Here you can have this." He handed me a medium size stone crystal.
"What?! Where did you obtain this?" Geld jumps out of the chair in surprise.
"I found it in the cave, the one I told you about yesterday." He stated.
"I see... you sure are lucky aren't you?" Geld asked, looking at the stone.
"Oh, by the way, the people said that a man was ordering the goblins... where is that man now?" Geld added.
"He escape," he stated.
"Oh, I see he escape... wait what? how? escape from you?" Geld said in shock.
"Why are you shocked? It can't be helped there are civilians with me," he stated.
("Well, who wouldn't be shocked? It's the first time someone escape from you.") Geld thought and says, "Well, you're right about that but it's just unexpected."
"What's that, is there anything else you want to say to me?" He stated.
"There's none, but..."
Geld's assistant Sheena knocks at the door and says, "Guild master, do you have a moment?"
"Sheena? What is it? Come in..." Geld said.
"The family of the dead woman has come... there are at the lobby waiting." Sheena said politely.
"I see, tell them to sit and wait, I'll be down in a minute."
"Yes," Sheena exited the room, closing the door.
"I have a lot more questions to ask you but... We'll continue this another time." Geld stated as he stood.
"Alright... I'll go back first." He said and exited the room right away.
"Mnm," Geld nodded.
Roswald headed back to the inn right away, as he enters the inn he saw Della sitting at the counter table eating some sweets happily.
"Oh? Roswald your back." the innkeeper said.
"How are things here?" He asked.
"Fine, are you heading upstairs already?" the innkeeper stated.
"Hm, I'm going to rest for a while." He responded.
"I see, then we'll not disturb you." the innkeeper said.
Della enters quietly after about five minutes, sits on the wooden chair, and looks out the window.
"Mister, are you asleep?" She whispered.
"What is it," he asked with his eyes closed.
"Eh? Um, mister are you awake?" She said in a panic.
She turns around to see if Roswald is awake, only to discover that he is only responding in his sleep.
She breathes a sigh of relief and turns to look out the window, the wind brushing against his face and her hair swaying.
Ramy arrives at the door, "Della are you there?"
"Yes, what is it?" She rose from her wooden chair and pushed open the door.
"Did you ask sir Roswald?" Ramy asked.
"No, he is sleeping." She responded with a slight smile.
"I see,"
Because of the noise at the door, Roswald sat up from his bed and stared at the two.
Ramy noticed his stares from the back, she turned around in surprise,
"Sir Roswald, you were awake?" she said in a little panic but calm after.
"Eh? Mister, did we woke you up?" She inquired making a troubled face.
"No, I was just closing my eyes," he explained as he sat up in bed.
"Oh, just in time, Della has something to tell you," Ramy said cheerfully and gently smiling.
"What is it?" he inquired, nonchalantly.
"Could you accompany me, mister?" She asked, hesitantly.
"Where do you want to go?" Roswald asks as he stands up, putting on his jacket.
"Am I not bothering you?" she inquired, hesitantly and fidgeting.
"No you're not," he said calmly.
"I see," she said feeling happy.
"Your name... was Della, was it?" he inquired, hesitantly.
"Yes? Yes, my name is Della, ah, sorry I didn't tell you until now," she said, flustered.
"No, I didn't ask either... Are you coming with us?" he changed the subject.
"No, I'm going to help out at the inn," Ramy stated, smiling.
"I see," he said calmly with a faint of coldness.
Following the conversation, the three-headed down and informed the innkeeper that they were heading out for a walk in the village for a while, and walked out of the inn after.
To be continued...