The two lays on the ground for about an hour, Roswald seated up and as he looked around him he saw the glittering light in the forest far from where they are.
(What's that light?") He ponders.
He stood up from the ground and started heading towards it.
"Where are you heading?" Geld ask as he stood up from the ground.
He paused, pointed towards the forest where the light shone, and Geld followed his finger.
"Nothing's there...." Geld said.
"....."
("Hm, am I the only one seeing it?")
Geld was deafeningly quiet, with a puzzled expression on his face.
Roswald proceeded into the light, he walk deeper and deeper into the forest.
As he got closer, the light became brighter and brighter that it blinds him.
The light faded gradually as he comes nearer, he opened his eyes slowly and as he regained his sight he noticed the child lying unconscious on the ground.
The child's body shone with golden light, and the miasma that surrounded her was purified and shielded her from harm, preventing all monsters from approaching her.
The golden light that encircled the child's body disperses, and the her appearance became more visible to the naked eye.
Her clothes was soiled, and her body was frail and riddled with wounds.
He was taken aback and suddenly he heard an ominous and threatening roar far away.
Without a second thought he grabbed the child in his arms, fleeing far from where they was, sensing danger the longer they stood by the minute.
Roswald makes a quick exit from the deepest part of the forest swiftly and along the way, he runs into Geld,
("Hm? looks like he's back but... what's in his arm?")
"Your still here?" Roswald stated.
He comes closer to Geld who stood still and notices the child he carries,
"Who the heck is that?" he inquired in surprise.
"A child..." Roswald quickly replied with a straight face.
"I know that just by looking. What are you going to do with the child? "Geld asks.
("What you ask...") Roswald remained silent as he ponders.
They locked gazes on each other, as if they were communicating solely through their eyes.
("Don't tell me you don't know what to do?")
("Even if you ask me... I couldn't leave the child...")
A mage suddenly appeared and interrupted the two.
"Are you two having a staring contest? Roswald it's been a while how have you been?" The mage said with a bright expression, walking closer to the two.
Roswald turned to face the source of the voice and said,
"It's been awhile."
("Who? Roswald's acquaintance?") Geld remained silent, wondering as he watched the two greet each other, curious about their relationship.
"By the way, who is this child?" the mage inquired with a question on his face.
"I found her in the forest." Roswald replied.
"That's the reason you rushed out?" Geld asks, cutting into their conversation.
"Who are you?" the mage asked rudely.
("What's with him I've been here the whole time and he's asking now? How unpleasant.") Geld ponders and said, "You should state your name first before you ask mine, isn't rude of you?"
"My name is Derek. I didn't see you there when I came in, Sorry," the mage said and smirked.
His manner was so rude that it made Geld dislike him.
"You have a problem with me, lad?" Geld asked while glaring at Derek.
The two of them stared at each other furiously.
Geld didn't understand why Derek treated him rudely.
"Derek stop... why are you here?" Roswald said, with an intimidating look. The two stopped immediately, and he sighed.
"Didn't someone send a messenger bird to the capital for help? I came running here when I heard about it." Derek replied and shrug.
"I see, let's head back to the village then," Roswald stated.
The villagers were in grief over the loss, They mourned in silence bowing their heads in prayer.
They arrived in the village and saw many people prayed in silence, sadness rides the wind in echo.
Some hunters who did not participate were celebrating on the sidelines, unconcerned about the people who were mourning the dead.
Their actions infuriated the entire villagers, and Mario, the village chief, drove them out of the village as the village people protested, never to return.
Roswald proceeded into the inn, passing through the crowed. Once he arrive at the village inn he quickly headed upstairs and places the child on the bed.
He then went to the village guild right away to discuss the situation with the others.
They all gathered in the village guild and were in silence, once Roswald arrive the conversation started.
Mario greeted the knights commander Kleen and the mage commander Derek.
"It's a pleasure to meet you two commanders, thank you for assisting us." Mario said, politely.
"We're glad to be in help, it was an unexpected message but I'm happy to see a familiar face... It's been a while." Kleen said, with a smile. looking at Roswald's direction.
"Hmm... May I ask what is the relationship the three of you have?" Mario said in a friendly manner.
"They're just an old acquaintances," Roswald stated, coldly.
"I see..." Geld said.
"That's right," Kleen responded.
("Old acquaintances huh?)
"We just know each other..." Derek said, cheerfully with little arrogance.
"Let's proceed to the matter at hand." Roswald changes the topic.
"Then shall we?" Mario said.
Mario initiated the conversation by explaining the village's issues and state and requesting a favor from the magicians to assist in the restoration of the village's wall.
Then, Geld and Roswald begin to describe the situation in the forest. And that they would go inside to investigate the source of the monster and beast outbreak to keep the village safe.
The three-hour conversation ended with the four of them discussing the profit that the magicians and knights would make from assisting them, but Kleen declined.
"There's no need for that." Kleen refused, sternly.
("He declined?") Mario ponders.
"That can't be the only reason, can it?" Geld inquired.
("Are they going to fight?") Mario thought, making a troubled expression.
They went silent for a while.
"Then how about this, in the future, no matter what we request, you will undertake it?" Derek suggested, with a smile.
("Hm, it's not a bad suggestion but what help could we offer them?") Geld thought.
("That's troublesome but not bad either this village will go bankrupt if we pay them.") Mario ponders, with a stern expression.
"Hm... Are you sure that's all?" Geld inquired.
"Of course..." Derek replied.
("We'll isn't that fine... looks like they are being considerate of us. sigh.") Mario thought.
Geld looks at Mario, and the two agree.
Their conversation ended. Derek and the other mages began repairing the village walls.
Kleen, Roswald, Geld, and two of the knights set out into the forest to find out what is causing the monster outbreak.
They didn't find anything suspicious on the first day of exploring the forest, so they turned around and returned to the village because it was getting dark.
Derek and the mages, on the other hand, had finished restoring the walls that surrounded the village, the next day they help restore the houses and burned the dead bodies, and spread their ashes.
On the fifth day of investigating the forest, they couldn't find any clues about the monster and beast outbreak.
The villager's houses and buildings were all restored and fixed in place. On the sixth day, they give up the investigation and the knights and mages headed back to the capital.
Everything returned to normal after that.
Roswald returns to the inn. When he enters the room, he notices that the child is cleaner than before.
He was surprised by the child's sudden clean appearance and by the fact that the child's wound had already been treated.
He went down the stairs to ask the innkeeper if anyone had entered the room.
"Hm? Roswald, is there a problem? "The inn owner inquired.
"Did someone come into the room, perhaps?" Roswald replied, calmly.
"Why is something a matter?" The inn owner asked,
"The child-"Roswald asked, the inn owner intercepted.
"Oh, if it's that, then you should ask my daughter," The inn owner said, laughing.
"Oy! someone, call Ramy here," The inn owner stated.
Someone who has a meek appearance appeared and says, "Yes, I-I will go and fetch her... Sir!"
The innkeeper's daughter was out shopping for ingredients, the streets were bustling with people and voices could be heard everywhere.
The laughter of the children running through the market streets happily, people gossiping from side to side, and market sellers luring customers in.
Humming and jumping around joyfully, she paused and murmured, "What should I buy?"
She approaches the vegetable stall and inquired, "How much do the carrot top and guinea squash cost, mister?"
"It's five ingots each for you, young lad," the vegetable seller said.
"Five ingots? Mister, are you serious? How about three ingots?" The inn's daughter insisted, slamming her hand on the table stall.
"That's not going to happen, young lad." The vegetable seller stated, sternly.
The innkeeper's daughter pestered the vegetable seller and they bicker nonstop for three minutes, finally buying the vegetable at a three-ingot price.
The innkeeper's daughter continued to buy more and more ingredients in each store until she couldn't lift the bag because it was too heavy. She rented one wagon worth twelve ingots.
That's when the meek person dashed towards her panting heavily and says, "Miss Ramy, I've been looking... around for you...the... boss... is looking for... you,"
"Oh, hey what's up." The inn daughter said, calmly
"Are... you listening? Miss Ramy."
"Hm? I am I am, so? what's the matter?"
The meek person takes a deep breath and calm down, then said, "The boss said to come back immediately,"
"Just wait a bit, I'm almost done buying things. Here, help me get this inside the wagon," The inn daughter said, giving the basket full of vegetables to the meek person, then walked out to buy more ingredients.
To be continued.....