According to the new girl, Olivia, the beasts were new species of monsters and they appeared in the Wild Forest. They appeared in different shapes but they shared one thing: their hazardous black eyes. However, no one knew where they came from. There were some rumours about it being some kind of failed experiment. Furthermore, the girl had her way with a sword. She could defeat multiple beasts but those new species were intelligent.
Olivia had given a flawless explanation; it sounded like it was straight from someone who got a direct hand with them.
"So to put it bluntly, you were on your way to gather medicinal plants and you stumbled on these beasts by chance. You kept running until you found us and sought our help. This seems like a cliché! However, I will give you the benefit of the doubt, I will believe you for now," the corners of his mouth rose slightly.
"I will try my best to be useful to you. You saved my life so I got to pay you back. You can ask me anything, even my…" she removed her upper armour exposing the stringless part of her dress.
"Don't make me laugh! I am not interested in what you have, that if you have anything on you. Look behind you; there is a super-gorgeous woman standing. Don't you think you have nothing compared to her?"
Olivia couldn't believe the words she heard from his mouth, her mouth dropped. The orders were to know what the human who ruined a part of the king's plan motive and the extent of his abilities. He seemed like a weak one in her eyes; one who would die at a single swing by her sword. However, as he said, she was no match for the witch, whether in terms of power or looks. The latter annoyed her more. Could it be he knew the reason for her presence next to him?
His question could be taken from two perspectives. It was like a warning, whether it was purposely made or not. He gave her the benefit of the doubt so she would return the favour. However, she will make sure to kill him. The orders were easy. If the kid was a threat then riddance was the best solution. If she couldn't kill him directly, she would do it indirectly. There were many who died by mistake or by ingesting poison. Anything can fall into a cauldron.
However, the fact that he commented on her looks was humiliating for her. It wasn't her fault that she was born with little hormones. Also, a big chest was too heavy for a warrior. They made fighting harder and one had to press them hard with many bandages so they could stay still.
With a conceited expression, she spoke. There was nothing to be ashamed of. The boy didn't understand the beauty of small size. "I have delicate features, master. I should call you master now since you saved y life. You can check if you don't believe me."
Her voice was lost by the wind since Stephan already pulled the riddle and thought about it. Must he think of the riddle as a whole or simply cut it into pieces and work on each one alone? His master was a tricky one; she could think of anything to make things harder. She was even called a criminal, which meant she didn't need to use her abilities to the maximum to reach what she wanted. The thought made him think he could anything, even when he wasn't strong.
After a brief moment of hesitation, he explained his quest to everyone present there. One could think that explaining the true motive in front of a mole was the biggest blunder one could make. However, everything wasn't the truth. He omitted the plans of the king and highlighted the trickery of his master. She wouldn't blame him if he used her as a shield. He also mixed some lies between the lines of truth.
Richard asked for the garment. Stephan handed it. Next thing, the cloth moved from hand to hand till it stopped in front of Olivia who found the drawing familiar.
"So your master told you to help us as a test," Gillibrian started. "Then we must thank your master for pushing you towards us," the dwarf clenched his fists. "It's shame for us to lose such important items. We have been a disgrace. I guess the Lord heard our prayers when he sent you to us."
"So you are doing this quest simply because that criminal asked you to do it," Richard was cleaning his sword. "Then what's in it for you? I know for a fact anything isn't done for free. She is your master so she will teach you her spells and experience. Despite what everyone says, she is one of the brilliant minds of this world."
"But with brilliance comes recklessness," Soprana commented. "Power comes with the challenge so she has her enemies lying out there waiting to get a chance at her weakness. You can be a door to that."
Stephan chuckled. "Seeing you all know her, it makes me wonder what the invisible hand plays in all this. Did you realize something Olivia? You have been at it for a while."
"I feel like I have seen this somewhere. I just can't get it right."
"I am sure it's a tower. I thought it was a key at first but it was a tower all along in the form of a key."
His words were enough to bring back the familiarity she felt from the drawing. She snapped her fingers with an enthusiastic expression. "I know what this is. It's a library. It exists in a desolate place. Well, according to the ones who visited it and were able to get inside, it contained everything a mage could ask for."
"In my being, I hold all solution, right?" he whispered to himself. "So we have to start by that library."
"There is a problem though," Olivia replied. "A lot tried to find the door but that library doesn't have one. Good luck with it! I see that your master didn't intend for you to succeed from the beginning."