I woke up early in the morning. For a moment I was in shock, amusement and awe at the same time. A beautiful girl was lying next to me and I was deceiving her.
I gently caressed her hair and kiss her lips but it woke her up. She hugged me tightly like asking me to stay with her but being like this won't do any good. I have to first confirm whether that man was her father or not!
"Emilia why don't we start our search again. First, we will visit the hunter's guild and ask for some escorts."
She agreed hesitantly.
Sigh...….
So much has happened in a single day. I came back to the city, fell in love with a girl, we became lovers and probably I am the killer of her father. It was quite a heavy task for my brain to comprehend.
I was still waiting for master. He might arrive tomorrow.
I along with Emilia went to the hunter's guild.
We asked for the escorts there and I was about to give the money for hiring them but suddenly a man came rushing in the guild hall.
"*Huff*... *huff*.... Everyone, the king is going to announce princess's fiancé right now and he has asked everyone to gather there."
Unknown to the situation I and Emilia went along. It wasn't a good feeling. I felt like something is going to happen, maybe the reason for this kingdom's downfall.
A large crowd gathered there and everyone was keenly looking at the king and princess.
"My people and treasured citizens of Uqbar. I have decided the fiancé for my only daughter. He is the only magic swordsman of our country."
Wait is he-
"His name is Brandon de Louis."
The cheer in the crowd was very loud and everyone was cheering, even Emilia but I think its true Afterall.
This kingdom is going to fall as the person who does that deed would be
"Arnold, you are scaring me! The look on your face is scary."
ME!!!!!!!!!!
As long as Brandon is my nemesis, the kingdom is doomed to fall.
I don't know what happened to me but the killing intent I was giving wasn't equal to my power, The people near me were shuddering in fear and Emilia was scared. I don't know what expression I was making but I know it wasn't normal.
I held Emilia's hand and went back to the house where we were living at.
"What happened? You weren't looking good and you also had a very scary face at that time. Um.... Did I do something to displease you?"
She looked cute but I can't tell her the truth as she would identify me as the beggar and murderer of her father.
"Emilia, can you promise me something?"
"Yes, what is it?"
"I promise to tell you about everything after I have confirmed about the situation but until then please hold off from asking me about my past. Can you do that for me?"
"I will. I don't care what happened in your past but please don't worry me like that."
I was happy that she cares about me this much and believed me. I was sure of my path.
Just wait for a little more Brandon. I doubt you can live a happy life with your fiancé.!!!!!
Before exploring the market and making several connections I thought to change my look even more as Brandon might notice me. I went to a face mask shop and brought two masks with wig. These masks were costly as they were made by a mage. The magic which we think should be extraordinarily powerful is wrong. Only few talented jobs like magic swordsman and Arch mage make a person very strong, enough to destroy a city by himself.
I asked Emilia to take all the jewellery with her as we are going to find her father ourselves.
"Why can't we ask the guild? It would be safer that way."
"Safer! You think that when a person gets to know that the man in front of him is a rich merchant will he let him go? We will search for him ourselves and in that time why don't we search for a strong mercenary group!"
"Why do you want to find a strong mercenary group?"
"Well, it is related to my past."
After hearing the word past she didn't pry anymore. Aren't I a lucky guy to get myself a girlfriend only seen and talked about in dreams?
"Um...…. I am sad yet happy. I want to search for father but I will also support you. Please rely on me more and when you can please open up about your past."
We continued the left-over work and went ahead on our journey. The money we had was kept in a distortion bag. Well, it is made in another country and even archmages don't know how to reproduce it. Is it related to one of those six books! Maybe but what matters right now is the path lying ahead of me or should I say us. I need to do so many things. My 3 years will be completely hectic.
After a few days of travelling
We found no signs of her father. Even after asking around in 7 villages, we found no clue. I guess he really was her father.
(Author- I mean the ML thinks that the one he killed was her father)
"We have arrived at your destination" The coachman said.
This village was one of our last hope or else we would have to go in the other villages either far away from here or near the border.
I saw a man sitting at his stall. There were few people near it. I asked him about a strong mercenary group around the place.
"Well, there are two actually but leave the other one, they are really dangerous."
"I am sorry sir but please tell us about the other one as well as we need their assistance urgently"
The man looked in my eyes and let out a huge sigh.
"It is Demon Owl Posse"
"Isn't it a single group?"
"It isn't! I mean it was."
"You are really confusing me. Please speak clearly"
That man got offended by me so Emilia out of her own accord took a pouch of coins and kept it on the table.
"Well looks like the young lady is quite smart. How should I start. Um..."
"Please tell as briefly as you can."
"Why are you getting so impatient. So, listen, the group was led by a husband and a wife but they both got angry with each other's suggestion and divided the group into two. The man named Garland took half of the group's name Demon Owl and his wife Amanda took the other half Owl Posse. Well, the strong point about them is that they were previous king's personal troops."
This was quite shocking but one thing wasn't catching up......
"Which group were you going to recommend me earlier?"
The man was fazed by my question
"Why are you.... Uh-. Alright! The specialty about those troops is that they were all married amongst themselves to prevent information leak. There were equal number of men and women in Demon Owl Posse but when they separated, Garland took all the males under him and Amanda took all the women under her. And …. Um.... What I will tell you now, you must keep it a secret! I have heard some rumors stating that if any man approaches Amanda's group Owl Posse, then it is very unlikely for him to come back alive. Before reaching them, they vanish into thin air."
I guess this has to do something with Garland.
I asked Emilia to do a task for me and on the other hand I thought about meeting Demon Owl. Yuck this name is too bad. Who in the world keeps a name Demon Owl?
On my way after dropping Emilia near Owl Posse location I went to Demon owl's location. I was concerned about my Master. He said that he will come but he didn't yet. I guess he might know my location through the book and there is that matter with Emilia's Father too.
I was lost in my thoughts and didn't even notice that I entered the Demon Owl's Territory.
When I realized that it was already too late as someone who appeared behind me smacked my head with a wooden log.
I slowly lost my consciousness.
I just hoped that Emilia had done what I asked her for.
Next Chapter- A friend or a foe?
(I am sorry that this chapter was 2 pages short as I wanted it to be left on a cliff-hanger. So please forgive this new writer's insolence.)