Usman ' LUMINOUS?!!'
Luminous ' Seems like, she has some sort of condition based immortality. To get rid of her, we need to complete the quest's condition.'
Usman ' Condition based immortality?!'
Luminous ' Yes.'
I turned to the tavern staff.
Usman ' He has guilt status.'
Usman " You! Bar keeper, you know her don't you."
He shivered when I pointed my burning sword at him. Firuza put her hand on my right shoulder.
Firuza " You are scaring him and everyone.... with those flames..." She said looking at the blaze.
I put those out and tucked away my swords.
Bar keeper " I did know her, she used to be a seamstress here. Everyone loved her beauty and voice. It was very Hypnotic! Our tavern used to be called Hypnotic Voices back then."
He sat on his stool.
Bar keeper" Even our Lord fell in love with her. But none other than our previous lord knew what was she? A spy! Sent by cultists to sabotage and in the last.... kill the previous lord..."
He shook his head.
Bar keeper" Our Lord caught her red handed. He realised that he was a mere pawn in her schemes. So, he killed her himself. It said that it was quite brutal. He didn't even give her a proper burial."
Usman" What about her belongings? Was there anything left?"
He looked at me strangely.
Bar keeper" As I know, all her belongings were taken by the lord. Who burnt them."
Usman" Not everything."
Firuza" What do you mean?" She asked.
Usman" We still have our lodgings?" I asked the bar keeper.
Bar keeper" After what you did tonight? Yes."
Usman " Come, I will tell."
We went to her room and I made sure no one was outside.
Firuza " Before you tell me about the banshee, can you tell me about....those flames?" She asked sitting on her bed.
Usman" These are called hell blaze. A skill, I awakened recently." I said conjuring up a fire ball upon my right hand.
Firuza " I see." She said nodding.
Usman " Now about her. During our fight, I noticed that our attacks did damage. But they were healed instantly. Even the hell blaze but that light confirmed something."
Firuza" What?" She said tilting her head.
Usman " She has a conditional immortality." I said with serious look.
Firuza" ... pardon...?" She asked confused.
Usman " During my training, my master told me a story about a wizard. Who had acquired this by splitting his soul into different objects. Because of this, he was not able to be killed."
Firuza" Dear Lord! That's terrible! How was he killed?!" She asked with concern.
Usman" According to my master, the objects which had his soul were destroyed one by one."
Firuza" In other words, banshee had her soul linked to an item she had before." She said frowning.
Usman" Precisely."
Firuza" So, that's why you were asking about her belongings!" She said with understanding.
Usman" Let's go to Lord Raibyr tomorrow."
Firuza " Yes, he might know something about the object or objects."
...
On our 4th day in Warm Nest, we went to reagent's office. When, we entered her office. She was talking with Sabae.
Jacinta " Yes. What can I do for you?" She said looking towards us.
Firuza looked towards Sabae.
Firuza " Can we talk alone?"
Jacinta gained a serious look and looked at her friend.
Sabae" All right. I will have my leave."
She stood up and gracefully walked towards the door. She stopped near me.
Sabae" Your rewards will be given today. Thanks for your help."
She nodded and left. As she left the room and closed the door. Firuza looked towards me. I raised my hand. After few moments, she went out. Then, I nodded.
Jacinta ' He is using his perception on her.'
Firuza " We request a meeting with the Lord Raibyr as soon as possible."
Jacinta" Come again?"
Usman" It's related to Banshee's conditional immortality."
Jacinta" HER WHAT?!" She shout.
Firuza" You might suspected this before. That's how she healed after any attack she received."
Jacinta" Yes, we did. But we didn't know that it was a sort of immortality." She said thinking.
Usman" But it can be breached." I said walking towards her desk.
Firuza" That's why, we want a meeting with the Lord Raibyr. He might know something related to it, considering THEIR past."
Jacinta sighed.
Jacinta" All right. Please sit. I will send a letter." She said gesturing towards the sofa.
.....
At noon, we were inside Viscount Raibyr' s study. He was standing near the window looking out with his hands clasped on his back.
Raibyr " I have read her letter. Before you ask something, tell me about her immortality."
Usman" Conditional immortality differs with their users. But in her case, who is an ethereal entity. Her soul has been linked to an object or objects."
Raibyr" There could be more?!"
He turned towards us.
Usman" IT depends on the person. So, do you have any of her belongings intact."
He sighed and moved towards a drawer and took out a ring.
Raibyr " It had been belonged to my family actually but I gave it to her. But looks like it does not anymore."
He shook his head and walked towards me.
Raibyr " Here. You can do, what you need to do with it."
Firuza" Looks like she thought, you would protect her."
Raibyr" Not anymore."
Usman" Can you tell me, where is her grave?"
Raibyr " Pardon?"
Usman" Please tell."
Raibyr " I don't know. I ordered her to be buried around in the forest."
Usman" Then, I have to find it before night."
Firuza" Why?"
Usman" Because that's the second and last object linked to her."
Raibyr" She is DEAD!"
Usman" Yes and her body is just an object now."
Firuza" DEAR LORD! She done something like that to her own body."
She put a hand on her lips.
Usman" For revenge, yes."
Raibyr" DAMN HER!"
BANG!
He punched his table.
.....
Near evening.
Even though I said but both Firuza and Growlithe were with me. Currently, we were moving towards the black spot of the forest near the city. As we entered, I felt the same Chil again. It was cold here. I checked the map and we moved towards the grave. The grave was under a worn out tree of black colour.
I moved forward and conjured up hell blaze. As I did, she flew out of her grave.
Banshee " YOU?! BUT HOW?!!"
WOOSH!
She was hit by a fire ball.
Firuza" Growlithe and I will stop her. Go ahead." She said with her hands on fire.
Banshee " DAMN!"
WOOSH!
Growlithe shot a flamethrower.
Growlithe" Argf!"
I tossed the ring in hell blaze then I threw it on her grave. Which turned on fire.
Banshee " AAAAAAAHHHH!!!"
She screamed while set in blaze mid air. Soon, she disappeared with her body. I put out the flames.
Usman " Let's go and report."
Firuza " YES!" She said with a smile.
Growlithe " WOOF!" He barked.
.......
Later, entire tavern was buzzing with people eating, laughing, drinking and celebrating the day of banshee' s demise. Even Viscount Raibyr came himself to both apologise and congratulate the people. He also announced the renaming of the tavern to Hypnotic Voices.There were all sorts of food and beverages served by servants.
I almost tried everything, I seemed interesting. Firuza was sitting with me and drinking a wine. Growlithe was stuffing some type of beaf dish. I was just eating, a little from what I fancied. I still didn't have the courage to drink alcohol. Probably, I will never.
(A.N. He will NEVER drink ALCOHOL!)
Some local girls and waitresses tried to court me? Yeah that would be right word. But considering, I already had 2 girls in my life. I didn't give them positive response. After some time, they dispersed. Seeing this, Firuza was happy. Probably because of her sister, it was a correct decision.
....
Next morning 🌄
Sabae P.O.V.
Boy....No, the Guardian was as he was described in Lady Fae's letter. He had both brought fortune to me and gave peace to Hypnotic Voices. Haah~ It's being a century since I pronounced that name But I was happy that it happened in my life. I think, it's about time. I gave him both his rewards and thanks.
I wasn't able to due to all commotion last night.
THUK! THUK!
Sabae " Yes." I said closing my office's closet.
A servant came in panting. He was responsible for my work in the city. He had mud and dirt on himself. He was barely recognisable.
Sabae " What happened?" I said worriedly.
Servant " My Lady! It's terrible! Were boars ambushed us but instead of killing us all! They kidnapped Merchant Ibad and killed everyone else! They also took our stuff instead of destroying them?!"
Sabae" WHAT?!"
Sabae ' This is BAD! Ibad is a great merchant from the city!'
Sabae " How did you escape?!"
I demanded.
Servant " When the ambush happened, I was having a.... nature call... I was startled.... and fell into the mud....I was .... you know... because of all the mud and.... you know..... it's stench saved me from their sense of smell. After they took our goods and merchant Ibad, I ran here." He said panting.
Sabae" Al right. You did a good job considering the situation. I will handle the rest. You may leave now."
He nodded and left.
Sabae" I should report to Lord Raibyr right away."
.....
Raibyr P.O.V.
When I thought, my problems were decreasing. Reality slapped my face hard again, Ibad, a famous merchant was kidnapped by wereboars of all! This was both confusing and alarming. And I didn't have much time. We had to act soon. But they could be anywhere in the forest.... the Guardian!
He had the ability to track beings with mana.
Raibyr " Sabae! At once find the Guardian and give him a quest to rescue Ibad at once." I said looking at her standing near my chair.
Sabae " Yes but.... I haven't even rewarded him.....yet." She said ashamed.
Raibyr" Then, reward him first. Then, present the quest." I said pinching my nose bridges.
Sabae" At once."
....
Usman P.O.V.
We were walking around town. When, a tavern servant came to us.
Servant " Lady Sabae has come to meet you. She is waiting for you."
Firuza" It's about time, she remembered."
She rolled her eyes.
Usman " Alright. We are coming."
We went to the tavern.
....
Usman P.O.V.
We were sitting across each other.
Sabae " Here is your reward for the hunt. 10 SPS." She said putting a purse on the table.
I took it.
Ding!
Quest: Completed
Usman ' That was the condition.'
Sabae " If you are not busy....I have a Quest for your party." She said looking at us.
Firuza" What is it?"
She was frowning.
Sabae " You have to rescue a merchant from surrounding forest. This morning, a survivor from his caravan came."
Usman" Who ambushed them?" I said arching my back towards the table.
Sabae" Wereboars."
Firuza " Dear Lord! It's a miracle that guy escaped. Besides there's no chance that merchant is alive..."
Sabae" He is alive. They only killed his men. They took him hostage. They took both him and the goods." She said cutting words.
Ding!
Quest: Save the merchant before midnight!
Rewards:???
Penalty: Evil will rise!
Firuza" Th... this is unheard of..." She said confused.
Usman" But not impossible. We will accept this quest."
Sabae" Thanks. I have prepared meals for you. So, leave as soon as possible."
As she said servants brought packed meals and put them on the table.
....
Usman P.O.V.
Near evening 🌆
We were moving in forest. During my scan earlier, there were two black spots. So, we were heading to that area. Our path was uneven but I had been used to it.
THUD!
Firuza " Aaaahh!" She yelped sitting on ground.
Usman ' But not her.'
Usman " Here."
Firuza " Thanks, I can't believe it. I thought I was used to here, now."
Usman" Let's go."
We started moving again. When we crossed the area, I scanned it. I closed my eyes. There, I found him with five wereboars and a gnoll fang of Yeenogho with a charm?