"What's going on?" asked Nico.
"I don't know. What's certain is that the military was acting strange today," replied Fergus.
"How so?" asked Arfin curiously.
"They look like they wanted to start something. The number of soldiers has increased and many helicopters passing by since morning. There is even a tank outside the city. I have a bad feeling about this. Let's go to Florence now and take care of our business quickly. I feel there is danger if we stay here for too long," said Fergus.
"Can we even go to Florence now?" asked Nico.
"Yes. The Edinburgh roadblock was opened this morning," answered Fergus.
They packed their belongings and went to Florence. They took bus to get there. But the longer time goes on, the more Fergus became anxious.
"Why are you so restless, Fergus?" asked Nico while they were on the bus.
"I don't know. I am a scouting knight, and my ability depends a lot on my instinct. And my instinct feels not good now. I don't like this," replied Fergus.
Nico and Arfin looked at each other. "Maybe you're haunted by Arman," said Arfin
Fergus burst out laughing. Fortunately, because of Arfin's joke, Fergus seemed more relaxed.
"So, the funeral is scheduled for the day after tomorrow?" asked Arfin.
"Yes. I received a message from Sir Valhein in Aurora this morning," said Fergus. "They would make it into a grand ceremony."
"Sir Valhein in Eteria?" asked Arfin.
"Of course. The portal hub is destroyed. What else could he do here?" said Fergus.
"By the way, I've never heard of a system like the Blessing of Guidance during my time as a knight," added Fergus. "There was never a voice that could guide us on what we could do. Usually, blessings came in the form of aura or the power to control fire, for example. I don't know if this guidance is good or will end up as useless."
After arriving in Florence, Fergus was slightly impressed with its beauty.
He couldn't help but feel mesmerized by the town's stunning beauty.
Situated at the edge of Scotlandia, it was a small bay town that exuded a sense of tranquility and serenity. The town's charming streets were lined with quaint shops and cafes, all painted in warm pastel colors that complemented the natural beauty of the bay.
The clear blue waters of the bay sparkled in the sunlight, and the sound of seagulls filled the air as they circled above, searching for their next meal. The gentle breeze carried the scent of the ocean and the sweet fragrance of the blooming flowers that adorned the town's many gardens.
"Arman was right. It's a beautiful village," said Fergus. "If only he were still alive, I could tease him by saying it's ugly."
"Is this your house?" asked Arfin, looking at a big house on the outskirts of the village.
"No, this is Ms. Katherine's house. My house is further up the road, near the edge of the forest," said Nico, pointing to the end of the road.
"But where is everyone? It's so deserted," said Arfin as they walked towards the end of the road, looking around. They dont pass a single person as they enter city until now.
"Maybe there's a festival. Usually, when there's a particular event, they gather in the town square," said Nico.
It wasn't until they reached Nico's rundown shack at the end of the road that Fergus and Arfin were really surprised. The shack looked like it could collapse at any moment.
"Are you sure you live here?" asked Arfin.
"Yes," replied Nico naively.
"Isn't this the cabin that loggers used in the past? They used it when they rested," said Fergus.
"Cabin loggers?" Nico asked. " So that's why no one used it."
"It's been a long time since there were any loggers. It's forbidden now to cut the trees," Fergus explained.
As they entered Nico's shack, it looked even more pitiful. There was nothing there, just a hard mattress and a few cardboard boxes. Arfin saw a broken mirror hanging on the wall that Nico used to look at himself.
"I think you're the most destitute person I've ever met," said Fergus. "Arman wasn't lying. Your living conditions are really bad."
"You must be cursed, Nico," said Arfin confidently.
"Hush," murmured Nico.
"It seems there are no traces of a curse here," murmured Fergus as he looked at his curse detection tool. Nico's hard mattress also showed nothing.
"What about this?" asked Arfin as he lifted Nico's box. "What is this box for?"
"It's where I store my things," replied Nico.
"What?! You can store things here?" exclaimed Arfin.
"Yes, those things you see there are the things I stored," said Nico.
Arfin only saw a shabby towel, a spoon, a plastic plate, and some other unimportant items.
"Nico, if you want, you can stay at my house from now on," said Arfin with pity.
"I'm still amazed that someone like you can pull out the Storm bringer," said Fergus. He felt humiliated. "This world is really unfair."
"Wait, what stone is this?" asked Fergus. There was a shiny black obsidian stone in the corner of the hut.
"Hmm... why have I never seen this stone before?" Nico wondered.
"It seems like this is the source of your curse," said Fergus, surprised to see his curse detection device respond strongly to the stone.
As Fergus gingerly picked up the black, glossy obsidian stone from the corner of the hut, he felt an ominous energy emanating from it. The stone was strangely heavy and cold to the touch, and it seemed to pulse with a dark aura that made his skin crawl. As he held it up to the light, he saw that the stone was covered in intricate patterns and symbols that he didn't recognize.
The stone seemed to whisper to him, tempting him with promises of power and knowledge beyond his wildest dreams. But at the same time, it filled him with a sense of dread and foreboding, as if he was holding something that was not meant for mortal hands.
Fergus quickly wrapped the stone in a cloth and stowed it in his bag, hoping to keep its cursed energy contained. He couldn't shake the feeling that the stone was somehow connected to the curse that had been placed on Nico, and that it held the key to unlocking the mystery of its origin.
"I think this stone is enough to help us. The elves will look for the cause. We can find out where this stone came from, what kind of knights made this, and why your mother cursed you," said Fergus.
"Are you sure my mother was also a knight?" asked Nico.
"With a curse like this, i am one hundred percent sure," replied Fergus.
"Enemies detected. Approximately 20 people are approaching from east," said the voice in Nico head.
As soon as the voice in Nico's head warned them about the incoming enemies, Fergus sprang into action. He yelled at the top of his lungs, "Get Down!" and shoved Arfin and Nico down to the ground with his big, chubby arms.
Suddenly, the sound of gunfire erupted outside the hut. Hundreds of bullets rained down on them, piercing the walls of the hut and sending debris flying everywhere. The barrage was relentless, and the noise of the automatic weapons was deafening, making all the birds in the area take flight.
The onslaught lasted for what felt like an eternity, causing the trio to huddle together, fearing for their lives. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the barrage stopped.
Arfin was trembling with fear, and Nico was shaking uncontrollably, wondering what had just happened. Fergus, on the other hand, was trying to figure out what their next move would be.
As they tried to regain their composure, Fergus tried to piece together what had happened. He guessed that the attackers had run out of ammunition and reloading. His scouting skill had detected dozens of enemies approaching from within the forest.
"Shit! I should have trusted my instincts. It felt too strange that there was no one in town," said Fergus. Something was off about this town from the very beginning. "They've trapped us."