"That's fine Mr. Francis. For convenience I can rent two different inns"
"I don't want to enjoy Amethyst town without bringing other people along, it makes me feel bad" Zach smiled.
Leonard paused, staring at Emma for a long time. Emma didn't meet her father's gaze and instead looked away.
Diana held Violet as she walked over to them. "What is it?" Diana who saw the akkward condition between them reflexively asked.
Leonard sighed then explained what happened. After a while, Diana chuckled "I think that's a good idea, while you still don't have a job. You know this is rare, this opportunity is quite good. Violet also needs to travel, she's still small after all"
Leonard looked at Diana with a strange look. closed his eyes and sighed. He placed his newspaper on a small table nearby and said, "I'll pay for it myself. You have to save for your next life. You know taking care of a child costs a lot."
Zach smiled in relief, Things he thought would be difficult became easier because of mistress Diana.
...
Around three o'clock, they were all ready.
Boarded the horse-drawn carriage and departed from his in-laws' house.
The city streets are filled with people doing their usual activities. Several horse-drawn carriages passed by to enliven the street.
Zach and Emma are in a different horse carriage from Emma's mom and dad. Of course that's because the area of the horse carriage doesn't support many people to ride at the same time, considering they also carry goods.
At the Gate, they stopped for a moment, stopped by the gatekeeper. Things were checked, but when the gate guards saw that it was Zach riding the carriage, he allowed them to pass.
This is a pretty good wedding gift.
On the way, Zach couldn't hide his relieved face. Although in the end he couldn't prevent the terrible incident in the city of Obsidia, but at least he could get his family out of that danger.
"You seem happy" Zach said as he watched Emma smile excitedly.
Emma widened her smile as she said, "The last time I went to Amethyst City was when I was six years old. And it's already very beautiful, I'm really curious about how big a change I'll see. Well even though I've seen some from the newspapers"
"Mmm, I was assigned to Amethyst City two years ago, that was before I met you. You know, rookie gatekeepers get a lot of field assignments like that. It was my busiest time though".
"Even though it's not much different now, but at least I'm used to it" Zach leaned back while closing his eyes.
"... Have you been there with other women before?" Emma narrowed her eyes.
Zach was taken aback, holding his chin while pretending to think before answering with a slight laugh "Of course not, didn't I tell you, when I was in my early days as a gatekeeper, being busy almost made me not think about much else"
"Well, at least before I met you" Zach crossed his arms over his chest.
"Am I a bother?" she pouted.
"No, that's not what I meant. What I mean is that after meeting you I can appreciate time more and at least think about my life" Zach waved his palm.
Their conversation continued until, it was getting dark. The journey to the city of Amethyst requires at least five hours by horse-drawn carriage from the city of Obsidia. This distance tends to be close compared to other cities.
As Zach began to relax his body suddenly the horse carriage stopped suddenly. Emma was pushed forward and bumped into Zach's shoulder because of that.
"Are you okay?" Zach held Emma's head and gave her a serious look.
She shook her head. Ahead, Tion, the maid driving the carriage that Zach and Emma were riding in suddenly said in a high tone. "There seems to be an accident ahead!"
Hearing that, Zach got down from the horse carriage. It was getting dark blocking his vision. The faint light from the small fire on the road in front of them was even more obvious.
The horse-drawn carriage that Emma's father and mother were riding also stopped when she saw the carriage in front of her stop. Leonard went down and asked Diana and Violet to stay inside.
Leonard trotted forward with the wooden staff he held. "What is it?" Leonard said as he saw Zach also getting off the horse carriage.
"I don't know" Zach took a torch and lit it to get a better look at it as it was getting dark.
Zach walked over to the small fire in the street ahead of him. The small fire came from a burning board. As Zach slides his torch to the left, a carriage wheel is visible in the bushes.
"Something's weird" Zach said then turned towards the carriage he was riding.
Leonard walked quickly towards Zach. "It's a former horse carriage" Leonard exclaimed.
After paying further attention, a few meters ahead from where Zach found the wheel, you can see a destroyed horse-drawn carriage with some scattered goods.
Leonard turned towards the carriage he was riding in a panic. "This must be the work of bandits!"
Zach frowned and thought the same. But just as he was about to turn around, he noticed the silhouette of a man standing not far from the destroyed stagecoach.
As Zach advanced his torch, the figure became clear. A young man with disheveled blond hair. His eyes withered and looked like he was trying hard to wipe the blood from his mouth.
Zach's heart raced, not knowing what to do. That person is Vilion!
Zach backed away as if afraid of Vilion in front of him. "How did he get here!?" Zach started to panic.
At that time, Vilion turned towards Zach, after watching Zach for a few seconds, Vilion showed a relieved yet sad face. He walked slowly while continuing to wipe the blood stains on almost all over his body.
"Zach, is it you? Help me, there seems to be something strange with my body, I didn't kill them, when I opened my eyes, they were already there and my whole body was almost filled with fishy blood" Vilion said as if filled with sadness and confusion.
Zach notices Vilion's behavior. Vilion always refused to look up, because of that, out of curiosity, Zach lifted his head and faced the sky.
There were six human heads hanging from tree roots on a large tree branch. The fourth is a man.
Zach lowered his gaze, looking at Vilion who was walking slowly. "What are you doing?" Zach reflexively asked, even though Vilion was still his best friend.
"No, I didn't do anything! The captain told me about you having a strange dream! And when I realized I was already here! Well I believe I was in the meeting room earlier!" Vilion squeezed his head hard as if he wanted to crush his head.
"No! Supposedly, Vilion is in town! Why!?"
"The captain told him my story? Is he here because of that?" Zach asked while backing away slowly.
"Arghh...He...Help me.." Vilion's eyes widened and turned bright red, his hair fell one by one, his skin shriveled until it finally peeled off. Black smoke billowed and circulated around it. The voice slowly turned hoarse.
The astral figure that had killed Zach twice now appeared before him again!