After indulging in the soothing embrace of the spa's warm waters, everyone returned to the Inn. Unbeknownst to them, the astute caster who had unveiled Moonlight's true identity as the pixie queen made his way to the communication center of Beer Town.
The center, a modest building with a reception desk, hosted only a woman at that hour. Alone with the caster, she awaited his request. "I need to make a call to Petalton," he asserted.
"That'll be 1000 Warbles," she replied, her tone matter-of-fact.
(Warble is the currency of this world)
Without hesitation, the caster produced a handful of Warble bills, exchanging them for access. "Chamber number 8," she instructed, and he complied, disappearing behind the door labeled with the number.
Within the confined space of chamber 8, the caster found himself enclosed by walls a mere 6 feet wide on two sides. The ceiling soared to a height of 15 feet. At the center of the room sat a four-foot-high table supporting a glass sphere.
Approaching the sphere, he rested his hands upon it. In response, the sphere illuminated in a vibrant blue before transitioning to a calming green. After a brief pause, a voice emanated from the other side. "Hello. Who's this?"
"I know the pixie queen has fled from Petalton," the caster revealed.
Silence ensued on the other end, broken by a deeper voice. "Does anyone else know?"
"As far as I know, she has eluded detection. However, it's only a matter of time before others discover her presence, considering she travels with her two pixie bodyguards," the caster replied.
"Tell me where she is," demanded the man on the other side.
The caster chuckled, a sinister tone underlining his words. "Just like that?"
"What do you want?" the man queried.
"500,000 Warbles," the caster declared.
A pause followed before the man acquiesced, "Alright. Now tell me where she is."
"Beer Town," the caster disclosed. "But be swift; she departs for another destination tomorrow. Accompanied by formidable allies, she won't be an easy catch. If you crave more details, bring the funds to Beer Town. I'll personally guide you on how to apprehend her."
"Fine. I'll arrive in Beer Town by tomorrow evening. But remember, failure will cost you dearly," the man warned, his voice dripping with menace, before abruptly severing the connection.
As the call concluded, the sphere shifted to a foreboding red glow. The caster withdrew his hands, a malevolent grin etched across his face as he exited the chamber.
The following morning, as promised, Kestrel arrived at the Inn with her unique mode of transportation—an imposing golem cart. Aptly named, the cart was literally pulled by a single golem resembling a rock-fashioned rhinoceros.
Prepared for the journey ahead, Kestrel had packed provisions for everyone on board. Once the group was settled in the cart, the golem, following Kestrel's guidance, embarked on the path to the ruins of Shap. The golem, much like a GPS-enabled self-driven car, navigated the way with an unyielding sense of direction.
Seated in the cart, the travelers enjoyed the rhythmic motion of the journey. Taking advantage of the shared space, Kestrel struck up a conversation. "So, did you get the chance to explore the city? I know it's not much, but still."
Moonlight, wearing a contented smile, responded, "We visited the spa last night. It was quite enjoyable."
"Except the men's section," Orochi chimed in.
"I get it. They always create a ruckus," Kestrel agreed. After a brief pause, she inquired, "By the way, why are you heading to Ixar?"
"We are in search of a carpenter or architect who can mend a house," Moonlight explained.
"It must be quite a remarkable house, then," Kestrel remarked. "I know some skilled artisans in Ixar. I can take you to them if you tell me what kind of repairs you need."
Moonlight glanced at Finn before responding, "You see..."
However, Creambell interjected, pointing at Finn, "The house is made from the same material as this golem. We tried fixing it with other materials, but the house simply rejected them."
Understanding the unique predicament, Kestrel responded with a thoughtful expression, "I see. Where is this special house?"
"Serpent Forest," Orochi stated casually.
Kestrel's eyes widened instantly. "What!"
Recognizing the slip, Creambell giggled, adding with a hint of hesitation, "She meant to say, at the outskirts of the Serpent Forest."
"Oh," Kestrel replied, visibly relieved.
Following a moment of contemplation, Kestrel broached a topic that had long been the stuff of legends. "I've heard stories about the Serpent Forest, where the mighty Orochi, the eight-headed giant serpent, holds sway. The serpent is one of the 12 supreme beasts, and it's often said that these creatures can only be rivaled by the 12 Royal Families, the head of the 12 royal families to be precise."
Orochi couldn't help but giggle, a mischievous smirk playing on her face, catching Kestrel's interest. "You mean the King of Central Island is anywhere closer to the might of the ruler of the Serpent Forest?"
Creambell felt a surge of panic, fearing Orochi might disclose her true identity, attracting unnecessary attention from across Central Island.
"I don't know, but that's what people say," replied Kestrel, seemingly oblivious to the potential revelation.
"Haven't you heard the stories about how many kings fell on the quest to slay Orochi?" Orochi inquired.
"I have. But it's also true that for the last 100 years, no king has perished, and monster attacks on villages at the outskirts of the Serpent Forest have drastically reduced," Kestrel countered. "Maybe they have defeated Orochi or at least weakened her."
Orochi burst into laughter, though anger simmered beneath the surface. "The Royal Family defeated Orochi! What a joke."
The others were terrified, hesitant to interrupt Orochi, fearing the consequences of her unchecked anger.
Seizing the opportunity, Kestrel adopted a serious tone. "Seems like you are an admirer of supreme beasts."
Orochi ceased her laughter. "Yes, I am. Because it's the truth. No monarch had the guts to enter the Serpent Forest and face Orochi."
"I don't know what happens in the palace of Central City, and I definitely don't know what happened in the Serpent Forest, but I will give you a piece of advice," Kestrel warned. "Don't openly support any supreme beasts, especially in Central Island, because you might get executed just for taking their sides."
Orochi, calmed by Kestrel's serious demeanor, looked at her with curiosity. Absent from the outer world for a century and significantly weakened from her past self, she inquired, "What about Colocolo?"
"Do you mean the Shapeshifter rodent, the Bringer of Suffering?" Kestrel questioned.
"Yes," confirmed Orochi.
"If I'm not mistaken, he was considered the weakest among all the 12 supreme beasts. I believe he was hunted down a few decades ago by the Royal Family," Kestrel explained.
"I see," Orochi acknowledged, absorbing the information.
In a timely interruption, Moonlight interjected with a smile, "Should we have some food? I guess everyone is hungry."
"Yeah, I'm hungry for sure," chimed in Butterbell.
The intense conversation was successfully derailed. "Sure, let me fetch the bag with food," offered Kestrel.
As the cart continued its journey, they indulged in a meal. After savoring the provisions, conversations resumed, but this time, Orochi refrained from initiating any topics.
Curiosity led Butterbell to ask, "So, how do you know that Crow guy?"
"We were childhood friends. Both of us dreamt of amassing wealth when we were children. I pursued a career as a businesswoman, while he chose a different path," Kestrel explained.
Concern flickered in Creambell's eyes as he inquired, "Are we safe? I mean, it's well known that you cannot trust a robber."
"Don't worry, he and his group won't even touch you," reassured Kestrel with a reassuring smile.
Just as the conversation settled, the golem unexpectedly came to a halt, causing the cart to stop abruptly. Startled expressions flashed across everyone's faces, except Orochi's, who maintained her usual composure.
"What happened?" Butterbell questioned, turning his gaze to Kestrel.
Kestrel gulped, her eyes betraying a rare glimpse of fear as she assessed the motionless golem ahead. For the first time, the group witnessed vulnerability in Kestrel's demeanor. "I don't know. Destroying a Rhino Cart Golem can be done... but stopping it requires a very high-level artifact... or a high-level skill," she admitted, a hint of hesitation in her voice.