"Are you absolutely certain?" Jandar inquired.
"Yes, Jandar, I'm sure," came the resolute reply from Dorian.
When Lander didn't come home in the morning, Patricia quickly found Dorian and delivered the news.
Remembering his promise to her the day before, Dorian initially considered turning to his father for help.
However, recalling the events of the previous day, he worried that his father's current anger might lead to actions contrary to his wishes.
Without hesitation, he made his way to the Hunter Society building, determined to find Jandar without any further delay.
Jandar felt a mix of emotions. In the past five years, the boy had never once sought any help, a fact that surprised Jandar, considering he knew the boy's circumstances in his family very well. In fact, everyone in town was aware of the boy's situation at home.
Yet, he had always refrained from seeking support. Now, he was not only asking for help but for a maid, no less.
This made Jandar question Dorian's choice once again. However, seeing the firmness in the boy's decision, Jandar decided not to judge. As long as he could repay his debts, it would ease the mental burden on Jandar's shoulders.
"Your call. Once this is done, I'll have settled my debts," Jandar responded.
"Well, I never saw it as a debt. But if that's how you see it, then so be it. Now, back to the matter at hand. Can you locate her son?"
Dorian asked, gesturing towards Patricia, who stood in the corner of the room with tearful eyes filled with worry.
Before arriving, Dorian had cautioned her to remain silent unless absolutely necessary, assuring her that he would handle everything.
Despite her urge to cry out and plead to take swift action to find her son, she heeded Dorian's warning and remained quietly composed.
Jandar glanced briefly at Patricia's face before focusing on Dorian. He wasn't one to get involved in others' affairs, so he didn't pay much heed to Patricia's feelings.
"Alright. You mentioned his name is Lander, correct? Do you have anything of his, like a worn piece of clothing or something with his scent?" Jandar inquired.
Dorian immediately turned to Patricia and instructed,
"Patricia, bring that here."
With a swift motion, Patricia retrieved a handkerchief and handed it to Dorian.
"Here. This is Lander's personal handkerchief. He always carries one due to his dust allergy and tendency to catch colds. Thankfully, I didn't wash this."
Dorian took the handkerchief from Patricia's hands and passed it to Jandar. Patricia held back her words, intrigued by what was unfolding before her.
"I figured you might ask, so I already had Patricia bring one," Dorian explained.
Having spent a significant amount of time training in the Hunter Society and learning swordsmanship from Jandar, Dorian had taken note of common procedures. So he knew what would come next.
Jandar swiftly brought his fingers to his lips and let out a piercing whistle.
Dorian, anticipating this action, remained unfazed, but Patricia's curiosity heightened as she wondered why he had suddenly whistled so loudly.
Before she could fully process her thoughts, a loud noise echoed towards the door.
A wolf-like dog, resembling a German Shepherd but way larger in size, with a coat of rich, dark brown fur, bounded into the room.
The dog sat obediently beside Jandar, its tail wagging enthusiastically.
Patricia's eyes widened in astonishment. Having spent most of her life within the confines of the town lord's manor and her own home, she rarely ventured beyond the house compund.
Thus, it was a moment of sheer surprise for her to encounter such a majestic creature for the first time.
"Is... Is that a wolf?" she asked, a hint of fear reflecting in her eyes.
"It's not. It's just a dog," Dorian reassured her.
"He's not 'just' a dog. He has a name. He's faced more danger in the past few months and returned alive than you've likely encountered in your entire life. Treat him with respect,"
Jandar spoke with authority, his voice carrying a deep tone.
"Oh, yes, of course... I didn't mean any disrespect,"
Dorian quickly replied, eager to avoid any potential misunderstanding.
"It has a name? A dog with a name?"
Patricia whispered to Dorian, her surprise evident in her voice.
No one could be certain if the wolf-like dog heard her words and comprehended them, but it turned its gaze towards Patricia and emitted a low growl.
"Grrrrr!!!"
"Eeeehhh...!!!"
Patricia exclaimed, immediately retreating behind Dorian for safety.
"Easy, boy," Jandar commanded the dog, calming it down as he began to pet its neck and belly.
Without turning to address Patricia directly, he continued,
"Renga is more intelligent than most ordinary beasts. He understands many of the words we speak. He's been trained for that. So, it's wise to choose the words carefully in his presence. Furthermore, he's the one who will help us find the person you're searching for."
Jandar wasted no time presenting Lander's handkerchief towards Renga's nose without waiting for a response.
The majestic dog took a brief moment to sniff the fabric, then dashed outside in a blur of motion, following the scent trail.
As Jandar prepared to pursue Renga, he turned to address both Dorian and Patricia.
"You can both head back. I'll reach out to you once I've gathered any information," he stated calmly.
Before Patricia could voice her objection, Dorian intervened swiftly,
"If it's alright, I'll accompany you."
Jandar locked eyes with Dorian for a brief moment before responding.
"I don't care. If you can keep up, feel free to join," Jandar replied, his tone carrying a sense of urgency as he swiftly left the room to follow Renga's trail.
Dorian turned to Patricia with a reassuring look, urging,
"Patricia, return home and wait. I promise I'll locate Lander."
Without waiting for her response, he hurried after Jandar.
Left alone in the Hunter Society's office, Patricia stood with a whirlwind of emotions in her eyes, a mix of worry, hope, and anticipation swirling within her.