Dorian took his time navigating the streets and scouring the area to pinpoint Patricia's home, eventually arriving at her doorstep.
"Patricia!" His voice echoed through the quiet air but met with silence.
He proceeded to inspect the house, realizing she hadn't returned yet.
Surprisingly, a sense of relief washed over him. At least she wasn't there to witness his struggle to find the right words to break the news about her son.
As he surveyed the disarray within the house, it became evident that a search party had already been there and departed. Knowing Patricia's meticulous nature, he understood that she would never leave her home in such a chaotic state. If she were present, she would have immediately begun tidying up.
"Is Patricia still in the hunter society, or has she gone to work? No, she can't possibly be in the right state of mind for work. I bet she hasn't even left Jandar's chamber yet."
With a quiet murmur, he resolved on a course of action. He stepped out of the house and started walking toward the Hunter society.
As he crossed the northern part of town and reached the grassy plains to the west, a faint female howl-like sound caught his attention echoing in the distance, barely audible yet distinct.
Halting his steps, he turned towards the direction of the sound, his senses heightened.
All he could see was the tall grass swaying vigorously in the wind.
The breeze picked up momentum, transforming into a mournful wail akin to a woman's cry as it swept through the grasses and trees.
"Whooosshh…whooosshh…", it echoed through the air like a haunting ghost, leaving him in doubt.
"Could it be a mistake? Is it just the wind, or perhaps a person?" he wondered, debating whether to venture deeper into the grassy expanse to investigate.
Just as he began to turn and walk toward the source of the sound, a voice called out to him from behind.
"Well, well, look who we have here," a voice called out, followed by another mocking,
"If it Isn't the infamous trash of the Grays?"
Dorian halted, recognizing the voices closing in behind him. His initial focus to investigate the possible scream faded as frustration took hold.
With a resigned smile, he turned to face the persons, greeting them with forced civility.
"Ah, Thomas and David. Good to see you. What brings you to this part of the town?"
Thomas's retort was swift, dripping with contempt.
"What does it matter to you, trash? It is we who should question you. These are all our family lands and we can visit anytime we want."
Dorian remained unfazed by the insults and disrespect from Thomas and David. Despite their demeaning tone, there was no surprise or anger on his face.
In the hierarchy of Red Hawk Town, Dorian's father held the title of lord, while Thomas and David's father, Belmont Buckman, reigned as the wealthiest citizen.
The town's primary revenue source stemmed from taxation, with Belmont contributing a substantial 30 percent of the total taxes collected.
Although lacking any direct political power, Belmont's financial influence wielded significant sway over crucial town decisions.
The vast expanse of land along the western stretch of the town belonged to the esteemed Buckman family, wielding an influence that touched nearly every inhabitant's life.
The town's livelihood stemmed from the fertile soil tended by its residents, primarily focused on cultivating vegetables and crops.
These bounties weren't just for local consumption but found their way to the markets of nearby villages, and towns, and also to Summerlake Barony and Hilston Castle once a year.
Belmont Buckman himself undertook an annual journey to Hilston Castle after every harvest. There, he bartered the town's produce for essentials vital to Red Hawk's prosperity and also maintained his own connections.
As one of the founding families, tracing their lineage back to the early days of the Gray family's settlement in Red Hawk Town, any member of the Buckman lineage commanded a higher dominance in the surrounding area.
The figures confronting Dorian were not just any pair. They were the sole twins and heirs of the prestigious Buckman legacy, Thomas Buckman and David Buckman.
Since the town's inception, an unspoken rivalry simmered between the Grays and Buckmen, each vying for supremacy over the Red Hawk Town.
Despite the Buckmens' wealth surpassing the Grays', it was the latter who claimed the town's leadership, leveraging their connections rooted in John's ancestral ties.
This historical defeat left the Buckmens resentful, sparking a perpetual cold war between the two families for generations.
Thomas and David, close in age to the elder brother Dorian, harbored a long-standing rivalry with him from childhood.
Despite their efforts, they consistently fell short in swordsmanship compared to eldest son Dorian and paled in intellect next to the only daughter Clarice, who was renowned as the town's brightest mind.
Left with no outlet for their frustration, they directed their animosity toward Dorian, the youngest of the Grays and also the outcast of the family, a convenient target for their anger.
"Guys, it was just a simple question. You know what... You can carry on with your work; I don't want to disturb you. I'll be on my way then..."
With that, he swiftly attempted to pass by them towards the hunters' society.
"Where do you think you're going, you piece of trash?" Thomas halted Dorian's movement.
"What do you want from me?" Dorian asked, his tone cautious yet slightly defiant.
"You worthless trash! How dare you talk back to me! Since your brother was selected to attend the knight recruitment at Hilston Castle, you've grown a new pair, haven't you?" Thomas sneered, turning to David.
"Brother, it appears this trash has forgotten the taste of our fists. Should we remind him?"
"Haha, indeed, brother. One of us is more than enough to handle this trash. Why waste both our efforts?" Thomas chuckled.
"Yes, that's true," David agreed with a wicked grin.
Only now it dawned on Dorian why Thomas and David were purposefully targeting him. They both had attempted to target the spot in the Knights' recruitment, but the rules stipulated that only one participant could be sent from each town.
While becoming a common soldier held no such restrictions, aspiring to knighthood was a different story. There were limited slots available for each jurisdiction, and rural areas like Red Hawk Town were granted just one slot.
During the selection of evaluation, Damian swiftly defeated both Thomas and David within a minute, showcasing his prowess and securing the coveted spot for Red Hawk Town.
Unable to bully Damian, these two troublemakers sought out Dorian to vent their frustration.
Dorian had no patience for their antics. On any other day, he would have endured their abuse in silence and recovered in solitude. However, this time was different. He had a mission. He needed to evade these bullies and reach the hunter society without delay.
Without hesitation, Dorian sprinted towards the tall grass, thinking of using it as cover to outmaneuver his pursuers.
"Stop right there, you bastard!" Thomas bellowed as both he and David gave chase.
The memory of their humiliation during Damian's selection still burned fresh in their minds, and they were determined to take out their anger at his brother.
As Dorian neared the dense cover of tall grass, thoughts of his brother consumed him.
"Even from miles away, you manage to complicate my life spectacularly," he muttered bitterly.
With that last thought echoing in his mind, he threw himself into the embrace of the thick, swaying vegetation of the tall grasses.
But he didn't know that this pivotal moment of decision would mark the turning point of his destiny, setting in motion events that would reshape his life in ways he could never have imagined.
Whether it was for good or bad, that was a revelation he would have to await and discover for himself patiently.