Silas led the way out of the giant cocoon, shielding his eyes from the sudden burst of light. As soon as they emerged, one of the search party members rushed over.
"Mr. Sam, thank the Three Gods you're safe," he said.
Sam nodded, wiping the tears from his eyes.
"Where are the others?" Silas asked, scanning the area. Only one member of the search party was visible.
"I don't know," the man replied. "I stumbled upon this hole and thought I should inform the others. Then you and Mr. Sam appeared.
Silas opened his mouth to respond, but Sam interjected.
"They left their lair as soon as they finished their meal," Sam said.
The man blinked, turning to Silas. "What about the others?"
Sam's face contorted with grief. "I'm sorry. The only thing I can say about them is that... they suffered."
The man gasped, making a quick gesture with his hands to ward off bad luck. "Mr. Sam, I can't believe you had to witness such horror."
Silas turned away, frustration boiling inside him. Sam's deceitful performance with this gullible man made his head throb.
'But I already decided not to look for the others. I am no better than him.'
Soon, more search party members arrived. Sam and the civilian, who introduced himself as Migo, recounted their harrowing tale: how Sam listened to the dying as he waited his turn and how Silas had found him.
"We must leave," one of the soldiers said. "We don't want to encounter those spiders again, do we?"
Everyone agreed and began to follow the soldier.
"Wait," Silas said. "Could we just look first inside? There might be other people who fell victim to the hands of this monster?"
The three remaining soldiers exchanged grim looks. "I'm afraid we don't have time for that."
"I hope you understand, kid. Sometimes we have to save ourselves," one soldier replied.
Silas forced a smile and nodded, feeling a pang of embarrassment. "I understand," he said quietly.
They walked back to the caravan in silence. Once there, the same story was repeated, and Silas received numerous thanks for rescuing Sam.
Those who learned that their loved ones hadn't survived reacted with silent nods before breaking into tears.
Amid the sorrow, Silas noticed Sam watching him. There was something unsettling in his gaze, but Silas dismissed it as the holographic box appeared, indicating he had completed the quest. Now that he finished the [Side Quest], the main quest reappeared, instructing him to deliver the [Red Valera].
[Quest II: Hidden Memories in Silence]
[Find Roland and deliver the vial of Red Valera]
[Rewards: 50 Destiny Exp, 1,000 Shield & Bread x 5]
They spent the rest of the day traveling in silence. By afternoon, two hours after their lunch, the wooden palisade surrounding Gram came into view. The town was much larger than Silas had imagined. He had expected something similar to Misfa and Amura Village, but Gram had its own wall. Wagons and carriages lined up, waiting patiently for the Peacekeeper's clearance.
Once granted passage, Silas found himself on a busy street. It was wide enough for two medium-sized wagons to pass side by side. Buildings of granite stones and hardwood lined the street, a blend of strength and craftsmanship.
Silas said his farewells to the rest of the party. Sam clasped his hand firmly.
"Thank you. I won't forget what you've done for me." His gaze lingered, and Silas couldn't shake the feeling that Sam's gratitude carried a double meaning.
Is he thanking him for saving his life or for being his accomplice? Either way, those two thoughts made him sick.
Sam's wife hugged Silas tightly. "The caravan will wait for you," she whispered. Silas smiled faintly; it had been so long since he had felt the warmth of an embrace. Even from a stranger, it made him nostalgic.
When the caravan was out of sight, Silas rubbed his hand on the hem of his shirt. He felt disgusted of Sam.
He headed for the market to inquire about Roland. Determined to deliver the [Red Valera] before the day ended. He decided to approach an old man for no apparent reason.
The old man looked up at him and man responded gruffly, "Roland? There must be ten people named Roland here. You'll need more than just a name."
Feeling embarrassed, Silas moved on. He opened the quest panel, muttering to himself, "Ruma said Roland was looking for a [Red Valera]. 'Perhaps asking about the person who is looking for a [Red Valera] might help my search.'
He looked around and approached an elderly lady selling Holy Water. "Excuse me, ma'am," he began.
The woman looked at him expectantly. Silas realized she had mistaken him for a customer. Not buying anything from her might change her mind about answering his question.
Silas eyed the Holy Water put on sale. 'I'll just buy few of this. Afterall this potions are beneficial early in the game as it replenishes both [Health] and [Energy].
"How much for one of these?"
"The small ones are 3 Shields each, the medium ones are 5 Shields," she replied, her eyes lighting up.
"I'll take ten medium potions," he said.
The lady happily put the ten medium-sized Holy Water Potion vials inside a cloth. Despite its name, medium-sized ones were still small; it was as long as his index finger, while the small one was half the size of a normal human finger.
As she packed the potions, he asked, "Do you know anyone named Roland?"
"Which Roland? There are four I know of in this market."
"I'm looking for someone who asked about a [Red Valera]," Silas clarified.
Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "A [Red Valera]? That would be Roland from Mento Hotel. He asked me about one last week. I told him it would be too hard to find any."
Silas thanked her, leaving 50 Shields on the table.
He left the marketplace and asked for the location of the Mento Hotel. The Peacekeepers roaming around the street were kind enough to answer his questions. He felt relieved knowing he wouldn't have to spend money on them. He was directed towards the plaza, where he saw a marble fountain fashioned after the image of a leaping trout.
The hotel was two stories high, with two brightly lit lampposts that stood before its staircase. Silas entered the place.
Inside, he was greeted by the smell of food and the hum of conversation. At the reception, a man with glasses smiled at him. "Good evening! Welcome to Mento Hotel!"
"I'm looking for Roland," Silas said.
The man's smile vanished, replaced by a serious expression. "You're speaking to him."
"I have the [Red Valera]. Ruma asked me to deliver it."
Roland's eyes lit up. "Let's talk after my shift. For now, please enjoy some food. It's on me."
"Let's talk after my shift. For now, treat yourself to some food."
He gestured towards the empty tables. "Don't worry it's on me, I'll have someone cook for you."
Roland left for the kitchen. Silas sighed and sat at an empty table. Ten minutes later, a tray of warm bread, cheese, and bacon arrived. His stomach rumbled; it had been days since he had a proper meal. He made a sandwich, savoring the flavors, and washed it down with milk and honey.
As he finished, Roland joined him.
"Aren't we going to talk after your shift?"
"That's for formality. I wanted you to eat before we talked. I own this hotel, so my shift never really ends," he said with a tired smile.
Silas handed him a small pouch. "Ruma said you were looking for this."
Roland took the pouch eagerly. "Thank you. You've done well."
Silas leaned back, feeling a mix of relief and anticipation. The quest panel reappeared, indicating the next step in his journey.
[Quest Completed!]
[You received: 50 Destiny Exp, 1,000 Shield & Bread x5]
Roland looked at the Red Valera and sighed, "I thought it would never arrive … but I think you're already a little too late."