After a long, soothing bath, Silas retreated to his room, allowing the afternoon to slip away as he drifted into a deep sleep.
The bed, though not the most luxurious he had known, provided much-needed rest after several sleepless nights. Late in the afternoon, he was stirred awake by the sound of a trumpet, its bright, brassy notes slicing through the air. For a moment, he entertained the thought that everything that had happened so far had been just a dream.
Sitting up, he looked around his room. The wooden walls felt both familiar and foreign. Through the window, he watched the setting sun turn the flat lands outside into a shimmering expanse of gold. He breathed loudly and put his face in his hand. Of course, everything was real.
After a while, he descended to investigate the source of the music. He found in the dining room, standing in the corner near the table where coffee and a pot were kept. The device had a wooden body with a small window revealing the moving cogs inside, playing a melancholic yet soothing tune.
"Did it wake you?" Ben asked, approaching Silas.
Shaking his head, Silas replied, "I was already waking up, but this caught my curiosity."
"It belonged to my son," Ben explained wistfully, "one of the few gifts he brought back from Indel. He claimed it was a place of wonders, where almost every building had its own Melodywave."
Ben gently touched the Melodywave with affection. "He doubted it would pick up a signal in these parts, but luckily, one of the stations manages to reach here."
"It's beautiful," Silas remarked, nodding appreciatively.
Changing the subject, Ben said, "I've prepared some food for you. Are you hungry?"
Silas nodded gratefully and took a seat at the table.
Initially thinking he was the only guest at Ben's House, Silas was surprised as the evening approached and more people began to fill the dining room. They were mostly farmers and factory workers, returning after their day's labor.
Silas sat quietly in a corner, savoring the bread, sausage, and creamy soup Ben had prepared for the evening. The hot tea Ben served was said to aid digestion.
Once he finished his meal, Silas slipped outside unnoticed.
The empty streets welcomed Silas as he made his way to his destination. Turning a corner, he entered an alley between two residential buildings. Emerging on the other side, he found himself on a similarly deserted street, where a solitary lamppost stood unchallenged by the encroaching darkness.
Following the road, he soon caught sight of bright lights emanating from the marketplace. Silas merged into the bustling crowd, allowing himself to be swept towards the plaza. As he sat on a wooden bench, he couldn't help but overhear a nearby conversation.
"They say they were husband and wife. The man ventured into the forest and was cursed to become a spider, destined to kill his wife, just like spiders do to their mates."
Silas tuned out the rest of the conversation when he spotted Captain Danavar walking alone down the street, carrying something in his hand. Silently, he trailed the captain until Danavar noticed him.
"Where did you disappear to?" Danavar asked with a hint of concern.
Silas shrugged, tension easing from his shoulders. "I needed to lay low. I was afraid you might come after me."
Danavar raised an eyebrow. "Only I know what happened in that alley. Thanks to you, I'm alive. I owe you a debt."
"Not everyone would see it that way," Silas replied. "I have reasons to be cautious."
"Then why reveal yourself if you're afraid?" Danavar's question caught Silas off guard. His response would shape their future interaction and involvement in the upcoming quest. Silas wished for a multiple-choice box to appear before him.
"I knew the couple who died," Silas began, stammering. "They were part of a caravan I traveled with. The wife was kind to me... I want to find out who did this to them."
Danavar stopped in his tracks, turning to face Silas. "Before I answer, tell me this: what happened to you and your group on the way here? You might not know, but your caravan was the last one to arrive. The roads have been silent for two days now, which is unheard of. Normally, we see two or three caravans daily in this town."
"You're suggesting... the attacker might be targeting the caravans?" Silas pondered aloud.
"Yes, and I fear the worst," Danavar replied, scanning their surroundings. "What if every caravan destined for here has been turned into that abomination, we faced last night? Then It wouldn't be long before this town is surrounded by those monsters."
Silas absorbed the captain's words, a knot of concern tightening in his stomach as the implications sank in.
"But gods, I hope that's not the case," Danavar said, making a gesture to ward off misfortune. "I need you to join me in an expedition we're planning. We have to hunt down that monster hiding in the forest. It's the only way to secure the safety of this village."
"Just the two of us?" Silas replied incredulously. "Even with my abilities as a wizard, that seems impossible."
"No, it won't just be us two," Danavar clarified. "I'm assembling a party. I have capable guards who wield Holy Powers, myself included. I've trained them as best as I could. You'll provide support from the shadows."
Silas suppressed the urge to laugh nervously. Every instinct warned him to flee from this proposition. Danavar's plan seemed fraught with risk and a high probability of failure, potentially drawing more attention from the Lightservants who were likely already searching for him.
As memories of the Lightservants resurfaced, Silas wondered where those enigmatic beings might be at that very moment.
"Can I have some time to think about it?" Silas asked cautiously.
"No time to waste. We're moving tomorrow afternoon," Danavar insisted. "Decide quickly. I'll be waiting for you in the plaza."
Ping! A new quest notification appeared in Silas's [Questbook].
"But—" Silas started to protest, but Danavar didn't wait for him to finish. With a sigh, Silas turned and began walking in the opposite direction, opening his [Questbook].
[Quest V: The Forest of Truth and Desolation]
[Description: Meet Captain Danavar in the afternoon and join the expedition in the forest.]
[Join Davanar's Party 0/1]
Looking at the reward awaiting him at the end of this [Quest], Silas couldn't shake the feeling that this was a preparation for a [Boss Fight], possibly at the climax of the [Main Scenario Quest]. He sighed, yearning to see the stats of the [Old Staff].
He returned to Ben's House. Has he approached the entrance, Silas started hearing the lively singing of farmers and factory workers from outside. He tried to enter quietly, intending to head straight to his room, but the nostalgic and infectious atmosphere drew him in. He discretely took a seat at an empty table. The occupants nearby acknowledged him with a nod, and soon Silas found himself immersed in the singing, occasionally joining in once he picked up on the song's rhythm.
As the night wore on, the singing faded, replaced by the tunes from Ben's Melodywave. Silas drank a glass of water and quietly ascended the stairs to his room. It would be his first full night of rest in what felt like ages, and to his surprise, he fell into a deep, undisturbed sleep.
---
When morning arrived, Silas changed into the new clothes Ben had laid out for him: a light-brown shirt, coat, and black trousers, discarding his old worn garments except for his cloak. He knew he would need it once he started traveling the roads of this country.
After settling his bill with Ben and bidding farewell, Silas smiled when asked if he would return. In this world, players typically only revisited areas to gather material.
But he hoped he could stay. The sense of belongingness that he had felt last night was so overwhelming that he thought for a moment that it wouldn't be so bad to stay in this town, that perhaps the world would soon forget about him. But he knew to himself that it was only a foolish dream.
Heading towards the plaza, Silas easily spotted Danavar sitting on a bench, people around him bowing in recognition. The captain gestured for Silas to follow him, leading him behind a building.
"I've brought you a change of clothes," Danavar said, tossing a bag to Silas. "It was a challenge to find the right size, but I think I managed a compromise."
Silas raised an eyebrow. "Why the change of clothes?"
"You'll be joining the Peacekeepers," Danavar replied. "You need to look the part. The party is already waiting for us on the outskirts of the forest. Go on, get changed."