Isha followed Castra's brisk pace towards the manor house of the mayor of Naiker's Hold. It was a three-story structure that stood as the centrepiece of Naiker's Hold. Isha had expected something grander, a sprawling compound with multiple wings, but this was more modest than she'd imagined.
A guard stationed at the iron gates halted their progress, his expression empty of emotion. "Do you have an appointment?"
"No."
Castra shook her head, a hint of impatience in her voice.
The guard sighed, as if this was a common occurrence, people wanting to get inside without an appointment. "Then I'm afraid I cannot allow you inside."
"I am a great mage," Castra said. Her tone was devoid of arrogance, yet carried an undeniable weight. "I'm sure the mayor will want to hear what I have to say."
The guard's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly regained his composure. Even Isha knew how rare [Great Mage] visiting Naiker's Field was. "State your name and business, then."
"I am Castra, and I have come with news the mayor must hear,"
The guard nodded and sent a runner to inform the mayor.
They did not have to wait long before the runner boy appeared, whispering into the guard's ear who nodded.
"The mayor will receive you."
The gates creaked open, revealing a small courtyard. The guard ushered them inside.They followed the runner boy, a skinny lad with nervous eyes, through corridors with simple and functional decorations. Finally, he halted before a door, and with a hesitant knock, he announced their arrival.
The door swung open to reveal a small, inviting room. Soft couches were arranged around a low tea table, and the walls were adorned with tapestries of colourful patterns. To Isha, they looked more like abstract doodles than anything recognisable.
Mayor Asther Fullborn, a man with skin as white as snow and kind eyes, greeted them with a warm smile and a deep bow. "It is an honour to host a Great Mage in my manor. Please, please, have a seat."
Castra, with her usual air of authority, sat down on one of the couches. Isha, feeling out of place, followed suit. The mayor took a seat opposite them.
He reached for a small silver bell resting on the tea table and gave it a gentle ring. A servant, dressed in a simple tunic, appeared almost immediately.
"Bring refreshments for our guests, and the best fruits we have," the mayor ordered. Then, turning to Castra, he added, "Is there anything else you desire? Say the word, and I will have it brought to you."
"The fruits will suffice," she said. "And please, we have little time. Our news demands immediate action."
A flicker of concern crossed the mayor's face. "Of course, of course," he said, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "The news from a Great Mage must be of the utmost importance. Please, tell me what news have you?"
"On our way here, we encountered a company of Bandits...:"She recounted their encounter, painting a vivid picture of the markings in their heads, and their desire for Cniad blood.
Mayor Asther Fullborn listened intently, his eyes widening as the gravity of the situation sank in.
"Demonsworn…" he breathed out, the word hanging heavy in the air. "This far South? Are you certain? Have you any proof?"
Castra nodded. "You can confirm it at the Adventurer's Guild."
The mayor actually trembled. "As long as we have proof, we must take this news to the Imperial City. Our town alone is not equipped to handle such threats."
Castra nodded in agreement. "My thoughts exactly. In fact, I wanted that to be my second request. I hear you have the only Mage capable of casting a message spell under your employment."
The mayor's gaze flickered with surprise. "Surely you can cast the message spell yourself. A Great Mage such as yourself wouldn't need my help in the matter."
"I am afraid I must disappoint you," she said, shaking her head. "I never had the opportunity to learn the spell."
Never had the opportunity to learn the spell. Did she say she couldn't master it?
Isha stifled her laughter, it wouldn't do to contradict her master. A Great mage had to maintain the air of power and Isha didn't want to be responsible for destroying it, upsetting her credibility.
A heavy sigh escaped the mayor's lips. "That is a pity indeed. I will have my Mage send the message to the Imperial City."
The servants returned, bearing a tray with chilled beverages and platters of fruits. Isha's appetite had vanished, her mind consumed by the gravity of the situation—so she barely noticed them.
"That would be prudent. We must act swiftly."A blinding flash of lightning illuminated the room for a moment, leaving behind a silvery after image. Thunderclap boomed a few seconds later, rattling the windows. A roar of rain followed soon after."It's this time of year already. I hate rain," Isha muttered under her breath. Another four months of constant rain, Isha shuddered.
The mayor nodded in agreement, his brow furrowed. "Dreadful time, isn't it? So many villages are buried under landslides. I do try to persuade people to build their villages farther from the foot of the hills, but they never listen."
He fell silent for a moment, his eyes fixed on the dark sky outside. Then, as if a new thought had occurred to him, he stroked his beard. "Seeing as you are already here, may I ask a favour of you?"
"As long as it is something I can do," Castra said.
"There is a job in the Adventurer's Guild that no one has cleared yet. Most adventurers here are rookies and don't know how to handle hordes of monsters. It is a shame to see them die."
The mayor paused, his eyes filled with sorrow. "If you were to take that job, it would relieve so much pressure from our town patrol. And we could focus on rooting out the Demonsworn you mentioned—there could be more than the fifty bandits you killed. I will double the reward if you will take the job."
Castra frowned. "What is this job?"
"When the Titan passed through Naiker's Field, it left behind many of its spawn. They have destroyed many villages, we must destroy them all. That job is worth ten gold coins, twenty if we will take it."Castra's lips curved into a smile.
"That is a perfect job for me. I will take it."
Perfect job? Isha frowned. Eradicating an entire species from a region was a monumental task. It would take months. Why was Castra agreeing to this job?
What about my training?
The meeting with the mayor stretched out over two hours, a mix of formalities and genuine concern, and of course, a good meal. Eventually, they left to find an inn to stay for the day. The mayor did offer them his guest room, but Castra declined politely.
"Why did you agree to that job? Twenty gold coins is not nearly enough to eradicate an entire species from a region."
Isha asked as they walked out of the gate.
Castra was holding her wand aloft, keeping the rain from touching them. "Because I wanted to do it with or without money."
"I don't understand. You can't be doing this out of kindness."
Castra laughed. "A commoner mage cannot afford to be selfless. I took the job to train my students to deal with real danger."
That made more sense to Isha, considering Castra's attitude. "Wait students?"
"You didn't think you were my only apprentice, did you?"
She had.
***
As they navigated the bustling streets of Naiker's Hold, the rain subsided into a drizzle. Yet Castra seemed to be carrying her own storm about.
"What is it?" Isha asked? "Something is bothering you."
"I don't know. Something about the mayor does not feel right."
"What does not feel right? He seemed like a good fellow to me."
Castra shook her head. "It's just a feeling. How did he know there were fifty bandits? I don't believe I told him that."
"You did not. That is odd," Isha said, stopping in her tracks.
"I need to investigate it," Castra said.