The three recruits stared at Nect, completely bewildered by her words. The armored figures exchanged uncertain glances, their expressions a mixture of awe and anxiety.
"Y'know what, that's fine, it's all fine. Just quickly tell me your names so I don't have to refer to you by your physical attributes." Nect demanded quickly as the air left her lungs like a popped balloon.
The recruits hesitated, clearly caught off guard by Nect's abrupt request. The young woman, the Mage of Light was the first to speak up, her voice trembling slightly.
"I-I'm Kymme," she stuttered, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "Kymme Salvarani."
Nect nodded in acknowledgment, committing the name to memory.
"And you?" she prompted, turning her attention to the burly man with the red beard.
He straightened, puffing out his chest with a hint of pride.
"I'm Roran Kniola," he declared, his voice gruff but determined.
Again, Nect nodded in acknowledgment, noting the confidence in Roran's demeanor. It was clear he was eager to prove himself, despite his inexperience.
"And finally, you," she said, turning her gaze to the wiry young man with the nervous twitch.
He swallowed nervously, his eyes darting around the bustling marketplace as if searching for an escape route.
"I-I'm Thane," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Thane Xavier Kirkegaard!"
"Okay bud, I didn't need all that information. In fact, all I needed was a first or last name from each of you, but go beyond, I guess."
Nect took a deep breath holding it before, with a resigned sigh, she gestured for them to follow as she led the way through the crowded streets of Wildhallow.
The marketplace buzzed with activity, merchants hawking their wares from brightly colored stalls while customers bustled about, their voices mingling with the clatter of hooves on cobblestone. Nect navigated the crowded thoroughfare with practiced ease, her eyes scanning the faces of the passersby as she searched for the adventurers' guild.
As they neared their destination, the clamor of the marketplace gradually faded into the background, replaced by the subdued hum of conversation emanating from within the guild hall. The building itself was a sturdy stone structure, its weathered facade adorned with a faded wooden sign bearing the guild's emblem—a shield emblazoned with crossed swords.
Nect pushed open the heavy wooden door, the creak of its hinges echoing through the dimly lit interior. The recruits followed close behind, their footsteps muffled by the worn rug beneath their feet. Inside, the guild hall bustled with activity, adventurers of all shapes and sizes gathered around tables, sharing tales of their exploits over tankards of ale.
Nect scanned the room, her sharp eyes taking in every detail as she made her way towards the reception desk. Behind the desk sat a middle-aged woman with a no-nonsense expression, her fingers flying across the keys of a battered typewriter as she took down requests and assignments from the adventurers lined up before her.
"Excuse me," Nect called out, her voice cutting through the din of conversation. The woman glanced up, her gaze landing on Nect and the recruits with a curious expression.
"How can I help you?" she asked, her tone brusque but not unkind.
"We're here on a mission," Nect replied, her voice steady. "Sent by the main guild of Pearlmire. We were told there was something in Wildhallow that needed dealing with, but we weren't given any details."
The woman frowned, her brow furrowing in thought as she considered Nect's words. After a moment, she nodded, her expression grim.
"I see," she said, her voice grave. "Wildhallow has been plagued by a series of disappearances in recent weeks. People have been vanishing in mass, leaving behind a trashed house but nothing other than that."
"Do you have any leads?" she asked, her voice taut with anticipation.
The woman shook her head, a weary sigh escaping her lips.
"None," she admitted, her expression troubled. "The disappearances seem to be random, with no discernible pattern or motive. We've partnered with the Information Guild and sent several teams to investigate, but none have returned with notable intel."
Nect frowned, her mind racing as she considered their next course of action. Whatever was lurking in Wildhallow, it was clear that they were dealing with something far more sinister than they had initially anticipated.
"We'll take the case," she declared, her voice firm. "But we'll need more information. Any reports from the teams that went investigating, eyewitness accounts, anything that might help us piece together what's happening."
The woman nodded, her expression grim.
"I'll gather what I can find," She said.
'Seems like I have my work cut out for me, this will definitely take a couple of days at the least.' Nect thought to herself.
"I appreciate it, also, backup won't be required for this mission. I'll get it finished." Nect remarked as she turned to exit the building.
"Adventurer, I still need your names and identification to register this case to you."
Nect glanced back at the receptionist, her expression neutral as she considered the request. She knew that registering the case under their names would make it official, binding them to the task until its completion. With a resigned sigh, she turned back to the woman behind the desk.
"Fine," she replied. "You can register the case under the name Nect Arine."
The receptionist arched her brow in skepticism at the mention of Nect's name, her glance turning upwards to face Nect and the three recruits.
"Nect Arine? As in THE Nect Arine?" She inquired, slightly suspicious.
Nect resisted the urge to roll her eyes at the receptionist's incredulous tone. Instead, she gave a terse nod.
"Here's my identification, the chumps behind me are recruits." She sighed.
Emulea's eyes widened as she inspected Nect's identification, her disbelief evident in her expression. She glanced from the document to Nect and back again, as if trying to reconcile the renowned adventurer standing before her with the woman whose name graced the paper.
"I see," she murmured, her tone subdued. "Very well, I'll register the case under your name."
Nect nodded in acknowledgment, her expression impassive as she waited for Emulea to finish the necessary paperwork. Behind her, the recruits shifted nervously, clearly uncomfortable with the attention their leader was receiving.
"Alright, you're all set," Emulea said, her voice brisk as she handed Nect back her identification. "I'll gather the information you requested and have it sent to your room at any inn you register at within Wildhallow."
"Thank you," Nect replied, her tone curt as she turned to leave. The recruits followed close behind, their footsteps echoing through the guild hall as they made their way back outside.
Once they were safely away from the prying eyes of the other adventurers, Nect turned to address the recruits, her expression serious.
"Alright, here's the plan," she said, her voice low but commanding. "Thane, I want you to find us a decent inn. Somewhere clean and quiet, preferably with a private room."
Thane nodded eagerly, relieved to have a clear task assigned to him.
"Got it, boss," he replied, his voice still tinged with nervousness. "I'll find us the best inn in town."
Nect turned her attention to Kymme and Roran, her gaze sharp and focused.
"Kymme, Roran, I want you two to gather as much information as you can from the townsfolk," She instructed, her voice firm. "Find out everything you can about the disappearances, any eyewitness accounts, rumors, anything that might help us figure out what we're dealing with."
The recruits nodded in unison, their expressions determined.
"Understood," Kymme replied, her voice steady despite the apprehension in her eyes.
"We won't let you down, boss Arine," Roran added, his tone resolute.
Nect gave all of them a nod of approval before her body began to flicker in and out of sight, her figure blurring as her cape generated lift from the tense air. She glanced back at the recruits.
"I'll be gone for a bit," she said, her voice firm. "It won't take long, and don't fuck something up while I'm gone."
The three of them blinked and Nect was gone, the only trace of her left being the settling dirt particles in her wake.
"Wow," Thane breathed, his eyes wide with amazement. "I've never seen anyone move like that before."
Kymme and Roran exchanged stunned glances, their faces bearing expressions of awe and shock.
"She's incredible," Kymme murmured, completely in awe.
Roran nodded in agreement, his gaze fixed on the spot where Nect had vanished from sight.
"Boss Arine knows what she's doing," he said, his tone filled with conviction. "We just need to trust her and do our part."
Thane nodded, his expression determined.
"You're right," he replied, his voice steady. "Let's get to work and make sure we don't let her down."
* * *
Kymme wandered through the bustling streets of Wildhallow, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plan of action. She approached a group of villagers gathered around a makeshift market stall, their voices hushed as they exchanged nervous glances.
"Excuse me," Kymme said, her voice tentative as she addressed the nearest villager. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. Is something troubling you?"
The villager turned to face Kymme, his expression drawn and weary.
"It's the disappearances," he replied, his voice low with concern. "They've been happening more and more frequently lately. People vanishing without a trace."
Kymme's heart sank at the villager's words, a sense of unease settling in the pit of her stomach.
"Do you know anyone who has disappeared?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
The villager nodded, his eyes haunted by the memory.
"My neighbor, Mrs. Camus," he said, his voice trembling with emotion.
"She was a kind soul, always willing to lend a hand to those in need. And now she's gone, just like that."
Kymme felt a surge of sympathy for the villager, her heart heavy with sorrow at the thought of the pain and suffering caused by the disappearances.
"Thank you for sharing," she said, her voice soft with compassion. "If you hear anything else, please don't hesitate to let us know."
The villager nodded, his expression grateful as he turned to rejoin the group gathered around the market stall. Kymme watched him go, her mind swirling with thoughts and emotions.
As she made her way through the crowded streets of Wildhallow, her thoughts turned to Nect and the rest of their team. She knew they were counting on her to gather information, to piece together the puzzle of the disappearances and find a way to stop them.
With a renewed sense of determination, Kymme pushed forward, her footsteps echoing through the bustling marketplace as she continued her search for answers.