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Chapter 11 - Interrogations

"You!" Tedior barks, pointing randomly into the guarded yet curious crowd, "How on fantasy earth are you guys stumbling here? Did I forget that I set up an advertisement board somewhere, everwhere?"

A couple of them starts to point at the shell so he quickly adds, "The shell factor doesn't count." Before they sadly retracts their hands/paw.

The crowds begins to look at each other in bewilderment, obviously in on some kind of local common sense. After a momentary inner discussion, one of them, the human-like creature, a dark forest gnome, probably, finally speaks up.

"The system notifications. Whenever an inn is set up, the system will notify everyone within a 5 meters radius." The gnome reveals hesitantly, because this is common knowledge. Everyone knows this.

"What? What do you mean? How come I didnt get notified?" Tedior indignantly asks, inwardly cursing the blasted system for showing up again when he least suspected.

"How would I know? Thats how it works since the very beginning." It shrugs nonchelantly.

"What beginni-... you know what, I'm not even gonna ask about that." He exclaims, crossing his three pairs of thoracic legs with an air of haughtiness. "Second question. You can literary just set up camp and sleep anywhere. For free! Why here?"

The crowds are slowly gaining a look of dubious suspicion, second guessing their decision to lodge here under the tutelage of this peculiar caterpillar.

"Its obviously cause of the wraith, you dimwitt." A younger looking gnome rudely states, loosing its patience at the sudden pointless interrogations they are subjected under, instead of staying inside, under the semblance of safety in the wonkily shaped inn.

"Ah, of course, the wraith... The wraith. What about it?" He asks again, garnering a incredulous looks from most of the crowds. 'Maybe this is a test?' They thought, trepedition finally settling in. The murmurings begins anew.

"Safety in numbers. Lesser wraiths target those of smaller fortitude." A timid voice explains. It is the forest spirit, an odd looking creature according to Tedior's view. A humanoid figure with acorn as its head and a maple leaf dangling on it. He notices the rest of the forest spirits looks similar but with different type of leaves. He fights the urge to moisturize them with a silk cloth. They look so much like his collection back home.

"Which is basically all of us of the smaller-sized species. Easiest target is when one is alone. Hence why you find lodgings everywhere, constantly." It continues as it fiddles about, wringing its fingers in nervousness.

"Oh, that... kind of makes sense but not really. Thanks for explaining that to me." He says, resisting the urge to give it a pat.

"Next! You, kangaroo!" He exclaims sharply, pointing a leg at the unsuspecting woodland mouse. It flinches before pointing at itself with an incredulous confusion. Every eyes within vicinity turns towards between the mouse and the caterpillar.

"Yes you. Do you actually think you can fit into any of these rooms?" Tedior points out, nodding at the structure behind him. None of its many many squares are able to comfortably hold the mouse.

The woodland mouse puffs up proudly before nodding enthusiastically. It squeaks inconhensibly while gesturing wildly at one of the larger accommodation on the second floor. Even so, the mouse is still a few size larger than the room. It squeaks as it gestures wildly, weaving some sort of intricate story with its two paws.

The crowd looks on with confusion, none of them speak Squeakenish. The mouse seems to notice this as it sadly deflates, gradually stopping its excited gestures.

"You can stay in the hallway if you don't mind? It will fit you, albeit will be exceedingly cramped." The mouse perks right back up, eyes twinkling in unspoken appreciation. It nods happily in reply.

"Alright then." He exclaims, before suddenly facing the agitated crowd and states his long overdue much needed introductions.

"Now that the interrogations are done, welcome to my humble abode." He starts theatrically, "unfortunately, you will find that the lodgings here are equipped with none of the basic facilities. If that is not what you are looking for, kindly make your way out. Thank you."