My plan was going along pretty smoothly, I don't think I should reveal the elf yet, otherwise he might get suspicious on how much information I know. I would look like a complete stalker, I just have to ask for info on the elf slowly. Nothing bad will happen... Right? It's not like things have gone wrong up to this point... Heh.
Alastor: So, need anything in return?
Cori: I will tell you later, it isn't much really, just some information.Alastor: I'm curious, what may that information be?
Cori: Classified until I help you, you need my help, right?
Alastor seemed to wince at me, seemingly in confusion and shock. His face then changed to confusion.
Alastor: Well… Uh… That's fine, as long as you do it your way.
Cori: What is with these looks anyways, you seemed composed earlier, what's wrong?
Alastor: How should I put this nicely… You're weird.
Cori: Hm? How?
Alastor: You just don't seem like the person to seek out justice against bandits, especially asking me out of all people to deal with them.
Cori: Don't say it isn't helping me also, I get to get those rats off my shoulders, and I get some useful information out of you. By the way, you're a knight right? You deal with crime. There wasn't anyone better to ask than a kind man who saved that child.
Alastor: You flatter me, I guess you can consider me a knight…
Cori: Are you not a knight?
Alastor: I'm technically considered a knight, just not one that works in the city…
Cori: Ohhhh, are you a mercenary? An adventurer?
Alastor: It has been a while since I heard the word adventurer.
Cori: What about it? You have a party or something? I think that's what adventure groups are called.
Alastor: I do have a partner that I won't disclose, but adventurers kinda don't exist anymore.
Cori: What? Why? Did it get too boring?
Alastor: You don't know? The world has changed drastically, ever since the void surge.
Cori: What the hell is that?
Alastor: I would rather not talk about it, now isn't the time.
Cori: Man, you're boring…
We continued walking toward the alleyway that held the documents. I tried to pry into who his partner was but it was no use, it's probably a girlfriend or wife. I decided to stop being annoying and move on, we both walked in silence for a while, the sun was still high up in the sky. I was doing amazing on time, this could not have gone better than it has. We continued walking, people shot weird glances at me in particular but none of them did anything out of order.
Alastor: Your steps seem to be getting slower, are you fatigued?
Cori: Absolutely! Not that it matters…
Alastor: I could get you something to eat, what would you like?
Free food! The sun was still up, we had plenty of time. It wouldn't hurt to get something.
Cori: Oh! I want some fruit, but I haven't tried any of them yet.
I had eaten meat and vegetables, but I haven't tried fruit. I remember him saying I was carnivorous? Can carnivores eat fruit?? I bet most food made me throw up but it doesn't hurt to try. At least the meat doesn't make me vomit… The moment I requested fruit, Alastor shot a weird glance at me.
Alastor: Really? Do you not want meat? It would fill you up better.
I really don't like the idea of meat products. Imagine eating the legs of other beings, I may not feel sympathy for them but the idea of eating their disgusting bodies simply makes my mind numb. If the creature looked like a cupcake or was beautiful, I could try, but I see meat as hunks of bloody animals. I almost wish I was born a vegetarian.
Cori: Uhhh, I don't really like meat. Unless I am really hungry.Alastor: You're such a picky eater… Plus, you're really hungry right now.
Cori: Just give me the damn fruit or give me nothing, I don't want meat, why do you even want to treat me to meat this badly?
Alastor: It is important to keep my assistant well fed so she can lead the search better, I care about you.
Is Alastor a nice - guy or something? He fits the cookie cutter definition of a desperate knight seeking a princess. Is he some type of perv? I don't want to think about it too much, but it's always good to know he can give me food when I want for some reason.
Cori: Fine… I'll take the meat.
Alastor buys some type of meat attached to a stick? He called it chicken… I don't really know much about specific things… It must be popular since there was a line at the stand where Alastor bought the chicken 2 seconds after we left. It was as if Alastor was controlling the pedestrians to buy chicken. There were many more options to choose from but Alastor said that I would like this one. I took a bite out of it, but it didn't taste that bad. I expected it to taste like a mix of rotten eggs with feathers, turns out, I got the wrong idea. I will still stick to not eating as much meat. I sit down at a bench in order to eat.
Cori: Damn! This chicken stuff is good!
I was pretending to like it, it tasted average to me at best. I just wanted Alastor to feel good about himself.
Alastor: You don't know what chicken is?
Cori: I've seen it somewhere, but I never knew what it was called.
Alastor: Strange how someone clever enough to stalk and not get caught by the black cats doesn't know what chicken is…
Cori: I'm just dumb I guess.
I felt much better after eating. It was as if I had a burst of energy, I felt like I grew at least 2 times more strong, but looking at my arms just then, I realized multiplying 0 by 2 still results in 0. We continued our walk to the bandit hideout, we eventually reached the town square where that vegetable shop owner was. I was short on time so I decided not to find his child. There wasn't any need to find her as long as Alastor didn't decide to bug me about her. We pass the shop, going down the road to where the alleyway is, we eventually reach the place. Alastor suddenly had a serious expression on his face, it was as if he knew that this was the alleyway where the bandits hid the documents.
Alastor: I guess this is the place… Come with me.
Cori: How do you know? Didn't you need my help just a while ago?
Alastor: I didn't really… Just come.
Cori: Why did you hear me out then?
Alastor suddenly grabs my arm. He leads me into the alleyway, I show no resistance toward his grab. He presses a loose brick in on the wall and it opens a door leading into a room. The room was like an abandoned shed on the inside, wooden planks lined the roof and walls, a small light flickered in the room but most importantly, there was a chest. It was likely filled with those documents.
Alastor: Tell me… What is your request?
Cori: It was for information on someone… I want you to take the documents before I answer.
Alastor: I've completed my objective, now what is our objective… Be truthful.
Alastor seemed much more cold than usual, the soul piercing stare was in action again.
Cori: I… Wanted to know about elves.
Alastor: Really? Now, let me ask you. Do you recognize these documents?
He pulls the lid on the chest, scrolls that were silvery glimmered within, it was as if the documents were just money.
Cori: Are those rolls of silver? I thought you were talking about documents?
Alastor: The information in this document is written in silver, it is extremely important.
Cori: Wouldn't that make it stand out? What are these even for?
Alastor: So, you don't recognize these documents? Then do you recognize me? Be truthful.
It was as if he could see into past loops, did the past loops really happen?
Cori: Technically, yes? I don't know about you other than us in the city.
Alastor: Hmmm… It is a shame, really. Maybe I could jog your memory?
Alastor suddenly reaches into his cloak, a glowing light emanated from his hand as he drew out a longsword, within the blade were runes which were crudely carved in, the blade seemed to be pulsating with a light that drained every inch of strength I had, I felt extreme shock and fear toward the light, as if it were a reflex. The blade was thin and long, connected to a black handle. Between the cross guard, there was a medallion which was engraved with a rune, the presence of the blade seemed to harm me.
Cori: Woah! What the… We don't need to resort to violence now!
Alastor: I will not be violent. Do you recognize this blade?
Cori: I - I don't…
Alastor: Tell me, why do you want to find the elf so bad? Is it because someone sent you? I want you to calmly explain everything to me.
Cori: There was this Witch! I need to find this elf otherwise I will loo-
Before I could finish my sentence, I felt a cold grip on my throat, before I knew it, blood gushed outwards, spilling onto my clothes. It was as if I was being decapitated, but halfway. There was no amount of healing that could save me at this point.
Alastor: What the hell? Are you alright?
I couldn' respond, Alastor's cold demeanor turned into a sour and concerned expression as I lay bleeding out on the floor. He can use healing magic, right? He can save me! My last moments were me laying on the floor as he was desperately fixing my neck… Maybe I will survive this time?
Everything fades to black