Next Day
Caleb took a quick bath, put on his clothes with his long trench coat and left his room. However, things were different from how it was yesterday.
The people he met down at the lobby all had cautious expressions, and even the receptionists could not look at him anymore.
And when his eyes met someone, they would flinch as if he abruptly scared them by the suddenness of his arrival.
Caleb remained quiet and didn't make a fuss about how the people around him were behaving.
'They've probably heard or seen what I did to Brute and his gang.'
He deduced without any effort. The change in attitude no longer came from his lack of presence, but from what he did.
His enhanced senses picked up some of the chats the people were having after thinking he was out of earshot.
'Sorcery, huh? It's to be expected. Something like that cannot be explained with simple magic spells.'
He put the change in treatment behind him and walked towards the guild that was already flooding with adventurers, all eager to tackle the low-level dungeon a few kilometres from the town.
"Hey, look. It's him."
As soon as Caleb entered, everyone turned to him and the entire guild turned quiet. Everyone looked at him with different eyes.
Some had looks of fear, others of caution and some with disgust if Caleb was right in his assumptions. But he didn't pay mind and went towards the counter.
Wherever he passed, the adventurers would make way for him.
"Hello."
He greeted the fine lady at the counter, but looking at her trembling figure, Caleb knew this was going to be a problem and sure enough something happened.
Caleb turned his head to the side where one of the stairs led up and saw a bulky man with a bald head wearing what appeared to be official clothes.
Appraisal identified the man as Sawn, the guild master, and Caleb turned to face him with both hands in his coat.
He was only here for his adventurers' ID and maybe go on a dungeon hunt. But from the looks of things, he had a feeling that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.
"Caleb, come with me."
Sawn said with no trace of fear in his voice. In fact, he may be the only one who hadn't reacted like Caleb was carrying a contagious disease.
"Mm."
With a nod, he followed behind the guild master upstairs to his office.
"Haa…. That was intense. Do you think that is why he lacks presence?"
The others began talking amongst themselves once Caleb and the guild master disappeared.
"Probably. I do hope he doesn't cause a scene."
Another said with a sigh. The pressure they felt moments earlier disappeared like melted snow once Caleb was gone, and it wasn't a product of Caleb intentionally doing something, but their nerves being too tensed.
...…..
Caleb entered the office behind the guild master he saw another man sitting in one of the sofas with a table in the centre.
'The town lord.'
The office was a small space, but still big enough to serve the purpose for which it was created. Behind the desk was a window facing the main guild hall.
'Probably a one-way thing that allows the guild master to look at the main hall and see what happens there.'
The town lord looked at Caleb with a somewhat trembling gaze, trying very hard to remain calm in his presence and failing miserably.
"Please have a seat."
The guild master offered with a gesture and Caleb took his seat, intentionally setting at the spot that was the farthest away from the town lord.
Sawn saw this small gesture and nodded in appreciation.
He knew Caleb since he started as an adventurer and had been keeping a close eye on him. But things suddenly took a sharp turn, bringing them here today and even he wasn't sure how to take it.
"I'll cut to the chase. I'm sure you already know the town lord and the reason you're here."
Sawn began and Caleb nodded for him to continue.
"Good."
He took a relaxing sitting posture before focusing on Caleb once more.
"So you agree you're responsible for what you did to those men?"
"Exactly."
Caleb replied without a hint of remorse. There was no need to deny his actions; it was pointless and unlike him.
'I don't plan on hiding what I am capable of.'
"Mm. I won't ask you how got your hands on such power, but your actions have caused great panic among the people and as things stand, everyone is afraid to get close to you.
"They no longer feel safe with you here in town."
Sawn explained, keeping an eye on Caleb's reaction, but found no trace of surprise.
'He already expected this. Well, it makes things easier.'
Caleb knew something like this could happen but he wasn't worried as he had no plans of staying in a small place like this.
This place could be considered his birthplace but he knew no one and had no attachment here either, so he got the hint.
"You don't have to worry," Caleb spoke, turning to look at the town lord who flinched back from his gaze. "I have no plans of remaining here either. I only came here for my adventurer's tag."
He ended and turned to Sawn who observed his expression.
"I understand. But is there a chance of reversing what you did to those men?"
If there was a chance to restore those people back to the way they were, it would be a welcomed act, but it wouldn't change the people's fear.
"No" Caleb refused. "Do you even know what they did or what they have been doing?"
Caleb narrowed his eyes at the guild master and sat up, his eyes glowing a bright blue that took the guild master aback a bit.
The town lord was too scared to talk but had to be here, so he didn't even look at him.
But to think that all they cared about was getting rid of him without even asking why he did what he did was vexing.
They were making him appear like some inhuman monster who went around turning people into old and decrepit beings for no reason at all.
"For a moment, I thought you were different, but you're just as scared as everyone else." He sneered and then stood up, gesturing with an open palm for what he came here for.
Sawn gulped down his rising fears, retrieved the ID from his chest pocket and handed it to Caleb.
Caleb snatched the ID from his hand and looked at it, and after making sure everyone was in order, he looked back at the two men and then.
*WHOOSH!*
"Ah!"
The two men gasped in shock as they fell over their seats, shocked at the prowess Caleb just revealed.
"That man is dangerous Sawn; it was right we made him leave." The town lord finally spoke after regaining his composure.
"No…
"I'm afraid if he chose to stay, there would have been nothing we could have done." The guild master was shaken to his core. Even he had never moved that fast before.
He couldn't even see Caleb move, 'Where in the world did he get that strength?!'