"I was wrong". Khaos said as he and Zara walked the streets of Galor. "This quest is not going to be boring, no it's going to be far worse than that".
"Don't you feel sorry for them?" Zara asked. "Did you not see how heartbroken she was?"
"No i did not". Khaos said, "My eyes were closed the entire time".
"Where you born like this or is it acquired taste?"
"Not...sure...". Khaos trailed off as he looked at a certain store with an anvil at the door.
"What is it?" Zara asked.
"I want to visit someone". Khaos entered the shop, Zara following close behind. The shop looked just as Khaos remembered it. Some of his own works were still displayed on the walls but most were new.
Well it has been only 6 months anyway', he thought as he arrived at the clerk's table, which was unattended.
Khaos was about to pass by the table and walk into the back room when he remembered that he did not work there any more. Six months might have passed, but for Khaos, it felt like only a single month since he spent most of his time unconsciously Cultivating.
After moving back to the front of the desk, he was about to knock on it when Zara suddenly shouted;
"Right!, you said you worked as a forger for a couple months. This must be the place!" she said, suddenly looking at everything with interest.
"Hey who...". Zara's scream had caught the attention of someone who was in the forging room, and when he saw Khaos and Zara, his eyes opened wide.
"Esteemed Black Academy Cultivators!" he said with a slight bow. "To what do i owe the pleasure?" he asked.
"Where is Gother?" Khaos asked.
"Gother is unavailable at the moment, but i am sure i can be of assistance".
"Where is he?" Khaos asked once more.
"He took a cultivation break since his lifespan was running out", the man answered.
Khaos nodded "Okay", then he walked towards the door.
"Are you not going to buy anything?" the man shouted, but Khaos and Zara were already walking across the street.
A few seconds later, they stood in front of another building. "Now what is this place?" Zara asked.
"Just a crappy inn", Khaos shrugged as he walked in. Sitting at the reception desk was Lex, who showed his surprise when Khaos walked in.
"Khaos, it's you!?" he said.
"Yes why are you so surprised?" Khaos asked.
Lex chuckled nervously; "Well honestly i never thought you would actually manage to enter the Academy".
"Well i did, where is your sister?" Khaos asked.
"Lyra is still on her cultivation break, but these days she is staying in the city, i could give you directions if you want". Lex said.
Khaos thought for a few seconds before shaking his head, "No it's fine, i will see her another time. Oh this is Zara", he pointed at Zara.
"About time". Zara said through her teeth. "It's nice to meet you Lex, so tell me, who is Lyra?" she asked.
"Lyra is Khaos...."
"Lex we are here to investigate the disappearances of those young Cultivators". Khaos almost jumped to say. Zara narrowed her eyes, but then just smiled.
"Yeah, i thought as much. Any suspects?" Lex asked.
"So far nothing, we have not really started anyway. Maybe you can lead us in the right direction, have you ever heard anything that might help?" Khaos asked.
Lex shook his head. "Nothing, everyone is talking about it but no one knows anything".
"Do you have anyone you know who got taken?" Zara asked.
"Yes, a friend of a friend. His name was or is, Kei".
"Do you know where Kei lives?" Khaos asked while looking at the list they got from Mayor Morn.
"In the outer district, just ask around for the wheat farm. His family are the only ones who farm wheat in this area of the city". Lex said.
"Thanks Lex". Khaos said as he began walking out.
"I will tell Lyra you stopped by!" Lex shouted. Khaos just smiled and gave Lex a thumbs up. Then the duo began walking towards the outer district.
Since there was a rule forbidding flight, they thought they would just walk, though no one could stop them if they flew. Even while walking it did not take long for them to arrive at the outer district, where the houses were mostly made of wood instead of stone.
After asking around, they found the house, and Khaos knocked on the door. A few seconds later, an old man with a bushy white beard, wearing overalls opened the door.
"What do you want?" he asked.
Academy cultivators were respected and even sometimes revered by citizens, like the clerk at Gother's forge. However there were some people who did not give a damn, like this old man.
"Hello, we are here to ask about Kei". Zara said.
"Ask away", the old man said.
"Are you not going to invite us in?" Zara asked.
The old man shook his head; "No".
"You..."
"When and at what time was Kei taken?" Khaos interrupted whatever Zara was about to say because he knew it was not going to be friendly.
"He was taken two months ago, around midday. One second he was working the field over there, the next second he was gone". The old man shrugged.
"So you did not hear any sounds or see any signs of a struggle on the ground?" Khaos asked, looking at the field behind them. Just a hundred meters away, one could see the city wall.
"Nope, if there was a struggle, it happened in the air, and they were absolutely silent". The man answered.
"And no, he was not acting strangely before the incident", he added before Khaos could even ask.
Khaos sighed. "OKay, thank you for your time".
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Somewhere in Galor city, two men met in an alleyway. Both of them wore black hoods which covered every part of their bodies.
"Two Cultivators from the black Academy just visited my inn, they are investigating the disappearances." One of the men removed his hood, revealing himself to be Lex.
"I know, i saw them when they entered the city", the second man said.
"Has anyone told the Avatress?" Lex asked.
"I doubt she does not know, where are they now?"