The sun was directly overhead of them. It’s 9 in the morning but the heat is wearing them off specially Alastor. Alastor was the one who’s in the front holding the rein. It was decided earlier that they take each turn every 5 hours. All of them were reluctant on Linda’s proposition but now that Alastor had experienced the intolerable heat, he regretted volunteering to be the first one to be the sacrificial pawn.

His face is dread and tired as dead. Only the unpaved road is indifferent to the green scenery. The trees are green, the grass is green, the leaves are green. Every turn it is still green. This repeating scenery had made him felt doozy and sleepy.

The road is now still and straight, hence he risks to glanced back and open the curtain, his face laydown to them, beckoning if one of them are still awake amidst the heat. The inside was oddly comfortably shady. The two of them seems to be asleep. Their body laid uncomfortably on each side of the long seat.

The light that entered inside disrupted temporarily Ken. His eyes slightly open then shut off, covering it with his arm.

“Wake up, give me some water.” Alastor said. His sighting became blurred for a second. He shakes his head ambiguously. “I’m dying here. Please, be quick.”

He felt his sweat trickled down to his cheeks.

Ken grunted before sitting up. There were two crates, the other one was their food and water that is contain within a bottle, the other is for their equipment. It was unclear what kind of equipment it was as he woke up late.

Ken yawned. He opens the crate and picked the bottle, handing it over to Alastor.

His thirstiness was finally quench and felt freshen over the cold water. Seeing that they were able to get some rest, it would be wise to decide who’s going to take turn next to him.

“There’s one hour left, who’s going to take my place between you two?”

Linda lazily waves her hand. It’s been decided.

“Very well.”

His heart sank and calm from the overwhelming heat, however, his eyes caught something far ahead, a figure almost its movement were fast as a silhouette. It must be the effect of the heat. He thought. His odd feelings were taken away by a gust of wind. It was a tedious thought and quickly gone before he’d overthink over it.

He absentmindedly yawns and looked up. His preoccupied thoughts ceased as he looked down and quickly took a huge right turn away from being fell to the cliff. The insides of the carriage were not spared. Linda and Ken fell off from the seat and sprawled awkwardly on the ground.

Having successfully escaped the near-death situation, for now at least, Alastor sat down and catch his breath. Unbeknown, there were eyes behind him, gleaming in madness. The next thing he felt was the pinches coming from behind.

“Are you an idiot?! What were you doing?!” Ken asked, his face flushing in red.

“Alastor.” Another creeping voice came from behind. Her hand pulled him inside and take over his place. “It seems that you’re tired. I’ll take over from now on. You get some rest.” It was simple as that. Linda didn’t bother to look at them and closed the curtain.

Alastor has no idea what just happened. He looks at the mess and started to clean and arranged everything in order. Ken rested back to his seat and slept for most of the time before taking the turn.

Given that their headquarters are in the far side of the region, it would take two to three weeks before they’d reach the rendezvous point. There’s nothing to worry about them, they knew that they’d have to wait and remained for weeks if they wanted to stay alive. It was given, the mercenaries are not some superhumans who can travel instantaneously at their heed.

Ken smiled over the gleeful sight of the field. Not so far, a village up ahead greeted them with the open arch gate. It was protected by guards, probably hired because of the lacked of uniform. Through the open window, Alastor could see the streets of the village. The road stretches from here and there, the town had a calm coolly air amidst the bright sunset. Thanks to Liber’s speed they were able to reach this village that would usually take 3 days to arrive.

Down the road, they saw travellers, merchants, some adventurers coming from a quest, they are battered and tired looking fellas. It wasn’t much different that they have seen before but they’re quite fascinated that this time this town got quite lively, unlike the last time they came here before.

They came passed the old shacks of houses and turn right leading to an inn. Weary travellers, and adventurers cramped inside. The inn was big enough for 200 people to settle in for few days. It’s no wonder why this place is always cramped by adventurers.

Linda went down and ordered the two to wait for her. A bearded, thick browed middle-aged man came to greet her from sitting outside as if he’s expecting another traveler would find its way to their inn.

“Greetings Miss, welcome to our inn. How may I help you?” came delicate voice of delight from the man.

“We would like to make a reservation for our Comodo and one room.”

The man looks at the Comodo that has a carriage. A brow raised in suspicion.

“How many of you will sleep here tonight?”

“There will be three of us.”

His suspicion cease and his smile stretched.

“That would be 300 haz.”

“300?”

“Yes. I believe that would a reasonable price since you have a cargo inside that carriage.”

Linda didn’t say any further.

“Just turn left over that road and another left to get on our stable.” He went inside and slipped through the crowd. He came back with two keys. Handed it over Linda, he adds a word of advice. “Just to make sure your precious garments won’t lost; I suggest that you should hid it on your room.”

“Why?” Linda’s brows furrowed.

“There are some people don’t know how to keep their hands on their own and might not even bring consideration even yours.”

Linda did not prompt and nodded.

Ken and brought the supplies in the room while Linda sat near the window, her eyes scanning ahead as the sun finally rest and the moon from the horizon finally taking over.

“So, what now?” Alastor asked.

“We rest for the night, replenished our strength and proceed to our destination.” She replied and did not look back.

“How about the money?” He asked. She almost forgot that Alastor is the kind of man who’s near to a perfectionist. “How much did Rod give to us as allowance for the mission?”

“2000 haz.” She remarked.

“2000 haz?” There’s a disappointment in his voice. “What did he expect us to do in this mission? Sightseeing?” Alastor sighed heavily. “Money is the main asset of our journey and if we don’t have enough of it, we will be limited.”

“What supposed do you want us to do?” Ken asked.

“Accept some missions.” He replied. “That’s the most reasonable thing to do now.”

“Do you agree, Linda?” Ken asked.

“Yes. I see no problem about that. But we will accept only those don’t go on rank A and above.”

“Agreed. It’s settled then.”

When they woke up early in the morning they went to a guild. Alastor’s eye scanned like a finger thoroughly the papers with job descriptions stapled on the quest board. Apparently, there were few of rank A and C request, most were compiled of rank B quests.

Alastor is in the verge of giving up when Linda pointed a poster that she considers suitable for them.

Beasts in the Berningham forest on the loose!

The quest came from a lord of a land. His main business is production of wheat and rice, distributed it with fair price of course. Recently, his land was being harassed by some unknown beasts. He hired mercenaries but few of them return alive. The lord had thought that it’s a single beast that is responsible of all the mess, but the descriptions from the survivors has differences. Some said that it is the work of Beninghol, in addition, Liger, others were Oniram.

Linda came to the counter and put the poster on the table in front of the staff to see they’re interested on it and asked a queried, “Where will we find the lord of the land?”

“You’re interested in it?” The staff asked. “Most of the adventurers avoided it for days because of its peculiar case. I hope you would do the same.”

“Just answer the damn question.”

“All right. Go to the east gate and follow the path ahead. You would be able to reach a small town and meet some farmers. On that point, they will lead you to the mansion.”

“How long will it take to reach that town?”

“If you have a carriage… 30 minutes. If you do walking, then I guess it would be 2 hours.”

Linda nodded and they went outside. A blanket of silence has cast on the town and they smell a sense of irony. Last night was a hell of a merriment, but now the town is quiet as like a ghost town.

They went to the inn and decided what right action should be taken. Linda explained the details she learned from the guild.

“Do we have to bring the Comodo with us?” Ken asked and looked at Alastor. “Liber would be a big help to us.”

Alastor shakes his head dismissively, “Liber’s role is transporting. Any risk of injuries would prove to be fatal on our journey and might delay our schedule.”

“He’s right, but where we should leave him be while we’re out there hunting monsters?” Linda asked.

“That’s not a problem. We can talk to some farmers there to take care of it. We’ll pay as compensation of their service.” Alastor replied.

Linda reluctantly nodded, “If you say so.”

The strolling has been far from quick than they expected. Through their journey has been a lot of errors and miscalculations, the road was infested by monsters and the strife is inevitable. It took them 2 hours to get back on the town.

They felt eyes studying them. It has no mix of malicious, only curiosity as if they have already expected the outcome of their journey base on their laden dread and lifeless faces.

Alastor being himself was cold and unbothered by their silent tirade. He asked a pasture to take care of Liber with 100 haz as payment and another 150 haz when they will come back.

They were told that the road towards the lord of the land was up ahead the hill. While the road did not show any kind of obstruction, it was tiring. There are no trees that block the heat of the stingy sun.

Taking a turn, they up ahead the slope hill like road the mansion that oversees the rice field behind the luxurious house. On the other side, is another field of trees that harbors different kind of fruits.

And they stopped in front of the large arched gate. Vines spewed and twisted over the gate. It was not old and rusty nor the house is out of the condition, the vines that creeping is the one who is out of control. It spreads all over the place.

When they’ve come closer, the vines spikes grow. Linda was unsuspected of it but when they’ve come closer, the spikes spewed out from the vines.

Linda quickly made a shield of ice. The spikes bounce back and fell.

Alastor withdrew his sword and Ken equipped his bronze knuckles.

The spikes spurt out more and managed to break Linda’s wall of ice. They quickly dispersed away each other to cover more ground. They deflected the spikes with ease. Ken slipped through the barrage of attacks and conjure a fire ball. He threw it to the vines and quickly it spread completely destroying it.

“Good job.” Alastor complimented.

Ken smirked

The gate suddenly open as if it has life on its own.

A tall stature with such gentlemanly aura greeted them.