[Human Veracity Teller]

Oh boy.

And wow, I can actually identify his class.

Joss and Pearce stared at each other in silence for a moment, but joss broke first, “Fine.” He flipped up his hands, giving up. Pearse turned around and began talking. “Joss is going to ask you a series of questions. Answer honestly and there will be no problems. The quicker the better, since I have things to do.”

“Ya, drinking and sleeping.” Joss said sarcastically. Pearse remained unaffected at the remark and continued to the chair across from me.

Pearse looked to be in his late fifties with his hair whitening, but still clinging on to the remnants of color. With light leather armor and a couple of straps left undone, hanging off. A plain linen shirt peaked out underneath the leather, looking to be his sleepwear.

I looked up to Joss, and he shrugs, sitting down beside Pearce and placing my bag and a comprehensive book on the table. The book reads ‘#772 - Stool.’ Seemed like this guy had a history.

Once Joss sat down, he started the questioning. “Ok, we don’t believe you lied when you talked to Captain Ilbertus on the mountain, but we need to figure out the harder details, if possible. First question, can you talk about your experience with the [Controller], Stool?”

“Ah, y… yes. I was asleep, and before I awoke, he already chained me to the wall. He as.. asked me what I was doing on his mountain and continued to ask other questions. I don’t think he was… satisfied by my answers, and eventually started freaking out and left the room.”

Pearse cut me off. “The man was half crazy, holding on to the last of his sanity.”

I tried to remain unfazed by Pearse and continued. “Yes, he came back and tried to feed me something, saying he could lead me to the town after I ate it. Smiling as he tried to feed me. And that’s when he collapsed.”

“The man thought that Alysia could help him, I can’t tell why.” Pearse said, connecting all the loose dots of my story, taking out everything but the important details.

“Ok Alysia, do you know why Stool would think that?” Joss leads in that direction.

I sweated a little, trying to come up with a solution. What should I say? I can’t talk about the cloak or I’ll reveal myself, or at least make me more suspicious. And I still can’t tell how far Pearses’ ability can go.

“Um, w.. well, he tried to feed me a black and purple soup. It could be something with his [Controller] class. He could force me to go with him in order to… to… to create a disguise, one that could help him enter the town. He was also interested in one of my items. I carried an old book with me. He could sell it for some money.”

Oh, my mana. I have no clue how I put that together.

Pearse rested his hand on his chin, taking a second before continuing. “The soup had something to do with taking over the mind, not completely, but it worked with his ability. And he wanted something she carried.”

Yark, he almost figured it out. He didn’t even say anything about the books when I tried to lead him in that direction.

Joss reached down and picked up my bag, placing the contents on the table. The 14 coins, the last of my rations, the two books written by my father, and the picture of him. Now laid on the table. He ignored everything except the books, turning them toward himself.

“An Overview of the World and Living off the land. Both by someone named Hollow.” He touched the covers and opened to the first page. “Hmmmm, these things are definitely old. I know a couple of people who would pay a lot for these things.”

“Is that it?” Pearce said, already getting up.

“Huh… coinciding they know his face… probably couldn’t sell them himself…” Joss mumbled. “I think I have all the information I need?” He said, trying to think of anything else.

“Ok whatever, try not to call me at night again.” Pearse said, as he immediately got up and left like the wind, not even allowing Joss to reply as his footsteps echoed down the hall.

“Haaa.” Joss signed. “Sorry about his behavior, but he’s the only one with a class related to truth finding. It’s not the best, but gets the job done most of the time.” Joss said with a bit of sympathy.

It was a life savior on my side. He was in such a rush and I’m not sure I could’ve kept it under wraps otherwise.

“I will not ask why a [Villager] has two ancient books, but consider selling them. You could get killed considering their value, like Stool almost did.” Joss opened the comprehensive book he brought with him. The yellowing pages had frayed edges. I could not read the contents from my position, but considering the title, it's probably all about Stool.

Joss talked again after shuffling through some pages. “We have some records of Stool before he turned into what he was, always going around trying to steal alchemical ingredients for whatever he was working on. He ran away when things turned south 2 months ago. My guess is that he wanted the money to buy some ingredients and he couldn’t do so after everyone knew his face, and that’s where you would come in.” After the statement, he wrote another entry into the book. Recording the conversation we just had, finishing it a moment later as he snaps the book close.

“Whew.” A sigh of relief escaped, and a strained smile formed on Joss’ face. “Good thing he died before things got out of control. Many would’ve died, especially since a [Controller] showed up. That includes you, so don’t go wandering out into the forest from now on.” He stared me down.

“And I talked to the captain before I came here. He wasn’t too far behind us with his Lumeria Horse. You can stay at one of the nearby inns for free tonight. We can’t help with your memories, but you have enough money for a month. Try to figure things out before then.” He said, placing my things back into my bag and pushing it over the table. He placed one hand on the table and the other on the chair's back and lifted himself up, placing the book under his right arm.

We shared a look. “Thank you Joss.”

“Yes indeed, someone will be with you in a moment to guide you out. He just needs to take your name and inform you of the inn. Have a good day Alysia.”

With that, he left without even opening the door because of Pearse's abrupt exit.

“Ahhhhh.” I unconsciously let out a breath of air, not even realizing I was holding it. That was a success, right? I wouldn’t know what to do if they figured anything out, but thank you, Pearse, and your crankiness.

My mind turned off after the last happy thought. I’m safe from people, safe from monsters, safe from interrogation. Finally safe.

I heard the last of Joss’s footsteps and the day’s weight pressed on my shoulders. The scrambled thoughts during the interrogation were one thing, but the whole day was something else entirely. I leaned back into the wooden chair as it complained, letting my eyes droop.

Fighting for your life and killing someone to save it. All too much to take in.

Joss strutted down the hall, reaching for a wooden door and stopping in front of it, knocking. “May I enter Sir.” A muffled ‘yes’ sound came from inside the room.

The door opened with a groan as the air rushed in. Ilbertus, the chevalier commander, sitting behind a wooden desk and writing on a parchment. Without his armor, a scared face and exposed ligaments tell a story all of their own, but the most striking feature is his missing eye. No eyepatch, just foggy and grayed. Ilbertus sat tall, exuding with confidence and pride. Not pride given by birth, but that earned through hard work.

Joss remained firm, waiting.

“How was the questioning of our [Villager]?” Ilbertus asked.

“Sparing you the unnecessary details, she was carrying two old books. Ones that Stool wanted to sell for alchemical ingredients.” Joss said.

Ilbertus raised an eye. “Old books?”

“Yes Sir, I can’t tell how old, but they should be worth a lot. And considering every merchant knew Stool’s face…” He didn’t even need to finish the statement.

“Ya and the ingredients are quite expensive too… What were the books about?”

“Not sure sir, but the titles were An Overview of the World and Living off the land. Both by someone named Hollow.”

Ilbertus leaned back as his single working eye narrowed and the other one remained unresponsive. “Where is she from and did you find out anything about her?”

Joss frowned as a blank look formed. “Umm Sir, remember that she lost most of her memories.” Joss said.

“So you didn’t confirm?” Ilbertus asked, not as a brother in arms, but with the air of a superior. Joss tensed up as his mouth opened and closed in rapid succession.

“Ahh… ye… yes, but I came to some conclusions on my ride back. She was quite confused… well… about everything, sir. She even asked for an explanation about the chevaliers and guards, so she's missing a lot at minimum. Even the most remote villages know about these things. And this is also a border town, so even more so.”

Ilbertus placed his elbows on the table and held his hands together as he pondered. The room remained silent except for the light whistle of air as both of them breathed. Joss shuffled back and forth, repositioning himself, nervous.

“As punishment, you will clean the stables for the next fortnight for not questioning her to the standards we expect.” Ilbertus commands.

Joss opened his mouth, getting out a incoherent stutter, wanting to complain about Pearce. It hung open before he closed it, followed by a sigh and slumped shoulders.

Ilbertus continued. “Now get out of here.”

“Sorry sir, yes sir.” Joss scampered out of the room, afraid that staying longer could enact more punishments. When the door slammed, Ilbertus slouched back into his chair, closing his eyes to muse the day. Especially the [Villiger].

The ground rumbled as a dozen destriers galloped across the mountain path. Their hooves strut off the ground, leaving a small depression and flinging up dust. The squad of chevaliers rush to fulfill their mission, one that a moment’s delay could cause the death of many. The many that relied on their protection to keep them safe.

Each chevalier, bound by oath, to do the righteous thing. Some wavered, but here, at the farthest position from the kingdom's heart, their integrity remained strong, without politics and greed to sway them. And right now, that was to eliminate their newest threat, a possible [Controller]. Abilities like no other, taking over the mind. Not to be underestimated, as everything was within their reach, a nightmare for any Kingdom.

It’s been 20 years since the last one showed up, and when that happened, many suffered. Nobody knew when it all started, but they had a bad habit of taking control from the inside out, infecting cities and communities. Unless mana blessed you, the only way to find one was through the corrupted and mindless minions of a [Controller].

Their only saving grace was how infrequent they were, few in numbers, but nearly impossible to find and eliminate. Today's target identity was unknown, but they didn’t seem to know their own power. And there was one goal: eliminate it before it could grow into something unmanageable.

The once prosperous road they galloped across was a signal of humanity’s failed expansion many years past, but now, only used for weekly scattering inspections. Riding a Lumeria Horse, Ilbertus gazed ahead, watching as an individual exited the mountain cave they came to search.

Her expression, that of calm and relief, laid open for all to see. He let his ability flow, and the words filled his mind, followed by something so long forgotten, a twitch from his lost eye. One lost by a [Controller] many years ago.

His eyes flash for a split second, so he rained it back. Today he had a job to do, not something to be distracted from.

Getting close, he yelled out the information to the nearby chevaliers, preparing them for whatever may lie ahead. Now, within a few strides of the Villager girl on his horse, he and 4 others jumped off their mounts. With weapons prepared for battle as they land on the ground, staring at the individual before them.

The girl, wearing a dirt cover cloak and two sets of clothes. Her hair was sticking in all the wrong directions. Better safe than sorry. Ilbertus thought.

Her gaze flickered between the chevaliers before her, eventually landing on Ilbertus. With eyes wider than the king's dinner plate, she shook, clearly afraid and trying to become as small as possible. Ilbertus stood before her, waiting for the first move to be made. The girl was unlikely to be a threat, but so many had lost their lives by being careless.

“Uhhhh uhhhh, He.. He.. He.. Hello.” She said.

The stuttering greeting left her mouth, but Ilbertus remained still, not responding to the greeting. Waiting for her to slip up as his imposing gaze through his helm. Seeing the conversation not going anywhere, she continued.

“I.. I… I mean no har… harm, armored one.”

The tension left Ilbertus. Nobody with any knowledge would call the chevaliers ‘armored ones,’ truly a unique statement from someone frightened and unable to think properly. Convinced that the [Villager] wasn’t an enemy, he spoke out for the first time.

“We are chevaliers under orders from the city lord to investigate this area. Recent reports describe Evil Myconid causing problems around here. Do you have any information [Villager]?”

Ilbertus could almost hear her thoughts as her facial expression shifted through stages. Definitely frightened to an extent at first, but now she was calm and thinking with a much clearer mind. Not a typical [villager], hmmm, reminds me of the Barren Moons, weird, but nobody else was reliable under pressure.

The girl rambled her experiences from moments ago.

That was definitely our target, but did he just die? All [Controllers] were famous for their tenacity to cling to life. Ilbertus continued to think for a bit, attempting to find anything more from her statement. Or rather, something felt off about her, but he couldn’t put a finder on it.

He then commanded some chevaliers to scout the cave. His priority was to ensure the safety of everyone here and then prove the validity of the [Villager] statements. Without fault, the chevaliers returned and they gave a report.

Shocked, Ilbertus tried to make sense of the situation. A hole through his forehead? hmmmmmmm. Confirmed [Controller], but even more problematic. Also, something’s not right. Looking back up at Alysia, she had moved quite close to the edge. Her eyes darted down the mountainside twice before she just stared at the ground.

A grin formed on Ilbertus’s face. Ha, just like the Barren Moons, even thinking like one, always having an escape plan… But just what were you hiding? Everything seemed truthful so far, so what is she afraid of? Is it just her memories missing? Hmmm, better safe than sorry. Didn’t want to do this, but I’ll need to take her in.

I’ll need to head to Charles. He always knows the answer.

Leaning back and kicking his feet up. “Despatching the chevaliers to deal with a [Controller] makes enough sense, but the [Villager] girl makes it disconcerting.” Ilbertus said.

“Even with the money, why still keep her alive? Trying to use it in aid of a disguise makes some sense, but it’s superficial.” Shaking his head. “What was he even thinking?” The words resounded in the room, but to no answer. Taking a second, he called for an assistant.

A squire standing at the ready outside the door immediately entered. “What do you need, Sir?” The young squire asked.

“Grab all the information we have on the Stool.” The young guard thought for a moment and then replied. “Yes Sir.” Leaving the room, only to return a moment later. This time with a book in his hand, placed on the table with a thump.

The cover read ‘#772 - Stool.’ The same book Joss added to a moment ago.

Ilbertus skims through a few pages. He ran away 2 months ago, captured a [Villiger] girl, left her alive because he wanted ingredients. Was he just going crazy because of his transformation to a Myconid? Is that enough?

He closed the book with a flick, coming to one conclusion. “As long as you don’t cause problems, I won’t need to take the next step.”

“Ahh yes, thank you.” Almost forgetting, I said my thanks to the guard.

It’s already some time into the night, but the flow of people remained from when I first entered. Dimly lit roads with the help of oil lamps hung high up, offering a calming sense to the night. The lack of sunlight left my limbs cold, but the plan was to resolve that first thing tomorrow, but until then, the funny look remained hidden beneath my cloak.

Following the directions the guard gave, I made my way there as my eyes drooped with each step. Everything turned into a blur as I mindlessly walked, just wanting something to rest on and to deal with all these thoughts tomorrow.

After the interrogation and the dangers passed, it was getting harder to put coherent thoughts together. Some scenery passed before I came to a stop, my mind snapping back to reality.

“Huh? Where am.. I?” I hadn’t been paying any attention, walking without purpose. I shook my head. “Come on, I need to get to the inn.” I slapped my cheeks a few times over, trying to wake up my mind.

Before long, the words The Worthy Spoon plasters itself on a hanging sign. “Ah yes, there it is.” I closed my eyes and shook my head once again. Just get to sleep, Ayla. Almost there.

The door gilded open, opening a bit too far before I caught it, leaning uncomfortably forward.

A cheery voice called out. “Just cleaned that earlier today.”

Looking up, I saw an older lady, with a light smile and dimples proudly on display, sitting behind a counter across the room. Chairs and tables litter the room. Dents and small chunks of wood were missing from the tabletops, telling a story of age despite their well cleaned tops. The walls and floor were much the same, but they sport newer boards every so often with their surface untouched by time.

I looked back up at the older lady, awaiting my response. “Ah yes, good evening. The guard sent me.”

“Yes, they informed me earlier.” The innkeeper reached down and grabbed a key, placing it on the desk in front of her. “Third room on the right when you walk up the stairs. Clean bucket and rag for washing up. Breakfast is on the house!”

Nodding my head, I thank the innkeeper before walking upstairs. Each step was more difficult than the last as my body shut down, the ending in sight.

Entering my room, I sondered over to the bed. It creaks back, complaining about my weight, but I couldn't care less. The stress filled day finally ended as the night took it all away.