He stood before me, which wasn't particularly something I wanted to deal with after being bed ridden for the past few days.

Yark.

“Uhhh, yes. Just reading and trying to see if anything is familiar.” I put on a strained smile.

“I see. Anything in particular that strikes?” He pushes, pulling up a chair.

“Not really, but I thought some history and information about the region could help.”

He looked over the book pile again before continuing. “I would concur, but I also see some books on mana. May I ask what interest you have in that? It’s quite a peculiar subject.”

At least I’m not the only one who thinks that. “Ummmm, Ummmm, Ummmm, after… after the experience with… you know, the kidnapping. Thought I should at least learn more about it?” My pitch rose like I’m asking myself a question, totally convincing him.

“Ohh.” He raised his eyebrows, surprised. He pulled one book closer, reading the first few lines. “Ah, monsters and mana affinity. Quite the tough bunch, if I do say so myself.” He said, flipping through a few more pages.

“Ahh.” I didn’t know what I should or shouldn’t talk about with the chevalier captain, responsible for overseeing the city's safety. Someone I shouldn’t even talk to, someone with power. His eyes twitched over to me, seeing my opened mouth and obvious hesitation.

“Ah, no need to worry. I’m off duty now. At least for the next hour.” He said, tilting his head with a smile. His stubble beard and dark bags beneath his eyes laid bare for all to see. It was weird with his right eye void of all color, but it was natural, one of eased honesty.

I never wanted to associate with anyone who had power after the incident, but from the looks of it, I couldn’t just run away from this table. I’d instantly be labeled as suspicious and my ‘lucky’ streak would continue.

He kept smiling. Yark, he wants me to continue. “Ummmm, uhhhhhhhh, ahhhhh ‘quite the… tough bunch?’” I asked, barely getting out the words.

“Yes, monsters follow the tides of mana, so they normally gather in groups. A couple? No problem, but get enough for a Scattering, then oh boy! You're in for a rough time.” he said, continuing to flip pages.

Holy mana… that’s practically what Hollow did to me! Wait!

My eyes widened. That's practically what Hollow did! Since monsters were more in-tune with mana compared to humans, then it all made sense. Following mana dense areas, getting stronger... Is this what gave Hollow the idea to put the bunker in a mana dense area?

I firmly placed my hands on the table, shaking a few books, Ilbertus looking up.

“Did you, perchance, recall a memory?”

“Ah.” I might have reacted a bit too much. “Ya… yes. Your words reminded me of my father. N…. not much, but something just clicked and things made a bit more sense.”

“Wonderful, didn’t expect my meager capabilities to be of worth.”

I looked at the chevalier. A bit shocked a captain would describe his capabilities as meager, but… it wasn’t entirely unnatural.

“Uhhhh, yes. Thank you?” Unsure of proper etiquette.

“Ha.” He let out a chuckle. “No need! You aren't one of my subordinates, so whatever you find comfortable.”

The Chevalier stood back up. “I’m afraid I can’t stay any longer. There’s always more to do. And miss.” He paused, taking a second to look me right in the eyes. “Everything starts with an interest before it leads to something more. Hope you find what you're looking for and remember to be brave with your heart.” Huh, a chevalier being a chevalier.

“Ahh, yes. Will do.”

“Yes, I hope you do. Have a good day, lass.” He gave a wave and walked back to the middle-aged man at the counter.

“Ahhhh.” Well, that could have gone worse, but at least it was quick. I have no clue if he knows anything. A weird question about the mana, but that could mean nothing for all I know. Just a regular conversation.

I looked back to the chevalier captain and saw him ask a couple of questions to the middle-aged man at the counter. He looked back at me and then back at the man before leaving with a quick turn.

With him gone, I slouch back into my chair. Hollow had that ability [Knowing Heart], it told him I would be the correct choice for his ‘last hurrah,’ whatever that means. Just hoped Ilbertus didn’t have something similar, being able to tell something was off.

“Ahhh.” I let out another sigh, this time the building decided to accompany my release. A whooshing sound echoing throughout the building.

Looking up with perked ears, I listened to the wind, ramming into the wall and making its way around the building. The man at the counter looked up for a second before ignoring it, looking back down at his book. Probably just a storm, it. It has been raining the past few days.

I ignored it for now and spent another hour reading. Well, really just skimming through the pages, looking for anything useful. I found nothing else directly useful, but some of this might come in handy later on.

Ok, with that done, I was time to look for some fairy tales on Hollow. Not that I had to at the moment, but it was worth a couple minutes, even in my rush to leave the city.

I asked the middle-aged man again, and he pointed with another snort. I walked into the row and started looking through the books. “E… F… G…. there it is. Hollow.” There were 6 books lined up next to one another, all had the name of Hollow on the spine.

I picked the first one. ‘Hollow - The Hero of The Fallen Kingdom.’ And I paused.

“Oh, come on.” I whispered.

I picked up the next one and it read all the same, ‘The Hero Hollow and The Fallen Kingdom.’

Come on.

“Ahhhh” I sighed again. At least there isn’t an entire row dedicated to him. I shuffled through the book and it confirmed my earlier talks at the Sandy Elixir. The elixirs he gave granted classes for many important people in the kingdom of Gyor, so there's no way this isn’t him. It would just be too much of a coincidence.

I put the books back and decided to not think about it for now. I had other problems to deal with, but at least I knew it was him.

I heard the wind once again, stronger as the whistling of the wind turned to a different tune. Deeper, darker. “Looks like it’s going to rain soon. Better find somewhere to stay while the storm passes.”

As I walked past the counter, the middle-aged man didn't even look up. “Hope you broke nothing.” He said.

“I didn’t.” I said, not stopping and strutting back out the door as a chilling wind swept through the roads. A few people were well prepared with their overcoats, but many weren't as they quickly traversed down the road with their arms crossed.

I also saw vendors closing up shop, and looking up, I figured out why. The sun was still shining through the mix of clouds, as it had only been a sprinkle, but a black mass was slowly moving in. Thunder had not reached the town, but flashes of light pierced through the clouds far into the mountain range. The wind flowed from the black mass as it formed vortices in the distance.

With each second, the wind picked up, pulling on my cloak as it tossed and turned to the wind's whims. The coolness reached underneath my armor straps as it forced its way in.

“Come on, boy, we gotta hurry up!” A father yelled to his kid. I saw both of them throwing items into boxes at a nearby food stall. The grilled mushrooms left behind in the panic.

I stood here and watched as more people rushed after a quick look towards the blackness of the clouds. Their eyes turn to a slight panic as they rush down the street.

It was then, the words from breakfast a few days past at the Worthy Spoon rang in my ears.

The two guards left before I could say anything, but they talked about painful rain. It’s been raining the past few days, but something tells me that the storm coming is on another level. They talked about predicting the storm, too. Is it going to be that bad?

Regardless, I needed somewhere to wait this out, so I hustled down the street. I didn’t have the best understanding of the town, so I made my way back to the Worthy Spoon.

At the door of the inn, I saw several others rushing into the building, doing the same as myself. Oh boy, might be too late! Seeing as I might not have a room, I practically ran into the building, weaving through a couple groups.

We all crowded into the entrance as I shuffled my way through the bodies. I wiggled far enough to reach the counter, maybe or maybe not receiving a few words of dissatisfaction along the way.

The same lady from the morning manning the counter as she shuffled between several customers. I waited for the group in front of me to be served and placed myself behind them, not risking others jumping ahead. “6 Silver and you have the last room, dear.”

“Yes!” I pumped my fists.

“Oh, come on.” I heard a complaint from behind me, but I ignored it. Thank mana I shuffled through all the people or I would have to go running around the city like a madwoman.

Right after the innkeeper handed me the key, a large uncleaned hand reached over, blocking my vision for a brief moment as I felt the key leave my hands.

“Hey!” I turned around and looked up, seeing the rough unshaved face of the person who dared to be blatantly rude.

His armor added to his entire aura he has goin’ on, along with an enormous axe adorned on his back.

Welp, I ain’t staying outside. “Do you want to hand that back?!” I asked with raised eyebrows and my mood dropping, practically trying to grab my key back as he moved his hand away.

The man, unfazed and ignoring my words, looked at the newfound key tightly within his grasp. I didn’t think I could take the key back by force. I was too weak, especially after being bedridden for the last few days.

I looked back to the innkeeper, needing some backup, but she’d already walked into the kitchen.

Yark.

By the time I turned back, the man started walking to the stairs. “What! You gotta be kidding me!” With him getting further away, I chased after him, letting out a puff of air.

I almost ran into a few people as my feet scattered about the wet floor. By the time I arrived at the stares base, the man was already at the top. Somehow making his way through faster than I did with his colossal form.

The chase continued up the stairs, and just as he opened my door. I slammed my foot at the door’s base, preventing it from being opened. Let's see if he can ignore me now. With the door’s sudden stop, he let go as a look of confusion dawned on him.

“I don’t know what you're trying to do, but that’s my room!” I yelled, hoping to pierce his thick skull.

The attempt failed as he continued to just stand there, my words not registering on his face with the blank look he was giving me. What the yark is wrong with this guy?! who just steals a key and acts like nothing happened?

Since my words were ineffective and the key was still in the door's lock, I quickly removed it and slipped through the small door opening, slamming it behind me and leaving ‘the man’ in the hallway.

I moved away from the door after hastily relocked the door before he could try anything funny. I waited a few minutes, but nothing happened. The man didn’t come bursting to continue his room stealing thing.

Ugh, did that work? Since he took the key with such confidence at first, I’m surprised he just stood there and let me do whatever I wanted. I acted promptly, but I’m surprised that it worked since he had enough gall in the first place to take my key. “What the heck is wrong with him? Whatever.” I flipped up my hands. “I paid for my room and it’s mine. As long as he does nothing else.”

With a sigh of annoyance, I took my bag, setting it at the bedside. “Let’s wash up…”

“PAT… PAT… PAT… PAT… PAT… PAT… PAT… PAT!” And then the rain came.

Hitting the ground hard, still sprinkling, but each drop was as if someone slammed their fists against a table.

And I immediately understood the complaints of the guards, the pounding of raindrops against your skin would not be enjoyable. And considering the black splotch of clouds had yet to fully arrive, I doubted this was the end.

I put those thoughts past me and prepared for a quick wash. Haven't had the chance since I’ve been bedridden at Sly’s place, and I was getting kinda nasty at this point. As I removed the top layer of my clothes, I heard yelling from outside.

“THE FUCK, YOU JUST LET HER TAKE IT… Haaaaaa!” I heard an aggressive sigh accompanying the yelling. “It’s our room, Hurack. When things are ours, you can’t let other people take it. They’re taking advantage of you. But don’t worry, big sister will take care of this.”

Oh Yark.

My door nearly explodes off its hinges, and a foot reveals itself, sticking high up in the air. She slammed her foot down and stared at me. Her armor gave off the same rough look as ‘the rude man,’ but her overall appearance was much cleaner, with her hair tied neatly backwards. She had a thin sword in one hand and a dagger in the other, not to mention her other dagger, her eyes.

“You bitch, abusing someone who can’t fight back. Don’t worry, I’ll end you real quick.” She snarls at me while bringing up her blade.

I froze there, half naked as my clothes barely covered me. I see ‘the rude man,’ who I assumed to be Hurack, holding out his arm, trying to reach for his sister, but she’s too far.

WHAT THE YARK DO I DO?! I drop the rest of my clothes in my arm as I bring them up, trying to defend myself.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. H… He stole the key from me first.” I barely blabbered out the words, but she didn’t care. “I don’t care about any excuses you have, bitch!” She swung her leg in a twirl, moving naturally as it flew towards me.

My defenses were lackluster, to say the least, as the leg contacts my gut. She pivots further and pushes through the kick. “Ahhhhhgghghgg.” I felt the air within my lungs explode outward, and my feet left the ground. With my vision blurring, I smack into the wall with a thud, my head whiplashing into the wall, feeling like I left a head shaped dent into the wood.

My vision blanked out as I lost contact with all my senses. The next thing I notice, I’m laying, sprawled out and facing the floor. My dizzying vision disorientated my sense of reality as I struggled to make sense of the situation, almost forgetting where I was as I tried to get back up.

I couldn’t tell much, but the threat was still present. I didn’t know who they were, but who resorts to kicking the ‘life outta someone’ before you at least talk it out? Regardless, I knew a fight was coming my way.

I activated [Mana Bolt] on instinct and tried to find a target. But before I could get that far, loud thumps shook the floor as my head bobbed, my consciousness connecting sound and sight back together.

The world regains its clearness from my blurred vision and I saw my target about to strike me again with her leg leaving the ground.

But a large black mass standing in front of me blocked the way, and I heard some words from the girl. “Get out of the way, Hurack! I’m not done yet!” The words came out forcefully as I felt the anger seething off her.

“No.” A deep growling voice responded.

“What do you mean, no? She’s the one who stole your key!”

“No.”

“What?! You mean she didn’t steal the key!? That's not what you said earlier!”

“Yes, but no.”

“Ahhhhh.” A sigh from the girl. “Hurack, that doesn’t even make sense. Let me beat the shit outta her so we can get some sleep.”

The rapid back and forth of words seem to de-escalate the situation, but honestly, my mind was struggling to piece it all together.

She attempted to walk around Hurack, but he moved, blocking the path. “Hurack!”

I deactivated [Mana Bolt] as it seemed it wasn’t needed, wouldn’t want to become a murderer this quickly. Luckily, it didn’t seem either of them noticed the floating magical ball to their side.

I rested against the wall for a hot second and focused on breathing as the woman said a few more uncouth words. In and out, in and out, in and out. It helped slightly, giving me a chance to talk.

“Like I… I said. He.. He stole it from me... Me first.” I struggle to get the words, still feeling out of breath.

She raised one eyebrow in response, not quite believing my words as she looked at her brother, keeping her blade to one side.

Hurack looked at me. “Sorry.” Sorrow in his voice, then he turned back at his sister. “True.”

The sister froze for a second, and I could see the gears turning in her head. She took a second, connecting the dots, before looking back to me.

at“Oh, shit.” She immediately sheathed her weapon and walked towards me, offering her hand.”

“Sorry…. ummmmmmm… about that.” Loosely pointing towards my stomach. “It seems I’m gonna need a talk with Hurack… It's difficult to communicate with him sometimes. He’s normally only good at smashing things with his axe.”

You want me to trust you after you yarking smashed me into a wall half naked? I raised one eye and straightened myself, at least keeping some dignity, before reluctantly taking her hand, helping me hobble over to the bed’s edge.

“Sorry about that. You need anything else?” She asked me.

I just looked at the floor, a bit perturbed she could flip her attitude so fast. “I’m fine, just get outta here.” The longer she stayed, the more headaches I was going to get.

“Will do, sorry again.” She easily complied, turning around to face her brother. “Come on, let's find someplace else and we're gonna need to… have a talk.” She stressed the last few words.

Before they disappeared, she turned to me again. “Oh ya, I felt nothing break, so you should be good. Might be some bruising, tho.” The door struggled to close, deformed from her flashy entrance, and the thumps of Hurack following behind, disappearing from my view.

I flopped onto the bed, facing towards the ceiling. “Oh why? Why does this keep on happening?” I place my hand on my stomach and feel the impact site.

ltMy adrenaline got me through the minute after the impact, but it's all coming in now. “At least my brunch didn’t leave me.” After a few minutes of rest, I felt well enough, and got up and finished what I originally set out to do, washing myself down. After I removed the rest of my clothes, I looked down. It hadn’t started bruising, but a nice red line laid across my stomach, making itself known.

“Ahhhhh.” The sighing continued. Luckily, the water bucket in the corner didn’t fall over during the fight, so all is not completely lost. Well, I can’t really call it a fight if I just got destroyed. “Not sure if it was worth it for the room, but let's make the most of this.”

I wiped myself down, trying to remove the stress along with the grime on my body, listening to the rain. It took longer than last time with the newfound pain, but it wasn’t impossible.

I don’t want to put back on the same dirty clothes, but I don’t have another option. “Ok, first thing tomorrow is to get a few sets of clothes so I can actually wash the 2 sets I have. I also need a bigger bag to carry them. That and some survival supplies, and I should be set to leave.”

Now dressed and laying back on the bed, I focused on the rain again. The amount of patter from the raindrops had increased since earlier, along with the wind making the walls comply with its whistling.

“It's not even evening yet, so why am I trying to sleep?” The quick succession of events made it feel a lot longer than it actually was, only now just arriving at dinner time. “This kinda sucks. Am I just left here to do nothing? hmmmm.” Can’t practice my skill, but at least I can plan out the next few days.

Down in the packed lobby of the inn, Hurack and Laira sat at a corner table. She adorns a look of disappointment while staring at her brother, understanding his difficulties, but it never went badly this quickly. Partial fault lies on her for acting too fast, but Hurack is family, more important than anything, and a second of delay normally means death for their line of work as [Entity Hunter]’s.

“Come on, Hurack… you're normally better at this.”

Hurack sat with his head hanging, realizing his mistake. She’s done so much for him, normally making things right when others take advantage of him, but this time, things didn’t work out so well.

Hurack just wanted to help his sister, but failed yet again. It’s been a while since he’s been trusted with such an important task. Normally just tagging behind his sister while she talks her way through whatever needs to be done.

The one chance to lessen the burden on Laria, and he failed.

“We’re gonna need to sleep in the lobby. All the other inns are probably full and the rain is going to make moving difficult for the first half of the night, this rain normally passes quickly.” She listened to the wind rocking the building. Ahhh, come on. They normally predict this shit, so we don’t need to scramble like some wild wolves. I’m surprised the city lord hasn’t stepped in yet. He’s normally famous for taking care of his people.

Laira rustled her hair around and let out a small scream of frustration. “Ahhhhhhha.” My back is going to be complaining for days. We don’t even have our camping gear since it got destroyed on our last mission. That fucking poison from the silver wolves! She stared back at her brother. “Ok, let's get some sleep to rest up properly. The rain’s going to give us a chance to sleep longer than we normally would.”

“... Yes.” He drawled, looking down to the ground. His thoughts clouded his mind.

“Don’t beat yourself too much over it Hurack, it was partially my fault as well. We wouldn’t have gotten a room anyway, so it’s all good now. She may not like us, but when has that ever stopped us? You're tough and we’ve gotten through much worse in the past. Remember when we were children? It was all you. You saved me then and I will never abandon you.”

He lifted his head and the edge of his strained lip arcs up. “Yes, sister.”