Wave of beasts

Ezer wonders how long it was since he savored a meal with such patience, without needing to worry about his surroundings, saving food for later, or simply sitting in a chair with his plate resting on a table. This makes one’s dinner take a greater meaning than simply eating, you feel that this is truly a rest before the trip. Although too short for his liking.

“But… good things never last long.” Ezer watches as a squad of soldiers stride through the inn's window.

In those few seconds Ezer receives all the information he needed thanks to the steps, expressions and equipment that these men were wearing. After all, he himself had those expressions thousands of times which let him know that the objective of those soldiers was not a simple routine patrol.

“We should go.” Ezer leaves the chair gathering his things next to the ones Lyaria left.

"Did you notice it? The bells will soon sound, the army wants to move around the town freely before alerting the people.” Nielmar senses that something strange is happening, but decides to trust the guard to take care of it.

“I have to find Lyaria.”

"She should be in the castle."

"No, she's probably looking for me now. Let's go to the old man's house, I'm sure she'll be there.”

“You know her very well.” Nielmar 's voice shows his astonishment, but not his doubt as to whether she will truly be in that place. His job is to protect Ezer, he doesn't plan to do anything other than that.

"Enough to figure that out." Ezer steps onto the street leaving a large footprint in the snow due to the combined weight of his gear and Lyaria's. He doesn't ask Nielmar for help as he begins to get to know his somewhat lazy nature. It was enough that one of them had his hands free in any situation.

The town did not have much movement, most of the people were sleeping except for a few who had enough money to afford a few candles and entertain themselves before resting. But all that changes when loud chimes resound throughout the town causing every man, woman and child to move.

"Three chimes indicate that they take refuge in their homes, five that they do so in the castle."

Ezer picks up his pace as fast as his weight will allow as he counts each stroke of the bell. Three... four... five... Immediately the already bustling town further increases its movement without panicking.

"The five bells indicate a greater danger?"

“That's right, although I think this time it's a precaution since our defenses haven't fully recovered from this year's wave of beasts.”

"This doesn't mean a second wave?"

“There was never a second wave.” Nielmar 's voice is completely serious and for the first time a hint of doubt is added accompanied by fear. He can't help but wonder what if...? Although he decides to discard it and focus on his work seriously, something was definitely wrong.

They both continue up the slight incline of the land until they reach the hospital, turning off to the smaller house just behind. Before Ezer can turn the doorknob, it is opened by an old man who greets them with a gesture indicating that they should enter.

“She is already in the back cellar preparing some things, I suggest you do the same with what you think they will need.”

"Okay, thanks." Ezer wastes no time and starts packing what he couldn't buy earlier.

“I'm surprised that the lady was actually in this place as he said.” Nielmar whistles under his breath. “Ah! Old man! The money wasn't enough to buy everything he wanted, so I had to put it out of my own pocket ...” It was clear what he wanted with those words, making the old man's gaze harden for a moment, this could be true or not, but he doesn't have the time to argue so picks up a bag of coins and throws them at Nielmar without bothering to count their value, he just didn't have time.

Ezer doesn't notice this when he's busy packing food and other necessities, checks over and over making sure nothing is missing and tries to make the most of space by filling it with light things. In the midst of all this, he can't help but notice the reddish bow hanging on the wall, the same one he borrowed the first night.

“Take it with you, it's better for it to have a use other than to be a simple decoration.” The old man removes it from the wall and hands it to him along with a quiver full of arrows.

"Thanks, I'll put it to good use." Ezer does not hesitate to accept the gift with genuine gratitude.

“Grandfather! Do you mind if I take some of these?” Lyaria appears with some thin dry leaves that were barely holding on to their stem in her hands.

"No problem, take what you need."

"So… a little of this?" She asks again showing another ingredient in her hands.

“Yes, yes.”

“And that?” Another ingredient appears, but this one manages to catch Ezer's attention because of its strong blue color. From a distance it looks like a kind of berry.

“That… ahhh … Yes, you can take it too.” A little pain shows in the old man's eyes, although he ends up accepting with a bitter smile.

"Did you pack enough food? Tools? Knives? Clothing?” Lyaria bombards Ezer with questions, constantly scouting the entire place for what she wanted.

"Yes, I brought the things you left at the inn. I know something bad is going on, but what exactly?” Ezer began to prepare to leave on a full moon. However, the heavy atmosphere was all he needed to know that they were running out of time and should finish preparing now.

"We have to be in the mountains by sunrise, I'll explain the rest on the way." Lyaria seems satisfied with what she has achieved and proceeds to place everything inside her leather backpack.