By the time Silas arrived at the food bank, raindrops had started falling on his olive skin.

From around the end of January to early March was rainy season in The Kingdom of Noes. This was abnormal compared to the other countries in the Continent of Jyas, which had their winters in the same period.

This time however, Silas could see a big crowd of people outside the front door.

I heard that they also serve free lunch for the homeless. But we usually let them sit inside.

He looked around for familiar faces. After a couple seconds Silas found Malcom taking cover from the rain at a nearby building.

"I've never seen you come here for lunch," Malcom had noticed him from afar.

"Well I am a busy man. I have stuff to do." Silas straitened his back and puffed up his chest, trying to look serious.

"I'm sure you do," Malcom said in a sarcastic tone.

Dismissing the matter, Silas asked, "So why are you standing here outside in the rain?"

"Well, we were originally waiting inside, but the Royal Knights kicked us out. The food bank has been closed down."

Huh, I though it was financed by Baron Viridian.

"Why?"

"The knights said it lacks funds, apparently Baron Viridian has fled the city, he was caught illegally smuggling slaves in the city and committing sorcery, or something like that. His money was all illegal."

He looked friendly enough when he greeted me. Everyone has their secrets, I suppose. Also speaking of sorcery, could he be a Weaver by chance? It's easy to get the mercury required for the ritual if you're filthy rich.

Feeling bad for the kid, Silas pulled out 2 Talends from his pocket.

"Get yourself something to eat, since I can't volunteer at the food bank anymore, I'll help out with one of your meals."

Malcom's eyes seemed to ignite with joy. "Thanks so much, I'll pay you back one day!"

As Malcom took the money, Silas sighed inwardly.

Now I'm only left with a bit more than 6 Talends. I need 1000 for gods sake! Wait speaking of money, if I fund the Rockette Food Bank, would that technically make me the owner, which would complete Jovan's mission? The problem is I never have the money.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Interrupting Silas' train of thought, the dark haired Malcom spoke up, "Oh, by the way somebody told me to give you this letter."

He handed over a folded up piece of yellow parchment.

Huh? A letter?

...

At the Noes Kingdom's border with the Zakinthis Republic, a carriage stopped at the Grand Arch Passageway to pay the required toll to enter the Zakinthis Republic.

The Arch was a towering 60 meters tall and was built from black brick. Multiple unlit torches were hung from the bricks. The Arch hid a little wooden square hut. An knight could be seen sitting in a chair from the large opening in the middle of the hut.

As the carriage pulled up to the opening, the knight saw three men, dawning black cloaks and masks resembling animals.

The knight let out a yawn and said in a sleepy voice, "Just one Talend to pass."

One of the men threw a coin to the knight, and took the leads to the horses, ready to leave.

"Hold up! Take off your masks, I have to confirm you're not criminals, you know."

The three men looked at each other and slowly took off their masks.

The man in the middle had short white hair and black eyes. He had some wrinkles on his diamond shaped face and his nose was slightly aquiline. He was an older gentleman and he looked about 70 years old.

The man to the left resembled the older gentleman. Though his hair was black, he had the same aquiline nose and the same diamond shaped face. His eyes were similarly black. However his skin was extremely smooth and he looked about 20 years old.

The third and final man had red hair and golden eyes. His face was more chiseled than the other 2 men. His nose was straight, and he had some freckles covering his cheeks.

The knight took a look at the long parchment of criminals in front of him.

He looked up and down. Again and again, confirming what he saw.

His heart started beating faster, and a cold sweat broke out.

The old man looked like Baron Viridian Soltar, the young man with black hair looked exactly like Ajax Soltar. The red-haired man was Friedrich Valanor.

"Uhm, sirs, I'm afraid that you'll have to tu-."

A spear lodged itself in the head of the knight.

"Get the horses going, now!" Baron Viridian shouted at Friedrich.

"Dad I told you he'd recognize us! The list gets updated in less than a day." Ajax scolded his dad in his deep voice.

"Well f*ck me! I didn't know that."

The father and son started arguing as the carriage sped off into the Zakinthis Republic's wilderness.

"What do we do now?" Friedrich asked from the front seat.

Pausing their screaming match, Baron Viridian answered in a calm tone, "I think we should try to get back into Noes City. King Baltair V is plotting something, did you notice he's trying to get all the people of status and power out of the Kingdom. He even told us that we would be pardoned if we set up a slave trade route. Even though what we did was illegal, he didn't keep his word."

"Also, remember when the general of the Royal Knights 'accidentally' died. He was the most powerful person in the Kingdom. He was a Chain 1 Weaver for gods sake."

"It's extremely hard to kill a Chain 1 weaver, I don't think anyone except the king could probably do it. There's always the chance of me being a paranoid old man, but I think we should trust my instincts on this one."

"Shouldn't we just go back right now?" Ajax asked.

"You stupid boy! At least a dozen Weavers have arrived at the scene, if you think we can take them on, be my guest."

"We're all at least Chain 3 though." Ajax argued.

"They should have a Chain 2 Weaver on the scene. Remember the power gaps between chains is massive."

"But we have spirit tools!" Ajax kept arguing.

"They probably do too."

The son accepted defeat as the carriage approached the Big Fern Woods. These were the most famous woods in Jyas, the average height of the trees was 107 meters!

"Maybe we cou-"

"Shut up, kid."