~~~(POV: Justin Xander)~~~

~~~(Location: Flying, Near Geonia, Aeternitatem Genesis)~~~

~~~(Day, Date, Time: Sunday, April 14th, 8:04 PM PST)~~~

~~~(Current Age: 19 Years)~~~

The flight back has been a silent one, but the sunset over Geonia in the distance marks the end of the journey back. I check on the three others on Roughtail. All of them have their eyes closed.

I'm surprised they could sleep, but it's understandable, given what they've been through. The sheets and blankets they use to cover themselves are working fine, but it's not like they can walk around Geonia like that.

I won't let them suffer humiliation after what they've been through. But it's not like I have the money to buy them all maternity clothes. I don't even know where to go in Geonia to buy that stuff.

"Gruuuu..."

Roughtail lets out a small groan at the long and heavy flight back, but now it's the end of the trip for my Griffin friend. We slowly descend to the stable owner's land, which he calls home. As we land, I feel the shifting arms of the woman holding me from behind.

I hop off Roughtail the second we land, and the three women look at me. Roughtail lowers to the ground, and I hold my hand out if they want to use it for help. One by one, each of them comes off Roughtail. From what I can see, they're exhausted.

"I can't believe I survived... I thought I was gonna die in that hellhole..."

One of the girls falls to her knees as she starts crying, and the other two lean down to support her. I turn my attention to Roughtail to give them some privacy. I walk up next to the Griffin who helped me on this journey.

I run my fingers through his hair, and he lowers his head to the ground. Closing his eyes as the minutes pass. I really ran him rugged, but now he can rest.

After some time passes, the three girls stand up with red eyes. One of them looks at me with concern about her features. Not fearful concern. Not one that tells me I shouldn't be here right now. One that pertains to their physical state.

"Before we go into the city, we need clothes. But our pregnancies will make getting the right sizes difficult. Do you think you can head into town and get us anything?"

Looks like it's time to be a gentleman. My parents didn't raise a kid who would say no to pregnant women. While I don't know where to get the necessary clothes, I'm sure I can find somewhere in Geonia that's still open and has what we need.

As I'm about to agree, the footsteps behind me take my attention. The women's eyes show slight panic as they see who it is before me and make sure their bodies are covered.

"Well, looks like you've returned in one piece. Roughtails in one piece, too. I'm surprised he didn't give you any grief. In fact, it looks the other way around. You didn't give him any breaks?"

Once he's on our side of Roughtail and finishes speaking, his focus shifts from Roughtail's condition to the three women. A look of understanding takes shape on his face, dropping Roughtail's exhaustion altogether.

"Who're these young ladies? You find them where you were heading for Viscountess Eliza?"

He stands next to me with his hands behind his back and a slight hunch. He's old, so it's not like he has a straight body. I cross my arms over my chest and take a small breath. A simple explanation is the best option here.

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"In my quest, I found five slaves kept by the leader of (Red's Hold.) Two of them decided not to accept my help, but these three did. I was about to go into town to get them some clothes. Do you know anywhere that's open and sells maternity clothes?"

The old man stays silent and takes one hand from behind his back. Stroking his chin as he thinks. After a few seconds of silence, he turns to me with a convinced look.

"That won't be necessary. The shops you'd need are closed, and they'd be out of your price range. Luckily for all of you, my wife's old maternity clothes are available. They haven't been used in almost 50 years, but they'll fit."

I watch the three women's looks of relief take form. They each stand up and follow the old man back to his house. I give Roughtail a farewell pat on the back before following with them.

Once inside the old man's house, I can see from the pictures and antiques that he's probably lived there all his life.

I walk up to a bookshelf and lift a picture frame off it. It's a photo of a handsome young man and a beautiful young woman holding a baby, with the house we're currently in sitting behind them.

"That's my wife and I after our first son was born. He and his two brothers are commanders in Edaria's standing military. They don't have much time to come home anymore. The last time I saw them was Larianna's funeral..."

The tone in his voice tells me many things. The first is that he misses his kids. Getting older must be one of the hardest things to go through, especially if you're alone. The second is that his wife has passed on.

Larianna's a beautiful name. You wouldn't hear the name outside a fantasy game or royal family. He walks up next to me as the girls close the door to a bedroom to get changed into some actual clothes.

"How long has it been since she passed."

Instead of answering me immediately, he gently takes the picture frame from my hands and looks at it for a while. His thumb strokes the woman he married and raised a family with.

"Almost a decade now... I think about her every day..."

All I can do is stay silent as he holds the picture frame. After another minute, he places it back on the bookshelf and turns to me. Looking like he wants to change the conversation now.

He moves over to the kitchen and sits at the table. Pulling out a chair for me to join him. Without saying anything to each other, I do just that.

"It's easy to see they were on the receiving end of much abuse. Do they have families in Geonia? Their names? When was the last time they had food and water?"

The topic has shifted back to the three women I arrived here with. His questions are all valid, and I don't have a single answer for them. Shows how good of a rescuer I am. I didn't have food to give them, and it's not like they received care at (Red's Hold.)

The states they were in... Are in... No human being should have to endure that. I hope they got some closure or satisfaction for being the ones who ended Mack Reego's life.

Listening to him die gave me great satisfaction. The more I think about it, the more I'm sure AG will continue to show the darker sides of humanity. VRMMORPGs are notorious for this sort of violence, brutality, and depictions.

When you enter another world, you can't dictate what you see and hear—not with how technology and VR work today.

It's the reason you have to sign a bunch of documents before buying a gaming pod.

"I don't know anything about them, Mr. stable owner. I haven't asked for their names or about their families. Since I'm a man, I thought just being around me was enough stress. No need to add to it by asking them a bunch of questions."

The man silently nods his head, and after a few more minutes, the door to the room they used to change slowly opens. As they walk out, I take a moment to think about the quest itself. If Eliza knew about these girls and their treatment, I'd have a problem with her.

I watch as the old man stands up with a smile. I couldn't say what's making him happy, but at least someone is smiling.

"I'm glad those old clothes are getting some use. Now, I think it's time we all sit down and have a hot meal. From what my friend here has told me, he doesn't know anything about you ladies. How about a story?"

There is hesitation coming from the three of them. I don't add anything to the attempts of the old man. Seeing their hesitation, he decides to make the first move.

"My name is Gregon Hareson. I've been raising Griffins since I bought this land. It's nice to meet you all."

It's the first time I've heard his name. I hadn't asked before, and I didn't use (EoC) on him. As he finishes speaking, he pulls out three other chairs at the table. Each of them looks between each other and then at me.

Almost as if asking me if it's okay to sit down. I gently nod my head, and they ease up. Once they sit down, Gregon takes to the kitchen stove and pulls out different foods.

I'll be getting off late tonight. Night has fallen on Geonia, but it seems my quest isn't over yet. But I shouldn't be rude. Not to them.

A few extra hours isn't gonna kill me.

This meal is my chance to learn who they are and how they ended up at (Red's Hold.)