“The king has a new quest for us adventurers. The Capital City of Arche is in a dire situation.” Prince Randor made an urgent announcement to the adventurer’s lodge.
Adventurers gossiped at each other during Randor’s speech. They never realized that the Capital City will be in danger. The city guards were always vigilant, keeping the streets safe. They patrolled every inch of the city daily. The Capital City of Arche boasted itself as the safest city in Aeon Frigg. Muggers and swindlers have no chance of committing their crime. It also repelled raids from bandits and wandering packs of beasts.
“The king would like to ask for the cooperation of adventurers. Everyone will work with the city’s finest warriors. We will assign each group to Arche’s ministries. We have the Ministry of Military, the Ministry of Defense and Justice, the Magi’s Collective, the Hospice, and the Church of Solne.”
Corbin and the group climbed downstairs and caught up with the urgent announcement. It was getting noisier in the main hall as others reacted in surprise.
“If you have some clues about the missing citizens, feel free to contact the city guards. Any information would suffice. Solus, hand out the king’s letter.”
Each adventurer in the dining hall signed the letter for the new quest. They wrote their names, smeared blood with their fingertips or left an inked stamp. Most adventurers were aware that they might not return alive. The citizens’ safety was their top priority over themselves. Others vied for the handsome rewards of the kingdom. The city guards were waiting outside the adventurer’s lodge, waiting for the next instructions. Corbin approached the prince and shared what he saw before.
“We found ghouls. Maybe they’re the miners.”
“How can you be sure? The missing citizens left no traces at all. Their families have been waiting for them for months.” A mercenary argued at Corbin.
“They were wearing mining uniforms and helmets. They've lost their sanity.” Rez remembered one rabid ghoul ravishing for a piece of aurum ore.
“A sign of corruption? Looks like the Church of Solne needs to be involved with this case.”
“How can we help?” Nia spoke on the behalf of the group.
“As for your group, you will work with the Church of Solne. We will assign Father Brindles and Brother Calma to aid you.” Solus explained to them.
“Seriously, two clergymen? Maybe the paperboy can even whack those ghouls with the roll of paper.” Rez heckled at the prince’s assistant.
“Mind you, we recognized the clerics of Arche for their mastery of divine magecraft. They specialize in purifying unholy presence, as well as smiting heretics.” Solus answered back against the infernal.
“Great, I’m in danger.”
“What do you mean Rez?” Milas read Rez’s face. He profusely sweated upon hearing the words “divine magecraft.”
“Our ancestors had a very rough relationship with clerics. During the fourth civilization of Arche, my ancestors waged war against the clerics and the Elysian Guards. Of course, that was the bitter past.”
“The crusade against the infernals has ended Rez. No need to worry.” Fuji appeared from the crowd and assured Rez that he was in safe hands.
“Where have you been, captain?”
“I’ve been busy lately, Milas. More and more citizens disappear at night. We can’t even find the culprit. A single culprit can’t do this by themselves. They could be a band of bandits, or worse than I can imagine.”
“We are here to help. The more adventurers cooperate, the better.” Nia responded with no hesitation.
“Any other news?” Corbin inquired at Fuji.
“The city guards are tightening up the security. We have no choice but to implement curfews every evening.”
“Gone are the happy days.” Rez sounded unhappy with the new rule.
“It’s a minor inconvenience, but this ensures the safety of the citizens. By the way, you adventurers are exempted from the curfew. However, you have to render night patrols as a service for the city. We will try to compensate you in the end.”
"Extra! Extra! Read All About It! Citizens just disappear at night! They leave no trace! The Department of Defense and Justice orders curfew!” The paperboy tossed around the announcement from the Department of Defense and Justice. Most of the denizens of Arche feared about the disappearances. Some are upset with the enforced curfew. However, the kingdom gave adventurers permission to patrol and investigate at night.
During the first seven movements of the moon, the curfew was silent and way too peaceful. No signs of disappearances occurred. No citizens argued either against the adventurers or the city guards.
“Why take the kingdom’s quest? We could simply slip out of Arche and retreat to the southern villages.” Rez nagged Corbin after their patrol. It took little effort for the adventurers to scan the streets and corners of the city. Their sheer numbers would strike fear at any bandits.
“It was my idea for us to cooperate with the kingdom. It is time for us to give back something for Arche.”
“Nia is right. We can’t just take good things from this city. Right, Corbin?”
Corbin nodded while taking his time resting on a sofa. The comfort of their cozy room was enough to reinvigorate their strength for the next patrol.
“You’re too agreeable for a half-orc. Most of the orcs I encountered before would have a heated quarrel with their companions.” Rez chuckled at the peculiar companion.
“Hey, you can’t generalize every orc.” Milas argued. She approached Corbin while ruffling his head.
“Knock it off.” Corbin brushed away Milas’s hand.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
After their evening patrol, Corbin and his group arrived at the Church of Solne. The church has an overwhelming facade. It has larger-than-life paintings and sculptures. Most of the artworks depicted the martyrs from Arche who fought against the infernals. Each piece of artwork has an elaborate framework housing it. Rays, pillars and arches also surrounded the artworks. Below the artworks was the main gate to the church. Its amber doors with colored glass looked like a gateway to the afterlife. Even nonbelievers would awe at the extravagant church.
“Welcome adventurers. I’m Father George and I received the king’s request. Follow me.”
The adventurers entered the solemn church with the head priest. Rows of seats stretched from the entrance to the middle. Candles lit on each seat. Churchgoers and clergymen talked about the recent disappearances. Some prayed intensively for their safety. Children imitated their elders, who knelt and chanted prayers. The two sides of the church have decorated altars. Each altar represented the previous and current head of the church. Beyond the seats and side altars was the main altar. It has minimal designs compared to the main entrance. The church’s symbol hanged on the wall. It has the shape of a sun with a pyramid pointing upwards.
“Adventurers, meet Father Brindles and Brother Calma. They will accompany you for your investigation.” The two clergymen wear traditional priest clothes. They have outer chasuble covering their chests, a colorful stole with symbols on each edge, and a long white alb. One of the clergymen scowled at Rez.
“Look what we have here, a colorful cast of adventurers.”
“Excuse me?” Milas coughed in disbelief as a dwarven clergyman sneered at them.
“You even brought a vermin in your group.”
“Rez is a friend of ours. He saved us from peril.” Milas defended her trusted companion.
“Yes, I’m a law-abiding citizen. Never committed a crime at all.” Rez cleared out his throat and the collar of his shirt. He tried to coerce at the front of the clergymen.
“You’ll never know when he stabs your back. Be wary, though.”
“Excuse me? You’re accusing me?”
“Want a piece of me, vermin?!”
“An individual’s past or origins doesn’t define them. Their present actions do. Rez is a compassionate individual. He selflessly protected Florescent Woods with us,” Nia protested against the dwarven templar who clenches his fist. She stretched her arms against the two, preparing to cast a magical barrier.
“Easy there, Father Brindles, your temper is rising again.” The young cleric shoved off the dwarven templar away from the group. He broke off the potential brawl inside the church.
“Here we go again, Father Brindles, you and your warmongering tendencies. Can you please behave inside the holy sanctuary for once?” Father George sternly scolded the old dwarf despite being younger than him.
“Can we trust them, Father George? An infernal is their companion. They even trust him with their lives. Although a part of me says to trust and believe them.”
“Brother Calma, we shouldn’t pass judgment against them unless you are clean by yourself. Follow what you believe is right.”
“Let that vermin be for the while. If he shows signs of corruption, you know what to do.” Brindles whispered.
“I hope not Father, I haven’t fully mastered divine smiting.”
“You’re ready when you’re ready, kid! Kick some heretic hinds!”
“Watch your language, Father. You’re a well-respected templar, not a hooligan.”
The two clergymen come back to the group, preparing for an apology.
“Ahem, sorry for the hostility. I was a veteran who fought during the fourth civilization. We lost many lives from the church during the war.”
“Bad excuse. Been in worse situation.” Corbin angrily replied with his arms across. He personally knew the terrible things happening in a war. Despite the circumstances, he believes that one must not let it affect them.
“Coming from an orc? What a surprise!”
“Why won’t we settle down first? Our poor judgment has clouded our reasoning. I’ll treat you to some snacks as a peace offering. Father Brindles, can you please report back for an update? Father George has been waiting for your document.”
“Fine then, I’ll join you back. I won’t be surprised if Calma begins to dance with you in the tavern, sinning like a loose bachelor.” Brindles walked away towards the head priest, grumbling and still adamant.
“Sorry for Father Brindles’s poor behavior. We at the Church of Solne have ended the crusade against the infernals ages ago. We believe that we have done enough against the infernals.”
“I’ve heard worse than that, don’t sweat it kid.” Rez sighed in relief, knowing that not all clergymen are hostile against Infernals.
“Hmmm, I see you’re more of a pacifist rather than an instigator. It’s such a shame you waste your well-trained body on the church.”
“I just do heavy lifting and gardening, nothing else!” Calma laughed at Milas’s straightforward observation. Unlike other clergymen, the young cleric was way too mannish and buffed out.
“Let’s have a talk at the adventurer’s lodge. The church might be too uncomfortable for you.” The group headed back to the adventurer’s lodge to wind down.
At the adventurer’s lodge, the group waited for Nia and Calma from the kitchen. Calma insisted on baking desserts for the group. Nia accompanied Calma in the kitchen. After time passed by, the two brought a plate full of scrumptious confectionery. Calma presented a sponge cake with fresh butterfat and garden fruits. He even added a puffed pastry for the sides. Nia carried some cacao cookies with citric paste. It has warm, crushed fruits and sugar. A gnome maid followed them with a kettle of hot water. Milas looked excited with the colorful and extravagant meal.
“Care for a brewed fava? I cultivated them from the dormitory’s garden.” Calma placed the crushed fava inside a conical parchment, then inserted it in a metal cone. He slowly poured the hot water in the metal cone, letting the fava dripped fluids until the kettle went full.
Rez courteously poured the brewed fava at their separate cups. Nia blowed her brewed fava before proceeding to sip her cup.
“Looks like fava soup to me.” Corbin drank the dark beverage and bit a slice of sponge cake.
“Fava soup, I like how it sounds.” Calma tittered with the never before heard term from a half-orc.
“Eck! It’s too bitter!” Milas was unfamiliar with the extreme bitterness of the brewed fava. She only drank brewed leaves and nothing else.
“You can pour some sugar and fresh taurus milk if you find it appalling.” Calma instructed Milas.
“Woah, it tastes very different! I feel so alert!”
“The brewed fava complements well with the confectionery. It gives you a pleasant sensation of buzzing. This keeps the clergymen of Solne awake all night.”
“Milas is indeed a child, she can’t handle an adult’s beverage.” Rez finished his cup of brewed fava and took a puff pastry.
“I’m already eighteen! I finally reached adulthood after leaving the convent.”
“Slow down miss Milas, too much brewed fava would upset your stomach.” Calma dragged away Milas’s cup when she tries to take a third gulp. When her stomach rumbled, she immediately left the dining hall to the necessarium.
“What are we talking about?” Corbin got serious after filling himself up.
“It’s about the ghouls. They haven’t appeared since the second civilization. Some of them appeared as minions for the cult of Malgiabolis. Their presence disappeared after the fourth civilization. They ended up as gossip, superstitions and hearsays. Parents would tell tales about them roaming to eat disobedient children.”
“I’ve also read about the ghouls. We know them as thralls of Malgiabolis. Ghouls have lost their free will. They either dive into their earthly desires or follow their conjurer.” Nia recited a passage from one holy book she read.
“If your suspicion is right, then we have to send the templars to the mines and investigate it. Our church will take care of the ghouls and restore them.”
“Just wondering Calma. Can ghouls feel pain? I’ve shot one of the ghoul’s feet.”
“Their bodies became too numb. But their souls still cry in pain. Don’t worry Rez, we can also restore their physical injuries.”
“They’re ain’t body-bags at all.” Corbin concurred at Calma’s description of the ghouls.
“They are still living beings. We shall take care of them and purify them. Thank you for the valuable information, adventurers.”
“We would like to thank you for the meal.” After relieving herself from the necessarium, Milas returned.
“Have you washed you hand, kid?” Rez acted like a doting relative.
“Of course, its common courtesy!” Milas showed her hands, letting the smell of flowers and citrus permeate.
“You do have a tight bond. I’m happy for you. By the way, I hope we can make up for what happened earlier.” Calma apologized again on behalf of Brindles.