-----E-----

I went to meet with Vincent in the tavern, while Reve and Nia were doing something else.

Inside the tavern, I noticed Vincent sitting by himself drinking. He wore different clothes for some reason.

„Hey, we‘re back,“ I said while walking up to him.

He turned around to face me.

„Good, so I take it you completed their quest?“

„Yes, and tomorrow we are going to the banquet in the mansion, there we will receive our rewards as well. Can I ask you why you changed clothes?“

„Don‘t worry about it, let‘s talk about the quest we are on.“

„What do you need me to do?“

I don‘t really want to be ordered around, but if this quest will help us get back to space, I might as well then listen towards his advice.

„Only you and the other hunters that went on this quest will be allowed to go into the mansion, so I need you to try and persuade Elishia, the noble‘s daughter, to go on the balcony. That‘s all you need to do.“

„Huh? Are you going to try and take her away from there or something? You did say that she might be brainwashed by the dynami and all.“

„I know what I need to do, but you need to do this.“

„I‘m not really a good talker with ladies, and what if she doesn‘t even show up at the banquet?“

„You‘ll figure it out, and with your crappy luck, it might actually work out.“

„I am pretty sure I need better than „crappy luck“ to do this.“

To be honest, I really do have bad luck. I‘m surprised that I haven‘t even died yet.

Reve and Nia came to the tavern, and we started talking with them about how we would get Elishia to the balcony. And if we couldn‘t, then we thought of a different way.

„We are only going to capture her and bring her to that other noble family that you mentioned, right?“ Nia asked.

„Of course, I already thought of a plan to abduct her.“

When he says „abduct“, it really sounds like we are the bad guys taking away a noble‘s daughter to try and get a large sum of money.

„And what is your plan?“

„You‘ll see, I don‘t want to spoil the surprise.“

„Vincent, it‘s better that you tell us instead of keeping it a secret,“ I said.

„Fine, I‘ll tell you,“ Vincent said and took a sip from his drink. „While you were out, I went around the city finding other hunters that are willing to help me, we will go on the balcony and tie Elishia up and quickly take her away. There, you happy?“

„How can you find trustworthy people so easily?“

„They act like you, that‘s how.“

„Huh. . .“

How do I act exactly?

I bought a drink at the bar and we talked for a bit until I decided that I needed sleep. I haven‘t gotten a good night‘s rest for a while now. I need my brain well rested for tomorrow, I don‘t want to say the wrong thing and accidentally insult the Quenton family.

----------

The night went by, and Tessera rose from the horizon. I didn‘t find Vincent in the tavern, he must have gone out to get his hunters that he was talking about.

Reve, Nia, and I got ourselves some breakfast and went on our way to the mansion.

We were greeted by a few butlers and we went inside, a few other artifact hunters were already here. Letya and two other hunters haven‘t yet arrived. Franek was there greeting us.

A few minutes later the rest arrived.

„Good, you all are here, let‘s go in the main hall where we are served food and there your rewards, awaits.“

The main hall was at the upper levels of the mansion and is quite large for only a few of us. There were food in the middle, not as much as I expected, but likely due to us only being around 10 people who were going to dine here.

There were beautifully carved pillars that supported the mansion‘s ceiling, and the red carpet beneath us was also a work of art. Maybe I should have changed into formal attire, my artifact hunter clothing doesn‘t suit this place at all. All of us wore our normal clothing.

Franek gestured to our seats and we all sat down. I could see Nia already going for the food, but I stopped her and told her to be polite.

„But I haven‘t seen this much food before, and I am hungry,“ she whispered.

„We just ate our breakfast an hour ago, how can you already be hungry?“

Well, our breakfast was quite small, a slice of bread with some ingredients, we didn‘t want to stuff ourselves when we were going to eat at the mansion.

I heard a clanking noise coming from the end of the table, it was Franek with his glass and spoon.

„Firstly, I want to thank you all for joining the quest with me, I couldn‘t have done it without you all.“

Franek started talking about the quest, and the people that we lost. It was unexpectedly long, Nia was drooling over the food before her, I needed to intercept her quite often when I saw her reaching for a chicken leg with her hands.

„That is all. Now, shall we eat?“ Franek finally ended.

Nia immediately started ravaging the food, she didn‘t even put the food on her plate. I guess she never has seen such food before, she lived out in the wilderness after all.

I noticed Ivy, standing up from her seat.

„When can we have our rewards?“ She asked.

Some people like her only want the reward and wants to leave. She wasn‘t the only one, Braxton was also asking about it.

„You will have your rewards soon, enjoy the meal while you can.“

„I just want the reward, can I have it and leave?“

Franek sighed and motioned towards a maid that was close by. He whispered to her ear and she went on her way.

Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

„Fine, you all can have it now, but please don‘t leave and make us waste the food my cooks made.“

While eating my food, I thought about Elishias whereabouts. Where exactly is she? I would likely not be allowed to wander off in the mansion.

Then I glanced around, and at the corner of my eye, I saw someone walking next to the wall. She wore a white dress. Her hair color was similar to Franek‘s, silver-blond, and it was long. She entered a hallway and disappeared.

I immediately thought it was Elishia. But how am I going to talk to her?

Then I glanced down at Nia, who was busy eating a slice of cake that I didn‘t even notice was on the table.

„Hey, Nia.“

She glanced up with crumbs all over her mouth.

„Hm?“

„Can you start a commotion?“

„Yes, but why?“

„It‘s for our quest.“

„Well, if you say so,“ she said and started reaching her gauntlets towards the person beside her, it was Letya.

Sorry, Letya, I hope you don‘t get angry at us.

Letya‘s gauntlets started glowing more, then an unknown program suddenly was brought out to the person in front of her. It was someone that I didn‘t get the name of, he started acting weird and threw some of his food everywhere, hitting other people.

„Huh?!“ Letya looked down at her gauntlets, confused at how that has happened.

Nia used a program from Letya gauntlets that made that man enraged, I wonder what that program even was.

People started yelling at the man, and he eventually started a fight with the others. Franek was as confused as the rest and tried to stop the disturbance.

While they were occupied, I gave Nia, a thumbs up and quickly and quietly ran towards the hallway.

There were many doors around, I needed to open every single one of them if I wanted to find Elishia. Oh boy, I‘m hoping not to accidentally go in a room with other people in there.

I started carefully opening doors, most of them were empty, but there was one that had maids inside having a tea party, I quickly closed that door before they would see my face.

„This won‘t work,“ I muttered.

Before opening the next door, I decided to walk a bit further to see where the hallway leads.

I found a door that was a bit different than the rest, I opened it and looked inside.

There was a pool in the middle, maybe it was a bathing area? The steam from the pool was not helping much to see around, but I did notice a door at the back.

Maybe there is another hallway back there. So I decided to walk in.

When walking closer, I saw no one in the pool, but I did notice curtains covering a second hallway. It was likely the changing room. I was about to walk past it when suddenly someone went out of that room.

Her hair was similar to the girl I noticed back at the hall, and she only had a towel covering her. Her eyes were similar color as Franek‘s, which were pure blue. She has a beautiful slender body and pale skin.

Oh shit. Why did this have to happen to me?

I didn‘t move, neither did she, we just stared at each other.

„Who are you?“ She asked, not even fazed that she was naked in front of me.

„I. . um. .“ I couldn‘t think of a word, I only thought of ways to get the hell out of here.

She sighed and looked down. „Did my father send you? Are you the son of the noble that he thinks I am going to marry?“

How did she end up with that conclusion?

„Are you Elishia?“

„Yes, yes I am. And what is your name?“ She spoke with a soft and elegant voice.

She entered the pool, still with her towel on for obvious reasons.

„My name is Ethan. And I just came here to talk to you.“

„Really? And what do you want to talk about?“

„Hm,“ don‘t think of something dumb, don‘t think of something dumb. „What do you think of the outside world?“

How the hell did I end up saying that?

„The outside? Well, I am not often outside the mansion. And I barely even look outside, but I do walk around the garden.“

„Do you even see the city in the garden? Have you actually ever seen it?“

„I don‘t go near windows, I don‘t want to give others an opportunity to kill me.“

Huh, wow, what exactly does she even do around here?

I need to somehow get her to the balcony. If I am gone too long from the hall, Franek would start to suspect something.

Vincent said she was brainwashed, can I somehow prove it right now? What do I even say? „Are you our enemy?“ No, why would even I say that? „Elishia, are you brainwashed?“ No, that wouldn‘t work either.

„What about the balcony, have you ever gone there?“

„Of course not, it‘s not protected and people can see me from afar.“

„Don‘t worry, no one would wait around for months looking at that balcony just to kill you, how would they even do it? Maybe a bow or blaster, but they couldn‘t hit you on the first shot without perfect accuracy. You could even have guards with you on the balcony.“

She looked up at me and noticed my shield.

„My father always tells me to clear away from the windows and the balcony, because he wants to keep me safe from any danger.“

A protective father, a really protective one that doesn‘t even allow his daughter to see the outside.

Vincent did say that she does go outside though, but with guards and a carriage around her. Not being able to see the city clearly. It was pretty sad.

„That shield of yours, how good is it?“

„Heh? Well I can block bullets if you are asking that, and I can make a bubble shield that you can look through without it breaking.“

She closed her eyes and smiled.

„Can you come with me to the balcony then, I want to look out towards the city without bars and shoulders blocking it.“

„Of course.“

She got out of the pool.

„Just wait here while I go and change clothes.“

She went into the changing room. Well, that was strangely easy.

I started thinking about how I kept my cool while I talked to her while she wore nothing but a towel around her. And she wasn‘t even startled when she first saw me.

A few minutes passed and she finally came out with her white dress. Her hair was tucked into a bun, did she do it herself or does she have maids in that room?

„Follow me, the balcony is close to my room.“

I followed her and hoped not to meet Franek, otherwise, it would be awkward.

The balcony was at sight, and I opened the doors to the outside. I summoned the Sky Barrier program and projected it in front of us, it was made out of pure energy and you could clearly see through it.

„There, it should be safe now.“

She walked outside, and the city of Tyrida was in view.

„Wow, I never knew it was this beautiful without something blocking my view,“ she said with a teary eye, she smiled happily.

I guess the city was rather pretty, with all the architecture from the buildings, and the city‘s castle.

Now, Vincent, where are you?

Elishia looked at me.

„Thank you, Ethan, I didn‘t even think about asking an artifact hunter with a shield before.“

When she is this glad at seeing the city, I am starting to wonder if she is even brainwashed in the first place. Is she even going outside to talk to the dynami?

Too me it‘s quite bizarre not being able to freely see the city you are in. But her father is just too overprotective, and even Elishia herself didn‘t want to go near windows or the balcony after being denied so many times. If I would be her, then I would sneak out to have a view.

„I just wanted to show you the city, but I do have a question for you.“

„What do you want to ask?“ She started gazing back at the city.

„Are you maybe colluding with the dynami?“

She quickly looked back.

„Of course not! Why would I?“

She doesn‘t seem to be lying, but I am not the greatest lie detector so how am I supposed to know?

„Eh, just some rumors.“

„You shouldn‘t trust such rumor, I would never betray my kind,“ she said with a soft voice, her eyes met with mine. „Ethan, thank you, agai. . .“

Suddenly, I heard the sound of my barrier break. And a glow of light pierced Elishia‘s head. Then the aftermath of a weapon‘s sound effect came at me. Everything was moving slowly.

Elishia still had her tears and smile as she was falling. I stared blankly for what felt like a century, or more like since the start of the universe too now. That is how long I thought this was all happening.

I quickly grabbed her before she fell on the floor, I covered us with my extended shield, but no more shots came.

„Oh shit. . .“

I was shocked, with no words but curses. It just happened suddenly without any warnings. What the hell just happened?

-----V-----

„So?“

I was on top of one of the tallest buildings around, looking down at Amara who was laying with her sniper that smoked from the barrel.

She stood up after a minute and looked at me with her helmet on.

„She‘s dead, thanks to you.“

Her helmet had the number 511, but it changed in front of me to 512.

„Well? You did promise.“

„I don‘t remember promising you, but I will still reward you about how to get off the planet.“