Ray felt his heart race, his breathing was about to get rapid, Ray forced himself to take a deep breath, he looked directly at the knight.

“Hello, is there anything I can help you with?” Ray wanted this to end as soon as possible and leave.

“Mind if I sit down?”

The knight put down a book in front of him and took the chair that was in front of Ray, and sat down, now they were both sitting directly in front of each other.

{Guess you answered that yourself huh.}

Ray took a good look at the knight, now that he was as close as he could be. The knight was well built, almost the same height as Ray, he had a faint scratch mark on the left side of his face.

“So what can I do for you?” Ray asked again, Ray couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable during this.

“Oh well I wanted to say hi to the visitor of the village, since I recognize everyone in the village, and when I didn’t recognize you, I assumed you were a visitor here correct?” The knight seemed proud, as if remembering everyone in the village was something he took pride in.

“Yes, I am a visitor, I actually arrived today, my cousin and I are going to be here for three weeks, before we have to head out again, we are planning on reaching one of the holy cities so we can finally settle down.” Ray carefully chose his words, in case the knight had somehow already talked to Justin.

“Oh is your cousin here, I didn’t see anyone else?” The knight remarked, he turned his head to take another look around the library, when he was finished he looked directly at Ray as if expecting him to answer.

“No, my cousin is staying back in the inn we are staying at, he might be going somewhere else I don’t know.” Ray explained he was already done with this conversation, but the last thing he needed was the knight spreading rumors about him to the other knights.

“Wow, the two of you must have some money to be able to stay a couple weeks here, especially in the inn.” The knight stated.

“...Well since we are the only survivors in our family, we can afford to use the money ourselves, but still I would have liked my family instead.” Ray shot back.

The knight lost his smile, and looked at Ray, the knight seemed a little comfortable with the conversation. “Well I am sorry for your loss, it must be hard carrying all that, through the villages, I am hoping the both of you manage to arrive where you want to go.” The knight seemed to pity Ray, which only made Ray more angry.

“Thank you, well if you don't’ mind I would like to go back to reading.” Ray holds up the book so the knight can get a bigger clue.

The knight stood up, and held out his hand towards Ray. “I am Victor Zure.”

Ray put down his book, and stood up, grabbing Victor hand and shaking it. “I’m Sam, it was nice meeting you Victor.” Ray sat back down, Ray watched Victor take the book he put on the table with him, and head out the building, when Ray heard the large wooden door close, Ray leaned on his chair, taking a deep sighed, and went over what happened.

{Great my first day here, and I already got the attention of a knight, now I have to make sure my story matches with Justin when I see him again, since he is going to the church I hope he keeps it under control, if he dies that is just going make everything more harder for me.}

Ray looked out the window, the sunlight coming in through the window, Ray still had time before he had to leave the library. Ray went back to his book.

After a few hours have passed, Martin the librarian yell out from his desk that they were about to close, Ray close the book, which he only got halfway through, Ray put the book back to where he first got it, making a mental note where it was so he can come back another day and finish reading it.

Ray went out the door, saying goodbye to Martin on his way out. As Ray stepped out on the pavement he saw more people walking around than the first time he came walking down. Ray greeted back the people who greeted him, and made his way towards the inn. Ray opened the doors, and saw Mike at the reception desk again.

“Hello there Sam, how was the library?” Mike asked, wanting to know.

“It was good, I am going to have to go back there another day, I actually met a knight there,” Ray revealed.

“Oh you must be talking about Victor, he is the brains of the knights that are stationed here, he claims he wants to read through every book in that library before they have to leave the village.” Mike remarked.

“I could see that, he told me how he could recognize every villager here, that must help whenever he needs to identify someone.” Ray said he could see how that could also help him with his mission, recognizing everyone he ever met.

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

“Well if you wanted to know your cousin headed out soon after you did, he said he couldn’t wait to go to the church, and meet everyone.”

{Well going by the village still seem peaceful I guess he is doing ok-}

A commotion can be heard outside, Ray frooze expecting the worst, he rushed outside to see what was going on, when he just saw two adults about to fight.

{Are you serious? I could feel my heart drop from my chest, damn I really need to take it easy, I have been on edge ever since I met Justin.}

Ray saw some knight coming to stop the fight, Ray felt it was better if they dealt with that sorta thing. Ray went back inside the inn, ignoring the fight outside, Ray apologized to Mike for stepping out during their conversation.

“Sorry about that, it was just a fight going on, I guess I am still kinda jumpy since the attack.” Ray tried to make it seem like it was a natural reaction.

“Oh, it's fine, after the attack on the village I remembered being alert all the time, wondering if another attack was going to happen. If you ever need help sleeping I know someone that can prescribe you some medicine, so you’ll knock out right away.” Mike offered.

“I am fine, thank you. I think I am sleeping more than enough, but if I do need any help I’ll come to you first, thank you again.”

Mike nodded his head, and went back to what he was doing, while Ray decided what he wanted to do.

{Ok, I’ll take a quick shower, and stay for a bit. If he doesn’t come back,I’ll go search for him. I doubt he is going to spend the whole day at the church.

Ray went to his room, and grabbed his things so he could take a shower, after showering he laid on the bed, it was similar to the bed he had back in Vincent house. He got back up, and started reorganizing his things, in an attempt to get his mind off Justin, and the church.

After Ray was done, he looked out the window again, his eyes kept landing on the church, expecting it to go up in flames. The more time has passed the more he was getting uncomfortable.

{Dammit what is taking him so long? Screw it I’m going to search for him, here hoping nothing happens… Why did I say that? Nevermind.}

Ray went back downstairs, Mike wasn’t in usual place, and Ray didn’t hear anything going on outside. The fight must have been resolved, Ray went outside the inn, and people were already starting to light the braziers, the sun was just about to set.

Ray quickly made his way through the village, thanks to the height of the church, and the black pillar behind it, he could find his way, he made sure to avoid any knights he came across, that were doing their daily patrols.

Soon Ray stood in front of the church, the church was made of light gray stone, two wooden doors, in the entrance there was a knight standing guard. The both of them made eye contact.

{Well it is now or never.}

Ray went up to the knight, the knight was wearing the usual gray armor, with the mark of Sez at her hilt. Ray went in front of her and started a conversation.

“Hello, I am Sam, what’s your name?” Ray kindly asked, hoping to make a good impression on her.

The knight looked at Ray for a while before she finally answered him. “I am Fiona, I stand to watch over the church for my comrades,” Fiona declared, her face never changing.

“Wow, you must train hard to be able to stay in one place for so long without having anything to do, I could never do that, it would drive me insane.” Ray confessed, trying to warm up to the knight, but Ray could tell he wasn’t making any progress.

“Is there anything I can help you with, I am about to change my shift with the other knight.” Fiona offered, her gaze piercing Ray’s.

“Ah yes, by any chance have you seen my cousin John?”

Fiona's face lightened up, by the sound of Justin's fake name, Fiona started acting more friendly towards Ray.

“Oh, you must be Sam, I am sorry but John just left the church around twenty minutes ago, he actually mentioned visiting the cemetery, the cemetery is behind the church, would you like to go in, otherwise you can take the long way around the church.” Fiona offered.

“I am fine, thank you, but I am sorry for asking but how much did John tell you guys about me?” Ray asked, he was starting to worry how friendly Justin had gotten with the knights, he couldn’t see a good reason for doing so just so he could get some information.

“Oh he just told us how the two of you are, are just visiting Temes, but you will have to leave soon to head towards one of the holy cities, he is a pretty upbeat guy despite the two of you losing your family.” Fiona sadly said.

“I…thank you, well I should be on my way, I have to find him.” Ray turned around and headed around the church.

{Don’t tell me he has already met Roberto, dammit Justin what are you thinking, I knew I should have stopped him from visiting the church.}

Ray silently curse himself, until he reached the end of the church, Ray saw the cemetery Fiona told him about, he went to the entrance of the cemetery, and Ray saw the black pillar was right behind the church standing in front of the pillar was Justin, Justin was kneeling down in front of the monument he was reading the plague that was on the pillar.

Behind Justin was a person, the person seemed to be saying something to Justin, Ray could see his lips move, the person had dark hair, he was well built, he had on a black shirt, and blue jeans, Ray went up to them to introduce himself.

Justin turned his head when heard footsteps. Justin first seemed annoyed when he spotted Ray, but quickly fixed it, Justin waved at Ray, and said something to the person that was behind him.

Ray got closer before calling out Justin. “Hey John, been looking for you for a while. I thought you’ll be back in the inn by now. Did something happen?” Ray carefully chose his words in case the person that was next to Justin was indeed a knight.

“Oh sorry, I got caught up with everything going on, I just wanted to pay my respect to the cemetery, oh right the gentlemen behind me if the deacon of the church, Sam please meet Lucas.”