Norbert stayed with the group, everyone having enough food that he wasn't required to make any runs to the village for supplies. Thankful that he could chill out for some time, Norbert talked and chatted with those he hadn't seen in ages. He hadn't talked to any of these people in months between the drop-offs for the supplies, the capture and the re-capture. Not even including the time he was back on Earth.
As the next day came about, the sun high in the sky, Norbert saw the village on the plains. Surprised that it seemed to appear out of nowhere, popping out of the grass suddenly. Word quickly spread of the settlement and how close they finally were. With one last push, the pace sped up, going from a jog into a run, Norbert still maintaining it with ease.
Staying with the group, details of the village were now popping up. Thankfully the raptors hadn't attacked it recently, or at least not on the large scale they did before. Seeing the walls on the outside were now fully repaired, with no holes or boarding up that was patched on later.
Dousan in the front called out to the guards by the gate, receiving a wave in return and a shout throughout the town. As Norbert passed through the gates with everyone else, he was happy to see that the inside was in the same state as the walls.
The conversation around him from the villagers started to crawl out of the woodworks and wave to them for their return. Norbert is not listening to any of the voices he is saying, only looking ahead to the centre of the village.
As they continued forward as one, Norbert spotted what he was looking for. There next to the gate, stood the Traveller, standing there and looking as ominous as always. What broke up the image was the little bird sitting on the man's head.
Unable to stop himself from smiling, Norbert waved at the two standing there. Seeing the bird flap off the Traveller's head Norbert watched as it zoomed towards him faster than he ever saw it move. Smashing into his head, nearly taking him off his feet, Norbert cupped the bird and rested it on his finger.
"Hey, Obsius, long time no see. Where have you been all this time?" Norbert said, unable to hold back the grin on his face.
The bird flapping their wings and ruffling their black feathers, landing on his shoulder as he received a peck. "Owww!" Norbert yelped in surprise, covering his neck with his hand. "That wasn't very nice. You need to learn to take a joke, or you won't find anyone else and just be stuck with me." Norbert said, placing his hands on his hips.
By now, people had started staring at the interaction between them. Out of the crowd, Hyeon stood next to him. "Didn't know you could speak to animals?" She asked, as she tilted her head and placed her finger out, trying to pet Obsius.
"Oh, I picked Obsius here up in a forest. Has been following me ever since. And I cannot speak to animals. Just guessing what she's saying is all," Norbert said. Stopping still, he smashed his palm to his forehead. "So that's the other time Dobert was referring to. How did they know you were a girl?" Norbert asked Obsius.
Receiving a jab again in response as the bird chirped, Norbert just nodded. "Yes, as you said before, it is quite obvious. I must have hit my head too many times. And for your information, it isn't like that between us. I'm not some walking chick magnet." Norbert said definitively, ending the conversation there.
Hyeon just stared, not knowing what to say next—hearing the bird twitter in Norbert's ear. When the bird stopped, she opened her mouth before Norbert interrupted, "Don't say that. What if others heard even though it is true about her." Norbert said, looking around them to see where the Traveller was.
Aghast now at what they were saying, "You better not be saying things behind my back. And faking that you can talk to a bird. Hrrumph", she said at the end before walking past him.
The bird tweeted, "Yeah, she's like that. Though I chopped her arm off, I'll give her a pass for acting like that with me." Norbert said, eyes trailing after her as she walked through the crowd. Now at the back, Norbert started to speed up again, not wanting to be left behind.
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As he saw Dousan wave to the village before he entered the portal already in the gate, the Traveller somehow knew they were coming ahead. As Norbert slowly made his way to the portal, looking over the village now repaired and not a single bit left unnoticed.
Walking through, seeing the house he had been using as a resting spot several times he had been in. Waving to the villagers he knew, Norbert made his way to the portal. The last one as he gave one final salute as he stepped through, his step elongating in the usual fashion of the portal.
The sound instantly hit him. Gone was he from nature, and now in the hustle and bustle of a city. Remembering the times he spent there now gone, Norbert followed Dousan as they made their way to the restroom.
Entering and looking the same as before, once more empty except for the barkeeper behind the bar, Norbert sat at one of the round wooden tables. He looked around as everyone else took a seat, now seeing the people missing. Everyone was closer, remembering people's faces when he entered this room.
Looking at them and their risk, he remembered the village they just saved from destruction. Even if it was just a tiny bit, he was helping people. They all were.
"Due to the nature of the last venture, which resulted in us being captured, we must brief the organisation on what happened and what we know. Just wait here until someone comes to call you out when you will follow. After asking the questions, you will be free for the next week. Please contact your leaders of each section to know when we go back out on the field. Now all of you can relax; nobody here is in trouble." Dousan finished.
Norbert looked around the room, feeling the tenseness of everyone skyrockets instantly. Butterflies in his stomach Norbert just sat there, silent as he waited for something to happen. His sword now felt heavy on his hip, his purse of coins from both countries even heavier.
Lost in thought, Norbert didn't notice as the first few people were called, one after the other—each person from the expedition was taken by someone different. Norbert wondered how many people they had on reserve that they could send out so many on such short notice.
Taking out the coin, Norbert started flipping it in the air, trying to calm his nerves as he watched it spin. People from his table were called out one by one. Norbert was still lost in thought, hoping it would be over soon.
"Norbert." His name echoed across the hall. Norbert shoots up, instinctively catching the coin out of the air and placing it back in his pouch. Standing up, Norbert scooped up Obsius, took his belongings and headed with the person that called his name.
Following Norbert exited the waiting room, heading off to the side as he went through a door. He felt a portal activate as he found himself in a white room. Reminding him of the first time he had a one-on-one conversation with the person asking him for his background. Now that felt like a lifetime ago.
Sitting in the chair, he positioned his sword so it wouldn't be in the way as he tried to get comfortable. Reaching into his backpack Norbert pulled out his card, showing it to the person on the other side.
Now looking up and getting a good look, Norbert spotted the blonde-haired woman. As he continued staring, he couldn't help but think he had seen her somewhere before. Unable to stop the question forming on his tongue, "Have I seen you before?" Norbert asked.
Looking up from the papers she was filling out on her side of the desk, the woman stared at Norbert before frowning. "Please, no personal questions in the room." She said, tapping on the orb next to her. She continued, "You are currently being recorded for use in the future; by continuing to be here, you agree for the recording to be made and viewed by those the Frontier deems appropriate."
Norbert just stared, shocked by the corporate speech he heard coming out of her mouth. Nodding his head in response, she replied, "Please confirm out loud so it can be recorded" She supplied again.
"Yes, I am fine with the recording," Norbert said, Obsius on his shoulder tweeting in response.
The woman nodded. "Firstly, I would like to thank you for your effort in the last expedition. Now please, can you recount what happened? From when you left here to when you returned."
Norbert just raised an eyebrow at the question, this was going to take some time. Breathing in deeply he began recounting his story.
***
Walking out of the room, after recounting what happened and the details when asked, Norbert was surprised, expecting it to get much more personal. Asking multiple times when Hyeon was involved, he still recounted what happened, their deal, and how they escaped from Mount Vesivan.
As he walked along the street, heading to Martitias place as he prepared a list of items to get. First, he would need to drop off what he was carrying. Receive his pay for the time spent and then go shopping.
He might quickly stop by at the casino and say hi to Elizabeth thanking her for the help and letting her know he was out of the thick of it, depending on how much he had left. As Norbert thought for a bit, he decided to stop anyway and would make the time, mainly to let Elizabeth know that he was finally out of the clutches of Arzlan and Taschen. Having
Whistling, Norbert went down the street, happy to be free and safe for once. Not needing to look over his back if something was trying to stab him.