At the back of the house, the staff was preparing for the departure of the party, as requested by Talya earlier. Lacking detailed instructions, they were packing rather heavily.
After explaining the entire ordeal to Basil, Talya decided to inspect the preparations. She entered the stables where about a dozen people were busy.
“No, this won’t do,” Talya said shortly after entering. “I need you to split the supplies; we might depart in two parties.”
She left the stables after her brief instruction and walked through the cellars of the house. In a room on the lowest row of the wall, she found the first stone of the house, marked with a small memorial plaque. The engraved text signified the family credo.
Talya wasn’t the most sentimental person, but this meant something to her. Written by the first matriarch of their family, a distant ancestor, the words were meant to offer support in tough times. She detached the plaque and added it to the party’s supplies.
As it grew dark, most preparations were nearing completion. The enticing smells from the kitchen were like a warm hug for the staff after a bizarre day. They began to gather in the large dining hall in small groups, drawn by the beacon of Chef Samuel’s creations.
Walther had taken his plate and sat down. Just as he was about to take his first bite, Talya sat next to him. She remained silent for the first ten minutes, eating her meal.
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Walther was puzzled. Surely she had something to ask or tell. The matriarch wasn’t one for small talk or casual dinners.
“I need you to join one of the parties tomorrow, Walther,” Talya finally said. “No one else has your knowledge of the strange magic we are now burdened with through the patchwork.”
“Joining the excursion party? I… I know many things about foreign lands. But I can’t wield a sword to save my life, Talya. You know this!” Walther protested.
Talya anticipated his refusal. She reached into a hidden pocket in her dress and discreetly placed an object wrapped in paper onto the table in front of Walther.
“Take a peek, but don’t let others catch a glimpse,” she told him.
Walther opened a corner of the paper and saw a fine textile artifact with a rounded shape. He spotted the first letter O and knew immediately what it was. It was the patch that Nymous had carried that morning. He looked at Talya in disbelief and whispered, “I have to take this with me?”
“The D-classes aren’t very useful, but they offer some immunity to the person carrying it,” Talya replied.
Walther chuckled, a small grin forming as he spotted a flaw in her claim. “Talya, there’s one improbable book that says they might repel some animals—the smaller kind. The author said it got chancy with boars. Swords? Not a chance.”
Talya internally agreed but wouldn’t admit it. “Look, this is the only way. You will leave in the morning for the Auspex’s library to meet up with Nymous.”
“Oh, and one more thing,” she hesitated, “Basil will join your party. Take good care of him, please.”
She finished her meal and stood up, leaving for her quarters for one final night’s rest in her home.
Walther was left dumbfounded. He stared at the paper containing the patch for a long while. He then said goodnight to Chef Samuel, thanking him for the fine dinner.
As he almost reached his room, intending to go to bed, an insight struck him. He turned around and walked towards the library.
There, he started rummaging through the index of an old book titled *Creator Pantheon Magic, Second Inception.* Talking to himself as he read through the terms, he murmured, “… Inaroth … Janucius – Here you are, Jaunaroth old man!” It was going to be a night of much study and little sleep.