For about an hour I and Munnji discussed what we were going to do. We discussed different plans, but we came to the conclusion that a sneak attack would be the best and the simplest way.

For our plan we were first going to find their approximate location on the house and if they were not in the proximity of either of Rosela or Naga we would strike. We didn't know their real strength but I was almost certain that they were not stronger than a second stage elementalist as me and Munnji were.

*flap flap*

As I went out of the tent a bird flew over our heads. I looked at its silhouette for as much time as I could, as its figure disappeared from my field of vision and deeper into the city.

“Are you okay?”

Munnjis calm voice came from the back.

“Yea I’m fine; I was just looking at something.

So, its time right?”

I spat out my last sentence with worry. Even though we knew where they were and had the element of surprise on our side I couldn’t shake the feeling that this wasn’t enough. My mind was filled with all the bad possibilities that could happen.

*tap*

Munnji put his hand on my shoulder and showed a reassuring smile.

“It’s going to be alright. At the end of the day we will all be dining and laughing around the table, like every other night, so stop worrying for now and just focus on what’s going to happen in the next half hour.”

“Ha-ha, I guess you are right. Now is not the time to be worrying.

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*sigh*

Let’s go.”

.....

Munnjis pov.

As we were moving rapidly along the roofs of the houses a strangling silence permeated the air. Neither I nor Nick said a word to each other as we moved straight to the place where Rosela and Naga were held. We were wearing some cloaks so as not to be recognized by anyone who may tie us to anything.

Nick was in front of me leading the way in silence.

His figure seemed to have changed, but I couldn’t put a finger to it. His back seemed to be more slumped, his shoulders more narrow, but most importantly his eyes seemed to have a fire burning in them. It had been some time since he showed this kind of motivation.

Since we settled into Palos city from the Forest of Hundred Perils where we fought against the monstrous creature that lived there his drive seemed to have disappeared. Without the constant battles for survival, without the struggles of having to fight for food of for protecting our home he seemed to have softened up and let his guard down.

As his days were now no more filled with battle and the threat of death he had succumbed to the idleness of a content human. His food was served to him in a silver platter, his clothes were washed by his many servants and he didn't have to take care of anything as he had Girg to handle such work.

Most of his time was just spent idling by in the inner part of the mansion where he enjoyed the relaxing feeling of its atmosphere, sometimes he went to hunt on the nearby forest for small game and the other time he spent training the slaves and playing with Naga.

I hate to admit but I was somewhat happy about this change of his as I missed the Nick that I met in the Forest of Hundred Perils about two years ago. I missed my hunting buddy.

*stare*

I’m such a bad friend rejoicing in the misfortune of others. These feelings that I have right now May as well be me wishing for us to fail so we could go back to the way things were before, but why?

Before he was just lonely even though we had each other, I knew that because I saw it on his eyes every day. After finding his happiness he lost his fighting spirit and now he had found it again, but I wasn’t sure about it.

If we failed, if Rosela or Naga....

No, we won’t fail.

I won’t fail.

.....

At the house where Rosela and Naga were held.

*tap tap tap* *krrrk* *tap tap tap*

An old man was grinding some things in his mortar. He periodically took something from the wooden table before him and ground it until it was a fine powder.

“He he, it’s almost over. I just need the essence of “cordial flower” and we have a truth potion, fresh of the oven.”