“Finally! We can sleep in an inn.”

Damian said with a wide smile as he look towards the distant town.

The gates and walls of this town might be weathered by the times but it was not burnt until black like the previous town.

“A bed!”

Ezekiel cheered before speeding up his horse leaving everyone as he went straight to the gates.

Lance was about to tell him to slow down but then he noticed a bow wielding man appeared in the observing tower next to the wall.

Before Lance could warn him the man released the string of his bow and like a beast the arrow charge straight towards Ezekiel's head.

The smile on his lips suddenly lowered and his eyes turned cold as a burst of wind came out of nowhere changing the course of the arrow back to where it came.

Due to how fast the things turned around the archer greeted his arrow back with his surprised face, and like a hive after being poked countless stings showed themselves threatening to launch at them.

The group then draw their weapons or conjured magic circles and it looks like an arrow would spark a fight between the two.

Irushka whose holding a spear made of grass made her horse moved closer towards Lance, she then whispered, “There’s blood in the air.”

“Mhm, cover your ears.” Lance reminded her.

“Alright.”

She followed his words draping the hood of her robe over her head.

“Are we cursed by the emperor or some of those pigs to only sleep outside?” Damian lamented as he look to the sky with a distant eyes.

“Or maybe we're just unlucky.”

The Heretic tapped his shoulder as he smiled amiably, “Do not put yourself down in every journey there is always a hardship.”

The two sides then became quiet only for it to be broken by a dragging sounds as the town's wooden gates slowly opened

A man past his prime appeared in the middle of the opened gate, he was wearing a white-shirt with a brown coat draped over him and a loose brown pants.

He gave a wide smile but it felt a little fake as he opened his arms wide, “Welcome to Linderin Town! And I am its mayor, so what brings our friends here in my humble place?”

“We are travelers and we just pass by your town!” Lance replied loud enough to reach his maybe ailing ears.

The mayor's smile widen more that even his eyes was starting to hide in the fats of his face when he heard that.

“Seeing that the day is about to end, if you are willing why not stay here for the night?”

Lance glanced at the group and without waiting for there response he looked back towards the mayor.

“Then we'll take your offer.”

The mayor showed his teeth before gesturing them inside, he did not even talked about the incident that started all of this.

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Lance lead his horse moving forward he whispered when he passed Ezekiel.

“Scout the place when they aren't looking at you.”

Ezekiel cold face change back to beaming joy as he followed Lance's back.

When the group passed by the gates they saw the town which was more dilapidated than they thought.

The houses where damage by slashes of swords and being hit by the arrows they're not even have thought how suspicious those looks before inviting them in, still the group pretended to be blind for their blatant carelessness as they follow the mayor whose leading them in the front with his horse.

As they moved forward, Alexis got curious about what other town looks like and stick his covered match head out of the wagon's partition.

What he witnessed warranted an imaginary goosebumps in his coal-like skin as he hurriedly took his head back inside.

After three days Alexis body was already free from pain yet he was still in coal form which only had few necessary holes in necessary places, the only changes was not something that would easily noticed but there are small cracks that started spreading out starting from his chest.

“What kind of town did we enter?” Alexis muttered in fear.

The young miss, Kyrille looked at him in puzzlement.

“What are you whispering about?”

“Well, this town look suspicious.”

“Suspicious?”

She crawled forward and open the curtain to take a peek outside however that's when the carriage stopped in front of the big house which is situated a little away from the bustling street, it has no neighbors close by as it stood lonely surrounded only with a big open lot.

“We are here friends, you can use this house as all the inns currently have a lot of guest.”

The mayor wiped his sweat but not his smile as he pointed towards the house that looked more like a mansion without a gate, a wide green garden, and a fountain sprouting blue clean water...only a big house.

“You can put your horses at the back there is a stable there, now if you'll excuse me I have some matters to attend to. Enjoy your stay.”

The mayor first ogled the hooded Irushka before bidding them farewell.

Kyrille took her head back as she glanced at Alexis weirdly, “I didn't saw anything suspicious.”

When Alexis saw her expression he immediately told her what he saw, “When I looked out the wagon that time I saw people at the streets look at us oddly, they had a very wide smile on their faces yet their eyes almost look like they were about to cry, there's also buildings that had burnt and bloody marks in them.”

“If what you said is true then it's truly a creepy scene.”

The group moved their horses and wagons to where the stable is.

“Looks like they want us gathered in one place.” Damian said after alighting his horse.

“Let's go inside first.”

They tied their horses and took their luggage with them but before they head out the stable Alexis noticed that Ezekiel was still on his horse, he was about to call to him but like a mirage it slowly vanished.

His mouth was raised opened and only closed when Kyrille pulled his arms forward, “What are you looking at?”

Alexis pointed where he saw Ezekiel vanished, “He suddenly vanished.”

“Oh...” Kyrille pulled him after a lackluster show of surprise.

The house had barely any furniture even though it looks so big, it only has a big open space in the first floor with a long table and chairs in the middle and also a stairs at the side leading to the second floor of the house.

Just as Alexis passed the door he saw Ezekiel slowly appeared his mouth opened wide for the second time.

“That fast?” Even Lance was surprise but for different reason.

“Hehe, Is that a praise?”

Ezekiel smiled like a child after being praised for doing a good job when Lance nodded, he then glanced back at Heretic who looking around the wide open spacious first floor.

“Father, could you please?”

The Heretic looked back and smiled before clapping his hands once.

The soft sounds coming from outside disappeared afterwards and the same from the noises inside for those that are outside turning the house quiet like before they entered it.

“There you go little Ezekiel.”

“Thanks, Father may your lord or something bless you.”

Ezekiel then looked towards Lance before glancing at the table and chairs.

Lance nodded at him before walking forward and taking a seat on the chair at the head over the table, Ezekiel too followed taking a seat to the right.

Meanwhile the group split up on their own, Heretic went to the side to pray, Irushka went upstairs checking the rooms the same for Witch while the Old Man went to the kitchen holding a can of tea leaves, only those either had nothing to do or curious took their own seats.

“Captain you wont believe what I saw! There are bandits here! Bandits! Their faces were as scary as Tron but their leader was worse, he looked like a boar walking straight like human!” Ezekiel's voice was filled with fear making Alexis and Kyrille shiver.

“Bandits!?”