Cody brought his horse to a stop outside of Otalos, It took me about three days to get here, Skarlet was on foot so theoretically I should be ahead of her. He showed the gate guard his guild card, and he was let in without any fuss. Guess news hasn't traveled here yet, I should have around a week before they start looking for me.

Cody dismounted from the horse and tied it up at the gate stable, Yofen was smiling to himself as he gazed into the sky.

"I guess we be splittin' here, Cody." Yofen held his hand out and Cody shook it, Yofen pulled his bag from his shoulders, "Fore I go, made ya dis." Yofen lifted a cloak with a furred collar and hood, it was made of a rather tough material, but was still very flexible like normal cloth. "Dis here cloak is made with the hide from that there wyvern you and Skarlet killed."

Cody took the cloak from him and wrapped it around his shoulders, throwing the hood up could conceal him when avoiding the church, "Thank you Yofen, I hope we meet again." The dwarf nodded before turning and leaving, Cody watched him go before heading towards the guild, he pushed the doors open and approached the counter.

"Hello, I'm looking for someone, It's possible they haven't arrived yet, but I'm looking for a black cat Beastkin with red eyes. She's about five foot, carrying an unassuming sword on her back and a black cloak around her shoulders. She often wears the hood up, and avoids crowds and people in general." The receptionist laughed, as he pulled something from under the table.

"Ah Skarlet, yes? She was here about two days ago, she took a commission in the forest outside of town, hunting bandits." The receptionist, a man with red hair, replied, "She will probably return once she's completed the bounty, but aside from that she isn't staying at any of the inns. Good luck on finding your friend though."

Cody sighed as he turned and left, Two days, what form of travel did she use, it took me three days to get here on horse, last I saw she was on foot and she managed to get here in a single day? Cody pondered as he left the guild, he headed into the market. It was packed, he purposefully avoided the center though. He could get the auctioneers from here, selling slaves to the highest bidder, He passed the food stalls, and headed past the item stalls, he slowed as he passed some shops selling clothes. A particular shop caught his eyes. Smaller than the two buildings on either side of it it seem to be smushed into a little alley. Windows in a glass door revealed a brightly lit interior with wooden mannequins displaying adventures clothes.

He pushed open the front door of the store. It was a mess as much as things hung on the wall and we're stored on shelves there were plenty of boxes randomly tossed around filled with a miscellaneous pieces of gear. A myriad of options, haphazardly tossed around the room. He began to walk around picking things up and setting them down it didn't really seem much that caught his eye but as he neared the back he was immediately drawn to a box with a discount bin sign on it. Inside the box he pulled out some garish brown pants, a loose white shirt, and a pair of leather boots with iron straps. Deciding that it was a good change of clothes from his very obvious hero attire. He started heading towards the counter where he also grabbed a belt with a shoulder strap that could hold his sword sheath how's he passed the shelf holding it. He brought the items to the counter, a young man greeted him with crossed arms. The man had spiky red hair and serious eyes, he was probably a retired adventurer.

"That'll be three small silver pieces and ten copper pieces." He said, Cody pulled four small silver pieces from his bag and set them on the table, the man scowled and began digging in his own coin pouch and pushed ten copper coins at Cody.

Cody took the coins and his clothes before stepping from the building, his clothes went into his bag. He then escaped The market Street hastily, heading towards where he expected to find an Inn, he turned onto a street with several inns, taverns, and small shops. One of the Inns caught his eye it was warm feeling not shabby but also not high class candlelight drifted out through the window and through the open door he could hear the sound of a chair creaking rhythmically. Cody pushed the door open and stepped inside. He approached the counter where a young girl about ten years of age was rocking in the chair, she stiffened as he walked in and tried to look professional.

"W-welcome to the-our Inn, the price is one small silver per night." She stumbled through her words, her childish attempts at maturity caused him to smile.

"I'll take three nights." He passed three small silver her way, she swept it into an item bag that sat below the counter, she then handed him a small metal key.

"Thank you for your patronage sir!" She exclaimed as Cody stepped past the counter and headed up the stairs and opened his room. He sat down on the bed, I'll check in on the guild tomorrow, He thought as he pulled out his new clothes and hung them on the back of the desk chair. His inn room was simple, a bed, a desk with a chair, and a bookcase.

Cody also pulled the cloak from his shoulders and draped it over the chair, he unbuttoned his shirt, relief washed over him. I'm gonna enjoy wearing normal clothes a bit too much, these noble clothes the Church gave me are too tight and fancy. He thought as he laid down, he was asleep almost immediately.

Cody sat up, he was in a forest, he scrambled to his feet suddenly. He backed away, ahead of him, lay a person. She was broken and twisted, she crawled towards him, one of her legs was ripped and torn, barely holding on to the fractured bone. She dug her blood and dirt caked fingers into the dirt as she dragged herself towards a sword that lay on the ground at Cody's feet. It was a creepy looking sword, a large eye sat in the center of the hilt, it was staring hungrily at Skarlet. The sword's blade dripped with blood. It wasn't just covered in it, the blade was practically oozing the stuff. Cody stepped back as Skarlet inched closer, her eyes were soaked in pain and tears, but she showed no fear, no relief, only a desire for the sword she desperately crawled towards. Though there was another emotion hiding beneath the rage, beneath the desire, the need for strength. It was a loathing regret, a self-hate so strong he had to look away. When he glanced back, she collapsed on the sword, when her hand reached it the sword began to pour blood from it's blade. In mere minutes Skarlet was swallowed up and vanished. Cody turned to run, but the ground disappeared from beneath him and he sank beneath the bloody waves.

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He floundered for awhile before he righted himself and broke the surface gasping for air. Someone was laughing as he plunged in, an evil laugh, but as he surfaced the laugh was different. It was now nighttime, and he was floating beside a boat. A dock rose from the dark waters to his left. Skarlet was crouched on the dock, she was laughing, gazing at him with humorous eyes.

"Nice, real smooth mister hero." She teased him before reaching her hand out to pull him from the sea. Cody took her hand when suddenly he felt nauseous, he blinked before realizing he was now somewhere really high. He was on his knees reaching down, Skarlet hung limply below him. He wasn't sure if she was dead or unconscious, he held onto her hand, she was heavy and he felt himself tipping towards the edge when suddenly he fell. Cody searched wildly for something to grab to save them.

Cody leaped from his bed, panting, sweat drenched he placed his hand on his chest. Damn, another prophetic dream. They really didn't help me that much, aside from the knowledge that Skarlet will be in danger soon, also. . . it was three this time though the first one that feels more metaphorical I don't really feel like that event itself will happen. The second dream this time. . . Skarlet looked no different really from the last time I saw her so it will likely happen sooner. His thoughts raced as he made sense of the dream, his heart calmed as he grabbed his clothes and stepped from his room, there was a bath attached to the inn and he headed there.

Cody, now dressed in new and unassuming gear, headed down the stairs. The girl from yesterday was asleep at the front desk, drooling. Beside her sat an elderly man who was counting money. He waved at him as Cody passed, Cody nodded as he stepped out onto the street.

He pulled his hood up and headed to the guild, when he pushed the doors open, it was as busy as ever. Cody approached the counter, the Receptionist was the same fiery haired man, he smiled at Cody.

"Just missed her mate." He chuckled, causing Cody to frown, "She was just here, she handed in her commission."

"Did she say where she was going?" Cody asked, but the man shook his head.

"I can't just tell you something like that kid, breaks privacy laws." He replied, frowning. Cody pulled out his adventurer's license and the man widened his eyes, "Sorry hero, I wish I could help but she didn't say anything. Though from what I've seen she is likely staying in the forest outside of town." he finally said. Cody thanked him and left the guild, Otalos's Lord, David if I remember correctly, he's around Maria's age. . . though he's been running Otalos since his dad died a couple years ago. I should probably give him a visit. . . He might be able to help me. I need to do this as quick as possible and get out of Kozak. With that thought on his mind Cody hurry down the street towards the Lord's mansion.

Cody approached the mansion, heading for the front gate, This won't keep working. . . He thought as he showed the guard his guild card and asked for a meeting with the Lord. The guard reacted almost immediately and let him in. His status is the hero made him an honored guest and most noble households.

He was led down a hall towards the Lord's study by a young man in a Butler's uniform. Same man who had greeted him at the door after the guard had let him in.

Cody waited as the butler approached the door and knocked, moments later he was given permission to enter. Hearing permission the butler opened the door but did not step in himself. Cody walk past the younger servant and the stepped into the room though he was almost immediately taken a back as the young David Spearman was not the person sitting at the desk instead it was an older man. The older man was doing paperwork, he stopped his pen and looked up as Cody entered.

"Hello sir hero, what can I help you with?" The man greeted him, Cody frowned for a moment before speaking.

"Might I ask who you are?" Cody explained, the man smiled and nodded.

"I'm the appointed proxy taking care of matters while Master Spearman is in the Capital. My name is Jeremy" The man explained calmly causing Cody to nod. "Now what was it you needed."

"I'm looking for a friend, named Skarlet. A red eyed black cat." Cody explained after his confusion was settled.

"Ah, yes I know who you're talking about. Hmm she completed a request for a collaborator of ours recently. But sadly there was never a reason to ask, where she is staying, was never brought up." The man seemed to light up as the name was mentioned he pulled a paper out from his stack and briefly glanced at it before telling what he knew. Cody opened his mouth to speak when suddenly.

A young man rushed in holding a letter, "There's been a major fight outside the tavern and restaurant called 'The chick's den' and someone's dead." The man handed Jeremy a letter, he began reading through it, then he looked up. His face was slightly annoyed as he set the letter down.

"Why was this brought to me? It seems like everything's already been handled." Jeremy asked with a friend, but he was already standing up from his desk.

"Zealsus asked for it, and said the person being persecuted isn't guilty of their crimes." The young man announced, "Said you should head down there yourself and get a look at the culprit."

The old man frowned as he stepped out from behind his desk, he left the letter that he had received on the desktop before turning to Cody, "Wanna take a walk with me Hero?" Cody nodded as the three of them left the mansion and started walking down the street, the new young man led the way energetically causing Jeremy to smile wryly. "How eager." He said to himself.

Soon enough they were standing outside of the guard house, there was definitely a commotion going on inside and they could hear yelling and crashing. Cody's hand unconsciously went to his sword and Jeremy's face was noticeably harder.

Jeremy sighed before he stepped forward and knocked on the door, moments later a guard opened the door. "What do you wan- Oh Jeremy sir, how may I be of assistance." He seemed startled, and Cody sensed the hint of guilt. The man acted suspiciously as if he was caught in the act of something. Jeremy's friend deepened before he opened his mouth to speak.

"It was brought to my attention that you have a suspect in custody. I would like to be a part of the interrogation if you do not mind." Jeremy spoke politely but his voice was rough and vaguely annoyed. He seem to also recognize that the guard was trying to hide something. Cody felt the desire to press his hand against his face in exasperation.