*Present Day*
The Guild Master was clutching her temples with her fingers throughout the story.
With Akuro's tale told, she sinks back into her chair followed by a deep sigh. After a moment, she leans back onto the table; invoking a conversation.
[So, no one made it back except for you?]
[Yes. Mam.]
[What happened to Mr. Aloz?]
[He was the guy who saved me, so he went to get some supplies but never returned. I went looking for him and found him dead on the ground. I think the centaurs were still in the area, they killed him.]
[What makes you think it was the centaurs? There could be many other monsters or beasts that could kill an unarmed man.]
[You have a point, but, when I found him, every part of his body was contorted. Some parts were even gouged in and the side of his face was ripped off.
Centaurs sometimes stomp on their prey as a show of power. I think it was them.]
[There were three squads all under the command of a B-ranked Captain, and no one made it back except for an E-ranked Valen.]
She clutches her forehead with her hand, while Akuro looks down in guilt.
[I wonder what the higher-ups would say about this.]
Asked the Contingent Manager standing upright behind Akuro.
Akuro glances over his shoulder to look at him, while the CM just eyed him from the corner of his eyes. Akuro shrugged and looked away.
He felt overwhelmed by the amount of power oozing out of him.
[Yes. I was just wondering the same thing.]
The GM replied, with a sigh.
She then gets up from her chair, which startles Akuro, who follows after her.
[Mr. Akuro, I don't reckon we have met before. I am Akane, the Guild Manager.]
She holds out her hand towards Akuro.
[I-Its a pleasure to meet you, Mam.]
He shakes her hand with both of his.
[Oh. Call me Akane.]
She said so, with a cheerful smile.
Akuro happily obliged.
The CM's expression, who was standing behind Akuro, was a combination of sternness and concern.
As she made her way towards the door, she tells Akuro.
[Make sure to get enough rest, The Dungeon Sweep is in three days. Come back tomorrow, same time. We will discuss the plan along with everyone.]
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She holds the door open for him.
Akuro gives her an affirming bow and leaves.
[Take care.]
She closes the door after him.
As Akuro makes his way down the hallway, he reaches for something in his pockets. He takes out a glistening silver pendant with some shapes delicately carved into it. They looked like letters, but Akuro couldn't understand them.
After examining it for a while, he puts it back into his pocket and heads out.
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Now he is standing outside a satisfactory-sized wooden house. Behind him, across the road, were houses of similar architecture. Each of them hung a big nameplate over the door. What the nameplates had in common was that they all started with the letters 'Vl.'; short for 'Valen'.
The nameplate of the house in front of him read 'Vl. Aloz Von Dern'.
After mentally preparing himself, he walked up to the door and held up his knuckle hesitantly, then he knocked lightly. He glanced around nervously; waiting for someone to answer the door. A few toys scribbled over the small garden attached to the entryway catch his eyes.
Moments later, someone could be heard rushing down the stairs, followed by a *Thud* and an
[Oww.]
It was a child who tripped down the stairs while rushing to open the door.
Nevertheless, they quickly recovered and ran to the door.
As soon as the door opens, a cute little girl, in a blue dress, rushed towards Akuro and quickly embraced his legs. Akuro just stood there in shock and awe.
She looks up at him with a huge glittering smile which quickly faded away as she realized.
[You're not Papa. Who are you?]
Akuro takes a step back then kneels in front of the little girl. While smiling he says to her.
[Hey, sorry I'm not your Papa. I am Akuro. I am a friend of his.]
Before she could give him a reaction. A voice calls out to her from inside the house.
[Isaka, who is on the door?]
Both, Isaka and Akuro turn their gaze towards the inside of the house. It was Isaka's mother, standing by a door next to the stairs, wearing an apron. She had a worried look on her face and she also had her hand folded up against her chest.
Akuro then stood up facing her mother with a saddened expression.
[Mommy, he is Akuro. He says he is a friend of Papa.]
With that, the mother immediately realized why Akuro was there. She invited him inside the residence and guided him into a room.
The room was furnished beautifully, with a center table, overlooked upon by a big window with embroidered curtains hanging on either side of it. Around the table were three luxurious sofas. The furniture seemed quite unusual; it was very elegant. It felt like something which would be in the guest room of a palace of sorts.
The sunlight coming from the window beautifully lit up the entire room. Aside from that, there were only two other light sources; lamps on either corner of the windowed wall. The lamps remained shut as the window provided more than enough light.
Akuro takes a seat on the sofa. He overheard the mother convincing Isaka to stay out of the room while she talked to him. But like a little rascal, she was adamant about listening. So the mother had to bribe her; offering some candy later. She then locks the door after Isaka leaves and sits down on the sofa nearest to Akuro.
She lowers her gaze, her lips trembling. Before even breaking her the sad news, she seemed to be grieving.
With a teary voice, she asks
[Is it about my husband?]
[Ye-yes, mam.]
Listening and looking at her made Akuro sorrowful.
Her eyes got more flooded as she tried to hold in the tears.
[Mr. Aloz. He saved my life. On our way back, the centaurs attacked us. We were weak, outpowered, and outnumbered. I was on the brink of death. If it wasn't for him... I'd be dead. He used some sort of potion on me.]
As soon as she heard that last part, her head shot up, her eyes wide in shock while being fixed on Akuro and her mouth slightly open.
It made Akuro panic on the inside.
[Umm... Uhhh. *Gulp* Mr. Aloz told me to give you this before he passed away.]
He took out the silver pendant and held it out in his palm.
She stood up and took it from his palm. Her tears finally escape as she holds the pendant and looks down on it. Her tearful face reflects off the pendant.
Akuro looks down while fumbling with his lips.
A few moments later, Akuro stood up.
[I shall leave you to it then.]
He took a step towards the door before she interrupted him.
[If he saved you with that potion... then you must be special. My husband had this gift... of picking out special people.
You may not know it yet, but you are special.]
He turns around and nods at her. He did not dare to tell her how Mr. Aloz died.
[Sorry for my behavior, Akuro-san. I am Uroka.]
He shakes his head and replies.
[No, no. Uroka-sama, I completely get it. Now if you don't mind, I will be on my way.]
As he turns around to make his leave, he spots a portrait hanging on the wall he had his back turned against. It seemed to be a family portrait.
Mr. Aloz stood aside Ms. Uroka, who is carrying an infant in her arms. The infant looked a lot like Isaka. And in front of them, stood another girl, with beautiful blonde hair.
Akuro opens the door and Isaka comes running. He stops her from getting inside and seeing her mom in a state of grieve by hugging her and pressing her face on his shoulders. He tries comforting her by whispering to her.
[Hey, it's gonna be alright. It's all gonna be alright.]
He then releases her and closes the door. This was all too sudden for her childly mind to make sense of.
[Your mommy needs some space. Give her some time alone.]
She was dumbfounded.
[I'll tell you what. Let's go get some candy.]
Her face lit up and she joyously celebrated.
[Yay! Candy. Candy. Candy...]
They both leave the house and are on their way to the candy shop.
Chapter 4 Fin~