The town of Eldebourg didn’t look different. The people on the streets didn’t act different. It all appeared as if nothing happened. As if there hadn’t been anything out of the ordinary. But Offilo knew that this wasn’t true. He had seen the crater. He had seen the injures of the Divine Lord and his demon. Injuries, which still haunted his mind from time to time.

All alone in the town, Offilo felt lost. Almost as if he were dreaming and this dream was teetering at the edge of a nightmare. But at the same time, he was aware that he wasn’t dreaming. That this was reality. That he had a mission to complete.

Holding on to his rucksack as if it were keeping him from drowning amidst the people on the streets, he walked down the main-road towards the marketplace. Upon leaving the castle grounds and reaching the first houses of the town, Offilo had asked two happy looking men for directions to the Merry Boar. While they had given him the proper directions without hesitation, their cheery behaviour had been eerie. Thus, after saying a hasty thank you, Offilo had left them behind as fast as decency had allowed him.

On the streets, he took note of many strangely happy people. Men and women, who went about their business in almost mindless bliss. And then there were those with their faces empty and their eyes cast downward. People, who also went about their business but more like mourners at a funeral procession. Yet no one stopped Offilo or paid even more attention to him than was necessary to avoid running into him.

I wish, I could be back in Gabáuan, he thought as he entered the marketplace. Although the Divine Lord and his demon are there.

Quite miserable, he reached the Merry Boar Inn. The building looked weirdly strange. Almost as if it had been thoroughly cleaned or even rebuilt, but by someone who hadn’t exactly know how it had looked beforehand. Or, perhaps, I’m going insane and misremember, Offilo suspected and went to the front door.

Just like the first time he had entered with the Divine Lord’s demon, he was greeted by the young black-haired man.

“Welcome to the Merry Boar”, he began and hesitated for a split second before continuing. “I can offer you a seat for one at the windows or at the back.”

“I’ll take one at the back”, Offilo replied and let himself be taken there.

“Today we got a delivery of some venison”, the waiter said. “I recommend the venison pie or the stew we made from it, as well as our staple perpetual stew.”

“I… I take the pie”, he replied, nervous. “And some mulled wine to drink.”

“As you wish”, he replied and left him.

Feeling awkward, Offilo stared for some time at his hands before looking around the inn. There were fewer people around, and those present were for the most part alone and concentrated on their food. Neither looked like the witch nor the knight the Divine Lord had ordered him to find. But what if they use a spell to hide?, he wondered and felt his heart sink. How am I supposed to find them without using magic, then?

“Here are your orders, young master”, said the waiter right beside him, which made Offilo slight jump.

With as much dignity as he could manage, he thanked the waiter. The young man looked at him longer than could be considered polite. A moment later, a guest called for him, and he left without another word. Offilo watched him walk over to the table, then he concentrated on his lunch and started to eat.

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The pie tasted even better than the stew. It was so good that Offilo didn’t bother to think about his mission for a pleasant amount of time. But the second the waiter was again at his side, the delight faded into a sour taste in his mouth.

“I hope the dish is to your liking, young master”, the waiter said, and tried to appear as nonchalant as possible.

“Y-yes, it tastes very good”, Offilo replied meekly.

“I don’t want to appear to be nosy, young master, but may I ask you something?”, the young man continued.

“Yes, ask your question”, he answered, uncertain of what was to come.

“I keep wondering, young master, but aren’t you the brother of the noblewoman, who had been accosted by one of our customers a few days ago?”

“T-that’s right. I do hope there didn’t arise any problems for you.”

“Oh no, there weren’t any problems, young master. I was just asking, since the lady, who accompanied the man who had accosted you, was asking if it were possible to apologise to you and your sister once more. But since it appears you’re alone today, I wondered if it were possible for you to contact your sister and have her meet up here with the other lady.”

“My… my sister’s currently not feeling well and staying at the castle.”

“So you’re really guests of the local Lord?”

“Y-yes.”

Offilo felt the blood drain from his face. I told him too much!, he chided himself.

“Oh, my apologies then”, the waiter replied with a weird, off-putting smile. “If I’d know, then I would’ve given you and your sister a much better private seat back the other day. Can I over you a better seat right now?”

“That wasn’t and isn’t necessary, but thank you nonetheless”, he replied, nervous.

“As you wish, young master”, he said. “Can I bring you more to drink or eat?”

“No, I’m fine for now.”

“Very well, young master. Should you need something, you can call for me anytime. The name’s Liano, by the way.”

“I’ll keep that in mind… Liano.”

With that, the waiter left him and headed to a table with a glum looking man. Offilo took a deep breath and stared at his half-eaten pie. I need to go, he told himself and looked around once more — Liano was gone. Using this chance, he fished out some coins and placed them next to the table. It was probably too much, but Offilo didn’t care.

With what he hoped didn’t look too much like he was trying to escape, he took his rucksack, huddled into his cloak and left for the exit. Luckily, the waiter wasn’t there to see him leave. Still, Offilo ran away once he was outside the inn.

Seeking shelter in a narrow alleyway, he stopped and caught his breath. Suddenly, he felt dread on a primal level. Slow, he turned around to the opening he entered the alleyway from, but there was no one. With a nervous laugh, he walked deeper in until he stood in front of an old stonewall with a tall tree behind it.

“I shouldn’t stay here”, he murmured, turned around and froze.

“Too late, boy”, said a woman in old dented armour with a spear in her hands.

“I-I have money I can give you!” Offilo squeaked trembling and backed away. “Just… Please, don’t hurt me!”

“As if money would mean anything”, she replied and readied her weapon. “I’m not interested in your money but you.”

“M-me?”

“Yes, kid, you.”

Without further ado, she attacked him. Offilo reacted without thinking and managed to avoid the first few blows. But as he tried to run past her, she swiped at him and managed to knock him off his feet. Still, he used the impact velocity to roll back on his feet while gasping for air.

The next blow he barely avoided and ducked underneath the following swing. As the woman swung again at him, the tight quarters of their surroundings caught up with her. Offilo didn’t look back as her spear scratched against the stone of one of the houses and became temporarily wedged. He ran past her to the mouth of the alleyway, only to find himself running into the swinging fist of Liano.

With a sickening pop, pain exploded within his nose and spread across his face like a spiderweb. Offilo went down, half blacked out, but somehow managed not to hit his head on the cobblestone. Still, the pain from his broken nose was enough to make him nearly black out.

“Good swing, Liano”, said the spearwoman as she approached them.

“The boy’s face must be made from iron. I nearly broke my hand”, he remarked, and kneeled beside him. “Damn, he’s still conscious.”

“Not for much longer”, she replied, and smacked the handle of her spear against the back of his head.