The ritual that Chifya arrange gave a fairish toll, draining her energy resulting to her unconsciousness. When recovers she found herself to some esteemed person’s house and that person was Ashalain. Still in recovery yet willing to venture the only thing that stand in her way was Ashalain herself who was on a chair constantly on the watch. As Chifya tries to roll out from the bed, dizziness quickly fills her head.

“Don’t push yourself.” Ashalain implores catching Chifya before she touches the ground.

“I’m fin--” Replies Chifya trying to overcome her illness.

“Just take a rest there’s no need to concern yourself.” Ashalain implores helping Chifya reinstitute to her rest.

“Curious, why would an esteem person take interest to someone who’s irrelevant to her? You do know what I’m after, no?”

Ashalain brushes her eyes avoiding to make eye contact delaying her answer.

*Sigh*, “My father asks me to look out for him, and there’s something which he took from me… but with all the things happening, honestly I don’t know.” Ashalain said followed a sad smile.

Chifya smile with a mix of loneliness, “Me neither…”

When Chifya said her words silent follows until Chifya would fully recovers from her affection. Leading Chifya to the exit, Ashalain utters a word.

“If by all means, could I take a chance to see her?” Ashalain replies, referring the northern girl.

“Why are you very much absorbed--” Chifya stop after seeing Ashalain’s eyes and hair color that’s very much similar to the northern slave girl considering her kins are quite rare to see around Vashkeil. “Fine you can come.”

“Thank you.”

As for the travelers…

Panting heavily, Akatosh with his disable body drags himself towards the cave, to shelter from now heavy rain. When enters, just only a few yards from the exit he removes the mask and quickly dozes off come what may happen to his wounds. In the midst of his slumber, his wounds would force him from his sleep. The acid that slowly eats his flesh, his sense of hearing are slowly dwindles additionally he can feel his muscle in distorted state.

Alone, his anguish scream would echo through the cave followed by tons of swearing. So much so that he had to put a clothe from his mouth muffling his scream so as to ease the pain. After a while…

“Rag!”

“What! Faggot!”

“Left your mark somewhere?”

“You have to ask… No, this is the only place I’ve marked and why would I do that when a bunch of hobos are after my ass, but I do know a way.”

“Do it.”

“If you have a clear vision to a certain place, you know I can get you there, and you’ll need a fucking scroll because I’m drained.”

“Oh, fuck you… I do know a place.” Akatosh replies searching for a scroll through his bag of holding.

For minutes…

“Hurry up bastard!” The stillmage shout.

“You shit!” Akatosh shouts Finally pulling one scroll of teleportation.

Painting his blood and concentrating his memory to one specific location his partners then teleport them to the desired location.

As the gates open, a portal was open at the inside of a house yet instead of a smooth teleportation. The portal was open on the ceiling just above the table. Like a whole roasted pig on the table ready to serve, Akatosh who fell from the ceiling was splattered on the table creating a loud ruckus ringing the alarm for the residents to take action. Additionally, Amaragnum was on the laugh, seeing how Akatosh looks on the table, paralyzed as he wails in pain.

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On the outside, Chifya and Ashalain heard the commotion to which they quickly dash to see what’s the uproar. Lucky for Akatosh the gang were all gathered, holding their weapons and spell in the end they’re the ones who are surprised, for the person who disappear from their sight appears on their table like a butchered pig who run away from turning into a can food.

“H-healing…” A groaning phrase Akatosh mutters.

Stunned from the outburst the gang didn’t flinch a movement to the person served on their table. Only after Akatosh repeats his words till they help him. As for the two, they stood still as they watch Sheila and her friends’ position Akatosh for Sheila to heal his wounds worst they have to tolerate the smell of rotten death.

“We should carry him to the temple.” Riya implores.

“Agrees--” Sheila replies.

“No… No temple…” Akatosh interrupts as his wounds would slowly spread enough to reveal bones. “Just stop the wounds from eating my flesh.”

“Reith--” Sei implores, “Can you get the regenerating potion.”

“But can it? With his wounds I don’t think that common potion can--”

“It’s better or nothing!”

While Reith went to grab the potion, the two finally snap diving in for a helping hand. A quick sight from his wounds already sets Chifya for a tactical approach. Instructing Ashalain to get some water—

“Here I’ve got the potion.” Came Reith

“That will have to wait.” Implores Chifya who begins bending the water as she adds some of her druid magic.

Letting the bended water glue at the wounds, slowly it draws out what appears to be a dark orange liquid.

“That’s a strong acid.” Ashalain said.

“Seem so, I amaze how this man manage to endure an injury like this.”

Once the acid was fully removed, together Sheila and Ashalain funnels their healing abilities hasting Akatosh’s wounds. So was Reith, who then gave Akatosh the potion.

“Finally… You see that old geezer, I’m alive!” Akatosh implores towards the stillmage.

“Shut up!” Shouts the stillmage retrieving back to his sanctuary.

Consuming half an hour, Akatosh pain and injures were finally come to an end but even his acquaintance help, although rest would be essential. Furthermore, he had to face some personal things two of which. Still, he would end up sleeping right after the recession.

When awoken, the putrid smell still lingers yet his armor was on his side clean and fix. He looks around for any suspicions after which he went straight for a bath.

“Hi…” Akatosh implores sitting on a chair as he faces Chifya and Ashalain. Bringing out a pouch of coins for their assistance.

Putting the pouch on the ground, he slowly arises for a walk, unfortunately the two forces him to return to his chair.

“What the hell’s your problem.”

“I think you owe us something.” Implores Ashalain.

“Oh, what would that be?”

“You know some red gems?”

“And my mother’s brooch?” Chifya follows.

Akatosh went silent since he sold Chifya’s brooch, and hoard Ashalain’s gem to his cave to which he doesn’t know since it was mixed with the hordes of gems he collected.

“Oh… those, I place them to a certain location… don’t worry their safe. If you could just--” Akatosh replies again standing up but was push by the two.

“C’mon! Fine how much coin will I pay.”

“You think this is just about money?” Ashalain replies followed by a frightful look.

“Well, I do.” Akatosh replies.

Ashalain tries for a more physical respond, fortunately for Akatosh Chifya intervened.

“We don’t need your money for compensation.”

“Then what is it that you need? Look I don’t have your items but if you can let me--”

“We would like to travel with you.” Ashalain interrupts.

“Fine by me, we’ll leave tomorrow morning.” Akatosh quickly respond knowing he can get away easily.

Ashalain smiles and draws herself closer at Akatosh. Seeing her action, the traveler hides his hand sensing Ashalain was planning something. As a result, the two women would force Akatosh, and with their strength drawn from their god and magic, they easily hold Akatosh allowing Ashalain to put a ring.

Seeing Ashalain holds an identical one, he asks towards Sheila.

“Do you know this ring.”

After seeing their commotion Sheila understood, the ring Akatosh wears.

“Um... it’s a ring of matrimony.”

“A what?”

“Well, it’s kind of like a betrothal item.”

“You’re kidding me, no?”

“No—no I’m not, but the ring has capabilities…”

“That would be?”

“It can traverse each individual, although… judging by its look I think madam Ashalain is the only one who can track you.”

“Oh, do tell can you reattach a finger if it was cut?”

“Um… I might be able to but it might take a long time. Besides I wouldn’t recommend--”

Quickly pulling out a dagger, Akatosh tries to slice his finger since pulling out the ring didn’t help. Yet as the blade was only an inch to his finger, the dagger suddenly turns into a dust.

“Told you.”

Just as Akatosh and Sheila are in the midst of talking Chifya saw Ashalain’s melancholic face as she exits the house. To her quick observation and knowledge, gathering and grasping the details she was able to uncover some Ashalain’s secret. Knowing how the ring works, Chifya notion that Ashalain had a past lover she’s still incline to.

“That’s enough.” Chifya intervenes, “What’s done is done… As for you, you should stop your childish action and wear the ring.”

“Fine…” Akatosh replies going towards Chifya’s room.