"Speak." An irrelevant tone the ambassador said, communicating through magic.

"Ambassador, we have found the culprit although… the man is not what we think he is." The captains say. "He casually came to us alone, looking for the other parts of the relic. And he seems to be in league with someone higher than him."

"And who might that be…"

"We are still on the investigation; however, I have evidence that he had the cube considering he even unveiled it in front of us."

"Did you see any signs on that man that I've been telling you about?" The ambassador said.

The captain shakes his head, "He didn't carry much, but he's more dangerous to be an adversary. His casting is that of a high mage, a sage to be said."

"He didn't use an incantation?" The ambassador says somewhat shock.

"I believe so."

"Very well…" The ambassador sigh masking his trepidation, "I will send one of our best diviners to put a bounty on his head." Severing their communication.

Ending the conversation, the captain returns to help fix the camp. And just a couple of hours, a lady enters the captain's tent an empty emotion smeared on her beautiful face, blank as a clear white sheet. Wearing a long ornamental red cloak, shorthair, and crimson lips.

"You're fast," The captain said.

"And thus, I should be, place your hand to mine." The lady said, offering her hand to his.

Without hesitation, the captain gently touches his hand for her to begin the ritual. And with that, the white circle expands less than ten inches in diameter and when the lady opens her eyes, all was pure white, shining like a light bulb.

Prying the captain's memory, she faces Akatosh substituting the captain's body. Unfortunately for her, what she met is more than what she can take. Her powers cannot comprehend the overpowering stench of Amaragnum and Akatoshs' aura, forcing her to end the ritual.

Thirty seconds, those seconds cause the lady to tumble down. Luckily, the captain caught her before she falls to her knees.

"Take her to rest." The captain said, calling the two-knight guarding the entrance. He has never seen her like this before, how someone could even overpower her even for just a memory.

Even through her sleep, she dreams of Akatosh, standing with his mask as confuse as to see two souls into one body. It was their cursed as to their gift for a diviner.

She had awakened on her two hours of rest, followed by a small dose of headache. After revitalizing her mind, she finds a clear parchment for her to gently place her hand on the open sheet, drawing the face of Akatosh through magic.

Once finished, the lady calls for the guard outside her tent. "Give this to the captain." The lady says, handing him the scroll.

Before the guards deliver the scroll, "The captain said, you are to join him at his dinner." The guard implores.

"Thank you kindly, but my time here is but temporary and short. If very much for a guide." The lady says, referring to teleportation.

"I'm sorry my lady, but the captain insists."

"Very well, tell the captain I'll be there soon."

At the captain's place, "Sir," the guard said delivering him the scroll.

"Come in" The captain responds.

"She gave me this for you. She also said she'll be in touch as soon as she was done on her chord."

"Hmm… good job soldier." nods the captain, "Return to your post." He continues.

"Yes, captain." The man said, returning to where he was assigned.

Calling his mage assistance, "Make a replica of this and send every copy to every part of the kingdom, especially the adventurers guild." Giving him the exceptionally fine details of Akatosh's face and a letter to enter every kingdom.

Heading to where the land of merchants, Akatosh calmly whistles through the road humming some lyrics. "If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone, you can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles--"

"What are you even barding." Amaragnum interrupts.

"What… It's not like it can kill you."

"Bahh…" Amaragnum implore.

"So what is the thing you request."

"Nothing much, I just want to visit a place." The stillmage says.

"Hmm… what about teleportation." Akatosh implies, entering through the open valley full of beautiful scenery.

"My markings had long faded, or even erased by Azageis himself, my last special marking was at my hideout that's one of my last resort. For your information, normal markings have a life span of a year or two. And since he's still stretching that life of his, I must erase my footprints, not to be nose up by him."

"I almost forgot, you said Chifya was a half-dark elf. She seems pretty human to me, and her neko—I mean her wolf form though."

"Don't know, dark elves don't usually interact with other races especially with their cousin. I've only met, I think fifty or more on my past travels. Though during the stillmage crisis that I created, they pledge their alliance with the other races." Amaragnum says as they both travel for three days and three nights without encountering a wagon to ride. Using ruins and abandon cottages to shed from the rain they slowly take their journey.

While both Amaragnum and Akatosh are hitting the road, Chifya returns to Ravalind aided by some adventures and with a cloudy emotion she took. Her name even reached the main guild, greeting her high while she goes to report her quest towards the guild administrator.

"Let see, did you register here." The receptionist asks in surprise.

"Ahh… nay, it's my first time becoming a member. I just recently registered at Dragon's Lake."

"Wow… I'm surprised for someone like you as a fresh gold class adventurer." Gasp the receptionist. "Truly are, you're one of a few to achieve such as this."

"Ahh…. It's not like that, I just had a friend that helped me." Chifya smile.

"Here you go then." The receptionist says, giving her seven gold Shar and an accomplishment card boosting her crest. "Ow… before you go, there was a person who came here four days ago, asking for you. He seems to be one of the druid clans."

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"A person?" Chifya breaths.

"Yes, luckily one group was familiar to you."

"Do you mean--" Before Chifya continues, someone taps her shoulder.

"Yo, long time no see." Riya smile along with her two friends, Reith and Sei.

"So did you found him," Riya asks, as they are padding through the town.

"He-he ran away." A gray face coming out from Chifya as she speaks.

Avoiding further emotions, Riya changes the topic. Trying her best to cheer Chifya. "Well, we'll see you at the camp," Sei said as they head opposite their direction, leaving the two females behind.

"Where are they going?" Chifya ask.

"Ahh… they're going to the market for some provision," Riya replies.

"Don't forget to buy those things that I've said," Riya exclaims towards the two lads.

"Right, we got it." They spoke.

"You know what… thanks to him we were able to see what's down ahead of our path…" Riya smile, "We even manage to come this far." Showing her silver crest, a third-class silver adventurer. "Not just me but also them."

"I see" Chifya smiles.

A little step further they notice a crowd of adventurers and bounty hunters gazing at the board post. Curious both of them join the view.

"Fifty gold!" A certain person said through the crowd.

"I could live a noble class with this much coin."

"Is this guy worth taking?"

Taking a view, Chifya was struck after looking at Akatosh's bounty image, and a reward of a whopping fifty gold Shar.

"We should return to your home." Chifya shrug, turning her back from the crowd. Confused Riya follows.

And when they are gone, a group of adventurers and at the same time a bounty hunter, forcing their way to the crowd. Quickly noticing their appearance, the crowd makes way for them.

"Is that what I think it is." One person whispers.

"Yeah, it's them alright."

A fine man, casually treading through the throng. A man with sharp cold eyes and a striking appearance. Wearing a beautiful dark Mithril armor, belt with a legendary long sword, that others truly favor. By his side are five magical crests class-type adventurers. Where each of the five had a dark phoenix engrave on their right shoulder. While their main leader had it on his back.

"The Ashen Phoenix." A person whispers.

Also known as the guild's champion, the highest rank of all the guild members the foremost cardinal as was the sovereign of the adventurer's guild.

And by his side are two mages consist of one male and a lady, two male rouges are lingering behind the crowd, and a single paladin at his side.

He goggles Akatosh's bounty for a mere second, and without hesitation, he removes one of Akatosh's bounty. "Hold this." A tedious tone he said handing the paper to his female mage.

Without saying another word, they left the crowd going to report their quest to the guild.

The crowd was left astound; they could feel the pressure as the champion walk past them.

"I heard he was out for nearly four months." An anonymous person says after the champion left for a couple of minutes.

"Yeah, he took one of the most dangerous quests after all. Though they didn't survive but no one would imagine he would be back."

Elsewhere—

After following the narrow road, he came across a section, through his left leads north, and south towards his right.

"Okay?" Akatosh says, looking for a road sign unfortunately there wasn't a single one standing.

Luckily, he saw a caravan heading in his direction fast and hasting their horses.

"Do you know the way to Mavig--" Without even answering his call the three wagons smoke past through him ignoring his presence leaving him on the dusty road.

*Cough-cough* "I hope those wheels fall apart! Much as those goods of yours shall be a raid by bandits!" Akatosh curse, shouting at the caravan.

"Gahh… might as well follow them." He shrugs. Walking half a mile Akatosh saw an open wagon down the creek.

Descending the edge of the creek, he met a man busy piling barrels on the wagon.

"Excuse me, do you by any chance know the way to Mavigrid."

The man pauses his work, scoping where Akatosh was. "Oh… what brings you here stranger." He said, a middle-aged man masking his worried and dismal face.

"Ahh… I was looking for a heading, to Mavigrid if you wouldn't mind." Akatosh says, looking at the man's scar, left to his cheeks.

"New in this part I see." Wiping his sweat using the towel wrap on his neck.

"Yeah, it's my first time."

"I'm sorry to say but the road you're heading leads to Starhim." The man answered.

"Starhim?"

"Yes, it's a long journey from here."

"I see…"

"Well, my house leads to Mavigrid. You can hop on; I'm almost done packing these barrels."

"Many thanks," Akatosh says, helping him loading the barrels, and once finished they head towards the main road returning to where Akatosh was left to dust.

"How old have you been to the road." The man asks, but after a couple of minutes of waiting, there was no answer. He turns around to slightly pry Akatosh in his complete silent slumber.

Three hours had passed sleeping on the wagon and dusk falls in less than a minute. But before it gets dark Akatosh finally awakes somehow well-rested.

"You must be tired from all your travels." The man says.

"Yeah, so how far is Mavigrid."

"Not far, it might take a day or two." The man replies, "But my house is not far, you are welcome to stay." He continues, crossing a quarter of a mile.

And when they finally arrive at the man's house, Akatosh couldn't decide if he was to accept his offer or find a tree to sleep in.

"Go on, take this opportunity and raid them once there are asleep. Isn't that what you are good for." Amaragnum imply.

"Damn you," Akatosh said, and when he descends a little girl with braided hair came running towards them.

"Daddy-daddy!" The girl shouts. "Did you get me one of those?"

"Of course my dear." The man smile, giving her dozens of beautiful colored rocks.

"WTF rocks?" Akatosh says, conversing with Amaragnum.

"I think I should better be going--" Akatosh says but he was interrupted by the girl, grasping his cloak.

"Mister, you don't seem to be one of those bad guys. You seem to be lonely I can tell."

"This girl has a good sense of instinct," Akatosh says to Amaragnum.

"Or a stupid one." The stillmage reply.

"Mm-hmm…" Akatosh scratches his nose.

"Can you stay with us please?" The girls plead.

"Mm-mm…" Without even agreeing with her reason, the girl forcefully drags him.

His father walks to stop the girl but Akatosh suddenly agrees.

"Yehay, do you like rocks. I can show you my collection they are beautiful." She exclaimed still holding his shroud as she babbles her sentence none stop.

"Oh… this bastard loves rocks alright especially those shiny things that you kept hidden in your house." Amaragnum laughs.

"Shut up," Akatosh says ignoring his words.

Just at the front door, Akatosh saw the man's wife timid and afraid by his appearance. And when they are nearer, the woman quickly hides her tense emotion.

"Welcome back dear… I should prepare some dinner for our visitors." She said, "Now come child you shouldn't chastise our guest here."

"Okay, mom." The girl reply, going upstairs to fix her things.

"Forgive our child… she's been always alone without a friend to share with." The man says.

"It's fine, it's fine." Akatosh smile.

When dinner is served, Akatosh can say, he was a little embarrassed by their hospitality. Much was put on the table, serving them with lots of varieties of food, consisting of whole chicken meat, a stew, vegetables, and bread.

"Come," The woman says, "You must be hungry from your travels. It's okay it's our child's birthday, no need to be flustered." She continues after seeing Akatosh's embarrassment.

"It's her birthday?" Akatosh was shocked.

"Yes," The woman smile.

While they are digging their meal, sharing little of Akatosh's story the girl can't hold her enthusiastic after they fed themselves fully. Again, she forcefully drags Akatosh to where she kept her collection of rocks and beautiful things.

"This one is my favorite one." Showing him a very peculiar rock, glowing in crimson fire.

"Hoo… a fire gland," Amaragnum says. "This girl is quite interesting in picking rocks."

"I had to hide these from the bad guys that came here. Last time they stole some of my things." The girl says grabbing a jar containing a speck of glimmering dust like a firefly they were.

"I see, tell me child what are those bad guys?" Akatosh asks.

"Oh… you mean those meanie people."

"Yes, care to describe those meanie people."

"Well, they often came here beating papa when he had no money to give while I and my mom hide."

"I see… I do have some fine collection of shiny things in my pocket." Showing her the gems he'd looted and played with her for a time being.

Her intensity and enthusiasm slowly eat her energy away to the point she slept on her knees clutching her collections of rocks.

Carrying her to her mother, "You should take her to bed… one more thing I need to speak with your husband."

The woman nods after taking her child. "He's outside the house" A trouble words she says.

"I see..." Akatosh answer stepping out from the house. And when he does, he saw her husband busy tending to his horses.

"Hard times are upon us these days." Akatosh implores initiating a conversation.

"Truly is…"

"The girl told me about some troublesome people here, care to says something about that."

"I see that she's very friendly to you. I can't blame her for being a child. They come here once every after four moons forcing some compensation."

"Have you report this to your closes village."

"I tried but I have no money to pay for them, they said it cost only a single gold piece. Those bastards. And this place is my birthright I have nowhere else to go."

"Milking money I see… do you know their location," Akatosh said, calmly sitting.

"What!" the man says surprised, "I don't know their exact location, but I know where the place is, ar-are you sure"

"Trust me I have seen much worse than bandits. I just need a direction." Showing him the map.

"Well, if you say so." Giving him a heading.

"Hey Amaragnum care for some night exercise," Akatosh said after he received a map leading to where the bandit is.

Amaragnum chuckles with an ill intention. "Mm-hmm… do I?"