As soon as the carriage got to Kehrner’s main gate, all of the new found crew prepared for their stop. Anny got to preparing her suitcase. Ano and Orm checked their provisions for the trip and soon they were there. Orm got out first and helped the two young nobles with their things, with some help from the old man that drove the carriage.

The two men got a better look at Anny’s companion, he was at least in his sixties, having a nice build, but a face full of age marks, as well as a completely grey hair. He looked fragile from a long distance but seeing his arms and hands, one could say he could be a third or second ranked knight.

“Lady Eimanny, please refrain from causing any trouble to these gentlemen.”

“Yeah, yeah. We part in a day to Metarom Mehel, so don’t be late!”

They parted ways with the old knight, and entered an inn that they were left in front of. It was called Sunrise Inn. Anny said that she had searched for the most trustworthy places to stay at in her journey, so they decided to stay at the place she recommended.

As they entered they noticed the high class feeling that place had, something very uncommon for local inns, it seems that the time Ano and Orm spent not going to Kehrner really made a difference in how the city presented itself, as when the boy was young and Orm accompanied him to the city, it was more of a local merchant town and not a full fledged urban centre that it looked like now.

Orm and Ano got one room while Anny got one separate. They got up the double set of stone stairs that led to the 10 rooms that lined up on the superior floor. The men were in room 7, and Anny in room 8.

Ano decided that since they were far from Orhim, it was better for them to prepare all of their gear, advising Anny to do the same. Hopefully she was also equipped with some armour and a dagger, but it looked like she didn’t use that very often. The boy changed into his custom armour, one of the blood set - The blood demon - was probably the simplest but deadliest armour as it allowed for the user to enhance their blood magic skills and channel it through the claws of the gauntlets and sharp edges, leaving room for extraction and absorption procedures. Ano also put on a one shoulder cape, and secured his sword to the belt, avoiding future problems. Orm also prepared himself, with his usual blood vials, and his sword, which its name was unknown to Ano.

The men soon left the room to meet with Anny, as they previously had agreed. She also came out of her room, wearing a light leather cover on the upper half of the body over the same dress she wore before, a blue floral pattern that matched with the colour of her eyes. Her boots were made of leather as well, but Ano thought it was a cool design.

“Are you ready gentlemen? It’s the duty of a noble to know the people of the empire, so we must get right into it.”

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“What do you suggest? For our armour and weapons to be necessary, I’m sure you have something dangerous planned.” Said Ano “I like where this is going, Orm. Maybe we’ll get to use this new sword!” He pointed at his own first metal sword.

“Young master, be careful with that, please. Your father may not seem very fond of you, but he’s very concerned for the well-being of you and all of your siblings, so I cannot allow you to endanger yourself.”

“As if that old man had any feelings left on him, he even sent Johann to Metarom. I wonder what he’ll do to me when I finish my training, or even this mission…” His expression darkened, and his hands started shaking again, avoiding eye contact with Orm.

“Ano…” Orm then put his hands on the boy’s shoulder “Even if your father was not worried for you, which he is, I would still be by your side.” Said the knight in an unusual gentle face.

Ano laughed and tapped Orm’s hand “Well, I just want to do something now, what do you suggest Anny?”

“The market” said her, smiling at the scene the two men made “I think we can get some valuable info on what’s going on in the empire if we go there.”

“So to the market we go, guide our way leader!” Ano shouted with enthusiasm.

***

They wandered the now unfamiliar streets, with ease. It was a very known fact that Kehrner’s security was one of the best in the capital region, which was usually so filled with crime. Making their way to the west part of the city, they encountered many stores open with clients going in and out. Ano stopped by a flower shop and bought a tiny blue lily which he gave to Anny to put on her head. “It’s cute”, he thought.

They got to the market and approached an info stand set up by the local police.

“Disappearances: 24 registered cases in the last week” Following that announcement, a list containing 24 different names in alphabetical order took most of the announcement board.

“Excuse me officers, we just got into the city and were wondering if you could elucidate us in this disappearance matter.” asked Ano with a warm smile to a young officer lady “We are just travellers who like to solve some mysteries, you see. It’s been a while since Kehrner didn’t register any crimes so, is there something off?”

“Look, young traveller, we’ve been getting enough trouble as it is, no need for outside intervention to just mess everything up, okay? So go back to the place you’re staying and take care.” Rudely exclaimed the woman.

“Ano, look at that man.” Whispered Anny into the boy’s ear.

Ano looked around and found a man crying in a nearby alley. The smell of alcohol was emanating from that place, so Anny took some precautions and stayed behind the boy and the knight as they left the info stand and went to interrogate the man. Orm approached the old sir, and kneeled down to his head level, and in a calm voice asked:

“May I help you, sir, we work for law enforcement and would be willing to help if something happened.”

“My daughter! They took my daughter!”