“We shall take this route.”
The paladin moved his finger on the map in the hands of the carriage driver.
Why were we in the carriage? First, because each paladin, starting from the senior apprentice rank, had the right to charter a carriage associated with the Solar Order.
The reason he decided to make use of that right now was twofold:
On one hand, I would be hidden within the carriage for most of the ride. This would greatly reduce the chance of being found, that is if the gang was on my trail at all.
On the other hand, the official crest, depicting a rising fist in front of the sun, would deter anyone from attacking the carriage, even if they did notice sohow.
“As you wish, sir paladin. Shall we depart?”
In response to Joshua's nod, the driver whipped the reins, starting our ride towards the Milky Leaf.
“Do you have any additional stops you'd like to make?”
“No, that's alright.”
Besides my old inn, I only needed to collect my two armor pieces from the smithy.
While I would have loved to at least visit the contraption shop given my respectable budget, it wasn't truly necessary – not in this district, at least.The Adventurer's guild had all necessary shops within its complex, and as an official Iron ranked adventurer, I had the right to access them.
“So, what do you think of the Temple?”
It was a sowhat sudden question, but then again, this wasn't that short of a ride, so there was nothing strange about so small talk.
“I have heard quite a bit about it, actually.”
“Oh? You've shown interest in it before?”
“It was from Alia. She is- was…”
“The apprentice priestess in Pine Harbor. And a bright, gentle soul.”
The paladin's voice contained genuine sorrow.
“I.. you knew her?”
“Of course. She was a promising priestess, and one from the orphanage, no less. When I started my apprenticeship, six years ago, I may not have known her, but even then, I saw her face among the young prospects from ti to ti…”
The man sighed.
“You have my condolences.”
“Thank you.”
If it was earlier, this is where the conversation would awkwardly end. However, for better or worse, I already started feeling increasingly numb to the stinging pain I felt in my chest every ti Alia was ntioned. By now, her mory had already beco that of bittersweet lancholy.
“All in all, from her stories, it sounded like the temple was a warm and kind place, even if a stern one.”
“That's not a bad way to put it. I was actually asking about what you thought the temple ant, as a concept. But given your answer, I suppose it's fair to say the temple holds different anings for the countless different people whose lives it has touched.”
“...”
I didn't an to evade his original question, but I also wasn't against his philosophical interpretation. We rode in silence for so ti, each one engrossed in his own thoughts, before Joshua spoke once more.
“We were told her funeral would be held next week.”
“Her?.. Ah.”
It made sense – it took one week to arrive here, while it would take 2 weeks via a regular caravan. Since its departure took place a few days after my own, it would arrive roughly one and a half weeks from now – near the end of the next week.
“Will you be attending it?”
“I.. yes. I believe I will.”
I didn't expect to say those words with so little hesitation, but now that I heard about the funeral, there was no way I'd be leaving early. Staying in Northern would be safe enough, even if it ant I'd have to look over my shoulder for a week or two.
“We’re here.”
Glancing through the thick glass window, my old - or technically, still my current - inn ca into view.
“Let us make haste.”
Without further delay, we both exited the carriage, swiftly making our way to the inn.
“How can I help you, sir paladin?”
The receptionist smiled at Joshua, completely disregarding . However, at his flat gaze, her head turned to .
“I paid for a week here 1 night ago. Circumstances have changed, so I'll have to leave early.”
“I understand. Unfortunately, we only offer partial refunds-”
“This is fine.”
I waved my hand dismissively. The last thing I cared about right now was a few gold coins.
“I’ll be back with the key soon. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”
I threw a glance at the paladin, who seed to have intended to wait in the lobby. He gave a questioning gaze, but joined on my way to the room.
“We’ve been spotted.”
“Already?..”
There was a mix of surprise and disappointnt on the paladin's face, but at least there was no doubt.
“Yes. It might have been before I exited the carriage. By the ti I was out, I heard soone turning around, and hurried footsteps leading into the alley in the southeast, right before they opened what sounded like a sewer lid and jumped in.”
“...are you already in the 2nd Awareness realm?”
“Yes.”
“I see. Regardless, this is unpleasant, but it changes nothing. They probably ran to report this to their superior, perhaps even regroup, but they must have seen the carriage first. If they have any sense, they'd abandon their hunt.”
“And if they don’t?”
“...then they'll still have to track us to our destination. If it cos to it, the Eastern Industrial District is close to the central gate, and relatively close to the watch headquarters. As a representative of the Sun Temple, I could request reinforcents.”
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The paladin's face was solemn, but resolute and without fear.
“Besides, this carriage isn't just for show. If they’re stupid enough to attack it, they might not consider its defensive asures.”
“Alright. Still, let's hurry up.”
A bad feeling began swelling up inside .
‘Should I maybe send soone else to pick up my armor later?’
But then again, if those gangsters were adamant on attacking the carriage either way, perhaps the trigger for that would be our attempt to ride towards Northern, and if that was the case, and they'd simply follow us south, picking up - and equipping - the armor first would be the better move.
‘In for a copper, in for a gold.’
Picking up my backpack, and picking up a few things I previously left in this room, I made my way to the lobby.
After collecting 2 gold from the receptionist, I hastily returned to the carriage, with Joshua by my side, and the driver obediently set course towards our next destination.
For so reason, I still couldn't shake the ominous feeling that's been forming deep within my chest…
***
One of the spheres beneath the half-elf's feet pulsated three tis, then vibrated once, then buzzed once.
“Southwest.. must be the industrial district.”
Obviously, by now, the Hounds had scouted the parts of the district where the target's scent was thickest – the inn, and a few shops within that district.
And of course, it wasn't hard to deduce that, as the target’s armor was damaged, it needed repairs.
“Probably the blacksmith. If they're using a carriage…”
One of the Hounds was stationed near each of the gates. The one near the inner northeastern gate had already signaled an uncertain detection – given the signals from the inn, which indicated a carriage and a 1 person escort, the target's ans of transportation were clear, but his single companion was still unidentified. It was likely that Tail, who was stationed near the inn, decided to play it safe, going underground the mont he spotted the target.
“This will have to do.”
He was forced to spread his forces thin, which allowed him to identify the target early. However, it also ant he wouldn't be able to gather everyone on ti in case their target was highly mobile, as was the case here.
Luckily, it seed there would be enough forces who could make it on ti.
Hastily, the man activated three of the six spheres in front of him, before sending a different signal through the other three.
Then, he quickly grabbed the arcane contraptions, shoving them into a box, and hiding the box in a rusty out-of-commission and out-of-sight pipe.
“Ti to finish this. Whoever you are, all you can do now is curse the gods for having crossed our path.”
***
“Here you go, sir.”
Receiving my leather armor, I took no extra ti before putting it on top of the repaired chainshirt.
Sure, I wouldn't mind staying for longer, but the anxiety in my heart wouldn't let .
However, I actually did make one purchase – another long and narrow arm shield, this ti for my right forearm. Having trained with it yesterday, the first shield didn't seem to slow down or limit my movents, and 10 gold was a laughable price to pay for even a slight increase in survivability.
I actually saw a set of leather arm pads straps specifically designed for this type of shields - I promised myself to look for sothing similar in the adventurer’s guild.
Still, now was not the ti for such things.
Thanking the blacksmith for his service, I turned to leave, with Joshua at my side.
This was the last of my dealings outside Northern – now, only one carriage ride separated from safety.
That was why, as I stepped outside, my heart sank.
The street seed the sa as before, but to , it was shrouded in an eerie air of stillness. I noticed there were no stray passersby, and it just so happened that no custors ca in and out of the nearby stores.
However, perhaps this was just my paranoia flaring up – after all, our carriage seed to be fine, with the driver sitting unhard at the reins, like before.
“S-sir..”
An old man in dirty rags, his back crooked and his ssy unwashed hair fluttering in the wind, slowly approached us – or, more specifically, Joshua.
I gave him a scrutinizing look, but his sluggish movents seed genuine, and his ragged clothes - as well as his unpleasant sll - suggested he was indeed a beggar or a slum dweller, which were often one and the sa.
“P-please sir paladin! You have to help ! My daughter is wounded!”
The man's voice trembled with fear and urgency - again, if his situation was indeed as he said, this was completely understandable.
The gaze of the paladin beside flickered with conflicted feelings.
“Old man – why have you not brought her to the nearest church?”
“I.. I am too weak! I can't move her!”
“What happened to her?”
“A dog bite! A vicious hound! Please, sir, there is not much ti!”
“...fine.”
To my surprise, Joshua accepted, without asking any additional questions.
Just as I was about to object, he spoke again.
“Then let us make haste. Join us in our carriage – you can tell our driver the way.”
However, as Joshua turned to take a step towards the nearby carriage, the old man hastily moved to stop him.
“N-no, sir! There is no need! She is on the other side of the street, there, in that alley!”
Joshua paused for a mont, his face in deep thought.
“Still, this must be hard for you to have to walk all the way there.”
The alley was roughly 10 ters to our right, beyond the road. There was another alley a few ters to our left, too.
“It’s alright! You can go ahead. Pay no mind – as long as you heal her first, that's what matters.”
“Alright.”
To my surprise, the Paladin agreed. However, before I could speak once more…
“Then, Sebastian, go into the carriage. I’ll be right back.”
“...”
The old man, his gaze trembling, froze in place in front of the paladin. He clearly didn't want to let proceed to the carriage, but didn't have the courage, nor the ans, to stop either of us from passing.
“Sigh…”
Without projecting any aggression towards the old man, Joshua pulled his shield from behind his back, as his mace was already in his hand. The sa could be said about my sword, which I drew even before the paladin finished his last sentence.
“Tsk.”
With a click of his tongue, a figure stepped out of the nearby alley. At the sa ti, two n and two grotesque beasts, each led by a tal chain, held by an ard and armored criminal, stepped out of the shadows from behind him.
Another pair, a man and a similar grotesque, scaled creature, which was slightly bigger than a wolf, stepped from the alley the bum originally wanted to lead us to.
“It would’ve been so much easier if you just followed this old man.”
The voice of their leader - a half elf, clad in dark leather armor - was soft, yet the chilly undertone left no ambiguity as to his ruthless nature.
“Cut the horses loose. Then, run.”
Joshua’s command was directed at the scared carriage driver, who was clearly just an ordinary citizen. As the driver began following the paladin's command, the enemies made no attempt to stop him, nor obstruct the old wretch who stumbled away in terror.
“You should get on one of those horses, yourself. We have no desire to spill the blood of a pious man.”
Joshua's eyes burned in righteous anger, but his voice remained composed.
“No desire? You dare threaten a Solar Paladin during his mission, under Her light, in the city streets? And then act as if you're doing a favor?”
His voice was still calm, at least on the surface, but it was clear the wrath contained beneath it was not far from bursting.
“Do not delude yourself. Even if you both are of low Silver rank, you don't stand a chance against us. Actually, the brat isn’t even Silver. Walking away alive is a far better offer than most in your position could hope for.”
The enemy leader's voice remained even and cold, yet the slight fluctuations hinted at his thinning patience.
“You!.. You bring three Imperial Abominations before , a paladin of the Solar Order, and a loyal subject of His Majesty! You truly believed I would avert my eyes from such folly?..”
Joshua's voice sounded truly bewildered, as if refuting a claim that the sun was blue and the sky was yellow.
The dog-adjacent creatures, perhaps sensing the paladin's hostility, growled in return.
anwhile, the half-elf clicked his tongue in disappointnt yet again.
“Tsk. I knew trying to reason with a zealot was a waste of ti.”
“Rush to the carriage and press your back against it…”
The paladin’s simultaneous whisper was surprising, but I decided to put my trust in him – after all, the enemy forces seed too overwhelming for even the two of us to handle together, at least via regular ans.
“Carve’em up!”
“Now!”
And so, the battle began.
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