61 Kald: A Quaint Town (1/2)

With every step we take, it feels like we're getting more and more lost. According to Lilith, it's been 3 days now since we escaped. Feels like most of it has been spent walking. From the beach, we found a small dirt road leading into the mainland. With it, a sign saying ”Kald.” It could've been anything from an abandoned hamlet to a large city.

It was our only hope and we were out of options. Our prospects started to slowly favor us with our choice to be venturing into the forests. The road very gradually went from loose cobble to more hardened dirt as if it has been stepped on many times before. I had hope, but I didn't want to fill myself too much with it as I've been left disappointed a couple of times already.

My body was aching. It started with my feet, now it's up to my shoulders. Lilith must be going through the same thing, but she hasn't shown any weakness yet. I know she has it worse than me because I could hear her stomach growl. The tenacity that girl has is something really admire.

The sun was setting, and I began fearing that we would regret traveling into the forest. A couple of minutes in and an idea sprung into my mind. If the sun sets in a certain direction, what's to stop me from figuring out where we're going?

Steven: ”Which direction does the sunset, Lilith?”

Lilith: ”West… why?”

I reached out my hand out and pointed my left hand through the trees and sun as best I could. By doing it like this, if my left hand is pointing west, my right must be pointing east; meaning that in front of me, the direction we're walking, is north.

Steven: ”We're heading north.”

Lilith: ”North..? Wait…”

She does exactly what I did and quickly finds out what I mean.

Lilith: ”We are!”

Steven: ”What do we do now that we know?”

Lilith: ”Let me think! Let me think..! Alright, if Kald is in the north… I saw on the map that the Academy is west of most cities.”

Steven: ”So the Academy is in the west?”

Lilith: ”I said ”most”… if we reach Kald, we can find out for sure.”

We continued walking a short distance as Lilith became lost in her thoughts. Her pace had slowed down and I found myself stopping a couple of times to let her catch up. When I was about to turn around and keep moving, she stopped in her tracks and looks at me as if she made a stunning discovery.

Lilith: ”Ah! Kald must be close to the Academy!”

Steven: ”How?”

Lilith: ”We were at the Academy when we were kidnapped and we woke up presumably still at around midnight. When I used Shadow Leap, it was sluggish because I used half the blood I would normally use which is half a pint. I didn't realize it 'till now, but—”

Steven: ”Enough with the Blood magic and just get to the point!”

Lilith: ”We weren't walking aimlessly, we were most likely walking towards the Academy!”

Steven: ”We found it, Lilith… is that it?!”

Lilith: ”It is!”

She speeds up into a slow jog towards the light. It was the greatest stroke of fortune we've ever been given and I was glad that no matter how small of a town we found, we were finally back in civilization!

It was truly a town! A small one but still!

We didn't even know where to begin and when we walked up to the entrance, we were greeted by the nicest guard I've seen in a long time. He was a Wood Elf like everyone else in town. Although he wore clothes that made him stand out, like an authoritative figure such as a guard. He kept calm, sitting on a chair beside a small cabin. In his hand were a grindstone and unique copper knife that he stopped using after he laid his eyes on us.

Watchman: ”Welcome to Kald, travelers. This here's a farming town, so we're a little behind on the times but we're catching up… it seems like you 2 are in a jam.

Lilith: ”Excuse me, sir…”

She begins telling him about our circumstances way better than I could ever do. When she finished, the man looked around and back at us. Twirling his knife around before embedding it on the cabin wall behind him.

Watchman: ”Well, I'll be… that's the craziest story I've heard in all my years! This week might be the most eventful this town's seen.”

Steven: ”It's that peaceful?”

Watchman: ”No, this is big… first, Arend catches a big and bad bandit couple days back and now, some folks from the Academy came down here earlier today, saying they've been searching for missing students. Surely, you're those students? I thought they were here to bust out the damn bandit.”

He quickly glances around the immediate vicinity and stands up.

Watchman: ”Well, shit, I shouldn't be leaving my post but this could be serious.”

He glances through the window of the cabin. His movement was quick and he moves to the door, slightly opening it to be able to shout throughout the inside of the building.

Watchman: ”Arend! Get out here!”

Arend: ”What is it? I finished my hours, so I'm not filling in for tonight.”

Watchman: ”No, there are more people out here!”

He sits back down in the chair while another Elf walks out. This one's hair was tied into a small ponytail and he'd have a forgettable face if he didn't have a large scar across his cheek.

Arend: ”Who are these people?”

Watchman: ”You know the, the… the mu-fucking, um—those people that came looking for some missing students and Bruno told them to stay at the saloon because he thought they were going to bust the guy you brought in out?”

Arend nods, seemingly confused by his friend's frantically quick speech.

Arend: ”Settle down and tell me what's going on.”

Watchman: ”I think these are the students they were looking for.”

Arend: ”The hell you say?”

Watchman: ”Oh yes, they look and smell like shit. They have to be the missing students.”

Arend sighs and rubs his right eye. It felt like we were bothering him as it looked like he only barely got off work. I'd feel bad, but we could seriously use any help we can get.

Arend: ”Alright then, follow me you 2. Let's go to your Academy buddies and get you back home. Assuming they are from the Academy, but you'll be able to tell them apart from a bandit better than I can.”

He starts down the road and waved at us to follow. We walked down the dirt road that branched off to smaller streets and towards farmland. We were surrounded by a quaint town with kind people that greeted us as we passed by.

The town really came to life when we turned away from the main road onto a smaller one where a bar was nearby. The people here were unwinding and having a good time.

Arend: ”Sorry about Humbert, he can be… abrasive.”

Steven: ”I'm fine…”

Arend: ”For the time being… we'll get you both cleaned up too.”

He walks us a little further from the bar and enters a much bigger 2-story building. The entrance was pretty spacious and could possibly hold a small gathering. The place was lit by a fireplace to the far right of the room where the lounge was. The lounge especially drew my attention because it was the most decorated of the room with animal trophies and an actual carpet!

Before I was able to get too distracted, Lilith tugs on my cardigan and brings my attention to a desk. There was a much older man, no less than his 40's, sitting and entranced with a book in his hands. Arend failed to get his attention and knocked on the desk roughly just to get his attention.

Hotelier: ”Arend! It's been a while!”

Arend: ”It has! I see your hotel is feeling empty.”

Hotelier: ”Bah! Nobody likes to travel when it's too cold. It'll pick up in the spring. You know it always does.”

The man puts his book down and reaches under the desk, pulling out a tray of caramel candies. Arend helped himself to them and offered Lilith one, to which she hesitatingly accepted. I declined as I wasn't really in the mood right now.

Arend: ”Where are the people Bruno sent over?”

Hotelier: ”I gave them the second floor. May as well have some use for it and have more than dust to cleanout. They seem like calm people, hell one of them's a stoic! There's no way they can be bandits.”

I know only one person that would be the stoic in our group!

Steven: ”Was a woman named Young Mi with them?”

Hotelier: ”Young Mi? She has pale skin like she's anemic? Yeah, I heard that name from them. Are you all related? I'm not one to judge but I can't imagine it being a coincidence that you all have rounded-ears.”

Steven: ”In a way… yeah.”

I was surrounded by such unique people that I forgot it's a rare sight to have rounded ears in Den Gi. The only feasible ways that come to mind were to be either half Demon and Elven or a Goblin entirely.

Or in such a rare case, a Human.

Hotelier: ”Well, they're upstairs. The bath is the first door in front of the stairs if you're taking one as I'm assuming. I don't have clothes but there's plenty of towels.”

Arend: ”Well, I guess my job is done. I'll be going now, if you need me, go to the entrance where we met. Humbert and I are pretty much always there at the cabin.”

Hotelier: ”Just upstairs, I don't know what room they went into but go ahead and use whatever room you want, I insist.”

The man went back to his book after reiterating. I took the lead; the stairs were right behind the man and was almost unnoticeable because of its L-shape design. Once we were up top, there were 4 rooms to choose from.

It didn't take long until we found Rayna pacing nervously back and forth with Young Mi sitting on a bed in the last room to the left. They froze in place when we introduced ourselves. It was easy to see the wave of emotions on their faces from shock to happiness. Rayna especially looked like she wanted to cry.

Rayna: ”Oh my…”

She ran into my arms and tightly embraces me.

Rayna: ”I was so worried…”

Steven: ”Yeah… sorry, Rayna.”

Young Mi stands up and joins, making it more into a group hug. It sort of took me by surprise because she keeps to herself, as in, she doesn't get up to hug someone so easily after they've disappeared.

Steven: ”You too, Young Mi?”

Young Mi: ”I was worried as well.”

Steven: ”You sound as surprised as I am.”

Young Mi: ”Well, I never thought I'd be worried about you or Lilith, come here.”

She opens out her arms and welcomes Lilith in. She was a little hesitant at first but she comes after we all look at her.

Rayna: ”She's really caring about you 2.”

Young Mi smiles and sits back down on the bed.

Young Mi: ”Yes, in my own way; I am.”

Rayna: ”Well, if anything, I'd say Madelyn was far more worried than the both of us combined.”

Steven: ”Really?”

Rayna: ”She went straight to us after she found out you both disappeared.”

Steven: ”That's normal. I'd go straight for help if either of you disappeared suddenly.”

Young Mi: ”She was very concerned; more than she'd let on.”

Steven: ”Where is she then?”

Rayna: ”She stepped out but she'll be back. I'll set out to get her.”

Steven: ”Yes, please do…”

When she left the room, Young Mi gets up again and starts going through a nearby closet. She pulled out neatly folded towels and clothes before turning back to us.

Young Mi: ”The both of you look terrible.”

Steven: ”Well, we didn't expect to get kidnapped.”

Young Mi: ”So the Headmistress was right? She knew you were kidnapped. What happened to you is why there's a strict curfew.”

Lilith: ”What did the Headmistress do?”

Young Mi: ”She set up a search party to look for you. We were allowed to search for you on our own after they turned up empty-handed.”

Steven: ”Well, here we are…”

Young Mi: ”Yes, you're both safe.”

She handed us each a towel and appropriate clothes, a laced shirt, and breeches. It's nothing fancy but it'll help if I want to blend in with the crowd.

Young Mi: ”Here, I knew I'd be needing these. There are 2 bathrooms, go and clean yourselves.”

Steven: ”I only saw one door.”

Young Mi: ”There are 2 more doors inside. I don't know why it's like that because it's bad design but there's 2.”

We checked out the bathrooms and Young Mi was right. There really were 2 more doors in a much tinier hallway! I went for the one on the right and got ready for a bath.

The bathtub was literally in the middle of the room which was weird to look at because I'm used to seeing them hugging the wall. Once I got in it, I was met with the most euphoric feeling I've had in a long time. I always saw people that fall asleep in bathtubs as weird, but I finally understand them! The time passed by quickly before I figured out I've been in for too long.

I was worried if the others were planning to take a bath and are upset, so I rushed the rest of my bath. I got into the fresher clothes and went into the hallway of the hotel where I bumped into Rayna coming out of the room.

Rayna: ”Oh, there you are, Steven. Your hair is still wet, y'know?”

Steven: ”I know, did you find Madelyn?”

Rayna: ”I did, and I didn't tell her why I needed her. Thought you'd want to surprise her.”

Steven: ”That's… a good idea!”

I wonder how she'd react?

Rayna stood in front of me and opened the door, essentially becoming a body-shield to Madelyn's eyes. She had no idea until we made eye contact. Her eyes widened with shock before she exploded off the bed and jumped to hug me with enough force to knock anyone down if they were caught off guard.

Steven: ”Happy much?”

She didn't reply, only cry softly in my shoulder.

Steven: ”I missed you too, Madelyn.”

Madelyn: ”I actually thought—I thought—”

Steven: ”I know, I know—just… we're fine now. You should know that we always find our way back.”

She didn't let up and even tightened her arms more. I didn't push back because it feels nice to be hugged and, well, I'm sure she'll tire out soon.

It makes me remember the time on Sefre where I drunkenly asked her to be my sister. We were wasted and it's fuzzy to remember. So, will she remember as well?

Steven: ”I'm fine, sis.”

She ultimately releases me and sits on the bed, wiping away her tears. I didn't know what to expect by calling her ”sis”, but nothing really happened.

Steven: ”Did Lilith finish her bath?”

Young Mi: ”No, she's still in the bath.”

She's probably enjoying her bath as I did.

Steven: ”Well, what do we do now?”

Rayna: ”Rest, for now. This is a setback on what we need to do: which is to assist the Academy.”

Steven: ”So I'm assuming we'll be heading back in the morning?”

Rayna: ”Yes… it's an 8-hour trip, so we need to leave in the morning.”

All this running and walking makes me feel like it's just one really drawn out Color Run event, just without the fun or happiness.

Steven: ”Ahh~ I wish I can retire just for today.”

Lilith walks in as I started complaining. She was looking way better and happy. It doubled when she saw Madelyn and gives us the brightest smile I've ever seen her do.

Lilith: ”Madelyn!”

Madelyn: ”Lilith!”

They both screamed, frightening us Wights. I was preparing for anything, but no, it's just them being really excited to see each other and hugging. They're really best friends.

Madelyn: ”I was so worried!”