Chapter 277 - The Whispers of Wayfarers (1/2)

*Eldovian Era 1713, 22nd day of the 12th month*

”…you mean you haven't seen them come for food in three days?”

”I haven't even heard them, not even a peep”.

”I knew they were very dedicated to their work but this seems a little extreme, perhaps someone should go to check on them”.

Gelling had to pause in the doorway of the crew dining hall. He frowned at the conversation he'd heard and turned to the three maid staff who were finishing their breakfast to the side.

”Who is it?” he asked.

The maids looked up in surprise, then the most senior among them spoke up, ”Those two Magicians. The Old man and the Young man. Lina was just saying that she hasn't seem them in the dining hall for three days”.

”They usually come at odd times,” said Lina, ”But I checked with a few others who were on duty and they haven't seen them come in either”.

Gelling frowned, ”Do you know what rooms they're staying in?”

”No, sorry,” Lina replied, ”I think they were on Deck 5 but I don't know which room”.

”It's room 28,” said the third maid, ”I clean those rooms, theirs is always so scattered with papers that I'm never quite sure what to do”.

Gelling nodded, ”I'll check on it. Send word if they show up”.

”Of course,” the maids nodded in agreement.

Gelling left the dining hall and made his way up towards passenger decks.

Passengers disappearing for a few days? He'd dealt with passengers finding their way into the staff areas, getting lost, a few staying in their rooms. But the staff had always been aware at some point or another. For passengers to go missing entirely for three days? Something was wrong.

Gelling found himself in front of the room in question ten minutes later after stopping to ask a few more staff. He raised a hand and knocked on the door.

”Hello? My name is Gelling, I'm one of the Security Personal on the Mariner,” Gelling stated, he listened as he paused but heard no movement, ”I'm sorry to disturb you but the staff were concerned about your safety and just wanted to make sure you were okay”.

It remained silent on the other side of the door and Gelling frowned. He knocked again, a little louder this time.

”Apologies, but as a security guard on this vessel, I really must insist on seeing that you are safe,” Gelling stated, ”If you do not open the door I will open it instead”.

Gelling waited nearly a minute, but there was no response. With a sigh, he retrieved his ring of keys and slotted the master key into the lock, ”I'm coming in”.

He turned the key and pushed the door open.

Gelling left immediately, locking the door behind him. As he turned to leave a woman with a curious and nosy gaze poked her head out, ”Is everything alright, Sir?”

Gelling paused, then gave a small smile of reassurance, ”I'm sure it's just a misunderstanding, do you happen to have seen the two Magicians staying here recently?”

”No...” the woman seemed to think a moment then a look of recognition crossed her face, ”Ah, they spent quite a bit of time in the public lounge on Deck 8. There was a woman that was with them often”.