Chapter 439 - Village of Earn [4] (2/2)
”Calm down,” said he with a finger on the mouth, ”-let them sleep.” The door shut.
”Sorry, but, are they?”
”There wasn't anything to worry about,” he glanced the foot, ”-is there something you're hiding?”
”What do you mean?” she frowned with arms crossed.
”The rash,” stated he, ”-not normal, is it?”
”What brings that conclusion about?”
”The girl,” he nodded to the room, ”-she has the same rash.”
”So, what does it have to do with me?”
”Listen here,” two steps forth and they practically bumped heads, ”-I don't want you to end up the same as the man yesterday. Mela, sister of Rasu, what will it be? I want answers, nothing more, nothing less.”
”O-ok…” her head moved away, ”-there's no need to be so harsh about it. My rash came from the pill, you know, the thing the DG is selling?”
”I see, how much did you take?”
”One, only one, not by my volition. It was that man; he fed me the pill and did as he wished.”
”Sorry to hear that,” he moved to the open curtain. ”-Mela, the girl had the same rash. I don't want to think of the worst-case scenario…”
”Those who take the pill have black rashes grown on their body. Kreto sees that as being tainted. Take five or more and you become insane as if possessed.” Buildings laid one after the other, the shorter roads were hidden. The landscape wasn't as marvelous as what was experienced before. A normal sight for a village-like Earn.
”You mentioned information being scarce in Earn,” facing the television, ”-doesn't that thing tell the news?”
”Oh,” she laughed, ”-We only have channels from Dreqai and Elendor. The news never goes into details about the 'outside'.”
”Mela, I have a favor to ask.”
”What is it?” the crossed arms relaxed; her frown grew accommodating.
”Do you have an idea where I might procure one of those pills?”
”…”
”Why?”
”I told you before, I have my secrets. I need to see the faces of those who are distributing such things.”
”Fine,” said as if disappointed, ”-the sellers usually come around at night. They're often seen with the locals at our bar. If you want to see 'em, better head to Vil's brothel; it's crawling with them.”
”Where might that be?”
”Over there,” she pointed to the far-left, ”-close to the entrance.”
”You can see the church of Syhton and the observatory from here,” commented he.
”Yeah,” her elbows rested against the ledge, ”-Earn is a good place to live… apart from all that, well, you know…”
”Yeah, I know, no need to go into details.”
”What will you do about the kids?” asked she gazing upon the church.
”Can you keep them here for a few days?”
”A few days,” she sighed, ”-won't they get bored?”
”Don't worry about the cost,” he handed a 1000 Exa note.
”W-wait…” her eyes opened; ”-I've never seen so much before!”
”Will it be sufficient?” asked he for 1000 Exa was naught but change to him.
”I could take them in for a whole year with this,” her joyful tone sunk, ”-I don't want to be a mother yet. I'll keep them around for a week at most. Besides, Peo and Alia have their parents, don't they?”
”Tis them that worries me,” he said with a mysterious voice, ”-don't let them find out.”
”A-as you wish.”
”I'll see you later. Have a good day, Mela.” *Ancient Magic: Teleportation.*
'Seriously?' her mouth stayed wide open. 'Just who is that man? Comes in, treats the kids, and just leaves behind 1000 Exa as if nothing,' she shut her window.
”Intherna, Gophy,” stood atop a building.
”What is it?” they both came in the forms of wisps.
”I need thee to go and be decoy at the dungeon.”
”Are we to go there physically?” asked Gophy not entertained by the idea.
”No, I'll create temporal puppet bodies – just imbued some mana in them and they should become replicas of the children.”
”O-ok,” shrugged Intherna. Thus, Staxius channeled for the Box of Alche and unlocked the first gate of Nevermore. Since the bodies were temporary, there wasn't a need for them to be durable.
”There,” said he with the sun coming down, ”-here's Peo and Alia.” The dolls moved around listlessly.
”It's only a decoy, right?”
”Yes, all we need is information and time. Good luck, Gophy and Intherna, I'm counting on you.” With the goddesses taking to their duties, Staxius set his eyes onto the brothel. The time came to find what was going on in Earn.