Early in the morning in Starhorn City, market district.
The road leading to the Chamber of Commerce and the Blacksmith Order main branches, which stood opposite each other, was packed with different types of people. These people were either going into the Chamber of Commerce to buy or order materials or going into the Blacksmith Order to buy or request special-made items, such as weapons, armors, or magic items.
The Chamber of Commerce was a four-story building made of black and white marble with a huge symbol of a book with a hovering stamp made of gold. On the other hand, the Blacksmith Order was a three-story building made of metal and black stones with a huge chimney at the center that regularly puffs out a cloud of white smoke. A huge sign of a gold hammer was engraved on the building’s double doors.
Needless to say, both buildings stood out from the rest because of their identity as a Conclave constituent.
Vaness, the Head Chief of the Chamber of Commerce, was currently inside his office located on the fourth floor. His office, which occupied at least 50sqm. of the whole fourth floor was filled with ceiling-high bookshelves on each side. The rectangular study table was situated near the floor to ceiling windows and was facing the double-door entrance.
Currently, a stack of documents filled Vaness’s study table that he had not finished reading. However, he was not rushing to read these documents because his attention was occupied by the small parchment he held.
A soft knock sounded from the doors, and without looking up, Vaness said, “Come in.”
Emery entered the room. She closed the door behind her before approaching the study table.
“Head Chief, Kyran has sent over the thousand-year-old Duali bark and samples of the miasma last night,” she started.
Vaness paused after hearing her words, and he finally looked up.
“Really?” He asked with a hint of surprise.
Emery simply nodded her head and added, “The Lord requested for us to come to the Tower because she expected that the Theihorns will be transported soon.”
“Good. We also received an update on the rare stones,” he replied with a nod.
“Have they found its location?”
Vaness shook his head.
“No, but they found a lead on the group who infiltrated the Shaiha Ruins.”
With a slight frown, Emery asked, “Will it be alright to give that information to Kyran? That is not exactly what he asked from us.”
“No it is not, however, if we manage to capture a member of this group, we might find some information of the Shaiha Ruins itself.”
Emery raised her brows in realization.
“Like a map.”
Vaness nodded with a smile and said, “Exactly. Since they managed to enter and leave the ruins, it means they have a map.”
“It will be better if we capture a member first before Kyran meet with our people.”
“Yes. Our people are already on the move, by the time Kyran meets up with them, they would have captured that person. Given that they succeed, of course.”
Emery smiled faintly.
“If not, it will be hard for us to capture that person again.”
Vaness sighed.
“True. But, I have a feeling that Kyran will be able to find a work-around if that happens.”
He rolled up the small parchment and pushed back his chair.
“Anyway, we have to leave. We cannot let the Lord wait,” he changed the subject and stood up.
“The carriage is already waiting downstairs.”
“Then, let’s go.”
The two of them left the office and made their way downstairs.
===============
Back in Hanaan, it took Kyran half an hour to buy all the things he had listed. His list was not long, but looking for a girl’s apparel took much of his time. He did not expect that buying a girl’s clothes was such an arduous task.
When he returned to the inn, he ordered breakfast at the counter before making his way to the room on the second floor.
There he found the girl who had already awakened, sitting at one corner with her head buried on her knees.
The girl immediately looked up when she heard the door opening.
“What are you doing there?” Kyran asked with a slight frown as he closed the door behind him.
When the girl heard the man’s voice, her face immediately brightened.
“You are here.”
Kyran bit back his angry response and walked over to the girl’s side.
“You should have stayed on the bed,” he told her instead and helped her sit at the foot of the bed.
“I-I thought s-something happened to you. A-And this place is… i-is v-very different so… I-I thought s-someone else might have… t-taken me…” she replied in a small voice.
Kyran took a deep breath and sorted his thoughts.
While he was out buying, he recounted what had happened at the mutated Basilisk’s cave and realized a problem.
The problem where the girl would end up feeling indebted to him.
Kyran thought of this problem when the girl did not hesitate to reveal her secret to him and insisted on using her ability to help him. But looking closely at what happened, because of what she did, he ended up owing her. And since he helped her first, then that meant they were already even.
However, the girl’s naivety would make her think this was not the case.
To be honest, even if the girl did not use her ability, Kyran was sure he would be able to deal with the two mutated Basilisks. He admitted that summoning his magic at its fullest might be a good option to deal with the two at the time, but his instincts told him otherwise. Apart from the fact that he did not want to destroy the cave and leave a trace that would reveal he went there, there was a possibility that the two mutated Basilisks could counter his magic. This assumption came from his observation when his magic attack melted from the mutated Basilisk’s counterattack. In the end, Kyran chose to summon the fissures to deal with them, even if he would end up feeling exhausted because, as far as he knows, his fissures could absorb anything.
Kyran pulled one of the chairs near the windows toward the foot of the bed. He sat down before looking at the girl and said, “Let’s talk.”
When she heard how serious the man’s voice was, the girl’s expression turned solemn.
‘I guess, this is it.’ She thought and suppressed any emotions that emerged deep in her heart.
She already knew the man would leave her. Anyone who witnessed her magic ended up getting scared. But even if the man did not see her magic, she knew he would still leave. She only worried because she did not know where to go when that happened.
“This town is called Hanaan. Is it familiar?” Kyran asked.
He did not directly ask the town’s name where the girl lived because he did not want to give her the impression that he was asking about her.
The girl’s expression turned confused, but she replied, “No.”
“I see.”
Kyran paused and looked at the girl thoughtfully before continuing.
“What happened earlier… when you… sang that song-.”
“T-The song is not dangerous,” the girl interrupted at once. “I-It is called the Lament of the Souls a-and m-my mother said, it c-can soothe t-the soul. What I’m trying to say, it is nothing dangerous. I-I’m n-not d-dangerous…”
Kyran’s brow creased after hearing the girl’s explanation. Although he did not plan to ask about it, he felt a sudden headache now that she had told him what the song was.
Just hearing the ‘soul’ part gave him a bad feeling.
“Right. I am not asking about that though,” Kyran told her.
“Oh. S-Sorry,” the girl fell silent.
Kyran sighed.
It would seem, his impulsive decision did make his situation more complicated. And if his guess was correct, leaving this girl and fading in the background was no longer an option. Her existence might have an impact on his future. He might be overthinking, but he felt that their meeting was too coincidental for him to ignore.
“Anyway, it seems singing that song weakens you, so its best for you to stay here and rest.” Kyran decided to say.
The girl’s expression immediately turned sad. She lowered her head and replied, “I… O-Okay.”
Seeing her sad expression, Kyran added, “I can’t take you with me because-.”
“I-I know. Y-You’ve done a lot already. So, I understand. D-Don’t worry, i-if you c-can take me… uhm… m-maybe to a… an orphanage o-or t-the monastery, I-I can stay there.”
Kyran fell silent. He had not thought of the monastery when thinking of a place where to leave the girl. But it was not because he forgot, but because he knew the monastery had ties with the Royal Family. They appeared to be neutral, but the Conclave’s records showed otherwise.
He did not want to go near anything related to the Royal Army or the Royal Family.
“Is that where you want to go?” He asked.
The girl did not reply and only lifted her head a little.
“Because I am thinking of leaving you here for a few days while I go on an errand. Then I’ll come back to-.”
“Really? Will you come back for me?”
Kyran could not help but smile faintly.
This girl was too easy to read. She stuttered and looked uneasy when she felt nervous or sad and spoke clearly when she felt excited or happy; even her face brightened.
“Yes.”
When the girl smiled brightly, Kyran was suddenly speechless.
She was too pure, and taking her completely under his wing would definitely corrupt her.
Shaking his head, Kyran pushed the thought at the back of his mind. It was not like he would keep her close because he planned to let Byron deal with her.
“Then I will wait for you,” the girl replied enthusiastically.
“Let me get something straight, I’m coming back but only because I will take you to someone who can help find a place for you.”
“Oh,” the girl replied, disappointed. “Y-You’re… I-I see.”
Ignoring the disappointed look on her face, Kyran continued, “And about your… ability. I suggest you don’t use it again. You’re fortunate because I’m not interested in it but if others find out, you will only attract problems.”
“I-I’ll try.”
“Good. Anyway, I’ve bought you some clothes so you can change,” Kyran said and took out a few bags from his pouch and placed them on the bed beside the girl.
“I will tell the owner to bring you food during mealtime while I am gone. You can stay in this room. There is also a bathroom here. I will show it to you before I leave.”
“When will you leave?”
“In a few minutes.”
“S-So soon?”
Ignoring her reply, Kyran took out a healing potion and reached for her hand.
“This is a healing potion. You’ve sustained some internal injuries so this can help you. Don’t worry if you’re not used to drinking potions because this is of a lower grade. Your body will be able to slowly adapt to its healing effect. As for your other wounds,” Kyra took out a small container with ointment and a few rolls of bandages. “I will leave a medicine here you can use and bandages so you can change into new ones.”
Kyran stood up and placed the items on the table that separated the two beds.
“I will arrange them in a way that will be easy for you to find them. Don’t worry. I will guide you around so you can familiarize yourself with the room’s layout.”
“Thank you,” the girl replied as she tightly held the bottle of potion in her hand.
She felt touched at the man’s consideration. But the more he showed kindness, the more she hoped to stay with him.
‘He’s not interested to keep a blind person with him. He did not even… ask for your name,’ she reminded herself.
“For now, that’s all I want to say.”
The girl nodded her head, “Okay.”
“Right. Before I forget,” Kyran turned his attention back at the girl.
“What’s your name?”
The moment the man asked this question, the girl’s eyes brightened. Unfortunately, he did not see it.
The girl turned her head toward the direction where the man had spoken and replied, “Cyneah. My name is Cyneah.”