"Looks like you understood my sign." Tarma has a sly smile on his face as he takes a seat on the wooden chair.
I keep my poker face firm, not letting my enemy know the chaos erupting in my mind. 'Sign? What sign? Was this a trap? I don't sense any disturbance in mana though.' I swiftly glance around the room once more. A wooden bed with expensive looking blankets, small wardrobe in the corner and a family picture of Lenia, Ryhard along with young Tarma. 'There is…. Nothing?'
With no more options, I open my mouth for confirmation. "Which sign-"
"Tarma! What was noise just now?" Lenia's angry noise sting in my ears as I look to my side.
'Shit. Broken window.'
"It's nothing, grandma! I was just practicing my footwork."
"Oh? You need to take care of yourself and don't overdo yourself. Afterall, you are going to lead the Silvertusks family to a bright future."
I could faintly hear creaking noises as Lenia walked away.
"Phew. That was close." I quickly dash and pin Tarma on his own bed. Judging by his expression, he seems impressed by my strength. But sadly, my body has been acting weird, I need wrap it as quickly as possible. I gently press the blade on his neck and whisper. "Where is the money?"
"Heh! One scream and its over for you kid."
"How can you scream without your tongue?" I twist the blade and aim at his throat. "Give me the damn money!"
Tarma stares in my eyes for a second before laughing. "Hahaha! And I thought you were smarter than Melsier. But. Hahah, you are just like him!"
My eyebrows twitches in anger, I tighten my grip on Tarma's hands.
"Such strength… You are perfect." He whispers in an obsessive voice.
I press my blade onto his throat, blood starts to dripping onto Tarma's clothes. "Last chance."
"Hehehe. We don't have your money, even if we did, it would belong to us according to law. Forget that, why don't you join me?"
I unconsciously loosen my grip after hearing the first words. 'Don't have the money? No! No! He is lying! He has to!' I glare at Tarma for solid ten seconds, my experience as court magician made me witness countless interrogation of worlds class spies. Finding out if a 17 year old spoiled brat or not, should be a cake walk. But I find nothing, I sense nothing, I see nothing unusual.
"Altaris. I am telling the truth." Tarma stood up right in front of me. "The old man hid the money somewhere. We really don't have anything."
I bit my own lip and turn back. 'If they don't have money then how I can free Helen? What am I supposed to tell Melsier in a month?'
"You are thinking about freeing Helen, right?" I stop and turn back only to see Tarma smiling creepily at me. "I might have a way." He announces.
"Not interested." I reject whatever he is offering as I still have my own cards-
"You cannot become an adventurer."
My eyes open wide. Every instinct in my body screaming at me. 'H-How? Mind reading? But he is a scavenger? Charms? Artifacts? Black magic?'
"A dungeon dweller like you cannot become an adventurer."
I slowly take a step back.
"Running away isn't option. You have to join me."
Another step.
"There is no other way. Or else the kids will starve."
Last step.
"The false hope you gave to Melsier will crumble in pieces." I take a deep breath before jumping out of the window.
"You will come back!!!"
In some unknown corner of the town, I was walking down an empty alleyway. Questioning my own actions, decisions and reasons to act in such a way. 'Maybe. Maybe I should just disappear now. Yes! I could. Fuck everything. If I just-'
Suddenly at an intersection, I bump into a hooded figure. "Ow!"
My body was still enhanced with magic which forced the other person on the ground. "Ah. Huh? Oh, I am sorry. I wasn't looking." Judging by the stature, the person must belong to a warrior class or some other melee class.
"Hey! Watch where you are going!"
Once again, I apologize and extend my hand. "Get your hands off me! Ugh. You got dust on my robes."
'That voice. This feeling.' They stand up on their own and take of their hood to fend off the dust. 'No mistaking it.'
Sensing me staring, the woman snaps. "What's with that look? Haven't seen an elf in your short life boy?"
'It's a witch and a powerful one.'
"Say something!" The elf woman sneers.
"Oh! Uh! I am sorry…. Your excellency. I am not u-used to seeing elves in this part of town. Not one as beautiful as you."
"Hmph! Use your sweet tongue elsewhere. And I am not some noble. I am a proud traveller and an adventurer. Now move aside!"
I swiftly step aside and watch the witch leave. 'A witch impersonating as an elf? Interesting.'
"Hey! I heard a commotion here! What is going on?"
'Oh shit.' I redirect the manaflow of my body to my legs as I prepare to run away.
A knight holding a long spear enters the alleyway. I halt my steps as we both recongnize eachother. "Jerald?" I ask.
"Oh! You are that kid from earlier. Come with me Melsier is looking for you everywhere."
I follow Jerald to the checkpoint, there we waited for almost an hour before Melsier came, riding a horse. "Altaris! Where were you?"
"Scratch that, I thought you went to Jerald's captain to become a city guard."
Melsier got off the horse with a smile. "I did. The captain immediately took liking to me. He is including me into their newest batch of recruits for training at the border!"
I narrow my eyes at Melsier's words. "Is that so?"
Suddenly Jerald pats my back. "Of course. Who do you think Melsier is? He was always good with sword. I bet after the training the captain will offer you a job."
Melsier chuckles. "I hope so. But really! The emperor must be looking out on me and just like you said Altaris! The golden opportunity! I got it!"
I awkwardly smile in response. "Haha. R-Right."
"Well, let's go and meet Helen now. After that we go back home to do my packing. I need to be at the border at dawn tomorrow. Oh. I need to talk with little Alexia too." Melsier hops back on the horse and extends his hand to me. I take it and we both wave our hands to Jerald.