Guard #1: "What mission?"
asked the first, his hand still firmly gripping his sword.
Venti took a slow breath before continuing, as if announcing something perfectly ordinary:
Venti: "A mission to… find a lost cat."
A heavy silence immediately fell before the gate.
Guard #2: "…A cat?"
repeated the second guard slowly, convinced he had misheard.
Venti: "Yes."
Venti confirmed with a small, genuine smile.
Venti: "A missing cat belonging to a child living in this manor."
"The mission is posted at the guild, with a rather high reward, by the way."
The two men remained frozen for a few seconds, clearly torn between disbelief and perplexity.
The first guard frowned.
Guard #1: "You want us to believe you came all this way... for a cat?"
Venti: "Exactly."
Venti replied bluntly.
Venti: "I know it might seem strange, but it's the truth."
He then took out his adventurer's crystal and held it up to them.
The gem emitted a faint glow, proof of its authenticity.
Venti: "I've simply come to ask for information about when the cat disappeared, what it looks like, and whether it usually wanders outside the compound."
The guards finally lowered their weapons slightly, though their caution remained palpable.
One of them sighed quietly, knowing what Venti was talking about.
Guard #2: "I see..."
"The young master did indeed lose his cat a few days ago."
Guard #1: "No one has managed to find it yet."
"And few adventurers take this kind of request seriously."
Venti nodded gently.
Venti: "Then let me try."
"I'll do my best to bring it back safe and sound."
After another exchange of glances, the first guard stepped aside and lowered his spear.
Guard #1: "Very well. Wait here."
"We'll inform the inside that the adventurer assigned to the mission has arrived."
The guard walked away toward the manor, leaving Venti alone in front of the gate.
The bard observed the area with curiosity, already sensing that this simple "lost cat" mission might hold far more surprises than he had imagined.
A few minutes later:
After a few minutes of waiting, the guard reappeared, walking with a firm but measured step.
He stopped in front of Venti and looked at him carefully, as if to make sure the young adventurer understood the situation.
Guard #1: "Very well."
He said in an authoritative but calm voice.
Guard #1: "You may enter the grounds."
Venti nodded gratefully and gave a slight smile.
Venti: "Thank you."
He replied.
Venti: "I will be careful."
The guard waved his hand, but his eyes remained serious.
Guard #1: "Listen carefully."
He added.
Guard #1: "There is one very important thing to remember."
"Under no circumstances should you harm a member of the family."
"Understood?"
Venti frowned slightly, perplexed.
Venti: "Of course, I understand."
He replied.
Venti: "But… I have no intention of doing so."
The guard sighed softly and approached, placing a firm hand on the top of the gate.
Guard #1: "This is no joke."
He continued.
Guard #1: "Even a clumsy gesture or action could be considered a threat. If that happens, you'll have to deal with everyone who protects the manor."
"And believe me… they don't joke around."
Venti nodded again, fully grasping the seriousness of the situation.
Venti: "Very well, I'll be careful."
He said calmly.
Venti: "My goal is simply to find the cat."
The guard nodded and stepped back slightly, allowing Venti to pass.
Guard #1: "Then come in, but be discreet and watch your every move."
"The grounds are vast, and every member of staff and security is watching closely."
Venti took a deep breath, feeling the light breeze caress his face. A small smile played on his lips.
Venti: "Don't worry, I'll be careful."
He thought to himself, ready to enter the manor grounds and discover what this mysterious mission truly held in store for him.
With a final breath, he stepped through the gate, his eyes shining with excitement and curiosity.
The manor stretched out before him, majestic and silent, but he already sensed that this simple cat quest was going to be far more complex than it seemed.
Venti slowly crossed the gate and walked into the grounds.
He had barely taken a few steps when the bustle of the city seemed to vanish behind him, replaced by an almost solemn calm.
The garden stretched out before his eyes like A carefully composed scene, every detail seemingly conceived with almost artistic precision.
The paved path wound its way between perfectly manicured flowerbeds.
Deep-hued roses, immaculate white lilies, and small, brightly colored flowers formed harmonious patterns.
As he walked, Venti noticed the sweet floral scent carried on a light breeze, as if the wind itself had become more respectful in this place.
On either side of the path stood finely sculpted stone statues.
Some depicted heroic figures, others mythical creatures, frozen in elegant poses.
The features were so detailed that one almost believed they could come to life at any moment.
Venti slowed his pace, observing the exquisite carvings, wondering how many years and how much talent had been required to create such works.
A little further on, a A fountain stood in the center of a small, circular clearing.
The water flowed peacefully, producing a soothing murmur.
Colorful fish swam beneath the crystalline surface, occasionally catching a ray of light to sparkle like tiny living gems.
Venti paused for a moment, captivated by the scene.
Venti: "What a peaceful place…"
He thought.
Venti: "It's hard to believe a cat could get lost in such a well-maintained place."
The neatly trimmed hedges formed small natural corridors, while old trees offered their welcoming shade.
Their branches were adorned with decorative lanterns, probably lit at nightfall, adding a warm touch to the whole scene.
As he walked on, Venti kept his senses alert.
Behind the apparent beauty of the garden, he sensed a discreet presence:
Guards posted in strategic locations, invisible at first glance but always vigilant.
He remembered the warning he had been given and made sure to remain calm, respectful, almost silent.
Venti: "If I were a cat…"
He thought to himself, observing the bushes and shady corners.
Venti: "This would be the perfect place to hide."
With a watchful eye and a light step, Venti continued his stroll through the garden, memorizing every detail.
The decorations weren't just beautiful:
- They told the story of a wealthy
- Powerful
- family, but also one concerned with the harmony of their estate.
And somewhere
Among these statues, trees, and flowers, a cat must be hiding.
After crossing the entire garden, Venti finally arrived at the grand entrance gate of the manor.
It was imposing, made of finely crafted dark wood, reinforced by discreet yet elegant metal ornaments.
Up close, he could make out engraved motifs representing family crests and symbols of prosperity.
The entire building exuded an aura of nobility and solemnity.
Venti took a deep breath, then raised his hand and knocked on the door.
Knock knock knock
The sound echoed briefly in the inner hall before fading away, giving way to a hushed silence.
A few moments later, the door opened slowly.
An elderly man appeared in the doorway. He was impeccably dressed:
- A long, perfectly tailored black coat
- A pristine white shirt
- And light gray gloves.
His back was straight, his posture flawless, and his gaze sharp yet calm.
He carried a slender cane more for elegance than necessity.
The butler observed Venti from head to toe, without the slightest hint of disdain, but with meticulous attention, as if assessing every detail of his appearance.
The butler: "Good morning."
He said in a calm and distinguished voice.
The butler: "Are you the adventurer sent by the Guild?"
Venti inclined his head slightly, adopting a respectful tone.
Venti: "Yes."
He replied.
Venti: "My name is Venti."
"I accepted the mission concerning a missing cat."
The butler nodded slowly, as if this answer confirmed what he had been expecting.
The butler: "I see."
"We were expecting you."
He opened the door a little wider, revealing the interior of the manor:
- A vast hall illuminated by a majestic chandelier
- Thick carpets with refined patterns
- And walls adorned with antique paintings.
The butler: "Please come in."
The butler added.
"The young master wishes to meet you in person."
Venti cast one last glance behind him, toward the peaceful garden, then crossed the threshold of the manor.
As the door closed gently behind him, he had the distinct impression of entering a world very different from that of the plains and battles.
Venti: "Just a cat…"
He thought.
And yet, everything here suggested that this mission was far from ordinary.
Guided by the butler, Venti stepped inside, ready to discover the rest of this strange request.
As Venti crossed the threshold and walked into the vast hall, his gaze was drawn to an almost imperceptible detail.
On the right side, slightly set back from the main corridor, a half-open door let in a thin ray of light.
Behind it, something moved.
Venti instinctively slowed his pace.
Two bright, wide-open eyes watched him with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.
He barely had time to make them out before the figure suddenly recoiled, as if caught in the act.
The door creaked very slightly before freezing again, ajar by only a few centimeters.
Venti: "Hm?"
Venti thought, surprised.
It wasn't hard to guess that it was a child.
It was Deith Garlo, the one who had filed a request with the Adventurers' Guild to find his cat.
The presence was too slight, too clumsy to belong to a guard or a servant.
The wind itself seemed to whisper a familiar emotion to him:
- Worry
- And hope.
The butler, who had been walking a few steps ahead, stopped in turn.
He followed Venti's gaze and sighed softly, as if he had been expecting this.
The butler: "I see the young master couldn't restrain himself."
The butler said.
He said in a low but indulgent voice.
The door then opened a little wider, revealing a small boy of barely ten years old.
He was dressed in a noble suit, a little too refined for his age, but wrinkled at the sleeves, a clear sign that he had spent the day pacing around.
His hair was neatly combed, although a few stray strands betrayed his restlessness.
He gripped the edge of the door with his small hands, as if it were the only thing protecting him.
Deith: "Is… is he the adventurer?"
The child asked hesitantly.
His eyes flickered from Venti to the butler, then back to the bard.
There was a fragile glint in his gaze, a mixture of shyness and desperate anticipation.
Venti crouched down slightly to get down to his level, a gentle smile on his lips.
Venti: "Yes."
He replied calmly.
Venti: "I'm here to help you."
The boy seemed to relax a little, even though he remained half-hidden behind the door.
Deith: "Are you… are you really going to find my cat?"
At these words, Venti felt a slight tightening in his chest.
This wasn't a trivial mission, nor simply a matter of reward.
For this child, this cat truly mattered.
Venti: "I'll do my best," he promised sincerely.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
The butler watched the scene in silence, visibly reassured by the young adventurer's demeanor.
He gently closed the door behind them, isolating the hall from the rest of the manor.
The little boy hesitated for another moment, then finally emerged from his hiding place.
Despite his noble status, he was not at all arrogant.
On the contrary, he simply seemed worried, almost lost.
Venti listened attentively, already aware that this mission, as simple as it seemed on paper, was far more important than he had imagined.
Venti crouched down completely, placing one knee on the ground to get down to the little boy's level.
He made sure to maintain a relaxed, non-threatening posture, with a gentle, reassuring smile.
The wind around him seemed to calm, as if it too wanted to soothe. the child.
Venti: "Don't worry."
Venti said calmly.
Venti: "So I can find him, I need you to describe him as best you can."
"What does your cat look like?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, clutching the fabric of his coat between his fingers. Then, as if afraid of forgetting an important detail, he took a deep breath and spoke in one breath:
Deith: "He… he's black."
"All black, except here."
He timidly raised his hand and pointed to the top of his own head.
Deith: "He has a white spot on his head, right here."
"Dad says it makes him look like he's been touched by the snow…"
His voice trembled slightly, but he continued, encouraged by Venti's attentive gaze.
Deith: "His eyes are golden."
"When he looks at me, it's like two little lights."
"And... and he always wears a blue collar."
"A fabric collar, with a small, shiny buckle."
Venti nodded slowly, memorizing every detail precisely.
In his mind, the image of the cat was already taking shape very clearly:
- The black fur contrasting with the white patch,
- The easily recognizable golden eyes,
- And above all, that blue collar that would serve as an obvious marker.
Venti: "Okay."
He replied softly.
Venti: "A black cat with golden eyes, a white patch on its head, and a blue collar."
"Noted."
The boy raised his head slightly. Venti: "Do you… do you think you'll be able to find him?"
There was a genuine, almost painful fear in his question, as if the cat's absence had left a huge void in his day.
Venti smiled a little wider.
Venti: "Cats always leave traces, especially when they're loved."
"And the wind is very good at finding what's gone astray."
The boy blinked, intrigued by this, but seemed reassured.
His shoulders relaxed slightly.
Deith: "His name is Aster…"
He murmured after a short silence.
Deith: "He likes to sleep in the garden… or on the rooftops."
Venti stood up slowly.
Venti: "Then that's where I'll start looking."
"I promise you I will do everything I can to bring Aster home."
The butler, standing slightly apart, watched the scene with a discreetly relieved expression.
The little boy nodded emphatically, as if he had just entrusted his most precious treasure.
And in Venti's heart, the mission had just taken on a new meaning:
It was no longer just a well-paid quest, but a promise to be kept.
A few moments later, Venti and the little boy found themselves in the manor's garden.
The butler watched them from a respectful distance, deliberately allowing them the space they needed for their conversation, while the guards remained discreet, almost invisible among the hedges and paths.
Deith walked beside Venti, a little closer than before.
Fear had given way to a certain excitement, tinged with hope.
Chapter 22: The One Who Communicates on the Wind
The End