Adam
18th Day of Summer, 997th Year of Grace
The city of Norton was situated on the edge of the western province.
A few days away from Belmire when travelled to on horseback, the city was a significant source of stone and coal mined from the quarries set up in the mountains that surrounded the city.
Norton itself appeared to be a peaceful city with law-abiding citizens but since the past few weeks, bandits had been razing and plundering nearby villages and towns.
Men and women with any monetary value were captured and sold off to slave merchants while everyone else was disposed of.
The Church had been having trouble investigating into the matter since the area was under the jurisdiction of Count Halford Clemence who didn't like outside forces meddling in his business, much like the Governor of Belmire.
The True Faithful didn't care about such unnecessary things and sent a few agents to investigate the matter.
A merchant named Garrick Stone had his base of operations in the city and was suspected of working in tandem with said bandits.
But there was no more word from the agents in Norton and so another group was arranged to be sent to the city to investigate the matter of Garrick Stone and the missing agents.
The group included Felton Green--a senior agent who had been working in the Obsidian for almost a decade now, a greenhorn named Lucy Mayers, and another man called John Wright who had two years of exprerience backing him up.
I was also part of the group despite having joined the Obsidian only around two weeks ago.
We arrived in Norton yesterday when the sun had already set and it was becoming dark. Since there was no use in wandering the streets at night yet, our leader--Felton--decided for us to rest at an inn and begin our investigation the next day.
Today, Felton assigned us each different tasks to proceed with.
Lucy Mayers was to pose herself as the daughter of a rich merchant who had come here with her bodyguard--Felton would be taking up the role--to learn more about business and help her father open up possible trade routes.
I was to act as a mercenary along with John Wright and try to apply for work as guards for Garrick's merchant company.
Pretty nice role for an ex-mercenary's son.
The two duos parted ways at dawn and began our own investigations.
"Aren't there a bit too many armed individuals for a city this size?" I observed as we walked through the streets toward the local Mercenary Guild.
"It is unnatural but they might be local guards or people hired by merchants," John said.
"Still... I haven't seen a single citizen without a weapon on their body."
"We'll think about it later, walk faster for now." John picked up his pace and I followed behind.
After a few moments, we arrived at the guild--a stone building with cracked walls and missing windows.
When we entered, I found only a pair of men playing cards at the table in the corner of the room and no receptionist behind the counter.
My companion slammed on the counter. "Ey, where's the receptionist?"
A trembling old man entered through the door at the side of the room and stood before us. "Yes, how can I help you?"
"We're lookin for a job that pays well," John said, smirking.
The old man scanned us from head to toe. "Are you mercenaries?"
He probably thought we were ruffians by the way we were dressed.
I was dressed in a linen shirt with a leather coat over it and tight trousers with boots that reached my shin. My hair had been roughed up to give the impression that I didn't care about how I looked.
I was told it was for the sake of the mission--the same reason I was given when Felton forbid me from shaving a few days ago. So I also had a wild stubble covering my face which I hoped Alex never got to see.
My companion wore a dark jerkin with trousers that reached just about his ankle and leather shoes. He also had a chemise underneath the jerkin.
Most importantly, the expressions he made while talking and the way he carried himself suited a rowdy mercenary perfectly.
I didn't even come close to his skills in acting.
"I'm very sorry, sir, but there are no jobs available." The old man bowed.
"Eh? No jobs, you say?" John raised an eyebrow. "What bout that merchant named Garrick or somethin? I heard he got some deep pockets. Don't he need someone to safeguard his goods?"
He looked us over once more. "Mr. Stone doesn't accept anyone as his guards."
"Oh? We need to prove ourselves or somethin, eh?" John pressed.
"Ah, I didn't mean--"
"Show him, Robert." John snapped his fingers.
I raised a hand and gusts raged through the room, wrecking tables and throwing the two men playing cards off their chair.
I placed my hand on the counter and the gales stopped, cards lining themselves before me.
"Wanna see a trick, geezer?" I asked the receptionist with a coarse voice.
He gulped when I turned over the cards, revealing a royal flush.
"Ain't that proof enough?" John grinned.
***
"Well, that was a waste of time." I sighed when we stepped out the guild doors.
"Who would've known that Garrick doesn't recruit his guards through the guild?" He sighed after me. "And we've got trouble."
I turned and realised two men approached us, seething in anger.
"We were told not to draw attention to us." John clicked his tongue. "Felton will be mad."
"Just so you know, it was your idea." I readied myself.
He cracked his knuckles. "Very well, I'll be a good senior and teach you how to clean up your messes."
One of the men opened their mouth, "Hey, you two! How dare you ruin our game--"
I braced myself for a fight to break out but instead found myself confused when John tossed a gold coin at the men. "Sorry for the trouble, mate. Get yourself a drink."
The two men forgot about the mess we had made and instead began fighting between themselves over the coin.
"That was anticlimactic," I said and followed John as we walked away from the guild.
"Always remember, kid," he said, snickering. "Why worry over something that coin can solve?"
Connin
18th Day of Summer, 997th Year of Grace
I was praised by the townsfolk and priests for the work I had done and the miracles I had shown them.
Everyone called it the second coming of the Saviour, the Lightbringer--pleased by my deeds.
It was blasphemous to even think about comparing my mere mortal sorcery with the work of our Lord's son. Yet, I could not restrain their free will so I let it be.
Still, I wasn't pleased with myself for even a moment.
We left Loomwick today and after traveling for the whole day on horseback, we set up camp near a small pond.
I was seated in front of the campfire with clasped hands, praying to the Lord, when someone tapped on my shoulder.
It was Mark, one of the Inquistors accompanying me.
"May I sit with you, your grace?" he asked
"You may," I said without opening my eyes and continued my prayers.
"Thank you." I felt him sit beside me on the log I was using as a bench. "May I be allowed to rant about something selfish and perhaps... blasphemous?"
"You may," I repeated.
He sighed deeply. "When we were told of the children who had gone missing, I wanted to give my all in rescuing them. I have a daughter so I thought I knew how the parents of those children must have felt since I myself cannot even imagine something like that happening to my daughter. It would kill me.
"But when I heard that there was no saving them, I was frustrated. Were we too late? I... I began doubting our Lord's intentions. I know I shouldn't doubt Him but... did those children really have to die?"
I opened my eyes and placed a hand on Mark's shoulder. "Our Lord works in mysterious ways, brother. Perhaps, their deaths was meant to propagate us and many others to do better in the future. Nonetheless, you must remember that they are in a better place now. And when it comes to doubting Him, he gave us free will so that we can choose what we want to believe. It is not a sin to have faith in what you believe to be right."
Tears trickled down his face and he sniffled, wiping them away. "Y-Yes, your grace..."
I smiled. "Get some rest. We will set out again at first daylight."
He nodded and joined the other Inquistors a few steps away, chatting among themselves.
I turned to look at the fire crackling in front of me.
"Please... Guide me, my Lord," I murmured.
Adam
20th Day of Summer, 997th Year of Grace
Though our side had failed, Felton and Lucy came back with good news.
Apparently, they were successful with making contact with Garrick's merchant company and also made an appointment for today.
"You two will accompany us as hired guards," Felton instructed us. "Be aware of your surroundings and follow my orders. Do not cause unnecessary trouble and do not go against my word under any circumstances."
The girl snorted. "As if a rookie would be any useful. He can't even go a day without flexing his sorcery skills."
"Kid, you shouldn't be rude--"
"No, Mr. Wright!" She pointed at me. "This guy is dragging us down! If he weren't here, you would've succeeded in your task."
She glared at me but a hand smacked her at the back of her head, making a squeal escape her lips.
"It wasn't his fault," Felton said. "It was my mistake because I disregarded the possibility of Garrick Stone not hiring hands from the Mercenary Guild. And John failed as a senior when he went against my word of not drawing attention to himself, and asked Adam to use sorcery in front of the receptionist."
Lucy continued to glare at me, still not convinced.
"No, it's also my fault for not knowing better." I bowed.
"Well, are you satisfied now?" John asked Lucy.
She harrumphed in reply and said, "I'll let it slide this time. But you better not make any more mistakes!"
With another smack on her head, Felton said, "You're not any better, are you? Your acting as a rich man's daughter was lacking in more ways than one."
"Why do you keep smacking me?" She cried out.
Felton turned to us. "We'll head out in the afternoon to meet Garrick Stone. Be prepared."
I nodded while John said with an amused laugh. "We're going to have some fun at last!"
***
I stood under the shade of a tree with my eyes locked at the man sitting under the pavilion a few steps away from me.
"What sorts of trade does your father specialise in, Ms. Louis?" Garrick Stone asked Lucy.
He was a plump man with a balding head and clean-shaved face. Rings with different gemstones adorned his fingers and a thick gold chain hung around his neck.
He was dressed in clothes made of red silk embellished by various types of pearls--pink and white.
"Oh, Mr. Stone, my father only deals with coal and stone so I wanted to help him open up another profitable route through Norton." Lucy chortled with a cup of tea in one hand. "I hope you won't disappoint me."
"Of course, of course." Garrick cackled.
My eyes turned to the mansion when a wave of unsettling aura wafted through the air toward me. The Law was unsettled near the mansion and probably within too.
I whispered. "Should I investigate the mansion?"
The wind carried my voice to Felton Green standing behind Lucy at attention. He turned and inch to me and nodded subtly.
I walked toward one of Garrick's guards and asked, "Is there a place I can take a leak nearby?"