"Is it healed yet? I feel I can walk properly now." Natalak asks, restless on a bed.
"Might take another day or two before your bones fully recover," Chifya answers as she changes the withered, glowing vines wrapped around his injured leg.
He could feel the roots slowly drilling towards his broken bones like painless acupuncture.
Natalak asked, sitting on the edge of the bed, "I didn't see Sheila and the others today."
"They went to the guild for further interviews and followed up on reports from that dungeon," Chifya answered, fixing the room and gathering the finished plates.
"So why didn't you go with them?"
"Because I have to take care of a child." Chifya scoffs.
"That's quite harsh of you."
"And don't think of running away again. I don't want Sheila to feel gloomy again." Chifya said before closing the door.
"Sheila? Gloomy?" Natalak mutters. "Since when did I get to be important?" He adds, looking through the open window. And after an hour inside the room—
"Meh, fuck this shit. I'm leaving this suffocating room." Natalak said, gathering his things, and slowly peered through the door to see if Chifya was on the lookout.
After escaping his ward, Natalak was left wondering, lost in the village center. He could walk, but the vines' weight and thickness made it awkward to move. With no direction to follow, he wandered through the small village, seeking something that might interest him.
By the time Chifya returns to his room—
"Natalak, you blasted mongrel!" Chifya clenched her fist and immediately went searching for the man.
Asking the village folk, she still couldn't find a single person who had seen him. Perhaps one could say there are many others like Natalak, whose bodies have been warped by glowing roots and other forms of mend. After half an hour of searching, Chifya seeks the Church of Adra.
One hour before…
Inside the Church of Adra—
"This wine is quite good. Where did you get this?" Natalak said.
Ugvar smiled. "I made it myself."
"I see… do you have more? If so, I would like to buy it from you. The road needs a warm drink from the cold travel."
"I think I have a couple of dozen more bottles lying in the cellar. Three coppers a bottle." Ugvar said, and after that, silence followed for another couple of minutes.
"Can I ask you something?... It might sound strange, but how do you handle an evil spirit or something similar that is possessing you? Is there an object you know of that can purify it?"
Ugvar stirs his cup for less than a minute. "There are countless ways of dealing with such a situation. A purification essence is one that I recommend, but if you go for something more expensive, I have an item: an amulet." The orc said steadily, eyeing Natalak, then something caught Ugvar's eye.
Natalak may not see it, but when Ugvar sees through the man, he sees the mark of Hackrash spread all through Natalak.
"Tell me, young man, are you familiar with Hackrash's mark?" Ugvar said.
"Ah, no… But I did hear that word from Chifya. Is that another way of purifying?"
The orc's eye widened slightly; Natalak's words held no lies. "Hmm—"
Before Ugvar could follow up, Chifya opened the door, and they could see she was rushing toward them.
"B-boss!"
"What did I tell you?!" Chifya yanked Natalak's ears, pinching them as he pulled him away from his seat. "Do you understand how worried I was while searching for you?!" She added, dragging him away from the priest.
"Don't forget my order, padre," Natalak shouted at Ugvar. "I'll send you the money."
Once outside the church, Chifya grabbed Natalak's arm and pulled him back to his ward.
"Stay here." She orders, sealing the windows. "And if you do that again, I'll chain you up with my magic."
"But what about my order from the priest?"
"I'll get your order!" She shouts and quickly leaves the room.
Fuming with uncertainty, Chifya immediately returns towards Ugvar.
"Ah, so you've returned, chosen priestess of Hackrash," Ugvar said.
"What did you tell him?" Chifya said in a firm and low voice.
"Just some wine and an amulet that removes evil influence over the body and soul."
"Did you tell him about the mark?"
Ugvar chuckles. "Ah, afraid for the beans to be spilled?"
"I'm not playing games here priest." Her voice strains.
Ugvar chuckles more, then begins to laugh. "Ah, the irony. I'm surprise you manage to find someone who doesn't understand much of what you did, or what the mark holds. You must have a good game playing with his innocence. But to answer your query, no, I did not."
"I see that's all I need to hear." Chifya turns and begins her exit.
"Ehem…" The orc clears his throat. "You must have forgotten something."
Perceiving another conversation, Chifya frowns.
"Your companions, or should I say your scapegoat, owed me four silver shar," Ugvar said as he turns towards the neatly packed wine and a chest full of vials.
Chifya rolls her eyes and pulls four silvers from her pouch.
"Here," Chifya grouse tossing the pouch of coins at the priest. "That should cover his rubbish."
Weighing the pouch and with a quick squeeze, the orc nods. Once agreed, the scroll swallowed the items before handing it towards the half-elf.
"Take care then, oh, and a word of advice, chosen priestess. Running away won't solve the problem."
Chifya ridicule. "Maybe for you, but not for me." She said before exiting the church.
"Ah, how I love when people lie to themselves." Ugvar chuckles.
When Chifya returns, he finds Natalak rummaging through his satchel.
"I trust that you're not planning on running away." Chifya frowns.
"You know my feet are heavy from these vines of yours. And did you get me order?"
"Here." Chifya tossed the scroll at the man.
"Um, what is this?" Natalak unrolled the scroll, and what he found was a blank page.
"Are you really this senseless?" Chifya gave a stupefied look. "That's a void scroll; infuse some of your magic, and it will release the items; even a peasant knows how to use that."
"Um, ah." Natalak scratches his head. "I don't know how to operate this. And I don't have any kind of magic power."
"Stop fooling around and get on with it."
"I really don't have any."
"I had enough of this," Chifya mutters before storming out of the room.
"Must be in her menopause," Natalak whispers and pulls Chifya's sleeping potion.
When night arrives, Chifya returns and still finds Natalak silently sleeping. With little to no light, Chifya didn't bother to procure a device that gives light; instead, in her hand were two parchments. One bore the crest of her guild, while the other was tied with vines.
Setting aside the parchment secured with vines, she opens the guild letter and find it was from Sheila.
"Dear sister Chifya, it is unfortunate that we won't be coming tomorrow or the other day. The guild is still in the process of the investigation, and we are to give aid. I have been informed that the Empire of Endregar is joining the investigation. I was able to convince one of the guild masters to exempt you until Brother Natalak is healed, but only for two days. And do give my regards to Brother Natalak; I hope you both find common ground. Regards from your friend Sheila."
Chifya smiled and gently placed it aside. Though when it came to the parchment sealed in vines her smile fades and anxiety slowly creeps in.
"My Dear Chifya, if this letter arrives in your hands, I pray that you are in good hands. The elders are calling for your return, and I cannot stall them for too long. As for the spouse candidate, Kaylen has been chosen. I was able to give you this letter thanks to the so-called Adventurers Guild. But I must warn you that concealing yourself from the eyes of the elders will lead you to more trouble. For I overheard that you might be the one, but I pray that you are not be the one. Sincerely, from your uncle Rick."
After reading the letter, Chifya didn't bother to touch it; she lounges, and with a heavy heart she sighs, slowly shifting her gaze to Natalak.
After a couple of minutes, something came to her—unsheathing her ebony blades, she unhurriedly walks towards Natalak, ready to plunge the blade towards his heart.
Yet when she raises her blade, the guild crest which was strapped to her belt begins to glow. There, she realises she was an adventurer.
"Why is this happening to me?" She mutters, loosening her arms.
In the restlessness of the night, a knock surprises the half-elf.
Perceiving the knock was from the guild, for nearly ending Natalak's life, Chifya laid down her blades and opens the door.
"Lady Chifya." A boy stood gazing up at her. "Father Ugvar sent me; your presence is badly needed for an emergency!" The boy adds, his voice thick with worry.
Quickly, Chifya didn't hesitate to follow the boy's words.
When they arrived at the church, Chifya was led to the ward, where she saw three adventurers lying bedridden. A man with ashen hair and two women; their eyes sunken, their bodies almost dried up. Their only life support was the healing from the followers of Adra. Their armour was stripped, leaving them in thin white clothing.
"What happened?!" Chifya implores.
"I believe the blight that you purified may have spawned another," Ugvar answers.
"Did you inform the guild?"
"Not yet, but I'll send a letter—"
"Wait." Chifya raises her hand. "I think we'd best keep this one out." Chifya gave a serious look.
"And why would that be?"
The half-elf's eyes darts through the surroundings, of any men, of many ears. "A private room would be good."
The orc nods, and the two quickly go to a secluded chamber, the same place where Ugvar invited her for a drink.
"So what do you have in mind?"
"Remember what you told me about Endregar being involved?"
"Aye, I do."
"Well, my companions that left at the stronghold said Endregar legions are joining in with the investigation."
"Ah, I see what you're pointing at. But we do need as much help as possible from the guild—"
"I can do it alone." Chifya interrupts. "Just give me the location, and I'll take care of it."
"You're not going to sacrifice that man, are you?"
"This is no concern of yours." Chifya immediately stand, her voice still fuming. "If you wish to have a legion of Endregar snooping on you, then be my guest." She adds, and before she could open the door.
"Wait," Ugvar calls, pulling a map from the shelves.
Leaving the door's handle, Chifya returns to the chair as Ugvar unfurls the map on the table.
When dawn arrives…
"You're finally awake," Chifya said after seeing Natalak open his eyes.
Seeing Chifya in her well-equipped outfit, Natalak rolls away, turning his back to her. He could already tell she was going on another quest.
"I ain't going to have another broken bone this day," Natalak said.
Outside their room, a crashing noise can be heard—
"MOMMY! HELP! THIS CHOCOLATE WOMAN IS STEALING MY ITEMS—"
Sounds of fabric and leather tossing, armour clanking and after minutes, silence voids.
"Should have placed the bag in a different place." Natalak sighed in frustration, watching Chifya fasten his satchel to her waist.
"I need you, Natalak—"
"Just call me Nat."
Chifya paused, and after a minute of thought, she offers some insight into their quest and the Endregar Empire's involvement.
"Endregar? I may have encountered them while I was escaping that place. It was near dusk, I think."
"I see… so they must be the ones who destroyed that dungeon."
"If that's the case, we should hurry before Endregar catches wind of this new problem." Chifya turned her gaze to the cupboard and saw the scroll still sitting there. "The scroll. Give it to me." She adds, extending her hand.
With a small dose of her magic, the scroll unfurled, releasing the wines and purification vials Natalak desperately needs.
"I'll give you your bag when we reach the place," Chifya answers, then leads Natalak to the church.