Chapter 112:Inn
A servant girl approached, quick and efficient. She gave them a small nod and set down the steaming food.
Two bowls of thick steaming stew and bread. That was the only food served in the tavern.
"Eat while it’s hot," she said," you’ll need the strength."
Then she was gone. Atheline watched her leave then he glanced at Lilith.
"They’re friendlier than expected. "
"It’s efficiency, " she corrected.
For a while, they ate in silence. It was surprising that the food was delicious despite how simple it looked. He could feel the effort put into making it.
Even during their meals both of them listened carefully to the conversations around them.
The tavern had gotten more and more crowded as people arrived during their meal until it was full.
The town was a mixture of almost all species, as expected of its location. Border towns always carried the most filth.
Atheline listened to the table next to him. The conversations were half broken but he could still get what they were talking about.
"... Two weeks, maybe less..."
"... came earlier than last year... "
"... not just the forest this time... "
"... both sides are reinforcing the outer line..."
"... hubs might get closed... "
Lilith spoon stilled. Their gaze met as they listened to the conversations.
Atheline already knew about the tide, but it seems the effects were worse than he had imagined.
His gaze shifted towards the table, three male hunters by the looks of it occupied it.
One was missing two fingers, another had a scar that cut through his face while the last who seemed to be the youngest was looking around vigilantly.
It was clear that they were experienced fighters. All of them were body enhancers and Atheline could see they were all veterans, just a level below him.
"Stay put," she quietly said.
Lilith placed her spoon down and stood up.
"Don’t start a fight," Atheline said.
She smiled.
"We’ll see."
A small amused huff escaped him.
They noticed her approached immediately. Their bodies tightened and their hands moved to their weapons as they watched her stop in front of them.
Lilith looked down at them like they were beneath her.
One of them frowned. " Table’s taken."
She didn’t look at him.
"Tell me about the tide," she commanded.
They all stared at her in surprise, then, a homourless laugh followed.
"You’re not from here," the one with the missing finger stated.
"No."
"Then leave," he said flatly, his fingerless hand tapping the table," that’s the best advice you’ll get."
Her eyes lifted slowly, her gaze cold and uninterested in his tone.
"I didn’t ask for advice."
Tense silence fell over the table.
The man with the scar leaned back, studying her more carefully.
"You’ve got the look," he muttered, " fine you want to know? You’ll regret it."
Lilith didn’t respite but her gaze never left his. At the back, Atheline also shifted to listen better.
The man continued.
"It’s not the usual single wave... it changed this time," he continued, almost absentmindedly," people hear tide and they think it comes once in one big mass then it’s gone after getting broken."
He shook his head.
"It doesn’t."
’I suppose humans mainly get one wave then it’s over unlike us, four to ten are the norm at normal times’
"It starts small. Scouts. Creatures slipping past the outer forest. They test our defence during that period."
’Thats normal’
"Then more come."
"... Then more."
’This is meant to see if the scouts can break through the barrier without the need for the main army. They get more spoils this way."
The scarred man’s fingers tapped on the table once.
"Beasts don’t usually cooperate. Not like this, but during the recent years... something seemed to be driving them."
’Congratulations you’re being farmed.’
There was only one type of beast that could do that. The forest Lords. Most of the time they spend their time asleep but become gluttons when they wake up.
They are born from nature itself or nature chooses them. All of them are always S level and above but the strongest the high elves have killed was an SSS +
Most elves believe it’s nature’s way of reducing the world population.
It wasn’t the best reasoning but elves weren’t the most reasonable creatures.
The man leaned forward and started to draw on the table what looked like the continental map and the three kingdoms.
The forest was situated in the middle, taking a chunk from each kingdom’s land.
"All kingdoms might get hit, since there have been signs," the third man added quietly, while gesturing at the map," it doesn’t matter where we all stand, the forest doesn’t care about borders. "
"Some years it leans heavily over one side," the scarred man said," some years the others. "
"This year," he trailed off, glancing towards the window outside at the distant treeline," everything feels wrong somehow. "
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"Wrong how?"
"Too early, it’s not even supposed to attack our side yet, " he said," the scouts we’ve seen ?"
He hesitated as though trying to come up with a better way to put it.
"They’re the same but stronger. "
Lilith glanced outside towards the bustling town.
"I don’t see any soldiers."
The three men were silent then a forced laugh escaped.
"The request was sent but since it’s not our year to encounter the tide, we’re getting sidelined since we’re the poorest town."
The bitterness in his tone wasn’t missed.
’Thats unfortunate’
Atheline knew this always happens in the less fortunate border towns.
A beat of silence passed, then she asked the only question that really mattered to both of them.
"When?"
The three men exchanged glances.
"Two weeks," the scarred man finally answered, " maybe less if it keeps building like this. "
Lilith glanced back at him, their thoughts aligned.
’Two weeks to complete what brought them to the continent’
She turned without a word and returned to their table. She sat quickly and picked up her spoon as if nothing had happened but her gaze found his immediately.
"They’re coming in less than two weeks," she repeated.
"I heard."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the spoon.
"We can’t afford delays. "
"No," he replied calmly.
Lilith felt her head throb. The thoughts of two threats right before her were getting on her nerves.
Poison.
Tide.
She couldn’t decide which one was the worst.
Atheline suddenly stood up. Lilith looked up at him in confusion.
"Where are you doing?" She asked him.
Atheline shook his head when she tried to stand up.
"I’m going to have a talk with the manipulators. "
She wanted to protest but he had already stepped away. She didn’t try to follow.