237: Suspicion
Everyone went into their own questions about what happened and what was happening. Even I was confused. I saw Sylverith in the sky. If she had been eaten, then what did I see?
Voicing my thoughts, “Was it another dragon that we saw then?”
I wasn’t really expecting anyone to be listening and was surprised when Jen responded.
“No, it was definitely her, but I’d say that was another illusion. We really have no idea of the strength or abilities of Sylverith, only that she is focused on illusion, so for all we know, everything we’ve seen so far could be an illusion.”
I wasn’t overly convinced by that. She did, after all, say the seed was so serious it required her true form, though it wouldn’t explain how she could be eaten and survive.
I heard Wyatt talking to Milo in a panic. “She’s actually the dragon? The one you told me about?”
Milo nodded. “Yes.”
“But the skull! She would have seen the skull!” Wyatt had clear panic in his voice.
Milo laughed, so I jumped in. “She helped me prepare it for you, Wyatt.”
“Oh, of course. You said she’s been living in your library,” Wyatt said, seeming to visibly relax.
“Shit, I better go see Coral. Tell her not to worry,” Wyatt said, running down the stairs.
When he left the room, Milo looked at Luis. “If you need to go back to the capital, one of us can ride with you and catch up later.”
Luis waved it off. “No, no, it should be fine, and if it ate the phoenix, I don’t know what I could add to that to help.”
“Nothing,” Milo said.
Luis laughed. “You don’t have to be so blunt.”
“It’s true, though. If it can eat, as she said, both her and Alira, that’s a creature that you’ll be just a bug to,” Milo shrugged.
I had to ask. “How does a creature even get that large? And how many are there?”
Milo seemed to be in thought. “It’s not easy to say. This world is enormous, and we are but a small piece of land on it, all things considered. That said, it is recorded that the leviathan was as strong as the dragons if fought on water; it’s clearly surpassed that now, but it has a fairly large weakness, being that it needs the water.”
“So our adventurers could kill it if it attacked?” I asked hopefully.
“No, probably not, but our most powerful would probably be able to escape, and anyone living high could probably wait out the floods.” Milo seemed to really ponder.
I went to grab the rest of my stew and realised it was missing.
Letting out a large sigh, I just pulled out some jerky instead.
The rest of the night passed without much happening. Wyatt rejoined us, but the topic was mostly over what might have happened in the capital and how long it would take for Alira to rebirth, with Milo suggesting it might even be years.
Somehow I couldn’t see Alira picking my house if it would take years, unless it wasn’t a choice and just sent her to the largest source of ambient fire mana, which might have been Crisplet’s tree?
Crisplet had spent the night creating a statue, and clearly it was being made for Wyatt, as it ended up being knee height and had a small figure of everyone in the party, besides Luis, standing next to a large skull being held aloft by a burning figure of Crisplet.
I couldn’t help but smile.
Wyatt, on the other hand, kept trying to pay for it, and getting a piece of coal to his head.
“Just take it, and don’t sell it,” I said happily before heading to sleep that night.
Wyatt looked offended. “I would never sell it.”
***
The morning started early, with Hari knocking on my door. I wondered if anyone had filled him in on the events of the night before. He still hadn’t got back when I went to sleep.
“Wake up, Trev. Breakfast is ready. We’re getting started early.”
Yawning, I quickly followed him out, realising everyone looked as tired as I felt. It was even still dark outside. I was shocked to see Liane was awake and hiding in the corner.
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“Why so early? The merchants surely wouldn’t be wanting to go this early?” Milo said, yawning.
Hari nodded. “They want to leave in an hour, but I felt we needed a quick catch-up over what I learned at the guild yesterday.”
“Are you kidding me? We could have discussed this on the road,” Liane groaned.
Hari glared at her. “It’s important that we have some privacy, and this discussion is not overheard.”
Everyone nodded, not pushing it any further. I pulled out a porridge I had already prepared in a pot and put it near the fire to heat.
While I did that, I felt the air mana push past me as Milo set up a barrier so we wouldn’t be heard.
“A couple of things I discovered while I was at the guild. There is something of a black market for Trev’s food happening there. I’m surprised they have so much, actually, but jerky and candy are being sold for nearly triple Micca’s prices, while the tea is nearly ten times Micca’s price,” Hari started.
I was shocked to hear this myself, and didn’t know whether to be disappointed or happy it was so popular, but Liane clearly wasn’t happy.
“You didn’t just wake us up for that, did you?” she said.
Hari let out a small laugh. “No, I wouldn’t need to hide this from Luis. He would already know.”
There was silence as everyone took in the seriousness of Hari’s tone. I’d only heard it a couple of times, but it usually meant something was very wrong or dangerous.
“At the guild, I got talking to people, and there has been a stranger… well, someone from another continent who’s been actively asking for your whereabouts, Trevor, by name.” Hari said.
“There are a lot of rumours about Trev though, and yet no one knows what he actually looks like,” Milo laughed.
Hari nodded. “This is true. This individual, however, was different. He stood out.”
Milo, seemingly growing annoyed, “Spit it out then. Lots of people are looking for Trevor for many reasons. Hell, half the suppliers for the black market you mentioned would love to find Trev, and truthfully, none of them require a meeting, so what about this is different?”
“I’m getting to that. This individual is somewhat known. His name is Gilain Red-Blade, and like the name suggests, he is known for the use of a massive red sword, and likely one of the most powerful adventurers that is known, even when he’s from Thelran,” Hari said firmly.
“Thelran?” I asked.
“Continent directly to the east. Most of the elves come from there. Not big fans of humans generally, but tolerate us for trade,” Jen whispered.
“Perhaps he just wants trade. It wouldn’t be too hard to figure out where the food is coming from if someone put in the effort,” Milo suggested.
Hari nodded. “That was my initial thought, too. However, people have said all his questions have to do with your connection to the dragons, the phoenix and shadow cats.”
“So he didn’t use their names?” I asked.
“No, apparently not,” Hari confirmed.
There was silence for a moment, as everyone took it in. Personally, I didn’t really feel like anything was too concerning right now. Even though he was a powerful warrior, Lily was still immune to physical attacks, so it would be a one-sided fight.
“What’s the concern then?” Jen finally asked.
Hari sighed. “I suspect he’ll either be trying to gauge if Trevor is a threat, or wanting him to use his connection for a purpose.”
I jumped in here. “I will not hide again. I’m well protected, and for all we know, he could just want to meet me for some reason that’s not nefarious.”
Hari shook his head. “No, I wasn’t going to suggest you hide. Don’t worry. We’re useless at that anyway.”
Liane let out a snort of laughter. “Not wrong there. We lasted, what, half an hour last time?”
Hari nodded. “Well, I just wanted to have everyone on board with it and be on the lookout, though from what I’m told, he’s not trying to hide and he stands out.”
“Do we know where he is going? Seems strange he wouldn’t be in the capital asking,” I asked.
“No, we don’t know which way he’s headed,” Hari said.
The conversation went quiet as everyone was either in thought, or went back to sleep in the corner in the case of Liane, and it wasn’t long after the air barrier was removed that Luis came out.
He never asked us what we were discussing, just fell to the seat as I dished up the porridge and offered some fruits that I had, along with honey for it.
As soon as light was visible through the window, we made our way downstairs to get the horses and wagons ready. I was surprised to see Wyatt already awake and clearing the table of the merchants and their drivers.
“Morning,” I muttered, getting a tired chorus in return.
I didn’t stop. We’d come back and do our farewells with Wyatt once the wagons were ready to go.
It didn’t take long as I walked into the stable, and exactly where I stored them, I pulled them out, while the two drivers joined us, and I finally learnt their names, Jarrah and Timmel, or Tim for short, though they seemed as talkative as Cee.
I wondered if that’s a trait of all these drivers.
Once they were out, they immediately took over hooking up their horses as I went back inside, where Hari was already doing his farewells. I also noticed that Crisplet’s statue now stood proudly behind the bar, where Wyatt had moved several bottles to make space.
Wyatt grinned as he saw me. “What do you think, you two?”
Crisplet immediately let off a burst of sparks, and I wasn’t sure if Wyatt could feel it, but there was a powerful expression of pride, happiness and gratefulness from Crisplet.
My question was immediately answered.
“You’ve nothing to be grateful for, Crisplet. You’re always welcome here,” Wyatt said happily.
My arm was clasped in Wyatt’s giant hand as I was pulled into a hug. “Stay safe out there, and if you find any more giant skulls, bring them back.”
I broke free with a grin. “Will do.”
I laughed as even Liane was pulled into a hug before we all made our way outside.
As I got on Sable, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. Again, I was confident I’d be safe, but it felt as though I was being watched now, like someone would jump out at me.
And with Lily still not back, I really didn’t want to have any real trouble.
I instinctively readjusted the scarf around my neck, just to make sure she’d be able to see through it all around me if she looked.
“Let’s head out,” I heard Anthony call from the front.