Rickard looked at the priest guy. He seemed almost apologetic as he didn't quite look Rickard in the eyes. "I am sorry, sir, but I have no idea where Sir Kvutar went.", the priest said, Rickard sighing and leaving. Trying to pressure the guy further would be unseemly, and Rickard wasn't under the impression he was lying. Man, what the hell happened ?

  He was trying to find clues, any clues about where Sir Kvutar could have gone, so he had started asking the old priest's various aides. However, none of them seemed to have any information. Rickard sighed loudly, and decided to go for a short walk, to expel his frustration.

  As he stepped out of the castle, his rogue and priest buddies walked up to him from the side. "You guys got something ?", Rickard asked. "I've got nothing at all.", he continued, folding his arms. Hope they got something...

  "One of the maids told me she overheard him talking about going south.", the rogue answered. The maids, huh ? Maybe I should have tried those before... Ah, well, Rickard thought to himself. "A pilgrimage of some kind." Okay. It's something. That was tenuous, but it was something.

  "South, huh...". Rickard looked at his buddy, and nodded. "Let's try it. Closest thing we've got to a lead.", he said.

  "The issue would be not losing the lead, but that's fine, mister's got the solution", the rogue continued while elbowing his priest buddy. Rickard nodded. Let's hear it.

  "When we'll be going south, there will likely be temples on the way. As Sir Kvutar was still High Priest during his pilgrimage, if he stayed somewhere, it would have been those.", his priest buddy expined.

  Rickard closed his eyes, thinking for a bit. "Okay. This should work. Let's fetch the others; we're leaving when everyone's ready.", he decided, and his two buddies nodded with a serious face. Alright. We've got something, at least.

  Zoemie grumbled as she lied down on her bed. She had just taken her bath and was not quite sure what to do. It was far too early to train. The old man was in his quarters reading something. And Xaj is in her b. Zoemie wondered for a short bit, before suddenly remembering, her eyes bulging out. "I haven't checked that old priest bastard's stuff !"

  Nothing had been left of him but his robes and a storage artifact, but maybe there was something of worth in there. Or maybe not. Only one way to know, Zoemie thought as she got up and teleported to the storage room.

  She picked up the old priest's storage ring and teleported to her workshop, where she put it down on the table and started taking out items. "A book.", Zoemie noticed. It was pretty thick, and as she opened it, she realized she couldn't read its content : it was written in a nguage she couldn't parse.

  However, the manual within her head told her about a spell she could use for the purpose of getting the general idea of what was written inside. ...Okay. It's mostly shit I don't care about. "So let's start by the end, then.", she decided instead, flipping the pages. If there's something about me, it'll be in there.

  Zoemie quickly scanned for information, but found nothing conclusive. Like, he was trying to do "something", and that something was bring me back ? I think ? "Man, why is this thing so unclear ?", Zoemie grumbled, before moving on to the next item.

  It was a orange, orb-like item that emitted a strange aura. It seems to be the same kind of item to make monsters go away. "Like those three dumbasses had." She grabbed another item. "What is thi...", she started, before a knock interrupted her. Zoemie turned her head, looking at Xajymzia "Oh, hey."

  "Ah, hello. Looking over the priest's belongings ?", Xajymzia asked, and Zoemie nodded.

  "Yeah. Wanted to see if I could find anything, but nothing much so far.", Zoemie expined, while Xaj went up next to her and looked at the paper.

  "May I have this paper ?", Xajymzia asked, and Zoemie gave it to her. Xajymzia looked over it for a short while. "This appears to be the recipe for some concoction.", Xajymzia said after a bit. "While consuming it would make you lose weight, it would be very bad for your bowels.", she continued, looking at Zoemie.

  "Not like I need that.", Zoemie said, Xajymzia giving her back the paper with a nod and Zoemie taking a look at it. Hold on a sec. "Huh. This is written in my nguage. Which meant that that priestly bastard was given this by one of my cssmates ? I have no id..."

  Zoemie interrupted herself and returned to the book. Hold on a sec. "Did he talk ab... Here. Yep. So it was for... that bitch, and he was pnning on giving it to her when he returned.", Zoemie said.

  "I suppose it won't be happening now... Then again, whoever she is, her digestive tract is better off never coming into contact with this concoction.", Xajymzia said, Zoemie shrugging. Whatever. It was none of her business either way.

  Zoemie shook her head, and pulled another item. "I think it's a tent.", she said, as Xajymzia sat down and the two started looking over more items.

  Rickard left the temple. All of his buddies were feeling varying degrees of stern satisfaction, and he was unusually serious. "We're on the right track.", his rogue buddy said, Rickard nodding to him. Still no clue as to what he was doing beyond "a pilgrimage", though.

  "Yep. Seems like you guys had the right idea." Rickard turned towards them. "Thanks, mates.", he said, sounding as honest as he could. Suddenly, massive steps shook the street, and as Rickard turned his head, he saw a rge humanoid creature approach the walls.

  It had red, cracked skin and wielded a tree trunk as a club. It did not appear to wear anything, but also was completely featureless. Despite its immense size, it was lumbering, and Rickard noticed most of the townsfolk didn't seem to be overtly bothered by the giant monster.

  Rickard rushed in, but the creature looked down on him and started talking. "Huh, hi, sir.", it said, Rickard recoiling a little at the fact the thing could speak.. "Hold one, yep, give me a sec, please.", he continued, Rickard raising an eyebrow.

  "What is this thing ?", his axeman buddy whispered in his ear.

  "No damn clue.", Rickard answered as quietly as he could. "Never seen it before." And why does it sound so damn dopey ?

  "Your name is Rickard, yes ?", the big monster asked him after a short while.

  "Yes, that is correct.", he asked, careful. Did some monster head honcho learn of my name ? He would be rather fttered if that was the case.

  "Uh, so, Najabel sent us with some gifts for the nobles.", the rge creature spoke, Rickard half-freezing before calming down. "I can have one of us escort you to her pce, if you want.", the being offered.

  Rickard considered, before remembering his goal. Maybe she knows something ? It's worth a shot. "Did an old priest come by Najabel's pce recently ?", he asked the creature, keeping his focus narrow.

  "Yes, sir.", the thing answered. Well then. "I, uh, vaguely remember him ? He and the boss, I, huh, mean Najabel, talked for a while at least." Welp. That answers that. Rickard grinned, and turned toward his buddies. They nodded unanimously.

  "Lead the way.", Rickard said.

  A heavy metal door was pushed by a gloved metal hand, and an armored figure entered into the sealed chamber. While their current form couldn't truly smell dust and the damp smell of such a closed-off area, something still felt off. This door should be locked.

  They carefully opened the door, hand on their warhammer, and took a peek inside the hidden storage. Empty. But someone came here. They swore internally, and looked around for what the thief had stolen.

  Exactly one thing. And it's why I came here for to begin with !, the armor snarled within their thoughts, their most advanced armor suit missing. They approached the spot, kneeling with a metallic jangle.

  Magic was not great at tracking people down. That's why the armored figure couldn't simply teleport directly to their target and give them a piece of their mind. But they could maybe figure out something anyway.

  They didn't get a true insight. Merely a glimpse. Going south where the woods meet the sea. If the armored figure still had teeth, they would be gritting those. Let's not follow, then. Too risky.

  South had been were that Warden was. They had gotten lucky the first time, but nothing guaranteed that their luck would hold up a second time.

  They had nothing but time. There were other ways to proceed, and with all the time in the world, trying to rush ahead was foolish. Let's reconsider all of my options. Do I wait and hunt them down ? I'll need specialized armor for this fight either way, so it might not the most efficient option.

  They had already lost a lot by being careless. A mistake they wouldn't commit twice.

  So Najabel lives in a dungeon now, Rickard learned while projecting his magic ahead. One of the massive creatures had escorted them, and it wouldn't have been hard for Rickard and his buddies to defeat it if they had needed to or it had lied to them.

  Thankfully, the titanic humanoid had not been particurly dangerous and had been almost congenial with them. A part of Rickard hoped he wouldn't have to come to blows with Najabel, but at the same time the creature had said that they had merely "spoken for a while".

  Which is unclear, but meant he likely left alive. Rickard thought, chasing away his doubts and focusing as they approached a fancy Earth-style house. "Hey, R, is that an house from Outside ?", one of his buddies asked.

  "Yep.", Rickard answered. "A fancy one, though." It definitely stuck out, being not a cottage of wood or stone with a thatch roof, but a proper Earth mansion of pster and concrete, with a tiled ste roof, a dormer window, and goddamned sor panels, plus a terrace around the perimeter.

  Najabel was loungeing on a chair, a drink in hand, wearing a white sundress. Her nails were painted, her hair smoothened, and she had clearly been taking care of her appearance despite the situation. She lifted up her sungsses and waved at them. "Hey, boys !", she said as Rickard and his buddies approached the house, the creature staying behind.

  "Heya.", Rickard answered, keeping his gaze locked on Najabel's eyes.

  "Want a drink ? I got mint juleps, mint juleps, and, uh, mint juleps. With or without alcohol.", she said. Rickard chuckled slightly, and his buddies pced their order, Najabel snapping her fingers and various gsses appeared.

  A few minutes ter, everyone was seated and had something to drink. "This is quite good.", his mage buddy said. Refreshing, if nothing else, Rickard agreed internally. He was too concerned to truly enjoy the drink, however.

  "Yep. Recipe of my grandpa.", Najabel said. "Anyways ! You look ridiculously serious, Rickard. Whatcha doing out there ?", she asked, and Rickard closed his eyes for a short moment, gathering his thoughts.

  "The old priest went missing, a new High Priestess was picked. We're looking for him.", Rickard expined concisely. "Make sure he's OK."

  Najabel's eyes went wide in shock. "Sir Kvutar ? Damn ! I didn't know that... Wait, that means tha... Okay, I might have a request ter for you guys, but for now, tell me everything."

  "We don't know much. He went to a pilgrimage southward, and he stayed at various temples along the way, but never telling why. Simply always, always going south."

  Najabel seemed to become more serious for a moment. "My Titans found him while he was in town. I offered him to come, and we chatted for a while. He stayed the night in one of my guest rooms, then he went further south.", she expined.

  Okay, Rickard assessed. Assuming she isn't fucking with me, it means he left here alive. "Can I ask you what you were talking about ?", Rickard asked. Don't wanna sound like a cop here.

  "Okay, so, if I remember this right, was looking for someone, to bring them back to the castle, I think.", Najabel started. "He didn't tell me who, but between you and me, I think it was... You know. That bitch. The one that likes little girls.", she continued.

  Rickard frowning. I thought she had been left behind... That certainly would be what he'd do if he had been the Heavens.

  "Did he mention anything about retiring ?", his mage buddy asked him behind him, breaking Rickard out of his reverie. While Rickard felt a tinge of annoyance at first, he quickly calmed down. This is actually a good and relevant question to our search.

  "Nope. Not at all.", Najabel answered, shaking her head. Rickard felt something unpleasant tinge through his spine. So that's not likely... He liked his odds less and less. "So. What do you know about the new High Priestess ?", she asked instead.

  "Nothing.", Rickard answered. "Kat told her she had no idea what happened to Sir Kvutar, so we didn't bother.", he continued, Najabel nodding. In truth, he hadn't even seen the woman.

  "Okay... Can you gimme a minute ? I need to give you guys something.", Najabel said, before going inside. She came back less than a minute ter, all of his buddies having finished their drinks. "This is a weight loss shake recipe for Junille.", Najabel expined, Rickard nodding as he took the paper and put it in his storage ring.

  "I gave one to the high priest, but if he went missing she might not have it. Besides this version is easier on the tummy.", Najabel said. "So, what are you guys going to do ?", she asked. Rickard considered for a minute. It was mid-te afternoon. We can likely reach next town before it goes dark.

  "I think we'll get going.", Rickard answered. "I don't want to dawdle, and we can make it to an inn before night.", he expined. Najabel didn't hide her disappointment, but nodded.

  "Got it.", Najabel said, as the men got into line and left her dungeon, Najabel loungeing on her chair.

  When they had been gone for a while, Najabel moved her chair a bit using magic and taking her clothes off to tan herself properly. Tan lines are vulgar. "Jeez, Rick, you don't look good all serious all this. What do you even care about that old fossil that much ?". Najabel said to herself, no one else in hearshot.

  "Ah, well, whatever. Let's check on the Titans. Maybe that baroness will finally let me... take care of that cute son of hers.", she said, hastily dismissing the images of the younger boy her mind conjured before they distracted her.

  Najabel couldn't understand why the woman was so hesitant. Najabel was a rising local power, and as an Outsider had powerful ties to both church and crown, and had made it very clear to the baroness that Najabel would give her grandchildren. What more does she needs ?

  Rickard snarled. "No more towns south of here ?", he asked the man. One adventurer had given them a ride with their teleportation. It had sped up their travel a bit, but the small and dinky town he and his buddies had reached was not where he expected to end up.

  They had went into the temple as usual to ask if Sir Kvutar had stayed there, and as always he talked about a pilgrimage to the south with no further expnations, staying the night and leaving the next day. They didn't even have enough of the water purification jars his cssmates had designed to give to the commonfolk.

  This pce really is the boonies... Might need to talk to 'em about that. After all, Rickard was a hero. It was part and parcel of his duty to do such things. Besides, the local girls might reward me for it... Rickard refocused. His mind felt heavy, he was really unused to it. His buddies were talking to a peasant, to try to get more info.

  "Nope, sir.", the peasant answered. He was middle-aged and had an obvious spare tire, but his smile was honest. "There's nothing but the woods further down. And we don't go there. It's filled with monsters !", he continued.

  "Okay. Thank you.", Rickard said, before deciding to go to the inn. His buddies were following closely behind him, and they all looked troubled. Rickard paid for the dinner and inn rooms, before picking a out-of-the-way table.

  The mage quickly casted a privacy spell, and the men, unusually, did not start talking among eachother. "Okay.", Rickard said. "After this is the woods, huh... Seaguard Greatwoods is how the other adventurer called it.", he remembered.

  "I don't know much about those.", the mage said. "The monsters in it are known to be unsually powerful, and the trees are resilient hardwood that cannot be easily cut down. But that's the extent of my knowledge.", he continued.

  "It is a fact that this is the st town Sir Kvutar could have stayed in.", the priest stated, Rickard acknowledging it with a nod.

  "So he went into the woods ?", the mage said, a finger on his forehead. Remember, Rickard thought. When looking for something, start around the pce where it is the most logical for it to be.

  "We'll start by looking around town over the next few days, from tomorrow onwards of course.", Rickard answered. "We know he came here, and that he didn't come back yet. Then, if we don't find anything... We'll go back to the castle with a quick warp, make sure he didn't return in the meantime. And if he didn't, then we'll go into the woods.", Rickard decided.

  His buddies nodded. "Sounds good to me.", the mage said, before they went their separate ways for the evening. Rickard considered. There probably was nothing of worth for him in this town. The local girls are all unfuckable farmer's daughters. At the same time he didn't want to go back to the capital for the evening.

  He had been lucky so far none of those... events had brought any attention to himself, but he was uncertain about too much to be able to rex and enjoy himself properly. Besides, he was a hero, and shouldn't have to pay for that.

  Rickard sighed deeply.