Chapter 89: Give me answers

   A parent should never have to bury a child, a timeless saying most parents hope never to experience firsthand. When Neilos offered to escort Ariellia back to Rahnoff, Mayor Takao never realized how close he would come to losing his son. The gratitude he feels towards the duke for saving his only son’s life can’t be measured by mere words, but he still has to try. The older lord nervously waits in the drawing room, fiddling with his pocket watch. He’s noticed how tight-lipped the staff are whenever he asks about the duke's well-being. As a lord, he understands the need to hide any weakness to maintain order, so he can’t fault them for it. Yet, as an old friend, he’d hoped to hear the truth since he is genuinely worried about David.  
    “Sorry for keeping you waiting, Lord Takao.” Ariellia enters the room in a modest but elegantly bell-shaped lavender dress. Her slender wrists and neck are covered in gleaming gold jewelry, giving a nice glow to her dark skin. After sleeping for two days straight, her maids were appalled that she would attempt to greet a guest in such a state. They dragged her to a bath immediately, throwing a fresh new dress over her head soon after with synchronized coordination. This is why the old lord had to wait as long as he did. Rei and Jasper might not mind her messy bed hair, sleep-crusted eyes, or wrinkled clothes, but other members of nobility certainly would.  

   “No trouble, my dear, time is relative for our kind. You look radiant today, my dear, marriage suits you well.” In proper fashion, he places two quick kisses on the back of her hands.  

“Please have a seat, it is not a short journey from Draghdom to Rahnoff. I know you must have ridden hard for days.” Ariellia catches the eye of an attendant present to fetch some refreshments.  The young dark elf quickly returns with a platter full of fruits and light treats. The appealing sight causes her stomach to grumble; sleeping for two days straight has left her famished. It’s a challenge to snag a few treats off the tray and nibble with grace when all she wants to do is wolf down the whole thing.  

“Please, no need to put up airs around me, little miss. You forget, I watched you waddle across my parlor in diapers along with my son, stuffing everything you touched into your mouth, no need to restrain yourself for my sake child. You’re a newlywed, it’s expected that you eat a bit more.” 

“Thank you, Uncle.” The problem with elves, Eren decided, is that everyone looks young enough to be your big sis or brother, but they’re all actually old enough to be your grandfather. After being given permission, she no longer holds back, grabs a sandwich, and takes a big satisfying bite. She misses the implication about her probable expectancy until the very last bite, when she promptly chokes.  

“My lady!” Sena is quick to support her, gently patting her back until her cough subsides.  

“I’m fine, it’s okay, Sena.” She takes several gulps of water, trying to swallow down the last bit of food and her shame. “I believe you came with news about your missing residents?”  

'Please, anything to get off the current topic.' 

“Right you are, little miss, I come with sad news.” 

“Sad news?” 

“I found out why the recent monster march was so large, with so many high-level monsters mixed in. It appears an unmarked group of outsiders slipped through the gates pretending to be traders, before joining hands with unsavory forces within the city to abduct residents for a dark blood ritual. I suspect it is this dark ritual that channeled all the agony from the deceased to provoke the monsters of the witches' forest.” Mayor Takao shudders just recalling the scene he discovered below the city catacombs.  Multiple bodies stacked on each other; twisted past recognition and drained of blood, their faces forever frozen in terror.  

Ariellia frowns, grateful he let her eat her fill first before going into detail on his discovery; otherwise, she might not have the ability to stomach anything. Before the recent battle, Eren could never have imagined the gruesome things he’s describing, but after seeing the true face of war on a battlefield that defies all logic with magic and barbaric cold weapons, where bodies were easily trampled by orcs, or torn to shreds by direwolves, even the duke’s heart was pierced through by a wyrm’s tail. Now such horrors no longer seem as far-fetched.  

It makes sense, if the lore is to be believed, monsters within Gaea are spawned from the negative emotions of the living, that such a large burial ground used as fuel would enrage them. It's no wonder why even the one-eyed wyrm rose from its slumber to cause chaos. The question is who would want Rahnoff destroyed, willing enough to go to such unholy lengths to make it happen?   

“Have you caught the culprits?” She asks. 

Takao sighs, shaking his head at a loss. “No, by the time we caught onto their trail, the ritual was already complete. We only caught the stranglers of the dark guilds commissioned to clean up after them, but none of the fake traders themselves. We’re still investigating and looking through entry logs, but you know how that goes. Draghdom is a merchant city with hundreds, if not thousands, of travelers coming through each day. Without cross-referencing mana stone recordings against the testimonies of those vile dark guild scum for their description, it may take months to track them down.” 

Ariellia nods, unaware of the existence of such guilds up till now since the game made no reference of them. Then again, it makes sense, she may not have seen signs of it during her visit in the daytime, but there’s always a dark underbelly to every city if one looks hard enough.  

“No, I understand. You’ve done a lot, Lord Takao. I have my suspicions as well, but they will require me to travel to the capital for confirmation. In the meantime, I believe we should join hands to see that the fallen receive a proper send-off.” 

“You’ve grown to be very wise, my lady. Please let me know how I can be of service.” He stands and bows easily, willing to follow her leadership without question.  

“Thank you, your support will be instrumental in the coming weeks as we try to rebuild.” She’s truly grateful for his honest support. A smaller lord with ambition would have taken the opportunity to question her authority and climb rank.  

“And how is my old friend?”  

The naked concern in his eyes makes her feel guilty for hiding the truth, but she knows it's safer for now if everyone knows less. There is no telling how many of the King’s men are still lurking around the city. She can only offer half-truths to ease his worry and guilt. After all, her father took an attack meant for his sons.  

“My father’s wounds run deep. He is currently being treated and cannot receive any guests. I am the acting Lord for the moment.”   

He looks both relieved and pained to hear of David’s condition, but he makes no further inquiries. Despite his roguish looks, Mayor Takao is a proper gentleman; he knows not to overstay his welcome. After a few pleasantries about Neilos and how he’s coping with his recent lost honor, the green-haired elf leaves the castle, preferring to stay in one of the local branches of his son’s guild. Ariellia and the staff see him off before she returns to the nest.  

“I should have sliced them to shreds.”  

The moment she steps into the luminous observatory, she hears Rei’s voice. He looks very crossed about something. She tilts her head in question to Jasper, hoping he might fill her in.  

“We heard everything through the doll. He believes was far too merciful to the two scumbags that kidnapped you. They likely had a hand in the foul ritual Takao spoke of.”  

“I think so too.” She solemnly agrees.  

“All the more reason for us to search my memories for clues. It can’t be a mere coincidence that my memory has been tampered with right when this fake impostor appears, gathering the demon lord’s relics.”