Chapter 340: Cole's Predicament (2)

After the brief episode, eventually, they allowed Aiden to finish up his breakfast in relative peace and silence, but not before they were assured that he did nothing untoward with the hooded girl.

Although Aiden asked what they were actually so worried about, they refused to answer and instead guided the conversation towards other not-so-interesting topics. 

In the end, Aiden couldn't find out, what the huss was all about, and just focused on finishing up the entirety of his platter.

As he was engorged in his meal, Drake decided to speak up, guiding the flow of the conversation.

"So, Aiden, what are your plans for today? For myself, I want to register Scarlet as a new adventurer and do some quests together. Wanna join? We could form a team and work together!" He offered, with a clear, expectant glint in his eyes. He was hoping to continue working together with the boy, as not just he was his first and sadly, only true friend, but he was also incredibly strong and powerful. Who wouldn't want a partner such as him?

"Mmpfh Mcnt Mmpf!" Aiden shook his head, whilst swallowing down the current piece of meat, which only earned confused looks from the siblings.

As it was automatically converted to active energy by his body, he sighed with content and repeated his answer.

"I said, I can't join." He calmly stated, taking a moment to put down his fork, and explaining further without the need to ask.

"I cannot join for the moment as I need to find someone. He seems to be missing."

"What do you mean Aiden? Who is missing? Someone, you know?" Scarlet chimed in, looking into the boy's exotic, golden eyes.

"Hmm…" Aiden didn't answer immediately but thought about it for a couple of seconds before returning his attention to the girl, and nodding. "Yes. He is a friend, and at the same time, my current partner." 

Looking at the surprised looks of both, Aiden remained calm and collected. He turned towards Drake, explaining further.

"He is my team mate. You see, he was the one I was working with. He and I had a room here in this inn. A few days ago, when I left for the last mission, we still had our rooms, however, last night he never returned." As he explained, his expression slowly transformed, revealing small traces of worry, which was captured by both siblings.

"Hmm… What do you think could have happened to him? Could he have just checked out and left the room? Did you ask the innkeeper?" Scarlet suggested.

"Mm-mm. Not yet, but I will do so now." He answered, standing up from his seat in the next second and grabbed his empty plate. 

He turned to look at the brother and sister duo, but before he could offer them to stay, they already followed suit and walked next to him.

"Before you say, we will come with you. We have already finished anyway, so let's just ask the innkeeper. Who knows, he may have just checked out and went to a different place." Drake spoke, turning towards the counter, his small and now empty cup in his hands.

" *Sigh* Fine…" Aiden sighed as the group left their corner box. As they walked, he couldn't help but ask. "By the way… What were you drinking? Aren't you going to be starving later?"

"It's fine." Drake smiled at his friend's question, already expecting it. "It's a morning drink, usually served only to nobles. It's called coffee, it has a peculiar taste that I kind of enjoy, whilst also giving you a burst in energy. It's a new trend, swiping through the nobility of the Kingdom brought in from somewhere in East."

The mention of its special qualities caused Aiden's interest to rise in this new drink. If it was truly like what Drake described, it could be quite beneficial to him. Although he got quite used to the taste of food, at the end of the day, what his body needed was only the energy. He wasn't feeling hunger in the same sense as others did.

"Coffee… I will make sure to give it a try later on. Thanks, Drake." He muttered, turning his attention back to the counter as they have arrived while they were engaged in their discourse.

Raising his hand, he waved at the innkeeper who was currently talking with another customer, a man, looking older, and slightly shorter and thinner than them. He was wearing a set of a violet-colored silk robe, making him look slightly out-of-place in an establishment such as this. The emblem of a flower looking similar to a rose was embroidered above his heart with pale, yellowish thread. He was mostly bald, with only a single ponytail hanging from the back of his head.

He was clean-shaven, and had a flowery smell to him, making it obvious he wasn't a commoner in the slightest. 

He pulled out a rolled-up piece of brownish paper from his gown and gave it to the innkeeper who looked aghast upon receiving it. He carefully grabbed the pergamen, before bowing in front of the thin, bald nobleman, daring not to look at him any longer. 

The man scoffed at this display, his disdain clearly visible in his dark-brown eyes. As he turned around, his eyes met with Aiden's golden ones for a brief moment before he stood up and left the inn with hurried steps.

Aiden was quite surprised, as he felt a strange, yet familiar form of energy around his figure. It was the same as he felt in Roas and even in Galina or any of his servants capable of casting spells.

It was mana, but it was much thicker than any he felt before. 

'[Yes, Aiden, what you felt was indeed mana. The man had very rich reserves, he is most likely a powerful spellcaster.]' Enya's voice suddenly resounded in his mind, confirming his suspicion.

Aiden didn't respond to his guide but instead turned towards Drake whispering his question.

"Who was that man? What could he have been doing here? And what did he do?"

However, as he looked at his friend, he noticed how his hands were balled into fists, he was tightly clenching them.

"What is it, Drake?" He asked another question, placing his right hand over his left shoulder, trying to calm him.

Seeing as the innkeeper hurriedly ran towards the back with the rolled-up piece of paper tightly held in his hands, Drake knew they have a bit of time before he would return.

He closed his eyes and slowly exhaling, sighing to gather his lost composure. After a few seconds, he slowly opened them, and whispered to the two, seeing how worried Scarlet looked.

"He was one of the mages of the Academy. Judging from his aura, and the emblem on the robe, I presume he is from the Elder's Circle, probably one of the aides to an Elder."

He explained, giving it a moment before going further.

"Something probably happened, otherwise such a prestigious figure wouldn't have come to this section of the city, under any circumstances. I have no idea what he had given to the innkeeper, but it must be something important to have caused such a change of emotions to appear on the old man's face and for him to react in such a way."

Aiden frowned after hearing his friend speak. What could have happened that would be important enough to cause a figure such as that man to personally come here? Even though he was technically an aide, a glorified servant to some higher up, just how he dressed, how he behaved was a clear sign that he wasn't on the same level as the average person.

Aiden's heart stirred, he had a feeling that everything was connected. An ominous, eerie feeling washed through him.

"Could this be related to Cole's suddenly turning missing?" 

"I… I don't know…" Drake replied, looking at the door in the back opening back up and the old innkeeper appearing once again with a still pale-looking expression. "…Come, let's ask the old man instead of trying to guess. We can't know for certain."

"H-hey dear customers, how c-can I help?" As the innkeeper got to them, he asked, putting on a brave front, but utterly failing a second later when he spoke up. His tone betrayed his play, it was meek, powerless, he was stuttering. Beads of sweat glistened at his forehead, showing how clearly troubled and afraid he was.

'[Whatever was that note, it clearly made him afraid, Aiden. He is terrified, scared of someone or something.]' In the next moment, Enya's voice rang out once again in Aiden's mind. '[Strangely though… It seems that whilst he is scared of something, he is also afraid of you… Not sure the reason, but you can probably push him a bit for answers. Just make sure not to go overboard.]' She added after a moment.

He gave a slight nod before he raised his attention towards the fidgeting old man. The usual smile faded from his face, replaced by a stoic, stern outlook, his eyes abruptly flared out, glowing with an ominous golden light as he focused his gaze on the innkeeper's figure.

"Speak. Where is my friend?"