"Did you find her?" Beatrice asked, taking a sip of juice and watching Strax return empty-handed.
"No..." Strax muttered, his frustration clearly visible. He had searched every possible place where the nun could be: from the large ruined church to the convent and the city markets. The answer was always the same: "We haven't seen Sister Cristine since the festival."
"Is this worrying you?" Monica asked as she entered the room. Observing his face, she noted that he didn't look entirely bad or well; his expression was more one of indifference.
"She's a guild-affiliated assassin; I figured something like this could happen when I accepted her following me. After all, she isn't mine yet," Strax said, sitting beside them. "And with that, now we have no way of getting more accurate information about this Eldoria. We can only rely on old information." He commented, hearing footsteps from the kitchen.
"Not exactly, my love," Samira replied, with a sword hanging on her back. Her hair was tied in a ponytail, and she wore a black top, sweat still dripping from her body, showing she had just finished intense training. "I know a guy who knows a guy who can help us."
"Great, then," Strax said, relieved at the possibility of a new lead. "Where can we find this 'guy who knows a guy'?"
Samira smiled confidently, despite her evident fatigue. "He's in the city's underworld, in a little tavern called 'The Mangy Wolf.' It's a bit of a dangerous place, but he's reliable. We can start there. Besides, the place also serves as a small information trade center. It could be a good opportunity to find new contacts. We need to make the most of the trip."
Strax nodded. "We really need contacts. To achieve our future goals, it will be essential to have a solid network. And considering what we're trying to accomplish..." He murmured, looking at the horizon thoughtfully.
In the background, the main mission seemed almost irrelevant compared to the real priority. If they were in a game, the real focus would be gathering the necessary helpers to create the bodies of Ouroboros, Tiamat, and Xyn. In the context of these priorities, the search for Sister Cristine seemed almost secondary. Strax was determined to move forward, focused only on what truly mattered to him.
"Let's get to the point," Strax interrupted, his tone firm. "Carlos, can you give us more details about Cristine's mission? Knowing what she's planning in Eldoria could be crucial for us."
Carlos took a deep breath, still sore from the punch. "I don't have many details, only that she met with some important allies and that the mission is high priority. They are preparing for something big, something that could affect the security of Eldoria and possibly beyond."
Monica and Beatrice exchanged understanding looks. "So it's a critical situation," Monica commented. "We need to act quickly. If Cristine is going to Eldoria, we might be able to find her and get more direct information."
Samira nodded, still with a stern look. "Carlos, since you were sent to find us, maybe you have other useful information to share. And please, avoid insulting our husband, the next time it will mean death." Monica said with a smile, seemingly agreeing with Samira's tactics.
Carlos, now more cautious, gave a small nod. "There's not much more I know. But if you're going to Eldoria, you should prepare for a complicated situation. And please, don't kill me for my words. I'm really just trying to help."
Strax walked over to the table, starting to prepare some equipment. "Very well, we're going to Eldoria. Carlos, you can accompany us to ensure Cristine's message is delivered correctly."
Carlos, visibly relieved that he wasn't in immediate trouble anymore, nodded in agreement. "Of course, I'll do what I can to help, but first... well, we need a carriage or a cart, we can't get there on foot."
Strax paused, considering the suggestion. "You're right. We'll need proper transportation for the trip. But it can't be me... it seems the citizens already recognize my face, I can't let it slip that I left the city."
"I can arrange that," Carlos offered, visibly more comfortable now that he had avoided further trouble. "I know a man who can rent us a reliable carriage. He's in the transportation sector of the city. If we go there now, we can sort this out quickly."
"Great," Strax agreed, starting to gather his belongings. "Let's go to the transportation sector then. We need to be ready to leave as soon as possible."