XLIX

XLIX

Ngel had only just entered the town, when the thing in his swaddling cloth started squirming violently. However, hunting down the Fleshcrafters Apprentice was secondary, after all, he was still making the rounds, visiting those of his contacts who had sent him urgent letters. Last on the list was Harland, and his discovery was certainly something Ngel was curious about.

He started off by visiting his house, which lay at the far end of the main street. One of the secretaries of the Guild were audibly crying from within the Guild Hall, while it seemed everyone else were in low spirits. But who could blame them? This town was a dump, with nothing happening aside from a few lootings now-and-then and the occasional cattle going missing to forest predators.

After knocking on the house door a few times, one of Harlands neighbours came out of the next house over and told him the news:

Mans dead, ser. Killed himself, he did. Right down in the Guild Hall. Horrible thing it was. They say he tore off and ate his own face before doing it, too.

Ngel was not a man to grieve the loss of associates, but something seemed so incredibly wrong that he felt himself gripped by an ominous sense of dread. He dropped the reins of his horse and sprinted all the way back up the main street to the Guild Hall, where he stormed through the perpetually-open door and strode over to the Receptionist who was crying, slamming his hands down on the countertop.

I need to know what happened to Harland!This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

What do you think this is? she asked her second.

Public records mention nothing about this, maam.

Tress stared at the fifteen-metre-wide pond of abyss-black water. She had no knowledge of any Daemon capable of manifesting such geographical changes with such rapidity.

Maam, if I may

Yes? Speak your mind, Arn.

As you know, I hail from the east of Heimdale, where the land borders the Haunted Wilds.

Tress nodded, urging him to continue.

I have seen such waters before, when I travelled through Lilibeth towards the capital.

She drew some old rumours from the depths of her mind, The great lakes

Exactly. Having seen them up close, I can tell you they are the same, with the only difference being size. But, it is said by those long-lived enough to notice the slow passing of change, that even the Great Lakes were not so great half a century prior. They were described to be akin to ponds

We need to inform the Diviner of this, she decided. Have someone prepare my horse, Ill return to Helmsgarten with news of our victory, as well as the lists we have compiled of missing civilians and caravanners.

After she and Heskel had gone to the Adventurers Guild to register their team, they picked up Wothram and the horse-drawn carriage they had hidden in an abandoned shed, before following the way Jakob had went.

They passed down cobbled streets, where a recent rainfall had shifted the stones in the soft clay-like dirt, making it a bumpy ride.

Ciana sat behind the reins, while Heskel walked ahead of their horse-and-carriage, scenting the air for traces of the Fleshcrafter.

After about half an hour, the Brute caught the scent of his Master and took them down a narrow alley, where, more-than-once, the sides of their cart scraped against the brickwork of the houses they passed. At the end of the alleyway lay a four-story house that was quite narrow in width, such that it could sit between the other two-stories, spanning no more than four metres in its faade. In the doorway stood Jakob, waiting on them.

After offloading their cart and taking their horse to a nearby stable for safekeeping, they went through the house, the owner of which had apparently passed away some weeks prior. In terms of which part of the city they were in, it was, Jakob said, like an upper residential district. Ciana did not have much to compare it to, but he seemed to think it was similar to the metropolis of Helmsgarten, where he had spent most of his life.

Most importantly, he continued. There is a way to go through the basement and reach the catacombs that half the city lies atop of.

Before that, she started. What is our plan? Should we continue to blend in?

I can handle the exploration of the underside of Hesslik, he replied. You and Heskel may do as you see fit.

Then I will see if there are any interesting quests available in the Guild, she told him.

You want to continue to rise through their ranks?

Preferably. I find it to be rather fun.

A puff of spent vapour left his mask, then he nodded.

We must bide our time, as seasons change, and the prerequisites for our ritual draw near. Keep an eye out for any who seek Heskel or me.

I will.

Also, he continued, scratching the skin around his mask. I would like to learn how to ride a horse.

Ciana was caught so off-guard that she could not help but laugh.

Ill teach you.