Chapter 310 - Going Back in a Hurry

Roy looked at Wolstan and nodded his head. He wanted to lie to his friend, but he knew that it would only make matters worse. Besides, Wolstan could tell if Roy was telling the truth or not.

Roy turned to Jorick and asked, "Did you force yourself to wake up while having that prophetic dream?"

"Yes. It was too scary even for me. I could hardly breathe."

"Did you know that it was a prophetic dream?"

"I know that it was a prophetic dream."

"Then, you know that you should've seen its entirety and never forced yourself to wake up. Why did you wake up suddenly? It's hard to determine the real meaning of your incomplete dream."

"I don't know how to interpret dreams, but I did not like what I heard. Are you telling me that my great-grandson is in danger?" 

"I hope that there's something else behind that dream. I don't want to confirm anything, and let's wait for some development. It is still too early to say that it's something ominous."

Roy turned to Jorick and added, "If you have another prophetic dream, inform me right away. It is possible that you will dream about it again. When you do, see it to the end. Nothing bad will happen to you when you do that."

Jorick just nodded his head and did not say anything anymore.

* * * * *

In the end, Zenia asked some ingredients from the Lead Maid and prepared something for Chief Elder and his guest. They have decided to take the late-night trip to Tissuria.

Vaughn called for Zosimo, and they went to fetch the carriage and the coachman that came with them from Tissuria. It was a sudden decision to return to Tissuria, and the coachman was not yet informed. Vaughn decided to go there personally while Zenia was left with the Lead Maid.

"Madam, it's already this late, are you sure you don't want to wait for the early trip to Tissuria tomorrow?"

The Lead Maid had no idea what made Zenia and Vaughn decided to return to Tissuria right away. She already asked around if something happened in Tissuria, and no one could give her a definite reply. But, she was certain that nothing bad had happened.

Zenia shook her head as she taught the Lead Maid how to prepare the dish she was making. It was simple enough for the Lead Maid to do and scrumptious enough for Chief Elder to request for it time and again.

"My husband and I had decided to return early because there are things that we need to do urgently. We forgot that we still have a very important business to attend to."

The Lead Maid simply looked at Zenia, and she did not believe Zenia's words. Her intuition was telling her that something happened in the temple earlier, and Chief Elder should be involved.

She did not want Zenia and Vaughn to return to Tissuria right away. The couple's presence was like a breath of fresh air.

"Are you going to visit us again?"

Zenia stopped what she was doing and looked at the Lead Maid.

"That depends. If we can take care of that business right away without any mishap, we will visit Shadora again."

Zenia went back to her preparations without looking at the Lead Maid. She was not certain when they would return to Shadora or whether she wanted to return, but she had a business deal with Doctor Lizbeth. She had no intention of backing out from the deal.

Vaughn finally returned when Zenia just finished teaching the Lead Maid regarding the preparation of the dish that she created especially for Chief Elder. There was no reason for her to hate the Chief Elder or even Master Mardox. She was just disappointed that Master Mardox refused to consider everything that she told him.

Zenia told the Lead Maid to keep the dish inside their cold storage and heat it up tomorrow before serving it to Chief Elder and his guest. The Lead Maid did not ask who that guest was. She was used to seeing different people paying Chief Elder a visit early in the morning or late at night.

They already packed their things before Vaughn went to fetch the coachman. He handed Zosimo some gold coins and bid him goodbye. Zenia told the Lead Maid to take care of Chief Elder and to tell him that they already left. She knew that Chief Elder would understand why they did not see him and bid goodbye.

They boarded the carriage, and the coachman nudged the horses to go. Zenia did not look back, but she knew that the Lead Maid was still looking at their departing carriage. 

Vaughn held Zenia's hand, "It will be okay. We can do this on our own. Besides, we have a lot of friends waiting for us in Tissuria who are willing to help."

Zenia smiled and leaned on his shoulder, "You're right. I just hope that he won't regret his decision."

Deep within her thoughts, Zenia was thinking, 'We are not certain what kind of plan is brewing in Prazia, but I know that the Dark Magic Lord and King Odhran are up to no good. We must do everything in our power to stop them from going to other continents.'

Vaughn put his arm around Zenia to make her more comfortable and told her, "Sleep. We can just stay inside the carriage for a while when we board the ship. I will tell the coachman to arrange it for us."

"Hmm." 

Zenia fell asleep almost instantly. She was too exhausted from arguing with someone with a closed mind and preparing a farewell dish for Chief Elder.

The Lead Maid went back to the temple after putting the dish in the cold storage. Chief Elder was standing in the doorway of his office waiting for her return.

"Did they leave already?"

The Lead Maid looked at Chief Elder and knew right away who he was referring to.

"Yes. I don't think anyone could stop them from going. I want Madam to stay here in Shadora for a bit more, but I guess someone made her…sad that she wanted to leave immediately."

The Lead Maid saw that there was a man sitting in the office. She had a hunch that the man was the guest that Zenia mentioned to her earlier. It was not the first time that she had seen Master Mardox, but she did not ask who he was or how was he related to Chief Elder. 

She knew that Master Mardox was more than a mere guest. In the Lead Maid's eyes, Master Mardox seemed like Chief Elder's father. She looked at Master Mardox once more and then turned her gaze to Chief Elder.

'They don't look alike. How old is Chief Elder exactly?'

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Chief Elder could no longer take it and asked without hiding his annoyance.

"Hmm. I was just thinking whether that gentleman over there is your father. I have seen him more than a couple of times before and now is the only time that made me curious about his identity."

The Lead Maid looked at Chief Elder more intently as if waiting for a confirmation of her hunch. The Chief Elder coughed a few times and looked at Master Mardox, who did not seem to hear what the Lead Maid had said.

"He is not my father, but he is the master I served before I came here."

"Oh… Does Madam know?"

Chief Elder did not reply, but he gave the Lead Maid a disapproving look.

"Ah, don't get me wrong. It's because Madam prepared a dish especially for you and your guest as her farewell gift. It is understandable that she prepared a portion for your guest if she knew that the gentleman is your previous master."

Chief Elder's eyes widened and Master Mardox ears became attentive. 

"The Madam did? Where is it? Serve it now."

"No! You need to wait until morning, and I will serve it to you for breakfast. I already kept it in the cold storage, and it should be frozen by now. It's already late, and I am about to retire to bed. I just told you about that because you seem to be waiting for my report."

"Is there anything else that the Madam told you? Did she tell you when she plans to come back and visit?"

"There's nothing else. She did not say when she will visit again. If there is nothing else you need to ask, I shall take my leave," the Lead Maid yawned to tell Chief Elder that she was already sleepy, and he should not ask anymore.

Chief Elder became even more annoyed at the Lead Maid's gesture, but he could not do anything about it. He did not want to lose her because she was an efficient and reliable worker.

He waved his hand and told her, "You may go and make sure to wake up early to prepare my special breakfast."

The Lead Maid did not say anything and left the office. There was an awkward silence in the Chief Elder's office. Master Mardox was about to leave when the Lead Maid came, but he changed his mind when he heard about the special breakfast.

Chief Elder cleared his throat, "Master, aren't you going to leave? It's getting late, and your helpers must be looking for you already."

Master Mardox looked at the smiling face of Chief Elder and declared, "I will stay here until breakfast. I heard that Zenia Anisen also prepared a portion for me."

'What a shameless old man! After angering Madam he still has the gall to eat the dish she prepared for me.'

"But Master, the Lead Maid said my guest. You are not my guest, and she knew it. She could be referring to someone else."

Master Mardox looked at Chief Elder with ferocious-looking eyes.

"You stinky boy! I will stay here until morning and leave when I finished eating my portion. Now get a room ready for me."

Chief Elder grumbled as he walked to find a servant to carry out the task.

Meanwhile, Jorick could no longer sleep when he got back to his room. To be precise, he refused to go back to sleep because he was afraid of having another prophetic dream.