In the evening…
A chariot pulled up outside the inn, its wheels creaking as it came to a halt. The night air was cool, the city bustling in the distance, but inside the small inn, the mood was different. Mrs. Hilda, Mr. Eddie, and Rethrus, all dressed in their finest, made their way out.
First, Rethrus helped Mrs. Hilda into the chariot, his hands gentle as he ensured she was comfortable. Mr. Eddie followed shortly after, adjusting his tunic before climbing in.
As they settled, Rethrus slung his sling bag over his shoulder, the familiar weight of it comforting.
"You really love that bag, huh?" Mrs. Hilda asked, glancing at it with a warm smile.
"Of course, ahahaha," Rethrus replied, chuckling. 'I had this kind of bag back in my past life too.' He thought.
As the chariot started to move, Rethrus's mind drifted.
'I'm literally going to the family we framed... What if this is a trap because they know? Nah, they could have taken me in at the inn easily.'
His thoughts shifted to the three people who had been with him throughout this mess—Kaeli, Eri, and Gerard.
'I hope they're fine. We're not finished yet.'
At Kaeli's house…
Tok, tok, tok.
Eri opened the door to find Gerard standing there, bags of food in his arms.
"Yo, Rethrus asked me to come here. He gave me a gold coin to buy anything we want." Gerard grinned, clearly excited about the opportunity.
"Oh, come in. Kaeli's in the room," Eri said, stepping aside.
"Is he okay?" Gerard asked, his voice softening.
"Yes, but he's kinda scared," Eri replied.
Gerard nodded, walking to Kaeli's room.
In Kaeli's room…
Gerard knocked lightly before entering.
"Hey, you okay?" Gerard asked, his voice filled with concern.
Kaeli, who had been sitting on the bed with his hands folded in his lap, looked up.
"I'm okay. It's just... it's been a long time since I've felt this way."
Gerard sat beside him, staring at the ceiling for a moment before speaking again.
"I understand. It feels like we're making those families into our pieces on a game board... A game we're not even sure we're playing."
Kaeli looked at Gerard, his eyes tired but sharp. "Exactly."
Gerard let out a deep sigh.
"Anyway, tell me what happened," Gerard asked, his voice tinged with concern.
"Oh," Kaeli said, taking a deep breath as he started to explain. "
Gerard's eyes widened as Kaeli spoke, his body stiffening.
"And it was there, his eyes... as if he was going to kill me," Kaeli added, his voice trembling with the memory. "I've never seen anything like it. It wasn't just anger—it was something else. I thought I was going to die right there."
He's talking about the guy with a dagger.
Gerard froze, his expression blank for a moment. The weight of Kaeli's words settled in, and his eyes grew wide with realization. "He looked at you like that?" Gerard whispered, his voice filled with fear.
Kaeli nodded, his own fear reflected in his gaze. "Yeah… he was terrifying."
Kaeli swallowed, his voice low. "I didn't put it the way Rethrus asked. I'm sorry about that."
Gerard waved it off. "It's okay, I know he understands. But we should be ready. We're not done yet."
Kaeli smiled faintly. "I know."
In the kitchen, dinner was ready.
"Dinner's ready!" Eri called, her voice echoing through the house.
"Coming!" both Gerard and Kaeli called back, and they made their way to the table.
As they sat down, Eri glanced around. "Where's Rethrus?"
"Oh, he's at the Merlion Family," Gerard replied.
"He went?" Kaeli and Eri both said in shock.
"Yeah, why?" Gerard asked, a slight frown tugging at his brow.
"But you know it's the enemy's lair," Kaeli said, his tone filled with concern.
Gerard nodded, a small smile on his lips. "Yeah, but it's Rethrus. I'm sure right now he's being careful and vigilant."
As Rethrus leaned his head out of the chariot, his eyes sparkled with wonder as he gazed at the vast Merlion estate.
"Wow, it's so big and so beautiful," he murmured, his voice filled with childlike amazement.
Mr. Eddie and Mrs. Hilda exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with affection as they watched Rethrus. They could see how much he was enjoying the sight.
The estate was a masterpiece, with water as the central theme, a symbol of the Merlion family's domain. Water fountains adorned every corner, and graceful water shows danced across the open spaces, shimmering in the soft light of the evening. The main house, grand and majestic, seemed to be partially submerged in water, with pools and streams surrounding it like a protective moat.
The sight was like something out of a dream, a serene kingdom built on the element that flowed so freely, representing the power and wealth of the Merlion family.
"We're here," the charioteer called out as the chariot came to a halt.
Rethrus, Mr. Eddie, and Mrs. Hilda eagerly climbed down, their eyes scanning the scene before them.
The estate's grand entrance was filled with nobles, all dressed in opulent clothing. The air was filled with chatter, laughter, and the clink of expensive goblets as they sipped fine wine. It was an overwhelming sight — the very picture of wealth and power.
As they made their way through the crowd, Rethrus couldn't help but notice the stares. Some eyes were filled with curiosity and awe, while others glimmered with disdain, as though they were judging Rethrus and his companions. The cold, calculating gaze of the high-born made him feel like an outsider in this world of privilege.
'Huh, there are people who are really like that,' Rethrus thought, feeling a brief flash of irritation.
Suddenly, a familiar face appeared through the crowd.
"Mr. Rethrus, I'm glad you came," Sir Bisky said, his smile warm and polite as he approached.
Rethrus returned the smile. "Oh, Sir Bisky, thank you."
Bisky then turned his attention to Mr. Eddie and Mrs. Hilda. "And for Sir Eddie and Madame Hilda, welcome to our humble home."
"Oh no, no, we're not nobles. No need for introductions," Mr. Eddie chuckled, waving it off with a modest smile.
"Still, you're our guests," Bisky said, bowing slightly.
"Anyway, Lord Merlion wants to see you. Please, follow me," Bisky continued, gesturing toward the grand hallway.
The three of them exchanged looks and nodded, following Bisky as he led them through the estate.
As they walked deeper into the grand hall, the stares from the crowd grew more intense. Some faces were filled with envy, others with awe, and a few appeared genuinely terrified or happy to see Rethrus.
Rethrus, however, was indifferent. He had long gotten used to being the center of attention, and the looks no longer affected him.
Suddenly, Rethrus' eyes caught sight of a familiar face in the crowd—a short man who seemed out of place among the taller figures.
"Ah, if it isn't the dungeon conqueror Rethrus!" Mr. Frings said with a smirk, raising a hand in greeting.
Rethrus smiled and gave a small bow. "Ah, nice to see you again, Lord Frings."
He then shifted his gaze to the man standing beside Frings—a tall figure with a white mustache and long, flowing white hair.
"Uhm, sir?" Rethrus asked, unsure of who the man was.
The old man let out a hearty laugh. "Ah, hahaha! I am Lord Karlvistos Merlion. Just call me Lord Merlion."
Rethrus blinked in surprise and quickly bowed. "Oh, I'm sorry for my rudeness, Lord Merlion."
'Why are these two together?' Rethrus thought, raising an eyebrow.
"It's fine, boy," Lord Merlion waved off Rethrus' apology. Then, his gaze turned to Mr. Eddie and Mrs. Hilda, who stood by his side.
"And who are these?" Lord Merlion asked, his voice curious as he looked them up and down.
Rethrus straightened up and nodded toward the couple. "Uhm, they're my guardians here."
Mr. Eddie stepped forward, his deep voice respectful.
"I'm Eddie Duskin, and this is my wife, Hilda Duskin," the two bowed gracefully in greeting.
Lord Merlion's eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement. "Oh, so you've been the ones taking care of our future hero here?" He reached out and ruffled Rethrus' hair.
Rethrus flinched slightly at the sudden action but didn't pull away.
"Ah, yes, sir," he said awkwardly, trying to play along.
Lord Merlion chuckled and turned to Bisky.
"Bisky, bring this lovely couple to their designated guest table."
"Yes, milord, this way," Bisky said, guiding Eddie and Hilda toward the table.
"I'm going to borrow Rethrus for a moment," Lord Merlion said to the couple.
"Of course, milord," Mr. Eddie responded, following Bisky as they were led to their seats.