Chapter 30: The Message

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: The Message

Arin had gotten frustrated. The quest window kept circling in his head.

[Quest: Save Mira]

[Failure Condition: Mira’s Death.]

[Warning: Chimera Conversion Possible.]

[Time Remaining: 11:30:17]

He sat at the table, staring at the numbers, and the realization that Mira was out there, and he had no frigging idea where. Ayan stood by the window, silent, while Saira paced. Neither had said much for the past thirty minutes. Arin stared down at his sword. "We need to find her."

Arin began clenching his fists. "We will." Ayan replied. "But we don’t know where she is."

Arin said and stood. He was uncomfortable. "We will find her." Ayan said and gave Arin gave him a look. "That’s not exactly a plan."

Ayan was silent for a moment. "We’ve been in worse situations." Saira stopped walking. "Speak for yourself." Ayan gave her a sidelong glance. "You were there." "I was out cold." "You still survived." Saira rolled her eyes. Arin sighed and sat down.

They were saying things only they knew about again. "This isn’t helping."

Tap.

Something was tapping on the window.

Arin looked up.

Tap. Again.

A small black bird perched on the glass. A note was tied to its leg. Arin was on his feet in an instant. "That’s probably for me." Ayan’s eyes darkened. "Don’t touch it yet." Arin stopped. Ayan walked to the window and opened it. The bird fluttered inside and landed on the table. Ayan looked it over. "No enchantment." Saira frowned. "Then why send a bird?" "Because it’s simple." said Ayan. He removed the note and gave it to Arin. "Simple things are often the hardest to track." Arin unfolded the paper and scanned the note.

[ Your maid is alive.

She is being held at the following location

]

There was a set of coordinates afterwards.

Then it read.

[Don’t forget, come alone, Dungeon Master. ]

Arin looked up at Ayan. Saira peered over his shoulder. "That’s it?" Arin asked, nodding at the message. "I will be going alone." He added. Saira crossed her arms. "Then they’re stupid." Arin looked at her. "What do you mean?" "You aren’t going alone," She said. "I have to." "No." Arin groaned. "I will follow you." Saira replied. "No." He looked at Ayan. "At least you’ll understand." Ayan gave him a calm look. "I will also be accompanying you."

Arin stared at him. "You too?" "Yes." Ayan said. "The message specifically says alone."

"I am aware." "Then why are you coming?"

"Why are you going?"Ayan asked him staring straight in his eyes. "Because whoever sent this knows that I’m going to come after them. It’s obviously what I’d do." said Arin. "And I am your butler," said Ayan, adjusting his jacket with gloved hands. "Protecting you is part of my job." Saira smiled. "See? Even the dragon gets it."

Arin sighed. "You two are insufferable." "We’ve been told," said Saira. Arin looked down at the paper again. He knew they were right, but the place it described was likely a trap. Maybe Zarl just wanted him to come there by himself. Perhaps the trap was set for him, or for some reason he thought Mira was there. Maybe there would be monsters. Maybe people. Maybe both. Whatever the case, none of that mattered as much as the fact that Mira was there. Arin folded the note. "We should leave now."

Saira was already walking towards the door when Ayan fell in step beside Arin. "Wait." They stopped. "If we’re going, we should be careful." Ayan nodded. "Yes, we should." Arin narrowed his eyes at him. "We don’t know what Zarl has planned." Saira said. "Correct." said Ayan. "We don’t know how many people he has there." "Correct." repeated Arin. "And we don’t know what he wants." Ayan’s expression became more serious. "I have an idea." Arin looked at him. "You do?" Ayan was silent. Saira shot him a look. "Ayan." He looked at her. She gave him a look that said ’don’t even think about it’, and Ayan seemed to understand.

"Not enough to say," said Arin.

"You’re doing that thing again."

"What thing?"

"The thing where you know something important but decide that I’m not ready to hear it yet," said Arin. Ayan said nothing. "Never mind," said Arin. He got up and took his sword. "But we’re leaving. Now." He turned toward the door. "Mira is waiting." Outside, the village was silent. The battle had taken its toll, and there were plenty of broken places that needed repair. A few adventurers scouted the area. Arin looked back at the village for a moment, contemplating whether or not he should tell the Hero.

No, he decided.

Saira looked at him. "You thought about asking the Hero for help." "Yeah," Arin admitted. "Why didn’t you?" "Because Zarl told me to come alone." He said. Saira raised an eyebrow. "And you’re listening to him?" "No," said Arin. He looked at Saira.

"I’m not telling Adnan because I don’t know what Zarl wants." He tightened his grip on the sword. "If I bring more people, Mira’s life could be in even more danger." Ayan nodded. "Wise decision." Arin looked at him. "See? That’s why I didn’t tell him." Ayan paused. "I meant your decision not to reveal our presence."

Arin stared him down. "Thanks." Saira laughed. "Don’t worry, you’ll get used to him." "I don’t think I will." Arin sighed. They started walking. The road lay before them.

Arin looked down at the quest window.

[Time Remaining: 11:21:42]

He narrowed his eyes. "Mira." He quickened his pace. Saira walked beside him. Ayan fell in step behind, his expression unusually serious. None of them noticed the small black bird watching them from the roof of a nearby house. It was there for several seconds before flying away. Far from the village, Zarl sat in his study. The walls were lined with books. His steward entered the room. "The message has been delivered." Zarl looked up from his reading. "And?" He asked. "He received it." Zarl smirked. "Did he come alone?" The steward hesitated. "No." Zarl’s smile vanished. "Who is with him?" "The demon," said the steward. There was a pause. "And the dragon." Zarl leaned back in his chair.

For the first time, his expression was one of true interest. "So..." He looked out the window. "...he’s bringing them." The steward nodded. "Yes." Zarl’s lips curled into a smile. "Good." "Good?" The steward asked.

"Very good." Zarl replied. He closed the book. "I wanted to know what kind of Dungeon Master Arin Rahman is." He traced the old pendant hidden beneath his shirt.

"Now I get to see something else." The steward said nothing, waiting for further instruction. Zarl’s eyes narrowed. "Who does he trust?" He got up from his chair, and for the first time in a long while, he seemed genuinely intrigued. "And more importantly..." Zarl looked out the window, his gaze falling on the distant mountains.

"...who will he protect?"

The steward bowed. "I’ll prepare the location." Zarl nodded. "Do it." The steward left the room. "Master..." He said as he reached the door. Zarl turned to look at him.

"What?" "I was wondering if we should change the plan because the Dragon is coming." Zarl’s expression darkened. "No. Even with Ayan?" Zarl looked down at the pendant. "Especially with Ayan." The steward frowned. Zarl just smiled. "This just became much more interesting."