Chapter 81 – At the Lakeside

Chapter 81

At the Lakeside

Date : Day 6 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

They continued their walk. The pace was relaxed but steady.

The road stretched ahead, sparse and empty. No one else walked beside them. Just dirt, stone, and the occasional rustle of wind through grass.

The conversation flowed easily. A comfortable mix of tactical planning for the mission ahead and simple, quiet talk about anything.

About autumn. The trees around them had started to shed their leaves. Orange and red carpets spread across the roadside.

About the lake. It grew larger the more they walked. The shimmer of water expanded on the horizon.

By the time the dual suns reached their zenith, they arrived near the village of Lakeview.

"We've arrived, Hyoren... this is Lakeview Village."

Hyoren scanned the surroundings. Taking in the view.

The distant shimmer of the lake had transformed into a vast, sparkling expanse of water. It stretched endlessly, reflecting the twin suns in rippling silver and gold.

A scent of smoking wood and roasting fish carried on the breeze from the village. The smell of settlement. Of a proper fishing industry.

Hyoren turned to Elise.

"Elise… The village looks peaceful. And the lake is so wide."

Elise stepped forward, then turned around. Her silver hair swayed with the motion.

"That's right. Should we continue our journey, or should we enter the village and stop for a bit, Hyoren?"

Hyoren crossed his arms. The road to the Old Quarry stretched on. They could continue to their destination without visiting the village at all.

"I think we should enter, Elise."

He uncrossed his arms.

"We can get info from the villagers about the goblins' recent situation."

Elise nodded and tapped her chin

"That's true… Okay then, Hyoren. Let's visit the village. This detour might be necessary."

The village of Lakeview was a collection of wooden walls and thatched roofs nestled right on the water's edge. A low wooden wall—more for boundary than protection from attack—encircled the settlement.

As they approached the open gate, two men in simple leather tunics stepped out to block their path. They carried spears that looked more suited for fishing than fighting.

They were village militia. Their posture was relaxed, but their eyes held caution.

The older of the two—a man with a weathered face and a thick gray beard—stopped them with a gruff voice.

"Halt there, you two. Please state your business in Lakeview."

Elise smiled softly. A gesture to indicate they had no bad intentions.

"Good day to you, sirs. We are adventurers on our way to a quest to scout the Old Quarry."

 She reached into her bag.

"We decided to visit Lakeview to gather more information."

She retrieved her Guild card and held it out for them to see. Hyoren followed suit.

The guards squinted at the cards. Then they nodded in recognition.

"Elise of the Silentwood... Bronze-rank. And Hyoren Enjo... Copper-rank."

He eyed Hyoren. Taking in his confident, battle-hardened posture. Then his eyes landed on his gear—the quality of his Ramtauro armor and his new Mithril-alloy Yari.

He looked at Elise next. Her Bronze-rank status already indicated her experience. But the guards also noticed her experienced gait, her posture, and the quality of her bow and armor.

He seemed to decide that questioning the pair further was more trouble than it was worth. He stepped aside.

"Fair enough... The quarry's a day's walk from here."

His voice dropped.

"Keep your wits about you. The place has been getting nasty lately."

Elise gave a polite nod.

"We will, sir. Thank you."

She then led Hyoren into the village.

Inside, the atmosphere was peaceful and bustling. The air was thick with the smell of the lake—drying fish nets and the savory aroma of fish getting smoked.

Villagers went about their business. Mending nets. Tending to small gardens. Hauling water from the lake's edge. Smoking fish on wooden racks. Children ran between the houses, playing with each other or helping their parents with whatever work they could manage.

It was a peaceful village. A stark contrast to bustling Akela.

They walked through the village's main road.

Villagers' eyes turned toward them. Curious. Visitors were rare in these parts.

After walking for a while, they reached the village square.

Hyoren scanned the plaza.

"We should gather information, Elise."

He lowered his voice.

"The guard confirmed it's getting 'nasty.' We need as much info as possible before we go in."

Elise nodded. Her emerald eyes turned focused. Her pointed ears stopped twitching.

"Agreed. A local's perspective is often more valuable than a quest briefing. Let's find someone."

Hyoren and Elise looked around. And shortly, their eyes landed on the same spot simultaneously.

At the corner of the square, under a big and old oak tree that shaded almost half of the village plaza, a stout woman wearing an apron stood over a small wooden stall.

A large pot simmered on a magic stove. The sign, painted in cheerful letters, "Mara's Marvelous Mugs & Meat Pies."

She was laughing with a pair of fishermen who were just leaving, wiping their mouths with satisfied sighs.

Hyoren looked at Elise.

"Let's talk to her, Elise."

Elise nodded.

"She seems like the perfect choice... Let's go."

They walked toward the stall with steady steps.

As they approached, the woman—Mara—looked up with a welcoming smile.

"Well now, what have we here? Adventurers! Don't get many of your lot stopping by instead of just marching on through. What can I get for you? A mug of cold ale, or perhaps one of my famous red-pike pies? They're still hot!"

Elise returned the woman's smile.

"Two of the pies and ales, please. But we were also hoping you might spare a moment for a few questions."

Hyoren and Elise sat on stools in front of the stall.

Mara's eyes glinted with curiosity. She ladled two flaky-crusted pies into wooden bowls with practiced ease. She filled two earthen mugs from a large keg.

She placed the bowls and mugs on the table.

Hyoren looked at the bowl. The pies were still steaming. The savory aroma of seasoned fish made his stomach rumble.

He checked the mug next. The ale was chilled—magically, perhaps. He hadn't expected this. All the ale he'd tried in Akela was chilled, but he assumed that was because they were in the city, where magic tools to chill beverages were readily available.

But even in villages like this, chilled beverages were available. The level of civilization in this region—or this world, actually—was quite high.

Mara cleaned her hands on her apron. She smiled warmly.

"What do you want to know, adventurers?"

Before asking, Hyoren decided to try the pie first. He took a hearty bite. The flaky crust gave way to a hot and flavorful filling of seasoned fish and soft vegetables. It was simple, but hearty   and delicious.

"This pie is excellent, Mara."

Genuine appreciation rang clear in his voice.

Mara smiled widely.

"Hohoho. Thank you, adventurer. Your flattery is wasted on an old woman like me."

Elise also took a bite. She chewed slowly, savoring the flavor.

"But he's right, Mara. This fish pie is so good."

Both of them ate their pies. Savoring every bite.

Hyoren washed down his last bite with the chilled ale.

"And Mara, this ale is also delicious!"

Mara took the empty bowl from him. Her smile widened.

"Hohoho. It's a handmade product of this village…. Glad you liked it."

Hyoren sipped his ale again. Then he finally entered the main conversation. The reason they had decided to stop by.

"Mara, we're heading to the Old Quarry on a Guild contract."

He set down his mug.

"Is it true what the guards said? Is it overrun with goblins?"

Mara's cheerful expression dimmed slightly.  She leaned forward over the counter.

"Adventurers, 'overrun' is the right word for it, I'm afraid."

Her voice lowered a few octaves.

"It started a few months back. Just a few sightings, you know? We'd get a hunter or a stonecutter coming back from the old quarry, saying they'd seen a few of those goblins skulking about. We thought they were exaggerations."

She took a sip from her own mug. Her gaze grew distant.

"But then the stories got more frequent. A few weeks back, another stonecutter went up there with his cart."

She shook her head.

“He was hoping to scavenge some of that good stone for a new smokehouse."

She gestured with both hands on her cheeks. A horrified expression crossed her face.

"That man came back white as a sheet. Said he didn't even get close."

Her voice dropped lower.

"He said those goblins built a proper little settlement up there. Shacks. Campfires. Wooden walls. Sentries. The whole nasty business."

Hyoren's and Elise's eyes darkened. Settlements implied organization. Hierarchy. A leader.

Mara leaned in closer. Her voice dropped to a near whisper.

"And that's not the worst of it."

She glanced around.

"To have them in the quarry is one thing—it's their territory now, more or less. But they're getting bold. They've started appearing close to the village."

Elise, who had been listening intently, spoke up.

"How close, Mara?"

Mara looked at Elise. Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Just last week, a lone goblin was spotted by a creek nearby. Not even a half-hour's walk from here."

She sighed. Distress etched her features. The goblins were a menace for normal villagers like her.

"Our militia tracked it down and dealt with it. But it's the third one this month."

She shuddered slightly.

"They used to never come this far from the forest. Now… It's like they're scouting. Or running out of food in the quarry."

She rubbed her arms, almost like trying to dispel a sudden chill.

"It's only lone ones for now, so our boys can handle those. But everyone's worried. What happens when it's not a lone one? What happens when it's a pack of them?"

She straightened up. She forced a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

"But that's why we have adventurers like you, right? To deal with problems like this before they get to our doors."

She nodded.

"You'll sort them out, I'm sure. I'm thankful to you guys."

Hyoren's expression grew grim. He looked at Elise. She also understood the severity of the revelation.

The threat was real. A growing settlement pushing out scouts. The Guild's objective to "scout" was suddenly feeling more like "subjugation."

He turned back to Mara. Trying to reassure her.

"Thank you, Mara... This information is very helpful."

He met her eyes.

"You've likely just saved us from walking into a much bigger problem blind."

Elise placed a few copper coins on the counter—far more than the cost of the meal—and slid the coins forward. .

"For the pies, and for the information… Keep the change."

Mara's eyes widened at the sight of the coins. Her genuine, warm smile finally returned.

"Bless you, adventurers. May Luminara's light always illuminate your path."

They bid farewell to Mara. The warmth of her hospitality was a stark contrast to the chilling information she had provided.

***

As they walked away from the village square, the comfortable and leisurely atmosphere had been replaced by slight tension. The weight of Mara's words settled over them.

Hyoren looked at Elise. His jaw tightened. His eyes focused.

"The guard said it was getting 'nasty,' but this is worse than I anticipated."

Elise nodded. Her silver hair swayed with the motion. Her expression grew serious.

"That's right, Hyoren..."

Her pointed ears twitched. Processing the information.

"A settlement implies a leader. A Goblin Lord, or at least a Chieftain. And scouts appearing this close to the village means they're either expanding their territory or they're running out of local resources."

Her voice dropped few octaves.

"Both scenarios are dangerous."

Hyoren nodded. His grip on his spear tightened. The wooden shaft felt solid in his palm.

"But we're still going to the quarry, right, Elise?"

Elise smiled. A soft, confident expression.

"Of course, Hyoren. We can't afford to fail the quest. And we're already expecting the worst."

She gestured to her storage bag.

"Our supplies are plenty. We're going to defeat this goblin settlement."

Hyoren nodded. His shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Good. Because now the stakes are higher."

He glanced back toward the village.

"If goblins keep becoming bolder, this village might be in danger."

Elise followed his gaze. The peaceful village of Lakeview.

"That's right… Okay, Hyoren. Let's go."

They left the village and returned to the road leading to the Old Quarry. The guards at the village entrance called out to them as they departed. Their voices carried across the open air.

"Good luck, adventurers! Please deal with those goblins for us!"

Hyoren and Elise raised their hands in a wave. The guards watched them go. Then the village wooden walls faded behind them. They were back on the road.

They continued walking. Following the path as it hugged the shoreline of the lake. Heading north. Toward the Old Quarry. Toward their quest.

The afternoon suns cast warm light across the water. Waves lapped gently against the shore.

Hyoren glanced at Elise walking beside him. Her expression was calm and focused.

"We're still going to camp by the lake side, right, Elise?"

Elise tucked her hair behind her pointed ears. The breeze had picked up. Carrying the scent of water and wild grass.

"Yes, Hyoren. It's more important now."

She turned to face him.

"We need rest for the night before we go into the goblin settlement tomorrow."

Hyoren nodded. Understanding her reasoning.

"You're right..."

She slowed her stride. She leaned forward slightly toward him. Her voice softened. A soft laugh escaped her lips.

"Though that's just an excuse, I guess. The thought of spending time with you under three moons is too tempting to pass up. Fufu."

Her emerald eyes sparkled with warmth. The tension from earlier seemed to melt away.

Hyoren smiled widely.

"The feeling is mutual, Elise."

Both still wanted to spend an intimate evening together. Before returning to the reality of goblin settlements. Before steel and blood and the stench of monsters.

Their walk was steady. Their steps purposeful. The direction was clear.

Hours passed. The suns moved across the sky in following their predetermined path. And when the dual suns of Kresneger almost dipped below the horizon, they finally reached the foot of the hills.

The terrain in front of them began to change. The flat road gave way to sloped ground. Rocks scattered across the earth. The soil grew rockier. The grass and bush became sparser. And sparse pine trees dotted the gentle slope.

On their right, the lake curved away. Leaving them. The shimmering expanse of water that had accompanied them for hours was now retreating.

Hyoren scanned the surroundings. Following the road toward the hills—their quest destination. The place where goblins had built their settlement. Then he turned to his left. A beaten path wound away from the main road—their destination for tonight.

Elise stopped walking. She pointed at the beaten path.

"Let's go, Hyoren. That path seems to lead to a secluded place."

Hyoren smiled. Anticipation gathered in his chest.

"I can't wait... Let's go."

They left the main path. Their boots found the beaten track. It wound along the curve of the lake's shoreline. Narrower. Less traveled. But still clear enough to follow.

The setting suns cast long, beautiful shadows across the water. The sky transformed. Hues of orange and silver painted the clouds. The twin suns—Sol's golden fire and Luna's silver glow—sank slowly toward the horizon.

After about twenty minutes of walking, they arrived at a secluded alcove.

Hyoren's eyes widened. The sight before him took his breath away.

"Elise, this secluded alcove looks perfect for camping."

Beautiful scenery greeted them.

A small sandy beach provided clear ground with a direct line of sight to the water. White sand stretched along the shore. Gentle waves lapped at the edge.

The cove was backed by a dense grove of bushes and dark oak trees. Their leaves rustled in the evening breeze. But within that grove was a natural clearing—offering them both cover from prying eyes and a place to enjoy the view.

Wildflowers dotted the edge of the beach. Purple and yellow petals swayed gently.

Elise turned around. Her silver hair fluttered in the breeze. Catching the fading light.

"Yeah... it's my first time here."

She looked across the water.

"But I think this place will become one of my favorite places."

She walked slowly toward the sandy beach. Her boots sank into the soft white sand. Leaving footprints behind.

"Look at the lake, Hyoren..."

She stood still. Taking in the scenery. Her shoulders relaxed. Her posture softened.

"Beautiful..."

The alcove faced west, granting them an unobstructed view of the sunset. The twin suns dipped slowly toward the horizon. Their light reflected on the water's surface.

A wide lake lay below. Its glassy surface mirrored the sky so perfectly that it seemed as though the suns were descending into the water itself. Golden and silver merged. Sky and lake became one.

Hyoren stepped forward. He came to stand beside Elise. Close enough that their shoulders almost touched.

"Yeah..."

It was all he could say. Anything more felt unnecessary. The beauty before them spoke for itself.

They stood side by side. Their boots sinking into the soft white sand. The breeze carried the scent of water and wildflowers. The sound of lapping waves filled the silence.

For a while, neither moved—like statues, caught in silent awe of the ethereal scene before them. The world narrowed to just the two of them.

 ***

They spent some time enjoying the scenery. The silence between them was comfortable and peaceful.

Finally, Hyoren turned to Elise. The moment of enjoyment was over. Practicality needed to come next.

He touched Elise's shoulder gently. Reminding her.

"Elise, we should make our camp soon. The dual suns have almost set completely."

Elise snapped from her stupor. She blinked. Then she turned to Hyoren.

"Oh... right. I was lost in thought… Fufu."

Hyoren smiled back at her.

"It was the same for me, Elise... but enough dilly-dallying. Let's prepare our camp."

Elise nodded. She reached into her storage bag. Her hand disappeared into the void. One by one, she retrieved their camping gear. Tents. Sleeping bags. Waterproofed tarp. Portable stove and cookware. And lastly, four square Ward Stones.

They moved with practiced motions. They had done this before. The division of labor was performed without the need for words.

Hyoren took the Ward Stones first. He spread them on the corners of the clearing. The shimmering barrier appeared after he poured Aethell on them.

He moved to the tent next. He unrolled the fabric. Drove stakes into the soft ground. Secured the poles. In a few moments, their tent stood erect—a shelter against the coming night.

Meanwhile, Elise took the waterproofed tarp. She unrolled it on the ground. Smoothed out the wrinkles. Then she took the portable stove and cookware. She found flat stones nearby and used them as a base. Her hands went into her storage bag again. Taking out ingredients. Vegetables. Meat. Spices. And she started cooking.

Hyoren went around the clearing. Gathering dry branches and fallen leaves. The underbrush crackled beneath his boots. After he gathered enough, he returned to their campsite. He arranged the branches near their tents. Forming a pyramid with the wood. He took out his fire starter magic tool. A spark. Then flames licked the branches. The fire was lit. Warming the alcove.

He sat beside Elise as his work was done. He watched her stir the pot. Savory aromas started weaving through the air. Garlic. Herbs. Roasting meat.

"Smells delicious, Elise. What did you cook?"

Elise faced Hyoren while still stirring the pot. A small smile played on her lips.

"Just simple soup. Fufu."

After a while, the soup was done. Elise carefully divided it into two bowls. Steam rose from the surface. She handed one bowl to Hyoren.

"Please enjoy. But don't expect anything good, okay?"

Hyoren took the bowl from Elise. The aroma truly increased his appetite. His stomach growled. A loud sound in the quiet alcove.

"I always loved your cooking though, Elise."

Elise smiled warmly. She picked up her own bowl.

"Okay then, Hyoren. Let's eat."

Both of them scooped their soup. Bringing the spoons to their lips. Tasting it.

"Mmm… Yes, Elise. I love your cooking. This is so delicious and warmed both my body and soul."

Elise beamed. Her pointed ears twitched with happiness.

"Mou... don't exaggerate it."

She looked away briefly.

"But... thanks."

The soup was gone almost instantly. Hyoren put down his bowl at the same time as Elise. Even their eating pace was synchronized.

Elise took his bowl. Then she offered a cup of tea.

Hyoren took the mug from her. The warmth of the ceramic felt good on his hands. Soothing.

The crackling fire cast dancing shadows across their faces. The warmth was a comforting shield against the encroaching chill of the night. The lake was a dark, placid mirror under the rising Azure, Crimson, and Ebony. Its surface was broken only by the gentle lapping of water against the shore.

This was their sanctuary. A bubble of peace before the storm.