After running around for who knows how long, Marie dropped to the ground with exhaustion.
Her heart was beating out of her chest and she was panting more than a dog in summer.
Krys was not breathing as heavy as her, he was also not drenched like her.
Her legs were heavy and sore and she didn't have the strength to walk anymore.
She fell asleep lying on the ground in seconds. Watching over her, Krys sat down nearby.
His gaze swept her face as he pondered over past matters.
He kept staring at her face until he felt being noticed by several creatures deeper in the woods. A sense of unease and dread overcame him.
He froze, even though he felt strong enough to deal with whatever threat was on its way, Marie could be harmed in the process.
He shook his head and got up. He picked up Marie on his back and made his way back to town quickly.
Marie partially woke up while they were leaving the woods. She saw the back of Krys's head and felt confused.
She ultimately decided to let him do his thing and fall back to sleep. She held him tighter than before but he failed to notice.
xxx
After returning we had our dinner. Then we went to our separate rooms.
I dropped dead on the bed as soon as I got on it. Krys was in the room next to mine.
When I woke up in the middle of the night, I lit up a candle. Then I picked out a piece of paper and pen and ink I bought today.
In the illumination of the candle I wrote a letter to my mother and the children.
When I was done, I began copying it twice more. I folded them neatly and put them in envelopes before putting out the candle.
After I was done I put out the candle and looked out of the window at the town.
The sky was cloudy but I could see the outside clearly with the numerous street lamps.
Most of the buildings were old and not as maintained. The majority of these houses were built of bricks instead of wood.
Even though it was late at night, the streets were not empty at all. Carriages and people were moving even at this time.
Most buildings in this district were bars or inns, so the activity here didn't stop.
I noticed a lot of activity from one of the buildings, upon closer inspection I saw men and women moving around it.
The women wore revealing clothes and the men looked very drunk.
It was a little disgusting to stay near that establishment. I removed my gaze and looked around everywhere I could see.
My eyes fell upon a man around my age and a red haired woman walking alongside him.
The man kept two swords, one at the back and the other at the hip. He also kept a short sword or dagger on the same hip.
I saw a thin sword at the woman's hip and didn't notice anything else that was unique.
They walked at a quick pace and left my sight. I looked around for a bit longer.
xxx
(1 week later. In another building in Ferris town.)
The red-haired Selira sat in a chair reading the papers on her desk.
This was the report about the incident in Brindlewood village during the festival.
This was the newest entry to the transmutation incidents.
A communication stone was found from the deceased Harold's house.
The other crystal had been destroyed like usual, leaving them with no clues.
The body had also been cremated by the villagers before her men arrived.
She lost herself in thought but couldn't find any other angle of investigation.
Jared sat near her with his eyes closed. Slowly he looked towards the door which opened just a second later.
A man wearing a commoner's attire entered the room.
He informed the woman, "There is a new lead."
"What is it?" Selira asked.
"2 days after the incident, one woman left the village. She has been in this city for the last week."