The Land of The Dead Hero

Ruma and I were the only ones inside the town's Inn, which was not something I expected to do today. I had a lot of work at the house, but I managed to work it out with my mom somehow. I didn't tell her I would be going with Ruma, but rather that we would be going with Xert's family. To that end, she made no objection. It seemed like she was genuinely happy with us having friends, even with Arailt having someone to come over today. Maybe it was some strange wish to have a normal family again? I still had some trouble understanding that woman and her actions. I know she cheated on her husband and probably hated her son. To me, she was overtly attached, but it seemed she no longer wanted to impose anything. Maybe she was scared I would once again threaten to kill myself. 

That card was probably the last straw for her.

Yeah, no wonder. I still feel on edge when I remember it.

Still, I couldn't help but wonder if my mother was someone as confident and talented as Ruma. This woman was crazy; she was like an actual military person, wearing weapons and whooping everyone's ass. And she was an inquisitor! Although I didn't see her do much of that. No burning Witches or anything. Regardless, my life will get exciting if I stick with her. And better yet, she seemingly had no problems talking to me like I was a boy. Xert's family, too. It's because these people saw the world and, maybe, therefore, were more accustomed to that sort of thing.

Hypocritical from someone like me, I know, but what can you do?

I am no fucking girl.

Elias was a lingering problem. He mostly kept outside of his mill, doing something in this town. We were unsure what it was, but it nonetheless continued to generate revenue. It was some work for the mayor, who was related to him. I was scared he could spot me and Rumabelle. After all, a guy like him was no stranger to the Inn.

"Ah, lady Rumabelle! I'll be right there." Erop's mother, Suzanne, was cheerful until the moment she saw me. Then she went dead silent for a moment. I suppose it was because she was still angry about me beating her son to a pulp. Well, he was something like my underling now. So why was she still angry about it? It's been four years now! 

"So, today we are having duck...My brother just brought some from the lake...You can have dumplings or potatoes. As for drinks, we have wine..." she said happily to Ruma as we sat down at a wooden table accompanied by chairs. Erop's mom was quite tall. Taller than both of us, and in the dimly lit candles of the Inn, her face looked like she was the devil when she stared at me, her eyes nothing short of flames.

"And nothing for kids."

Oh, I didn't mention where Xert and his mom went. They are in the forest. They always go to the forest. Apparently, Xert's mom made something like a monument there in honor of Lilia. Or a beacon. People in this land believe that if you place a missing person's belongings on a small, triangular-shaped statue, it has the power to guide them back to it. A rather strange tale.

"I was told you have the Hand's soup and warm milk," Ruma said in a playful tone, catching Erop's mom by surprise. "I am freezing, it's cold outside. Perhaps something to warm the little one and me, rather than cold wine. Of course, I am willing to pay any extra gold."

Almost like that was a summoning spell of the strongest mages, whose chants echoed through the walls, Erop's father, the Innkeeper, suddenly appeared. I am not sure how he managed to do it, but even I couldn't see him get here. He must have come back to the bar. But he already had both the soup and the milk, which he placed on the table, along with the cutlery and placemats. The liquid in both substances was waving a bit, due to being brought in at such a high speed.

How was that chubby, red-faced, sweaty man moving so fast?

"Of course, naturally, we have it. You heard that correctly," Earl smiled, his words quickly changing to a song, much to the annoyance of his wife.

"Earl's Inn, that's where you go,

If you want your belly full, like a Hero!

Earl's Inn, that's where you go,

Whether you are a soldier,

>Don't be silly!<

Or a preacher,

>Everyone needs to fill their belly!<

Come on, we've got beer, 

Once a man drinks our beer,

He's strong and fast like a deer!"

I stared at that man who gave us an entire musical number for our food. He even brought a Cittern.

Apparently, he wasn't just an innkeeper; he was also like the town's bard. Strange, Erop never mentioned. I thought his dad was strict. This guy was so jovial, he should be like an influencer or something.

"We have beautiful women behind the tap!"

Suzanne faceplammed a bit, although she kept a warm smile.

"Are we keeping our prices low? That's not a trap!"

He said, pointing to the extensive menu on the bar. I couldn't really read it, though, as I had quite a few problems with reading. This language was...so strange. It wasn't similar to English at all. Or any European language. And their letters looked like triangles. Just triangles. Only the shapes of the triangles, their numbers, and their positions mattered. 

How are you supposed to learn letters like that?

"So since you are eating our favorite soup,"

He twirled all the way to Rumabelle.

"Would you like something else with that?"

Oy oy oy...Did Rumabelle just blush from this fat Innkeeper? Is she serious? He has his wife here.

It must have been for merely a fraction of a second, though.

"Hah...You are a rather jovial man. A fine singer, if I may so myself. But no, merely the soup will suffice," she said dismissively, gesturing with her hand. "Have you perhaps studied under the tutelage of the old Werian poet Mastius?" she asked jovially, laughing. The innkeeper's eyes lit up.

"Only by written letters, milady, I unfortunately never had an option to meet the master himself...As he is known to travel extensively...And travel can be expensive...I believe artists should never copy each other anyway..."

Suzanne smirked, seeming to wait for something. Earl, however, quickly gestured to her. "However, my wife has met him. My wife was quite the songstress back in her day..."

Oh really? I wouldn't guess that. She seemed like a regular village waitress.

"Oh?" Ruma asked, her fingers gently thumping on the table like a drum.

"Well...that's old history now...And I can't sing anymore..." she murmured.

And in that moment, Ruma suddenly leaned in and said in a much stricter tone.

"Because your singing could create storms, couldn't it?"

What?

Suzanne's face froze, and she stared at Ruma as if she had just unveiled her darkest secret. Even Earl stopped talking, perhaps wondering if he had spoken too much.

"A rather curious ability. One that certainly no normal human can do...Only a fragment user can. Or a Witch..."

Ruma wrapped her fingers around the glass of milk, leisurely sitting on the table.

"How do you-" Suzanne asked, her voice shivering.

"That's beside the point now, is it?" Ruma yawned, looking to the side.

"Suzanne, the Green Fox of the Foxes clan. A notorious bandit who could create storms by singing to crash caravans, whom your associates of the Foxes attacked. You may have changed your last name, but come on, you stuck with the first one. Not exactly smart now, is it? Plus, the green hair...that's a giveaway. You do know that there are still people in Weria that want your head, don't you?"

What is happening here? I thought Ruma was friends with these people.

Suzanne's face twisted into a somewhat crooked shape. She said nothing, and Ruma continued, putting the milk down on the table.

"I have watched you for four years now. I made close friends with your son, who trusts me. I have also set up the entire chessboard of relationships of everyone in this village. You are popular, but you also have your share of enemies. I know you have a history with the Bluefrogs. After all, your son attacked theirs...I always wondered why."

Ruma leaned in, her stare turning dark.

"As such, I believe you being hanged or losing your head would do no good...Such drastic measures are always to be taken as a last resort. After all, if you lose someone...They can't say any useful information anymore."

Her gaze was piercing. 

I always knew she was an Inquisitor. But now I felt like I didn't know her at all. Was it all a play or something? A game to get closer to the people in this village? Is that how Inquisitors acted in real life? 

"Bluefrogs are also associated with the Foxes, aren't they? Perhaps they cut off their ties with them when I arrived in this village? Just like the miller killed his Witch, fearing that I might take a closer look at his family if he didn't?"

Suzanne didn't say anything, her lips shivering. Earl began sweating, seemingly at a loss for words.

Ruma's eyes went from the Innkeeper to his wife.

"All it takes is a little nod," she said almost playfully, licking her lips. I could feel it.

She was ecstatic.

"We merely robbed the rich merchant caravans...It's war out there...People need to..." Suzanne said, trying to defend herself. "If you are so knowledgeable, you, out of all people, should know who the Foxes work for..."

Ruma laughed happily, yet there was something twisted in that voice.

"I don't know who you work for. I will know eventually. Someone from the Council of Ten, maybe? Well, it isn't my master, as I doubt he would try to have me killed by your storm when I tried to arrive here...After all...The caravan I came in almost couldn't make it...Luckily...I am quite strong."

Her face distorted into a twisted smile. 

"Well, anyway, like I said, I don't care. If I wanted to, I could massacre just about everyone in this town." 

What?

"Ruma, what are you..." I blurted, as fear crept up the faces of the Innkeeper and his wife.

"But I won't. I am Hero after all!" Ruma said playfully. 

"So...What happened to that girl? Lilia. That's what I care about here," she pointed her finger down at the table, which started trembling slightly.

"Did the Foxes kidnap her? Some Blue versus Green sort of a dispute? I know the Foxes fight each other...The Clan wars can get quite nasty..."

Suzanne shouted: "WE DID NO SUCH THING!" and the whole Inn shook, her eyes beaming purple as the winds blasted through the windows, lighting the candles off, crushing some of the plates. I had to hold my head and almost hid under the table.

"We did no such thing. My brother wouldn't do such a thing. I know he wouldn't."

Ruma gestured wildly, opening her arms.

"I am all ears. I would love to know how you can be so sure. He tried to rob my uncle Savas before. A holy man. I can see how he saw her there, became infuriated with her, and then kidnapped her. She is blind; he would have it easy. Such cases happen often all across Heroia."

Suzanne slammed the table with her hands, her eyes lighting up with purple light. I was terrified she would bring the biggest of storms down on us. Yet Ruma didn't seem to be scared for even a second. She even started eating the soup.

"I know what you are referring to. And that was only because Savas was planning to move the beacon into the city. He didn't know that it was against their beliefs. They believe that if you are lost in the woods, a beacon in the city won't help you. That is because they believe the soil is dead here. So when he took Lilia's belongings back and wanted to move them, they stole them to return them to the forest. In fact, they are helping to look for her. Every day, for six years!"

"Touching," Ruma said, yawning. "But still, if you look at it the other way, they stole her belongings. And they prevented a holy man from examining the case more closely. Even tried to scare him away. Why? If they so care about her well-being, shouldn't they accept any help that is offered? Instead, it seems like they are hindering the process, aren't they? And if they are the only ones looking for her...how can we know they are even looking at all?"

Suzanne laughed darkly. "They hate Savas...After all, from their point of view, he took a Fox and tried to make it a maiden. But that was her decision. And they made peace with it...eventually. After I gave them a proper talking to. Now, they believe he did it to her." Earl tried to step in, touching her hand and saying, "Honey, maybe..." But Suzanne was relentless: "No, see, this woman won't just leave!" she lashed out.

"Why would my uncle kidnap a maiden from his own house?" Ruma asked, tilting her head.

"Why? By Arailt's good name, why not? That sounds like the easiest plan. You think just because a man claims he is holy, he is in fact holy? He is still a man, and Lillia is a pretty girl. She would have been an easy prey for someone like him!"

Ruma scoffed.

"Oh, you don't like it, don't you? Suddenly, when it's your family, you don't see the possibility of them being evil! It's only us, the Foxes. Of course, an easy target! We would easily kidnap our own, but not our holy man!"

Ruma closed her fist. It appeared like she was going to lash out. I was petrified, moving back on the bench.

"I have considered all possibilities," Ruma eventually said. "But you are forgetting, I live in that house. I have scoured it and found no sign of what you said. So, the solution must be somewhere else."

Suzanne leaned back like she couldn't believe it.

"You have searched your own uncle's house already? Well, I take it back, you clearly don't even hesitate to kill your own family if need be. I'll have you know, I know a thing or two too. About that Baranos of yours. So I know what sort of a person you are..."

The room went silent.

"I want to find this girl." Ruma's voice was strict as she stared directly at Suzanne.

"Maybe she really did leave..." Earl tried to help, but Ruma quickly stared at him.

"She didn't. I know that much. I know someone who has seen her. Someone I trust. And this person said she is close. They just weren't sure about the location."

Suzanne moved closer.

"Is she alive?" she asked directly.

I looked at Ruma, wondering why she brought me here. The information I learned about everything was just...so much. I had to process it all. But Ruma was terrifying me. She implied she would kill people...Until now, I have seen her as just a friendly teacher.

"That I don't know. I am hoping so. And as such, I have to move quickly. It has been six years already. The forces that stand against me are likely to make their move as well. I am expecting that much. Once they know they are no longer safe and in the clear, they will act."

The forces that stand against her? Who?

"You should talk to Anasa then. Is that why you brought her daughter?"

My mother? Why?

"Anasa won't see me."

Suzanne laughed. 

"Well, you don't have a choice, if what you said is true. You should realize that if they act, they will act not just against you, but against others as well. You are too strong. Keeping her daughter close to you is a smart move...You can keep her close. But she is the Hero's Chosen. Lilia wasn't...Hey, do you know who the Witches' Chosen is? Maybe they want those people, you know...Did you consider it..."

Ruma's eyes narrowed.

"Her son. And your uncle's ward...And Anasa herself..."

My mom?

Ruma looked up. 

"We should go," she said, giving golden coins on the table, grabbing me by the hand, and dragging me with her.

"Where? What?" I blurted out as Ruma opened the door. The wave of snow hit us. It was the blizzard. It was so strong that one could barely make out anything.

"We are going to the mill. Now."

She dragged me into the snowstorm.

"But it's so cold!" I shouted. "How will we get past?"

Ruma didn't answer first, almost like she was analyzing the storm before us. And then said:

"We simply have to."