A few days have passed since Aylin gave her presentation to Sir Ellias. She has been busy attending to the sick. Running all over the village giving a prayer of healing to each infected person. Over the course of those few days, the worst of it has passed. Everyone should be able to make a recovery moving forward. Unfortunately, due to the number of people she wasn't able to get to everyone on time and a couple of people passed. An Elderly man with no family who could have found help for him, and a mother who was trying her best to hide her illness so she could keep caring for her family. Aylin prayed to the god's to watch over and guide their souls.
As per Aylin's request, Sir Elliot had the well removed. The removal of the well has prevented further spreading of the disease and the number of infected has been declining. Soon Siccara will be eradicated from the village. Aylin felt proud of the work she had been doing. This is what she has been studying and preparing for, to help in a time like this.
After a long day of work, Aylin returned to her cottage. She started a small fire to prepare herself some food to eat. While eating her dinner, she couldn't help but think about what Mr. Willis told her. She wanted to pack up her things and go to the capitol and visit the Orlin Trading Company to find out what they were scheming. That would have to wait. She had a job here in the village she needed to see through.
As Aylin was about to finish her meal, a figure began to appear before her. It was the moon goddess Atalune.
"Aylin how have you been? Any thing interesting happen while I was away?" Atalune said with a smile.
Aylin looked at her with a sour expression and said "Not much has happened expect finding the cause of Siccara and preventing the spread of it through out the village and healing all of the sick. Where have you been all this time, I thought you had something for to talk to me about."
"Oh, I see you are a little upset." responded Atalune.
"I am upset a little and I'm also tired from all the work I have been doing." Said Aylin.
"I see you are. Maybe I should come back another
time to share the news." Said Atalune.
"It's alright you can tell me now. I have waited long enough to hear what you have to say." Said Aylin.
"Well, what I have to say has to do with why I was gone for so long." Said Atalune
Aylin gave her looked showing she wanted her to get to the point.
Atalune continued "The god of disease has fallen, and the land god has gone missing."
"What?" Aylin exclaimed. "How does the land god go missing? I guess the god of disease falling makes sense. This is unbelievable news."
"I know! All the gods in the heavenly realm have been in an uproar because of this!" Exclaimed Atalune.
"Have they started searching for the land god yet?" asked Aylin.
"No, they have been to busy arguing about what they should do." Replied Atalune.
"Figures, they have never been able to agree on anything." Said Aylin.
"That's why it took me so long to get back to you. Eventually, I had enough and left. They are still arguing about it even now." Said Atalune.
"I wonder if this is connected to the Orlin Trading Company. They have been selling medicine to cure Siccara that is made out of Catsroot." Aylin Explained.
"There could be a possibility. When someone makes a contract with the land god, they possess the power to make plants. They could have made a bunch of Catsroot." Said Atalune.
"That would explain how they were able to mass produce a medicine made with a rare plant. But who exactly in the trading company is doing this and is it purely just for profits? And how were they even able to force a contract with the land god." Pondered Aylin.
"I'm not sure. That's the part that still need to be explained." Said Atalune.
A knock came from the door. Aylin looked towards Atalune as she vanished away. Aylin walked over to the door and on the side stood Cal.
"Good evening, do you have a moment to talk?" Asked Cal
"Ah, sure. Come on in" Replied Aylin
Aylin and Cal both sat down at the small wooden table.
"I thought you would have left by now to go home." Said Aylin.
"That's what I came here to talk to you about. I would like you to go back with me." Said Cal.
Aylins heart skipped a beat when she heard Cal say those words.
Cal Continued saying "I want you to report what you learned from Mr. Willis about the Orlin Trading Company. And I would like you to work with me in investigating this matter further."
In that moment Aylin did not know how to respond. She had built a comfortable life in this little village. Now Cal has asked her to go with him and disrupt what she has built. There is also the matter of the Missing land god she would like to look into, but she can't tell him that otherwise he would know here secret.
"I'm sorry I can't. My life is here, and I have other things I need to look into." Replied Aylin.
"What other things do you need to look into? I could Help you." Said Cal.
"I can't tell you." Said Aylin.
"I understand. I'll leave now. It was great working with you." Said Cal.
Having said that Cal stood up and started walking towards the door. Before he left something came over Aylin. She didn't want to see him leave. At first, she didn't like him, but she did enjoy their time together. She thought maybe it wouldn't be so bad to leave home for a while and maybe she might be able to trust him.
Aylin stood up and as Cal was about to open the door she asked, "Can I trust you?"
"Yes, you can trust me" Replied Cal as he turned around to face Aylin.
"I need to know I can really trust you. If you don't like what I say you'll forget everything I said and leave." Said Aylin
"I understand. You can trust me." Reaffirmed Cal.
"The reason why I can't go with you is because I need to look into the disappearance of the land god and the fallen god of disease." Said Aylin.
"The only way you know that is if you leaned that from another god. Are you contracted with a god? It's all right. I know other people despise witches. My family has a few in our ranks, they can be quite useful in battle. I know not all witches are bad. Which god are you contracted with?" Said Cal
Aylin stood there dumbfounded. This was not the reaction she was expecting. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.
"The moon goddess." Replied Aylin. "So, you're ok with me being a witch?"
"Yes, I am. I have no problems with it at all. I am interested in this missing land god and fallen god of disease." Said Cal.
Now at ease, Aylin explained everything she had discussed with Atalune to Cal. They planned to go back to Cal's home to report to Lord Grey. After that, they planned to go and search for the missing land god and the connection between the land god and the Orlin Trading Company.