The very next day.
Just like that my last day in the great inn is over.
Experience wise, not that bad.
The food and drinks is great, the bed is comfortable, the balcony view is immaculate and the maid, I mean Liss isn't as bad as my initial thought.
"Experiencing luxury things from time to time isn't bad, maybe I will come back here more often. But it sure do blow your money quicky"
Leaving the entrance with just a suitcase, I found myself once again in the busy street below.
My eyes watch as people movings like a well organise ant colony.
Everyone seems like they had their own business to attend to, the same could be said for myself.
I had plan that probably take me couple of weeks to finished, but it is neccesary.
With a deep breath, soon I also dissapear amidst the moving crowd.
...
First stop, on finding who Mori is.
The Kreshenc City, of Michael Kingdom.
Arriving on the familiar gate where plant and vine had cover the wall.
This place had never fail to give off that down gloomy feeling, whenever I reach it or maybe that just opinion.
Standing in the line among the people to enter the city my head poke to the side looking at the armored guard near the entrance.
'The number of guard didn't decrease from the last time I was here'
Are they still cautious about the whole disappearing villager thing? What's that, like two month ago. Being a bit paranoid no?
Unless there was something else happening.
Pulling my poking head back in line,I let out a small sigh.
My only concern is, this will take quite the time.
After a stupid amount of waiting and inspection I finally got throught.
Almost forget the reason why I was here in the first place because of the complaining I had in head.
But at last here I am.
"Let's see, let's see, the rich area is there, the poor area is there and the mediocre area is there. Huh, nothing much had change at all"
Well with my current outfit, only one path make sense.
So I continue walking.
What was I doing here in the first place. I mean Mori, what is he doing here.
I was looking for ingredient and material for my uhh, but then, the whole mother and her sick child happend.
In which I pretend to be a doctor.
That whole incident also become among my early realisation about my own confliction...
Although, looking at it much deeper, it might had start way earlier back when I was still a Droplet in the headquater.
This whole thing really isn't easy to pin point, but then I got interrupted.
With a tone I didn't recognise at first calling out to me.
"Oh, if it isn't the young self-starter"
What with that tone and only one person ever call me that.
Then, the realisation come.
As my eyes shift to the left I was looking up where the sound came from, a big man sitting on the front of carriage is looking down on me.
"Old man Duke? Is that you"
The big man left a chuckle answering to my question.
"Of course it would be me, your all reliance Duke. It will be hard not to be recognise with all this physic after all".
He laugh slapping his tummy.
"I haven't see you since you left the Pavilion crew, boy. How are you holding up? Need something? I can get you something, anything"
Raising my left hand up, I refuse his offer.
"Huh, that was years ago and no I'm not falling for your business scheme Duke"
Duke left a sad groan.
"I wouldn't do that to you. We are old acquaintance are we not? Oh well, you are young self-starter, I doubt you really need anything and you had grown up well it seem"
He said looking at my appearance.
"Did you get yourself a job? A partner perhaps? You are quite popular with the ladies back then even at young age".
I can tell he trying to tease me.
I was silence for a moment before answering.
"... Yes in a way I did find myself a job and no, no luck yet regarding that. How about you, why are you here? Restocking I believe."
"You know me well enought young man. Moreover, you looking a bit loss a moment ago. Something caugh up in your mind? Maybe this old man can help"
Well, Duke isn't part of Mori journey. But the all reliance Duke, he claim to be isn't a joke of a title.
He was staring at me with a smile.
Sigh
'I swear if he try to make me pay for this I will turn his whole carriage upside down.'
"... Well, I've been a bit conflicted lately. But I already got the answer to that... so, I think I'm doing the right thing."
There is somewhat mix expression look on his face. Like a proud father for some reason.
"Then, you doesn't need my help at all. Discovering ourself and the mystery hiding in it, is also part of living. Understanding ourself further make us better for our future and to all we love."
As he finish his sentence, he turn around rummaging his carriage looking for something.
After making a sound of he find what he looking for, he turn back to me and hand over a finely design wooden box.
There is lebel on the front, it a famous liquor brand name.
"Take it, you are an adult now. No worry, the bill is on the house".
I don't usually accept gift, but even back then nobody ever refuse Duke gift and so I took it and left.
'Understanding ourself further make us better for our future and to all we love'
Duke you sure had your way with words. Where were I a moment ago.
Ah, yes.
The experience, the feeling.
Looking at my surrounding I remember the path I took. With the lady on my side we are searching for the ingredient to make the paralysing concoction.
We also have somewhat a long talk while searching, mainly me answering to her question.
But why did I ramble so much thought, a simple answer would had be more than sufficient at the time.
I pause from my walk.
'... Is it because I care? No that's not possible. What I've feel couldn't be describe as care, it would be more close to showing a sympathy.'
Still, what cause it to happend?
It unlike of me to show such emotion, I wouldn't care enough and I refuse to show it.
But it did came about, a small instances, one of the few infact that I myself can remember.
If it really sympathy, then why haven't I had more of such feeling?
...
...
Then, something click.
I continue walking again, silence follow me.
Why am I lieing to myself? I always knew the answer, the constant denying and refusing from my ownself, had blurr me from the ovious truth that I already recognised before.
"I know why I did it, but I don't like the answer"
I will never like the answer, not because I hate it but it remind me of something I didn't want to resurface.
Next stop, the lady and her sick child resident.