By grace of Shar, Mishel and Garrick arrive at the scene before the situation turns appalling. Through their entrance, the ungodly presence cowers away, sterilising the once corrupted temple.
Aid came upon the traveller in a single glance. Mishel and Garrick already told Natalak's wounds were dire. The armour that costs only a copper isn't enough to protect his flesh. Providentially, Garrick was an expert in dealing with these kinds of damages.
Fire burns and fire gives life— A pale green flame burst from Garrick's palm. Pressing where the wounds are, the fire spread all over Natalak's body, burning the corrupted essence injected from his veins.
Watching— Ashalain couldn't help, and quickly tries to offer her healing flame.
"Ashalain," Garrick spoke. His words were calm, but the intent was clear.
Heeding Garrick's words, Ashalain extinguished her flames. All she could do was kneel and scrutinise the scene.
"Lady Mishel, if you could." Garrick orders, once the curing is through.
Carrying Natalak, while Mishel brings out a scroll of teleportation, they were swiftly teleported to the inn, the Ale and Hammer. It was still midday, and when they barged the door, they hurriedly asked the taverner for a spare room.
Lying down on a bed, his heart finally regains its life. In time, Mishel cast one final spell for further examination. Fishing out a lush, luminous flask, in turn, the glass dissipates the moment the mage gives a simple squeeze. Like moth to a flame, her hand magnetises the vial's essence.
A sweep of her hand spreads the verdant mist, giving Natalak a glowing sight.
"He'll be fine." Said Mishel, once the magic dissolved.
Regarding Ashalain, her face was averted from Sir Garrick, while she gave a guilty expression.
"I'll go have some food downstairs." Mishel continues leaving the two paladins for a talk.
Once the door closed and Mishel descended, Garrick grabbed a seat. Groaning slightly as Garrick positions himself— from the looks of his movement, it looks like old age is coming.
Garrick looks at Natalak— a slitted eye of a half-dead man. Inquisitive, the old paladin asks without leaving his eyes on Ashalain.
"Is there anything more that I should be informed of?" Garrick's voice and tone were calm, like a father probing his daughter.
Ashalain was still silent, still unable to look at the old paladin. Her tongue was chained by guilt and indignity. Then a thought came— she thought of the bag, the void bag that Natalak carries. She ponders whether she can use Natalak's bag for her own reasons.
"I-" Ashalain stammered. "I thought he was something else, a spy or someone that needs to be investigated."
"And your findings?"
"He's just a simple traveller who was seeking to make ends meet. And about him stealing my sword, it was my fault—" Ashalain stammered. "I was the one who barged into his room and strained to interrogate him."
"Interrogate him? By which, using the ones that I always advise you not to do?"
"Yes." Ashalain nods slightly as she glances at Natalak but avoids Garrick's sight.
"Mm-hmm…" Garrick grouses as he massages his forehead. "And in his retaliation, he stole your sword without knowing its worth."
Ashalain nods, gradually constricting her fist.
Garrick sighed deeply, and before he could make another statement, a knock of three came from the door.
"It's me, Mishel— there's a letter for you, Sir Garrick. Is it okay for me to come in?"
"You may," Garrick responds.
Mishel entered on her palm was a fowl the size of a tennis ball. Alive and chirping, it gradually morphs into a parchment, a message.
Minutes of reading, Garrick's eyes stiffen.
"I need to head back to Ravalind. Mishel, do you still have some scroll?"
"I do, but why are you in a hurry?" Mishel replied.
"There's a trouble brewing, and the king's royal advisor needs my presence," Garrick answered.
"I'll come with you too." Ashalain blurts.
"Ashalain." Garrick's words were stone-cold to her ears. Though the tone was soft, his expression showed other sentiments. "And what of him?" He continues staring at the half-dead man lying on the bed.
Ashalain was silent; there were no thoughts of reason for her to give words.
"I would ask you to tend to him and settle your difference. And if ever I won't be hearing another temper when this is finished." Garrick suggests.
Ashalain then let out a heavy sigh of acceptance. "I shall do as you command."
"Then it is settled— Mishel, if you could."
Mishel affirms, but before she could activate the scroll, she gave Ashalain an inspiring farewell—enough for the lady paladin to sigh in relief.
Once her comrades were gone, Ashalain sat and gawked at the man of mystery.
"Just who are you?" She ponders inquisitively.
Examining — Ashalain perceived Natalak's armour was tightening, or rather choking his breath. Strip did she quickly remove his armour, and swiftly Natalak let out a deep breath, as if he had been pulled from drowning.
Her curiosity grew when she saw the void bag. Head glance sideways, Ashalain goes shutting doors and windows, followed by a sealing spell. Recalling Natalak's action, how his bag swallowed dozens of trinkets back at the dwarven tunnel.
When she opened the sack, she was a mix of disappointment and a sense of staggered emotions. The bag was empty, so she tried to dip her hand for study, but there was nothing she could find.
"So, this is what a void bag is."
As for the traveller in question, Natalak awaken what appears to be a dream. As he set out to walk, there he saw.
A horseman riding in white, a pure white king holding a bow. It's a crown so golden, adorned with full jewellery and captivating, that it turns a pure mortal into a sinner to have it to themselves. Glancing more, there were no quivers of arrows at his disposal, not even a single weapon to be seen. But a sack replaced it, and inside were dozens of tongues, of men and full of gold coins.
The expression the white king gave was fatigue, and the emotions of endless moving. However, the horse's look was frightening to the eyes. Its eyes are greedy, its mouth dripping with greed and hunger; it is the expression of men who hold power over the throne.
When he and the horseman stared, there were no words spoken. The entity nods at Natalak and strides forward.
Two days later, Natalak finally awakens from his rest but is not yet fully recovered. He can still feel the slight pain surging through his muscles, bones, and even his organs as if turned to solid stone. He tilts his head to see Ashalain without her armour, wearing only a black dress. Her eyes were closed, sleeping on the chair, guarding him during his recoveries.
To Natalak's surprise at how he was brought to this place, he looks around. With little effort, Natalak forces his body to stand. Subsequently, Ashalain opens her eyes.
When he saw her eyelids ploddingly open, facing sideways away from her view, he slowly tumbled to sleep again.
The paladin, however, already notices his demeanour, a pretentious sleep.
"Doing like that won't get you off the hook," Ashalain spoke with a straight face. "Wait here… I'll go get you some food." She continues, treading towards the exit. "And don't do anything stupid, like escaping."
When he heard her footsteps fade, Natalak quickly gathered his strength and looked for his bag. However, as he tried to walk away, his legs began to shake, and he tumbled to the ground.
"Okay?" He mutters, crawling through the floor.
Forcing his legs to walk, to recover, but battling in the sweaty body and aching muscles.
Once regaining his chance to walk, he panically searches for his bag. Sighting under the bed, opening drawers and cabinets.
"Where did she put that bag of mine!" His voice— panic as to his hands.
When he had had enough, Ashalain opened the door, holding his meal, a simple, small bowl of porridge and a few meats on top.
"Judging by your energy, I see you've fully recovered." Ashalain shrugged, closing the door.
"Where's my bag?" Natalak calmly said, intently looking at the paladin.
"You should eat first." Replies Ashalain while she placed his food on top of the cupboard.
Without further ado, Natalak slowly spooned the food, conscious as possible, and hesitated to have his tongue take a test. This turned Ashalain flustered.
"Do you want me to taste every portion of your food?" A bossy tone coming out from a child after she'd swallowed a portion of his food.
Once he saw how Ashalain's action, and the quick change of emotion. Natalak became perplexed by the paladin's personality, or rather, he was careful of her volatile behaviours.
Nevertheless, his stomach is empty, and the food that Ashalain offers makes his mouth water. Hungry as he is, there's still some etiquette left to show, startling the noble paladin.
Halfway through his meal, Ashalain then goes to retrieve his bag. Commonly, she conceals it not in their room, but to who knows where she hides it.
Return, and before the paladin could continue her inquisition. A wave of her hand sealed the door, the windows shut tight; that brute strength won't do a thing. Hidden from Natalak's eyes, she was holding a truth-seeking orb, the eye of Adra.
Patiently, she sits, waiting for Natalak to finish his meal. Mortified as he may be, Natalak had no choice but to dine in the presence of the noble paladin.
"I'm finished, and I thank you for the food."
Natalak said after he'd organised his plate, though his stomach says otherwise.
"You sure? That kind of meal won't fill such an appetite in a man who didn't eat for two days. You know I can get you some more if you want." Ashalain raised her eyebrows.
"That won't be necessary, I'm already full," Natalak replied.
"Hmm?"
From her palm, Ashalain reveals the truth-seeking orb, and somehow it shows a growing spot of darkness staining the crystal ball. And once again, creating a discomfited look on both of them.
"Do you know this crystal ball that I'm holding?" Ashalain implores, obscuring the dark mist-like spot from the crystal ball, through the use of her palm.
"Yes, I do know a little."
Just as Natalak answered, the dark spot quickly expanded.
"Then tell me what this crystal ball does?" The paladin follows.
Natalak didn't respond, only silent.
"I only know a little of it," Natalak responded, though the dark spot from the crystal didn't shrink, but expanded more.
It was enough to make the paladin giggle, not a flirtatious titter, but a mix of amusement and dumbfounded. For Natalak, her expression was rather a ridicule to his understanding of the crystal ball, equally to the world of Vashkeil.
The more Ashalain tries to suppress her laughter, Natalak's head slowly shifts away from Ashalain, out of embarrassment.
"Just for you to know, this crystal ball is the eye of Adra. And it detects lies— the dark spot you see is the lies you created." Explained Ashalain after she'd placed it on the table.
"Now, for the next question. Who really are you? And why are you holding such an artefact?"