- The Dorrow Manor

It took some time to convince Rian and Lukali, both of them seeing this mission as a great opportunity, but their skepticism got the better of them. Eventually, after some questions, and even more investigation at the local Post, they both subsided, seeing this as nothing more than another mission.

And a high paying one at that.

"This place, it really wasn't that far from our path."

Luakli said with much surprise, looking over the map that lay in his hands, eyes passing from the main road to the side path they had discovered, before eventually falling back on the map.

"I guess this shouldn't take too long."

Lia nodded, already heading towards the side path that led to their destination, a large manor made of pearling marble and deep stone, as described by the men and women at the Post.

However, Rian wasn't like Lia or Lukali, who also showed some hesitation when heading towards the path.

"Are you sure about this Lia. I mean, what if this kid isn't really dead? Then we'd be expected to find him again. That could take several days off our journey."

Lia shrugged, having already heard most of this before.

"If that's the case, we'll find a trail and lead them to it. We won't have to find the child, we just have to either find the evidence that he is dead and offer them some comfort. Or, the child is actually alive, therefore we find the trail and lead them to it. Either way, we can help these people out. Offer them the chance to grieve, or the chance to find what they seek."

Rian held his stare for a few moments before ultimately shaking his head.

"I can never tell how you do it, but you somehow make everything sound like it's all been planned for."

He gestured behind her, but there was no one there, a mirror of a gesture towards Cain, the man he couldn't see.

"I assume he's teaching you all this?"

"Some of it. Some of it just came with the package."

From the forest, leaning against a tree at the fork in the road, a voice came.

"Trust me, I have to deal with it quite often. So it's much more annoying when I speak, only to hear someone who sounds exactly like me on the other side."

Turning their heads, their eyes landed on Cain once again leaning against a tree, watching them with bare crimson eyes.

"It feels like I'm talking to a mirror."

"Well, excuse me then Cain if my choice of speech is too much for you."

With that, Lia turned her body round and headed down the trail, leading deeper into the forest where the other led towards the mountains.

Rian and Luklali glanced at each other before turning back to Cain one last time.

"Did you two fight or something?"

"Not that I can recall, though she's always a bit antsy."

"Hm…"

Rian nodded his head, following after Lia, Lukali trailing behind him.

Left alone to her thoughts, Lia's mind whirled at the sight of Cain, remembering the words he had told her just hours before. In truth, Lia was a bit upset at Cain, more so than she would like to admit.

While she was trying to convince Rian and Lukali to join up and at least hear the quest out, Cain had been elsewhere in her mind. Some place she did not want him to be.

'I was only trying to keep the demons at bay.'

'It's not kind for someone to go digging around in someone else's mind, you know Cain?'

Lia's tone held a bit of anger within it, showing Cain just what he needed to see, as his presence faded within her mind.

'I understand your anger, but it is better to let these things go. Keeping them here with you will only cause you more pain.'

Lia shook her head, quickening her pace as if it would keep Cain away, as if she was being chased by his shadow.

'I know you only want to help, but my love life should not be your concern.'

With that, much to Cain's surprise, she threw him from her mind, keeping it clear of more than one demon.

She quickened her pace so much that even Rian and Lukali could notice something was wrong with her, quickening their own pace to catch up. Eventually Lia broke through the wall of trees that surrounded her, revealing a pristine and gorgeous surrounding that was filled with beauty.

Lia could see a large pond, clear open ground lined with flowers of blue and yellow. There was a large willow tree in the distance, centered in the large open plain of grass, surrounded by the forest edge, lining the area with a wall of trees.

She could see a small row boat in the pond, a swing set hanging from the tree, and a large horse stable situated not too far off from the main house.

And the house…The Postmaster hadn't lied when he said it looked as though an artisan hand carved it from marble and stone. It was beautiful.

"Whoa…"

Even Rian and Lukali were left speechless looking out over the land, mesmerized by the seclusion and the beauty of this lone manor in the woods. Lia however, regained her senses a lot sooner than they did, ushering them both towards the house, snapping them out of the trance.

"Come on you two, get moving. We still have to meet the owners."

Lukali glanced back at her from where she was, pushing on their backs, trying to get them to move faster.

"You did tell them we were coming, right?"

"The Postmaster did, now get going."

The house was much more grand than Lia had originally thought, the intricate detail showing on the many gray cracks that lined the marble, as well as the pale green vines that snaked up the sides.

The foyer was made of pure black stone - deep stone to be exact - with intricate patterns carved on the tops, details of men and animals battling, hunting, and dying at the hands of each other.

The cycle of man and beast.

"Quite the avid people for detail I see."

Commented Lukali who watched the large foyer with hesitation, as if some monster or ghost waited on the other end of the door before them.

Though Lia wanted to tell him not to be afraid, even she was finding it hard to not notice how cold and…quiet the house looked, as if the dead haunted it.

Snapping them from their worries and thoughts, the door handle clicked and clacked, the nob jiggling before finally opening wide, revealing a well dressed man in a suit, his pale white gloves telling Lia that this man must have been the butler.

The house butler to be exact, which she later learned. His suit was well kept, not a speck of dust to be seen, while his undercoat was spotless of any stains or blemishes from dust and duties.

His gloves were cotton white and clean, and as the man reached out his hand in greeting, Lia couldn't help but remark at how well made they were, soft beneath the touch and smooth to the skin.

His entire suit must have cost a fortune. And he was the butler.

"Winslow at your service madam. I take it you three are Endless, the Hunting party that the Postmaster sent word of."

Lia snapped out of her praising look and focused her mind, bowing her head to the man in respect for his position in the house.

"Though I wasn't sure, it does seem that the Postmaster's letter arrived on time."

The butler - Winslow - nodded, gesturing inside for them to follow him.

"Ah, yes. The poor courier nearly got lost on his way here."

"Oh dear. I apologize for the late notice then, sir."

The butler waved her off, a polite smile on his face.

"Nonsense. You needn't be so apologetic. One of our maids saw him at the fork in the road, took down his name and the letter, and passed it on to us. No problem arose, thank goodness."

Lia nodded her head, grateful that the man was understanding. Her years of being raised as a polite princess had not left her, even though she was a princess no longer.

In the years after her tenth failure of calling upon a summons, Lia was forced to undertake many, many, many classes on etiquette and politeness when growing up. Her family saw it as a way to save some of their reputation.

Even Rain and Lukali, distracted by the marvelous interior design of the house, could hardly look at Lia without seeing a stranger.

Has she always been like this? And if so, where could she have learned how to act like this?

There were many questions, but many answers they knew they couldn't ask just yet.

"If you don't mind me asking sir, could we know what our clients are like? I didn't get a good description from the Postmaster, and I wouldn't like to be disrespectful."

Winslow smiled again, clearly respecting her use and education in the art of manner and politeness.

"Not to worry, Miss, Mr. and Mrs. Dorrow aren't much for honorifics. They will tell you straight off what it is they want, and it will be your job to deliver. Oh, though I must warn you before we go."

"Some trouble then I assume?"

"Nothing of the unordinary I assure you."

Lia nodded her head, a symbol for the man to continue, cautious with his next words.

"The last group of Hunters who came here was over three years ago. They failed, but were not rewarded. However, they also tried to lead my masters down a false trail, an act that landed many of them behind bars."

Seeing Lia's stoic face in a fleeting glance, he chucked to himself.

"Don't worry. So long as you don't try and fool them, there should be no harm or cause for it. They accept failure and will reward you depending on how hard you work."

"...I see."

With that, Winslow led them to a large and grand living room, the walls decorated in a beautiful turquoise blue, painted red flowers crawling up painted green vines.

The dark wood floor was polished so well that Lia could see her own reflection staring back at her. Not a single dent, scrape, or scar broke the peaceful mirror she was looking at.

Winslow led them to a small coffee table, one surrounded by two large white sofas, copper pieces swirling around the sides.

'Okay…these people are VERY rich.'

Before she could say anything, a door on the opposite end of the room opened, revealing two well dressed guards in leather armor. Though it looked like armor, Lia could see that not a single scar or dent could be seen. They were freshly cleaned as if they were brand new.

Two figures followed soon after them, holding each other's hands lovingly. One a woman, just shorter than the second, a man.

Husband and wife. Mr. and Mrs. Dorrow.

When their eyes landed on Lia and her friends, the expressions of the two changed from one of love to one of seriousness.

The man - Mr. Dorrow - detached himself from his wife, who went to seat herself at one of the white couches, while he reached out his hand in greeting.

Taking his hand in her own , Lia was surprised to find him smiling. Not a joyous smile, but an empty one. One filled with thankfulness, but also sorrow.

"Thank you for coming. Please, sit."

His voice was deep but calm, as he guided their way to the other couch where they sat, Lia couldn't help but notice how there was a slight cracking in his voice.

He was sad. But he was strong enough to hold it back.

"Mr. and Mrs. Dorrow, my name is Lia. This is Rian and Lukali. We found your notice and were hoping you could tell us a bit about your issue before we begin."

Mr. Dorrow nodded, turning to his wife with silent eyes.

"We…it has been years since he disappeared. I've lost count, or rather, I just stopped counting. Our son, Voln, was the light of our worlds. He puts a smile on our faces everyday but…"

Lia sighed inwardly, wondering how difficult this would be getting information out of them. Clearly they were upset, and had yet to show any signs of stopping.

"Is there any reason he might have left?"

Rian asked, his chin resting on his folded hands. He looked serious, but he looked more poised and ready than he did wary.

"He…"

Mr. Dorrow seems to find himself choking on his own words, so his wife, Ms. Dorrow brushed his arm with her hand, calming him. She spoke on his behalf

"Voln is my son. I remarried soon after his father died, to Clark here. We fell in love but…well, sons aren't always supportive of our dreams and desires. He left soon after our marriage."

"So a family dispute then. Over your new partner."

Rain gestured to Mr. Dorrow, eyes as serious as a guardsman.

"Yes. Up until recently, we thought he had disappeared into the forest, lost his way and…"

She drifted off, her own voice choking up over the very same words her husband could not say.

Turning to Lia, Mrs. Dorrow met her eyes, clear like a crystal lake compared to Lia's crimson red, like a flame burning in the embers.

"...for the longest time we kept the notice up in order to find some…well, acceptance. Let us grieve, tell us that he was gone. Until now, we always had the hope that he was still alive out there, and that was what was killing us inside."

Rian nodded his head, clearly able to understand where they were coming from. However, to Lia, she was much more focused on something else. Something she had missed before.

"Wait. You said, 'until now.' What's changed?"

Hope filled the couples eyes as they glanced at each other, a smile blooming on their face as they turned back to her.

"He's alive. One of our guards saw a man matching his description a few nights ago. We were about to hire a group of mercenaries to go after them but…well, then you called. Your letter reached us and we couldn't stop from thinking that there was still hope."

Mrs. Dorrow took her husband's hand in hers, watching him with careful eyes filled with love and compassion.

"Forgive us. You probably came here looking to prove his death. It certainly would be easier."

She turned back to them, eyes filled with a fierce fiery passion in them, burning and raging like a mother who had just seen the hope that once blew away, fly back into her arms.

"But I beg you. Please find him. Tell him to come home before he hurts himself. I…I need to tell him I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to apologize for ma'am."

Rian looked at Lia gesturing slightly in their direction.

She nodded, turning back to Mrs. Dorrow, eyes filled with a flame just as fierce as hers.

"We'll find your son."

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AN: If this chapter feels like I've skipped some bits like it does with me, I'm sorry. Originally I wanted to have a conversation with Lia and her party at the Post bar, but it would have just been useless information. A lot of this chapter got cut out because it was needless words, and I honestly didn't want to bridge an emotional gap between client and Hunter, it just felt unneeded.

I apologize if this isn't the best. I will try to work harder.

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