Ollis

"Who was the wise man you mentioned?" Hikari asks.

"Why me of course." Iskandor replies causing her to facepalm.

"Why do I even bother..." She mutters.

"Because I'm a genius, playboy, billionaire, philanthropist... Some of those are a work in progress though..." Iskandor replies. Causing Hikari to facepalm again.

"Should we interrogate the elf now?" Serena asks, to realize Iskandor is busy singing under his breath.

"Once I rose above the noise and confusion

Just to get a glimpse beyond the illusion

I was soaring ever higher, but I flew too high

Though my eyes could see I still was a blind man

Though my mind could think I still was a mad man

I hear the voices when I'm dreamin', I can hear them say

Carry on my wayward son

For there'll be peace when you are done

Lay your weary head to rest

Don't you cry no more

Masquerading as a man with a reason

My charade is the event of the season

And if I claim to be a wise man, it surely means that I don't know

On a stormy sea of moving emotion

Tossed about I'm like a ship on the ocean

I set a course for winds of fortune, but I hear the voices say

Carry on my wayward son

For there'll be peace when you are done

Lay your weary head to rest

Don't you cry no more" sings Iskandor

"Seriously! Stop singing! We got interrogation to do!" Hikari scolds as harshly as she can, meaning very sweetly.

"Fine..." Iskandor replies, slapping the elf awake. "Who are you?"

"M-m my name is G-Glen..." The elf now identified as Glen responds.

"Why did you capture Roku?" Iskandor asks.

"I-I can't s-say" Glen responds.

"Are you sure, I see several ways to force you to talk, ripping out fingernails, breaking your fingers one by one, doing the same to your toes, or the standard cutting and whipping." Iskandor threatens, causing Glen to piss himself in fear.

"K-kill me! Just kill me!" He yells.

"Speak or squeal, I'll leave the choice up to you." Iskandor threatens, drawing his dagger.

***************

"That hurt me much more than it did him." Iskandor says, looking at the elven corpse infront of him.

"Too bad you couldn't get anything out of him." Serena replies, pale in the face.

"I think he wanted to talk, but I can't be sure. I'm kinda starting to hate my photographic memory now..." Iskandor states. "I've taken lives before, from a distance, but torture is one thing I'd rather not do again..."

"I'm sure there's a story behind that, but you can reveal it in your own time." Lar comforts.

"Thanks, I appreciate it." Iskandor says, smiling.

"Onii-chan, are you feeling any better?" Hikari asks Roku.

"A little... I need to rest my head somewhere." He replies.

"Looks like we need to update sleeping arrangements." Serena states.

"Roku, you can sleep in my room, I'll take the couch again and the girls can spread out however in Lar's room. If that's good with everyone anyway." Iskandor suggests.

"Fine with me." Lar agrees.

"Thanks for the hospitality." Roku agrees.

"I don't see any issue." Serena says.

"Doesn't matter to me." Hikari states, also in agreement.

The group makes their way back to rosemary where they see something out of place, a carriage with the royal emblem plastered on the sides.

"I've got a bad feeling about this..." Iskandor mutters.

"The Forrests... A bunch of pompous assholes..." Serena mutters.

"Let's try to ignore them for now." Hikari says as the carriage doors open.

"That guy, the one with the bruises doesn't look like a noble, royal or someone close to those with power." Iskandor says.

"Strange, but it doesn't concern us." Hikari says.

"And now he's looking at us..." Lar exclaims.

"Just go home, I'll deal with it." Iskandor says.

"Fine, be careful." Hikari responds as he walks towards the royals with fake respect.

"Greetings, may I ask what business you have here? I mean no disrespect of course but why would royalty bother with a place such as this?" Iskandor says.

"It is us Orson Forrest of Oakvale! Greeting you loyal subjects of the roy-" Orsen starts.

"All due respect but please spare us loyal subjects the whole speech..." Iskandor interrupts.

Orson's face turns red with anger from the previously happy expression he wore, "You dare interrupt us Orson Forrest from completing our 5 hour monologue!?!?!? You will no longer be recieving aid from us Orson Forrest!"

"What aid!? This is the first carriage we've received in months bearing the emblem of the capital!" A random villager shouts.

"We Orson Forrest need not explain our self to the likes of peasants!"

At this various villagers start shouting incoherently, all in a hostile tone towards the prince.

"Looks like I accidentally staged a coup..." Iskandor mutters, running from the crowd until he feels a hand on his shoulder.

"We should probably talk." The bruised man says.

"I was thinking the same thing." Iskandor says. "You clearly don't belong with that group and it piqued my curiosity."

"I could say the same thing to you, you don't quite belong either." The bruised man says.

"Let's chat in the tavern, my sister practically owns the place." Iskandor replies.

"Lead the way goldbloom." He replies.

"Is that a racial slur or a reference?" Iskandor asks, now mildly suspicious of the man.

"Just lead the way." He says.

***************

"So, Ollis is it? What are you doing in Rosemary?" Iskandor asks.

"Hunter, beasts, it's what I do. Heard there was one 'round these parts and thought I'd take a look."

"Doesn't explain the clothes, the pale face indicative of poisoning or why you are with the royal assholes." Iskandor says, poking holes in his story. Causing Ollis to give a shocked face at him.

"Sometimes you meet friends in the most unexpected places. As for the poison issue, I don't know about that..." Ollis replies.

"High perception allows me to notice things others won't, based on your complexion and the way mana flows around you indicates mana poisoning. Or at least with my minimal experience with this stuff I am lead to believe so." Iskandor gives his diagnosis.

"Anyways, heard rumors about rabid beast-kin?" Ollis dodges the prior issue.

"Not many around here, or at least that we know of. But I have had a run in with some cultists..." Iskandor replies truthfully.

"That's a shame, I guess I'll take my leave. Perhaps our paths will cross once more, Iskandor." Ollis replies.

"I feel it will be more than once, see ya around Ollis." Iskandor replies.

Ollis takes his leave, looking satisfied with the conversation.

"What a strange fellow, kind of reminds me of someone... But he is also very different as well." Iskandor mutters, reminiscing on the past. "I wonder if he could be the same person... I doubt it... He probably is swamped with work trying to salvage the generator..."