Chapter 28 - Visitor

Amoria was in the midst of her morning duties at the guild, distributing quests to incoming adventurers, while Marcilla and Misa handled orders."Haah... The guild is much busier today," Amoria sighed, looking over the crowd."Yeah... Arutol's corpse that's just outside the city walls must have drawn more people to the capital," Marcilla replied, sharing Amoria's sense of weariness."News travels really fast these days..." Amoria remarked."Hey, did you hear what the guards who were there said?" Marcilla asked as they continued their work."Oh? They saw something?" Amoria inquired, raising an eyebrow."Heh... According to the Varolon Daily, the very respectable Sir Hicks claimed to have heard the goddess' voice herself promising to save them. And shortly after, Arutol was sliced in half," Marcilla recounted, her tone laced with skepticism."Woah..." Amoria's eyes widened in surprise."I know, right? What a load of bull. Where was that divine intervention when we battled the Demon Lord?!" Marcilla scoffed."I wouldn't dismiss it as nonsense, Marcy," Amoria countered firmly."What...?""I mean, the Goddess acts differently for each of us, always with our best interests in mind..." She said, her voice slightly trailing off, uneven as her gaze flickered away briefly, "... If they genuinely believe what they're saying, then there must be a reason behind it," Amoria explained."Ahh... forgot you're a priest for a second," Marcilla rolled her eyes but continued her tasks.Two teenage girls rushed in side by side, one resembling Amoria with golden hair and delicate eyes, the other mirroring Marcilla with tanned skin and sharp, rugged features."Mom..!!" they exclaimed. Amoria's daughter wrapped her arms around her, while Marcilla's daughter embraced her mother."Thank goodness you're okay...!!!" Amoria's daughter cried, nearly in tears as she clung tightly."I... wasn't worried or anything... Just... wanted to make sure you don't need anything... Especially after last night," Marcilla's daughter said bashfully as she hugged her mother, not quite as vocal as her friend.Amoria and Marcilla exchanged a glance and chuckled softly at their daughters' actions."Were you scared, Liz?" Amoria soothed as she stroked her daughter's hair, smiling warmly."Yeah... I'm so glad you're okay...!" Liz murmured, her voice muffled by Amoria's shirt."Come on, your mom's strong enough to take care of herself," Marcilla reassured with a smile, holding her daughter close. "No need to be such a worrywart, Anne.""W-who's worrying... I just wanted to make sure you're okay, that's all..." Anne mumbled, tightening her grip on her mother.Just as the two were absorbed in comforting their daughters, the reception table's bell rang.Marcilla, without opening her eyes and still focused on her daughter, called out, "Give me a second here, fella..." Her voice was soft, murmuring as she reassured her child.The bell rang again, immediately and insistently."Hey, pal, I told you to wait for a second!" Marcilla raised her voice, lifting her head to address the impatient visitor.She squinted, trying to make out the figure standing across the reception table."M...Mika..? Is that... Really you...?" she murmured, recognition dawning as she spotted the young-looking assassin.At the mention of Mika's name, Amoria's head snapped up, her eyes widening in recognition while still holding Liz close."Mika...!! It's been so long...!! Y-you... You haven't changed a bit...!! How are you? Where is Rika?" Amoria exclaimed, her voice filled with joy upon seeing Mika. Both daughters turned their heads to see the figure their mothers were addressing."10 years, in fact...!" Marcilla added, still in disbelief as she scrutinized Mika."Aunt Mika...!!" Liz and Anne exclaimed, their eyes lighting up at the sight of her.Mika stood before them, her dark attire blending with the shadows, her expression unreadable. She held herself with a quiet stillness, hair gathered tightly in a knot, the weight of unspoken thoughts heavy in her posture."Where's Rika...?" Amoria asked, leaning in as unease flickered across her features. She could sense something was off. 'Something's... wrong with her!' Amoria thought, concern knotting in her chest."Rika is... doing a different duty at the moment... But that's... not what's important right now..." Mika muttered, her voice strained and her presence somber.'I've... Never seen her like this before. For her to openly show emotions... And in a public place like this... Something is clearly wrong!' Marcilla thought, observing Mika's expression closely.Mika then raised her gaze to meet Amoria's, "Amoria... I need to speak with you about... something..." Her voice trailed off."S-Sure..!! Speak and—" Amoria started, already attuned to the distress in Mika's tone."...Alone... Please..." Mika interrupted."Aunt...?" The girls chimed in, picking up on her discomfort."Reunion... can surely... come at a later date..." Mika added urgently, her gaze lifting up; piercing into Amoria's eyes.Amoria's expression hardened as she picked up on Mika's urgency."Marcy..." Amoria said, turning to Marcilla."Right... I'll take over until you're finished. Since you two brats are here, you're helping me and Misa with the customers," Marcilla instructed, her tone firm. Without further hesitation, Amoria stepped away from the reception desk and followed Mika upstairs. They entered an unoccupied room, closing the door behind them for a private conversation.