40 The letter

Who was this guy to be able to take out the number 2 of the rowdy bunch with one hand? Beat the leader without fighting. And then to top it all of. He paid for a beer and minor damages with a gold coin. A GOLD COIN!

" Phew, I got off easy." The leader said.

[ Combat mode deactivated]

Lucas walked out of the restaurant and then opened his left hand to see what Layla Palmer gave him. He could feel the structure and it was clearly wooden. After opening his hand Lucas looked at it and saw it was a wooden carving of himself. It was a miniature version of him. It was carved in dark wood, obviously not by mistake. The attention to detail on this carving was remarkable. It had faint traces of mana on it. Like it was imbued with it. Lucas deduced that Layla Palmer used small arcane rays to carve this doll. Lucas looked at the head again to see how she saw him. But to his surprise, there was a line on the doll's neck. He did not have a line on his neck...? Lucas looked at it and saw that it was so that you could bend the wooden head backwards. Lucas bent the wooden kneck backwards and inside the doll was a hole. It was about the size of a drill hole.

Inside this hole was a piece of paper. Lucas knew that on this piece of paper was Layla Palmer's goodbye letter. His heart started beating faster... He just stood still and looked at the piece of paper in the doll. He wanted to read the message so badly. But he didn't know if his heart could handle any more. He wanted to discard the doll and just run away from the feelings. It was war in Lucas's mind and heart. It was a battle between the rational and the irrational. It was a battle between the heart and the brain. A schism. The brain had already won once since Lucas decided to leave Layla Palmer in fear of being weak with love.

" Since the brain won this one, it is only fair that I go with my heart this time... But then again do I really want to read this message. What if she tells me something I want to hear but don't want to hear...? Would I be able to live with my decision...? But also if I just throw it away. I might just wonder my entire life what she said to me. It's always been the unknown that has eaten me up the most in my past life... I really don't know what to do. I've never been good with females... I've always just waited for my feelings to die. I've been single my entire life because of those of decisions. Just look at how I ended up because of that... Well, my love life didn't really have anything to do with me dying. Wait actually it did. The only reason I died was that I never spoke to that girl.

And because of that things spiralled and I got killed. So technically I died because I decided to run away... Well, then that settles it. No matter how much my insides are turning. I'm reading this message."

Lucas took a deep breath and looked at the letter in the hole. He collected his courage for 5 seconds and then took the letter out of the hole. He unfolded it out of the scroll-like shape. It immediately expanded to the size of an A4 page, through magic of course. He then looked at the page and began reading. As he did the tears streamed from his face and onto the ground.

" He's crying..." A young man said.

" Should we confront him now?" Another young man said.

" No, not yet... Let's wait for the best moment," A female said.

One of Lucas's tears landed on the letter. Lucas, immediately wiped his tears as he couldn't damage the letter. He refolded it returning it to its original size. He then put the letter back into the hole and then flipped back the head. He then put the doll into Thea's storage.

Lucas took deep breaths and regained his composure. When he did three people approached him. Lucas looked at them. This time his gaze had no emotion. It was so empty it felt ominous. A chill went down each of their spines as Lucas glanced at them.

" Wow, calm down. We not here to harm you." One of the young men said.

" I remember you though, you're from the restaurant. No?" Lucas said

" Yes, we are..." The young man said.

" So what do want with me? As you can see I'm not in a good mood. But if you want to get it. " As Lucas said this rage in his heart began burning, " I'm more than willing to throw down with you!"

" Wow, wow, wow. What my brother over here is trying to say is that we are not here to fight you. We saw what you did to the leader and the number 2 of the notorious Rowdy 5. We only want to ask you a question." The female of the group interjected and then said.

" It's a rare skin disease. That's why my skin is black." Lucas said.

" What?" The female said.

" My skin... That's the reason it's black."

" That's cool. But we don't care about that. And that's not why we are here."

" Oh, sorry I assumed that's the case. What do you want to ask?"

" Well, actually my brother Vali over here wants to ask you something." She then looked at Vali and said, " Vali speak quickly while you have his attention."

Vali looked at his sister and then at Lucas and said, " Well what I wanted to know is why...? Why did you let go of such a beautiful girl? I mean she was breathtaking! You had a diamond in your hands I just can't understand why?! Is she a trap or something... Why?"

Lucas looked at Vali and said, " Why do you care?"

Vali got annoyed when Lucas said that because he was hoping to get an answer. He was just about to swear at Lucas when. His sister quickly calmed him down.

" Forgive my brother's rude expressions." The sister said to Lucas. Then she turned to Vali and said. " Are you stupid. You just saw what he did and now you want to provoke him. Plus you don't seem to understand what he meant by that. He didn't mean it in a rude way. He literally meant to ask you. Why do you care? You will then know the only reason you care that he is leaving her is that she is beautiful. If she wasn't you wouldn't care, would you? So basically her attractiveness is the reason you are here talking to him. So her attractiveness is what attracted you to him. He must have left her for that reason exactly. He probably wants to live a peaceful life. Well, as peaceful as it can be and with her, he cannot do that since she attracts attention wherever she goes. "

Lucas nodded his head because this was spot on and exactly what he meant. Lucas's opinion of the girl also rose. She was able to deduce what he meant so quickly and effectively. Lucas had originally planned on splitting his explanation into multiple steps but she only needed one.

" Oh," Vali said, as he now understood the reason for Lucas's decision.

At this moment the other brother extended his hand towards Lucas and said, " I'm Timothy, Timothy Richshade" Lucas shook his hand and then Timothy said pointing to each relevant individual, " And this is my sister Beth Richshade. You have already met Vali Richshade. We are all siblings."

Lucas smiled at each of them and then said," So is that all?"

" Actually, we want you to join us for a mission. We could use your strength. You are an F rank adventurer already, right? Oh... and plus you don't have to worry about gaining unwanted attention. Beth has average looks and she is single. So you don't need to worry about jealous boyfriends too." Vali Richshade said.

Beth Richshade looked at Vali Richshade like he was going to get it later at home.

" What, it's true. You are not as attractive as Helena. All of mom's attractiveness went to her. Since she was born first."

Lucas looked at Vali Richshade and then said, " Sorry I cannot. I need to go and apply to the Mage Academy. If I don't do it soon, I will get thrown out of the Kingdom. Plus I'm not an adventurer yet. I am going to the academy still."

" What you are not an adventurer yet?! You are so strong. But I understand. Maybe next time then."

" Maybe next time..." Lucas said that and then waved at them while walking away.

Lucas walked closer and closer to the centre of the Kingdom from his previous location. He was looking for a place to sleep as it was already night time. Lucas looked at the signs of the inns looking for one that seemed the most welcoming. He eventually found one. "The Universal Inn". Lucas walked into the place and it looked like a restaurant. It was full of people sitting and eating their food. It wasn't rowdy like the previous place. When Lucas walked in everyone looked at him some confused and others afraid. Lucas sighed out his nose.

When the owner saw Lucas she said to the people, " Mind your own business, people. This place has no limits on who may enter. Everyone is welcome. Isn't that why you come here?"

When she said that the negative atmosphere that was in the inn immediately dissipated and everyone carried on with there own thing. The owner led Lucas to the reception desk.

She then said, " Would you like a table. Or are you here to sleep. Maybe both?"

" I am here for both," Lucas said.

" Good, what room would you like we have three types. The standard room has just a bed to sleep on. The Advanced room is more spacious with more amenities. And lastly the luxury room. All priced at 50 bronze pieces, 70 bronze pieces and 3 silver pieces and 50 bronze pieces per night respectively. This all includes breakfast. Any other meal you must pay for yourself."

" How are the beds in the luxury room vs the advanced room," Lucas asked as he wanted to sleep on a great bed after sleeping on the floor for a month.

"The advanced room's bed is really nice but it doesn't hold a candle against the Luxury rooms bed," The owner said while winking at Lucas.

Lucas didn't know if it was true or not or just a sales tactic to make more money. But he didn't care. " I'll book a luxury room for one night please." Lucas took 4 silver coins out from Thea's storage and gave it to the owner. The owner gave him 50 bronze pieces in return. She then pointed at girl up ahead and said, " Here is your key, she will go and show you your room when you ready. The kitchen closes in two hours."

Lucas nodded at her and then went to go sit down at an open table. A waiter came up to him and gave him a menu. Lucas looked at the menu and saw something that caused a surge of memories in his mind. One of the items was Fried Parashwein( a creature he encountered in the Forest of Talem) steak, basted in garlic and butter. Served best with a Chatre which was this worlds equivalent to Chardonnay. Lucas ordered the Fried Parashwein steak. He asked for it medium rare but the waiter didn't understand him so he just went with whatever way it came.

When the food arrived the lack of aroma annoyed him. But he was hungry so he ate it anyway. When he ate it. The meat was hard and was cooked far past medium. It was dry and just all around displeasing. Lucas kept all these thoughts to himself he was just happy to eat food that he didn't have to slave over. After paying for the bill he found the girl. She directed him to his bedroom. He used his key to open the door. And when he did two attractive females were lying on top of his bed. They were clothed in a very thin white fabric. It wasn't see through but you could see a bit of their bodies.

Lucas was confused about why his luxury room had people in it. According to the owner, he wasn't sharing a room but they in the room? It then struck him as to why the owner said this bed is much more comfortable. Clearly, these girls are the reason. Lucas immediately chased them out and told them they are not needed. He then looked at all the sweets and fruits on trays in the room. As well as the whip cream and chocolates. But he was tired so he climbed into bed and closed his eyes.

When he did the letter's contents flooded his mind again.

" If you are reading this then we are no longer together. Now I am not going to write anything sappy because I know you don't want that. In fact just the fact that you reading this is great. I just wanted to thank you for everything you have done for me. You taught me so much and I don't mean in terms of fighting. But life lessons. I appreciate that. Life lessons are priceless. You changed me from my timid self into the confident woman I am today. I hope you get what you want in life. I know you can make it. Maybe you will forget about me, but I will never forget about you. I will always be on the lookout for news about you. Even if you want to 'take over the world';). I will always support you from behind the scenes be your goals good or bad. Once more, thank you. Layla Palmer out".

And in very, very small writing. It says, "I lo...". After the message finished replaying in his mind, Lucas fell asleep.