Louie D'Ayllanor - final part

"What a strange inscription..."

I watch the necklace carefully but don't recognize it. Could it be a gift from an old friend? Or who knows, it came by mistake.

I look at the package again, searching for the sender.

"Indeed, it is my name written on it, but... There is no sender. That's strange. Anyway, better put it away for now, I have more important things to do."

One of my desk drawers had a false bottom and lifting it, I carefully put the necklace there and close it again.

"More important now is to focus on what I have to do..."

I pull out a feather made of white feathers and with very delicate silver details at the base to the tip. I dip it in the ink and pull it onto the paper to start writing. A drop of the black ink falls, spreading out on the paper that was slowly absorbing it. I put the quill back into the ink pot and in a despondent sigh, I stand up and walk to the window.

I watch the people on the busy streets. I have known most of them since they were little and they all live the same life, no change, no novelty, no adventure.

I feel a slight pang in my chest, a strange anguish that has been eating away at me for many years. My reflection in the saddened window as I watch people going about their business makes me wrapped up in thoughts. Before it was because I don't want to leave my mother alone but now what? What is my excuse? What's holding me here?

"Nothing..."

"Huh?"

I realize there was a young black haired boy in the doorway looking at me seriously, as if expecting an answer from me.

"Sorry to barge in like this, it's just that I knocked and didn't get an answer, I thought something might have happened..."

I didn't pay much attention to him and went back to sitting in my chair, and rummaging through some books, as if looking for something.

"No problem, I was lost in thought. What do you want?"

"Are you all right, sir?"

I look at him seriously.

"Why the question?"

He smiles.

"Because the book is upside down..."

I look at the book a little sheepishly and immediately close it.

"Eh... I'm a little tired... That's it... ah..."

He keeps smiling.

"Ah, I understand. Sometimes life around here is really tiring. But you can always travel for a change of scenery."

I look at him more closely, I don't remember seeing him before. I would certainly remember someone so...

"You are?"

He kind of looked like he was in a hurry, or was he nervous about the question? He hands me a package he was holding.

"Ah, I must be disturbing your rest, I came to deliver this package that I was asked to deliver to you."

I take the package, which was carefully wrapped in a piece of brown leather, tied with a thin rope.

"Another one? I thought they had already delivered all of them."

And as I pull on the rope to untie the noose, I look at the door and it is no longer there.

When I open the package, it was a small diary. There were the initials N.O. almost erased on the cover.

"I don't remember asking for this..."

But curiosity overtook me, and, sitting back in my chair, I began to leaf through the small diary. It told the story of a village called Gerd.

It told everyday things, like the daily life of the village and the villagers and annual festivities. However, as I read, I could tell that it was about someone who was there at the time the village disappeared, maybe I could get some answers about what I was looking for?

After a few hours of reading, I reached what seemed to be the end... But the pages seemed to have been written in haste, leaving a blurry writing on the page stained with what looked like blood, which said:

MAY THE GODS HELP US

I was perplexed. How could this diary be here? Was it real? And if so, what had happened to its owner?

So many questions filled my mind, and at the same time I knew... I would have to find the answer on my own, I would have to go to Gerd.

I quickly started to pack my bag. This was it! I had to go there!

However I stopped in the middle of the room, thinking.

"But how do I go?"

Most of the coachmen would not be willing to take me to the small village of Barvh, because of its location, near the Forest of Murmurs... But maybe... The tavern! Surely I will find someone there...

I grab everything I need from my living room, papers, paints, and while storing everything in my bag, I look at the journal.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to take that right."

I must not have mentioned it, but my bag was not just any bag. It was a fairly inexpensive magical item, which had an enchantment so that I could hold more things in it than would fit, so I could carry a lot without feeling its weight and without it attracting attention, since it looked like any other bag.

I still needed to go home and pick up a few things, so I left as quickly as I could, not without first telling Mr. Signari, after all I would be away from work for a few days.

I met him in the hall, as soon as I left my room, and explained the situation. He laughed and gave me a hug as he said:

"Ahh! Finally you decided to leave? Take care out there."

"R-right."

I confess that I was a little embarrassed. But I ran home to get some things. It was already dark and raining hard when I got home. I picked up everything I needed there and also some provisions from the adventurers' guild on the way home.

For a moment I looked at my room, reluctant before leaving, but I closed the door and, determined, ran in the rain to the Golden Tooth tavern. There I was sure I would find someone willing to take me.

However, when I got there, I asked all the coachmen I saw there and no one accepted. I was already walking home with my ears perked when one of the attendants nudged me.

"Excuse me sir, but I think that... I don't mean to intrude, but that one over there can help you."

She discreetly pointed to a dark corner of the tavern, where someone was drinking?

I approached, smiling.

"Excuse me sir, would you be going to Barvh tonight?"

He just nodded.

I sat down excitedly, as I ordered a beer from the attendant.

"Oh right, I need to go there tonight so if there is room in the carriage, I would like to go along."

I drank and ate happily for having found someone to take me, he just nodded yes as I talked about my goals for going there.

When we finished, I made sure to pay for his meal as a token of thanks and followed him to the carriage.

The rain seemed to be heavier, but we left anyway.

***