5 Revelation

"Well, you guys do your thing. Bron, help me out in the smithy. Mr. Arc needs a new knife, and we own him one."

"'Kay pops. Can I do the heating today?"

" Not today, just-"

The duo vanished through the backdoor, and left Sam and Leo alone.

Sam put away the tableware away into a sand bucket.

He sat back on the table, opposite to Leo. He began to talk right away.

"So, litt-, Leo. We'll meet Leah and Henry by the crossroad. We generally gather around early noon.

The village Elder wants to meet us.

There, we will tell the information we gathered. He may ask you, too.

Additional we try to get some news about the incident and about you. After all Mr. Rugs has the most knowledge of us all.

Any questions till now?"

"What when he knows where I come from? How will we proceed then? And can he maybe have ill intentions against me, someone with possible no known origins?"

Leo asked, worried about his future.

Sam's eyes widened, not expecting the kid before him to have such worry's.

"Calm down, Mr. Rugs is the most honest person I ever met, after Pops. If we know where you came from, you can ride the next merchant or adventurer who travels in that direction. If not, you can gather some money here first. Either by doing miscellaneous jobs or hunting. Later you have for sure an opportunity to find out."

"I trust you. Thank you so much till today, and after, Mr. Sam."

Truly feeling gratitude, Leo had to say at least this.

"Hahaha, never anyone called me Mr.. Sam is enough. Repay me in the future."

He said while laughing. He stood up, walked over to a box with clothes next to the door and fished out a fine looking jacket and a dark green cloak.

While putting on the jacket, he tossed the cloak to Leo.

"We will shop for an outfit later, wear this till then."

Knowing the ridiculous appearance he showed, Leo wore the cloak, which fitted him better than the borrowed setup.

"It's from my little brother, won't miss it today."

He opened the door, and they walked out onto the dirt street.

The scenery mesmerized Leo, now clearly seeing the village. It had the charm of a fantasy setting. The oldstyle white houses, the noises from the smithy behind him and the chattering of other people on the street.

Behind the wooden wall, he saw the big trees of the Shan Forrest.

"Stop dreaming and get going, we are already late."

Sam spoke, and woke Leo up from his stupor. He followed Sam, and together made their way to the meeting point.

Sam greeted some people here and there, and many thanked him for various things.

'Seems he's really a helpful person, not only to me. A diligent guy and good person.'

Many of those people from the streets also asked about Leo and why he's with Sam.

He answered vague, just that he helped him out.

Due the cloak covering his clothes, they did not press any further. A lost child is nothing spectacular.

When they arrived, Leah and Henry were already waiting.

Henry wore a similar jacket like Sam, just a little shorter to around his hips. Leah's getup was a simple, but colorful shirt and shorts, tightened with a leather belt.

"Took you long enough. Henry was about to go alone to Mr. Rugs."

"First, good morning to you too. Leo here had to eat something, and I explained some things."

Henry said when hearing Leo's name:

"Did he remember his name? When did that happen?"

Leah looked interested at Leo, waiting for his answer.

"No, Still don't know my real name. But Little one is annoying in the long term.

So please call me Leo till we hear otherwise."

"Okay, Leo. But you look more energetic than yesterday. Did Thomas fed you good?"

"Yes, and a good night sleep I feel better."

Henry, somewhat impatient, clapped in his hands and said:

"Can we quit now this dilly-dallying? I want to get going already. The prey is back for sure, as some guards said to me, and we didn't get much spoils recently."

With that said, Henry led with fast steps the way, Sam and Leah following, with Leo at the back.

They turned left by the crossroad and climbed a increasing dirt road, which was smother than the others. The houses on the sides were in a good shape, and the drying clothes outside showed how wealthy this district was.

They bypassed some shops, including a barber, a tailor with pretty clothing and general goods.

At the end of the road was a bigger building with two stories. The front door had a scary looking guard, adornments on the beams and sturdy looking stone as the fundament.

Leo observed the different houses around him, consuming everything new.

Sam, who saw that, explained:

"This is the road which most visitors use, as the goods here are the best here.

The building at the end is the Village Head's place, but also lodging for important people.

But the most attractive shop here is still the Alchemy Shop next to the main building."

"A Alchemy Shop? What do they sell if they are so important?"

Leah took over the explanation:

"As Adventurers, we risk our life out there. So to prepare, we buy there recovery potions, which help to tend wounds, but are also very expensive.

Plus they have gems which can be obtained from magical beasts. simple ones can help to light stuff, cook or other small things. Many use them as catalysts for magic, myself included."

"We are here, if you did not noticed."

Henry said, and talked with the guard by the door. After a moment, he eyed Leo and looked to Sam.

"He is part of our investigation and a witness."

Sam said.

The guard nodded, saying:

"Not common to see a dwarf around here, lads. Wonder where you picked him up."

""""Dwarf?"""" Shocked, the four spoke out in unison.

"Ya didn't know? Easy to miss when they are young, but Dwarf, why are ya confused?"

Leo's companions looked at him, showing a complex face. Leo himself was just as perplexed, but could not answer the guard.

"Well, anyway. Mr. Rugs is waiting."

He opened the door. They entered and were greeted in a well lit hall. Candles on the sides and a carpet decorated it.

"Is that a magic gem?" Leo asked, walking forward pointing at a stone hanging of the ceiling.

"Yes, it is infused with magic power, and till it depletes, the gem will shine."

A voice explained. Startled, Leo turned around, and saw a well dressed person with a declining hairline.

"Welcome, Misters and Miss. I'm the chef butler and will guide you to Mr. Rugs. He's already expecting your report."

He then walked past Leo, guiding them through the halls and on the next floor.

There, they arrived before a double door. The butler knocked, and when a charming voice invited them, he opened the door and let them in.

"Thank you Baptis, if you would excuse us."

"But of course, Mr. Rugs."

Baptis left, only The four and the village head remaining in the room.

"Please, sit and we can begin. I look forward to hear the intel you gathered."

Mr. Rugs was placed behind a desk made of sturdy wood, sitting on a comfortable looking chair.

His open palm with which he gestured to take place inviting them.

He was a man of around 1.80, a good 45 years old. He wore a blue suit, white shirt underneath, and a floppy hat, covering his short black hair. His face was decorated with a trimmed beard.

Four simple wood chairs were prepared, and cups of water on the desk.

They sat down, and Mr. Rugs began to ask:

"So, I would like to request some information from your part.

Yesterday, I felt some turbulences in the magic energy, and some low rank beasts fled from Shan Forest.

I heard you were out there hunting. Did you find the cause?"

Sam, as the leader of them, answered:

"Yes and no. While hunting, we noticed the lack of prey, so we searched for the source. We found with the help of this child here, Leo, the source. But sadly not how it could make so much chaos."

He took a pause, letting Mr. Rugs think a moment about said.

"Afterwards, we took Leo with us, left the forest and got home before night."

"I see. As we saw, the creatures are returning to Shan. The guards reported how they saw some stray animals returning.

That leads me to my other question: Who is your dwarf friend here. Leo, I mean."

Here, Sam fidgeted a bit, but resigned to tell.

"Ähm, we found, or rather, he found us. Near the stream we met.

He told us he lost his memories, showed us where he woke up, near the source of the incident.

We had no idea that he is from the Dwarf race."

"Anything else?"

"On the scene was blood, but no wounds on his body. The place should still be in a similar state as we found it."

Sam finished, and the four looked at the man before them.

"Can you two back up his claims?"

Henry and Leah nodded, and she said:

"Yes sir, we were all together the entire time."

"We even fought some Goblins on the way back, so the place around should be back to normal."

Rugs remained still, and asked Henry again:

"I expect you scanned him?"

"Yes sir. No abnormalities or signs of magic training. Like a normal human child."

"Good, I check again. Are you fine with that, Leo?"

He now turned to Leo, the sharp eyes penetrating him, or at least he imagined it so.

"Yes Sir, I have no objections."

"Good, it's already done. I can support you Henry. This Dwarf is a child under 15, and by no means a threat."

'He already examined me? Last time I felt a brush, though very subtle. But just now, nothing.

Not even a chant. How?'

Not being able to hold his curiosity, Leo asked:

"Excuse me, how did you do that. I felt nothing at all. And no chant, either."

Mr. Rugs smiled, holding his chin with his hand.

"While by no means a master, I have some proficiency in magic. If I chanted or not is my secret."

He turned back to Sam, explaining his conclusion.

"By what you said, the area should have been attacked by magic, very concentrated and powerful.

The victim there may be the target, and our friend here a bystander.

He may have had some luck, or the caster healed him. But I say he was not part of the incident. The memory loss is a clear aftereffect.

I will send some guards and a magician, so can you show me the spot?"

He pulled out a paper, rolled it out on the desk. It showed a rough picture of Shan Forest, with some simple geography.

"Wow, what a good map. I can easily show you with that." Henry said.

He pointed the spot, Rugs thanked and began to show them off.

"Sorry, Mr. Rugs. I have a question." Leah said.

Rugs already expected it, because his answer was:

"You want to know how I knew Leo is a Dwarf?"

They acknowledged by staring at him, to the point it was drilling.

"It's quite hard to tell when Dwarfs are young, but there are some clues. For one, while the clothes under the cloak are loose, by his arms and shoulders one can observe strong muscles, hard to obtain even for a smiths son. The other is the face and hands in general, as they have big palms and potent face features. These will grow just more potent as he gets older.

Enough for now, I have some work to do. Baptis!"

The door opened, and the elderly man stood there ready for his command.

"Yes ,Mr. Rugs. If the guests will follow me."