Concerned Actions

After a few minutes, they finally arrived at the village. As Roland and his family get out of the cart, the old village chief walk up to them offering them a hug.

"Oh dear Roland... Melissa.... Kara...you three..by the gods.."

"It's okay chief you don't have to blame yourself for this..."

"No, I should've known fast enough!"

As the village chief kept apologizing, Astora got out of the cart and turn back to Rizette gesturing to get her hood up. The village turn his gaze at them and started thanking them.

"You two! Thank you! Thank you for our beloved family!'

"It's nothing sir! We just thought the quest at the guild board was oddly strange."

"But how?"

"No blacksmith would request adventurers to get fibers." Rizette replied with a smug expression.

Roland turned his gaze to Astora with a confused expression.

"Um..are you two?"

"We're cousins." Astora lied.

"Oh I see..thank you sir and miss?"

Astora scoffs and offered a shake hand to Roland.

"Oliver and Alisa."

"Oh Sir Oliver and Miss Alisa! Please do drop by my house so I can compensate for your brave actions!"

"Um...we will..."

Both Astora and Rizette looked at eachother and had a few seconds of hesitation before eventually nodding at eachother that they accepted the Village Chief's rewards.

"But first let's get them some rest."

"Right, yes, Everyone! Find the family some clothes and make sure they are well fed and have some rest!"

"Aye!"

The villagers that gathered at the entrance escorted Roland and his family but before they could leave He turned back to the two.

"Please the two of you, do also drop by my workplace tomorrow.."

Rizette and Astora gave a nod to Roland. After a while finishing up the business, they walked up to the village chief's house and knocked on the door. The door opened and the village chief greeted them.

"Ah evening."

"Evening chief."

"Come, it's a cold night and I don't want my honorary guests freeze to death."

"*Yawn* well I guess this won't be long?"

"Yeah, sorry it had to be this time. Now come in."

They entered the chief's house and look around as he prepares the food in his kitchen. Astora saw a old picture of a bride and groom, he'd ask the chief.

"Is this you and your wife?'

The chief replied in the kitchen.

"Ah yes, Julia...."

"Oh....."

Astora and Rizette realized and understood the assignment. They felt a cold breeze in their skin as they thought of an hopeless thought.

"Sorry--"

"Yes I know he did meant and it's fine anyways, come take a sit."

The two then sat down.

"You're Rizette Lowell aren't you Alisa Graves?"

Her heart skipped a beat, realizing the chief was aware who she was. They both didn't said a word.

"When are you going to leave the village?"

The chief asked.

"We want to leave quickly as possible."

"What?"

The chief was shocked by the answer given to him.

"Well, financial status, horses, traveling gears, equipments and weapons.." Rizette sighed.

"I see... How much do you need of money?"

"Enough for us to reach the Relmeria capital." Rizette leaned back.

Astora took the turn to talk with the chief.

"I know you want use to leave, so do we.." The chief raised a brow.

"I know that what were currently in could drag you with us but please give us some time to at least prepare.

"No worries, I'll provide your need and you can--"

"Helping us means working with fugitives and count as a crime chief."

The couldn't even finish his words and he's been already outsmarted by Astora.

"Look, as soon as we get all we need and if some look for us do say that you were threatened by us and you didn't wanna risk the lives of the villagers." Astora stood up

"No buts, and that is one way to put things through, period." The chief sigh.

He stares at a picture frame of him and his wife in his youth. He could feel a sad aura in his home.

"Kiddo... I will still provide you some of your need, this old man right here has nothing left anymore, I don't care if it's crime I am doing or anything else bad."

"There's still this village left for you.."

"...."

The chief leaned back and groan.

"Kiddo, just accept what I am doing for you and for the sake of the village, Just please let me do something good for myself.."

Astora clenched his fist as he couldn't accept the good deed the chief was doing for them.

"That would be all..."

"Alright, good night chief."

The two left the house and return to the inn. The innkeeper questioned that what took them so long but they made an excuse. After a while on their bed, Rizette held Astora as they share the bed and knew he was in a bad mood.

"Astora?"

"Yeah?"

"Oh you're still awake..."

"Sorry.."

"I know your reasons about it but we can't always have people to have our view of goals.."

"I know, I just don't want other people to get caught on our hunt.."

Astora turned to Rizette.

"Let's hope we can make it to Relmeria."

"We will."

Rizette kissed Astora in his forehead.

"Goodnight, my little knight."