9. Reset

This time, she would not be caught off guard. Ming looked up as Lina approached, her expression softening into a smile. "Good morning, Lina. You look a bit pale. Did you sleep well?" The false warmth in Ming's voice made Lina's stomach churn. Knowing what she knew now, it was hard not to lash out. But she forced herself to remain calm. If she acted too soon, she might ruin her chance to stop the bandits.

"I... had some strange dreams," Lina replied, keeping her tone casual. She pulled out a chair and sat across from Ming and nodded to Finn and Garret who were now leaving. "Maybe the excitement of the journey got to me."

Ming chuckled, sipping her tea. "I understand. The road can be exhausting. But don't worry, Lina. You're safe here." The irony of those words wasn't lost on Lina. She glanced around the inn, watching the other patrons go about their morning routine.

Everyone seemed so oblivious, unaware of the danger lurking just outside the village. If only they knew what was coming. But they didn't. And it was up to Lina to make sure they never had to find out.

"Ming," Lina began, leaning forward slightly, "I was thinking. Since we're both travelers here, we should stick together, you know? Watch each other's backs." Ming raised an eyebrow, her smile faltering just a little. "Oh? I thought you might want to explore the village on your own. You seemed pretty independent yesterday."

Lina mentally cursed herself. She needed to be more careful with her words. "I was just being cautious. But after getting to know you a bit, I feel like we could make a good team. You never know what kind of trouble might pop up, right?" Ming studied Lina for a moment, her eyes searching for something. Lina fought the urge to look away, meeting Ming's gaze head-on.

It was a silent battle of wills, both of them trying to outmaneuver the other without revealing too much.

Finally, Ming's smile returned, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You're right, Lina. It's always good to have a friend by your side." The word "friend" sounded hollow, but Lina forced herself to smile in return. "Great. So, what's the plan for today? Any interesting spots in the village you want to check out?" Ming took another sip of her tea. She then chuckled, "Did you forget that you wanted to go to the Adventures Guild? We can also stop by the village square too, if you don't mind."

"Of course not, haha." Lina said, standing up from the table. "Let's get going, then." As they left the inn, Lina couldn't help but feel the weight of the god's mission pressing down on her. She had been given a second chance, but that didn't make it any easier. If anything, it made it harder. She had seen the destruction firsthand, had felt the sting of betrayal.

Now, she had to navigate a delicate web of lies and deceit, all while trying to protect the people who had no idea what was coming.

They stopped by the Adventures Guild first. It was just the same as last time, bored receptionist, disbelief as she looked at the unusual skill. After acquiring the guild card, they headed to the village square. The village square was bustling with activity when they arrived. Stalls lined the streets, selling everything from fresh produce to handmade trinkets.

The air was filled with the scent of baked goods and the sound of lively chatter. It was a scene of simple, peaceful life—so different from the chaos Lina knew was waiting just around the corner.

As they walked through the market, Lina kept her eyes and ears open. She watched the villagers, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary. But everything seemed so normal, so... mundane. It was hard to believe that this place would soon be under attack.

"Lina, over here!" Ming's voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She turned to see Ming waving her over to a stall selling small charms and amulets. "These are supposed to bring good luck on the road. Maybe we should get one."

Lina approached the stall, glancing at the various charms. They were simple, made of wood and stone, each one etched with symbols that were supposed to offer protection or fortune. She picked one up, running her fingers over the smooth surface. Could a simple charm really protect her from the dangers ahead?

"Do you believe in luck, Ming?" Lina asked, her tone casual. Ming shrugged, examining a charm of her own. "I believe we make our own luck, Lina. But it doesn't hurt to have a little extra help right?"

Lina nodded, though her mind was elsewhere. She needed to find a way to bring up the bandits without raising suspicion. But how? If she was too direct, Ming might get suspicious. But if she waited too long, it could be too late.

As they continued through the market, Lina spotted a group of villagers gathered around a notice board. Curious, she made her way over, Ming following close behind. The board was covered in various notices—requests for help, announcements about upcoming events, and warnings about recent dangers.

Lina scanned the board, her eyes landing on a small, faded notice near the bottom. "Bandit activity reported near the western road. Travelers advised to be cautious." Lina's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The western road—if she remembered correctly, that was where the bandits had attacked before.

If she could just find a way to get the village guards to patrol that area, they might be able to stop the bandits before they could launch their attack.

But how could she bring it up without alerting Ming? "Looks like there's been some trouble on the western road," Lina said casually, pointing to the notice. "Maybe we should avoid that area when we leave."

Ming glanced at the notice, her expression unreadable. "Good idea. No need to take unnecessary risks." Lina nodded, though her mind was racing. She needed to act fast. If she could just find a way to slip away from Ming, she could warn the guards without her noticing.

But how? As they moved away from the notice board, Lina spotted a small alleyway between two buildings. It was narrow and dark, barely noticeable among the bustling market stalls. But it could be her chance.

"Hey, Ming," Lina said, feigning a look of concern, "I think I dropped something back at that charm stall. I'll be right back, okay?" Ming hesitated, glancing around the crowded market. For a moment, Lina thought she might insist on coming with her.

But then Ming smiled and nodded. "Sure thing, Lina. I'll wait here." Lina forced a smile before quickly turning and making her way back. As she walked back to the charm stall, Lina's heart was racing. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure Ming was still distracted by the market stalls.

Satisfied, Lina quickly ducked into the alleyway, her eyes adjusting to the dim light. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She had to act fast, before Ming realized that something was off.

Lina quickly made her way to the village guards' headquarters, her mind racing with the words she would say. As she burst through the door, the guards looked up in surprise. "What can we do for you, traveler?" one of them asked, eyeing her with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

Lina took a deep breath, trying to choose her words carefully. "I need to warn you about something. I overheard some information about an impending attack on the village. I think it's connected to the bandit activity on the western road." The guards exchanged skeptical glances.

"What makes you think that?" one of them asked, his tone dripping with doubt. Lina hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about the guards' expressions told her she had to convince them.

"I... I have a feeling. Trust me, please. You have to increase patrols on the western road. Now." The guards looked at each other again, this time with a hint of concern. One of them stood up, his expression serious.

"Alright, we'll look into it. But you need to come with us and tell the captain what you know." Lina's heart skipped a beat. She had done it. She had warned them. But as she followed the guards, she couldn't shake the feeling that Ming was watching her.

The game was far from over.