Chapter 19

The day after the incident...

It was a devastating day since deaths were not prevented yesterday. Five people were found dead, which might be fewer than expected but it still is heartbreaking.

The traveler, along with the knights and guild members from different guilds also came there and saved some people but some did not make it on time.

The knights and the guilds tried their best to find the source and confirmed that it didn't start by natural causes nor was it started by the citizens.

They suspected that it either is a wielder or a witch. They knew that Amelie from the Marcus family was a wielder who could use fire but since she was not present there, they could only blame it on the witches.

After everything was over, the traveler came to find Caesar, however, although he had used his ability to generate eyes everywhere, he did not see a trace of the young man.

Everything was starting to become more complicated and the traveler did not like complicated things. Yesterday was supposedly his rest day yet it was ruined.

It was strange because everywhere he goes, trouble just seems to follow. He gets involved in things he doesn't want to be in despite all his efforts of trying to avoid it.

Maybe he never tried to avoid it for real, however, right now, he just wanted to leave but the guild requested every available person to help the investigation. He could not just turn down an offer that involved money.

As for why he was so obsessed with earning money... Perhaps it was because he could never have as much as he wanted so now he was trying to get as much as he could.

Money is money after all and it could help in most situations, even in dangerous ones.

Currently, the traveler sat in a chair in the guild. There were plenty who were discussing what transpired yesterday yet he was there, alone in a corner.

He acted as if he was reading the newspaper but in truth, he used his third ability to generate ears everywhere and listen to their conversations.

From time to time he would write something down in his journal. He was noting down the information he found useful and worth taking note of.

From everything he had heard, it was Felix's group who had the most information. Because their ranking was higher, their efficiency and capability were also higher than the rest.

The traveler was caught in a dilemma. He knew some information because of his chat with Caesar. That these witches may be the baron Marcus' forces.

There was no way to prove that Caesar was telling the truth or not but if they knew this, they might consider it as a possibility and it might also lead to a deeper understanding of the matter.

As he was chilling in the corner, the same man whom he talked with a few days ago came to him with a smile. He was still as elegant as ever, his moves were soft and light.

"Why are you here just sitting quietly?" The man stated, "Shouldn't you be exchanging information with everyone else?"

The traveler noticed the man, he carried a chair with him and placed it in front of the traveler before casually sitting. Cassius shook his head and said, "I don't have to talk to them to obtain information. I can hear them from here."

"I see." The traveler was a bit surprised when the man didn't ask any questions about his ability when he mentioned he could hear them though he was far away, "My name's Maximus, nice to meet you. What about you? What's your name, young man?"

"I'm Cassius, though I'm sure you already know." The traveler responded with a smile. "May I ask what you came here for?"

Maximus let out a chuckle, "Nothing much, I just noticed that you were here alone so I came to accompany you." Before the traveler could respond, he added, "And because you seem to know something that others don't. Mind sharing your thoughts?"

The guild members present stopped their chatter and paid attention to their conversation. As for how they were able to hear, maybe they just happened to have good hearing.

The traveler smiled, "What do you want to know?"

"I just told you," He said, "Do you mind sharing what you think of this incident?"

"Why are you asking me?"

Maximus laughed, "You just seemed smart, that's all. Your thoughts are interesting too. Remember the last conversation we had?"

The traveler finally decided to say something, "Do you know Caesar? Caesar from the Marcus family."

The traveler noticed that the guild members present were getting closer every time he was not looking at them.

"Caesar? Yes, I do know him," Maximus nodded, "But what about him?"

The traveler began to explain, "He told me that the children inside the mine were being forced to become witches. He was once in that mine too, trapped to become one."

The guild members strode closer, Maximus seemed to be deep in thought.

"-The marks on their napes, from what I've heard, they aren't marks that mean they're a witch." The traveler said with a sigh, "Instead, it's a slave mark."

"-A true witch probably wouldn't have that mark."

Maximus interrupted, "You mentioned that Caesar was also in that mine which means that he is a wizard. However... So? What does this mean?"

The traveler revealed a smile, "According to Caesar, the one who puts children into that mine to hide them, the one who forces them to become witches is none other than the baron, his uncle."

The traveler added, "When I saved the children from that mine, I asked them who took them there. They said that the bad guys were the baron's knights." He explained further, "You must know by now that the fire was caused by witches and they use fire. For them to use fire, they must have learned and copied it from a wielder who has that ability."

The traveler said, "And what a coincidence! The baron's daughter is a wielder who uses fire. Very interesting isn't that so?" He put the newspaper down and faced Maximus and the guild members who stood behind him, obviously listening to their conversation.

"Do you understand what I'm trying to say here?" However before anyone could respond, he added, "But of course, I have no way of confirming this information. It might not be the truth but at least I opened up a possibility."

"As for Caesar, I tried to find him but it appears that he isn't in this city anymore." The traveler said, "On my way here, a week ago, I encountered a little girl with knights. She said her father was injured and that she was a wielder who can use fire."

"-Before I left, she was fighting some men who were dressed in black with a red clover mark on their chests. Do you know who those people are?"

Maximus nodded, "People in black with red clover mark... We've heard stories about them, they're kind of the heroes of children. There have been many kidnapping attempts in this city and those guys prevent them."

"-Why do you ask?"

The traveler agreed, "I've heard of them. From Caesar, he claimed that they were his men and that he uses them to prevent other children from turning into witches. He didn't like what his uncle was doing and yet he said he couldn't expose him as he was still family."

He continued, "Yet Amelie's father, the baron, she said he was injured and the ones who kept attacking them are Caesar's men. If Caesar sees them as family, why would he attack them? Sir Maximus, since you've asked for my thoughts," He said, "Do you mind if I ask for yours?"

Maximus observed the traveler with his sharp eyes. He was amused by this young man yet there were questions in his mind that remained such as, why did Caesar tell you that much? And why are you seemingly involved in this?

"Alright," Maximus nodded, "Let's assume that what Caesar told you might be the truth and he attacked his uncle to assassinate him. To make him stop from doing any more damage. That might have been the case however it would have been easier to stop him by exposing him using the information and proof he had. Yet he didn't. Why do you think that is that?"

The traveler along with the guild members listened closely. "Because he might have wanted to get the baron title. If he were to expose his uncle, not only will baron Marcus go down but also him... Do you understand? He might not have been directly involved but he is a wizard and people would surely not like it if a man from the same family who ordered the abduction of children were to take the title."

Maximus continued, "By executing him secretly, his acts of turning children to witches forcefully will be stopped but Caesar might also receive the baron title. If not him, then his father." He said, "Amelie is still too young therefore she will not be the one to receive it, the only ones who can be are Caesar and his father.'

The traveler wanted to agree but instead, he said, "As I said, I have no way of confirming if the information is true."

"If you don't then," Maximus smiled, "We just have to confirm it."

As the two were conversing, a guild member finally decided to interrupt. "What about the City Square? Why did they start something up there?"

Maximus responded, "We might get more clues about that if we have the baron investigated. Let's solve this all together and we should start with dividing our roles."

He continued, "Let's divide ourselves into four groups. The first group is to investigate the City Square, find out who created the fire."

"-For the second group, investigate the baron's past actions, his deals, or suspicious activities. For the third group, I'd like you all to locate the baron, his daughter, and Caesar. They are some of the key figures here."

"-As for the last group, I'd like you to go around the city and catch the witches. I believe there are plenty hiding in here."

Lila who was listening frowned, she asked, "But why are we doing this? We are just a guild, not the knights. Isn't this the knight's job?"

Maximus nodded, "You're right, we're just a guild here." He added, "However, this is still our city."

After conversing for two hours and two more hours, the traveler was finally able to go back to the inn and have his precious sleep. In truth, he couldn't sleep last night despite how tired he was all because he kept thinking of things he could do with his third ability, the ability to generate extra limbs and other body parts.

Although it was still the afternoon, the traveler didn't care and went to sleep. It has been too tiring and he has been working too hard. He told himself that he deserved a little rest.

† Mundivagant †

Be a little proper they say,

Act like your father they say,

Be like your brother they say,

Listen to your mother they say,

Don't be such a bother they say,

Why can't you just act like that, they say,

Why can't you just be like this, they say,

Why can't you just listen to what they say?

But then I learned, you don't have to go their way.

They can say what they want for all I care...

Even if they block my way

Well anyway, I just have to pave my own.

You don't have to act like that, I say,

You don't have to be like this, I say,

And you don't have to listen to what they say

Be You

A/N: ↑Is completely unrelated to the novel, just added it because I didn't know what else to add and I still didn't have two thousand words.