A change of plans

"If it's to the next town... No," replied Alice tautly.

Feeling grim about hearing that, Mors just hoped that the monster wave wouldn't come before he got the medicine.

He then started thinking about others he knew, like Malle, Ator, and Incanta, who was Malle and Ator's assistant.

They would all die if the town was hit by a mystery horde.

Worried for them, Mors decided to advise them to leave if he could or maybe trick them into leaving.

They were nice during the time he met them, and it would hurt him to see them or know that they died, with him not even trying to help.

As he was thinking about maybe tricking the trio, the trio of visible ghosts came back and decided to explain it fully.

Genn started saying, "Let's start with the facts. The hill troll you saw were different from regular hill trolls. This is a definite."

Mors hearing that decided to nod, taking this in. All of them forgot to be lighter with their words with a dying person at the table, but it didn't affect Alice.

"Secondly," Genn continued, "Something a lot smarter than the hill trolls hid them and covered up the evidence."

"Thirdly, the number that regular hill trolls move in is around eighty to a hundred. And are a hard monster to fight." Explain Genn, as he was the adventurer of the trio.

He probably had to learn about them more in training, Mors believed, not knowing that Genn even had experience in running from this foe.

Taking a deep unnecessary breath, Genn explained, "Usually, when dealing with a horde, a town usually gets an early warning to prepare themselves. Usually in scout warriors that run along the fog."

"Right now, there are no scouts out there right now. Since no one believe there are monsters out there, and it takes about 2 weeks to train them enough." Explained Genn.

Apparently becoming irritated with how slow Genn was going, Spir quickly said, "Get to the point."

Genn, sighing as he liked to explain something in full, decided to cut to the chase and said, "Basically, there is a high chance that soon, the town will be overrun."

Mors didn't feel that shocked by it, but what did shock him was what Genn said next, "in around 2 to 5 days."

That was shockingly soon.

Mors felt like it would take a week or more, but that was too soon. It was basically the night of his ninth day back in town.

The time of the heist was in the middle of these days, guessed by Genn. Exactly 3 more days until the heist.

Mors didn't have any time.

Alice would probably die, if not by not getting the herb, then by a hill troll.

"That's too soon!" cried out Mors as fear gripped his heart.

"That's why today's announcement was so bad. We are sorry for making it seem better than it was. But both you and Alice are in grave danger now." sighed Genn feeling gloom.

But it was then that Afiero interjected by asking Mors something strange, "Mors, when small monster breaks happened, which would you do. Leave your graveyard or stay in it?"

"Why are you asking?" Mors asked with a gloomy tone.

"Just curious about something I heard. Please answer." Afiero replied with a neutral tone.

"I would usually stay. Monsters like going to towns instead of the small graveyard. At least, I think," explained Mors, still gloomy.

But then he had a thought.

'Monsters did like to avoid the graveyard, even when it's so close to the fog... I wonder why?' questioned Mors.

But that question was immediately overcast by a great idea that Afiero seemed to be thinking of as well.

Quickly asking Alice, "Would you be able to travel to my graveyard and stay there for a bit?"

"I think so. It's like an hour away, right?" Asked Alice with confusion.

Alice, at that moment, decided to look at her brother, who seemed to be thinking to himself, considering whatever they were thinking.

Mors then decided to say, "How about you stay in the graveyard until you can get the herb. If the wave comes, they should ignore you as they head to town."

"Sure!" Alice exclaimed in practically a cheer.

Mors, Afiero, and Alice, seemed to be celebrating a chance for a minute. While both Spir and Genn quietly thought to themselves.

Considering the option and how to implement it.

There was still the chance of monsters outside. Just waiting for someone to kill themselves so the monster could eat.

Thinking about it, Spir decided to say, "Then it will be practical for your sneaking skills, the both of you. Since there are a lot of trees and hiding spaces."

Genn proceeds with, "And Alice will probably need some sort of low-level medicine to get you there."

Hearing that there needs to be a low-level medicine, Afiero decided to say, "And I'll teach Mors a simple one. Y'all just need to steal a few herbs since we don't have enough money."

Spir then asked, "What type and where?"

"Ah, it's common herbs that are grown in the commons garden. It should be easy to pick since they are so easy to replant," replied Afiero

"Also, the reason I say we don't have enough money is that Alice needs some groceries, and we will need some money on the road. We need to save money," explained Afiero since he felt the need to explain.

Both Spir and Genn nodded, hearing the reasoning. Moving towns without being an adventurer is hard since you are leaving behind a lot.

Some towns tried to help out refugees, but it usually included lower prices for food and water, and job opportunities.

The more money you have, the better.

Alice quickly interrupted, saying, "Why don't we just report our suspicions?"

Spir quickly replied in a dead tone, "Firstly, we don't have much evidence. Also, our claim is so outrageous that they won't believe us."

Genn then continued with, "They also might connect us with the people the adventures association is looking for, then arrest you all, and you will all die."

"True..." sighed Alice before she stood up and started looking around, saying, "Might as well start packing some stuff for travel."

Genn quickly said, "Let me help you pack with useful stuff here."

"Sure, and don't worry, I'll pack light," confirmed Alice before walking into the bedroom with Genn.

Then Afiero, Spir, and Mors started talking about what the next few days will contain.

Mainly, Afiero clued in the duo about how to go about stealing the necessary herbs... While also stealing a few more.

From what Mors could gather, Afiero didn't like the Alchemists Association at all.

He told him all the easy and quickest ways to steal the herbs, and all without the Association noticing.

Maybe the Association caused Afiero's death, or maybe they were just a pain to him, but Mors couldn't care.

If he had to deal with the Association anyway, and the herbs there were going to be destroyed in the horde, no one would miss them, right?

Leaving behind the moral and ethical questions, The three agreed that it would be best to start soon and that Mors should sleep until midnight.

It was a mini heist and the first test of his abilities. It slightly scared Mors, but he felt better knowing the ghosts were with him.

So with a heavy heart, Mors quietly went to sleep right before sunset, sleeping a soft dream.

...

As Mors slept, something interesting was happening at the Supreme Mage tower.

On the top accessible floor, in a dark room, in front of a large window, a figure stood out in the dark.

Cloaking the figure, a white lab coat covered in splotches of colorful chaos. With deep black hair that reflected the sunset.

Deep circles rimmed the bottom of his eyes as he looked out of the tower into the forest.

Something was moving through it as branches danced wildly. One would think that the town guards would notice, but they were "strangely" missing.

This colorfully coated man just stood there watching over. But right then, he felt his pocket shake as shock came over his face.

Pulling out a small purple stonelike object, he found it glowing in a dim golden light. Quickly he raced to his desk and opened a drawer.

Pulling out a mirror object with strange otherworldly symbols, he put the purple stone in a small slot on the mirror, causing a red glow to emit from the symbols.

From the mirror, a light voice rang out, saying something horrifying, "You have three days. The experiment escaped and is near your location. Help them kill everyone."