Another lazily put together chapter

(I'll run to them whenever they're too far from me or from each other. These girls are like a pack of wolves, they rarely get separated and always work together. I don't care about the details though, my only concern is about this responsibility.)

Celes did the same to the other girls' hairpins. Her stock of mana ran out and wasn't able to do the same to Sheena's, so she decided to stay with them for now.

Morning came, and something is yet to happen. Celes went to the bar and had Sheena's hairpin done dealt with, and took a paid day-off to prepare against anything that the former Marquis is capable of.(Bar seemed more proper than the word restaurant)

Since she have never visited it, for reasons, Celes decided to go to the library. There she searched up the history of the kingdom of Alphore and that former Marquis'.

What she found out didn't make sense. The history books that she picked stated that Cro Galroe, is a hero of the war against the Wildeast empire. It was stated that just his presence already decided the outcome of any battle. As Arthur mustn't leave his Majesty's side at all times, there are no records of his capabilities.

But that didn't stop the Kingdom and its allies' forward against the Empire, they were able to push their army back to the Beastial Realm, the continent of beasts.

Soon after the war was over, the Kings of these kingdoms had a national feast and turned into a yearly event that the kingdoms celebrates every end of the year.

(That doesn't have anything to do with what I want.) Celes thought to herself and continued.

A few hours have passed, and Celes found out things about the former Marquis and the Kingdom

The cause of the former Marquis' current behavior is unknown. He was supposed to be a hero of the war, with great honor and dignity. He led his men to success along with his companions from the allied kingdoms, yet he has degraded to this pitiful state. But that doesn't concern Celes, what she's searching for is that former Marquis' history and current state which is uncertain for the time being.

What she needs is information on his subordinates. The former Marquis isn't a problem right now, the problem is his men. But then, of course, there's no way that there's a book that has it, except the military or his subordinates themselves.

Celes pondered whether to spy on them herself or just wait for their actions but soon came to the conclusion that the first to move takes the win.

Celes studied the world geography for the next hour then the 12th bell rang indicating the middle of the day.(12 o'clock)

What she discovered is that this world is huge. It's too big to be true. Imagine this, half of the very first continent on earth, Pangaea. Now put 4 of that in one world, and it was stated that in order to get to another continent you must either have an airship or an army ready to fight sea monsters.

The girls are still together and fine in the bar, is what she thought after checking her mana's location through her magic vision.

She then went to Orto's workshop and asked a few questions about the Marquis' underlings, which was futile. Orto may be a former high-ranking hunter, but he's still a commoner.

She asked Reg instead and found out that the Marquis has a group of assassins that even Arthur will find difficult to trace.

As she was pondering in her head trying to decide what to do, she got a sudden message from Cole through one of the hairpins.

'Get here now! Amy, Cess, and Lam were kidnapped! Hurry!' is what he said.

Celes rushed out of Reg's shop at top speed and got to the bar in less than a minute.

"What happened?" She asked immediately, scanned the room's interior with her magic vision, and found lingering mana within the air with the wind, water, and dark attribute.

"We don't know too. I just woke up after I suddenly fell unconscious, I don't remember much…" Eloc said.

(They moved earlier than I thought they will. I assumed that they will do it at night when it's harder to spot anyone. I was too dependent on the hairpins and forgot that the mana wasn't concealed at all… I was too naïve… I should've thought of every possible outcome…)

"All I remember was sensing something weird in the air and fell unconscious the same moment as I sensed it…" Stated Cole.

"What do we do!? Celes! You said that you will protect them, what now!?" Eloc shouted.

"I—" Celes wanted to talk but was disturbed with more shouting from Eloc "Don't even think of making an excuse! It was your fault, to begin with!"

"Calm down, Eloc! Panicking and blaming each other right now won't help! Calm down!" Cole persuaded Eloc.

"But—!"

"No buts! If you're really worried then use your time thinking instead of panicking! First, I'll get Sheena and Kaith somewhere safe, the other staff will wake up the customers, and you discuss this with Celes!" Cole ordered.

"… Alright, you do have a point. Thanks, Cole, I've calmed down now." Eloc said with a deep sigh before shifting his gaze upon Celes.

"Okay, Celeste. What do you intend to do now?" Eloc asked.

"I—" Celes wanted to talk but was disturbed again by one of the staff. "Boss! I found a letter! It looks like it's from the ones who took away the girls!" Said one of Cole's apprentice chefs.

(When can I talk?) This is what Celes thought of this report instead of the letter's content.

Eloc opened the letter and read it out loud for us to hear.

The contents were "To the girl with silver hair. If you want these females to live, then bring a slave's vow with your blood sealed in it alone to the west gate before the 12th bell of the night."

(This sounds like a delinquents' way of doing things. Did I overestimate the Marquis?)

******

Wildeast: Combination of words wild and beast.

Yes, I came up with it on the spot without thinking much.