Dagger

The smell of medicinal plants permeated Allen's nostrils, which caused him to slowly open his eyelids.

He saw that he was inside of a room, where there were many plants, and liquids with different colors on top of a table. Allen also saw an old man on a chair beside the table, mixing another liquid.

The old man noticed Allen's gaze and he looked over the kid, "You're already awake."

"What happened?", Allen asked, suddenly, he held his abdominal area and head in pain.

"I healed your injuries, they're just bruises, nothing serious. You should lay down and rest so you'll recover faster.", the old man said.

Allen did what the old man said; afterwards, he remembered everything why he got these injuries.

He shivered as he inwardly said, 'Little girls are so terrifying.'

The kid lied down on the bed for a long time and almost slept, until somebody knocked on the door.

"Hold on.", the old man stood up and opened the door, Allen sat up and saw that it was Kate and Drake.

The both of them approached Allen. Drake jokingly asked, "Have you finally recovered? If not, then do I have to support you again while you walk?"

"It's just some bruises, I could probably walk again by tomorrow.", Allen answered.

"Hey... Allen, so... are you alright now?", Kate asked.

However, it was as if Allen didn't hear anything, he asked to Drake, "Where are we now?"

"Inside a village built by the remnants of barbarians, who didn't get to escape when the mountain was cursed.", Drake answered.

"Really? Is there something we can eat here? I'm getting hungry.", Allen asked. Continuing to ignore Kate.

"I think so, we'll just carry you some food here later.", Drake said.

"Oh... then... what kind of things did you see in this place?", Allen kept asking questions.

Suddenly, Kate pulled the pillow on the bed over; then forced Allen to lay down on the bed while covering his face with the pillow.

"You annoying bookworm, don't blame me for beating you up earlier, you were the one who made the girl cry, and if you dare ignore me any longer, I'm going to make you suffocate over and over again!", Kate angrily said as he pushed down the pillow on Allen's face with more force. If the latter wasn't injured, he still might probably have resisted the former's strength... only probably.

Meanwhile, Drake silently watched what was happening and didn't interfere, he inwardly said, 'Good thing she didn't beat me up like this when I did that 'thing' to her.'

On the other hand, the old man just sighed and thought, 'Kids.'

...

Few minutes later, Allen was lying down on the bed, unconscious again. Kate looked at him with a satisfied expression.

"We'll come back for him tomorrow. Thank you for healing him.", Kate said to the old man.

"Hey, aren't we going to give Allen some...", before Drake finished his sentence, Kate glared at him which stopped him from talking.

"Alright.", the old man escorted the two outside the house. After which, he continued mixing the liquids.

...

Next morning...

The light from the white stones on the ceiling glowed in a designated pattern, giving the whole chamber a 24-hour day and night cycle like outside the mountain.

Drake fetched Allen from the healer's house early in the morning and went to the house where they were staying.

On the way, the attracted some curious gazes of the children, but were immediately called back by their parents. These actions alone could already show that most people here in the village doesn't always see, or perhaps had never seen any outsiders for their whole lives.

When they finally reached the house, the both of them saw Kate outside the door, looking at them. Drake ignored the girl's gaze while Allen bowed his head down.

As soon as they entered the house, they closed the door, Allen then muttered, "I didn't even do anything wrong."

"The world's unjust, so expect this.", Drake consulted Allen, as if the former experienced these kind of things for a lot of times already.

"So, she already beat you up?", Allen asked curiously.

Drake: "Erm... just go eat."

Allen ate his breakfast in the small dining room while Drake was explaning what would happen later on.

"Me and Kate already visited the elders yesterday, but those old fogeys wanted the three of us to present ourselves.", Drake said.

After a pause, Drake added, "I feel like that those old fogeys want something to be done."

"Most likely, but who knows?", Allen shrugged.

"But we came for the...", before Drake finished his sentence, Allen suddenly covered his mouth.

"Shh, there might be others listening.", Allen whispered.

"Oh."

"Don't worry, if those elders want us to do something for them, I'm sure it won't take that too long.", Allen said.

Drake just agreed and didn't anything else.

...

After Allen finished eating his breakfast, he was toured around the village by Drake. They visited the farmlands, which was full of growing wheat, making the former remember the Crescent City.

'Is William doing okay? Does father need more money?', Allen wondered. It's almost been a month and he's been worrying about his family back at the town.

"Hey Allen, let's check the apothecary's store next.", Drake broke Allen's line of thought.

"Alright.", Allen nodded in agreement.

They visited the apothecary's store and saw different varieties of herbs that could be picked up in the seperate chambers, there were even plants in the establishment that was on Lord Levine's list.

"Oh? You're the newcomers I heard?", an old woman looked over at Drake and Allen. "So do you want to buy something?"

"We're not buying anything, we're just checking the store.", Allen politely answered.

"Oh, well then, if you have any questions, you can ask them to me.", the old woman said.

"Then, can I ask what do you need to pay to buy herbs in here?", Allen asked. He's sure that coins and other kinds of currencies would be useless in this place.

"You can trade with food, or some herbs that I need.", the old woman answered.

"Where did you get this type of grass?", Allen pointed to some sort of yellow grass, which was also written on Lord Levine's list

"Oh that? It's not found in here. This plant was from long time ago from the nomadic lands.", the woman explained.

As they began to have another conversation, Drake tugged Allen's clothes to signal that they had to leave.

"I have to leave now, thank you for the information.", Allen said.

"You're welcome."

...

Time passed...

The trio regrouped and traveled towards the place where all the elders were residing. It was a large traditional barbarian tent, different from the other buildings around it which were normal houses built from stone while roofs created from wood.

The said structure was originally colorful and came from the time of the war, however, due to the passage of time, the colors slowly faded away.

When they entered the tent, they saw the eleven elders sitting in a row behind a long desk, making the aura of the interior of tent look like a scene from a judicial court. The old timers all had big yet healthy bodies, indicating that they were once fighters. An old man with long white beard in the middle of the elders was sitting on an elevated chair, who was obviously the leader.

"So, that's the other child that came with you?", the old man in the middle asked.

"Yes.", Kate casually answered.

"I'm going to be straight with you three. You said that you three want to leave this place right?", the old man asked.

"Yes."

"Mhm.", the old man nodded in satisfaction. "We just want you to deliver a letter to a tribe in the nomadic region. However, it is your choice if you want to send it or not, we won't force you, even if you refused, we will still show you the way out."

The trio was surprised by what the old man just said. As Kate was about to disagree on delivering the letter, Allen suddenly said, "Alright, we'll deliver the letter."

"Huh?", Kate was caught off guard and blurted out. "Wait! We have to discuss first."

"Take your time."

The trio huddled up, Kate angrily looked at Allen, "What are you doing? They already said that we don't even have to do it!"

"Well, it would be much better if we repay them for letting us stay here.", Allen said.

"Don't be so righteous, it's not helpful.", Kate said.

Allen just shrugged and asked to the elders, "Excuse me, is there a time limit?"

"None, we've already lived for a long time, we can be patient.", the old man said.

Allen then looked back and said, "There's no time limit. It can be delivered anytime we want."

"When will you do it then? You said that you're working so that your family will get a better life, but then you'll send a letter in the nomadic region!", Kate retorted.

"I'll do it... when I grow up? I'm sure I could've already give my father and brother a great life by that time.", Allen answered.

Kate shook her head and looked over at Drake; however, the latter stayed out of the arguement.

"You can take it, but you're the only one who will take that letter to where it will be sent, alright?", Kate said.

"Okay.", after which, the trio looked over at the elders.

"We- I accept the mission.", Allen said.

"Good, there's a map that's sticked to this envelope that would lead you to the location of the tribe.", the old man handed over the envelope which Allen immediately took hold of.

After a pause, the old man added, "And please, don't spread to the outside world that we're inside the mountain."

"Don't worry, we won't.", Allen nodded.