Azimuth: The Elden Throne

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In order to find the little troublemaker, the trio went everywhere…

First, to make sure they weren't overreacting, they went to his quarters to see if he was there.

It was next to where most of the merchants were, a small corner of Resko that had been recently 'fixed' thanks to the players' efforts, albeit not used since they didn't have enough people to fill so many places.

After all, there was the faint possibility that Zaw had underestimated his student's self-control and maturity, and all this time he had been in his own room relaxing instead of causing trouble…

But he wasn't there.

So they asked someone, one of the guards from the convoy who was now resting on the side, playing a card game with a few others.

The journey South had been a taxing one, so they deserved some rest.

"... Hm?... That annoying brat that kept trying to hit on Ezi?" The guard asked when he heard Zaw's question

Zaw became slightly flustered and even a bit disappointed as he replied:

"Yes..."

"Have you by any chance, seen him?"

The guard looked at the other people playing cards with him and said in a light tone:

"He left not long after we arrived, while the leaders went to meet with the Village Chief."

"I heard he failed yet again at approaching Ezi, so perhaps he gave up and decided to touch some grass."

"..."

Zaw face palmed in annoyance.

After thanking the guards for their help, and asking a few more people, they arrived at a simple conclusion...

That he could be anywhere.

With no other options, they started rolling once more.

Following their failure at Fray's room, they went to where some of the younger kids played since from time to time, one of the girls would play with them either for fun or to babysit them…

Not seeing him there either, they went to the Church, but apart from the usual, they didn't find him there.

...

"..."

As they left the Church, Dale was in deep thought.

'That girl... The Saint... She isn't here either...'

'Where is she?'

Shaking his head, Dale pushed this matter to the back of his head as he currently had no time to concern himself with her.

So with a twisted expression, he followed Zaw and Misgurd as they descended from the Church's hill.

As for Zaw himself, his eyes were full of anguish…

He was starting to get pissed off.

...

Back in the Village, they went to the new training grounds made in the last few days.

This is the place all of the younger people train... Those that were allowed to, of course, mainly the people around the ages of 15 to 23 were here.

The main reason why they made a new place instead of sticking with the one they already had next to the Mercenary Guild is that Testros' and Dale's training was too much for most of the Villagers to follow.

If Dale were to lose control of his Mana, so be it, Testros will easily defend it and a few rocks will be overturned…

But if one of the younger teens was there, they may lose an arm.

For everyone's safety, they made a new place for everyone to practice by demolishing a few old and irreparable houses and reutilizing the space and materials for something more useful.

That was something they had been doing quite frequently, reusing old materials for something else.

As they salvaged whatever they could find inside the ruins of the houses and other buildings, they tried to repair as much as possible, but what could not be saved had to be demolished for the sake of the rest.

Yet, Fray wasn't there either...

Still, they didn't panic, continuing with their search.

…

/Half an hour later…/

/Smack!/

/Rustle.../

In a fit of anger, Zaw punched a tree 'lightly' making many leaves fall together with a poor brown squirrel… Still clutching onto his prized nut.

Once it fell, the squirrel looked around hastily before turning around and bolting for the tree again.

"Where is that damn brat! We've already seen over half of the young ladies of this Village, yet there is no sign of him!"

With a pensive yet tired gaze, Dale replied:

"Perhaps he isn't doing what you think he is…"

"But where would he be then?!"

"..."

'You were the one that was very confident about knowing your disciple's habits…'

"What a mess... Once again, I apologize for this awful situation..."

Zaw was starting to lose it, but his many years with his student made him calm down quickly, this wasn't by far the worst situation he had ever faced in regards to him.

But it was pretty embarrassing nonetheless, especially since he was dragging 2 people with him...

It even seemed that his student was avoiding him for some reason.

"Hm…"

But like the faint sunlight from the sun piercing through the gray clouds, Misgurd seemed to have thought of something.

"You said he was curious, is that right?…"

"Yes… Do you have something in mind?"

"I do… Follow me for now." Misgurd said as he turned his face to Dale, winking with his right eye

"..."

'Why is he looking at me like that?'

Dale felt that something really annoying was going to happen soon…

…

/A few minutes later.../

/Twitch... Twitch.../

With his eyes twitching in annoyance, Dale stared at a 3 story-tall building in front of him.

"..."

'Please don't be what I think it is…'

"We're here." Misgurd said as he looked at an old building

"..."

"This place is?..."

Misgurd replied, slightly proud:

"The only pharmacy in Resko!... Albeit that was in the past."

'At least, the only one left...'

"Right now, it's the home for the only alchemist in town."

"Is that so?... But does that have to do with our situation?"

'Now that I think about it, I do have some faint recollections of this place from past visits...'

"Just about now, before meeting with you in the Guild, Dale brought a newcomer from beyond the Village, I believe I already told you what happened."

"Don't tell me you forgot due to those drinks?"

"AHH! Of course, I remember! A few of those aren't going to take me down! Much less make me forget!..."

"The Kar… Kaskosvi from the woods?"

Zaw scratched his chin, thinking.

"Well, Fray would be very interested in a species he never saw before, especially a warrior."

"Even I am interested in meeting this tribal man for myself…"

'But something is amiss, if that was all, we would've met with him not so long ago… It is unlike him to spend too much time in one place.'

'Especially here, why would he spend half an hour gazing at an unconscious tribal warrior? He would certainly want to see him once, but that is all…'

Seeing his hesitation and doubt, Misgurd raised his finger and said:

"Heh, why don't we go in and find for ourselves?"

/Exhale…/

Taking a deep breath, Zaw nodded, saying, "I guess there's no problem… If the alchemist is okay with an outsider inside his home." as he shook his head.

Misgurd chuckled before turning to Dale and signaling him to open the door.

"?"

Dale frowned slightly, he wasn't a butler, but he felt there was a hidden meaning for this.

So instead of causing an ugly situation by refusing like a little kid, he merely took 3 steps forward and opened the old wooden door…

/Creak…/

"Excuse me." Zaw said politely as he got inside, observing his surroundings

/Sniff.../

'This smell...

'This is indeed an apothecary's house, I can smell herbs everywhere… And the shelves are full of potions and other items... It's actually a bit packed.'

'This is indeed not a shop... Albeit I can see some remnants of it like the counter and the shelves.'

'Now, it's more like a messy living room than a shop's first floor...'

/Whispers…/

As soon as they got inside, they already started to hear the sounds of a conversation coming from the second floor.

"Did the Karkavam awaken already?" Misgurd asked as he raised an eyebrow

Albeit he didn't show it, he was also very curious, he would like to meet with this man that came from somewhere so far away...

"No… Muddan has a loud voice and he keeps pausing between each line or word to think since he isn't very good at speaking our language."

Dale retorted quickly, he knew how the big guy talked.

But from the faint sounds echoing in the walls whoever was talking was doing so non-stop… It couldn't have been Muddan...

Strangely enough though, after listening to the whispers, Dale's expression soured as he closed his eyes in disappointment, but neither of the 2 old men saw that.

"Is the alchemist occupied? It wouldn't be good to interrupt his work…"

"Don't worry Zaw, she wouldn't mind in most scenarios..."

"Especially with our little friend over here."

His first line was said out loud, and his second one was in a tone only he and Zaw could hear.

"..."

'I can hear you…'

But due to his enhanced stats thanks to his items, Dale heard him as clear as day.

Not only he, but he could also hear perfectly who was talking above him, and that was why his expression was dark.

"She? Is the alchemist a… Oh… Oh no."

As his neurons connected the pieces of Misgurd's meaning, Zaw quickly understood why his old friend had led them here.

And as he heard the faint sounds coming from above, he couldn't help but clench his fists in silent anger.

"Well then, shall we introduce you to her?"

"It would be my pleasure."

As the two old men smiled, one with a smirk, and the other with a twitching grim, they stepped into the stairs towards the second floor with heavy steps…

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Notes

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