Return to Jorgaldur Volume IV: Reunion

We have a problem

"We have a problem. The Assassins Guild has canceled the contract," Ricardo informed.

"What!? That's impossible!" Elsa denied.

"I thought so too, but they have. They've said that they won't accept any order about Eldi Hnefa. They've even returned our advance payments," he explained.

"How's it even possible!?" she wondered aloud.

There weren't many things that could surprise her like this. She was aware that some plans could go wrong, that there could be difficulties. In fact, she would have accepted Eldi Hnefa escaping unscathed. It was a reasonable possibility.

However, for the Assassins Guild to renege on their contract was something inconceivable. It had only happened once in the last hundred years, that was known of, and because the Blood Queen herself was involved.

"I don't know, they haven't explained themselves," Ricardo denied with his head.

"They never do," the duchess snorted. "How many troops do we have?"

"With those who'll arrive in a few days, there'll be almost twenty. It should be enough, if they can find him," the queen's adviser valued.

"They better not act alone. We don't know how much power he has recovered, it could be dangerous," Elsa suggested.

"They'll act in two groups or in only one. The most difficult task will be finding him. He's probably in disguise," Ricardo lamented.

Unfortunately for them, they didn't have a good solution for it. Without the help of the assassins, they could only count on their own means.

Meanwhile, Eldi didn't know anything about all this, although he was worried. As much as Gjaki could fix the problem with the assassins, he knew that those behind it wouldn't give up so easily.

The dungeon was huge, so it was difficult for them to be found, especially when they were disguised, although not impossible. Therefore, apart from preparing equipment for the next levels, he also added some extras. Normally, he wouldn't have wasted materials on that, at least not until reaching level 100.

While Gjaki was taking care of some business, he spent much of the day making potions, weapons, armor, and jewelry.

He also trained with some of the mansion's inhabitants, and even supervised those who wanted to master some of his skills.

The high human only took a break before dinner, to take a walk in the garden. He shook his head when he encountered the huge woodlouse, though still smiling.

"Gjaki has peculiar... tastes," he told himself.

After a while, he sat down by a small artificial pond. He stared at a group of beautiful flowers growing on the shore. Their petals were a strange but beautiful metallic green. He even reached out to one of them, and gently stroked the outline. They reminded him of her.

"You told me that you could feel through the plants. I wonder if you can feel me now. I don't know why I can't meet you, but I promise I'll do everything I can to make it happen. I want to see you. Now, I know my feelings are real. I don't know yours. It scares me," he was honest in front of the flower.

He had to take a deep breath to control himself and not shed tears. It was almost dinner time, and he didn't want to be seen with red eyes.

He got up and turned towards the mansion. Though, when Eldi was halfway there, he stopped and turned to the flower. He was wondering once more if she or some other dryad had heard him, if the message would reach her. He sighed. It was impossible to know.

Melia put her hands to her chest, while she cried inconsolably. She had heard him clearly, and she felt terribly guilty.

Her sisters didn't say anything. They knew there were no words to comfort her. They could only be there, let her know that she had their full support. That she could count on them for whatever was necessary.

Unfortunately, all dryads were bound by the contract. They had argued for long hours behind Melia's back, but they hadn't found any halfway feasible excuse. They hadn't figured out how to skip the clauses and let them meet. The dryads could only wait, and suffer with her sister.

"Mom, can we go too?" Gjami asked.

"That's it! We also want to see the dungeon!" Eldmi exclaimed.

Goldmi had no choice but to tell them about her adventures in the dungeon. They hadn't given her a choice, their innocent eyes were impossible to resist. Of course, she had told them nothing of the encounter with the assassin or the assailants. She had detailed the interior of the first floor of the dungeon, its animals, the safe zone.

As soon as the twins had heard about a safe zone, their eyes had lit up. They had imagined themselves on the walls, while watching the adventurers fighting in the distance with their binoculars.

Gjaki had given them to the twins two years ago, and they were more efficient than the equivalents on her home world. Despite this, it was unlikely that they would see what they wanted, unless they were very lucky. They didn't know that, nor did it prevent them from dreaming.

In addition, there used to be live captured specimens that could be seen up close in the safe zone. They were mana beings that didn't need care or food, and were very aggressive. For this reason, they had to bring new ones every few days, as the continuous attacks against the bars hurt themselves. The damage accumulated over the days, until their mana bodies couldn't hold together.

To that, it must be added that there were some harmless and even friendly animals. They were left in the safe zone, much to the delight of the visiting children.

"We'll go later. When mom is a little stronger," she assured, after agreeing with her husband through a look. Neither of them was capable of refusing.

""Good! Mom is the best!"" they exclaimed at the same time.

She and Elendnas looked at each other and smiled. To this day, they still didn't understand how both girls could often say the same thing at the same time. Without a doubt, they were absolutely adorable when they did.

"Although of course, only if you eat the pimlos" Goldmi threatened.

They opened their mouths to complain, but soon changed their minds. They knew from other times that they would achieve nothing.

The girls looked at their plates reluctantly, but finally decided to prick with their forks some crispy tricolor leaves. They were bitter, and they had tried to hide them under the peels of some kind of boiled purple potato.

Although the girls didn't like it, they were willing to sacrifice themselves for the sake of visiting the dungeon. They put them in their mouths, and chewed them for a long time before swallowing them, having previously even made a ball of food in their mouths. During the process, different disgusted faces appeared on their faces, and they even stuck out their tongues as if burning after finishing.

Elendnas and Goldmi watched them while hiding their smiles. The girls were quite exaggerated.

They knew that their daughters didn't like those leaves, but they were good for the development of their mana.