Chapter 95: Souls of the innocent
"Monk’s Corruption is the name that officials of court have given to this case," Marcus said picking a file from his desk’s drawer and placing it on the centre table in his office.
On one side of the sofa were Darin and Elyra.
Marcus took a seat opposite to them.
"Monk’s Corruption? Is there a reason why they gave this particular name, Professor?" Darin asked.
"There’s always a reason for something. Here what you see is not one incident, but multiple monks across the world have died in exactly the same manner within the past one week," Marcus said, tapping on the file.
"It’s a serial killer case?" Darin murmured as he opened up the file.
"Could be, what you’re looking at is not a just run-the-mill request of some injuries or rumors of ghost or demonic beings that turn into an expedition notice, but quite a serious case." Marcus leaned back on his sofa.
"And that is why, you’ll be reporting findings on every mark you reach and define, directly to me. That is the condition of approval for this request," Marcus’s terms weren’t something complicated but cadets who go on expeditions from the notice don’t usually report everything to professors, except the results.
"Is that all...?" Darn asked, he had an expression of slight confusion or disbelief.
"That would be all," Marcus said.
In the whole conversation the only person who was feeling awkward, scared, confused, reluctant, and extremely nervous was Elyra who was sitting beside Darin with her head hung low, and arms rested on knees, even her back was straight up, not relaxed on the couch.
"Then we will take on this expedition and report to you of our findings," Darin nodded, and he was about to get up when Marcus interrupted again.
"You’re just leaving without my signature on the notice?" Marcus asked.
"Ah---Ye-yes, your approval..." Darin faked a smile and put the notice on the table, sliding it towards Marcus.
"I forgot, my apologies, Professor," he said.
"No worries," Marcus took out a black fountain pen from his pocket and drew the signature letter ’M’ in italic with a line crossing from the centre of it.
"You mentioned that...The monks reported the same incident to the court officials, so, if the officials are present on the scene of expedition, will they be willing to co-operate with us?" Darin asked.
"If they refuse to co-operate just show them the signature on the notice, and then I’m sure they will," Marcus said.
"Oh..."
.-.-.-.-.-.
The surrounding counties of the Whiteleaf mountains have access to locomotives, and that makes the commute really efficient, since Darin and Elyra just had to board the train from the capital of Lunar to the Albion County, the closest to the Krells Dukedom which are slightly in the west, and the Whiteleaf mountains in the north.
*Chuff*
*Thrum*
*Thrum*
*Thrum*
The steam locomotive which was powered by the gravels of mana stones powered up. These stones didn’t look like some sparling crystals swirling with powers, but more like coal with an essence of raw mana.
Bituminous, it’s a fuel grade mana gravel used in engines, just like coal, but it packs more heat, more output of raw energy.
Then there’s enriched crystal, used in high class carriages to fuel the runes, a more refined version of Bituminous.
And lastly, catalyst grade. A single gram of it is enough to power the runes, the lights, of an academic grade structure of decades.
"I think you should be at ease now, it wasn’t really a big deal from the way he responded to your...comments," Darin broke the silence while they were sitting in the carriage.
"But...he---he’s a transcendent...I mean..." Elyra kept fumbling.
"If he wants, he can just wipe out my family without anyone questioning him and I-"
"I don’t think he is that kind of a man," Darin said. He genuinely respected Marcus, but feared as much.
"Still---"
"Besides, you cannot undo the past, so just forget ’bout it. You’ll only feel worse if you keep thinking about that moment, so its better for it to be just another memory," Darin said.
"The more you think about it, the more your mind will try to create countless possibilities of how it could’ve been either avoided or rectified or handled, and honestly, you will not get anything from those thoughts except meaningless fear," he said.
"Hmh..." Elyra nodded, but she didn’t really take in that advice.
Darin took a deep breath and sighed.
.
.
.
Their journey took them more than nine hours, the locomotive stopped at its last station as the steam valves hissed out the pressure.
Elyra had fallen asleep in the meantime while Darin meditated all the while.
From there, they took a carriage from Albion, leading to a border town village which was also the entrance to the whiteleaf mountains.
The sun had set, so they decided to stop in a tavern within the village for the night and begin their expedition in the next day.
*Chime~!*
The gates of the tavern in the border town village opened up. There was just one lady sitting in the corner tables of the tavern.
She looked up noticing Elyra and Darin enter the tavern, and stood up with a sigh, fixing her apron.
She had curly black hair with light glistening brown eyes and slightly tanned skin. Her age would’ve been around mid-thirties.
"Welcome, I never expected this shabby tavern to have visitors from the capital," the lady said.
"Thank you, what makes you say that we’re from the capital?" Darin asked lightly.
"Well...light skin, handsome face, clean clothes, sturdy built, and the young lady here who has a more tender, flail and quite beautiful face...you don’t see those around here," the lady said.
"I thought I looked ... normal? Anyways, is there a room or two available for us to stay for the night?" Darin asked.
"Sure, sure...All the rooms are available, but I’ll only provide you with one!" The lady seemed a little drunk when Darin smelled the strong stench of alcohol as she moved forward.
"Take a chance in there, and see if you two work it out, hmm~" She giggled.
"No, we’re just teammates, please don’t get the wrong ide-"
"I don’t think she thinks that..." The lady pointed at Elyra, "Little lady is blushing, hehe~"
"?" Darin looked back at Elyra in confusion.
"No!, I’m not-" Elyra tried to clear the suspicion.
"Fine, whatever, you get one room, take it or leave, though I doubt there’s another tavern in miles from here," The lady crossed her arms.
"Alright, We’ll take ’a’ room, then," Darin scoffed.
"That’s what I’m talking about, I hate those shy willy-gilly-tail-wagging-pretty-looking-gay-like-boys with no weight in their meat to back their talks up... Hik!"
"..."
"..."
The lady turned around to go and fetch the keys but then she stopped again.
"Come to think of it..." She put a finger on her lips as if remembering something.
She then looked at Elyra and Darin...and giggled.
"What is it?" Darin asked.
"You know there was another couple that arrived from the capital yesterday, and it is quite odd to have two couples visit simuntaneoufsnfl-Hik! Simultaneously!" She said.
"Another couple? Are they still here or..."
"No, they also stayed for the night," She said.
"I remember that ohh my fuckin goddess that handsome but shy willy-gilly-tail-wagging-pretty-looking-gay-like-slave of that woman, he was so over her, hehe~"
"..."
"I couldn’t sleep because of how that fine and innocent looking lady was just SHCREAMMING in pleasure all night, he did her raw like she was his slu-"
"The room keys, please," Darin interrupted.
"I just wished I was able to join the- yeah...the room keys, hold on."
The innkeeper finally shuffled off behind the worn wooden counter, her hips swaying unsteadily as she hummed a bawdy tune under her breath.
Darin rubbed the bridge of his nose, awkwardly.
Elyra stood half a step behind him, her cheeks were still flushed of a deep crimson that had nothing to do with the tavern’s smoky lanterns.
"Here ya go, lovebirds," the woman said, slapping a single iron key into Darin’s palm.
The tag was scratched and read ’Room 4 --- Best bed in the house (if you know how to use it).’
"Second floor, end of the hall. Don’t mind the creaks. Old wood likes to gossip."
She winked exaggeratedly.
Darin gave a tight nod. "Thank you."
They climbed the narrow staircase in silence.
Each step groaned of the aged wood.
The hallway was dimly lit by a single oil lamp.
Room 4 was exactly as promised...small, but cleaner than Darin expected.
A single large bed dominated the space, flanked by a rickety table and two chairs. A washbasin sat in the corner, and a narrow window looked out toward the dark silhouette of the Whiteleaf mountains.
Elyra hovered near the door after it clicked shut, arms wrapped around herself.
"I’ll take the floor," Darin said immediately, setting his pack down and unrolling his travel cloak.
"No, that’s not fair," Elyra said softly. "You’re taller. The bed..."
"I’ve slept on worse during training. Floor’s fine." He gave her a small, reassuring smile. "Besides, you need proper rest."
’And I already feel like killing myself of embarrassment after hearing that lady,’ he thought.