"Tristan, why are you still wearing that cloak? It's hot out," Kail said, brushing sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. The summer sun was blazing above them, and even Aric had loosened the straps on his armor to breathe easier.
Tristan pulled the hood lower over his face. "There's no other way to hide who I am. My eyes… they'd recognize me instantly."
Kail squinted at him. "Still, you're going to boil in there. Not exactly the best disguise if you pass out from heat."
Aric glanced over but didn't say much. "If it works, let him wear it. Just try not to drop dead before we get anywhere."
The three of them walked down Verdian's main street. The air smelled faintly of fresh wood and sawdust. The sound of hammers hitting nails rang through the air in steady rhythm. People bustled about, carrying planks, pushing carts, and shouting directions. The guild was rebuilt, and it already looked like a proper building again.
"Looks like they're making progress," Aric said, shading his eyes with one hand.
Kail tilted his head. "The last time I saw it, it was just a pile of debris."
"Let's check it out," Aric said.
They crossed the street toward the construction site. Fresh wooden beams stood tall, casting long shadows over the dirt. Workers moved in and out, some carrying hammers, others lifting heavy wooden frames. The sound of sawing mixed with the chatter of voices.
Inside, the floor was still bare and dusty, but a temporary counter had been set up against the far wall. A few small tables sat in the corner where adventurers rested with drinks. Shelves had been installed for records and notices, though most were still empty.
"It's already busier than I thought," Kail said, looking around at the people coming and going.
Aric scanned the place. "Adventurers don't like sitting still. Even if the building's not done, the jobs keep coming."
At that moment, the door opened, and a knight in silver armor stepped inside. The bright light from outside glinted off his chestplate. His presence immediately quieted the room. He walked to the counter, spoke briefly to the receptionist, then turned to address the gathered adventurers.
"We have a serious matter," the knight began, his voice firm. "Many people in Verdian have been falling sick these past few days. We have discovered an unknown liquid in the river—the same river where most of the town gets its drinking water."
A murmur passed through the room.
"Even Lady Viorel of the Sylvanthe family has fallen ill because of this," the knight continued. "We have sent our men to investigate the river's flow. However, we are asking all adventurers—if you have noticed anything unusual during your travels near the river, report it now."
The adventurers glanced at each other. A man in leather armor spoke up. "I was there earlier this week. Water looked fine to me."
"Same here," another said, shaking her head.
The knight's jaw tightened. "I see. Then we will continue searching. But be alert. If you see anything suspicious, tell us immediately."
Aric stepped forward. "We'll help. Might be good training for Tristan to learn more about hero work."
Tristan blinked in surprise but then straightened. "I'll… try to help."
The knight gave a nod. "Your help is appreciated. The river flows not far from here. Follow the main road until it bends east—you'll see our patrols there."
The three of them left the guild and made their way toward the river. The dirt road was warm under their boots, and the sound of cicadas buzzed in the distance.
For the next hour, they walked along the riverbank, checking for strange colors, smells, or dead fish. The water sparkled under the sunlight, and the current was calm.
"Nothing," Kail said with a sigh. "It's like the sickness just appeared out of nowhere."
Aric stopped for a moment. He felt it—a faint, heavy presence in the air. His eyes narrowed. Dark mana.
Tristan noticed. "What's wrong?"
"Faint dark mana," Aric said quietly. "But we're close to the Demon Forest. It's not unusual to feel traces of it here."
They continued on. A group of birds took off from the river's edge ahead of them, startled by something. When they got closer, they saw several knights and robed mages standing by the water. The knights' boots were wet, and some of the mages knelt beside the river, chanting softly.
Aric stepped forward. "Hello. I'm The Crimson Hero. What's the situation?"
A knight looked up. "We found the cause." He stepped aside.
In the water lay a demon monster, half-submerged. Its black and red-scaled body was still, but when Aric looked closely, he saw slow, shallow breaths.
"It's alive?" Tristan asked.
"Barely," the knight replied. "We think there was a fight between demons here. From what we know, they rarely finish each other off. They'd rather leave the other to suffer."
One of the mages spoke while filling a small vial. "Its blood leaked into the river. That's why people fell sick. Thankfully, this isn't the first time. We already have the cure prepared."
Aric studied the scene, his expression calm. He didn't flinch or show disgust. He simply observed the body, the color of the water near it, and the knights' actions. Tristan glanced at him, quietly taking mental notes. He doesn't rush in or panic. He just watches, thinks, and acts when it matters.
The knights explained they were removing the demon and purifying the water. Mages cast glowing spells that made the river swirl with pale blue light.
When there was nothing more they could help with, Aric turned to leave. "Let's head back."
The walk to Verdian was quiet for a while—until Kail groaned and clutched his stomach. "Ugh… not good."
Aric frowned. "Don't tell me you drank from the river recently."
Kail winced. "Maybe… yesterday…? Just a little."
Tristan stared. "You mean you spent all this time investigating the sickness only to be one of the sick people yourself?"
Kail gave a weak laugh. "Guess I wanted to experience it firsthand."
Aric shook his head but smirked. "Alright, let's get you to the clinic before you collapse."
"Yeah, yeah… hero saves sidekick," Kail muttered, stumbling a little.
They reached the clinic, a small white stone building near the marketplace. Inside, the air smelled faintly of herbs. They explained to the healer there what the reason of the recent sickness was and the healer had the cure.
Kail sniffed it and gagged. "It smells like swamp water."
"Drink," Aric said simply.
Kail grimaced, downed it in one gulp, and immediately coughed. "Bleh—okay, yeah, that's disgusting."
The healer chuckled. "Give it a few minutes."
True enough, some color returned to Kail's face soon after.
"Better?" Tristan asked.
"Yeah… but I'm never drinking river water again," Kail muttered.
With that sorted, Aric suggested, "Let's visit Viorel. She's still resting at the estate. We'll being the cure to her as well."
The three of them left the clinic and walked toward the Sylvanthe estate. The sun was dipping lower now, casting long shadows across the road. The sounds of the town were calmer, but the smell of cooking from food stalls drifted through the air.
It had been a strange day—one that left Tristan thinking about everything he'd seen from Aric.