{Perona's POV}
Perona stood up and walked over to the basilisks.
Come to think of it, we never actually ended up finding out how they got here, she thought. Even if it was a system event, the system merely announces and organises things; it can't dictate reality or will things into existence.
She raised her hands, muttering underneath her breath, casting one of her newly-learned spells, Detect. Detect was a spell that did exactly what it sounded like it did. Only, with Perona's level of expertise, she could search for specific things using the spell.
Detect Interference, Perona thought, selecting from a system list in front of her. The appearance of these basilisks can't be natural.
Her suspicions had reason. A pink rune flashed briefly beneath the draconic monsters. Sparks flew through the air as they jolted Perona's fingertips.
[Detect Interference has found that the Basilisks emerged from the earth via magical means. Until the moment they were defeated, they were also under magical control.]
Perona paused. The implications of this were massive.
Someone or something out there was willing to use magic to bring in the basilisks into the city to cause havoc. Whoever this was, it's reasonable to believe that they have more power than the basilisks themselves.
"Perona? What's wrong?" Aralynn walked up beside her.
Perona shared this information with the rest of the party. They took it surprisingly well.
"Figures," Aralynn said. "Farmland basilisks I know are natural, but the last two… what were they called? Harbingers? There is no way those monstrosities were natural predators."
Amon nodded slowly. "There's something else that's been bugging me too."
"What is it?" Perona asked.
"The guards," Amon replied. "They haven't come."
Aralynn nodded. "In a city as large as Galrahn, there's no reason the guard shouldn't be here by now. Even if the average guardsman might not have stood a chance, they should've still investigated at the very least. The amounts of reports they'd have gotten from fleeing citizens should've been staggering. Besides, they have a surplus of mages, and if Galrahn is like all the other cities that I've visited so far, the watch is supposed to be posted throughout the districts."
Just then, a new voice cut in.
"Forgive me for eavesdropping," said an elf with her hair tied neatly in a ponytail as she approached. "But you're right. Our guards are always vigilant. For them to be absent now means something important is keeping them occupied—especially during an emergency like this in the middle of one of the districts."
Aralynn moved in front of Perona, shielding her friend.
The elf could easily make out that the party was on edge. "Please, I mean you no harm. I swear on my ancestors and the living roots of which they came."
Perona peeked out from behind Aralynn's wings.
"Who are you?"
"Ah. How rude of me—I haven't introduced myself. My name is Ezekiel. I am a tinkerer." Ezekiel dropped into a deep bow, her elegant ponytail swishing around her shoulders.
She had a small face, similar to Aralynn's. She wore an elbow-lengthed brown cloak with a clockwork watch pendant pin holding it together. The rest of her clothes were simple and modest.
"Why are you here?"
Ezekiel lifted a hand and pointed skyward. "First, allow me to explain why the city guard has been so preoccupied. Milady Birdfolk, would you care to take a look from above and tell me what you see?"
"I'm not a noble," Aralynn muttered, feathers bristling. Still, she spread her wings and leapt into the air. Her plumes spread gently as she gained altitude, flying over the buildings that surrounded them and circling above.
The sight that met her eyes nearly stopped her in midair. Vast sections of Galrahn were burning. Orange waves of flame rolled through the city like a tide, rooftops collapsing one after another as towers of the inferno were ablaze in almost every district. Though the worst of it raged in the residential areas, the fire's spread was relentless.
That explains it, Aralynn realized grimly. With so much of the city ablaze, the guard can't afford to split their forces. The city guard isn't only a military force: they fight fires and respond to all kinds of emergencies as well. Defending the walls is one thing, but against a disaster like this… they'd be stretched too thin to respond to the basilisks at all.
Her wings snapped as she dropped back down, landing beside the others. "The city's burning," she reported. Her eyes narrowed on the elf. "Ezekiel, how did you know? You couldn't have been out here searching for us unless you already had a reason."
Ezekiel inclined her head. "You assume correctly. I was among those evacuated from the city square. On my way back to my workshop, I overheard guards speaking of the fires spreading out of control. That's how I learned."
Hadarai crossed his arms. "Then what was the second reason you came back?"
"Call it intuition," Ezekiel said . "Perhaps divine, perhaps something else. I simply felt compelled to return. For now, though, I'd like to extend an offer: my workshop is close by, and it will serve as a safe place to rest. More importantly…" Her eyes flicked toward Amon's bandaged stump. "I might be able to supply a replacement. I am a tinkerer, after all."
The party exchanged wary looks.
Ezekiel seemed to anticipate their doubts. "If you're thinking of helping with the fires, you should know that the city's guard doesn't allow civilians—well, anybody outside of the city guard—to help. They've had… security issues in the past."
"How convenient," Hadarai said. "And if we go anyways?"
"I know how this must look," Ezekiel admitted. "A stranger approaches out of nowhere, asking you to follow her. But I swear to you, I'm telling the truth. If you doubt me, you can ask anyone else."
[Comprehension Lv. 4 has been activated!]
[Comprehension has determined that Ezekiel, ??? is telling the truth.]
Aralynn's gaze softened. "…She's telling the truth." She glanced at Perona, who nodded subtly in agreement.
"Thank you," Ezekiel said. "Even if you have no reason to trust me, I ask that you at least allow me to tend to Milord Devilfolk. Restoring his hand in some capacity is the least I can do."
At the mention of his injury, Amon's face darkened, jaw tightening as he instinctively pulled his arm closer to his chest.
Ezekiel gave another graceful bow. "Then, if you would… please, follow me."