She is still doubting me, so I ask her to show me her house, but we are not getting close.
And my suspicion is right. When we arrive at where she lives, I can see people scanning the area. Her house is a two story building, made of stone, with a nice front decorated with plants falling from windows. For being someone that is escaping, she was having a nice life.
"There are around 5 people checking the area. They look suspicious." Karina reports.
"Yeah, I told you. Your house is under surveillance by them."
It makes sense, honestly. If they knew she was living in this town, for whatever reason they are hunting her for, they would check on her house in case she returns.
She is quivering beside me while we are hiding between buildings from an advantageous position to watch her entrance without being seen.
"Shit… how did they even find me all the way out here?" She asks.
It is odd for me to see a teacher cursing. At least, for me.
"Follow me. You are safer with me around."
I just noticed the hour by the sun. We are past noon.
Aurelia is going to kill me.
So, one lich and a mafia came for two of the names in the chickens… so, what the fuck does it all mean?
Ash's words repeat in my head, telling me I got it all backwards and that the person doesn't understand how rituals work.
"You are finally here!" Aurelia screams at me when we arrive at the meeting point. "Do you know how much time I had to wait for you?!"
"Well, sorry, but I had to defeat a lich and then deal with a freaky guy that commanded insects, it's not like I was going around on a date."
I sigh, with my eyes closed.
"Well, how did it go with that homeless guy? You brought the teacher…" She points at Leiva.
The teacher is holding her left arm while still keeping the wand on her right hand. She looks at Aurelia in silence, and a second later returns to scan the area around us.
"...what did you do?" Aurelia asks, squinting her eyes at me.
"Nothing!" I scream in anger. "I will explain to you later! I need to get her into safety, she is in danger."
"Then the ritual is real."
"Seems more complicated."
I use a return scroll. At this point I was using more money than what I got as a reward, but the rest of the benefits for completing this job will pay themselves.
I brief Leiva about the nature of the base. A large serpent-like creature is flying nearby. It is big and green, and didn't seem to have detected us. But we should be safe for now, monsters cannot attack the base unless certain conditions are met.
"I-interesting…" Leiva fixes her glasses, like she is more impressed and interested in this situation now. "And you say this is safe."
"This place is protected by that stone. As long as I keep it running, it works." I point at the pedestal in the middle of the base area. "You can return to the city through there, but you won't be able to come back without a return scroll."
"And they cannot follow us here?"
"Nope. You are more safe here than anywhere in the Kingdom and Federation."
"I hope you are right…" She clicks her tongue and walks inside the building. There is nothing in there.
But, as I said, I bought some furniture. Cheap for the moment, made of simple materials and is not fancy, but useful.
A few lights to make the place not that dark, a couple of beds, a table with some chairs, a kitchen, and a small storage for food.
It is a metal box that keeps and internal low temperature. It uses Gems from my wallet to work. Each Gem gives me two full weeks of work, so I don't need to worry about it.
That one was a bit more pricey, but it is enough to keep the food from wasting. When I check my inventory, some of it iss getting spoiled in the System storage, so I just threw it off a cliff (literally) and now I am storing the rest so it doesn't go bad.
"Do any of you know how to cook?" Karina asks.
"Aurelia, do you know how to cook?" I redirect the question.
"Yeah, I-"
"And I don't mean setting it up in fire until it is done! I mean actually mixing ingredients!"
"Ugh! Fine! No!" Aurelia answers.
Leiva was staring at the whole process while I set up the whole place. Now, it is more cozy than the empty house I had before, and seems like an actual livable space.
"So, how come a mafia is chasing a simple teacher?" Aurelia asks her.
"Aurelia…"
"N-no… If I am going to take your help, you deserve to know." Leiva shakes her head and sits on one of the chairs. "I… don't really know. I used to be a teacher up in Marilia, the Federal capital. Everything was going fine when suddenly they came knocking on my door, saying my father owed them money and now we have to pay his debt."
"Your father?" I ask in surprise. "And why are they following you?"
"My father disappeared when I was young. As far as I know, he is gone and never to be seen again, maybe he is even dead." She holds her temple with her fingers. "They demanded a big sum of money that I don't have, and it got so dangerous I had to escape."
"They threatened you?" Aurelia asks.
She nods.
"They came to me, telling me I could just… sell my body… and pay them that way…" She covers her face with her arms. "By the gods! I just want to be at peace! I cannot pay them! I don't even know my father!"
Yeah. I was figuring as much. Leiva's voice is desperate and her demeanor falls once more. She is crying now.
"I have one last question." I say.
She looks at me. Her eyes are red and irritated from crying.
"What is your connection to that old man?"
She shakes her head.
"I don't… I have no idea who he is… but since I have been crossing paths with him. But I don't know who he is."
I am starting to make a picture in my head of what is happening. But this is not getting me closer to the reason for the rituals.
Leiva and Ash have a connection, and are hunted by something from their past.
I need to dig deeper. What is chasing the Mayor and the rest of the names in those chickens?