Another world, Celeste

Chapter Twelve, pt 3

The first thing Leon does after waking up is taking out a notebook from his desk. The pages are a list of the things she has said to him during their evening rendezvous, hoping the clues might lead him to her whereabouts. Apart from that, he genuinely wants to know more about her. The same way for the first time in his life, he wants her to know who he really is. If he asks her questions, she would tell him even when some of them sounds unbelievable. He believes her words nonetheless because her eyes are telling the truth. In return, she listens to him wholeheartedly and consoles him when the memories sadden him.

He writes down three new entries; 'Abnormal weather', 'dwarves' and 'coal'.

"I wonder how many more unusual things would be added in here." He mumbles.

Leon's hand trace to the top of the list - 'Purple eyes'.

He flips to the first page. It's a sketch of her portrait. After nights of meeting her in his dreams, he memorises her face. A few days later, Captain Leon hears about the fiery hail happening at the mining town, along with the town's development proposal accompanied with the full support of the Commercial Guild and Kiln Association. Until now, the Kiln Association are representatives of dwarves and gnomes working and supervising in human towns and cities, but they have never established a formal office anywhere. The mining town is undergoing reformation starting with the appointments of Chief's trusted supervisors. Abnormal weather and coal. He made the connection. The Commercial Guild has only begun circulating coals from fiery hail in the market. If a person were to get their hands on it before that, it would mean she was there during the fiery hail. Leon heaves a heavy sigh.

Vice-Captain Dreyes is the person handing over the report.

"Captain, is there a problem?"

"It's nothing."

The following day, we gather outside the gate once again to assist in collecting more coals with the dwarves and gnomes. Jilko and the apprentices are wearing their new overall over their clothes. It's a welcoming gift from Bertha and Kif. A close friend of the couple run a tailor shop in this town and Kif puts an order on the day we arrived. After we return from the bathhouse last night, Kif notifies us about today's plan.

"Dwarves are fixing the road leading to the town tomorrow and they're allowing us to collect the coals while we're at it."

"I want to join as well!"

I enthusiastically volunteer.

"I don't mind if they'll let you."

Kif glances at Syl.

"It will be unsafe to let Master Kif and the apprentices by themselves. We will also join you." Syl respond.

"They're assembling mid-morning at the gatehouse. We can leave the inn together."

We agree with Kif's plan then return to our room.

Along with the low-ranked adventurers taking on the coal collecting quest, we divide into groups to cover the ground faster. Jilko, Rimi and Nil are in my group alongside Mint and Erissa while Syl is with Kif's group. As a precaution, the dwarves invoke multiple earth walls near the trees before they start working. While the gnomes and I work in collecting the coals, Mint casually uses her acceleration spell to push the carts once they are full and Erissa randomly shooting arrows into the forest when I sense incoming threats slipping past the defences. The adventurers watch them in astonishment.