Free Web NovelChapter 51: Stavenger
The hotel owner invited Victor to join her for tea so that she could tell him more about it. freewёbnoνel.com
Victor’s time wasn’t infinite, but getting more information was his priority.
As she prepared the hot drink, she said her name and her husband’s name, Leebeth and Donan respectively.
When Leebeth returned with the steaming tea, she sat down on the sofa opposite Victor and began to narrate the famous story that had haunted Agocester for years. fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
"Fifteen years ago, a hero called Elban arrived in our town. The reason for his arrival was a demon that was plaguing our lands, causing fear and destruction throughout the region. Many people had already died, sick, in Agocester and the nearby farms, and an exorbitant amount of undead began to infest our forests. This demon was a terrible being, with powers that not even a Rank-S Hunter could fight, so a hero was assigned to the job."
Leebeth had an impressive eloquence with words.
"At that time, Donan and I were already elderly, the parents of two beautiful men who had gone to work in Kozáni, but we remember Hero Elban well. He was fabulous, kind like few men I’ve ever met and that kindness was proportional to his confidence. Elban slept here for a few nights because he was looking for traces of the demon. However, on the morning of the fourth day, he left and never returned. The signs of the demon’s presence disappeared the same day and days later they discovered that Elban had managed to find the demon and seal it away, but he had paid with his life for it."
Victor knew of Elban’s confidence and kindness that Leebeth had mentioned, so he let out a slight smile.
"For many, many years, Agocester lived in peace, but the fear of Gravisk’s return always hung over us, because before Elban came, the demon was also sealed. Even today, many believe that the demon seeks a way to escape the seal that binds it, and some strange events in the region recently have fueled these fears and created rumors."
Leebeth’s gaze showed concern and a little fear as she shared this information with Victor. She was afraid herself and it showed Victor just how horrible the times they had been troubled by Gravisk in the past must have been.
"If I can help in any way to protect Agocester from this evil, I will do what I can," said Victor, taking Leebeth’s trembling hands.
The old woman was taken aback but thanked him with a slightly happier expression, grateful for Victor’s willingness to help.
On the other hand, Donan, the hotelier, looked even more annoyed now. "Hump! Now the devil knows we’re talking about him out there and he’ll come after us!" With his arms crossed, he turned his face away, annoyed. "As if a mere hunter could kill a demon!"
"Donan..." Leebeth said with lowered eyebrows. "I’m sorry about my husband, he’s a bit too superstitious and pessimistic when he’s nervous."
"No, he’s right."
"What?" both Donan and Leebeth asked, astonished that Victor agreed.
"A hunter alone is little match against a demon, but maybe if I have help..." Victor put a hand to his chin and thought about it. "I think I have a better chance."
After these words, Victor thanked them for the tea and hospitality, finished putting on his cloak and left the hotel.
The owners exchanged glances, but none of them could say exactly what Victor was thinking at that moment.
Luckily, Agocester was already much busier at almost ten in the morning than it had been at a little past eight, which also meant that there would be more hunters in the Hunters’ Association building looking for missions, and if Victor’s idea worked, he would even get more money from a new mission than from the Blights’ mission.
The sky was overcast and the streets of Agocester were beginning to fill with a little more life as people went about their daily business.
Victor walked through the town until he reached the Hunters’ Association, an imposing building with a solid wooden plaque carved with the association’s emblem.
As he entered the reception, Victor noticed that the place was bustling. Several hunters of all ages, abilities and classes were there, some discussing missions, others preparing to go out on hunts.
Victor turned to the receptionist, a young woman called Ruby, and explained his situation without hesitation.
"Hi, Ruby, it’s nice to see you, I’m Victor. I’m here because I need help to deal with a demon that’s threatening Agocester. Is it possible for the association to fund a mission to hunt it down?"
Ruby looked at Victor with surprise and nervousness.
Firstly, how did this man know her name if they had never met?
Secondly, the idea of hunting a demon was something not only very strange, but absurd in this day and age, because demons were believed to have been extinct even in the age of heroes.
"Well, Mr. Victor, isn’t it? We don’t normally deal with this kind of situation in public and with such, shall we say, haste." Ruby explained, looking at the hunters behind Victor, who were curious about what exactly Victor had said. She smiled nervously and continued: "But I’ll talk to the Branch Master and see what we can do. Please wait a moment."
As Ruby made her way to the Branch Master’s office, Victor turned back and saw several of the hunters staring at him strangely, so he finally realized how loudly he had spoken and turned back to the counter to disguise himself a little.
After a few minutes, Ruby returned with a serious expression on her face.
"Victor, the Branch Master has agreed to talk to you about this proposed mission. Please go up the stairs to the third floor and go to room number 30. He’s waiting for you there."
Victor thanked Ruby and followed her instructions, climbing the stairs until he reached the third floor. Room 30 was at the end of the corridor, and Victor knocked on the door before entering.
"Come in." A resounding voice came from the other side of the door.
Upon entering the room, Victor saw a man in his thirties sitting behind a desk, with various maps and reports scattered around. He had long purple hair and his formal clothes seemed a little longer than they should have been, because the sleeve of his tunic fell down when he stood up and extended his right hand to greet Victor.
The Branch Master looked at Victor curiously. "You must be Victor, the hunter who talked about a demon with Ruby. Pleasure, I’m Stavenger."
"My pleasure."
"Sit down, please." Stavenger pointed to the chair in front of his desk. He then placed both feet on the desk and said, "Ruby told me about your proposal. To begin with, how did you find out about the local demon?"
