“I am still the fiancée until two weeks ago, the uncouth guards denied us to even meet my fiancé. Like my manservant had told you, a strange atmosphere had descended on that manor. I was so heartbroken by it, I secluded and recluse myself for days.”

She put her right elbow on the table while she looked forlornly at the space in front her. Hervan nodded sadly in response.

Zecruix sat while keeping a blank expression. The fact that these two were lamenting their problem to him, a stranger, made him feel suspicious.

The woman then looked sideway at Zecruix with a determined expression.

“Anyway, I got over it in just three days ago, I felt that there was something wrong but I couldn’t place what was it but I just know something was!”

Her right arm was still on the table as she looked upward with a vexed expression.

The manservant, Hervan, smiled timidly from the corner.

As though they were waiting for a reaction, Zecruix still maintained a blank expression because he felt that these two were acting and if they were, it was really good in a sense.

Vaneri sighed and looked at Zecruix with a bittersweet smile.

“I know it’s hard to believe but believe it or not, we need all the help we could get. We have some help from the local and we know you’re not from here since this village is small enough for everyone to know everyone. The fact that you approached the manor on your own initiative means you’re a mercenary or something related as such.”

Vaneri took a piece of paper out of the right pocket of her pant and gave it to Zecruix. Zecruix took it and immediately discern it.

It was an address to a place and the direction to get there.

“Come to this place if you want to hear more detail. Hervan and I will start our plan tonight, you should decide as soon as possible.”

For some reason, Zecruix felt uneasy because the whole thing sounded shady but they were the only people he sees that are potential employer as of now.

“…Give me some time? The latest is by tonight right?”

“Yes but you better decide quickly because we might have all that we need by then.”

Vaneri teased Zecruix who still sported a blank expression.

“We’ll take our leave to prepare and gather some more help for the rest of the day, Come Hervan.”

Vaneri got up and with a smile, bowed towards Zecruix. Hervan did the same.

Now Zecruix was alone as he sat at the table. He took some time to process all the information that he had received this morning.

It was approaching midday when he had enough of thinking. He decided that if he still has insufficient information and means, he would pay a visit to the address. Shady or not, it was still a chance that he rather not miss and investigate.

As of now, He felt hungry, so he ordered something to eat in the diner.

As he waits for his order, he stares at the entrance looking at the customers of diner going in and out.

It was then she had entered. They had just met this morning and now it was the second time.

It was Volkara, in plain clothes.

Upon seeing her again made Zecruix’s heart skipped a beat.

He felt heat as blood rushed on his face and instantly he averted his stare and tried to hide away.

After a few seconds-

“excu-”

“YES!?”

-He blurted out loudly. After he did that, he looked around him and noticed that everyone sitting nearby was looking at him. From the entrance, Volkara who were speaking to one of the waitresses was now looking at him too.

Embarrassed, he quickly took the denurs out and proffered them to the waitress. The waitress, slightly perplexed, put his lunch on the table and took the denurs while saying ‘thank you’ and promptly left.

He kept his eyes downward on the lunch and starts to eat it nervously. Inside, he prayed to whatever weapons or heroes that she wouldn’t greet him after such blunder.

A few seconds later…

“Zecruix?”

Volkara was beside him. Upon hearing that, he stopped eating and rigidly turned towards her.

Volkara, in plain clothes and with her untied blond hair flows freely on her right shoulder, looked quite feminine.

“Greeting, what brings you here?”

“It’s my off-duty time, so I went here to finish my personal errand. What a coincidence meeting you here.”

She looked at the empty seat on the table and gestured by tilting her head at the seat.

“May I sit there?”