Barou’s face grew grim.
"So, they think we are the curse?"
"It seems Thalen has painted us as such," Riku confirmed. "And this ’Crimson Creep’... they mentioned it’s in Luxia too. That means it’s not just our local problem."
Lila’s eyes widened. "So, what did you do? Did you talk to them? They have the authority of the Crown and Church, and might be tricky to deal with."
"No time for talk," Riku said. "I’ve... persuaded them to look elsewhere for now. An illusion. They won’t find the village easily, and it might hold them off forever. But I don’t want us to be seen as someone with questionable practices. After all, I wish to increase the commercial scale of this village and slowly make a town."
"Then what do we do?" Barou asked, the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders.
"I need to go to Luxia," Riku stated. "I need to find out what this Crimson Creep really is, where it’s coming from, and how to stop it. And I need to do it before they decide Elowen is guilty and bring an army."
"Luxia?" Lila breathed deeply. "That’s the capital! It’s a long journey, and dangerous."
"I know," Riku said. "But if the curse is there too, then the source might be closer to the capital, or at least understood better there. Staying here and waiting for them to come back isn’t an option."
Lila met his gaze, her expression resolute. "I’m coming with you, Riku." There was no question in her voice, only determination.
"Well, it might be dangerous..."
Riku tried to explain, but saw Lila staring down at him with her hands crossed.
"Fine" Riku surrendered.
"What about me?" Sherry asked, stepping forward. "If this is a curse, perhaps my knowledge could be of use. And I owe Elowen a debt."
Riku looked at her, then shook his head regretfully. "Sherry, Luxia is the heart of the Church of Light. After what happened in Vintross, with your known association with the Dark Temple... it would be far too dangerous for you. Your presence alone could provoke them, regardless of our intentions. It’s better you stay here, help Barou protect the village, and keep an eye on the illusion. Your senses might detect if it’s failing."
"Of course, if you insist, then I could hide you using a spell, but I still don’t want you to face the knights and the church again directly. Not everyone is like Lysaria."
Sherry’s lips thinned as she took in Riku’s words. Soon, she nodded slowly, understanding the harsh logic.
"Well, you might be correct. I think I will stay here and continue overseeing the construction of the church."
"However, be careful, both of you. As you have already seen, the people from the church of the light are not people who you can trust. You saw what they did to the kids at Vintross."
"We will," Riku promised. He turned to Barou. "Chief, we’ll leave at first light."
"Alright then. Take care, both of you."
-------------------------------
The next morning, Lila adjusted the strap of her travel pack, turning towards Riku. "So, are you planning to use the teleporting stones once again? It would save a lot of time."
Riku shook his head, looking towards the road that led away from Elowen. "I could, yes. But I don’t want to just appear in the middle of the capital, especially not with this investigation hanging over us. We don’t know who’s watching, or what kind of detection magic they might have in place."
He met her gaze. "Besides, this ’Crimson Creep’... if Thalen and the Archon are involved, or if there’s corruption within the Church or the Chamberlain’s office that’s allowing this to spread or be misdirected, traveling the old-fashioned way might give us a chance to pick up clues. See if there are other affected areas, listen to rumors in the towns along the way. We need information, and sometimes the slow path is the most revealing."
Lila nodded, understanding. "Alright. So, a road trip it is. Just try not to attract any more divine interventions, okay?" she added with a small, teasing smile.
Riku chuckled. "I’ll do my best. No promises."
Barou stepped forward, his expression serious. "You two be careful. Luxia is a different beast than Vintross. More power, more politics, more hidden dangers." He clasped Riku’s shoulder. "Keep Lila safe, lad."
"I will, Chief," Riku assured him.
Sherry offered a small, intricately woven charm made of dark threads. "For protection against ill-will and prying eyes," she said quietly, pressing it into Lila’s hand. "It’s not much, but it might help."
"Thank you, Sherry," Lila said, touched by the gesture. She looked at her father, then at Sherry, and finally at the sleeping village. "We’ll be back. And we’ll sort this out."
With final farewells, Riku took the reins, and with a soft click, the carriage began to roll forward, leaving the hidden sanctuary of Elowen behind as they embarked on the uncertain road to Luxia.
---------------------
For the first few hours, Riku and Lila maintained an easy chatter, discussing their plans for Luxia, speculating on the nature of the Crimson Creep, and sharing stories from Elowen. Lila, despite the gravity of their mission, seemed to relish the adventure, her eyes bright as she pointed out landmarks or commented on the changing scenery.
As midday approached, however, the initial excitement waned, replaced by the gentle monotony of travel. Lila, lulled by the warmth of the sun and the rhythmic sway of the carriage, eventually leaned her head against the side panel and drifted off to sleep, her breathing soft and even.
Riku, who was piloting the horses, glanced at her, a faint smile touching his lips. He stopped for a bit and adjusted her blanket to cover her better, then turned his attention back to the road. His thoughts, however, turned inward. With Lila asleep and the road quiet, it was a perfect opportunity to explore the newly upgraded system.
System, show me the Proto-Crafting Package options, he thought.