The place felt eerie and Cygnus could feel a dark presence in there. It was in every corner of that dark alley. He suddenly felt nauseous so even before they could start investigating, he left the alley to catch some air a few meters away from it.
Hwaquin looked at him but he did not say anything. He continued to look around the alley and looked behind the woods and boxes that were piled in there.
He kept on rummaging around until he discovered something under a box at the innermost corner of the ally. It was a little bit difficult to see but he was sure that it was something the mages called a magic circle.
"What is it?" Cygnus came up behind them and slightly bent to look at what the other was looking at.
"Do you feel good now?" Hwaquin asked without looking back. He brushed the dust that was partially covering the magic circle.
"Yeah, I'm a little bit fine now. That's undoubtedly a magic circle and it's not a circle that I have seen before." He crouched down beside the man and stared intently at what they uncovered. He repeatedly shook his head even though in reality that magic circle was very familiar with him. "Yeah, never seen that before."
Hwaquin stood up and patted his clothes before he looked around again, "Alright, Sir Rigel, I suggest that we quickly visit the other areas and look if a magic circle like that is present at those places as well."
Cygnus has no complaints about it so they immediately left and visited the other areas in succession to finally conclude that those magic circles must have something to do with the incident. After doing their rounds, they returned to the inn and waited for the others to arrive.
"Why do you always look like you're about to throw up when we are investigating those areas?" Hwaquin asked after they arrived at the inn and just entered the door.
"Oh that, I don't know, I think all magic users would feel that after visiting those areas. The dark magic in those areas is really saturated and it has a foul stench to it," Cygnus answered.
The soldier looked at him, "Alright so, you are just sensitive with other magic is that it?"
"Well basically yes," Cygnus answered. After that, they both fell into silence and found an empty table in the dining area where they sat down.
"How did your investigation do, master?" Mr. C came up to their table and brought some tea and snacks.
"It went well I guess." Cygnus picked up the cup of tea and naturally drank from it then he picked up a cookie and ate it. He then realized that the other was only looking at him. "What's the matter? Aren't you going to eat?"
Hwaquin only stared at him then at the butler who stood behind Cgynus. "You are actually from a noble family, right?"
Cygnus stopped mid-air with a cookie still in his hands while the butler raised an eyebrow from where he was standing. The master sighed as he returned the cookie in the plate.
Cygnus chuckled and shook his head, "Sir Hwaquin, you are a terrible guesser. I am not from any noble family. Well, yes, my family has some money but we cannot be compared to the nobles." He explained but the man's gaze lingered on Mr. C. "We only managed to hire him because he is willing and he can be considered a part of our family."
Hwaquin did not answer and only nodded before he too picked up the cup of tea that was served for him. His eyes widened then he looked down at the tea that tasted nothing like he had ever tasted before. Without hesitation, he ate one cookie and like a child, his eyes started to sparkle.
"Do you like it?" Cygnus was smiling while looking at how the man was eating the cookies with delight.
"Well, these cookies are good and even the tea tasted better than the ones I had before." Hwaquin nodded although it doesn't always show in his face. He was actually delighted with these simple things because he did not have them before he became a soldier.
"What's so good about a cookie and tea served by a commoner?" a sharp voice came from the entrance of the inn. Astrophos with his partner entered with the Grand Mage looking too tired. The soldier with him was also scowling and gave them a glare.
Cgynus ignored the man instead, "That's a recipe from our small bakeshop back at Moonvale and the tea is a secret that only my butler knew."
Hwaquin nodded as he also ignored his fellow soldier. He continued to drink and eat without giving the other a glance and so did Cygnus. The butler also pretended that he did not exist.
The man became indignant at how he was being treated, "Tsk, you really think that all of you have the power just because you can use magic! Ridiculous, all these commoners acting like noble people just because they can use a little magic."
"Will you stop it already? Why do you keep throwing tantrums, if you can't bear to be working with commoners like us, then leave. I'll let the lieutenant know." Astrophos was already losing his patience fast and he did not forget that the master was here. If this man continued to talk like he did before a few hours ago, then he might lose his life in the future.
The Grand Mage slightly looked at the master then returned his gaze at the soldier who was acting like a child. A 'thump' sounded in the inn as the cup in Cygnus's hands was placed heavily on the table.
"If you don't stop speaking such nonsense, then you will inevitably face death faster than any of us in here," he lifted his head and looked at the complaining man, "haven't you heard of the saying that all who talk too much dies early?"
This retort further irritated the soldier and without warning, he walked up to Cygnus intending to teach him a lesson. He stretched his hand in an attempt to pull the other's collar but before he could reach his target, his arm was tightly seized.
Mr. C squeezed the hand as he gave the impudent man a glare. "If you want to continue living, I suggest that you take a step back and better yet leave." He then leaned forward near the man, "Because believe it or not, I can kill you right here, right now and not even the major can stop me."
The incensed soldier pulled his arm and also glowered at Mr. C. He felt fear but it was only there for a while. His pride as a noble was still much more dominant than any emotion he had right now. "Don't think that this is the end. I will remember this day," he growled.
The butler fixed his posture and returned to his stoic self after giving the other a warning. Astrophos also came to stand in between the butler and the man. "What do you think you are doing? If you are dissatisfied with me, you should have told us before this investigation started. And now you are going around threatening people."
"Sir Ignus, this conduct is unbecoming of your status. If you continue with this kind of attitude, I will inform the lieutenant." Hwaquin, who also stood up because of the commotion issued a warning.
Even with these words of warning, Ignus was still unwilling to let go. He still looked at them darkly, "Tsk another commoner. Go ahead then and tell that lieutenant for all I care!"
