Engeve ~ How do we get home now?
"This must be Engeve." Elena said as she and Damon entered the town.
"Huh," a man addressed them "you folks traveling on foot?"
"You got a problem with that?" Damon asked challengingly.
"No, I just mean, with the bandits and monsters and all, most people come by coach." The man explained.
"Could I ask you something? How can we get from here to Kimlasca?" Elena asked.
"I heard Rotelro Bridge is out, so you'd have to head to the Kaitzur checkpoint in the south." He replied.
"Thank you." Elena thanked.
"No problem. Bye!" The man waved leaving.
"A checkpoint." Damon mused "We won't be able to get through without passports. This could be a problem..."
"It'll be fine." Elena reassured "If I say I'm Duke Gilbert's daughter, they'll let us through in no time. But right now, I want to check this place out! This is my first time in a city!" Elena said looking around the city longingly.
"A city...?" Damon asked questioningly but then sighed "Well, I suppose we do need to prepare a bit before we leave. Let's stay the night here."
"Some town this is. I bet they don't even have a decent place to sleep." Damon commented.
"Do you do anything besides complain?" Elena frowned.
"All I want is a decent bed and decent food! What's wrong with that? With Rotelro Bridge out, we won't be getting back to Baticul anytime soon. You may not be able to find your kind of meal for a while."
"Never thought I'd be homesick for the food back at the manor..." Elena sighed.
"Look," Damon explained "Nobody's forcing you to stay at the inn here. If you'll prefer, we can leave right away and sleep on the ground after nightfall."
Elena paused "O-on the ground? No-no way. Anything's better than that. No more complaints from me."
Damon paused thinking 'Wasn't I the one complaining?'
"Well, then let's go." He said not bothering to bring it up.
"I want to go home..." Elena sighed.
"Boy, this place sure looks..." Elena paused looking for the right word "...poor."
"How so?" Damon asked curiously.
"Well, look, there're no mansions or anything, and all the roofs look like they've got fur growing on them. And look at all the animals wandering around." Elena paused looking around "Doesn't that bother anyone?"
"No." Damon shrugged "It's a farming village. They raise crops and livestock. It's what they do. Everyone looks like they're enjoying themselves. I don't see anything poor about it."
"Oh, okay... " Elena nodded "I thought this was, like, a village of gardeners or something for a while there. So I guess they're working in the "primary industries," or whatever."
"I suppose you could say that." Damon nodded walking ahead of her. Elena rolled her eyes and continued walking.
Elena paused something catching her attention "Wow, these apples look good."
Elena reached down, taking an apple and biting into it.
"Ma'am! You need to pay!" The owner addressed.
"Why do I have to pay?" Elena asked naively.
"You can't just take a store's products without paying!" Damon exclaimed.
"But the manor pays for everything all at once. ..." Elena pouted "Oh, wait, this is Malkuth." She remembered.
"Malkuth OR Kimlasca, the normal way to shop at a store is to pay"money for what you buy when you buy it." Damon lectured.
"I haven't got any money on me." Elena worried.
"You have the money the monsters dropped." Damon exclaimed.
Elena nodded suddenly remembering "Oh. Yeah. It's not gold so I had forgotten all about it."
"Hey!" The owner said "If you're not going to pay, I'm going to have you arrested!"
"Nobody said anything about not paying!" Damon said defending Elena. Elena nodded determinedly.
"So, uh, how does this work?" She asked with an uneasy smile.
"All right, let's explain how shops work..." Damon sighed thinking 'I can't believe he doesn't know how to shop at a store. Are all aristocrats like this?'
Elena and Damon headed to the inn and saw a crowd in front of the building.
"Nothing... " a women sighed "Every last scrap of food in the storehouse has been stolen."
"This has happened time and time again since those fires up north. You think maybe some deserters hiding out up there have started to come here looking for food?" A man suggested.
"Or it could be the work of the Dark Wings, too." Another man suggested.
"It's just food." Elena muttered "Would those Dark Wings guys really bother to steal that?"
"What do you mean, "just food?!"" The women in front shouted hearing her "In this village, food is the most valuable thing there is!"
"So someone stole it-just go buy some more." Elena shrugged.
"What?! We break our backs all year tending these fields!" A man yelled.
"Hey, I just heard Kelly's place got hit by a food thief, too..."
"It's you!" The owner said pointing at Elena "So, you didn't just steal from me, you were at it over here, too, huh?!"
"What...? You're the one who raided my storehouse?!"
"They say the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime."
"Are you calling me a thief?!" Elena said appalled.
"You tried to steal an apple from me!" The owner exclaimed.
"That's it." Kelly yelled "I'm taking you to the authorities!"
"Damon!" Elena said hoping the man would help her. Damon shrugged hiding a smile.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"Rose, we've got trouble!" Kelly said walking into the home and dragging Elena behind her.
"Hush!" Rose shushed "We've got an important guest from the military here. Calm down!"
"How can we be calm?!" Kelly exclaimed "We caught her! We caught the girl stealing food!"
"I'm telling you, it wasn't me!" Elena defended.
"Rose! This girl may be with the Dark Wings!"
"She's got to be responsible for all the food getting stolen lately!"
"I'm telling you people, I'm not your thief! Do I look like I'm going hungry to you?!" Elena exclaimed.
" My, what a lively girl. Let's all just settle down first, all right?" Rose calmed.
"Yes, please do." A man said walking in.
"Colonel..." Rose said longingly.
"Who are you?" Elena asked.
"I'm Colonel Klaus Mikealson, Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces." Klaus introduced "And who might you be?"
Elena stood up "Elena! Elena Gil-
"Elena!" Damon said barging in and grabbing the girl's arm.
"What's your problem? Elena whispered.
" Have you forgotten?" Damon asked in a whisper "This is enemy territory. Your father, Duke Gilbert, is one of Malkuth's greatest enemies. Don't use your name so casually."
"Oh. Really?"
"Yes. There are plenty of people here who've had family killed by your father. You don't want any unnecessary trouble, do you?" Damon asked.
Damon pushed Elena behind him and addressed the Colonel.
"My apologies, Colonel. She's Elena, I'm Damon. We were headed for Chesedonia, but we boarded the wrong coach and wound up here."
"Oh?" Klaus noted "So you're with this girl suspected of being with the Dark Wings?"
"We're not with the Dark Wings. The Malkuth military forced the real Dark Wings to the other side of Rotelro Bridge." Damon explained.
" Ah...I see. So you were on that coach from earlier." Klaus realized.
"What is all this about, Colonel?" Rose asked.
"Just as Damon said, a group of bandits thought to be the Dark Wings fled toward Kimlasca. I can assure you that these two are not with them."
A blonde man then walked in "They don't appear to be mere food thieves, either." He noted.
"Fon Master Mattew..." Klaus addressed.
"I was a bit curious, so I investigated the food storehouse. I found this in a corner of the room." Matt shrugged.
Matt handed something to Rose.
"This is fur from a sacred cheagle." Rose realized.
"Yes." Nodded Matt "A cheagle is what probably raided your food stores."
"See!" Elena nodded "I told you I wasn't a thief!"
"But you did eat that apple before paying." Damon warned "You need to learn not to do things that'll make you look suspicious.
"How was I supposed to know?" Shrugged Elena "I didn't know I had to pay."
"Well, sounds like that takes care of that" Klaus smirked "I think you all have something to say to this girl and her friend?"
"..I'm sorry." Kelly apologized "With all the burglaries lately, I've been a little on edge."
"Sorry for accusing you."
"I'm sorry I made the situation worse."
"Do you think you could forgive them, girl?" Rose asked.
"I'm not a girl"
"I'm sorry. Elena," Rose exclaimed "Could we let bygones be bygones?"
"Sure." Shrugged Elena.
"Glad to hear it." Rose nodded "Now, I have business with the Colonel. I'll think of a way to stop the cheagles, so all of you just go on home for today."
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"Why is Fon Master Mathew here..." Damon mumbled.
"Fon Master Mathew?" Elena questioned.
"The supreme leader of the Order of Lorelei." Damon explained.
"Hey, wait a minute." Elena paused " I heard Matt was missing. Master Alaric said he was returning home to look for him!"
"Really?" Damon asked " That's news to me. I wonder what's going on... He didn't look like he was being held captive."
" I'll go ask him." Elena said turning around. Damon grabbed her arm.
"Stop. They seemed to be in the middle of an important discussion. Let's come back tomorrow."
"Why do I have to follow your orders?" Pouted Elena. "That business about Matt xis really bugging me. I really should've asked when I had the chance... "
"No need to rush it. You'll have a chance to talk to him tomorrow. Let's get some rest at the inn for now."
Elena sighed but followed Damon none the less.
"Have you seen the person I was with?! A boy, blonde? Kind of out of it?" A young man asked Kelly.
"Sorry, I was away from the inn for a little while..." Kelly replied.
"Honestly, that Matt!" The guy shook his head "Where did he run off to?"
"Matt?" Elena repeated "Mathew? You mean Fon Master Mathew?"
"If you're looking for Matt he was over at Rose's place." Elena explained.
"Really?!" The guy said with wide eyes "Thank you!" On that note he attempted to leave the inn but Damon blocked his way.
"Hey, wait a second. What's the Fon Master doing here?" Damon questioned
"I heard he was missing." Elena added.
"Are there rumors like that floating around?!" The guy groaned "I have to tell Matt!" He ran out of the inn.
" Hey! ...Humph. He didn't answer my question." Huffed Damon.
"Who was that?" Elena asked curiously
"He looks like a Fon Master Guardian, so I assume Matt's journey is officially recognized by the Order of Lorelei."
" A Fon Master Guardian?"
"They're Matt's personal guard, a special force within the Oracle Knights. They accompany him on all official business."
"That guy is one of Master Alaric's soldiers, huh" Elena realized "What was up with Matt being "missing"? I'm gonna be so mad if that was just a mistake!"
Damon rolled his eyes changing the subject "That Klaus guy really got on my nerves." Frowned Damon.
"I thought he was quite proper for a military officer addressing civilians." Elena shrugged.
"Colonel Klaus, though... I know I've heard that name somewhere." Damon scratched his head.
"Sorry about earlier. You can stay here free tonight. It's the least I can do." Kelly explained.
"Tomorrow, we'll head for the Kaitzur checkpoint. With the bridge out, that's the only way back to Baticul. We also have to do something about passports..." Damon explained as they entered the room.
"I can't stand it. I can't just leave like this!" Elena sighed.
"Unbelievable. Are you still mad?" Damon asked.
"Of course! They called me a thief!" Elena paused "Hey, do you know what cheagles are? They called them "sacred".,
"They're herbivores that live in the woodlands of the East Rugnica Plains. They're one of the symbols of the Order of Lorelei, along with the Order's founder, Yulia. Their forest is just north of this village, actually." Damon explained.
"We're going there tomorrow." Elena decided.
"To do what?"
Elena smiled "To clear my name."
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
""Zzz..." Elena was fast asleep.
"For all her whining, she sure sleeps soundly enough. Just like a perfectly ordinary girl..." Damon noted.
"Zzz...mmm?" Elena opened her eyes "Whoa! Wh-what are you staring at me for?!"
"I didn't mean to wake you."
Elena rolled her eyes shoving her head back into her pillow "Whatever."
Damon woke up to see Elena writing in something.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"H-hey! Don't look!" Elena blushed.
"I'm just curious."
"Okay then," Elena sighed "I have to do this every day."
"Do what?" Damon questioned getting up.
"Well...don't laugh, but...it's a diary."
"Oh. That's great." Damon said as he stretched.
"You're not gonna laugh at me?" Elena asked.
"Why? There's nothing to laugh about. Though I didn't exactly think you were the type to keep a diary."
"I'm not doing it because I want to." Elena defended.
"Then why?"
"The doctors make me do it, just in case I get amnesia again." Elena explained. Damon's eyes widened as he became alarmed.
"What?" Elena asked.
"Nothing," Huffed Damon "Keep it up, okay?"
"W-whatever."
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
"Cheagle Woods is north of Engeve, right?" Elena asked skipping along next to Damon.
"Are you really going? You've been cleared of suspicion." Damon asked "Why bother? Do you think there's anything that can actually prove the cheagles are at fault?"
"Damon," Elena exclaimed "I decided to go, and that's that!"
"You're hopeless." Damon deduced. Elena groaned as she hurried ahead into Cheagle Woods.