Half an hour after the group had left, Clara left the house with a carrying basket and looked around the village. Clara hadn't set a foot out the door since Olberic had carried her into his house from the streets. Olberic had asked her not to leave the house yet, but she felt she needed some fresh air. So she thought to herself, Olberic wouldn't mind a little walk ...

So she came to the marketplace, where everyone seemed to recognize her as the "survivor". At almost every stand they gave her something. Fruit, vegetables, even a fish ... She accepted everything gratefully, although it was also a shame for her to have to accept alms. Her basket was filled to the top when she returned to the house. She had to put the basket down a few times on the way because it was so heavy for her and she had to take a break. Well, back in the house she sat down for a few minutes and took a breather. Then she cleared the basket and thought about what to cook out of it. She had even been given a small bag of rice. From this she was able to prepare a delicious menu. She pushed the chair that had been by the bed for a while back to the table across from the bed. Then she took a cutting board and knife from the kitchen cupboard and began washing, peeling, and chopping the vegetables. Then she tossed the vegetables with some oil in the pan over the fireplace. Then she cooked the rice. Last but not least, the fish came into the pan. It was already getting dark when Clara had finished eating. But she wanted to wait a little longer before dining. She was hoping to have dinner with Olberic.

It seemed like an eternity to Olberic before they got back to the journey. He was totally exhausted and really only wanted one thing: sleep. His companions said goodbye to the inn while he went home. Before he opened the door he sighed exhausted. But he decided not to show Clara how exhausted he was. He raised his head and then opened the door. When he entered, he was smelled by such a delicious smell that he actually felt his spirits awakening again. Clara was hunched over the stove and was draping a plate of food when he entered. Clara's head turned to him and she greeted him with a beaming smile.

"Welcome back! I'm sure you're hungry," said Clara. She waved him in. After Olberic had closed the door behind him and put down his traveling coat, he stepped up to Clara, who put the plate directly into his hand.

"Where did you get the fish and the vegetables and ..." he asked.

"I went for a walk. I got all of this from the people in the village. They seem to be very nice people."

Olberic's face twisted into an angry look: "Didn't I tell you to stay in the house ?!" he began angrily.

"Yes, I know, but ... I can't sit in the house forever and besides ... I rarely listened to instructions. But now, sit down and eat, otherwise it will be cold.", Clara said to one of them mischievous grin.

He was about to sit down on the floor again when Clara waved: "No, no, at the table, please, we're not in the Stone Age."

Only now did Olberic notice that the chair that had been by the bed for some time was now back at the table where it belonged. Olberic went to the table, put down his plate and took a stool from a corner: "But only if the lady does me the honor of dining with me at a table."

He put the stool on the table across from the chair and sat on it. Clara laughed softly and then sat down on the chair opposite the knight with her full dinner plate.

After a "Bon appetit!" the two began to eat. Olberic had almost forgotten how hungry he was and was just shoveling it into himself. Clara watched him with a smile for a moment, until Olberic interrupted and looked up at her. Clara couldn't help but laugh. That puzzled look from Olberic was so weird ...

Olberic cleared his throat and then sat up a little straighter. He remembered his table manners again, which Clara must have been able to laugh so heartily about. He hadn't seen Clara laugh yet. He smiled slightly, because he liked the laughing Clara much better than the depressed one.

After they had finished they had a drink together, while Clara asked him: "So what did you find out?"

"Your village elder did well to forbid the villagers from entering the cave. There were incredibly strong and cruel monsters there. At the end of the cave we met the leader of the rats who drove you here," explained Olberic. Clara froze and seemed to remember that terrible scene again.

"We killed him with great effort. However ... This rat was so huge and fat ... I can't imagine how it led the force.", Olberic continued, "After we had defeated it, found Cyrus a note with a script unknown to us. He wants to go to Dusk Barrow in an underground library to translate what is written on the note. "

Clara had listened in silence, then thought for a moment and asked: "Do you want to accompany him?"

"Cyrus? I think so. After all, I'm indirectly involved in the story," said Olberic.

Then Clara suddenly jumped from the chair and hit the table with her hands: "Let me come with you!"

"W-What ?! Are you forsaken by all good spirits? This is a very long journey for you. I cannot answer for that.", Olberic said.

"But ... I'm directly involved. I want to know who did that and why our village was wiped out," said Clara.

"I'll find out for you. It's too dangerous for you," said Olberic.

"But you can protect me," said Clara in a pleading tone.

"Yes, but it also weakens me. If I have to take care of you, the monsters can take advantage of that by overcoming my neglected cover.", Olberic explained.

"What if you teach me?"

"Wherein?"

"In battle."

"In such a short time? Cyrus wants to leave as soon as possible. I can't teach you everything I know in two days.", Olberic explained.

"But the most important thing?" Asked Clara.

Olberic thought about it. He saw the determination in Clara's eyes. She didn't want to be dissuaded from coming. And like she said, she didn't give much to orders ... that should be difficult. Unless...

"Well, on one condition," he said finally.

Clara jumped up jubilantly until she remembered the condition the knight wanted to set: "Which would be there?"

"You will do what I tell you. Without arguing, without rushing ahead headlessly. If I say run, then you will run. Got it?" Said Olberic, crossing his arms.

"Yes I do," said Clara, although she had no idea what kind of trouble she was getting with these three words ...