As Day replace the Night, Dart rubs his eyes to remove the blur but it was a mistake because Maddie was in front of him with a creepy smile on her face and hands on her back causing him to jump in fright. Dart stood up and Maddie backs off a bit but kept the creepy smile. Dart calms down and regain his composure.
"HHey Dart" she said in a somewhat normal tone
"Good Morning Miss Maddie" he said innocently causing Maddie to blush hard
"M-M-Miss? that sounds nice" she whispered to herself then giggles
"What bring you here today?"
"O-oh j-just wanted to visit...to check if you were alright for what happened yesterday, ehehe" she shyly answered while poking her finger tips together
"Huh?" he said confused while pointing at her fingers "what are you doing with your fingers?"
Maddie got flustered and hide her hands behind her in embarrassment and also looks away
"N-nothing"
Dart just shrugs at her gestures and picks up his cloak and the music box. He quickly hid the box him then covers it by wearing his cloak. Maddie was shock beyond belief that the music box is here again but no only it's fixed but it looks like didn't have any signs that it was repaired. she was about to confront Dart about but he quickly disappeared like he wasn't there.
Dart wonders around the town and seeing the people giving him dirty looks and some tried to throw fruit at him but stops halfway and just left. He sighs in sadness and continues walking. he finds himself in front of the town hall and nervously walk up inside the building. Heading inside, frogs, newts and toads working and running around to their superior with chatter fills the atmosphere. He walks up to the counter and a light orange newt with a dark green circular hat.
"Welcome to Wartwood Town hall! My name is Bella and the mayor's secretary. What can i do for today?" she introduce with enthusiasm and a sweet smile
"Hi and inquire about this person" he asked and pulls a picture of his Master who is a Tall Bulky Newt with a icy look on his face
"Hmmmm...he doesn't ring any bells though but i would suggest to ask around the locals you may have better chance or i could copy this photo"
"i'll would be fine, i'll just ask around. thank you for your time Miss Bella" he nods
Bella says her goodbye as he left the town hall. he asks around the town for his mentor have been in town to no results. he depressingly sighs for the no progress he able to get in the search. to keep his mind off the day , he asked the residents of the town for a job to which he get some delivery to other stores in the town which he accepts. After a few deliveries to stores, he got paid for his work and goes to Stumpy's for a nice meal.
After the meal, he kept wondering around and ask for have they seen his mentor to which get a small lead which he beamed happily that got one. he got from a one eye accordion player saying he visited the museum then left. he thanks him to which freaked the one eyed frog and speeds off.
"this town really weird"
Minutes of walking and he reaches the museum. he inside the museum and it's just filled with mystical creatures and taxidermy statues. the museum sparse of people taking pictures. he walks around the hall filled with history until he saw a corner filled with history of a person with twigs and leaves on her hair and a statue on the middle and etching on plate says "ANNE BOONCHUY - MY BEST FRIEND". before he could enter, Sprig hops on his face causing Dart to panic and screaming.
"AHHHHHHHHH!" Dart runs around frantically while prying off Sprig
He stops running and just pry him off as he stands. After a few tugs, he removes Sprig then gently puts him down
"Dart! Good to see ya" He say with a big smile
"Why did you do that?" He asked with a scared look on his face
"oh just a thing" he said with most natural tone
Dart look at him with a weird face and Sprig just stood there innocently for a solid minute until Sprig cough to break the atmosphere
"Anyway, what brings you here?" he asked
Dart shakes off the look and he regains his composure "Oh, i'm gonna ask have you talk with this Newt" he then pulls out his photo the Newt
Sprig takes the photo and examine it for a bit and nodded after "Yeah, apparently he asked where toad tower is and i told him is to the east from here"
"anything else?"
"Hmmm nope, just wanted the location of it. Pretty sketchy but it's practically normal around here"
"Okay thanks Sprig. i'm just goin-" He was just about the leave until Sprig grabs his wrist, stopping him
"I'd advice not going at this time" he then pulls out a strange device and puts up a picture of the surrounding area "the mountains are impenetrable by this time of year...wait i heard this before"
"Hmmm that is a problem but i'm guessing it'll be a couple months then" he spoke out
"yeah i've heard of this before but" he hop up on the shoulder of Dart "who is this guy anyway?"
"this person is a important but his name is Beet Hyacinth and his one who trained when i was just a little war orphan" he said melancholic and looking down on his feet. Sprig then hops down from his shoulder
"Then his better that you in your sword moves huh?" Sprig asked
"He is, when ever he has his sword. he make look like his dancing with the sword"
"Woah! that awesome!" he said with delight then suddenly some yelled
"AMBUSH!" as a yellow blur tackled Sprig which he didn't even mind.
"Hey Honey" he said while he kissed her cheek
"hey to you too" she comment as he helps Sprig up and a little tadpole hops on his shoulder
"Hey Daddy!"
"Hey Leif" he greets as the tadpole giggles cutely
"What up with Dart?" Ivy asked
"he just to asked about toad tower but with the condition and all he has to stay" Sprig explained
"Toad Tower? wait it's that newt is it?"
"yep and get this, it's Dart's mentor!" Sprig said enthusiasm causing Ivy to be surprise and Leif excited
"OH MY FROG!"
"hehe it's true" he said humbly
"that so cool! having kick butt mentor then huh, Dart?"
"Well..." he flustered "his not the best"
"oh come don't be modest but if you have to go in two months at least get you acquainted with people here"
"not really bad idea but i'll keep my distance for now" he said
"Well it's your choice but if need any money we have some jobs for you" Ivy said
"that would be nice" he said while smiling innocently
"i wanna play with Dart" Leif asked
"Leif, i don't think Dart would pla-"
"Sure i'll play" he interrupted Ivy which surprised her and Sprig
"YAY!" he hop up excitedly as Dart picks him up and head out of museum
"That happened..."
They stood there few minutes until fly passes them and Sprig eats it "Wanna check them out?"
"Sure" Ivy agreed as hey head out of the museum and checks on Dart and Leif
As they leave the museum, they saw Dart playing with Leif like a child which didn't match because his an adult but he acts like a child which worry Sprig and Ivy but didn't intervene and just watch them play. Couple of hours later, Leif slept on Dart's arms while Dart rocks him asleep. Ivy and Sprig came up and he hands them Leif as he dusted himself off and stands up.
"That was fun" he said with satisfaction while Sprig and Ivy looked worried
"Yeah...look Dart is their something your not telling us? i mean we know you're the Slayer but what happened in your past?" Sprig worryingly asked
Dart looked away conflicted but mustered the courage to sigh as he sat down again "i-i can't tell you guys for now but let's just say my sword was not like this"
He pulls out his weapon and unsheathe puts it parallel to the scabbard which Sprig and Ivy inspect the blade which surprised them because it like any other blade they've seen
"this sword is forge by a legendary blacksmith. its reversed for a reason" he stated
"so that's why we didn't see any blood..."
"Let's just say, it's a life i wouldn't wish upon anyone" he said as he puts it back scabbard then puts it on his side as he stood up and looked on the horizon with a morbid look then instantly change he looks at them "but could tell me about the creature in there?" he asked with an innocent smile.
Sprig and Ivy looked at each other for a bit then nodded with smile as they head back to the museum and head to the corner to where the Anne Boonchuy statue. as he wonders the corner and seeing all the memorabilia with description on the side from what is it to and when it was made. A particular one caught his eye, diorama of the musical box with detailed description on each but one thing was there is the Gems that occupied on the top. He hums at the information, he then got interrupted by Sprig, who tells him about a story of there adventures with Anne which he got intrigued and listen intently but kept in mind of the gems on the box.