Chapter 102: The Old Woman’s Secret
Cassandra, Haina’s mother, seemed perceptive. She noticed their curiosity about her unusual attire. Few people covered themselves so completely, leaving only one hand and one eye visible.
“Heroes, I apologize for not removing my scarf. I suffered some injuries in the past, leaving unsightly scars. I usually dress like this,” Cassandra explained. “Please forgive my rudeness, but I don’t want to upset you with my appearance.”
“It’s alright,” Flora said gently. “We’re sorry to hear about your injuries, but please don’t worry. We won’t judge you based on your appearance.”
“Yes, please don’t be concerned. Let’s have dinner together,” Abyss said, nodding. He wasn’t afraid of seeing her scars. As a necromancer, he had witnessed all manner of gruesome injuries. Cassandra’s scars, no matter how disfiguring, couldn’t possibly compare to the horrific deaths he had seen.
“Thank you for your understanding,” Cassandra said, bowing slightly. She was polite and well-mannered, her speech and her gestures refined, although her clothes were simple, not befitting a noble. Perhaps she had served a noble family in her youth, receiving etiquette training.
Leona had explored the town with Abyss earlier, but unlike him, who was simply observing the townspeople, she had been focused on locating establishments that served food. She knew every restaurant and tavern in Shodo Town.
Thus, she volunteered to lead them to a suitable dining place, her exceptional memory, unburdened by complex spells or alchemical formulas, having effortlessly memorized a map of the town during their earlier walk. They arrived at a tavern without taking a single wrong turn.
Food was scarce in Shodo Town. The townspeople weren’t starving, but they weren’t feasting either. Even this tavern mainly served beer to weary workers, its food offerings limited to vegetables and bread. The meat had been donated to the Restoration Army, ensuring the soldiers had enough to eat. All resources were collected and distributed by the town elders, every contribution carefully recorded by the governor, to be repaid with interest from the national treasury after the war.
They found a large table, and Leona ordered their meals, placing a glass of cloudy beer before each of them. Dinner commenced.
Abyss, feeling hungry, took a large bite of his bread, then washed it down with a gulp of bitter beer. He turned to Cassandra. “Mrs. Cassandra, I’m curious, why did you make such an arduous journey to Oakning? Was it simply to see your daughter, or do you have other business here?”
“Haina is grown now. I trust her to protect herself, to fulfill her duties as a member of the princess’s Royal Guard. I’m not worried about her safety,” Cassandra said, gently stroking Haina’s cheek with her left hand. “To be honest, I came to Oakning to deliver some information to Her Highness. Some of it can be shared publicly, but some of it must be conveyed to her personally.”
“Doesn’t the princess already have an intelligence network?” Leona asked, biting into a steaming potato. “Are you an intelligence agent, Mrs. Cassandra?”
“No, she’s not,” Haina explained. “My mother used to be a maid in the palace. She served Princess Givia and is incredibly loyal to her. Her devotion inspired me to join the Royal Guard’s training program at a young age.”
“I see. You served Princess Givia,” Leona said, nodding. “I wish you good health, Mrs. Cassandra. Such unwavering loyalty is rare these days.”
“It’s nothing, really. I’m simply doing my duty,” Cassandra said, waving her hand dismissively. “I served Princess Givia because it was my job. Now I help her because I’m a citizen of the Ossi Kingdom. I don’t want our kingdom to fall into Kevin’s hands. If he truly gains control, Ossi might be destroyed.”
“Ah, I understand,” Leona said, taking a sip of her beer. “You’re saying Kevin is incompetent and tyrannical, and he doesn’t care about his kingdom. If he continues to rule, it could lead to disaster.”
Leona knew that Kevin was supported by the Lord of Nightmares, that he might even be a follower of the Outer God. If his loyalty shifted from his kingdom to a malevolent deity, anything was possible. Without Abyss’s intervention, Kevin might eventually kill Givia, turning Ossi into the Lord of Nightmares’ pasture, spreading despair and nightmares until the Outer God fully manifested, bringing about untold destruction.
“That’s one of the reasons, but there’s something else. I apologize, but I can’t reveal this secret until the princess herself decides to share it,” Cassandra said, shaking her head slightly. “I don’t want to be cryptic, but this information is sensitive. If it spreads uncontrollably, it could cause widespread panic and chaos.”
“It’s alright. I dislike chaos as well,” Abyss said with a smile. “You have your reasons. We can always ask the princess herself later.”
“Thank you for your understanding,” Cassandra said, nodding at Abyss.
Abyss continued eating, his curiosity piqued, but he wouldn’t pressure an elderly woman to reveal her secrets. However, his sense of familiarity with her grew stronger, a nagging feeling that he had encountered her before, although he couldn’t place it.
He glanced at Flora, who was also looking at him. Their eyes met, and he realized she shared his sense of familiarity with Cassandra.
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