Finding the trio back at the kitchen table, Ode has a very grim look on his face. Lin also has an equally grim look, but Thames looks between the two, growing confused.
???
A deep breath from Ode cuts the silence.
"We got a mission..!"
"Uh huh!"
Lin quickly agrees.
"What? A mission?"
Thames looks even more confused as he spits out his questions quickly.
"Yeah! We gotta finds this rogue mage! Weren'tcha listenin??"
A flat expression falls on Ode's face as Lin shakes her head disapprovingly.
"Yes I was, but we just got here! Where's this rogue mage anyways??"
Ode pulls out a cleverly concealed paper from the inside of his coat, his eyes narrowing as a smirk appears on his face.
"We're headed to Prolton!"
Ode cheers as he swings his arms into the air. Thames' face runs pale. Lin is left confused at their wildly different expressions.
"Is there somethin 'bout Prolton..?"
She pries.
"Thames is from there!"
Thames groans.
"I guess I won't be needing to deliver my letter.."
Ode chuckles and shakes his head.
"We'll be leavin PRONTO!"
The mage jumps up and points his finger towards the ceiling, a smile beaming from him. Thames gets up suddenly and turns towards the hallway.
"Pack light Thames!"
"Oh! I put a briefcase in your room, Thames.. I also uh.. Moved the sheets.."
Freezing at the doorway, his ears turn to a pinkish shade of red.
"Sorry.. I must've slept walk.."
Thames continues down the hall with his short sword and dagger, hearing Lin tell Ode what she found on his bedsheet. The booming laughter of Ode could be heard as Thames makes it up the stairs.
Pack light.. I guess we wouldn't be there very long..
He scratches his head as he enters his room, the bed now stripped of the painted sheets. Near the foot of the bed is a sleek black leather briefcase.
Click!
The briefcase clicks open. It has about enough space for two sets of clothes. Going into his closet, he takes out a loose fitting black jean pants, two white tank tops, two pairs of underwear and socks, pleated black shorts that went down to just below his knees, and two identical long sleeve white collared shirts.
Good. I'll wear the jeans when I meet mother and father again..
He folds up his clothes and neatly stuff them in the briefcase, closing and clicking it shut. Unsure what to do with the two weapons, he just holds them both in his right hand and the briefcase in his left.
Heading back downstairs, he sees Lin and Ode waiting for him at the front door, they each have an identical briefcase to his.
Lin had her hair down, covering her ears, but stopping just after her chin. She was also wearing golden circular rimmed glasses, and her face and hands were still adorned in similar gold jewelry. She was wearing a similar tightly tailored black and white suit like when she was first driving the carriage.
Ode had changed into a deep brown suit, with a white undershirt and a golden tie. His hands had both silver and gold rings.
"Ready?"
Ode asks, noticing Thames approach. He nods in response, and all three head out the door. Lin appears to have brought the carriage out ahead of time.
All three place their briefcases in the carriage, but only Ode and Thames head into the carriage. Lin takes her seat at the front as the carriage driver.
"When was the last time you were at Prolton?"
Ode asks after the carriage began rolling. The sight of Lino quickly ran past them as they exited out of the main gate, and the scene quickly turned to hills dotted in trees.
"A couple years ago."
Thames responds thoughtlessly as he becomes engrossed in the green trees coated in moss. The now complete forest was brimming with wildlife like chipmunks and deer.
"Couple years?? How old are you!?"
Thames perks up at the question and points at himself.
"Twenty-four? I left home later than most.."
"Ah.. Twnety-four? Can't believe I'm just now askin.."
"Mm.."
Are all magicians this strange?
Oh right!
"Who is the rogue magician we're tracking?"
Ode smiles at the question.
"Interested? Told you I'd teach ya magic.."
"Yes yes.. Teach me some afterwards."
Ode nods, now smirking.
"We're tracking a guy named Renny Syn! Been makin a mess for the Tower Association."
"Tower Association?"
"Mhmmm! The governing body of magic! They make regulations! I never liked em, but betta than what some these guys're doin."
"How is he making a mess then?"
"He's been organizing other rogues! They've all been whisperin his name and annoyin stuff like that."
"Organizing..? So he's really powerful then?"
Ode just nods and leans back, dropping his eyelids. His snores fill the bumpy carriage ride as Thames attempts to relax.
They turn deeply into the forest, the stone laid path slowly turning to dirt roads he was familiar with. Through the canopy the sun occasionally shone down on the trio.
It casted dots of sunlight on the mossy forest floor as the smell of smoke begins to creep into Thames' nose.
"Wake up Ode."
Lin says, just above a speaking tone, while knocking on the carriage.
The dirt road suddenly morphs in an uneven stone brick road, the bumps holy Ode back awake.
"Forgot how quick the trip is.."
As the carriage approaches Prolton, a wheezy feeling swells up in Thames' chest.
The familiar sight of stone houses, overgrown with moss and built around the larger teees, causes his eyes to shake. There wasn't an actual wall built around the large forest city unlike Lino, but the carriage is stopped by a guard dressed in shiny grey armor.
"G'evening ma'am."
The younger looking man with short cut red hair greets Lin.
Tommy?
"Good evening sir."
Lin responds in a business tone, her chest up.
"Business or leisure?"
The man asks while walking around the carriage.
"Leisure.."
She responds half heartedly as Thames sinks into his seat, avoiding the guards sight.
"Welcome to Pronton then."
The guards walks away from the carriage as it resumes its movement. Ode stares at Thames in amusement.
"Old friend?"
"Yeah.. An old acquaintance."
Thames adjusts his sleeves nervously, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants.
"Bring us to 181 Road Street."
Ode says back to Lin.
"Got it boss!"
She responds in a joking tone.
The carriages picks up speed as they turn sharply off the main street and down Juniper Road.
The carriage stops in front of a building unfamiliar to Thames despite him living in the city for most his life. It was a more worn down building and incredibly overgrown in vibrant green moss.
Hopping down from the carriage which had been brought to the side of the road, Lin opens the carriage door and drags her briefcase out.
"What're y'all waitin for?"
She looks back at the two before walking up to the door.
Thames and Ode glance at each then catch up to Lin, their items in tow. She unlocks the door and walks in.
Following after her, Thames walks into the first room with Ode.
At the center of the surprisingly small room was an old fabric couch and a dark brown coffee table. Behind the couch were four identical doors.
Lin takes a deep breath and sets her briefcase on the coffee table.
"How long we here, Ode?"
"'Least a couple days."
Ode quickly walks to the far left door, swings it open, and tosses his briefcase in. A loud thud is heard as he walks back to the other two.
"I'll be out for the next day. Gotta do reconnn.."
He drags out his last few words as he heads out the building, waving at the two, then turning back towards Main Street.
"We can't cook here.. So bring me to your favorite restaurant, Thames."
Lin demands as she falls onto the couch, staring at Thames.
•••
Following Ode, once he hit Main Street he looked up into the air. His nose twitching as he turns to the busiest part of the street.
"Smells like rain!"
A smile beams from him as he enters a wooden building loud with chatter. An older looking man with brownish bronze skin and pointy ears glances at Ode, then goes back to playing cards in the corner with a hulking green orc.
Maintaining the smile on his face, Ode wanders up to the bar and taps it. The human woman bartender walks towards him.
Her long red hair fluttered as glitter she painted on her cheeks as makeup twinkled in the soft yellow bar light.
"What can I do for you sir?"
She asks while pulling a mug up from behind the bar.
"A good ale you can suggest! And ya got any info bout the incident that happened on Hindel Road? Read the news but I wanna know The Truth."
His teeth twinkle as he finishes his train of thought and the bartender sets the mug down.
"Right this way sir."
She walks to the right end of the bar as he follows. She walks out and points to an ordinary looking wooden door in the wall.
Ode nods to her as he walks in.