Teleka: Dawn of a New Age

Chapter I: The Edge of the Cliff (2/2)

Elspeth directed her attention to where the man was pointing until being pulled on the arm without warning by Isbeil, leading her a short distance away in a desperate attempt to talk her out of whatever she was about to do.

"What are you doing?" Elspeth asked.

"Have you gone mad?" replied Isbeil.

"Have you forgotten why we're here? We came in search of Arias and Cecil. We can't leave any stone unturned until we find them"

"Stones sure, but the piles of shit can stay where they are at least"

Both Elspeth and Isbeil paused for a brief moment to turn around and peer over at the man who had seemingly disappeared out of thin air, only leaving behind his traveling footsteps in the dirt.

"Guess there goes your chance for a refund," said Isbeil.

"What if he's telling the truth?" Elspeth questioned.

"And what if he isn't and this new lead you just paid half our savings for is another dead end that goes nowhere? We are running low on daylight in case you haven't noticed... and now coin too apparently"

Elspeth looked back up at that house on the cliff and pondered the potential progress that could be made if she went through with pursuing the lead, as well as the possibly immense amount of regret she'd feel for choosing not to do so.

"It won't be a waste of time if we split up again"

Her eyes returned to Isbeil's who sensed a newfound confidence.

"You go ask the village guards about Arias. I'll meet you back here when I'm done," she said.

Isbeil's face buried in her hands as the shaking of her head followed a noticeable sigh of disapproval.

"Please be safe at least, alright?" Isbeil pleaded.

Elspeth nodded in acknowledgement.

"You too," she said before turning around and proceeding down the wide road near the edge of the village that ran perpendicular to the multiple aisles of merchant stands.

With each passing, she glanced down every aisle with a somewhat indecisive, yet optimistic sense that she was finally starting to get somewhere after all the inquiring that she and Isbeil had labored over.

Isbeil, on the other hand, only grew anxious over the risks of being separated again. As she began questioning the guardsmen, her mind still remained stifled by its inability to decipher why the man from earlier seemed so familiar.

I know you... don't I?

I know I've seen you somewhere...

But where? When?

Who the hell are you?

At the edge of the road led a much smaller one that ascended upon the hill of the house. Elspeth approached the short, winding trail all the way to the front of the aging structure and with every step forward, stared down the decrepit wooden exterior until reaching its very doorstep.

Her hand extended outward to knock on the door and just a moment after it did, it opened. On the other side revealed an older woman, dressed in a black nightgown with bloodshot eyes that were faint, but still recognizable.

"Can I help you?" the woman asked.

Elspeth froze for a brief moment, realizing that she had thought so much about approaching the house that she forgot what to actually say in preparation once she got there.