Towards the Castle

Asteri and Allatu arrived at the village by evening as planned, having no problems along the relatively quiet road.

"We didn't encounter any obstacles along the way, too bad I wanted to try my sword" Asteri before leaving Quisque bought a simple steel sword.

"You will surely have the chance during this mission, honey," his partner Allatu replies.

"True"

They arrived at the entrance to the village where Borderns, the name of the village, was written. Looking around the two inspected the village, apparently it looks like a normal village, it had nothing special. Most likely it could house about one hundred and fifty or two hundred villagers, it was more or less the same size as Starling.

"Let's go in and see what afflicts this place" the two entered the village, all the doors were closed but you could see candles lit inside the houses, most likely they were spied from behind the windows. Continuing to walk they reached what could be assumed the village square. When he got there, a middle-aged man met him.

"Good evening, foreigners welcome, you should be the guild adventurers if I'm not mistaken, I introduce myself as the village chief, my name is Bors" says Bors, extending his hand towards Asteri. The latter grabbed her and he introduced himself "hi Bors, I'm Asteri and she is my partner Allatu." Asteri says introducing the two and showing the adventurer's tag.

"Pleased to meet you, now finish the introductions if you want to follow me in my humble abode to explain to you what the general situation is like"

"With pleasure Bors" the two follow him.

"Please sit down" open the Bors door and let them in. Bors's house was a simple village house, not very different from the others.

"Thanks Bors, now I think it's better to start," Allatu spoke.

"Sure Miss. Allatu."

"Only Allatu is fine, Bors," she corrected him.

"Ok thanks a lot. Now I think you know what situation we're in, right?"

"The guild has told us in general what happens, some beasts, which apparently come from an abandoned castle nearby, attack at night your cattle are on their way they also destroy part of the harvest, right?" Asteri says.

"Exactly, they attack animals only and exclusively, they haven't even killed or kidnapped a single villager, but anyway we fear that soon they could start changing their goals, that's why we asked the guild for help and-"

"They have sent a group of five E-grade adventurers," concluded Asteri.

"Exactly, they looked like a well-prepared group and they headed straight for the castle as soon as they got here"

"And they haven't arrived yet? How long have they been absent?" Allatu asks.

"Yes, we have been hearing from them for six days"

"Six days ehh ... did you send someone to check if by chance they had any problems and not to come back here they camped outside the castle to recover their strength?" this time Asteri speaks.

"Yes ... but there is nothing outside the castle, no trace of a camp"

"So they've been inside that abandoned castle for six days ... are the monsters attacking as usual?" always Asteri.

"Yes they did not calm down, only the first night when the adventurers left who did not attack, we gave ourselves false hopes believing that they had succeeded ... but nothing the next night everything went back to normal"

"How long have these monsters been appearing?" Asteri asks.

"And for three weeks they have been pursuing us"

"Mmmmm I understand then we will act immediately, maybe along the way we will meet them so that we can see what we are dealing with before going into the castle"

"D-do you want to go now?" the head of the village asks worriedly.

"Of course, waiting longer wouldn't make sense, hitting the iron while it's still hot," Asteri says with a smile.

"Ok but first I wanted to ask, I didn't see the tag very well but what rank are you if I may ask?"

"We are all two grade F," Asteri says smoothly.

"O-ohhh I see, are you sure you're going anyway?"

"Of course, if we weren't sure we wouldn't have headed here from the start."

"Excuse me if I insist but you are two of grade F, while the missing adventurers were five of grade E. Are you still determined to go? We can always wait for the guild to send other adventurers or the army will intervene"

"Wait while these creatures destroy the village? When the army arrives they will find only silence and death to welcome them, and believe me that the guild will not spend other adventurers for this problem, especially not higher than ours or those of grade E . " Asteri explains.

"B-but-"

"You don't have to worry Bors, remember that quantity is not superior to quality. Just because we are inferior in number does not mean that we will not succeed." at the same time Aurelion said 'it is true the quantity does not exceed the quality but you are also inferior in rank I remind you boy' Asteri replies "Come on partners, it's just details"

"Then I don't insist anymore, but let me give you some food, it won't be much or very sumptuous. I'm just bread and cheese but that's all we have to offer. I'm also sorry not to be able to offer you some tea" Bors apologizes.

"Don't worry Bors, we are already prepared with our supplies, we thank you for the thought," says Allatu.

"Then I can only wish you luck, adventurers," he says, rising from his chair. The two did the same and left the house greeting Bors.

"Apparently other rats want to infest their master's domain, which fools never learn?" said the darkened figure sitting on a long-worn throne, it seems in his hand to hold a cup of red liquid. She took a sip "but it doesn't matter indeed it suits us, isn't it puppies?" he turned to the sides of the throne room to creatures also obscured and in the center of the room there are four kneeling figures.

The figure smiles "it will be fun".