Chapter 5 Osmenti Town Part 3

A new day shines upon the Osmenti Town, but its sunlight doesn't feel warm. Instead, it's as if the town is overshadowed by a dark shade.

This was the day at which the annual bandit raid occurs. Every year like today is both a repeat of the assault and memorial for the fallen guards and townsfolk.

As it wasn't enough for the townsfolk to endure the suffering and pain of loss which might befall them during the assault, they had to also endure the long wait before that, as they were already aware of it.

Moreover, after many years of this annual raid, some townsfolk even yearned they didn't have that knowledge about the upcoming attack, at least that way they wouldn't be mentally tortured by simply thinking of the inevitable outcome.

In the Roasted Pig Tavern & Inn however, even if the mood shown on everyone faces aligns with the whole town's sentiments, the business runs as usual. The customers move slower than any other day because they know what today might hold in store for them, and most of them have a constant frown on their faces, but they still eat their breakfast, filling their stomachs with food, missing nothing.

The owner is standing behind his counter, wiping cups and bottles, preparing for the day as he always does. But his movements vary from any other day and the cause of it is not the imminent attack. His primary concern is different than his fellow town citizens, and it's no other than the mysterious traveler that waltzed in his fine establishment last night.

Having requested a room to stay and paid for it more than it was possible to refuse him, he was like a stuck fish bone in his throat, always feeling its presence but unable to do anything to remove by force.

While wiping and surveying his morning costumers as well as the waking tenants, he was continuously taking quick peeks at the door which harbored behind it the traveler. He has been nervous since last night about having that person - if it was a person - staying in his inn. He was so worried if anything bad might happen that he didn't have enough sleep, regularly having nightmares and waking up.

A part of him wished the encounter he and the others had last night with the traveler to be just a hallucination, but such a thing was impossible to happen. Another part hoped that the traveler left on his own while everyone was sleeping or just disappeared simply from the room, never to be seen again. Anything was welcome, as long as he would never see him again.

But where would such luck be possible.

No minute after he finished wishing and hoping, the door opened to reveal the traveler with the unclear facial features.

To say that he was disappointed, his wishes and hopes went unfulfilled, would be an understatement. His inner world was in turmoil again, his still fresh memories of last night replaying in his head.

Any customer who saw the traveler for the first time reacted the same way everyone did, and the ones who have already seen him yesterday didn't fare any better; the shock of his appearance and mysterious aura still impactful.

As they were very focused on the traveler, they didn't miss it when he took out his marvelous item and moved his fingers over it. An object impossible to describe except the metallic material it was composed of and the tangible light it was enveloped in. The ones who were seeing it for the second time were still amazed by it while the others couldn't believe their eyes, having never seen anything like it.

The owner, however, reacted the worst of all of them, even including everyone who saw the traveler since yesterday. As someone who has been approached close distance by the traveler and came face to face with him, he experienced his otherworldly presence deeper and more intense than any of the others ever did.

Lamenting the fact that the traveler was still here, his inner fortitude couldn't withstand it and eventually broke. Even as an adult he was, he couldn't hold the tears from flowing down his face, grieving at his misfortune to have to interact with the stranger again.

As everyone stared at the traveler vanishing his item with a wave of his hand, they remained where they were unable to move. They didn't react, they couldn't, not until the traveler went down the stairs and was steps away from leaving the tavern.

They watched as he stopped for just a single moment, giving a meaningful glance at the tavern owner.

The pitiful owner, as it wasn't enough the embarrassment of crying in front of his customers ruining his image, when he saw the traveler stop and glare at him for a moment he froze on the spot. Staring back at the obscure face focused on him, filled him with unspeakable dread and forgot how to breathe, even his tears went dry.

Watching the blurry black spots his eyes were, the traveler's presence seemed to grow bigger in the owner's mind, taking over his whole vision. Unbeknownst to him, starting with his mind and then his body, he was flooded by an unknown energy, stemming from the simple act of the traveler's intent to silently thank him. Lacking the ability to withstand the energy and understanding the intended message paralyzed him instead.

When the owner finally drew breath again, the traveler was long gone, leaving him staring deeply disturbed at the empty space in front.

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The traveler was once again in the streets of Osmenti Town, going everywhere and drawing attention whenever he went. Half a day later, there was no one in town who didn't see and didn't know about him.

His existence and possible origins becoming a hot topic of conversation amongst the townsfolk, distracting them of what was to come. There was even a speculation of him being a god, with the seed of belief spreading like wildfire through the simple people.

While the stranger was nearing the settlement's exit, such rumors kept circulating the town.