Vow Of Silence

CHAPTER SIXTY-THREE

1st PERSON: Pelomina Lorenzo-Capiz

“...iss… mi… lady… e-ehrm, MISS CUSTOMER!”

“Uewah?!” I yelled back, disoriented.

My eyes barely adjusted to the light as the shouting and yelling from the other side of the door woke me up with a start, which is not a very kind way of waking up your customer. The few seconds of confusion had already passed and what I had to deal with was a pulsating headache from trying to sit upright as soon as I woke up.

The room was now well lit and the windows that could barely fit a human body beamed at me with bright light from the outside, “crap… I slept too long,” I whispered to myself.

“You didn’t wake up for snacks earlier, I couldn’t, in my good conscience, let you pass up breakfast as well,” she went on, genuinely sounding as if she was in trouble. If she was yelling like this too earlier in the morning, I would also be concerned. I was knocked out cold.

I squinted at the doorway, however, “wait… lunch? You serve breakfast to guests?” I asked,

She hummed, “Yes, they’re complementary but only because everyone has been rather cheerful for today,” she answered with a sigh, “Come down quickly then,” she followed and I could hear her heels thud against the wood until it faded into the distance.

Indeed, she sounded chipper than before. Why? Is there something important that will happen today? Looking at the sunlight from the outside, it doesn’t look too late, still; I wasn’t planning to sleep until around 6:30 AM. I got up and stretched, walking over to the narrow windows. The streets seem more populated than what I’d expect. Who could blame me? It looked like a haunted town raided by headless hunters at the c***k of dawn.

I sighed as I put on my shoes. I wonder if Klaus and Seth had already realized I ran away from them. We could just regroup if they indeed have noticed me missing, which I doubt because I bet those were dead drunk and broke out of their butts. However, if they are to notice, I'm more than certain we’d find each other here and just bail.

More likely, they’ll roam around Okuzal. I didn’t shut up about going to Okuzal specifically for this thing. Either way, I huffed and headed downstairs. The atmosphere was completely different. A table was laid out in the previously empty lounge. Against the wall was another table. Food wasn’t served but alcohol instead, you could hear them laughing and giggling from up to the lunch table.

I took the liberty of filling an empty space on the bench for the lunch table and partake in this feast. It’s not anything grand, but there’s a lot. What's important is feeling full and not dining like this is a five-star restaurant. I’m grateful for just having a lot on my plate,

“Oh my, you eat so well…” the owner commented as she walked to the table to set down more food and I froze, my cheeks swelling with mashed potatoes, I couldn't even say thank you for the food, I just stared at her and hope I could express gratitude with my eyes.

“No one’s going to take them from you, ya know,” she joked, not in an ‘I’m making fun of you way’ but just genuinely telling me to take it slow as she set down another dish. One that smelled so good I could feel the corners of my mouth pulling up in a smile. I can’t believe I’m getting excited over food even as I am waiting already.

Another man beside me, one who’s visibly older than I am laughed, patting my back lightly, “Oh, leave her be Mrs.Guera, eating a lot builds up muscle and makes ya happy,” he explained, giving me an encouraging nod, “With trying times like this, we would need all the joy we could have,” he finished, and the other man beside him nodded,

Gulping down his food, he spoke, resting his elbow on the table and pointing his spoon around, “Ya know, I didn’t expect Lord Lykus to allow such festivities, he’s been strict with everything these past few years,” he said in complete bewilderment,

‘He and I both,’

Another woman from the drinking table chimed in, “Aye! He says it’s easier to track those who come and go in the whole of Temog... maybe he’s given up on finding his wife, yeah?” she yelled, raising her pint and I felt a hollow feeling in my stomach, which is impossible at the rate of how much I’m eating, I should be feeling the opposite.

Maybe …

“Ahh, don’t say that,” another voice chimed in, a man, rather muscular in build, wait a minute—something tells me I’ve seen him before, his back was turned to us so when he turned around my breath hitched and I slowly but surely, lowered my head. He wouldn’t be able to recognize me, right? I’ve tanned a bit and my hair is far from the silky texture it was before.

I looked plenty different from when he saw me in the castle. If he ever did, I can’t be sure. One thing I’m sure of is that I know that’s a knight’s crest on his shin-guard, the Vaustero castle knight’s crest, to be exact.

In fact, I do remember him, or I suppose I could say I somewhat do, he’s the guy who I saw swing a sword to Lykus’ back when I visited the training halls, they were sparring that time and I yelled at Lykus to watch out as if he’s a greenhorn when it comes to fighting. He’s rather large for a man, as expected. He’s buff and his blonde hair was cut short and neat.

He downed his pint with a few gulps and wiped the foam off his upper lip, “He just thought that maybe he could give the city one day of merrymaking,” he said with a shrug and the others scoffed at him, still, he shook his head, “ain’t no way in this world he’ll stop, we’re worked to the bone trying to scour the face of the Earth for that one woman,” he bellowed with a grunt, now placing his palms on his knees and giving himself a push as he stood up.

“Yeh, we’ll take the words of a drunk knight for it then,” one of the ladies joked, and he laughed along playfully with her.

“Oh, give me a break, I’ve been working my ass off for years, we deserve a li'l reward every now and then,” he defended making the others chuckle as he left, giving a little mock salute to the lady-owner, “I’ll be back if he decides to be rational today, if not, then I’ll see you on my night patrol,” he yelled as he walked away.

The other patrons of the inn chuckled as they resumed what they were doing. The ladies in the inn's stare lingered at the doorway until he completely disappeared from our sight,

“Knights truly have a distinct presence they bring wit’ ‘em don’t they?” the man beside me whispered, now that I observed his features, he’s a rather intimidating man, bald with a massive beard, not exactly buffed but he’s rather big,

I nodded with a polite chuckle, “Indeed they do, I suppose it’s because they appear amicable,” I said to add into this polite conversation and he shrugged,

“Maybe… but then again, you wouldn’t act like a stranger in your home right?” he noted and I frowned,

“I’m sorry?” I intoned,

“Well, this is their city, they grew up here,” he began, standing up and taking his plate with him as he wiped the corners of his mouth with his own rug, “And now that Lita-ah arrived, it’s like I’m seeing them being back to children,” he said with a sigh,

I frowned, Lita-what now? “I’m sorry?” I intoned for the second time and he wave me off, “Ah, you’re not from here, huh, that’s very lucky of you,” he noted before giving the empty plate to the lady owner, which I recall to be called Mrs. Guera, before walking back to me patting his full belly,

“Lita-ah is a festival here in Temog celebrating spring, meaning a more colorful and positive outcome for everyone, celebrating youth, celebrating happiness, celebrating life after misery…” he trailed off, gulping as his eyes cast down, “Something Temog badly needs, I hope this year… the festival won’t pass by like a dream,” and with that, another woman chimed in,

“Oh, don’t be so glum! Today's the day we have something to enjoy, devil may care about what happens tomorrow!” she yelled, raising her glass, and the rest of the patrons in the inn’s lounge, and dining area apparently, yelled with her as they raised their points in a toast.

It was great watching them try to pull each other out of the slumps with food and alcohol, but from that point on, it felt off. It was as if I was stuck at a family reunion during a crisis, all I could see were adults putting on facades and getting drunk to not face the harsh truth and not ruin the mood for the younger ones as they savored the day with games and laughter. Like putting a bandaid on a bullet hole and calling it treatment.

Right, I can’t stay here for long. I need to get a move on and scout, ask around if maybe the lord of the land would be gracing the city with his presence. After that, I’ll find Klaus and Seth.