"You startled us. You could have made some noise," Aurelia complained.

"What! Did I disturb your Moss-gazing?" Zephyr glanced over to Moss, who was continuously chopping wood.

"Moss-gazing!" Elenor turned around, embarrassed.

However, Aurelia kept a calm face. Still, he could see a slight blush appearing around her neck and ear.

"Well, is it not?"

"Hmph." Aurelia snorted. "Why are you here?" she asked.

"I came across a situation," Zephyr said, turning back to look at Moss. "So, I came here to meet him."

"A situation?" Aurelia raised a brow.

Zephyr walked over, leaned against the wall nearby, and began to explain the overall situation. It didn't take much time to fully convey the information.

"So, he is missing?" Aurelia asked.

Zephyr shrugged.

"I don't know," he replied.

"He could be missing or doing something I don't know about." Zephyr sighed before continuing. "But he did say he would come back in the morning." He added.

"Did you ask anyone else?"

"No, that's why I came here."

"To ask Moss."

"Yes."

"Hm." Aurelia hummed and nodded. "Let's ask him."

Aurelia lifted her finger and snapped it. A spell activated near her, shimmering in pale blue light.

"Moss, come here," she spoke into the spell.

Immediately, a bunch of runic symbols flashed before it disappeared.

A fraction of a second later, the spell's runes materialised near Moss, whispering in his ear the exact words she said.

Moss lifted his head and looked at them.

'That was unnecessary. It's a waste of mana. I could have just spoken a little louder to get his attention.'

The spell was overkill. However, it served its purpose, inviting Moss to walk towards them.

Hearing Aurelia call him, Moss was excited. His pectoral muscles trembled in excitement as he draped his shirt over his shoulder, barely covering a little bit of skin.

Zephyr rolled his eyes.

Moss was walking like a fashion model towards them. His angular face and chiseled jaw became even more enhanced by the glistening sweat. He enjoyed the attention he was receiving, so he flexed a little to make his body stand out.

'Disgusting.' Zephyr wanted to puke at his disgusting attempt.

However, that was only him. Standing next to him, both ladies were looking down at Moss's broad shoulders and abs like a predator looking at their prey.

'The fuck is wrong with them! Can't they see what he is doing?' Zephyr asked in his mind, exasperated.

Moss was no simple green grass they could graze on. He was a sly man with a purpose.

Zephyr could see it, but the ladies remained oblivious. Or that's what Zephyr thought.

Shaking his head slightly, he waited for the muscle-flexing man to approach them.

Moss took his time coming to them. He took a deep breath, standing before them. His eyes were focused on the young ladies standing behind Zephyr.

"Moss, do you know where Tom went?" Zephyr ignored the rest and asked.

"Tom?" He tilted his head. "Isn't he in his home?"

"No."

"Where did he go?"

"I don't know."

Zephyr was just as confused as Moss. Both of them stared at each other for a few seconds without saying a single word.

After a while, Moss began to speak with his brows furrowed into a frown.

"After that incident, he never leaves his home these days. Are you sure it has been a day?"

"As sure as I can be," Zephyr replied in a detached tone. "If he had returned, I would have sensed him."

The reply made Moss clench his fist, worried. He looked around for a moment before nodding as if he had come to a decision.

"I will inform my father about it. Sir Victor, let me look into it."

This time, he was serious. Moss quickly clothed himself, turning to leave.

"Wait a minute, do you know anything about his daughter? And also, what was the incident you were talking about?"

Zephyr's question made him stop in his tracks. Moss slowly turned around, recalling the incident that had happened a few months prior.

As he was recalling, he began to speak.

"Tom had a daughter. But he doesn't have one anymore." The starting statement made Zephyr pause.

"Two months ago, she died. But before I tell you about that, I will tell you about what happened six months prior."

Moss clenched his fist tightly, remembering the horrors of those days.

"Our village borders the forest. As you can see, to the east, below the hill, is a large forest that spans for dozens of kilometres."

He turned to look down the hill. To the northwest, there were more hills and mountains, covered in thick vegetation.

"I have heard mages say the mana in the air around the forest is dense. Denser than what is normal. This allows mana beasts and monsters to thrive inside."

"Six months ago, suddenly, monsters began to leave the forest and intrude on human territory. Usually, the few stragglers who come outside would be eliminated by Lord Ashwick and his knights. But six months ago, there were more than a few. And they all left the forest at the same time."

"What kind of monsters?" Aurelia asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

Moss took a breath and responded.

"Mostly goblins. There were also a couple of trolls and a few ogres."

"Hm… A goblin is a one-star threat. But in large numbers, they are a menace. As you know, they can use small tools and weapons. If you hide within the house, they will burn down the house. If you decide to fight, they will overwhelm you with numbers. So, it was a very dangerous time."

"Did they attack the village?" This time, Zephyr asked.

"No, but the lord mobilised almost all men from the barony for the monster slaying expedition. I also took part in it just like Tom. We attacked the monsters before they could attack the village." Moss clarified.

As he was speaking, his eyes moved towards his foot. He remembered the injuries he suffered during that time.

"Then, what happened?" Seeing Moss stand there immersed in thoughts, Zephyr asked.

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