"Do not tell me those lies, you uneducated fool! I've read the sculptures, I've heard their voices calling from the depths! She's calling me and I will not condone any of your words."
Marc was taken aback by his aggressive response, he looked over at Pearl, who was showing no particular emotion. The mage sat back with his arms crossed and stared directly at Alard, also noticing Gona listening from up the stairs.
"I have heard that you've been getting people, including your daughter into danger, is it correct?"
"Those were no intention of mine, young man, and I don't like your questions. You are no longer welcomed, leave."
The man stood up to shoo the team away, it was obvious that Marc was not the best at convincing, and Pearl was not the best at sympathizing, or negotiating without a real cost or profit.
"If you keep this up, she too, will leave your life." Pearl replied, slowly standing up first.
"She's still too young to understand. She will appreciate it when we are happy once again."
The door was shut behind Marc, Pearl and Esmeralda. The young dragon was concerned and kept looking inside, wondering if the talk could have gone better.
"The abyss had a hold of his mind." Pearl with Esmeralda in his cloak started making his way out of the residential area, followed by Marc. "I believe bringing back Gona's mother is not the first priority."
"Oeik…" Esmeralda rested herself on Pearl's shoulder and whispered, which translated to "Poetic…"
Marc exhaled heavily, hugging his daughter, who've grown tight and looked back.
"I feel bad… We can't bring her, or convince her dad."
"You're not entitled to do anything, Marc. Your heart shines bright, but this is simply not something in your hands to solve."
Marc did not reply as he kept his head up while following Pearl, who got a tracking spell connected with the other mage in the group; Mei Magmal, knowing which inn the girls were staying at. It was rather a large and fancy one, at least with a reasonable price.
"Excuse me, were there a Magmal or a Wenswood who checked in recently?"
Stepping through the front door, they were greeted with two staircases on both sides, and a receptionist in the middle with a big sign behind her saying: Loriak Inn. As Pearl went to ask, he noticed a handful of small decorations, from flowers to greens and toys on the table, still somehow retaining a professional look to it.
"Two strong women, are they? They did."
The woman was dark skinned, wearing a way too fancy suit for a receptionist, with braided long hair and was there waiting to serve. Only now did Pearl notice that she was a reptile demihuman of sorts, with a straight, vertical line for irises, similar to Esmeralda, yet colder.
"I'll take a room near the one they are in." Pearl looked at the price board and took out some coins, noting that it was still early noon when all this happened. "Until next morning."
He then looked at Marc, silently signaling that we'll leave tomorrow morning, because this Gona and Alard situation is gonna be dealt with, by not dealing with it. Marc seemed to understand and sigh, waiting for Pearl to sign his name.
"You were not the first ones to try and confront Alard the Darksmith." The receptionist calmly said, handing them a lock with the room number on it.
"You know?" Pearl was pleasantly surprised and asked again.
"I kept eyes on potential customers, in order to expand my businesses of course." She smiled with her sharp teeth and slid a business card across the table towards them. "I have a thing or two, to help everyone."
On it was simply said, "201 Human Resources Center," with a split tongue covering a staff for the logo. Marc stood besides Pearl and did not notice any contact information on both sides, or even a real name, which confused him, but Pearl nodded and sucked the card into his palm, or pocket dimension.
"I will keep this." Pearl looked at the woman for a moment, seeing no threats he turned towards one of the stairs first, with Esmeralda already bored and tired on his shoulder. "Room 13, captain."
"Hold on."
Marc, baffled to understand any words in their conversation, he turned towards the unnamed receptionist to ask.
"Excuse me, so no one ever convinced him to stop?"
"I'm afraid so." She answered while sitting back down. "Locals, guards, his own daughter, talking senses won't work with a corrupted mind."
"As long as he doesn't hurt anything else but his house, his yard, while still paying taxes, and while the local guards are still too afraid to apprehend such a scary man, Alard the Darksmith is not in jail." The woman added, leaning back with her leg crossed.
Marc was frozen, having an empty stare downwards to the table in front of him. Clueless of what to do, maybe Pearl was right, this is not anyway in his hands, the one thing he could choose to do was to bring Gona with them, technically a kidnapping, and they might put her in danger before they reach the next destination; even so, Alard wouldn't appreciate that, he still loves Gona as far as Marc could tell.
"If talking senses won't work…" Marc mumbled, still insisting on a way to help. "Is there a different approach?"
"Good luck, handsome." The woman yawned, stretching out a long, snake-like split tongue before standing up and went into a nearby staff room, leaving the front desk empty.
"..." Marc looked around at the empty lobby, and decided to make his way upstairs. Room 13 was at the end of the hallway, where there was a window to look outside, but nothing to see at this moment. He got his hand on the doorknob and twisted it, only to see the team, got their gears off and was staying in the same room.
Pearl already got himself comfortable on one of the two beds, Mei and Rina were sitting on the wooden floor near there, both of them were doing one thing… Using wind magic to levitate a young girl in white buttoned shirt and very long skirt past her feet. She was reaching both her hands forward, laying stomach down in the air in a Superman flying pose.
"Eheha! I love this!" She laughed with great excitement, her dark greenish hair which reflected the scales of an emerald dragon flew up and down with the air, she closed her eyes tight while enjoying this moment.
"Hello everyone." Marc raised his palm up to simply greet instead of a full wave, before letting out a smile, "Did they get us all in one room?"
"No. We're in room 14, but gathered here to hear about Gona's situation." Rina answered while smiling, spinning her fingers around for the young girl above to spin too.
"The way Pearl told it, it seems hopeless." Mei, a bit weary after five minutes of constant magic usage, kept her magic on. "And we should get Es some new clothes, she's been wearing my old waitress uniform for ages."
"It's cute, Esmeralda herself and the fact that your clothes fit a child." Rina remarked, giggling while lowering her magic, signaling Mei to do the same to slowly get Esmeralda down.
"Weeeee, eheha, that was fun! Hi mom."