Nothing to make us late, but a long goodbye

As I reached my room, I began to consider how exactly I should get ready. I didn't have any better clothing to change into, nor was I capable of doing much washing, as we were in a medieval town. I thought for a moment while pacing until I looked towards the spirit. 'I most certainly do have something I could change into.'

'I am permitted one guest, who I need to be Oliver. This means that they probably wouldn't allow the spirit to be present, so...' I spoke to the spirit, "Do you have any way of avoiding detection?" It nodded. "May I ask, can you take off the robe and wrappings?" It nodded. "And the mask?" It shook its head. 'So, the mask is its limit.' "May I have the clothing?" The mask immediately floated out of the robes, with everything that demarked the form of the spirit falling to the ground.

I put away the robe I was wearing over my suit and put on the spirit's one. I also put on the hand wrappings. "There, now, I have practically smuggled you in." I chuckled to myself before turning to the floating mask. "Is there a way for me to carry the mask as well? Like if you possess it or the like?" The mask moved in a motion I guessed to be nodding, before it fell upon my bed. I picked it up and fiddled with some spare cloth, making it into a makeshift armor plate of sorts that I wore at the opening of the cloak.

"I do hope this isn't uncomfortable for you, though I suppose you may not care in the least." With that, I was ready, or as ready as I would be. I could feel the power of the Divine Mark, 'This must count as having it equipped.' I thought as I exited my room.

Upon reaching the main area of the tavern again, Natalia, Grutrod, and Silvia seemed to be waiting. Before any of the others could say something, Silvia shouted at me. "Why would you do that to him? Do you not remember what he told you about them?" She was on the edge of tears.

I thought for a moment, before Grutrod started to say something. I cut him off with a hand gesture. "Tell me, Silvia. What is your experience in dealing with trauma?"

She glared daggers into me and gritted her teeth, "Are you trying to say I haven't suffered enough to know how to not make someone suffer?"

I shook my head slowly, "No, I am asking if you ever overcame trauma without facing it."

She went wide eyed and began to shout something back, but Grutrod stopped her. "He's got a point lassie." She turned to him, red in the face with anger. "This could help the man. It will show them he ain't weak, and allow 'em te face his demons."

She looked between me and Grutrod angrily, before turning to Natalia. "You surely must agree with me. He's practically torturing him."

Natalia pulled her hat down between her and Silvia before mumbling her response. "I don't know. Oliver may feel better from it, regardless, he's the best help Mathew can get."

Heavy steps behind me announced the arrival of the man in question. I turned around, seeing that Oliver was not slacking in his preparation. He wore a full suit of armor, his tunic and flairs all in a color near matching my eyes. He held his helmet under his left arm, it being one with a solid faceplate and a slit following the eyes.

Before he or anyone else could say something, Silvia ran to him and hugged him. "You don't have to do this." She said, fully sobbing now.

He gave a slightly sad chuckle and patted her head with his right arm. "I know, but it's like they said." She looked up at him, tears in her eyes. "I have to face my past. I can't let some nobles keep me in fear, especially if I want to help my brother someday." They had a heavy hug for a few moments before he released her.

He looked to me and nodded. I returned the nod. "Let us be off then." Silvia fought to keep hold of Oliver as we left, Grutrod prying her off him, and Natalia standing back to watch us leave. With that, we made our approach to the manor of the Normn family.