Let's Do This

Mike was now back in his room of the inn. He had the badge in one hand and was trying to connect a call to Grand Wizard Grosso. Still, he did not pick up and Mike was forced to leave a message just like last time where he explained everything that had happened so far leading up to Danial now being missing.

With that out of the way, Mike was now preparing to head out by putting on all his gear. Equipping his armor, placing his swords on his hips, and shield on his back Mike now looks like a true adventurer ready for a fight. Orion was coming with him since Mike realized that Orion may be able to find Daniel in the city with his nose since he is a dog.

With Mike ready, he goes downstairs to the first floor of the place to see Synthia waiting at a table fully armored as usual.

"You ready?" Synthia asks

"Yeah, thanks again for helping me out with this" Mike says

"It is a paladins purpose to help those in need so it is only natural"

"Still thanks again, Orion find Daniel," Mike says looking at Orion who followed him downstairs

Orion saw that Mike was wanting something from him that was not something he did his business with takes this as a sign to use his nose to search for someone. Since the angry man with the weird clothing and smell was not here Orion assumed that he needed to find him to get a treat or more meat from Mike if he finds him. So with his nose to the ground, Orion begins sniffing the ground searching for Daniel's scent around the tavern to follow. Eventually, he finds it and leads both Mike and Synthia out of the tavern and into the city towards the noble area.

They follow Dike's trail to the cafe that he stayed at for most of the day yesterday before going onwards to the mayor's mansion and behind the second cafe. This just confused Synthia as she had no idea what kind of character Mike's master was so she had no idea if he was always like this and really liked going to cafes. Mike was not as confused as he knew that Daniel had the capabilities to fly after all he was a wizard and with magic, almost anything was possible if involved so Mike assumed that Daniel went to the mayor's manor the night before.

Of course, Mike and Synthia could not just barge on into the mayor's house without any form of evidence or something so all they could do is sneak in. So Mike asks Synthia for any ideas on how they could both get into the manor.

"I could do a house call"

"You know what a house call is?" Mike asks a bit confused as to how she knows this term, but he dismisses this as he needs to focus

"I can do that and they probably won't reject paladins healing magic for free," She says

"That could work and I could be your personal assistant or squire," Mike says getting an idea of how they could get in easily

"Yes it should work as it is pretty common for priests and other healers of the gods to go to homes to heal others for free, but the problem is how are we going to get in Orion to help find your master"

Both Mike and Synthia think on this for a bit to see if they could potentially lie that Orion was a comfort dog or something for the severely wounded or afflicted patients, but looking at Orion he does not really fit the description of a caring dog and is more of a guard dog than anything as he looks intimidating.

As they are thinking about how to do this, Orion sees Mike's predicament and closes his eyes for a bit. Then he opens them and the mana in his body starts working to do what Orion willed it to do.

Suddenly under the dumbfounded gazes of Mike and Synthia Orion disappears from where he was standing.

"Orion?!" Mike calls out not understanding what is happening or where Orion went

"Bark"

A bark rings out from where Orion was originally standing so Mike blinks his eyes to switch to his mana vision to see if he can understand what is happening. With his man vision active, Mike can see the basic outline of Orion with the insides being filled with bright swirls of mana that seem to encompass the entirety of Orion. Seeing this Mike puts out his hand and attempts to pat Orion's head and he actually makes contact with his head breaking Orion's spell and making him appear back the same as before.

"Um... Micheal, what kind of dog is that?" Synthia says seeing Orion disappear and appear as wizards do with invisibility spells

"I have no clue what kind of dog he is but he sure is amazing," Mike replies as he stops petting Orion

"Well at least Orion can get in the manor with us," Mike says getting back to the matter on hand

Questions would have to wait until later when he had Abbey back so that she could tell him what Orion can do and potentially give an answer as to why he can. Still, that would be for the future as Mike had to first find Daniel and help him.

...

There was only one entrance into the property of the mayor's manor which was through a heavily guarded iron gate. Besides the way that Daniel used to get in, some pairs of guards patrolled the perimeter 24/7 to make sure no one got past them or was trying to break in through non-magical means. At the gate, there were four guards stationed on each side of the fence with there being extensive checks done on everyone to make sure that no one was bringing in anything deadly or harmful.

Mike and Synthia approached the gates drawing the attention of the guards to them. They were cautious seeing as both Mike and Synthia were armed with Mike and his two shortswords and Synthia with her greatsword and shield that she had.

"Halt! What is your business here?" One of the guards inquires

"Excuse me, but I am a paladin of the goddess of light Dorthia that has recently arrived in the city I was hoping to enter the mayor's manor to provide my services for free to those who need it," Synthia says

Hearing this the attitudes and expressions of the guards change considerably from being wary to being friendly towards her as one of the guards on the other side of the fence goes to the manor to report to him about the presence of a paladin giving out free healing. Free things are always welcomed.

"May I inquire as to whom that is then," The same guard says as he motions to Mike

"I am her squire, a paladin in training for the goddess of Dorthia," Mike answers as he gives a slight bow to the guards as a show of respect

That piece of flattery worked as most of the guards there had to cater to snot-nosed nobles and their families who held no regard to those who were protecting and servicing them so this small bow meant a lot to them.

"Well then I presume that the Mayor has already learned of your arrival by now so please follow us," Another guard on the other side of the fence says as it is opened wide allowing Mike and Synthia to be escorted

Mike blinks and his mana vision activates allowing him to see that Orion is following right beside him while invisible.

Two of the gate guards lead Mike and Synthia to the manor and inside where they are greeted by the one and only Mayor McDonald. He was wearing a tuxedo-like suit while he was holding a cane in his hand that seemed to be supporting his heavyset body that was barely contained within his clothing.

"Welcome follower of Dorthia, to my humble home," Mayor McDonald says

Looking around Mike can say for sure that this home is anything but humble. Behind the mayor was a grand staircase that led up to the higher floors of the house while there were many fine carpets, paintings, and other decorative items were around the first floor where people were supposed to feel astounded by the amount of wealth that was here. While others would feel astounded Mike just found that they were just a waste of space and money since they served no other purpose other than to just stand there and be decorative.

"I thank you for allowing us to enter your lovely abode," Synthia says while bowing

Mike also bows as he knows that he has to act humbly before him until Daniel is found at least.

"Please follow me," Mayor McDonald says as he leads both of them to a room off to the right

Mike and Synthia follow without saying anything as he leads them into a large meeting room where it seemed all the staff and the guards on the grounds were in here at the moment.

"This is mostly all those that work under me," Mayor McDonald says as he gestures to everyone

"Thank you now then first off is there anyone here who here is feeling inherently ill?" Synthia asks straight away

No one steps forward.

"Well then everyone please wait a moment while I cast a spell," Synthia says as she starts utilizing the mana in her body

It takes a few minutes of chanting and hand gestures before she stops and a golden glow emanates throughout the room in a slightly blinding light.

"Well I have some good news for you," Synthia says as she moves to the mayor

"Did you find anything wrong?" Mayor McDonald asks

"Most of them are extremely healthy, but there are three of the servants and one of the guards who are afflicted with a common disease," Synthia tells him

"Is it serious?"

"It should not be with some rest and time off but I can cure them now if you permit me to," Synthia says

"Very well then I will allow you to treat them," Mayor McDonald says

"Excellent but I will need to do this a bit later as I expended too much of my mana to check everyone here," Synthia says

"Oh? Well of course you can rest for a bit and gain back some of that mana of yours in fact I have some herbs that can be used in tea to help with that"

"I thank you for your kindness, but I am perfectly fine without the tea," Synthia says to the mayor

"Oh please, I insist. Janice please get some snacks for them and make some tea for our guests with the Danilo herbs please," Mayor McDonald says to a servant who nods her head and leaves to go into what Mike presumes to be the kitchen

"Follow me we can chat while we wait for you to recover your mana"

Both Mike and Synthia have no choice but to follow the mayor and two guards follow them into a dining room nearby where they take a seat with both Synthia and the Mayor taking the head places of the table while Mike sits near Synthia.

"So what brings you both to Irondale?" Mayor McDonald asks Synthia

"We were heading to the capital," Synthia answers

"Ah, the capital well then I assume that you are going to be taking the riverboat to the capital?"

"Yes we were planning to purchase some tickets by the end of the week," Synthia says

"Ah well let me give you some tickets free of charge as a form of thanks for helping check on the staff here," Mayor McDonald offers

"Thank you for your kindness"

"I should be thanking you, it is not that often that a person of your background," Mayor McDonald says

"That is unfortunate," Synthia says

Before the mayor can ask Synthia anymore questions the servant from before enters the room with a tray of some cookies and biscuits as well as the tea that the mayor said would help with Synthia's apparent lack of mana.

"Ah thank you, Janice," Mayor McDonald says as the servant places a cup of tea for each of them

Mike also takes some cookies as he was one to never turn down free food no matter the situation. Also while it seemed like Mike was doing nothing he was actually looking at Orion to see that he was wanting to go upstairs telling Mike that Daniel was defiantly upstairs and did not find come down to the first floor or else Orion would have smelled him.

Still, Mike could not just go upstairs for no reason so he had to make up something to do so. So Mike decided to go with a classic excuse to snoop around someone's house. He takes his tea and drinks some before turning towards the mayor.

"Excuse me where is the bathroom?" Mike asks Mayor McDonald