Unwoven Destinies
Yuujiki
Chapter 8: Chapter # 7 - Concerns and new beginnings
Notes:
(See the end of the chapter for notes.)
Chapter Text
In the aftermath of it all, the dragon killed more than a dozen men in the raid, destroyed most of the merchants' carriages and goods that got in its way, and damaged the bridge. Our party lost two. Patris was killed in the initial attack by the tail of the dragon, as his spine and neck were broken, and the Mimir was nowhere to be found as well. I privately thought that one of the burned, unrecognizable bodies was probably his, though I never spoke it out loud. I didn't really know either of them very well, but their comrades, with whom I was mostly friendly, were quite disheartened by their demise.
They weren't weak, and it wasn't the first time they faced death. Even in the safer areas, like the Central continent, adventuring was a dangerous occupation. They didn't let their sorrow show, but that much was obvious when they looked at what was left of their fallen comrades.
Suzanne was somber, Sara got snappy and quiet, and even Timothy's politeness thinned a little. That was probably the end of their party. To add insult to injury, those deaths were not even logical. It wasn't about their own mistakes or carelessness. It was just some cosmic coincidence — stupidly random but no less deadly for them. Only a couple of Red Dragons go hunting that far away from the mountains each year.
That was a grim reminder of how ridiculously cruel and dangerous this world gets sometimes. I'm not exactly weak, but I'm not all that strong to deal with any danger I face. I can only hope I won't face anything I can't deal with. And live my life the best I could, with a reminder that people die.
"Ouch." I was pondering those existential thoughts about the fragility of human life while absentmindedly playing with a flake of scale in my hands. The thing was razor sharp on the edges, as I was once again aware, at the expense of my poor fingers.
"What is it?" A concerned voice came from my left. I turned my head while sucking the wounded finger and met pretty eyes with mine. At the sight of me, Sylphie's lips twitched a little, but she adopted a stern expression instead.
"Jeez, you've got me worried…" A cute little pout emerged on her face as she connected the dots in her mind. I felt my cheeks get a little warmer. "Here, let me help." The girl offered her hand palm-up, and I obediently laid the wounded finger on it. After a second, the wound closed with a tingling sensation, leaving only a saliva-covered finger. Non-verbal healing is something else.
"Thanks. How clumsy of me…" She agreed with a non-committal noise. As I withdrew my hand, I picked up the little thing and laid it in its place with the rest of them, wrapped up in some cloth. The scales were actually very firm and a lot lighter than iron, too. Every now and then, some armorer would try and make an armor out of them, and some even actually managed it. Too bad, it was almost a blademail of sorts. With no easy way to blunt the scales, the armor turned out to be almost as dangerous for the wearer as it was impenetrable from the outside. Still, the materials from Red Dragons were quite rare, and even less useful ones could still fetch a decent price, so I picked up some detached scales from the beast. Not that I was going to go out of my way to sell them, but they could come in handy as a neat trinket if nothing else. Or maybe a memento. Just don't wear it on my neck like all those guys in fantasy novels would.
Getting back on the bed, I smiled apologetically at Sylphie once again. It did the deed, as the pout melted into a soft smile as well.
"I'm sorry, I always make you worry."
"It's okay, Rudy." Sylphie shook her head a little, as if to gesture that it was really okay.
"No, I mean the earlier, too. And all the other times." I couldn't help but remember the last few days. Sylphie didn't say it out loud, but she never took her eyes off me since the attack, when it wasn't necessary. It is flattering in its own right, of course, but I don't want my precious girl to be distressed if I can help it. I know I would worry in her place, and then she is a worrywart in her own right, too. It can't be easy on her.
"It's really okay, Rudy. I know you are incredible, so I know you are strong enough to deal with whatever it is." She flashes a brave smile at me. I'm not convinced, even if her praises did make my heart skip a beat. Should I press on? Or should I drop the topic? Or maybe distract her? I didn't think the words could do the job, so I took her hand instead. It should get better with time, I believe. I can't promise I won't ever take a risk, but if I prove I can deal with it, then maybe it will be a little easier for her. With the matter settled, for now, I will take it in a different direction. Distraction is not off the table, after all.
"You are incredible, too." I reassure her with a squeeze of her hand, looking her in the eyes. The praise never fails, and her cheeks are suddenly red. Oh, who am I kidding, I just want to mess with her a little. I honestly don't understand how I lived with it before, even though I tease myself (if the regular commotion in my nether regions is any indication) with all this just as much.
"Not really." She mumbles in denial.
"Really. You are a great mage! So strong and reliable~"
"I-, I just had a good teacher." She counters and walks straight into my trap.
"But you even managed to cast the healing magic silently! Sylphie is so smart! The best student I've had." No lying here. Definitely. I mentally shudder at the thought of teaching Eris. She would totally beat me up at this point anyway. Tsunderes have their charm, of course, but who cares about it all when this adorable girl is by my side? Let's get to the main dish.
"And Sylphie is so cute and pretty, too. I love it." The poor girl is too polite to hide her face from me and too weak to praise to be able to answer coherently. The blush and the stars in her eyes, though… Aww, I just can't seem to hold back when she is like this!
Sylphie is pliant as I pull her closer with my hand, her head against my chest, as she leans into the touch.
"This cute face, this cute smile, this cute blush… So precious... How'd I get so lucky?" The red color is spreading to her ears, which twitch involuntarily as I whisper the sweet words. "And this pretty hair, of course. The prettiest…" A small squeak leaves her ears at that.
The smell, the sound, the look, the touch, even the taste (that one is only imaginary, for now) — it all goes straight down there. Damn it.
Rationally, I know Sylphie isn't all that innocent in the matter. At least she knows about birds and bees. She did live in the Silver palace for years, after all. Besides, I'm pretty sure she wants to get closer, physically… at some point. But I don't dare rush it. If I rush it again, I'll screw it all up again. And then… No, it will be fine. Sylphie loves me, and I love her. End of the story. There is no rush, and I should let her have her space. I want her love for me to blossom fully… And to savor every moment of it.
The fact that we are in the middle of a dangerous work trip is an afterthought in it all, though it probably shouldn't be. I'm the responsible adult here. Alright, let's tone it down a little.
"M- my hair… Do you really like it?" As I play with her hair, whispering some sweet nothings, still holding her close with the other arm, Sylphie finally manages a coherent sentence. The bashfulness, the hope in her tone, the excitement… It nearly trips me over the edge again, but I manage to hold back. This is a serious matter, after all.
"I've always liked your hair. So silky, and smooth, and pretty." As if proving it, I planted a kiss on the crown of her head.
"Even when they were green? And… what about now?" Sylphie is very self-conscious about her hair. And about me in general, which makes my heart beat even faster. But the hair is a particularly serious matter, unironically. She really panicked when I almost mentioned that she used to have green hair that one time… Apparently, she never got to tell anyone else about the green hair. Well, I get it. I don't think keeping it hush-hush is necessary, but I, of all people, understand the concept of bad memories and bullying.
"Even back then. And now, too. Sylphie is cute no matter what, because Sylphie is Sylphie" I reassure her firmly. There is no question. I just feel like it. And her flattering ears are just another cute little reward for me.
"Then… what if it got longer- oh. I'm not sure if it would be possible for now… I'm sorry." She is suddenly all anxious and apologetic after remembering something. It was probably about the Fitts disguise, the worst-kept secret of this party. No thanks to me there, he-he. I don't usually mind, and seeing her squirm in it is actually rather entertaining, and she is cute in her own right when at it… But I've already gotten all excited about the thought… Not that she isn't cute now!
"I think I'd love to see you with longer hair. I'd love to see you in any way possible. And you are also cute with short hair, too. Hey, it's alright. It really isn't your fault." Did it work? I should hope so. I'm not sure if I did a good job of dissuading her from another worry. Note to self: compliment the hair more.
The Ranoa Valley was the heartland of the Kingdom of Ranoa. To the north, the densely forested Neris mountain range protected it from chilling winds from the northern seas, while the forested highlands to the south mostly soaked up the negative consequences of the Red Dragon mountain range and a general monster infestation. Relatively fertile soil and a mild but still quite snowy climate made it the place to accumulate most of the kingdom's population and, therefore, a core and a main power pole for the kingdom. With the population and economy growing, the kingdom constantly pushed to the south in order to take control of dangerous and scarcely inhabited yet rich lands, using the rivers for communication. In the past few centuries, Ranoa has continued this policy, therefore bordering itself with the Red Dragon mountain range and the Asura kingdom.
It was a week after our run-in with the dragon when we finally descended from the taiga-covered highlands into one of the interconnected valleys. Rye and even wheat fields were a significant presence on the landscape now, as the forests were pushed back to the hills by means of axe and fire. I was actually quite impressed when I heard of apparent plant breeding — rudimentary as it is, it is still quite impressive — as a collective effort of the Magicians' Guild, several local guilds, and the government. Used to the cliché of greedy, lazy, and barbaric rulers of the medieval era, I probably didn't give due credit to the centuries of effort from the magical nations to ascend from mere survival in the harsh lands to actual thriving.
If the weather is good, we are going to arrive in the Magical City of Sharia tomorrow afternoon. We finally managed to get hold of Philemon's messenger earlier today. The man had some useful information, but none of it was particularly exclusive. And let's be real, the man was totally going to pass every single bit of information on us to Philemon. That's why both adventurers and especially myself were excluded from meeting with him, leading me to where I am now.
"… You'd better consider it, Sara. That's an opportunity some would kill for." Timothy was as collected as ever. That's what made arguing with him a nightmare of its own.
"I know, I know. I just never really expected to…"
"Life is full of unexpected things. "It doesn't matter that you should throw away your chances because of it." Suzanne was more blunt about the whole thing.
"Jeez, I know! I mean, I didn't consider living like this. I'm not used to this, and some of their lifestyle still pisses me off!"
"You could always go back to freezing your ass down somewhere and hunting monsters for food. It gets old fast, trust me."
Yep, the Counter Arrow party was officially disbanding. Losing half of its members sometimes did just that. Timothy was going to find some work in the Magicians' Guild once they got to Sharia; apparently, the man was a graduate from the Magical University and still had some contacts. Suzanne is also planning to look for some work in the town, not to mention the household—I've never really caught on to them being a couple. Sure, I was kind of preoccupied, but then they didn't really act like one, did they? Sure, they had great mutual understanding, and sometimes they did act like an old married couple… Not to mention, they kind of co-parented Sara since she lost her parents, and they picked her up. In hindsight, it isn't surprising at all, huh?
I couldn't help but get the feeling that they actually had an ulterior motive behind it. Apparently, Ariel finally made her move and offered Sara a full-time job as one of her guards. What's important is that she made it before Luke finally managed to royally piss her off. I'm not sure about the wording, but the girl wasn't mad and didn't decline immediately, and here she was, getting roasted for her tardiness. They were really sure she should have taken the job immediately. I believe I used to have these kinds of talks with my parents before they gave up on me.
"You're an old woman. I understand that at your age you'd rather settle and get some kids of your own, but I've still got some ambition!"
"That does get old after a year or two, to be fair. I understand you didn't really hunt big things back in Asura?" I remark without too much conviction.
"And you did?"
"I am an A-rank adventurer." I point out, flashing the adventurer card. I probably should drop by the guild and replenish the magic crystal in it.
"So what, should I now work with noble lord Notos Greyrat just because I'd get paid a little more? What's next, maybe I should become lady-in-waiting for the princess?" She spat angrily. Yeah, there was that complication the princess didn't foresee. Somehow, Philemon's name was still a landmine, and meeting with his people behind closed doors didn't make it any easier. Understandable, of course, but now this girl would stubbornly go on and on until someone would talk her out of it.
"Don't be ridiculous; you would make a terrible one. You've got about as much grace and manners as a wild boar." A scathing glare was an answer to Suzanne's words. The black woman was unfazed, sipping her beer. The glaring contest continued until it didn't, as the teenage girl sighed and leaned back.
"Alright, alright, I'll think about it. It's just, you know, I wanted to leave it all in Asura."
"Oh, really? You weren't making good progress about it then." Suzanne remarked dryly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"That you insist on dragging the whole baggage with you, refusing the best opportunities you've got, and keeping squabbling with some noble boys over the things they don't control."
"The baggage you are talking about is my whole past. That one where most of my family died because of some noble shithead."
"So what are you going to do about it? Go take revenge on him? Maybe get revenge on nobles in general? Go rob the rich and feed the poor?" Suzanne challenged. An image of Sara as a protagonist in a Robin Hood-like story makes me chuckle, earning me a glare of my own. Honestly, people, if you don't want others to hear your talk, don't talk about it in public.
"I can't really do anything about it, and you know it. Doesn't mean I forgive them." Sara glared sullenly.
"You used to think you couldn't really do anything about it." I pointed out. Boss, do you have to pile dealing with the adventurers on me? I'm pretty sure I was hired as a bodyguard, not an HR person.
"Oh, really. And now what, you think I can go take their heads?"
"No, but you know someone who can. Some royal princess who really wanted to hire you and isn't exactly happy with one Lord Greyrat." I add with a shrug.
"Please, as if she would allow something like this. You can do better."
"She probably won't allow you to go behead him without a trial. To be honest, I'm not sure if she will allow such radical measures at all. But I can see her reigning in the nobles and punishing them for their past transgressions."
"Yeah, that's probably true for most of them. But not for Lord Philemon." Yeah, even though Timothy is on my side, he won't let me con her. I wasn't planning, of course.
"Even for Luke?" No one really talked about it straightforwardly. However, it is clear that no one really trusts Philemon and that Luke is loyal to Ariel first. Considering the Lord's transgressions, which reflect negatively on the crown in general, it is a distinct possibility that he might be forced into an honorable retirement.
"That's way too far-fetched. She wouldn't promise anything like it." She is in doubt. Clearly, that one is compelling. Take it, you stubborn girl!
"Of course, I can't guarantee something like this. Just saying."
"Why bother saying it? You aren't even trying, are you? I'm not your little girlfriend to eat out of your hands like this." Oooh, that's a low blow. Honestly, I'd better leave it to her friends-slash-adoptive parents. The bait is taken. An image of Sylphie eating out of my hands, though, is quite enticing. Maybe licking my fingers and sucking them, flashing that angelic, shy smile of hers, blushing… I'd better think it through sometime.
"So that you go talk about it yourself. You won't be certain about it otherwise." With that, I leave the troubled girl to go for a meeting of my own. The princess wanted to discuss the new plan with me after Philemon's man left.
Notes:
Thank you for reading. Any feedback, including but not limited to negative, is always appreciated. (No, really, positive feedback makes my days even if I might not answer in time).
Sorry for disappearing on you like this folks. Real life is hard these days. Hopefully there won't be such huge gaps in posting again.
Today's chapter was meant as a part of double update I was going for, but I couldn't get the second part of it in time for today. But I did promise an update soon. I should be able to finish the next chapter by the next sunday or even sooner. It might come off as if the story is moving at a turtle pace but there was meant to be an actual progress today. Kind-of end of an arc. Next time, I guess.