Alto sits on a couch in the small den, her eyes scanning the three people around her. Belle and Kenan, now dressed in more presentable attire, sit across from her on the room's only other couch. Meanwhile, Traz...
She glances to her left, expression unamused, where Traz is sitting a little closer to her than needed, grinning expectantly. Kenan suddenly clears his throat, drawing her attention. When their gazes meet, he smiles politely.
"So, Altera...what brings you here? You mentioned wanting to find us, but I'm still unclear as to exactly why." (Kenan)
She purses her lips in thoughtful silence before speaking, her tone measured.
"I believe I would like to join your group...at least for the short-term." (Alto)
Surprised expressions register on all of their faces. Kenan's eyes become slightly wary as he responds hesitantly.
"I see...why is that?" (Kenan)
She tilts her head, keeping her tone casual.
"Your lifestyle suits me, and there's more safety in a group. Do I need more reasons than that?" (Altera)
Kenan purses his lips thoughtfully.
"Not generally, but...why our group? You said you just heard about us recently during your travels, and we're far from the only people in the Kingdom who travel around in this way. Tracking us down, showing up where we're staying unannounced, immediately asking to join our group...it's strange, don't you think?" (Kenan)
Her eyes widen slightly in surprise.
'Just how paranoid is this guy?'
She shrugs dismissively.
"Since the idea started appealing to me, yours is the first group I've come across that's relatively small, with young members and at least one other woman. I don't find my interest that strange." (Alto)
Kenan's brows furrow, his eyes studying her as if looking for something. He seems like he's going to say more, but Belle's annoyed voice interrupts him.
"Quit interrogating her, Kenan! I'm tired of being the only girl in the group, and she seems nice to me." (Belle)
Kenan stutters at the reprimand. Belle ignores him and beams at Alto, leaning forward excitedly.
"So, Altera...what do you do?" (Belle)
Alto blinks.
"What do you mean...do?" (Alto)
Belle smiles sympathetically, then points at her own chest.
"Sorry...like, when we travel around, I'm the expert on farming-related jobs, Kenan is in charge of anything carpentry, and Traz is a blacksmith. If you join us, what will you be doing? What are you good at?" (Belle)
Alto nods in understanding.
"Well, I have a lot of experience working as a farmhand, and I'm quite skilled at water and earth spells." (Alto)
She smiles to herself in satisfaction.
'With any luck, that answer will keep me closer to Belle. From what I recall, she has some kind of dark class affinity that isn't suitable for horticulture.'
Sure enough, Belle's face immediately lights up, clapping her hands together as she squeals. Her voice practically cracks with exuberance.
"Eeeeeek! That's perfect! You can use magic to quickly till the soil and water the plants, and you should have enough experience to help me with planting and soil treatment! Oh my gods, I can't wait to have someone to talk to while I work! I normally have to work alone..." (Belle)
The response causes a faint warmth to bloom in her chest.
'She really hasn't changed that much, it seems...still obsessed with plants, still warm and friendly to a stranger.'
While she and Belle are pleased with the exchange, Kenan's gaze once again grows mildly wary. He speaks, drawing her attention.
"Two elemental affinities is rare...what exactly qualifies as 'quite skilled', though?" (Kenan)
Alto raises her eyebrows at him.
"If not for my age, I could be a professor at the Academy in both elements. I have mastered every water and earth spell up through master-tier, and have created several personal spells combining those elements." (Alto)
For the first time, unrestrained shock registers on the group of three's faces, including Kenan's. After a moment of stunned silence, a low whistle sounds from next to her, and she glances over to see Traz staring at her with clear interest in his eyes.
"If you're telling the truth...that's some crazy magic skill. What's your power level?" (Traz)
Her lip twitches, somewhat amused by being doubted.
"Almost three and a half...and I don't need to lie about my magic." (Alto)
At her vaguely prideful response, there's a glimmer of excitement and amusement in Traz's eyes. But, Kenan's voice interrupts, distinctly serious.
"At the risk of being rude, Altera...who are you really?" (Kenan)
Alto looks towards him in surprise, her eyes widening slightly. However, he just stares back at her without faltering, suspicion clear in his eyes, even after Belle throws him a disapproving glare.
She tilts her head in apparent confusion.
"I'm afraid you'll have to be a little more specific...I've told you who I am. My name is Altera, I'm from Oppidum in Zardo territory, and I've spent a lot of time working as a farmhand." (Alto)
Kenan shakes his head emphatically.
"No way that's all there is to it. The magic skill you're describing is way too much. I could believe you were lucky enough to be born blessed, with dual elemental affinities, that ridiculous power level, and a mind sharp enough to master difficult spells. But reaching that level of knowledge requires more than just talent and hard work, you need resources and connections...a lot of them. Much more than a normal person could have." (Kenan)
Her jaw clenches slightly at the oversight...he's right. Even her advanced-tier elemental spell books were resold for over twenty gold coins in total, and that's to say nothing of master-tier books. The latter are not only significantly rarer and more expensive, but are mildly regulated. Even based on cost alone, no normal commoner could learn what she has.
'Even with my years outside the Silver family, I've never really struggled financially, thanks to my starting funds, magic talent, and pre-existing education. It seems I'm still out of touch with the challenges of normal elves. And now, Kenan is rightfully suspicious. I suppose...I'll have to tell a half truth.'
She gives a small, polite smile, nodding as though in realization.
"Oh...yes. As it happens, I was talented enough to catch the eye of an Academy Professor passing through my city, and she endorsed me for a full scholarship. They provided me with everything I needed to study elemental magic, until I graduated about a decade ago." (Alto)
Kenan's eyes widen at the response, before his brow furrows again and he falls into plainly conflicted silence. That is, until Belle flicks him in the head rather forcefully.
THUMP!
"Ayahh!" (Kenan)
Kenan grabs the side of his head, throwing an incredulous look towards Belle, who continues to glare at him menacingly.
"Satisfied with your interrogation yet? If not, you can spend the night on this couch..." (Belle)
Kenan's expression freezes. After a moment, he slowly turns to Alto, giving her a nervous smile.
"Welcome to the team, Altera..." (Kenan)
*****
A few hours later...
Alto stares at Belle with a hesitant expression.
"Are you sure about this?" (Alto)
Belle giggles mischievously and nods.
"Definitely...Kenan's earned it for prying like that. A few nights cuddling Traz instead of me should make him rethink how he acts. Now...come on, it's time for some girl talk!" (Belle)
Belle jumps up on the bed, folding her legs under her as she sits, then pats the spot next to her enthusiastically. Alto feels the corner of her mouth twitch at the sight, and hesitantly climbs onto the mattress as well, sitting across from Belle. Belle gives her a beaming smile, while she just raises her eyebrows expectantly.
"Okay...what's 'girl talk'?" (Alto)
Belle blinks.
"You know...girl talk. Things you only talk about alone with a girl friend." (Belle)
She averts her gaze, feeling inexplicably embarrassed.
"I don't know about discussions like that. I...have not had a female friend since I was ten, and it didn't last long." (Alto)
Belle's eyes widen into saucers.
"Seriously?" (Belle)
She nods, her face heating up slightly. Belle stares at her for a few more seconds, dumbfounded, then smiles and waves dismissively.
"Well, who cares. I'm your friend now, so that streak ends tonight! Hehehehe!" (Belle)
She shares a small smile despite herself, touched by Belle's words.
"I like the sound of that..." (Alto)
Belle smiles back cheerily, then claps her hands and leans forward, her demeanor turning conspiratorial.
"Great! Now...let's discuss boys." (Belle)
She blinks.
"What about them?" (Alto)
Belle crosses her arms under her chest.
"Well, for starters...do you have a boyfriend? Or a guy you're interested in?" (Belle)
She can't help but feel a pang of disappointment at Belle asking her that.
'First my father, then Sylfie, and now Belle, too. Why does everyone expect me to constantly pursue men?'
She shakes her head at Belle.
"No." (Alto)
Belle makes a pouting expression.
"Oh come on...at least tell me if there are any you've thought were cute recently." (Belle)
She sighs internally, but considers the question nonetheless. She's completely capable of finding men attractive, in more than just the objective sense...you could even say she has preferences. She's just never had a desire to physically act on such attraction.
She hums thoughtfully, staring into space.
"Hmm...I suppose that I find Kenan rather attractive." (Alto)
After a few seconds without hearing a response, she snaps out of her thoughts, glancing at Belle expectantly. She's greeted by an annoyed-looking Belle, and raises her eyebrows.
"What?" (Alto)
*****
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the house...
Kenan, lying on the bed, lets out an annoyed sigh and throws a glare to his right.
"Can you quit moving, you giant oaf?" (Kenan)
Traz, ignoring his reprimand, rolls over again for the tenth time, disrupting the sheets around them. He grunts dismissively.
"Quit complaining...it's what you get for fumbling things with your girl." (Traz)
Kenan frowns, a surge of annoyance hitting him.
"Shut up. At least I have a girlfriend." (Kenan)
Traz snorts derisively.
"Not for long, at the rate you seem to be pissing her off." (Traz)
Kenan's eye twitches, and he almost lashes out at Traz again. But slowly, he gets himself under control, opting to change the subject.
"Whatever, man. Seriously, though...what do you think of this Altera girl?" (Kenan)
Traz shrugs, his massive shoulders pulling on the sheets.
"What's not to like? She's smoking hot, she's smart, her magic sounds nuts, and most importantly...she's cuckolding you." (Traz)
Ignoring the attempt at reestablishing their earlier trade of insults, Kenan sighs in exasperation.
"Seriously, man. You really think we can trust her? She's suspicious." (Kenan)
Traz groans in annoyance, then rolls back over to glare at Kenan.
"Dude...nobody else cares if she's hiding something. We're not a big enough deal for her to be trying to con us, and we'd have heard about it if there was a murder elf on the loose. At worst, she's just running away from a bad home or a bad reputation. What exactly about that should concern us?" (Traz)
Kenan opens his mouth, then closes it. If he's being honest, Traz has a point. Still, he has a feeling about her that is...off. Like she's vaguely afraid of something. What if that something is also something they should be afraid of, and Altera's presence invites it to their door? Naturally, though, he knows he can't share such paranoid concerns with Traz.
He shrugs dismissively.
"I just don't like liars, man." (Kenan)
Traz snorts at the clear deflection, then closes his eyes again, preparing to return to sleep. He leaves a final, soft remark, his tone distinctly mocking.
"Whatever you say, cuck. Just keep the paranoia to yourself from now on, yeah? Belle obviously wants her here, and I'm also tired of being the third wheel." (Traz)
Kenan sighs internally at the retort. Whatever other nonsense he has to put up with from Traz, the guy's right about one thing – he's clearly alone on the Altera matter. It's bad enough that this little dwelling of theirs only has two rooms, and now he has to bunk with Traz. Any more "rude" comments around Belle will land him a one-way ticket to her bad side.
So, Altera will be joining them, and he'll just have to keep his concerns to himself. At least, until she gives them a reason not to trust her.
*****