"S-Son move out of the way..."
"I-It's the Holy Order..!"
"GET OUT OF OUR WAY!"
People on the streets had begun to move away from the roads, cackling all to famliar to the people could be heard. Footsteps approaching from the other end of the main road, slowly reaching the fountain at the centre.
A young man and woman, beautifully dressed in combinations of black and gold with stripes could be seen walking down the street.
"So this is Graela huh? I've never been out this far, and with you no less..."
Eli was miffed by having to come out so far from the main city, and with one of his fellow peers no less. His black vest had already become undone, instead deciding to leave it out as he knew it'd just fall off again.
"Well Eli if your so annoyed by my presence, why dont you just leave?"
The girl beside him had a smaller vest, along with a black and black stripped hood that she kept over her head. Not wanting to be viewed for all to see, the shadow hid her hair as the girls pink eyes pierced harder than his own.
Her young voice was just as annoying.
"-And get a scolding from Neto? No way!"
The stumbling of his words comfirmed his words to her, as she inched her body closer to his. A small smirk only served to irritate Eli as he tried pushing her away to no avail.
Despite the girls young appearance, she was older than most people would think. Described as the Holy Orders "Devilish Nymph", Nalia turned away as they made it to their target building.
"This is her shop....?"
"And her humble abode... It looks old and dirty."
Nalia couldn't help but be blunt from her first sighting of the apothecary, with Eli nodding in agreement as the two made their way to the door.
"I can't believe I'm meeting the Robin Florence...! We should take this slow Nalia, try not to-"
He almost screamed when Nalia started smacking the door with her fist, shouting Florences name as Eli tried stop her. A crashing sound could be heard from within the building, with the members turning to each other before attempting to break down the door.
"W-WAIT DONT BREAK IT!"
"I'm so sorry."
They overheard a mans voice as well from within the apothecary, a bit confused when it started getting closer to the door. Opening the door, the teens came face to another as they opened the door to find a tired individual. His arms were slouched, his eyes dim, and his clothes barely holding themselves together as the two sweat-dropped.
Though he'd understand if they were suspicious, Klein had that sort of presence at face value.
"Um, hello. If your looking for Robin she's currently occupied."
Klein could barely keep his eyes open, seemingly tired from another one of Florence's experiments as the two looked at each other unsuringly. After a few seconds of silence, the girl slammed her elbow into Eli's ribs to talk.
"H-Hello, uh... Were from the Holy Order. Someone from the Adventurers Guild called us in about a strange person using spells from the Holy Order..."
Klein remained still, staring as the girl went on about terms he didn't really care for. He was glad that he'd cut his hair shorter the day before, otherwise his hair would've fallen over his face.
Stroking his already-growing stubble, Klein already knew where this was headed.
Their talking about me, aren't they? Lets just hope this works... Klein watched as the girl finished, glancing over to find the young man yawning with his mouth covered.
"Yeah, that would be me."
They looked at Klein with wide eyes as he continued, they seemed prety doubtful as he pointed towards the side of his chest to a symbol. It was the same crescent moon and sword they fashioned, looking back up to Klein who didn't wasn't too bothered.
"I mean, I learnt it then just about any schmuck can do the same."
"Excuse me?"
Oops... That comment didn't go unnoticed by the two, with Eli's brow raised as he didn't take too kindly to it. To be fair, they didn't really believe him at first, so he at least could get back at them with that.
"It was sarcasm, so is there anyhting else you two need?"
"We'd like to come inside if its all the same to you-"
Immediately after asking she had already begun walking through the door, only to have a hand get in her way. She smirked, only to feel startled as she was gently pushed back from the door.
"Who gave you perimssion to touch me?!"
"Who gave you permission to come inside?"
Heh, hi-five brain... His reply was almost instantaneous, his arms stretching across the door frame to make it clear that Klein wasn't going to let them in. Not until Florence had gotten out of the bathroom, which he hoped would come soon.
Klein slowly reached for his brother's shield near the door, seeing the girl's eyes begin to light up dark pink. His left hand already gripped on a nearby staff as the girls anger begun to flare.
"Listen, your really arousing suspicion by not letting us in."
"That's rich, two teenagers dressed up like bumblebees come to my mentors abode and-"
The sound of flushing could be heard from behind Klein, he checked the stairway as Florence came out of the lavatory much to their surprise. Eli stopped trying to negotiate, observing past Klein to see Robin Florence.
Her hair was still straight, albeit a bit ruffled as she groggily made her way to the door.
"Miss Florence, are these kids-"
"Y-Yes of course, come in you two..."
Klein took a step back, letting go of his weapons as the two walked inside of the apothecary. Eli didn't take too kindly to being called a child, but he sighed as Klein made his way behind Florence. The two were quietly conversing about something he couldn't make out.
"I should be heading back, I hope you don't if I make my exit here Florence..."
Florence happily nodded, waving as Klein left the apothecary to her and the two members before her. The door closed, leaving the three as Nalia wasted no time in expressing her feelings.
"It's an honour to meet you, Miss Robin Florence..."
"Thanks for the appreciation, I didn't know you were coming and I had just woken up...! Apologies if this isn't the state you were expecting me to be in."
The young girl waved it off, Eli doing the same as he was just happy to meet someone of her caliber.
"No need to apologise, we actually came here on account of a message sent by one of the adventurers. Master Neto has been a bit disordered these past few days."
Thats unusual, he's always got his mind in the right place. Florence pondered on her fellow peers problems, before moving to the real issue before her. The message that sent them here.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
"I heard a piece from my bathroom, you were saying something about an individual using our spells?"
Eli nodded, bringing out a scroll signed by a familiar adventurer. Gerad Thom, the former silver-ranked adventurer who had ties to the Holy Order from during the war. She clicked her teeth as she read it, leaving the two to continue.
"Yes, that young man who just left claims he was your apprentice..."
"He is. I was planning to send a letter during the next meeting, but his little run-in with Thom made things faster I guess..."
I believe things will work out just fine... Florence went on to explain how she came across Klein, discovering his 'potential' and deciding to take him up as an apprentice. The younglings were convinced enough, though Eli seemed almost perturbed by the choice.
They don't know the story, nor will they find out anytime soon.
"Another thing Miss Florence, it's a message from your sister."
Bringing out a letter from her satchel, she joyfully handed it to Florence. The alchemist grimaced when she saw the signature, realising it was her sisters as she opened to read it.
Closing it immediately after, she put it on the table beside them, moving up to the kitchen area.
"So, will you return to the main city Miss Florence?"
"I'll think about it... For now, why don't we have ourselves some tea?"
The alchemist of Graela opened her pantree, as the two came to witness an endless supply of beans and teabags stacked up. Picking three out, Florence opened another to the right and grabbed three mugs.
"I didn't take you as a tea person Miss Florence."
Florence opted to ignore the flamboyance in the girls voice, smiling as she checked on the jug.
"Well, I only recently caught an interest due to my apprentice..."
She wouldn't call it 'tea' per-se, as at the time of discovering it Klein called it by a different name...
----------------------------------------
"Hey Florence, you ever tried coffee?"
Florence was shocked at the sudden question, turning to Klein who kept stacking old materials in their respective drawers.
He was pretty sure coffee existed here, he saw bean soup on the menu of a nearby food stall so...
"W-Well no, I never really liked the contents from the market... Why do you ask?"
Oh thank god... Klein smiled as he went to a nearby backpack, picking out some materials before bringing it to the table at the centre of the room.
"No reason, just figured you'd know about that kind of stuff. Maybe one day you could make a tea-flavoured potion eh?"
His sarcasm was annoyingly endearing, rolling her eyes as Klein chuckled to himself. She didn't have time to finish making another healing potion, catching her soon-to-be apprentice messing with what looked to be wraps of paper, a small container of beans, sugar, and one of her mugs.
"Here, you mind if I borrow your hot water?"
"S-Sure... What're you planning to use it for?"
Klein gently took the jug from her hand, before bringing a small metal stick from his hand. Dropping a pinch of beans in, she watched as he also let a light tip of boiled water go in as it changed into a brown hue. Klein grabbed some sugar and scooped a teaspoon in as he stirred.
The aroma smelt strange, but somehow enticing as she sat by Klein.
"So it is bean soup in a cup?"
Klein nodded in disagreement, pointing to his bag which she spotted supposedly having many more small containers. Each one had beans inside, most of which she would assume were different from one another.
"Not just any kind of beans, it depends... I had to go through trial-and-error to find out which ones were good and which weren't."
Klein finished stirring once he felt nothing was inside, before tipping the more hot water until it almost reached the top. Reaching with his entire body for the bag, he awkwardly kept his right arm on the table as he leaned to take a bottle of milk out.
"You brought milk..."
Florence was surprised as he brought the small carton out, tipping milk in as it's brown colour changed into a lighter tone. Stirring it for a few more seconds before stopping, he brought it to Florence's hand like a gift.
"You should try it, it can be a bit bitter at first but the sugar makes up for it.."
Florence looked at Klein, alerted at his sudden restive attitude as she took the mug from his hands. She slowly brought it to her mouth before taking a sip, feeling her tongue sour as her expression scrunched.
"It's... Bitter... But also sweet..."
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Walking over to the thin jug that had already finished boiling, as the two members nodded graciously. The boy seemed more blunt, while the girl was more sweet in her words, almost childish at times.
Freela...! With a flick of her finger, a small burst of flame burnt the string holding the teabags as they sunk into each of the cups. Taking two to them, she watched as Eli stared off at the books to the side of the room.
"Go on, you may sift through some of them."
"T-Thank you Miss Florence-!"
Eli you idiot... Nalia was glad Florence was being so kind to him, she had heard of the alchemist's reputation when first joining the Holy Order. Robin Florence, a prodigy who magic who never reached her full potential. Overshadowed by another with the same family name, Robin's seat in the organisation was one only she could fill.
Though this isn't what she had expected, someone of such a high reputation of hers living in a town so far away from the capital.
Calmy drinking their tea, Florence and the two discussed recent events concerning the Holy Order. One such that took notice was an impending darkness, unknown creatures being spotted near the sea in the north.
"Dark creatures?"
Florence sipped her tea as Eli explained, having gotten reports of pitch black monsters attacking the ports. Ranging from different sizes from tall to short, fat to thin, as there was never a proper description.
"Very unfortunate, especially with the chosen hero nowhere to be found..."
Florence perked up at the mention of Klein and Neil, deciding to question her assumption of it being a male. Perhaps she knew more than she let on.
"You sound almost worried about them, and what makes you assume its a man?"
Her question made Nalia blush a bit, hiding her innocent expression as Eli could only laugh at his peers embarrassment. Florence had her answer as she smiled at the two, listening as Nalia tried to cover up her face.
"Do you both plan on staying long?"
"Yes, we'll find a nearby inn to stay in for the next few days."
Florence would have to keep her mouth shut on the the hero's true situation, she still had a few more tests to run on the brother. Still, she couldn't care less what the Holy Order wanted anymore.
"Not after choosing her over me..."
Florence watched as Nalia put her hands on her chin, feeling anxious about the hero that could've be anywhere.
"Still though, that hero is out there... Who knows what he could be going through..."
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"HRRAAAH!" Klein threw his battle-axe ito one of the nearby goblins, rushing to grab it as many more started to surround the party. Going on missions were starting to get easier, after the addition of both Amari and the new girl.
I really shouldn't be yelling... He thought, pulling out the axe as with both hands swung it behind him. Slamming a goblin who leapt at him from atop the trees, Klein quickly raised his left hand and recited a new spell by words.
"FREELA!" Opening his palm out to the crowd of goblins, he felt the back of his head strain as a huge burst of fire flew out from his hands. The element of fire, formed in balls of flames that would burn even the strongest of metals.
It was one of many methods in using magic, but to the brothers it would be the most reliable for now. They weren't anything special, but with their newfound knowledge and companions, the weight wouldn't just be on one of them.
Looking back to the three in tow, he found their newly appointed mage quickly cast a spell he wasn't aware of. As dark balls shaded purple and black sparked from the tip of her fingers.
"PIRUMA LUNA!" On each tip they flew towards the surrounding goblins like bullets, piercing their armour and skin as many fell to the floor. While some of the monsters were scared, the leader from the very back forced them to continue their assault.
Laila seems to be doing alright... He wouldn't put his trust in her yet, but he couldn't help but admire the spells she would use. It was a combination of light and dark spells, almost as if she wanted to be some sort of balance between the two. Klein wouldn't judge, he had only really read up on the essentials like fire, ice, eletricity, the usual.
Laila seemed a bit tired, as she knelt down between Neil and Amari who guarded her accordingly.
"Neil- your sword!" Klein called out, rushing to his brother who nodded as he tossed the long-sword. Grabbing its black hilt, Neil crouched as Klein jumped from his brother's back over the goblins.
Falling right above their leader, Klein used both hands to cut right through it with one swing.
It didn't go through, instead stopping halfway as the sword had gotten stuck. Klein gulped as he turned around thinking they were going to get attack, only to find the goblins terrified. Most likely due to their leader getting cut down like nothing, a good job for them.
As some tried to run away, they were burned to dust as Klein fired into the centre killing those who'd stay and fight. Their new member, Laila, would do her part as she'd continuously cast light magic to keep them blinded for Klein to take down.
She was a reliable teammate to them, especially since Amari had just joined the brother's only a few days ago.
This would be her second mission involving monsters that bled out real blood. But to know that they were as vicious as goblins made her feel more content with it, even more so after discovering previous cases on papers that he accidentally left on the table in their apartment.
She hadn't told them about that part, Amari would keep that a secret for now.
"Amari, how're you holding up?" She was zoned-out at first, looking around for anymore goblins before quickly turning to Klein.
"I-I'm still getting used to the blood, but I think I'll be okay..." Klein watched as Amari looked down at her sword, seeing the blood smeared all over it. Going through the pockets from her new attire, she pulled out a small towel as she began attemping to scrub the blood from the blade.
Guess I better check on Laila... Klein walked off to the side of the trees, making his way to the mage who sat between a few corpses. He tried to ignore the smell getting closer, noting to burn the bodies after talking with Laila. Tapping her shoulder, Laila turned around with a very distressed gaze.
"You okay?" Neil had returned from his walk, sitting beside Klein as she slowly got up in silence. Nodding at the two to confirm she was ok, the brother's watched as she approached Amari. The conversation being one-sided as Amari would talk about the mission.
They were glad that Amari was starting to gain more friends, with Florence and a few of the townspeople taking a liking to the girl. Laila smiled as the demi human went on about the foods she'd try every night with the brother's, taking note of their constant bickering on the pettiest of things.
It would stay this way for the walk back, as she continued to listen to Amari talk about her life with the brother's. As the conversation steered to something more on the woman's side of things, Neil nudged Klein to get an answer out of him.
"So uh... We inviting her over for dinner?" Klein turned his head to Neil, looking a bit red as he said it. He wouldnt budge, instead deciding to give him a vague answer as the trail from the south-east was reaching its end.
"Well it depends, you willing to cook tonight?"
"Oh come on Klein, you know I did it last night." Like Amari said, such a small excuse was petty. Klein wouldn't let that one slide, patting his back in pity as he was about to drop a bombshell on his little brother.
"But you want her to come over? Don't tell me your planning something..."
If it weren't for their whispering, it would've easy to tell they were talking about something involving the newly added party member. Sadly, Neil wasn't aware that the girls hearing was greater than he had assumed. Her ears perked up through the hood that was on her head, listening from ahead as the younger brother grew louder.
"T-Thats not what I mean Klein and you know it..!"
"sigh Fine..." Neil lightened up at his agreement, grinning as he wrapped his arm around Klein's back in joy. Neil was sure to make something great tonight, not having any guests at all ever since Florence had come over that one strange night.
They both neglected to mention the stares Florence would send their way, as Amari happily ate her food.
The brother's would hope that Laila wasn't like her, as the two had reached the Adventurers guild once again.
"Umm... Mister Klein, doesn't the place seem a bit too full?" Standing beside Amari, Klein and the rest looked on as the building was flooded with townspeople trying to get in. Klein & Neil weren't too sure what was going on, but a tip from Laila gave them reason enough to be worried.
"They must be there because of the two members from the Holy Order."
Klein paused, looking back at Laila as she confirmed his suspicions. That morning when those teens came to the apothecary, he still remembered the stripes of black and gold from the boy.
So their still here... Klein put his hand on his chin, he'd assumed the two would've left the town by now. Wishful thinking in his opnion, as he turned to gague the others' reactions. Neil was already beside Klein, already piecing things together in his head.
"Remember the scroll Florence gave us?"
"Florence? Robin Florence?"
Looking back at Laila, she seemed a bit surprised at the sudden divulge of information.
"Oh right, I'm an apprentice of Florence-"
"Y-You what?!" Her sudden yell of pure shock caught the two off-guard, as the two were flabbergasted at the sudden shriek. Before another wave of sound slammed into their ear-drums, Amari tapped Neil's back to someone approaching.
She wore a khaki coloured shirt, which contrasted well with the black clothes she was wearing. Her tight black pants stood out to the brother's as she got closer, her red eyes piercing Klein just as much as last time. Beautifiul strapped boots, with a loose black belt that highlighted her swaying hips with each stop
Florence stopped right beside Klein, wrapping her arm around him.
"Thats right, this... Ravishing young man here is my apprentice, do you have a problem with that Laila?"