The father glanced around, and his eyes met the boys who was almost a victim to his madness. His body jumped, shocking him awake from his drowsy state.
“---!”
Ace Bracker stared, but kept his calm, as the older man started to break out into a cold sweat.
“Ah...”
They had already spoken the night before, but the awkward feeling was unavoidable. Not only awkward but regret and guilt also filled up the demihuman who was supposed to be the second-oldest person in the room.
“Good morning, Mr. Betano.”
Ace could tell that Mila’s father was uncomfortable, so he took action. He put on a slight smile and greeted Mr. Betano. Ace didn’t know how to act, but he thought calm and composed couldn’t go wrong right now. He gripped his knees and stayed focused on the demihuman in front of him.
“Ah... good morning... Ace...”
Stuttering, avoiding eye contact, and slightly backed away was clear to everyone in the room. Mr. Betano looked like a victim, but he knew that he was the culprit. It may have been awkward, but he still had pride and was a father, so he needed to act even a fracture of mature, at the least.
*step, step*
He took a seat at the table, trying to act decent, rebounding from his pathetic display from earlier.
“I... will start...”
He conjured up some words, raised his head to face Ace, then spoke once again.
“I’m sorry!”
His head dropped insanely fast, down to the table, smacking his forehead to the wood.
“I know we already spoke last night, but that was truly horrible of me. I could have, and probably would have ended your life right there, had you not woken up. I’m truly sorry!”
His head stayed down at the table, his hands directly beside, as if he was prostrated on the floor.
“...”
No response was said for a few seconds. Everyone in the room stared, waiting for Ace to speak, but one person could not wait any longer.
*step, step*
Being comforted a few seconds earlier, her mood drifted, now extremely angry at the person who she thought there was mutual trust between for the 20 years she has lived.
“Papa. Look here.”
Mila stood directly to his right, waiting for her father to raise his head.
“Mila...”
His palms, fingers, and forehead all left the wood of the table to raise themselves and face his daughter. The 90 degree turn could not be fulfilled, as---
*SLAP!*
“How dare you?! I understand if you have past trauma, but you don’t go killing my friend as soon as it resurfaces! You talk to someone about it and then act! You have me and mom here with you, and yet--!”
Her breath stopped and her face was the one to turn a full 90 degrees, unable to finish her sentence and face her father. Mila bit her lip and turned to face him once again.
“And yet you go try to kill him immediately! Talk to us! How many years have we been living together?!”
She finished her lecture to her father, then retreated back to her mother so the two could talk it out. This situation involved Mila, but Ace was the victim, so she couldn’t be selfish right now. He needed to be the one to talk and decide how to move forward.
“Sorry, Mila...”
She may have retreated, but her father still owed her, no... everyone, an apology, so he gave Mila hers. A lot of thoughts flew around Mr. Betano’s head, but he also recognized that Ace was the victim, so he gave his undivided attention to the boy in front of him. He turned his body to face him, then waited once again.
“Mr. Betano, I already gave you my answer... last night.”
Ace’s slight smile returned, wanting to drop the tense mood in the room.
“I am a freeloader in this house, so I am grateful for everything you and your family has done for me. Obviously, there were some misunderstandings... and I don’t know how you currently feel... but I think we can move past this. I wasn’t planning on staying too long anyways, so if you’re uncomfortable, I can sleep outside for the next few days. But I really am grateful for everything.”
Everyone could only watch and listen as Ace spoke his mind. The father in front was tired last night, so it all felt like a dream, but his victim was now sitting in front of him, saying that they could move past this. He was at a loss for words and unable to open his mouth.
“I know it’s not a good time right now, but if Ace sleeps outside, so will I, so please don’t make him.”
Seeing Ace try to lighten the mood made the blue haired traveler feel like she could also speak, and not needing to be super formal at that.
“Hehehe...”
An unexpected giggle from someone who was been silent since the father entered the room. Vanessa Betano stood and watched as Ace spoke his plans, and Aliza forcing her own into the mix. Her giggle was a reaction, but a small tear also passed down her cheek. The boy whose life was almost ruined... was now forgiving everything. Her daughter was blessed with a good friend, and her husband also got lucky with whom he tried to kill.
The girl beside the mother who was heated a few moments earlier, also felt the time was now right to speak. A weight felt lifted off her shoulders, and she continued as if everything was settled.
“I forgot to tell you guys yesterday, but I went and checked on the carriage.”
“---!”
Ace and Aliza jumped hearing that there was news. They had told Mila yesterday to check on the carriage, but with all that happened, they all forgot. Mila continued with her report, now that she had her two friends’ attention.
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“The carriage burned away, but the Llorse named Helen is okay. Also, a lot of Mr. Legot’s belongings have been recovered. His money, magic items, and merchant’s tag specifically, they’re all good.”
The merchant who had been silent for as long as everyone could remember... let out a breath of relief hearing his partner’s name.
“Helen’s okay... I thought she would pass on before me for a second... this old man got lucky...”
After the relief hit him, he glanced over to his two other partners, knowing he still had a promise to fulfill.
“For the carriage, as long as I have my merchant’s tag, they will provide me with one at a discounted price. With my saved-up money, getting a new one should be no problem.”
The relief also hit the other two. They felt happy for Mr. Legot and about his Llorse, but they still had a goal to fulfill, and that was why they got into a partnership with Mr. Legot in the first place. Hearing that they had everything they needed to start traveling, the relief hit them as well.
“Okay, perfect. Then depending on how Helen is feeling and how long it will take for the carriage, we can start moving pretty soon.”
Ace thought it was for the best for them to leave as soon as possible. He wasn’t planning on staying too long anyways, but with all that’s happened, he felt the need to rush a little.
“Wait--!”
Switching over to a report out of nowhere left the father who was already shocked to be even more confused. Everyone around him was now acting like none if it happened. He jumped out of his seat, a clear expression of discomfort on his face.
“I tried to kill you! Are you sure you’re going to leave me off like that?! You can throw anything you want at me! I know I deserve it!”
It was clear to Ace just how much this affected Ricard Betano. He tried to kill a guest and was now being pardoned by his victim. To add to the situation, everyone seemed to accept the pardon. He had his pride as a man, and just as a human being. Mr. Betano felt that he deserved a punishment, even if it was miniscule.
“Mr. Betano, I’ll be honest. Obviously, I was scared, and still am a little. But I don’t think giving you a punishment will benefit anyone right now. Instead, I’ll give you a goal.”
“A goal...?”
“Don’t judge before getting to know the person. That’s all I can leave you off with.”
Ace spoke his honest thoughts. Of course, he had lingering feelings of fear and anger at the person who tried to kill him, but one thing overshadowed everything else inside of Ace’s mind. That was his main goal of returning home. The whole incident with Mr. Betano was a setback and forgiving him was the fastest way to get back on track.
“Aliza, Mr. Legot, I think we should go get Mr. Legot’s belongings immediately.”
Both nodded, and Mr. Legot added on.
“I was originally planning on leaving today, so I guess it’s perfect. We can probably get a carriage today, so we can set out whenever you two kids want.”
Ace let off a small smile hearing that their plans can move forward without delay. His next main goal was magic, and to fulfill it, he needs to make it to the capital where he can learn space and time magic.
“Okay, let’s go!”
His feet set out towards the front door, already on the move. Aliza followed behind, along with Mr. Legot, who had a slower pace.
“Bye Mila, Ms. Betano, and Mr. Betano!”
“Bye!”
“Thank you for your hospitality.”
They said their goodbyes and received waves from the females of the Betano family. The man of the family still could not comprehend everything that had happened since receiving this new ’goal’ of his. He raised his hand slightly, but the dumbfounded look on his face was all Ace could see.
The three left the Betano family and moved for the Merchant’s Guild, where Mr. Legot could use his perks.
• • •
Ace and Aliza sat on a nearby bench as Mr. Legot did his business with the guild they were not acquainted with.
“Hey Ace.”
“What’s up?”
“Did you really forgive Mila’s dad just like that? It’s weird to me. Most people seem like they would try to kill back, or at least be really scared.”
Ace thought to himself for a second, but he thought the thinking wasn’t necessary. He already knew what was going through him, so he let his words flow.
“It is weird. Fear and anger definitely passed through me at one point, but remembering my goal made me think the situation was all pointless. I wanted to get it over with and move on. If he still wanted to kill me, then it would be a different story, but I could tell he regretted it, so I dropped it.”
Aliza stared at his emerald eyes, which were only a meter away from where she sat. Her lips tilted up, forming a warm smile as she stared.
--He really is weird...
“---!”
Ace glanced back, feeling the stare on his skin, coming from right next him.
“Is there something on my face?”
“Ah-! Nope, nope, nothing there...”
--Wait! Why would I be staring at his face then, ahh, I’m an idiot...
Aliza rushed to correct her mistakes, throwing her hands in front of her and waving, denying her last statement.
“I mean--! Yes! There is!”
*SLAP*
Once again, she rushed without thinking, smacking the clueless boy across his face as she stayed flustered.
“OW! What was that for?!”
“I just told you there was something on your face!”
“You could have just pointed or something! Why’d you slap me?!”
“It was a huge bug!”
“A bug?!?! Is it gone?!”
“Yes! I just slapped it off!”
“Oh... okay, thanks then... I would’ve freaked.”
Aliza’s face flushed red from slapping him out of nowhere, the slap stemming from a lie. She looked away and tried to calm down a little, then turned back to face in a normal direction.
“Hey, why are you so red? Are you okay?”
One glance and it was clear to see her burning up. Aliza thought she had calmed down, but her blush factor was so high, that even calming down by so much didn’t make the red from her cheeks disappear.
--Ahh... why does he have to notice now--!!
“I’m fine!”
“Are you sure? You don’t look the best.”
--Just drop ittt....
“Yes, I’m sure!”
“Okay, whatever you say...”
His worry melted and things went back to normal, as the two waited for Mr. Legot to finish receiving the discounted carriage.
• • •
“Seems like the carriage will be ready today. We can set out whenever you two want.”
Mr. Legot returned from the guild, merchant’s tag in hand as he strutted toward the bench. Aliza and Ace both stood up immediately to let the elderly man take the seat.
“Hoho, thank you, but I think you two want to set out immediately, so no point in sitting down, eh?”
“Haha, yeah, if it’s not a problem, we would like to move right away.”
Aliza said, representing both her and Ace’s thoughts. She received a smile back from Mr. Legot, and he started to walk, the two following behind the rodent who knew what they needed to do next.
“We need to pick up Helen and my stuff first, so let’s stop at the Adventurer’s Guild. They should be holding everything.”
Ace shot Mr. Legot a nod, following his plans, but Aliza hesitated, wanting to ask something that’s been on her mind since he’s returned.
“Mr. Legot, did the clerk not say anything to you? Practically everyone knows that you’re working with the humans, so for things to go so smoothly...”
Mr. Legot stopped in place and rubbed his small, pointy beard. He turned to face Aliza, who had been worried since he’s came back from the guild, then shot a smile once more.
“A merchant is trusted. They may scam or use trickery to get better prices, but overall, they are trusted to be proper merchants. The ones trusting them are the guilds, and the merchants trust the guilds back. Merchants try to stay away from bias, because at the end of the day, they only care for one thing, money. The guild is the same. If one of their merchants are helping humans, they assume that cash is involved somehow, and they trust their merchants. It may not go as well at the Adventurer’s Guild, but we’ll make it work.”
Aliza took his words to heart and decided to trust him once more. She walked forward and took his hand, supporting the elderly man who tended to be hunched over. Aliza now thought of him as a companion, and a friend.
“Okay, let’s go.”
The three moved for the Adventurer’s Guild, with a hope that things would go well, only for the result to remain as the expected outcome...