It’s the same First Avenue Cafe that the author used to interview Brynhilde. He is waiting patiently. He has no idea how Rezra is going to come onto the scene; she technically hasn’t even been written into the novel yet. Perhaps this is a mistake. He worries a little bit. Perhaps he shouldn’t have drank so much coffee. He appears to be a shaking mess.

Author: Thankfully, due to the powers that be, I can simply write myself as not having drank -any- coffee. Let’s roll with tea instead.

The scene backs up about an hour and the author is enjoying himself with some Valhallan Tea. He makes a face after taking a sip.

Author: It really needs more than just a little sugar. It needs a -lot- of sugar.

—

At the appropriate time what can only be described as a cat woman in a pink robe walks into the cafe. All eyes are on her. Not so much that she is dressed up, but the fact there is a tigerfelk in the cafe, let alone Valhalla. This one in particular has special graces and Odin’s blessing to walk Valhalla unhindered, not so much that she is a welcome guest, but because she already paid the price by having her tail docked for stealing. Thank Valkyrie Angst (Sweiza) that her mentor stepped in at all to negotiate such a thing and stay her (Rezra’s execution).

At any rate Rezra is no stranger to this cafe. She walks in and scans the area. She sees the author and gives him no attention. Rather, she quickly turns her side to him and heads up to what can only be described as a bar. Coffee black. She takes the whole kettle. She walks it over to the author and pulls up a seat. Much in a similar manner as Sweiza, this girl has no manners. She doesn’t bother pulling up a cup, but instead chooses to drink it straight from the kettle. She doesn’t care what people think of her manners. She downs the whole thing before setting the whole kettle down. She wipes her mouth with her arm accordingly.

The author is in disbelief at this display.

Rezra: I gave up. People keep staring.

Author: Isn’t that hot?

Rezra: It’s cold.

Author: You are going to get wound up from that.

Rezra: It’s decaf.

Author: Anyway, how are things proceeding under the tutelage of Sweiza?

A big exclamatory appears above Rezra’s head. She looks up at it once and hisses. The exclamatory turns into a question mark and then disappears.

Rezra: Why do you do that?

Author: What do you mean?

Rezra: Adding in those humorous bits that are meant to break up the interview.

The author is a bit taken aback that Rezra has already broken the fourth wall.

Rezra: Stop that!

The author instead pulls open a notebook and attempts to get the interview back on track.

Author: So, you are the equivalent of a street rat right?

Rezra: Sweiza is a gracious mentor. I am happy she chose me. It was either under her or Strife.

The author looks up once. His original question has been asked, but some time ago. He gives up. Rezra simply laughs.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Rezra: I don’t know if I would like training under Strife. She seems to show more leniency to me than Sweiza. But perhaps I am gifted in the martial arts.

Author: What do you mean?

Rezra’s finger’s suddenly stiffen and a set of claws come out just past the second knuckles. The author is in awe.

Author: Is it hard adjusting to active combat without a tail?

The slits in Rezra’s cat eyes narrow at the author. This seems to be a sensetive subject.

Rezra: It is sensitive! How would you like having your leg removed?!

The author doesn’t know what to say here. She seems to be able to sense what he is writing.

Rezra: Of course I can! We’re more in tune with nature and the supernatural!

Author: So how do you feel about Sprite then?

Rezra: What about him?

Author: I mean, he is well known as a thief and a pest, don’t y…

Rezra: And I’m not?

Author: You seem to take being a thief with pride.

Rezra: It was my way of life. I have to adjust to a new one now. Strife is forcing me to attend an all girl’s school for the gifted and refinement.

Author: Speaking of which, how do you feel knowing that Strife still has some sway over you?

Rezra: It seems to be a Valkyrie tradition. A master Valkyrie (Strife) chooses an apprentice, but their apprentice can choose to train two others under her. The two lowest apprentices typically become shield maiden. I don’t know how I feel about training with Brynhilde. She is such a brat. She has changed though.

Author: In one way?

Rezra: Ever since Odin blinded her, she hasn’t been the same. She seems to be intune more with movement and the supernatural after that. I’m not sure how she adapted.

Author: Isn’t that a spoiler?

Rezra: Who cares? Plot twists and spoilers happen behind the scenes all the time.

Author: Point taken. So has Sprite become jealous now that you and Sweiza are inseparable?

Rezra: Lil’ bugger enjoys causing mishaps between us. I give him honey and he leaves us alone.

Rezra lets out a smile at that.

Author: Two peas in a pod?

Rezra eyes him confuzzled. Rezra promply snatches the notebook from him and eyes it up and down once. She lets out a mischievous grin that shows her fanged canines. Her claws come out and she slices the notebook and hands it back to the author.

Rezra: You were really going to ask some of those questions?

Author: Sure, why not?

Rezra: Wouldn’t those count as major plot spoilers?

The author realizes he is being interviewed. Rezra pulls out a small beret, hat and pen from nowhere. This ‘feline’ appears to be having fun mocking the author.

Author: So is it true that tigerfelk are unwanted in the streets of Valhalla?

Rezra holds the pen up to her mouth once; she tilts her head for deliberate effect.

Rezra: Tigerfelk originally come from the east through the valley between Alfgard and Vanir. A few of us migrated to Midgard eons ago, but there has been a caste war of sorts; tigerfelk have always been at the bottom. A few get a head, but most of us live as street rats or as we are more appropriately called ‘Alley Cats’.

Author: Isn’t that a racist term?

Rezra: We wear it with pride.

Just a loud commotion hits the bar area of the cafe. The author and Rezra look up and over. A blue ball is flying with a donut. The author knows what is next.

Sweiza bursts in.

Sweiza: Sprite! Come ba… Rezra!

Sweiza hurries over and hugs the feline. She looks at the author once and pays him no attention.

Sweiza: Did he buy coffee like he promised?

Rezra looks from Sweiza to the author. She shows him a toothy grin.

The author looks up and sighs. He leaves one hundred marks on the table.

Author: I can do that.

Sweiza: Why can’t I get more money?

Rezra: Me too!

Rezra makes a cutsey face.

Author: I swear if Bry…

Brynhilde suddenly walks into the cafe.

Brynhilde: Starla, we have training. Bring that thing…

Brynhilde shoots her eyes at Rezra once, and then back to Sweiza.

Brynhilde: With you. Don’t be late this time!

Brynhilde nods her head up sharply once, turns around and leave.

Author: You three seem to have quite the busy schedule ahead of you.

Rezra: Speaking of which, we really should be going.

Rezra pushes her chair back once, she nods at the author, and then heads for the door. Sweiza’s face stifles a giggle at Rezra.

Sweiza: She has quite the razorsharp tongue.

Author: Isn’t that why she has the name Rezra?

Sweiza nods enthusiastically.

Author: How do Rezra and Brynhilde get along anyway?

Sweiza: Very carefully.

Brynhilde’s head suddenly pops back into the cafe.

Brynhilde: Angst! Let’s go!

Sweiza suddenly bolts up, bows her head and walks off to the door without another word.

The author look up with disbelief and relief.

Author: These characters are starting to become a handful.

Author: I still haven’t decided if Rezra will appear in the past with Sweiza, or once the Valkyrie in training returns to Valhalla in the present. Time will tell.

Author: This might be the last interview. I’m not sure if I want to interview Odin’s two hundred forms or not…