Chapter Twenty-Five: I’ve Already Had All My Fun
They sat there for several minutes in silence. Rynan glared at the new arrival and the elf looked around with a wide smile on his face as though he was in the waiting room of a car dealership, waiting for a cup of complimentary coffee. His hat had been placed on a hook on the wall and his straight long silver hair spilled out over his shoulders.
Marc wondered how long this was going to go on when he heard a noise outside the front door. A moment later a very tired and out of breath Grenn struggled through the door. Marc almost laughed out loud at the poor condition of the big man, payback for all the indignities he had faced at the hands of his tormenting taskmaster. He had never seen Grenn so much as winded before and wondered what had happened to put him in such a state.
“You… why… wait… told…”
“Ah! About time! What took you so long?” Meservi looked at the suffering man with a look of surprise.
“I thought you were right behind me. You have gotten out of shape since you retired. Are you all right? Here have a seat.” The elf glided to the door and gently helped the wheezing man to a chair before he fell.
“Who is acting as host in another person’s home?” Rynan turned her icy glare on Meservi, then to Grenn, whose pathetic eyes expressed an apology that his lungs could not yet manage.
Rynan stood up and fetched several large cups and placed them in front of the two guests. She reached out to fill them with water when the elf deftly reached under his cloak and produced a long tall glass bottle filled with an amber-colored liquid. He pulled off a stopper and poured a generous amount of the liquid into the cup in front of him. He looked over to Grenn who peeked at Rynan and with fear in his eyes shook his head from side to side.
“Ah, fine.” Said Meservi, then topped his own cup to the brim, after which the bottle quickly disappeared under the cloak in a subtle purple flash.
Rynan, still frowning, filled Grenn’s cup and addressed both of them accusingly.
“What are you doing here? Why did you show up here unannounced?” She turned her head to the grinning elf who was sipping from his cup with a look of deep satisfaction.
Marc shivered as the temperature in the room had seemingly dropped by several degrees. He was even tempted to warm himself up with magic, but considering the situation he thought that it might be best to attract as little attention as possible.
《Wise move.》 Kira agreed.
“Why so rigid, I just wanted to spend some time with my good friends, enjoy some wine, and get away from all the hustle and bustle of the city for a bit.” He slapped Grenn on his back. The giant man had recovered somewhat and was taking a large drink from the cup of water.
“You said this was an official visit, Adjutant Meservi. Protocol dicta…” Rynan’s icy speech was cut off by a quick cough from the elf.
“Fine, I’m sorry for showing up unannounced. But I received word that Grenn has come out of retirement and is investigating a possible slave trading incident while regularly visiting the Witches Den. My two favorite people in the world having some kind of secret adventure… and didn’t invite me along…” He took on a sad dog expression.
Marc almost laughed at the over-the-top acting of the flamboyant elf. Then he looked over and was surprised to see Rynan’s demeanor melt slightly from its icy state.
Seizing on this, Meservi quickly drew the bottle back from under his cloak, along with a couple of shiny crystalline tumblers.
“Come! Let’s all have a drink and toast to the old days!” He looked over at Marc and moved to place a glass in front of him when Rynan snapped at him.
“It’s not even mid-day. No one likes a drunk <########>.” She scolded.
Marc was surprised. His translation ability had not had any difficulty communicating with Rynan or Grenn in a while. This must be an interesting word for Kira to struggle with.
A chagrined Meservi moved to put the bottle and glasses away when he glanced again at Grenn who was eyeing the bottle. He motioned the bottle towards Grenn’s cup and raised his eyebrows. Grenn looked at the bottle, then at Rynan’s icy glare, and finally shook his head with a sad look of defeat. In a flash, the bottle and glasses had again disappeared under the cloak. Then the elf jumped up and faced Marc.
“Please forgive the late introduction.” The man stood up straight, then placed his right hand over his left shoulder and bowed deeply for several seconds. He straightened up again and continued.
“I am Meservi of the House Sen-Tari of Sen Anatra, Adjutant of The Clearwater chapter of The Guild, Former Clan Leader of Rising Sun Clan, Holder of…”
“Enough!” Rynan slapped the table, then shockingly, she reached across and grabbed the glass Meservi had poured and lifted it to her mouth, taking a large sip. She put the glass back down and then looked at Marc.
“This is Meservi, a drunkard and disreputable elf, a dilettante, a braggart, an annoying gossip… and a good and reliable old friend. That’s all you need to know for now.” Then she turned to the elf whose face had a beaming smile.
“This is Marc. He is my ward and disciple. He is under my protection Meservi. You should do well and remember that, and all it entails.” Finally, Rynan’s face relaxed and her demeanor returned to the laid-back and calm person that Marc had gotten used to.
“Of course, of course.” The elf practically gushed with glee. “Your disciple you say? Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.” He stared again at Marc, that hungry glint in his eye again.
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“And he is also an appraiser,” Rynan warned. “He can read a person’s status.”
Marc again felt the chill in the air, but it was probably not Rynan’s ability.
“Can he read everything?” He asked Kira.
《Not everything. But some things I think. I can’t quite see him clearly. He is blocking us somehow. Similar to Rynan’s pendant, but also different. All I can tell is that he is an Air Magic user, a very powerful one.》
“What does he know?” Marc asked. Surprisingly Meservi was the one to respond.
“Interestingly I can’t read him. His status is odd. Garbled. I can only see fragments. I’ve never encountered this before, Rynan. Where did you find the treasure?”
《He can’t read your thoughts. Well maybe he can, I’m not sure. But he didn’t just now. That I am certain of.》 Kira reassured Marc.
“That is a long story, and not mine to tell. Perhaps someday he will tell you himself. If you earn his trust.” She said, taunting the elf.
“Sintsuu faahn pet’chin faakru.” Marc couldn’t understand the words spoken seriously by the elf.
”Krrantap kur ssept tanshikpel. Tanseh faahal tehntor keh faakru.” Rynan retorted. “That’s rude.”
YOU HAVE INTERACTED WITH A NEW LANGUAGE. THE INTERFACE CAN CURRENTLY SUPPORT THREE TOTAL LANGUAGE MODULES. CURRENTLY USED 1/3. LEVEL UP YOUR INTERFACE TO ADD ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY FOR ANATRA FUUL KEYT? YES/NO?
“Ummm, Hell yes!” Marc responded to the prompt. “Kira, what did he say?”
《No need to be profane. Can’t even properly use one language and now he wants to add another one?》
“Kira, please, I need to know what’s going on.” He begged.
《He said, “Are you sure he is not dangerous?”》
“And what did Rynan say?”
《She said, “He is not, and he likely understood you.”》
Marc glanced up at Meservi, who returned a questioning glance.
“Well, did you?” the elf asked.
After a few seconds, Marc nodded, then said “Yes.” In the Elf’s native tongue.
“Wonderful! Simply Wonderful! Marc, we are going to be great friends I promise you. Marc and Meservi! Sounds great doesn’t it? Of course! Wonderful! Let’s toast to a new friendship!” He grabbed his glass and downed the remaining contents in one gulp, then produced the bottle once again and began to refill it with the amber liquid.
“Enough! You two rest from your travels. Marc, come with me and we will get something for lunch from the garden.” She practically pulled Marc from his chair and pulled him outside, closing the door behind them.
Marc was about to ask her a question when she put her fingers up to his lips.
She raised her other hand and as it emitted a light blue glow it started to rain. Within seconds the rain was a torrential downpour, except just around them, a bubble of space was completely clear of water. The rain simply spread around them as if they were under a glass umbrella. She nodded at him when he heard a yell from inside the cabin.
“Oh come on Rynan! No fair!” A faint voice complained.
She nodded to him towards the garden and then walked over to the vegetables.
“He would easily be able to hear us, even from kilometers away. That’s one of his abilities. But this should block it. She pointed to the sky pouring down on them.
“He’s eccentric, but a very good person underneath.” She explained. “And considering his current rank in the Guild, a very good friend to have now.”
《An Adjutant is second only to the Head of the local Guild.》 Kira explained.
《I am still collecting more information on them, but The Guild seems to be a massive organization. One dedicated to keeping the cities and people safe from beasts and other problems. Something like your civil servants. Police, Firefighters, and Hospitals, all in one. But it’s not part of any government. It’s rather confusing, to be honest. I need more access to information. I recommend sticking close to this elf.》
Kira was in her aggressive mode. She would get pushy when there was new information to be collected. Marc suspected that this was all part of Mary’s “software upgrade” plan.
“You trust him?” He asked Rynan.
“I do… to an extent.” She confirmed.
“We have a history. He, Grenn, and I, and a few others. We traveled together. Fought together, shed blood and tears together. We are comrades in the truest meaning of the word.” She said, a sad smile crossed her face as she recalled memories, some sweet, and some bitter.
“That said, he has other allegiances. To the Guild, to his House, and perhaps others. Some things about him are a mystery, but I suppose it’s rather silly to say that about someone to you.” She gave him a smile and poked his shoulder.
They picked a few items from the garden to make up for lunch while they talked.
“He is also a very powerful Air Mage as I am sure you noticed.” She added.
“If there is anyone I would trust to help you unlock that part of your abilities, it would be him.” She confirmed.
《Woohoo! Air Master Get!》
“Really?” Marc asked, eagerness clear in his voice.
“Yes, but I would caution you to take your time. I’m afraid I know what he will propose now that he is here.”
Marc gave her a questioning look.
“He’s going to suggest that you go to the City immediately.”
《yesyesyesyes》
“But I think you should wait a little bit longer. At least until the spring. Let’s spend the winter working on unlocking your Water or Space Magic.” She spoke hesitantly, as though afraid of how he would respond.
《citycitycitycitypleasepleasepleaseplease》
“Why? Why wait so long?” He asked.
“Marc, I am worried about you. I know you are eager to grow, to get out and see more of the world.”
《yesyesyesyes》
“But I know what it is like to get swept up by the world. You are destined to explore the world, to see things few people have ever seen, and go places others will never be able to. But as much as you will grow by taking from what the world has to offer, the world will also take from you. It would be so easy to get swept up by the events, the people, the tides of change that will come from your very existence here.” She stopped picking a small squash and turned to look at him.
“I want you to have a base in your heart. A place where you feel safe and at home. I want you to know that you don’t have to let the events of the world push you into a destiny against your will. I know from personal experience how isolating that can be.” The half smile she showed when she spoke of her past was heartbreaking.
Marc remembered his first few days in this life. How he felt he was adrift, with no control over what was happening to him.
“When you leave here, I want you to be confident that it is what you want to do, because once you do leave I am afraid the winds of your destiny will blow you away, perhaps never able to return.”
《hmph. But it’s sooooooo boring here.》
“Kira is telling you to go isn’t she?” Rynan said with a grin.
Marc returned her smile with a look and a nod.
“She must be so bored here.”
“I’m sure she’s not bored.”
《Arrghhhh!》
“Anyway, the choice is yours. I’ll support you either way. I just want you to consider putting it off just a bit more.”
“Fine Rynan. I’ll think about it before making any decisions. Besides, I am not sure I’ll be able to take having Kira yelling in one ear and Meservi in the other.” He shivered a bit at just the thought.
Rynan laughed at that. Then they walked back to the cabin as the rain dispersed leaving a brilliant rainbow across the clearing.
This place isn’t bad at all, Marc thought to himself.
They walked into the room where Meservi hanging onto Grenn’s shoulder waving his arms wildly, three sheets to the wind drunk. Grenn for his part had a guilty look on his face and a glass half full of amber liquid in his hand.
“You start on the vegetables.” Rynan handed Marc the produce and, with surprising strength, grabbed the giant and the elf and shoved them out the front of the cabin.
“I’ll clean up our guests before we eat,” An evil glint in her eyes. Her hands were glowing a bright blue as she closed the door behind her.