I’ve been following Miss Violet since early morning. After breakfast she returned to her room and went out wearing the vest armor his highness bought for her.

“Arlo, let’s go to town.”

With that, she dragged me into town and towards an alley. Why is she so familiar with the streets? Wait, is this the reason why Sir Henry always scold her? Does she always go out without permission?

After a couple of turns, we’ve reached a smithy far from the main street. It didn’t have a proper name, just the emblem of a dwarven blacksmith, the same design the dwarven blacksmith his highness frequents.

Miss Violet entered the shop and the sound of a small bell ringing was drowned by the sounds of metal hitting each other. But it didn’t stop the dwarf from noticing us, with a hiss from the hot metal he was hitting, he went out with his hammer and his arms covered in sweat.

“Oh missy! Ye broke yer sword already?”

He implied, placing his hammer in the counter with a thud. While they talked, I looked around the shop. Swords of different sizes of different make were displayed, other heavy weapons such as axes and hammers were also present. Bows and staves made of wood were hung and stacked on one side.

Maybe his customers often uses swords and heavy weapons? I mean, I use a sword too.

I thought to myself as I reached the counter.

“Just that? How many?”

“10 is fine.”

The dwarf spread throwing knives on the counter. I was curious at their conversation at first, but now I’m puzzled.

“Miss Violet, what’s that for?”

“Hm. Self-defense?”

“Why is that a question? More importantly, for what?”

“…”

As I thought, I was met with silence. It’s frustrating. But…

Is it something she doesn’t want to talk about?

After I was made to pay for the knives, we went to the Hunter’s Guild. At the counter, the pretty receptionist smiled at Miss Violet but it was more like a sneer. Her lips were curled into a smile but her eyes weren’t smiling.

“Good afternoon. I take it, your here for the guild master?”

What did you do Miss Violet?!

The receptionist led us to a room in the second floor of the guild. There, a bespectacled elf sat in a chair in what seemed like an office.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

So he’s the guild master? I heard elves live in seclusion in the northern continent and resents Eloheim. Well, there’re odd ones like him, I guess.

“You’re here, did anything happen with the seal? Hm, a friend?”

“I’m Arlo, pleased to meet your acquaintance.”

“Pleasure’s all mine. I’m Guren, the guild master of the Hunter’s Guild in the Turqo branch.”

I shook hands with the guild master. His eyes were a deep green, it was said that for elves, the deeper the color of your eyes, the stronger your element is.

Which means, he lived long enough to cultivate the wind element into that color.

As those thoughts circle my mind, I saw the guild master write a magic seal on Miss Violet’s arm. I guess, I’m just an escort for the miss or should I say, guardian?

I don’t mind but I’m sure Sir Henry will definitely be angry at me for going along with her whims…

I sighed thinking of what’s to become of me.

“éist ag mo ghlao!”

The guild master yelled and a transparent wind barrier covered Miss Violet. Inside the barrier, dark mist oozed from her arm.

“Master Guren! What happened?!”

I yelled, the elf clicked his tongue and pulled a wand from his desk. With a wave and a point of his wand, and without any chants, the barrier slowly separated the black mist into another.

“Miss Violet, are you alright? Please stay awake, I’ll mend the seal.”

“Hnn…”

With a grunt, she nodded her head. The guild master went to her and continued to write on her arm. Slowly the black mist dissipated and the pained expression on the miss subsided as well.

Th-that mist was dark magic… right?

“Miss Violet, it’s dangerous so I ask you to please wait for the Magician’s Guild Master to arrive before you try leaving Turqo. If your mana goes out of control once again, you will not only hurt yourself but those around you as well.”

After the seal was done, he talked to her with a foreboding voice. At this, Miss Violet just tilted her head in puzzlement.

“I felt ticklish tho?”

She said in response.

“You mean, it went out of control because you were ticklish?”

“Hm. It hurt.”

She rubbed the finished seal, the guild master gave up but still warned her despite what she said. As they continued to talk, I stood there confused from the sudden change of mood.

What just happened?

It was almost dinner so we left the guild and walked back deeper into town.

“Miss Violet? What happened there? And aren’t we going home? His high— I mean Theo and the others are coming back soon.”

“Hm. Here.”

My questions remained unanswered while we enter an establishment. The place was filled with people of different walks of life. The scent of cooked meat, ale and the oily feel of the restaurant made my stomach rumble.

I guess it’s unavoidable, we haven’t eaten anything since lunch.

I made an excuse inside my head while holding unto my rumbling stomach and while I was embarrassed of my noisy stomach, she sat on a booth in the bar. And with a smile, the waitress greeted the miss familiarly like a regular.

“Hey Violet! The usual?”

“No. Stew, ribs and 2 ale for us. Thanks.”

“I don’t get to choose? Don’t tell me I have to pay too?”

I sat beside her at an empty seat beside another customer. She nodded in agreement and the delightful expression painted her face made me sigh.

If she’s that happy then it’s fine…

Contrary to what we thought of her, she sees us as her friends, or comrades in the least. It made me guilty thinking that this sweet miss was thought of suspicious. Even though I’m losing money…

“Yeah, this will be in my report to Sir Henry!”

I pumped myself trying to forget my light money pouch, while the waitress delivered our food. I shared the delectable stew and sticky ribs with Miss Violet and drank the cheap ale they served.

“Wow! This is good! What meat is this?”

“Hm. Orc.”

“Huh?”

Orc?! As in that monster orc?!

Those pig-like beings that walk on two legs, that was said to be made by the evil Dark god?! I was repulsed but seeing the miss eat her heart out stopped me from hurling. How can she eat this?

Well… I mean… IT is good…

“Ah! Whatever!”

With a chomp, I ate my fill of my first monster meat.

… and I also had my fill of Sir Henry’s scolding…