Chapter 83 Old Fool.

Two figures moved with unnatural grace, one clearly more perfect than the other. Every movement the pair made was almost perfect. Each step, stab, cut, and parry was a dance of steel that put many dancers to shame. The duo, however, were anything but pleased. “I, can’t, touch, her.” The larger of the two panted. His brown hair was caked with stone dust and sweat. His brown eyes caught the torchlight causing them to almost glow a soft orange. His beard was growing in patchy and he desperately needed to shave but he had been pushing himself far too hard as of late. He did nothing but eat, sleep, and train. The only reason he even took the time to bathe was because the hot water would relax his muscles before bed and the cold water in the morning would wake him up.

The more lithe of the pair was heaving deep breaths. She could only nod in agreement. Her hood was down showing her braided chocolate brown hair that hung down to her shoulder blades. Her piercing black eyes showed her exhaustion over her black face mask that hung on her nose and covered down to her collar.

The third figure on the rooftop was breathing steady but deep breaths. “You two have gotten better.” She told the pair. “Shy, you are still too dependent on your boots. The increased jump distances is nice but the longer you are in the air the more time you are vulnerable to faster things on the ground. Lenard, you need to learn four dances by next week. You are getting better but your movements still aren’t properly lining up with your mind. Also, start juggling knives while someone uses you as target practice.”

Lenny dropped onto the ground, exhausted. “Homework, is, gonna, get me, killed.” He protested between gulping breaths.

“You are a rogue, be better.” Their teacher told him. Her entire form was an obvious illusion. She had bright green hair and royal purple eyes with dark gray skin. She had introduced herself as Teacher and nothing else.

“Yes, ma’am.” Lenny replied with a nod.

“Shy, take off your boots and don’t put them back on until your next job.” Teacher told her.

Shy nodded begrudgingly. “Yes ma’am.” She accepted her fate.

Edward clapped to get the trio’s attention. “I brought dinner.” He told them. “It’s more for me and Ma-Teacher,” He corrected himself before fully exposing her. “but it would’ve been rude to leave you two out so you got lucky.” He explained and started pulling a folding table and chairs out of his Bottomless Bag. He handed them off to Shy and Marie who started putting them together and opening them up so the group could enjoy a quiet dinner on the roof of the second largest building in the city.

Lenny finally pulled himself off the ground and dropped into one of the chairs as Edward set a handful of bowls of vegetables, red meat, and bread out for them. “Thanks, teach.” Lenny told the Guild Master. “Still up for later?”

Edward raised an eyebrow. “I should be asking you that.” He told the young rogue.

“I’ve got a few hours. I’ll be fine by then.” Lenny replied.

Edward gave him a long look before nodding. “If your body can keep up, then yes, I am up for helping you train before I head home.” He told the rogue. Lenny nodded in thanks while stuffing his face.

“How hard are you pushing this boy?” Marie asked Edward.

Edward shook his head. “I wouldn’t push a kid as hard as he is pushing himself. Something is going to break at some point.” Edward replied. “Is your boss pushing you this hard?” Edward pressed Lenny.

Lenny shook his head. “-O.” He tried to reply through a full mouth before swallowing. “No.” He repeated. “But something big is coming and he hasn’t told us anything. That means that my brother’s connections aren’t helpful and I’m not strong enough.” Lenny explained. “I’ll be strong enough next time.”

“You’ve gained three levels in a month from training and sparring alone.” Edward reminded him. “You are going to stall and/or break something sooner or later. It’d be better for everyone if you slowed down and went on some jobs. You would get life and death combat experience while cementing your training. You’d probably jump another level or two as well.”

“That might be a good idea.” Lenny agreed. “I can start tomorrow if there are any jobs that fit.”

Edward paled and shook his head before swallowing hard. “No, not until next week.” Edward told Lenny. “Give it a few days.”

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Lenny’s eyes locked onto Edward’s like a hawk on a rabbit. “It’s that soon then.” He surmised. Edward nodded shallowly before taking another bite of food to buy time before he had to respond.

“Yes.” Marie told him. “Shy is level thirteen and they didn’t want to include her.” She told Lenny.

“Fourteen.” Shy corrected quietly.

“Oh? Congratulations on being the highest leveled member of your team.” Marie told the younger woman.

Shy nodded before sneaking another forkful of food into the shadow of her hood. “Thanks.” She said in a voice barely louder than a whisper.

“You are a warrior/rogue multiclass. You’re going to be a nightmare to fight in a few years but you need to pace yourself or you won’t make it that long.” Edward told Lenny. “Make sure you make it that long.”

Lenny was silent for a moment before nodding. “Yes, teach.”

“Speaking of making it that long…” Marie said with barely contained bashfulness. “Sera said something about trying to hook you up with one of her friends because you haven’t found anyone yet.” She prodded Edward who immediately spit his drink back into his cup and started a coughing fit.

“I think, it’s time to take our leave.” Shy whispered to Lenny who was sitting next to her. Lenny looked at her and then the food pleadingly.

“I… When did she… tell you that?” Edward got out between coughs.

Lenny hastily grabbed some meat and vegetables and crammed them into a pair of the larger rolls of bread.

“Yesterday.” Marie replied evenly, her emotions were completely back under control.

“Well, I will have to turn her down.” Edward replied as smoothly as he could considering the fact that wine almost shot out of his nose a moment prior. The wine could barely be called wine with how low the alcohol percentage was but the alcohol kept it from spoiling and that was almost necessary with Safeharbor’s distinct lack of fruit trees.

Lenny and Shy made their exit off the southern rooftop while Lenny was still stuffing his hastily made sandwiches into his Bottomless Bag for later.

“I see.” Marie replied non-committedly. “And why is that? I hear she is a wonderful person.”

“A few reasons.” Edward replied while trying to read Marie and failing miserably.

“Like?” Marie pressed while taking a sip of her own wine. Her words may have been obviously probing and gave the impression that she was interested in him but her perfect neutrality that had appeared immediately after she asked the initial question was sending Edward mixed messages.

“Is this Sera’s Shadow of a Thousand Faces asking or Marie?” Edward asked simply. He had given up on trying to read between the lines to figure out what she was after. If she didn’t answer his question then he would be forced to resort to simply asking her if she was interested in him. If he was wrong then things would be a little awkward between them for a few months until Marie forgot about it and then everything would be back to normal.

“What do you mean?” Marie asked innocently.

Edward narrowed his eyes on her. “You know exactly what I mean, Marie. We’ve known each other for nearly three decades.” He told her evenly. His suspicions were building.

Marie winced. “Don’t say it like that.” She replied.

“Say what like what?” Edward asked.

“Decades. Sera keeps telling me we are getting old.” Marie replied. Her eyes went wide for the briefest moment before her expression returned to schooled neutrality. She just hoped Edward didn’t notice.

“We?” Edward asked.

‘Shit. He noticed.’ Marie’s internal monologue rang out. “Yes, all of us.” Marie tried to play it off.

“Uh huh.” Edward replied. “Marie,” Edward began.

“Yes, Edward.” Marie replied casually.

“Did my sister tell you to ask me on a date?” Edward questioned evenly.

Marie’s face couldn’t visually pale, due to the insane amount of makeup on her skin to turn it gray, but her eyes couldn’t hide the look of shock from Edward. Maybe from her other old party members but not from the man who had stared into them the longest. “Uh… uh, not exactly.” Marie stammered before swallowing. She looked like she was facing the executioner’s ax, not her oldest party member.

“What, pray tell, were her exact words?” Edward requested.

Marie looked at him with pleading eyes. “No, anything but that.” She replied.

Edward leaned in. “Marie.” He said her name as if she were a child who had just gotten caught stealing cookies before dinner. “Don’t make me go to her myself.”

“She said; ‘tell my brother how you feel. Neither of you are getting any younger.’” Marie blurted out. The last thing she wanted was both siblings teaming up on her.

Edward was silent for a long moment. The faux hardness that had covered his face was gone and he leaned back slightly. “And?” Edward asked tentatively. “How do you feel about me?”

Marie thought that she was going to die from embarrassment alone but she refused to show it. She sat up a little straighter and upturned her nose slightly as she fell into character. “I like you. Obviously.” She told him.

“You like me?” Edward requested clarification. “In what way. I do not think misunderstandings are pleasant in these kinds of things.”

Marie almost dropped character as her face and collar got so hot that she thought the makeup would start peeling off. “In a courtship kind of way.” Then her character dropped. “Can’t you read a room Eddy?” She added in an embarrassed snap.

“I like you in the same way.” Edward replied. “I always thought that you were too married to your job of protecting my sister and nephew to have time for that kind of thing.”

“Good.” Marie said with a huff. She was too all over the place and was switching between characters like people playing cards. “Now that it’s been said.” She took a deep breath and Edward could only brace. “Some gentleman you are making the woman admit her feelings first! No wonder you’ve been alone all this time! How many women walked away because you were too dense to read a room?!”

“I let them all leave. I wasn’t interested in any of them.” Edward replied easily.

“What?” Marie stumbled.

“I was waiting for you to not be so obsessed with our bounties or my sister long enough to realize I existed.” Edward explained.

“Bounties?” Marie parroted.

“Yes.” Edward replied simply.

“B-But that was like… half a lifetime ago.” Marie stammered.

“Yes.” Edward agreed. “You sure kept me waiting.”

“You-you old fool.” Marie replied. Tears were starting to cloud her vision. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“I told you already.” Edward replied with a smile. “I was waiting for you to realize I existed.”