Chapter 115

As William watched hundreds of nice shoes, the owner forced some into his hand and got so lost in this, that new customers walked inside the shop, making a 'chink' sound caused by a bell.

Who arrived was a whole team in military uniforms who clearly needed some repairs, followed by a young girl between them who carried and hugged a strange dog. She needed some clothes for sure, which was evident because of stains and holes and stuff missing. She didn't even have shoes. Her head was barely visible behind the dark-looking dog that was big and barely optimal for her to carry it like a lap dog.

The owner frowned and noticed some interesting visitors had arrived at an unfortunate time. So much so that he turned, frowned, and wondered what was going on.

Not all of those people were interesting. Some weren't old news for sure. Intrigued, he patted William's shoulder and assured him to think about shoes or sets a bit more. “Have some patience. Walker customers arrived, so I will come back and help you after dealing with them. Forgive me, it is how my business delivers to my regulars.”

Looking back, William noticed five people, not including that dog with numerous eyes and a crazy mouth full of visible teeth. It was curiously looking around, taking all smells for options, and then... their eyes met. Both tensed and William swore its focused eyes hid murder and insanity and its focus on him wasn't small. He jerked and turned, forcing shoes on his face as he observed and began to sweat. It was unknown what that dog thought or assumed.

That girl was hugging its belly and it seemed like a very uncomfortable position for a dog. Yet it didn't complain and barely flinched because of her grasp. The seeming comfort of being carried by her was an honor.

The owner approached them with a smile.

“Greetings, sirs, ladies, captain, Walkers. Dreadus. It is good to see you still alive and kicking after years and so many missions. How is your health?” the owner laughed and greeted the leader of this group.

William was still glancing at the entrance and discovered they were Walkers straight away thanks to their uniforms, but their air, faces, and demeanor made it much clearer. Apart from that girl, that was. Or that dog. That duo was strange and nothing about her and this group seemed fine together.

Out of curiosity, he was half focusing on shoes and these people.

“You know how it goes,” the sturdy man named Dreadus said as he stepped forward. “You look good yourself, Wagner.”

“It doesn't happen often that a team comes by. What... might... go with this one? Over here.” Suspiciously glancing at the girl behind Dreadus, he worried about that dog but not too much because he noticed Emblem Academy's token.

Behind them, there was also a woman dressed in a revealing robe and some poor cloak. Her eyes shifted around for something nicer to wear as she was used to lavishness and shopping for herself. Beside her were a pair of siblings who looked alike and tired. Their coldness and stone faces were daunting, and something about them made them very exhausted and hard to approach.

Dreadus laughed as if Wagner's worries didn't matter. He stepped aside and patted Hound, the dog, the Dark Hound. It snapped at his fingers straight away and chewed on them, but no finger, blood, or teeth moved just yet.

“It is... safe... and tamed. I swear.” Dreadus said to Wagner as he fought with Hound's mouth. It disagreed, barking as it chewed.

Dreadus felt a little awkward and pointed at the collar aside with his other hand. Hound had it around its neck, depicting an unusual case that wasn't very rare or good to have in the middle of the Federation or some shopping.

A pet had many depictions, but this wasn't it, Wagner considered. Touched by Dreadus's position and Fain's affirmation, this Hound was allowed to exist and remain with the one it liked.

“Academy Wager?” Wagner said and frowned. There was a little add-on on the collar that depicted the Academy's flag.

“Yeah. Something like that, I guess.” Dreadus sighed and pushed his stuck hand out of Hound's mouth. It was bleeding in the end, and even one finger was missing. He didn't even flinch. Instead, he felt embarrassed and could see a problem arriving quicker than the moon's red shine.

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Reaz, the hefty woman of similar stature as Dreadus, walked forward and laughed at his missing finger. “Here I thought you would cry and beg for mercy to a little girl. Serves you right. That is hilarious. Look, it is still chewing!”

Reaz found a lot of fun and accomplishment in her tone and voice. Watching Hound and Dreadus, her laughs fell short soon enough when she overheard the girl's barely tangible 'hag' coming from that little pressed mouth.

Dreadus couldn't refute her and licked his fingers. “It will heal in a bit. Don't sweat it, Celeste.” He ignored Reaz and talked to the girl holding this mistake of a dog.

Celeste wasn't worried, glad, or afraid. She was more confused and curious about this name she had, albeit with some help. She shifted her head to glance past Hound, as its head was quite big and hiding her from the outside world.

Glancing at Dreadus, she didn't speak up or point out how he should better keep his hands to himself if he didn't want to die.

Her eyes spoke of a confusing reality of why had they dragged her here, or... into this city, or where? Some streets and places felt so wrong that she wanted to get buried and never see the sun ever again.

Still, she promised to be good to Dreadus, who might've destroyed her former home and taken her out, but since he helped her out of something she wouldn't necessarily call terrible or great, she swallowed most pride and complaints. It was a strange change of pace and place, making her afraid of people and so many faces.

“Say something,” Reaz insisted when she stopped laughing. She stood beside Celeste and towered over her small stature. With Hound as a weapon, she had very few worries about anything.

“Hag...”

Reaz got twitching to her eyes and even her hands quivered. She swore Hound laughed at her as it chewed, while Celeste never changed even after her meaningful gift of a proper name. She was looking at her with cold eyes.

Meanwhile, Wagner was speechless. “I will take care of that blood and your uniform, but that is hardly my concern with you, Dreadus, miss Reaz. You are here for something, right? I don't think I had any secret orders or anything related to someone like you... so, what kind of visit is this?”

Dreadus finished his licking and gave Hound a cold and personal look. Hound whimpered, flinched his four legs in the air, and glanced away innocently. Celeste almost fell but hugged it tight. The fluff and remembrance of her home was this thing alone. She won't lose it, and she was told to keep it close if she didn't want to lose everything and herself.

So she did so, reminded and speechless once more. It was a bit too personal, but who would mind it? As long as there was no Dark wreaking havoc in the Federation, nobody cared about such pets. Assembly and Walkers were the pivotal rulers of this society and they were rules and officers, and some consensus and deals happened every day. Even if she was basically a refugee who was brought here like a dog.

There were rules and decisions about Darks, Walkers, and what they should be allowed to do or own. Regular people shouldn't care too much about it, but some bare notes of them had to be known. Tamed Darks had to know rules, have collars, or some drastic measures if they were too dangerous. In essence, Dreadus smuggled a rather questionable monster here. Hopefully, it understood where it was and what it should be doing.

It wasn't as if Hound could die because of some regular people. Well, not many Walkers would kill it either, thanks to its Academy token.

Dreadus gestured at Celeste and moved her forward with simple pats on her back. “I became a... protector, and this girl needs something new... or... something. You see... she wears... well, she...”

Wagner could see it way better than William, or stuttering Dreadus who was kind of unfit for this role.

Celeste was so much worse than William, albeit she at least had a military cloak wrapped around herself, hiding most of her clothes and body. Legs and feet were visible. She had no trousers or shoes, and her way too long shirt wasn't hers. Blood was still visible on it, and her long black hair was messy.

Wagner sighed, realizing that Dreadus had one hell of a responsibility on his shoulders. This girl, he will take care of her in his name and shop! By pride! “I see. I will be of help and do it imminently. There are many sets for her size and I won't be polite about the quality, right?”

“Oh, sure. Don't be. Heard that?” Dreadus said to Celeste. “You can take anything you want. Clean, new, and proper. Don't be too reluctant to ask or try anything that fancies your eyes. Oh, and try on some shoes. Don't forget about them, even if you've never had them before.”

Celeste shrunk into Hound and didn't like where this was going.

Wagner paused, giving Dreadus a questionable look. “No shoes.... ever? Is she....”

“A heartbreaking little lady, Wagner. Could you give her some slack?” Dreadus still pushed her forward until she began to walk somewhere of her own will.

She bumped into a wall immediately and fell down, making a loud noise. Her clock got stuck and Hound howled and wanted to destroy half of the room if it weren't for her grip and attempt to get up.

“You aren't good at it, are you?” Wagner said to Dreadus who agreed without hesitation.

“It's a new problem. You don't have to know. She has her issues like anyone else. Would you expect her not to? She was stranded for a decade in the middle of nowhere.”

“Nowhere? Outsider... can notice Outsider, but she isn't that. She is worse. Well, anyway. Wait a bit. I will help her right away and give her the best items I can offer.”

A light coughing echoed. “Don't bother. Bring the best that you can't.” Reaz argued and stepped forward, revealing her smile and intention that she wanted to embrace a long time ago.

Visiting this place was her idea and Dreadus didn't stop her. It better be done by her, because no one in this hellish store had one sense of style or wisdom in their mind. Not the siblings or Dreadus. Wagner? Sure. This old man was excellent, but Reaz wanted to give Celeste her attention.