The horns clanked about as I lugged them along over my shoulder while I trodden down the road. Despite their appearance, the horns, especially the alpha hounds, were surprisingly heavy. I had to stop and adjust the sack from falling here and there. When I left Veinbor, the thought hadn't occurred to me that I would need something to carry the horns in, let alone cut them off. I tried using the knife Vonica gave me, but that was a waste of effort. Though great for stabbing and slicing, it was not designed for sawing through horns. I wondered why she gave it to me, but that didn't matter. It saved my life in the end, so I'm thankful regardless.
Thankfully, Heldon had lent me a saw and sack, so the issue with the horns was solved in the end.
The villagers grieved Yosef, the hunter's death, at the hands of the hounds. His gruesome death left a bad taste in my mouth. Although I didn't know the man, I knew what he was trying to do, so his end bothered me a little, especially because I could have ended up like him had I not gotten lucky. I told them where his body was, and they said they'd retrieve it themselves.
The villagers offered me a room to stay the night, but I declined. It was Heldon who had been the first to offer me his home, but I didn't want to intrude on his reunion with his daughter. It's another decision among many I made today that I'm now regretting. The weight of the horns, coupled with the nearly two-hour walk back to the capital, made my legs feel like lead. The only thing I can say for certain that I did right was not turning my back on those kids like a coward.
Speaking of the kids, Heldon's daughter was a persistent little bugger. She bombarded me with questions about thaumaturgy, no matter how many times I tried to sidestep them. Despite what she had gone through today, it seemed like she was unaffected. I wanted to ask her how she felt, but I figured it wasn't my place and left the topic for Heldon to approach. That said, I get the feeling the girl will probably want to become an adventurer. On the other hand, the boy was the complete opposite. He was quiet and reserved, hardly speaking during our trip back to their village. The stark contrast between the two children was a little surprising.
By the time I approached the city, the sun had crested the horizon dying the sky in a deep yellowish purple, casting a unique hue over the landscape. Torchlights flickered to life as the lower part of the city was engulfed in shadows. As far as I knew, this world didn't have artificial lights.
The line entering the capital wasn't as long as this morning's, but it would still be a long wait. I joined a waiting crowd of people lining up to enter the city. I couldn't help but notice the various concerned stares directed at me as if I had just committed a massacre. I'll be the first one to admit that I do, in fact, look like a psychopath covered in the blood of my victims. However, that's not my fault. And to be fair, most of this blood is mine, not that anyone would believe that. It's almost like they've never seen a bloody adventurer; at least, I hope not. My only concern now is if they'll let me into the city.
A commotion started from behind as the line slowly inched its way forward. Curios, I craned my neck to peer over the people blocking my way, trying to see what started it.
"I said to make way! Or I'll have you thrown in a cell!"
A man shouted from a horse as he rode at the head of a luxurious carriage surrounded by a sizable contingent. There were a little over a dozen armed men who guarded the carriage as it road forward. Could they be accompanying an important figure?
The soldiers wore full-plated silver armor with a plated mail skirt reaching past their knees. The mail skirts had a slit opening in the middle for what I assume was better mobility. To accent the plated armor, they wore dark blue undershirts and pants and a long blue cape extending past their calves. As the first man passed, I saw a prominent crest on his mantle. A three-layered shield with flaming spears crossed behind it. It was the same one that flew in the wind above the city gates.
"Look, papa! It's the Iron Road Knights!" A kid exclaimed with excitement nearby.
"I see, but why are they here? Could it be the return of the prince?"
The father said as he nodded in agreement. His remark sent a wave of speculation and anticipation through the onlookers around us as we looked on. Murmurs filled the air as people exchanged theories about the prince.
"Didn't the prince leave for Cothevia?" Someone said.
"Yes, but why is he coming back so soon?" Another responded.
"No, look at the crest on the carriage. It can’t be the prince." a scruffy man reasoned as he pointed at the carriage.
The prince? I looked at the father and son next to me as they watched the passing knights. The man looked like a farmer, with dirt-stained hands and worn clothes. His son sat on his shoulders as he watched the passing knights with an excited smile.
"Excuse me, who are the Iron Road Knights?" I asked the father curiously.
It took him a moment to tare his attention from the passing knights before he turned toward me. He stiffened as if uncertain of what to do. He looked around before turning back to me. His initial hesitation was now cautious wariness.
"Beast? They are the first and only line against your filthy kind."
He responded curtly, his voice filled with trembling animosity. I stared at him, taken aback and momentarily stunned. The father then proceeded to put a few people between us. Well, that's a first. What did he mean by beast? Was he trying to insult me purposely?
As the carriage drew closer, the atmosphere in the crowd grew increasingly charged with anticipation. Six magnificent pure white horses led the procession, their sleek bodies gleaming against the black straps of their harnesses. My breath caught in my throat as I spotted the pure white horns gleaming a yellow gold in the evening sun atop their heads.
My mind raced, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. How had they gotten them from the Du'vwalden forest? They should be nearly impossible to obtain, let alone steal. The light elves would never part with those creatures easily. At least, that's how it was in the game. In order to get a unicorn mount, players had to complete a series of ridiculous quests and meet specific affinity requirements for characters to obtain one.
This questline was so difficult that many players opted to steal them despite how severe the consequences were. The NPC light elves would place a bounty on the players that attempted it. You could keep the mount if you managed to escape being killed by players who excepted the bounty for a set amount of time. However, it was easier said than done. Imagine nearly fifty or more players hunting for you in every city, town, and monster zone. You couldn't log off either; you had to survive the entire time online. If you were caught, you not only lost the mount, but you had a large chunk of coin taken along with being thrown in jail.
The carriage itself was stunning to look at, as if I was looking at a luxury sports car compared to the other carriages I've seen today. The dark wood paneling exuded an air of luxury, accentuated by the golden borders that adorned the windows and edges. The windows were tinted in a deep black, concealing anything within from prying eyes. It was strange seeing tinted windows, especially so considering how scarce it seems to be in Veinbor. I’ve only seen windows in the adventurer’s guild, anywhere else.
My attention shifted to the coachman, an older man with a distinguished appearance. Despite his age, his thick graying hair was neatly tied back into a ponytail, and he sported a long goatee that reached his chest. He was clad in an impeccably well-tailored black suit with a single red tie down the middle. How he managed to maintain such a pristine appearance during the journey. Had they come from a neighboring city, where he had the opportunity to freshen up before arriving here?
As the carriage passed, my gaze focused on another crest adorning the door. This one depicted a red rose pierced by a golden and black sword. I wracked my brain, trying to recall any knowledge or connection to this crest, but it remained unfamiliar to me. In the game, crests held significant meaning, representing kingdoms, noble houses, guilds, clans, and even individual players. Most players paid close attention to rival guild or clan crests to avoid unnecessary conflicts or harassment. Crests played a vital role in territorial disputes, with guilds marking their claimed territories and defending them from encroachers. If you knew who the crest belonged to, you could weigh how much trouble you'd get in if you chose to trespass. Player guilds that monopolized resources weren't people to get involved with. It was, after all, messing with their money, which was something you didn’t want to do. Unless you were part of a guild, then it was spark guild wars.
In one instance, a new player trespassed on a major guild's territory to collect monster parts which interrupted the guild's resource collection cycle. When they caught the player, they marked him. Being marked by a guild or player meant they became a target for constant harassment, facing assassins at every turn, even in supposedly safe zones like towns and cities. Everywhere the player went, someone was waiting. Unable to take the harassment, the player eventually quit the game.
The story spread across the Zenith Rising forums, sparking discussions about bullying and the issue of guilds wielding excessive power within the game. Many players voiced their concerns, questioning whether guilds should have such absolute authority over territories and the ability to exert such control over other players' experiences. However, despite the outcry, the nature of Zenith Rising as a game prioritized player freedom, and there were limited measures in place to address the issues.
I eventually managed to reach the front gate after the carriage passed. Standing before a guard, I attempted to put on my best innocent smile as he scrutinized my adventurer's identification card and quest paper.
“So you registered today, here in Veinbor?”
“Yes, see there on the back. It has the kingdom's crest.”
I said, eagerly pointing out the kingdom's crest on the back of the card as proof. He clicked his touch in response. Seeming annoyed as he meticulously examined my identification card, flipping it back and forth, searching for any flaws. He held the quest paper in his other hand, studying it intently. Did he suspect it was a forgery? Eventually, another guard hurried down from the gate tower and briefly spoke with the guard inspecting my identification card. After a nod of agreement, my card and quest paper were returned to me dismissively, accompanied by a kick of my sack of horns. The kick knocked the bag over, causing the horns to spill out onto the ground. He didn’t bother to look at the horns as he walked away.
You bitch, what's his problem? First, that farmer, now this guy? I knelt and scooped up the horns as I glared at the guard's back as he returned to the tower. What changed since I had left this morning? I looked around at the others waiting in line, but no one offered help or said a thing. Suppressing my annoyance, I hoisted the sack of horns onto my shoulder and hastened my pace toward Melda's inn, passing the guards stationed along the way as they eyed me suspiciously.
There was a hubbub like the previous night coming from the Inn as I neared. A bead of sweat trickled down my cheek as I placed my hand on the door, trying to catch my breath. Walking up the city road with the sack was absolutely killer on my back, not to mention exhausting. I opened the door just as a cheer of laughter rang out from within the tavern. The place was packed full of people having some a celebration. Their attention was directed away from the entrance toward the bar. Only a few standing near the door caught saw me enter. I quietly moved behind the crowd, hugging the wall as I made my way toward the stairs adjacent to the entrance.
As I passed through the room, my ears perked up, picking up snippets of someone telling a story as he spoke through the noise of the cheering people. Eventually it, they quieted so they could hear what else the man had to say.
“Though we were separated from our platoon, and our backs were against the wall, Hemphil and I smiled as the beasts came at us by the dozens! Hemphil, this fearless bastard was the first to act; he raised his axes and charged the enemy cutting down the beasts left and right, covering himself in their blood! It was a sight to behold! To this day, he remains undefeated on the battlefield, but I’ll wager his wife will finish him off when she sees his armor!”
A roar of laughter filled the room, echoing off the walls at the man's joke. Some of the more intoxicated patrons couldn't contain their mirth and tumbled out of their chairs, igniting another roar of laughter and amusement in the crowd. Once the laughter subsided, a new voice cut through the air, their voice high-pitched and childlike.
“Sir Malfin, what did you do while sir Hemphil fought the beasts?”
The innocent voice asked from somewhere within the crowd, capturing everyone’s hushed attention. There was a loud thud of wood striking wood, disrupting the hushed chatter, and drawing everyone's attention even more. A loud, almost inhuman burp erupted shortly after, breaking the brief silence that followed the thud. The sound was so loud and unexpected that it sent ripples of amusement through the crowd once again, triggering another roar of laughter.
“Ohho! I was just getting to that part, lad!”
“Here this one goes again.”
Someone else said, their voice gruff and slightly accented.
“Yes, here I go again! Cheer up, Hemphil. You love this part! So lad, as Hemphil fought off the charging beats like a wild man, I was busy searching for their leader!”
The crowd rumbled in anticipation, many pausing mid-drink to pay close attention.
"I love this part."
Someone said nearby.
"Great, keep your trap shut then."
Another replied in a hushed tone prompting a few in the crow to chuckle.
“The great Thousand Head they called him! He was a Minotaur, a strong and furious creature, that one!”
Malfin said, continuing his story.
“Aye, strong indeed, lad. The beast's minions claimed he slaughtered a thousand human soldiers, they did. But I’d sooner believe a dragon could shit a log as big as my house before that hogwash!”
Hamphil, with a gruff voice, agreed with Malfin. As I listened, I continued walking toward the stairs, climbing up halfway and disappearing from sight within the bustling crowd. They were all engrossed in the story, too captivated to spare me even a passing glance. I'll consider that a small victory.
“So what happened next?!”
The boy's voice crackled with excitement as he urged Malfin to continue his story, followed by a chorus of childish voices joined in, all filled with the same enthusiastic anticipation.
"I love the excitement, lads and lady! So, Thousand Head lurked behind his minion soldiers as they fell one after another under Hemphil's relentless axes. They formed a sacrificial shield, protecting the cowardly leader and making it nearly impossible for anyone to reach him! However, those vile creatures fought, we felled them one by one, for they were fighting the Iron Road Knights! I raised my sword high and charged at Hemphil with all my might. Through our many battle, my friend read my mind perfectly and lent me his back. With a powerful leap, I soared over the horde of beasts, heading straight for their leader! A grin spread across my face as he stared up at my blade, his eyes widening as big as his balls! With all my strength, I brought my blade down upon the beast's neck, severing my trophy from his shoulders!"
The crowd erupted into a thunderous cheer, celebrating the climactic end of a formidable enemy. I'd be lying if I said it didn't sound cool. I'd love to hear the story from the beginning sometime. Maybe Melda can tell me?
As the crowd continued to cheer, I hoisted the sack on my shoulder again and ascended the stairs, making my way to my room, where I promptly locked the door behind me. Immediately overwhelming exhaustion took over as I stood in the room. I loosened my grip on the sack, letting it slip between my fingers, falling to the ground where it made a resounding thunk. Finally, I collapsed onto my bed and surrendered to the heaviness that pressed down upon my eyelids, welcoming a well-deserved rest.
----------------------------------------
I groggily rubbed my eyes, slowly awakening to the persistent drumming of someone rapping on the door to my room. Each knock reverberated louder than the previous one, jolting me further into consciousness. I let out a yawn and stretched my tired limbs, feeling a slight dizziness as I pushed myself off the bed and onto my feet, trying to steady myself. The knocking persisted, relentless, accompanied by a voice that called out from the other side of the door.
"Ciel? Are you in there? I'm going to open the door, okay?"
Melda's voice rang through the door. I listened as she fumbled with a set of keys, their jingling filling the air, and then the distinct sound of the door unlocking as she found the right key for the keyhole. I rolled off the bed as the door creaked open, casting a warm glow of candlelight into the room. I lazily raised my hand and waved to her as she cautiously poked her head inside.
"Hey, Melda. What’s up?"
I greeted, my voice groggy. However, to my surprise, Melda stood frozen in place, her eyes fixed on me. There was tension in the air as if something was amiss. Rather than answering my question, she let out a startled yelp, stumbling backward and dropping the candle she had been carrying. The flame flickered as it fell before winking out as it landed on the floor wick first.
"Melda, are you alright? What happened? Did you see a spider or something?"
I asked, rushing to her side. As I reached out to help her up, she flinched slightly at my touch, but she seemed to recognize my voice and didn't pull away. She was much taller than me, so my help wasn't much help.
"Ciel, is that really you?"
Melda's voice wavered with a mix of disbelief and astonishment.
"Of course, it's me. I'm right in front of you."
What an odd thing to say to someone right in front of you. Did she not recognize me because of the blood? Could it really make me look that different? Glancing down at my clothes, I examined them once again. Without a mirror, I couldn't be certain if there was any blood on my face. At least, I hoped not.
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"Where? I can't see you?”
She questioned, extending her hand in front of herself. Well, I said I was in front of her, but I was actually standing slightly off to the side. I shifted to where she was reaching out and took hold of her hand, causing her to flinch again.
"Melda, do you perhaps need glasses?" I asked, peering closely at her face as she stared wide-eyed into what appeared to be an empty space before her. As if taken aback by that, she tilted her head to the side, raising an eyebrow in apparent confusion by the question.
“I forgot to light the candles for the hallway and your room. It’s currently darker than a night in here.”
she explained in a slight apologetic undertone. Was it? I scanned the room, searching for any changes in the light, but to me, it was as clear as day in here. Yet, she was right — not a single candle was lit in the hallway or within my room. How had I not noticed that until now?
"Jeez, Ciel, you nearly scared the life out of me."
Melda exclaimed, her energy returning as she gathered herself.
"Did I? I’m sorry about that. My voice must have sounded hoarse because I was asleep," I responded.
"It wasn't just that! It was your eyes! They glowed like a cat's in the dark!"
She exclaimed, leaning in closer to my face as if attempting to get a better look at my eyes.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't even aware they glowed."
I confessed, surprised myself.
"No, no, don't be sorry! They're beautiful, like sparkling pink gemstones!"
Melda responded energetically, seemingly captivated.
Ahuh, now that's something I would have never heard back on Earth. She certainly has a way with her words. But now that I know we're standing in a dark hallway talking, It's strange being the only one able to see anything at that moment.
"Ahh, thank you. Why don't I give us some light?"
I suggested trying to get rid of the awkwardness I was feeling. Holding out my right hand to the side, making sure to keep it away from Melda and me. I don't want to set anything on fire like last night; that would be embarrassing.
"Fireball."
Before us, a vibrant yellowish-red flame flickered to life within the palm of my hand, instantly illuminating the hallway. Melda, caught off guard, reflexively shielded her eyes from the sudden burst of light.
"So you were a thaumaturgist. An omitter, at that!"
She exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of awe.
"You're not surprised?" I asked, taken aback by her seemingly calm reaction.
"Not exactly. My father said you were a thaumaturgist from the moment he met you. He has a knack for recognizing those things, having once been a member of a party alongside Veinbor's greatest thaumaturgist," she explained.
"That's amazing. What's their name? I heard this morning that adventurers from other kingdoms would visit Veinbor to be taught by the guild master."
I replied, genuinely intrigued.
"You heard correctly, that's aunty Vohnika. Despite her reluctance to take on disciples, thaumaturgists still come to see her anyway. Whoa! Ciel, your face and clothes are covered in blood! What happened to you? Are you alright?"
Melda said as after eyes fully adjusted to the light. Her voice was tinged with concern as she noticed the state I was in. She Almost grabbed my shoulders but stopped short because I held a literal flame in my hand. Instead, she gently patted my clothes where the holes and tears were, checking to see if I was injured. The areas dried hours ago, leaving hardened blood stains around the now-healed wounds.
"I let my guard down today. You don't have to worry, I'm fine."
I reassured her.
"But the amount of blood! And the tears in your robes! How are you not hurt?"
Melda's voice betrayed a mix of curiosity and genuine concern as she stared down, amazed by the sight before her. Suddenly, she grabbed my left hand and pulled me along, guiding me towards the stairs.
"Ah, Melda, what are you doing?"
I asked, slightly taken aback by her urgency.
"Come on, we have to get you cleaned up, Ciel! You can't stay bloody like this all night."
She responded.
"It's okay, I can wash at the river in the morning."
I replied, trying to get her to slow down.
"What?! Are you crazy?! You can't do that!"
Melda exclaimed in, alarmed by my suggestion.
Yikes, why is she so upset about it? It's not like I'll get naked in front of other people. That would be weird and embarrassing. And also very uncomfortable now that I think about it.
"Why? Is it illegal?" I asked, curious.
"Illegal?"
She repeated, seeming to struggle for words.
"Yeah, like against the law?"
I said, wondering if she knew the law.
"I know what illegal means, Ciel! And I mean, no, it's not exactly illegal. But that's beside the point! You can't go around getting naked in the city! Are all dark elves like this?"
Ah, so she did think I was planning to strip in public. I can't help but feel a bit offended by that. What did she take me for? Some sort of pervert?
As we continued down the stairs and reached the halfway point, my curiosity got the better of me about where she was taking me. I doubted there were any bathhouses or similar places in this world.
"So, Melda, where are you taking me?"
I asked.
"I was setting up a bath for myself tonight after cleaning up, but you can use it instead of going to the river. The water should be hot by now."
She explained as we crossed from one end of the tavern, rounded the bar to the back of the room, and through a door into the kitchen. It was a small space with enough room for at least two people to cook comfortably. On one side, opposite the entrance, there were counters with a basin, pots, pans, and various cooking utensils hanging from the wall. On the other side, there was a kindling stove with shutters just above it.
Through the door at the other end of the kitchen, we entered a bedroom. It was slightly smaller than mine but still spacious enough. The air carried a faint musty scent, which could mean this is probably Phen's room because I highly doubt this is Melda's room. As creepy as it might sound, she smelled nothing like this. It wasn't an unpleasant smell; it just needed some fresh air, is all. Windows will do wonders if she decides to put any in here. However, I'm not sure what that would mean for the structural integrity of the building. Deoderrant could work too, but seeing as this is a medieval fantasy world and all, I have little faith there's any somewhere in the world.
We didn't stay in the room for long. With the flame in my hand, there was enough light for Melda to navigate through the room swiftly. At a quick glance, the space was tidy, except for a pile of clothes in the far corner opposite the entrance. Adjacent to the door, there was a single bed with a sizable chest placed at its foot. Is that where Phen keeps his gear?
We moved on to the next room, which was adorned with flickering candlelight. I extinguished my fireball crushing it in my hand, snuffing it out. The room dimmed slightly as a result. It was similar in size to the previous room, but the staircase leading to the second floor made it appear a bit smaller. It smelled really good, though, as if someone sprayed perfume or scented oils in the air. I didn't see a bed as I looked around. Instead, a pile of blankets was stacked atop each other in the corner of the room above the stairs. Does she sleep there?
"Sorry about the messy room. I tend to get lazy about cleaning it."
“I don't think it's messy, rather, it looks comfortable.”
Underneath the stairwell, there was a cellar door leading downward. I followed closely behind as Melda entered first. Below, the room opened up to a space nearly as large as the tavern above. However, that wasn't the most remarkable aspect. What truly baffled me was the presence of light down here, not from a candle or oil lantern, but from an electrical source! Glass triangle fixtures embedded in each corner of the room emitted a flood of light, lighting the entire space. How is this possible? I haven’t seen a place like this before, not even at the adventurers guild.
"Surprised? Those are starlight implements," Melda explained.
"Starlight implements? Where did they come from?" I asked, captivated.
"I knew you'd be curious. My father knows a very famous stone mason from Cothevia. He was in the kingdom a few months ago, installing these in the King's Castle. My father is apparently good friends with him, and he offered to build this cellar for us, and he installed these starlight implements during the process!"
"Who made the lights, I mean starlight implements?" I asked.
"I don't know their name. I didn't ask too many questions at the time. Still, I do know the stone mason mentioned a graduate from the university created the implement. He said the entire country was transforming because of that student or something like that."
Transforming? What did he mean by that? Could it be they've invented light sources and were installing them throughout the kingdom? Actually, could the person who created the light implements be trapped in their game character like me? I may be grasping at straws, but it's better than nothing. What are the odds of someone creating lights or, rather, light implements in this world? They didn't exist in the game, but I imagine two hundred years is enough time for some sort of scientific advancement. I've got to meet this stone mason and the graduate as soon as I can.
"Come on, the bath is over here Ciel."
Melda said, gesturing for me to follow her. She opened a door to another room. Inside stood an expansive stone bath, measuring roughly six by five meters. It could easily accommodate roughly two people. Wisps of steam rose from the water, gently fogging up the room.
"Over there is where you'll clean off all that nasty blood,"
Melda explained, pointing at a handheld shower faucet.
"There's a nifty thing called soap there too, so it should come off quite easily. Also, please don't eat it. It might smell good, but it's definitely not for eating, okay? Father ate a piece when we first got it and nearly threw up his breakfast."
She said, shaking her head in exasperation with a thin smile on her lips.
"Anyway, once you're finished, you can hop into the bath to relax after."
I stood there, completely dumbfounded. The bathroom looked incredible. How did they manage to build something like this down here? Phen eating a bar of soap sounded hilarious, but I'm more curious about how these modern ideas got here. While it's not impossible to develop technology similar to Earth, it's just that, it's too similar, almost like someone brought the ideas here from somewhere else. Also, there's the light implements from Cothevia. It's not uncommon for certain technology to originate and spread from one place to another, especially if it started from a university, but it's almost like the technology just sprang up out of nowhere. Granted, I barely know what's going on around me, and I'm operating on assumptions. I can't help but feel like something important is going in Cothevia.
"Melda, what are you doing?"
I asked, panic creeping into my voice as Melda walked over to a basket by the door and began to undress.
"Before we go in, we have to undress here so we don't track any dirt inside."
Melda responded.
"We? Hold on! What are you doing?"
I stammered, my face feeling hot as I covered my face. Melda stopped undressing, her blouse partially undone, and regarded me with raised eyebrows and a perplexed expression as if I asked an odd question. Clearly, I'm in the body of a female right now, and Melda sees me as the same sex, but does that mean it's okay for me to see her naked? We had only met less than a day ago, and yet here she was, undressing in front of me. I feel like I've skipped dozens of checkpoints to arrive at this particular moment. That has to be a world record, right?
"I'm undressing to bathe."
She responded.
"I...is that so? I should go in after you then."
I uttered, my voice trembling slightly.
"Why? The bath is large enough for us both, so don't worry about it. Besides, you have to feel uncomfortable being covered in blood, right."
Melda said, looking slightly bemused while smiling.
I've been covered in dirt all day, so it isn't much of a bother at this point. However, I can't help but notice the stench coming off me from the blood and sweat. Maybe I should have taken the time to go to the river earlier. Don't get me wrong, Melda is undeniably an attractive woman, but despite that, there's an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach about this. I've had my fair share of relationships, which only amounts to two, but that's fair, right?
Melda, seemingly oblivious to my inner turmoil, continues to undress without a hint of embarrassment. Although she didn't specifically prepare the bath for me, she was kind enough to offer or rather insist I use the bath. So It's not like I intentionally did anything devious to get to this point. That should make me safe; there won't be a karma mallet waiting for me around the corner, right? All right, fuck it, I'll leave everything behind in this room—the anxiety, the apprehension—just for now. I'm just here to clean myself and bathe, nothing more.
I started by pulling my robe up and over my head, wincing as the dry blood uncomfortably scraped against my skin. After struggling for a bit, I finally managed to take it off. The room felt slightly chilly now that I was no longer wrapped in the fabric, but as I stood near the bathroom, I could feel the warmth coming from within.
Next, I carefully slipped off my leather-bound shoes, realizing I didn't have socks, so my feet had been cooking in them all day. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted to give it the smell test, but let's push that urge down, all the way down. After all, Melda was standing right in front of me. I imagine she would be pretty disgusted and might even think I was a weirdo. Besides, Besides, a woman wouldn't do something like that—or at least I think so. Next were my~
"Alright, I'm all set,"
Melda said suddenly.
"Hoa's sun! Ciel, that's so much blood!"
Melda exclaimed, turned to me wide-eyed, her gaze fixed on my blood-stained body as she casually tossed her clothes into a nearby basket. I followed her gaze and couldn't help but notice that there were no visible scrapes or bruises on my skin, thanks to my light thaumaturgy. However, the blood stubbornly clung to my skin. It gave me a somewhat badass appearance, but deep down, I can't help but feel disgusted. It was understandable why Melda reacted the way she did, but she didn't seem scared.
"The quest was more challenging than I thought."
I admitted with a sheepish smile, attempting to lighten the mood.
"What kind of quest did you take?"
Melda asked with curiosity sparkling in her eyes.
I hesitated momentarily, pondering how much I should reveal, but it might be too bloody to talk about.
"You don't want to know."
Melda chuckled and shook her head.
"No need to be so modest. Did you forget that my father's an adventurer too? I'm no stranger to bloody tales. Besides, I'm sure your day was more interesting than mine!"
She said, walking into the bathroom. I have to admit, she's one heck of an interesting person. I hooked my thumbs underneath the fabric of my underwear, slowly slid them down below my ankles, and then kicked them off. Carefully, I gathered my dirty clothes and tossed them into another basket beside Melda's clothes, then joined Melda in the bathroom.
Melda gave me a demonstration on how to operate the bathroom implements. Adjacent to the large stone tub is a washing area to scrub away dirt and sweat. One particular tool caught my attention—it was the handheld showerhead, yet Melda referred to it as a water wand implement. It didn't have a hose connecting it to a water source, yet water gushed out with a press of a button on the wand.
I asked Melda how it worked, but unfortunately, she didn't know much about the implement itself, only aware that the wand required a minimum of one day to recharge. However, she then explained that it harnessed something called Mygeus from the air to function, though she admitted she wasn't knowledgeable about thaumaturgy and couldn't explain much from there. She and I are in the same boat. I have no clue what Mygeus is, either. Still, despite how little it is, this was incredible information. The mere fact that this world could achieve something akin to modern technology on Earth was mind-boggling.
After her demonstration, Melda took a dip in the stone bathtub. I didn't let my eyes wander. Next, it was finally my turn to clean myself. Settling onto the wooden stool, I recounted the day's events while I cleaned. I grabbed the shower head or water wand in this case and turned it on, allowing the rush of hot water to cascade down my back. A satisfying warmth spread throughout my body, radiating through me like a gentle wave—it was delightful.
I couldn't bask under the hot water forever, so I redirected the spray, letting it saturate my head and cascade over the rest of my naked body. I reached for the bar of soap Melda used; it was fragrant, like sweetened peaches. A lather formed on my palms and body as I massaged the soap underneath my armpits, down over my chest, stomach, and legs. The white suds quickly turned a light pink as they mingled with the blood that rose from my skin.
Taking care of my hair, I allowed the water wand to rinse away the soap atop my head. The cascading water tickled over and between my breasts, as it flowed down between my legs.
"So that's what happened. It sounds like you got lucky today. You should only take on what you can handle. Next time you go on a quest like that, at least try to party up with other adventurers."
"I'll definitely keep that in mind for next time."
I replied, standing from the stool.
"Wow, Ciel, you have a big butt."
Melda commented out of the blue. On reflex, I covered my butt with my hands, trying unsuccessfully to hide from her gaze. She chuckled at my reaction from the bathtub.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. What I meant was that you have a curvy body, apparently something that many men seem to like."
She explained. I nodded awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. It was true that I intentionally designed Ciel's appearance this way, but I don't particularly enjoy the idea of becoming an object of some guy's fantasy or gaze.
"Ahuh, um, thanks."
I stammered out, my voice quieter than usual.
"You're welcome!"
Melda continued, breaking the momentary tension.
"Now, come on and hop in too!"
She said, gesturing toward the bath.
"There's plenty of room for both of us."
She said excitedly, her hand beckoning me over with enthusiasm. The water did look relaxing. Carefully maneuvering across the smooth stone floor, careful not to slip, I made my way over to the bath. As I approached, I extended my foot and gently dipped it into the water, testing its temperature. It was just right—neither too hot nor too cold, so I climbed in. Finding a comfortable spot on the stone ledge opposite Melda, I settled in, drawing my knees up to my chest. Melda, already flushed from the warmth of the bath, wore a grin that stretched from ear to ear.
"What's that look for?"
I asked, perplexed.
"Could you share an adventure you've been on? Or perhaps, tell me about what the world was like two hundred years ago?"
Melda asked, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. An adventure two hundred years ago? Ah, that's right. She thinks I'm over two hundred years old since I mentioned being around during the year of Gleshmar. Now, what should I tell her? Perhaps a guild war story? It seems she isn't bothered by blood, given her nonchalant reaction earlier. Besides, there was that man in the tavern who captivated everyone with his tale of battle today. Oh, that's right, I should ask about that. What were they called again? Ah, that's right—the Iron Road Knights!
"Sure, I'd be glad to share, but how about a little exchange? If you tell me something first."
"Really? What would you like to know?"
"Who exactly are the Iron Road Knights? I've never heard of them before today."
"Oh, that's an easy one! The Iron Road Knights are the Kingdom's esteemed Second-Order Knights. They play a vital role in safeguarding the borderlands of the Kingdom from the filthy beast clans."
"Beast clans? Are you referring to the Beastfolk? So, the jubilation we witnessed earlier was in honor of—"
"They won a battle over a particularly troublesome beast clan that had been terrorizing merchants and neighboring villages. The person who was bragging about it earlier was Malfin. He's the platoon commander of the Iron Road Knights' second division and is quite famous, as you might have already guessed."
That would explain the gathering at the gate. So, does this mean that the Veinbor Kingdom is now at war with the Beastfolk? And if so, what could be the reason behind it? In the game, the Beastfolk were actually allied with Veinbor and a few surrounding Kingdoms, united against the Cothevia Empire's invasion. But something has changed. Has Cothevia stopped its invasion of the surrounding Kingdoms?
"Why has Veinbor stopped allying with the Beastfolk?"
I asked Melda, eager to understand the shift in the Kingdom's stance.
"Allying? Hmm, I'm not well-versed in history, but as far as I know, we have never been allied with the Beast clans."
Melda replied, her expression puzzled.
"Not even two hundred years ago?!"
I asked, surprised.
"No, I don't think so."
Melda said, shaking her head.
That doesn't make sense. Either Melda doesn't know, or the history in this world differed significantly from the game I knew. Maybe I should get some answers from someone like Phen, who might know more. If what I know is useless, this could make things much harder for me moving forward.
"Thank you, Melda. I suppose what I know is completely out of date."
I admitted.
"Don't worry about it."
Melda reassured me.
"Don't worry about it. Now tell me a story, Ciel!"
Her excitement was palpable as she bounced up and down where she sat. It was then, for the first time since stepping into the bath, that I couldn't help but notice the gentle movement of her breasts, which seemed to bounce along with her every motion. Strangely, the water in the bath suddenly felt much hotter than it had just a moment ago.