The cafe sat in the middle of the town square. People from all over collected to trade, eat, and talk.
Jack fidgeted with his hands. At this point, his hands were starting to feel less, meaning they didn’t hurt as much, but that still wasn’t a good sign.
Where is that damn woman?!
There. Right at that table. He walked towards her, trying not to attract too much attention from customers, his tattered cloak didn’t help. Right as he was going to sit down, a waitress stopped him.
“Sorry, you have to make your order before you sit down sir.”
“I’m just seeing a friend, that all-”
“I’m sorry, I don't make the rules. You need to order. We've been having stay-ins, especially with all those immigrants…” She glared past Jack at a group of Keywark migrants, before snapping back to attention. “So, what do you want to order?”
“Uh, jeez… I dunno. What is there?”
She raised an eyebrow. “The menu is over there.” She pointed towards the main building of the cafe.
“Look… How about you surprise me, okay?”
The woman heaved a sigh. “Yes, sir.”
Once the woman passed him, Jack hastily made his way to the table. Bel was sipping tea as he sat down.
“Hello, Jack.” She said with a smile. “How many times are you going to cheat death?”
“Excuse me?” Jack hadn’t even been able to say hi back.
She motioned at the waitress in the distance with her cup. “Her.”
Jack blinked.
“I saw you two talk. She seemed stern, almost like she had some sort of military experience. And she addressed you sir, didn’t she?”
Jack realized.
“Holy shi-”
“Now, let’s not attract any attention. I have to say, you disrupted a lot. She was, yes, a member of the military, and a high ranking one at that, it seems.”
Jack got over his initial shock. “And how would you know that?”
Bel shrugged, smirking. “Women don't last long on the front lines. In fact, that's the main reason why women aren't allowed in the military in some nations… But in Keywarks' case, they need all the infantry they can get.”
Jack huffed. “Yes, but what does that have to do with being of high rank?”
Bel chuckled. “Very few women make it past the first ranks, like I said. But women who do… Well, they get promoted don't they?”
Jack realized this too. “Soo…”
“Here you are, sir.” The waitress had returned with a cup with orange tea in it.
“Thanks.”
Bel waited again, until the woman left, then she continued. “That being said, you can safely assume any woman who was in the military, or still is, is a high ranking member, due to making it past the most dangerous part, after all.”
“Alright, I understand, but the Keywark kingdom is gone, she wouldn’t turn me in, even if she knew who I was.”
Belladonna gave Jack the side eye.
“Don’t look at me like that! No regime means no chain of command.”
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Bel cocked her head, seemingly done with her tea, despite half of it being left. She leaned forward a bit. “Yes, I can say without a doubt, that most ex-soldiers are happy to be out of the infantry, even if you removed their only source of income, they probably would have traded it any day of the week to clean a sewer pipe anyways, but that chance feeling of liberation goes down as you go up in ranks… Yes, a cannon fodder boy would be jumping like cricket at the collapse Keywark, But a battle-hardened general? They would happily turn you in. Sure, like you said, The Boneh Regime is no more, and tipping off the authorities won’t fix it, but there’s no telling who carries that chip on their shoulder and who doesn’t. And the bounty doesn't help either-”
“Wait, bounty? There's a bounty?” Jack asked in panic.
“Relax…” Bel eased. “They know practically nothing about you, and besides, as far as the Aldarians are concerned… You’re dead.”
“Why's there a bounty then?”
Bel shrugged. “Just to make sure. The bounty was set by the Iron Legion.”
“Oh.” Jack took another drink, soon the whole thing was gone.
“But let's change the subject now. May I see your arm?”
Jack didn't protest. He didn't have any other immediate questions. He did have one approaching Bel, but he forgot it.
He slowly slipped his sleeve up, he gasped slightly upon seeing it. He could've sworn it hadn't been that big this morning.
“Ah, you have Asdewn, that's what they call it… and it's progressed quite a bit. Tell me, how long have you had this?”
“Bout’ a week now.” Jack replied.
“What did the doctor say?”
“I don't remember, it was something along the lines of… “I shouldn't be alive?”
Bel nodded, not taking her eyes off the growing purple swelling on his right arm.
“Well, he's right, you shouldn't be alive. Unless this is a very rare case… I think you might have something else up your sleeve… literally… You want me to amputate it?”
“What?”
“Oh, and about cheating death, how did you survive your battle against Corvin?”
Jack paused and looked down at his empty cup. “I don't know, I think when I jabbed my knife… it created a shield around me somehow.”
Bel stood up suddenly. We can talk later, we need to address your illness, I might be able to cure it. But I don’t know how much more time we have… Pay and follow me.”
The waitress approached them. “May I take your check, sir?”
“Sure. How much?”
“Fifteen gold.”
“What?” Jack asked, shocked. “Why so much? I'm not paying that!”
The manager approached. “What’s the commotion?”
“He won’t pay.”
The manager looked at Jack. “Why aren’t you paying?”
“Because I didn’t know it would be so expensive!”
“And not because you don't have the money?”
“No- I need it to pay for other things, not tea.”
The waitress whispered something in the man's ear. He then turned to Jack.
“You asked her to surprise you, yes?”
‘Yes, but-”
“Well, you’re surprised aren't you?”
Jack realized that people were starting to notice the commotion.
Maybe I should just pay so I can get out of here…
“Excuse me, sir?” Bel intervened. “I would like to complain, this tea tastes horrid.”
The manager gave her surprised look, “Nonsense! Our tea is the finest in the city!”
“Have a taste for yourself, then.” Bel offered the half-full cup to the manager.
He took the cup and sipped, he appeared to taste it for a moment, then got a far away look in his eyes.
“We don’t have to pay for this terrible experience, now do we?” Bel asked the man.
What is she…
The man waved his hand, his face looked like a slime. “Of course not, you can go.”
Bel grabbed Jack’s arm and lead him away from the cafe, until they were out of sight.
“W-what was that?” Jack asked.
“That, Is why you need me.” Bel said, matter-a-factly. “Now come, I can continue helping.”
Jack threw away her hand. “I don't want your help. I-I don’t even know if I can trust you.” He spat.
Bel seemed to be in thought. “Fine. Don’t trust me. But if you want answers, and more importantly, if you want to live, I suggest you follow me.”
“Alright, If you can help me… Then the deal is over.”
Belladonna shrugged. “Sure, but I have a feeling you’ll change your mind soon.”
“Why’s that?” Jack huffed. The aching was beginning to come back.
“Bel’s smile disappeared. Many things are happening. Ambushes from monsters are becoming more violent, new species are now being discovered, and a government just collapsed overnight.”
She poked his chest. “Now if you want to curl up and die under that bridge, be my guest, but you’ve made it this far, might as well see the journey to its end.”