As they walked into Rowin’s, Blake followed Jill as she ran over to her mother who was starting to work on a pair of boots, and Jan sat nearby staring at a sword intently but looked up and smiled at them.
Blake let out a sigh and looked up to Jan, “Hey can I have a chat?” he asked calmly, getting a nod from her as she got up and followed him out and into an alleyway off the side of the shop.
Blake turned around and looked up to her, “Earlier I didn’t give you a clear answer to your offer, so I would like to clear this up. I am sorry, but my aid to your family was solely to get an apprentice, and so I will have to reject your offer, I am sorry.” he said in a calm tone.
She smiled back, then looked down, “I figured, you didn’t seem all that interested, I know that i am not that pretty.” she said with a bit of an agitated tone, yet under it was a self-loathing that Blake couldn’t ignore.
“No, that is not it, I am betrothed, and while I know I will not see them for about six years, I plan to remain faithful to them.” he said in a gentle tone getting her to look back to him, he smiled wide, “if fate had played a different hand, I am sure I would have taken your offer and more. You are quite charming, and I would think any man would be lucky to win your heart.”
She smiled while blushing a bit and withdrew for a few seconds before speaking back sheepishly, “Your betrothed are lucky, and if you ever need some company even just as an escort about the city, please come and call on me.” She quickly turned and left, not granting him a second to speak back.
[fucking fuck… why the hell is this the situation.] Blake thought to himself as he started to walk out, turning to head back to the guild, he spotted Wendy, William’s mother waving him over, and walked over with a half-smile.
“I heard what you said, you are like my late husband, don’t worry about her, she will be fine.” she said with a smile.
“Please take care of her and the others, I am heading back to the guild.” he said back, then turned to leave.
His walk back still had the lingering feeling of eyes on him, but not out of danger, but out of some extra sense like someone was watching him, which only left him feeling gross and itchy, but he got back easy enough.
The hall was bustling again, as teams that were out had made it back from different missions, Blake tried to move through the crowds in an effort to get to his team only to be caught by some of the guards, getting pushed into a room.
Scanning the room, it looked like an office and Quni sitting behind the desk, [what the fuck…] he thought then took a deep breath, and looked up, “Hello Quni, it's nice to see you, I see you got changed.”
Quni let a mischievous smile out “Yes, took me a minute, please have a seat, I want to talk with you about a few things.” she said while gesturing to the chair in front of her, her smile still holding, making Blake feel uneasy.
“If it's alright with you I'll stand,” He said as he walked a bit away from the door, “is there something you need from me aside from me?”
Quni’s smile shifted a bit at his rejection of the seat, but she composed herself and spoke, “Yes, but first I would like to make a formal introduction, I am Quni’liasail Wan’quaish, one of the five subheads of the guild, I am in charge of day-to-day operations, I am effectively a vice guild master .” she looked up to Blake, “and I am going to ask you some questions, as I figured that you are the weak link in the chain of your team.”
Blake shifted a bit and crossed his arms, “Oh, that is an important role in the guild, I will have to discipline my student some more, I guess. As for your question I will not provide any answer I am not comfortable answering.” he said in a harsh tone.
“Perfect, I was expecting nothing less, I’ll start with a simple one, who are you really, I had sent feelers to the other guilds, and no one knows you except the chief of Yari’s yard, more over the women there refused to tell us anything, only claiming you are from greenwood, same as the form you filled out when Claira brought you in. So, who is Blake Winters?” She asked directly, her tone spoke to her power in the guild and authority.
“I would like to preface my answer with a few questions if that is, okay?” he said back and got a nod from her, “Who would be privy to this information? Will this information leave this room? Why is this information wanted by the guild? And lastly, why should I tell you? Last I checked adventurers can refuse to provide their backgrounds.”
She smiled like a fox at him, “The guild master, me, and the other subheads, and the same would go for all other guild masters and subheads around the world, which also answers your second question too.” she said in a calm tone, while resting her chin on her laced fingers, as she leaned forward, “As for the rest of the questions, normally the guild does a background check of our own, worldwide connections and all, so we don’t need you to disclose that information, but you have nothing, the earliest report we got about you is from a priestess in the capitol, hence our curiosity, as for why you should, well you don’t have too, but the guild will always hold you at arm’s length if you don’t, Missions, dives, rewards and even privileges may stop being readily available.”
Blake eyed the woman, [So if I withhold, it will hurt the team, and if I do, what will happen then… Claira told me to keep this a secret, but they are just going to get in bad shape if I withhold.] Blake let out a sigh, and shifted a bit, “And what happens if the guild decides that the information could be bad for the guild?” he asked.
“No such thing, the information is kept so we can give missions that the team can handle, you started as a B-ranker, yet now you are an S-ranker, which means your growth is too quick, the troubling issue is that your team has grown quickly too, almost too quickly. I have figured out that has something to do with the Drill sergeant Ability you possess, but that still leaves you as a mystery.” she answered without shifting.
“So, you are saying that regardless of who I really am if I am honest with the guild, they will protect me?” He asked pointedly, watching as she sat back to think about it.
Quni seemed to think over the answer for a few seconds longer than he thought was needed but she finally spoke, “Yes, we will protect our members, as that is the rules set up by our founder, this is a sanctuary to all who wonder the roads, fighting and killing the things that bite in the night.” her tone was still calm and collected, and more importantly Blake could see no lie.
Blake smiled, held out his hand, and spoke softly enough so only she could hear him, “Open rank” he said and flipped the palm up so she could see that he was not lying. “I was summoned to this world after my death, however, the gods didn’t give me a class when I was coming over from my world, so when I got here, the king planned to dispose of me, however, that same night I was allowed to meet the gods and became a paladin.” Blake closed his palm and dropped his hand. “I plan to gather power and achieve my team’s missions for now, I will not reveal any more.”
Quni leaned a bit more into her chair and looked away to the window of the third floor, then looked back. “The women in Yari’s Yard, are they your wives?” she suddenly asked.
Blake held his hand up, “If you are asking for a personal level, then I will say it is none of your business, however for the record, they are all my betrothed, and I plan to ensure their safety, and will ask that the guild render protection at the most while not interfering in their lives.” he said flatly back to her.
Quni seemed to think over the information, then leaned forward, “Thank you, Blake, the guild may send your team on missions of a much higher rank in the coming years, please do not disappoint us, you may go” she said in a controlled voice.
Blake quickly left and ran back downstairs, getting to his table, and sitting down quickly, grabbing Block’s mug, and drinking it all, “So, why was I not told the Quni is a subhead?” he asked as he wiped his face clean.
Claira thought it over, “Never came up, everyone is so used to treating her like a receptionist, did you get the reading down, it would have been her and four others.” she said nonchalantly.
Blake nodded and spoke softly “S” then leaned back and waved a maid over.
“Wait he is a…?” Winry asked Jessica while pointing at Blake, and got a nod, “so this team really doesn’t care about ranks?”
“Yep, we had made up the plans before we got everything ready and came back.” Claira said calmly, “Blake you are getting new armor right?”
Blake nodded as he paid for new mugs for him and Block while also ordering food, “yeah, two days, for both me and the boy, he is good but is still scared, but it's fine, I don’t plan on letting him follow us past our third year from now. Family in the town and all.”
“Yeah, it will be hard if he follows us, I don’t think I could carry that message to his family.” Jessica added.
Vinry looked up and looked away from the table then back, “Blake, why is Quni watching you like you are a meal?” she asked, getting a spit take from her sister, and Sarena, while everyone else glanced over except Blake.
“Because she has a thing for s-rankers, and now she wants a piece of me, luckily, I don’t think she had thought of talking with my wives. She knows where they are and could send a message.” He said as he ate, still ignoring that woman and her stare that was lingering on his right side.
Winry looked back to him and spoke “You know she likely heard you just now, judging from her reaction.” got Blake to look over and saw she was enthusiastically writing something down on a sheet of paper.
Blake let out a long groan while leaning back in his chair and face-palming himself “How can she even hear me over the noise, I am not even sure what her race is.” he started to complain then shut up as he realized she could likely hear him anyway, “Well, not that it matters now, I am going to trust them to handle her letters.”
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
“Well, she is a Worvan, or wood-elves in the human nomenclature, as for the hearing, her race is considered to have the best among all the elves” Vinry said calmly.
Blake looked back over and saw her blow him a kiss, which three others at the tables between them mistook as theirs, “Well, I plan to hold to mine and her original deal anyway, how long can her kind live for anyway?” he asked noticing her face get a bit red as he spoke of still meeting her in hundred years.
Claira seemed to think over the answer then looked to Winry and Vinry, “Correct me if I am wrong but most elves live for about a millennium easily, with minor differences on that across the subraces, her kin get to about an extra two centuries I think.” she said and got a nod from each.
“So how long can you two live for?” Blake said and looked over to the two sisters.
Winry started to stammer out a reply, but her sister answered in a calmer tone and manner. “I will live for about five centuries, and Winry will live for about three and a half, differences in fathers and such nonsense.”
“Cool, so do you grow up slowly, like will it take a few decades for you to reach adulthood or whatever.” he asked, his tone intently curious, but got a pout from her as she turned a bit from him. “Did I say something wrong?”
Winry shook her head, “No, she is actually twenty-three, but her body has taken to the elven blood for physical growth, whereas I am only nineteen and I took to our human bloodline for growth.” she said and patted her sister’s head, only to get an angry scolding from her sister.
“Oh, sorry Vinry, I didn’t know, I just made an assumption, please tell me if there is a way to cheer you up.” Blake said with a smile.
Vinry glared at him, “Yeah swear to keep your lecherous hands and eyes off my sweet baby sister.” she yelled a bit and pointed at him, getting Winry to shy away in embarrassment, while Jessica and Claira seemed startled, Block and Sarena started laughing.
Blake smiled at the small half-elf, “I swear to not seek out your sister, but I am happy to clear up the last lie you told the team.” he said cheerfully, then reached out a hand, “Now, can we get along?”
Vinry stares him down for a few seconds, then goes to hug her sister intently, “I guess I will tolerate you, for now.” she said while leaving Blake hanging.
Blake sat back, and looked over to Sarena, “So Sarena, for our first night at camp, is there anything you want, that way I can cook it up, a welcome to the team treat.”
Sarena looked up from her plate and munched on a bit of meat she had bitten off while she thought about it, finally speaking a few seconds later, “Yeah, Jessica said something about the noodles and vegetables you made one night when you were doing the last dive, I want to try that, but with some meat.”
Blake smiled, “ok, I'll look for the best ingredients tomorrow, what about you Winry?” he said as he looked over to her, getting the two sisters to stop Winry looked confused, while Vinry pouted for being interrupted.
“Umm, I guess I would like to have some potatoes and meat, that was my favorite when i was a kid.” she said with a smile.
“Right, I’ll buy that the day before we leave, that way it will last.” he looked over to Claira, “How long will this mission take?” he asked and noticed, out the corner of his eye as Vinry was getting mad.
Claira looked over to him, “Three days there and three back, also i think it will take us a day or two to find the troll.” she answered, then smiled, “I would like some of that stirfry you made last time.”
Blake smiled, and looked over Vinry to Jessica, “What about you, Jessica, what do you want me to make?” he asked with a smile, noticing the growing anger of Vinry.
“Oh, I think I would love to try the pie thing you spoke of.” Jessica said in a cheerful tone.
“Sure, I'll whip something up, what about you Block?” Blake looked over.
“Skewers.” the big man responded.
“Nice and easy, I’ll make some light soup too, okay?” Blake said and got a nod, then looked at Vinry, but smiled then turned to Claira, “Ok, I’ll be going to bed soon, is there anything else i need to know before I head off?”
“What the helgan?” Vinry yells and slams the table, “Everyone gets a request but me, are you trying to piss me off?”
Blake grins, “No, I am not, we are coworkers, and you are tolerating my presence, so I am tolerating you, I asked if we could get along, but you rejected my offer, so now rather than having a leg up you are at the base level of respect everyone gets.” he said in a calm and clear tone.
“What, so you are acting out of spite?” Vinry asked.
“What, no, I am acting as I would to an acquaintance, that is all. I swore to not actively seek out your sister, as pretty as she is, and offered a handout in friendship, which you ignored.” Blake said calmly, “Reap what you sow, that is all this is, I cook meals on request for friends, you can get pointers from Claria on how to be my friend.” he gestured to the team leader.
“Sorry, I am not pissing our cook and tank off for you, I recommend you apologize and calm down.” Claira said calmly while looking over to Vinry out the edge of her eyes,
“This is bullshit, He is going to not make something I want because I ignored him?” Vinry protested.
“Well, sister…” Winry started and faltered as Vinry looked her way.
“Vinry, you ignored his request to get along, which in an adventurers' team is basically an offering for friendship, so he is treating you the same way, not trying to build a rapport, but he is not actively looking to antagonize you, but pure coworkers' relationship.” Jessica said softly.
“Maybe you should apologize?” Sarena added after the priestess.
“But he has made a comment about my sister just now,” Vinry said quickly as a new angle her mind found was realized. “He just called her pretty, he hasn’t held his word.”
“But sister, he, according to the way the rest of the team talks, normally uses far stronger language to describe people, he called me pretty because of his word.” Winry said but looked to Blake a bit sheepishly, “Here watch, Blake can you please describe me to the best of your ability?” she requested, and everyone looked at him intently.
[what the fuck, i was hoping to mess with her a bit, and offer to be friends before I left…] he thought it over, then glanced up to Winry, [Fuck it, if I am going to get a letter anyway from the ladies, I may as well use my time well until then.]
Blake drew in a deep breath, “Winry, your hair is the pearlescent white of the moons in the night sky, your eyes are rubies of perfect color sparkling in your warm visage, your soft and supple lips haunt my dreams and call me away to unknown lands of your embrace, your form is one forged by the divine to do not but tempt me whenever you move, I have been bewitched by your voice that holds the brilliance of your mind and tenderness of your heart, and you have not to fear me for all I long for is your warmth to be given at your call alone. I will fight, run, work, and live for you if you say you would be mine for but a night, and if you wish to do nothing but torment me then I happily suffer such imprisonment, for in my eyes you are beauty personified and I would only wish to be so lucky as to have you by my side.” Blake said in a calm and gentle tone, making small gestures to Winry as he spoke, and leaving a lingering silence around the table.
Then Winry let out a bit of a scream and ducked under the table to hide while covering her face, Sarena and Jessica were staring at him, Block was just shaking his head and Claria was laughing, and Vinry looked stunned.
“Well, something like that.” Blake said as he looked up, thinking over what he said. [well, most of that was true…]
Winry peeks over the table edge, “Thanks Blake, that was nice to hear.” she said before dropping back under the line of sight of Blake, “See Vinry, he said pretty, not any of that, and even in that he didn’t say pretty.”
Vinry clicked her tongue, then looked up Blake, “I am sorry for being rude and ignoring you. Let’s get along from now on.” she said softly, a bit of honesty there for Blake to see.
Blake gave her a smile, “Right, I’ll be in your care, now what do you want for dinner one night?” he said back.
“I like heavy stews, mostly beef ones.” she said quickly, then blushed a bit at her more childish manner of speech just now getting the table to laugh a bit, adding to her embarrassment.
“Right, easy enough to do, not a great choice for warm nights but I'll make it happen.” Blake said with a warm smile.
Jessica pulled a bit on Blake’s sleeve and tried about five times to speak only to get embarrassed until finally, she sputtered out. “Hey, can you describe me like you did Winry.”
[aww shit…] Blake blinked a few times before he croaked out “Why would you want that?” but got a hard stomp on his boot from Block, “I mean sure, just give me a second,” he quickly added, and leaned back. [what the fuck is this a game of being nice to her?] he glanced down to the priestess and smiled, “tho I haven’t walked the heaven, I know that I have been blessed, for beside me rest an angel, she is the glorious and divine herald of the goddess, granted vibrant skin of soft purity and the golden locks of the mighty realm she calls home, her very visage is the remedy to all that ails the realms of mortals, I have nothing to offer but my soul, and yet my dreams are all fleeting flights of fantasy, how she is both my savior and grandest mistress to whom I am but dust in the winds of time. if given but a chance to hold her I fear I would allow greed to poison me, for sharing her would break my beguiled heart.” and got a very audible aww from the immediate surroundings.
Blake looked around and noticed that there were more female adventurers closer to their table. “Wait, wait, do one of your wives.” Vinry said quickly.
“Oh yeah, um, do Hilda.” Claria added.
“Come on guys, let’s not make this a game.” Blake said nervously but saw Claria preparing a spell along with Vinry getting her daggers out. “Fine, fine, let me think.” he leaned down and closed his eyes, summoning up all his memories of Hilda, from when they met to his departure from the village. Finally, he mustered the courage to actually do this in view of what he was sure was about half the women from the guild. “I had had the grandest woman, she is a woman of fiery love and burning energy, her hair is the burning embers of the fire realm, and her eyes show the deep hazel of her home, she is the war goddess made mortal, her voice directs me to her will and her form is that of which even the gods worship, I know now how far I would fall when we embraced, yet I find no reason not to fall again, for beside her, I need no brother in arms or walls of hardened stone, all I need is my war maiden of old, she who possesses a beauty forged for war yet hold the heart and soul of the most delicate of flowers, she who knows of my ventures and pushed me out the door, demanding of me but to return. How I miss her now, on the cool night of the road, yet her name carries on in my heart, as my Viking Princess Hilda and the home we hold.” he recited out loud and got a second aww. “Ok that is it, I am going to sleep.” he said but felt a hand push him back down, and looked up and backward, landing his head in Quni’s chest. “Please, let me go to sleep…”
Quni smiled, but shook her head, “Last one, Me.” she said with a wicked smile.
[I can get away, use some magic here or there, and then just push through.] he looked back down and around him, the gathering people were close to fifty at this point not including his friends, who were all also watching him closely. [So, scratch that, I am pretty sure if I tried to escape, they would tie me up and torture me for more.] Blake let out a soft sigh, before he spoke, “Okay, last one, no, I don’t care, and yes, you are welcome to complain to your team leaders.” He then took Quni’s hands off his shoulders and stood up, moving around the chair so he could face her, and stared into her eyes. “What wonderland had made your form will never make again, your eyes that glow like soft emeralds in the treasure that is your gaze, under which such lays an endless fount of power and knowledge, your fiery hazel hair that seems to be both burning like your passion and cold like your power, you whos form was forged to hunt among the trees, it's every curve calling for me to be your next prey, a call that wills me to approach you but with respect,” he took a step in, drawing her in a bit by the waist “for you are a huntress of the mighty trees, your voice that is a chant of charms, haunting my sleep as you dance among the clearings of my mind, you who had bewildered me of all my senses,” he pulled in just shy of kissing her. “for me it is agony, yet in your gaze, it is but a child’s game, one you are both my cruel mistress and tender consort, if only you found me worthy of your true time, I would hold you and embrace you as all that you are, and will happily await the fate you have of me, my huntress of the wanton moons” he suddenly broke and walked away, heading up the stairs before anyone could stop him.