While the Carpenter was applying the finishing touches to the partition wall, Exill and Envy spent most of the next day hunting in the Labyrinth again. They returned late in the afternoon, and he was lying on the bed with one arm draped over his eyes - recovering from the symptoms of mana abuse. Summoning the Card, he checked his levels.
Job Level Warrior 37 Hunter 35 Spearman 26+1 Ranger 24+1 Monk 20 Wizard 3+2 Chronomancer 4+2
‘I wonder what kind of skill or buff I will unlock when Warrior reaches level 40?’ His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on his door as Envy entered the room with a basin full of gently steaming water. She lowered it on the floor and stood there, drying her damp hair with a towel.
“Thanks, I’ll wash up in a second. Are you heading out soon?”
“Mn.”
“Enjoy the play and tell me how it went.” Exill returned to draping his arm over his eyes, wishing the migraine would swiftly pass away.
Envy observed him while patting her hair dry, then turned to examine the woodblock print poster of ‘My Vampire Master’ hanging on the wall.
“Why did you give the tickets to Iris instead of me?”
Exill paused, eyebrows climbing under the shade of his forearm. That was a loaded question… he replied as truthfully as he could, “I didn’t think you would enjoy it… would you have gone if I asked?”
Envy turned to leave the room; replying in a noncommittal tone over her shoulder, “Maybe, the last one I watched with you was alright.”
Exill’s heart involuntarily skipped a beat, and he sat up to the sound of her leaving the house.
***
Tough looking mercs gossiped like old hens as they threw glances at Envy sitting in the back without her usual gear. They were eventually shooed away by Iris as she closed the Guild and locked the latch of the front door.
“Follow me to the back.” She led the Vampire to the back office where she changed from her uniform to a beige one piece.
“Let’s go!” Iris excitedly grabbed Envy’s hand and left through the Guild side entrance, emerging onto the main street.
“I heard the male lead played the role of the villain in the previous production. Have you heard of Forbidden Love? The one with the Wolfman and the Elf? Well I heard…” Iris eagerly shared the information she had learned about the production as they walked down the main street. When they reached the Arena, she led Envy to a nearby stall where they sold chargrilled meat and vegetables on skewers.
“Sorry, I’m so famished! I’ll treat you to some as well.” She smiled apologetically while raising three fingers towards the stall vendor.
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“It’s okay, I don’t need food.”
Iris blinked as she remembered she was in the presence of a Vampire, “Ah, I forgot. Does that mean you don’t need drinks either?”
“Sometimes, but not now.”
Iris nodded, there was plenty of time to learn more about her new friend. She loaded up on skewers and pulled out a wooden cup to fill with beer. The Guild employee had done her research and prepared appropriately to enjoy the full experience. There was still a few hours of daylight left as they entered the Arena and took their assigned seats.
“It’s starting!” Iris whispered as she tightly held Envy’s hand, sipping on the beer with the other.
“Ladies and Gentlemen! Thank you for attending this performance on this most auspicious day! It would be my pleasure to present to you a love story that transcends time and circumstance. Follow me on this journey to find out if memories are what makes us, and if love can transcend identity. Let us begin!”
The two women held their breath as the curtains withdrew, revealing a smoke filled scene of carnage as a group of men battled fiercely against each other. The scene slowed down as the protagonist was hit on the head by a shield, dramatically knocking him to the floor.
“Wow, so that is how they perform the effects!” Iris whispered excitedly while pointing to a black robed wizard channelling wind magic over a charcoal fire off stage.
As time went by, the two of them were drawn in by the epic. The poor Squire’s parents struggled to take care of their son who had lost his memories after the head injury. A woman in a simple white dress entered the stage, holding a basket of flowers.
“I think she is the love interest!” Iris whispered passionately as she gripped Envy’s hand once again.
The Maiden in the play was a childhood friend of the Squire, and frequently came by to place fresh flowers at his bedside. The two gradually fell in love as the Squire developed feelings for the Maiden.
The stage entered a crescendo as the Maiden cried, trying to escape from the Squire’s arms, “You already have a women betrothed to you Sir Alfred. Please let me go.”
The Squire gently wiped her tears away as he drew her close, whispering in her ear, “My memories came back a long time ago, but my feelings for you haven’t changed, only grown more precious with every moment with you. I loved you before and I love you now, let us elope my darling.”
Iris held Envy’s hand to her chest as a sigh escaped her lips. Their love was too precious! She wiped a tear from her glistening eyes, accidentally wetting her companion’s hand.
The Squire eventually became a full Knight and cancelled his engagement after successfully winning a daring duel in the national tournament. The play ended with the Knight happily kissing the Maiden as the Bishop announced their holy matrimony.
The Arena erupted into a standing ovation as the cast members assembled for the final bow on stage. The two eventually left the Arena, with Iris leaning heavily on the Vampire as she clung to her arm.
“When will I meet my Sir Charming? Most of the people in the Guild are gruff old men and they scare away any suitors that show interest in me.” Iris squeezed her companion’s arm, seeking comfort.
Envy merely nodded at these words. She didn’t need a man to live her life. The deal with Exill didn’t count because it was a contractual relationship, where they were working towards a common goal. She led the sighing woman to a stall and picked up a woodblock print of the play as a souvenir for twenty Denars. It depicted the Squire holding on to the arms of the reluctant Maiden.
“I should get one too…” Iris reluctantly let go of Envy and picked one up for herself, holding it close to her heart, “Thank you for coming tonight, I really loved it. Let’s go again sometime soon!”
The two walked companionably as the skies darkened around them. Envy escorted Iris to a dilapidated three storey building in the Southern District of the outer city, bidding her good night. She headed home after seeing the Guild employee safely off.
Once inside, she slowly climbed up the stairs and lit the lantern in her room against the darkening sky. She tossed the recently acquired poster on the bed and examined it morosely with pursed lips. There had been a time when she had wondered, ‘When will I meet prince charming’ much like Iris did. However those days were long gone, banished when her chastity had been robbed from her.
Leaving the poster in her room, she lightly knocked on Exill’s door prior to entering, to find him dozing with a frown on his face. She reached down to smooth the wrinkles on his forehead caused by the frown. He was always worried about something or another. She rested her head on his firm arm, preparing to feed.
“Ah. You came back… did you enjoy your evening?” Exill awoke at her touch and shifted back, giving Envy more space on the bed.
“Mn.”
“How about Iris, did she enjoy the play?”
“She clung to my hand throughout the play.”
Exill chuckled. He could imagine her doing that. He hesitated, wondering how to phrase his apology, “I’m sorry I didn’t ask if you wanted to view it first. Would you like to go see another with me sometime?”
“I know you bought that ticket for that Elf. I promised to go with Iris again next time.”
Exill leaned back as Envy latched on and began feeding on his arm. He felt strangely despondent by her answer, and he didn’t know why.