"Hey, Rybrus..." There was a rift between us after our argument. Admittedly, I didn't really know the guy in the first place - he basically showed up and dragged me with him, but things were certainly awkward ever since. He didn't seem to really care, or maybe he didn't even realize that to me this wasn't just a simple disagreement.
I was seeing a pattern - people were getting away with things they shouldn't get away with. At times it borderline felt like hatred ruled the world, and I was just being asked to stand aside and do nothing about it, and I couldn't understand just how is this okay. Why are things like this allowed, why is our society allowed to rot like this.
"...What's gonna happen when I get to the lodge?" I didn't voice any of the things on my mind. There was no way it wouldn't end in yet another disagreement or argument, and right now I just wanted to not stew in silence with my own thoughts.
"Considering where you're from? Education and training most likely. Though it will depend on which of the orders you decide to sign up with. While they'll each make their case, ultimately the decision is yours. People with the potential to be hunters are rare, so squandering them on something they don't want to do - on something they have no desire to excel at - is a waste."
He cupped his bearded chin as he spoke. "Considering what I know, I don't see why you wouldn't end up with the Protectors though."
His guess seemed accurate to me, even though I didn't know any of the details about the orders. Mom was someone whose steps I chose to follow in, someone who matters to me a lot despite the comparatively short time she and I spent together, so if she chose them... well, the choice seemed obvious.
"'Suppose you're right about that." I found my focus drifting, one moment staring at the road, next inspecting the trees near it as the horse-pulled wagon slowly trudged along it. Rybrus too seemed bored, though I believed he was taking the mundanity of it all better than me. "So how long until we get there?"
"Oh, about two months?"
"TWO MONTHS?! What am I supposed to do in the meantime!" Not counting the time I spent recovering at Larton, I've been on this journey for barely two weeks! "Is Eldorath really that far away? How big are the Lands Inside anyway?" My thoughts escaped my lips as I struggled to comprehend the time needed just to get there - and promptly received quite the hearty laugh from Rybrus.
"Yeah, about two months! And that's with a horse doing most of the travel for you. As for what you can do in meantime..." His eyes had a glint of danger as he spoke. "...you can help me do my work!" My instincts picked up on the 'danger' immediately - I knew this tone, Stein used it every time he wanted me to do something that he himself didn't want to do back at the Prancin' Pony.
"And... what work would that be?" I asked, letting a hint of 'fear' into my tone, though the smirk on my lips made it obvious that I wasn't actually afraid, merely playing along.
"Aha! The fool wants to know the torment that awaits!" Rybrus raised his hands and started menacingly wiggling his fingers as if he was a kid pretending to cast magics - I couldn't take it seriously anymore and burst out laughing at his shenanigans at which he started laughing too.
"No, but seriously, I could use some help." He soon added amidst the chuckles. "I'm stopping at every town along the way and will be speaking with the guards to check the Veda for if there's new orders for me. There should already be an entry that I've recruited you and are thus obviously heading back to the Lodge, but the Host might pass on some low priority requests for me to handle along the way. What they will be? No idea."
You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
"Right, got it." I nodded with a smirk. "I'll do my best to look like a big scary merc while you do important hunter business."
"Ah yes, the small town girl in armor that's about to fall apart - the pinnacle of intimidation!" He dramatically raised his fist as he spoke.
"Now that's just rude!"
I was really happy to be able to talk with him like this again.
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> Point of View: Rybrus
Malinka seemed to be in better mood - which was a good sign that everything was going more or less according to plan. Obviously I couldn't have predicted that bandit scum would move in and get in the way. Ultimately however, it proved to be a useful distraction as it lent me further insight into how her mind works.
The memories I gleaned from her blood helped, but as always they were more like watching the events re-enacted by actors in a theatre - I could guess what they felt from their actions and words, but there was a disconnect. It was different when I could observe the person directly.
She's so naïve and easy to read - I can't have that. If she's going to be useful to me in the long term, I'll have to work on making her much more resilient. But for now, I have to act. She's just asked about what duties I'll need her aid with. The answer is obviously none, as there's no way the Host can know if she's competent. Furthermore, invoking the Hunter's right to recruit involves several duties - namely making it a priority to deliver her for training as soon as possible. I don't mind taking just a tad bit longer than necessary though, as this will be a wonderful opportunity to adjust her mindset.
"No, but seriously, I could use some help." I start spinning yet another thread that will lead towards what I believe to be the brightest future. "I'm stopping at every town along the way and will be speaking with the guards to check the Veda for if there's new orders for me." There will be no orders, but she doesn't need to know that. I'll have to arrange for the meetings to be private - without her, and ask for some odds and ends that the guard could use help with. Ideal case? Something like murder investigation.
"There should already be an entry that I've recruited you and are thus obviously heading back to the Lodge, but the Host might pass on some low priority requests for me to handle along the way. What they will be? No idea." The lies roll of my tongue and I watch her reaction - normal. She doesn't realize my story doesn't add up - probably due to sheer ignorance of the laws and duties a hunter is bound by. Good.
"Right, got it." She replied eagerly and I could see those wheels in her head turning. "I'll do my best to look like a big scary merc while you do important hunter business." Her naivete reared it's ugly head again - there's no one in the world who would be intimidated by her. Intimidated by her weapon? Maybe. But her? No chance. Her posture is too awful and doesn't radiate the utter confidence and pride necessary to do so. Her build is small, so instilling fear of physical violence is borderline automatic failure too. Overall, I'd give her a rating of two out of ten on intimidation ability, most of it coming from having a spooky darkness-engulfed dagger that might clue the average idiot into knowing something's off.
So roughly equivalent to that of a small yapping dog. I can't let her remain this delusional and should bring her down from her high horse towards reality. A direct serious confrontation? No. She doesn't handle confrontations well. Subtext? Unlikely to work, I don't think she'd pick up on it. Undermining her ego via a joke? ...Yeeees, that could work.
"Ah yes, the small town girl in armor that's about to fall apart - the pinnacle of intimidation!" The art in doing this lies in how well you can fly under the other person's radar. If she knows what I'm up to, she will be guarded and the little wound this joke leaves on her ego would fail. To account for this, I remember the theatrics of the actors in Eldorath, and mimic a gesture of outrage and strength - a raised closed fist with. I also make sure to school my expression - a smile will tell her to not be afraid, that this is merely a jest. But it will stay inside her mind - not consciously - but she will remember. Everyone does.
"Now that's just rude!" She echoes my intended sentiment, following like a dog chasing after a treat. The raised fist - a gesture of rebellion - guided her thoughts towards defiance of my words. The smile and generally jovial tone of my words let her know to not be intimidated by those words, but embrace them as a silly thing. But now they're there, in the back of her mind. A single string of the web I weave - until she will be caught in it and be forced to adapt.
Her smile is like sunshine, a warm kind thing. Infectious even I'd say - so I mimic it to best of my ability right back at her.
After all, I can't have her being unhappy with me, not when my goal is create a useful, reliable friend instead of this pathetic mess that got by on sheer luck.