Victus threw his dagger at the man, but he effortlessly deflected it with his rapier. The fancy dagger flew into the wall, shattering one of the bottles on the shelf. Alcohol slowly began to pour down to the floor as he glared into the man’s lifeless eyes.

“Let him go.”

“And why should I?” The man spoke in a stoic tone.

Alyza flinched when, abruptly, the window shutters slammed shut, followed by the front door behind them. The room was much dimmer now, and that made Vick’s crimson eyes all the more vibrant and intimidating.

“Because there’s a lot more where that came from,” he threatened.

“A simple trick,” the man stepped towards them, rapier in hand. “Are you aware of this criminal’s actions? His last known location was the Lizzarburg Inn, after all, an establishment well known for sheltering bandits and other scum. There’s a decent price for his head.”

Victus looked at Clyme, who wore a guilty expression, then returned his gaze back to the bounty hunter. “That still doesn’t give you the right to take his life. Who are you to make that call, huh?”

“Davon Morelli, A-Rank bounty hunter.”

“Figures. Took all the easy jobs, did you?”

“..Work’s been slow.”

“What, killed everyone already?”

Davon thrusted his rapier forwards suddenly, gliding along the wooden floor at great speed. There was ice at his feet that allowed him to move so quickly. Reacting in a panic, Victus recalled his dagger with the wind wind, barely blocking his attack.

The two clashed with sparks, except it was a pathetic struggle. He could hardly hold the bounty hunter’s blade back. Vick's muscles tensed up, his hands trembling. There was a cold chill creeping up his legs, emanating from the bounty hunter's feet.

Davon slowly drew his face closer to Victus, and finally gave him an answer, “Yes.”

He easily overpowered the half-elf, pushing his dagger away and kicking him square in the stomach. Victus hunched forwards, falling onto his side. He held himself, frost staining the contusion, the cold only amplifying his pain.

“Victus!” Alyza rushed to his aid, kneeling down next to him. He wasn’t used to such genuine concern. She checked where he was hit, seeing that the frost had already slowly begun to spread. She looked back up at Davon and shouted, “You evil, despicable man!”

The bounty hunter stepped towards them, his nose turned up in disapproval. He raised his rapier once more, but Wolfe moved in front of them, and the sword bounced off of his thick rusty armor. He didn’t budge.

“You would be wise not to strike a Sylvain.”

“Sylvain? Don’t be preposterous, he's a peasant.”

“Not him," he eyed Alyza. "Besides, is that really a risk you’re willing to take, son?”

Mustering together what strength he still had, Victus sat up, calling out to the bounty hunter, “How much?!”

“What?” Davon looked past Wolfe.

“The bounty. How much?”

“..Thirty gold pieces.”

Victus tossed his coin pouch to him. “There’s seventy pieces in there, that’s double and more. Count ‘em if you want. Now leave us alone,” he coughed. Davon opened the pouch and made sure its contents were there, then put the sack away.

“Pleasure doing business with you,” he sheathed his sword and walked past them. Clyme stared as he left, enthralled by Victus's actions. His shame overcome by inspiration, he muttered, “You saved me..”

Alyza helped Victus to his feet, “Take it easy..”

He held his stomach, inhaling sharply. “Don’t think you’re off the hook just yet,” he looked at Clyme, suppressing a smile. “You’re stuck with us till you’ve paid me back. With interest.”

Clyme laughed heartily. Magically, he summoned his violin and bow from thin air. The wood was engraved with special markings, and when he began to play it, those engravings glowed.

The tune started slow and somber, yet soothing, then ramped up in speed. Out from the instrument, energy flowed towards Victus and Gunther. His welt was healed, and the frost curse had been dispelled.

The Nekomata played for a short while longer, then finished with a beautiful spiccato, his violin no longer aglow. The others were speechless. He dismissed his violin into thin air, and made a deep bow, “Thank you.”

* * *

Gunther placed four mugs of ale on the table, one for each of the newly allied adventurers. “Cheers, mates! On the house for my favorite customers,” he winked, then left to tend to the other patrons.

“Honestly, I’m surprised he still kept the place open after what happened today,” Victus lifted his mug. “To a long, prosperous life, or something like that,” he spoke with a lack of charisma.

“Couldn’t you be more enthusiastic?” Alyza sighed, crossing her arms. “Feels like your negativity is starting to rub off on me..”

“Sorry, enthusiasm isn’t really my thing, but you guys are welcome to give it a shot.” He took a sip of the ale they were given, smacking his lips together. “Oh, wow. That's awful.”

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“To a new day!" Clyme lifted his mug fast enough for some of it to spill out. "Let us feast and rejoice, for the worst is behind us, and only good things may come our way! To a long, prosperous life, or a swift, painless death!”

“Aye,” Wolfe bumped his mug against his.

“Aye!” Alyza did the same.

“..Aye,” Victus toasted with the rest of them, and they all gulped down the ale. It tasted sweet, yet watered down and hardly alcoholic. One could wonder if it was alcoholic at all. He placed the mug back down and accidentally belched, covering his mouth with an, “Ahem..”“

Haha, gross,” Alyza giggled. He glared at her until Wolfe suddenly burped much louder. The four of them went silent, and then they all laughed.

“You all are so..! Humiliating!” Alyza could barely contain herself.

“Not so bad yourself, Miss Sylvain,” Victus laughed.

“Don’t call me that,” she kicked him under the table.

“Ow! What’d I do?!”

“Miss Sylvain is my mother’s name.”

Clyme’s stomach growled. “I don’t mean to interject, but perhaps we could order some food?”

“Oh, yeah, I’m hungry too, actually,” Victus reached for his pouch, before coming to a harsh realization, “..Wait, we don’t have any money.”

Jearicko’s chin came downward, “Oh. Right..”

Wolfe gestured to Gunther, who came over to them right away. “Four of your finest meals, please. And another round of drinks, if that’s alright.”

“Of course, sir,” he accepted his payment, and went to the kitchen in a hurry. It hadn’t occurred to Victus that Wolfe still had his share of the quest's reward.

“Thanks, but you didn’t have to..”

Wolfe smiled at him. He didn’t mind spending his money on the group, he was quickly growing fond of them.

Clyme practically climbed over the table just to give the burly man a hug, his butt in almost in front of Alyza, “Oh, thank you, my good sir!”

He hugged him in return, patting his back.

“My, sit right, would you?” Alyza averted her gaze.

Victus cracked up, pointing and laughing at her, but he quickly stopped when she kicked him again. “Ow!” He lifted his leg onto the seat and rubbed it, “That’s no way to treat your leader.”

She scoffed, “You? Leader? Didn’t you just start two fights you couldn’t win? Wolfe should be the new leader,” Alyza gestured to the large, bearded man, but he shook his head. “Really? Guess I’ll have to be the leader, then.”

“Fine, then you can handle all the paperwork when we get the group officially registered as a party,” Victus crossed his arms.

“Fine, maybe I will.”

“Fine, then!”

Four more mugs of ale arrived, and the two stopped arguing to thank Gunther, then grabbed their mugs and drank.

They drank like it was a competition, and they were the only competitors. He felt a slight buzz after placing the empty mug back onto the table before her, “Aha!”

Alyza crossed her arms, her pale face reddened somewhat. She turned away, swaying slightly. “Hmph! Not like it was a race or anything. You’re so childish and immature, thinkin’ you can go an’ play hero earlier,” an odd accent came out of nowhere. “This is why I should be the leader.”

He stood up suddenly, slamming his hands onto the table, “Objection!” Victus felt a dizzy spell overtake him from standing as fast as he did. His vision blurred, and before he knew it, he was happily dancing with her.

Clyme was on stage, playing his violin with the band while the two danced along with the crowd, laughing and cheering. He sat back down at the table afterwards, his nostrils filled by a delicious aroma. A plate of piping hot food awaited his taste buds, and he scarfed it down like no one else was around. “Victus, pace yourself! The food’s not going anywhere,” Alyza cautioned him, but she warned him far too late.

Wolfe patted his back in the bathroom while he hurled into a bucket. He was comforted by the idea that he would forget all of this tomorrow, and just remember the good parts. When Victus returned to the tavern, he saw that Clyme was already getting into more trouble.

"You filthy catfreak.." The man held him by his jabot.

“Hey, get away from him!” He ran over to them and slugged the rude man in the face. The man fell to the floor, out cold. His friends became angered, and surrounded the two.

They stood back to back, “You ever been in a fight, Jack?”

“More than I’d like to admit, sir.”

“Good!”

Victus stepped forward and punched one of the men, his fist caught by such a telegraphed attack. The man headbutted him, and he staggered back for a moment, holding his head. His ears were ringing and his vision became hazy.

The man spit on the floor and approached him closer, “That’ll teach you to go hittin’ us human folk, ya freak.”

Victus held his head, dazed, until his opponent got close enough. His eyes then flashed brighter for a moment, and he threw out a swift swing kick with the assistance of a small whirlwind. The man flew back onto the floor, sliding to Wolfe’s feet. Wolfe knelt down and grabbed him, throwing him out the front door.

“Get ‘em!” Another one swung at Clyme, who ducked and whacked him with his violin. The instrument shattered on impact and stunned him. Victus followed up by kneeing the ruffian in the face while he was hunched over, knocking him out. He looked at Clyme, “Sorry about your violin.”

“It’s fine,” Clyme summoned another one from thin air. “I can always make more. Get down.”

Victus fell back with grace, and Clyme whacked another thug with his violin, breaking it again. The half-elf kicked himself back up to his feet, hitting the man off-balance. Knocking the thug downward to the floor, Victus then axe-kicked his head into the ground.

“Sir Victus, look out!” Clyme shouted, right before Victus was blindsided by a much larger brute. He tackled him into the wall, cracking it. Dust fell from the ceiling, while he struggled to pry the brute’s hands off of his neck.

He gripped his wrists, then kicked him in the crotch so that he would loosen his grip.

“Agh, you little..!”

Victus headbutted him, punched him in the throat, then kept pushing him back with a series of chain punches to the head. The man took a few steps back, swaying. He toppled to his knees, and the half-elf punched him in the face again, again, and again, until he finally fell to his side, unconscious.

He stood over the brute, breathing heavily. Blood dripped down his knuckles.

The other customers had left once the fighting got out of hand, including Alyza. He surveyed the bodies of the attackers, seeing that they were still breathing. Part of him wished that they weren’t, but he dismissed the thought.

Clyme walked over to him, “Sir, are you alright?”

“Yeah, I’m..I’m fine..” His vision slowly faded to black, and he collapsed onto the floor.