“Mmm…”

Alisson spurred in his bedsheets, consciousness greeting him wholeheartedly and quickly. The bright white of morning assaulted Alisson’s eyelids. After attempting to move for a moment, and finding out he couldn’t, a slight annoyance beset him.

Did I manage to wrap myself in my own bedsheets again?

Alisson, after thoroughly enjoying not being wrapped in his armor for the first time in a month, cracked open his eyes.

“!?”

Alisson just barely managed to stop himself from loudly yelping in surprise. What filled his vision, was Celis’s large and sleeping face. The reason he couldn’t move was because she’d wrapped her legs and arms around his body, like a snake she was coiled around him.

Okay…okay…stay cool.

Upon further thought, Alisson’s heartrate slowly fell from it’s prior, explosive beating.

Celis did this exact thing with Tohru when we were in Foksly…I guess it’s just normal for her… But how did Tohru cope? Celis would always wake up first, so it wasn’t a problem but…what if Tohru did wake up earlier than Celis, and was simply forced to wait, because she wasn’t able to escape…

Well, that wouldn’t be a problem for Alisson, thankfully, he knew he could overpower Celis physically, though he did not, in any sense of the word, want to disturb her.

So how should I go about this…should I just try to untangle her knot of limbs…maybe I can shimmy my way out…?

…What a predicament.

After a few minutes, Alisson had managed to escape, through a series of, slow, methodical movements. He was already almost done equipping his armor when Celis herself stirred. She looked over to Alisson, rubbing her eyes in a daze. Although, as time passed, and she realized what side of the room she was on, and in term what bed she was in, her face turned red.

“Um-!…I…”

“Forget it. Just get ready, we have a busy day today. Whether we leave this city tomorrow or in the next week depends on today’s results.”

“R-right!”

Ceils snapped to attention out of the bed.

…

“Well, it certainly is good weather today.”

Alisson said as we exited Fred’s place. He looked into the sky, stretching his back.

Good weather for me, means I’m not too cold, or too hot. But this is a really hot day…I wish I could’ve just stayed outside of my armor for once…It was really a luxury sleeping without it…

Well, at least until I woke up and found out I was sleeping in Alisson’s bed. Yeah. Out of all days, the day I grab onto something in the night, is the one day we stripped off our bulky armor…Err…It’s so uncomfortable thinking about that with Alisson right next to me…

“Where are we going?”

“Nowhere until mid-day. Until then, we have a lot of time to kill. I was thinking we could spar but…”

Yeah, that’d be really conspicuous.

“Why don’t we just walk around or hang around an inn for a while?”

I ask.

“Hmm?”

Alisson hummed with a smile at me. I don’t like that smile. I really don’t like that smile.

“Go and find one yourself then. I’ll be near.”

Ah…we’re doing this again? He’s gonna shadow me? I guess it’s still training in a sense. It’s a lot better than being left alone, I mean, what would I do if that Alfonso guy showed up-

-I’d kick his ass! That’s what I’d do!

As much as I want to think that, judging from what happened last time, I really don’t think that’s an option. But, as I finished that thought, Alisson was already melting away into the blackness of an alley nearby, eyeing me.

Hrng...

Oh well...Sighing, I pick a direction and start walking. As the sun beats down on my cloak, the lively faces of the townsfolk pass by me. They seem, happy, filled with confidence even. I haven't seen such a healthy looking population since I left Oledes. Foksly was a big town too, but it was really a mishmash of people; most were glumly doing their jobs, like bees lifelessly droning about. Foksly was still better than Qutrya of course, in that village, it seemed everyone had given up on their situation or doing anything really. This town, Curlessi, is a third the size of Foksly, though it's much richer in it's cleanliness and architecture; there's no Governmental Bureau here either. The Caliphate seems to rule this town in name only. Maybe that's why they're so happy.

Again, I can't help myself from thinking this is a friendly town. It makes my run in with Alfonso earlier feel even more out of place and alien to me.

Really, I can't stop thinking about what to do in that situation. I'm starting to think the best action was to try to be assertive early on, you know, maybe shove him back, tell him off. As much as I’d like to think in the ideal, thinking of really doing that, to Alfonso of all people, just makes my stomach hurt and my lips curl.

Anyway, I have to find a place to hang for a while until the afternoon. I wonder what kind of deal Alisson made with Fred. Knowing Alisson, I'm not worried about whatever we have to do, because if it was something iffy, then Alisson wouldn't have agreed to it. Alisson also seemed pretty enthusiastic yesterday when he was talking to Fred. A lot more than he does when he talks to me...

Well, Fred is a human, Alisson would inevitably act different in front of one. I mean, that's probably how'd I react in a situation like that with an old friend you know nothing about anymore, just seem and be as polite and carefree as possible in order to not trigger any unseen landmines.

Well, that place looks good. Across the street and through an alley I spot the only pub in my vision.

Avoiding carriages, horses and other pedestrians, I cross the street. I enter a surprisingly wide alley. I get about halfway through when...

“Hey! Do you know where the hell you’re walking?”

I hear a shout behind me. I careen my head to see two adolescents staring me down. Normally, If somebody were to call out to me in such a manner, then I’d immediately assume they were lowlifes; but these guys are wearing some normal, middle class clothing.

“Yeah, this is Free Onposa territory, scram kid.”

Kid? We look the same age…

I sigh.

What is this. Twice in two days, I swear to Sidonia. I'm sure as hell not gonna let the same thing happen twice. These guys are giving me a much more manageable feeling than what Alfonso was radiating. In the art of pissing people off, they seem like amateurs. Maybe they just don't seem as disagreeable as Alfonso was to me. Though, there's one real issue I see with them. How come these guys are wearing red bands around their arms? Reminds me of Alfonso...he wore a red thing like that. I thought it was some kind of depressing scarf or some sort neckwear, but it looked a lot like these bands the juveniles in front of me are wearing. Well, it could always be a coincidence...

I turn and keep on walking.

"H-hey! Stop it!"

I hear a bewildered shout behind me. Yeah, didn’t expect that did you? I hear them running up behind me in a panic.

Alright. I inhale, steeling myself.

I turn and flash the most intimidating glare I can. I move my cloak, revealing my other hand clutching the handle of one of my stilettos.

The guys stumble to a stop a meter from me, as if getting in any closer would warrant death.

“H-hey now, we didn’t mean nothing by…”

“Y-yeah…”

They gulp, anxiously staring at my stiletto and exposed armor. I unsheathe my stiletto an inch, it glows blue after a moment.

“Screw off.”

The two of them yelp in surprise, perspiration mounting on their foreheads. They start to slowly back up. I sigh internally, sheathing my stiletto and starting back down the alley.

I hear the two of them nervously mumble behind me as I leave the alley.

Well, I'm glad I was able to handle them in a…Er, semi, non-violent way. I can’t believe they fell for intimidation, by me, a girl younger than them. That trick with imbuing a healing spell into my stiletto really seemed to freak them out, I wasn’t expecting it to spark such a reaction with that tiny light show. Well, they could’ve been scared by my Sidonian-craft armor…wait. That’s a really stupid thing to do now that I think about it. If they recognize the craftsmanship, however unlikely, me and Alisson’s cover is out the window. Hopefully they don’t, they didn’t seem to be too intelligent about my little magic trick but I’m sure others would most definitely recognize my armor. Sidonian smiths have gotten quite the reputation, even outside our territory. People seem to really take Sidonian armor seriously; which I’m prideful for, but it makes my job a lot harder since it’s so distinctive and just that much higher quality than other armor.

I enter the pub, no bells chimed, and no people greeted me as it opened. There are lots of small, round wooden tables where groups of people sat, talking absentmindedly. The drone of the building was quite nice, no light was on, rather the windows were large enough to allow the mourning sunlight to illuminate the area. Finding a seat by the corner of the room, I sit down on a tall stool. Throughout the pub, most of the people seem to be merchants, craftsmen, and women; these are people who can afford not to be slaving away in a field in the morning.

After a few moments, almost scarily fast, the door opened and in walked Alisson. He nonchalantly looked around for a moment before walking in my direction without looking at me directly. Yawning, he sat down opposite me. After finishing his yawn, and giving another intense glance at the surroundings, Alisson finally looked at me.

Did you really have to act that much, Alisson?

"I'm glad."

"Huh?"

"I'm glad you didn't need my help with those ruffians."

He smiled slightly.

"I, I wouldn't ever have any trouble with something like that."

Alisson raised an eyebrow but shrugged.

"Yes, I suppose any apprentice of mine wouldn't just be a mindless object with a weapon. I expect you to always think in the diplomatic option, most of the time, you won't benefit from a brawl."

I suppose so. If you kill a beast, what does that net you? Most of the time, they don't have any sought-after materials; their hide is sometimes harvestable, but it takes forever to skin, and you can't very well be sitting exposed in the wild for an extended time. I guess fighting an animal really only gives someone experience.

Humanoids on the other hand…They give you tons of supplies, armor, weapons, and other neat things! Remember to always murder humanoids… That's exactly what Alisson was talking about.

I need to think before I just kill someone. At the academy it was so easy, everyone was just a target waiting to be knocked down for a better time and score. But now…it’s a lot more complicated.

What if the person has beneficial ties to an informant or Infiltrator?

What will be the effect on the community if this person dies?

What standing or position does this person hold? Will it draw attention if they die?

Are they beneficial or deadweight to humanity? Sometimes, it’s better to leave people alive to cause more damage and drain humanity’s resources, as I’ve been taught at the Academy.

“Well? Are you just going to stare at me, or…?”

“W-what?”

“The reason you wanted to come here; didn’t you want to listen in on the locals?”

I think you’ve got a misunderstanding Alisson. I only thought we could talk or something…But listening to the locals huh? Information is always useful, and the easiest way to get it is to eavesdrop.

After a barmaid came by, taking our requests for tea and juice respectively, I close my eyes, and sink into the drone around me.

…

“That’s what people are really hoping for you know? Another Battle of Golonus.”

“Ah…good times. To think that a Sidonian army of a hundred thousand was wiped off the face of Aleeze by an equal number force of humanity…”

“Well, it was an Andestinian army all. I’m pretty sure they haven’t fought a single serious war against a human nation; I just hope I’m able to get to Andestine quickly…I’ve got a large shipment of steel to sell off, and they become the largest buyers of it when they mobilize.”

“Of course, they give all of their soldiers quality armor, just like the Sidonians. I’m sure General Silverstream is looking forward to this war, he kicked their asses at Golonus and it sounds like he’s looking for more.”

…

"…I don't know man, some weird shit's been happening in that forest across Lagrath, lotta caravans and adventurers have gone missing without a trace."

"I heard about that. It's weird though, that forest is nothing like the one south of here, it's supposed to really friendly…"

“Yeah, have you seen it? It’s beautiful. Lot of animals and flowers you don’t see anywhere else.”

…

“To think that Irine has so many inhuman nations next to them, it’s disgusting.”

“What? Are you talking about the Holy Angelic Country of Angela? Maybe the nation of those orcs to the far northwest above Irine?”

“Yeah, all of them. They’re all horrible. To think that sub-humans can form nations, it’s a revolting thought.”

“Well, the Country of Angela is encircled and landlocked by Irine, so they’re not a threat-just like those fox people, whatever you call them. It’s really only those orcs you have to worry about; but their so far north, we never even hear about them, I mean, they live above the Deadzone on the map, so the only country they’re connected to is Halaruth.”

“Halaruth, isn’t that just one of dozens of nations in the north?”

“-Halaruth’s crazy.”

“Oh yeah? Why’s that?”

“A child. A child is the current king of Halaruth. He has an older brother but…”

“You’re kidding me! A kid on a throne? He has to be some sort of prodigy.”

“Nope. From what I’ve heard, he’s just a normal kid, nothing great about him.”

“My word. I thought the Prince of Irine was bad enough. I think countries need to be ruled by the wise. The Caliph is really old, so he’s pretty wise no? He’s certainly better than that child-king and that Council in Andestine.”

…

…Is that woman stupid? The Caliph is old sure, the oldest human ruler currently…but he’s completely inept. The Caliphate is not centralized whatsoever, it’s just a metric ton of small ranking lords all banding together really, the Caliph just sits in his palace surrounded by his concubines all day, it’s not like he cares what going on with the country. Wow, compared to the Caliphate, the Irine nobles look a lot more appetizing, there’s fewer of them, and they’re apparently a lot more competent; I wonder what happened, it didn’t used to be that way.

…

“Well, how’s your morning been?”

“…I was trying to sell some of my fish off earlier when those bastards, what d’you call em? The, ‘Free Onposa’? Well, a bunch of those kids ransacked my catch. They said it was for some, revolution or something, but they’ve always been saying crap like that. For being rebels for the people, those idiots are just playing games, I’m mean for crying out loud, Curlessi doesn’t even have a regional lord over it; we’re already as free as we can be in the Caliphate.”

“Hmph. Well, just take care not to run into that Alfonso character. Sly prick is apparently a member or them, but he doesn’t really do much. Last I checked he was still off, poaching women; but be careful, he can give the city guard a run for their money in fight. I remember seeing him when he was just a young orphan, he's come far, I'll tell you that.”

…

Ah. I was a bit surprised to hear Alfonso’s name out of the crowd; I thought it was a coincidence, but it doesn’t sound like it. It sounds like he really is apart of that street gang; the same ones that were busy defending a random town alley against a little girl. Yeah. They’re going far.

“Celis.”

A single word shatters my thoughts and brings me back into reality. I crack open my eyes.

“It’s already the afternoon.”

Alisson said, looking out the window beside him.

“So…what was it we’re supposed to do?”

Really, it’s been a full day and Alisson hasn’t told me. I’m either not going to play a significant role in whatever he’s got planned, or it’s something confidential, which I doubt.

“Well…I’m supposed to serve as a bodyguard for an ombudsman during a negotiation.”

“Ah…”

“You aren’t needed but, I want you in the area in case something happens.”

“Who is it between?”

“Fred’s mafia, and the Free Onposa.”

…

Alisson stood steadfast in a dim room. He’d guessed this meeting would’ve taken place at Fred’s auxiliary building, the one that him and Celis were staying in and the one that the mafia used to meet on neutral ground. But it seemed prior agreements had forced the mafia to meet on Free Onposa grounds. This was some warehouse within the docks district of Curlessi, it apparently served as the Free Onposa’s headquarters. For being a street gang, they surprisingly had a lot of organization, members, and territory. Their cause seemed to have been a just one on paper, the liberation of Curlessi from apparent rulers. Only, Curlessi had no overarching lords. There was no reason for such rebels to exist. The town was prospering and there was little to no injustice. The only real crime was the Free Onposa.

Alisson had no clue why such a group had even formed in his absence from this town. But it didn’t matter. The problem that Alisson was here to solve, was that the Free Onposa had now been declaring the mafia as the unjust rulers of the town, and terrorizing them. The most the brats in the Free Onposa could do was push the mafia around, seeing as it was composed of adult men. It’d recently become a problem when they’d started raiding mafia supplies, as Fred explained.

So, the Free Onposa was persuaded to come and hold a civil meeting, and Alisson was going to be the chief power of the mafia. Fred had said that with Alisson simply being there, the mafia would be able to make much larger demands, hopefully shutting down the Free Onposa with some luck.

Alisson himself didn’t care to get involved. He was a friend to Fred, But the only real reasons he was doing this was to get across Lagrath and stay in good faith with the mafia for the sake of his fellow Infiltrator fratello. Alisson wondered if Fred had specifically mentioned that he knew of the Infiltrators in Curlessi to perhaps force Alisson into working for the mafia, for fear of having his fellow fratello exposed. Though Alisson wasn’t worried. Fred seemed to know quite well that Alisson could destroy the entire mafia if he wanted to.

It didn’t have to stop at the mafia however. Alisson hadn’t sensed a single fighter of worth in this town.

I could probably destroy the whole town or capture it myself if I wanted to…

It was certainly a nice emotion, to know how far he’d come since he’d left the Academy a meek and unnoticed boy. As much as the thought pleased him, he didn’t try to really think too hard of it, it seemed far too over the top to him: destroying an entire city himself. Every time he thought that however, Alisson’s mind flitted back to the fact that there was no one to oppose him. Like a loop, his mind went round, feeling pride, and then stuffing it, before reconsidering it, and then dumping it; then thinking of the whole prospect once more.

“Heh, who the hell’s this creep?”

Unchecked power be damned, the people in front of him had not a clue they were standing in the presence of Alisson Vi Nuam.

How dare this street filth examine me.

“A mercenary.”

Alisson responded, uninterested.

“Ooo, real scary, the mafia’s gone and hired a little girl.”

I swear. This is really the best insult humans can think of?

Alisson stood silent at the two juveniles opposite him across the table, quietly staring at them without saying a word. For being the first interaction with this, Free Onposa, they seemed to act like hyenas in their demeanor. It severely tugged at Alisson how these imbeciles before him had not a fraction of the power and knowledge Alisson did, yet still were able to berate him like this. He’s never been in contact with a gang like this before. Curlessi was a rare sight, it had both a gang and a mafia meeting like this so brazenly. Throughout other nations, Alisson hadn’t ever been in such a position with either a mafia or gang. The types of groups to him were just auxiliaries of humans, who’re usually a footnote to him. Though, he’d long interacted with lowlife gangs on a few occasions, almost all of which were present only in the Caliphate. The general course of action started with an underestimation on the gang’s part, and then being driven away. Personally, Alisson was quite tired of it.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

A few moments passed, and in walked five people into the small and musty room. Two came from Alisson’s side; they wore black suits and obfuscated black glasses. One of them took a seat at the table, and the other stood on the other side of Alisson. It seemed the mafia didn’t fully trust Alisson to solely guard the don, Alisson fully understood their caution; Though it was interesting to see that a good word with Fred even allowed him to be in such a position in the first place.

The other three people who entered the room were members of the Free Onposa, two more those hyena-like adolescents, and a man in his early 20’s. All of them wearing their, signature red armbands.

“Name’s Ghrenzino, but…ah, hell, let’s get this over with.”

The man in his early twenties said, lazily sighing and slumping into the chair at the other end of the table. He looked at the don first, then at Alisson with a wry smile.

“Quite right boy. I’ll make this quick then: the Gofyfielze will not be withdrawing from this negotiation until our one demand has been agreed to.”

The seated man in the suit, the supposed don, said in a deep and professional tone, completely contrasting the smugness of the Free Onposa. The oldest Free Onposa sitting down, Ghrenzino, tilted his head with piqued eyebrows.

“Oh? Ballsy today, aren’t you? Well, shoot.”

“The Gofyfielze demands the total dissolution of the Free Onposa.”

A moment of silence passed. The hyenas sat, blankly at the don’s words. More silence passed. Ghrenzino leaned in, a small smile on his face in a low voice.

“Listen here old man. You and I both know that’s not happening.” He placed a hand to his chin and continued, his smile deepening and his face growing bold, “I mean, seriously, what can you do to us? Impose trade sanctions? I know that’s all your good for these days.”

The boys next to him chuckled. The don’s face, his posture, did not crack. He sat still, staring at Ghrenzino.

“Your concession to that decision is the destruction of the Free Onposa.”

This time, the red-banded boys did not keep their discipline. A wave of chuckles passed over the group.

“Really? A bunch of old men, beating us?” He paused, his eyes passing over Alisson, “Or maybe you think your tough shit because you hired some sell-sword?”

He laughed and started out of his seat.

…Enhérejär.

Instantly, a change was felt. No one in the room but Alisson was keen enough to spot the minute difference, however. The small bulge where the hilt of Alisson’s rapier protruded out of his cloak, simply melted, and disappeared.

It would take a man with the eyesight a hawk to notice, notice the slivers of silver that moved toward Ghrenzino.

“Well, we’re done here. Looks like this really wa-!”

Ghrenzino suddenly jerked down, inhumanly sliding back into his seat, like puppet.

“Do not rise out upon your seat unless instructed. You have conceded your life by continuing with the current compromise.” Alisson spoke in a low and monotone voice, his eyes down and uninterested.

Fluidity returned to Ghrenzino, and he looked at Alisson, his face in dismay.

“W-what the-”

“It’s as our good friend Alavier says. He will kill every last person living in this building if you do not accept our conditions. I implore you to do so.”

The don spoke each word slowly, with immense intent. Ghrenzino sat, in abhorrent shock, he simply didn’t move.

“What the hell!? Who do you bastards think you are?”

The boy closest to Ghrenzino smashed his hands on the table, spittle flying out of his mouth.

Enhérejär. Teach this insolent his place.

The juvenile at the table promptly sank to his knees. His arm suddenly jerked toward his chest. The juvenile yelped and the jerk of his arm was met with resistance. A funny sight; his arm was in front of his body, his face was scrunched in focus and perspiration as his arm shook, as if he couldn’t move his limbs. His arm slowly moved to his chest, overpowering whatever resistance the boy had put up.

“What in god’s name!?”

“K-Kjyel! Cut it!”

The other Free Onposa members were now thoroughly confused, or spooked; It was clear from the sudden change in their once laid-back postures to their aggressive and tense stances against Alisson.

As if breaking free of a trance, Ghrenzino shook his head and jumped out of his seat, rousing his comrades.

“He’s a magician! That’s all! Kill him! And kill the Gofyfielze!”

Ghrenzino swiped his hand toward the other side of the room, sounding more disgusted than he was confused unlike before. His revelation about the prospect of magic interference dismissed the previous events from his mind; as most didn’t have a catalogue of every spell in the world. Even if someone did, the book would be far too heavy to hold, there were near infinite ways to bend mana, it only depended on if somebody knew how to.

The surrounding Free Onposa boys, minus the one on the floor, blitzed into action, throwing themselves at Alisson and the mafia men. Though, just like the first juvenile, they too stopped mid-way through their charge; they became like statues within the snap of a finger. They sank to the floor, and after a moment of resistance, they prostrated themselves as had the first belligerent.

…They’re so weak… not even a single one can break free…?

Compared to the previous opponents Alisson had run into, it’d been a long time since there was such a blatant power disparity. Davy, the Inquisitors and their knight and initiates, even those summoners probably, all had the physical strength to overpower literal specks. Alisson realized that this meant, for once, he was stronger physically than the juveniles in front of him. It was a pleasing thought, most of the time thanks to his slow growth, he’d always been at a disadvantage. But that didn’t stop Alisson from attaining the peak possible power his body could; and that seemed to be above these, Free Onposa.

“Tch…”

Ghrenzino clicked his tongue, his gaze sweeping across his now prostrating subordinates. He drew a sword. None of his subordinates had such a large weapon, they only carried falchions and daggers. Ghrenzino gave the thin sword a nimble spin in his fingers and pointed it at Alisson.

Alisson sighed.

Enhérejär.

Despite his thought, it seemed it was already ahead of him, for the pouch under his cloak where Alisson kept various vials of liquids had creeped open.

Ghrenzino blurred forward. From his trajectory, it looked like his plan was to jump over the table to reach Alisson. Unfortunately for him however…

…he’d just been pricked. As Ghrenzino placed his front foot on the table, about to jump off it, his sword dropped to the floor. His body fell face first into the table with a thud. Ghrenzino clutched his throat with both his hands, gasping for air. After a moment, Ghrenzino’s eyes rolled up, and his body went limp, sliding off the table.

I’m glad I carry such potent solutions, it means that with even a speck, people can still be afflicted, and I don’t have to worry about carrying so many vials.

What had happened to the poor group of juveniles before Alisson, was Enhérejär. His weapon didn’t usually have the strength to compete by itself, so perhaps it’d taken some degree of joy from this. Alisson was a little worried that Enhérejär had used some of his non-lethal toxin at it’s own discretion; it seemed it didn’t have enough mass to restrain one more individual. Alisson only carried three vials of useable liquids with him, lethal and non-lethal mix-ups, and a small tonic. The toxins came in use when he wanted to incapacitate an enemy, like Ghrenzino before him, or kill someone in a ‘creative’ way. His tonic was not a panacea by any means, but it was better than nothing if there weren’t any healing spells available for him.

“…God...”

The don muttered under his breath. It was amazing how both mafia men were able to keep their cool through such an explainable event for them. In general, one didn’t see such displays the paranormal exhibited by humans. The unexplainable rested outside human civilization, in the dark, where nobody bothered to look. But when that was applied to a reasonable and physical human, the effect of terror could only increase.

“Then I suppose the Free Onposa will be agreeing to dissolving?”

Alisson asked, his eyes finally locking with the prostrating juveniles on their knees. After glancing at each other for a moment, and at Ghrenzino, they eagerly shook their heads to Alisson.

“There you have it.” Alisson turned toward the door, adjusting his collar. “I have fulfilled my part of the deal. I trust you’ve been filled in by that eager subordinate of yours of what I seek?”

Alisson asked, glancing at the don with narrowed eyes.

“…Of course, Alavier. Thank you again for helping us on such a rushed occasion.”

The don replied, unwillingly at first. As Alisson left the room, he could faintly hear the him mumble,

“…Demon.”

…

“C-chocolate milk?”

“Yes.”

Eh-? That, that’s so random! Why, out of all things to ‘prepare to set out with’, Alisson wants to make sure we have chocolate milk? It’s not a problem since we’re in the literal center of the Caliphate’s trading hub, Curlessi’s bazaar, but still! The bazaar is really nothing like I've seen before; you can buy almost anything! It's huge! And yet, out of all things, Alisson gets chocolate milk...well! I'm not complaining!

“B-but why?”

Alisson furrowed his brow at me. Is there something I’m not getting here!? Why’s he so serious!?

“Weren’t you taught anything at the Academy?”

W-what!? He seems really, really disappointed!

“It has an extremely good energy regeneration properties.”

“A-…Ah.”

You’re kidding me.

Well. Today’s the day we leave Curlessi. We’ll be heading across Lagrath, through some sort of route, Alisson hasn’t told me. Since this route was controlled by the mafia though, it should be a quiet trip. Before that though, we’re taking the opportunity to restock our supplies. We did burn through our rations on our month-long trip up the continent until now. We’re about a third the way, so Alisson says. Apparently, the Caliphate’s homeland security weakens farther and farther north up their territory. It’s not a problem for towns, but it means there’s a lot more looseness on the roads and in the wild without any regional army to handle monster breaches and the like. Since the roads are so dangerous, merchants have it weird north of Lagrath; for protection, most convoys travel with Caliphate armies. Since the Caliphate has all of their biggest armies waaay north, I’ve heard rumors about apparent mobile towns; massive, million men armies backed up by huge amounts of craftsmen and merchants. They don’t need to stop at towns, they’re protection is a wall of flesh.

It’s like a snail bringing it’s home everywhere.

But it’s really scary though. Just imagining if we were to run into one of those huge amalgamations of humans is a little terrifying. That’s not the only thing on my mind. What I saw last night from Alisson really shocked me, I mean, what the hell kind of crap was that!? It looked like Alisson had a bunch vector-hands doing his bidding. I’ve never seen magic like that, I need to ask him.

“Alright then, that’s about a dozen days’ worth of food for the both of us. Now is there anything else…?”

Alisson said, apparently finished with his shopping spree and pondering to himself. It’s not like we used any actual items so far, just food. Nothings really warranted consumables so far. We didn’t even use any flares yet, not even in the super dark forest.

“Well…I’ve been wondering…”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Um…that magic you used last night, what was it?”

Alisson didn’t reply, he only shook his head and patted the right side of his hip, where his rapier was holstered.

“It wasn’t magic. I don’t want to talk about this here.”

Alisson glanced at the surroundings with narrowed eyes.

It was, it was his weapon that did all that? Huh. Didn’t Alisson say it could redirect magic or something? I thought that was all it could do…But it looks like it has some sort…telekinesis?

“I’m sure that spot five meters to my right and in the ceiling gave you a good view, no? Well, I’ll explain later.”

Ah-!? He, he knew exactly where I was? I thought I was pretty sneaky, I was laying belly down between rafters and peering down the cracks in the ceiling…I don’t know if Alisson is just that perceptive or if I’m really that bad at stealth…

“Anyway, before we say our goodbyes to Fred, are you sure there’s nothing you want before we leave? This is the last chance we’ll have such a selection of items to choose from for a while.”

“No, not really.”

Alisson put a finger to his cheek, tilting his head with pondering eyes-!

So cute!

“I’ve watched you enough to know that you really do need something other than your stilettos and magic…maybe another weapon?”

If Alisson is recommending it, then I can’t really decline.

“If you, if you say so…”

“Well, I suppose we’ll have to wait, this town doesn’t seem to have any good quality gear from what I’ve seen…I suppose we have to wait until we get back to the homeland. Still, are you sure there’s nothing you want?”

I’d like a hot bath. But I can’t exactly say that right now.

“I’m fine, really.”

…

Something. Someone is approaching. Someone is approaching my apprentice.

“Thanks again for helping us out, I really can’t thank you enough. I don’t know what you did, but the Free Onposa look to have started some kind of civil war amongst themselves.”

Like beasts they eat their own when they see one stronger.

“It’s fine, really. It was a mutual deal we had, wasn’t it?”

Alisson tilted his head, growling despite himself. Fred and him were both we’re they started, in the meeting room. Alisson wanted to make sure their crossing really was clear after all. Even if they were set to leave, he couldn’t hope for the mafia to keep pace with him and have the passage be clear so early.

“Don’t worry don’t worry, the don personally made sure you were adequately paid, the road is clear for you to use.”

Alisson sighed with relief. They’d be able to head out immediately.

“Well then, I’m burning daylight. I must be on my way.”

“Ah, ah. Right, you’ve got places to be huh? Moving up in the world, are you?”

Fred said with a smile a deviously piqued brow.

“Yes, I suppose so.”

“Oh, one last thing, I don’t think I need to tell you this but, just be safe north of Lagrath okay? You don’t know how many adventurers I’ve seen not make it back. And with those rumors about that cultist country…”

Fred shook his head.

Fred must’ve been referring to the Guild Adventurers, it was true that a lot of them couldn’t handle the steep drop in security on the roads further north in Caliphate land. Alisson was only appalled that the already shaky roads could get even worse. Although he couldn’t fault the Caliphate regional lords too much, their land was thousands of times the size of the Sidonian peninsula, it'd be inevitably harder to defend. Many more Goblins, beasts, and lot’s other unique terrors lay scattered within the vast land of central Aleeze. The area surrounding Lake Aleeze was the worst offender, it’d yet to be colonized much by any race. Only the harpies living in their forest with their hugely tall trees hugged the Lake. Of course, that wasn’t a testament at all to them, their population was even lower than the Nekomata, and they were rarely found outside of their little paradise.

For the trouble they gave the Sidonian Empire, Alisson had wondered many times why Sidonia hadn’t ordered their destruction. Their little forest was directly north of Sidonian land after all; it was squeezed in by the Caliphate, the Principality, and Sidonia.

“I’ll be sure to try. I'm more worried about her.”

Alisson’s eyes wandered toward a random spot on the wall next to him, as if he were staring through it.

Fred furrowed his brow for a moment. Before his face softened.

“She looks like she needs your protection in more ways than one.”

Alisson nodded his head.

Speaking of which…!

Alisson internally growled. He wasn’t going to let the same thing happen to his apprentice twice. He wasn’t stupid.

Alisson stood out of his seat.

“I sincerely thank you, Fred. Your cooperation has been most helpful to me. The Sidonian Empire will not forget your choice to support us.”

Fred nodded.

“Yeah, see you round kid. You ever going to tell me your real name?”

Fred asked with a wry smile.

“I would if I could. For now, I am Alavier. Nothing else, that is all. Now, I must pay a visit to that idiot outside this building.”

“Oh, so you noticed him huh? I was wondering why you were so pissed off.”

…

Ah! I’m finally leaving Curlessi, just a little bit longer and Alisson’s gonna walk out that door and we’re gonna leave!

But really though, he should’ve been done by now, if saying goodbye was gonna take this long, then I should’ve gone with Alisson. I wanted to stay outside, I guess it’s just because I’m shy. There’s a fine line between talking to an acquaintance and a stranger, and I’m not exactly comfortable with either.

As I mind wanders once more, my stomach starts to gradually tighten. After a while, it feels like I’m going to throw up. Until, a familiar voice call, directly into my ear.

“Oh look who it is…if isn’t gerpeté.”

Words come, a mere inch from my ear. I feel breath on my face, and my heart jumps. I turn to my left, and instantly, I see Alfonso.

How-! How is he so close to me! He’s literally point-blank to me! I jump back a foot, almost having a heart attack from seeing someone so close so quickly.

“Do you know what dear thing has happened?”

He says soothingly.

“No. And I don’t care.”

This is not going to happen. No! Not again!

I draw my stilettos.

“Oh, what a deceivingly pretty voice…It’s too bad you see…I was wanting to get some revenge against that, what do you call him, brother? Of yours? You see,” Alfonso dug into his vest and withdrew a red scrap of cloth, shoving it at me. “This. My brothers, my siblings, they killed each other! All because of that bastard!”

“I don’t care.”

I back up to the door and raise my hand toward it.

Do I, do I call for Alisson? My body is frozen in indecision.

Flashes of Alfonso’s smirking and demeaning attitude go through my mind. Quickly, something rises in me, kindled by the humiliation to my pride.

No. He dies, here, by my hand. I’ll make it up to myself. I’ll tear him limb from limb until he’s nothing but a slab of meat. He will beg for mercy. From me.

My hand, drops from the door.

“Well, I guess I need to kill some time until he comes out and I kill him, how about it? Wanna have some fun?”

Alfonso says, licking his lips and taking a stride toward me. I stand in silence for a moment.

“Sure.”

“Wha-? Really? Aww c’mon, I like it better when I have to use force~…You’ve already given up huh?”

Alfonso turns on his heel and walks into the nearby alley. The same one I was beaten in before. I follow him. I silently begin gathering up my mana into a stiletto.

He stops about halfway through, still with his back turned to me.

I break my walk into a run and thrust. I unleash all of my built-up Pict inscripts into it, it glows yellow, a shape of the Pict spell glowing around it. The wind whistles with its speed.

“W-woah!”

Alfonso stumbles to the side, glancing my thrust off his newly drawn baselard. Sparks of yellow fly across the alley. Crap. That was way too huge a chunk of my mana! I acted impulsively! I wasn’t able to even damage his weapon, just because I pour more mana into it, doesn’t mean the Pict spell is suddenly sharper and is better at piercing, it just means there’s more force behind it.

“Yeah, I didn’t think you were that easy, still you’ve got some gall, I’ll give you that!”

My body lands from it’s lunge, I twist my foot and turn straight to Alfonso, thrusting once more. He sidesteps and slashes at my back, but I raise my free stiletto and meet his baselard in a shriek of steel.

“You know, I think I enjoy this more. Yeah, I kill you and show that bastard of yours how it feels to lose everything, lose all of your-!?”

I disengage the blade lock in front of me, bringing myself pointblank with Alfonso. I thrust with both of my stilettos. This is it. I’m way to far into him for his baselard to counter me!

But, my enthusiasm was met with my momentum stopping in it’s tracks, my stilettos hit something hard. It pushes back, and my body stumbles a 360 away from Alfonso. Once I re-center myself, I see that Alfonso now has two baselards, one in each hand.

So that’s why. That’s why he can dodge me so easily. He himself uses two weapons. But, they’re longer, and have sharp edges. I need to use my mobility. I only have a small amount of mana left from that slip-up. I’ll use it in a pinch. Crap…I should’ve just fired off a huge barrage, it'd wreck the bulidings sure, but I really don't care at this point.

Before I’m able to finish beating myself up, Alfonso leaps at me. He twists his back, spinning downwards with his baselards.

If I retreat, he’ll just keep on going forward, if I try to evade to the side, the wide sweeping of his blades will still get me. So-!

I’ll just go under him!

I roll forwards, narrowly under Alfonso. I turn and bring a stiletto down at where I think he’s is. My stiletto meets one of his baselards, his other one flying for my belly. I bring my second stiletto to meet it, locking down both of his weapons with my own.

“My! My! We’re so close we can almost kiss!”

Wha-!? What did he just-!?

“Pwah!”

A boot impales my stomach, and I’m sent tumbling away across the ground.

Argh! Stupid! Stupid me! I got distracted by him!

I scramble to my feet to see Alfonso rushing me once more, preparing one big swing with both his blades. Okay, I know what he’s planning, he’s hoping to lock my arms down and then kick me again. Okay, I’ll try deflecting him then!

I drop a knee; my height falls, and Alfonso’s blades slide off of one of my stilettos. I was about to thrust with my remaining one, but it’s too late. He’s already sent a kick at me. I roll to the left, fleeing from the engagement entirely and re-centering myself.

“Ah! My god! Do you ever do anything but dodge!”

Alfonso says, breathing heavily and with a large flare of anger.

Nice, this is good. Alfonso has probably only ever fought in short, street brawls. He’s never fought a knight in full armor, he’s never been sleep deprived for days to bulid endurance, and he sure as hell hasn’t been through Alisson’s training. The longer this drags on for, the better my chances are! I may be weaker than him, but that doesn’t mean I tire quickly!

I brace myself, instilled with a second wind.

In front of me, Alfonso lifts one of his baselards above his shoulder. Huh? What’s he gonna do? ...Sure as hell not gonna swing it…

Then, suddenly, he throws it, straight at me.

I yelp, the sight of a baselard flying straight for me sends my mind into a panic. I bring my stilettos up on instinct, and luckily, I feel the baselard slam into my blades, I blocked it. What! Who would throw their weapon! I was never prepared for this! Okay, maybe a little, but not that much! Before I have time to think any further, Alfonso swings his other baselard at me. I raise my blades, but the swing never comes. It was a feint! I feel a punch crash into my belly, and I stumble back, against a wall now.

Another one! Alfonso just threw his last baselard at me! I was surprised to block the first, but I’ll try again!

The baselard slams into one of my gauntlets, and thankfully, it doesn’t pierce, it literally bounces off. Before I can even catch my breath, Alfonso throws another punch, this time, at my face. Ah! He’s right next to me! He’s too close!

“Gwah!”

My jaw hurts, a lot. I crack my eyes open and-! I’m kneed, in the stomach again. Following that, another punch impacts on my gauntlets, knocking the stilettos out of my hands.

Crap! Crap! This isn’t good! Without my stilettos, backed against a wall like this-! I can’t overpower him!

Before I can even prepare any spells, another punch impacts on my face. Then, Alfonso kicks me straight in the hip, and I’m sent rolling across the ground.

Hah…hah…how did the tables turn so quickly? It all happened so fast…-!

Alfonso slams his boot onto my back, repeatedly.

“You sure are lucky to have all that armor! Let’s see how you scream when I tear it off!”

Alfonso shouts, angrily. He finishes his barrages of stomps and kicks at me with one final, strong one to my shoulder, sending me rolling a few meters away.

Blood. Blood drips from my mouth, my nose, and I think…I think shoulder is broken…

…

My stilettos…they’re next to me.

…

Alisson silently cursed himself.

I thought this would be good experience for her…but I let it take it’s course too long. Shit!

Truly, a pit welled in his stomach from his guilt. She’d been doing well, far better than he’d thought she would. But, the course of the battle changed the second this brigand threw his weapons. Celis had been far too overwhelmed, it looked like she’s never had a weapon thrown at her like that.

Despite his apprentice’s struggle, Alisson believed that after every punch, every kick she suffered that Celis, would retaliate, and continue her amazing performance. However, it turned out this was not the low point Alisson hoped it would be, rather it was the steep cliff at the end of the fight for Celis.

From atop a building overlooking Celis, Alisson steeled himself.

He would make this nobody pay. He would make sure Celis never felt like this ever again, and he was never, ever, going to let her fight alone like this. He simply no longer had it in him to see his apprentice be beat down.

What a sour end to our time in Curlessi.

Alisson remembered Celis’s happiness with her little parfait. How Alisson yearned to see that once more. He stood, and laid his hand on Enhérejär. Before he was able to unsheathe it however…

Celis, shook. Her arms rose, and slowly, she pushed herself up. She stood with shaky legs, her arms drooping by her sides and her head facing the ground.

What? Celis is, she’s getting back up?

…

I can feel it now. What was coursing through my veins when I refused to call for help. It’s screaming within me, my ears hurting from a soundless, and infinitely loud scream.

Killing intent, is what fills my body. It preps my arms to push myself up, it tells my legs to bend and stand…

I won’t! I won’t stop until he’s laying in a pool of his own blood! I don’t care about him, and I don’t care about myself, I need to kill him! That is all! I’ll show myself! I can do it, I’ll spite my reason, and serve my pride!

“*************************?”

I don’t care what he has to say.

I lift my dirtied stilettos from the ground, and walk forward.

“****?********!******************!”

Alfonso backs up, a little startled. My instinct screams at me:

The perfect chance!

I shakily break my run into a scramble forward, side to side and incredibly unstable, I close in on Alfonso within seconds. He managed to recover one of his baselards, he swings it at me in a panic. I block with one stiletto, and stab with the other. He has nothing to protect himself with; even if he did, my thrust is too fast.

“****!”

He shrieks. I prep a spell, and stab once more into his kidney. Alfonso tries to attack again, but whilst stabbing him, I twist my other stiletto, and impale the wrist he’s holding the baselard with.

“****!”

He screams. I don’t stop there. I push my stiletto further, pushing him into a wall. He kicks at me, and I retreat for a moment, easily evading. Before he can catch his breath, I lift my hands, and throw a stiletto.

It impacts dead center on his left wrist, pinning it to the wall. He let’s go of his baselard in pain, and tries to un-wedge my stiletto with his other hand. I close in, and grab his free hand. I impale it with my last stiletto, pushing it straight into the wall.

Then, unbeknownst to his screams, I unleash the spell I’ve been preparing.

“Pictun.”

Foreign words leave my mouth. Ah…so that’s why it took so long…

A jagged yellow spike forms in my open palm and I throw it like javelin. It gorges itself right into Alfonso’s throat. After it fades, I pull both of my stilettos out of him and let Alfonso’s body drop to the ground. Not before kicking him straight in the ribcage, of course. I hear a crunch as it caves into itself.

I stand, victorious over Alfonso, now bleeding immensely, but thoroughly unmoving.

I hear footsteps behind me. I already know who it is, so I don’t bother to look.

“Real pretty, friend of yours?”

“Nah, we just met.”

I spat out.

…

…

…

We stand in a few moments of silence. Alisson swallows nervously behind me.

“Are…are you okay?”

I turn and flash a blood-covered cheery smile.

“I did it!”

…

Well, it turns out I did end up getting something at the bazaar. Shiny new straps and sheathes for my shiny new baselards. Now, protruding out of my cloak slightly, are two baselards, strapped to the tops of my forearms. Though, they're a little bigger than my arms, so they stick out a few inches off my elbows.

Me and Alisson sit atop our horses, at the mouth of a large tunnel.

It’s been a few hours since then…and thankfully, my wounds have all but healed over completely. It turns out I didn’t have a broken shoulder, it was just fractured…phew…Well, Alisson played nurse for a little bit and had to patch up my bruises and clean all my blood, since I kinda ran out of mana with that Pictun spell. But, after a little while, I managed to gather the mana to cast a healing spell on my shoulder, so it was okay; it still hurt like a bitch though.

Oh, how fortunate I am! Two shiny new things, I finally broke through into using the Pictun spell, and I just doubled my arsenal of weapons! I feel like having these new blades will go good with another new thing of mine, throwing my weapons!

“I’m glad again you won that all on your own but…did you really have to be so, intense…at the end…?” After I don’t speak, Alisson continues, “Do you…want to talk about it?”

I really don’t want talk about it. I must’ve looked insane! I mean, stumbling unstably everywhere, that is. That’s probably because I had a fractured bone and so many wounds though.

“I, was…just a little shaken up was all…”

“Ah…”

Yeah, he doesn’t sound confident in the least in me. But, at least he praised me lots after I won. It turned out Alisson was watching the whole time, the sadist, but I overturned his expectations.

Alisson gives his horse a little tap with his foot, and we both proceed further into the cave. This is apparently the super-secret route across Lagrath….it’s a tunnel, under Lagrath. The mafia uses it for smuggling apparently, because it’s wide, and it’s ‘clean’. That’s slang for a tunnel that’s not crawling with beasts, so Alisson told me. Well, this is my first time travelling underground like this, and this is far from ‘clean’. There’s not a single rat, not a single bug or fly, just the drone of the wind in the tunnel and the rushing water of Lagrath in the distance. Scarily, this tunnel doesn’t seem deep at all, because even after about fifteen minutes of travel, I can still hear it, Lagrath, above me.

Well, at least it isn’t as dark as that damned forest. Alisson set up about six light spells ahead of us…and also behind us…I don’t know if he’s just paranoid or if there’s something I should be aware about…But regardless, we travel at a calm pace through the tunnel, the light spells keeping their distance with us and the rushing river above us growing ever more loud.

“Well…Celis…I suppose this is as good a place as I can get to tell you this…”

Ah, I know what he wants the privacy for.

“I wasn’t lying when I said I didn’t use magic…it was all Enhérejär. The name of the game with her, is adaptability. Enhérejär’s what you’d call, an adapting Legendary Weapon. It can shift it’s shape anyway is needed. It can’t just magically add mass to itself though, Enhérejär never increases in size or decreases. To that end, the pieces of her can split and fly freely in range around me.”

“H-her?”

“Well…”

Alisson says like he’s blushing.

“Whenever I say ‘he’, Enhérejär gets a little mad so, I’ve taking to thinking it’s a her.”

Wha-…What?

Mmm…I’m getting ahead of myself, of course Alisson would have some sort of inconceivable relationship with a weapon he’s spent literal centuries with. I don’t have that kind of relationship with my stilettos, no way, not even close. I’d be of course sad if they broke, but it’s not like I’d mourn over them. I definitely have a much stronger bond with my stilettos than my new baselards, though.

Well, I just hope that this trip under Lagrath passes uneventfully.

***