SOMETHING TO PROVE
We had parted ways with Biggs the moment we arrived at the city. With the help of Wedge's wagon, we then made haste to the clerical. Saline had passed out long before we arrived at the city but was still breathing.
Wedge quickly left us once Saline was admitted into the clerical. We lounged outside the back while Saline was taken care of.
ROSA
I'm a goddamned idiot...
She moaned, beating herself up from where she sat. I agree it was absolutely her fault, but I didn't want to cause her more grief and kept my opinion to myself.
MANTIS
I must say, Saline's Petty En Body was tough.
He praised, attempting to lift her mood.
MANTIS
Hell, I don't even think I would survive something like that.
Rosa looked up at him inquisitively.
ROSA
Do ya have Petty En Body?
Mantis nodded.
ROSA
Then you'll survive, ya fucking idiot...
The words stung Mantis, and his energy faded as he glanced at me, defeated.
MILLICENT
Rosa,
Millicent warned, and they exchanged glances.
ROSA
Sorry.
She mumbled an apology.
A deafening silence expanded between us, coupled with the city's quietness. The sound of the clerical back door opening startled us. Charla, a young lady with straight, blood-red hair down to the back of her knees, stepped out quietly.
CHARLA
Sol's warmth,
She greeted us warmly.
CHARLA
Saline is doing well, and Nami? Was it?
She questioned Nami, who nodded in response.
CHARLA
Without your healing aura, her injuries would have been fatal. Thanks to you and your party's promptness, Saline will have a full recovery.
She gestured us inside,
CHARLA
She's awake and eager to meet with you all.
I wanted my party to stay out of it, but Panuka instinctively followed them inside. I shrugged at Mantis' flustered glance and followed after them. We quietly entered the softly lit storage room of the clerical, passed the boxes and crates of supplies, and entered the infirmary.
Laying comfortably in one of the cots, Saline tilted her heavily bandaged face towards us. Her left eye and part of her heavily stitched lower face were visible as she smiled at us. The infirmary was lit by several Lighting Crystals, one of which was bolted to a rolling stand next to Saline's cot.
Rosa and her party skipped to her side with sounds of relief.
SALINE
How do I look?
She asked softly, tilting her head to reveal much of the stitching that ran down her neck.
ROSA
Ya still ugly.
She responded humorously, and they both laughed softly. Rosa studied Saline a bit and tucked her lips.
ROSA
I'm so sorry,
She started, her voice shaking slightly.
ROSA
I shouldn't—
SALINE
I shouldn't have been so weak.
She interrupted.
SALINE
It's not ya fault. We can't have ya blame ya self for our fatal misses. If I had died...
MILLICENT
Whatever doesn't kill us—
NAMI
—will make us stronger.
They beamed confidently. A tear slid down the side of Saline's face.
SALINE
I will never get hit like that again.
She promised,
SALINE
I should not be getting hit because I should be the one who fades into the shadows to keep my sisters safe.
Saline and Rosa interlocked their hands as silent tears streaked down their faces. I tapped Panuka's shoulder and gestured that we should leave.
PANUKA
Oh,
She blurted overtly before facing Rosa and her party.
PANUKA
Um—We will grant you all some privacy.
ROSA
Thanks.
Back outside the clerical, I let out a heavy breath of relief.
MANTIS
I know, right,
He chuckled.
MANTIS
That was so tense I forgot all about my hunger.
Panuka shoved him in the head.
MANTIS
What!?
PANUKA
It's too early to be cracking jokes!
MANTIS
But I am hungry. And besides, Saline's fine—she's only going to get stronger, and I am hungry, which makes me weaker...
He let out a whine before smiling gleefully. It seemed as if the stress and worry left him entirely. Honestly, I felt the tension leaving me as well.
HILROY
We should get a bite—I am a bit famished.
MANTIS
Yes.
He whispered to himself childishly.
HILROY
Corotho's?
I asked, and they nodded.
PANUKA
Of course.
MANTIS
Roasted ducks—roasted ducks—
He started to sing as we parted ways from the clerical.
PANUKA
I hope they're out.
MANTIS
Stop. Saying. Stuff like that—Roasted ducks—roasted ducks—
We have never felt something like this before. I was sure of it. There was no sense of danger during our time questing in Reh Bekah of Sainte June. But now, I was positive we all understood what we were getting into, and this was something we yearned for—the ability to recover after facing peril.
Turning off the main road towards Corotho's Eatery, we bumped into Mokoto and three members of his party.
MOKOTO
Hey-ya lot!
He laughed as he stepped before us, focusing entirely on Mantis. Despite his utter beating from Cain, he only sported a few bandages around his neck, face, and fingers.
MOKOTO
Ya'll nearly saw me croaked there, didn't ya.
He laughed, his fellow members shaking their heads at his lack of danger.
MOKOTO
But anyway,
He held out a hand, and Mantis hesitated before eventually shaking.
MOKOTO
News spreads quickly, ya. Heard ya run in with vampires?
He eyed Mantis, waiting for a confirmation.
MANTIS
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
We did.
MOKOTO
And ya didn't kill 'em, right?
I shook my head,
HILROY
No, are you going to mock us for—
Mokoto hands sprung up in defense,
MOKOTO
No—
He sang with a sly smirk, his eyes still on Mantis.
MOKOTO
Actually, the opposite, ya survived. Quite lucky, I'd say. Never know how strong a vamp can be. Some can ruin a city, or some are as weak as the next gent in this village. But,
He paused gleefully with a broad, treacherous grin.
MOKOTO
Ya didn't kill it. Leaving it for good ol' Mokoto to save the day?
He laughed.
HILROY
You seem confident. Have a healer on your team?
My question struck a nerve of utter disgust as he scrunched his face heavily,
MOKOTO
A healer? No.
PARTY MEMBER
We pick our fights carefully.
PARTY MEMBER II
Or we flee.
They chuckled while Mokoto lifted a chin at Mantis.
MOKOTO
Don't see a healer in ya party.
PANUKA
But why would you—
MOKOTO
Was I talking to you!
He shouted without looking in her direction.
HILROY
You're from the Earth Kingdom, aren't you?
He finally laid eyes on me and smiled,
MOKOTO
Obvious in a city like this, ain't it?
HILROY
As she was saying, why? After, I am sure you heard of, what happened to Saline.
He nodded and shrugged carelessly.
MOKOTO
Oh, we heard. And if that cow can survive it, we know damned well we'll be alright. Fucking aye, I think ya party and that wench's would've done well. Might have lost a few, but made a name for ya self.
He focused back over at Mantis,
MOKOTO
Isn't that why we became adventurers? To make a point? To prove something? To skip being a dog of our respective nations and seek glory in our own right? Right!?
He laughed triumphally, eyes locked on Mantis as if Panuka or I wasn't even present. But he had a point, as the echoing bellows of my father pressuring me to join the army rang in the back of my mind.
MOKOTO
Yea,
He sang with a nod.
MOKOTO
We all have something to prove. Biggs, was it?
He gestured at me dismissively,
MOKOTO
The quest giver?
I nodded, wondering if he'd face me, but he continued without pause,
MOKOTO
We'll be looking out for his quests.
He was about to step off but stopped,
MOKOTO
Oh, and since ya actions gave me a bit of insight, here's a tip. Visit the guild office. A new bounty—worthy of anyone who wants to make a name for themselves.
He then stepped around us, leaving us to ponder what could be at the guild office.
PANUKA
What a bastard.
MANTIS
The bounty could be a ruse. A bait just to get adventurers to come visit this city?
I shrugged and led on,
HILROY
We can think about everything once we finally get something to eat.
*****
As we sat in Corotho's Eatery to eat, my mind left me, and I wondered why I became an adventurer.
MANTIS
Hey,
Mantis dug his elbow into my side.
MANTIS
I know that look. What you're so down about.
I looked at him solemnly, roasted duck kebabs in both hands. I eventually shook my head,
HILROY
Nothing.
Mantis dug his elbow into my side again,
MANTIS
You sure?
I laughed, pushing away from his prodding.
HILROY
Yes, I'm sure.
I was surely lying. I did my best to keep my thoughts off my face as I thought of my stupendous family in Reh Bekah of Sante June. Do they even think about me? How could they? With four brothers, four sisters, a dozen half-siblings, and more cousins than I can count, our family was known for our fertility.
Not only our fertility but also our rank in the Farmer's Guild. I paid no real attention to our status or the number of members within the Guild. I was just a number, another body to be sent off to work the farms and compete against my family and other guild members.
HILROY
You all ready?
I asked, forcing myself back into reality. Panuka materialized puries to pay for our meal, and we were on our way to the guild office. I did my best to join their random guesses at what could be at the guild office while I wondered if I had made the right decision to leave my family.
I remember it like it was yesterday. As I approached my father in his glass room study, an unusual fear crept up and down my body. His study hung meters into the air and oversaw the magnificent city below. I suddenly became afraid of my father, and my fear of heights didn't help. I stuttered horribly, attempting to get the words out about wanting to be an adventurer.
Surprisingly, he was calm but urged me to join the royal army. After I refused, he insulted my decision—respectively—calling me a fool chasing stupid dreams. Still, as his son, he gave me one hundred thousand puries and removed me from the house. If I ever sought to return, I had to repay my father fivefold plus ten percent each year I had been gone.
MANTIS
Of course, it's a vampire.
Mantis agreed with Panuka as we continued to guess what the bounty could be.
HILROY
What if it's a husk.
I jested, and they both booed and laughed at my suggestion.
PANUKA
It'd be dead by now.
We turned down the road and were met with a clump of commoners and adventurers pushing and shoving each other to get a look at the bounty board that sat to the right of the entrance.
HILROY
Oh, by the gods.
I mumbled as we approached the crowd.
HILROY
They had to put it outside?
GUARDS
Back off!
They yelled, attempting to control the crowd.
CROWD
Who is this monster?
Why is she living so close to us?
What is the Chief doing about this?
Why hasn't Cain captured her?
Panuka scoffed,
PANUKA
A lady?
MANTIS
A dangerous lady.
He added while I craned over the crowd but couldn't even see the miniature board from where we stood.
GUARDS
We are printing more! Stand back!
They shoved back at the crowd.
CROWD
She's just a kid?
She's beautiful!
This is fake! A ruse!
Panuka grabbed my arm and pointed leftward,
PANUKA
Over here!
Panuka led us around the crowd where familiar faces were pushing their way out: apprentices from Biggs and Wedge's group. We ignored their reactions in our rush and forced our way through the gap they created.
We nearly crashed into one of the guards protecting the bounty board that had only two posters pinned upon it.
GUARD
Back up you!
He barked at us but then squinted at Mantis,
GUARD
Wait, I know you,
Mantis perked up as the guard continued,
GUARD
The honorable one.
He chuckled and then glanced back at his fellow guards.
GUARD
We have a few adventurers here,
He called out to them before letting us through. At the same time, another group of adventurers from our right was allowed to glance at the poster, but they ignored us, so we ignored them as we stood before the bounty board.
I glanced at the still image of Drake's wanted poster and saw that he was priced at a measly three thousand puries. I then focused on a moving portrait of a beautiful young lady whose skin pattern resembled a skeleton—black skin with a white skeletal design upon her face and down her body.
She had thick red hair—dirty and shaggy—nearly matching the bloodstained rags she wore. She sat at a desk and rested her head on her hand. Her red eyes in the center of her black sclera stared down at the table, seemingly lost in a daydream, while her right hand wrote frantically.
My jaw unhinged at the site of her bounty,
HILROY & MANTIS & PANUKA
Seven hundred million puries!?
We all exclaimed in unison. The leader of the other adventurers let out a hysterical laugh—his accent—he was from the Earth Kingdom.
PARTY LEADER
We found our mark, gents!
He voiced proudly before leading his party back through the crowds.
GUARD
Seen enough?
A guard asked us, and I nodded,
HILROY
Any copies of this?
GUARD
Not yet,
He shook his head, his medium helm wiggling in an unfitted manner.
GUARD
Soon, later this evening, I'll say.
I nodded, and the visible pale blue lips of the guard parted in a smile,
GUARD
Think you can slay this thing?
He asked playfully, and Panuka and Mantis' stares reamed the back of my head because I froze to think about it.
I had a wealthy family, but my future wasn't promised even if I had stayed, obeyed, and competed without rest against my own brothers and sisters. I couldn't leave it to that. If I wanted to fight something, I would fight it with my life on the line and prove that I am not just a number. I will earn my place among the plains, and so I shrugged and faced my two party members,
HILROY
Sure. Why not?