"Are you okay?"
A beautiful, chilling voice. The female warrior blinked as she stared at the girl that saved them. She reached out in response. She was still trying to comprehend what had happened. In a flash, the wolves ran away from the girl, with that weird sword stance that she had never seen before.
The girl's hair glowed in the evening sun. She waited and tilted her head as her hand never moved away. The female warrior diverted her eyes away, somewhat flustered. Reaching her hand out, the girl's hand was so soft and tender.
It was like meeting an angel.
"Here..."
The angel-like girl closed her eyes as she tightened her grip. Magical energy poured into the female warrior, her energy recovering quickly. The smaller wound healed nicely but the nasty cuts was still bleeding.
"I healed your wounds, but the rest needs some time to heal."
A smile that could melt hearts.
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Luciel led the way after the female warrior told her the direction. The family of nobles walked behind the female warrior, occasionally grumbling and complaining about their situation. The head of the family was especially infuriated.
"Alica!"
"Yes, master Borgen?"
The female warrior sighed and turned to face her employer. What a day.
"I am not going to pay for that girl's share, you hear me?"
"Y-Yes, of course." Alica nodded. "What a pain...this man should be happy that he lived!"
A man with considerable wealth and sporting a large belly, Borgen was a man that held considerable influence as a merchant and a dealer in the black market. It was because of him that his family had a place in the royal capital. He dealt in murder, slavery, whatever one can think of to earn as much profit as possible.
This trip was no exception. He hired the two adventurers because of their low fees. And the leader had a good reputation that makes it even better. Yet in that battle, it was the man that ran away first as soon as the group of wolves appeared.
How frustrating for Borgen. He will have to demand their pay to be cut because of their incompetence.
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The female warrior was called Alica. Sporting a decent height for a girl at her age, she became an adventurer when she had to find a way to earn money for her family. She had jet black hair, just reaching her shoulders and it stayed that way ever since she started adventuring. Her leather attire offered proper protection, that was fitting as her role as a scout and warrior in the team. One could almost pass her off as a guy, if they didn't look at her in the face.
Alica could still feel her heart pounding hard. This was the first time that she risked her life like this. The wolves were especially strong compared to the times she was out hunting for their pelts. She could tell that the wolves were trained, the way the group attacked was abnormal.
If it wasn’t for the girl, she would have been killed like how her partner met his end. She had feelings of guilt and anger mixed. Gordon was a more experienced adventure and his plan to separate the wolves away from them failed, if it wasn’t for the panicked screams.
She should have been the decoy.
She blamed herself.
Then she felt someone holding her hand.
The girl. She somehow got near her without any sound. A smile, that was befitting of an angel. Alice could only smile back.
Is it this really okay, Alica muttered deep in her heart.
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Luciel could sense the negative feelings build up in the warrior. It wasn’t much but she learnt from her mother of how humans comfort each other. She could piece one and one together, deducing that the man that appeared before her was trying to led the wolves away but he somehow failed.
At least she did something good. Luciel was happy that the warrior smiled back at her. It was a good sign.
“What’s your name?”
Alice blinked as her mind came to a stop. Luciel did the same thing again, tilting her head to the side.
“A-Alica, I’m a rank D adventurer.”
“Rank D?”
“Hm, I just started out recently. What about you?”
“I’m Luciel...um, I don't have a rank."
“You don't have one…you aren’t from the capital?”
"The capital?"
With her skills, Alica was expecting this girl to be someone powerful from the capital. She took out her guild card and showed it to Luciel.
“This is how people like us become adventurers. I’ll explain more when we reach town, since you have to apply for one to get in.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"Ohhh. That's quite interesting!"
"Is it?"
"Yes! Back at home, they never used something like this."
They soon reached the town of Ashford after a hour of trekking. The guards at the gate were alarmed as the girl covered in blood approached them, raising their weapons.
“Guys! Stop!”
“Alicia?”
A gruff voice rumbled as one of the guards spoke. He motioned for his partner to lower his weapon. The guard was old in age but was still well-built. He tried to gauge the bloodied girl but there was this nagging feeling biting at him.
“Your friend? What happened to Gordon?”
“He…”
The two in silence, only to be broke when Luciel suddenly spoke up.
"If you mean that man, he passed away peacefully."
Luciel nodded as the two looked at her. Alica and the old guard understood and didn’t carry on with the conversation. The man sighed as he took Alica's card and looked at the group in the back. He nodded, and whispered to Alica.
"Be careful of that noble, Alica. Get your money and make sure you get out of sight."
"Hmm, I know."
"Open the gates!"
The man yelled and from inside, the sounds of chains began to move and the wooden gate moved apart, allowing the group in. The old guard ordered his subordinates out, escorting the noble man and his family back to the mansion far inside the town.
"Gimme a moment, eh? I'll go to the adventurer's guild with you two."
Alica could breathe easily now as they were the only ones left. Luciel was looking around, her eyes sparkles with curiosity. The old man joined them after awhile and they headed on to the adventurer's guild.
"Sorry for worrying you, Master."
"Hahaha, you really did." The old man laughed. "I was about to send a squad out, but I'm glad you are back."
Then the old man gestured towards to Luciel.
"And missy, you are?"
"I'm Luciel." She smiled at the old man and Alica.
"She's the one who saved me and the rest, Master."
"Ohh?"
The old man nodded, taking note of the blood all over her clothes. With him coming along, at least people won't be too alarmed with a bloodied girl walking around town. Still, is it even possible for a girl so thin to do something so incredible? It was unheard of.
They soon reached the guild, only the lights on the first floor were still lit.
The old man entered first, following by Alica and Luciel. A young catgirl stood at the counter, bowing as she saw the old man. Though she looks like a normal human, her ears and tail easily separated her from the humans. Her hair was blonde and short, looking like the art as a receptionist.
She immediately jumped to full alert as her ears and tail stands up with the sight of the Luciel. The old man shook his head.
"It's okay Nyran, that bloodied girl is a friend."
"I-If you say so, Master nya."
Alica went over to the counter, and started recounting the whole incident to the catgirl. While they were taking, Luciel was interested in those cat ears. It twitched every few seconds and she was curious to find out, to touch it... Before they knew it, Luciel was climbing up on the counter and trying to touch those fluffy ears.
Nyran, who tried her hardest to be professional, almost gave in the carnal pleasure of being rubbed in the ears.
Alica bear hugged Luciel, forcing her to behave as she continued her story. It took awhile, but finally they got to the end of the story.
"I see...very well, Alica. I shall prepare the necessary paperwork nya. Wait for a bit nya."
Nyran went into the room behind her, which Luciel assumed is an office. So far, it was okay. What she observed was the world was in a better state after all. Nyran hurried back to the counter with two cards, one that was charged with mana was Alica's, while the other one was empty and was lacking in mana.
"Luciel, place your thumb on the card nya."
Luciel did as she was told and felt a slight prick on her thumb. A moment later, the card was plated and ready to be used.
"There you go nya!"
Luciel took the card and checked through the contents -
>>>> Luciel <<<<
Rank E Adventurer
Female
Warrior
No Affiliation
<<<<<<<<<< >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
"Hmm, why does it say that I'm a warrior?"
Tilting her head, Luciel asked Alica and Nyran.
"Oh, because Alica mentioned of your sword. I just assumed you were a warrior nya. Lemme check your status...nya?"
"What is it?" Alica watched as Nyran increasingly became more flustered.
"Nyaaa?! I can't see her status."
The old man who was falling asleep suddenly woke up as Alica shook him to hell.
"Whoooaa, what's wrong?"
"Master, we can't see Luciel's status..."
"Nyaa, it's impossible! The guild system is able to check with every single person, except for the royalty nya!"
Luciel only smiled as the trio looked at her. Suspicions were written all over their faces. They sighed in unison. The mysterious girl's mystery is piling up by the minute.
"Haaaa, well, let's save it for tomorrow." The old man got up and started stretching. "It's already late now."
"Luciel, do you have any plans nya?"
She shook her head.
"Then how about sharing my room?"
"Alica?"
"Well...why not?" The old man yawned. "Good night girls. Be careful now."
The old man left the guild, followed by Alica and Luciel. Nyran followed them to the door, saying goodbye to the girls.
"I'll see you two tomorrow, nya."
"Good night Nyran."
"Good night!"
Nyran returned into the guild. Alica took Luciel by the hand and headed towards to the inn she was staying at. At this time, the moon was already out, and people were all heading back home.
"Hmm, we should get you some new clothes tomorrow."
"I don't have any money."
"Oh, it's okay, just take it as my way of thanking you."
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Arriving at the inn, the grandma at the counter almost had a heart attack when she saw the bloody girl.
At least Luciel received a change of clothing from the grandma after that shock. A simple red dress that was commonly wore by the locals. It belonged to her daughter, which looks like it fit nicely with Luciel's build. Luciel thanked the old lady as a pile of dresses were given to her.
"Alisa, dear, bring me that bloody dress in the morning."
"Okay, Obaa."
"Obaa?"
Alisa chuckled.
"Well, we call her that because her name was too long. So we just shorten it to Obaa."
Inside her room, it was bare except for the essentials. There was just two beds with a closet in one corner with a table and some chairs in the middle of the room. The other end was taken up by Alica and Gordon's belongings.
Alica went over to where partner's belongings were. Luciel watched over her friend, as the tears finally escaped after holding it in. Luciel waited for Alica to calm down and passed her a cup of water as she sat down at the table with her.
"Thank you, Luciel."
"I'm glad to help."
"Nono, I mean, really, I really want to thank you."
Luciel sat there in silence as Alica gathered her thoughts.
"Would you...would you join my party? I mean, before you leave town..."
"Okay, I don’t mind."
"Huh?"
"Yeah, I don't mind. I won't be staying too long, but we can help each other for the time being."
"Unn!"
Alica grabbed Luciel and hugged. Her sobs of thanks grew softer as Luciel patted her on the head and back.
It was a first for the angel, for someone to rely on her so much.