After everyone reunited, Raphael suggested a change in location. To Lilithra’s dismay, he also offered to pay for an all-you-can-eat buffet with the earnings he had made betting on her fight; that meant she wasn’t going to enjoy her uncle’s cooking that night. It was truly a shame.
They headed to an expensive-looking restaurant, and booked one of the most luxurious private rooms. It seemed that the master of The Chalice had won big! The place itself exuded a ‘wealthy’ vibe, making Selorien, Ascalon, and Lilithra feel a bit out of place, though also somewhat excited.
There were soothing, faint lights that helped relax their weary eyes, evenly spaced through the neatly decorated walls that showed a repeating pattern of red and black tiles. A few abstract paintings adorned some spots, creating a well-balanced atmosphere and leaving little wasted space.
They walked on a fluffy red carpet, and took seats on a soft, U-shaped leather sofa that surrounded a large round table. It was incredibly comfy, something Lilithra and Selorien were especially thankful for. They both managed to sit at the center, with Ascalon to the right of the elf, Marygold beside him, and Raphael sitting on the opposite corner next to Lilithra.
Lilithra was a bit disappointed, but was too tired to even think. She sank into the sofa comfortably and sighed deeply, resting with her eyes half-closed while awaiting the food. After Raphael ordered their banquet, he focused his gaze on Selorien.
“Alright, what got that frown on your face? I know it wasn’t because you gave up your fight.” Asked the gentleman, caring concern filling his voice, though his face reflected a serious look. He had come to know the elf very well in these past few years.
Selorien himself had been sporting a pissed-off look throughout the way, and wasn’t showing any signs of his mood improving. He shot a sharp stare at Raphael, and sighed in exasperation.
“Well, it’s not really about my fight, but it does have to do with it!” His words were coated with irritation, and Raphael raised an eyebrow in suspicion. Ascalon watched silently from the side, curiosity guiding his gaze.
“Lucio set us up… or, well, something like that.” Added Selorien, putting both elbows on the table and resting his chin on his fists. “Bottom line is, he’s a deluded asshole.” He huffed, before recounting what had transpired in the short span after the fights and before they had all reunited.
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Right after receiving their prizes, the Casanova group advanced toward their designated room, where they would probably make plans for celebration or simply disband. Lucio led the way while humming to himself, clearly pleased about the Guild war’s outcome, yet Selorien couldn’t help but stare at him with suspicion.
Once they arrived, the Guildmaster turned around and opened his arms wide in an exaggerated posture, addressing his subordinates.
“Once again, good job, my lovelies! I hope you enjoy your prizes, and get ready for a lot of attention from now on! Especially, unwanted attention, heehee~.” He laughed mischievously, resting his right cheek on his hands. Richard rolled his eyes, and Lucretia nodded in acknowledgment.
“But great things are coming! Can’t wait until you see what I’ve got in store for the Guild going forward!” Lucio chuckled with confidence, spinning around and finally pointing to the exit.
“For now, though, let’s go celebrate!” As he concluded his shenanigans, Selorien grabbed his arm, and Lucio slowly turned around to meet the elf’s annoyed stare.
He sighed dramatically, and stood in front of Selorien, carefully prying the elf’s hand around away from his arm. “Alright, what is it, Selly?” Lucio asked, showing a warm smile. The rest of the group perked up with intrigue, as they were aware of Selorien’s behavior—especially his closest friend.
“Tell me the truth, Guildmaster: did you have a hand in the matchups selections?” Lucio’s smile didn’t falter, but his eyes narrowed as he pondered.
After a brief moment, he chuckled and moved his right hand in the air in a waving motion, as if to disparage the elf’s accusation.
“Selly, oh, Selly, whatever gave you that idea? You know The Colosseum’s staff handles all that!” He shrugged, shaking his head at the elf. But Selorien didn’t relent.
“Cut the bullshit! I know, it was my grandfather, wasn’t it?” At his words, Lucio’s eyes flinched, his facade breaking momentarily. The Guildmaster sighed once again, this time with resignation, and cleared his throat as his brown eyes dug deep into Selorien’s stare.
“You’re not going to let this go, are you? Fiiiine, we had a bit of an agreement, but just a teeny bit! Though the funds I managed to squeeze weren’t tiny at all!” Lucio exclaimed while giggling, as if the matter wasn’t anything more than a joke.
Selorien’s cheeks reddened with anger. At this point, Lilithra looked confused, while Richard and Lucretia were eyeing Lucio with displeased looks. Seeing the atmosphere turn sour, Lucio tried to appease them.
“Come on, everyone! Money aside, you could say it was just a little test for the newbies! A last trial, so to say! I was confident in you both!” He spoke looking at Lilithra and Selorien. ”But if you lost, well, it didn’t matter! BUT! You won! You did it! You shone bright on the stage!” He rambled on and on as everyone’s discomfort ramped up.
“You really surprised me! That’s no easy feat! I would dare say it was the bestest outcome, eh? In the end, no harm was done to us! It was a win-win situation!” Lucio concluded, clearly proud of himself. He really didn’t see anything wrong with what he was saying.
Selorien trembled in place, his anger welling up as he recalled the matches. He didn’t care as much for his own fight, but what about Lilithra? What if she hadn’t improved as much, and had to face Rosco at an even greater disadvantage? She could’ve died, yet Lucio was acting so carefree about it.
But, in the end, it wasn’t solely the Guildmaster’s fault, as other hands were at play; one of them, his grandfather’s… and he knew that Lilithra’s death would please the stubborn, old elf, as morbid as that sounded. Selorien took a big breath, trying to control himself, which took the utmost effort from his part.
“Really? No harm done, huh? It didn’t matter at all if we won or lost; it was all a charade! But of course, there were real stakes for us, none for you!” Selorien shouted in frustration, wondering what was going through Lucio’s head.
What had happened with the anger Lucio had shown just a few days ago? Had he simply feigned being offended by the Flaming Fists, the night they messed with Lilithra? Was the whole Guild war orchestrated with ulterior motives? An act for his own amusement?
Hell, Selorien didn’t even need to go so far back to question the Guildmaster’s actions. What about his concern for Lucretia after her own fight? Had it been genuine, or fabricated? Did Lucio even care about anyone else but himself? Selorien just didn’t know what to make of the situation, as many questions raced through his head.
Lucio tilted his head as if not understanding the issues that Selorien was bringing up. Then, Richard started to head out for the exit, letting his voice out as he walked.
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“This is a new low—even for you, Lucio.” The Felinae scoffed, leaving without turning back. Lucretia approached her Guildmaster and shot him an irritated stare before turning away and following after Richard.
Lucio stood there, dumbfounded, apparently unaware of how much his actions had disappointed his Guildmembers. He turned to Lilithra, the only one that hadn’t chimed in, and saw her downcast expression.
“Lil! You understand, don’t you? You have to give the people what they want: a good show! This is all business for them bigwigs, but I did it for the Guild! I did it for you guys!” He paused, his visage showing a contorted smile as he rambled with glee.
“I’m a bit disappointed! I thought you’d see that this wasn’t all about winning—you could even look at it as a consolation prize! Imagine you’d lost and we went home empty-handed. Awful, right? You should all be thanking me for being so cunning!” He said animatedly, as if his point would be met with applause or gratitude, though he was giving off a really deluded aura.
Selorien started to understand another reason as to why he was so irritated by Lucio all the time. The Guildmaster seemed to live in his own world, surrounded by carefully fabricated notions, and acted as if he was a grand actor on a weird, huge stage. He was clearly detached from reality.
Lilithra smiled weakly, her brain struggling to catch up with the situation. All she knew was that she wanted to leave.
“Uhm, I’m not sure what you wanted to accomplish, Guildmaster… But I don’t like how you did it.” She stated with a tired voice, and Selorien realized he had more important things to focus on—like her well-being. He approached her and lent her a shoulder. Lilithra smiled faintly and accepted his help.
They left without crossing another word with Lucio, who simply remained standing in silence.
“I am in the right…” Lucio’s voice trailed off after them, but they heed no mind to his words.
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As soon as Selorien finished recounting the events, Raphael struck the table with a clenched fist, the intensity of his anger making Lilithra flinch at his side.
“That filthy rat! I knew something was up! I was so damn worried about Lil throughout her whole fight, because of that damned Rosco! And now you come and tell me it was because of that piece of crap Guildmaster of yours?!” His words reverberated through the room, which seemed to distort in response to the gentleman’s ire.
Selorien was taken aback, but Lilithra was simply too exhausted to fully grasp what was going on. Ascalon was focused on Raphael, confirming that the steward was no mere barkeeper. There was a slumbering might dwelling within, unmeasurably so.
“Calm down, Raphy; think of the kids.” It was Marygold’s calming voice that quelled the beast, as she puffed on her cigarette, uncaringly. Raphael gasped, cleared his throat, and slowly sighed. His visage softened, his face showing a concerned expression.
“Listen, I want you both out of that Guild.” Raphael declared, his tone resolute and implying no room for retort.
Lilithra’s tired mind managed to catch onto those words, and she abruptly leaned forward, putting both hands on the table for support. “But, Uncle!” She pleaded with a pained look, her eyebrows furrowing in anguish, but Raphael shook his head.
“I know being in that Guild gives you a chance to help people, but you can also do that anywhere else. I don’t want you near that lunatic anymore, please. I’ll personally talk with Ron and find you another opportunity if needed.” At these words, Lilithra sank again into the sofa, her eyes shimmering slightly. She knew Raphael had her best interests in mind.
Deep down, she wanted out. She had come to like Casanova, and was finally getting to know some of them, like the grouchy Richard, and the cool beauty Lucretia… but, despite the tiredness that tried to cloud her thinking, Lucio’s actions were starting to wound her deeply.
It was as if he had no faith in her at all, and had fixed the matchups like her loss was an inevitability. He said it was in order to benefit his Guild, but she wondered if that even included her and Selorien.
She clutched her guild scarf, and a few tears started to roll down her cheeks, dripping onto the cloth. She wasn’t that fond of Lucio in particular, but she had wanted to be part of their Guild so badly; she wanted to be of use, and help others. Maybe she too was using them in some way.
Lilithra sobbed quietly, her shoulders shaking as Raphael gently patted her back. Selorien sighed and rubbed his face in frustration, while Marygold puffed thoughtfully on her cigarette. Ascalon watched the scene with a look of pure consternation. His chest felt tight with a pain he struggled to suppress. He wanted to feel angry at Lucio, but knew that it would only pain Lilithra further, and held his emotions back.
Minutes passed, Lilithra’s sobbing being the only sound in the room. It was then that the food finally arrived. Lilithra did her best to dry her tears with the sleeves of her hoodie, and decided to not think anymore.
Her fatigue was building up, and her head was starting to pulsate with pain, so she was going to enjoy some food and go to sleep. The heavy thoughts, and the decisions she had to make, would have to wait for tomorrow.
As for the food itself, everyone silently agreed that while it wasn’t quite on par with Raphael’s cooking, it was delicious nonetheless. It was an assortment of different dishes set across the table, from seafood and fried chicken, to hamburgers and pizza—the latter being something that Ascalon had come to love unconditionally.
Little by little, the mood lightened and turned more cheerful, leaving the somber atmosphere behind. As Raphael began chatting with Selorien and Lilithra, Marygold poked Ascalon on the side.
“Hey, I heard a lot about you, you know? How’s it been, adapting to a new world?” She asked with a gentle smile, resting her head on her hand, which was held up by her elbow on the table.
Ascalon pondered for a moment, returning the smile as he gazed upon his friends. “At first, I thought it was going to be a grand ordeal. But it was not as difficult as I feared, mostly thanks to the three of them.” He responded, then looked at Marygold.
She murmured a soft ‘hmmm’, her green eyes shifting toward the others, then back to Ascalon. “I know what you mean, they’re a cute bunch—especially Lil. I’m glad you found your way to them.” She stated, her lips curling up into a mischievous smile.
Ascalon gazed at Lilithra, smiling to himself. She looked so tired, yet seemed to be enjoying herself a lot more than before. She noticed his stare, and waved at him shyly, both Selorien and Raphael chuckling at her actions. Raphael grinned as he watched Ascalon and Marygold, as she slowly inched closer toward him.
“Be careful Ascalon, the more you talk to her the more attached she becomes. Like a puppy!” He laughed nonchalantly, Selorien smirking at the joke while eating a piece of meat on a stick.
Lilithra eyed them curiously, and Marygold winked at her while playfully grabbing Ascalon’s arm. “You guys are so mean. You’ve been hogging this guy all to yourselves for so long…” Marygold stated, pouting while rubbing her cheek against Ascalon’s shoulder.
Ascalon himself was feeling conflicted, as he wasn’t really used to these kinds of situations, and didn’t know how to peel away from her without coming off as rude.
He could feel Lilithra’s intense gaze directed at him, which only added to his growing confusion, while both Selorien and Raphael giggled in amusement. The night went on peacefully, with Ascalon’s mettle being tested by Marygold’s unabashed clinging, and Lilithra feeling a mix of exhaustion, irritation, and an arrangement of other emotions.
It was late into the night when they decided they had enough of the food. Raphael paid for the bill with a huge grin, knowing he still had quite a bit of money left over, and everyone prepared to leave the still bustling restaurant.
Outside the establishment, Selorien bid goodbye to the group, and sluggishly stepped into the darkness. Ascalon knew he could take care of himself, but was also reassured by the presence of a few of his maids discreetly escorting him from a distance.
On the way to The Chalice, they left Marygold at the doors of a scandalous building, as its premises were full of scantily clad women who received them with utmost excitement. Thankfully, Marygold managed to shepherd them inside as she waved goodbye to the group.
It wasn’t long until the three of them arrived at the bar, and everyone bid each other goodnight before heading toward their respective rooms. In his warm, comfortable bed, Ascalon finally felt back at home, and reflected on the day’s events, wondering what tomorrow might bring after such a rollercoaster.
He was sure that it was going to be a tough day due to Raphael’s request. Maybe Lilithra and Selorien would have to look for another Guild, or perhaps they would stay in Casanova anyway. Maybe Lilithra would finally make her own group, though it was unlikely that she would do it so suddenly. Either way, it was still an uncertain future.
What he didn’t realize was that he had completely forgotten about his stats calculation, and he drifted into a deep slumber without a care in the world.