Weiss , Arc 2: Into the Game
Chapter 3 : Loose Ends
…
----------------------------------------
Two days have passed since the Blue Rose left the trio to their own devices, it was all peaceful in those two days. A rest all three of them deserved and needed.
The gold they have was enough to take them off the Capital's fine registry, a heavy load off their shoulders, as well as giving them a small house near one of the city gates to be their residence. It was not a mansion nor was it a slum dwelling, it was simply functional for the time being. And due to how unremarkable and bland it looks, the unpainted wooden walls , dull grey roof tiles with a short silhouette, it serves to be the perfect home for our three part-time criminals.
Even if it was a major upgrade from that abandoned inn in the slum district, some things remained. Such as the smell of sewage, unpaved dust cloud covered roads and the sea of seedy people from all walks of life crowded these said roads. Few blocks away from them, towering above their squalor neighbourhood, were opulent mansions and castles of the upper districts looking down at them with civilised condescension.
Sally leans on the blank walls of her new home, the Old Slave Wagon was tied to a hitching post. With an emotionless face, she stared at a poor sucker getting jumpy and high. It didn't take long for her to realise that he was smoking off the Blue Sky she , Weiss and Eferdora made, their crime. When the junky returned her glaze with his dilated bloodshot eyes, Sally lowered her head and tipped her hat down. The sun cast a comfortable shade under her white florist hat.
"Sally-san, I am back!"
Eferdora returned with a bag of baked potatoes, three to be exact. She also brought a bright naive smile on her face that had infected Sally's cold face. Breaking the ice. The Elf leaned right next to the Vampire on their new home, and handed her one of the
"You have to try these! They tasted so good and they only cost a few copper pieces!"
The Elf took a hearty bite on her snack with joy. In return Sally took a small chew out of hers. It was not like she needed to eat, but
"You seemed fine."
"Yeah, I uh f-feel slightly better now. No p-point feeling down all the time right?"
Sally's smile weakened slightly as she saw Eferdora shake her pouch of seasoning on the potatoes again and again, until it was covered in a layer of unbearable amount of spice. She took a huge bite of it , small tears leaked when she took a grotesque bite of the poor potato. Then again and again.
Wrinkling and crunching sounds were becoming deafening with Sally's sensitive ears, alongside the grainy sprinkles of incessant seasoning.
The Vampire watched ,her smile was gone. She blinked slightly, with her red eyes she saw the red colourful seasoning on Eferdora's snack turned blue. A sparkly , crystallised dreadful blue, and her friend bit straight into it.
Blinking again, the season turned into an appropriate dull red once more.
"Where's Weiss-san, her potato is getting cold."
"She said there was something she wanted to do at the local blacksmith."
"Oh…"
Ever since that day at the Manor, things haven't cleared up between the Vampire and the Chemist. Whatever happened there still shook the trio greatly. The blood, the near-death experiences with the Blue Rose and the Eight Fingers as well as quarrels between herself and Weiss had an everlasting impression on the amnesiac. While at the same time, Sally can't forget the rewarding brilliance glimmer of gold. She swore, the sight of it made her undead heart race for a moment.
Hence when Eferdora was distracted with her snack, a grumpy Sally kicked a rock with so much force that it catapulted itself all the way over a building across the road.
"Have you…ever thought about what's going to happen after this? Like what we should do after all this?"
"Still thinking about it, what about you? You seem like you already have something in your mind. Why not you go first?"
"I uhh also didn't think much about it, a simple life, small cottage and perhaps a restaurant inn?…"
"That's… a bit too vague, you can't be just sitting in a small cottage or inn forever."
Eferdora leaned harder against the wall, she started to rub her chin and began to ponder.
"Oh I know! I can return back to the Elf Country, find my family and repay them with what I earn, so that I can still have worth as a Remedium."
"Wait, didn't your family sell you out?"
"..."
Sally looked away immediately when hit by the Elf's
"I am sorry Eferdora."
"My Siblings were against my enslavement, my little brother pulled out a staff and my little sister aimed her bow at Father, that was the first time they ever stood in father's way. I do not wish to see family against family in our household, so I agreed. After all…I am a deadweight, when I still have some worth left to provide. Can you imagine Sally-san, an eldest sister who needs protection from her younger siblings, and an elder who can't even provide. This way, I can perhaps redeem myself."
"Then your parents, do you hate them for it?"
"No, I understand where they were coming from. They raised me, it's not their fault that I end up d-disappointing them. I was weak, and still am."
Sally said, looked down, and took a bite of her potato. Too exhausted in a debate of morality, at this point she will not question the Elf's stubbornness.
"Your turn."
Eferdora asked, Sally returned her a glance.
"I uh… I don't know. I think I will continue on this path until I regain my memories, then I will decide what I should do. And that may come sooner than we expected. I am starting to regain my strength at a rather alarming rate, like my ability to shape shift and my lance."
"That's great isn't it?"
Sally shook her head and locked eyes with the elf, worried red eyes met Eferdora's naive clueless white silvery ones.
"But here's the thing I am afraid of finding out who I actually am, how many wrongs of my past that I needed to right, it scares me."
"I believe you are a good person, Sally-san."
Sally cracked a genuine smile at Eferdora, as they both enjoyed their snack in peace together. Then a towering looming shadow cast upon her face, she turned away from the Elf and saw the last member of the trio had returned.
A rather shifty Weiss approaches the pair, her intense blue eyes darted left and right with paranoia, the human chemist's back was slightly slouched. One hand was tucked in her coat pocket , the other was carrying a sack. With her sharp vampiric eyes, Sally noticed that she was holding onto her pistol handle.
"Weiss-san, you are back!"
Weiss turned her eyes at her partners. Her face was still frozen in a stern , dark and shaky look. She walked towards the hitching post , hurried untied and got on the wagon.
"You two , get on."
Eferdora and Sally exchanged strange looks with each other.
"Please."
The Elf shrugged her shoulders and climbed to the Wagon, Sally shook her head in irritation and followed suit.
"What?!"
Sally asked, but the criminal chemist failed to answer her partner questions. Weiss's eyes continued to be shifty , her posture slightly slouched and she fidgets back and forth repeatedly.
"Seriously Ms Weiss, what the hell is going on this time?"
"Have you two been followed or approached by any Eight Finger thugs?"
"It's been all silence from those guys for a whole day. Ms Weiss, just tell me where are you bringing us before you drag us into another mess again!"
Weiss sighed , took off her glasses and rubbed her face.
"We are not going to another gang meeting or anything serious. I just don't want unwanted eyes committing plagiarism on my product."
The Wagon left the city walls, driving through the busy streets and shop houses, then paused at the gates. Eferdora passed Weiss her potato,
Sally suspiciously stared at the bag Weiss brought with her and frowned. She snatched it away from Weiss, who immediately tried to stop her, only to fail at her instinctive reflex against the faster and stronger vampire. Weiss rolled her eyes and grumbled in defeat, the Vampire opened the bag and peeked inside. She reached into the bag and pulled out two curious objects of steel and wood.
The said objects resembled a crossbow at their grips, a trigger with a ring guard and a curved wooden grip. Besides that, everything was different. Replacing the rail, bow and string was a crudely made yet intricate contraption that featured a small wheel with the flat sides facing the handle and a tube respectively. In addition, one side of the wheel had little holes drilled into them. Above the trigger was a small lever switch designed for a thumb.
Eferdora may not have recognized it but Sally had seen something similar, tucked in a holster inside Weiss's jacket was his Hi-Power. The Vampire deduced that this must be a weapon of the same kind.
"Those are for you, you two each. They are called Revolvers, the Civil War Army Colt type. Given how many loose ends we have on our plates right now, I think we should at least have concealed arms to defend ourselves when the push comes to shove. At the same time not attracting too much attention."
"Is this just like that flute weapon thing you have on you?"
"It's called a pistol. And yes, both are firearms."
"I have my lance already , something that I can pull out of thin air. Also those things are anything but "concealing"." Sally did the quotation finger gesture at Weiss. "It goes BANG BANG on the two slavers, which I remind you are the same loud BANG BANGs you used to attract them in the first place."
Sally said all this while doing finger guns all over the place to imitate her partner. This significantly irritated Weiss immediately, she adjusted her spectacles and glared at Sally.
"Listen here smartass, from my god awful experience in this god forsaken place. I learned a very important lesson, Magic is unreliable and is for privileged morons. When shit hits the fan, there is nothing more reliable than a big iron on your hip, something that is actually a product of hard work. And yea, bring a big fat shiny silver lance that almost taller than you is definitely something low profile and forgettable. Plus, what's the harm of bearing extra arms?"
Sally glared back at the American Chemist with half closed eyes of doubt, but accepted the revolver.
"Pass one to Eferdora as well."
"W-what? Weiss-san , I am not a ranger or thief, I don't have the skills to-"
"Listen , you will be fine. You know what is the best thing about firearms, unlike a bow it has a very gentle learning curve. At the same time it packs more punch than an arrow. For folks like us who were pissed on by people like Dark Hero Moron or those Adventurer Guild scumbags. This thing is the best equalizer against them, most of them."
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Weiss took a revolver away from Sally and offered it to the young Elf, the tip of the handle pointing at her.
"As much as Sally and I can look after you, it will be best if you can fend for yourself first. You have siblings you want to defend right? Best grow a backbone and begin with this."
Eferdora gulped down as she reluctantly took the revolver from Weiss. Inspecting the shiny black gunmetal and lacquered wooden handle.
"So, why are we here really Ms Weiss?"
"I am going to teach you two how to fire a gun."
The three eventually made it to an opening where no one was in sight. Weiss placed a few junks like empty bottles and rusted buckets on a boulder with a flat enough surface, then she walked back to the two new gunslingers-in-training. Passing them each a handful of ammunition and what looks like copper pins.
"So Miss Weiss, this is what firearms shoot?"
Sally held one shot of her ammunition up for inspection, it was a rolled paper cartridge with a iron ball glued as its tip and powder stuffed within. The paper seemed to be waxed and felt greasy. Another component that irked her curiosity was the shiny little pins that came with the cartridges.
"Every firearm fires different rounds. These Revolvers fire paper cartridges and percussion caps."
Weiss borrowed Eferdora's revolver for a demonstration, and spoke in a soft yet clear voice of an educator two her two students.
"Firstly, put the cartridges into a chamber each, and ram them down with the plunger like this. Then we put a percussion cap on every nipple for each chambered cartridge at this side of the wheel. Flip the safety, pull the hammer then when ready , you point, aim, then shoot."
Weiss pointed the firearm with one hand, and fired at her target. The hammer struck true at the percussion cap , with a flash of smoke and fire, the bullet shot…and missed.
Grumbling she said, "That was … a fluke , but the concept is still there. Align the front sight with the rear sight, will most likely guarantee you with a good shot. Also don't forget about gun safety rules, point only at the things you want to hit and finger off the trigger only until you make your decision to fire."
And tossed the revolver back to the Elf who almost failed to catch it with both of her hands. Weiss strolled behind the two.
Sally followed the instructions with a shrug and took a shot at this makeshift shooting gallery. She fired three shots and missed twice.
"Like I said, shoot only when you are sure. Jesus, you are a corpse without a pulse and you still screw up aligning the rear with the front." Weiss Commented.
"Well yea Miss Weiss? At least I hit something!"
The Vampire rebuked at Weiss, who grumbled and shrugged her shoulders as the Vampire holstered her revolver onto her hip.
BANG!
SHATTER!
BANG!
PANG!
Two shots were fired, one hit true and shattered a bottle. The other one ricocheted against a tin pot and hit a bucket, both targets knocked down. Weiss and Sally slowly turned to the perpetrator of this crime against inaccuracy, holding the smoking gun was Eferdora.
Slowly, Sally clapped slowly at first in awe, before it quickened as she cheered for her friend. Weiss sighed as she put her hands on hips in an akimbo.
"Your aim is good, kid."
Weiss's compliment brought a smile to Eferdora's face. The talent-less Elf finally found one as she held on to her new cherished treasure.
…
…
…
"Halt."
"Is there something wrong, officer?"
Weiss asked as their wagon was stopped by the city guards upon reaching the gates.
"Step out of your Wagons now, and proceed to the interrogation room please."
"What is going on?" Sally asked.
The whole wagon was consumed by the shade cast by the mighty stone arc above them. Both sides of the gate were surrounded by a dozen guards. The gate checkpoint has suddenly become more claustrophobic than usual. Weiss gripped the reins of her horse tighter, the pistol in her coat felt heavier, her hand itches to draw it.
"What crime are we accused of doing sir?"
"Nothing, just get off the Wagon, now."
Something definitely felt off around here. Beside their firearms , they have no drugs nor any contraband around. They were upstanding civilians of this kingdom, these guards had nothing on them. Although something about that thought doesn't comfort them one bit.
Sally frowns as she too glare at the dark faces of the guards. If she wants to , she can tear them all to shreds. Discounting the consequences of her actions. Fear began seeping into Eferdora's face as well.
In the end Weiss coldly nods, and steps off the driver's seat.
The Guards turned to her other two companions and ordered.
"You two step out as well.
Sharing eye contact with Weiss, Sally took a deep breath and gave a look at Eferdora. Reluctantly, they agreed.
The guard began to lead them into a doorway built into the wall, where the garrison barracks were. Blocking them was a cloaked man carrying a staff. He muttered a spell and waved a glowing hand on them each. This must be the metal detector equivalent of this new world.
Fortunately the security sorcerer nodded, and the trio was allowed to pass, all three armed with a six shooter for their seedy meet. Weiss can't help but wonder if push comes to shove, how much can their piece of American tradition save them?
The guard opened the door, once the trio entered the room the door behind them closed with a slam. There was only one single hanging lantern which acted as the only light source of this otherwise completely unlit room, a table of dull wood was placed at the centre and sitting on the opposite of the table, was Malmvist. The sight of the Six Arm made the trio's blood run cold.
"Listen…"
"If you think we are rats for those Adventurers, we ain't. We were simply at the wrong place, at the wrong time! You stuck long enough to hear the story I sold to them right? I hide in plain sight so that our operation … in other words your business runs smooth-"
"Heisenberg, shut up."
Malmvist stood up and reached into his pocket, at instinct Weiss found her hand on the handle of the Hi-Power while one of Sally's hand was a millisecond from summoning her lance, the other was subconsciously touching the hilt of her six shooter.
The Six Arm then presented them with a paper, easing the three for a moment.
"W-What's this?"
"A time and venue for a meeting with the boss of the Drug Department. Bring half of the upfront fee we gave you as well. Now scram."
"Half?!"
Weiss exclaimed but Malmvist snapped around and before she could even react, found her face an inch away from the tip of Malmvist's poisoned rapier.
"You dishonoured us by letting that Blue Rose live and free, you are lucky that your product has earnt the respect of our boss. Don't push your luck, Heisenberg.
The Chemist's mouth was zipped shut, all she could do right now was to glare at the Matador . She gingerly tucked the paper note into her coat. As she turned to leave. As soft grumbles can be heard as if one paid close attention, the paper was crushed under her intense grip. Although at this point, there was nothing she could do.
"Wait!"
All eyes turned to Sally, surprised. Malmvist's face darkened while Weiss gave her partner a startled look.
"I just have a small request."
"Beat it vampire, you have no leverage here, this is not the manor."
"She doesn't come with us to this meeting."
Sally pointed at Eferdora. The timid elf gave the Vampire a fearful and uncertain look.
"Last time she visited she saved that Adventurer, and we may have screwed up big time. This time, all of us want this next one to run smoothly."
"Oh?" Malmvist uttered in light amusement as his face softened.
Weiss turned to her partner with a slack jaw slowly. Even she was surprised.
"Can I inquire about something before I make a decision? Why her? This Elf is clearly a former slave and still bears a slave's cowardice. She is someone not cut out for this trade. She is worthless."
The Six Arm studied the Eferdora with predator eyes, causing her to shrunk back slightly, he nodded as he reconfirmed his thesis. Sally stood in between him and Eferdora, with a determined look on her face.
"She is a good friend, and a good trustworthy partner, that's all I needed."
"Fair point, what about you, Heisenberg? You are the real criminal out of the three of you, I am curious about your opinion."
"Me?"
"Amuse me enough and I may give you the support you desire. So tell me Heisenberg, why her?"
Her two shorter partners looked at the taller one with much anticipation, Weiss took a deep breath and answered.
"Because she does what I say, because I can trust her…"
Malmvist nodded, that burst into a short stifled giggle then started clapping. The claps echoed in the small dark claustrophobic room that was found within the enclaves of this unloving wall.
"You know, loyalty and such a bond is rare to see among people of our trade. I see no harm in granting your request, done. I will relay and vouch for the Elf's absence."
"T-Thank you Malmvist-sama, thank you very much!"
Eferdora kowtowed thrice to Six-Arm's enforcers.
"Yea, thanks."
Sally bowed slightly as well. The trio turned to leave not before the Matador gave them a parting statement.
"Although, having too much emotion is not advisable, because when the moment comes where you are forced to point your swords against each other, it may hurt a ton for your heart."
Sally and Weiss said nothing, just left gave him a glare before making a break out of this accursed room. The three passed by the bribed City Guards and headed back to the Wagon, frantically reaching for the reins and stirred the horse to a gallop. The guards gave them a dead-eyed look as the Wagon pushed forward.
There was one man among the guards who glared at them as well. He was wearing a black hooded cloak, which hid a pale face with a scar on it. He was no doubt another gang member of the Eight Fingers, but why does this one feel different than the rest?
…
…
…
An hour later…
A hand slammed down on the tavern counter, then sliding away to reveal a few coppers and silvers. The Tavern Keeper took the pieces and exchanged for a couple bottles of ale. Sally and Eferdora sat opposite of the counter, bright candle lights, music from travelling bards and laughter from this humble tavern's patrons. This place might not be high end like the Golden Pavilion , but it is more than sufficient for the pair. A small Tavern-inn in their district with two stories and a sizing bar.
"All I want to say is thank you Sally-san, for that thing back at the interrogation room earlier. I don't handle situations like that well."
"Don't sweat it, after all you snapped me back from my uh… state back at the manor, considered us even."
The two gave a smile to each other as they cheered as they clinked their bottles together, and then the two downed their bottles in one go. The foam and the golden liquid washed down their throat with a burning sensation. A bitter , yet intoxicating feel. This was the first one Sally had as far as she can remember, and the first one that Eferdora had for the first time in her life.
"T…they don't lie, h-humans really make their drinks hard…sometimes."
"You don't lie Eferdora! Another one please! For me and my friend here!"
"Miss? Aren't you a little…short, what we serve isn't any common ale my friend. Too many may be unhealthy for people of your stature."
Sally frowned at the Keeper, and put out a handful of pieces to the counter.
"Make that two."
"Woah Sally-san, I heard too many drinks are bad for you. You have this meeting with Weiss just a day later, you think it will be alright to…"
"Eferdora, forget about Weiss, forget about serious stuff. You know what I am, I can handle it. Oi Tavern keep!"
"Just…one or two right Sally?"
"Right, just one and two."
Eferdora shrugged her shoulders with uncertainty as more bottles were slammed onto the counter and the two partners chug them down with a hearty laugh. The laughter and tavern music grew louder. The Bards strum their lutes faster and the rattling of dice cups hurried.
Clink*
More empty bottles found their way to the dirty ale-stained ground of the tavern. As Sally and Eferdora struggled to sit straight as they clashed their bottles and cheered for another time.
Clink*
This time the pair changed their bottles for shot cups. The laughter and the music became deafening, while the world was starting to spin. A giggling red-faced Sally turned around to cheer with her friend, only to find her missing. Turns out the Elf was standing on a wooden round table with her revolver out, as another patron holding a couple of empty bottles, began throwing them up in the air. The Elven gunslinger drew her revolver and fanned the hammer in blurring speed, all bottles shattered into raining glasses as everyone erupted in applause and laughter.
Sally staggered to her friend, two bottles in one hand.
"Efer…*hic*…my fren! Get Roff tHere aNd HaVe aNotHer!"
She dragged Eferdora down and the two laughed and ordered two more.
Clink*
Sally found herself surrounded with Bird people, or people with Bird heads and wings. With a grunt she ordered two more drinks from a Birdman Tavern Keep, who nervously poured her and her companion another cup. Turning around, sitting at her companion's place, she was greeted with a dark elf with short blond hair and heterochromatic eyes, she was indistinguishable from a boy, a whip was holstered on her hip.
"S-Sally san…hic* You know my big-gest regret is not trying human ale! N-not that I can actually do so b-back home! Because…I have my young-ger siblings to look after. Even if I always fall *hic* short on that…" The Dark Elf said in Eferdora's voice.
"T-they aRRen't ere` aren't they? Then we shall drink more!"
"Bastard! You got glass shards in my drink!" A Birdman dressed in a tunic loomed over them.
"Oh-h yea!? T-that's…morE of An YOU probleM…hic*! And life…is too…short…tO be Angry or vengeful!"
Sally put a hand on the raging Birdman's shoulder jokingly. In response, he raised a clenching fist , reading to punch the drunken fool back to her senses … and then he locked arm with Sally and the Dark Elf, alongside a dozen other Birdman patrons, all of them formed a line and tap danced all together around the riotous Tavern.
"~May I staAND Ushaken! Amid…amidst a crashing woooorrlld!~"
Sally sang to the night sky while hanging on the balcony, until her drunken grip weaken and she fell off the second story of the tavern face to the mud that cushioned her impact.
"Please! Don't come back ever again!" The Birdman Tavern Keeper slammed the double doors of his tavern at her face, the Vampire simply got up on her feet barely, and staggered down the street with a bottle in hand.
"~Did…I hear…a thunder?! Did I h…hic*…hear you break? I can't quite remember…"
Sally bumped into a figure a head taller than her.
"~J~Just What guided m-me this way…BLEHHHHH!"
The drunken vampire ended her song by vomiting on the unfortunate passerby, she struggled to raise her head up and lock eyes with the face of her disgusted face.
It was Nabe and Momon again, this time however Nabe was wearing a funny armoured Maid outfit instead of her usual gear, and Momon was a goofy eight feet tall Skeleton with a tacky bejewelled cloak and a golden staff that screamed edge for its decor.
"Oh hi! If it isn't…insecure bully bastard and her simpin whore!"
"W…what did you say to me, mosquito?" Maid Nabe hissed.
"Come on Fraulein, this one clearly had too many, let's just walk away. We don't have time for this."
Skeleton lich king Momon put a hand on Nabe's shoulder.
"I-It's alright to feel insecure…hiding behind all them armour, money and p-power *hic*, just don't take it out on others alight? I know one sad bastard who likes to k…keep up an image, and acts as a hardass from time to time. Sure, riding alongside her sometimes is fun, profitable and she does care about her partners from time to time. Although for you... without your power and image, you are NO *hic* different from the asshole city guards and nobles who take bribes and bully others! You BOTH are an *hic* PATHETIC LOWLIFE BULLIES!"
Maid Nabe, offended by the Vampire's incoherent heckling, stomps closer and closer to her, all the while Sally just jeered "~bullY", "BuLly!" and "buLLY~" at her adversary. Who gave her an uppercut that made her see stars, sending her flying to the night sky before crashing down.
All that didn't wipe the foolish grin off her face, as Sally, now lying on the ground, started to see dark elves doing Cossack dances around her, while the sky and moon above them was still spinning like top.
Nabe loomed over the downed vampire, grabbed her by the collar and raised a fist to cave her face in. Then with a loud bang, a bullet tore through the maid's skull , the maid taken by surprise and face forever frozen in that of horror and awe, letting her body fall on the floor next to the vampire, leaking brain matter.
Weiss waltzes in with his smoking gun, kneeling down above her partner to inspect her.
"Dear god, Jesus why … ugh!"
A furious Weiss shook her head and cursed, the chemist also looked funnier than usual. While Weiss was still wearing her spectacles and her usual clothes, she is now a he! A bald middle-aged sickly man with a goatee, malding at her partner.
"Weiss? Why do you look *hic* … so old! Heh heh!"
Looking at Sally with much disappointment, with a whack, Weiss raised his pistol and knocked Sally out with the butt of his Hi-browning.
All went to black.
…
…
End
…
…