Chapter 15: Sus
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POV: Astaros
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In the morning I got up and put the book which I had left on my dresser in the damage core. I tapped Val on the head and he got up with a start. He looked up at me, instantly understanding my intentions and leaping into my shadow. I then deployed my armor and headed downstairs to grab some breakfast before heading to the pin and needle.
I ran down the steps and arrived on the first floor. Dryis looked up at me and then looked down, either uninterested or ignoring me. I sighed and sat down at one of the tables and picked up a wooden tablet. I scanned it up and down before asking for the eggs and bacon which Dryis then relayed to the kitchen.
As I sat, Fillia came down, looked at me and nearly went upstairs. I gave her a friendly wave and pointed to the seat in front of me before she could turn around. She sighed and came down. Am I good with the ladies or am I not? I can't tell anymore.
Fillia came and sat down in front of me.
"What do you want buckethead." {Fillia}
"Oh so we're doing pet names now? Can I call you Fil?" {Astaros}
"I will kick you in the balls if you even think about it." {Fillia}
I looked at her and tilted my head. Was something wrong?
"Oi you're a little more aggressive today everything alright?"
"Nothing is wrong, you're just annoying." {Fillia}
"I am certainly not but lets ignore that for now are you seriously okay or should I just let this go" {Astaros}
"Let it go" {Fillia}
"Alright but if you really want I can help you. I won't hold it against you later." {Astaros}
She looked at me and she seemed to be thinking about actually saying something but she then decided against it.
"Alright I'll let it go but I won't hesitate to intervene even if you don't ask." {Astaros}
"Putting that aside I have another job for you." {Astaros}
She began to glare daggers at me remembering how many people had begun snooping around the hollow and the amount of people who asked about their relationship.
'It was a nuisance to me, Dryis and all the other staff. The pay from the last job was more than enough for him to live in luxury anyways. So what was he really going for right now. He even has a similar skill set besides my tracking abilities.' {Fillia}
The curiosity was enough for her to peer down the rabbit hole.
"What do you want from me?" {Fillia}
I smiled at the fact she was actually going to listen and not just turn me down.
"I want someone to get me guild requests and help me with my requests. I am not very well acquainted with the area and need a guide. To be honest I thought of asking others but you are one of the few people I know and you seem pretty knowledgeable." {Astaros}
"So you want a gopher to dodge the paparazzi and the guild." {Fillia}
She sighed. I looked at her but she seemed reluctant. As I was about to say more, a thin boy in a butler's outfit came up to the table. In his hand was a plate of bread and cheese with bacon, squared veggies that looked like carrots and eggs arranged around it which he placed in front of me.
That didn't matter to me though. He seemed younger than Fillia yet he acted extremely elegant. He also seemed to have the same mana around him as Fillia. It was a transformation charm.
"Hey Fillia is that kiddie related to you" {Astaros}
I looked at him and noticed an earring that exuded energy.
"No, why?" {Fillia}
She now seemed nervous. Something isn't right.
"Hey, isn't that the same transformation charm as you?" {Astaros}
The boy's eyes widened and pulled out a knife before stabbing it towards me.
"NO YOU FOOL NIKKY!!" {Fillia}
I put up my hand and the knife shattered against the metallic palm instead of stabbing into my collar. I then grabbed him by the face and lifted him up as I stood.
He clawed at my vanguard and uttered muffled threats as he attempted to get me to let him down. It was early so barely anyone was on the ground floor but those who were also seemed to have the same charms. They all stood and pulled out various weapons.
I was about to throw him and start the party when the voice of Dryis rang out through the room.
"I ORDER YOU ALL TO STAND DOWN NOW." {Dryis}
"Astaros, please put him down, he was just startled." {Fillia}
I looked at her. She was genuinely concerned for the boy. I then looked at Dryis who had taken a longsword off the wall and was now in an offensive stance. Then she came out. A woman with white hair, dark skin and piercing blue eyes. Her chest was nothing short of voluptuous which was accentuated by the fact she wore an apron and a kama like me and large baggy pants. Her torso was covered by a white slit collar tunic.
The more interesting thing was that she seemed to be a lesser version of me. She must be a magic combatant or less. The me before gaining my armor may have lost to this person. I shifted attention back to Fillia as even her arrival didn't mean much to me in the long run.
"No, I am not putting him down. He tried to stab me because of a simple remark. In fact" {Astaros}
I turned to the wall.
*KRAK* *BLAM*
I slammed him into the wall putting his head through it. I then began charging a light beam and pointing it at him.
"I should vaporize him right now." {Astaros}
I looked around and saw Dryis was near in tears while the rest of the room had re-drawn their weapons. Fillia was struggling to come up for a reason to spare him as he really had truly done as I said. The tension seemed to be palpable as everyone quieted down. But this wasn't how I wanted my relationship with the Hollow to be like. I sighed, stopped charging the beam and pulled him out of the wall.
I then tossed a gold coin at Dryis who rushed over to the kid.
"I'll pay for the wall. Just stop crying." {Astaros}
Fillia sank into her chair as though the weight of the world had been lifted off her shoulders. It was obvious something was up here and Dryis was it's epicentre. But I just didn't care enough at the moment to kill someone over it.
I sat down and shifted up my visor to eat as everyone else began to calm down and sit.
Fillia sat and looked down at the table. It was obvious I wasn't going to get an answer from her soon. The bacon and eggs were good though. Which reminded me, though I had cooked some of the local wildlife, I had no real knowledge of the veggies and spices of this world. I need to go to the library for that too. It was quiet for a moment before someone spoke up.
"Is it good?" {Chef}
I looked at the tall woman incredulously. Could she not read the damn room?
"I came out to see if you liked it and saw you were nearly murdered. Are you alright?" {Chef}
She was serious. I began to laugh, startling the entire room, with some already reaching for their weapons again. After a good minute I calmed down and was able to talk.
"Haha yeah I am fine and sorry for laughing at your question. The food is great too." {Astaros}
I looked at her and took off my helmet flashing her a smile.
"The names Astaros, what's yours?"
"Katia" {Katia}
"Nice to meet you" {Astaros}
"Likewise" {Katia}
The entire atmosphere had lightened though some were still tense, especially Dryis who was watching a man carry the waiter boy upstairs. Katia sat down and began to stare at me with either a good poker face or an entirely neutral expression. Dryis had calmed down and was now seated behind the desk trying her best to not look at me out of shame while Fillia avoided my gaze entirely.
I finished up my meal, stood and put back on my helm.
"It was nice to meet you Katia and I hope to eat more of your cooking in the future." {Astaros}
She looked at me tilting her head and furrowing her snow white eyebrows.
"You should keep the helmet off. You look better that way." {Katia}
I looked at her surprised by her statement and how it was said with the most neutral expression possible. Fillia began to steam at the head slightly while turning away and Dryis was turning red as she now seemed to be boring a hole in the desk with her eyes.
"Thanks but I like the helmet on better as it's cooler" {Astaros}
"Alright it's up to you anyways, but the normal people should be waking up soon so I have to go. But I want to talk to you again later." {Katia}
She then got up and left to go to the kitchen. Leaving me to wonder how someone is even that blunt.
I chuckled slightly before turning to leave.
"I ain't gonna ask what is going on around here with you beastmen and whatever Dryis is, but know that I am living here right now, so if every perception I make is gonna be a problem I suggest you start voicing your concerns now." {Astaros}
No one spoke so I continued towards the doors. As I opened the door to the beautiful morning sun, Fillia spoke up.
"I'll do it. I'll take the job."
I smiled inside my helmet as things had become interesting.
"Meet me at the gate with a reasonable quest in two hours. We'll work things out from there." {Astaros}
I then left to go to the Pin and Needle.
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POV: Fillia
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After he left there was a collective sigh. I had decided to join him out of fear for the current situation. Recently rumors had been circulating that the prince of the Beast Kingdom may have found Dryis's location. This put everyone on edge and led to the blunder with Astaros.
'Luckily Katia's bluntness saved the day.' {Fillia}
If Astaros had decided to burn up the waiter there would have been nothing any of us could do. Not even Katia could match him in pure physical strength and she was a former royal guard and her class was magic combatant. Not to mention he probably had several abilities that could wipe out the lot of us. I had to make sure he didn't decide to start attacking us in the open or revealing us as beastmen.
'Haaaah what a troublesome person I brought back from that forest' {Fillia}
Dryis walked over and sat down.
"Not even past midday and I already want to drink my problems away" {Dryis}
"Now, now, that isn't very befitting of a royal elven princess even if you're not the only one."
She laughed, a beautiful melodious sound to my ears. Then she looked down and sighed.
"I nearly saw someone die today, Fillia. And there was nothing I could do. All I could do was hope in my heart he would just drop Nikky. Nikky had just been trying to protect me and he nearly died because of that." {Dryis}
She slumped against the table and began swirling her finger across the varnished surface.
"I wish I could be strong enough to help you all." {Dryis}
I looked at the saddened person before me and my heart began to argue whether it should swell in pride at her amount of care for her subordinates or scold her for having foolish thoughts.
I instead chose neither.
"The fact that you care is more than enough for me, your highness. As long as you smile I can continue to stand in front of you and fight without worry." {FIllia
I then got up and left Dryis with my consolation, hoping to end it there and heading off to the guild. However I would not know till much later that my words would set a new path for her into place. Quietly Dryis whispered to herself thinking of a way to achieve her goal.
"I can't smile watching you bleed and die before me just because I'm a princess." {Dryis}
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