章 16: Chapter 16
Malcer hadn't gone into depth about their relationship but maybe they had been quite close, at least Mival seemed to think that way because he truly seemed hopeful that Malcer would be returning.
Dante was sure that Malcer wouldn't be back, at least not in his lifetime but he wasn't going to tell Mival that.
“I don’t think so, at least he didn’t tell me anything of the sort.” He tried to ease the blow without keeping his hopes up.
Just as he expected, Mival’s expression fell but he hid it in the next moment, a shadow of that bright smile replacing his previous sad expression.
“So what can you do?” Mival leaned across the table slightly in his curiosity, eyeing Dante up and down like he could see right through him. “Would you like to work for me?”
Dante looked thoughtful, he hadn’t really thought of what he would do once he got here, he had merely wanted to explore but he doubted that trading was for him.
Plus, he would rather keep his distance from Mival for various reasons but the most important was that he had already imposed on the boisterous trader enough.
“I’m more suited to combat.” He said truthfully, wondering the options that Mival would come up with.
Mival looked to be expecting this answer, a hand rubbing his jaw as he thought deeply.
“I should be able to get you a position in the Royal Guard.” He glanced at Dante when he said this to gauge his reaction to his words.
Dante looked thrilled by the idea, what better way to start exploring than starting from the Royal Palace. “Will accommodation be provided?” He asked his most burdensome question, he didn’t want to impose further on Mival.
Mival looked almost saddened by this question. “Yes, of course, meals will be provided as well, although your living conditions will improve with your rank so at first it might not be the best.” He said bluntly.
Dante was unfazed by this, he had spent enough nights on the road and in villages that had to be far worse than whatever the royal palace had to offer. “Thank you for all your help and assistance.” He got up to say, bowing formally. “And thank you for the wonderful meal.”
Mival waved away his appreciation. “Sure, sure, I’ll take you to one of the heads of the Royal Guard tomorrow morning so rest up enough.”
Dante bowed one more time before making himself scarce, he was relieved that he would get to leave so early because the last thing he needed was to make ties.
It was the one mistake Malcer had made, forming attachments to humans was dangerous because eventually you had to leave or they would learn that you didn’t age, that would eventually pose a problem.
He headed straight to his room, doing a customary check of his swords before realizing that he had forgotten to ask for sheathes for Outlaw.
Closing up the box, he turned around again to hurry out in hopes that he would catch Mival before he went up to his bedroom.
He apparently didn't need to because he bumped into Mival just a hallway down from his room and it seemed like the other had been headed his way.
Mival looked shifty but for some reason Dante didn’t think that it was because he wanted to try to touch Outlaw again.
He remained quiet so that the shorter, slender man could speak first and truly hadn’t expected the words he heard.
Mival hesitantly reached into his inner robe to bring out a tightly bound package. “Say, if you run into Malcer again, give this to him.” He said quietly, handing the package to him.
Dante took it, it was the least he could do. “I’ll make sure to.” He promised earnestly.
“And don’t bother to pay me back, consider successfully giving that to Malcer my payment.” Mival said like he could sense that Dante had already planned to pay him back as soon as he earned enough money.
“And I already had sheathes made for Outlaw so go ahead and get some rest, you have a busy day ahead of you tomorrow.” Mival concluded, turning around and leaving in the direction that he had come from.
Dante just stood frozen in the middle of the brightly lit hallway, holding the package in a hand.
Instinctively, he could tell that Mival knew that something was off about him and Malcer, he also knew that Malcer wasn’t coming back.
There was nothing that he could do about that now, he could only make sure that this package got to Malcer, whatever their relationship had been was none of his business.
He turned around himself and made his way back to his bedroom, placing the package securely in his box before settling on the bed.
For a few moments, he laid wide awake on his bed wondering how the next day would go and what the Royal Palace would look like.
There was no reason thinking about it now, it was better to get as much rest as he could, besides, the bed was comfortable and he was still drained from his journey.
It didn’t take too long before he was fast asleep, fading from consciousness fluidly.
He was up with the dawn the next morning, sitting upright on the bed to collect himself . Not long after the soft knock that heralded the little lady in the blue dress, Nellie, came.
“Come in.” He invited her in hoarsely.”
Nellie bustled in, holding a big bundle of clothes. “Master Mival says to tell you that your clothes are ready and that you will both head out after breakfast…”
The last vestiges of sleep fled his eyes at Nellie’s words, so soon? How did Mival even manage to get his clothes ready in mere hours? It must have cost a considerable amount of money.
Nellie just kept rambling on. “... I’ll prepare your bath now.” She said kindly, less cautious around him when it seemed like he wouldn’t try to attack her again.
He waited for her to finish up, watching her throw open the curtains to let in the first lights of dawn in before she left after a little curtsey.
He made a move to get up, wanting to check out the clothes that had been made available for him but he didn’t get very far.
The now familiar pain slammed into his head, his father’s voice dancing at the edges of his mind, he was expecting it this time so although the pain was just as horrible, it didn’t bring him to his knees.
He also managed to ignore the pressure of his father’s orders, getting to his feet even though his father was still trying to force a mind link.
Soon his father’s voice would become nothing but an irritating voice at the back of his mind that made an appearance occasionally, he wasn’t going back till he was absolutely ready to or knowing his father, he wouldn’t be allowed to set foot out of Aria again.
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