บท 34: Walking Calamities
Lily Sylvester was walking down the streets of the capital. The sun was brimming in a yellow light and a warm breeze was sweeping through the area. Her short golden hair was dancing to the breeze, her fair complexion and blue eyes shined under the sun. She was a tall yet cute adventurer from the Vultures. She wore a green hood alongside her brown dress which touched her knees, brown gloves on both hands, green boots and a quiver of arrows on her back.
An expert marksman, many wondered why she ended up joining a rag-tag group of idiots in the Vulture side of the adventurer's guild. Though she looked daring, beautiful and cunning, she was also an idiot whose decisions in life landed her in financial debt and ruin. Her parents disowned her when she went against their wishes of marrying into the rich noble family and insulting them verbally in front of hundreds.
She believed that only she knew how her life should play out, only listening to her own decisions and wishes whilst disregarding others around her. Nevertheless, she managed to find herself a group of adventurers and found some companions.
She was on her way to an Inn, the Inn was there group's meeting place whenever they were about to embark on a mission. She and her group were chosen to represent their faction, the mission was simple: infiltrate the occupied Eastern Fortress City and try to obtain any useful information before sabotaging the enemy and fleeing.
The mission was by Ignis, the Great Warrior himself. With the promised pay of 30,000 Denars, if they were successful, they'll get a share of 3,000 Denars each, much to the dismay of pretty much everyone chosen for the mission.
The original thought was that the Lion's Alliance's chosen adventurers would receive a much more generous sum compared to the chosen adventurers of Vulture's Hole. As expected, tensions are again running high between both factions.
Lily arrived at the Inn an hour past noon. The Inn was relatively lively with the tables and chair counters fully occupied. Luckily, her group had a reserved spot at the far corner of the Inn's hall. Their spot was a luxurious but cramped space with finely made cushions embedded on their benches which were attached to the wall and a hanging mini chandelier to top it all off. The table, however, was a simple wooden table 4x4 ft in length but was well-polished and glimmered turning its simplicity into luxury.
It seemed like her friends were not at the Inn yet, seeing how empty their table is. She made her way through the Inn, avoiding the few gazes fixated on her. The gazes of disgust and envy which plagued Lily and her group, they were the most hated and most loved Vulture Hole Adventurer group. Hated generally for due to how much damage they cause where ever they go and loved because of the playboy and the bitch. Love is subjective, and to them; love is when people give them what they want.
She sat down on one of the cushions, the relaxing feeling of the soft fabric under her hips made her feel easy. She removed her quiver and placed it over the table and leaned against the bench. She then scanned the room. Those gazes were retracted as soon as they met eye to eye. Her eyes were menacing once focused on, her droopy eyelids and low brows contributed to her being most misunderstood as looking down on others.
Lily was bored, she began to daydream of the future she wanted to achieve, a future where she was completely free of the shackles of her past and free to do whatever she wants, unbound by anyone and a life with her friends. After several minutes of waiting, a familiar voice snapped her back to reality.
"The early bird is always early," A crispy and deep voice came from her side, she turned to her right to greet her friend, Gord Fioknik. A chubby and average looking man, he wore a brightly-colored checkered tunic and shirt and a dark and plain leather trouser, his clothing was considered unfit by everyone considering how he stands out due to the nature of his clothes.
"Gord, your clothes..." Lily could not help but point out how ridiculous he looked. Gord walked to the opposing bench and sat, smiling all the way.
"We told you to wear some fitting clothes, just for this mission, we'll be laughed at by the enemy!"
"Aw don't be like that, this will give them a naive impression of me and be of advantage for us, besides! The mission involves faking our identities and infiltrating the enemy, my clothes are just fine."
"Well..." An awkward smile appeared on Lily's face. Gord had a point but... he was also naive, she could only imagine him actually being the first one to get caught. Just by his poor thinking naïve personality alone.
Suddenly, everyone except the two in the Inn began to scatter. A few seconds passed and the only ones left were Lily and Gord on their spot. The tables were still full of half-eaten food and half-drunken beer.
"Took them long enough," Gord remarked, the other two members of their group have arrived. Shia Zayn and Rudelf Apricotch, both the bitch and the playboy. Shia Zayn was a beautiful and seductive woman who used her womanly wiles to gain favors from men she meets, she was nicknamed the "human succubus" just because she was rumored to have slept with a hundred men. She was an assassin mage.
Rudelf, on the other hand, was a good-looking black short-haired man who was regarded as a master strategist, his only downside was how he exploited his hidden magic skill 'charm of lust' to advance being a playboy. Despite this, he could be a cunning general who'd most likely win any game of chess and lead an entire army into a dire battle and win. He was an expert swordsman said to be equal to those of the Lion's Alliance top adventurers.
"Kyaaaaaaaaa~" Shia moaned as the two walked towards Lily and Gord, stretching her arms and licking her upper lip.
"Ku~" Lily stared at the already seduced or 'lovestruck' Gord who stared at the approaching duo.
"Lily, Gord, excited I see?" Rudelf gave the two a bright smile, Lily had to admit, Rudelf was kinda handsome for her.
Shia sat down with Lily as Rudelf sat down with Gord, with their arrival, their group was complete.
"It's time to begin our meeting." Rudelf seemed a bit more serious and rational than usual.
"Oh ho… our handsome leader seems to be excited for our mission," The other three stared at Shia with weird looks on their faces, unknowing if she was seducing Rudelf or if it was just the way she speaks. She was fairly unpredictable at times and her friends up until this time have not yet really made out her actions.
'Let's just ignore it' they all thought collectively.
"Rudelf, what did the leaders of the other groups say?" Lily inquired.
"We'll be leaving in a few days, and arrive at the Fortress City by horse after four days,"
"I heard the army occupying the city was unknown? Kingdom intelligence is yet to decipher who they are." Shia heard this from the nobleman she seduced one night ago, at times her seductive and tainted ways bore more fruit.
"Rebels maybe?" Gord asked.
"Not quite, the Eastern Fortress City was considered one of the most loyal cities in the kingdom, and I doubt a rebellion could fight off the local lord there," Rudelf explained.
"I heard that Prince Avan was dead," Lily suddenly said, shocking the others.
"Why are you all shocked? Wasn't it obvious since Princess Erin was the one who ascended the throne?"
"Rumors said he was captured by the enemy,"
"Shia, those rumors were from the nobles, right?" Rudelf questioned.
Shia nodded in reply.
"Sigh... nobles are ignorant, most of them are. But I do think the prince had been long dead, the sudden deaths of pretty much the entire dynasty except Queen Erin is unsettling,"
"Eh? How is it unsettling?" Gord asked, confused and obviously dumbfounded of the power struggle in the kingdom.
"The three great noble families in Yuhin have been craving for power ever since the War with the Herlion Kingdom took the lives of most of the dynasty and royal family including two of the elder brothers of Queen Erin, with the death of Prince Avan who was the youngest prince and death of the king, Queen Erin's life is now under threat. If she dies, one of the noble families will gain power and found their own dynasty..."
"..Though. I doubt it would end peacefully if that were to happen,"
"As cunning as ever, Rudelf." Lily praised her friend, Rudelf smiled and continued on.
"Anyways, we need to discuss our strategy for this mission, Shia..."
Shia had been smoking a pipe and daydreaming, oblivious of the discussion.
Lily raised her right hand and slammed Shia's forehead with a slap, tossing her smoke pipe from her mouth. The sound was loud enough to startle the people who were outside the Inn.
"Eeeekkkkkkk!" Shia held her forehead in pain. She turned towards Lily and was terrified of her grin.
"Lis-ten." Lily spoke in a menacing manner, slightly frightening the other two. Shia could only comply and she sat upright, her forehead now red and sore.
"Rudelf, look at how Lily treats me." Shia pouted.
Rudelf sighed at the antics of the two. Gord just shrugged as this was the usual in this group.
"Okay then, we will continue this meeting by tonight. Have your gear and supplies ready by the time we depart. Dismissed."
"Aye,aye." Shia lazily answered. "So are you going somewhere this afternoon?"
"I have somewhere to be with, so I can't come with you." Rudelf rose and left the Inn.
The remaining member then looked at each other and slowly rose one by one then together, they left the Inn. The previous customers then slowly started to trickle in after they left.
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