Chương 14: The City of Clebus
(A/N: I'm back! Unless something unexpected happens or I need to focus on a school project, expect a chapter at least once a week. Though, that may vary depending on the length of the chapter I'm writing. Nonetheless, I hope you enjoy the read!)
[Citrinitas's POV]
"Hello, guards, we'd like to enter the city of yours," I said. My voice echoed with the mask I wore, catching the attention of the guards on the walls. The guards, curious, glanced at me before noticing a rather unique group of people.
Of course, there was me with Esdeath and Shalltear. Daryl was holding my hand as a child would. Though I was at the very front of the group, I could feel the jealous gazes of the duo. There was also the remaining number of villagers at the back, creating the main bulk of the group.
"Alex … is … that you?!" Said one of the guards in a rather loud voice, shocked at the appearance of one of the villagers. There were no visible wounds such as scars. Shalltear made sure of that. It was the dried-up tears along with the red eyes that shocked the guard. Pretty much every villager was like that after experiencing the Beastmen attack.
"What the hell happened?! Never mind that, OPEN THE GATES!" The guard shouted towards his colleagues behind him. We all headed into the city once the gates fully opened. Right after, a few of the guards rushed towards us, and rightfully so.
The guard that shouted the command seemed to know one of the villagers quite well. Most likely old friends or relatives considering the worry the guard expressed. "H-Hey … Jackson … It's been a while …" Said the villager named Alex.
"You looked like total shit, brother! What happened to you? Where's your wife?" It was as if the guard was shooting a machine gun. Rapid firing question after question, not letting his brother reply once. Alex only looked to the ground, clenching his fists as if trying his best not to cry.
Seeing his brother act in such an unusual way, the guard looked toward me. "Excuse me, but, do you kn-" I raised my hand, stopping the guard from speaking any further. "There was a Beastmen attack on the village not too far away from here. My group was lucky to have been in the area to save the remaining inhabitants."
It was as if time froze in place. The villagers only looked away and held their tears back from the grim memories. The facial expressions of the guards spoke for themselves. Their eyes darkened as their hands shook from fear. "B-B-B-Beastmen?! You're not kidding, right?!" One of the guards asked, his legs shaking from the information.
"I wish I was. Though my companions dealt with the Beastmen with ease, the village was damaged beyond repair. So, we headed here where things are hopefully safer and to house the villagers. At least temporarily." I replied. "This … this is urgent …" Muttered one of the guards. "No … this has to be a lie. There hasn't been a Beastmen attack here in decades …" Jackson bit the side of his lip, realising the fate that his brother's wife had faced.
"Ok, listen up, guards!" Jackson shouted, putting his sadness aside and focusing on the dangerous task ahead. His tone was now authoritarian compared to his previous soft, and worry-filled voice. He pointed to a small collection of guards, five in total.
"Take the surviving villagers to a safe place which can provide food and shelter." He said, pointing to a small collection of guards. "Yes, Captain!" The guards said with professionalism. The villagers, who were listening in keenly, heeded the words of the Captain as they followed the guards wherever they took them. Presumably to a refugee or relocation zone somewhere in the city.
"To the rest of you, go back to your stations and be on alert at all times. These people may have dealt with the Beastmen. However, it is better to be prepared for another possible attack than to be caught off guard, is that clear?!" "Yes, Captain!" The rest of the guards scurried off back to their previous positions with haste from Jackson's orders.
Oddly enough, Daryl who was still holding my hand gripped tighter, refusing to let go. I knelt to his level so we were both facing each other. "Daryl, you should follow the guards just like the others." I calmly said. "B-But, I don't wanna …" The child slightly pouted as I felt two sharp gazes in my direction.
I turned my head around to face Esdeath and Shalltear. Though there was a mask that covered my face, they could tell that I wasn't happy. So, they reverted their jealousy elsewhere. "If you're worried about not being able to see me again, you're wrong. Besides, if your father throws you to the streets, I'll have … strong words with him …" I said, seemingly brightening Daryl's face as he nodded and rushed towards the villagers, now some distance away.
The rather large collective of people quickly dispersed as only 4 people, including myself, remained. I got back up from the ground to face Jackson, the Captain of the guards who was patiently waiting. "I presume you wanted to talk to us, Captain?" Esdeath questioned, finally speaking after not saying anything since the village.
"Well … Uhm … yes, I suppose so considering the current situation …" Said the Captain, hesitating at the beginning but gaining confidence the more he spoke. 'Huh? The guy was giving out orders just a moment ago. Is he nervous? That could be the case as Beastmen did attack that village …'
I could tell Shalltear was going to say something, so I put my hand on her shoulder before she did anything rash. "Please, Báthory, let me deal with the talking," I said half-politely and half-seriously. Shalltear gave a low grumble from my response. Luckily, Jackson didn't pick up on her mumbles.
"As the guard Captain of this city, it is my responsibility to keep this place safe. And, considering that you killed a group of Beastmen near the village, I need to collect information so I can pass it on to the Mayor who can give the information to the governing body of the Dragon Kingdom." Jackson stated.
"Well, that certainly isn't an issue," I replied, somewhat relieving some stress off the Captain. "However," I took a slight pause, making the Captain tense yet again. "My companions and I would like some information in return. You see, we're adventurers from the far east that wanted to explore the western region. A map, the location of an adventurers guild and an Inn would be quite beneficial to have and/or know about, right?"
"Why of course!" Jackson said as if what I mentioned was obvious and not up for debate. "Something trivial like that is the least I can do for you three. After all, you helped save my brother from certain death. Me showing you around is the least I can do to return the favour." He continued.
"Great, now we have that sorted, let's discuss things elsewhere. I do believe it wouldn't be ideal to talk about serious matters at the gates of a city. Am I right, Captain?" I asked. "No need for titles. Please, call me Jackson." Jackson asked. "In that case, you can call me Ordan. The woman with white hair is Elsa while the one with a facemask is Báthory." I gave a simple introduction as Jackson nodded his head, agreeing to my request.
"Follow me. As you're all new to the area, I'll show you where the nearest Inn is located. We can talk on the way there." Esdeath and Shalltear kept their mouths shut throughout the whole ordeal. I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing but at least they didn't do any rash actions.
"This city and the village, what are their names? I've just been referring to the city and village as ya know, city and village." I said with simple honesty. "Ahh, I guess I haven't told you, have I?" Jackson asked. "Well, the City is called Clebus while the village is … was called Carca. Funnily enough, there's an interesting reason for such names. Are you interested in a story?" Jackson asked.
"Heh, I'm all in for stories. I want to learn more about the area." "Well, The reason for the name Clebus was because it was the last name of a powerful and respected noble that lived around 180 years ago. Carca, the village roughly 30 minutes away, was the name of Clebus's secret love interest." Jackson started. "How did that secret come out? I don't know. The answer most likely being lost to history." The Captain cleared his throat before continuing.
"Anyways, the powerful noble met and eventually fell in love with a simple peasant girl. Sadly, due to his pristine image as a noble, he couldn't outright marry her. So, to honour his love for the girl, he established a village in her name to commemorate her." He concluded.
'Huh, what a coincidence. I think it's quite poetic that Daryl's mother was sent to Carca village.
Her husband was a powerful noble that had a child with a peasant girl. In order to save face, he sends them here.' I thought to myself.
"A simple, yet sweet story. Personally, I like it." "That's what they all say …" Jackson said, trailing off at the end of his sentence. There was a brief silence between us as we walked through Clebus. Our boots clattered on the ground before I asked another question.
"I can't help but pick up on passive conversation. But, from what I've gathered from talking to the villagers, Beastmen attacks here are rare. Nay, non-existent would be a better term. Why is that? Surely the Beastmen would have sieged this place more often. With surrounding vegetation, Beastmen attacks would be hard to fend off." I asked my first question, genuinely curious about the geography of Clebus and Carca.
"Hmm?" Jackson turned his head to face us. A confused expression plastered across his face as he was slightly taken aback by what I said. "You don't know about the Wastelands within the Beastmen Nation? Well, that is understandable considering you're from the far east. Did you cross through the Great Minotaur Nation and then the unclaimed land that borders southeast of the Dragon Kingdom?"
'This … this is new. Ohh, the past self within me is dying for answers. Do tell me more, Jackson.' "No, from where we came, there were no records of such a place called the Wastelands. Our nation had an isolationist mindset. They kept to themselves and ignored outside forces after the Greed Kings destroyed most of their kingdom." I used the fictional story I told Daryl to Jackson, adding a few extra details to make the story more believable.
"And for your second question, we crossed through the unclaimed land which bordered a country called the Great Kingdom of the Pabilsag," I concluded. "Oh, that's quite interesting. You must have come really far. To my limited knowledge, that country is probably bigger than Re-Estize, the Baharuth Empire and the Theocracy combined. Though, that's probably an exaggeration as nobody bothers to venture there and confirm those claims. Ya know, with our Beastmen issue …"
Jackson continued to talk. "Anyways, back to the Wastelands. It's a small region within the Beastmen Nation that lies adjacent to the area surrounding Clebus and Carca. The reasons why the Beastmen don't just cross the Wastelands and into our territory are simple." Jackson took a slight pause to collect his breath from his constant speaking.
"Though significantly smaller than the Dolor Desert south of the Theocracy and the Elven Kingdom, it's easily twice as deadly. The area is nigh impossible to traverse. Hotter than the flames of a Dragon, walking through the Wastelands would be a death sentence. Your clothes would heat up instantly and give nasty burns when touching your skin. It doesn't help that there's no water source for miles on end. The heat would do its best to dehydrate you of any fluids within your body."
"Sure, there are magical and racial resistances to negate these troubles. However, the Wastelands are inhabited by very powerful monsters, both enemies to Humans and Beastmen. At least that's what I was told by the books and records of fallen explorers. Fighting in such harsh conditions would be a waste of resources and plain stupid."
"My, my. That area seems quite an intriguing place." I commented, thinking about the area. Such a place wasn't mentioned back in the series. "Indeed. But, I don't recommend going there with those harsh conditions. However, the Wastelands weren't always like that." Jackson off-handedly noted. "Oh really? Were the Wastelands the result of a powerful curse? A fight, perhaps?" I questioned, asking questions to fill my hunger for curiosity.
"The latter. The reason for such a place to exist was because that small region was the fighting ground for the Thirteen Heroes and the final Evil Deity known as the God Dragon. Nearly nothing is known about the battle between the two forces. Only that the group defeated the enemy and came out victorious." Replied Jackson, clearing his throat at the end of his mini-history lesson.
'If my faint memory serves me correctly, wasn't the God Dragon mentioned in the Web Novel? Furthermore, I heard from Reddit that the group lost to the God Dragon. Either my memories are wrong, or the Thirteen Heroes kept that fact a secret from society. Interesting, very interesting …'
I would have pressed the Captain for more information. Sadly, I noticed a building with the capitalized words 'INN' in my vision. The exterior of the establishment was just like any other building in the area. Only that it was taller and stood out slightly more with its different architecture.
The outside of the Inn looked like any other fantasy Inn from an anime or manga. A grey brick base with grand wooden pillars for supports. Plain, yet homely and welcoming walls of white and beige. Some shrubbery and bushes were on the outside to give a little extra detail.
"Well, here's the Inn I mentioned earlier. I would love to continue to talk to you Ordan. However, as the Captain of the city guards, I have a job to do. I must inform the Mayor about the Beastmen that attacked Carca village and go-" I stopped him from speaking.
"There is no issue with not helping me anymore, Jackson. You taking time out of your job to take my little group to this Inn along with providing information about the area has been more than enough." I said with honest and genuine praise.
"Ahh, before you say it, we will sign in with the nearby adventurers guild." That little bit of information made the Captain slightly smile. "I would do it now but seeing as it's almost evening with the setting sun, I would prefer to do such a mundane task tomorrow," I concluded
"I'll make sure to inform the guild master about what you accomplished back at Carca. Not even Crystal Tear can kill so many Beastmen with such ease. At best, the Beastmen are pushed away and sustain minimal casualties. You'll surely get a high rank from the guild once you sign up." Jackson declared.
"I'm sure you can find the adventurers guild by yourself. The building stands out from the rest in the area and isn't too far from here. There's a tavern included within the building so you can go there to have breakfast." The Captain noted. Jackson bowed his head and gave a quick farewell before walking away. Wanting to get on with things, I turned around and entered the Inn's entrance.
Esdeath and Shalltear were quick in pursuit. While not clinging to my arms like a cat, they were close enough that they might as well be. The interior of the Inn matched the exterior. It was like walking in an English tavern during the medieval periods. Minus the loud cheering of drunk men and the partying. While the lobby was empty, there was a sense of peacefulness from the absence of humans.
Directly opposite the Inn's entrance were the reception and the receptionist lady. A yellow, handheld lamp was stationed on the wooden counter, only adding to the rustic and medieval theme the building had. The receptionist, seeing us enter, gave us a warm smile and a simple wave.
"Hello, customers! My name is Sophie! Welcome to my Inn." The receptionist, now known as Sophie, greeted us with a calm yet energetic enthusiasm. The type of enthusiasm that you couldn't help but smile at even on a bad day.
Sophie was the stereotypical receptionist like in all other fantasy animes, mangas or novels. She wore long jeans and sleeves that were in the aesthetic of a pseudo-business suit. She also had light brown hair that went slightly past the shoulders and was partially braided.
"Greetings, Sophie," I said, meeting her politeness with my own. "We're adventurers if you can't tell by our outfits." I used a hand to gesture at our clothing. "Anyways, we'll be staying in Clebus for quite some time. So, we'll need a-" I was cut off by two voices to my left and right.
"A private room with two beds, please." Esdeath and Shalltear said in unison. 'Hold up, wait a minute, something ain't right.' "A … room with two beds? But … aren't there … OH!" Sophie's innocent face quickly turned to a shade of red.
'Hmph, If we acquire a bed for two, I can have Citrinitas all to myself while I cuddle my beloved all night long!' Thought Shalltear, fighting the urge to drool everywhere. 'If all goes to plan, I can make love with my darling while Shalltear is forced to watch as I passionately make babies with Citrinitas! In the end, I'll be his first wife while Shalltear is nothing!' Concluded Esdeath.
"Please ignore Elsa and Báthory. They don't know what they're talking about. It has been a rather long day for them and they do need their rest. Isn't that right?" I asked. Though the sentence did sound polite, the slight shift in tone contradicted what I said. Thankfully, Sophie didn't pick up on that, still blushing from what the duo mentioned.
'This is getting out of hand. I hoped nothing like this was going to happen while in public. They did well while I was with the villagers and the Captain. I guess nothing goes as planned, does it? I'll deal with these two once we're in our room …' I thought to myself, dismissing temporary thoughts.
"Oh please, Ordan dear," Shalltear said with an odd sweetness, hugging my arm tightly like a clingy cat. Esdeath only gave a cold growl as she copied Shalltear's action. "You're always playing hard to get. Don't worry," The ice demoness brought my arm to her breasts as her face drew closer to my ear.
Though Shalltear was smaller, thus, not being able to reach my head, she did cast [Fly]. In unison, both women whispered to where my ears were located. If not for my mask and cold resistance, I would have shivered from the chilled wind that came from their mouths. "I'll be gentle …"
If there was a world record for how red a face could get, that award would have gone to Sophie. Who was as red as Kirishima's hair from My Hero Academia. "Ladies, please calm yourselves for when we get our rooms. Now is not the appropriate time for such actions!" My tone lost its professional demeanour as what only remained was a sharp voice akin to a strict parent.
Instantly, Esdeath and Shalltear reverted back to their original positions and ceased their antics. For a split moment, I could have sworn that their hands shook with slight fear. However, they kept a neutral facial expression and pose.
'Huh, I guess putting my foot down does work at times. However, I need to act professional and polite. So, I could probably do that once in a blue moon.' I thought to myself. "Sophie," I turned my attention to the blushing receptionist.
"Please excuse the antics of my companions along with my outburst. Any secluded room within this fine establishment would be enough for us. Adventurers do like their privacy, do they not?" "Y-Y-Yes … I suppose s-so …" Sophie stuttered out. "There i-is a vacant room on the t-top floor. Big enough f-for the three of y-you." She managed to speak through her embarrassment.
"Perfect," I simply replied. From my inventory, I pulled out a small, yet loaded pouch full of gold and softly chucked the sack onto the reception desk. "I do believe that the gold within that pouch will cover our stay in this Inn. If there are any spare coins, you can keep the rest as change."
Confused and sceptical, Sophie opened the pouch filled to the brim with gold coins. "Whaaa …" The girl was speechless. Words couldn't formulate in her mouth as her hands started to shake. 'Well, I guess I was too generous with the gold.' I thought. With the financial situation in the Dragon Kingdom, giving the receptionist a pouch of gold coins was like finding water in a desert. Even with the size of the pouch, only nobles or rich merchants here could have access to such wealth.
'Oh well, no harm in giving extra gold. I can always use [Create Greater Item] and make endless gold coins.' I concluded, walking towards the stairway leading upstairs. "S-Sir, you forgo-" "Elsa, please grab the keys for our room." With a smile, Esdeath simply took the keys located in Sophie's hands. Her cold touch made the receptionist temporarily shiver.
"Your room is the furthest in the hallway and to the right!" Sophie quickly spouted out with haste. "Thanks for the directions. We'll be seeing you tomorrow when we head out to sign in with the guild. Have a good night, Sophie." I said my farewells as I walked toward the top floor of the building. Shalltear and Esdeath were quick in pursuit, not wanting to be left behind.
We quickly arrived at our room on the top floor. It was nothing extravagant by any means. Hell, even some of the poorer hotels would have looked twice as better in comparison to the room. However, considering the current situation of the Dragon Kingdom, having a room like this one was expected.
The beds were simple enough. Numbering three in total, each one was a carbon copy of the last. Wooden frames, simple mattresses and blankets. There was a mirror and some cabinets for storage along with a simple, small room for a toilet.
"Tch," Esdeath made a clicking sound with her tongue. "Of course, Humans would live in such … filthy accommodations …" She said with annoyance. "My, my, my. What have we here? A complaining Esdeath? If you hate these beds so much, no need to use them, right? Just sleep on the floor while I sleep with Citrinitas." The vampire said in a sly, mocking tone.
"Alright, listen," I said, making both women cease their petty argument. "So far, you've both been on good behaviour. None of you broke character, which is excellen-" "That means you'll reward me, right?! You'll sleep with me and not the vampire whore, RIGHT?!" Esdeath said with an almost frightening enthusiasm akin to a psycho girlfriend.
"About the … sleeping situation …" Instantly, the eyes of Esdeath lit up. I could only assume the same for Shalltear if she wasn't wearing her mask. "While I DO understand your … affection for me. And, only ignoring your affection will affect your mental health, I've decided that during the mission, the both of you will be interchanging when it comes to … sleeping with me. By sleeping I just mean that, sleeping. No sexual acts." 'At least not during the mission …' Though there was a slight falter in their smile when I mentioned 'no sex,' the duo smiled at the details given regardless.
"Now, who sleeps with me first is up to you two. I don't mind or care which. As long as none of you tries any tricks while I'm asleep, everything is fine." I noted. "Well, as I acted the best, I deserve the warmth of Citrinitas while Shalltear sleeps in the spare bed!" Esdeath exclaimed. "Please, you're nothing but an icicle that will make Citrinitas freeze!" Shalltear argued back at her declaration.
'This is so vexing. I'll let them solve their issues. I'll only pray that they don't violate me in my sleep.'
(A/N: Remember at the start when I said I'm back? Well, I lied. I have a Maths test and Medical studies project due on May the 4th along with an English assignment. So, expect no chapter to release next week as I have to focus on school AGAIN!!!
I know, the chapter is more mundane compared to the previous one. And I will admit, I feel like the chapter was slightly rushed. Some guy bet I wouldn't finish this by the end of the week xD However, the next chapter will be more riveting! You'll see the Dragon Queen, Orda- Citrinitas sign up with the guild and … I won't spoil the rest xD Nonetheless, please give a review or thoughts on the chapter!)
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