The Heir looked at Sayaka for a few moments, as if digesting her response. Then, he suddenly placed his right hand on his left shoulder, moved his left hand behind his back, and very gracefully bowed to Sayaka. "I thank you for saying such. Each willing hand is another that can help repair this land. You do not realize how much it means to have even one more joining this noble venture of mine!"
'Wow, excessive much?'
'Yeah' Sayaka mentally agreed as The Heir stood back up to his full posture. "So, what now?"
"Now we retrieve your own personal gear. It would not do to have you fight without your armor, now would it? Come, this way!" The Heir quickly said as he began heading towards the large smithy to one side of the square.
From a distance it looked like any smithy in movies and games did, but as she followed the Heir in, Sayaka found it was more interesting than she thought it would be. The inside of the building was huge, bigger than her families whole house probably. The back of the wall was covered by racks of crossbows, muskets, swords, axes, rapiers and so many other kinds of weapons that Sayaka could not name them all. A counter sat in front of the racks, seemingly made of hardwood with a chipped stone top and covered in odd symbols as well as a variety of ammunitions and other tools. The same items, and many more, sat on shelves that took up a nearby wall to the left, while pieces of armour as well as whole suits in everything from leather and chain to full plate, covered the wall by the door inside. To the right side of the buildings was the forge itself, a massive combination of stone furnaces, anvils, bellows, and a pool of sickly glowing liquid that seemed to slowly change colors, all of which had odd symbols and runes etched upon the stone and wood that made them up.
There were two people in the smithy. One was a dark skinned man with receding hair who was built like a mountain of meat and muscle. The skin on his arms looked like it had a variety of burn scars on it, and from the heavy leathers he was wearing, and the fact that he was behind the counter, Sayaka figured he was likely the Smith.
The other man was just as old looking as the smith, but weathered in a vastly different way. He was shorter in attire only Sayaka's height, but was built like a brick, and was wearing plate armor that likely provided such protection. A large mace hung from his belt, dented and well used, and an equally workable shield was connected to his left forearms vambrace. The man himself had a rough looking face covered in scars and an eyepatch covering his left eye, yet somehow he did not feel violent or angry, just stoic and fair.
"Darkest. What can I do for you?" the smith asked simply, his voice as rough and feel as Sayaka expected it to be.
"I've come for the Set of Unique armour I sent to you to be repaired. The one who owns it is safe and has decided to stay in the village and put it to use. It is repaired, correct?" The Heir asked with a slight smile.
The Smith nodded. "It's in that back. I'll get it," he then said before turning and exiting through a door that Sayaka had not seen as it was seemingly disguised as a part of the wall.
"Surprising, isn't it?" the old armoured solider said with a chuckle, making Sayaka turn to see him with a friendly smile on his face as he pit out his hand for a shake. "Names Mortenau, One of a few old veterans known as Men at arms here in the Hamlet."
"Ah, um, Sayaka. Sayaka . . .Seckendorff," Sayaka introduced uncertainly as she shook the mans hand, finding his grip strong, but not overpowering.
"Haaaa! A good name, its good to put a name to the body I had saved, and equally good to see you up and about after I went through the trouble!" Mortenau said with a loud, deep laugh.
"Oh I, wait, what do you mean saved?" Sayaka exclaimed as she realized what he had said.
"Ah, you were not told?" Mortenau asked as he looked at the Heir, who just smiled at him. "Well, I suppose it would be best that way. Yes, I and another, a Vestal named Lucile, found you unconscious in the upper areas of the Coves. We brought you back to the Hamlet to be cared for."
"Oh, uh, thank you then," Sayaka said with a bow.
Mortenau just laughed. "You don't need to be so official with me girl, sides, all I did was carry you. It was Lucile who convinced Lady Alret to not just throw you out due to worries you could be one of the fishmen, or someone like their Siren."
"Oh," Was all Sayaka said for a second before looking back up. "Then I'll just have to thank her when I meet her!"
"You haven't already?" Mortenau asked, causing The Heir to take a step forward.
"Lucile was the Vestal that you met outside of the Sanitarium," He started. "She did indeed convince Lady Alret to check you over, most likely because she was adamant in finding out if you were a danger or not. I suspect she was most worried your magic would be unholy, or you would be. Thankfully that is not the case."
"I see. Well I'll just have to-" 'Our gear' Sayaka stopped as Oktavia spoke up, turning her gaze to the wall as the smithies hidden door opened up and the smith came out with a large wooden crate in his hands
"Sorry about the wait, I had misplaced the box as I forgot I had been testing its enchantment strength," The smith said as he placed the box on the counter with a heavy thud that shook the whole counter. "This armour is a piece of work. This time was free as all it needed was cleaning, but if you need it repaired, it will cost," he added as he pushed the box to the edge of the counter, closer to Sayaka.
"Uh, okay," Sayaka said quietly, unsure what else to say as she grabbed the sides of the box and lifted it off the counter, finding the size awkward, and the dark color of the armour pieces a bit unnerving.
"Wow."
"I'll say. You got some good muscles on ya girl," Mortenau agreed with the Heir.
"Um, what? Sayaka said as she noticed both of them and the smith looking at her wide eyed.
"Well, I knew you had to be capable as you were wearing the armour when we found you, but to see you move it so easily, it's surprising," Mortenau said with a light, barely audible chuckle.
"Uh, what?" Sayaka pressed, still not quiet getting what they were surprised with.
"Your armors nearly as heavy as Mortenau's but has less to it. Its impressive ya can move it so easily," the smith said with a nod of respect.
Sayaka looked at the smith, then looked at The Heir and Mortenau to see that they had the same expression on their faces. "But, it doesn't even weigh that much."
'The armour was formed from our fusion and power, of course it doesn't weigh anything to us!' Oktavia said with an exasperated sigh.
"Oh, never mind."
"Hmmm, I assume you just had words with your other self?" The Heir suddenly asked.
"Well, yes, how did you-"
"The jewel embedded above your cleavage just below your collarbone, it glowed ever so slightly," The Heir said, as if that explained everything.
Instead of asking how that explained it though, Sayaka instead got embarrassed and nervous. After all, the Heirs words made it clear that he had looked at her cleavage, and while her outfit had always also accentuated her bust a bit, her body was now a bit older and more grown. Something that ended up making Sayaka's thoughts soon fast further than she originally had thought they could.
"Embarrass your adventurers on your own time, Darkest, I have work to do if you don't mind," the smith said, his tone making it clear he was not interested in the current situation.
"Ah, too true, there are more important things to do right now that enjoy the sights," The Heir stated as he walked toward the door. "Come, I. Must show you to the barracks, your room, and explain what shall happen in regards to earning your keep!"
"Hold on there Heir. Wouldn't it be better for another adventurer to show her around? Myself or Lucile for example?" Mortenau suddenly spoke up.
The Heir stopped, half turned, paused, stroked his mustache a few times and then smiled. "That is smart. The last time I showed a lady to the barracks, one of the plague Doctors almost used me for an experiment!" He said with a chuckle before walking out with a wave. "I'll leave it to you Mortenau!"
'What in hell was that about?' Oktavia asked.
"I have no idea," Sayaka murmured as Mortenau sighed and looked over at her.
"Allow me to apologize for the Heir. He is a very intelligent man with honest desire to undo what his ancestors have done, but he has little tact, and a skewed view on some things," Mortenau explained, sounding like he was holding back from saying worse.
'A skewed view would be the least of his worries if he stared at our breasts for a couple seconds more!'
"Um, I guess its fine. I just wasn't expecting it. I mean, I changed a bit when I came here, my body did too I mean. So yeah," Sayaka slightly rambled, unsure of how to deal with the situation.
"I see. You are kind, hopefully it does not make you regret your choices," Mortenau said as he gestured for Sayaka to follow him out of the blacksmith, not noticing how his words made her flinch.
"Y-yeah. . . . So, does everyone stay at the barracks?" Sayaka asked to change the subject.
"Not everyone, no," Mortenau replied as the two of them left the smithy and went back out into the miserable ugly cloudy weather. "Some adventurers, who classify themselves as types the guild respects, sometimes stay at Buildings for them, like the Athenaeum. Such buildings are specialized and offer services to the hamlet, but only about a half of all adventurers in the Hamlet stay at such buildings."
"Oh, that makes sense. Where's the barracks then?" Sayaka asked, hoping to find a place to put down the box of Armour.
"Right Head of us," Mortenau said as he pointed at the huge warehouse like building that was probably as big as Mitakihara Highs gym if not bigger.
"Oh! . . . .do, the rooms not have windows then?" Sayaka asked as she squinted, trying to see any.
"There are on the outer rooms. It's a bit of a walk so I can-" Mortenau stopped talking as water began falling from the sky. "Shit, pick up the pace, I'm not getting drenched if I can help it!" he yelled as he began running across the dirt and cobble at a speed that Sayaka was not expecting from a man covered in plate armor.
'Moves fast for an old man' Oktavia stated sounding a bit off.
'yeah .. .what's up?" Sayaka replied as she chased after him as fast as she could, finding it odd somehow. It was like she was being slowed by something, and not the box.
'You've noticed the rain right? How wrong it is?'
Sayaka slowed and looked up at the sky as she walked. The rain was cool, but it was not refreshing. It was like the longer she noticed it the more dismal everything felt, like a cold feeling of despair was trying to creep into her skin along with the water. 'Its . . . it feels kind of like some witches bit, dispersed.'
'The water is tainted. Not with poison but . . . the best word I can think of is corruption. It's different than a witch or us, but this whole place is being tainted by whatever is in that dungeon on the cliffside!'
Sayaka turned her gaze to the ruins above the hamlet, it even harder to see as the rain was falling harder and harder. It made her stomach roll into knots, but as it did, a small bit of understanding seemed to click. 'Yeah, you're right. . . do you, think it could effect us?'
'Were half witch and Magical girl. I'd hope that makes us immune,' Oktavia said, while her tone was uncertain.
"About time you caught up! Come inside already!" Mortenau called from the near doorway to the barracks, bright light shining out from the open door into the increasingly dark outdoors.
"R-right, was just thinking the rain seemed sudden," Sayaka said in excuse as she came up to the door and entered.
The barracks entryway was different than she expected. Instead of boring stone she found the floors and walls were wood with lamps lightning a small but decent enough sized entryway that had a stairway going up on the left wall, and two hallways directly in front of her. A small noticeboard sat between the two hallways, seeming to dictate rules, while a sign in what looked like English hung from above the stairway on the left.
"The board States all the basic rules for the barracks," Mortenau stated as he pointed to the board, then the stairs. "The women's rooms are on the second floor. The rules are pretty basic. Keep your room clean, don't cause trouble for your Neighbors, keep the lavatories clean, don't bring members of the opposite sex into the wrong area, that kind of thing."
"Yeah, but everyone knows that last one is a waste of time!" came a voice as a woman who looked like the definition of a Barbarian came down the stairs from the woman's area, a very large axe over one shoulder and her clothing frayed and rough looking.
Mortenau let out a heavy sigh as the women walked up to him and Sayaka. "Girl, this is Felga, the Hamlets most veteran Hellion, an utter nightmare to go on missions with, and a women who has the luck of the gods that she still hadn't had a child in the two years she's been here," Mortenau said with a hint of annoyance in his voice before letting out a sigh and continuing his introductions. "Felga, this girl is the newest maniac to join in our struggle to keep the Hamlet safe."
'that's your queue,'
"Ah, um hello. My name is Sayaka Seckendorff, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
"Oh? Is that so?" Felga said with a grin as she walked up and began circling Sayaka a couple times before stopping in front of her and grinning "Alright the spirits say your fine, so its nice to meet you!" she then declared as she wrapped an arm around Sayak and pulled her into a hug.
'H-Huge! She's bigger than Mami!'
'Well duh, she's a full-grown mature woman with experience!'
'huh? What do you mean?"
'Mortenau's comment about her being lucky she didn't have a child yet.'
Sayaka thought about it for a second before she turned red in the face and tried to push Felga away. Only to find out that she was monstrously strong and could not push her away.
"Oh, feeling up for a brawl huh?" Felga suddenly said with a grin as she bent her free hand over and began rubbing Sayaka's skull with her knuckle
"Ah, no, I, please let go. I can't, breathe," Sayaka said, lying through her teeth, but hoping it would get her free.
"Hmmm? What do you mean? " Felga asked with an oblivious smile.
"You're strangling her in your bust Felga, just because some men like that, does not mean all women do. Let her go already," Mortenau said in an exasperated tone that told Sayaka this was not a new occurrence.
"Fine, for now, " Felga said, clearly pleased with herself as she let go of Sayaka, who impressively had not dropped the box of her armor. "I assume you want me to find a room for her?"
"Yes, if you would do that it would make things simpler for both of us," Mortenau said with a nod.
'I think these two know each other in more than just passing'
'I think your right,' Sayaka thought back to Oktavia.
"Alright, I can do that. Has she been told the rest? How to use the hamlets facilities, how to join quests?" Felga asked as she flipped her large axe between her fingers in a way that she obviously thought was casual, but looked anything but.
"No. My plan was to bring her to the tavern once she had a room and had donned her armour. The sooner she gets seen and starts hunting for a party the better after all," Mortenau stated simply.
"Agreed! Tell ya what, I'll explain it all to her, how's that sound?" Felga suddenly suggested, confusing both Sayaka and Mortenau.
"Well, I suppose, but why might I ask? I would assume you were prepared to either join a mission or hang at the Brothel,"
"I was, but the spirits tell me this girls going to be interesting, and I want to see her armor in all its violent glory! Don't worry, I'll tell her all she needs to know without fail!"
"Fine, then I'll leave it to you, and I'll by the both of you a drink in the tavern when you arrive," Mortenau said with a shrug as he turned around and walked out of the barracks without another word.
"I expect a big mug!" Felga yelled at him before suddenly smacking Sayaka in the back. "Alright Whelp, let's find you a room!"
"Uh, r-Right," Sayaka replied as she followed Felga back up the stairs to the second floor. The top led to a short hall with two hallways coming off of it, bit looked otherwise the same as the bottom floor. The floors were wood, the walls stone with Flame filled lanterns hanging off them, and a board of notices and rules between the two hallways. To the side of them was a wooden door with a symbol that looked vaguely like a water drop and a pipe, but there was nothing else of immediate interest.
"The lavatory is right there, don't ruin it," Felga said as she pointed at the adjacent door while walking toward the board. "Now then, let's see. . . . . looks like you've got three rooms to pick through. Which one do you want?"
Sayaka walked over to see a small, but easily readable diagram of the floor with names on each of the rooms, some that looked they had been scratched out and rewritten numerous times. Two of the dooms were between other rooms, while the third was right beside the hallway with only one room beside it. "Uh, this room I guess? Is there any difference between them?"
"Nah, not really, though sometimes if people have to much to drink they will walk into the wrong room if it's not locked," Felga said with a shrug.
"Then, that one I guess?" Sayaka said uncertainly.
"Alright then its settled!" Felga declared as she walked into the further hallway and stopped in front of the first doorway. Before kicking it so hard the entire door shook, but still stood strong. "Oh good the latch still holds! This is your room!" she again declared as she grabbed the lever style handle of bronze metal and opened the door up before stepping to the side.
' . . . . . .Well, are you going to go in or not?' Oktavia asked after a few seconds of waiting.
"R-Right," Sayaka muttered as she walked up to the door and stepped in. The room was dim, but not difficult to see how simple it was. A wooden framed bed sat at the back left side of the room with a chest at its foot. To the right side of the room was a simple desk and chair, as well as an armour stand and a half length mirror on the desk.
"Not gonna out down your gear and get dressed?" Felga suddenly asked, making Sayaka turn to find Felga taking a wooden plaque off the door and looking it over.
"Oh, uh, should I now? I mean, I just got here right?" Sayaka asked, earning an incredulous look from Felga.
"Yeah, and what better time to get acquainted with the tavern and find a group of others to go killing with. That's why you're here right? To fight monsters, make money, and adventure, right?"
'This explains so much suddenly,' Oktavia commented with a tired sounding sigh.
'It really does,' Sayaka thought as she set the box of her armour on the desk and turned to Felga. "My situation is a bit, different I suppose."
"So?" Felga asked as she pulled out a small knife in one hand and began chipping at the wooden plaque. "If you don't find people to party with, you won't be able to go out on missions. If you don't take a mission a month, discounting special circumstances, you'll be booted from the hamlet as you are considered a waste of space."
'Whoa, that's pretty severe!'
'Only if you don't remember the corruption their dealing with around here. The Heir did say that everyone had to pull their weight.'
'Right, he did huh?' Sayaka thought with a light shake of her head as she turned her gaze back to Felga. "I see, why would I need to be in my armor to meet people though?"
"If you are going to fight alongside someone, they will want to see what you can bring to the fight!" Felga declared as she took a step away from the door. "Hurry up and don your armor so we can head to the tavern and show you how things work. I'll be carving your name in this while I wait," she said before then shutting the door.
"Well, that happened," Sayaka said quietly before heaving a sigh and looking down at the box of armor, finding it difficult, but not as impossible as she expected.
'Why not light the lamp there? We may have some ability to see in the dark, but-'
"Yeah I get it," Sayaka mumbled as she reached over and picked up the lantern on the desk that she hadn't noticed before. She looked it over for a few seconds, hearing some thick liquid slosh within it, and then found a small dial. She spun it, but nothing happened. "Right, I have no idea how it works."
'This place is like a medieval fantasy right? It's probably an oil lamp or something similar. You need a flame.'
"And where am I supposed to get a flame? My magic makes swords and music and heals," Sayaka muttered.
'Do you really think that they would give the room a lantern without a way to light it?'
Sayaka blinked for a second and then opened the desks only drawer, finding what appeared to be a pack of very old style matches. With an experimental swipe on the desk a couple of times one of them lit, and when she lowered it to the lantern it first to life with an almost dangerous, and very surprising, flash.
"You okay in there?" questioned Felga as she yelled loudly to be heard through the door.
"Yes, I just, the lantern just flared a bit," Sayaka called back as she took a few deep breaths to calm her poor heart."
"Well be careful, the lamps like to flare up if you leave the latch open too long. The vapors escape. Hurry up already, we got drinks waiting for us! And Mortenau almost never buys!" Came Felga's reply.
"Right, because alcohol is so important," Sayaka said with a sigh as she twisted the dial on the lamp and made the flame brighter, illuminating the room much more completely. Able to see, Sayaka pulled the pieces of armour out of the box and placed them on the desk, arraying them so she could look at all of them at once.
The idea of wearing armour was strange to Sayaka, not because she didn't feel like it would be useful but because her magical girl outfit had not had armour. The fact is was as black as coal and had a strangely glossy sheen to it that reminded her of oil didn't help either.
'If you don't hurry up, She'll yell again.'
"I know I just . . . I'm not sure about this, armour," Sayaka quietly admitted as she traced her fingers across what she figured was probably a breastplate. One that looked like it would accentuate her now largest bust. "It feels, um, odd."
'Stop thinking of it like just a magical girls armour then. It was formed when both of us became one I think, so of course it will not feel like one or the other.'
"Well, I guess. Its just that. . . . um,"
'What?'
"How do I put it on?" Sayaka asked meekly.
'Really? It was made from us, it should be natural right? Does it feel like you know how when you hold the pieces?'
"Um, I'm not sure," Sayaka said as she picked up the breastplate and looked it over. Its metal was very solid feeling, and appeared to have some padding built into the inside of it, while black straps of a material that was not quiet leather sat at its sides with attached buckles of black metal.
Then it came to her. Images, flashes of thoughts and processes so quick she. Would not know what they were, yet somehow enough to impart knowledge into her very being.
'Did it work? Do you know how to Don it?'
"I, think I, do," Sayaka said unemotionally as if in a trance as she put down the breastplate and instead picked up one of the greaves and knelt down to strap it to her leg. Then the other went on, then the side skirt piece on her right side, then the breastplate and its back piece, then the shoulder pad on her left shoulder, and finally the vambraces on each of her forearms. As soon as they were tightened Sayaka's eyes went wide as her consciousness returned.
'Dammit Sayaka can you hear me!'
Just in time to hear Oktavia nearly shrieking in worry.
"I, yes. What happened?" Sayaka asked as she gripped her head for a second, then went wide eyed when she realized she was now wearing the armour.
'You went into some kind of trance? You were not thinking a single thing as you just put on the armour. Then you went back to normal.'
"Okay that's unnerving," Sayaka said as she looked at the mirror and then froze for a second before stepping closer to the desk and readjusting the mirrors angle. The black armour on her dark blue clothing made it seem even darker, but it was not the color, but the armour itself that was impressive. The greaves and vambraces both had ridges in the center that would probably both strengthen them and made them painful to hit someone with. The piece of armour on her hip drew attention to her hips, while the shoulder pad and breastplate seemed to draw attention to her uncovered upper chest. Her magical girl outfit had always shown a bit of skin, bit she hadn't been as bodily mature then and hadn't given it much thought. This though, it was both extremely embarrassing, but at the same time a bit, arousing in how good the clothing and armor together made her body look.
'Our curves are nice and all but don't you think we should state at them later? We have a quiet literal barbarian outside the door waiting," Oktavia said in a teasing, but still serious tone.
"Ah, R-right, yes," Sayaka mumbled in embarrassment as she walked over to the door and opened it.
Immediately on the other side Leaning against the opposite wall was Felga, whose eyebrows raised at the sight of Sayaka. "Not bad, the spirits did not lie about you at all. You look ready to take on a whole army yourself, and you feel like you could too!"
"Um, okay?" Sayaka replied, unsure what to say to Felga's odd statement.
"Don't worry, the spirits like you and that's a good thing!" Felga said with a laugh. "Now then let's get down to the tavern and-" Felga stopped and began staring at Sayaka, scrunching up her face a bit as she did before finally letting out a sigh. –"So, do you not have a weapon to go with that impressive armour?"
"I do, yes," Sayaka replied, while inwardly panicking. 'I can still summing my swords right!?'
'Our swords,' Oktavia chastised with a sigh. 'But yes, you should be able to summon them the same way. Though their look has probably changed as our armour did.'
"Alright, so where is it then?" Felga pushed.
'She wants proof for some reason. May as well off we need to be sire we can summon them, right?'
'May as well,' Sayaka said as she sighed and looked at Felga. "I can summon them. Like this," she stated as she held out a hand and felt her magic well up. A dark blue mist formed in her hand for a second before a blade suddenly ejected out of it, the mist disappearing as she grabbed the blades handle. It was a cutlass like her blades normally were, but looked very different than what she was used to. The blade was made of black metal with the edge having ca deep blue gleam to it. The handle was black as well, with the small pommel a dark blue, and the cross guard appeared to have a gem inset in it that looked similar, yet undeniably different, from the one in her chest.
Felga looked for a second before smiling hugely. "Ahahahaha, that is impressive! As long as you have a weapon it's perfectly good! Come, let's hit the tavern already!"
"Ah, wait up! Aren't you supposed to tell me that stuff the other guy mentioned!?" Sayaka called as she chased after Felga, who immediately headed for the stairs at a walking speed that was barely believable.
"Then hurry up! No sense talking in a hallway when the tavern has ale after all!" Felga called out from ahead as Sayaka made it to the bottom of the stairs and to the door, to see Felga Already jogging through the rain. Red hair bobbing in the rail like a flame, causing her to stop and stare for a moment as her emotions roared to life.
'She's not her, Sayaka. She's not Kyouko'
"I know that, I know I just-" Sayaka stopped as she shook her head and began walking into the rain, wasfching where Felga was heading. "I hurt them, didn't i?"
'What?'
"I became a witch in front of Kyouko, and Madoka. I let my emotions control me, I let despair take me, because I didn't think about what I wanted, just what my friends would want. What Hitomi would want. I hurt them, didn't I?"
' . . . . . . . . It is possible,' Oktavia said after a few seconds. 'It is also possible that they understand, or even instead of feeling hurt, feel bad for you, and the suffering you held in. We have no way of knowing for sure, so what would you like to think?"
"I . . . would like to think that Hitomi and Kyousuke are happy and miss me. I'd like to think that, even if I hurt Madoka and Mami, and even Homura and Kyouko, that they would forgive me. And I good they find a way out of being magical girls, or at least find a way to get back at Kyuubey!" Sayaka said with a growl, nearly spitting Kyuubey's name.
'Then believe that, at least until we can find a way back like you hope to do," Oktavia suggested calmly. 'Being positive in a place we know nothing about cannot be a bad idea after all, no? Being positive was your thing after all.'
"Yeah, and look where that got me! Turned into a half witch and dropped into another world!"
'I'm going to assume you are just venting and don't mean anything by that statement,'
"I, oh . . . yeah. Sorry," Sayaka muttered as she noted Felga entering the building ahead of them.
'Its fine. Our situation is not exactly something we foresaw. We just have to make the best of it.'
"Yeah, I guess so," Sayaka said as she came up to the Tavern itself and stood there outside the door.
'So, ready to get drunk and make bad life choices?'
"I'm underage."
'No you were underage. Now our body looks older, definitely old enough to drink in a fantasy setting!'
"Ugh, I'm not getting drunk!" Sayaka muttered as she pushed the door open and walked into the tavern. She wasn't sure what she was expecting of the taverns but what she saw surprised Her. The room was huge with dozens of circular tables all over the center and left side of the buildings main floor. The left side had a number of benches and a flight of stairs going up to a second floor, and almost everyone on the main floor was either drinking, gambling, or socializing. The back wall held a huge counter and lines of kegs on the left side, while the right side of the back wall had a number of large boards covered in pieces of paper like a quest board out of a fantasy game.
What truly made the place come to life however were the people in the building. While a couple girls were moving around in what appeared similar to waitress outfits, everyone else looked pulled out of fantasy. All kinds of weapons from swords and spears, to whips and even muskets were hung in peoples backs, their belts, or resting against tables or chairs. Robes like those of a wizards, leather Armour, full plate and even strange combinations of all of them covered most peoples bodies, and the most interesting thing was that a number of people appeared to not be human! There were some people that had limbs of wood, or clothing made of such, a few people that looked more like a horror story abominations, people covered in chains, and a number of people who appeared to have cat ears on the tops of their heads!
The whole tavern also seemed to glance at her as she entered, the din of the people quieting a bit as well.
'Walk in like nothing is wrong or they'll just keep staring. We're supposed to be an adventurer or something like that right? So act like it!'
'R-right,' Sayaka thought back to Oktavia as she walked in and began looking around for Felga or Mortenau. For a few seconds she couldn't make them out, then suddenly did as she noticed Felga at a table near the back by the boards on the wall, waving her over with a huge wooden mug in both hands. As she walked toward her table with clear intent Sayaka noticed that the number of people staring at her dropped substantially, and the few people that continued to either looked very experienced and scarred, or were by themselves.
"About time you got here! I was starting to wonder if you got lost in the front door!" Felga said with a loud snort as she began downing one of the mugs in her hands.
Sitting across from her, Mortenau just shook his head and gesture to the only other open seat at their table. "I hope Felga did not assault you verbally too badly? Or physically at all?"
"No, she helped me choose a room and then we came here," Sayaka answered as she sat down and was surprised when Felga slammed the mug she hadn't drank from on the table in front of her.
"Have a drink! You look like you could use it! And you will when Mortenau starts talking again!" Felga roared at her own joke as she fell backwards into her seat with a clatter.
"Felga, if you are not going to help, go away. I think I saw Gremint wave to you earlier too,"
"Ooh really? Sweet! Talk to you later!" Felkga said she jumped off her seat and ran off.
"Ugh, I'll have to apologize to Gremint when I see him later," Mortenau said with a heavy sigh.
"Why?"
"Felga took a liking to him but he is, well he doesn't know how to say no to her advances. That would be the best way to put it," Mortenau explained before taking a drink from his down mug and setting it down. "That armor suits you well girl, hopefully it defends you as well as it looks it should."
"It will," Sayaka replied faster than she realized, making Mortenau smirk.
"For your sake, I hope you are right," Mortenau said before taking a drink and placing his mug down. He then gestured in many directions at once. "Welcome to the Hamlets tavern. And the Gambling tables and the Brothel on the upper floor, if such forms of leisure are what suit you. Most people spend their downtime here or in the Abbey if there is not a place they would rather be. This is also the best place to prepare before heading out on missions into the corrupt countryside or the various natural and unnatural dungeons that surround the Hamlet."
"Wouldn't it make more sense to prepare by the gates or a storehouse?" Sayaka asked curiously.
"In some places that would be the case, yes. But not here. The Darkest Hamlet is located at the edge of Empire territory and its only neighbor is the distant Sunward Isles. Resources must be kept stock of, so all materials and supplies a group wishes to take with them must be paid for upfront. In case they do not return!"
"I, guess that makes sense. What if you don't use some of the supplies though? Are you stuck with them?"
"No. Supplies are bought from the innkeep, and sold back to him for their cost if they are not used by a party," Mortenau explained before taking another drink and turning in his seat to look at the wall section covered in Cork boards. "Would I be correct in assuming you need a rundown of how quests work here in the Hamlet, girl?"
"Yes. Please, I mean. Yes please," Sayaka said as she was sure one of her friends or family was somehow bemoaning her lack of tact and manners.
Luckily Mortenau either didn't notice, or didn't care as he began explaining the quest boards and how they worked. And it was a surprisingly simple and effective sounding system.
Quests on the left board had not been accepted, and were put up by citizens of the hamlet, the Heir, or other adventurers if they had the coin to pay for the reward. When a party accepts a quest they bring it to the innkeep, who signs and dates it, and makes sure all part members name are on it, and then puts it up on the right hand board. There was supposedly some form of magic in the quest papers that kept track of a party's progress, and if members died, and the most common quest were usually exploration or extermination. It sounded very game like to Sayaka, but she didn't say anything on that matter when there were more pressing questions.
"How long do quests last?" Sayaka asked when it seemed Mortenau was waiting on her.
"Quests are marked as either short, medium, or long in their perceived length," Mortenau responded immediately before taking a drink and continuing. "Short quests take only a day or so usually unless something unexpected occurs. Medium length quests can last up to a week, and long ones up to two. Gear for long rests are given on those such quests as well, if needed."
'Well, that makes a certain kind of sense.'
"Yeah," Sayaka muttered as she cleared her throat in case Mortenau heard her muttering. "I remember something being said about having to take a minimum number of quests, so, how would I find a group to go with?"
"Yes, everyone is required to take at least one quest a month, barring something making them unable too. As for finding a group, that is a bit more complicated. There is no set way to find a group, nor is there a minimum size for quests, just a maximum of four. I would not suggest working alone though, as it usually ends with people going mad or dying alone in the darkness."
"So I have to find a group on my own then?" Sayaka asked carefully.
"Yes, though sometimes groups put up requests for help on the board if one if their members is, indisposed," Mortenau said grimly.
'Because that can't be taken so many ways!'
"I see," Sayaka said with a nod, though it was more in response to Oktavia's words.
"Well, I think that is everything of importance than can be learned through words alone," Mortenau said as he stood up from the table. "I need to talk to my group as we head out on the morrow, so good luck to ya in finding a group girl. If ya don't die, I may be able to teach you something of combat sometime."
And then he walked off, leaving Sayaka alone at the table.
"Well, this just got more difficult," Sayaka mumbled, her voice unheard to anyone over the noise of the tavern.
'Why? You not outgoing enough to talk to people,' Oktavia stated.
"Well sure, to other people my age of classmates," Sayaka said as she leaned over and placed her head on the table. "Now I'm not even sure what my age is!"
'In fantasy and history age meant less, so that should not be much of a problem really you know. You should go and talk to people and find a group for us. Unless you want me to talk to people instead?'
"Please no, you'll get us killed," Sayaka mumbled with a sigh.
'These are rough and dangerous people for the most part it looks like, I'd likely have better luck being direct and blunt than you would with being polite.'
"Yeah I'm not sure I, wait, how can you even see right now?" Sayaka asked curiously.
'Did you not realize earlier when we were in the Athenaeum? Whoever is not in control, can look around in any direction they wish.'
"Oh, I was too focused on you talking through me. It was weird and felt like I was disembodied," Sayaka admitted. "You can look anywhere?"
"Yes. For example, sit up and look left,"
Sayaka sat up and turned as Oktavia suggested, seeing a girl looking at her in surprise. She looked around her age and was almost fully covered in a cloak with a hood that looked to be made of leather and furs. What was strangest however was that a wooden staff hung from her back by a strap, and her green eyes almost seemed to be sparkling with power that, if they were on earth, would have made her assume she was a magical girl.
"Can I help you?" Sayaka asked with a smile when she realized they both had been staring at eachother for a few seconds.
"Ah yes, I'm sorry," the girl, said as she bowed to Sayaka, almost hitting her with the staff on her back. "My name is Eriin, I uh, I mean," the girl muttered and stuttered for a few seconds before stopping and taking in a deep breath. "I mean would you join our group?"
'What?' "What?"
"Sorry, that was abrupt, my master says I need to think before I speak more and, sorry I'm rambling," Eriin said as she stopped and took a deep breath again. "I'm, with two others who are relatively new to the Hamlet and one of them say you come in and talk with Mortenau. He, figured you were new, and since we needed a fourth person for our group he, uh, told me to get you."
'Something is odd here, be careful Sayaka,'
'Even I can tell something is odd here,' Sayaka mentally replied to Oktavia. "So you want me to join your group for taking quests?"
"Er y-yes, uh, that."
'Suspicious, ' 'Suspicious,' both of them thought at once, right before Sayaka let out a sigh. "Well, I suppose I can meet your friends first but, are you okay? You look like there's something wrong," Sayaka asked, hoping she wasn't giving away her suspicion too much.
"Oh, right uh, were over at a table over here," Eriin said as she turned and started to walk away, weaving between tables toward the other side of the taverns large floor.
'She seems to be expecting us to follow her,' Oktavia stated as Sayaka got up and began following her.
'Yeah, I'm just concerned. Did it seem like she was almost afraid?'
'Of us?'
'I'm not sure if it was us, or something else,' Sayaka admitted as she saw the table that Eriin was heading to. There were two people at the table, one who was covered from head to toe in full plate armour that had sections that seemed to glow an eerie blueish green, and a younger man with a scar on his face who was wearing a leather coat and was flipping dagger into the air with one hand.
'I think something else may be more likely.'
'Agreed,' Sayaka thought as she stepped up to the table. "Hello, you are Eriin's friends?" Sayaka asked.
The armored figure shifted and raised an arm, looking like it would gesture to the open seat, but was interrupted when the man tossing the dagger caught it and then stabbed it into the table. "She is part of this group. We need another frontliner. That's you. You'll get fifteen percent of the cut. Understand?"
'Why this arrogant, Sayaka let me forward to impale his head on our blades!' Oktavia raged.
'No,' Sayaka responded in the same instant as she scowled at the man. "I haven't agreed to join you, and saying my percent like that doesn't make me inclined to join you either,"
"You have little choice," the man said with an arrogant smirk. "You are clearly new to the hamlet and no one knows your ability, nor recognizes you from any rumors. Few would be willing to give you a chance when peoples lives are on the line, but luckily for you we have room. Maybe you'll even earn some respect working with us," he said with a chuckle as he stood up. "I'll be getting a quest for us, so be here when I get back or you will regret it!"
Sayaka watched the man walk off for a few seconds and then turned to Eriin and the armored figure with a scowl.
"Please do not make assumptions about us based upon his personality," the armored figure said, his voice low and whispy. "He was once held in check by our old fourth, but that is no longer possible."
"So I should just accept that tone like it means nothing?" Sayaka asked angrily, wanting to chase the man down and slap some sense into him.
"No, he just um, he got worse after, um, I mean,-" Eriin began, but was clearly the shy type not used to speaking and found herself unable to find the right words.
"The one who was our fourth was an old friend of his, when he passed on, he took it to himself to finish some sort of promise the two of them made. He has become incorrigible since then, but does bring up an important point. You are new," the armoured man said simply, his wispy voice sounding almost like it didn't matter to him, like nothing mattered.
"Your point?" Sayaka pressed.
"The first time getting on a quest in the hamlet is hard; groups only look for replacements if their other members are dead, or temporarily indisposed. You need to be seen joining a quest, and we need a fourth."
"And you think I should agree just because of that? Because of that idiots arrogant demands?"
"Of course not," the man said with a wave of an armoured hand. "He is in over his head acting like he knows what he is doing and you appear to be potentially strong and outgoing. I want you to voice anything you find off about his choices, and I will make it worth your time by giving you all of my cut for this quest."
'Suspicious' "So, you're willing to give me your cut, just to come along and argue with him in addition to joining in on the quest?"
"Yes," the armored man said. "You'll get a proper cut of anything we find, I'll make sure of it."
"um, I . . . I will too, if that helps," Eriin added nervously.
'I don't like this, but if these two are going so far we could try going along with them. If they try to backstab us, we just do the same to them,' Oktavia suggested in a dark tone. Sayaka let out a sigh as she sat down. "Alright fine. My name is Sayaka Seckendorf."
"Names Gastol, and I assume Eriin already introduced herself," the knight said simply before gesturing across the Tavern. "The Highwayman is named Dismas."
"Highwayman? You mean, he's a bandit?" Sayaka asked.
"No, that isn't right, at least, not entirely," Eriin said nervously. "It's a description of his fighting style, just like how I'm a Druid, and Gastol is a Knight."
"A Hollow Knight, actually," Gastol Corrected as his helmet shifted in Sayaka's direction. "What are you?"
"um-" 'help?!" Syaka mentally asked causing Oktavia to let out a sigh. 'Just call us a Puella if you want to, or go with Witch-Knight. That basically describes the both of us and our abilities anyway.' " um, I suppose I'm a Witch-knight, though I've been called a Puella as well,"
"Can't say I've heard of that before but, you use magic then?" Gastol asked in surprise.
"Yes, I have swords and magic," Sayaka said as she summoned a cutlass into her hand in clear view.
"Versatile," Gastol said in amusement, before he then suddenly stood up. "Dismas is waving for us by the counter, I'm guessing he wants us all to help carry the gear. Well, shall we find out what quest he has chosen to test you with?"
"Wait, we're leaving right now then?" Sayaka asked in surprise.
"Dismas is impatient, so probably," Eriin commented with a sigh before she smiled. "Don't worry, I'm sure we'll be fine!"