Erk, Serra, Priscilla - The Triangle of Love
By Davis(Davis3 on FFN)
Chapter 4: The Village Trip That Went Wrong.

Note: Sorry it took me so long to put this chapter up, but school work and replacing the keyboard came up, so things got held back, as it were. In this chapter, you'll find out what would happen if Erk, Serra and Priscilla were together in one place without anyone else being there....let's see if Erk can handle it.

Erk, Serra, Priscilla – The Triangle of Love

The rest of the night went peacefully for everyone but myself. Tried as I might, I couldn't sleep and even if I was able to close my eyes, my thoughts kept me awake. These thoughts....my thoughts were of Serra and Priscilla. I had now heard from both of them as to why they show affection the way they do, and now I have to choose one over the other. I wished I could think of a happy thought, but all that comes up is the bitter taste that is sadness. I knew full well that whomever I didn't choose would end up in tears, her heart broken and I didn't really want that to happen.

As I tried to get some sleep, the same thing kept gnawing at my mind....who to choose and why? All I needed was more time to think about this question and I didn't need any kind of pressure to make it difficult. But, as I knew already, in this company, pressure isn't a problem, it's a requirement.

At the first crack of dawn, I approached the tactician's tent as I needed to explain to him my troubles, but as I arrived, no one was inside. Maybe he already left for the battlefield? Today was one of our campaigns and I was surprised that he left me behind, but I couldn't let that stop me.

" Hey Erk!" I turned around and standing there was Sain. He looked as though he had been having one of those crazy parties of his, but it's what keeps him happy. " If you're looking for the tactician, he's not here."

" Then, where is he?" I asked.

" He said for me to not tell you that, as he has given you a special assignment. You are to travel to this village and obtain supplies." Sain told me. That sounded rather easy....perhaps our commander wishes to test me before battle as I have been slacking as of late. My books really are so compelling sometimes. Of course, I wasn't prepared for what Sain was about to say next.

" Also, you will take Serra and Priscilla with you as they need an escort as they need to stock up on more staves and healing items." As he finished, my expression went limp and I stood there as though I were one of the undead. Like I said, around here, pressure is a requirement. " Hey, are you okay?" Sain moved his hand in front of my face. " He looks as though he had seen a ghost or something far worse. Methinks it has something to do with the fair Serra and the princess Priscilla....lucky dog."

" Lucky!?!" I shouted as I came to my senses.

" You didn't have to be quite so loud. Anyway, that is what our tactician has decided and you are to carry out this assignment at once." Sain said as he walked away, mumbling about women, as usual. This had to be the worst day of my life. Serra and Priscilla can't stand each other and no doubt they'll fight just because of me. I guess love can truly hurt you sometimes....in more ways than one. I walked back to my tent and picked up my best book of magic before heading to the edge of camp. There stood Serra, but Priscilla hadn't arrived yet.

" Serra...."

" Erk....so....I guess you'll be my escort for this trek to the local village right? And before you say another word, I already know that "she" is coming with us as per our tactician's orders." Serra said looking rather annoyed. She really wanted to be alone with me, but it looks as though she'll have to endure Priscilla for a while.

" Erk....and Serra....I am ready to go." Priscilla said as she arrived, and she too had the same ideas as Serra....only reversed from what I said about her.

" Look Priscilla....I can tolerate you on this trip, but let me warn you. If you try anything funny with Erk, I'll....be forced to do something really nasty to you." Serra said as she gripped her stave tightly.

" Funny, I was about to say the same thing as you." Priscilla said as she got upon her horse. " Let's just get this assignment over with so that I can deal with you later."

" Fine by me."

I so wanted to get out of this, but I couldn't. Not only do I have to complete this assignment, but now I have to keep those two from killing one another. I did not join this company for this! As we walked into the battle, I stayed between both Serra and Priscilla and kept an eye on them as we moved toward the village. I did this so that they don't get the urge to have a fight, plus by looking at them in this way, their affections of me will be the only thing on their minds.

" Erk....you have such beautiful eyes." Serra said as she got a bit closer to me, her eyes swooning, her cheeks blushing. "I never really knew that you had such a beautiful complexion." Priscilla said as she to came closer, and almost fell off her horse. So far, they were too busy going crazy over me to worry about being in each other's presence.

Soon, the village came into sight and we rested by the entrance. I took out a small purse, which was given to me by Sain just before we left camp. He said that it was from our funds, which was graciously given to him by the tactician. Inside the purse was quite a lot of money, more than I could've imagined. I needed to ask someone how much we have and what the local currency is. As soon as I said currency, I shuddered. Every place you go, the currency goes up and/or down due to taxes, inflation and other nonsense. The last time I had money, I nearly used it all up just to get a certain permit. Sigh....these Marquess' really ought to fix their money problems.

I turned quickly to face Serra and Priscilla in case they had gotten into an argument, but they were gone. Maybe they went into the village to get their own supplies. This village had a new method of purchasing. Instead of paying up front in an armory or vendor, you could now head to a special station that allows to pay there for what you wanted to buy. This was convenient as you could take something you really wanted and pay for it elsewhere, instead of having to leave, get money and come back only to find that what you wanted was gone. As I entered the village, I saw Serra entering a vendor, followed with a trip to a store that sells jewelry? That girl really loves her jewels, but what is a jewelry shop doing in a village? I must be behind the times.

I soon found the local merchant who was willing to tell me how much I had and the currency around here. Merchants are a funny lot. They travel all over the land in order to sell their wares and earn a profit and they also buy things from you, but they don't give you much in return....the joys of earning a living. Anyway, they set up shop in a village and do business with the locals and once that's done, they pack up, and leave for another village. One thing that bothers me about such methods is....how many villages can they go to where they are not recognized by the people? I ask myself this as some merchants are in it only for the money and love robbing innocents of their hard-earned money. Luckily, most merchants aren't like that.

" You have about 3500 in gold in that purse my friend." That much, in a tiny purse like this? " Oh yes and the currency around these parts. The local Marquess recently upped the tax for us, but by only a little. That tax being about 5% of what you have. Which means, you have 3500 gold, minus 175 giving you 3325 gold. That is still plenty to go on, as this kind of tax is small compared to other places where it's as high as 20% or even worse." I thanked him and began to head for the armory.

As soon as I got there, I found Priscilla standing in front of the door looking up at the sky for some reason. Normally, she wouldn't come to an armory as she has no need of weapons, the same with me, but I'm doing this for our company.

" Erk...."

" What are you doing here?" I asked.

" I was waiting for you to come so that we could have a private chat without that annoying cleric around." Priscilla told me as she got closer to me. Serra had yet to return, so she was using her absence as an excuse to get some alone time with me. I was hesitant as I knew what would happen if Serra were to see us like this.

" Are you sure about this?" I asked.

" Do not worry about Serra as knowing her, she'll be in that jewelry store all day as she can't take her eyes off them. Erk, I just can't take my eyes off you for even a second. I know we're here on a mission, but I can't hide my love from you any longer. I just so wish to kiss you, but I'd feel silly if I did so here. Also, that cleric would make my life miserable as she'd prevent me from kissing you, just so that she can get one in."

I never knew she felt this way before. I guess she and Serra don't want the other to know what they're doing. It's like a game of deception only that is involves love and nothing more. I felt ill after thinking such a thing as when Serra returns, she'll go absolutely mad.

" Priscilla....I must buy the equipment we need as per the instructions of our tactician."

" Then I shall accompany you." Priscilla said as she held onto my left arm and squeezed it hard. All I could do is just give a big sign and carry out the assignment. And now I wish I never think about bad things as they always seem to come true. I am cursed or something? I say this for what I didn't know was that Serra was heading for the armory. She had bought only one piece of jewelry for herself, a tiny diamond. I noticed her from the corner of my eye and begged Priscilla to let go of me, but she was too deep into her happy thought s to even listen to me.

" Erk, do have the equipment yet?" Serra called out.

" As a matter of fact I do, but I have yet to go to the vendor. Would you mind going there in my place as the equipment has to go through the tax quotient." This was actually true as this village adds the tax after you buy the product. A strange custom I must say.

" Okay, I'll come in and get the purse." Serra suggested. I was able to break free of Priscilla's hold as hearing Serra's voice brought her around. I stepped outside and handed over the purse. " What is the tax rate anyway?"

" 5 %" I told her.

" Not much is it? I'll get the staves as I needed a new one anyway. This current one of mine is on its last charge. I'll be back before you know it." Serra said and without any word of warning, Serra kissed me on the cheek before heading off, and Priscilla just happened to see it before her eyes for she had walked outside of the armory. Her expression was one of utter anger and she was about to explode in rage.

" That little...." I won't mention what she said as it's too violent for viewers, but she was indeed upset. Then, she decided to kiss me on the cheek just because she can as Serra did it first and then she hugged me and refused to let go, not even for a second. I felt uneasy as this was just asking for trouble from Serra....who happened to be coming back right away with a handful of staves and other things. I wish that the vendor wasn't next door to the armory as things were about to go from bad, to worse. She saw Priscilla give me another kiss and well....she does her overacting routine.

" Ha! I knew it!" she shouted, but at least Priscilla let go of me.

" Knew what?" Priscilla asked.

" You've been trying to seduce my Erk away from me, and it looks as though I stopped you just in time." Serra said as she dropped what she was carrying. Seducing me? Serra was overstating the obvious, but once she gets started, there is nothing that can stop her.

" I wasn't doing anything of the sort. I only wanted to spend some time alone with him, that's all. Is that wrong of me?" Priscilla asked. From my perspective of the matter, both girls were in the right....and in the wrong, except I have no idea what just happened. Everything went so fast, all I could do was pretend that I understood.

" What you did wasn't wrong, but in public? Now that's doing something wrong!" Serra said, her face turning red. " Sometimes, I don't know why we bothered to help you back in Laus during that rebellion plot."

" And I don't know why you're still here as annoying as ever." Priscilla really shouldn't have said that as Serra has sensitive feelings; so does Priscilla, but Serra actually does something about it. For those of you who have weak stomachs, you might want to look the other way. And those who like this sort of thing, or wish to know what happens next....

" You take that back!" Serra shouted.

" No, for it is true." Priscilla.

" I mean it!"

" Yeah right!"

" I'm serious!"

" Like I am afraid of you!"

That last crack from Priscilla was the straw that broke the camels' back as Serra turned away for a second, before slapping Priscilla so hard in the face, she almost fell over. I was hoping that they wouldn't start a fight again, but knowing those two, it was bound to happen. I tried to break them up, but wound up getting hit myself by both of them. Apparently, they wish to settle their differences without any interference. Luckily, Hector and several of our group arrived for we were a tad too long with our assignment, and seeing Serra and Priscilla at one another's throats forced Hector to break them up, and resulting with him getting slapped twice.

His expression after that will forever be in my memory. I tried to explain as best I could over what happened, but Hector decided that the girls had to be kept apart. This made my problems worse than what they already were. No doubt Serra and Priscilla will wish to spend as much of their time with me as they can, resulting in more problems for our group. I decided that I had to ask someone about why they're doing all this just to win me over. I mean, I know much about that, yet I don't understand why they're risking their friendship, my stress and the entire groups' sanity over love. Tonight, I'll find someone to ask, but who should it be?

End of Chapter 4.

Note: Here's a thought for you guys. If Erk was to ask someone, other than Serra and Priscilla, who would it be? I have an idea of someone, but I want your opinions first. And yes, those two may kill each other if they can't control themselves. Of course, things are only going to pick up and Erk's stress isn't about to go down.

As for the tax and currency bit, you can tell that I made it up, as percentages aren't exactly my thing.

Please R&R, thanks.

--Davis--