Somewhere at sea…
"To arms, you dogs! We have boarders!" The sound of cracking whips accentuating the master-at-arms' voice roused Geoffrey Bauer from his uneasy sleep. Stumbling in the dark, he groggily put on his boots amidst mumbled curses over his fate. He had led a simple existence as a farmhand in the past, until a bad harvest and a few lashes from the landowner led him to the town tavern where a stranger bought him drink after drink. Instead of waking up in his squalid hovel, he had found himself in the cabin of a moving ship the next morning.
That was two years ago.
A boatswain's mate burst into the cramped cabin he shared with seven others, his face red with exertion and fury. "Move it, you lot! Or I'll have all of you keelhauled!"
Like cattle, they were herded out of the cabin and into the ship's armory where Geoffrey was handed a rusty cutlass. The flats smelled of fresh vomit, no doubt due to how violently the ship was rolling. Stumbling the entire way, the boatswain's mate steered him and his cabinmates through the flats and onto the upper decks. Geoffrey took a deep breath as he emerged, glad to smell the open ocean. Yet his relief was short-lived as he was pelted by heavy rain and the salty wind stung the sores on his face.
He joined other crewmen on the starboard side, his eyes darting at the ocean surface for threats. The sail to some isolated Hamlet paid far better than most journeys, allegedly due to how dangerous it was. Geoffrey had been excited at first, since the extra pay would go a long way in ending his indentured servitude sooner, and he figured he'd be facing nothing more than pirates.
"Where's the boarders?" the deckhand next to him said, barely audible over the sound of raindrops pelting the deck. "I don't see any…"
Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by a fleshy thud as a harpoon struck his chest from beneath. As the man breathed his last amidst bloody gurgles, he was violently yanked over the edge. Geoffrey turned his gaze downwards and barely had enough time to register a figure clinging on the side of the ship throwing a harpoon straight towards his face. He stumbled backwards and onto his rear, gasping and reeling.
In moments, snarling monsters resembling walking fish climbed onto the deck. With claw and teeth in addition to their own blades, the creatures tore into the crew with bestial ferocity. Falling back on the rudimentary training he had received when he was forcibly inducted into the ship's crew, he parried and slashed. A feral roar filled his ears as his blade and clothing became caked in monster blood; he barely registered that the roar had in fact belonged to him.
Just then, the ship lurched violently to a dead halt and sent everyone crashing onto the deck. As Geoffrey got back up and glanced over the edge,
he saw a small boat in the distance bathed in an eerie blue light...
...as well as rusty hooks lining his own ship's deck and clinging to the masts.
The crew's confusion turned to horror as the ship was violently pulled downwards. Screams of terror and groans of failing wood filled the air, and the monsters were quick to take advantage of the confusion by renewing their assault. Geoffrey was no fool; he knew the ship was doomed, so he rushed towards the ship's edge, hoping he'd last long enough in the water to find a piece of flotsam to cling onto. To hell with pay! To hell with the lash! Nothing mattered more than survival!
A monster blocked his way and charged towards him with its cutlass. Geoffrey quickly veered to the side before sinking his blade into the creature's back and leaving it there. As he turned away from the dying fish-thing, he caught a glimpse of three more monsters devouring the still living boatswain's mate. The doomed man was still twitching as his previously furious face was locked in a look of utter terror and resignation. His right hand lay behind one of the creatures, still clinging onto an unfired pistol.
Geoffrey paid the boatswain's mate no further attention as he rushed and dove overboard. There were already other crew in the water, with more splashes joining him soon after. He began to choke and gasp from the rain and the waves hitting his face, and his rags were dragging him down. A split decision was made and he took a deep breath before allowing himself to sink below the surface. Saltwater stung his eyes as he flailed in the water, frantically tearing away at his clothes. He could already make out the lifeless forms of some shipmates sinking below the surface. Monsters were soon swimming up to claim those bodies, with a few even sinking their teeth into the thighs of still-struggling sailors and dragging them down into the blood-hazed depths to their doom.
After what seemed to be an eternity, Geoffrey was free of his rags and shot back to the surface. The darkness encroaching the edge of his vision retreated as air flooded his lungs once more. He saw a large piece of mast nearby, so he quickly swam over and clung to it. A few others joined him, and together they kicked their legs to get away from the doomed ship.
The Heir's Office, Hamlet
The Heir sighed as he rubbed his temples, trying to massage away the migraine assaulting him. He couldn't tell whether it because he was on his fifth glass of wine or the revelations brought forth by the Bracer's party that necessitated the wine in the first place. An eldritch entity which treats time as a mere plaything? Long-dead enemies from both the surrounding lands and the Bracer's home realm, the latter of which can swat aside his most seasoned soldiers with ease? The Heir was at a loss on how to deal with this colossal problem, the latest among many to plague the Hamlet. Setting aside the wine glass, he buried his face in his palms. The hour is late, and dwelling on this problem will bring me no closer to a solution.
"How sickeningly saccharine," Ambrosius's ephemeral voice snapped him out of his reverie. "Even as we speak, the Zemurians are indulging in the fruits of their reunion."
The Heir lifted his head, locking eyes with his Ancestor. In his tired and alcohol-addled mind, it took him a few moments to understand what Ambrosius was referring to.
"Es – the Bracer and her lover?" he said. "Are you so base, that you intrude upon their dalliance?"
"I did not intrude upon them in any way. Merely observed." Ambrosius's lips stretched uncomfortably wide in a grin that seemed almost predatory. "But enough about them. There are much more urgent problems at hand."
"Do you speak of the Farmstead? Or the fact the seas are raging once more?" Although the Heir was still incensed by Ambrosius's possible act of voyeurism, he was glad to turn away from such an uncomfortable subject.
"Perhaps a little of both, but I suppose you are more curious about the former," Ambrosius said. "If I may be blunt, I never expected the Bracer and her companions to leave the Farmstead alive."
"WHAT?" The Heir slammed his hands on the desk. "You mean you expected this to be a suicide mission? Was this some kind of twisted test? Or do you have some grudge against her that I did not know about?"
"No. Nothing of the sort. Do you recall your meeting with them shortly after their return? When the Abomination spoke of a key? It was in the form of those trinkets, originally in the possession of the Miller and his wife. In their desperation, those peasants rushed to procure as many charms as they could in the vain hope one of them would save their farm. Simple enchantments on trinkets is but child's play, and those lockets were no different," Ambrosius said. "The nomad merchant selling those lockets was on my payroll, and I also had agents infiltrate the Farmstead. It was an amusing distraction to keep abreast of their plight while I toiled away at my projects. As expected, that ignorant rabble did not possess the intellect necessary to decipher the secrets behind them, which eventually led to the Miller's audience with me."
Ambrosius chuckled darkly, seemingly equating his actions with nothing more than a childish prank.
"Of course, you know what became of his attempts to salvage the Farmstead. For years, two halves of the key lay forgotten deep within that blasted heath. Without the forbidden knowledge necessary to unlock their secrets, they were nothing more than mere baubles," he continued. "Yet many years later, the keys interacted with Zemurian sorcery in unexpected ways. An unforeseen reaction, but I suppose a satisfactory one that serves as a boon for your efforts."
"Why? Why are you telling me all this?" The Heir had long stopped masking his irritation. It seemed the more of his past his deceased relative revealed, the more repulsive he became. "How will your past sins aid in my quest to redeem our family name?"
"Perhaps I am merely a restless spirit looking for someone to confess to, or perhaps I grew bored in my deathless state and wanted to gloat about my exploits," Ambrosius said. "But my motivations do not matter here. The information that is pertinent is that those lockets are absolutely necessary if you want future expeditions to return. In fact, it may be a wise decision to send the Zemurians there too considering the threats lurking there."
Ambrosius' expression suddenly changed and his tone became much more grave, as if he was remembering some past setback.
"They are a hardy people, and it would behoove you to exploit their strengths but also be mindful of the threats they can pose," he remarked before his expression quickly became neutral again. "But those expeditions can wait for a future time. I believe there are more urgent issues that assail this Hamlet, yes?"
"The seas are becoming overwhelmed by storms again. The protective wards have failed far faster than last time, and multiple ships were caught by surprise," the Heir said. "This is severely damaging our trade options in addition to our food supply."
"Ah, yes. I suppose this leaves you with no option beyond going on the offensive, doesn't it?" Ambrosius remarked. "Perhaps the Siren is renewing her attacks against the surface, or perhaps that crew of the damned has seen fit to exact their vengeance."
"It is the Drowned Crew. Some scant survivors had made it to shore," the Heir replied. "They all stated they were assailed by apparitions in a ghastly vessel that should no longer sail."
"Then it is time to prepare for battle," Ambrosius remarked. "I am aware that you already have an expedition dispatched elsewhere, but perhaps it is time to plan ahead for the following week? This could be a good opportunity to test the male Zemurian's mettle…"
Tavern, the following morning…
The first thing Joshua heard when he woke up was a familiar rhythmic snoring. He opened his eyes, finding himself in the tavern room he and Estelle had rented the night before. It was a welcoming far cry from the chaotic technicolor hellscape he was far too used to. For the first time in an eternity, he felt fresh and well-rested. His face flushed as he gazed upon Estelle's nude sleeping form, and memories of the previous evening rushed back to him.
There had first been some awkward, sweaty fumbling before Joshua had finally found his mark and entered Estelle. Once their bodies had joined together for the first time, simple words such as "heavenly" and "perfection" could not sufficiently describe the level of ecstasy the two of them had reached. Round after round, climax after climax, the two of them had made up for their two months apart with a vengeance.
Joshua snuggled close to Estelle, combing her long messy mane with his left hand. Because of last night's exertions, her normally straight hair resembled a chaotic mess of tangled vines more than anything else. Despite feeling greasier than he had remembered, her hair still felt finer than any silk in an Erebonian noble's closet. His right hand found its way to her stomach, slowly tracing a scar he had seen the night before. To him, no amount of scarring could make Estelle any less beautiful, but they still caused him pain. The fact she had gotten them in his absence meant he had failed to protect her and be there for her when she had needed him the most.
"Mm…Joshua…" Estelle mumbled as she stirred, clasping her own hand over Joshua's. "Last night was amazing."
Estelle rolled around and gave him a quick peck on the lips, a warm smile adorning her face. Joshua's face grew warm as he felt himself harden and his tip brush against Estelle's thighs.
"I see somebody is wide awake," she giggled after lifting the blanket gave a quick peek underneath. As they locked eyes, Estelle's face suddenly turned downcast. "What's wrong?"
I can never hide anything from her, can I? Joshua was at a loss for words. Could he really tell her? About all the hell he had went through at the Farmstead? About the all the times he was sure he had died but woken up just fine the next moment? Or his crushing guilt about leaving Estelle alone in the Hamlet for the past two months?
"You don't have to tell me right now if you don't want to," Estelle said as she gently cupped his cheek with her hand. "It might take a few days or a few weeks, but I'll be all ears no matter how long it takes for you to tell me."
Yes, of course I can tell her. The answer was always obvious to Joshua, even he had to be reminded of it sometimes. He sighed deeply, trying to figure out how to start. Knowing Estelle would have his back no matter what, he decided to just speak the first thing on his mind.
"I'm so sorry, Estelle." Tears started to well up in his eyes. "I let you get hurt."
One of Estelle's hands gently wiped away his tears with deft fingers. Joshua noticed that her face had thinned a little and there was a new look in her eyes that definitely wasn't there before.
"Don't be sorry, Joshua. It was my first time, so of course it was gonna hurt," Estelle giggled. "Besides, I scratched up your back good last night so we're even."
"I wasn't talking about last night. I left you alone here fending for yourself while I was blindly fumbling around in that damned Farmstead." Bitter tears welled up in Joshua's eyes as he thought about what she might have gone through. "You got hurt Aidios knows how many times, and I wasn't there for any of them. I broke that promise, about how we would always protect each other until the very end."
"Joshua…" Estelle gently muttered. She smiled softly and gently dabbed around Joshua's eyes using her fingers.
"It's okay, it wasn't your fault. Neither of us knew what that stupid artifact could do, and now we're stuck here. Besides, you were in my heart the entire time, pushing me to work and fight harder." Estelle snuggled closer to him, the hickeys on her neck on full display. "And all our fighting did pay off. We're together again and that's all that matters."
The two of them hugged in shared bliss. Joshua savored the warm sensation of skin on skin as he prayed to Aidios that the moment would never end. That they could just lay in bed and cuddle for all eternity. His prayer went unanswered as their cuddling was interrupted by a long growl from Estelle's stomach. As if in tune with his girlfriend's body, Joshua's own stomach soon rumbled as well.
"What time is it anyway?" Estelle yawned. "We were at it for a while before falling asleep."
"That's a very good question, but it must have been quite some time since we last ate. Let's go get some food…" Joshua sat up, his nose wrinkling at the musky smell of sweat and other dried fluids. "…and maybe some water to wash up too."
"You read my mind, and it's better if you go," Estelle said, winking as she curled up into a ball. "I can barely walk after that that pounding you gave me."
Joshua flinched as memories of his time alone in that accursed Farmstead rudely intruded upon his mind. To make matters worse, those memories dredged up all the other times when he had been separated from Estelle, none of which were pleasant. He began to gasp and choke up as he hugged Estelle even tighter. Calm down…just calm down, damn it! Why am I acting like this?
"Joshua! Hey! It's okay!" Estelle placed a reassuring hand on his face. "The Hamlet is a safe place and you'll just be going downstairs to talk to somebody. You'll be back here before you know it."
After a few moments, Joshua finally regained his composure as his breathing calmed. It's okay. I'm in a safe place, just like Estelle said. Goddess, what's wrong with me?
"All right, I'll be right back," Joshua said. He hugged Estelle close before kissing her forehead. "I love you."
"I love you too," Estelle giggled. "I'll keep the bed nice and warm for you until you come back."
Joshua grunted as he got off the bed, which seemed more rickety than he had remembered the night before. He haphazardly threw on his jacket, pants, and boots before trudging towards the stairs. He paused halfway down to survey the sights and sounds in the Tavern.
From the simple wooden décor to the rustic atmosphere, it was no different than the many rural inns he and Estelle had visited in the past. The air was thick with the smell of woodsmoke, a telltale sign of the lack of Orbal stoves which only reinforced Joshua's notions about how medieval the Hamlet was. Patrons indulged in food and drink, partook in games of chance, and flocked around whatever musician was playing at the moment. From his vantage point, he could make out some rougher characters. The two who stood out the most were a dark-haired man wearing a longcoat and a man covered from head to toe in some kind of leather armor. In fact, the two of them were sitting at the same table and playing a game he recognized as Five Finger Fillet.
I'll leave them be. Joshua continued down the stairs before making his way to the bar.
"What can I do for you, Joshua?" the bald bartender asked. "Before you ask, your girlfriend has been talking about you ever since she got here."
"All good things, I assume? Anyway, the two of us are famished and somewhat soiled. I was wondering if we could get a hearty meal and…" Joshua stopped himself before he could mention running water out of force of habit. "…and something to wash up with. I'd like to have them delivered to our room."
"All right, then. I'll send a tub of hot water and some towels along with the food. You two must have had one hell of a night. Makes sense considering how she always spoke of you in high regard." Whatever else the bartender wanted to say was cut off by a loud shriek, followed by a frustrated groan. Soon after, the man wearing the longcoat trudged towards the bar, one of his fingers wrapped in a blood-stained bandage.
"I lost, so I'm buying Tardif's drink. Give me something strong while you're at it," the man said. The bartender quickly returned with a tray that had two beer-filled steins and a glass filled with a strong-smelling clear liquor. The stranger mumbled his thanks as he accepted the tray. Before he left, however, he glanced at Joshua.
"Haven't seen you before, stranger. Came here for the meatgrinder?" he said gruffly as he extended a hand. "Name's Dismas, and I suppose I'm sort of a veteran here."
"Joshua. It's a pleasure." He looked the older man in the eye as he shook Dismas' hand. His gaze hinted at a world-weary life, one that had seen too much bloodshed. Come to think of it, he reminds me a bit of myself.
"Joshua? As in that Joshua? Estelle's boyfriend?" Dismas' eyes lit up as his tone softened. "So she finally found you after all!"
"You know about us?" Joshua raised an eyebrow.
"I've fought by her side a few times and got to hear her tale. She's a brave lass and damn good to have by your side in a fight, but I'm sure you know that already," Dismas said. "Your lover has been making a reputation – the good kind, I assure you – ever since she got here. Don't know what kind of shite you two went through, but it's enough to make her one of the Hamlet's strongest fighters."
That's my Estelle, all right. Bringing her own brand of sunshine wherever she goes. Joshua couldn't help but smile and nod at the way Dismas talked about Estelle. "I'm glad to hear she's been doing well for herself."
"That she has. You're a lucky man to have her, Joshua," Dismas said. "That reminds me, the boss wants you settled into the barracks by the end of the week, followed by a demonstration of your skills. We'll talk more later. Old Tardif is waiting on his ale."
Joshua nodded as Dismas sauntered back to his table. Seeing there was nothing else to do, he eagerly headed back upstairs to the guestroom. He found Estelle fast asleep, so he quickly stripped naked again before slipping into bed with her. Like he had done countless times back home as well as on the road, he spooned her from behind and relished the feeling of their warm bodies pressing together. He couldn't fall asleep, nor did he want to. With the two reunited after a harrowing time apart, Joshua wanted to spend every waking moment with her and to extend said waking moments. He grunted in annoyance at a knock on the door. It was the delivery of food and cleansing water, so Joshua roused Estelle.
The meal was simple yet filling, consisting of sausages, cheese, and bread as well as beer to wash them all down. As they stuffed themselves, Joshua relayed Dismas' message.
"You met Dismas' already? He's a bit broody at times, but he knows his way around a fight. Fun at cards too. Anyway…don't overthink the demo. Mr. Heir asked me to do the same thing, and all I had to do was dazzle him with my staff skills and throw in a few Arts here and there." Estelle's eyes suddenly lit up as she grinned ear to ear. "You know what? I have an idea!"
For reasons Joshua couldn't comprehend, Estelle pulled him close and whispered in his ear despite the fact they were alone in a bedroom. Joshua raised an eyebrow as Estelle explained her plan.
"Really? You want to have a sparring session based on that?" Joshua said. "At least I'm not playing the princess this time."
Over the remainder of the week, Estelle gave Joshua a tour of the Hamlet. Even though it was rather lacking in the way of attractions and smelled faintly of manure no matter the time of day, Estelle still went about showing Joshua the major landmarks with her usual enthusiasm. Some locations warranted repeated visits, including the Guild — which was more like a training area than a proper Bracer Guild — and the harbor, where he joined Estelle as she indulged in her endearing fishing hobby. As always, the violent waves crashing against the jetty excited her even if Joshua himself was worried for her safety.
Along the way, she introduced him to all the people she had gone on expeditions with. A few of them, like Reynauld and his fellow Crusaders, were clear beacons of righteousness, and reminded him of some of the more dedicated Bracers and churchmen he and Estelle had met. Some such as Margaret and Audrey were down to earth and even jokingly expressed some jealousy about Estelle's "catch". Others were shadier and wouldn't have been out of place among the ranks of Jaegers, criminal gangs, or even Ouroboros itself. Yet all of them had welcomed him in their own way (usually by buying him a drink of their choice).
Over food and drink in the evenings, the two laughed and wept together as they listened to each other's stories. Joshua's heart sank especially low when Estelle told him about her encounter with the terrifying Collector, her missed birthday, the harrowing attack on the Hamlet by the marauding dead, and how her face was maimed by the Necromancer Lord's nightmarish minions. Yet there were also moments of triumph mixed in amidst the horror, ranging from simple acts such as collecting medicine to Estelle's efforts in defeating the undead menace. Emotions got the best of him one evening as he tightly hugged Estelle in full view of the other patrons while silent tears streamed down his cheeks. He whispered apologies in her ear and promised to not only always fight by her side, but also make the monsters pay for what they did to her if they ever returned to the Farmstead.
As the week drew to a close, a storm set in and put an end to their tours of the Hamlet. They spent the day inside talking, initially complaining about the unsanitary conditions before moving onto more serious topics. They started off with going over their supplies and equipment, before the subject drifted to their current predicament.
"Joshua, how much do you remember about that artifact that took us here in the first place? Kevin's request didn't really have a whole lot of information," Estelle asked, her brows knitting as she filed through her Bracer notebook. "After we got to the ruins, everything got kind of crazy and just blurred together for me."
Joshua tried the best to recall the artifact that Kevin had tasked them to retrieve. He remembered the half-eaten remains of the Jaegers, the smell of death, and…not much else. Like Estelle, his own notebook was devoid of any useful information after they had proceeded deeper into the ruins, surely a consequence of chaotic battle with the raging swarm of flesh that had descended upon them.
"I'm sorry, Estelle. I can't recall anything either," Joshua rubbed his temples. "It's all so hazy for me as well."
A thunderclap caused both of them to jolt and was even strong enough to shake the window.
"It's okay. It's just the storm," Joshua reassured his girlfriend. "Back to the topic. This is quite disconcerting, considering neither of us remember much about the events behind our arrival."
"Maybe everything's been so crazy that we barely had time to think about it?" Estelle said. "Give it enough time. I'm sure it'll come back to us eventually."
"I just hope it's not too late by then. I understand that the noble in charge of this Hamlet is our client, but we should also look towards finding a way back to Zemuria," Joshua said. "We've used up almost half of our healing supplies because of your fight with Loewe and it seems like your ARCUS has seen better days. Now that I'm out of the Farmstead, I'm sure my own ARCUS will start wearing out as well. Without any Orbal factories at hand, it'll only be a matter of time before our Orbments completely break down."
"Don't forget our friends and family…" Whatever Estelle planned on saying next was cut off by a series of loud drunken cheers from downstairs. "Not that I haven't made friends here, but I'm sure everybody back home is worried sick about us."
"I haven't forgotten about them. I just thought it was too obvious of a point to make," Joshua shrugged. "A good point nonetheless. While we perform requests here, we need to figure out how to get home."
"Mr Heir might know something," Estelle suggested. "He seems to know a lot about this area."
"More than he's letting on was my impression," Joshua said, sending a thoughtful glance towards the rain-covered window. "He seems the sketchy, secretive sort. What's his deal, anyway?"
"He said he's here to atone for some crime a relative committed. Haven't been able to pry anything else out of him yet. He seems like a decent sort, though," Estelle protested. "Besides, I'm sure I managed to gain at least a little of his trust considering how much I've been busting my ass for the past two months."
"Fair enough. We need to start searching for a way back, and he's a good place as any to start," Joshua pointed out. "We just can't run off doing requests and hope the Goddess drops a door back to Liberl right on our laps."
"That settles it, then," Estelle said. "Let's go ask him about it the first chance we get."
The next day, the Bracers checked out of their room. They tossed in a few extra coins to compensate for any possible damage the bed had sustained as well as the soiled sheets. To their surprise, the owner laughed and slid all but two of the coins back to them, explaining that sort of thing happens all the time and that the room fees already covered any damage that resulted from amorous congress.
The next item on the agenda was for Joshua to settle into the barracks, where the men and women were segregated on different floors (with men on the bottom and women on top). To Joshua's surprise, the task of helping him settling fell on none other than Dismas. The thought of still having to sleep separately from Estelle made both of them somewhat uncomfortable, but Dismas was quick to reassure them that they were always free to rent a room if carnal urges needed to be satisfied.
Dismas leaned in and whispered to both of them. "I'll let you in on a secret: the Hamlet is quite underpopulated despite the boss' best efforts," he said. "Adventurers who survive long enough are given the option to rent one of the abandoned houses. If he feels generous enough about your performance, he might even sell you a deed. If you want to go that route, give me or Reynauld a holler. We'll help smooth things over with the boss."
"Renting, huh?" Estelle looked at Joshua. "Just like Crossbell?"
"Just like Crossbell." Joshua nodded before turning back to Dismas. "In that case, please give His Lordship a good word about us."
"Will do. In the meantime, you should get your gear ready considering the boss's request about seeing you in action," Dismas told Estelle and Joshua. "I'm sure you two will make it a good show."
"Oh, we have something in mind, all right. Let him know we'll be ready in an hour," Estelle said, grinning. "You know what? Everyone's invited. Spread the word."
"Oh? Is that so? Can't say I'm not curious about what you two got cooked up. Guess I better get on it," Dismas nodded before he turned and left. A few moments and some prep work later, the Bracers followed suit.
Proving Grounds
The weed-strewn field behind the Blacksmith's shop was the largest patch of empty space within the Hamlet's bounds. That made it an excellent location for outdoor sparring and for testing various weapons and other more esoteric techniques. After Dismas had told him Joshua was ready to commence the demonstration, the Heir rushed over, feeling more eager than he liked to admit. The crowd of adventurers (and a handful of peasants) surrounding the proving grounds only added to his suppressed excitement. In the middle of the field stood the two Bracers who were happily engaged in idle chatter, their gazes and expression showing nothing but pure heartfelt affection. The male Bracer glanced at the Heir and pointed at him while whispering something to his mate, and the two turned to face him in unison.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Estelle and this is my beloved boyfriend Joshua! Together, we're going to spar a little and put on a show," she grinned as she pointed at her partner, her voice filled with her usual enthusiasm, "Instead of a boring old fight, however, we're going to act out a classic play from back home! It's called 'The Madrigal of the White Magnolia' and it's got romance, intrigue, but most important of all: VIOLENCE!"
"Estelle will play the role of Ruby Knight Julius while I shall be Azure Knight Oscar," Joshua picked up from Estelle, "The scene we shall be re-enacting is from the climax, where the two knights engage in a duel to the death for the love of the kingdom's princess."
"Speaking of princess, here's a fun fact: This isn't our first time acting the play," Estelle interrupted. "The biggest difference is that last time Joshua played –"
"That's not important, Estelle," Joshua said hurriedly. "Let's get started."
"Whatever, Your Highness," Estelle rolled her eyes.
Although the Heir was unfamiliar with such a custom, it appeared to be a sign of irritation. I wonder how much of their introduction was staged.
The two of them strode to opposite sides of the field before turning to face each other. After taking a few moments to stretch, Estelle spoke up.
"My friend… I fear that this was inevitable. Perhaps fate always intended for us to meet in so base a fashion." She readied her staff. "Speak, that we may both be unburdened! If nothing else, for our beloved princess!"
"We would cleave a path through fate with our own hands," Joshua said gravely. "But at this moment, my words and her smile seem lost."
"Has fear clutched your heart, Oscar?" Estelle asked.
"Perhaps, but what is this passion that pierces me to the quick? As I see you with blade drawn, I feel as though I've been waiting for this moment." Joshua unsheathed his twin blades and twirled them with a flourish before assuming his own fighting stance. "Before this storm by the name of revolution should claim us both, we shall let fate decide our outcome!"
"Yes! And may the Goddess above see our spirits as they truly are! Come, then! Let it be done!"
"En garde!" Joshua called out. Even as the Heir's face remained impassive, his fists tightened out of suppressed excitement.
Glowing halos appeared at both their feet as the two readied their Arts. Phantom clocks appeared above both, accompanied by the echoing sound of gears. Soon after, both of them charged at each other with lightning speed. They clashed and parried with dizzying speed far beyond anything the Heir had seen before, eliciting gasps and cheers from the crowd.
The pair split apart soon after, reading their Arts once more. Lightning and fire summoned from their miraculous machines consumed each other in a deafening explosion and kicked off a thick haze, shielding the two from view. Soon after, the staccato clashing of weapons commenced again in a symphony of violence. As the dust settled and the Bracers came back into view, several members of the crowd gasped in surprise.
I have seen how potent those Arts can be, yet those two are barely touched! It was clear that despite the dirt and sweat gathering on their skin and clothes, they were no worse for wear. Even amidst the intensity of their battle, brief glimpses of their faces showed strain but also excitement, as if the two were children indulging in an intense bout of wrestling.
"Impressive, Julius…" Joshua said through gritted teeth as he pressed his blades against Estelle's staff, trying to break their stalemate.
"I should say the same of you, but still you seem to hesitate!" Estelle drove her knee towards Joshua's groin, forcing him to back away out of reflex to dodge the strike. The two circled each other, taking advantage of the respite to catch their breaths.
"What troubles you, Oscar? Is this the extent of your skill?" Estelle asked in a mocking tone. "Perhaps the tales of your acts of valor against the Empire were grossly overstated?"
"You underestimate my power," Joshua said flatly. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared from view.
"That wasn't in the…" Estelle was cut off when Joshua rushed at her from behind a scant second later.
Blades jabbed only for staff to block them in a ringing clang. He disappeared once more, appearing at Estelle's left flank this time around. Each time he disappeared and struck from a different direction, Estelle was ready to counter him. The Heir couldn't but help look on in awe as the crowd (which appeared to have grown) cheered. Could this be what Ambrosius referred to when he spoke of the Zemurians' power? Magnificent. Truly magnificent!
The crowd let out a collective gasp, the Heir himself included, when a ring of Joshuas appeared around Estelle, all of them striking as one. Taking advantage of her staff's longer reach, Estelle swiped it in a circle and struck each afterimage plus Joshua himself. The male Bracer was sent reeling back, and Estelle flipped his earlier trick back at him by attacking him at great speeds from different directions. What advantages her lover had in speed and reflexes, she compensated for in raw power. Despite Joshua successfully blocking each of Estelle's blows, the sheer force behind her strikes caused him to stumble with each impact. One final blow appeared to strike true, sending a giant plume of soil into the air as if a cannonball had landed on Joshua's location. As the dust settled, the Heir saw the result of Estelle's attack: a deep crater.
A deep crater that was empty.
As the crowed looked around for Joshua, the Heir noticed something else: Estelle now had Joshua's weapons.
"It's over, Julius! I have the high ground!" Joshua called out from the tall tree behind the Blacksmith's shop. The Heir followed his voice and found Joshua balanced on one of the thicker branches, Estelle's staff in hand.
"Okay, that wasn't in the script at all!" Estelle grinned as she readied an Art once more. "But I digress. High ground matters not when I have this!"
A fireball shot from her Orbment and struck Joshua squarely in the chest, but he was able to recover from his fall and clamber onto another branch. Taking advantage of the lull in Estelle's Arts, Joshua readied his own Art. A wave of compressed wind hit Estelle like a fist before she could finish casting, sending her sprawling on her back. Joshua jumped down, ready to finish her with her own staff. Yet Estelle got back on her feet just in time to block Joshua's strike with his own swords. Exhaustion was evident in their sweaty faces and movements, with the two panting and striking sloppily (exacerbated by their relative unfamiliarity with each other's weapons). The two drew apart, seemingly to muster all their remaining strength before charging at each other. With one final clang, both of them sank to their knees and their weapons dropped to the ground. The crowd looked on in stunned silence, reeling at the fight that just transpired.
Junia broke the silence. "Perhaps we should check on them," she said uncertainly. "They might have injured themselves."
As if to prove the Vestal wrong, Estelle laughed heartily with Joshua joining in soon after. The two got up and returned their weapons to each other before embracing tightly.
"You haven't lost your edge at all," Joshua said as they let go of each other. "Then again, you were quite busy."
"I could say the same about you, pal." Estelle held up a fist in front of her, which Joshua acknowledged by bumping it with his own. Quite the peculiar greeting they have.
"And there you have it!" Estelle bowed along with Joshua, hand-in-hand. "Hope everyone enjoyed our little fight! Especially you, Mr. Heir!"
The crowd soon descended on the two Bracers, bombarding them with countless questions and adulations. With some assistance from Reynauld and a heavily-intoxicated Barristan, the Heir was able to convince the rabble to disperse.
"Come to my office," he told the Bracers. "We have much to discuss."
It appears nobles are the same everywhere. The Heir's office reminded Joshua of the countless minor nobles he and Estelle had taken requests from while they were in Erebonia. From the family crests and the bizarre collection of swords and battle trophies to the overly ornate desk and chairs. To push the point home, he even had an elderly retainer who poured wine for all three of them before leaving them be.
"You two have made quite the impression," the Heir said. "While I have already seen a solitary demonstration of the female Bracer's skills, witnessing them in unison is an entirely different matter. From this day onward, you are hereby inducted into my service just like Estelle has been for the past two months."
"Thank you, Your Lordship. However, I do have one condition: wherever Estelle goes, I go," Joshua said firmly as he gripped Estelle's hand. "We made a promise that we would protect each other to the very end, and we intend on fulfilling that promise."
"You have a very peculiar demand, but your demonstration has made quite the convincing argument. Furthermore, I am no stranger to Estelle's yearning in your absence," the Heir said. "Your sparring session was proof enough that having both of you in an expedition would greatly increase a team's combat prowess. Consider this request honored."
"Thank you, sir," Joshua said. "As the sole representatives of the Bracer Guild, we will do our part in protecting the people of this Hamlet."
"Before you go, there's something I'd like to ask," the Heir said. "Do either of you have some sort of nickname? A nom de guerre you may have earned back in your homeland?"
Joshua's eyes widened as he thought about what he should say. Technically, he did have a nickname. One that was bestowed upon him by Weissmann when he had been first pressed into Ouroboros' service: The Black Fang. It was a remainder of his shameful past, a past that he would have to spend the rest of his life atoning for. Perhaps I could just tell him that. This could be my chance to make that moniker a symbol of justice and…
Joshua's line of thought was broken by Estelle's voice. "Nope. I don't have one at all, and neither does Joshua," she said. "Back home, we only go by our names and haven't run into any problems."
"Very well, I appreciate your honest answer and willingness to entertain my idle curiosity," the Heir said. "In the meantime, you two are free to spend the remainder of the day as you choose. I am still finalizing the details of the next expedition and will brief you when that time comes."
"Wait, there's something else I'd like to ask," Estelle said. "Do you remember our first meeting, when I told you about how I got here?"
"Absolutely. Your tale was hardly a forgettable one," the Heir replied.
"Then you know that we're not from around here. As in: not just from a different country, but an entirely different world," Estelle said. "Do you know anything about some artifact or other magical…thing that can take us back home?"
The Heir sighed and steepled his hands, his brows knit as if deep in thought. Even from up close, Joshua found it hard to read his expression. He could either be trying to recall any scrap of information or trying to come up with a lie.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I have not come across anything like that over the course of my time here, or even my entire life," the Heir shook his head. "Being trapped in a place so alien from your own must cause a great deal of sorrow, but there is nothing I can do to aid you in this regard. Not when I already have so much on my shoulders. Perhaps you should try inquiring with Abdul. I cannot guarantee anything, but you may be able to find your answer amidst his arcane knowledge."
"I see. Thanks anyway. We know who to talk to next, at the very least," Estelle said as she got up. "Come on, Joshua. We're leaving."
Joshua and Estelle said their goodbyes to the Heir before the retainer showed them out. After he was sure he was far enough from the Heir's residence, Joshua sighed in relief.
"I know what you were trying to do, Joshua," Estelle said as she placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You were going to tell him about 'The Black Fang', weren't you?"
"Yes. Yes, I was. I even tried to come up with excuses about why I should use it again," Joshua nodded. "I thought…I thought maybe I could salvage that nickname, turn it from a mark of shame to a badge of honor. I'm a fool, aren't I?"
"No, you're not. He doesn't know your story and put you on the spot without even realizing it," she said. "You tried your best to give him an answer. Besides, if I had some badass nickname from the Society, I would have thought about using it too even after quitting."
"Thanks for the save, Estelle," he said, "Why does he seem so fixated on nicknames and titles anyway?"
Estelle looked down at the ground, her expression slightly darkening. Even this subtle change in her sunny demeanor was enough to make Joshua wrap an arm around her waist and pull her close. Estelle nodded in appreciation of his gesture and sighed before speaking up.
"The cemetery here is full of people who died trying to make the Hamlet a better place, and all of them were adventurers hired by Mr. Heir," Estelle explained. "People just like Dismas, just like Barristan…"
"Just like us." Joshua knew what Estelle was trying to get at. "He's afraid of becoming attached to people he thinks will get killed sooner or later, so he tries to avoid calling them by their names and stay detached."
"Yeah. That's exactly it, even if he does get attached to some people anyway. That's another difference between this place and home: people die too often here," Estelle said. "But that doesn't mean I have to just lay down and take it. That's not what Bracers do! That's not what I do!"
"I know. This is one of the reasons why I love you so much. You never let evil and injustice slip by," Joshua said. "But there's something else, isn't there?"
Estelle nodded and pointed to the edge of the pier she liked to fish off of, and the two sat on the end together.
"I…I don't want either of our names to go on those tombstones," Estelle said as she gazed out to the stormy sea. "I don't want to die here. I want to go home, back to Liberl, back to Dad and Renne and all our friends."
"Me too, Estelle. Me too," Joshua said as Estelle rested her head on his shoulder. "How about we add an extra clause to our promise? That we'll stave off the end until after we get home? That we'll endure all the horrors this world has to throw against us?"
"The second part already falls under the whole 'protect each other' thing, dummy," Estelle chuckled. "But yeah, let's add it to our promise. That we'll live long enough to get home."