Chapter 7: A Fresh Start
Aribeth went back to the church to pack her things. As she entered her room, she smiled and reminisced all the time she spent in the church training. She pulled out a big bag under her bed and set it on the bed. She pulled out the box under the bed and set it on the bed too. She started to fold her clothes and neatly place it in the bag. After packing, she left the room carrying her bag and knocked in Mother Superior's room.
"Come in…" she called out.
As Aribeth entered the room with her bag, she saw a female high priest sitting on the chair, in front of the nun's table.
"What brings you here my child?" the nun inquired sweetly.
"I just came in to say goodbye." Aribeth said sadly.
"Don't be sad! We had wonderful memories together. Just remember me and all that I taught you wherever you go." The nun said she smiled sweetly.
"Oh, meet Ferna, she will be my new apprentice." She said as she pointed to the high priest with her palm. The high priest waved a hello to Aribeth and smiled.
"That was quick…anyway, I'm off now." Aribeth said as she slowly closed the door.
"Where will you be staying?" the nun inquired.
"The inn I guess." Aribeth said as she waved goodbye and closed the door.
"Bye Aribeth! Take care." The nun shouted as Aribeth closed the door.
"Bye Mother Superior…" Aribeth said under her breath as she sighed.
She walked out of the hall, and out of the church. Carrying her bags, she walked, looking at the sky. A leaf fell on her head as she was walking. She plucked it off her head and looked at it.
"It's fall." She said softly as she threw the leaf away.
"Need help?" a familiar voice called out. It was Varil.
"No, I'm good." She replied as she smiled sweetly.
"Come on, give me your bags." He said as he took the bags Aribeth was carrying.
"Thank you Varil." She said as she massaged her arm.
"Where are you going? Don't you have training as Mother Superior?" Varil inquired.
"She quit!" another familiar voice called out. It was Guile.
"She quit because of me!" Guile said boastfully.
Aribeth laughed softly as they walked.
"Really?" Varil asked as he looked at Aribeth, smiling.
"No…not really…" she replied with a smile.
"Ha!" Varil exclaimed as he glanced at Guile with an insulting look.
"Of course she would deny it…it would be improper for a woman to profess love to her man! Only men do that!" Guile said confidently, "Like this…" he said as he ran in front of Aribeth, blocking her pat. He knelt down and took her hands, caressing them. The both of them paused looking at Guile.
"Aribeth…join my guild…be with me…for I love you and I'd die without you…" he said sweetly as he looked into her eyes. Aribeth grinned as she raised her brow.
"I don't think so." She said as she pulled her hands from Guile and walked around him.
"Ha!" Varil said tauntingly as he looked at Guile again.
"I died for you and this is how you repay me?!" Guile exclaimed jokingly as he chased Aribeth.
Varil started to walk as Guile chased Aribeth.
"Why don't you join my guild, Aribeth? There's free food, shelter, water and we're very happy!" Varil exclaimed as he walked faster, catching up to them.
"Very gay if that's what you mean!" Guile said as he rested his hands behind his head. Aribeth giggled as she turned left in the t-intersection.
"Thanks Varil, but I feel like going solo a while. I'll be staying in the inn, and by the way, thanks for carrying my bag." Aribeth said as she smiled sweetly.
Varil blushed as she looked at him.
"WHAT?! I ask you lovingly to join me, you snapped at me and he asks you to join him and you reply sweetly?! What's he got that I don't got?!" Guile said as he put his hands on his waist, looking at her crossly.
"First of all Guile, work on your grammar! Secondly, he's a proper gentleman while you're a boastful, arrogant idiot!" She said jokingly as she smiled.
"Arrogant?! Boastful?! I'm gonna look that up!" Guile said jokingly as they all laughed.
"Guile, I never seen this side of you…you should be a clown instead of a Champion-Stalker." Aribeth said as she looked at Guile.
Guile blushed as well as she looked at him. He turned away, embarrassed.
They finally arrived at the inn. Aribeth stopped walking and turned to look at them.
"Thank you for accompanying me. May I have my bag back?" Aribeth said sweetly, looking at Varil.
"I'll take that!" Guile said enthusiastically as he snatched her bag from Varil.
Varil sighed quietly as he turned around to leave, "I'm going now Aribeth."
"Take care." She replied as she waved goodbye. She turned around facing the inn's door. Guile rushed behind her, "Open the door please." He said jokingly.
"Okay." Aribeth replied with a sigh as she turned the golden knob of the big brown door and entered the room. She was greeted by marble flooring and an exquisite gem-filled Chandelier in the middle of the room which gave out a yellow illuminating light. A big round table was underneath the chandelier, there a big blue ceramic vase filled with big yellow flowers stood on the table. Underneath the table was a big round green carpet almost similar to the one Mother Superior has.
"This is an inn?" Aribeth said, shocked.
"It's a hotel, I had to upgrade it." Guile said as walked into the room.
"Yeah right, like you own the place." She said coldly. Guile fell silent as he rolled his eyes at Aribeth.
"Whatever!" she said as she walked to the front desk which was about 5 meters was from the table. The front desk was made of black marble and had gold linings on it. Behind the desk was a female attendant in her mid 30's who was in a beautiful white apron; underneath was a navy blue dress. She had bright blue eyes with a well-rounded face. She was a little chubby, but it suited her well. She had long black hair supported by a Kafra band.
"How may I help you ma'am?" she asked sweetly.
"I would like to check in please." Aribeth replied with a smile.
"I'm sorry, we're all full, and our only vacancy is one of the presidential suite." She replied with a frown.
"How much will that cost?" Aribeth inquired.
"For that suite…" she replied as she rustled through her papers, "about 500,000 zennies a night.
"Wow…" she replied sadly.
"Give her that room, on me." Guile said as he approached the desk.
"Yes sir! Master Guile." the clerk said excitedly as she walked away.
Aribeth's eyes grew in shock as she turned at Guile, looking at him. Guile grinned as he winked at her.
"I'll take your bags upstairs, when you're ready, the lift's over there." Guile said as he pointed to the rightmost corner of the room. Aribeth slowly turned her head to look at it, it looked like a fancy elevator. The doors were golden and the dial above it was made with pure ivory.
"You own this place?" Aribeth said softly, shocked.
"Yes! So just go up later, I'll be waiting for you. Your room is in the 33rd floor okay?" he said smiling as he walked to the elevator.
"o-okay…" she replied softly.
"Here is your key ma'am!" the clerk said smiling as she gave the keys to Aribeth.
"Thanks…" she replied softly with a smile. She turned around and headed for the elevator.
She arrived in front of the elevator and saw 2 buttons with an arrow pointing up and one pointing down. She pressed the one pointing up and heard soft whirring inside the door.
"Ding-dong!" it rang with a metallic sound. The doors opened sideways and revealed a small cubicle, which would fit 10 people. The cubicle had mirrors for walls and had gold handles around it. The floor was also made of marble but was slightly covered by a round red rug. As she entered the cubicle, she noticed the ceiling was also a mirror. As the doors closed, she then noticed the glass buttons in the left side of the door. The numbers went from 1 to 35. She pressed the button numbered 33. The cubicle started up and whirred as it was taking her up.
"I can't believe he owns this place." Aribeth said softly as she smiled. She turned around to look at herself as she smiled. The circlet on her head was starting to dull. Its beautiful luster was slowly deteriorating. She took it off and put it in her small pink bag. She looked at herself again and smiled again. Her long red High priest uniform revealed her beautiful shape. She tilted her leg to the right as the slit in her dress revealed her leg. She raised her brow as she was looking at it. She combed her golden hair with her fingers as she perked her breasts out. She pouted her lips and gave out a smack.
"I am sexy…"she said to herself in a sexy voice.
"Ding-dong!" the bell rang as it opened. The cubicle was still in the 25th floor as it opened. A male lord knight with blonde hair and in full armor entered the cubicle seeing Aribeth posing in front of the mirror. He raised his brow looking at her with his blue eyes. Aribeth gasped as she rushed to stand still. Blood rushed to her head as a sense of embarrassment filled her. The knight stepped in the cubicle and pressed the button numbered 35. A brief silence enveloped them as Aribeth looked away.
"You…you look nice." The knight said softly.
"Thanks…" she replied as she looked away.
"I'd do you but I'm in a committed relationship." He said as he looked at Aribeth from head to toe.
Aribeth was then filled with rage. Immediately, she punched him on the face with all her strength. The knight fell on his back as the elevator's bell dinged.
"Look at me again with that look, and I'll kill you!" she threatened.
The knight didn't reply as he was dazed by her punch. The door opened and Aribeth stepped out of the cubicle. The door closed behind her as she walked into the hallway. The hallway was long and extended for about 10 meters. There were doors, left and right. As she walked, she noticed the doors were equally distant from one another. In between these spaces, there was a mirror with a golden frame. The hallway's floor was covered with a beige carpet, and the ceiling was varnished wood. A slit in the ceiling revealed light bulbs giving off a yellow illuminating glow. She saw Guile sitting down in front of a door patiently waiting for her.
"Guile!" she called out as she bolted to him.
"What took you so long?!" he exclaimed as she stood up.
"Sorry, some jerk came in from the 25th floor." She replied as she gave him the keys.
"Why was he a jerk? What'd he do?" he asked as her inserted the key in the knob.
"Let's just forget about that." Aribeth said as Guile opened the door.
"Okay, my room is just opposite of yours…" he said as he pointed to the door opposite of them, "If there's any trouble, just knock."
"Okay." She replied entering the room as she carried the bag Guile left on beside the door.
Guile turned towards his room as Aribeth closed the door behind her.
She opened the door as she poked her head out of the room.
"How'd you get this place?" Aribeth asked as she was holding the railings of the door.
Guile turned around, facing her and rested his hands on his waist.
"This was an inn before. When I died, then resurrected, my insurance company paid me a dividend of 300 billion zennies. I had the piece of crap renovated and then this." He replied as he crossed his arms.
"Wow…okay, I'll get out of your hair. Thanks again Guile." Aribeth said as she was closing the door.
"Wait!" Guile said rushing to her door. Aribeth opened the door a gain and looked at Guile.
"My guild is having a gathering later in the isle ballroom, maybe you would like to come?" he asked softly as he locked his eyes on hers.
"I don't know Guile. First of all, I'm not part of your guild and lastly, I know you'll be drinking. I don't drink. I'll be out of place there." She replied as she took her eyes off of Guile's.
Guile took her hand with both his hands and placed it in his chest.
"Be there and I'll never charge you for this room." He said as he forced his eyes into hers
Aribeth glanced at the room behind her and saw how luxurious it was. The floor was again, marble. The furniture's were exquisite. The couches were white and looked soft. The center table was glass and its legs were metal, on top of it, was a red table runner with golden trimmings. Instead of a wall, it was a big window showing the whole of Prontera. Aribeth smiled as she raised her brow as her turned to Guile.
"Deal!" she exclaimed as she put her other hand on his chest.
"I'll pick you up later at 8 okay?" he said smiling as he caressed her hand.
"Okay…by the way, you're not getting any!" she said as she pushed him away.
"Who said I was trying?!" Guile exclaimed as Aribeth closed the door.
Aribeth's door opened again, "Is it a formal?" she asked as she poked her head out.
"Yeah, I'll bring you something to wear, so don't worry about it." He replied as he approached her.
"I told you, you aren't getting any!" She cried out and slammed her door again.
Guile chuckled and turned back to his room.
