"Are you okay?"
Shren talked to the woman who sat against a rock. Her responses incoherent and breathy as she clutched the area where the spear stabbed her.
Gwynn glared down at that woman, and then towards Shren.
An abnormal person who shook down the invasion yet did not bat an eyelid to a human shield.
Where did this mercenary come from?
Perhaps…he had been that mysterious person Tieve visited every day in that room.
Whenever Gwynn returned to the Inn, she would always spot Tieve delivering medicinal soups or letters. Any healthy tenant at the Inn either checked the mailbox or ate in the common dining room.
Up the flight of stairs from the dining room. Walk down a hallway laden with common sleeping quarters. Another flight of stairs. Another hallway of bedrooms. And then a staircase to a locked door that Tieve would always disappear behind. Only to reappear again with clean bowls.
Mercenary tenants would don their detective glasses and try to debunk the man behind the door. Nothing more than harmless rumors.
But all those rumors were aware of one fact courtesy of the local oracle. Only Tieve could grace that person.
Shren was no VIP. But his presence was enough to turn some of the local warriors into superstitious monkeys. His existence garnered constant medical attention and the trust of Aodhan. An influential man, one way or another, Gwynn was interested.
While Gwynn seemed to contemplate how to scrutinize Shren, he and the rookies worked together to heal the spear wound the woman had suffered.
Shren held her down against the ground. Karok dragged out the spear with one hand. And Evie turned her blue with the same healing magic used on Shren.
The woman had stared at Shren during her impromptu surgery. Her eyes betraying her glimpse of the man who struck her down. She felt around her inexistent wound with no waves of pain.
"Can you speak?" asked Shren.
The woman stared in silence for a moment, before replying, "…yes."
"That's good." Shren smiled at her, making the woman cringe.
"What are you going to do to me?" The woman's eyes took note of everyone staring at her. Even the corpse that Karok carried seemed to throw a sideway glance at her.
"I just need to ask you a few questions…later," replied Shren.
He could feel it. He could feel the gaze that observed their every move. He looked up to the woman atop the foreign ship. She was one of them.
She smiled back.
She seemed impressed. So impressed she had to dive into the waters and rise out with a smirk on her face. The group seemed like fun, why not test how much fun they could be?
She sashayed down the coast, her wild and straight hair bouncing with her hips. Combined with her parted lips, she didn't seem to have any lick of dread.
Her fellow crewmate within the group stared, and whispered "Mistress."
Shren appraised her up and down. She carried none of the bloodthirstiness her comrades showed. Yet, Shren felt more threatened by her than the entire invasion force. Her poise screamed complete confidence in her actions.
The mercenaries braced themselves as the 'Mistress' drew her swords from her side. Gwynn scoffed at the strange underhand grip she had in one hand.
She stopped about three meters away from the group.
Her eyes scanned the two glowing people in front of her. With one look at her healed crewmate, she motioned for her with a flick of her finger.
She complied as she ran towards her. However, the other glowing person caught her arm from behind and pulled her away.
The woman struggled as she was pulled away, yelling, "Let go of me!"
The mistress pouted, showing her 'displeasure.'
"You won't let her go peacefully?" asked the mistress with sophistication so lovely one couldn't easily stand it.
"We have plans for her. If you want her back, I'll tell you your options," replied Shren.
Gwynn felt uncomfortable letting the mercenary dictate the rules. Shren wanted answers and so did she. But why engage in talking with this pirate?
"My options?" The mistress pointed at herself before giggling. "Finally, someone who knows how to treat a real woman!"
"Did I make you recall something? I apologize if that is the case."
"A gentleman too! Please tell me your wishes."
"As you wish, mistress…hmm?"
"Mistress? My, my. You can even pick up hints too," Vella clapped nice and slow. "How astute. You'll make a good man for me."
"It's only fair."
Their words set to sting. This was more of a playful banter than an actual negotiation. Gwynn's eyes pointed daggers at the two.
"A fair man you are. Very well. You may call me Mistress Vella."
"Thank you, Mistress Vella. Did you sail all the way here with your friends?"
"Friends?" Vella took this chance to look at the one Shren held back. "They've only entertained me for so long. That one only annoyed me."
The woman gasped, before her knees buckled to the ground. Her head hanged low as Shren stepped in front of her.
"Harsh words."
"I'm always honest. Your friends seem more fun anyways." Vella glanced at Karok, along with the body he held up. "Oh. He was fun. Wasn't more annoying than that one anyways. Also…"
The group remained stone-faced while Vella commented on her former crewmates as if their lives were inferior. Every comment about her crewmates also seemed to degrade the woman more and more.
Gwynn's veins popped out. Blood spilled out from Karok's finger grip in the body. While they struggled to stay on their best behavior, Shren had figured out that Vella cared more about curing her boredom than saving the woman. Vella…was an interesting candidate to Shren.
"But enough about my crew. Your options?" asked Vella after finishing.
"I apologize for getting you backtracked," said Shren. "Leave. Right now. Without her. Or-"
"Leave?" Vella interrupted. "I have no such interest."
Shren cocked an eyebrow, before saying "Then-"
"After all," Vella continued. "If a man like you could make me choose…"
Her eyes scanned Shren again, accompanied with a mocking head tilt and narrowed eyes. Her tongue slithered across her lips. Every bit of toying she did now seemed more like a challenge.
"Then why don't I just-"
Her posture bent forward. Edges as sharp as a shark's teeth faced Shren.
A fast woman. Even faster than the one Shren faced.
She dashed and slashed towards Shren's legs.
Before Shren could even react, the helmeted sword and shield mercenary parried it away with an upward slash.
Vella leapt backwards. Everyone else readied their weapons again while Karok dropped the corpse he carried.
"Thank you, Ceara" said Shren. He hoisted the disgraced woman to his shoulder and retreated to the back of the group.
"I guess you're not a man after all," taunted Vella.
"I don't have a weapon," shrugged Shren.
"A sad excuse. But this one will do," said Vella as she eyed her new opponent.
Vella tested her, pretending to slash before dancing away multiple times. Yet, the mercenary did not move as if she already seen through her motive.
Vella pouted at her. After another feint, she followed up with a pirouette of diagonally upward slashes towards the body.
Amidst her dance, the mercenary stepped forward. Her shield stopping the blade dance.
As soon as she felt her sword strike the wood, Vella leaped back from the retaliation. The mercenary swished her sword towards Vella, striking the air.
Vella watched as her opponent's sword approached closer and closer. Her feet stood on their toes ready to leap backwards, yet her opponent continued to miss her. It was enough of a sorry sight for Vella to laugh.
Vella twirled her swords left and right, waiting for a blade to come her way.
But instead of the blade, it was the boot.
A back kick to the chest flew Vella to the ground.
While Vella got back on her feet, Lann ran past the guarding mercenary.
Another new opponent, but with twin swords like her. The two exchanged a series of sword slashes. A waltz of blades with clangs and swishes.
Metal grazed skin. But never deeper than that. Not a single blow that could turn the tables for either side.
However, Vella kept leaping backwards while Lann slipped forward. If she kept losing ground, she would hit a wooden palisade behind her. And Lann wasn't close to being out of breath. As if his Battle Respiration was a rank negative 6.
When they reached the palisade, Lann thrust out his swords' hilts after a half-spin, intending to body check Vella into the wall.
Lann smashed against the wall instead. Vella ran up the wall and flipped backwards.
Landing behind Lann, Vella kicked Lann against the wall. The impact knocked the swords out of his hands as he hugged the wall.
Just as she raised her underhand sword to stab down into Lann, she looked behind with one eye to check for any more assailants.
It came as fast as a thrown spear.
A lightning bolt hurtled towards Vella. Evie already began focusing her mind for another spell.
If that hit a human, it could tucker out the body for a long time.
The lightning bolt had hit its mark. But it was discriminate.
While Vella side-flipped, Lann's body had convulsed against the wall before he fell on his back. Evie snapped out of focus in horror when she saw her act of friendly fire.
A normal human wouldn't be able to react that fast. Shren seemed pleased.
By now, she had faced three mercenaries. Two of them weren't even finished off.
This was a true wake up call for her. Although she was far from boredom, he didn't look happy having her 'supremacy' crushed either.
Vella glared at Evie. As if she dared to incite the mistress. With one look at Vella challenging her, Evie focused down on her staff for another spell.
As blue magical energies surged around Evie, Vella sprinted.
Evie smacked her staff against the ground in frustration. She didn't have time for another incantation. It wasn't easy to focus when a enemy was closing the gap fast.
Not willing to give Vella another chance to kill, the red-haired mercenary hustled to get in front of Evie. She dropped down to a heavy stander, ready to block any incoming attack while Evie prepared her spell.
Evie sighed in relief before returning to deep concentration.
Fire swirled around her fingers, which meant it was almost ready. Not a problem for Vella.
Vella lowered herself while spinning a dance of wide slashes.
But before the sword parlayed with the shield. Before the fire spell had been released. She soared into the air.
At the apex of the leap, Vella twisted her swords to fall like a guillotine. The mercenary struck her shield high above her head, but she couldn't go back any more.
If Vella came down now, Evie would be split in half.
However, Vella didn't aim for her. She flew past the two.
She had a new target. A person who didn't try to fight back. A person who failed her expectations. She didn't appreciate that he ran away from her at the start. So she personally came to teach him what it meant to parley with the Mistress of the Seas.
Vella smirked as Shren watched her. Her descent grew faster. The other mercenaries wouldn't be able to catch up.
Even if her swords missed their mark, she could always spin on the ground and take him down.
Her vision stayed focused on Shren as everywhere else blurred.
She fell, and then stopped.
Gravity was no longer on her side. Shren smirked back at her as she hung in mid-air. He could see how desperate Vella had gone.
A giant hand had swung and grabbed her leg during her descent.
With a firm grasp, Karok slammed Vella into the ground. The impact shattered her armor to pieces and her swords dropped.
Shren walked up to her, picked up her swords, and threw them to the sea. Her identity as one of the pirates was no more.
That blow left her unconscious. Karok blew on his hand as the mercenaries besides Lann surrounded her.
After confirmation of her unconsciousness, Gwynn said, "I will take her into custody for more questioning."
"I'm afraid that won't do," said Shren, who crouched beside Vella.
"And why do you say that, mercenary?" asked Gwynn, punctuating the last word.
"I like her. I think she'll be a wonderful Blade."
"A blade? The woman thinks herself higher than us while flopping her shanks around," sighed Gwynn. It must be a joke.
"Everyone has their problems. But everyone also have their talents," said Shren.
"She was talented in playing with your heart," said Gwynn coldly.
"She has already stolen my heart. There's potential in this one."
Gwynn almost smiled, but Shren's expression didn't change. Gwynn scrunched her eyebrows together in confusion. Something was amiss.
"Wait." Said Gwynn as she observed Shren, who continued to appraise Vella. That wasn't sarcasm. He was being serious!
"Are you really…her?!" Gwynn was flabbergasted. "Shren. I must admit you are a creative one. Well, unorthodox at best. But…"
"She is a good candidate for the Crimson Blades. I'm surprised you couldn't see that, Commander Gwynn," said Shren.
"Oh no," thought Shren. A poor choice of words.
Gwynn glared at him hard. She stepped into his personal space with her body screaming "You dare belittle me?!"
"And I suppose your eccentric ways can raise someone competent?" If Vella's words were set to sting, Gwynn were now set to brutalize.
Evie stared wide-eyed at the whole situation. Shren may be famous among the Crimson Blades but he was making a mistake disregarding the scariest woman in town.
"I don't think this harlot can even comprehend discipline," said Gwynn.
"Commander Gwynn," said Shren.
"But if you intend to please yourself with this woman-"
"Commander Gwynn."
"-Who already called you a coward-"
"Commander Gwynn."
"I'll be ready to clean up your mess with my garrison when the Blades have fallen to recruiting petty highwaymen," Gwynn stomped back into town.
Shren sighed. Sooner or later, he would have to explain to Aodhan after Gwynn finished her tirade. Even if he had his way, the Royal Army woman wouldn't be so friendly to him in his advantage. Especially after losing out to a man who just came back.
And if she did end up being a problem, he would be restricted. Shren didn't like the possibility of being constrained into certain engagements.
He had to showcase her skill…or at least her usefulness. But he still felt doubt even after defending Vella. The healed woman should be enough for his original purpose. Vella wasn't someone he thought through.
He wanted to make sure.
"So," Shren spoke out loud. "Do you think me as foolish as well?"
Shren intended it to be a rhetorical question, but he still stood as if he expected an answer.
Karok stared towards the sky, not opting to answer. Evie pretended to busy herself by inspecting Vella's body.
When the two seemed nonresponsive, Shren turned towards the one he could trust to give her own opinion. Ceara had always been observant, she could tell whenever someone was off their game. He waited for her to respond, waiting to see if his 'eye' did rust over the months of recovery.
"I do not."
"I see…wait."
That was not Ceara's voice. The voice that had spoken was more tamed and mature than Ceara's encouraging and playful voice.
There was only one thing Shren wanted to do to confirm.
"Take off your helmet."
After she swept the docks with her eyes for any more signs of danger, she obliged.
Indeed, she was not Ceara. She just had the same hair color as her. But to Shren, her identity was clear. There was no other mercenary who could be so skilled with a sword and shield.
He had found the last rookie.
"Fiona."
Her head bowed in return.
Vella had been put to rest in the Inn. The biggest building in town that was somehow clean of cannonballs.
She rested in Shren's old room. A single bedroom with the ceiling sloped down and a single window overlooking the center of town. An attic room normally reserved for the sick.
She had been unconscious for hours now. If she wasn't carried into the Inn, she would have been considered dead and burned alive. It was a rare case that committed Evie to heal her with more than one healing wisp.
Moonlight broke into the room as everyone including the mercenaries rested after a long day. Several small candles also lit the partially dim room.
Shren, with his blue aura gone, sat by the bed on a chair watching Vella sleep. To be facing a bed he slept in for months, it was almost nostalgic. He had done a lot of thinking in that bed.
A hearty vegetable soup sat on an end table beside Shren. A welcome gift made by Tieve. It was still piping hot, as its aroma had spread around the room.
"Even in bed, you still look pretty damn cocky," said Shren, looking at her lips stretching as if she was kissing someone.
"Alright. No more waiting. Time for the tricky part."
Shren stretched out his arm and flicked Vella in the cheek.
Her eyes creaked open. Her nose sniffing for more of the pleasant aroma from the soup.
She slowly rose up in her bed, wearing a form of light clothing. Her broken armor had left her almost naked. Thankfully, Tieve had a leftover outfit.
"Good evening, Vella," greeted Shren, stirring the soup with its spoon.
Vella didn't seem to register his words at first. She stared forward blankly for a while before she placed her gaze on Shren.
"I am alive," stated Vella. Shren nodded in return.
"You are too kind, maybe I will reward you one day," Vella had returned to that tone, however the words were more teasing than outright stinging.
"Yep," replied Shren as he took out a spoonful of soup. "Open."
Vella nudged closer to the soup and happily obliged as she let Shren feed her parched mouth.
Only after a minute of admiring the taste and being fed, she slapped Shren's hand out of the spoon and fed herself. A little red remained on her cheeks.
"Mistress Vella does not like being fed?" joked Shren.
"You are not worthy enough to feed me, Sir…"
"Shren. You can just call me Shren."
"Shren. A beautiful name ruined on a coward."
"I had to protect a rare beauty after all," shrugged Shren.
"You think that woman can match me?"
Shren laughed at the sudden accusation. Vella narrowed her eyes at him as he turned away and faced the window.
"Hmph, praise me," scoffed Vella.
A minute of slurping noises passed before Shren posed a question. "Anyways Vella, would you like another choice?"
Those words exasperated Vella. "You want a piece of me, boy? I can easily cut you do-"
"Pass a test or live in the Rocheste dungeons," interrupted Shren.
Those new choices immediately made Vella contemplate in silence. Shren waited for her reply. This couldn't be a hard decision for someone of her type.
That was a compromise he managed to reach with Gwynn after arguing his point. He had come up with the test when a report came in from Perilous Ruins. The ship that carried the report was the only Colhen ship left.
"What makes you think I can't have my way with a mere prison guard?" asked Vella. To Shren, this seemed like an obvious bluff.
"That would be too easy, wouldn't it? The test is less boring."
At the expense of the verbally abused woman, Shren had determined that Vella had a low tolerance for boredom. Her preemptive verbal strike was proof of that.
A period of silence remained between the two. Vella contemplated again, before she broke the silence, "the test?"
"How do you feel about Gnolls?" asked Shren.
"A bunch of walking wolves? I don't see how this is a test."
"Well their chieftain is going on another rampage in the Perilous Ruins. Take care of it and you pass. I will be watching."
"The biggest wolf out of them all. Should be easy."
"Then you choose the test?" asked Shren, turning back to face Vella.
"What do I get out of it?" asked Vella.
"You will find out when the Chieftain is dead."
Vella made a long sigh as she leaned against her bedframe. "You are full of surprises, aren't you?"
"Surprises are more exciting after all, don't you agree?" asked Shren.
"I do. I just wonder how long you can keep me entertained."
"Oh I assure you. You'll be pleased for a long time."
"Quite a tall bet from a coward. I can't wait for my reward then, Shren~," Vella dragged out his name.
"Excellent. Finish your soup and get some rest. We leave tomorrow morning."
"One more thing," said Vella. "Where are my armor and swords?"
"Ahh," replied Shren. "I apologize. Our giant accidentally destroyed them when you were being pummeled. You'll be given new gear."
"I see…" Vella didn't seem to have fond memories of Karok. "You may leave me."
Shren nodded before he closed the door and went down the stairs.
"Be ready, Captain Shren."
A malicious smile crept up on her lips as she slurped her soup.
Shren walked out to the docks and sat against a log that faced a dead campfire. Unlike everyone else in town, he did not feel sleepy in the slightest.
He had come there to wait for someone. He did not know when that person would come, but he had time to think.
After Shren gave Fiona her letter and asked her to bring Vella to the inn, he investigated the invading ship with Evie and Karok. He also asked the woman they saved to guide them.
A gunshot echoed when the four approached the ship. Huddling behind Karok and a human shield, they climbed aboard the ship.
When they came upon the deck, they saw a man lying against one of the masts. A gun was on his lap, where fresh blood rained from the mouth.
Shren noted that his appearance had been as sharp as Vella. Perhaps, he had been the former captain of the invaders, wanting to join the rest of his fallen crewmates.
It created a somber atmosphere for the rest of the investigation. Ever since her eyes had fell upon the captain, she led the three around the ship with an almost permanent melancholy expression. Evie had wanted to cheer her up, but Shren cut her off.
He preferred for her to continue mourning amidst her nostalgia, so that she would be too occupied to even think about turning on the three. Even with the giant.
During their tour, Shren had picked up the diary of the captain in his quarters. He read through it as they moved around the ship.
With the captain's recent entries, Vella essentially commandeered the entire ship with her unique charisma. Her influence was even present in the diary where the entries began to showcase Vella more and more, accompanied with insults and succubus accusations marred with bold ink.
She had caused the invasion through a mere mix of culture. She preferred battle and excitement while the captain encouraged safety and insurance. It didn't take long for the crewmates to find out which one would lead to more possible happiness.
Shren had grown more wary of Vella since the investigation. He could imagine some mercenaries swooning over her, especially Gallagher. He had to find a way to make sure her corruption did not spread in town.
Lest Gwynn's omen may come true.
The Rocheste reinforcements never did come to the rescue. Aodhan was quick in sending out a courier. But Shren did not want the Royal Army breathing down on his neck. That would put him closer to the Pontiff's Court scrutiny. An unfavorable situation for his future plans. Plans that would label him as a metaphorical witch.
So first, he had to gain a degree of flexibility.
Vella was only the catalyst.
"Ahh there you are. Come sit with me," said Shren, patting the spot beside him. The woman who led them around the boat approached from behind. He chastised himself in his head for only noticing her on such a chance glance.
Shren had allowed her to rest in the Inn after the investigation; on the condition she would meet him in the Docks at night. She didn't say thanks or curtsy in response, but according to Evie, she smiled a little at the Inn.
The woman plopped down next to him as requested, but her melancholy expression from the investigation still remained.
"I want to thank you first for assisting the Crimson Blades. Your name?" asked Shren.
"Leithia," replied the woman.
"Leithia. Thank you for your help…" said Shren. He had read about this woman. The captain had been proficient at detailing her corruption. Mistresses had gone wild these days.
"Anything you wish?" asked, or rather, recited Leithia. Shren had half-expected her to strip down and give him a show right after. Even with such a sad look on her face.
Nevertheless, he was here on business. Whether it was Vella's brainwashing or gratitude for getting the spear out, he didn't care.
"Good. I hope you are ready to answer questions. In return, Vella wished for me to tell you something," said Shren. While her request was actually an off-hand comment, Leithia seemed gullible enough. Her face lit up. Her eyes seemed to salivate for more. If only he could show Gwynn how useful Vella was already turning out to be.
"Your questions?" asked Leithia.
When Shren was flitting through the diary, he came across a very old entry that even preceded the entry of Vella. The entries had dated back before his pirate days when it was just the Captain and Leithia. It was one of the few entries Shren analyzed down to the smallest detail. The setting hooked him in.
The setting was a town Shren was intimately familiar with. A desolate town torn apart by fires and Fomors. The entry had taken place during its last bustling days.
Leithia and her Captain were out together. They walked around, enjoying the town and its attractions while their ship docked at its port. No citizen in town had suspected them to be pirates, but the couple stood out in grand clothing.
While shopkeepers tried to draw in the couple with fine tailoring and fake jewelry, a magician's shop at the end of a street caught their eye. Leithia had never seen magic at work so her curiosity drew the two in.
When they entered, the magician in charge did not hesitate in showing off his wares, eager to sell in a decrepit-looking store. When the captain asked for a demonstration of magic in exchange for gold, the magician grinned.
He ushered them into a backroom full of caged animals. Rodents, birds, fowls, rabbits, it was almost a miniature zoo. A small table sat in the middle of the room with a chest underneath. Dry blood etched into the middle of the table with stacks of paper on the side.
Leithia became uncomfortable as the magician brought a duck from one of the cages. He told the couple to stand back before he drew out a key item and a small knife from the chest.
What happened next was a mess of unreadable, blurry ink. But the next readable words were '…alive again!'
The rest of the entry detailed the bargaining for the item by the Captain. The magician immediately refused, stating he was still researching it.
There was no doubt that the magician had probably finished his research by now. And Shren was willing to hunt that down. If it lined up with his theory based on context, the 'item' could again change the course of warfare much like the invention of the common HP Potion did.
Or perhaps…
The use of the key item in military situations could surpass the HP Potion.
It felt like cheating to Shren if he used it. But he didn't mind increasing his margin of error with people.
If correct, his theory may allow him entry to the off-limits town. Another objective accomplished in his plan!
But he couldn't take that leap if Gwynn stepped on his shoes. She would have to be taken care of in the near future.
So with a smaller step, he needed to confirm his theory with an eyewitness.
"Leithia?" said Shren.
"Yes?" Leithia replied.
"Tell me about your experience with the Phoenix Feather."