Chapter 4
"So, I'm Pike. Who the hell are you?"
Keyleth's heart leaped within her chest, a startled gasp escaping her lips as she failed to discern Pike's silent approach. Her world suddenly tilted, and a dizzying sensation washed over her, like turbulent waters engulfing a fragile vessel.
She blinked hard and stared as Pike climbed onto a chair, and made herself comfortable without an invitation, swearing under her breath. "God's hangovers are the worst."
Keyleth glanced at Shirou, watching his lips quirk upward before he said, "Yes, they do, and to answer your question, I'm Shirou and this is Keyleth." He gestured toward her while making a show of surveying the inn "Your friend's missing."
"Oh, that lazy bum? Still sleeping off last night's ale?" Pike smirked. "He's a lightweight."
Keyleth doubted that very much. The giant stood eight feet tall, easy, and weighed three of her. Not someone who couldn't hold their liquor unless he drank all the town's supply.
Shirou hummed, lips tilted subtly, betraying his amusement.
"Then I imagine you're wanting breakfast. Would you like to join us?"
"Thought you'd never ask!"
Pike waved, flagging down a waitress. "Three of whatever breakfast you've got cooking, double portions for me, on the gentleman."
Keyleth couldn't help but feel irritated by Pike's boldness. Pike was a priestess, and it seemed rather presumptuous of her to make such demands from people she didn't know. Shirou's eyes flickered to her and gave the tiniest shake of his head.
Keyleth bit her tongue, but couldn't help but wonder what Shirou hoped to get from Pike. She'd been nothing but rude since yesterday, and Keyleth didn't want to think about anything connected to the demon. Despite her exhaustion, Keyleth barely slept at all the night prior. Nightmares of the foulest sort plagued the little sleep she got, covering her in a sheen of cold sweat. Not a restful night.
"So, what brings you to sit with us?" Shirou asked. "Yesterday you seemed ... frustrated."
Pike snorted. "Understatement there, boyo. Demons are Everlight's greatest enemy, and the magistrate played with fire when he did not report a mage messing with black magic. Worse, other people ended up being burned because of his choices. Fucker." Pike crossed her arms and leaned back. "That said, you two killed it. Not a simple job, which means you're good." Pike's eyes flickered to Keyleth. "Or at least one of you is."
"Hey!" Keyleth said, sitting up straight and glaring. "I fought beside Shirou during the entire encounter. I'm not some mooch."
Hands raising in surrender; Pike smirked, a sight that did nothing to calm Keyleth down.
"Sorry, sorry, no offense meant, but you seem pretty young for an elf and next to this guy." Pike jabbed a thumb at Shirou. "You look a little naïve."
Well, Keyleth really could not contest that. She deflated but felt gratified as Shirou interjected himself into the conversation.
"Keyleth's help proved invaluable," Shirou acknowledged, a hint of gratitude in his voice as he said, "She even provided crucial insights on how to defeat that creature in the end."
Before the conversation could continue, the server bustled around, arms laden down with plates piled high.
"Your breakfast. That'll be two silver."
Keyleth gaped at the price. Two silver coins for breakfast. It was practically robbery! However, Pike wasted no time and dove forward, eagerly scooping up mouthfuls of food, her delighted moans filling the air.
"Delicious. Nothing beats greasy eggs and meat after a night of partying."
Did she have to chew with her mouth open? Keyleth turned away, nose wrinkling, and watched Shirou fish out the coins.
At least Jeod paid us well, Keyleth mused, her thoughts on their recent venture. Although, I never want to encounter something as terrifying as that Shooshova ever again. Keyleth shuddered.
"So," Shirou said, between slow measured bites. "You still haven't told us why you're here."
Pike slowed and swallowed her latest mouthful with difficulty. "Divine providence. The Everlight desired we cross paths, and I'm not one to argue such a blatant message from my patron."
Keyleth saw Shirou's hands tighten around his silverware, his eyebrows falling into a serious cast.
"A god wants something from us?"
"It's kinda tough to explain," Pike admitted, sounding uncertain. "I think she's trying to help me. Last night, a vision came to me, and it wasn't nice. That dark mage is out there, and there's some bad stuff influencing her. I think she might be up to something even worse than summoning one demon."
Keyleth flinched. Something worse than the Shooshuva seemed almost unimaginable. Appetite lost, Keyleth pushed her food away. "Does the Everlight think we can help?"
Pike shrugged, "You know, it's tricky to say. Gods, they don't always lay it out plain; sometimes they like being all mysterious, though I admit, the Everlight's better than most."
Still sporting a serious demeanor, Shirou locked eyes with Pike, his utensils moving methodically through his meal, but his thoughts seemed far from the food.
"Do you have any idea where this dark mage could be hiding?" Shirou asked, his gaze fixed on the food before him, but clearly more focused on their conversation than his meal.
Pike shook her head in response, her expression revealing her frustration. "Not exactly. She's somewhere to the west, in a sinister place, but that's about all I've been able to figure out."
Keyleth's breath hitched, hands tightening into fists. West was toward the Elven village, her destination. She racked her brain, trying to remember any other villages or settlements beyond the mountain range. A lump settled in her gut, sharp and weighty, when nothing came to mind.
"Shirou, you don't think?"
Shirou looked at her, his eyes softening before reaching out and patting her hand.
"West is pretty generic, Keyleth. She could be hundreds of miles away—"
"Not likely," Pike interjected, cutting Shirou off. "I get the sense she's closer than that, in the mountains."
Keyleth slumped, her fears becoming more real by the second.
"Something I said?" Pike asked, scratching her head.
"Keyleth's on her Aramente," Shirou mentioned in a hushed tone, his words brimming with sympathy as he said. "She's heading to an elven village nestled in the mountains. If Rose is lurking nearby, well..." His voice held a note of caution, echoing the seriousness of the situation.
Pike chimed in, her arms folding across her chest. "The Elven village is in peril," she asserted, her tone showing the gravity of the matter. "It seems the Everlight had a purpose in guiding me to you. It appears we're destined to be traveling companions for some time." Keyleth's attention sharpened as she shifted her gaze between Pike and Shirou, her anxiety palpable as she bit down on her lower lip.
"Shirou, I know it's not right to ask. I mean, I can't pay you or anything, but would you..." Keyleth trailed off, eyes and cheeks burning.
Shirou smiled and nodded at her unspoken question.
"You don't have to ask. I still owe you for helping me, anyway."
Maybe it was stress, or perhaps the lack of sleep, but when Keyleth opened her mouth, words flowed much sharper than she meant.
"No, you don't owe me anything. If that's your reason, don't come and risk your life!"
Shirou's eyebrows jumped, a muscle in his cheek twitching as he stared at Keyleth in blatant surprise.
Keyleth's fingers fluttered up to her eyes, tracing the damp trails left by her tears with hurried, trembling movements. She pushed herself up from her seated position with an abrupt, almost unsteady rise. "Excuse me. I need some air."
As the inn door thumped shut behind Keyleth, guilt hit her. Shirou didn't deserve her snapping. Frustration, fear, and exhaustion had sapped Keyleth's self-control and left her a raw nerve. Shirou meant to help — she knew that, but hearing his reasons made her throat burn.
With her arms crossed, Keyleth ambled along, her attention adrift. This motion served as a balm for her frazzled thoughts, gradually restoring order to the chaos in her mind and allowing Pike's words to sink in. The world around her grew increasingly perilous with each passing day, a fact that left Keyleth uneasy.
What if I'm not strong enough?
The haunting thought echoed within her, a bleak and agonizing specter. Her mother had been a mage of unparalleled prowess, leaving Keyleth feeling dwarfed by her legacy. How could Keyleth hope to succeed where her mother had faltered?
Engulfed in these ruminations, Keyleth remained oblivious to her surroundings until she collided with someone, a grunt escaping her lips. Shaken from her contemplation, Keyleth looked up, her intention to apologize forming but then abruptly freezing. Words deserted her, and the world appeared to lose its vibrancy. She had wandered into the town square, where the imposing hall still stood, and her eyes met the harrowing sight of Jeod suspended from his office window, a noose wound around his neck.
"Alright, lass?" Asked the man she ran into. She couldn't say anything, couldn't tear her gaze away from the swinging body. "Terrible shame. Poor Jeod, I guess it all became too much, with his wife and son gone."
The man, his bald scalp gleaming, ran a hand over it wearily. "I don't know how much more our little town can take," he said, his voice tinged with despair. "With all these attacks and now this, folks are gonna start believing we're cursed."
Keyleth reluctantly shifted her gaze away from Jeod and offered a solemn nod. "I-I'm sorry."
He shook his head, his eyes briefly returning to Jeod's dire situation. "It ain't your fault, lass. This ain't anyone's fault, it's just the way things are." He cast another glance towards Jeod, his voice filled with sympathy. "I hope they'll cut him down soon. We shouldn't let anyone suffer like poor Jeod."
As minutes stretched into eternity amid the crowd, Keyleth wrestled with a nagging sense of responsibility. Was this catastrophe somehow her doing? She forcefully shook off the notion.
No. she thought. It can't be. Shirou and I confronted that demon to save people. We couldn't have known something like this would happen.
Keyleth felt certain of her logic, but her heart couldn't help but hurt for any part she played in Jeod's choice.
She jumped when a hand settled on her shoulder.
"Keyleth... Let's go," Shirou said. His eyes were tired, and his mouth turned down, but his voice was smooth and strong. "There's nothing we can do. Not anymore."
Keyleth allowed herself to be steered along until they left the city and entered the sparse wood that surrounded Spire.
She immediately felt better. Keyleth let the sounds of nature wash over her, the rustle of leaves, the chirping of birds, and their soft footfalls.
"Are you okay?" Shirou inquired, guiding Keyleth toward a fallen tree and helping her settle down.
"I'm fine," she said with little conviction.
Shirou didn't push. Instead, he sat next to her, looking out at the peaceful clearing and the vast sky. Keyleth appreciated his silent company; Shirou's presence was comforting and demanded nothing from her.
Absently, she chewed on her lower lip, her eyes drifting downward to her shoes. They were the ones Shirou had crafted for her, still as comfortable as ever, reminding her of his thoughtfulness.
"Are you angry at me? For snapping at you, I mean."
Keyleth lacked the confidence to look at Shirou but felt him turn, could imagine his golden eyes piercing her. She resisted the urge to huddle into a ball.
"No, I'm not angry. Believe it or not, I think I understand what you're going through."
Surprise seized Keyleth, a sudden jolt that sent her head snapping in Shirou's direction. Her fingers clenched and twisted the fabric of her tunic around her waist. "W-what?"
"The bags under your eyes. You're tired but too keyed up to sleep, and when you drift off, the nightmares come. Am I right?"
Keyleth stared. He'd figured that out in two days?
Shirou seemed to take Keyleth's silence as confirmation.
"Feeling haunted, stressed and anxious is common when you're not used to fighting…"
"You—You've gone through it?"
"Yes."
"But you're not scared now, you haven't changed. Doesn't what happened affect you? You almost died! A single misstep, and..."
"I'm accustomed to it."
Keyleth blinked, incredulous. "Accustomed to it? That's it... you're used to almost dying?"
Shirou nodded, his gaze penetrating Keyleth's very soul. "I've been in the thick of combat for a long time, witnessed countless things, some noble, but mostly grim, and narrowly escaped death more times than I care to remember. It all became routine." His eyes honed in on Keyleth, locking her in place. "Combat and death are my craft, something I've made with my hands every day for far more years than I'd care to admit. Regrettably, I've grown accustomed to facing my mortality and made peace with the inevitable, violent end that awaits me."
Keyleth's mouth hung agape as she grappled with the weight of Shirou's words.
How could he remain so nonchalant? Was death truly his craft? She tried to reconcile her perceptions of Shirou with the unsettling image he had just painted. Yes, he was undoubtedly a skilled fighter, but the notion of him likening himself to a murderer rather than a warrior didn't align with the man she was getting to know. Despite the short time she had spent with him, Keyleth felt a growing conviction about one thing: Shirou was no murderer.
"Why would you describe yourself that way?" Keyleth's voice trembled with uncertainty.
"So you can grasp it."
"Grasp what?"
"That what you're experiencing is normal, even expected. There's no need for you to harbor guilt over your heightened emotions or snapping — because I'd be more concerned if you felt nothing after that fight... because I wouldn't want you to become like me."
Keyleth propelled herself away from the log, her palms grating against the rough bark. The stinging sensation was secondary to the resurgence of anger that flooded her, consuming her thoughts and senses.
"Don't say that! Don't say those things about yourself! Just because you're a Spellsword doesn't make you a bad person." Keyleth panted, her eyes stinging as angry tears flooded them, but she couldn't stop. "You saved me. Twice! You realized I would have died trying to fight that troll alone? And even if I never encountered it, if I'd taken Jeod's quest alone I know I wouldn't be standing here yelling at you!" Shirou watched her placidly, letting her vent and scream without flinching, which only drove Keyleth's frustration to greater heights. "You! You!..." Words failed Keyleth, and she sobbed, wrapping her arms around her waist, breaths coming in great heaving gasps as her body shuddered.
She barely registered the sound of Shirou standing until warm arms wrapped around her and tucked her head against his neck, letting her tears soak his skin.
"I've got you. You're safe... let it all out." Shirou said, almost crooning the words.
Keyleth struggled to hold back her emotions for a moment, but then it was like a dam breaking. She couldn't contain it any longer. Her sobs grew even stronger, and her tears soaked Shirou's shoulder as she let out everything she had been holding inside.
As her sobs gradually subsided, exhaustion overcame her, and Keyleth found solace in Shirou's embrace. Her grip on him loosened, her breathing slowed, and her eyes closed. Fatigue had claimed her, and she fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, wrapped in the safety of Shirou's arms.
Shirou held Keyleth, rubbing her back and whispering gentle support into her ear, until the sobs finally stopped wracking her slight frame and her grip loosened. He grunted when Keyleth's body became limp, and her breath evened. She'd fallen asleep on her feet. Poor girl.
With utmost care, Shirou gathered Keyleth into his arms, ensuring her head rested gently on his shoulder. He cradled her with a tenderness that bespoke his protective instincts. As they ventured into Spire, their unusual sight garnered a few perplexed glances, but no one dared to interrupt them. They proceeded unhindered until they reached the inn, where Shirou gently eased Keyleth inside, shielding her from the prying eyes of the world.
"Oi, there's the job stealer!" A voice said. Shirou looked around and spotted Pike and her companion, Grog, sitting at a table piled high with various dishes.
Pike smacked Grog's elbow. "Hey, don't shout, the elf's asleep!"
Shirou regarded Pike's reprimand with a hint of amusement, his lips curling ever so slightly as he found her words somewhat ironic given the situation at hand. He couldn't help but let his eyes dart toward Keyleth, ensuring her peaceful slumber remained undisturbed, her eyelids steadfastly shut. With a quiet yet resolute determination, he picked up his pace, the timeworn wooden stairs groaning beneath his boots, until he reached his room, where he would lay Keyleth to rest.
Gently, Shirou lowered Keyleth onto the welcoming embrace of the plush bedding, his movements tender and careful to avoid waking her. As he attempted to extricate himself from her gentle, yet firm, grip around his neck, he couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest, an emotion that bordered on endearment. She was, it appeared, a clingy sleeper, a realization that he greeted with both an affectionate exasperation and an indulgent smile. It was moments like these, when Keyleth's vulnerability surfaced, reminded Shirou of times long past and people lost.
Trace on. A soft pillow appeared and, with deft movement, Shirou untangled himself and let Keyleth's arms encircle the soft cotton.
"Rest easy, Keyleth."
With soft steps, Shirou retreated downstairs.
"Is sleeping beauty down for her nap?" Pike asked with a pronounced eye-roll.
"Sleeping beauty? I thought you said her name's Keyleth?" Grog asked, looking confused as Shirou sat down, taking in the conflicting aromas of chicken, steak, and lamb spread across the table.
Pike snatched a drumstick from the pile and began gnawing on it. "Her name is Keyleth. I just called her sleeping beauty, cause, you know she was sleeping in Shirou's arms and stuff."
"Ohhh..." Grog wrinkled his nose. "She's too skinny for me. I like it better when they got big bouncing titties!"
Grog turned and grinned at Shirou, ignoring Pike's surprised sputtering. "What about you, Job Stealer? Are you a tit or an arse, man?"
"Grog! You've got to stop asking that question!" Pike said, standing on her chair to look Grog in the eye.
Grog folded his massive arms. "How else am I supposed to get a feeling for a person? Preferences matter, Pikey, I gotta know if he enjoys honking dem titties or smacking dat ass."
Amusement danced in Shirou's eyes, a mischievous spark that soon burst into a hearty chuckle as Pike's cheeks flushed so intensely, her cheeks resembled the fiery hues of a setting sun.
She glared, cheeks puffing. "Don't encourage him." Pike sat, still looking flustered. "Now, we traveling together?"
Shirou's smile disappeared, and he remembered why he found Keyleth. He leaned in closer and explained what had happened, including finding Jeod and witnessing Keyleth's emotional breakdown.
Pike sighed, fatigue clear in the weariness that hung on her shoulders. She rubbed her temples, her gestures conveying her frustration in palpable waves. "She's inexperienced," Pike voiced her concerns. "Is there any chance she'll remain here while the three of us pursue Rose? We can't risk liabilities when confronting the perils of dark magic."
Shirou stared down at the swirling wood grain, tracing it with his fingers. "No, Keyleth's inexperienced, but braver than she knows. If we leave her, she'll follow and be at more risk." A wane smile crossed his face. "Trust me, I know where she's coming from. It's better to keep her close, where she can learn and grow."
"True, true." Said Grog. "It's how Goliath's learn about fighting. Anyone not strong enough dies, keeps things simple."
Goliath's Shirou cocked his head. Must be his species.
"I think it's a terrible idea," Pike said, her eyes shifting between Shirou and Grog. "Keeping a newbie safe from a threat this big is too dangerous."
"You can always leave without us," Shirou pointed out the obvious. "We'll follow in a few days."
Pike bit down hard enough, Shirou worried she'd shatter a tooth. "I already told you, Everlight guided our meeting. I won't go against her desires when they're so blatantly issued."
Shirou couldn't help but wonder why they were having this discussion, given Pike's desire to appease this Everlight. "Seems your mind's made up. Keyleth comes with per your god's will."
The chair screeched as Pike slid back and stood. "Fine. Grog and I will meet you here at dawn. Time isn't on our side, but we'll need supplies and I need to meditate further and, with any luck, receive further guidance from Everlight. Come on Grog."
"Hehe, this is gonna be fun!" Grog said, following Pike, all but skipping. Shirou found the disparity between the two partners funny. The little gnome stopping angrily while the giant skipped along behind her. Though he'd never tell them that. Boundaries and such.
"Sir…" A waitress addressed Shirou. "That'll be eight silver coins."
"Huh…" Shirou looked at the plethora of empty plates than toward the door. His eye twitched. "Shit."
The Elven village sat deep in the mountains, showing off how nature could thrive in a tough place. It is captivating beauty flourished amidst the untamed wilderness, a vibrant oasis amid an unforgiving terrain, but there was something strange about it, like the mountains had old secrets hidden within them.
The village's twisting stone paths looped to-and-fro, only from above could one understand the pattern of Elven runes providing steadfast protection. When you walked on them, it felt like there was some strange magic in the air. Smoke from chimneys smelled filled the air, casting aroma pine and cozy fires, making the village feel like a magical world.
Beautiful gardens stood strong on the tough ground, colorful and exotic flowers fought their way through the icy soil, making the place look lively even though everything around was bleak. But the flowers appeared shaky, like they were afraid of the big, dark figures that watched over them.
Within this enigmatic Elven sanctuary, discomfort was an unspoken truth, a subtle pulse in the very heartbeat of the mountains, a whispering reminder that beauty and dread often danced a delicate waltz—enticing those who ventured within to tread warily along the fine line between enchantment and disquiet.
"Do you feel it, Eldrion?" Asked Aeloria, not turning from her vigil, looking down at her home.
"Yes, Elder Aeloria. I feel it. Something malevolent is watching, waiting, but for what I know not."
Aeloria turned and smiled, taking in Eldrion dressed in his finest robes, a circlet of antlers perched proudly upon his brow, mingling with his straight blonde locks. "Young, but observant in ways beyond even myself, almost like you seek to spite me, child."
Eldrion bowed, a polite thing, but Aeloria still saw his smirk. "I only employee what you've taught me, Elder, nothing more." He straighten, and moved to stand beside her. "I'm grateful, you know, for the actions you took. War orphans are rarely fortunate enough to find someone willing to care for them. This circlet," Eldrion touched it, reverently, "I'm only wearing because of your kindness. Soon I'll leave, venturing forth to complete the Aremente, but before I do, I wish for you to reconsider."
Aeloria shook her head, exasperated. She'd explained herself more times than she'd fingers and toes — yet, he wanted to argue. "They are dangerous, Elder," Eldrion's voice became beseeching. "This feeling, the darkness, I fear they bring it upon us."
Aeloria, calling upon the wisdom of centuries lived, addressed Eldrion with a gentle yet firm demeanor, "Yes, fear courses through your veins like a relentless river, yet the depths of their supposed transgressions remain shrouded in mystery. Castigation, mistrust, and the looming specter of banishment imposed upon them. Such closed-minded practices, long-forgotten grudges, as ancient as the whispering winds, have no place among our sacred groves."
Eldrion, his frustration palpable, leaned on his black record staff, his voice woven with centuries of tradition. "History, Elder Aeloria, is an unyielding teacher, as you've oft reminded me. We entwine our druidic spirits with nature's essence and the symphony of emotions, both our own and the spirits'. Past deeds echo through time, a spectral chorus that warns of impending woe brought by these enigmatic visitors."
Aeloria's thoughts swirled like leaves in the autumn breeze, contemplating Eldrion's words. When had the young druid grown so wise? Despite his profound insight, she clung to her own convictions and whispered, "You speak of learning from history's tapestry, yet did I not teach you we possess the power to break free from the shackles of the past? Choices we make, some perpetuating the mistakes of bygone eras, as if fates were sealed in self-fulfilling prophecy. While I respect your intuition, I cannot dismiss my own. They arrive without malice, and I shall extend them the courtesy of any guest, hoping that our shared future can outshine the shadows of history."
The sky above churned with turmoil, dark clouds swirling ominously, and a frigid gust of wind howled through the canyon, sending Aeloria's hair whipping and a shiver down her spine. Eldrion's gaze turned upward, his face a mask of uncertainty. "Though we stand divided, I pray your beliefs prove prophetic, and my fears are mere echoes of paranoid ramblings."
Aeloria prayed too. Please, let this decision be the right one.
Long time no see! My fault, but life occasionally gets in the way of ones hobbies. So, chapter four is publish, bit of a set-up, slower paced piece hence the shorter length, but hopefully still interesting enough to be enjoyed.
I have a request of you, a favor. In the comments, list some crossover idea's you've always wanted to see, but that no one seems to write. Promise it may be worth the time it takes. :)
Thanks for reading!