Day4-Free Day(Sorry about the order of these being off I was having edit/saving problems and had to upload it differently since I wanted to get one with things. It saved fine on Ao3 for some reason)
"Just let the diplomats get to it."
-If the half human orc warrior was able to get out the stupid cave he was in then that's definitely what he would do. Not like it was his fault they were taking so long with getting the stupid infestation of carakillers on the outskirts of his village under control. Even less his fault when that dumb checkered wearing fairy spooked their horses and stole the map to Summerset. Akane trying to steal food from a bear not to long later didn't help things since she lost her dagger in the process. Leon trying to flirt poorly with his lute at the forest witch instead of getting potions was an extra no help.
What was reasonably his fault was thinking he could scout a cave while the others slept to see how close they were to their destination. Thankfully for them all Chihiro was a smart cleric and brought some orbs in case they lost the map. According to his orbs they weren't too far away. Despite being part orc he liked to think he didn't fit to much of the stereotype of dumb, big, and overly hostile. Nidai was pretty big sure and while he could get excitable he was never hostile unless his friends were in danger.
Maybe not letting anyone know where he was going and entering through this cave in case it was a shortcut was a little dumb to a degree. He had been walking for an hour and felt lost. He was contemplating just trying to turn around and see if he could get back until he heard what sounded like murmuring up ahead. The smell of smoke and meat meant either friendly reasonable travelers or hostile thieves. In either case he tried to peak in as quietly as possible to see if it was worth continuing.
A large cavern of a room filled with bones, a few crates, and scrapes of metal were littered everywhere. Sitting at the center with a half eaten spindle of meat over a large fire was a pair of trolls. A bit small as far as trolls go only 16 ft tall as far as he could guess but dangerous looking none the less. He had the foresight to bring a battle-axe and shield but still it was chancy to take them without a few companions. While Nidai never minded a challenge he didn't want to risk dying here. His friends and family back home were waiting for him to return after all.
As he was easing back he felt the sudden presence of something or someone looking at him. The sensation of a hand on his elbow almost made him shout in surprise but the tingle of magic across his mouth kept his lips sealed. Turning around fully he didn't see anything until he looked down slightly at a lean green cloaked figure beside him. Their head came just up to his chest so by human standards they were tall-ish. The ears poking out the top gave away they were an elf of some sort while him not being able to physically open his mouth told Nidai they were a good magic user to.
They stepped back some to analyze him before gesturing for him to come with them silently out of the trolls hearing range. After walking for a few minutes, the stranger finally flicked their fingers to release his lips. Taking that as his cue Nidai talked while trying not to raise his voice too loud.
"Who are you and have you been following my group?"
The figure finally took off their hood to reveal as he thought it to be an elf. For reasons only the gods know most elves were flawlessly pretty by default so her blonde beauty didn't surprise him. What did take him of guard enough to step back in shock was the markings on her head and a crested necklace made too refined to be a knockoff copy. He knew once in a blue moon royals got their hands dirty in scouting, hunts, or the occasional war but their usually accompanied in groups.
Rarer so was it for one who looked around his age to be out unattended. It was some weird cosmic ultimate irony of all the royals this specific one was here as well.
"P-Princess of Summerset?!"He exclaimed a bit louder then he meant to.
"Shhh, please keep your voice on the down low as the peasants say. "said the princess.
He looked at her even more confused cause he was pretty sure only his uncle used that term before.
"I don't know many who say it like that anymore but sorry princess I'm just confused is all on top of hungry."
Nodding in understanding the princess reached into a fancy looking bag and pulled out an almost comically large fried leg of some sort. "I hope you don't mind it cold. I might of overpacked with this on food considering its just me and a not so loyal beast I brought with me now. It ran off to hunt some wolves we ran into so I'm by myself. Also, to answer your question no I didn't really expect any other travelers down this path. Did they break off metal of your land's beast corrals as well?"
As he finished off the meat in the time she was talking he paused in surprise which showed in his voice as he replied.
"Corrals? Corrals for what exactly?"Nidai asked.
"Well one creature known as makangos are a delicacy which is the leg you just ate. The others are even larger beasts known as carakillers which a large pair of locks and doors were meant to hold from wandering."
The look of utter stupefaction must of told her something different than what he was thinking.
"Oh have you never seen them? They're about yay tall and-" He cut her off definitely to loud this time.
"Hell yeah I know them! They've been harassing the livestock and crops around my village for a near bloody month. The diplomats who were supposed to do something about them have been laying around with their thumbs up their shitholes this whole time. I got a crew from a neighboring town to come with me to see your king about this since some of them had summerset crest symbols branded on them." He ranted. "Eh, sorry for the yelling your highness but the whole shitty situation along with being lost in hear has made me lose my shit."
She smiled at him kindly and just laughed though not in a way that felt like mocking or teasing his plight.
"Its perfectly fine, that does sound quite shitty a situation indeed as you say. Also you don't have to address me formally. My name is Sonia nevermind though, just address me as Sonia if you don't mind. We are all beings of this realm after all regardless of status or at least I feel that way. A reward was put out to find where they wandered along with tracking down where the door and locks are. It would take a long time to recreate them since they are special metals but I thought it was taking to long to so I tried tracking down the location myself. I had a few travelers with me to but unfortunately they got eaten by a dragon half way hear." Sonia explained.
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, Sonia. It's still pretty cool you were able to survive this long. I hold nothing against your people or anything, but I did want to inform you of our problem since I wasn't sure your people were even aware. Also hehehe, I think I know maybe one guy in my village who goes by that name but he isn't me. My name is Nekomaru Nidai but Nidai is just fine to."
"Well Nidai even though I'm neither of my parents, you telling me this is the same as telling them so that part of your mission is complete. I think it would benefit us both if you could help me complete my own quest in getting those metals from the trolls. They seem to be using them as makeshift furniture from what I saw." Sonia explained.
"Well do you have any plans? I'm plenty strong and I've taken on bigger trolls then those but not without backup. We're up shits creak without more backup or a good plan of attack."
The high elf seemed to contemplate his words and think for a while. She pulled out a few flasks of berry juice for them both so they both could recharge while thinking. Eventually she sat up and bopped herself on the head with a laugh. For a second Nidai thought maybe she had gone mad until Sonia clarified her action.
"While my magic isn't as good as some of the wizards and witches we've done contracts with in the past I do have creatures I view as friends as well as familiars."
Reaching once more in the bag she took out two pieces of paper with glowing symbols Nidai vaguely recognized as summoning symbols for different creatures. Putting the papers a good distance apart while she motioned for him to distance himself from each.
"I had these prepped long ago so we shouldn't have to wait long if neither are too busy." Sonia explained.
Then she put her hand on a small tomb that was attached to her hip and recited something in elvish. He wasn't fluent in it too much but he could tell what was happening. Just as she said it only took a few seconds before the papers both glowed brightly with smoke emitting from them. Shapes formed from the different papers until they became solid.
The left form was a tall young male minotaur with purple eyes and fur a slightly darker shade than them. It had black stars marked on its white horns like decorations. It looked confused at him but upon seeing Sonia gave a bright smile. The smile dropped slightly as he looked to the right at the other creature. Following their gaze Nidai realized why.
Floating off the ground while nonchalantly filing its nails was a fairy with short dark purple hair. It was wearing a likely stolen blue vest and brown pants unlike the last time they met. It was in a maid dress outfit before pretending to be a lost servant, but it still had the checkered scarf on its arm from before.
"Hey their Sonia beans, I was wondering when I'd hear from you again but I didn't think this soon. Not complaining of course but do I really need to work with Kokichi again in whatever this is?" Said the Minotaur.
"You say that like I enjoy your company either hay for brains." The fairy replied boredly, still examining its hands while not looking at the other summon. It did glance over at Nidai though and sent him an impish smile.
"Woah Sonia didn't know you hung out with smelly ogres now. I know you like all creatures but at least set standards for some that stink less. Isn't it enough I have to breathe in Kaito fumes?"
"Hey!" Both kaito and Nidai exclaimed.
Sonia got between them both as they advanced on the rude fae and raised her hands as signal for them to relax.
"Please don't mind Kokichi, he likes to say and do questionable things at times but he is very reliable. Kaito you know he's just teasing you. Neither of you smell and the faster I can get my stolen metals then the carakillers can be wrangled up all the sooner.
Once everyone settled down the plan was in motion. The trolls had thankfully not done much other than bend the doors partly to sit on more comfortably. One of them grunted excitedly to the other as the meat was nearly done only for rain drops from a cloud that came from seemingly nowhere extinguished it. Both shrieked in angry confusion at the ruined fire.
"Nehehe, oops did I rain on your meal? Well it's kind of your own fault for not inviting me to the feast. Kokichi taunted while floating over the food. The fairy then held up one of the many small treasure boxes of silver that had been lying in the troll's pile of goods.
"Hmm, yes I think I'll take this as compensation for your rudeness. Sound fair big guys?"
With loud roars of fury the trolls picked up clubs to chase him. Kokichi led them out of the room down a different corridor then the others entered. Nidai and Kaito picked up one heavy door and lined it in front of Sona's bag. She was able to magically shrink it and the lock but the other wouldn't fit due to being full.
"Its okay we can just lift it out." Nidai suggested.
"Hey do you think you can carry it down with Sonia-beans by yourself? I know he messes with people and doesn't like asking for help but I honestly want to check on Kokichi real quick. For the most part he can handle himself but my gut just wouldn't feel right leaving." Kaito explained.
Considering his reaction when they first met this surprised him but he understood. Being on many quests can form bonds which they seemed to have been on plenty.
"It might be dangerous to go by yourself though Kaito, let me come with you. Is that alright Nidai?"
Despite only knowing them a short while he felt the same in not abandoning a companion.
It didn't take them long before they heard the roaring and pounding of metal as Kokichi shrieked in pain in the distance.
Kokichi had barriered himself in a half shattered cage while a bulky 3rd troll they hadn't seen before swung at it savagely. The smaller two cheering as they swung clubs in the air. While focusing on reinforcing the barrier Nidai noted blood on one of his arms.
"Sonia when I say now you put a sound blocking spell on the 3 of you." Kaito said before marching into the room and stomping his hooved foot to get attention. Once he had it Kaito stood in a charging stance while holding a book Nidai didn't notice he had.
"SONIA NOW!" With a wave of magic to his ears everything went quiet, but Nidai could see as the stars on Kaito's horns shimmered as well as his eyes glow grey.
Visible vibrations of air left the minotaur's mouth as a wave of noise filled the room disorienting the trolls. Taking the distraction Nidai ran over to leg sweep the large troll before grabbing the fairy.
With only a bit of time until the trolls regained their senses the 4 fled back where they came from to get the door and make a break for it. It took less time when Sonia remembered she had an orb for fast travel to teleport them back outside the cave.
Kokichi safe and the medals secured the quest was complete.
Over the next few months after the doors were repaired Sonia made regular trips to Nidai's village and vise versa though quicker thanks to some mirror magic she showed him. They discussed what to do in case this happened again and how to prevent it but mostly just hung out. Getting to know Sonia more and share his culture made the two become closer.
"What's this?" Nidai said as he had received a partial of cheese, spices and exotic wines from her. He recalled telling her the significance of sending this to someone in orc courtship so she couldn't possibly have forgotten. Unless…
"Looks like I'm going on another quest to deliver a letter today."