"I...I can't...believe this" Elizabeth stuttered, taking Zeldris' hand and picks herself up. "I as well have been searching for the commandments as I have business to settle. Lady Elizabeth, do you want to join me?" Zeldris asked. "...Yes!" Elizabeth exclaimed, bursting into tears of joy. "Very well." Zeldris said, smiling warmly before whistling with his fingers. On came the Vampire's Blood...on a giant green pig?! It's skin was like that of grass and moss, effortlessly carrying the tavern on its back with the giant size it had. "What...is that?!" Elizabeth said in surprise. "A friend." Zeldris said, gently grabbing Elizabeth and jumping at high intensity towards the tavern. He gently placed her down on the green pig's soft green skin. Elizabeth was looking down at the ground around the humongous swine as they were so high off the ground. "How do you like the view?" Zeldris asked. "My...It's quite wonderful. I can see so far!" Elizabeth said happily. Zeldris smiled, enjoying Elizabeth's presence. "Hey...I think we should probably get you some new clothes. That scoundrel I sent flying ruined your outfit." Zeldris stated. Elizabeth looked down to her torn up body suit. "Yes, you're right..." She said, slightly blushing.
A few minutes pass as Zeldris waits for Elizabeth to come back into the dining room with the new outfit he picked out for her. She comes back with the purple maid outfit on. "I must admit, it's very comfortable." She said, looking down at her dress. "Glad it fits you. Was going to have it be the uniform for my waitresses but when you're constantly on the move, it's hard to get an employee." Zeldris joked. "I...I see..." Elizabeth muttered, looking to the side. "Is something wrong?" Zeldris asked, seeing her expression. "Not at all...It's just that I want to express my gratitude. You just met me and yet, you're letting me borrow your clothing. I don't even know how to repay you..."
"I don't need to be repaid. After all, there's much more ahead of us...and our journey to save your home has just begun, right?" Zeldris asked. "...Absolutely. Thank you...Sir Zeldris." Elizabeth said, smiling softly. She then remembered. This is the Sir Zeldris she was talking to. Now was a good time to ask about what happened all that time back.
"Sir Zeldris, if you...don't mind..." She started. Zeldris listened intently. "Yes?"
"Could you tell me what happened ten years ago? What could you and the other Ten Commandments have done to become vile criminals?" She asked. "Hm..." Zeldris murmured, remembering back to that specific day. He leaned against the wall, putting his finger to his chin. "It all started with the death of the Grandmaster, Zaratras...We were all there, having been summoned up to his quarters for what we thought was a meeting. And there he was...dead. Next thing we knew, we had Holy Knights at the door and surrounding the entire tower."
There was then a pause. Zeldris's thoughts seemed stuck.
"What happened after?" Elizabeth asked. Zeldris sighed. "Unfortunately, that's all I can remember about that day. Everything else is just foggy. However, I do remember waking up next to Nebbie."
"Oh, was Nebbie taking care of you?" Elizabeth wondered, thinking the idea was sweet. "I honestly don't know. I wake up in its cave and it wouldn't stop following me. Eventually I just decided to let it travel with me." Zeldris clarified. "Oh, it let you place a tavern on its back?"
"Yeah! That way, I get a home and she...gets to follow me. But now what I'm needing to first is to stock up on some ale in Vanya." Zeldris stated. "Sir Zeldris, I know you said that your drinks aren't very good but...they can't be that bad, can they?" Elizabeth asked curiously. "Uh... Well, the main reason why is...I brewed them myself." Zeldris said with an awkward expression. "Oh...I see. How come?" Elizabeth said, fully understanding why Zeldris said the drinks were awful. "When I started this business, I thought it would draw in customers and therefore possible rumors and speculation on the commandments if I ran a tavern. Whenever I started however, I was already running low on money as I spent most of it on the decor. I then started to try and make my own booze and well, you know how it turned out. Another reason why I like to buy the booze I sell." Zeldris explained. "And Vanya just so happens to have the kind you're looking for?" Elizabeth asked. "Exactly!" Zeldris exclaimed, starting to wipe down the tables. "Um...Sir Zeldris?" Elizabeth stepped forward. "Yes?"
"You said you were wanting to use this uniform for a waitress here, correct? Well...how about I fill the position during the time I stay with you?" Elizabeth offered. "You sure? You really don't have to." Zeldris assured. "I want to! I really do!" Elizabeth exclaimed, practically begging with a excited smile. Zeldris sighs, giving in to Elizabeth's innocent eagerness to be helpful. "Fine, I'll let you have the job." He said, a little smirk forming. "Wonderful! I promise I won't make a mess!" She stated. "...Hm?" Zeldris muttered, raising his eyebrow. "Well...Not on purpose." Elizabeth admitted, a little bashful blush forming. That made Zeldris chuckle as he put his hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm just kidding with you. Besides, it'll just take some practice." Zeldris reassured. Elizabeth's face lit up with his affirming touch. "Alright!" Elizabeth said.
Some time passed with Zeldris showing Elizabeth the ropes about her new job. A loud snort could be heard from outside, coming from the giant green pig. "That's our stop." Zeldris stated, grabbing his bag. "At Vanya already?" Elizabeth said, looking out the window. "Yeah, Nebbie's surprisingly fast for her huge size." Zeldris said. "Nebbie? Is that this piggy's name?" Elizabeth asked curiously. "Yep. It's a little bit corny but it's the best I could think of." Zeldris stated, shrugging as he started walking out the door. "Oh, it's not corny. It's a little cute!" Elizabeth said sweetly as she followed him. Zeldris stepped over to the front porch, keeping Elizabeth behind him. "Alright, Nebbie. Rest for a little while." He yelled to make sure Nebbie heard him. Nebbie snorts before slowly digging herself down into the dirt with her hooves. Eventually, only the tavern was once again on level ground.
Zeldris and Elizabeth began making their way towards the village of Vanya as it was only a short walk until they reached it. "So what exactly makes Vanya ale the best for your tavern?" Elizabeth asked. "Apparently, it's more popular with women for its apple like smell and sweet taste. Makes it a delicacy with a meal." Zeldris explained before eyeing a couple strangers surrounding a random sword in the road. "I wonder what's going on..." Elizabeth said, now seeing the crowd as well. The men all looked physically tired with the women at the side with depressed looks. At the center was a sword with many strings of rope wrapped around it. They both stepped over, Elizabeth listening closely to the emotionally beaten talk of the locals.
"We've done all we could and lifted with our might...still no budge..."
"Everyone will perish if we don't free the water..."
"How can we ever make our ale..."
Elizabeth instantly grew worried and sympathetic, seeing the depressed faces around the town. "Sir Zeldris...We have to do something." She said, turning to Zeldris...only to see him immediately pulling out the sword. "Is this someone's sword?" He said, looking around at everyone's dropped jaws. "Is...everything alright?" Zeldris asked before an eruption of water bursted from the well.
"And so the holy knight had plunged his sword into the ground, right where the water flowed. We were completely dry for weeks!" A female villager explained, eating a bite of her roast. "Hm...It seems this is worst than I thought if they're willing to punish so harshly for something so mere." Zeldris pondered. A few hours had passed since Zeldris had saved Vanya from dehydration, even if it was unknowingly on his part. "Well...I'm glad you've shown up, sir. I'm surprised all you wanted in return was just some barrels of ale." The woman stated. "It was actually why I came to visit this place, needing to stock up. Who was responsible for pissing off this holy knight in the first place?" Zeldris asked. "Just some of the children playing a prank, he wasn't happy at all. We made sure they wouldn't do it again by saying we'd send to them to...What was it, "the forest of white dreams", hehe... Some rumors with the residents have been going around of some giant snake that resides there." The lady said, drinking her ale. "Snake?! Well...What the?!" Zeldris' attention was immediately caught by Elizabeth tripping over and spilling the drinks. "...Actually, I may need a few more barrels."
That night, Elizabeth was sitting outside. Embarrassed by her many clumsy actions and upset that she made so many messes in Zeldris' tavern. Zeldris looked out through the window after finishing his cleaning. A feeling of empathy came through as he stepped outside to comfort her. "Come on, don't be so down. You weren't that bad..." Zeldris said reassuringly, seeing Elizabeth in such a down mood. "I was..." Elizabeth muttered, looking up at the sky. Zeldris sighed, then sitting down beside her. He never was good at consoling people but...Elizabeth needed someone right now. He then noticed the shiny earring on Elizabeth's ear, remembering it to be the singular factor in Elizabeth getting pointed out by Twigo. "That's a nice earring you have..." He said, admiring the shiny blue design. Elizabeth's face lightens up a little, thinking of her family. "Thanks, it was a present from my oldest sister, Margaret. She was always a kind person..." She said, smiling softly. "Really? Any other siblings?" Zeldris asked, trying to keep the conversation and peaceful mood going. "Yes, there's also Veronica! She's tough but we always played when we were younger. Hehe..." She said, before sighing. "I... hate to be complaining so much but...I really miss everyone...but what about you, Sir Zeldris? Do you have any siblings?" Elizabeth asked, wanting to know more about Zeldris. "I..."
BOOM! Something was flying through the sky at intense speed towards the village. A sharp looking spear! Zeldris immediately grabbed it, being sent flying back. "SIR ZELDRIS!" Elizabeth yelled in shock and horror. Zeldris skidded across the ground as he held onto the mysterious spear, knowing he had to stop its momentum or half of Vanya will be wrecked! Zeldris placed all his strength into his feet, putting up more and more defensive force until he fully stop. He completely threw the spear back in the exact direction where he saw it come from. Wherever this spear came from, the person who threw it were in for a rough surprise.
Elizabeth ran up to town square, looking worryingly for Zeldris until she saw him. "Sir Zeldris, are you ok?!" She said, looking for any wounds. "Yes...but the biggest thing to worry about. Where did that come from...and will we have to face the person who threw it soon?" Zeldris said, looking to the night sky.