xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Near Shirotsume Town, 12:23 p.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"His name is Warwick Klebba." Pietro said as he sat on a tree stump.
Opposite of the rotund mustachioed man was Bernard, sitting on a felled log with Corvus and Vulp sitting next to him while Anatoli was standing in front of a cooking pot on top of a small fire with a soup ladle in hand, stirring it. Slightly away from the group was Marlene and Camilla, both of them with blue faces full of dread as they both held bowls full of soup and slowly eating them while sitting on a different felled log. Behind them were two of Daphne's cat plush servants that Bernard had in his possession, each rubbing the pairs backs with their soft arms in a comforting manner.
"The heck kind of name is "Warwick?"' Corvus asked as he rubbed his beak as Camilla and Marlene started to shiver, causing the cat plush men to flinch from the sudden reaction from the girls. "Pfff! Hahaha!" He thought as he glanced over and noticed the reaction by the girls from saying Warwick's name.
"It's the name of our guilds strongest wizard in terms of fighting skills." Anatoli said, chiming in. "And one heck of a super-perv." He said as he picked up a bowl from the ground and then poured some soup into it.
"Well, judging by those two, "Warwick" sounds like a name that also strikes fear in the hearts of women. Hehehe." Corvus said with a smirk on his beak as the girls shivered yet again, Vulp looking at his fellow Celestial Spirit with annoyance.
"At least to the women in Psycho Circus... And most of the town." Bernard commented as he stood up from the log and walked over to the soup filled pot with Vulp following behind him. "And possibly a good chunk of Fiore also..." He thought with a headshake.
"So, what's this guy's deal? Why isn't he allowed in the guildhall?" Corvus questioned as Bernard walked back over with two bowls, handing one to the crow. "Thanks, by the way." He said as Bernard sat next to him.
"He's not just banned to be in the guildhall; he's not allowed in Hemlock either." Bernard said as he looked at Corvus while putting the bowl down on the opposite side of the log for Vulp to eat.
'"Pervert" is one word but personally, I think "hedonist" is a more appropriate term to describe him. He believes firmly in the pursuit of "finding one's pleasures satisfied" and building his life around it, if you know what I mean." Pietro said as Anatoli kneeled down near the fire and begun to spin his fist around in a circle.
Generating a small amount of magical energy in the form of a tornado of wind, Anatoli put out the flames beneath the pot before grabbing the last bowl on the ground and then scooping up soup into it. Walking over to his nearby Stellanium ball, Anatoli hopped on top of it and sat down.
'"Hedonist," "pervert," "deviant," "kinky bastard," the list goes on but surprisingly, he never had qualms about being called out on it. He just likes "enjoying" himself." Anatoli said as he took out a spoon to enjoy his meal.
"War- I mean, the other S-class wizard, was a frequent customer of bordellos and the sort in Hemlock." Pietro said, turning his gaze in the direction of the girls so as to avoid bothering them yet again by saying Warwick's name. "And when he wasn't in the mood to spend the money..." He continued.
"He'd sometimes make moves on the girls in Psycho Circus." Bernard said as he took off his beanie and scratched his head. "...Whether they were in a relationship or not..." He said as Corvus and Vulps eyes widened.
"...I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that last part." Corvus said with a confused tone.
'"You know who" made it his business to get "acquainted" with the female members of the guild. Lo and behold, he caused like six or seven affairs between the guildmembers. He didn't care, he just wanted some "companionship" when he was feeling frisky, and he "wooed" some of the women in the guild." Bernard explained. "And I'll let you guess how well that went in a guild known for a performance show... That requires a lot of trust and cooperation between the members..." He said while putting his beanie back on his head. "He's has had a strong run of luck in that department, believe it or not." Bernard thought to himself.
"...Okay, I think I am starting to see the issue with this guy being around..." Corvus thought as he glanced over at Camilla and Marlene, still making upset expressions. "...Them?" He said as he pointed his wing.
'"Potential victims."' Pietro and Anatoli said in unison as the two girls shivered again.
"Hmmmmm..." Bernard mentally grumbled to himself as he noticed the worry coming off of the girls before motioning for the cat plush men to approach him, the duo of doll-like servants walking over to the beanie sporting wizard.
"...This is mental torture..." Marlene said as she placed her hands on her legs and tightly clutched at her knees.
"...Soon to be physical torture..." Camilla replied as she covered her face with her palms.
"Uhhh..." Corvus muttered with a raised eyebrow.
"Remember how I left when I was eighteen?" Bernard said, catching Corvus' attention as the cat plush men shrunk down into their small carrying form and Bernard placed them on his belt. "Well, I was still around for a little while after Anatoli, Marlene and Camilla all turned eighteen too. Before I left, Warwick was given a sort of "pariah" status by the town council, but my mother and father technically won the argument given how much Psycho Circus draws potential customers to a small business town like Hemlock. Now he's only allowed to enter in case of "extreme emergencies" currently." He said.
"Of which have never occurred. I was also at that town council meeting... He's only allowed in Hemlock for twenty-four hours after a "serious situation that would call upon his needing to be there."' Pietro said as he rubbed his bald head. "Last thing anyone wants in Hemlock is Warwick running around and convincing women to engage in affairs with him." He elaborated further as the girls shivered once more. "So-sorry..." Pietro apologized, realizing he said Warwick's name.
"And this guy's still a member?" Corvus questioned.
'"Somehow."' Bernard, Anatoli and Pietro said in unison as Corvus and Vulp looked at each other in bewilderment.
"As one of the oldest members of the guild, I can almost explain it." Pietro said as he caught the Celestial Spirit's attention. "Master Barnum and Warwick go way back. In an unofficial capacity, he's practically Lil Bern's uncle." He explained.
"...Please, do not lump me in a familial sense with him." Bernard said with a bothered expression on his face as Anatoli smirked at his reaction.
"He's also technically responsible for our guild's name." Pietro said as Corvus looked at Bernard, who nodded in confirmation. "A lot of guilds in Fiore have vast amounts of history but some of them also come from simple backgrounds, Psycho Circus is no exception." He explained as he put down his finished bowl of soup.
"Oh god, not this story again." Anatoli said with an eye roll as Marlene and Camilla looked over at the guys.
"The origins of our wizard guild go back a few decades to Bernard's grandfather, Bertram O'Halloran. Under the name, "The O'Halloran Family Circus." Originally a travelling circus group that operated without magic until Bernard's father Barnum wished for the guild to experiment with more magically themed acts. At some point, when Barnum took over, he decided to move the group from a traveling party to settling down in a single location: Hemlock." Pietro said, recounting the history of Psycho Circus. "From there, we got licensed as a wizard guild and became known as Psycho Circus. Where a certain hedonistic member actually became responsible for our name. I believe what he said was: "we'd have to be a crazy bunch of circus clowns to be called a guild of wizards."' He continued, quoting Warwick.
'"O'Halloran Family Circus?"' Corvus questioned as he and Vulp looked at Bernard who just looked away.
"...Yes, that's the original form of the guild. My grandfather ran it before he passed away and my father picked it up and turned it into what we know today..." Bernard said while folding his arms. "And yes, the origin of our name is very weird and possibly one of the reason's "you-know-who" is still a member of our guild." He said as he glared at Corvus who smirked at him. "Aside from being a really skilled fighter in a guild that doesn't have a lot of ultra-powerful wizards in it." Bernard thought.
"I'm not judging the past... "Clown Prince."' Corvus said as he looked at his master.
"Ha! I knew that nickname would catch on!" Anatoli said as he pointed at Bernard.
"I still don't approve of that!" Bernard angrily exclaimed as everyone, even the previously distraught girls of the group, smiled from his reaction. "Years of being called "Burning Bernie" finally over and now I got another stupid nickname! And I don't know which one is worse!" He mentally complained.
"As I was saying..." Pietro said as he got back everyone's attention. "Barnum and "he who shall not be named in the guildhall and in front of our women" were two of our founding members of the wizard guild alongside Alfana, Bernard's mother. I and my sister joined early on, and the rest is history." Pietro said.
"Course that doesn't explain why we're out here looking for the kid's mom and this "hottie hunter."' Corvus said.
"We're out here to ask about the remainder of my loan from the royal family that my dad gave my mom... And I had another reason in mind, but I'll save that for later..." Bernard said as he shifted his eyes towards Pietro and then Anatoli and then towards Camilla and Marlene. "Also, not sure why the rest of you are here..." He commented.
"Remember the rule?" Pietro said. "You're not allowed to leave Hemlock without a guildmember present." He said as Bernard made a disgruntled face.
"I don't need an escort..." Bernard said.
"Doesn't matter." Camilla said, finally speaking up as she and Marlene walked over to the group. "We're making sure you're sticking around." She said.
"Plus, I felt like saying hello to Alfana like old times." Pietro said.
"Okay, what about you?" Bernard asked towards Anatoli.
"Got my own reasons, Bernie. Nothing to worry-" Anatoli said with a confident tone until getting cut off.
"He wants to fight Warwick so he can get S-class ranking." Camilla said with her arms folded.
"Hey! Way to spoil the mystery!" Anatoli complained as he stood on top of his ball.
"Not a smart idea, child." Pietro said as Anatoli looked at him.
"What else can I do?! Camilla isn't accepting my challenges!" Anatoli shouted as he pointed at the S-class wizard.
"...Because I don't want to fight you or Chester just so you two can apply for S-class. I'm an overworked bartender who has to break up guild fights in a big tent filled with nut cases and would just like a day off. " Camilla said with a tired tone while looking at her boyfriend and boss. "Preferably one that includes a certain someone being affectionate with me and takes me out." She thought as she stared at Bernard.
"...Please stop looking at me." Bernard thought while biting his lip.
"And I am here for medical treatment after the fact..." Marlene said while shifting her eyes downward. "...Plus..." She said as everyone turned to look at her. "...I wanted to ask Alfana for some advice..." Marlene said with a depressed expression forming on her face.
"Hey, hey. Take it easy." Camilla said as she put a hand on Marlene's shoulder to reassure her.
"I'm disgusted to admit it but, on the way, I thought to myself that the only way a guy is going to want to touch me is if they had extremely low standards or... They would just go after any woman they see..." Marlene said with tears beginning to form.
"Hey! Come on, there's no need to sell yourself that short!" Camilla exclaimed as she put her hands on both of her shoulders. "Sticking needles under your fingernails is much better than subjecting yourself to Warwick touching you! You'll find someone one day!" She shouted further as she frantically tried to snap Marlene out of her state of despair as Bernard just looked at the girl with reptilian features with pity.
"...Pietro..." Bernard said as he shifted his eyes towards the mustachioed man. "...Sidebar?" He requested as he pointed away from the group.
"Asking me for advice? This should be interesting." Pietro thought before standing up and walking away from the group with Bernard as Vulp followed behind his beanie sporting master.
"What're they talking about?" Anatoli questioned as Corvus shrugged while Marlene started to calm down.
"You know, everyone keeps talking about the super perv, no one has really brought up anything on the kids mom." Corvus asked as Camilla looked at the crow.
"To be honest, she's just as scary as Warwick but in a different sense." Camilla said. "It took me five tries to fight Warwick before I became S-class but Alfana... She's a whole different beast that you don't want to confront." She said as Marlene nodded.
"She also S-class?" Corvus replied.
"No, it's just me and the "hedonistic harasser."' Camilla said.
"You'll find out soon enough, but you'll probably be fine though since you don't have hands." Anatoli said as Corvus raised an eyebrow.
"Alfana O'Halloran is the number one fortune teller in Fiore." Marlene said.
'"Fortune teller?"' Corvus reiterated as Pietro walked back over with Bernard following behind him with Vulp at his side, the beanie sporting young man biting his lip with a bothered expression on his face.
"Alfana is a master class at reading the future." Pietro said. "But she's not just skilled at that. Her skills double back." He continued.
"Huh?" Corvus muttered.
"My mom can not only learn people's futures, but she can also see people's pasts. And I mean at a very thorough level. Because of this, she's a master at digging up dirt on others." Bernard said. "Hence why Warwick is with her at the moment. She's got blackmail for days to keep him in line." He said.
"Tarot cards, crystal balls, palm reading. Once she takes a moment to try and look at your future, she can learn everything about you in your past that leads up to that point. Nothing is a secret around her. She can be outright terrifying to someone she deems an enemy." Pietro explained.
"And the lecherous freak is kept on a real short leash thanks to her." Camilla said.
"An uber strong perv and a blackmailing queen... Can't tell if this guild just became scarier or more interesting." Corvus thought before glancing at Bernard, who walked over to him. "What were you and the baldie talk about?" He asked as Bernard rubbed his eyes with her left hand before leaning over to the crow to whisper.
"We were talking about me taking one for the team..." Bernard said quietly. "Come on, let's go find my mom..." He said as everyone nodded and begun to collect their things.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Near Shirotsume Town, 2:11 p.m. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On the outskirts of Shirotsume Town, in the middle of a forest clearing, was a lone black four-wheeled caravan that had a pair of asleep purple boar-like animals attached to the front to pull it along with a banner on both sides that read "Alfana's Future Readings." Approaching from the woods was the group of Psycho Circus wizards and Bernard's Celestial Spirit companions.
"Nearly two hours searching near the town and here it is." Bernard said with a casual tone.
"Small little thing. I would've assumed she was going around places in an expensive Magic Mobile." Corvus said as he flew next to Bernard as they all walked forward as Marlene and Camilla stayed back behind a nearby tree.
"Never thought I'd see the day Camilla would be cowering like that." Anatoli said as he bent towards Bernard to whisper towards him.
"Obvious reasons..." Bernard thought as he glanced at Marlene and Camilla. "Come on, let's get this over with." He said towards the girls as they sighed.
"I don't think I can make a barrier strong enough to keep him at bay..." Camilla said towards her fellow nervous female guildmember.
"And my Camouflage Magic isn't going to make it possible for me to hide... He can probably smell my fear..." Marlene muttered as they both walked out from behind the tree and followed behind Anatoli and the Celestial Spirits as they headed for the caravan, Bernard and Pietro staying behind.
"You still going through with that idea?" Pietro asked towards Bernard.
"...Don't got much of a choice here..." Bernard replied.
"Remember to stick to it then." Pietro commented. "Though I don't think you'll like the aftereffects." He thought.
"I did ask if you could come up with a better suggestion..." Bernard said with a disgruntled expression.
"I said it was a "respectfully bold yet potentially problematic" plan but I doubt you could come up with a better one, to be honest." Pietro said as he folded his arms while looking at Bernard. "Besides, you asked for my advice, I gave you it. Part of being a good leader is to trust your gut, even when you ask for alternative opinions." He continued as Bernard's face twitched as he placed a hand over his pacemaker.
"Gut's one thing but I don't think my heart's going to take it..." Bernard thought as he and Pietro looked at the others.
"Yo! Mrs. O'Halloran!" Anatoli said as he knocked on the side of the caravan with the back of his fist.
"...Couldn't you have done that less like a loudmouth?" Camilla said with a judgmental expression as Anatoli rolled his eyes.
"Yo! Wake up in there! People need to their future bathroom schedules read!" Corvus exclaimed as Anatoli made a mischievous smirk while Marlene nudged Camilla to get her attention.
"...Maybe Warwick isn't here." Marlene whispered, hoping for a lack of a certain individual's presence.
"That would be lovely, wouldn't it- ki!" Camilla said in response with a smile until she suddenly felt a chill run up her spine and the feeling of a hand against the back of her leg.
"Hiii!" Marlene shrieked as she felt a similar sensation.
"Someone say my name?" A male voice said as Anatoli, Corvus and Vulp turned around to see the blue faced expressions on Camilla and Marlenes faces as they slowly turned their heads back and looked downward.
Standing at a waist-high height was a small man with clear muscle definition beneath his clothes, slicked back brown hair with parted bangs in the front and a thin chin beard. Dressed in a shiny blue V-neck shirt, black leather pants, black dress shoes, a black leather jacket, a gold chain necklace with the symbol for Psycho Circus hanging off it and wearing gold rings on his left index and middle fingers, he had a small sword sheathed on his backside with a brown cloth handle.
"Smoooooth." The small man said with a smirk on his face as he moved his hands down the back of Camilla's and Marlene's exposed legs.
'"Ahhhhhhh!"' Camilla and Marlene screamed in unison as they both lunged forward onto the ground, landing on their fronts before turning over, cowering as they both clutched at one another.
"Been awhile since I've seen you girls. Man, you've both really matured." The small man said as he squatted down and locked eyes with the girls before shifting his attention down towards their figures.
"...Who's this half-pint-... No..." Corvus said until he realized who the small man with the sword on his back was.
"Yep. That's Warwick." Anatoli said while folding his arms.
"He's only a little taller than me!" Corvus thought as he and Vulp raised an eyebrow.
"Stay away from us, you freaky troll!" Camilla screamed with furrow brows as she and Marlene were shaking in fear on the ground.
"Don't be so defensive, I'm not going to bite... Unless you girls are into that. Hehehe..." Warwick said with a chuckle as he looked at their breasts.
"Stop undressing us with your eyes!" Marlene shouted with an upset tone before her and Camilla covered their chests with their arms as Pietro and Bernard approached.
"Hello, Warwick. Still as lively as ever I see." Pietro said with a judgmental tone. "Negative connotation intended." He thought as the small man turned around.
"Well, well, well. Look who it is. Big ol' Pietro." Warwick said as he stood up and put his hands in his pockets. "How's your sister?" He asked as Pietro's eye twitched in annoyance.
"...She's fine... Better without you trying to make a move on her and causing her skin to crawl." Pietro said with a bothered tone, Corvus and Vulp turning toward Anatoli.
"...The tubby woman with the beard even?" Corvus asked towards Anatoli who nodded in response. "...This guy seems to go after anything female with a pulse." He thought.
"Remember that little rule we established in the guild because of what you did?" Pietro said before shifting his attention over to Bernard who put a hand on his face in frustration.
"This is so going to bite me in the ass..." Bernard thought as he walked over to where Camilla and Marlene were, reaching down and helping to pick the two girls back up to their feet.
"Yeah, yeah. "Not allowed to make a move on girls in the guild who aren't single." Blah, blah, blah." Warwick said with an apathetic tone before turning his attention back towards Marlene and Camilla, who both were still shivering at the sight of him ogling them. "Course that means nothing to a pair of fine single ladies like these." He said with a masculine tone that tried to appear suave.
'"This is hell!"' Camilla and Marlene thought in unison as Bernard stood behind them with half-closed eyes.
"That also applies to guildmembers outside the guildhall and these two aren't on the market." Pietro said, catching Warwick's attention again before moving his eyes in Bernard's direction. "Do your best, Lil' Bern." He thought as Bernard locked eyes with him for a brief moment.
'"Huh?"' Camilla and Marlene muttered in surprise and confusion.
"What, both of these two got a guy?" Warwick questioned as the girls looked at each other, unsure of what Pietro meant.
"...Do I have a boyfriend I don't know about?... Because if he exists, I really want to meet..." Marlene thought.
"I mean, I know I have-" Camilla said, speaking up before suddenly feeling an arm stretch around her shoulder and Marlene looking down to notice the same thing.
Turning their heads slowly, Marlene and Camilla's eyes widened to an extremely degree as an incredibly embarrassed Bernard had his arms around the pair, his face bright red. Looking on, Anatoli and the Celestial Spirits started to smirk and lightly chuckle with Anatoli's hand, Corvus' wing and Vulp's tail covering their respective mouths to stifle their laughs from the sight in front them.
"...What the heck?" Warwick said with a surprised face as Bernard pulled Camilla and Marlene closely to him, both silently staring at him at the same time.
"You-you're not allowed to make passes at these two... The-they're mine... Alright?" Bernard said with an awkward tone as he looked away from everyone as Camilla and Marlene continued to stare. '"Ugggghhhhh! This is so embarrassing! I'm never going to live this down!" He thought.
'"Whaaaaaaaaa?"' Camilla and Marlene thought in unison while blushing and trying to process what was happening.
"Wait, seriously?" Warwick muttered with his arms folded.
"It's true... Those two have spent a lot of time with Lil Bern in- pfff... That manner." Pietro said while forming a smile and stopping to laugh for a brief moment.
"The laughter's not helping!" Bernard mentally screamed.
"I don't believe it; I always thought his balls would never drop." Warwick said with a shocked tone.
"I always had balls and don't sound so surprised!" Bernard screamed angrily while inadvertently shifting a still bewildered Camilla and Marlene into a hug, causing the two girls to now be pressing their fronts against his chest. "Seriously, why am I being questioned about my balls again!?" He thought.
"In fact, the day the new guildhall was put up; he had a rather precocious moment between himself and these two. I saw it happening." Pietro said while folding his arms and looking at Warwick.
"Do not give details! Do you have any idea how much of a struggle this is for me to do?!" Bernard thought with annoyance as he looked at Pietro while his right hand was on Marlene's back and his left hand was on Camillas.
"Yeah, they had quite the "celebration," the three of them!" Anatoli said, chiming in.
"Most of the guild knows about it! Happened on an infirmary bed!" Corvus said, joining in on the embarrassing situation for Bernard.
"Okay, add the details! The lack of context makes this sound worse!" Bernard thought with rising anger.
"You're kidding?!" Warwick exclaimed in the direction of Anatoli, Corvus and Vulp. "And you saw it?!" He asked towards Pietro who nodded while hiding his face.
"Ye-yeah! It happened and... Both of these girls are mine! So, back off!" Bernard said with a nervous tone while proceeding to make some distance from the midget swordsman with his arms around the girls once again. "God, I hope I pulled this off..." He thought with a bright red face as he stopped moving and looked back at Warwick to see if his charade worked.
"Hmmmmm..." Warwick said with squinted eyes as he looked at Bernard while Marlene and Camilla turned their facial expressions towards the beanie sporting wizard with blushes on their faces.
"...Camilla..." Marlene said with half-closed eyes, finally speaking as Bernard looked at her.
"Yes, Marlene..." Camilla said with a similar expression as Bernard turned to look at her as well.
"May I-" Marlene said with a smile forming on her face.
"Go ahead." Camilla said with a smirk and giving her permission without her finishing her sentence.
"Hu- ooff!" Bernard mumbled until suddenly feeling something pressing against his cheeks.
Reaching one of her arms behind him and placing it on his back, Marlene placed her other hands fingers on his neck and reached his lips forward to plant a kiss on his cheek. On his other side, Camilla raised an arm behind his head and placed her hand on the back of his neck and the other arm reaching down and clutching at his belt, also kissing his other cheek.
"Ah!" Bernard grunted in surprise as Marlene and Camilla continued to press their lips on his face before pulling away their mouths and changing the positions of their arms, Marlene moving hers around Bernards torso and Camilla placing hers around his shoulders. "Hey! Hey! Hey! Don't get the wrong idea, this is just to keep you two from getting harassed!" He thought as his eyes darted back and forth, looking at Camilla and Marlene who were currently holding him in a tight hug.
"Don't need to be so modest about your attraction towards the girls you took for yourself, "dear."' Camilla said while placing her facial cheek against Bernards face.
"Yeah, tell the disgusting, pervy, obnoxious, unlikable weirdo how much you adore the both of us, "boyfriend."' Marlene said while shifting her hand upward and placing it over Bernards pacemaker.
"Huh?!" Bernard muttered loudly from the words coming out of Camilla and Marlenes mouths. "Is this playing along?! Because you two seem too happy!" He thought.
"I mean... It wouldn't hurt to brag." Marlene said while smirking and making hostile eyes in Warwick's direction.
"It's not like you're not allowed to interact with guildmembers who aren't single." Camilla said with a purposely harsh tone as she glared at Warwick.
"Grrrrr!" Warwick growled with jealously as he clenched his fists.
'"Pffff..."' Pietro, Anatoli and Corvus muttered as they watched on, holding back a desire to break down into laughter from the attempt to stave off Warwick's usual lecherous behavior.
"...Tch!" Warwick said while clicking his teeth, putting his hands behind his head and walking away slightly. "Damn, didn't think the day would come..." He muttered quietly.
"I think he bought it..." Bernard thought as he watched Warwick's envious state.
"Yes, that's exactly right!" Camilla exclaimed loudly as she looked at Warwick. "Go screw a cactus, you perverted midget!" She thought with a hostile glare while clinging to Bernard.
"We're both his! No doubts about it!" Marlene said, echoing the same implication. "Suck a donkey's ass, you disgusting jerk!" She thought while imitating Camilla, pressing herself against Bernard.
"Grhshffismh..." Bernard mumbled with a red face and his eyes closed, wishing for this moment to stop as Camilla and Marlene quietly high fived each other behind his back, happy over what just occurred.
"Sorry, Warwick. Better luck next time." Anatoli said from his Stellanium ball in the direction of Warwick as the hedonistic swordsman glared at the shirtless chimp-like wizard.
"Haaaa..." Bernard sighed in relief as Marlene and Camilla each placed a hand on top of Bernards that was still on their respective shoulders. "You both should be good now." He said towards Camilla and Marlene as they still clung to him. "...Can you both let go of me now?" Bernard asked towards the girls as they just lowered their eyes at him.
'"Don't wanna."' Camilla and Marlene said in unison.
"Huh?!" Bernard replied loudly as Camilla raised a hand to whisper to him.
"If Warwick is going to be around the entire time we're here, wouldn't it make sense you kept an arm around us at all times?" Camilla said with a serious look in her eyes.
'"The entire time?!"' Bernard said with a low tone. "I don't know how long we're going to be out here!" He continued.
"Exactly, so maybe we should think for a minute before separating." Marlene said with a blush on her face.
"Agreed." Camilla said as she and Marlene smiled at each other as Bernard's face started to twitch.
"...You're both enjoying this, aren't you." Bernard said with an agitated tone.
'"What makes you say that?"' Camilla and Marlene said in unison as they looked away from Bernard with smug looks on their faces.
"Hey, what's going on out here?!" The voice of Alfana exclaimed as footsteps started to be heard, and everyone turned towards the caravan. "I am trying to conceptualize, and I can't with all this- oh hey!" She said with an agitated tone before realizing who was outside her caravan.
"Alfana." Pietro said with a casual tone as he approached the robed woman.
"Pietro! It's been too long!" Alfana said with a welcoming voice as she extended a hand towards the large man.
"That's your mom?!" Corvus said in shock as he looked at the surprisingly attractive mother of his magical benefactor. "Don't exactly see the resemblance but niiiiiice... Hehehe." He thought, ogling Alfana.
"Don't stare at her like that, we have enough perverts around here!" Bernard exclaimed as he noticed what Corvus was doing as Camilla and Marlene continued to cling to him. "...Seriously, can you both let go of me?" He asked as he looked at the pair. "Do they not care that my mom is here right now!?" Bernard thought.
'"Wait till we're home."' Camilla and Marlene bluntly replied as Bernard made a surprised and annoyed expression.
"Hey, Mrs. O'Halloran." Anatoli said as he sat on his ball with a hand wave.
"Anatoli, so nice to see you. I see you still haven't gone back to wearing tops yet." Alfana said towards the chimp-like man.
'"Yet?"' Anatoli said, confused by what she meant until she looked over in the direction of Bernard and the girls, seeing them standing in a rather peculiar manner.
"Oh?" Alfana muttered as she raised an eyebrow at Camilla and Marlene hugging her son.
"...She's looking right at us..." Bernard thought with an embarrassed look on his face as he took the opportunity while the girls were distracted to slip out of their grasp, backing away and walking to the side as they both looked at him with disappointed looks.
"...That few minutes made this whole trip worth it..." Marlene thought as Camilla folded her arms.
"You could have kept going..." Camilla thought as she looked at Bernard, avoiding eye contact with the girls.
"Oh my... What's this?" Alfana said as she approached Camilla and Marlene, looking at the female wizards with a scrutinizing look.
"Uh! Hello, Mrs. O'Halloran." Camilla said with a surprised tone.
"Ye-yeah, it's nice to see you again." Marlene said, also saying hello.
"What was that just now?" Alfana asked, referring to the girls hugging Bernard.
"Uhh!" Marlene muttered with a blush on her face. "...Nothing except for me finally getting my childhood crush to hug me..." She thought with sweat forming on her face.
"It's ummm..." Camilla replied, equally unable to answer. "My boyfriend suddenly deciding to act "lovey-dovey" with me and another woman and me not being jealous at all..." She thought with frustration.
"Can't say I'm surprised honestly." Alfana said while closing her eyes at Camilla and Marlene.
"Wha-what do you mean?" Marlene asked as Camilla rubbed the back of her head.
"I remember when you both were tiny and kept following my son around everywhere. Would have thought only one of you would have made a move on him when you both got older, but I see you both decided to not be rivals about it." Alfana said while rubbing her chin.
"Huh?!" Camilla replied in a bewildered tone.
"Wha!?" Marlene said in similar shock.
"Don't be so embarrassed. I'm flattered you both still see my son that way after all these years." Alfana said with a double thumbs up.
"Pffff! Ahaahahhahaha!" Anatoli bellowed in laughter as he fell off his ball as Corvus and Vulp approached Bernard.
"Nice work, kid. You got approval from an adult, hehehe." Corvus said, mocking his magical benefactor.
"Shut the hell up..." Bernard said as he looked away from everyone. "And I'm twenty, I don't need approval!" He thought in frustration.
'"I should have stayed home..."' Camilla and Marlene thought in unison as their faces turned red from embarrassment.
"Hehe..." Warwick muttered as a shiver ran up the girl's spines once more from hearing his laughter.
"I'm so used to female clients needing to know about those kinds of things so sorry for the sudden analyzing I was doing." Alfana said with a wave of her hand.
"Arguably the best part about this protection job is seeing all the female clientele you get." Warwick commented with a lascivious tone as he casually leaned against the caravan.
"You know the rules." Alfana said with a stern tone as she turned towards Warwick. "No married women. No bothering female guildmembers. No ogling girls while I read their fortunes. Your job is to be my bodyguard, and I am your handler." She continued as Warwick looked away with a disappointed yet uncooperative face. "And another- oh..." Alfana said until she looked over and noticed Bernard, locking eyes with his mother.
"Hey mom..." Bernard said with a hesitant tone as Alfana walked over to where her son was, a serious look appearing on her face.
Standing in front of Bernard, Alfana outstretched her arms in a manner that was similar to someone requesting a hug as Bernard looked at her action. Disinterested, Bernard looked away from her as everyone watched the display.
"...Is a hug from my son too much to ask for?" Alfana said with a judgmental tone.
"I've had too many today, thank you very much, so yes." Bernard replied as everyone looked at him with half-closed eyes.
'"Show some respect for your mother."' Everyone thought as they watched Bernard act disrespectfully.
"Well then, I guess this will have to do." Alfana said as she got closer to Bernard.
"Huh- ow! Ow! Ow!" Bernard mumbled until Alfana grabbed Bernard by the cheek and started to viciously pinch his face. "Whafs thif forf?!" He exclaimed while attempting to protest his mother's actions.
"For running away from home without telling anyone where you went for two whole years of your life and for being unnecessarily rude when you came back... Including right now." Alfana said, acting like a disgruntled parent as she continued to pull her sons face.
"Talk about "tough love."' Corvus thought as he watched what was happening.
"How drf yu- ow!" Bernard muttered, trying to ask before Alfana finally let go of his face. "How do you know about that?" He said while rubbing his cheek.
"The bowling pin calls her every now and again with updates." Warwick said as Alfana turned her attention towards the hedonistic man.
"Don't have to be the number one fortune teller in the country to know about my son's sudden departure and "missing persons" status." Alfana said with her arms folded.
"...Is that aspect of my life ever gonna leave me alone?" Bernard quietly said aloud to himself.
"It might when you start acting more politely and properly to others and not find excuses to complain... Geez, you became such a melodramatic worrywart at such an early age." Alfana said, partially complaining about her son's upbringing.
"...My chest was caved in by a horse and a pacemaker Lacrima was inserted in me. You could at least give me some slack for my attitude!" Bernard exclaimed in his defense.
"Yeah... But it was also nine years ago, and then you proceeded to work yourself to near death for the sake of the guild as a teen which is very generous but incredibly short sighted, immensely unwise for a young man in your state and eventually led to a problematic period that you were at the center of." Alfana replied with a scolding tone as Bernard couldn't help but bite his lip, unable to deny anything she said.
"Why do I feel like this should be a "closed-door" conversation?" Anatoli thought as everyone looked away with awkward expressions.
"...Well... At least, I'm back now, right?" Bernard said while his head was down.
"Yes, but based on the letters your father sent me, you still find excuses not to spend that much time with anyone outside of practicing show acts, you're constantly finding things to edit in the Ultimate Carnival show beforehand that are perfectly fine and you still shout uncontrollably at people which I've told you specifically not to do because it agitates your heart, which you need just as much as that creative brain of yours that's filled with circus acts and bitterness." Alfana said, still scolding Bernard as the beanie sporting young man fell to his knees and started to angrily bash the bottom of his fist onto the ground.
"Please, stop! I'm begging you here! Just stop!" Bernard exclaimed with embarrassment and self-condemnation.
"All I am saying is that you could stand to act a bit nicer to a lot of people and think more clearly about your position within this guild." Alfana said with her hands on her hips.
'"No denial there..."' Camilla, Marlene, Anatoli and Pietro all thought in unison.
"Almost forgot, nice to meet you two." Alfana said with a cheery tone as she bent forward to greet the Celestial Spirits.
"Uh... Hi..." Corvus said, unsure how to react to her sudden shift in attitude. "I actually can't tell where the family tree connects to the kid between this woman or the bowling pin with the bad jokes..." He thought as Vulp just looked at Bernard out of concern.
"Oh, don't worry about him. He'll be fine." Alfana said as she looked at the fox. "It's just something he needed to hear from someone he'll listen to." She said with a smile.
"I think you tore into him harder than a knife." Corvus commented.
"Shut up!" Bernard said with tears in his eyes as he turned his head toward the crow.
"Speaking of, why did you all come out this way? I didn't see the future at any point today to know you were coming, I would have set something up." Alfana questioned as she turned towards Pietro.
"Various reasons but predominantly we're here because your son had something to ask." Pietro said as Alfana turned towards her downed son, turning his red eyed face upwards towards his mother.
"I need to ask you about some money." Bernard said with a disgruntled tone.
"I'm not giving you a handout." Alfana said. "Not unless you ask politely. My heart's not made of stone." She thought.
"No! I'm not asking for money; I need to know about some money!" Bernard exclaimed as he jumped back to his feet. "Dad sent you some money at some point in the past month, yeah?" He asked as Alfana made a contemplative expression.
"Oh, yeah. That money. He said it came from a very important place." Alfana said with a casual tone towards her annoyed son.
'"Important place" being the government on a loan!" Bernard mentally shouted. "I need to know if you still have it..." He continued.
"Why?" Alfana replied.
"...Because it might be important..." Bernard said with a twitch in his eye.
"How so?" Alfana said as Bernard was growing even more frustrated.
"Because I need to know what happened to it!" Bernard shouted as his mother made an offended expression.
"...I'm not telling unless you speak to me with some respect." Alfana said with furrowed brows as Bernard forced his face to soften slightly and he got on his knees again.
"...Mom, pretty please... Tell me where the money went." Bernard said while putting his hands together like a beggar.
"Pffff..." Warwick chuckled as everyone watched Bernard pleading to his mother for answers.
"I'm not a debt collector, stand up straight and ask me like a normal person." Alfana replied with a plain expression. "This is not how I pictured this meeting to go..." She thought with a twitch in her eye that no one could see.
"All you're doing is making me furious!" Bernard internally shouted as he was slowly growing more and more angry with his mother's words as he got back to his feet. "Mom, please... Tell me where the money went." He said again, this time with a relatively calm tone and looking at his mother.
"Good job." Alfana said with a smile.
"Finally, progress..." Bernard thought, relieved to finally made some headway.
"I spent it already." Alfana said bluntly as everyone except for Warwick stared at her with wide eyes as Bernard's body started to twitch in agitation.
"Wha- guh!" Bernard screamed until Vulp stretched his tail towards Bernard's mouth, covering it to prevent him from screaming and getting scolded for his attitude by Alfana again.
"Hold on, let me handle this." Camilla said as she approached the conversing pair and looked at Bernard to keep him from going nuts. "Mrs. O'Halloran, how much money was given to you by the guild master?" She asked as Alfana made a face trying to remember.
"Roughly four hundred thousand Jewels." Alfana replied as everyone fell silent by the incredibly large amount of money.
"...How the heck did you spend that much in less than a month...?" Anatoli questioned.
"I wouldn't say "spend" is the right word." Alfana said with a smug smile. "More like, "invested."' She continued.
'"That means the same thing, technically..."' Everyone but Warwick thought as they looked at the fortune teller before she looked at Bernard once again.
"Your father informed me about some of the changes at the guildhall and the thing that really caught my attention was the new merchandise stand we have so I took that money he had sent me and made a nice little product for us to sell." Alfana said with a confident tone. "Not to mention, it's something I have always thought of doing over the years and now it finally came to fruition!" She thought with smugness.
'"What "product" could possibly be made with four hundred thousand Jewels!? You live in a boar-drawn caravan!"' Everyone but Warwick thought with bewilderment.
"Step inside if you can fit and I'll show you! Warwick, set up my table, if you would." Alfana said before ordering Warwick to go inside.
"Come on, ordering me around in front of others? At least wear something more revealing." Warwick said in response as Alfana's eye twitched.
"...Excuse me everyone." Alfana said towards the group with a face that was hiding a large amount of anger. "I have one hundred and thirty-seven letters to mail to a bunch of people of the female persuasion." She said while shifting her immensely rage filled eyes in the direction of the sword carrying hedonist.
"Guh!... Ugh, fine." Warwick muttered before unenthusiastically walking towards the door to the caravan.
"Seeing that jerk being annoyed makes my day feel better." Anatoli said as everyone except for Bernard nodded.
"What the heck did she spend my loan money on?... Now I'm the one dreading things around here..." Bernard thought as Alfana walked towards the caravan entrance whilst motioning for everyone to follow her.
*Reads the chapter* Huh, not that different from the original... Fine, I'll do my job. Bernard and crew have reached the location of Alfana and Warwick's caravan near Shirotsume Town. After a rather "provocative" encounter with Warwick where Camilla and Marlene let their feelings speak for them and made him feel awkward, the ashen haired fortune teller appeared to give everyone a small idea of what she spent the remainder of the royal family loan money on: a product of unknown origin- if you read the original chapters, you know what it is T_T
Author's Note: (Didn't have to do much with this one, all I did was add a bit more to the Bernard/Camilla/Marlene "pretending to be both of their boyfriend" bit. Also gave more dialogue to Alfana and Warwick. I tried my best to make the "thruple" bit funnier, but I don't know for sure if I did. Happy Halloween everybody.)