The forest was just as dense as Mitchell remembered from his journey to town, yet it felt far more oppressive. The crunch of dead leaves under his boots set his paranoia into overdrive, his eyes darting towards every dark shadow or thick brush. Every so often, Mitchell stopped to listen closely to his surroundings, ready to bring his crossbow to bear at the slightest foreign noise. For hours as he searched the wilderness, he had been tense, paranoid, and cautious with every step.
Mitchell had traveled in complete silence, observing every clearing and field from a distance. He even searched one of the landmarks he remembered on the map he'd gotten from that witch woman—a large rock outcropping. So far, despite many hours of searching, he hadn't found anything. Mitchell had traveled in a clockwise pattern around the town and had already completed more than half of his sweep.
Currently searching a wide clearing surrounded by forest, Mitchell found his mind slipping back to thoughts of his friends back home. 'What would they think of all this?'
Sighing, Mitchell shook his head of such thoughts, moving on to continue his search. Just as he was stepping towards the far treeline, he heard a faint tell-tale crunch of dead leaves. Instinctively, he threw himself to the side—and not a moment too soon, for he heard and felt something pass through the place he had just been standing. Mitchell brought his crossbow to bear to see a worrying sight.
A terrifying woman rose from where she had landed, and turned to face him. She had lovely auburn hair that was tied in a high ponytail. Cat ears rose from the top of her head, and had white, brown speckled fur lining her arms up to her elbows and knees, as well as brown fur on her neck. She had bat-like wings furled behind her back. What looked like a scorpion's tail with an odd bulb at the end flicked back and forth playfully. And to top it off, bright yellow eyes stared playfully, hungrily at him like he was a piece of prime meat.
"Aww, you dodged," she pouted. A devious smile formed an instant later. "But that's alright. It's more fun like this."
Faced with something so alien in appearance, Mitchell was tense as a compressed spring. For a brief moment, his mind whirled as he considered his options. Fleeing was out—he had no clue how fast this girl was, but from what he heard from Melissa, he'd probably be caught before he took three steps. Fighting was likely his only chance, and he had no clue what this girl's capabilities were—it was probably safe to assume they were superhuman or somewhere near it.
"A monster girl attacking me in the woods? Sure, fun times all around." Mitchell frowned. "Who are you? What are you?"
The girl looked amused at first, but grew confused at his last question. "You don't know what I am?" She seemed to come to a slight realization. "Oh, so that's why you aren't terrified!"
Mitchell made a face, his crossbow unwavering. The girl continued, paws on her hips. "My name is Catherine. I'm a Manticore." She smiled alluringly, shifting her weight on one leg. "First time seeing one of my kind?"
Mitchell nodded stiffly. "Yeah, it is, I won't lie." He listened carefully to his surroundings, just in case she wasn't alone. "I'm Mitchell. I would say nice to meet ya, but I feel like you're gonna eat me or something when we're done having this talk."
The girl, Catherine, laughed mirthfully. "Oh, eat you, will I?" She smirked deviously, her yellow eyes flashing with hunger. "I plan to, just not the way you're expecting~"
"Before we do anything more, can I ask you somethin'? I'm gettin' the feelin' you're just humorin' me right now," Mitchell said, switching topics. If he could stall her…
Catherine shifted and stepped to her left. She pouted. "You don't have to be so nervous—it's nothing so sinister as what you're making it out to be." She put a paw to her chest. "We mamono never hurt humans if we can help it. Besides, why would I hurt my husband?"
Mitchell followed her movements, his crossbow tracking her all the while. "Uh, yeah, no. That's not how relationships work, miss. We literally just met." She opened her mouth to retort, but Mitchell cut her off. "Are you with that Fourth Born lady? Dru-somethin'?"
Catherine paused, blinking. "Yes, I am." She grunted, her lips twisting into a slight frown. "Though to be honest, I don't really like working for her all that much. She's a slave driver, and so are her officers. I'm only doing it to find a husband." The Manticore gave Mitchell a look of askance. "Why do you ask?"
"I live in an old cabin a few miles from here," Mitchell replied. He gestured in a random direction with his head. "I had been doing business with the town of Rondell, but now that you people showed up and took it over, I need to move further into the kingdom. I don't wanna be involved with any mamono army or whatever."
Catherine made to reply, but Mitchell cut her off again. "Hol' up, I'm not done yet. You say you're in it for a hubby, but if that's really the case, then how come you don't already have one? Shouldn't there have been plenty to choose from during your little raid at Rondell?" Mitchell's eyes narrowed. "I'm not buyin' it. You're a scout aren'tcha? Out here lookin' for a new place to raid, followin' your orders like a good girl."
"Hmm. Well, aren't you perceptive?" Catherine smirked with lidded eyes. Her tail flicked, and the spines on the bulb bristled slightly. "It's just as you said. But I really am in it for a… hubby, you said? That's cute."
Mitchell decided to take a chance. "Look, miss, I'm willing to go our separate ways if you are. I'm flattered you think I'm husband material, but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to decline. If ya want, I'll even keep quiet about what you're doin'." His expression grew serious. "Just please don't make me have to defend myself, because I will if ya force the matter."
Catherine seemed amused at the offer. "... Did you know you're the first human who has treated me at least somewhat normally? When you spoke to me like a person, I knew I had to have you. Sorry, but when a mamono chooses her mate, there's no going back." Her smile turned predatory, showing her elongated canines. "Hubby."
When the girl shifted her feet, leaning forward slightly with her wings expanding, Mitchell knew the time for talk had passed. The girl suddenly twitched, and Mitchell, high-strung from the tense atmosphere, fired his crossbow. He immediately regretted it, as her move had been a feint, with the girl jerking to the side with cat-like reflexes. The arrow whizzed by, just barely missing her, impaling a tree with a loud thock.
Mitchell dropped his crossbow as Catherine blurred forward, crossing the span of a few meters in a matter of seconds. He gripped his bear mace as she collided with him. It took a moment for Mitchell to recover his breath, but as he did, Catherine's tail loomed over him. "You might be against it now, but you'll change your mind soon. I'll make you feel real good~"
Mitchell's eyes went wide as the bulb on her tail expanded out, reminding him eerily like Imperfect Cell's tail opening up to swallow the Androids. Mitchell paled at the sight of the alien appendage, and wasted no time snapping his arm up to blast the girl in the face with his bear mace.
Catherine yowled in agony, furiously rubbing her face with her paws. Mitchell closed his eyes and held his breath, turning his head to the side as he pulled his legs out from under her and slammed the soles of his boots against her sternum.
Air whooshed out of the girl's lungs as she soared back a couple of meters, tumbling across the ground. Mitchell quickly got up and retrieved his crossbow, feeling the slight burn on his skin from the vapors of bear mace as he hurried towards the treeline. The hunter hoped the pain would keep her busy long enough to get away, but it wasn't to be.
Mitchell only made it ten steps before he heard an uneven huffing and panting. He turned to look over his shoulder only for his eyes to widen. The hunter dove to the ground as Catherine flew over him, landing and turning to face him in one motion, wings fully extended.
The Manticore shook from the pain, tears streaming from her eyes as she glared fiercely. "What in Hel's name was that for!?"
Mitchell shot to his feet and glared back. "Y'know damn well what that was for! You really think I was gonna let ya do whatever you were gonna do to me with that freaky ass tail 'a yours!? Thanks a bunch, by the way! Now I'm traumatized!"
"Wha–!? You dare–!? That was uncalled for! I just wanted to have a good time! What's so wrong about that!?" Catherine growled, hurt and offended.
Mitchell was stupefied. "What's so wrong–!? Bitch, you just assaulted me! I'll take whatever measures I see fit!" He jabbed a finger at her in emphasis. "I gave ya a chance to leave, so that's on you!"
Hurt, angered, and offended, Catherine yowled. "That's it!"
The Manticore shot forward with cat-like agility—only to slam face first into a shimmering wall of faint green-blue light. An odd rippling effect like ripples in water expanded across the barrier, only to reverse course to the point of impact.
It happened in an instant.
With a sound not unlike a gunshot, the Manticore was blasted back across the field and into a large sapling, snapping it in two.
Mitchell could only blink at the incomprehensible series of events. He snapped out of his daze when he heard footsteps approaching. The hunter whirled to see a robed figure in a witch's hat sauntering towards him from the nearest treeline. A wooden staff with a faintly glowing blue orb inlaid at the top was extended outward towards the Manticore.
For some reason, Mitchell had a strange sense of familiarity with the approaching figure—as if he knew who she was despite never seeing this woman before. "Who are you?" Mitchell asked warily. Why was she so familiar—?
The woman lifted the brim of her hat and the hunter's jaw fell as his eyes widened in complete shock.
A beautiful face greeted him. A face he was quite familiar with.
The Dark Mage smiled, giving him a warm look.
"Hello...my dear…"
Mitchell's thoughts spun as he gawked at the woman.
Apparently, the woman had spruced herself up in her Sunday best. Her purple hair was now straight and perfectly maintained. Her warm, inviting yellow eyes seemed relieved to see him. A wide-brimmed black witch's hat with gold endings rested on her head. She had loose golden armlets on her wrists. She wore a matching shoulderless robe that somehow managed to not slide right down her body, despite showing a glorious amount of her large assets. The robe parted down both sides, showing off her long luscious legs, which were hugged by purple thigh-high tights. A traveling bag sat over crisscrossing belts at her waist, holding the outfit together. Her body was still the same voluptuous, rockin' body he remembered.
"How...? How are you alive?" Mitchell asked in shocked disbelief. "I buried you! You had no pulse!"
The Dark Mage spoke in her breathy, seductive voice. "I never...died. I took necessary...precautions. Like any...magic user...would."
Mitchell was about to ask more, but the Manticore leapt into the air from where she had fallen, landing before the both of them with wings spread.
"Back. Off. He's mine. Find your own man," Catherine hissed warningly, staring down the Dark Mage.
"No. He's…my responsibility," the Dark Mage replied, eyes narrowed. "This domain is...under...my protection. Return to your…master."
Mitchell watched as Catherine's tail whipped and sent numerous spines at the Dark mage. The orb in the Dark Mage's staff glowed as a barrier similar to the last blocked them all effortlessly, numerous rapid tinking sounds echoing throughout the field.
"He's made his answer...quite clear," the Dark Mage said seriously. Her eyes began to glow faintly as her lips dipped into a frown. "Begone. You and your...allies...aren't welcome...here. I won't...say it...again."
At the sight of Catherine's livid, baleful glare, Mitchell inched towards the Dark Mage, as it was clear the magic user was on his side. The Manticore snarled furiously as she appeared to mull her options. The Dark Mage's staff glowed brightly in warning.
Seeing she was pushing her luck, Catherine scowled as she began stepping back into the nearest treeline. "Mark my words, Dark Mage. I won't forget this insult. That man is the one I chose, and I'll be damned if I let you get in my way." She turned to give Mitchell a look as she slipped into the darkness. "Wait for me, hubby."
The pair waited tensely for a minute and after they were sure she was gone, Mitchell turned towards his surprising new ally. "Uh...hi?"
The Dark Mage turned to him and smiled sheepishly. "Hello."
There was an awkward pause before Mitchell spoke again. "Thanks for helping me just now. I definitely would've been screwed if ya hadn't showed up."
The Dark Mage shook her head reassuringly. "It's no...trouble." She paused, her lips thinning before looking around warily. "I assume you have...questions...yes? Shall we...take this...elsewhere?"
Mitchell nodded. "Uh, yeah. Y'know that town you had marked on your little map?" At her slight nod, he continued. "Let's go there."
The Dark Mage seemed conflicted. Mitchell suddenly realized what might happen if she went there. Maybe if he explained what had happened to the alderman and captain, they'd be willing to make an exception. She was a magic-user after all. They might need her expertise if the Fourth Born's forces come knocking.
"Tell ya what, miss. I do have questions for ya, and I do owe ya for savin' my ass. So I'm willin' to talk to the people in charge to maybe let ya in." Mitchell looked the woman in the eyes. "But obviously, you gotta promise me not to pull any shady shit. It's not just your ass on the line if this goes wrong."
The Dark Mage blinked in surprise. "Of...course. I'd be very...grateful. I promise not to...make trouble."
"Well, I guess that's that then. Can you, like, teleport us there or somethin'? You can do that, right?" Mitchell asked.
"Yes. Just give me...a moment." The Dark Mage concentrated for a long moment, before nodding slightly. "Whenever you're...ready."
Mitchell stepped closer to her, and arbitrarily realized she smelled of lavender. "Uh, do we need to be touching or something? Or just stand close together?"
The Dark Mage opened her mouth to respond, before pausing. "...Yes. It requires us...to make...physical...contact." She held out her hand to Mitchell.
"Aight then," Mitchell replied. He tentatively held the offered hand, just in time to see her amused gaze before his world spun and flipped.
Next thing Mitchell knew, he was standing beside the road leading to Toulouse. The hunter took a look around to see the town about a quarter mile away. Mitchell turned to his new companion, only to realize they were still holding hands. He gently pulled free and noticed a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
"Okay, before we head down there, we need a game plan," Mitchell stated. His brow furrowed thoughtfully before returning to the woman, who tilted her head. "I think the best choice is for me to head in and explain what happened and your intentions."
The Dark Mage nodded tentatively. However, Mitchell paused, eyeing her. "What are your intentions actually?"
"I want to...make amends," the Dark Mage replied quietly. Mitchell's brow rose, but she quickly continued. "Y-You were never...supposed to be...summoned. That spell...was a mistake...I always regretted making." She pursed her lips in hesitation when she noticed Mitchell's lips dip into a frown. "...I'm sorry it...happened. I had cast...that spell...during a time of...weakness." She pulled the brim of her hat down over her eyes. "I'm sorry… Truly I am."
Mitchell stared at her for a long moment. Finally, he took a deep breath before sighing. "Would you mind if I ask the reasons why ya did? I think I have a right to know at the very least."
The Dark Mage raised her head before nodding. "Of...course." She glanced at their surroundings, then at the town. "Could we wait...until...after we settle things...in town? I'd prefer a more...relaxed setting."
"Assumin' they even let ya in," Mitchell muttered quietly. He shrugged. "Aight then. I'll hold ya to that, miss." With that, Mitchell turned and started down the road, the Dark Mage walking at his side.
Deciding to cut his savior and erstwhile summoner some slack, Mitchell struck up conversation. He turned to give the woman a curious look. "So, uh, what's your name, miss?"
The Dark Mage gave him a small, shy smile. "Zullie. It's...nice to meet you." She scratched her cheek in embarrassment. "Despite...everything."
Mitchell couldn't help his lips curling upwards. "Yeah, strangely enough." He idly readjusted the strap of his crossbow. "I'm Mitchell Marlowe. Let's hope this doesn't blow up in our faces, yeah?"
The Dark Mage, Zullie, hummed in agreement as they walked in thoughtful silence towards the town. As they crossed the bridge leading to the front gate, the hunter noticed a cart being inspected by the guards. Noticing a large copse of trees fifty or so meters from the entrance, a plan formed in his mind.
Mitchell nudged the woman, gesturing to the trees. "Here's what I'm thinkin'. You go hang out near those trees over there while I go explain everythin'. Stay outta sight of the guards. I'm gonna try and set up some kinda meetin' for ya and the leaders here." He gestured with his hands for emphasis. "Y'know, sharing your perspective and all that."
Zullie looked at the gate, then back at Mitchell. "Yes. I'll be...in your care." She brushed her hair behind her ear and smiled. "Good luck… I have...faith in you."
'Damn it, why is she so cute!? You're not supposed to be like this!' Mitchell lamented. He had never quite gotten over that weakness.
With Zullie moving over to the copse, Mitchell wasted no time hurrying to the gate. The guards tensed when they noticed a figure hurrying towards them, but relaxed upon recognizing him.
"You finished with your sweep?" A guard asked. Mitchell recognized him as Mikhail, the guard who led him to the alderman that morning.
Mitchell nodded. "Yeah. It was wild, man. Met a Manticore and everythin'." Mikhail stared incredulously. Mitchell continued, nonchalant. "Anyway, I gotta make my report. Lemme in please, 'kay thanks."
Mikhail blinked before rolling his eyes in exasperation. "Sure." He turned to the gate, ignoring the miffed cart owner. "Open up!"
The reinforced doors slowly swung open, and Mitchell strode through, giving Mikhail a mock salute. The hunter immediately made his way towards the city hall, apprehensive of the coming debrief, but eager to get the day over with.
A feeling of relief settled over Mitchell as he walked through the town. He wasn't too surprised after the day he had. Mitchell considered stopping by the library to let Melissa know he was back, but decided to not keep Zullie waiting.
As Mitchell entered the town square, he stopped when he noticed Arriet leaning back against a building, looking out into the bustling crowd with a pensive gaze. Without wasting a second, Mitchell marched over to her. "Hey Arriet."
Arriet whipped her head in his direction, causing her beautiful red hair to fan out behind her. She got up off the wall as a relieved smile broke out at the sight of him. "Ah. Welcome back." She put her weight on one leg and raised the other slightly. "It seems you kept your promise."
Mitchell's smile dimmed at the reminder. Arriet noticed immediately. "Yeah, about that…" Mitchell said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Arriet stepped forward, concerned. "Wait. Did something happen?"
"Yeah," Mitchell replied, sighing. He looked at the city hall before meeting Arriet's concerned gaze. "I'm goin' to go give my report now. Can you… come with me? I kinda want you to hear it."
Seeing Mitchell's apprehensiveness, Arriet nodded without hesitation. "Of course I'll come. Lead the way."
Mitchell nodded as he made his way to the city hall, Arriet falling into step beside him. She opened her mouth to say something, before closing it at seeing Mitchell's slight frown and serious visage.
The duo entered the building briskly, and moved up to the alderman's office, where Mitchell wasted no time knocking. "Sir, it's Mitchell. I'm here to make my report."
"Come in."
Mitchell opened the door to let Arriet enter, then stepped through, noticing Captain Strenger there with the alderman. He saw that they seemed to be pouring over a map design of the town. The two men gave Arriet a curious glance before turning their attention on Mitchell.
"Well? What news do you have for us?" Markus asked as Mitchell stood before them.
Mitchell chose to cut straight to the heart of the matter. "I ran into a Manticore." He said bluntly.
Their eyes widened at the news. "What happened?" Iosef demanded more than asked.
Mitchell withheld nothing as he recounted what happened, his audience listening with rapt attention. After soaking in the information, Markus spoke up, frowning. "From what you said, it seemed as if she didn't know about us yet. You did well to give her misinformation. That may buy us a bit of time."
Iosef, however, eyed Mitchell with a searching gaze. "How did you escape? Manticores are not to be trifled with. You seem remarkably unscathed after an encounter with one." The man stared analytically at Mitchell's eyes in particular. "You're clearly no Incubus, so something must've happened."
'Incubus?' Mitchell wondered in confusion. He filed away that information. "Well, see, here's the thing…" he replied hesitantly. "Y'know the woman that summoned me? She's not really… dead like I thought."
Silence settled over the room before Iosef broke it with a tense frown. "What do you mean?"
"Her name's Zullie, and she's the reason I'm standin' here tellin' ya this," Mitchell revealed. He gave Arriet a guilty look. "I probably would be that Manticore's playtoy if she hadn't saved me."
Arriet seemed conflicted at the reveal, showing a mixed expression. Markus looked shocked and distressed. "She summoned you from across the Great Sea, and she survived!? That alone makes her a level above most other Dark Mages!"
"Hold on," Iosef cut in. He leveled a suspicious look at Mitchell. "You're here, which means she didn't do anything to you. Where is she now?" His eyes narrowed. "You didn't bring her here, did you?"
Mitchell braced himself. "... Yessir, I did. She's waiting outside the front gate."
As he'd expected, Markus exploded. "Are you telling me that you escaped a Manticore, one of the most dangerous mamono out there, only to bring an even more dangerous threat right to our doorstep!? Son, are you daft!?"
"Well, what was I supposed to do exactly? Tell her 'Oh hey, thanks for savin' my ass! Now fuck off'?" Mitchell retorted, frustrated. "Here, I'll tell ya how it all went down."
Mitchell quickly and concisely recalled his rescue and subsequent stand-off between mamono. He tapped the tip of his right index finger at his left palm in emphasis. "This woman somehow managed to track me down in the complete wilderness and can use magic. She's the only person who can give me answers on if or how I can get home."
Mitchell raised his hands, index fingers pointing up. "And we've already established that she knew that this town was here by lookin' at her map. The way I see it, if she wanted to do somethin' to this town, she would've already." He sighed and shrugged. "But that's just my take on it. Just… meet her for yourselves. I really think she can help us."
There was a moment of silence before a voice cut into it. "I'll meet her."
They turned to Arriet, who was giving Mitchell a serious gaze. She turned to the other two men. "If what Mitchell says is true, then he would've been lost to us and we never would've known, if not for her." She turned back to Mitchell. "I believe I'll judge her character for myself before forming my own opinions."
Markus and Iosef looked at each other. Mitchell mouthed to Arriet. "Thank you." Arriet nodded imperceptibly.
The alderman and captain seemed to come to an unspoken agreement. Markus sighed loudly. "Alright, fine. If you're going, we might as well see if we can't benefit from this… unique situation." Iosef merely nodded with a frown, resting a hand on the pommel of his weapon. Markus looked at Mitchell with a serious gaze. "If she tries anything, however, you will be held accountable for bringing her here. Do you understand?"
Mitchell sighed through his nose. He expected that. "Yessir."
"Good. Then lead us to her."
With that, Mitchell wordlessly led the group out of the building and into the town square. People gave the group confused looks as they made their way down the street to the front gate. Mitchell ignored it, focusing on the most likely imminent interrogation.
Upon arriving at the front gate, the guards straightened at the sight of the group. "Open the gate." Iosef ordered. The guards nodded and the gate swung open, with Mitchell leading the group through.
Iosef looked around, on guard. "Where is she?"
Mitchell gestured with his head towards the copse of trees. "Over there at that copse of trees." He figured Zullie was watching, so he waved her over. A moment passed, then Markus and Iosef tensed as Zullie walked into sight and approached the group. Arriet gave her an odd look, one that Mitchell couldn't place.
As Zullie neared the group, she grew more tentative. She stopped before the group, looking between them hesitantly. After a moment, Markus spoke. "I'll get straight to the point. Before we do anything else, tell us, are you in league with the Demon Lord?"
A look of distaste flashed across Zullie's visage. "No. I'll never...associate myself with...a Lilim." She grimaced, as if recalling a painful memory. "I mean your town...no ill will. I merely...wish to make...amends with the...man I wronged."
"Miss Zullie." Zullie turned to Arriet with slightly wide eyes. Arriet stepped forward, speaking quietly. "You say you wish to make amends. Does that mean that his–" she gestured to Mitchell. "–summoning wasn't intentional?"
Zullie shook her head. "It wasn't...intentional. The spell was...a mistake I made...during a time of...weakness." The Dark Mage reached up for her hat before stopping herself. "I had hoped...nothing would come of...the spell...but my hopes...were not answered."
"I see." Was Arriet's only reply. Her face was thoughtful, however, as she stared at the Dark Mage.
Iosef crossed his arms, eyeing Zullie warily. "How do we know this isn't a ploy? You could be lying for all we know."
"You're a...paranoid one...aren't you?" Zullie muttered, a bit drily. "Mitchell and I…" Her grip tightened on her staff. "Our souls are...now bound by…my magic. His situation...is due to...my mistake…thus my responsibility. That is why...I must make amends."
Mitchell's eyes widened at that. 'Wait, we're soul-bound or something? I don't feel any different…'
Markus sighed, rubbing a hand over his graying hair. "I'll admit, you're not what I expected." He turned to Iosef and Arriet. "What do you two think?"
Iosef looked analytical. He gave Zullie an evaluating gaze. "I want to hear something before I make my decision." At Zullie's questioning look, he continued. "You're clearly an experienced magic-user to survive summoning someone from across the Great Sea." He leaned forward, hand on his pommel. "Who were you as a human?"
Zullie pursed her lips. "I was...an accomplished mage of...Vamore. The foremost candidate...for being...the next...Magister."
Mitchell didn't know what that meant, but judging from the shocked looks from everyone, he knew it had to be important.
Markus shook off his shock, looking at Zullie in a new light. "You're from the fallen land of Vamore? No wonder you're so powerful…"
"I believe she's telling the truth." Everyone turned to Arriet, who had been quietly watching the proceedings. "I–We owe her a debt for saving Mitchell and she wishes to make amends." She turned to Markus and Iosef. "The choice is rather clear to me. What say we come to a compromise?"
"I agree," Mitchell concurred. He looked at Zullie, who seemed surprised. "I'm sure there's some way we can all benefit from this?"
Markus and Iosef seemed to have another unspoken conversation. After a long moment, Iosef turned to Zullie, all business. "Will you help us if we're ever attacked? Your magic would be a boon to our defense."
Zullie hummed. "If it means…I can stay at...Mitchell's side...then I will."
Iosef grunted, turning to Markus. "She has my vote. I'll leave the finer details of this arrangement to you. I'll go make sure the men know she's to be watched." With that, he marched towards the gate without a look back.
Markus sighed before turning back to Zullie. "This is highly irregular, but we'll make an exception for you." He grew serious. "I will notify the townsfolk about your presence, however. I won't lie to them about having a mamono in our midst."
Zullie dipped her head in gratitude. "Of course. Do what you…must."
With her acceptance, Markus strode towards town, shaking his head. Mitchell let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He hadn't really had much to say during that discussion, surprisingly. He'd still been reeling from that bomb about being soul-bound.
Zullie turned to Arriet and Mitchell, a grateful look in her eyes. "Thank you...both of you."
Mitchell merely shrugged as Arriet hummed. "You seem genuine, so I'm willing to give you a chance." She glanced at Mitchell. "Just make sure you make good on your promise to make amends, is all I have to say."
"Of course...I will. You don't need to...tell me," Zullie replied, resolute. Arriet nodded and strode away with Mitchell and Zullie following.
Side by side, the trio walked through the doors.
Mitchell woke up surprisingly well rested considering the day he had before. He rubbed the drowsiness from his eyes and looked out his window. The sun had yet to peek over the horizon, so he got to his feet and put on a set of new clothes. His mood was dampened when he recalled that neither he nor Arriet had time to hang out or hear her perform yesterday. Having to scout the wilderness and deal with Zullie's situation probably had something to do with that.
However, Mitchell wouldn't let it get him down. It was a new day, after all. They could simply hang out today. With this thought in mind, Mitchell stepped down the stairs hurriedly but quietly, eager to make breakfast. He was determined to make it up to Melissa for yesterday.
Poor Melissa nearly had a heart attack upon seeing Zullie for the first time, and she had only calmed down when Mitchell explained the situation. Saintly as she was, Melissa had allowed Zullie to stay, but they had ran into the issue of where she would stay. Mitchell shook his head upon remembering what happened next.
Zullie had presented an ornate teapot to them and revealed that she would not need a room. The teapot would be her room. That's right, a magic teapot was the Dark Mage's home away from home. Apparently, it held a separate dimension inside of it. Mitchell smirked when he recalled Melissa's utterly baffled expression. To be fair, he wasn't much different.
Thankfully, Melissa hadn't yet awoken, leaving the kitchen free for his use. He immediately got to work, already with a meal in mind. The kitchen wasn't what Mitchell was used to, but he made it work, creating a fine American-made meal.
Mitchell had begun preparing everything when Melissa came into the kitchen. "Ah, you're awake. This is the first time you've beat me to it."
"Yep. I finally completed my mission," Mitchell replied. He gave her a sheepish look. "I really wanted to make it up to you for scarin' ya like that yesterday."
Melissa shook her head. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I'd rather that happen than you not coming back at all. If anything I'm grateful to her."
Mitchell hummed noncommittally as he set out the plates. Melissa looked towards the doorway. "Do you want me to go get her? I'll admit I don't know how to get her attention with the whole… teapot thing."
Mitchell chuckled. "Yeah, I feel ya on that." He headed to the main room. "Don't worry, I'll do it. Somehow."
The hunter heard Melissa snort as he stepped out of the kitchen. He looked over at the place where Zullie had set the teapot, on a small table near a window, and found it still there. He stepped up to it, wondering on what to do.
'Should I just call out to her?' Mitchell wondered.
Deciding to give it a shot, Mitchell leaned in near the teapot, feeling foolish. "Uh… hey, Zullie? Breakfast is ready."
After a few long moments of nothing happening, Mitchell leaned away, mortified. He was about to see what happened if he tapped it when he noticed pink smoke beginning to pour from the spout. The hunter quickly stood back, watching the smoke coalesce into a human sized pink cloud before flowing back into the spout.
Zullie was standing there, thankfully in a decent state of dress. Mitchell wasn't sure he could handle seeing her in that risque nightgown again.
"Good mornin'," Mitchell greeted. He gestured to the kitchen with his head. "Breakfast is ready."
"Yes...I heard," Zullie replied. She smiled coyly. "Good morning...to you as well. Shall we?"
"We shall," Mitchell agreed. He couldn't help a slight smile as he led her into the kitchen. Melissa smiled at the Dark Mage in greeting as they sat down. Zullie smiled back before they dug in.
As they ate in relative silence, Mitchell wondered about his tutoring. He figured that whenever Melissa was busy, Zullie could take over. He decided to go for it. "Hey, Melissa."
"Hmm?" Melissa hummed, looking up from her meal.
"Y'know how you're usually too busy to tutor me?" Mitchell asked. He didn't miss how Zullie immediately looked interested.
Melissa looked sheepish. "Ah, yes. It seems as if the world conspires against us, huh?"
Mitchell nodded. "Yeah, it kinda does. But that's what I wanna talk about." He glanced at Zullie. "Ya think whenever you're busy, Zullie could pick up where ya left off?"
Zullie perked up as Melissa thought it over. "It is a good idea." Melissa conceded. She turned to Zullie. "You don't mind, do you?"
"Yes!" Zullie quickly cleared her throat, blushing slightly at their raised brows. "Yes. I wouldn't...mind at all."
"Well, I guess it's settled then," Mitchell said, feeling a hint of amusement. He looked at Melissa. "Ya got anythin' ya want me to do today?"
Melissa shook her head. "No, not at the moment. You just focus on your tutoring. I might need you to go get more food later though."
"Aight then." Mitchell turned to Zullie. "Wanna jump straight into it after this? I... really don't wanna put this off any longer."
Zullie nodded. "I...don't mind." She smiled beautifully. "I always...wanted to be a...teacher."
"Well, it looks like you're gettin' your wish," Mitchell retorted. His lips quirked upwards at her frankly adorable enthusiasm.
The meal passed quickly, with the three progressing into idle chat. As they finished, Melissa led them to the main room, where she stepped towards the front door. "I've got to go help with making food for the workers finishing the defenses. I'll be back in a couple of hours."
"Aight. See ya in a bit," Mitchell called as she left. When Mitchell turned to the Dark Mage, he paused. He realized there was really no better time to ask if he could go back home. The hunter chose to just rip the band-aid off. "Before we start, I just wanna ask ya this. Can I be sent back home? Or is this permanent?"
Zullie looked at him uncertainly. "I...no. Not that I…know of. The spell I used...was one way." She grimaced. "It was never...supposed to...happen. At the last... moment...I had... second-guessed myself...and hurled it...into the void."
The Dark Mage looked down, remorseful. "I would need...to know where...the catalyst was sent...to even begin to...help. I'm sorry."
At that moment, memories assailed Mitchell. Memories of his home. Of his friends. Of his family. Of his squadmates. So much left unsaid to the people he loved and cared for. Everything he knew and loved—gone. A sharp, painful feeling welled in his chest as regret took hold.
When Mitchell felt something wet trickle down his cheek, he knew he needed to sit down and take his mind off of this before he cracked. Without a word, he turned and walked to the table Melissa had devoted to his tutoring.
Zullie winced at the sight as she followed him. She tentatively sat down next to him, eyeing him with a guilty expression. "I…" she trailed off.
Mitchell shook his head. "Don't worry about it. I just wanted to confirm what I already suspected." He breathed in deep and gave Zullie a look. "Can I just...talk as we go? I wanna share these memories with someone before I burst."
The Dark Mage nodded with a gentle, understanding gaze.
As she taught him, Mitchell shared everything that came to mind about his home. The woman who ripped him away from the very things he was reminiscing about, came back from the brink of death for him, and who had saved him, it didn't matter who he shared it with at that moment. He just knew he had to do this.
Zullie reined in her interest as best as she could, patiently letting him vent. To her, this was a form of punishment, listening to the consequences of her mistakes. Determination to make it up to him, however she could, surged through her.
Eventually, Mitchell settled down from his walk down memory lane, allowing him to focus fully on his tutoring. The next few hours passed in a blur for both of them as they immersed themselves in their task. It wasn't long before Melissa returned. She noticed the duo still hard at work and approached with a pep in her step.
"Did you make any progress?" The librarian asked, stepping up beside their table.
"Yeah, I'm gettin' there. Zullie's a great teacher, I gotta say," Mitchell replied. He closed his book, mentally taxed.
Zullie gave a sheepish, almost shy smile. "Thank you. You're a...quick study...yourself. Keep it...up."
Melissa placed her hands on her hips, smiling. "Well, that's great to hear. I'm glad to see this is finally working out for you." She perked up. "Oh! By the way, I ran into Arriet earlier. She asked me to tell you that she's going to be performing today."
Mitchell's day immediately brightened and he subconsciously straightened in his seat. "Really? When?"
Melissa fought a smirk at his reaction. "This afternoon. If you want, you could go get the food now so you can get ready for it."
"Aight. I'll get right on that," Mitchell said. He got to his feet and to his slight surprise, Zullie rose with him.
"Can I...come with you?" Zullie asked, curious.
Mitchell gave her a look before shrugging. "Sure." He turned to Melissa. "We'll be right back."
"Better hurry~"
Mitchell rolled his eyes as he headed for the door. Zullie followed, wondering if she was missing something from the interaction.
The unlikely duo stepped out into the street, and Mitchell headed to the town square, Zullie sauntering at his side. Mitchell quickly noticed the townsfolk giving Zullie fearful and distrustful looks. He didn't blame them—he'd be apprehensive of having a monster girl in his midst, however friendly it might seem.
Zullie noticed the looks as well, but ignored them for the most part. Such things were expected for her—everywhere she went it was like this. She refused to let it bother her, however.
"So, judging from what you said yesterday, I'm guessin' you were a pretty big deal back at that Vamore place," Mitchell suddenly said. He gave the Dark Mage a curious glance. "Care to share?"
Zullie hummed. "I feel like...I should share...a bit about Vamore...to give a...better explanation." She pushed the brim of her hat up, looking up thoughtfully. "The land of Vamore...was a renowned...magocracy. Knowledge was...power there."
Upon seeing Mitchell's confusion, Zullie clarified. "Arcane knowledge...and magic prowess...determined your...standing in society. If you were powerful...and held a keen...understanding of magic...the higher your...standing."
"Oh, okay then. I think I get it," Mitchell said, tilting his head slightly. He frowned a moment later. "But doesn't that seem kinda… flawed?"
"It was," Zullie stated quietly. "It was a...system that cultivated...ambition and...greed. Alliances were made...and betrayals were...just as commonplace." She grimaced, as if recalling a difficult memory. "I was...one such person. I made many...enemies due to my...arrogance...ambition...and pride."
Mitchell stared at Zullie in disbelief. "What? From how you are right now, I have a hard time believin' that."
Zullie pulled the brim her hat down, covering her eyes. "It's true. It's not something I'm...proud of. I've learned some...very hard lessons...since then."
As they reached the town square, Mitchell changed the subject. "You mentioned bein' a candidate for a Magister or somethin'. What's that mean?"
The Dark Mage's expression brightened a bit. "Ah, yes. To be a...Magister...is to teach at...the prestigious...Vamore School of Sorcery. It is…" She paused. "Was a coveted position...in Vamore high society. I was one of...the few who were...chosen for the...position."
Many people gave the hunter and Dark Mage a wide berth as the duo approached the food stalls. Neither of the two noticed, immersed in conversation.
"Huh. How come you didn't get the job?" Mitchell asked curiously.
Zullie opened her mouth to answer before noticing they were nearing the stalls. She gave Mitchell an apologetic look. "Perhaps a story...for another time?"
Mitchell blinked before looking over to see they had reached the stall, the food owner staring uncomfortably at Zullie. Mitchell's lips dipped into a ghost of a frown. "Sure. I'd like to hear it."
Zullie simply nodded, smiling slightly. With that said, Mitchell turned to the food owner to acquire his goods. Thankfully, they had completed their errand without incident, and on the way back, Mitchell found himself in a surreal situation.
Zullie had insisted on carrying the goods, much to Mitchell's surprise. What Mitchell wasn't expecting was to see their bags of goods floating around them as they walked. Passerbys stared at the odd phenomenon with baffled looks as they passed.
Thanks to the magic shenanigans, the duo made good time back to the library. Mitchell didn't bother hiding an amused smirk at Melissa's confuzzled look from the floating groceries. Zullie elected to help him put away all the groceries before stating she needed to return to her teapot to prepare herself for the performance.
Now having some time to himself, Mitchell chose to get ready for Arriet's performance. He headed upstairs, already having a set of clothes in mind. After having a thorough bath, Mitchell set about making himself presentable. With a new outfit on, Mitchell looked out the window to see the sun just touching the top of the treeline. He quickly left the room and hurried down the stairs.
Melissa met him at the bottom. "It's almost time." She gestured to the front door with her head. "You go on ahead. I'll bring Miss Zullie with me."
"Thanks Melissa," Mitchell replied. He threw a thumb over at the teapot. "Just lean in and call out to 'er. She'll hear ya."
Melissa nodded. "Alright. I'll remember that." She then rested her hands on his back and gently pushed him towards the door. "Now go on. It wouldn't do to keep her waiting."
Mitchell raised his hands, conceding. "Yes ma'am." He gave her his two-finger wave as he left. "See ya there."
Upon stepping outside, Mitchell promptly hauled ass to the town square. A few minutes of sprinting later, Mitchell arrived at the square, noticing a large crowd already gathering.
'Looks like I'm just in time,' Mitchell thought to himself.
Hurrying over, the hunter began slipping his way through the crowd, moving up to the front. He found Arriet once again in her harpist's dress, already sitting on the grass.
Arriet looked up just in time to see Mitchell arrive, and she smiled, a hint of relief in her gaze. To Mitchell's immense surprise, she patted the spot next to her in emphasis. Unable to stop a smile at the offer, Mitchell ignored the surprised crowd as he joined her.
As Mitchell sat down, he and Arriet shared an amused look at the people's expressions. Without further ado, Arriet began to play. As the angelic notes began to settle over Mitchell's ears, he decided to save their duet until after he showed Arriet some songs. For now, he would simply enjoy his friend's song—without falling asleep this time.
Unfortunately, Arriet's gentle ministrations were cut woefully short by the loud, cacophonous sound of a horse's whine. Everyone in the crowd turned to the unwanted commotion to see an armored man riding a horse, leading a long column of soldiers into the town square.
The armored man's eyes swept over the crowd, pausing as he noticed Arriet. Mitchell watched him scowl at the harpist, but he also caught a flash of lust in his gaze. Mitchell glanced over to see Arriet meeting the man's scowl with a stoic look. There was tension and discomfort in her, though.
Thankfully, the man looked away to speak to the captain and the alderman, who had appeared as if summoned.
"Who are they?" Mitchell asked Arriet, staring the armored man down with narrowed eyes. He felt his protective instincts spike whenever the man looked at Arriet.
"If I were to guess, it is likely they are the Order soldiers tasked with retaking Rondell," the harpist answered. She gave the armored man a rare distasteful look. "I am in disbelief at the King's choice of leadership, however. I'm not usually one to question the King, but what is he thinking—sending him?"
Mitchell looked over at her, brow raised. "You know 'im?"
"Unfortunately," she sighed. She looked over at Mitchell, giving a strangely apologetic smile. "He was a colleague of mine a couple of years ago. It seems he hasn't changed a bit."
"He looks like a self-important manchild," Mitchell said flatly. He already hated this man.
Arriet barked a laugh, quickly covering her mouth with a hand to hide an amused smile. "You aren't wrong, actually. That's the quickest I've seen a person judge someone's character so accurately. Well done."
The hunter snorted. "Y'know, I'd be proud of that if it weren't so obvious. Just look at 'im! If he wasn't on his horse, he'd probably strut around like a peacock."
She only hummed in agreement, a much more relaxed smile on her face. Her smile fell, however, when they both watched the man dismount and approach the duo. Mitchell found himself tensing as the man grew closer.
"Well, well, well," the man drawled out slowly. "So this is where you slunk off to after your embarrassment. If you had taken my offer, you would at least live a good life as my wife—instead of existing in this… shoddy hamlet."
"The simple life I live now I find far more preferable than being your bed warmer, Sir Armaud," Arriet smoothly rebuked. "Rather than chat with me, should you not be attending to other matters? The King has sent you to retake Rondell, has he not?"
The man, Sir Armaud, shrugged. "Suit yourself, apostate." He stood straighter. "And yes, he has seen fit to appoint me to this task."
"Heaven knows why," Arriet muttered, looking away from the man. What she didn't see was Sir Armaud narrowing his gaze at her, eyes lustfully roaming across her body, practically undressing her with his eyes.
Mitchell, however, did see. "Yeah, you sure are leader material, I can tell," he snarked, anger boiling beneath his skin. "Great start to your mission, by the way—fraternizin' with civilians. You're clearly in a hurry to do your knightly duty and save that town."
Arriet actively fought an amused smile, holding a hand over her mouth. Sir Armaud growled. "I don't seem to recall asking for your input, whelp. I'll not have my honor questioned by the likes of some lowly commoner."
"I'm not questioning your honor, Sir Almond. I'm denying its existence," Mitchell replied drily, eyes lidded. Arriet barked a laugh behind her hand, unable to contain herself.
Sir Armaud seethed. "Who do you think you are, boy? Do you wish a duel? Watch your tongue, lest I remove it."
Mitchell pointed over at the soldiers, who without orders were standing awkwardly in the town square. "I don't care. You're their leader. Do your job and go lead."
The man's hand reached for his blade, but before anything could happen, Markus approached. Sir Armaud glared balefully at Mitchell for a moment, hand lowering from his blade. He scoffed, turning to the alderman. "What is it?"
Markus cleared his throat, sensing the tension. "Can you spare any men? I hate to admit it, but we're woefully undermanned."
Sir Armaud grunted, looking back at his troops. "I cannot. I'll need every man I have to repel those foul monsters. Besides–" he turned to Arriet. "–you have her, do you not?"
Arriet shifted uncomfortably under his stare, eyes narrowing oh-so-slightly. Markus grimaced, clearly hoping for some form of assistance. Sir Armaud turned away, heading back to his men. "Now I must take my leave. I'll make sure there is no threat for you to worry about."
Markus sighed, shaking his head before heading back to the city hall. Mitchell and Arriet silently watched as the man mounted his horse and led his troops out of the town square. With the disturbance gone, the festivities slowly began to pick up once more.
"I feel bad for those men," Mitchell said, somber as they departed. Arriet merely hummed in agreement, strumming her harp.
"As do I."
Mitchell and Arriet turned to see Melissa approaching with Zullie in tow. Melissa seemed uneasy, and Zullie stared after the column with narrowed eyes.
"Oh, hey. Y'all just get here?" Mitchell asked. He had been wondering where they were.
Melissa shook her head. "We got here earlier actually." She winced a bit. "But I felt that Miss Zullie shouldn't be seen while the soldiers were here, so we waited until they left."
"You made a wise decision," Arriet replied, frowning slightly. "Her presence certainly would've caused a scene."
Mitchell waved his hands dismissively. "Y'know what? Let's stop talkin' about this. We're here to have a good time aren't we?" He waved Melissa and Zullie over. "Get over here, you two. Let our ears be blessed with Arriet's angelic notes."
Arriet giggled sweetly, causing dopamine to flood Mitchell's veins. Zullie smiled coyly as Melissa nodded in approval. "Agreed. Let's enjoy ourselves, shall we?"
With that, the afternoon progressed without further interruptions, Mitchell finally enjoying Arriet's flawless performance. Zullie sat close by sitting on the edge of the fountain, leisurely smoking from a pipe. Melissa sat on a bench, head bobbing gently to and fro with the song.
To Mitchell's surprise, the townsfolk begin to slowly tolerate Zullie's presence. Likely thanks to the relaxed atmosphere. An hour passed, and people began to slowly return home. As they started leaving in groups, Mitchell decided that there would really be no better time to ask.
"Hey, Arriet?"
"Hm?" Arriet turned to him curiously, flexing her fingers a little after her last performance.
Mitchell tilted his head from side to side. "Y'know how I never got around to showin' ya that thing I told ya about?"
Arriet smiled in slight embarrassment. "Ah, yes. I'm afraid I forgot all about it due to Miss Zullie's arrival." Before Mitchell could continue, Arriet surprised him. "We still have a couple of hours. Why not show me right now?"
Mitchell smiled. "Well, how about that? Ya beat me to it." Mitchell then heard giggles, and he and Arriet both turned to see Melissa and Zullie staring with naked amusement.
Mitchell flushed, rubbing his neck at the sight. He had somehow forgotten they were there. Arriet coughed, flushing lightly before clearing her throat.
Before either of them could speak, Melissa saved them the trouble. "Well, it's getting pretty late. I think I'll retire for the day." She turned to the amused Dark Mage. "Miss Zullie?"
Zullie lowered her pipe, breathing out a stream of pink smoke. "I'll...join you. Do you want...any assistance with...dinner?" She put away her pipe and got to her feet.
Melissa hummed. "I don't mind. Your help would be most appreciated." They walked away side-by-side, chatting amicably.
Mitchell turned to Arriet, slightly embarrassed. "Well, uh, I got a good place we could go to. You wanna head out?"
Arriet brushed a lock of her red hair behind her ear. "Of course. Lead the way."
Thankfully, the guards let them through the front gates without any trouble, warning them to be inside by sundown. The duo walked a few minutes alongside the lake in companionable silence to the spot Mitchell selected. It was a simple, grassy spot under an oak tree in front of the sprawling lake. To their right was the river that fed into the lake.
Arriet made her appreciation known. "This is a lovely spot to relax. Nice choice."
"That's the thing about huntin'." Mitchell replied, a good-natured smile on his face. "You find some beautiful areas while you're out and about lookin' for the right place to set up."
They sat down under the tree, looking out over the lake where the sun dipped toward the horizon.
After a moment, Arriet turned to him. "So what is this item you wanted to show me? Come now, don't keep me waiting!"
Mitchell smirked. "Well, since you're so eager…" he pulled out his phone from his back pocket, performing an ostentatiously grandiose gesture. "Behold! My Motorola G8 plus! 'Tis a wonderful device that can do damn near everythin'. Take a good look, Arriet. This is the only one of its kind here."
The girl gave the phone a very curious look, then looked back at him in askance. Mitchell could almost see the question mark above her head.
The hunter launched into explaining what the phone does and how it works, savoring Arriet's shock at such a wondrous device. When he mentioned that he had music on it, the girl's eyes lit up.
"This small device plays music?" Arriet wondered. "Could you play some? Oh, I simply must hear music from your homeland!"
"Already ahead of ya," Mitchell said, accessing his downloaded music playlist. "I got a whole list of songs for ya."
The American showed her a broad range of songs. From Bleeding Me and No Leaf Clover by Metallica, I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston, Take Me Home Country Roads by John Denver, and his personal favorite, Big Iron by Marty Robbins.
Needless to say, Arriet was absolutely enthralled. She was blown away by the sheer range of music from his homeland.
"So... whaddya think?" Mitchell asked, enjoying the awestruck look on the girl's face. He put away his phone, considering that his battery wouldn't last forever. "I've been meanin' on showing ya this for awhile, but y'know, stuff kept happenin'."
The harpist smiled beautifully. "What do I think? I think it's wonderful! There is so much range to your music I don't even know where to begin! In fact, this has given me so many ideas for new songs! Thank you so much for showing me this!"
Mitchell shrugged, blushing slightly. "No problem. I was kinda hopin' you'd get some inspiration from it, so we could do our little duet."
"Absolutely! Oh, I can't wait to play again," Arriet smiled happily.
Mitchell grinned at the sight. "Awesome. Now all I need is a guitar and we're set."
With that, their thoughts drifted as a comfortable silence overtook the duo. Mitchell was quite satisfied that he had helped inspire Arriet in this way. As they mused silently, the hunter recalled Sir Armaud and his ruinous arrival.
"Hey Arriet," Mitchell said suddenly. The girl looked over curiously. "Sorry if this is kinda personal and all, but… that Armaud guy. You two seem like ya got some pretty serious history. Is there a story there?"
The girl grew a bit sober at that. "Yes, there is. It goes back years."
"You don't have to answer, y'know. I understand if this is personal to ya."
"No, no, you've shared so much about yourself so it's only fair I do the same," Arriet said thoughtfully. She turned and gave him a warm smile. "Besides, I feel like I can call you a friend. I don't mind at all."
Mitchell was struck hard by such sincerity. He could only nod in complete agreement. The harpist gathered her thoughts as she began.
"I knew Sir Armaud because I was once a Hero of the Order of the Ice Flower," she revealed with a nostalgic look. "I have always been proficient with the blade, since even my childhood. Despite music being my utmost passion, the art of the sword—a tool of death—came so naturally to me that it was almost a joke at my expense. It was this proficiency that the Order was interested in, so when I came of age, they came to give me my training to become a Hero blessed by the Chief God." She took a breath, sighing. "I was taken to Castle City Salvarision, where I was trained and raised under knighthood until my sixteenth birthday."
Mitchell watched, listening with rapt attention as she looked out over the lake, reminiscing.
"I served with honor and distinction for years," Arriet continued, shaking her head at something. "I took lives in the name of humanity and the Chief God. Both human and mamono. I did so with great pride and faith in my heart—all of my friends in the Order of the Ice Flower did. It was the year I turned twenty years old that my faith was tested. A good friend of mine, Lady Fullmoon, had returned from a mission one day stricken and traumatized. Naturally, I was worried, so I went down to visit her in her orphanage in the city proper."
She frowned, as if recalling an unwanted memory. "I had never visited the city proper. I only ever lived in the upper districts, so you can imagine my shock to see my fellow countrymen living in such squalor. For the first time, it opened my eyes to the truth of how the world truly was. But of course it didn't register for me, because I knew what was best for others." She had a scowl of self-reproach. "How arrogant I was… At any rate, when I asked Lady Fullmoon what had happened, she broke down right there in front of me. She confessed everything. Confessed how she was ordered to purge an entire village of innocents for their affiliation with the resident mamono. Confessed how this mission was the breaking point for her in a long line of transgressions. She revealed that she had been disillusioned with the Order for a long while and seeing the corruption and greed in the nobility and church had left her bitter and tired. What I heard that day shook my entire worldview. I left her there with nary a word. How could I say anything to comfort her? What could I say?"
She looked over to see Mitchell looking out over the lake with a thoughtful frown on his face, eyes narrowed.
"Doubt plagued me after that day. My faith and resolve for the cause was shaken, and to be quite honest, I was scared. Had I been lied to? Instead of a noble cause, had I been killing and serving in the name of greed and self-interest for all those years? I didn't know and that terrified me. I continued to aimlessly serve regardless, for what else could I do?"
Arriet sighed, a hint of sorrow on her visage. "Three months after my visit with Lady Fullmoon, I received a mission to track down a traitor to the cause. I've never received a mission like this one before so I didn't know what to expect. Whatever I was expecting, I certainly did not expect my target to be a former Hero, now a Salamander. Her name was Millabeth Amiria. My task was to deal with her. While my faith was shaken, I still followed my orders like a good girl. We fought to the death right there in a field of white flowers under a bright full moon. As we crossed swords, she revealed everything they made her do as a "Hero". Assassinations, blackmail, extortion, bribery, the list went on. My resolve faltered with every word, but I thought she would kill me if I relented so I continued the duel against my heart's wishes. I saw my chance to finish it when she overextended with a wide strike and I quickly dealt the killing blow. It turned out to be a feint of course—she'd managed to wound me as she died. And when she died, so did my faith."
She continued, a look of sobriety on her face. "As I lay there bleeding in that field awaiting my death filled with regrets, a banshee approached me. Against all my expectations, she healed me instead of carrying my soul to Hel's realm. I asked her why. Why would she heal me, a notorious monster slayer, instead of getting rid of me? I remember her words even now. She told me, 'We merely follow our instincts. We love, We mourn. It is not your time yet.' She took Millabeth's soul and departed without another word."
Arriet gave a bit of a resolved look. "It made me wonder, why couldn't I follow my own heart like that banshee? My instincts told me what I was doing was wrong yet I was content to ignore it. Well, no longer. I made a decision that night to always follow my heart no matter what. I returned to my superiors and told them all exactly what I thought of them, consequences be damned. No longer would I work for the self-indulgent, the corrupt, the greedy."
The harpist gave Mitchell a sheepish smile. "Of course, this would have dire consequences for myself. I was publicly shamed, stripped of my Hero title, excommunicated from the Order of the Ice Flower, and declared an apostate. My friends in the Order wanted nothing more to do with me. My name is spoken of with disdain in many Order cities and I am no longer welcome. My only option left for any sort of life was the frontier. Thankfully, Lady Fullmoon mentioned this town to me as I was leaving Salvarision. When I arrived, they welcomed me with open arms. I've been here ever since."
When Arriet finished her story, she noticed Mitchell still looking out at the lake with a blank, solemn look. She watched as he got to his feet and strode forward, stopping a few feet away with his hands on his hips.
Mitchell sighed deeply. That was quite a lot to take in. He turned around to face Arriet, running a hand over his quarter-inch hair.
"Okay, lemme say somethin' real quick, 'cause I feel like this needs to be said," he began slowly. "You served these people for years, gettin' blood on your hands, and this is what you get? Just...gettin' tossed aside? Yeah, no, pardon my language, but fuck that and fuck them. You don't have a single goddamn thing to feel bad about. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that what you just told me cements one thing in my mind. You're a wonderful girl. A girl who didn't let this world change her—didn't let them change her. You stuck to your guns and stayed true to yourself and damn if you aren't a better person than everyone else around here, me included. These people look up to ya a lot. You can see it clear as day." He gestured to her. "Even with your distaste for fightin', you still offered those skills to protect them. I think that says more about you than any words can."
Mitchell looked the girl in the eyes. "You have my respect, Ettie, and I'm glad I can call you my friend."
Arriet stared wide-eyed for a long moment, then slowly smiled as her eyes glistened. "I… Thank you. You as well, Mitch."
The heartfelt moment lasted a moment before Mitchell chuckled at the sudden seriousness before rubbing his neck. "Well, I brought ya out here to see my phone, and I got all serious on ya. Sorry about that."
Arriet shook her head, smiling. "It's fine. I don't mind it at all. Really."
Mitchell couldn't help but smile with her. "Aight then." He looked out over the lake, noticing the sun setting. "Looks like we should head back. We got a lot to look forward to tomorrow, after all." He finished with a wink.
Arriet nodded, rising to her feet and brushing herself off. "I concur! Let's head back then, shall we?"
They walked side-by-side back to the town, looking forward to a new day. Despite the uncertain times, they both found themselves in high spirits—the simple fact they would see each other the next day giving each step new energy.
Little did they both know, the coming days wouldn't be anything like what they expected.
A/N:
Well. I'm not dead. I just lost my muse for a bit, that's all.
My grandmother died this Thanksgiving, so that was, oddly enough, motivation for me to write this. I had to take my mind off of it somehow, and lo and behold, as I wrote, my muse showed her face once more. I promised I'd write this story, and I meant it.
Anyway, enough about that. Y'all tell me what y'all think of this chapter please. I agonized over this one a bit too much.