[EXTRA CHAPTER.]
It's a beautiful day in the busy town of Sēnklyr.
We gathered near the market and hid under the shadows in an alleyway.
The excitement creeping through me is like a jolt of energy. This is it, I thought. We finally found him!
We finally found the Collector we longed been trying to track.
"Are ya' ready?"
"Yup!" I answered, looking at Emis as I comb my hair neatly over my shoulders.
"Just take your time girls, he's only getting away! Oh look, he's gone. Perfect!" Scias throws his hand in the air.
"Don't sweat it, he's not getting anywhere! Scias is only excited since we've been tracking this person for so many years!" Aide chortles as he pats Scias's shoulder.
"Be careful. He's wearing the Rail necklace." Emis warns me, her face grim.
"Refresh my mind, what is the Rail necklace?"
"It's an eye of a pureblood kid he killed decades ago with the ability to change color when someone lying touches him. He cut it out and put it in a round stone-like vial and made it his necklace."
I cringed, "That's sick! That evil son of a b—!"
Emis just chuckles and shrugged.
I look at Faram as he just stood there all the way from the back. "I'm going..." I told him.
He nods, "Remember, just because someone is kind doesn't mean he won't hurt you."
I caught a laugh in my throat. I know he means that to warn me not to change my mind and reconsider this mission. "But aren't you kind to me, Faram? Will you hurt me then?" I beamed at him, tilting my head to the side.
He sighs in exasperation, "Don't use your mind games on me. Now, go! We'll keep on watch."
I stepped out of the alleyway and into the crowd of people, a basket on one hand and a hood on my head. I made my way towards a fruit vendor and my eyes caught a glimpse of colorful balls of candy.
I yelped in glee and began to buy some fruits and a bag of candy. I can eat the candy some other time, I thought. I handed my payment over and as I lift my eyes, I smiled at the realization someone is standing behind me. I can feel his leering eyes. The malice is reeking out from his labored breathing that he tries to hide so well, it's a deep shaky breath that quivers in such perverse thrill. I can almost feel his touch from behind.
Mission for today commences now.
I casually turned around and bumped into the man.
"Waa!" I gasped, lost my footing and fell to ground, my basket rolls out the disarrayed content.
"Ah! I'm so sorry, miss!" A soft voice of a man uttered as he went down on his knees to help me. "I didn't see you! I was so busy and..."
I studied the man before me. He has a chestnut colored hair and a kind-looking hazel eyes with a tinge of green that gives out such warm gaze. He has a tiny flat mole on the the right side of his chin, just near his thin lips. His shirt seemed to be ironed neatly. He looks very presentable with a rectangular glasses which he pushes by his temples with a finger. Overall, he looks decent and a vibe of a cool intellectual man would surely be a common first impression whoever meets him.
But way pass those kind eyes and cordial smile, I sense the sharpness in them. He didn't even blink as he talked. He's watching. He's eyes grazes all over and keenly studying all angles and details from my face down to my shoes. Yet ever so discreetly, he manages to appear normal.
But as he helps me pick up the fruits, I caught the whiff of a manic thrill in his eyes, a split second that spilled his true self, a lascivious thirst waiting to break free and touch me.
"...so umm, I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to! Are you hurt?" he concludes, reaching a hand to help me stand back up. I grabbed that hand but he covers mine with his other hand before he pulls me up to stand.
He took a deep breath before letting go. A moment to pause and take it in. He blinks ever so slowly and then sets his eyes back to focus on my face.
His thought are leaking, 'I found you!' So it would say. A voiceless phrase that is screaming from his empty gawking eyes.
"I'm fine. I wasn't looking too, I'm sorry." I bowed down deeply before him.
"Ah! N-no need! It was entirely my fault. Please, stand up!" He says in a flustered tone. "D-don't bow like that! I really and genuinely didn't notice you there!" He rubs his nape, bashfully. A smile flashes for a moment, unnoticeable to the untrained eye. The fleeting smile of a deceitful fox. "I hope you're not hurt!"
He hands me my basket back, a gentle hand over my shoulder. "Thank you, you are most kind, sir!" I smiled at him, swirled at my heels and began to walk away casually.
"Wait— are you new around here?"
I paused.
Ah! Such a persistent fool.
Thank god, I suppose.
"Y-yes. I'm actually traveling by." I answered him, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
"Are you traveling alone?"
I just tilt my head curiously, "Umm..."
"Oh! Umm, sorry! You must think I'm creepy for asking that! Just forget about it! I'm actually a local here. If I can help you with anything, don't be shy to ask! Anything at all! I wouldn't mind helping." He says, walking closer. "My name is Gyro, nice to meet you!"
I look at the hand he offered.
"Umm... You can call me Ri." I answered, accepting his handshake. I felt his grip tightened firm, around mine. He went on talking, "I just can't help but notice your eyes and hair is... well, are you a pureblood perhaps?" I can see his pupils dilating as it ogles at me. "A rare Arcanian breed..."
He slips.
"I mean—! It's really rare to see a pureblood nowadays. This alone is such a blessing to someone like me."
I tried to pull my hand away but he kept it there, just still shaking it as his eyes peered to my face. Does he even blink?
"Umm, my hand." I pointed out with a frown; brows furrowing.
He almost jumped off his feet, "I'm so sorry!!! Ah! I'm embarrassing myself here! Hahaha! Anyways, are you perhaps buying supplies for your next travel? I'm actually buying my grocery!" He says, taking a small piece of paper with scribbled lists of things. He shoots it back to his pocket even before I could read them. "I also like those fruits you chose. It's good for a travel when the meat is scarce, yes? It gives me plenty of energy for my work around the shop so I end up buying a dozen at times, even if meat is available. Oh! And you can drop by my shop with your comrades if you want. But do be careful around here, there are a lots of people who would charge travellers insane amount just for a tour or even a question! You'll never known what kind of person you're meeting... Such a dangerous place indeed." He sighs, not missing a beat to stare directly at my face.
Somehow, he actually takes pride talking about himself with the last sentence. He even warns me of the danger despite himself. He's really reeling the conversation to how he wants it to go. For sure, he's expecting me to ask or react to the last sentence he just stated.
"Shop?" I asked him, instead. "You have a shop?"
He points out to the opposite direction, "I sell maps and books, some few scrolls too." He puts his hands down and gave one cordial smile. "I wasted your time enough, sorry for all the blabbering. I usually just become talkative when I'm nervous. Umm, have a nice day, Miss Ri!" He scratches the back of his head, bows down and turned about face.
I watch him walk away.
I casually groped at my pocket and noted that my coin purse is gone. Oh great! He's not only a creep, he's a sticky finger too!
I just took the opposite direction and went on my own way. I kept my eyes straight on the road ahead with the sensation that's someone is following behind me.
I turned to one corner and head to the next street. I wonder if he will make contact? I continued traipsing to the central square where lots of vendors can be seen. I strolled leisurely for few more minutes. Gyro seem very patient, I though. I can feel his eyes watching me. He's still following but he hides from plain sight and keeps a safe distance.
What a stalker.
He's taking this bait really easily. He's too blinded by the situation because he wouldn't let the chance pass after seeing an Arcanian pureblood. A single glance is all it takes to pique his interest. He can't resist his habit of collecting purebloods. This is his life after all and right now, for him, I'm a walking trophy to be collected.
After few more minutes, I paused, and tried to buy something in a stall. I groped at my sides. I gasped, tensed my shoulders up and looked around. I began to track back my footsteps, looking bothered and restless. I decided to head back to the market.
"Miss Ri!" I hear running footsteps behind me.
Ah, finally.
"I'm so glad I found you! You forgot this!" He says, showing me the coin purse. "I didn't know how to contact you so I kept walking around the market to look for you!"
Liar.
"Sorry for causing you too much trouble, Mr. Gyro! Thank you!!! I thought I lost my money back there!" I hanged my head, fidgeting my fingers over my grasp over my basket.
"Are you perhaps Aerrandria of Greenrun?"
"Who?" I tilted my head to the side, one brow arched to an end. He was about to touch my hand nonchalantly but I let go of the basket and I crouched down to pick it up. He pulls his hand away immediately. "Sorry, what were you asking?"
He has heard of me...
But he's asking that just to catch me. I think he's growing suspicious.
"Ah, forget what I said!" He lets out a nervous laughter.
"I don't know how to repay you though. I don't have that much money with me right now. Umm, you can have these fruits instead though?" I bated my lashes and looked away as I reach the basket over to him.
"Actually, why don't we grab something to drink instead?"
He's really asking a child so casually when he actually around his forty's? I guess he can be this aggressive.
"I need to go back now. I can't stay out for long... But I insist, please, you can have these fruits."
"No need! How about tomorrow? You can even invite your comrades. It's my treat!"
"I don't think I can, my comrades might not like it either, I'm sorry." I said
"Such a shame. I guess this is goodbye then!" He scratched the back of his head.
What will you do now, Gyro?
"I'm really sorry for all the troubles." I bowed down briefly. "It was nice meeting you, Mr. Gyro."
He just seem calm and smiled so warmly at me. Behind those eyes, I know he's trying to calculate a plan. I'll push a little bit more.
"Ah! I should go now! I just remembered we had to leave this town soon! I lost track of time again!" I hurried to ran away
But surprisingly, I got pinned down in place.
I look back and realized his hand had grabbed my wrist.
"Ah! Sorry! I... didn't know what I was thinking!" He instantly lets go.
"I need to hurry. Sorry! Bye, Mr. Gyro!"
"Ah wait! Perhaps I can help you. I know a lot of detours around town."
I let a beat of a second pass. "Alright. I need to get to Mugcart Taverns, do you know a shorcut I can take?"
"A yes! I know that place, come on!" He grabbed my hand and dragged me along with him.
"Mr. Gyro, it's okay! You don't have to go. I already wasted your time!" I hollered but he won't let go and just went on running. "Mr. Gyro?"
"It's alright! You need to get there soon, right? Just trust me!"
Such a persistent and aggressive move. I guess, I'll just let him.
••▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅••
He pulled me towards an alleyway and kept running without looking back. His grasp around my wrist is tight and it clenched tighter as we head deeper and deeper to the alley.
"Umm, are you sure about this?" I asked him but he didn't respond.
We took one corner and into another. Turning to a narrow and steep alleyway that seemed like labyrinth. And then he slowed down as we soon reach a dead end.
He finally stopped in his tracks and released me.
"This is..." I murmured, barely inaudible as I pulled my free hand close to my chest while tightening my grip on to the handle of my basket with my other hand. "Mr. Gyro, it's a dead end."
"Not for me." he says
"Let's head back!" I abruptly turned around but his hand grabbed my shoulder and pushed me to the wall.
"Mr. Gyro?!"
"Even if you scream, no one will hear you!" His decent guy façade is taken off and all I see now is this guy who smiled so wide but it never touches his lewd eyes. The madness inside him is brewing and the rise of tension is turning him on. I can see hair on his arm stood on ends as his hand grabs my chin.
Before I could have even reacted to his touch, a mist spreads out from his hand.
So he's a high tier water magus, huh?
"Good night, my love." He uttered and I slowly closed my eyes and dropped on the floor unmoving.
He began to chuckle on his own.
I can hear him gasping a deep and long breath as he gave out a throaty laugh. Like a child, he can't help but jump around and giggle before turning back to me and carrying me on his arms.
"Finally, an Arcanian! This is really my day! Imagine all the possibilities we can do together. We have so much to try together, my love!"
He swivels around and was about to walk back the path but he notice from the corner of his eyes, something moving from the shadows.
The guttural groans and croaking sound echoes as though they came from the deepest part of the sewers. He looks around, trying to decipher the sound and study what it is that's moving there on the wall before us.
Two white dots appears from the shadows. The clouds above began to cover the sun, giving more shade to the alley. Another croak, and then a hiss.
Gyro took one step back, alarmed at the idea that's a dæmon is now watching him like a prey. But he didn't run away, he was adamant to fend it off. The darkness on the alley grew and grew. The temperature began to drop and a screech now echoes all around him.
A cold sweat rolls down his nape.
The two dots of eyes began to multiply in all areas of the wall. They hissed and croaked again as they began to crawl down from the walls. Long black tongue drapes down from the hundreds of sharp teeth seen in their mouth.
Fear began to eat Mr. Gyro. The stench of terror from him is seeping out from the tremors of his arms and to my body. The negative energy he's giving is feeding me more and more as he tried to walk slowly backwards with eyes frantically watching the shadow dæmons that's now has reach the ground and began to stand up on their hind legs, stretching up to fifteen feet high.
He fasten his hold on me as if protecting a child.
Time to drop the acting, I thought.
"Just unhand me, they don't like it when someone steals their mistress from them." I told Gyro.
Surprised, Gyro shot me a look as I flip my lids open and glowered at him.
He throws me down and gasped as he tried to walk farther but he's already cornered by my creatures.
"Impossible! N-no one can... no one can resist my sleeping mist!" He uttered under his breath. The panic in his eyes spelled danger. He's about to snap.
"I suppose your mist is too weak." I shrugged, slowly getting up. Curled my back straight and nudge at my shoulders until the relaxing crack emits.
"Who are you?" He says in a flat tone.
"We already pass that! Don't you remember? I told you, you can call me Ri, Mr. Gyro. But you don't have to fret. I didn't came here to kill you. I just need you to answer some questions about several years ago. It's related to Cerguz, y'see? Do you still remember the guy?"
His head tilts down but his eyes watched me sharply, "You're... from Ouboros?"
I pulled my mask out my small bag and put it on, "I'm glad you still remember! It's about the information you gave to Cerguz over a decade or so. You told him where to find an Ergus clan named Dyllan. They had two wonderful pureblood sisters named Noriin and Paulin! They're from Ialnis originally but when we went to check the place, it's deserted. By any chance, do you still know where the Dyllan clan must be living now?"
"That mask... who are you?"
"Ignoring my questions, I see." I sighed. "Okay then, I'll answer yours and then later, you answer mine! Fair enough?" I smiled warmly at him.
His eyes cautiously watched the dæmon surrounding us.
"This mask," I began, letting my fingers run the length of it from my ears and to my face. "Emis said a blindfold would have fit me better as a mask because of my master..."
"B-blindfold?— Faram?"
"Yea, correct! But Emis later decided that its best to make it look like a crown because of my lineage!"
He puffed out air, "I knew it! You're the long lost lady of Greenrun of the Seven Kingdoms! I thought it fits the appearance." He says, eyes measuring me. He sweeps his gaze from my chest and then down to my feet. "Years has been kind to you, so it seems!" He snickered.
He sit comfortably down his feet. "I ain't afraid of you, laddie. I have long been catching purebloods, both Light and dark magus alike! I am the great Gyro. My collection is second to none! I've been doing this for twenty years and counting!"
I just smiled at him, "With all due respect, Mr. Gyro. Let me introduce myself properly this time then, I am Aerrandria Leingod, Faram's apprentice." I stuck my tongue out and a symbol of zero appears in black and crimson light before fading away. I grinned at him and continued, "I'm the zeroth member of Ouboros. I'm fifteen years old and as you can see, I am a dark magus. It seems the experience gap between us is far different. So, instead of fighting with violence I suggest something else... Shall we play a game?"
"A game?" he muses, one brow up.
I swayed my hand and all the creatures around us crawled back to the corner-most areas of the alley until they disappear from sight.
"I made a deal with the guys in Ouboros so that if you win, you can do what you want with me. I won't even bother to resist. And the people I made a deal with will have to accept you as their Meister too. That includes Aide, Emis, Scias and even Faram." I explained, sitting on my heels.
I can see Gyro's eyes sparkling in delight at my offer.
"But— if you lost. You will give me all the information I need and you will promise to become our confidant from here on out. Deal?"
I just calmly returned his steady gaze as he smirked.
"Alright. Deal!"
Such confidence. He didn't even ask what the game is about. He'll likely bail out for sure.
"The game is to bet using our fingers. So that means we have ten rounds. The first to lose all the fingers wins!"
His eyes widened like an owl.
I bursted out laughing. "It was just a joke! A joke!You're too serious, geez!"
He crunched his brows at me.
"The game is pretty simple. I'll tell five outrageous statements and you try to tell me if I'm telling the truth or not! You only need three correct answers to win the game."
He bursted into laughter. "I know this game! It's the one Cerguz loves to play! You really are the child he abducted before! I can't believe this! Hahahaha!!!"
"I'm not done telling the mechanics yet, be patient silly!" I beamed at him. "Come on, sit down please?"
He flustered at the sight of me smiling sweetly and sat back down.
"I heard there's a pureblood you once collected that can help you win games like this. He's a wielder who can tell lies. What is his name again?"
Gyro's eyes sparked when he answered as if reliving that moment, his first kill. "Rial. He's a Sol descendant. His ability has helped me through a lot, that's why I made sure I kept his momento alive with me. I immortalized him with this!" He shows me his pendant with pride.
"That's nice. I have a precious thing with me too!" I showed him my anklet. "It's nice to carry some with us, huh?"
"Yes. It truly is." He says, shoulders loosen. He's relaxing to me. "It's actually... splendid." The menacing look in his eyes returns as he veered his eyes on me. "I can immortalize you too. Tell me, what is your ability? Are you a wielder or a transmuter? I won't ruin that face, I promise. It has to be handled with utmost caution. Oh, I know! I'll keep your head in a container and keep you at the center of my bedroom, that way, I can see you everytime I go to sleep! It would be a wonderful thing! We can spend eternity together!"
I shook my head "Let's start the game so we can see which victor can enjoy the prize later!" I told him with a grin.
"Alright!" He says now, his face returns to that calm decent-looking guy with a gentle aura. He's too excited and confident now.
I watch him as he walk closer to me and take his necklace off; he puts the pendant down in the space between us.
"Let's begin." I stated. He nods with a cordial smile. He's too cooperating that it makes me want to laugh.
I raised my hand and stretched my fingers open. "Five fingers means five statements. You guess if I'm telling the truth or if I'm lying. After that, I'll touch the stone so you can check if you're correct! Remember, you only need three correct answers to win the game!"
"Let's do a test run" he suggests.
"Of course!" I gave him another sweet smile. "For the test run. Here's my statement: I truly and genuinely believe I will win this game and you will lose and try to run away. By then will I cut both your feet off and poke your chest with my finger. I'll dig my nail through that ribcage, twisting and screwing it deeper until I can feel your heart. And then I'll pierce a hole inside it and finally take my finger out."
His lips parted open, obviously taken aback.
I just tilted my head and kept my smile on, "Truth or lie?"
He snaps back and chortles, "You said you truly and genuinely believe, huh? It's the truth." He answered with aplomb.
"I'm telling the truth." I lightly touched the yellow pendant and nothing happens.
The pendant only changes color if it senses you're lying.
He laughs again but I can see sweat begins to roll from his forehead.
"Let's start the real game." I said as he sat up straight and I mirrored him.
I held my fingers out, showing it to him as I curled my thumb close. "First statement: I didn't expect to meet you today at all. It's a complete fortuitous event, perhaps even a fateful encounter! I have been long looking for you after all! But you were too good to hide your tracks! I wasn't able to track you at all! So when I came to this town, I didn't know you're here. So, I didn't plan everything like it happened now. I didn't expected you will take me to this alley. I didn't expected you will agree to play this game. I didn't knew anything at all. It was all by chance. All my calculations were wrong."
The smile in his lips sank down and he eyed me tentatively as I had him in my focus. I can see the Adam's apple of his throat go up and down as he clears his throat. "You're... lying." And it dreaded him saying it. He looks as if he wants to be proven wrong.
"I'm telling the truth." I just poked the pendant and it changes to a dark shade of brown.
The pendant changes color if it senses you're lying, that means everything I said just now is a bluff. It's actually the exact opposite. Everything that happened today was as expected.
"You're correct!" I told him with a smile. "You should be celebrating! You only need two correct answers left!"
"Just... keep going." He murmured in a husky tone.
I closed my eyes and remembered my previous life this time. I curled my index finger close and when my lids open, I saw the life I lived before, "Second statement: Back then, I have a simple life." I began, as if narrating my memories. "I'm an only child and I only lived with my mother who works countless jobs to support me."
There was a long pause.
This tells me he knows about my real background back in Greenrun. He had his eyes on me too but perhaps because of the nature of our continent, it was hard for him to slip in and meet me or my brother. "Truth or lie?" I broke the silence.
"Y-you're telling the truth."
He chose to dodge that matter.
"I'm telling the truth." I poke the pendant and nothing happened.
Gyro looks genuinely confused but he didn't said anything.
He has a big ego and takes pride in his hobby of collecting purebloods. For him, it's his life. It means everything. So to acknowledge that I had become his target yet failed, would discredit his name and reputation as an infamous Collector. He will never admit it.
He will never question that statement.
"You're correct!" I said. "One more and you win! I better take this seriously now, huh?"
He looks uncomfortable at my words.
I curled my middle finger down, "Third statement: I'm a Null caster. I'm also a Shadowmancer... And I'm a warlock. I can switch between these different types of dark element because I have mastered them all."
"Impossible!" He bolted up from sitting. "No one can switch to different types of element. Not a light nor a dark magus can do that! No human can do that! Lies! It's like you're saying you can change your ethnicity whenever you want! It's far Impossible! You're lying!"
"I'm telling the truth." I poke the pendant and nothing happens; this confirms my revelation.
"Impossible!" He repeated, looking rattled and at lost.
"Sit down, Mr. Gyro. Let's keep going! I have two more statements and you only need one correct guess to win."
He sat back down but I can see his eyes are out of focus.
I curled my ring finger down, "Fourth Statement: I am the Meister of every elite mercenary in Ouboros. Claude, Faram, Aide... and everybody are following me and all my whims!"
I watch his face transitions to pale colors, "Y-you're telling the truth."
"I'm telling the truth." I poke the pendant and it immediately changes colors, indicating that the statement is false.
"Of course, I'm not all their Meister!" I laughed. "Not all of them!"
Gyro lets out a deep and long exhale. His hands, stretching up to his head but he tries his best to hide the anxiety he's feeling. He nudges his glasses up as though he can hide the clouded look in his eyes behind those frames.
"This is enough! This game is a joke! You changed my pendant! You—!"
"Last one statement!" I stated, curling my last finger down, closing my hand into a fist. "I'm telling the truth on this one. It was raining hard that day and I didn't notice the two bright lights. Before I know it, everything felt empty. I was someone and then... I was gone." I pivot my hand before my eyes as it slowly turns to black. The tips of my fingers became sharp and I showed it Gyro. "No one was able to save me then. No flashbacks; no nothing! That was... the moment I died."
Gyro's paleness returned color. The confidence inside him flickered back like a switch. "You are lying!" He says, grabbing the pendant and springing up to his feet. "Hah! I won!"
"I'm telling the truth..." I stood up as well and just touched the stone as he pulls it up before my eyes. I watch his facial reaction turn upside down as though I watched all the color of his face washed away while he sees the pendant didn't change in color.
"Like I said, I'm telling the truth!" I repeated.
"You're cheating!" He yells
"Yes, I am cheating." He sees the pendant changes in color as I said the words, indicating that he's wrong with his snide remarks. Though deep down, he knew very well by now that I never cheated and I have been telling the truth all this time and he believes it but he can't comprehend it. He had that pendant far too long, it won't make a mistake. It never did, not even once. So he's baffled at this sudden turn of events; his mind can't keep up.
I stepped away from him and just looked up at him as our gazes met.
"No running... Keep your words and you get to keep your feet." I told him with a straight face.
He hid the pendant back to his pocket. I can see his other fist clench tightly until it goes white. He wants to fight back, he wants to try me. But from the game, I already sent all the messages I want him to understand.
"The Dyllan clan moved away after their two daughters were taken. They hid away in the woodland area on the far north. The chieftain and his wife no longer had any pureblood children after the incident of the kidnapping. I lost track of them eventually and I let them be because they didn't seem to be interesting to monitor anymore."
"The last time you heard or tracked them, where did they live?"
"Woodland area on the far north! Are you not listening?"
I didn't answer and just sent him a cold glare.
"I-it's the Saeres Valley. They're somewhere there. If I were you, you'll have to look for a cave called the Vale of Saeres. There's a chasm inside it, like a great split in the walls. It's a passage that can take you to a hidden lagoon with a small woodland where the Dyllan clan resides. But like I said, that was few years back, I'm not sure now if they're still living in that place!"
"How many years are we talking?"
"About one to two years ago." He replied, I watched him and all his movements. He just seem like he wants to get out of this place.
"Good enough!" I curled a finger under my chin. "We'll check on it. Thanks for the info, Mr. Gyro!"
He just sighs in exasperation.
"From now on, you're our informant. But we'll gladly accept any job you can offer us as long as it doesn't involve abduction, human trafficking and slave trading! I hope to keep a nice relation with you!" I beamed at him, reaching a hand over.
"Bah! Whatever..." he muttered but took my handshake anyways. "Don't I get anything out of this in return? If you want to keep this deal going, laddie, you must..."
"Alright!" I cut him off even before he can finish. "Here's a gift!"
I showed him a black eye-mask.
"It's a mask with an enchantment called Deadman's Regret! You can have it."
"What does this do?"
"It can make the wearer say profound things no body on their right mind can say..." I took my own mask off and wore the other one.
Gyro just watched me curiously.
Like before, the familiar surge of confidence bursted out of my mouth, "Grovel before me and kiss my foot, you piece of worm!!!"
Gyro blushes and his eyes sparkled, "I would love to, my goddess! I'm all yours!!!!" He flew his hands open and jumps towards me.
Hm. That wasn't as bad as the last time I used this.
I took the mask off and swings a fist at him just as he drew closer. His face met my knuckles and he went smashing to the wall in a loud thud.
"So do you want it or not?" I asked, watching him coolly.
"I want it!!!" He says with enthusiasm, pulling away from the wall. "Thank you, my beautiful goddess! I shall await for your return!"
His eyes would've practically twinkled in hearts if he could.
"Well then, this had been fun. Bye, Mr. Gyro!" I pushed at my heels and leaped off from the ground.
I landed at the top of the wall and saw Gyro waving merrily at me from down below. I turned and hoped to the next roof of the building, gliding and dashing across until I reached the Mugcart Tavern at the other end of the road, just near the main gates of the town.
"Done already?" Aide asks, as I landed on my toes, facing her while she perched by a wall.
"Yup. Got the information I need! Where are the others?"
"Emis is inside, picking fights again. Scias is waiting for us by the gates!"
As if on cue, Emis steps out the Tavern with a satisfied look on her face. "I'm so full!" she rubs her belly.
"Won't you ask where Faram is?" Aide chuckles, crossing her arms together and one feet behind the other.
"No need. I know exactly where he is. He's been following me around all day. He didn't mask his presence very well." I answered, trying not to laugh. I turned my head over my shoulder and smiled at the guy who just appeared behind me. "Right, Faram?" I grinned profoundly at him.
He just sighed, shaking his head. "For someone who thinks she did well, you forgot something back there." He shoves a bag of candy over to me.
"Hey! I did forgot about that! Thank you!!!" I cheered, opening the candy to put one inside my mouth.
"You always loved sweets, huh? You never changed!" Emis laughs.
"So, are we leaving now?" I asked, trying to hand the bag of candy around but they all declined. Oh well, more for me then!
"Yeah, we're heading to the Libera Kingdom first. Someone wants to hire us for a special courier service. It seems like a feud is going with some nobles." Aide uttered, opening the map. "And guess who the other side hired!"
"Claude's group, I bet." I answered, a finger curled under my lips.
Aide nods, "Yeah, I heard it's all four of them plus two other young adventurers."
"It seems this will be a riot then!" Emis says in a cheerful tone. "How exciting!"
"After the job, we can head next to the Saeres Valley" Faram adds.
"It's a plan! Scias is waiting by the gates, we better go before he begins to nag about it later!" Aide concluded, stepping off from the wall she was perching on to.
"Alright! Let's moved out!" I stated, putting back my mask on.
I can't wait to meet up with the guys! I thought, as we all begin to walk away.
Wait, did Aide said two adventures just now? I'm surprise Claude accepted a job where he shares it with weaker allies on his back, unless he knows the two.
How curious, I wonder who they are?
———End of Ch. 20.5 [EXTRA]———