After rummaging their bar, which yielded less food, I went straight to the bathroom to cleanse myself of the minotaur's golden blood. Good thing I placed extra clothes here in cases of emergency like this.
I was rather enjoying my hot shower when my phone rang. I wiped my hand and reached out for my phone. Ren was calling.
Hmm, I'm still pissed that they didn't answer me earlier and now I was drenched in gold. Well, if this really is gold, maybe I could mold it into something and sell it! But all of it were now down the drain. So much for the business attempt, I'll just answer this super late call.
"Nina! Where are you? What happened? We're on our way."
Whatever. I decided to prank him.
"Ren," I said weakly, inwardly laughing at my dramatic prowess.
"Nina," he said with a tinge of urgency in his voice. I was rather guilty but I do not want to stop this whole charade.
"Help," I said breathlessly and turned off the call before he can hear my loud laughter.
When I was done, I assisted Dior and his family to settle in and help his wife, which I now know the name to be Selena, in cleaning herself. She just gave birth, for godsake, and she was running around to save her child.
"I'm sorry you had to go through with such an ordeal. This should have been the happiest moment for the both of you," I said while guiding her to the bathroom.
Selena held my hand tightly and replied, "This is still the happiest yet in my life. My son is safe, my husband is safe, and I'm safe. We have you there to keep us that way. And for that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts."
I was rather touched of what she said, and awkward at the same time. It has been a long time when I last felt genuine thanks from the people I met and helped. I just smiled at her and walked away as soon as she entered the bathroom.
When I saw Dior singing to his son to sleep, I excused myself and went outside to breathe some fresh air. I sat at the only bench present at the side of the building and looked up at the stars.
So much has happened since the day I met Ren. I was thrown into a world which I believed before as a fantasy. I came to know the true identity of my beloved grandfather but the reason why my identity was concealed is still a mystery.
And then I now work for the fantasy world I was thrown in. Sure it was one hell of a ride for me. I couldn't even believe I was taking it in strides. But I wanted to become a part of the world I should have grown up with. Even it takes me a huge amount of effort to catch up, I would still do it. My curiosity and my need to find a more trusting world than where I dwelled before were strong motivations for me to go on.
I sighed. I wonder where I will be now if I didn't meet and get to know Ren and Agrissi and magic and weapons. I would probably be still sitting in my office, guard high up for potential backstabbers and traitors. Going along with the boring life in the office could be, drinking and bar hopping to wash my loneliness away.
I blew out a breath to open a warp gate.
No, that sounded wrong. I'm not a spatial mage so this was purely coincidental.
Out came of the warp gate was a worried and pale Ren, followed by Cellon and Ling. A wicked smile appeared on my face.
"It's about damn time, my comrades."
Ren's worried face morphed into a scowl. "You sounded so distressed in the call that I came running here without being healed completely and this is what I will see? You being fine and acting so smug? Don't you know what we went through in Agrissi? We were being attacked two times for gods sake. We have all our hands full and I see you like this? Was that a prank?!"
My lips formed a thin line. Was this guy accusing me that everything was my fault?
"Oh sorry Your Lordship. I was just rather pissed that you didn't answer any of my damned calls. I was beyond terrified when I fought a fucking minotaur again. Now get inside and get that family inside Agrissi. We don't want to risk another beast attack right now."
I gave him the detector device which was now so dull that anyone would think it was just a normal crystal ball. I pushed them inside the bar with a conjured shield and went straight inside my car to drive back home.
I slammed the door hard I was afraid my car is going to be completely ruined. I hit my head in the steering wheel so hard that I cried from the pain coming from my heart.
How was I supposed to know that something was happening at their end? How was I supposed to react when I am harshly thrown in a situation I was not used to? Sure it was insensitive of me to lash at them like that, but I was beyond frustrated and angry that they left me alone.
I howled my misery away until all that's left is a dull ache. Fine. I won't mind if they leave me again. Go ahead, don't tell me what's happening. I'll shoulder on and face death smiling victoriously.
I turned on the engine and slammed the gas to lead me back home.