Every respective heads in the league turned their direction in my voice and everyone stared at us for a good second while I proceeded to go forward in the log table where Pops is currently sitting.
"Oh, it is you, kid. Welcome back…" Pops said while reluctantly continued on his writing.
"HUH? Welcome back?! Is that how you greet your daughter after all of those troubles for that quest?!" my eyes were glimmering with death while I proceeded to crack both of my fingers.
Seriously, I am going to make you pay by deliberately stopping my visits here every now and then, putting a freezer in all of your favorite honey acre soup, and yes, even closing the smithy!
"Alright. So I heard that you had a skirmish with that enigmatic man and I see that you are unharmed. Impressive. Did you get the azurite that I was requesting for?" Pops kept on writing in the same parchment.
Are you even listening?! I cannot believe this man right now! Are you trying to imply that after all of that life-threatening scenarios I just happened to experience, all that is left waiting for me is a single question brimming with pure reluctance and apathy?!
Heat of an unexplainable yet familiar emotion surged up in my head and entered in my face. I can feel that I might explode in anger any moment…I gritted my teeth and intensified the pressure in my fists.
C-Calm down, Astoria. Fight it back.
When I went mum on his out-of-this-universe reply, Roy interjected.
"I-If I may, Pops, she successfully collected the ores that you were asking for. Indeed, we met the man in the name of Razorfang and had a sword duel."
"Ah, so that man has a name, huh?" Pops looked finally on the person he was talking to.
"Yes, I will be going for the deans to report about the man later but…" Roy hesitated on his words.
"What is it, boy?"
"A-Astoria made a great job on this skirmish and the quest so would you please at least recognize and acknowledge her efforts?" Roy stuttered on his words as he was looking at me.
Rare are the times that I can see him talk seriously… this moment is one of them.
Really, hey, you do not have to do that. That was undeniably uncalled for.
Pops went obedient to the request childhood friend and looked at me with his usual eyes- eyes that are oh-so reluctant and apathetic, it makes me question my very existence. I remember and thought while he kept staring at me about when was the last time he stared at me with those same eyes?
When did it start? If… if became a different girl in the past, will he be the same as he is now?
I… I have no glaring idea.
All I had to do was to close my eyes because to be perfectly honest with myself, I am close to being terrified on knowing one day, those pair of eyes will be the one to talk to me for the rest of my age.
Suddenly, I felt a heavy force gently pressing on my head. It took me a second to recognize that it was a hand.
I opened my eyes in a chary manner, now realizing that there were droplets of tears already forming to it, and saw the image of my Pops: smiling gently at me.
"Well done, kid. I am glad that you are safe…" He said, as he kept patting my head with his gentle hand.
Alongside the rare sight of Roy on showing his stout and serious side, my own Pops presented me a side of him that he never showed to everyone, including me. His eyes that I pointed out earlier that are devoid of any emotion except apathy, now immersed itself with one emotion. I am extremely foreign to that specific emotion since Pops just showed it primarily for the first circumstance, yet it also felt like familiar to me at the same time. It is as though, there was a part of myself that knew that side of him- a past memory of mine from my past. My childhood perhaps?
Maybe this was his way of saying he was sorry?
Few days ago, we had a little fight. A senseless argument where Pops pressed me on being part of the ritual conducted by our city. Obviously, since it is a ritual that involves swords, I will be forced to do the ritual with a sword in my own and personal custody. However, due to my natural hatred for them, I reclined the words of Pops and he kept pestering me about it. In the end, he did not force me in the matter anymore and he behaved like this up until now.
T-this man! Aren't you this late in presenting your fatherly side?
I held my emotional fort in the best powers of myself but to no avail as droplets of tears finally fell in my cheeks.
"Also, thank you Roy, for rescuing my daughter."
"I-It's nothing, Pops." Roy smiled shyly as he kept staring on both of us.
Pops then stopped patting me in the head and said:
"I always have confidence on your actions kid, that is why, starting now, just do want you want to be in your career and I will be there in your back."
That was a voice from him that is unfiltered. Free from sarcasm, fatherly annoyance, nor ill-minded wish. Simply, they were words of faith.
Pops believes in me.
I smiled in disbelief with a mixture of confusion in the wake of all of my troublesome quest while Pops introduced me to the two important-looking men he was talking with seconds before I made a scene.
Little did I know, he was introducing to me a person bearing a high position in the continent.
It was the Marquess of Silvos.
It was a man having the clothes of a nobleman befitting on the title of one of the leaders of Ea. He was wearing white garments complemented by black a coat and a silver cape. His silver cape is connected with a crest given from each leaders per each provinces. His silvery-black hair swiveled every time there was a faint wind entering the windows of the building. Wearing a default expression of seriousness in his face, it integrated the sense/image of stoutness in his overall appearance.
Although because of that embarrassing spectacle earlier, his expression was somehow wanting to laugh merrily at us.
All in all, we had five provinces in all of Ea so that means, we are already meeting one of the influential persons in our continent.
"Good evening, Astoria. I believe we haven't met? My name is Gilcram Wales von Aldendrite. You probably noticed that me and your father are already friends so, it is a pleasure on meeting you!"
He spoke with straightforwardness and clarity in his voice. You can tell that this man was indeed belonging to the royal blood.
Wah. You do not have to be formal, sir. Say the things you wanted to say! Your face can even spell them out for me!
"Also, this is my long-lost son! Can you believe that I just reunited with him a few months ago? Introduce yourself son."
I indeed noticed from the second when I barged in that there was another person after him. So that means he's a noble too, huh?
"M-my name is Malthur Droit Aldendrite and it is-is n-nice to meet you…" the boy spoke awkwardly.
His face painted the expression that though he was not shy, he had a scarce experience on being acquainted with new people. His skin is pale in comparison to the healthy color that his father was presenting. He's also wearing the same garment as his father, though with the exception of the important-looking crest on his chest. He can't seem to manage an eye-contact on the three of us and I noticed he's always fidgeting and restless. Compared to his father, I'd say that he is just living out of his shadow.
"HA-HA! Don't pay attention on his quirky behavior! He is always like that! He is just shy."
The father laughed it off while heavily patting his son's back then both of them bowed in front of us.
Both of me and Roy, due to the extreme formality that we were presented with, began to utter:
"Likewise! We are grateful in your efforts for these lands!" in unison.
"AHAHA! Thank you for the support! I am afraid though that we have to leave. We have some business to attend to after this so if you will excuse us…" Sir Gilcram said apologetically.
"Thank you for this evening, my good friend…" Pops said in delight.
"Of course. I will make sure that we will relish the friendship of Silvos and Estocia by tomorrow! I'll make sure that my son will come too!"
"Well, send my regards to your staff then."
"Will do! Oh and also…"
Sir Gilcram was about to exit on the entrance of the league when he looked at me while smiling then continued his words:
"You have a good father with you, Astoria. Make sure that you make him proud someday. Though from the gist of it, both of you are already bounded on each other especially earlier… *snicker* WAHAHAHA!!!"
T-this guy! Is he bullying me?!
While laughing, I also heard the titter of Roy.
S-shut up!!!
"Good night, my friend and see you tomorrow!" finally, after making fun of me, Jerk-cram together with his nervous son, exited merrily on the door.
How should I put this…?
I always thought that those people in the higher pedestals of the society are much different than us. We, the lower caste of the society, are considered as rash, inexperienced, ungraceful, and ignorant in general that we will always get in trouble due to our flaws. In comparison, due to their birthright- the right to be above all else, the right to be distinguished and the right to be the standard, people of nobility should, at all cost; must act noble, dexterous, deft, and be the fountainhead of knowledge and experiences. That is the reason why they are the status of a country or in this case, the city for the reason that all of its people rely on them and they will be troubled if they are not on their side.
I was wrong.
Pops interacting with a noble (and make fun at me, if I may add), is a living example that barriers could break between lower, middle, and higher castes of people if they tried.
Yes, if we tried.
After sending his friend, the Marquess of Silvos, outside the league, Pops turned to me and said:
"Listen Astoria, you'd better go home now. I did not manage to go to the smithy despite the league reporting me that the enigmatic man visited the smithy. So… get some rest. Also, check that boy apprentice of ours." He said, finally sitting in the log table again and continued his writing.
"Ha???" my face probably implied that emotion better.
After making up and said you believed in me, we are back to the beginning?
"No way, Pops. How about you? Let us go home together!" I insisted on him.
He just kept looking me again with a face that resembles to a mild smile and said to Roy:
"Roy, if you would, please." Pops winked his eyes at him and made a gesture.
Suddenly, Roy grabbed my hand and did not let go while dragging my entire body.
"WHA-WHAT ARE YOU D-DOING, HOI?!"
Due to the sudden movement of this guy, I swiftly became self-conscious and before I knew it, he was already carrying me.
"Sorry, kid. I have a lot of things to do. I will make Roy escort you in the smithy while I finish things here, okay?!"
Pops, you cheater! You finally convinced me that everything is alright between the two of us, only to trick me that you have to finish first the activities for tomorrow? Give it back! Give me back my tears!!!
"Goodnight, kid. I will see you tomorrow." Finally, Pops waved his farewell to me for today.
"POOPPPSS!!!"
This is so embarrassing that my crying that was held earlier resumed inevitably due to this underhanded twist made by my Pops.
To the smithy.
Roy finally dropped me down and afterwards, I gave my all in punching his right arm.
"Yawwww!!! That hurts! What is wrong with you?!" he shouted while massaging his punched arm.
"What is wrong with me?! Right back at you, you- why did you carry me like that, huh?!" I said, still irate from before.
"Look, I am sorry, okay? I am just following the words of your Pops."
In the end, I only mustered a grumble from all of his reasoning since… after all.
I owe him a lot for tonight.
Getting over with his punched arm, Roy tapped my shoulder and asked:
"So, uh Tori? Where is Pops' apprentice?"
Huh. Indeed, where is Nada?
Normally, when either Pops or I will finally open the door of the smithy, that boy will immediately welcome us with his unwavering energy and smile alongside with his cheery greeting: "welcome back!" and will then proceed to offer us some dinner. But now…
"Nada? Where are you?" I shouted, calling for his name. Perhaps he is asleep in the forging room?
Considering the fact that he was the one who met that weird Razorfang, I felt nervousness in my senses.
"Nada!!! Seriously, it is too late at night to play hide-and-seek! Where are you?"
"Hey Tori, what are you talking about? Look there."
Seemingly weirded out by my remarks, Roy once again tapped my shoulder and pointed his index finger in our dining table.
A parchment letter?
In summary, Nada wrote a parchment letter for me saying that he might be absent for the smithing tasks for a couple of days. He indeed said that there was a strange customer in the smithy but all that he did was talk to him and immediately went away. He finally said that if I need to talk to him about sword-related requests and tasks, he is currently staying with his mother outside the plaza.
Oh, thank goodness.
Everything is well and good, I guess.
Out of nowhere-
"ASTORIAAAA!!!"
"Is the Lady here? I also joined for the retrieval of Smith's daughter!"
"IS IT TRUE? IS SHE HERE? She came back??!!!"
This is not well and good: it is the opposite of it!
Oh...
Countless people barged-in at the door of the smithy while shouting nonsense and other matters possibly talking about the incident. All of them seemed to be part of the men (and women) that the league dispatched in hope for me to be found. Seriously, the sight of them shouting and panicking like that not realizing that I am physically here is rather heart-warming.
Additionally, funny to watch, if I may add.
"Calm down, everyone! Astoria is here with me and I safely rescued her from the cave where she was trapped into!" Roy said with a tense voice possibly because of the volume of people inside.
A silence.
I took some seconds to wonder on why aren't they responding. When I was looking at their faces, it painted that they were not believing any of the words made by Roy. Instead they-
"Where is she then?"
"Isn't she supposed to be here together with you?!"
"Are you making fun of us, you good-looking noble?!"
Out of the blue, the smithy turned into a prosecution meeting real-quick. It was as if, Roy was in a live-trial of a tribunal mostly consisted by a mob: with swords.
"Wa-wait a second!" Roy might just point me out in order to clear the misunderstanding but because of the tension that is about to explode at any moment, it's as though he lost his vision for me.
Heh, isn't this rather funny? Look at the face of this guy! Also, "good-looking noble"? I have not heard that in ages!
Haaahh. So this is what they call karma. I'm just going to watch Roy being roasted to such extent until he begs for my help!
This is my punishment for you for carrying me like that earlier!!!
The argument between the crowd against Roy went from a tribunal to a pseudo-war landscape. It was the respected noble of the land versus the people he was supposed to protect- all in a tense and nerve-wracking scenery!
The crowd were sending all of their blades of accusations at him while the "good-looking noble" and "hot" friend of mine was just at the defensive.
"You've changed Roy!"
"I was wrong about you, you jerk!"
"Who would've thought that you have it in you when it comes on deceiving people!!!"
This went on for about five minutes until Roy' tears are already out when he roared:
"OKAY, TORI! YOU WON! I am sorry that I carried you without your consent and betrayed your expectations in favor of Pops! So please, clear this silly misunderstanding and HELP ME!!!"
Ugh, fine!
I inhaled a lot for my voice and yelled:
"LISTEN YOU HELPLESS IDIOTS!!! I AM RIGHT HERE!!!"
I made myself sure that I can be heard so I gave my all on that yell. It was possibly close on the intensity of my yell when I was inside of that early cave to plead for my life, in fact. All of the heads inside the smithy turned to me when they tracked my voice and uncannily, they shouted in unison:
"ASTORIAAAAAA!!!" they said while throwing themselves to me.
Hah. See here? This is the reason why I love staying in this place even though I feel that I am the most different person in this continent. I mean, all of these people have an affinity for swords while I don't so that is one of the reasons. But apart from that, I forgot to mention that this scenarios- these heart-warming scenarios…
Are usual and every day for me.
Yes, the ultimate reason why I do not feel depressed or alien on living together with my sword-loving people is that even though we are quite different in affinities, we are still connected. I do not know whether it is on their plan or they are just doing this deliberately, but the fact they are making me feel like this, I love it. I love every single moment of it.
"Oh, *sniff* Tori! There you are! Where were you back there? I thought you suddenly disappear!" Roy cleared his voice while still sniffing and twitching from his fear of the mob.
Huh? Me? Disappearing?
But Roy, I was just in your side the moment they entered here!
How strange.
"It is strange indeed!!!" a voice rang on the back.
The people gathered inside of the smithy flinched in the resonance of the voice when they heard it. I can visibly notice though I cannot see all of their faces, all of them were terrified.
Mostly Roy.
The people inside the smithy, who are considered a horde at this point, began to move side-ward as if about to make way for someone. At the center of the movements of the crowd, I noticed a huge gray staff making its way to me. The nearer the staff moves, the more the presence of intimidation I feel. What's with this feeling?
When the person bearing the staff finally showed in front of me, they stared at me with a cold gaze in their eyes...
OH SHARPS!-