"Hey, baby, I'm talking with you! I need a refill of ale!" an old bearded man shouts in the midst of chaos of the tavern, overlapping with the background noise.
"Coming right up!" The girl cheerfully responds.
"You know, Gorm, one would think that a big man like you would an higher tolerance to alcohol. You act like a drunk old man yet we've been here for ten minutes..."
"It's fine!" the man lets himself go with a loud laughter. "This just means I have to pay less for having hella of a time!"
"I think what Lucius meant it's that oddly funny to see such an old man be a lightweight." My other colleague,Milo, retorts to Gorm. I've got used to quarrels between the two during the two weeks I've been assigned to this group. It's no secret that dwarfs and elfs don't get along well.
"My intention wasn't making fun of him, my concern is genuine. One would think that drinking this often would make you used to it, but you're always drinking even during workhours. One day you'll be drunk when enemies show up."
As soon as I finish speaking, both my colleagues burst laughing at my statement. Did I say something funny?
"aha.. My sides" the elf continues "you are such a newbie, though you are not to blame."
I stare quizzically at him. "War has moved east for 2 years by now. Our lord Ares and his armies have had the upperhand on Hachiman since the Crozzo's blacksmith have been working on magic weapons for us."
"I bet that tough-like guy is regretting messing with our lord!" Gorm interrupts the elf.
"It would be a safe bet," the elf drinks his ale and then continues."however conflict was pretty much inevitable, both Ares and Hachiman's Familia are two of the big families operating outside of Orario and they are very similar anyway. This territory is not big enough for the two of us."
"This region hasn't seen war since all of Hachiman's troops have been desperate for a decisive win against the main army. You have been assigned here because you are newbie. The worst we had to face was a tribe of goblins."
"Don't be so hard on the kid, Milo." Gorm says smiling "we're having a good time, no? The youth is naturally naive!" the dwarf bursts laughing once again.
And thus, the whole discussion is slowly forgotten as one of many during the nights at the tavern.
Looking back on it, thought, most would find it Ironic.
---
'Ugh... I can't sleep for shit...'
'Is there a light coming from Gorm and Milo's stable? Are they still up? They were wasted when I last saw them.'
'Might as well go talk to them, since we're in the same situation.'
As my vision slowly gets adjusted to the light, I realize the truth. The stable is on fire and two figures are talking near to it.
If it weren't for my blessing, I wouldn't be able to notice a few details like their heavy armor, which resembled a fellow familiar member's description of Hachiman troops armor, and their blood-stained katanas.
'This is a bad joke...'
I don't have any time to waste as I take the short sword my old man gave me when I left, I think he called it Gladius, but I'm not sure of it.
I open the door, only to be met by a slash directed at my throat that I barely dodge.
"What's this? A joke?! AHAHAHAH!" The man laughs as he closes the distance between us.
"Did those bastards really think we wouldn't attack other bases? They let a kid guard it?"
I waste no time in useless conversation as the guy gave all the information I could possibly need in his madman ramblings and move in to get the kill, directing my Gladius to his face.
He manages to slightly deflect the attack with his katana and avoiding mortal damage getting only a cut on his cheek.
"I see you waste no time huh?" the now more clear face is that of an old man, a smirk upon his face. "you don't lack the spirit, though interrupting an elder is very rude, ya know?"
In less than a second, he kicks me with a force so great that gets me through the wooden walls of the building I was trying to sleep in.
Shortly after, I get a hold of myself, noticing the hole that my body left in the wall and blood coming out of my mouth.
The power of the kick was far superior than any I received by Gorm or Milo in sparring, though it's possible that they hold back.
I'm positive the old geezer here is an expert level 1, I doubt that if he was any more than that I could've gotten away with only this much.
"Oi, kid! No slacking off! It's pretty pathetic getting beat up by an old man" the smug sound of his voice gets on my nerves... "why don't we end this quickly? I promise I won't make you suffer, It's not your fault that your superior are incompetent, AHAHAHAH!"
It's obvious that I won't overpower him, so I have to study a strategy, and I have to do it quickly, before the other enemies spot us.
If I manage to defeat him and then alert the troops at the center of the village, I would have honored my duty.
I suppose that we weren't the only lookouts to be attacked, rather we were the only to be this unprepared.
...
...
... Holy fuck.. I can't think of anything.. I'm going to die here?
"What's wrong kid?" The old geezer steps out of the building and then mutters something that I don't manage to catch. "are you scared of death?"
As he closes the distance between us, the building ignites and is quickly enveloped in flames.
"The fuck?"
"Kid.." he stares quizzically at me. "Have you never seen a spell? Are you that much of a newbie?"
I stare dumbfounded at the sight before me, this guy can burn me even If I oppose resistance, how am I supposed to...
Oh.
That would work.
"What's that look on your face? Got a revelation kid?"
I quickly get up and thrust with all my force the shortsword on him, he is taken by surprise by the sudden burst, and I manage to send him into the building full of flames.
"Did you really thought that some flames will kill of a human that received a blessing?"
As the old geezer let his mouth runs, I take the winning move out of my gear.
A look of horror reveals upon his face.
"Is that a 'Kaenseki'?!"
"Yeah, that's right! It's a something-eki!"
I toss the crimson colored item as I remember the words of Gorm when it gave it to me.
'Lucius, I won this item a long time ago in Orario in a bet, apparently it's from a monster found only there, and its said to explode in contact with fire. I have had no use of it, so how about you take it?'
... Am I gonna miss that drunken bastard?
Probably not.
The building explodes as I run off to the center of the village, hopefully I will make it in time.
---
As I run through the ruins of the village, I manage to spot one of the officers in charge of this base.
"Officer Tybalt!"
"Lucius, you managed to survive?"
"Yes..." I catch my breath after my long run. "Unfortunately Gorm and Milo were not as lucky as me."
"I see. The fight is long over here. We've suffered some losses but we managed through it. How many of them were there?"
"Three, sir. I managed to kill one, and probably the other two are running after me, and we'll be soon here, we have to prepare!"
"Don't be foolish, Lucius. You have you received a blessing for only two weeks, and we received an attack from level 2 and experts level 1. They would've catch up with you long before you arrived here. They were intercepted by Ludwig, we thought you were dead, in fact I'm positively surprised you managed to kill one."
"I'm flattered, sir."
"Come with me, we were searching for survivors before discussing what happened, I'll lead the way."
"Yessir!" I follow Tybalt through the village as I spot corpses of enemies and allies alike.
Well, shit. I'm off to a rough start with this Familia.