"Oh, shit..." I say under my breath
"Yeah, it is concerning...I have been getting called various...Things when I was making my way back to the city."
"Like what?"
"Well, things like, 'You should've died when you were born' or 'If you were not under Arcadian Racial Integrity Bill, I would've made use of you as a doll.' Or 'You're people are more animalistic than that of the beastmen, and they eat people!' were just to name a few"
I rub both my eyes with both hands sighing deeply
"I should've expected this to happen when it came to wars starting"
"What do you mean," Lara asks
"Nothing, let's head to the Guild and see what is going on.
*20 minutes later*
As we had been walking down to the guild house Arla has indeed been the victim of some verbal abuse by some of the other people in this city. I am guessing since she is an elf and Hestia is primarily an elf nation. I need to know more about what is going on to get an idea of who started the war. If there is going to be one. Hopefully not.
As we have gathered at the front of the guild house, other armed personnel seem to have gathered here as well. Various people of age, gender, race, and equipment quality seem to be here walking around the back of the guild house.
As we get in the large crowd I notice some stares towards Arla and we begin getting closer packed in the crowd. I grab Arla's arm and pull her closer to me to ensure that she is not harmed. I know she can protect herself. But you can never be too careful when it comes to hate crimes or those who do idiotic things.
*16 minutes later*
The crowd behind the guild hall is quite large. Probably over a few hundred members are gathered here in front of a stage that has a podium for someone I am guessing official, to make an announcement.
"Hey, are you okay Arla?" I ask
"I am fine, I know I am safe with both you and Lara near. Besides...I know for a fact I can escape a situation like this."
"How would you?"
"Attention!" a voice booms over the entire crowd.
A silence shadows everyone and everyone stay quiet. I that of a Wolven man with black fur, and an eye patch over his right eye, wearing plated silver armor with his hands behind himself. Is that the Guild Master?
"Most of you should know me by now!"
I don't it seems
"I am the right-hand member of the Guild council Carvil One-Eye. Don't gotta think hard to figure out why my last name is that."
Then an Orc walks up on the stage with a more brutish aura with less armor but a bit more exposed body, likely for flexibility stands. Having leather, and his right arm is plated. Her hands are to her side balled into a fist.
"I am Yoshina, you don't need to know my damn name, but you should know by now I am Yoshina!"
I figured that she is Yoshina when he said his name was that. Maybe more muscle than brains.
"I am the Left hand of the Guild council, don't any of you people get lucky!" he says putting his fist in the air.
*Sigh* "Calm down Yoshy, you're getting agitated again." Carvil
"Shut up, and I told you not to call me Yoshy damn it! Do I need to get it through your thick ass skull?!"
"Not really, you just don't seem to be able to say a coherent sentence without repeating it. in the same sentence. If anything your skull is too thin."
"Why you..." Yoshina says stomping her way over to Carvil who turns with his fists balled up and on his side.
"That's enough!" another third voice called out.
They both stop, straighten their backs and turn back at the crowd without saying anything further.
A woman with blonde hair and in a suit of plated silver armor of a different design, more elegant and form-fitting to her curves walks past Yoshina and stands between the Left hand and the Right hand.
*sigh* "You know, you two love birds seem to be able to drink well with one another, strip teasing and say some interesting topics but whenever you are both doing your damn jobs you act like the dumbest couple I have EVER fucking seen."
The crowd starts murmuring around and begins laughing a bit. I was not expecting Carvil the Right Hand, and Yoshina the Left Hand to be in a relationship. Unless this blonde woman is messing with everyone.
"Anyways, I am the head guild master of this district of the city, other guild masters in the city are doing something like this as well, or, at least should be. As you all should've been told at this point by fliers around Arcadia, or gossip and murmurs, you've heard the rumors about 'war' between the Provinces of Arcadia and the Hestia Empire. Extremely vague at that. But they spread faster than the damn locusts." she says giving pause.
I guess I must've been in the dark for the past week since my recovery. I wonder how I didn't hear about these concerning rumors myself.
"Now, I shall give you a summary of what has happened. About 9 days ago, a village that is just 10 miles from the border of Hestia which is an Arcadia village of close up to 900 residents had been attacked. It is very far from the core cities of Arcadia, so it could've been a ruthless bandit attack. However, the evidence says it might be otherwise as well as a surviving account. No one who was at the village during the supposed attack is alive. Over 900 are dead or missing. And the evidence of Hestia's involvement is horse tracks being led to and out of the village into Hestia's territory. The method of attack appears to be the use of flame magic and also spear attacks. Charred bodies in various locations and signs of panic."
Damn this seems like an actual attack. 900 people is not an easy number to kill off. So it would have to be coordinated, or everyone was forced out. Could likely be both.
"At this point, under the Guild's agreement during its foundation, the Guild is obligated under rule 1 of the Guild treaty. 'That when the time arises and the safety and protection of its citizens, members, and also those whom it employs, will be required to be drafted into armed service immediately."
Oh damn...Forced drafting...
"So, veteran members likely don't give a shit since you've all been working in this association for a while now. But for those who have recently enlisted in the guild, I am sorry. If you have qualified as a member you cannot leave. I am sorry. It is a rule that is in place for a reason for that. Those who attempt to not own up to the agreement when drafted will be faced with charges and even prison time. None of us want that. I am sorry." she says finishing and turning away. Her cape sways and flaps and she walks off. The Right Hand and the Left Hand turn around as well making their leave.
After that, the crowd begins to disperse over time. But some lingering on chatting about the news from the guild master. I don't know how I feel about being drafted, but I can't do anything about that now.
"So...How do you guys feel about drafting into the armed forces of Arcadia?" I ask both of them
"Well first off, I am technically not a guild member," Lara says confidently
"What?!" I yelp, "But you've been with us on a few contracts."
"I have, but I just so happen to be a participant. Not a full member. So if anything, I am safe from the draft." Lara finishes
"W-well, what about you Arla?"
"I resigned from the guild"
"WHAT?!" I yell. "But I thought she said you couldn't leave because of this system in place."
"Well, yes. But that was a vague explanation. You see it is when news gets out to the local guild quarters which they can no longer allow those to resign. Seeing as I noticed the first signs of this, I resigned before the news officially got to the local guild house where I was. Resigned right then and there." she says flipping her hair back, which her hair is already short where they don't make contact with her shoulders.
"So...I am the one who is getting drafted?"
Suddenly the realization and the humor in the conversation fade quickly from both Arla and Lara.
I sighed deeply and scratch my chin and move my right hand behind my head to scratch it where I notice a small scar underneath all the feathers. I guess I never noticed it until now.
"I...Uhm...Shit.." I say unsure of how I am going to do things now.
"Well, maybe you can just not appear when called into service," Lara says out loud
"I don't think it would matter because I would get arrested and put in prison. She said it herself."
"Well, maybe uhm..." Lara says trying to figure out how to approach the situation.
"Don't, it's fine. War has not been declared yet. For all we know, this is just an extreme international incident that won't build up to a war. As long as people keep their heads on, justice will be served, compensation to the victim's families, and I won't be called to war." I say playing slapping her shoulder and moving on walking past her.
"But...I don't want to risk that with you..." Lara says to herself in a hushed voice.
As I passed Lara I notice I Arla is nowhere in sight. She was just with me 7 seconds ago...
I begin looking around and since the majority of the crowd dispersed a while ago I can see people several feet away. As I begin eyeing the area I can see.
I then notice a short girl with brown hair wearing a maid outfit. Yep, that is no doubt her. I wonder if cosplay is a thing in this world. Or dress-up perhaps. Maid cosplay? Has Arla just been cosplaying this whole ti-
I get cut off by yelling focus back at Arla who seems to be being spoken to by 2 beastmen who tower over her by 2 feet in height.
I begin fast walking towards them, hearing the conversation getting progressively more clear as I get closer.
"Who the hell do you think you are tiny girl? Walking into this gathering as if nothing has just happened." the Tall Caiman man says. He has brown scales, yellow eyes, and two horns extending backward. He is wearing what looks to be leather armor with a metal breastplate on him with an insignia of 3 claw marks.
With him was a Slightly shorter wolven man with brown fur and blue eyes. He is wearing plated armor but it looks more dented out and is missing his greaves.
"I'd say we just knock her out. No one here is going to care." the wolven says confidently
I then speed my pace up and get right behind Arla placing my hand on her shoulder. She turns her head to me in a sudden snap but calms down knowing it is me.
"Hey, uhm what's going on here guys?" I say being oblivious so as not to antagonize
"This small stick here has no place where hard work is done," the caiman says pointing his finger at Arla.
"Hey she used to be an adventurer until recently. She is very capable and reliable. Believe me."
"Oh, so you're a suck up to her. Let me guess, she gave you a blowy and now you suck up to them all now." the wolven says with a mock in his voice.
"First off, no...And second of all no again"
Well, one of those was a lie she did give me head but I don't suck up to her because of it. I am just nicer to people. Am I a simp? I wonder if simp is still a term in my previous world.
"Oh really," he says walking up to my face, "because someone who looks like they were a slave don't often suck up to someone so...tiny..." he says gesturing to Arla
"What? Where the hell did that come from?"
He tilts his head in a brief surprise at my statement, but straightens it and begins to growl a bit at me.
"You have scars on your face and your missing a horn. One does not simply lose a horn and have scars like that. Caimans are supposed to have the natural ability to heal scars much more efficiently unless the weapons were cursed. Or severe deep wounds. You're tiny stature and behavior don't match that. But then again if you were a slave, you should understand where this is going."
"I have no idea what you are talking about except for the fact that I know caiman are supposed to heal faster than most race."
"Well then your jsut weaker than others. Not a proud beastmen then"
"I don't give a flying fuck about being a 'beastman' what I do care about is being a relatable person you ass-wipe"
"Please, please," Arla says in an attempt to calm down this aggressive moment
"Shut up elf-stick, you have no place being involved in beastmen matters, and-"
"Shut the hell up. No one gives a shit about you hurt pride, so just back off and-" the wolven grabs me by the collar of my shirt and pulls me closer
"I suggest you stop talking before you lose your other remaining horn," he says in a low growl flashing his teeth
"Oh, why by all means, try..."