Chapter 31
Aiden: Looks like it's time to go.
Lucy: Thank you for lending me your shirt.
Aiden: I don't mind, y'all have already stolen my other outfits, hehe.
Aiden's POV
It looks big on her, kinda like a "boyfriend shirt" type thing, well, not that I'd know, I've never had a girlfriend before.
Lucy: That's true.
She giggled.
Winry: Where are we going to stay now?
Lucy: We could stay here for the night and find somewhere else tomorrow.
Aiden: Hm... I don't feel too comfortable leaving you guys here, these people already know your faces and through Clay, they know you are connected to me, if they ever wanted to bait me, they could use you against me.
Aiden's POV
I've got to stop making enemies.
Lucy: Then where could we stay that will give you peace of mind?
Aiden: I...have a place in mind.
Lucy: Where?
Aiden: *A-ehem" Uhm...Lucy, can I speak with you alone?
Lucy: Sure.
He took her outside.
Aiden: I wanted to move you to my hometown, Sheates, but that's too far away and I don't want to use my brother he's probably asleep.
Lucy: So what do you want to do?
Aiden: R-Remember that place, I-I told you about for why I was late?
Lucy: Oh the brothel you used to get the info on here? ...with the girl you said was a vampire who sucked you off?
Aiden's POV
Why did that sound dirtier than it was supposed to?
Aiden: Yeah, that one, Uhm, I was thinking since not many people go there you guys could stay the night, I'll be certain you're safe, and then tomorrow after the exams you can move into Sheates.
Lucy: Is that all? You didn't need to bring me here to say that.
Lucy giggled.
Aiden: I still feel bad for what happened to you and also for not telling your sisters about what happened, I also have to keep it a secret at the same time for "her" sake, I don't know how to do both without offending the other.
Lucy touched Aiden's cheek.
Lucy: You've already done enough, don't put more burdens on your shoulders than you need to.
She smiled at him.
Aiden: Cute...and thanks.
They walked back inside.
Vesta: So? Where are we staying?
Aiden: I'll show you. But before that...
He went to clay and picked him up.
Lucy: Why are you taking him with you?
Aiden: He's my last loose end of the night. But never mind him let's go.
Manager: No one's leaving here without cleaning this mess up!!
Aiden and the sisters: Yes, Ma'am!
They cleaned up the bar before they left.
.
.
.
[During the walk]
Vesta: You've still not told us why you're carrying that bastard with you, let's just throw him in a river.
Aiden's POV
Dark!
Aiden: Hehe, Uhm, I have business with him and someone else, so I can't dump him in a river...yet.
Winry walked behind everyone she was staring at Aiden the whole time.
Winry, [Muttering]: Such a powerful magic aura, I wonder what he's truly capable of.
[20 minutes later]
Aiden: Here we are.
Alda: Where's here exactly? You just took us to another brothel.
Aiden: This place should be safer than that other place, so you guys should sleep here for the night and in the morning Lucy can tell you the rest. Hold on I'll go talk to the keeper.
He dropped clay next to horse dung and walked in with the girls.
Laura: You're back-
Aiden: Uh! *Cough!* I want you to help me look after them for tonight.
Laura smiled.
Laura: Has your stamina increased so much in one night that you can handle 4 girls at once, I'm so proud.
Aiden: Hehe, C'mon Laura, that's not why I'm here, I just need a room for them.
Laura: This isn't an inn, if you want one I own one not too far from here, I can think there are two rooms available will that be okay?
Aiden:Yes, it would, can you also add both clothes and breakfast?
Laura: Sure, I'll have one of my girls show them there now. Mara, can you come here for a second?
Aiden: Gah!
Laura: Any problem?
Aiden laughed nervously.
Aiden:Hehe, No...
Aiden's POV
Maybe this wasn't my brightest Idea.
Mara came out.
Alda: Hey, Mara, I didn't know you were here.
Mara: I'm just living with my aunt, Laura, what are you doing here?
Aiden's POV
God, please let my name not enter this conversation, I'll do anything!
Alda noticed Aiden praying.
Alda: We were just looking for a place to stay for the night, we saw Aiden and had him accompany us.
Mara: Aiden, huh...?
Aiden: Hehe...
Aiden's POV
I'm doomed.
Lucy: Can you show us where we're supposed to go?
Mara: Sure.
Laura: Mara, since you were on your way home why not use this chance to go with them, you might make new friends on the way.
Mara: You're embarrassing me, Aunt Laura.
Laura smiled.
Laura: You guys can wait outside, I want to talk to Aiden.
Aiden: Ehh? Me?
Laura: Yes, you.
The girls went outside.
Aiden: I'm grateful for you helping us.
Laura: I'm glad but keeping four girls is going to cost you.
Aiden: I never intended for any of this to be for free.
Aiden reached into his back pocket and brought out two small pouches.
Aiden: Here's 500 silver coins to take care of them and Mara too.
Laura: Isn't this too much? No, it's way too much, you can use a hundred to take care of yourself for months and still have some pennies left over.
Aiden: Really? I've never truly understood the money system here yet, but, I don't care about that, I just want them to have a good night's rest and not have to worry about food just for tonight.
Laura: You're 17, how can you still not understand how money works?
Aiden: Give me a quick rundown on how it works.
Laura: 1 Silver coin is equivalent to 100 bronze coins, 100 bronze coin can buy you vegetables, fruits, and some other things, which means a silver coin can do the same.
Aiden: Ohhh.
Laura: And you just gave me 500 silver coins which are equivalent to 50,000 bronze coins, that is far more than 4 people need for a night's stay.
Aiden: How much for a room at one of your inns?
Laura: For a night that should be one silver.
Aiden: For food?
Laura: Depends on what they're eating or want to eat, but it can't be over 10 silver coins just for a night and breakfast.
Aiden: Ooh and I just overpaid, huh? Hehe, well then looks like I'll need 100 coins back then.
Laura: Weren't you listening to me?
Aiden: I was but I might come back later sometime so to be sure that I have a place here.
Laura: Hmm...Aiden brightfil, you truly are a one-of-a-kind boy.
Aiden: "Boy"? You don't look that much older than me, Miss white snake.
Laura: Would you like to put a bet on how old I am?
Aiden: Two hundred coins says you're 21.
Laura: And you're wrong!
Aiden: Eh? How old are you then?
Laura: Women can't reveal their ages so easily. But...
She whispers her age into Aiden's ear.
Aiden: Wow! You're older than you look.
Aww, I just lost 200 coins, heh, whatever, I found a way to dump the money on you anyway,
She smiled.
Aiden: My mind's starting to slip I'm leaving, bye, Laura.
Laura: Bye, Aiden.
Aiden was about leaving.
Laura: Oh, wait can I bother you one last time?
Aiden: Sure, what is it?
Laura: Could you walk the girls to the inn? It's not far.
Aiden: They'll be alright alone, won't they?
Laura: I would have thought so too but there's a lot of drunken men out tonight, I wouldn't feel safe letting them walk by themselves.
Aiden: Ohh... I'll walk them then.
Aiden went outside, he saw the girls rubbing cow dung on Clay.
Aiden: Eww, stop that I'm carrying him, I wouldn't want to smell like that.
Vesta: Kicking him wasn't enough and you said we shouldn't harm him too much, so I rubbed poop on his face.
She kept splattering it with a stick.
Vesta: See, harmless.
Aiden: *Sigh* Alda could you wash him up?
Alda: Oops, outta magic, looks like you've got to carry him like that. Hehe.
Aiden's POV
She used my laughing thing against me and it was... kinda cute.
Aiden: Then I'll just leave him here until I walk you guys home.
Mara: You're coming with us?
Aiden: It's on a request from Laura so I have to honor it.
Mara: No objections then.
.
.
.
They arrived at the inn.
Aiden's POV
Here's pretty big...or so I think since I've never been to an inn before.
Mara: This should be far enough, Aiden, thank you.
Aiden: You're welcome.
Aiden smiled.
The girls went inside.
Aiden: Today has been crazy but finally after this one last thing I'll be free.
Aiden turned around to leave when he suddenly felt someone hugging him from behind.
Aiden: Hm? Alda? What are you doing?
She hugged him tight not letting go.
Aiden: Not that I mind but still, what are you doing?
Alda: I'm sorry for the things I said back then, I really appreciate you helping my sister... Please...forgive me.
Aiden: I wasn't mad or anything, you don't have to apologize, it was the heat of the moment. (literally)
Alda: ...
Aiden: Uh...so why are you still hugging me?
Alda: You gave my sisters something but you didn't give me any, so I decided to take your scent with me as my "thing".
Aiden's POV
She's...
Aiden: Heh, you can at least hug me from the front, though.
Alda: I'd be too embarrassed...can you stop talking for a little I want to remember this later.
She snuggled him.
A few minutes later Aiden left.
Alda: See you later brightfil.
.
.
.
.
.
Aiden arrived back where he left Clay.
Aiden: He smells like crap.
*Sniff-Sniff* Nope I ain't carrying him on my back, I'll just, uh... Oh, I've got it.
Aiden carried him like a suitcase.
Aiden: Off we go, Clay!
Clay: Go...where?
Aiden: You're awake? You'll see once we get there.
Aiden ran out of the Winglet district so fast that the people he passed felt a strong breeze, but they didn't see him, he ran past the market place generating even greater winds but it didn't destroy the marketplace, he slowed down his speed in order avoid a sonic boom, then after 10 seconds or so he finally reaches the shops near his school.
He made an abrupt stop, then a strong wind blew in.
Aiden: Aww, this is why I hate running too fast in crowded areas.
Clay: Blech!!
He vomited.
Aiden: Gross, why would you do that?!
Clay: What human moves that fast?!!
Aiden: Hmm... never mind then.
Clay: Oof.
He dropped Clay on the ground and undid his bind.
Aiden: From here you're walking with me.
Clay: And if I run away?
Aiden: You think you'd get far?
Clay: Tch! Guess not, lead the way, bastard.
Aiden: As you wish, retard.
They walked up to a shop and found it closed.
Aiden: Hmm... she's not here.
Aiden's POV
Oh, crap she said she was closing, who knows how long she would have left, I didn't even get her address!
Clay: Who's not here?
Aiden: You're wif-
Ellie: Honey, is that you?
Ellie appeared behind them she ran towards Clay.
Aiden: So she WAS yours.
Ellie: Aiden, you brought him back?
Aiden: Hehe, just wanted to confirm something, since he said his name was Manchester.
Ellie: We met earlier today but he said he just wanted to see me then left.
Aiden's POV :
Did she buy that? Love is blind I guess?
Wait...
Aiden: Earlier today? Before or after those Nobels threatened you?
Ellie: After.
Aiden's POV
This bastard spoke like it's been years since he last saw her.
So those scars on her hands were from him?!
Wow, I'm tolerant of a lot of things but Clay pisses me off to no end.
Ellie: Darling, why are you injured so badly and covered in feces? Was the fight that difficult?
She touched Clay's face.
Clay: Don't touch me, you swine!
Aiden: He's right, your hands shouldn't touch garbage like him.
Ellie: Huh? What's going on? Honey, is everything alright?
Aiden: This "honey" of yours isn't who you think he is, He isn't a soldier fighting for peace or a loyal guy, he's just a horny assassin who likes to get down and dirty with younger girls.
Clay's POV
Why's this kid trying to convince her otherwise? Haha, don't tell me she's the reason he kept me alive. I'll exploit her idiocy.
Ellie: I-I don't understand.
Aiden: He's a cheater, he HUGE one, and he makes his pay by killing others, say the word now and I'll put him where he belongs.
Clay walked up to her and knelt.
Clay: I'm sorry dear, he's right, I'm nothing more than scum, I've cheated on you, but please find it in your heart to forgive me.
Aiden: The hell...?!
Ellie: Uh...
Clay: if you take me back, I promise I'll be a better person.
Clay hugged her legs.
Aiden: You...!
Aiden grabbed Clay and threw him into a mud puddle.
Aiden: I don't know what you're up to...but don't play on an innocent girl's sympathy!
Clay: He's right, this is where I belong, in the mud, I'll never be able to live up to being the husband of a woman who deserves more.
Tears started to fill Ellie's eyes Aiden caught sight of it and went to Clay.
Aiden: What the hell are you doing?!
He held Clay by the collar.
Clay: I'm only trying to atone with my wife, if she doesn't forgive me I'll jump into a million mudholes just for her to forgive me.
Aiden: Bastard...
Ellie pushed Aiden away from Clay.
Ellie: Don't harm my husband!
Aiden's POV
Aww crap!
Aiden: What do you mean don't harm him, he's been hurting you.
Ellie: Why should you care, you're not part of our family, stay out of it!
Aiden: I...
Ellie's lips were quivering.
Aiden: Heh, fine, fine, I'll stay out of it, but can I heal you both before I go?
Clay: Fire magic users can't heal, don't listen to him Eri, he's lying.
Aiden's POV
He didn't even say her name right?
Aiden: Oh, but I can. Ellie, can you stretch out your hands?
Ellie hesitantly stretched them out.
Aiden: Phoenix flames of recovery.
A small flame healed her scars.
Ellie: It's...better again, thank you. C-can you do my husband?
Aiden smirked
Aiden: Don't mind if I do. But can you stand away from him, healing on a healthy person isn't good?
Ellie: Oh, okay, but please be gentle.
Aiden's POV
No promises.
Aiden: Phoenix flames of (painful) recovery.
Clay:Wait I think I heard something that wasn't part of the spell!
Clay was set ablaze but he muffled his screaming.
Aiden walked up to him and whispered:
Aiden: Scream and I'll make it even hotter.
Ellie: Wow, his injuries are fading.
Clay: The fact is: you can't do more than this, Heh, you made the worse choice by sympathizing with that bimbo.
Aiden's spell was over, he recovered Clay's stamina but didn't his magic.
Ellie: Thank you so much, and I'm sorry for yelling at you, I'll make it up to you with some juice.
Aiden: Hehe, maybe tomorrow.
Ellie went to Clay and put his shoulder over her so she could carry him home.
Clay was fondling her chest in front of Aiden.
Ellie: Hey, stop outside, hold it in till we get in.
Clay: That's what I like to hear, Ele. Bye, Aiden.
Aiden walked pasted the couple but said words that sent chills down Clay's spine.
What did he say?
Aiden to Clay: Do one wrong thing to her, just one and I swear, hell'll be the coldest thing you'll feel after I'm done with you.
Clay took his hand off her chest.
Aiden wasn't anywhere to be seen again.
POV Aiden.
I've been through a lot today, I'm tired, if this is just day one, how will the others be?
I can't keep this up forever, please let there be a fan service scene or something or a regular slice of life even, God.
Aiden ran back home and arrived in an hour.
Aiden: Home sweet home, I had to run back here so fast, hehe, I made a 2 months trip in an hour, Screw my brother, I'm the real GOAT!
Aiden: I'd better be careful, who knows who is awake by this time if anybody sees me and reports me I'm dead.
*BOOM!*
There was a sonic boom caused by how fast Aiden ran.
Aiden: Crap!
He ran behind his house and saw the villages running outside.
Aiden: Hehe, maybe I shouldn't run that fast for a while, but good news I can enter my house with no problem.
Aiden ran into his house and passed out on the couch.
Aiden's POV
Heh, if I can just get enough sleep now, today will end with wins for me...and one loss, I'm sooo not looking foward to morning.
He slept.