"Who?" The girl in robes woke up- ready to blast the intruder- but calmed down a second later- "It's you…" Glare still intact- "What are you doing here?"
Unlike the other two- this was actually, a room.
Not just a hole-
"Just wandering-"
The size was that of a typical room and it even had lighting in the form of a lamp.
No beds though.
"How did you get out?"
"My skill-" Flint paused, taking a seat. "You live here?"
"No- just a temporary place I sometimes hang…"
"Really? Then that toilet? You use that?" Flint for some reason ended up asking it. apparently, it was really bothering him-
"What toilet? There's no toilet-" She paused. "You mean that slimy pit? That's been there for longer than we've lived combined. Never had the need to use that."
Slightly awkward- "I see…"
"If you're in severe need of relieving yourself, you could use mine- over there-"
She pointed-
And Flint saw another door-
Just from the outside, he could tell- it was definitely cleaner. 'Yeah- that's how clean a woman's toilet should be-'
Apparently, he had high standards for women's hygiene…
But yeah- "No, I've used the other one…"
"That pit-" Slightly uncomfortable. "Why are you here? hungry?"
Her previous attitude was nowhere to be seen.
Far, far calmer.
"No- and that's the first thing you think about? After you threatened me like that?"
Flint took out a chair and sat down.
"Yes, I did. If something happens to you, I can kiss my credits goodbye, so I wouldn't dare. But at the same time, if I don't force you, you'll end up doing something reckless and screwing both of us over. I'm not sure why the heroes haven't followed us here, but it's suffice to say- they'll find us eventually."
Flint parsed his lips- unable to form an answer… "Sorry-" So instead he apologized.
"For what?"
"Everything."
"A thank you would have been better. But- they destroyed your village?"
"Yes, but I'm not sure-"
"You attacked them without being sure? Are you dumb? Or just a battle maniac?" Her flat tone hurt more than Flint thought it would.
"Neither- at least I used to believe that. But- I guess I might be a bit dumb."
"Just a bit?"
"Okay, maybe a lot-" Flint snorted. "Thank you- you saved my life. But- I can't stay here. I have to kill trolls, turn them in and become an apprentice."
"Do you not understand speech, or should I clobber your face till you bleed through your ears?" Voice steady- eyes- stabbing-
"I do get you-" Flint stared at her eyes- he didn't bother blinking. "I totally do but I need to do this. Feel free to accompany me- or protect me if you will." A breath. "Or try to stop me if you can."
"They might still be there- they might kill you!" Mari jumped out- glaring down.
"If they wanted to kill me- I'd be dead. As much as that annoys the hell out of me- it's true- they're too powerful. But- I want to kill them- I want to be able to kill those motherfuckers and be done with this damn burning in my chest!" Voice raised, glaring.
He didn't want to-
He didn't want to yell-
Yet-
The words-
Just came out.
"You can't possibly win-"
"I know but that's why I struggle-"
"You'll only destroy your life-"
"I know- but even so I must go on."
Flint had heard those words before.
From Anne.
But- he'd already made up his mind.
Still steady- "You won't die a peaceful death-"
"I know but it's my choice." All pores raising up to say hello- goosebumps. "It's my choice." Yet- his lips just curled upward.
Tch- "You damn fucking idiot!" She yelled. "What is wrong with you! There's so much in life to live for! If you want to die that fucking bad- go fucking die!" She pointed at the door- furious.
"I will- but- I don't want to die-" Flint smiled- standing up- "Thanks again."
And with a nod- he left.
He just left.
Leaving the lone girl in robes- just standing there.
Grimacing-
Slam!
She slammed her hands down-
Not a word-
Nothing-
She just stayed there-
And eventually-
Cushioned her head down on the table with her arms- "Fucking idiots… men."
***
It took some walking and lots of turning but Flint eventually reached the end.
The end of the tunnel-
He was greeted with foliage and the faint smell of decaying wood and wildlife.
From the outside, the tunnel was just a typical cave entrance.
'I'm out.'
But what now?
He was injured.
He was vastly underpowered.
The city was quite a few kilos away-
And if he just went back to the academy, surely, they'd stop him.
So-
He only had one option left.
'I really hope, it's anyone but her…'
The city was maybe an hour or so away but Flint already had his mind set on one particular destination.
The guild.
It was time to get a license.