We were walking along the road after a successfully completed task.
I and the lady have to return to the adventurers guild of our hometown.
The weather was fine, and horned rabbits were running around on the green grass. This world is beautiful!
To tell the truth, this place does not belong to me, or to be more precise, I was reborn in this world as the protector of my mistress, in the world of the old otome game.
My goal is to save the life of my mistress, because I know what will happen in trouble, or rather that the mistress is in danger at every step and around every corner. And my goal is to bring her to the main villain of this world! Do not think, I was not fond of such dating simulators… I just had nothing to do and came across…
But this is not about that! At this moment, our path is more important to me, which, to be honest, is not close and, frankly, it will be incredibly long on foot…
But after a while, fortunately for us, we saw a cart in the distance, and hoping that it was in our direction, we talked to the driver, paid the fare, and then climbed inside…
There was a man sitting inside. He was wearing a snow-white mask that looked like it was made of gloss, on which there was an image of a dark gray snake, he himself wore a very dark cloak with a bunch of ornate patterns on his shoulders. They were light gray in color and depicted strange creatures somewhat resembling snakes, with open mouths that seemed to hang from his shoulders. The man had several bags and cases of different sizes, apparently designed for careful storage of the contents.
He looked quite... menacing, looking at him it was impossible to even understand what kind of race he was, because there was not a piece of his skin visible anywhere, gloves were on his hands, and in all other places belts and cloth were wrapped. The head is covered with a hood, and the mask covered most of the head because of the shadow, it is not even possible to understand the color of his pupils. It's like just an empty space inside a hollow puppet that can be seen through the gaps, only some kind of inhuman predatory gleam in the eyes.
The man stared intently at the unusual flame in his hand. The fire played and shimmered in the light, constantly changing its color. Then black, then purple, sometimes there were light shades of red or light green in the flame. And in direct sunlight, it was slightly transparent. A fascinating sight. I wonder if he's studying it, and why?
The observer turned his gaze blankly to us, as if allowing us to speak.
Initially, I had no desire to communicate, but since we are given such a sign, it will not work to remain silent, or rather it will be completely tactless.
Me: -Greetings, my name is – I fully introduced myself and told the name of my mistress, when I spoke his narrow pupils, which I could barely see, did not move a millimeter, it was creepy…
Me: - I am a swordsman, and she is a magician. We are wandering adventurers. Aren't you also a magician or an alchemist?
Fellow traveler: - Of course you guessed, but why did you think about these classes right away, because I look like a necromancer, and don't deny it, I know what I look like.
It looks like he noticed that we were staring at him, it turned out very uncomfortable. I hope this will not affect the dialogue. Although I have not seen such a character in the game. So he's unimportant for the plot? But he's too remarkable…
Even assuming the person answered ambiguously. With such an answer, he can be at least an enemy, at least a friend. An alchemist, a magician, or even a real necromancer, it's bad…
In the game, they were dangerous opponents who were supposed to appear around the middle of the plot.
You still have to answer, but you need to somehow not annoy him even more. I don't think we can win if he's an aggressive mob.
Me: - um ... hah ... good joke ..., yes, you look like both a magician and an alchemist, because you wear a mantle and mask, they are often worn by magicians, although they are not like that. And on your belt you have a bag with flasks and all sorts of ingredients.
Please be an alchemist!
Mistress: - Yes, I also recognized the case on your belt, isn't it for making potions?
She seemed to sense the atmosphere of the conversation and my excitement. But I hope that she, and including me, will not get hurt.
Fellow traveler: - Hah, of course you guessed everything, you are very attentive. But, what if I were a terrible necromancer? You would have died here, and your pieces would have been used in my medicines!
Maybe he's some kind of training character who should teach the lady to be afraid of necromancers? After all, nothing in history was accurately written about the first meeting with the necromancer. But later they will come in whole groups…
There was a certain pride in his tone, but now I know for sure, he is an alchemist. But if we take into account the previous, then he owns magic.
My mistress decided, accordingly, to answer without a share of pride or overestimation.
Mistress: - Stop joking with us, if you were a necromancer, you wouldn't be sitting here. After all, the church is hunting for necromancers, and you can't just meet them on the street.
Instead of an answer, we received only a dumb, unblinking look.
Well, there is some truth in this, but during their attacks, the church will be of zero use…
Me: - And you wouldn't be able to kill us, you're a simple alchemist with magical abilities.
Surely a strong opponent could not have appeared at the very beginning?!
I realized that I could completely relax and be more proud than before.
But what followed told me the opposite.
The interlocutor's pupils narrowed, he looked at us with a look like he was slowly sticking needles into us. Seeing us only as a victim. Then, surprisingly smoothly, he took off the bag and said:
Fellow traveler: - Some alchemists are scarier than any necromancer. But all I can say about you is that people like you don't live long.
An unnatural shiver ran through the lady and me. A terrifying aura emanated from the man, and it was reinforced by an undisguised thirst for murder.
The lady in horror imperceptibly and instinctively grabbed my hand, while with the other hand I pulled out my knife.
But the interlocutor did not even move from his place, although his eyes showed that we were insignificant in his concept.
Me: - I will protect my dear mistress. If you attack, I will show all the strength of the lady's personal guards and my righteous anger!
I began to get nervous, saying what one of the heroes of the game should say at such moments.
Fellow traveler: - I don't attack first, but you can try…
He opens his cloak slightly and round flasks filled with a strange liquid and thick gas appear before our eyes. Some of them are not made of glass at all, but one thing is clear - it was poison, and it looks like a perfect person is not afraid of it, maybe he has a high resistance…
But it doesn't matter!
I folded my knife as quickly as possible so as not to cause him even more anger towards us.
After that, the dangerous man, in a completely calm tone, as if his aggression did not exist, said:
Fellow traveler: - Calm down, I'm not one of those who just attack their fellow travelers - he took three vials out of the bag. There was an almost scarlet liquid in them. He handed two to the lady and me, and he calmly started drinking one himself.
Fellow traveler: – I'm treating you, I hope you like the taste.
We quietly accepted the flasks with a drink, nodding slightly.
Fortunately, the liquid itself turned out to be tea. It enveloped the throat with its honey-berry flavor, and the aftertaste was as bitter as our new acquaintance…
Sipping tea, we were silent, we did not want to disturb our fellow traveler…