"Fine, Harrison. I'll let it slide this time. Just remember that you're fortunate I'm such a forgiving person," Braxis said, his eyes rolling in feigned exasperation.
Harrison breathed a quiet sigh of relief. He never meant to upset Braxis, and he was grateful his friend was not being too stubborn.
'I can't risk killing Harrison now. If Fox arrives and senses something amiss, he might attack,' Braxis pondered while they continued their journey. The silence between them was as heavy as a blanket of fog, with Harrison sensing that Braxis was not up for idle chatter.
"Ah! Just what I was looking for!" A raspy, distant voice echoed through the landscape.
"Who's there?" Harrison called out, his caution simmering beneath his words.
"Oh, I'm just an elderly merchant! I had something taken from me and I require assistance in retrieving it!" a hunchbacked, ancient-looking merchant explained as he hobbled into view, stopping before the duo.
'How ridiculous to see such a serious and dangerous man act like this, he's truly dedicated as an assassin undercover' Braxis thought, stifling an inner chuckle at the absurdity of the situation.
"You're a merchant? Then where are your goods? Hidden in that hunchback of yours?" Harrison inquired, his suspicions aroused by the sudden appearance of this odd stranger.
"Well, I had to leave them behind to seek help. And it seems I've found it!" Fox replied confidently, his voice beginning to morph.
"So you abandoned your merchandise, without protection, to find aid?" Harrison questioned, his hand tightening around the hilt of his sword.
"I wouldn't dream of leaving my goods unguarded, you...young one," Fox retorted, holding onto his patience by a thread.
Braxis knew he wasn't prepared to face Fox just yet and needed to prevent Harrison from provoking him further.
"Harrison! Traveling merchants like this one are a common sight in these parts! How could you not be aware of that? Why are you treating this unfortunate, elderly man with such disrespect?" Braxis scolded, feigning anger.
"Really? I wasn't aware that these kinds of merchants frequented this area," Harrison replied, confusion written on his face.
"Ah, it appears your friend is smarter than he initially seemed," Fox remarked, a sly grin on his lips. Inside, he couldn't help but feel let down by Braxis's intellect.
Fox's Impression (Tenzent's Primary Assassin): -3
Fox Impression Progress: -13/300
'Damn it, why did that lower my impression points? This dimwitted fucker,' Braxis fumed internally, his fists clenched to control his anger.
"How may we help you, elder?" Braxis asked, quickly regaining his composure and bowing respectfully.
Seeing Braxis's gesture, Harrison followed suit.
Harrison's Impression: +2
Harrison Impression Progress: 104/300
'I've never witnessed Braxis behaving so courteously! I had planned to interrogate this old-timer further, but perhaps I should embrace this change in Braxis and admit that I might have been a tad impolite,' Harrison mused, a grin stretching from ear to ear.
"Oh my, please don't bow to someone as undeserving as myself!" Fox protested, waving his arms in a slow, deliberate manner, trying to dissuade the two.
'I can't fathom the level of stupidity these youngsters possess! Lord Gravis warned me to be cautious around Braxis, but that seems entirely unnecessary now, especially considering I'm using my worst disguise,' Fox lamented internally.
Fox's Impression (Tenzent's Primary Assassin): -7
Fox Impression Progress: -20/300
'Does this guy ever have anything positive to think about me?' Braxis seethed, grinding his teeth.
"We'd be honored to assist you, venerable merchant," Braxis declared, his voice dripping with feigned enthusiasm.
"Braxis, I'm truly proud of you for showing such respect to an elder!" Harrison whispered, his eyes shining with genuine happiness. For a brief moment, Braxis could have sworn he saw a spark of life return to Harrison's gaze.
Harrison's Impression: +6
Harrison Impression Progress: 110/300
"Congratulations! You've made a lasting impression on Harrison—the vampiric one! His loyalty to you will now be unwavering, within reason, of course."
'This buffoon...' Braxis couldn't help but feel let down by Harrison as he observed the pride shining brightly on his friend's face.
"Bless my stars, how lucky I am to have stumbled upon two capable young souls like you! And as an extra reward, I shall help your friend here with his troubling essence!" Fox exclaimed, as if he had just struck gold.
Harrison's eyes widened with suspicion and surprise. 'How does he know about my essence being drained? Is it that glaringly obvious?' His suspicions quickly turned into insecurity as he felt his sunken eyes become even more hollow, like caverns in the depths of the earth.
'It's not like I asked for my essence to be drained... My eyes used to be mesmerizing!' Harrison lamented, wishing he could shed tears.
With downcast eyes, he avoided the gazes of both Braxis and the peculiar old man.
"Come on, Harrison. Stay focused. We need to help this elderly gentleman, no matter what," Braxis urged, patting his friend on the back.
Harrison hesitantly looked up and met Braxis's gaze. "Braxis... Are my imperfections really that blatant?" He whispered, his voice heavy with shame.
'... What the hell is he talking about? Essence?' Braxis thought, his annoyance simmering.
"Harrison, this isn't the time for this. But if you must know, you've always been an ugly fuck, even as a child. Just accept it and move on. Face reality," Braxis whispered back, unable to contain his anger any longer.
'What the hell is going on with these two?' Fox wondered, dumbfounded by the bizarre exchange. With his heightened senses, he had no trouble overhearing their conversation.
Fox's Impression (Tenzent's Primary Assassin): -10
Fox Impression Progress: -30/300
"A monstrous creature took it! Come, I'll show you—it was just around here!" Fox declared, leading the way. Braxis followed attentively, his eyes fixed on their enigmatic guide.
Harrison, on the other hand, was emotionally shattered. He struggled to suppress a shudder that threatened to overtake him in response to the harsh revelation.
'Damn it, I'm 'fucking ugly'. Why did no one tell me until now? I can't believe it took a real friend like Braxis to finally break the news,' Harrison brooded, his feet dragging as he continued forward, his gaze still locked on the ground.