Phoebe looks out of the window down at Aki. Her cloak billowed behind her as she strode out of lord's manor, her gait filled with conviction and not an ounce of hesitation.
In Phoebe's eyes, watching from above in the safety of the manor overlooking the city, that little acolyte was an impressive sight.
She grips the windowsill and clenches her teeth.
"Why… Why do I feel better that I was told to stay behind?"
Beside her, Winter puts a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to provide comfort.
"I don't blame you. Knowing for sure this world is actually real shook me too." Winter tells her. "Not that I didn't suspect from the beginning since I died before coming here but… seeing a status screen and so many things being exactly like a game from my world… well."
A sapien manservant and a young ork maid walking around the corner draw the pair's attention. They speak hurriedly and Phoebe hears something in regards to Viscount Estril's condition.
"Wait, excuse me!" Phoebe stumbles over herself as she tears away from the balcony. "How is the viscount? Is he doing okay?"
The two look between each other then respond.
"Yes, miss. Our master has been stabilised thanks to all of your quick work. For that we are grateful." Speaks the manservant.
"We were on our way to deliver some fresh sheets. Why don't you join us to see for yourself?" Adds the ork maid.
Phoebe and Winter follow the two servants deeper into the halls and past several defensive barriers reinforced by guards on both sides of the magic.
Finally, they reach a large, sparsely decorated room though it is no less fine than any of the other rooms in the manor. The four-poster bed is fenced off by a shin-height wooden barrier. Several men and women dressed in white and reds move in and out of an opening in the fence.
The pair of otherworlders are guided through the opening and the healing mages clear some space for Phoebe and Winter to see the viscount.
Lying there on the bed, he looks just like any other sick person. Rather, it reminds Phoebe of a hospital room. A particularly high class hospital but a hospital nonetheless. If only it weren't for the RPG-like interface that remains permanently on the edges of her vision.
He grumbles and opens his eyes for a moment. He smiles briefly and utters thanks before closing his eyes, looking a little more relaxed than before.
"Not an NPC. He's not an NPC. None of them are."
Phoebe raises a hand to her forehead in distress and takes her leave. Outside, she overhears a pair of gossiping maids talking about Aki. Curious and wanting to take her mind off her worries, she leans against the wall and perks her ears to listen.
"- that acolyte. What with a munian to 'andle that swarm. If only they hadn't sent sucha small one, the city'd not lost so many people." scoffs the vibrash maid and adjusts the bundle she carries.
"Hush up! I agree but what if someone overhears? Besides, you can't expect a nalv to understand such things, acolyte or not." the other maid, a mycel woman - a fungi creature that looks like some sort of inky black mushroom - responds.
Phoebe steps out and questions the two.
Her sudden appearance and question makes the pair of maids jump and nearly drop what they're carrying.
"Pardon me, ma'am. I meant no offences." says the vibrash maid.
"Sure, alright. But what's a nalv?"
Winter nudges her and gives a warning look. Phoebe shrugs, at this point their otherworlder nature is bound to have circulated to some degree.
The maids give her a weird look but answer regardless.
"It's a half-breed, ma'am. Betwixt an eltan and something else. Bad luck they is." The vibrash maid speaks with a nodding agreement from the mycel maid.
Phoebe urges them to continue.
"Well eltan's are old ones, aren't they? Live near a 1000 years, naturally. Or so the tales say." the maid begins. "Could you imagine? You think they're your age, rights about 200, and they're telling you they're 700? That's two whole Storms they've lived through. Pardon my saying so but nalvs are born from a crime. Morally and legally perverse, see? Eltan's ain't supposed to be making babies 'cept with other eltans anyway. S'law."
"Not everywhere, mind. But I think it should be." chimes the other maid.
"O-oh." Phoebe nods and steps back, allowing them to pass. "So she's like that too."
She recalls her baby sister - her half-sister to be precise - and smiles sadly. When Silver Sword first met Aki, she remembers thinking what an adorable NPC Aki was and how glad she felt that her party had run into the acolyte girl.
Her smile falters, feeling disgusted with herself for ever considering Aki an NPC. At the same time however, it wasn't simply that. Paler and blonder certainly, but Aki reminded Phoebe of her sister. Both were rather bold and surprisingly determined in difficult scenarios. Even their circumstances of being mixed race were similar.
Although, perhaps that is what made Phoebe feel instantly attached.
Winter adjusts his clothes, chest guard, and stretches his arms and looks out of a nearby window looking out into the city.
"Sorry, but I can't stay here like Aki wants. I have to get out there. I have to really meet Kokone." Winter balls his fist with a determined look.
"What?!" Phoebe turns in surprise at such a reckless statement. She grabs Winter by the shoulder and shakes him. "Don't be stupid, Winter. If you die, that's really it! Or do you think you'll somehow get reincarnated a second time?"
Phoebe frowns, unable to understand Winter's desire.
"The people here - Aki - they're from this world. They never had any problems accepting reality because this IS their reality. But us? We're from worlds without monsters. Without war!"
She stumbles from the sudden shockwave out in the city. Looking out, she sees more flames erupt and a tower by the port collapses while other buildings nearby break apart.