Chapter 4
A New Job...…Probably
The cobblestone echoed as I drudged my feet across the streets of Erith. The capital was essentially a city that was always busy during the day and nearly vacant during the night. The night clouds cascaded over the moon.
By the time I reached my house it was already late at night. When I opened the door the scent of meat stew invaded my nostrils.
"I'm home." I announced.
At my arrival, my sister waved her hand from beyond the dining room door.
"Welcome back."
"Thanks. Is mom home yet?"
"She should be back soon."
Weird.
Weekend days were days where she was expected to come home early. For her to not be here this late at night was strange. Though I came back late too so I had no room to judge.
"What's for dindins?"
Lucy furrowed her brows. "Spaghetti and meat stew."
"Another one of your experiments?"
"I prefer the term 'Culinary Exploration'."
"And I prefer eating normal food"
Cooking was Lucy and my mom's domain, and I had little to no right to trespass on their territory. I simply didn't have the experience.
"How was your day?" she asked while walking out of the dining room.
"Long, exhausting and taxing."
And that was just the short version. True I had brought most of it on myself but the consequences that followed my actions were a bit much. Too much in fact.
"I bet. After all you left without having lunch."
Lucy grabbed three dishes from the cupboard for herself, our mother and me. She set the dishes on the table, dished up and finally sat down like a child waiting for story time.
"Wow, you're an open book."
She snickered. "Just tell me already."
Just like that I broke into a long winded speech about how I bravely-…
You mean arrogantly.
Let me narrate in peace!
Anyway, I bravely snuck into the royal palace to investigate a certain someone, got busted shortly after, fought the knights' commander, was soundly defeated and forced to be under the employ of a heartless she-beast. By the time I was done Lucy's face had turned completely colourless.
"Shocking isn't it?"
"How could you be so calm about this!? You broke the law! Several laws in fact."
I mean, I was shocked at the start but now...
"All the adrenaline is gone."
"You'll get plenty of adrenaline when they take you to prison!"
"I'm not going to prison."
Lucy's dumbfounded face let a "huh" sound escape her lips. She then started sweating bullets while biting her fingernails.
"Don't tell me you plan to leave the country." She said trembling.
"That's not what I meant! What I meant was, the commander saw potential in me so she asked me to join the Knight Order."
"Oh….. I see. Are you going to join?"
What choice do I have?
"Yup." I said reluctantly. "Well I'm exhausted so I'm gonna get some sleep now."
My mind-
Leave me out of this.
Fine. My body and soul were begging for a little RnR after the long day I had. I finished my meal quietly then dragged myself to bed after finishing. When I tossed myself on the bed I could hear the front door opening.
"I'm back kids." Echoed a female voice from the doorway.
I immediately assumed it was my mother, Marianne Connor. She's a nun working for the Saint Christian Church. I myself have never been to the church (and I doubt I ever will) which was a strange aspect of myself considering I'm the son of a nun. Not biologically but still.
I snuggled closer to my pillow, letting the sweet fragrance permeate my exhausted mi-…ugh, soul.
"Hi Lucy. Is Eden home?"
A second voice greeted after Mary, a female one at that. I felt my body jolt at the thought of who it might be. All signs pointed at the she-beast but I quickly dismissed the idea. Despite her faults, Ginevra is a somewhat honourable woman, her pulling a stunt like this was unlikely.
I jumped off the bed and snuck towards the bedroom door to take a peek at who the invader was. A shade of fluttering pink was the first thing I saw. That was the last piece I needed to solve the puzzle of the mysterious intruder. Without even looking at her face I could already tell, it was Reiya.
Well hello beautiful!
No seriously, w-what are you?
Right now, I'm in awe.
Maybe, just maybe, I'm starting to lose touch with reality. No that's stupid. I burst through the door with great vigour, completely energised by the sight of my goddess.
"Well hello there Reiya! I heard you're looking for me."
Technically true since I did hear her ask my sister about my location.
"Oh you are here after all."
"I am where ever you need me to be!"
"Okay....."
Whatever tone I was trying to set quickly dissipated letting the room take a turn for the awkward. My mom quickly sensed this shift and started making random conversation. "I see you're full of energy."
"Yeah I thought you were going to bed." Added Lucy.
"I changed my mind."
"I wonder why." Lucy said sarcastically. "Anyhow, Reiya you said you wanted to talk to Eden about something?"
Realising that the conversation had shifted to her, Reiya quickly straightened herself before speaking. "I have some news from Mr Luck. He said we're closing shop till further notice."
"Huh!?"
"He told me just a little while ago."
"Why?"
"He didn't specify but I'm assuming it has something to do with the potions that we've added to our stock lately."
I immediately thought of Kai. According to the knights that were idly chatting away, Kai was in charge of investigating the stores all over the capital.
"Is Kai involved somehow?"
Reiya heaved a deep exasperated sigh. "No. And even if he was involved it would only be because his job demands it."
True, but if I became a knight-…oh….right. Wait this is a good thing!
It is!?
Yeah with the shop closed I don't have to worry about losing my job while working with that she-beast. That's Eden; 1 and Fate; 0.
A slight laugh made it's way through my mouth.
"You're awfully happy about this."
"Well it's not like the shop closed down completely. It's just taking a well deserved hiatus. Gives me the chance to relax for a bit."
"I still think you're to bit too enthusiastic about this but I suppose you have a good point. That was all I wanted to say so I'll be going home now."
With that, Reiya turned her heel to the door. It was only after she walked out of the door that I realised that I had been provided with a golden opportunity here.
"I'll be right back." I said while making a beeline for the door.
Fortunately Reiya hadn't gotten that far from our house, I could see her immediately after walking out the front door. I chased after her and stopped short a few paces behind her.
"Hmm? Eden? Was there something else you needed?"
"Well I just thought it'd be uncouth of me to leave a fine young lady such as yourself to wonder these streets alone."
"Where did you learn to say such things?"
Honestly I have no idea.
He's just copying Kai. I guess being a gentleman does count as an ability of sorts.
No seriously, what are you?
Your conscience.
Out the window you go then.
I scratched the back of my head nervously. "Honestly I learned most of it from my mother."
"You have a good mom then."
"She's alright I guess. Shall we?"
As we walked down the street a cool breeze blew in our direction letting Reiya's hair flutter under the moonlight. My mind went completely blank as I stared at her, wondering just what was it about her that made me feel like this whenever I saw her.
But if Kai was any indication it's most likely that I'm not the only one who feels this way about Reiya, nor should I be. I cannot emphasize enough in just how drop dead gorgeous she was. An ignorant man would automatically assume she's a noble. I guess she technically is considering her background.
Why not ask her about it?
Brilliant idea. A topic of conversation.
"You know I've always wondered what it's like. The tribal territory I mean."
"You've never been?"
"Not really....."
"That's unexpected." I could see a slight sparkle coming from Reiya's eyes.
"Is it really that surprising?"
"I guess not."
"Would you mind taking me there someday?"
"I'll think about it."
I could be reading too much into things but I really wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, Reiya was teasing me intentionally.
"Was that a serious consideration or are you just poking fun at me?"
"A little bit of both."
How very prudent of her. "This is a surprise. I never thought that the Reiya Watterson was the type of woman who'd poke fun at her co-workers."
Reiya and I shared a hearty laugh for a good while, then suddenly I felt the atmosphere change. A deafening silence was maintained between the two of us as we continued walking. It was neither suffocating or awkward, rather it was a welcomed silence.
I felt my cheeks twitch, if I had a mirror on me I was sure I'd see them turn pink.
"We're here. Thanks for walking me."
I looked up to see a large three or so storey building. Judging from the exterior alone I guessed it was an expensive inn. While I was day dreaming we had finally arrived at Reiya's residence.
"Dang it."
"Pardon?"
"Oh it's nothing. I was just amazed at how fancy this place looks."
"Is it?"
"It is. I hope to own a place similar to this one day."
Pfft, like that'll ever happen.
Who knows, it might. I mean you're still young so who knows what life has in store for you.
Are you actually sharing words of encouragement right now!?
I'm saying that there's nothing you know for certain.
Huh…..how about that.
Whether it was sharing words of encouragement or words of wisdom is beyond me, and I certainly wasn't gonna bust my head trying to figure that out. Actually since I had the opportunity I figured that I might as well.
"Since we're here do you mind if I ask when you're available?"
"Anytime I suppose, since we're free from work."
"That's good to hear. Do you mind if we go on a date tomorrow? Just the two of us of course."
"Sure. I'd like that."
"Right, of course. Another tim-…wait what?"
"I said I'd like to go on that date with you tomorrow. Unless of course, you changed your mind?"
Whatever was happening was happening too fast for me to follow. I asked her purely for the sake of asking. I never expected her to say yes. Am I actually making progress?
Wait calm down. It's too soon to declare victory.
"No, no, I'd very much like for us to go out together. I'll see you tomorrow then."
She gave a casual nod and left for the inn after saying "goodnight".
My heart felt completely full, and a little bit excited, I'm pretty sure that if I was somehow able to rip it out of my chest I'd find it dancing. I started my walk home while mulling over what had just happened.
In a few minutes I had finally arrived home to find my mother enjoying her dinner by herself, Lucy was nowhere to be found.
"You're back early."
"She agreed to going out on a date with me." I blurted
"Huh?"
"...…" I nodded.
"...…When?"
"Tomorrow."
I don't remember what happened after that but I got the irksome feeling that it had something to do with me not falling asleep that night. I still woke up pretty early the following day though so it wasn't a total loss.