As the moments dragged on, a few individuals and parties caught my fleeting attention, mostly owing to the fact that they stood out. As I've noticed, the guild did not discriminate against who could join their ranks, and most seemed capable enough.
The dark-skinned, crimson-haired elf walking towards our table was by far the most eye-catching. Clad in heavy red plate, the clank of his steps announced his arrival as many around him turned their heads to witness his approach. I turned my head and looked at Zeal. She looked terrified. She quickly clung onto my coat. I glared.
"It seems like Gred brought home some new blood." The elf sounded young, but older than Gred. Since elves aged the slowest compared to all the other civilized races, their appearances were often misleading. An elf could look like twenty-something year old Gred, but actually be hundreds of years old. Unless revealed by a spell or stated otherwise, judging the sound of an elf's voice was the only somewhat reliable way to assume their age range.
"You fun?" The elf asked.
I was unsure if he was asking a rhetorical question or implying something else. If the elf was looking for a fight, he would be disappointed to find me in no mood for such.
"You are scaring the child." I said, glaring at the intruding elf.
"Whoops, sorry, sorry. Where are my manners?" Apparently nowhere as he raised his hands.
The elf brushed his hand against his hair and introduced himself, "I am Flavience Redwood, Diamond-Star Adventurer." The fact that the diamond nameplate around his neck shimmered as he announced his rank annoyed me.
He stank of pride, and I was tempted to make him swallow it. But seeing the place we were in, I decided that returning the gesture was for the best. "Lance Viduri, a hermit" I said, a few giggles sounded from some of the tables close by, "And this little girl is Zeal."
Oh how tempted I was to just obliterate them.
Flavience smiled and surprisingly it reeked with genuine intent, "What brings you to this humble hall of ours?"
I raised a brow at the sudden change of tune, "Gred and his party asked me to accompany them to act as a witness for their quest, but it seems like my presence wasn't necessary after all."
"And the beastma-" The elf paused, "Sorry, I mean, what about the little girl?"
My eyes sharpened, "She's with me."
"I see..." He trailed off. He turned his head and looked at Gred and the others as they finished with the receptionist. Bright smiles were plastered all over their faces. Even Dalinah seemed to glow with pouch of silver and gold in her hand.
What came next, however, surprised me the most.
"Brother!" Gred said as they reached our table. The red-haired elf was his brother? Now that was something unexpected. Their names weren't even similar. Didn't elves also share last names when blood-related?
Unless they weren't. I mean, Flavience was a dark elf. Unless… wait, aren't marriages between the so-called high elves and dark elves forbidden? Let alone procreation. This was starting to be a headache. So many questions. So few answers.
"Lil bro!" Flavience wrapped his arm around Gred, "I was wondering when you'd show up. Sorry I wasn't there to greet ya!"
"What brings you here anyways, red elf?" Tov asked as he sat down opposite of Zeal and I. The others followed suit, "Weren't you escorting some elven noble? I thought you were gone for at least one more week!"
"Meh," Flavience brushed off, "It wasn't the worth the penny. Too boring. Fortunately, the guildmaster called me back as we were crossing the border down south."
"What for?" Gred asked.
"I'll explain later, little brother." Though his demeanor and his tone were carefree and relaxed, I saw through the facade. There was an undertone of tension, of lingering fear. Something happened when he was recalled.
"Wasn't worth the penny? Boy that was a gold pouch!" Tov protested. A waitress swung by soon after, bringing with her some beer and meat, and it seemed like more were coming. If a small feast was imminent, then I guessed it was deserved.
After all, they did indeed clear a goblin infestation by summoning my help. To think that the only reason I was here in the first place was the fact that I decided to save them. If I had chosen differently... would anything of importance have changed? I wasn't important. Maybe I will never know. And I did not want to know.
"Nobles are jerks," Flavience scoffed, "A good monster would have made the trip worthwhile. But seriously? Goblins and some bat creatures? Not a fan."
"It's ironic you hate jerks," Tov said, "Considering you are one!" The dwarf laughed.
"Gredance!" Flavience sat next to Gred, "Defend me from your dwarfy over here, will ya?"
"I am taking no sides." Gred said with a smirk as he raised his two hands in silent retreat.
"It's good to see you well, Flavience." Redtail said as she placed her pouch inside one of her leather packs. She had a lot of packs slung around her body.
"Now why is little Dalinah so silent?" Flavience said as he poked Dalinah's forehead with a finger.
"Shut it!" Dalinah reared her head. She was busy showing her pouch to Zeal who looked mesmerized at its contents. Maybe she had an interest in treasures? Or maybe the gold and silver were just shiny. I did like shiny things myself, as long as they weren't too colorful.
The rest of the food and drink soon arrived. Roasted chicken, barbecued pork, mashed potatoes, and some salads were just to name a few. They were indeed a gluttonous bunch. Flavience was keen to join in the sudden feast, his eyes staring longingly at the pork. Zeal was just happy to be there. Her fears had subsided, for now. Food calmed her, that was for certain. A fact that may be useful in the future.
Though I was yet to hear her talk more, her silent smiles were enough to assure me for now that she was alright. Hopefully she would open up more soon. My atonement rested on her hands, and the fate of the world rested on her shoulders. I was the bane of her race, but her well-being was now my concern. After all, I was now her guardian. A self-appointed one, I admit.
The feasting and drinking lasted for about an hour and a half. Flavience was curious of how the adventurers managed to clear an entire infestation without so much as a missing limb. Tov was quick to share how it unfolded.
The drunken dwarf miraculously crafted a story on a whim, excluding my involvement until the very last part. I forgot that dwarves were also great storytellers, much better than the boring, straight-to-the-point Elves. Though they were known to embellish, such skill was necessary now.