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Chapter 13 - Leaving the Village

Kantuta stirred up after hearing Siquioce's voice call out to her. Shaking from the pain, Kantuta laboriously raised her head and said, "Siquioce! Did you…" Upon seeing who was accompanying her friend, Kantuta's eyes became like saucers. Her eyes narrowed, "Siquioce…who is that?"

Siquioce stepped aside and shook his hands towards the orc, "This is Yuchauzh! After talking with him a bit, I learned that he isn't all that bad; he's just misunderstood. So, we decided that he should travel with us!"

Kantuta's eyes darted between Siquioce and Yuchauzh, the latter of which was giving her a cocky smile. "Siquioce," she said in a terse voice, "Come over here for a second." The Samanian complied, walking over to his partner before getting pinched on his calf. As Siquioce cried out in pain, Kantuta stated, "There. That should break whatever weak hypnosis spell that brute cast on you."

Siquioce looked down at Kantuta with an expression of disbelief and retorted, "What? Who says that I was being hypnotized?"

With her voice increasing in volume, Kantuta answered, "That's the only explanation for you getting all friendly with this low-life! Weren't we fighting him not a moment ago?"

Crossing his arms, Yuchauzh said, "A bit bold of you to think of me that way. If I was such a low-life, don't you think I would've smashed your friend by now?"

A nasty scowl crossed Kantuta's face, "Be quiet, you abhorrent…" In the middle of her sentence, the elf clutched her stomach, her eyes wet with tears."

Yuchauzh's face softened, "Still hurtin' are ya?" he walked towards Kantuta and scooped her up, "Come on, let's get you fixed up…"

As Kantuta was placed around Yuchauzh's neck, she exclaimed, "Unhand me, you fiend!" Her cheeks flushed with anger, the lass used what energy she had left to punch Yuchauzh's stomach, cheeks, and back of his head repeatedly. Alas, the orc's thick skin rendered the girl's blows ineffective. Furthermore, Kantuta's crippled state prevented her from continuing her assault for too long, leading to her simply slumping over in defeat. Chuckling at this, Yuchauzh proceeded to carry the elf to the village's clinic, with Siquioce following close behind.

After dropping Kantuta off at the pink and white healing building, Yuchauzh leaned against the structure and said, "Geez, what a handful that girl is. I've met a lot of hot-headed sorts in my life, but she just takes the cake." He shook his head before smiling at Siquioce, "She'll come around eventually, though. Wanna go get a bite to eat while she's getting treated?"

Siquioce nodded, "Yeah! Where are we going?"

Yuchauzh pointed at a red and yellow establishment in the distance, "You can get us all something at Kola's. I would go with you, but…" he looked around at the villagers, who were giving him dirty looks, "I don't think I would be very welcome. So…" he reached in his pants pocket and handed Siquioce 50 silver coins, "just head in there and pick some things out."

Receiving the currency, Siquioce smiled, "Okay, I won't let you down!" With that, the Samanian clutched the coins in his hands and wobbled his way over to the restaurant.

Heading inside the eating place, Siquioce looked around in awe at how packed the area was, with people of all kinds of species were sitting at their tables and being catered to by gnome waiters. Looking towards the middle of the building, Siquioce spied the front desk, where a slender, brown-haired, mustached elf in a blue-striped uniform was sitting. Moving over to the elf's wooden spot, Siquioce placed his coins down on the counter and asked, "Excuse me, sir, can you sell me some food?"

Raising an eyebrow, the elf said in a confused tone, "Qua? Ki mo pamo tas kon dialè."

Siquioce's eyes widened in realization. Oh, he thought, I forgot these people speak a different language. Great… He looked up at the menu that was printed on a board above the elf, seeing that it was filled with words that he couldn't read. Although he was greatly discouraged by this fact, Siquioce did not want to go back empty-handed. So, he pointed first at his coins, at 3 random items on the menu, and then at himself, hoping to get his message across. Thankfully, the elf understood his intent, and he placed the coins inside a nearby metal box before saying, "Lernat. Fil ku tant, pit nici…" The individual then walked into a room behind him, leaving Siquioce to stand there.

A short while later, the elf returned and gave Siquioce a brown, medium-sized paper bag. "Nici ku vo," he said as he handed the package to the Samanian, "Welamé trepas."

Siquioce received the item and smiled, "Thank you! Have a good day!" He then took a deep breath as he lifted the bag up and wobbled away, trying his best to keep his balance as he exited the restaurant.

Eventually, after an arduous walk, Siquioce reunited with Yuchauzh, who was now sleeping on the ground. After setting his items next to the orc, Siquioce tapped his shoulder lightly, causing the orc to get roused. He yawned, "Took you long enough. Was there a long line or something?"

Siquioce shook his head, a tired expression on his face, "Not really…"

Yuchauzh stretched and responded, "Whatever you say, my man. Anyway, while you were gone, that elf recovered." he pointed to the left, where Kantuta was standing at a far distance with her arms crossed, to emphasize his point, "And she's been refusing to talk to me. Do you feel like going over there and asking her if she wants to eat with us?"

Siquioce answered, "Yeah, I can do that." So, he walked over to where the elf was, leaving Yuchauzh to scratch his belly.

With the brim of her hat covering most of her face, Kantuta peeked out at Siquioce and asked, "Where've you been?"

Siquioce responded, "I was just carrying over some food from this food place. Do you want to eat what I bought with me and Yuchauzh?"

Kantuta chuffed and shook her head, "Are you kidding me? I would never do that in a million years." She sighed, "But…I am feeling a little hungry." She raised the brim of her hat and gave Siquioce a fierce glare, "But I will not eat with that troglodyte. Got it?"

Siquioce gave Kantuta a small smile and replied, "Okay, I understand…"

Kantuta smoothed her dress before walking away. "Come," she said, "We can eat in the plains." With that, Kantuta and the others departed from Boturd Village, with the elf refusing to make eye contact with her new associate.