Belialthorn looked at him in complete shock, it wasn't what he was expecting. He turned to Rota who's jaw was opened same in the same expression of surprise.
"This might come out of the blue...." Alaric started but Belialthorn put up his hand not caring if he was rude or not. Alaric shut up immediately more out of shock than anything else. No one,especially not a peasant had ever interrupted him like this before.
He had never given it serious thought before since all he ever cared about was survival and keeping his head down but if he wanted to then he suppose.... Belialthorn looked at Rota, everything about her appealed to his eyes.
"I'm all about the females," Belialthorn frowned. "Males have hard bodies but female are all about softness especially the lower....."
Rota cleared her throat, blood rushing to her face. "I think the Lord understands, Thorn."
The Lord himself was flushed and his pale eyes was wide, he gestured with his hand which removed most of the intimidating aura he had been building. "That's not what I meant! I want you but not.... not like that!"
Belialthorn raised his brows and looked at Alaric in skepticism, from what he had come to understand from the way people stared at him on the street, he was considered "beautiful" in his human form.
But it was him mentioning Rota that made his inside twitch with something he couldn't put his hand on. "So what do you mean?"
"I want you as a team! Not as..... anything you were thinking." Alaric was regaining his composure and he shot mild glare into the room at the few snickers that could be heard.
Belialthorn narrowed his eyes as soon as he heard "team". So this was what he was after. He wanted them on a team but Belialthorn couldn't help but wonder. Who wanted them on the team? The Keenreavers or the Holy Church?
And why?
No matter, they would not be joining any team. Belialthorn gripped Rota's shoulder gently and she turned to him in surprise. "Thank you, Lord Alaric but we would like to decline because we are not worthy of such honor."
Rota nearly snorted. Not worthy? Where did he get the bullshit he was sprouting? He always surprised her, arrogant one minute then meek the next.
"There is no reason to be humble. The Alchemists had already praised your potential talents and even showed records that it hadn't been a month since you got your class and yet you were at level 5." Alaric said.
The Alchemist. The Holy Church was up to something, Belialthorn was sure of it now.
Belialthorn laughed. "Why would you need us? When you have a High Grade 7 knight behind you. We would be useless to offer any help."
Alaric shrugged. "I'm not here for you to guard me. What I want is to form a team of potential Hunters and grind together," he pointed back at his knight. "Knight Eleanor will be there to help us grind."
Belialthorn narrowed his eyes, this was too good for a pair of low Hunters. "And what is your gain here, Lord Alaric? We gain levels but what will you benefit from helping us?"
One thing was certain anywhere, there was nothing like a free meal.
Alaric spread his hands. "I want a lot of things and who might say what might happen in the future? It's good to have exceptional Hunters by your side."
Belialthorn was unmoved. "Then you should have gone to the Hunter's Association and ask their instructors for recommendations."
"What better recommendations than the two who leveled up alone to level 5 in not more than a month? I want you both." Alaric insisted.
Belialthorn noticed he hadn't said anything about what he wanted from them. Not that he was ready to join him or anything.
Belialthorn forced a smile and it came off as stiff. "Forgive me but we would have to turn you down. We simply are too low of a level to be joining a team as Noble as yours."
Hushed whispers followed his words.
"What! He turned down the lord?"
"I told you he's a weird one!"
"Didn't he know it's always better to work with a Noble?"
"Can you blame him? It's not like the Keenreavers are that loaded....."
"Shhhhhhhhh! He would hear you."
Rota snicked and Belialthorn raised his brows at Alaric and the young Lord reddened a little before clearing his throat and speaking.
"I assure you. If it's about financial problems you will be paid handsomely. You don't have to worry about something like that...."
"We don't want your money," Rota interrupted rudely. "We just want to be left alone."
Alaric's eyes turned to Rota and he looked her up her down, appreciating her gentle curves with his eyes. Belialthorn's hands tightened on her shoulder.
A show of possession that didn't go unnoticed by Alaric, and he smirked. "Are you two together.... lovers?"
Belialthorn hesitated but he opened his mouth. "No, we are just Hunting partners."
Rota's eyes fell and her mood turned sore, her grey eyes turned to pointed needle toward Alaric who smirked wider.
"So you are not lovers?" Alaric turned to Rota. "How about it? If you join my team I can give you a chance to get....a taste of me. You will have whatever you want."
Rota's glare turned heated and she took a step forward. "I am a Hunter. A Warrior and I will take whatever I want with my hand."
Belialthorn smiled, deep inside him his Demonic instincts unfurled and he showed his teeth. "My partner stays where I do."
Alaric stopped smirking. It hadn't gone as he wanted, he thought a poor woman would jump at the opportunity of rolling in bed with a Noble. He had only one option left.
Alaric leaned closer and looked Belialthorn in the eyes, a clear challenge and if Belialthorn was in his Demon form he would have shown his fangs and snarled.
"You don't want anything to happen, will you? What if your little partner was walking alone at night and she happened to come across men whol liked fresh young...." Alaric didn't get the chance to finish.
Belialthorn jumped to the table so fast he was already on it before Alaric could even blink. He punched the young Lord in the face so hard his head snapped back.
But Knight Eleanor was even faster, her armor not slowing her down one bit as she rested the shining edge of her sword against Belialthorn's neck.