Real charm lies in imperfection.
Favourite Troublemaker
After the battle, we started treating the wounded. Willingham survived. (Unfortunately.) Mica stabbed his knife mercilessly into my shoulder and I swear he even twisted it a few times. He operated out the bullet, then gave me another piercing look. Des was trying to put Alice back together. Alice apologized for shooting me, and I shared that I expected it. I may have eased his conscience a little.
With the immediate aftermath under control, I turned my attention to Willingham. He was conscious, albeit barely, and the anger in his eyes had not diminished. I pulled him to his feet, ignoring his groans of pain.
"Get up. We're going to see your friends," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.
Dragging Willingham along, I navigated the war-torn landscape, debris and bodies littering the ground. The hunters' encampment was a short distance away, and I could see their fires burning in the distance. As we approached, the hunters stood up, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons.
"It's over," I called out, my voice carrying across the clearing. "I'm bringing back your commander."
A murmur spread through the group, a mixture of relief and suspicion. I pushed Willingham forward, and he stumbled, barely managing to stay upright.
One of the senior hunters, a grizzled man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward. "What happened?"
"Willingham lost," I said, not bothering to sugarcoat it. "But he's alive, and he's your problem now."
The hunter's eyes flicked between me and Willingham.
"If you value his life, you'll get him treated..." I replied. "Like now."
The hunter hesitated, then motioned for two of his men to take Willingham. They grabbed him, dragging him toward their makeshift medical tent. From that tent, I could barely sense the paladins' auras. Hm, so they are here as well.
As they tended to their leader, I addressed the rest of the group. "Your commander is back, and you can make your own decisions from now on. But remember, I won't tolerate any hostility."
There was a tense silence, broken only by the crackling of the fires. Finally, the scarred hunter nodded. "We'll take care of him. And we'll think about what you said."
With that, I turned and walked away, leaving the hunters to deal with their wounded leader. The path back seemed longer now, the weight of the recent events pressing heavily on my shoulders. Mica, Des, Alice, and the others were waiting for me, their faces a mix of relief and concern.
"It's done," I said simply.
Des did not look up from where he was tending to Alice.
"He's alive, and with his people."
Alice managed a weak smile. "Shay, are you okay? You also lost a lot of blood."
"Yep," I nodded. "I will just need a bit of rest."
"You need a hand?" I asked Des but he shook his head.
"I'll manage," he answered. He still did not look at me.
"Okay."
The next most urgent problem was... Lilinette caught my eye, her brow furrowed in thought. She was standing beside Pitou, who was bound in a shimmering, magical restraint. Not that we needed it, he was out cold by blood loss.
"What should we do with him?" Lilinette asked, her voice laced with concern. "He's no threat to us now, but his fate needs to be decided."
I glanced at Pitou. The magical bindings glowed softly, making him dangerously pale.
"I let him live for a reason," I replied.
Lil shrugged. "Very well."
"I also need you to retrieve Liou's corpse," I said. "He was a powerful mage, and his remains will be of considerable value."
Her eyes widened slightly, but she nodded. "You want to sell his body?"
"Yes," I confirmed. "The bones of old mages are soaked in magic, and they can be used as potent ingredients for various potions. Black mages will pay handsomely for them."
Lilinette's expression hardened with understanding. "I see. I'll make sure to handle it."
With that settled, Lilinette turned on her heel and headed off to prepare for the retrieval. I watched her go, a part of me almost purring at the sight. Despite her hair being a tangled mess and her skin smeared with ash, she still carried an air of undeniable grace and strength. There was something mesmerizing about her, even in the midst of chaos and grime.
I shook my head slightly, refocusing on the matter at hand.
Mazen and Felis vanished. Not that I expected anything else. I knew that Mazen would need some time to come to terms with today's developments. It was only natural that he would retreat to grapple with his thoughts and emotions in solitude.
Alex and Rolo needed attention, and I knew it couldn't wait any longer.
Alex looked up from his resting position with a skeptical glance, while Rolo watched me with an expectant but wary look.
"Alright, let's see what we're dealing with," I said.
I first turned my attention to Alex, whose condition was rather grim. He was propped up against a wall, his face pale and his breathing shallow. It was clear that he needed help, and I wasn't about to let him languish. I examined his wounds.
"Hold still," I instructed Alex, a smirk tugging at my lips. I held up a dagger.
Alex's eyes widened. "Wait, what are you—"
Before he could finish his question, I punctured my finger with the blade and, with an exaggerated flourish, began drawing on Alex's face with my blood. I worked swiftly and with dramatic flair, sketching an elaborate series of lines that resembled a child's doodle.
Alex's protest was muffled by his own astonishment. "Is this really necessary?"
My doodling was impossibly fast and unapologetic, a series of crudely humorous and slightly vulgar drawings. The blood smeared across his cheeks in vibrant, if slightly unsettling, patterns.
"Absolutely," I replied with mock solemnity.
I even added a crude but unmistakable caricature of a certain anatomical feature.
"He's getting a total makeover," Rolo commented, his concern mixed with bemusement as he watched the spectacle.
I shrugged. "Why not? It's good for the soul. And Alex always wanted a unique look."
Alex stared at me, half amused and half horrified.
I chuckled, stepping back to admire my work. "You're looking fantastic."
"And why didn't you use this on Alice?" Alex asked, still trying to wipe the excess blood off his face, which only smeared it further.
"Because," I said with a dramatic pause, "Alice and Des are reliable and don't need this kind of artistic enhancement. Plus, they might not appreciate my artistic genius."
Alex, despite himself, chuckled.
"So? What's the real reason?" Rolo asked and this reminded me to examine him too.
"Hunters," I began, with an exaggerated tone of gravity, "have a few mages among their ranks who can read minds effortlessly. If I start using my blood for everyone, it might get discovered and scrutinized. I'd rather keep my secrets close to my chest."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "But it looks like Alice is on the brink of dying, doesn't it?"
I laughed, shaking my head. "Come on, Alex. Hunters can survive worse than a few wounds. They're tougher than they look. Besides, Des has his potions. See?"
Des, having finished applying a potion to Alice's wounds, stepped up with a look of determination. The potion was a shimmering, iridescent liquid that began healing his wounds almost instantly. Alice, despite his initial discomfort, looked a bit more relieved as the potion took effect.
"Influential hunters," I continued, gesturing toward Des and the potion, "have their own labs and hired mages who whip up these concoctions. They're quite adept at handling serious injuries. Alice has nothing to worry about."
I turned my attention to Rolo, who had been sitting quietly, his hand resting on his lap. The sight was distressing: his hand was in a terrible condition, the skin charred and peeling, hot blood trickling from his pores. The damage was evident; his fingers trembled uncontrollably, and he looked like he was in considerable pain.
"Let me take a look at that," I said, crouching down to examine his hand more closely. I could see the signs of nerve damage from the spell—his fingers were twitching erratically, and the heat radiating off his hand was almost palpable.
Rolo winced as I gently probed his hand. "It's not looking good, is it?"
"No," I admitted, frowning. "This is pretty serious. But I think I can help."
I reached into my clothes and pulled out a couple of small, glass vials filled with various-colored potions. Rolo's eyes widened in surprise as he saw them.
"Where did you get those?" Rolo asked, clearly intrigued but also a bit wary.
I gave him a nonchalant shrug. "Oh, I borrowed them from Mazen. I'm sure he won't miss them."
Rolo's expression turned skeptical. "Borrowed? And just how trustworthy are these potions?"
I gave a roguish grin. "Trustworthy enough. You'll be fine. Now, hold still."
Rolo recoiled as if the potion were a live grenade. "I'd rather not!"
"Come on, it's not that bad," I coaxed, reaching out with the vial. But Rolo, in his determination to avoid the potion, swatted at my hand, causing me to miss.
The potion went sailing through the air and landed with a splash on the floor, creating a sizzling puddle of iridescent liquid. A faint plume of black smoke rose from the puddle as it fizzled and popped.
"Oh, come on! Are you trying to waste my potions?" I exclaimed, frowning at the mess on the floor.
"I'm trying to keep my hand intact!" Rolo shot back, still trying to dodge as I advanced with another vial in hand.
I made another attempt to pour the potion onto his hand, but Rolo ducked just in time, and the potion spilled onto the floor again. This time, a colorful cloud of steam erupted, leaving a faintly sparkling residue on the floor.
"Seriously, Rolo!" I laughed, shaking my head. "You're making this way more complicated than it needs to be."
Rolo, still trying to dodge my advances, looked at the now-smoking puddle with a mixture of horror and fascination. "I don't want to turn into a toad or something!"
Finally, with one last deft maneuver, I managed to get the potion on Rolo's hand. He winced but then relaxed as the pain started to ease. The potion worked its magic, and the sizzling sound ceased.
Rolo looked at his hand, which was now feeling considerably better, and then at the still-fizzing puddle on the floor. "Well, at least my hand's better. But I hope you're not planning to use any more of those."
I grinned and shrugged. "Maybe just one more."
"Absolutely not!"
Lil was the one saving Rolo from another potion bath as she arrived and suggested we leave.
(...)
Once the chaos was under control, Mose and Luna got everyone back home.
The house was slowly returning to a semblance of normalcy, but I had other plans before we could call it a night. I caught Lil's eye as she was about to leave.
"Hold on, Lil," I said, grabbing her arm. "Before you head home, I need to take care of a couple of things."
Lilinette shot me a look of disbelief. "I'm not your taxi, Shay."
I smirked. "Oh, come on. Just a couple of quick stops. You're already here, might as well make it worth your while."
She sighed dramatically but couldn't hide her curiosity. "Fine. What's so important that you need me as your chauffeur?"
"Trust me, you'll want to see this," I said, giving her a playful wink.
"Also, please grab Pitou as well for me."
I took Pitou and went to visit the Crosspherat. Pitou was now harmless, without his brother, his dreaded magic of creation was worthless. He himself knew this, and he almost dared not look at me for fear of incurring my wrath.
Of course, I told him beforehand that he would take the blame and clear my name. He agreed. All he asked was that we give his twin brother a decent burial. I promised him I would.
As usual, I kicked the door down. The judges almost jumped up in fright. But at the head of the table sat an unknown person. I eyed him suspiciously, then asked him:
"Where is Grado?"
"He has retired," replied the lean, bald man calmly. "Ho may I help you, Shaytan, before I issue the warrant?"
So, word of my exploits had reached him. I couldn't help but smile mockingly. "And who might you be, new Lord High Bishop?"
"Félix Kerényi," he introduced himself, a spark of curiosity in his eyes. He didn't seem hostile, which was a promising sign. Perhaps I wouldn't need to resort to violence.
"I would like to clear myself of the charges against me," I declared. "I've apprehended the real culprit, who is willing to confess his crimes."
Kerényi's eyes brightened with interest. "Really? How did you manage to get one half of the infamous twins to confess?"
"I defeated him in a fight," I replied nonchalantly.
Kerényi stroked his chin thoughtfully, then gestured for two guards to approach. "Take him in for questioning," he ordered.
With that, Kerényi officially declared me innocent.
I made my way back to Lilinette. She was unusually quiet, clearly absorbed in her thoughts about the evening's events. Lilinette shot me an inquisitive look.
I glanced back at the building, a satisfied smirk on my face. "Now that my name is cleared, we need to make one more stop before heading home."
"Seriously? I thought you'd be done for the night," she said, clearly exhausted from the day's chaos.
"Just a couple more things to take care of," I said, "Trust me, it'll be worth it."
Lilinette sighed, but I could tell she was curious. "This better be quick."
"Fair enough," I agreed, leading the way as we walked toward the building's exit.
Lilinette's skepticism was evident as we made our way to the Acheron. The imposing prison loomed in the distance, a fortress of stone and metal. She eyed me, clearly unsure about my plan.
"You really think this is a good idea?" she asked, her tone dripping with doubt. "Getting into the Acheron is impossible, only a couple of mages have magic suitable for that."
I grinned, enjoying the frustration in her voice. "Don't worry about it. We won't need your magic to get in."
Lilinette gave me a questioning look, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What do you mean? The defenses are nearly impenetrable."
I gave her a reassuring nod. "Trust me, I've got a different approach. Just follow my lead."
As we approached the entrance, the fortress seemed even more formidable up close. High walls, barbed wire, and heavy iron gates gave the impression of an impregnable stronghold. I led Lilinette toward the main entrance, where two guards stood on duty.
"Stay in the shadows," I instructed her as we neared the gate.
She nodded her expression a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "Alright, but I still don't see how this is going to work."
I approached the guards with confidence. As they saw me, their initial reaction was one of surprise, but before they could react, I focused on using my ability. My voice took on an authoritative edge, resonating with power.
"Open the gate and let us through," I commanded.
The guards' eyes glazed over, their expressions blanking as if in a trance. Without hesitation, one of them moved to unlock the gate. Lilinette's eyes widened in astonishment as she watched the guards comply with my orders.
Inside, the prison was a labyrinth of corridors and cells. Every time we encountered another guard, I used the same technique, issuing brief but firm commands to make them move away or look in the other direction. My orders were precise, and the guards obeyed without question, their minds momentarily subdued by my command.
"Scram," I told one guard who was about to challenge us. The guard immediately turned and walked away, leaving us clear passage.
Lilinette, still in awe of the display, followed closely as we made our way to one of the cells. We reached Zack's cell, and I turned to Lilinette, who remained hidden in the shadows.
"Wait here," I instructed, then approached the cell where Zack was held.
Zack's eyes lit up with recognition as he saw me. "So, you won?" he asked, his tone more a statement than a question.
I didn't waste time with pleasantries. I threw him the key I had procured from the guard. "Make a mess for me," I grinned, letting a hint of mischief show in my expression.
Zack grabbed the key eagerly, his eyes gleaming with excitement at the prospect of chaos. "You got it."
Before leaving, I turned back and added, "Oh, and Gradofold lives at 5 Platan Street."
With that, I exited the cell and rejoined Lilinette. We made our way out of the prison with the same stealth and authority, the guards none the wiser to our presence.
"You know," she began, breaking the silence, "I didn't realize you could use the King's Command. Very few people can wield that kind of power."
I shrugged nonchalantly, giving her a smirk.
"I mean, it's one thing to have the power, but it's another to actually use it effectively," she explained. "Most people who have it can barely manage to command a single person, let alone an entire group of guards."
I chuckled, stretching a little to ease the tension from the day's activities. "Well, I had a lot of free time to practice here."
She raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "You certainly have a knack for making things work in your favor. I thought you were just another troublemaker with a penchant for getting into tight spots."
I gave her a playful grin. "Oh, I am definitely a troublemaker. But I also like to think of myself as an opportunist."
Lilinette shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "You've definitely earned my respect. I wasn't sure if you had a plan when you first asked me to come along. But now, I see you had everything under control."
I nodded. "Yep. I don't like loose ends."
She chuckled. "Well, I'm glad to have seen this part of you. Even if it was just as a chauffeur."
I laughed softly. "I appreciate the ride. And don't worry, I'm sure there'll be plenty more opportunities for us to work together in the future."
She raised an eyebrow.
"What?" I pretended to be disappointed. "You don't want to watch on?"
Lilinette rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "As tempting as that sounds, I have my own business to attend to. Besides, I'm sure you'll find a way to keep yourself entertained."
I gave her a mock bow. "As you wish. Just don't be surprised if I call you for another ride soon. Or perhaps a bit of assistance when things get too tricky."
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Alright, I'll keep that in mind. But only if you promise to keep the chaos to a minimum. I prefer my days without unexpected adventures."
"Fair enough," I said with a grin. "I'll try not to anger any more dark mages in the future."
We were standing in silence for a minute.
"How about giving me your number? It'd be handy for when I need to call you."
Her eyes widened slightly in surprise. "You want my number?"
I shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "How else would I be able to reach you? Smoke signals?"
She let out a surprised laugh, her earlier seriousness melting into amusement. "I didn't think you were the type to ask for someone's number."
Lilinette's smile widened as she fished her phone from her pocket. "Alright, alright. I suppose you've earned it. Just don't use it for anything too outrageous."
"Like asking you out on a date?"
Lilinette's eyes sparkled with amusement as she handed me the phone. "Oh, is that what you had in mind?"
I took the phone with a playful grin.
She shook her head, still smiling. "I think we should stick to business. You're a bit too young for me, Shay. How about we be business partners?"
I chuckled, entering my number into her contacts and calling my phone. "I suppose that works, too."
[Your Favorite Troublemaker]
Yep, this will do. I handed back her phone with the new contact.
After pocketing her phone, Lilinette immediately began the preparations for teleportation. She grabbed my arm firmly. A shimmering aura of magic enveloped us, and I could feel the familiar tingling sensation of displacement starting to take hold.
I felt a sudden rush, like being caught in a powerful gust of wind. The world around us seemed to blur, the edges of reality bending and warping in a dizzying whirl. My feet lifted off the ground, and a weightless feeling took over. It was as if time itself had momentarily stopped, leaving us suspended between moments.
I glanced at Lilinette. Her face was illuminated by the soft glow of the spell, her eyes focused and intent. The energy of the magic crackled faintly around her, and I could see the delicate tension in her jaw as she concentrated. Her hand was unexpectedly warm and comforting amidst the cold, disorienting surge of the spell.
The next instant, the whirlwind of magic receded, and our surroundings snapped back into focus. We were back at the house. The abrupt transition from the ethereal to the tangible left me momentarily disoriented, but the familiar comfort of the house quickly settled around me.
Lilinette let out a small sigh of relief as the spell completed, her hand withdrawing from my arm. The warmth from her touch lingered for a moment, a gentle reminder of the proximity we had shared in the midst of the magic. Her gaze met mine, a subtle smile playing on her lips as she surveyed the familiar surroundings.
I grinned, stretching slightly to shake off the last remnants of the magical disorientation. "Thanks for the lift again."
Lilinette turned to leave, casting one last glance over her shoulder. "Take care, Shay. And try not to get into too much trouble."
"I'll do my best," I called after her.
With a final wave, Lilinette walked off into the night, her figure gradually fading into the darkness. I watched her go, feeling the monster in me purring.
Then I looked down at my phone. How should I save her contact?
That was the moment I noticed the fifteen missed calls from Des. Oops.
[Trouble's Chauffeur]
I quickly saved her number and entered the house.