"You know of the Thousand Wild Beast Tsunami?" the girl asked.
"The one from seven years ago?" Wyge replied. "Yes, I do. The beast tide was so large, the Sage of the North had to work with the Asura Blade to stop it."
"Well, someone else played a huge part in it."
"Who?"
"The information revealed to the general public only mentioned the two prominent figures, but the one who held off the tide was the new professor at Nexarion."
"Jonathan Thorne?" Wyge asked, her face marred in disbelief. "Why would it go under?"
"I have an idea about who did it."
"His brother?"
"Yep, just like the plagiarism incident, his brother's been pulling the strings around him, not for good."
"What's the trouble between the two?"
"I'm not sure. Inferiority complex?"
Wyge gave a nod of disapproval, "What about his research?"
"I found it, but I didn't look into it," the girl spoke while she took a small black box out of her pocket and held it in palm, staying filled in.
"How'd you get it?"
"I have my sources, but like I said, I haven't looked at it yet."
"Why?"
"I don't think I should take a look at his work without his permission."
"That makes sense, do you have a copy?"
"Yep," the girl tossed the box towards Wyge.
Wyge catches the box and looks at it, "You're giving this to me? Do I have to pay more?"
"Nope. Consider it a token of our friendship," the girl replied giving Wyge a sly smile.
"Oh, Monica, you think I don't know of your schemes," Wyge replied.
"Hey, how could you?" the girl replied slightly pouting.
Monica Somi, the elder daughter of the Synthelis group. She was Wyge's best friend throughout her academic years at Nexarion.
"I've known you for a really long time, and I'm sure this is a copy."
"Actually I have the copy, I gave you the real thing. Figured you could give it to him or something since you'll go to the academy with the ex-princess."
"Why is the daughter of the greatest group working for an information guild?" Wyge said, her eyes narrowing.
"What fun is being some office worm, and I have my brother take care of the company," the girl replied, while flinging a strand of her hair.
"Classic Monica, anyways is that all?'
"Unfortunately, Yes," the girl nodded. "I'll get the rest of it by our next meeting."
"Goodbye," Wyge said walking away.
The girl stood up and walked in the opposite direction, "Yes, goodbye Wyge."
_________________________
"Yes, Mister. I am a bit lost," Daniela replied, her voice shaky.
"Well, what are you doing roaming around here at night?" the big man asked.
"I'm just staying out late, celebrating life," Daniela said without hesitation.
"The stuff ain't that pretty during the night round here."
He doesn't seem to have any ill intention.
"You wanna help me out?"
The man looked at her confused at the random proposal, "...sure."
"So where do I go?"
"Huh?"
"I want to see something beautiful, I've never gone outside much, show me around."
"What?" the man asked, still confused.
"I thought you said you wanted to help me? Lost interest already?" Daniela teased.
"I never said that," the man grunted.
"Yes you did."
"I said I'll help you, not give you a tour."
"Really? I thought help meant accepting my request, and my request is; show me something."
"Fine," the man sighed, "I'll show you something, but whether you like it or not depends."
"I'm up for anything."
The man slightly turned, tapping on his golden chainmail Vördr and speaking into it as he brought it to his face, "Send someone else for patrol, I'm busy."
A voice came from the other side, "Yes boss."
"Ooh, are you like a Mafia Boss and stuff?"
"Mafia?"
"Eah, nevermind," Daniela thought, Isn't the term mafia old?
"Don't lose the way," the man said walking straight.
Daniela followed behind, "So Mister, should I keep calling you Mister, Mister?"
"What?"
"Don't what me, I said, should I call you Mister, Mister."
The man did not speak, the silence was loud. Daniela felt awkward and decided to lighten the mood.
"My name's Daniela, so what's yours?"
The man slightly turned back to look at Daniela, "Martin."
"That sounds boring, I'll call you Boss."
"Then why did you ask?"
"Not sure, I felt tempted to ask."
Martin continued walking, with Daniela seemingly hopping around him.
Wait, why am I following some random guy I just met? I got abducted!
"So, why'd you ask me if I was lost?"
Let's see if he's innocent or tricking me?
"You looked lost?" Martin deadpanned.
Daniela pressed, "You help every lost girl?"
"Why did you say girl?" Martin said.
"Umm..."
"I help if someone needs it."
I misjudged him? Maybe.
"Alright, Boss. So where are we going?"
...
"Silence?" Daniela spoke breaking the awkward silence. Uh, this feels so suffocating, at least say something.
"I'm not silent, you just talk too much."
"No, it's actually normal, but you're too silent."
"That's the opposite of what I just said."
"No it's actually counteractive to what you said."
"Aren't you just twisting it up, young lady?"
"It's Daniela, and am I?"
"Uhh," Martin paused for a second while walking.
"Don't fry your brain."
"But you're the one who did it to me."
"Forget about it."
"I can't," Martin rubbed his temples with his two fingers.
"Just breathe, and... breathe once more."
"Ah, thank you for reminding me, I almost forgot how to breathe under your chatter," Martin smirked.
"Your wel—, huh, so you can talk?"
"Of course I can talk, I'm not a mute."
"I almost thought you were one for a second."
"For a little girl you sure are annoying."
"Annoying is my middle name, my first name is Daniela."
"Why do you keep saying that?"
"Maybe for you to—AAHH," Daniela tripped and crashed into the ground.
GASP
A few people around the street gasped at her.
"Ouchie," Daniela grumbled. "Ow, my ankle hurts."
A large shadow fell on Daniela, the crowd dispersing, it was Martin kneeling down and checking up on her ankle.
He gently picks up her leg and looks at it carefully, "It's just dislocated, I'll put it back."
"You can't just put it back," Daniela waved in denial, "it's not that easy."
"But it'll get worse if I don't do it."
"But it'll be worse, it's going to hurt me."
"No, I'll make sure it won't," Martin said, gently pressing at certain points around her ankle.
"It already hurts," Daniela strained.
"Maybe should have talked less and walked more carefully," Martin remarked, his hand glowing faintly, a thread of energy around his coarse yet warm hands.
"Woah, is that Force?" Daniela asked, her eyes seemingly sparkling.
"It is, now don't struggle. I'll put it back in."
Daniela clattered, bracing herself for the moment of pain, I hate pain.
"Done," Martin said.
"What?" Daniela gasped in surprise.
"Yeah, it's done."
"But I didn't feel anything."
"Just like I promised."
What was that, I didn't feel anything. Is it because he used force? I'll have to thank him.
"Thank you, I'm sorry for the trouble."
Martin twitched slightly at her fast change, "Hehe, it's alright."
"Now let's go," Daniela tried to stand up, but felt the pain.
"You can't walk yet, it'll take at least a few days to completely heal."
"What!"
"What did you think?"
"But how will I go back home? I can't limp all the way there."
"It's alright we'll figure something out."
"Like what?"
"We'll figure it out," he repeated, his voice softer.
"I don't think so, see I can't even stand up."
He turns, his back facing Daniela's, "Grab on."
Daniela knew what he meant, but hesitates for a moment, "You sure, Boss?"
"You wanna disrespect the Boss?"
"Alright, I'm not turning this down," Daniela smirked, and grabbed around his neck, wriggling herself atop his broad frame.
Martin slowly hooks his arms around her leg and stands up, making it seem like Daniela weighed nothing.
"Woah, am I that light?"
"No, I'm just strong."
"Did I hurt your ego?" she chuckled.
"You want me to drop you?"
"You wouldn't drop this poor girl who twisted her ankle who followed this stranger she just met," she paused catching her breath, "because the stranger promised to show her something beautiful?"
"Yes I can, and next time don't follow any strangers or weird guys."
"I mean, I wouldn't be getting this ride if I didn't follow this random stranger."
"How old are you?" Martin starts walking.
"I'm seventeen, why?"
"You keep on bickering like old women."
"Is that why you're single?"
The words seem to have hit a nerve, "How would you know if I'm single?"
Daniela noticing the reaction decides to tease him a bit more, she knows how being old and not being able to date felt.
"For starters, if you were with a Mrs, you wouldn't be here roaming around the street, and second you said bickering."
"Why can't I be married and working at night, and bickering?"
"Married or dating men say discussing in both official and unofficial settings, near them and away from them," Daniela started explaining, avoiding the first question.
"Why?" Martin asked, confusion evident.
"It is in order to avoid causing a calamity, and that question further proves my point of you being single."
"You seem to know a lot of stuff, how old did you say you were?"
"Seventeen. Bad memory, Boss?"
"It just slipped my mind."
"Old and no one to take care of you? You better start flexing these muscles and get some girls to take care of you."
"Who told you women like muscles?" Martin said, raising an eyebrow.
Daniela replied, puffing her chests, "Romance novels."
"Novels? You take life advice from that?"
"Yes, I don't have anyone else to tell me about this stuff."
Martin sighed, "Teenagers"
"Don't tell me you think this is a teenage delusion, do you?"
"Tell me the name of the novel which gave you that idea."
"I made men fall for me left and right."
"That's the name?" Martin replied flatly.
"Yep, and it's the best out there."
"I'll see for myself."
"Didn't think you were the type to check out romance novels."
"It's a piece of literature, I can read it."
"It was the best seller among single men."
Vein bulged around his temples, his eyes twitching in pain from being called single by a little girl.
"Aww, hit a nerve?"
"I can drop you," Martin replies, his voice coarse.
"But heroes don't drop the heroine," Wyge added.
"You? The heroine?"
"Am I not heroine material?"
"I've read many novels and seen many plays, but the heroines are always silent, stoic, obsessive or—"
Daniela finished his words, "Shy."
Martin blinks surprised, "Yes."
"Well how about that, someone who agrees with me on my odd review about female leads."
"It's not odd, but people like characters who seem unrealistic than relatable."
"Why is that Boss?"
"Because everyone wants to escape reality, they don't want to see themselves in the characters, they want something more, something, someone they can aspire to be."
"That's deep."
"We're here."