Usually the sound of Sid's voice would usually invoke a feeling of disgust, but today it sounded like a harmonious melody from the heavens, coming to welcome him.
"Sid."
Viv's voice came out very scratchy, probably as a result from being strangled earlier by those ruff-ins. It didn't help that he had also been socked in the back of the head, and he suspected he even had a minor concussion.
"Ah. Just look what you did to my poor little messenger, Prazzar."
Despite his words, Sid didn't look too bothered as he kicked away the corpse of one of the ruffins that blocked his path.
"It seems you must value this messenger a lot, if Black Hydra itself came to his side."
Prazzar was unfazed by the sword near his neck, as he kept his eyes focused on Alamis. The only real threat to his life was him after all.
"Do I?"
The corner of Sid's mouth quirked strangely, a trace of annoyance could be heard in his words.
"Everybody always says that, but I wonder how they would react if they knew I personally don't care if his life or death."
Turning his gaze off Prazzar, Sid wanted to see what Viv's reaction to his words would be, only to find him slumped against the wall and unresponsive. It seemed in the short time Sid had looked away, his little rat had already gone off into a world of his own.
The corner of Sid's mouth returned to normal, as his eyes grew icy.
"You've accomplished your purpose of killing my messengers, so get lost back to your beast land."
"You..."
Prazzar was about to retort back, but he then realized that there really was nothing else to do. He had wiped out the majority of Black Hydra's messengers, causing all of them to use alternate ways of travel.
Not only that, the one key messenger that he had been hunting around turned into someone that he couldn't possibly bring himself to kill.
If the Oakridge Family wanted the majority of Black Hydra's communication gone, then Prazzar had already fulfilled his purpose and job. And if they wanted even more, then they would need someone else for the job, as there was a limit to what he could do with little magic.
Unexpectedly, Alamo's broke the silence as he spoke slowly, his voice raspy and harsh from not talking very often.
"Unless you wish to fight here, in this narrow alleyway, and with my Lord right behind me."
There was a hint of warning in Alamis's voice, as the hand on the hilt of the sword tightened slightly.
The two had fought before, a long time in the past, and they knew they were equally matched. But that was back then, and Prazzar or Alamis could be sure of just how much the other had improved over the years.
Plus, with the added emphasis on his Lord behind him, Prazzar was able to take the hint.
With such a precarious position for Alamis, he wouldn't allow any mercy of respect of a duel, and would fight to kill to protect the person he served. In other words, it wouldn't be a fun fight, more like a hard useless battle.
"You almost make me feel envious of having a single master to obey." Sighing, Prazzar retracted his claws and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
His furry ears also stopped pressing down in his head, as his tail swayed relaxedly.
Seeing this, Alamis got confirmation from Sid, and then lowered his sword, and stepping over protectively to Sid.
"But at the same time, I'm not envious."
Prazzar continued slowly, his tail curling.
"For I have a purpose in my life far important than serving the messy underground road."
Taking a glass ornament from his pocket, Prazzar smiled mysteriously to himself, and disappeared nimbly into the night.
Alamis flinched at the sheer speed, but Sid didn't seem to be too bothered as he casually resumed his walk into the alleyway.
Stopping above the unconscious boy, Sid used his shoe to nudge Viv's head.
"Hey, are you awake."
There was a silence, as Alamis awkwardly put some distance as he left Sid to his devices, knowing what might happen next.
"I told you to wake up."
Sid crouched onto the ground, stretching his hand forward as he pulled Viv into his embrace.
The brown haired cat was unresponsive, as the furry ears hidden in the depths of the hair twitched at being touched.
"Wow...I want to really rip these ears off you and see how you react."
Leaning down with a soft smile, Sid picked up Sid in a bridal carry as he gently walked out of the alleyway. Despite such calm sounding threats easily flowing out of his mouth, Sid on the surface seemed normal.
"...My Lord, do you want to call a physician for him?" Alamis hesitantly asked from the side, knowing that his Master was in a foul mood.
"Mm.. that's right, they damaged him." Sid nodded matter of factly, as he titled Viv's head back, looking at the purple bruise around the delicate neck. "It'd be annoying if he woke up and ruined my ears with a disfigured voice."
"Do you have any preference of who to call?"
Used to the volatile personality of his Master, especially when he was in a precarious mood, Alamis simply continued on like usual.
"Call that junky robot, what was its name...ah yes Peira it was." Sid licked his lips. "After taking our resources, let's see how useful it is after experimenting on those half bloods."
—-
"I-I'm sorry, this is all we have to offer at the moment...because of the unexpectedness of the situation."
A light green skinned man with blond hair nervously poured the tea shakily into the small porcelain teacups, blood still awkwardly streaming from his head somewhere.
If Viv was conscious, he would recognize this person as Lex, the person who had saved him when he accidentally became the soon to be subject of Peira.
It seemed Peira had been in the middle of experimenting once again, as when Sid arrived, there was a long awkward thumping sound as well as the sounds of machinery stopping before the door was finally answered.
Not only that, Peira was totally gone from sight, and a bloodied face of a half orc could be seen smiling awkwardly after seeing who the visitor was.
"..."
There was a silence as Sid simply sat there, hands folded on his lap as he stared at Lex with little interest.
Half bloods were rare nowadays, but it's not like you never saw one. The discrimination around them had always been tough, and most of the time many weren't able to get proper education or jobs.
Despite Lex's clearly educated manners and way of speech, Sid didn't feel his interest being tickled. Maybe it was due to the pea green skin and blood streaming casually all over.
Alamis stood behind at the side of Sid like usual, his eyes closed as the big sword on his back was slung lazily on.
The patient today was in the center and lying on the coffee table in the middle of all of this. Once formally a victim of Peira, Lex recognized the boy's mask immediately and let the two in.
Thankfully Lex had heard rumors of the Black Hydra's appearance, or he would have never expected him to come in person to visit Peira for help out of all people.
A beautiful white haired boy with red eyes, there was no mixing up people with such an appearance.
But as Lex was wondering just what could a big shot like Sid be doing here, Peira finally came down, dressed in clean attire. Well, if the clean attire was just a simple white doctor's lab coat, as well as big ogling goggles and thick padded gloves.
"I-I'm dreadfully sorry, I can look at the patient now..."
Peira stumbled forward, her face obscured by the familiar pair of goggles as she looked at the person lying on the table.
As her jaw dropped open in recognition, Lex quickly closed it shut and motioned for her to hurriedly get the treatment done. The both of them had recognized Viv immediately, and almost began to internally sweat. Was the accidental victim secretly a big shot...?
"Do you have any idea what may have happened to him?" Peira kneeled onto the ground, her gloved hands reaching forward and carrying the boy.
Sid's eye twitched as he watched Peira transport him to a bed, but he still replied curtly.
"No clue. Fix him."
Getting such a cold response, Peira quickly went to work, making sure to take off Viv's cloak in the process.
She reached out her hand to take off Vivillian's mask too, but quickly stopped herself at the dangerous glance was aimed at her direction. Peira may be a bit dense at times, but when it came to important things her mind seemed to pick up on stuff faster.
Also, she didn't need to look too closely as she quickly saw some problems on Viv's body.
First there were purple bruises around the boy's neck, reminiscent of handprints. Second, there was a noticeable bump on the back of his head, probably the leading cause to why he was knocked out in the first place.
Quickly retreating to her back room, Peira expertly dug around, gathering dried and fresh herbs from all the plants in there.
Once back into the treating room, she plucked a few leaves from a strange plant before grabbing the still hot teakettle, and dumping everything in.
"A robot that's a herbalist, how ironic." Sid commented offhandedly, seemingly more pleased at the interesting phenomenon.
Peira didn't respond as she was too busy making the concoction, but Lex felt his brow furrow at such disrespect. Of course he quickly hid his expression again, and kept his head down.
It was a big secret that Peira was actually an high grade magic robot, and her origins were even more harder to find out.
For as long as Lex could remember, only himself, Peira, and his organization boss knew she was an android, so how could the leader of Black Hydra know too?
Finally, the medicine seemed to be done as Peira poured a thick liquid into an empty porcelain cup, breathing a sigh of relief.
"The patient is suffering from the aftereffects of a concussion, as well as the harsh strangulation he has experienced. When recovering, it's advised to avoid loud sounds and don't do strenuous activity."
Peira continued to give her diagnosis calmly, as she finished pouring the thick liquid.
"I usually treat half bloods, so my prescription may be slightly stronger than usual, but beast-men can technically be considered half bloods and may just not matter."
"Is he truly just a beast-man?"
"Sorry?"
Sid didn't repeat himself, as he just looked at Peira, who was still processing his question.
"Oh...if you're asking about his genetics, he's actually more human than beast-man, and one of his parents must have been a full human."
"Never-mind."
An amused expression came over his still face, as he just looked away with a snort, much to Peira's confusion.
Tilting Viv's head forward, Peira gently poured the liquid into Vivillian's mouth.
Soon, his face began to contort with an obvious disgust, as even while unconscious, he struggled to not eat the thick liquid.
Eventually however, it finally did all go down, as Viv stopped struggling and lay meekly on the bed.
"Good thing I know a Doctor that can keep a secret."
Sid stood up, motioning Alamis to carry Viv, which he reluctantly did.
"I could only imagine what would happen if I gave him to that in the basement." Leaving behind these eerie words, Sid didn't regard the two any longer then he needed to as he, Viv, and Alamis walked out the door just as quickly as they came.
"What a bunch of..."
Lex held back his words, as he turned away.
-----
"..."
A pair of round green orbs stared dazedly at the unfamiliar ceiling above him.
This scene feels familiar...
Blinking slowly, Viv shifted as he got up from the soft bed, and jolted as he still felt the Black Hydra mask on his face.
"..."
I'm still here?!
Jumping up from the bed, Viv ignored the luxurious room he was sleeping in and yanked open the soft velvet curtains.
However he immediately regretted that as he got blinded by the glaring sun, and he was stunned to see himself in a forest.
Thankfully, before Viv could freak out any longer, a familiar voice entered the room.
"You're finally awake."
Sid leaned against the doorway, smiling with an innocent expression as if they weren't in a mysterious secluded mansion's room.
"Get me back."
"No breakfast?" Sid raised a brow. "After getting yourself beat up by some low grade hooligans, and going through the trouble of treating you. I don't even get the pleasure of having a meal with my dear messenger?"
"..."
Viv stopped his retort as his expression changed under his mask.
"...Did you take off my mask while I was sleeping?"
Sid raised his hands in surrender, rolling his eyes.
"Why would I be interested with how ugly you were underneath that thing? Don't worry, I know you would be mad if I did, and I'm not as low as a pervert to take a peak."
Viv didn't know how to respond to that, as he just stood there awkwardly.
"Anyways...breakfast?"
A grin stretched to each side of Sid's beautiful face.