The rest of the trip towards the city of Fallvien had been… interesting for Matt to say the least. Akira had remained glued to his side the rest of the journey with her arms wrapped around his massive forearm as they walked. They had continued their conversation a little more about their new arrangement, ironing out some of the finer details in order to at least pass as a couple in front of the public and in front of her subordinates. However it didn't take too long before the conversation took a turn and Matt suddenly felt like they were more or less on a date together. Akira had begun asking him questions more about himself and the life he led before he'd come to this world, while still hanging onto his arm the whole time.
Matt had always been the kind to more or less keep to himself. It was not only a part of his job in a way to keep his personal life close to the chest, but he also never really saw any reason to talk about himself in the first place. So at first, when he had honestly begun opening up to her, he startled himself a little. It felt odd talking about himself, even if he was just answering her questions truthfully. He wondered if it had anything to do with that feeling he now had in the pit of his stomach, that small ember that was glowing a little brighter and brighter and was threatening to turn into the small flame of a candle.
"So these warriors, these…Seals? They are like assassins then no?" Akira asked as she gently traced her fingertip over the outline of one of his tattoos like some sort of love drunk girlfriend holding onto her boyfriend.
She had suddenly poured on the lovey dovey act a bit more when they began to approach a caravan that was parked just off to the side of the road. It was Matt's first time seeing other races besides Akira and the goblin he had killed back in the wheat field and what he saw left him a bit awestruck. There was a humanoid being of about average height and looked to be of an average fighting age male with long blonde hair and long pointed ears. There was also a female of the same kind but she had slightly darker skin and short brown hair. Then there was a short stout female figure who wore a comically large pair of glasses and was reading from a rather heavy looking book. Finally there was the tall reptilian figure that Matt guessed was some sort of dragonborn being with a long face and tail who stood leaning against the caravan with what looked like a halberd held in their arms.
When the duo got close enough to see the beings, Akira began holding onto his arm a little tighter and talking a little bit louder about how much she was enjoying being in Matt's company and that she "wished this day would never end." She was really playing the part of the clingy girlfriend even as they casually passed by the small squad around the caravan. They group paid them little attention as they passed and Matt could tell from a quick glance over to them that they were doing their best to avoid interacting with the supposed love struck couple. Matt guessed that public displays of affection could be awkward anywhere you went, even in other worlds. Akira kept up the act for a bit longer even after they had left ear shot distance of the caravan before she looked up at him with a sly grin. That was when Matt found out she had done the little act on purpose to draw any weary suspicions away from them. Being so overt, it was covert. She then continued her line of questioning shortly after which brought them to her current question.
"In a way I guess you could say that. We did a lot more than just assassinations though. We also did things like protection of VIP's, gathering information through multiple means, and responding to urgent threats around the world." Matt replied.
"Oh I see, so more like a spy on covert missions then?"
"Yeah. In a roundabout way I guess you could say that too."
"You keep speaking in the past tense, is that because you are no longer one of these Seals? Or is it simply because now you are here and away from your duties?"
"Little bit of column A and a little bit of column B. It's a bit complicated. I still have my trident, the thing that makes me who I am but I was… temporarily out of action and I'll just leave it at that for now"
Thankfully Akira didn't seem to want to push the matter any further and simply nodded as if she understood him.
"I believe I understand at least a little of what you say then. You and I aren't too different then in that regard. I too know what it's like to no longer be a part of something bigger than oneself" Akira said as her ears fell back a little on her head.
"Care to elaborate a little more on that one?" Matt asked as he tried to pry a little more information out of her.
"Mmm nope" Akira smiled as she looked up at him with a sly look on her face.
"Fair play" Matt replied with a small shrug.
Akira laughed a little and held onto his arm a little tighter again. It made sense that she had her own secrets she wanted to keep as well. Matt figured that if they were important enough for him to know that he'd find out eventually one way or another. He just hoped it wasn't something that might come to bite him in the ass for not figuring out sooner.
"All is fair in love and war, is not darling?" Akira smirked with her sly grin.
"Couldn't have said it better myself, dear" Matt replied as he played along with her antics.
She laughed a little before she let go of his arm and put a little space between them as they grew closer to the crest of a hill on the path before them. Matt could hear muted noises now in the distance as they grew closer to the top of the hill. Akira smiled broadly at him as she began to walk with a little skip in her step and her hands behind her back ahead of him on the path. She got to the top of the hill before him and waited there, watching him as he grew closer with a warm smile on her face.
The city of Fallvien was much bigger and grander than Matt had thought it out to be. It reminded him almost of a European city back home with tall apartment buildings and cobblestone roads. The city was massive, spanning out to his left and right with high inner city walls built in layers of three distinct rings. Other buildings of all sorts and kinds spilled out past and even on the walls in some cases, reaching down long roads that filtered into the surrounding countryside nearby. What surprised Matt the most though, was the people. The sheer number of different beings that looked like they were straight out of some fantasy world novel blew his mind. Even at this distance further down the road they were on, Matt could see strange and unique looking creatures just walking up and down the streets going about their lives and intermingling with one another like it was just a casual Tuesday evening to them. It might as well have been that too as Matt had no idea what day it was here in this world or what kind of calendar they followed if any as well. Matt watched as he saw a man with a large beard and red skin riding a cart pulled by what looked like a beast that was a strange mix of a buffalo and a ram began to approach them from down the road. The man waved one of his arms in their direction and Matt saw Akira wave back to him out of the corner of his eye.
"There's our ride" Akira said in an almost sing song tone of voice
"Our ride?" Matt asked
Akira only smiled at him and continued to wave as the cart continued to grow nearer until the man driving it stopped alongside them on the road.
"Evening to ya both. Been a while since I last saw you through this way Lady Akira. Seems you have some… interesting company with you this time too" the man on the cart said as he leaned over towards them in his seat a little.
Matt had played enough games in his down time to know that this man was most likely some sort of demonic race like a Tiefling or something. Though they had horns on their heads and long whip-like tails that made them look like devils, they were often depicted as just another civilized race in most games and stories that could be peacefully coexisting with everybody else. The man had two short horns on the top of his head and he could see his tail laying lazily across the seat next to him. The man was a little bit older in his years judging by the number of gray hairs he could see on both his long swept back hair and well trimmed beard and Matt could tell by the man's physical physic that he was no stranger to manual labor either. The strange looking beast of burden ahead of the cart snorted and shook its larger shoulders as its bullvine tail whipped back and forth at the insects flying around it. To Matt, this man and his carriage screamed every bit of a family man who was starting to settle into his late forties. Something Matt himself felt a slight kinship with.
"It's sure has been a while Mr. Thomas. How are things with the wife and your business?" Akira asked as she was already beginning to climb her way over the side into the carriage as if it was something normal for her to do.
"They're both doing just fine. Just opened up my third shop in the capital thanks to you and your kindness my lady. Sophia's business is doing well too and she still keeps me on my toes. You know her, never one to slow down." the man replied before he looked at Matt and nodded in his direction "And who might this be again?"
The man seemed a bit weary of Matt, as Akira seemed to be making herself at home in the back of his cart and moving things around to make room to sit. She looked to Matt too when Thomas pushed the question once more before she moved to the front of the carriage and leaned over the seat next to Thomas with a sly grin on her face. Matt had already spent enough time with her at that point to see the thoughts moving behind those dazzling eyes of hers and that… scared him a little.
"That's my husband, Matthew Winters," she replied as a matter of factly.
The poor man's reaction was similar to Matt's when she had first proposed the idea of marriage to him. His eyes went wide with surprise and he sputtered and stammered as he rapidly looked back and forth between both Matt and Akira who was leaning over the seat beside him. It took the man a few more moments then it had taken Matt for him to finally find the words to say.
"What in nine hells are on about?" the man asked.
"Dear, this is one of my close friends that I had mentioned earlier, Thomas. Both he and his wife Sophia are very good friends of mine" Akira smiled
Matthew could tell she was taking great pleasure in the man's anguish as Thomas put both hands over his face and slowly dragged them downwards till they fell upon his lap.
"Akira, what have you done? Have you conned this poor man into another one of your schemes?" Thomas asked.
"I assure you Mr. Thomas that Matthew and I are deeply in love with one another and our marriage is as real as your very own" Akira replied with her hands on her hips now.
"Wash your mouth with such words. You and I both know that's a far-fetched farce and you've gone and dragged some poor innocent man-" Thomas then looked to Matt "Well as innocent as one might be, into your convoluted schemes to avoid getting in trouble. Have you no shame?"
"Oh hush now. It's not as bad as you make it out to seem. He is actually fully aware of my reasons and we have moved into an official agreement with another" Akira replied and actually stuck her tongue out a little at the man.
"Is this true man?" Thomas asked as he looked at him "I love her to death like she was my own kin but this one can be a right pain in the ass if you know what I mean. I just wanna make sure you know what your getting yourself into here"
"Hey!" Akira yelled out as she stomped her foot on the floor of the carriage in anger at Thomas.
"I assure you that even though she might not have given me all her reasons she might have for this marriage, I am completely aware of the purpose of our union" Matt replied.
"God's given strength to you then" Thomas sighed after a moment and shook his head.
Akira then delivered a punch to the man's arm that he didn't even seem to notice as he slouched a little in his seat and shook his head.
"Right, well. Get on in then friend. Hours are growing late and I assume the two of you would probably like a warm meal in your stomachs and a few drinks before you head off to bed for the evening, or have you two already consummated your marriage already?"
Akira's face turned bright red at Thomas's words and began landing a flurry of blows on the man's backside as he laughed with the victory of his revenge. Matt smiled a bit and walked around to the back of the carriage to get in while the two were still at it. The carriage shifted as Matt stepped into it and Akira paused a moment in her assault as she turned to watch him get in. Her eyes sparkled as she watched him with a bit of innocent wonder on her face for a moment as Thomas could be seen behind her being the one to smile slyly behind his beard for a change as he looked at her.
"Oh my. You've actually gone and fallen for one haven't ya?" The man whispered to her in a slight tease but she did not respond as she watched Matt take his seat towards the back of the carriage to even out its weight.
"Right then, let's get going" Thomas said a bit louder this time as he turned and snapped the reins.
Akira was quiet for most of the ride into the city. Matt had noticed she had kept mostly to herself after whatever words the two had exchanged at the front of the carriage while he was getting in. He wasn't sure what was said exactly but he believed it had affected her attitude for a time before she seemed to forcefully snap herself out of it by smacking herself on the cheeks. He looked at her a bit confused but she only smiled with slightly red cheeks from the aftermath of her self inflicted strike. Matt had been about to ask her if she was alright when Thomas asked him a question from the front of the carriage.
"So Mr. Matthew, you got a family name I should be calling you by?"
"Winters, but you can call me Matt. Not really one for such formalities" Matt replied with his low voice that sounded like one of those old gruff cowboys in the movies from long ago.
"Good. Because truth be told, though I am a businessman myself, I'd rather leave such matters for those that care about such trivial things. If that make sense" Thomas replied
"I understand you perfectly fine" said Matt
"So then Matt, is this your first time in Fallvien?"
"It is. Anything I should know about the city?" Matt asked
"It's one of the few larger cities in Harvest if you haven't been to many of the others before. Because of its size and location it's one of the largest mixed cities around as well that's technically outside of the Venindale province."
"Mixed Cities?"
"Cities that aren't predominantly inhabited by one race or another. Though I assume all cities are like that in the North aren't they?" replied Thomas
Matt looked over at Akira quickly who gave him a quick confirming nod.
"Guess I didn't realize cities elsewhere would be any different" Matt replied with a safe response, as he kept up the act of being a Norn from the Northern Plane of Existence.
"It's a shame really. Though I've only ever opened up my businesses in mixed cities, I couldn't imagine trying to open up shop somewhere like the elven cities in Cillian." Thomas sighed.
"What kind of business do you own?" Matt asked as he masterfully redirected the conversation a little.
"Thomas owns a series of general good stores in a few different cities as well as a tavern and inn here in Fallvien. His wife even owns a small realtor business as well" Akira said as she answered for Thomas
"Damn. Seems like you are both a regular pair of entrepreneurs" Matt chuckled lightly.
"It had originally started off as a family business, the general stores and such. I come from a long line of adventurers in the family who eventually set up shop and began selling all their looted wears they gathered along the way. I took up the mantle of the job after my mother finally retired and have been growing it ever since. The tavern was actually my wife's idea. I wanted a place where all of our old adventuring buddies come meet together again like the old days and she suggested owning a tavern to give them a place to drink and stay the night" Thomas explained
"Now it's one of the best tavern inns in the city" Akira chimed in
"All because of our dear friend here. Your wife here is no small donor into the expansion of our businesses. Without her, we wouldn't have a fraction of the luck we've had in our lives." Thomas replied.
"Oh hush you. I was just simply helping some old friends" Akira said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Matt caught the blush that came to her cheeks though when Thomas referred to Akira as Matt's wife. Her tails also betrayed her true feelings as they wagged back and forth behind her as one. What Thomas had said made Matt feel a little better about who Akira really was now. It seemed to him that she had helped the couple out in the past and in no small way either. Matt didn't know what the situation was with any of them, but it sounded to him like Akira was at least a helpful friend to others. That made him smile at her a bit as the carriage bounced a little down the road as they went deeper into the city.
Eventually the carriage came to a stop outside a well lit building with large frosted windows that only allowed light to pass through. Several small steps lead to a recessed wooden door that had a small, square, clear window on it. The building was about two stories high and a wooden sign that read "The Blue Hedgehog" hung over the doorway from a metal bar.
"We're here" Thomas said and he began to climb down from the carriage to the cobblestone street below.
Just then the front door to the Blue Hedgehog swung open and Matt saw a young man wearing a black newsboy hat coming running down the steps towards them.
"Welcome back Mr. Morimir!" The boy said as he grabbed the reins from Thomas "Do you need any help carrying anything in?"
Matt saw that the boy had a tail as well, however his was long and thin. He also noticed that a pair of larger ears stuck out from under the hat and through his hair that looked more like mouse ears. The boy stood attentively as he held onto the reins almost as if he was standing at attention and waiting for further orders. Thomas simply turned to the boy after he had handed him the reins and clasped his hand onto the boy's shoulder.
"For the last time Thyduis, just call me Thomas please. And unless these folk here have anything else…?" Thomas then looked to Matt and Akira who both shook their heads as they dismounted the carriage "then you may go put Beatrice away for the evening"
"Yes sir!" the boy replied and snapped a quick solute by hitting his right hand over his chest and snapping his heels together before he quickly climbed up the carriage and began to drive away.
"Apologies about that one. He's the son of a friend of mine who just got back from active duty as a runner for the Dark Elf Queen's Army. He's a good boy but it seems old habits die hard with that one" Thomas sighed.
Matthew watched as the cart rolled down towards the next block before it turned down the street and disappeared from view. The boy looked so young but Matt could see that even through his eager outward demeanor, the kid already had skeletons in his closet. That made Matt wonder if there were more people like that in this world, if things like monster attacks, war, and such were more commonplace. He decided though it wasn't worth getting into right then and there and pushed the thoughts from his mind as he turned back to face the others. Akira stood by his side, presumingly waiting for him as she waved Thomas off and telling him he needn't apologize for the boy. She then looked up to Matt with a grin as she once again wrapped herself around his forearm.
"Are you ready to head inside darling? I could use a good meal and a bath after being on the road for so long together"
Matt saw that same mischievous look return to her eyes as she looked up at him with her sly smile. She sure was hamming it up now that they were finally in the city but it was clear Thomas saw right through it as he rolled his eyes dramatically and began to head for the door.
"Right, right. Come on now you 'love birds.' Let's see what we can get you to eat." Thomas said over his shoulder as he went up the steps to the Blue Hedgehog and stood in the doorway.
Both Akira and Matt began to follow him inside, Akira humming a playful tune Matt didn't recognize as she clung onto him the whole time. The inside of the Blue Hedgehog was not what Matt thought it would have looked like from outside. It was much more spacious than he thought it was to be but maybe that was in part due to the fact that it wasn't an entirely enclosed building. The whole back side of the building was open leading to a courtyard surrounded by several other buildings. A Long bar ran up the length of the left side of the entrance and curved to face in towards the courtyard. A balcony over the bar showed several patrons sitting at small round tables or leaning over the banisters and people watching everyone below. Behind them Matt could make out doors with large numbers on them making him believe that they were most likely the actual rooms people would be staying in.
The right side of the building was filled with mostly tables and booths that were already filled with all sorts of different beings that looked to be straight out of some fantasy novel. No one seemed to pay them any mind though as most seemed to be enthralled with their food, drinks, and other company they already had. The courtyard that was at the back of the building was expansive and Matt could see the corner of what looked to be a stage where he could hear the melodies of music coming from. Blocking his full view of the stage was what looked to be like a giant swirling… portal of some sort housed inside a wall of stone. Matt wondered if it was one of the Gates that Akira had mentioned before or just a portal to a smaller pocket dimension. She had told him that Gates were large swirling vortexes of space that moved in a clockwise manner. They also came in several different colors but were usually shades of Blue, Purple, or Green. This particular portal though was a pinkish tone and moved with a counter clockwise spin.
Matt watched as a pair of beings, a Tiefling woman and an Elven man, walked side by side into the portal. There was a sound that Matt could only describe as 'warbling' as the two passed through the mystical barrier that rippled like water as they went through and disappeared on the other side. Cheers came from a nearby table as drinks were raised as if in joyous celebration to the two who had just left and somewhere a bell was rung three times.
"That's one of the pocket dimension portals I was talking about. That particular one is called 'loves true trial.' Apparently only those who are destined to be together may enter" Akira whispered as she leaned in a little closer on Matt's arm "Should we try it?"
She was again teasing him and Matt looked down at her as she was shooting him a wide, beautiful smile that was no doubt in effort to try and fluster him in some way. Matt only smiled back at her though and instead rapped his arm around her midsection, holding her closer to him still as he looked into her eyes.
"You really think we need some portal to tell us that you're forever mine?" Matt replied
For once, it was actually Akira's turn to look up at him with a surprised look and a red blush across her cheeks. She seemed at a loss for words and she almost melted a little when he had pulled her closer. Matt grinned wide down at her as Thomas laughed.
"Ho ho! Better watch yourself! Seems like you may have met your match!"
That only made her cheeks grow even more red as she got more and more flustered. Matt decided to spare her any further embarrassment and let go of her, sliding his arm back to his own side as Akira took a moment to collect herself. She then looked up at him looking pretty upset with her cheeks cutely puffed out and her ears pinned back against her head. Her tail whipped back and forth in agitation at him and her gaze narrowed on him.
"W-what?" Matt asked as he felt a little bit of pressure suddenly fall on his shoulders.
"Akira," Thomas said with a bit of strain in his voice.
Matt turned to see that the man was visibly sweating a little and he looked like he was almost out of breath, as if he had just finished a very long and intensive workout. Several other beings in the nearby booths and tables had stopped their conversations as well and now all attention was on them, specifically on Matt and Akira. The heavy feeling Matt had felt suddenly lifted from Matt's shoulders but Akira was still glaring up at him as Matt began to hear the murmurs starting from the nearby tables.
"Did you feel that?"
"That aura was coming from her"
"He must have really screwed up big time for her to hit the whole room like that"
"Why don't we go ahead and get the two of you checked into a room before dinner huh?" Thomas asked aloud as he came around behind the two and did his best to place his hands on both of their shoulders "No sense in squabbling when tonight is half price drinks for everyone!"
Thomas made sure to yell out the last part and the tense atmosphere around them had vanished as the mention of half priced alcohol was announced and the crowd cheered. Akira turned away from Matt a little, her arms folded over her chest as she gave an audible "Hmph." Thomas then led the duo over towards the stairs but stopped quickly at the receptionist counter to grab a pair of keys before he continued to escort the two to the second floor. Akira made a point to walk on the other side of Thomas and away from Matt as they walked towards the back of the building and out into the buildings that surrounded the courtyard.
Matt didn't know why Akira was acting the way she was. She had been openly teasing him the whole time and now when he returned the favor, she was acting like they were a real couple and as if she had just learned he had been cheating on her or something. Thomas stood as their barrier as he led them along and to a large pair of double doors at the end of the hall.
"This is your room. Now, head inside and cool-your-head. Your scaring my customers" Thomas said as he looked to Akira then up to Matt on his other side "And you"
Matt recoiled a little and pointed to himself as if to ask 'Who me?'
"Yes you. Don't do something stupid like that again unless you two have figured your shit out. Understood?"
Matt was now more confused than ever, but Thomas stepped forward and slid the key into the lock before he turned it and opened the door. Then, before Matt realized what was going on, both he and Akira were shoved into the room before the doors were slammed shut behind them. Everything suddenly felt deftly quiet, even though the muted sounds of the tavern could still be heard through the door and outside. Matt still felt like he could hear a pin drop as for the first time since they'd met, Akira didn't say a word. He looked down to her at his side still and saw she was still standing with her arms folded and her head turned away from him. Her tail was wrapped around her now and she hugged the tip of it.
"W-what… what was that all about?" Matt asked in a gentle low voice.
Akira didn't reply to him, at first, but after a moment or two of silence she let out a long, exasperated sigh and turned a little so he could see her face again. It was beat red now and she was looking up at him through the corner of her eye.
"I suppose it's really not your fault. Really there's no way you would have known" she said so softly that her voice was almost drowned out in the residual noise from outside.
"Know what?" Matt asked
Akira let out another sigh and turned now to completely face Matt in the entrance to the room as she clutched onto her tail a little tighter.
"You touched… my tail" She replied, turning more red as she looked at the floor.
"Your…tail? What does that have to do with anything?" Matt asked.
Akira's ears drooped a little as she began to walk deeper into the room. Matt followed her with his gaze as she walked over to a long sofa against the wall and sat down. She then looked up to him as if waiting for him to join her. He gulped slightly as he felt a little bit of the pressure return to his shoulders and thought that if whatever she was doing had been doing before was enough to disturb a room full of jolly drunks, then he probably wanted to avoid making her do it again where others might be trying to sleep nearby. So he walked over towards her and sat on the other side of the couch beside her. There were an awkward few moments when neither of them said a thing before Matt tried to open up first.
"Look I'm sorry for whatever I did but-"
"Are there tales of Kitsune in the world you come from?" Akira interrupted him
Matt paused for a moment before he answered her "There are I think. At least, I believe there's a few different stories."
"Well here, in this world, stories of my kind tell the tales of great and powerful beings with immense magical power. To many, these are nothing more than old wives tales that mothers tell their children at night before bed. There are so few of us left in the world that we are often thought to be just as made up as the stories they tell about us." Akira said as she gently kneaded her tail in her hands.
"Why are there so few of your kind left?" Matt asked, sensing that what she had just told him was linked to her tails somehow.
"Because of our tails. We get most of our power from our tails. The more someone of my kind has, the more powerful they are and if they have tails of sapphire fur instead of orange or red, then they are considered to be even more powerful… and valuable." Akira replied
Matt was able to put two and two together right there on the spot. Suddenly her reaction to him having touched her tail made a bit more sense to him now as he began to nod.
"I see. So that's really why you hide your true form" Matt asked
Akira nodded and gently held her tail as she stared off at the ground and into empty space. Matt sat thinking for a little bit while Akira waited for him to say something. They sat in companionable silence for a time before Matt spoke up once more.
"Are there others? Like you? Out there in hiding because of what others have done to your kind in the past?" Matt asked.
Akira seemed a bit surprised by his line of questioning but she nodded her head nevertheless in response to him.
"Then that settles it. I guess now I really do have to be your husband, to help keep you safe" Matt said with conviction in his voice.
Akira looked at him, completely stunned. To Matt, the situation made sense. People, no matter what they were or where they came from, always wanted more power. Whether they hunted the Kitsune and took their tales from them or forced them to be slaves for some sort of political power play, they'd do anything to have that kind of power. Matt wasn't dumb, he had no doubt that Akira exceptionally was strong, even by this world's standards. After all she had nine sapphire tails, so she had to be on the level of a goddess or something like that. However it was clear she was still afraid of what others might do if they would ever learn of her true form and abilities. That's why Matt came to his decision. He wasn't sure how much help he could actually be to someone like her but to him… it would be worth it. To live up to the impossible task of being her shield or to be her sword and cut down those that stood in her way. He'd done it before, though it was for his country at the time. But that was a different time. A different edge he'd been seeking out. This was just another new edge. A new, exciting edge.
She then began to laugh. It started off as a low almost silent chuckle, before it grew into an adorable giggle, then a roar of laughter. Akira rolled onto her side on the sofa, her head on his lap as she laughed so hard a tear fell down her cheek. It was adorable really, and even Matt had to admit his declaration was pretty edgy sounding all things considered. Her laugh was contagious though, and after feeling like he had at least lifted her mood a little, he began to laugh a bit as well.
"You are truly such a strange creature. Even in the past, when humans used to walk these lands long ago, they weren't particularly strong. However what they lacked in strength, they made up for in indomitable spirit. I can see that in you now." she said as she then reached up from where she laid her head on his lap and gently touched her hand to his cheek "You may not be the strongest when it comes to physical strength in this world or even the magically inept, but your amazing will power will move mountains."
Matt looked down at Akira laying on his lap as she looked up at him, her auburn hair covering his legs. It was as if all her worries had disappeared right then and there with his declaration and now she even laid part of her combined tails over his lap as well. She was…stunning. Again, like before back in the field earlier that day when they first met, he could not take his eyes off her.
"You know, there are fictional stories in our world that tell similar tales of our current predicament. A man and a woman pretend to fall in love at first sight…" Akira smiled and even bit her lip a little as she looked up at Matt.
That's when he began to laugh but quickly began to apologize for his outburst.
"Sorry. Sorry. It's just… it seems there are some similarities across different worlds no matter where you go. We have stories like that too though they are usually way more drawn out and usually take till the end of the book before they admit their love for one another" Matt said laughing and rolling his eyes at the last bit.
"Mr. Winters," Akira said, sitting up and giggling a bit "Are you insinuating that we are destined to truly fall in love with another?"
She was teasing him again but this time Matt sensed that there was a bit more behind her question as she leaned in a little closer towards him.
"Maybe I am" he replied as they grew a little bit closer.
In true and classic form though, there was a sudden knock at the door. The two paused a mere few inches from one another as the moment seemed all but lost. There was another knock at the door, and Matt let out a defeated sigh as he was ready to get up and answer it. Akira had other plans though. She grabbed Matt by the collar of his shirt and firmly planted her soft red lips against his, holding them together as they both surrendered a bit to one another. Then, slowly, Matt reached his arms up and wrapped them gently around her, being careful not to touch her tail this time. But even then, she moved her tails up and tried to wrap them around his arms as he held her close, their lips locked together.
To Matt, the kiss felt like it lasted for eternity in those few short moments but he wanted it to last forever. It was only when the knocking continued and got more insistent did the two reluctantly break away. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment longer, each hoping that there wouldn't be another knock at the door that would further ruin the moment. But there was, and this time it sounded a little more aggressive on the door's wood surface. Akira let out a growl as she quickly got up and marched over towards the door while the knocking continued. Matt had to admit, he felt a tad bit sorry for you ever being on the other side as Akira grabbed the door handle and flung it open?
"What!?"
"M-Mr. T-T-Thomas told me t-t-t-tell you that uh dinner is uh ready whenever you are!"
It was the poor boy from earlier, Thydius. He was clutching on to his cap in his hands and was already bowing when Akira had ripped open the door. To the kid's credit, Matt noticed he only flinched a little at Akira's initial outburst but remained steady, despite his stuttering. Matt had a feeling though that the stuttering was more in part to the boy's general mannerism than his fear of the fox woman standing before him. He remained bowing towards Akira until she let out a sigh and placed a hand gently on his head.
"I'm sorry, Thydius. You just happened to come at the most inopportune time, and I have a feeling that more your bosses fault then your own. Tell Thomas we will be down shortly" Akira replied in a much more gentle tone as she patted the boy's head.
Thydius remained still for a moment after she had stopped patting his head before he snapped to attention and saluted while loudly proclaiming "Yes ma'am! I will relay to Mr. Thomas that you and your spouse will be down shortly!"
The boy then turned abruptly and disappeared down the hall with surprising speed. Akira stood in the doorway and giggled softly before she closed the door and rolled her eyes. Matt smiled back at her as she turned to face him still sitting on the sofa. He had to admit, the boy had to have had some decent training. Not only did he stand firm in front of an overwhelming force, but he also made sure to repeat his orders back to Akira to make sure she knew that he understood her. It made sense that he was a runner like those told of in ancient battles long ago even before Matthews time back on Earth.
Akira made her way over to the wardrobe in the corner of the rather sizable room and opened it. Matt half expected a moth to come fluttering out of it as there was nothing inside when she did so. But then, with a wave of her hand over the empty space in the wardrobe, it was suddenly filled with a countless number of dresses packed tightly within. Matt was stunned by what he had just witnessed but watched as Akira began shuffling through the different dress that now hung inside.
"How did you do that?" Matt asked, as Akira pulled out a black lace dress that looked more like lingerie.
"Hm? Oh I just simply emptied the contents of my storage ring into the wardrobe. Though it seems I've collected a few more dresses since the last time I was here. I believe there's still some stored away that I was unable to fit" she replied as she decided against the lace dress.
"A storage ring? Are these… storage devices common in this world?" Matt asked as he reached up and subconsciously grabbed the bracer on his forearm.
"To an extent. Storage items like the bag of holding are definitely more common amongst the adventuring types and even by some armies. They hold items up to a certain capacity in a pocket dimension and the bags come in various sizes with more or less storage depending on how big they are. Storage rings like this one here, are a bit more rare and though they don't necessarily have a limit to how much they can hold, it's what they can hold is its major drawback. For instance this one here with the blue gem set in it can only have clothing put into it. While this one with the red gem is used solely for food storage. As you can see I have a few different rings for different items, but I also have a bag of holding just in case.
Now, storage bracers like the one you have attached to you are super rare. There is almost no limit as far as anyone has yet to discover what or how many items can be placed inside. The drawback to the bracers though is that once it's equipped to the wearer, it is impossible to take off again without dispelling the magic from it or by cutting off your arm."
"So… I'm stuck carrying around an insanely rare storage item on my arm where everyone can see it?" Matt asked, looking at the bracer a bit dejectedly.
"Hm, well yes but you can always hide items like that on your person so others can't see them." Akira replied
"And how do I go about doing that? I don't wanna go walking around flaunting something that people might try and kill me for"
Akira laughed and shook her head a little "No. No. We wouldn't want that. All you have to do is simply will it to turn invisible. By doing so it'll flood it with the appropriate magic and it should react accordingly."
"Wait, I have magic?" Matt asked looking up at her a bit stunned
"All beings in this world have magic, silly. It's just how attuned to it you are that allows you to better wield it. You were able to summon items and store them earlier, no? Use that same method to instead of summoning or storing items, to make it turn invisible"
This straight up sounded like some sort of in game reasoning for items players could turn the visibility off and on for. Like those stupid looking hats that had great buffs and armor but looked stupid and didn't match the look you were going for with your character. Yeah, Matthew played games too. There was nothing saying one couldn't unwind after kicking down doors and stacking skulls by playing video games or TTRPG's in one's down time.
Matt held the bracer up in front of his face and concentrated on it. He thought about the bracer in his mind, picturing it as it was before, how it would vanish from thin air and reveal his arm underneath and just like that, it was gone. The bracer was completely gone now and the tattooed skin that was under the bracer was revealed. What Matt had forgotten about though, was the exact ink that was under the bracer and that of which he was now staring directly at. There, on full display on his forearm for anyone to see, was the highly provocative naked form of a fucking fox woman staring right back at him. Matt's eyes went wide as he quickly lowered his arm and his eyes darted over to Akira to make sure she hadn't seen it. Instead, Matt's eyes were met with the real life version of his tattoo standing nearly butt ass naked in front of the wardrobe. Akira was in the middle of changing her outfit right there in the middle of the room right in front of him. She had her arms up over her head at the moment, stretching and very clearly putting herself on display on purpose. Matt's jaw hung open slightly and repeatedly moved up and down but he couldn't find any words to say. She grinned over her shoulder at him before she let the dress Matt hadn't seen in her hands before, cascade down over her slender body.
"Come now dear, we wouldn't want to be late for dinner now would we?" she asked in a sultry voice
Oh, she knew exactly what she was doing to him. After a couple of more minutes in their room, the duo made their way down the hall and towards the front of the tavern. Matt had tried to look through his bracer to see if he had anything to change into but the best he could come up with was a pair of dark blue jeans and cowboy boots. He was glad to find he had a change of clothes at least, including a few different shirts, but he decided to quickly change into the jeans and stored his combat pants as well as his other pair of boots he had had on into the bracer. Akira had made no effort to hide her wandering gaze while Matthew changed, but she looked away with a sly smile when his eyes met hers while he was halfway through sliding his jeans on.
Akira had revealed her tails when it was just the two of them in the room together before but Matt had noticed that she had changed them back again to look more like a wolf's tail before they left the room. She was walking ahead of him again along the balcony over the bar and Matt did his best not to outright stare as her hips swayed. She had him wrapped around her finger, and he didn't care one bit. The two of them descended the stairs to the bar below where they saw Thomas accompanied by two beautiful women standing behind the bar. One of the women wore a long black dress that seemed a bit much for the current atmosphere in the room but it fit her rather nicely. She was a tiefling like Thomas and by the way he stayed glued to her side Matt had to assume that she was the man's wife. The other woman was dressed much more modestly and looked more like a part of the wait staff. She was a tad bit on the shorter side with dark chocolate skin and long pointed ears.
"Good evening to you both" the Dark Elven woman said as the two took a seat at the bar "May I get you two some drinks to start your night?"
"Yes, thank you. I'll take a chardonnay if you wouldn't mind please. Mr. Thomas knows which ones I like most" Akira smiled as she crossed one leg over the other and leaned in a little towards the counter.
"Of course Ms. Akira. And for you sir?" The bartender asked Matt
"I'll just have um, is whiskey a thing here?" Matt asked a little awkwardly.
The waitress cocked her head to the side a little at his question but thankfully Thomas must have stopped fawning over his wife enough to overhear the exchange and stepped in to help.
"Ah yes. We have plenty of different whiskeys here at the Blue Hedgehog. I even have a few imports from the Grand North if your interested in something from home"
For some reason, Thomas mentioning that Matt was from the North made the bartender seem to understand a bit more as she nodded her head and smiled warmly again.
"That'll be fine then" Matt replied and waved his thanks to Thomas.
"Coming right up," the bartender replied.
She left them to make their drinks as Thomas stepped up to the bar with the beautiful tiefling woman beside him.
"Akira, it's so good to see you again. Or should I be calling you Mrs. Akira now?" the Tiefling woman smiled as she shook the other woman's hand over the bar then looked over to Matt with a sly smile.
Akira smiled and wrapped her arms around Matt's muscular arm after she shook the woman's hand.
"It's been far too long Sophia. And yes, this is my loving husband Mr. Matthew Winters"
"Oh? So does that mean you're now…" the woman smiled and leaned on over the bar and whispered just loud enough for only Matt and Akira to hear "Lady Akira Winters of Venindale?"
"From now until the end of eternity" Akira replied and the two women laughed.
Matt could tell the two women had to have been pretty close friends. They addressed each other much less formally than they probably would have with anyone else. The two women laughed before Sophia reached over to shake Matt's hand with her own.
"Pleasure to meet you Mr. Winters"
"Please call me Matt or Matthew, and the pleasures all mine" Matt replied and shook the woman's hand.
The two women exchanged a glance and smiled just as the bartender came back with four drinks instead of just the two. There were two glasses filled with wine and one was given to each of the ladies while the other two shorter glasses that were presumably filled with whiskey and ice were handed to Matt and Thomas. The bartender then gave a small bow before she turned away to tend to the other patrons at the bar.
"A toast" Thomas said as he raised his glass up "To the newly wedded couple"
The four tapped their glasses together before they each took a sip of their respective drinks. The whiskey in Matt's glass was anything special. It probably would have made a great chaser if things like coke existed in this world. The thought of that suddenly saddened Matt a little as Jack and Coke had always been his go to comfort drink and he doubted he'd probably ever have it again.
"It is not the greatest whiskey we have in house, but it is supposedly imported in from the Grand Hall of the InnBetween. Have you ever been there before?" Thomas asked
"No not yet. Though maybe one day that'll change" Matt replied with a smile.
"Shame. I've only ever gone once before myself and the songs do not do it such justice to true charm" Thomas said and shrugged his shoulders as he took another sip of his drink.
"So I hear" Matt replied and did the same.
The two women then began to take over control of the conversation as Sophia asked Akira question after question about how the two had met and how they ended up falling in love with one another. Akira did her best to stretch the truth for as long as she could before she had to resort to lying. What was truly scary was how easily she told the lies and how convincing she had made them as well. Matt felt that if he hadn't actually been there, he might have actually believed everything Akira was saying. She smiled and sipped on her wine slowly and would occasionally shoot him a glance and or a quick wink when Sophia was distracted by her husband or the bartender when she came to refill their drinks.
Akira had left out just enough deliberate details in her story though that Sophia was able to pick up on them and come to her own silent conclusion that her friend's marriage wasn't totally just for love. Matt saw the moment when Sophia connected the dots in her mind when she suddenly began nodding her head a bit more dramatically and gave him a quick glance up and down. Of course, Akira had led her to this conclusion on purpose to steer her away from the rest of the fabrications in her story. Yet again, Matt discovered another new way in which his 'wife,' could be quite dangerous.
Eventually, through Akira's careful manipulation, the conversation was moved away from the two of them and they found out that both Sophia and Thomas were going to start trying for children soon. This topic seemed to peak Akira's interest as Matt caught her tail wagging back and forth rather excitedly behind her.
"I'm hoping that we can at least have two children. I grew up having an older sister and I feel it'd be amazing if they could grow up having a similar relationship that me and my sister have." Sophia said, smiling and clearly reminiscing a bit.
"I'm hoping to have a whole bunch of children!" Thomas said excitedly " I want as many kids as there are days in the week and then some. It's been my dream ever since we met to have a big house in the country filled with lots of little ones all running around and playing!"
Thomas was definitely a bit more excited about the concept of having kids, though his wife didn't really seem to share in his dreams of having a massive family as she rolled her eyes a little at him. Thomas didn't seem to mind though, and pulled his wife in for a kiss that she couldn't help but fall into with a bit of a chuckle.
"All this talk of children honestly makes me consider having some of our someday soon. Don't you agree dear?"
Matt whipped his head around to look at Akira so fast that he almost gave himself whiplash. She was sitting there next to him carefully swirling the wine glass around in her eyes and she wore a loving and doting smile on her lips, but Matt could see the mischievous look in her eyes again.
"Oh? You two are already thinking of having children so soon?" asked Thomas.
"Why wouldn't we?" She replied "Maybe our kids could even grow up together"
Matt was again without any words to say. He hadn't really ever contemplated ever getting married before let alone having kids. Here she was though, the woman he'd met not even eight hours ago who had already convinced him that they should be a married couple and was now already talking about having kids? Part of him knew she was doing it to get a rise out of him. He didn't need to know her that long to know she was a terrible fucking tease and she was already taking great pleasure in any chance she got to tease the hell out of him in any way she could. However, when she mentioned having kids of her own, Matt could tell she was actually genuinely excited by the idea. Her tails were the dead give away. They wagged back and forth more excitedly then he'd ever seen them go before and her eyes lit up wide with excitement. She was actually serious about wanting kids of her own. Matt looked at her for a moment as she paused and looked up at him. There was a small almost pleading look in her eyes when suddenly, the door to the tavern was bashed open and tore both of their attention away from each other.
A group of some pretty rough looking individuals flooded through the door and into the Blue Hedgehog. It was immediately bluntly clear to Matt that most of them were already highly inebriated and weren't exactly here with the best of intentions. As the gang of newcomers flooded into the bar, Matt watched as they immediately began pushing other patrons out of their seats, stole their drinks, and began to drunkenly hit on any women they saw. Matt's brow furrowed as a couple seemed to be getting a little too handsy with one of Thomas's waitresses. He immediately got up out of his seat, ready to intervene when he felt a massive hand grip his shoulder from behind him.
"Oi, if you know what's good for you dire man, then you'll sit your ass back down and stay out of this one, you hear?"
Matt looked over his shoulder to see a man who was as equally as tall as he was with a wide and wicked grin standing behind him.