Rei recognized the voice, but couldn't quite place it.
"Great, another one to knock down" Rei thought, though she was secretly glad she had another chance to test some more combat strategies. She was actually having fun, for once! Beating up more experienced people was very fulfilling. Some of her teachers had called her overconfident, but she was showing them all she deserved that confidence. She didn't even care who her opponent was, as long as they had some fun moves or at least a novel strategy. Yet, when she finally turned around to see who her opponent was, she couldn't help but yelp in surprise. It was Wuwu's instructor! She guessed he was called "mad", after all.
She didn't even answer his plea, and immediately blasted him with a wind rune. Yet… he didn't even budge.
"Lady Raelynn, there's nothing I would like more than to take more magic blasts to the face, but, sadly for you, I'm not your enemy this time." the Hatter said, with an unrelenting smile "My friend Nazik here might be a little stupid…"
"I resent that!" said Nazik, still striking at the spikes
"And he also makes terrible choices on who his employer is. Really, Nazik, you're going with Smynth?" the Hatter continued.
"At least he pays on time and in advance, unlike certain person I know!" Nazik rebutted "And I'm tired of fish, it's been weeks man!"
"You know the Largengarten family is rich, right?" Rei finally interjected "I'm sure I could double your pay, easy. Though I would vastly prefer to pay you to take some fireballs, I need to adjust some parameters."
Nazik stopped striking at the spikes and seemed deep in thought for a few seconds. He then talked like a true salesman "Hatter, ol' buddy ol' pal, help a man out, please, you know there's no bad blood here. And I obviously don't wanna fight a true, close friend like you. What was I thinking, accepting this mission! But I'm free as the wind, if the wind took gold as payment."
Hatter sighed. "As you can see, my lady, this guy is no danger, except to himself." His tone suddenly grew more grave "And he wasn't fighting you seriously. He's stronger than he looks"
Nazik suddenly cut every spike in front of him, and slowly walked towards the Hatter. "You didn't have to ruin the fun like this, hatman" he said "you know I hate when you're right... and to disappoint young ladies. Still, my offer does still stand."
Rei couldn't decide if she wanted him as an ally, or as a practice victim. Maybe both.