"What can I do for you?" I asked him nonchalantly.
"Just a cup of normal mead." He said dryly, placing 3 Copper Coins on the counter.
I nodded and took only on Copper Coin before filling up a mug and sitting it before him. The man glanced at the 2 Copper Coins left on the table, then at the mug before looking up at me. There was a moment of silence before he spoke.
"1 Copper Coin for a mug of mead. That is rather generous." He commented suspiciously, ignoring Lu's starring.
"I may have just opened up but this is more a hobby then a job. Something to keep the spice up in my wish for a quiet, yet peaceful life." I shrugged to the man.
"I'm sad to say, today won't be so peaceful. How unlucky you are." He spoke calmly before taking a swing of his mead.
"I beg to differ. I'd bet your the unlucky one." I lightly smiled at the man.
"I think your missing something here." He squinted his eyes at me, holding the mug to his lips.
"You are right. I am missing something." I said thoughtfully before flicking my wrist at the stairway.
A shimmer of mana rippled in the air and collided with two invisible blobs. The invisibility collapsed, revealing two different figures that were dressed just like the man before me. One a woman, the other a man. They stared at me with wide eyes and the man before me flinched. I looked back at him.
"I don't think I'm missing anything else." I smiled at him.
"Null magic..." He whispered in a shaky voice.
"So, we doing this the easy way or the hard way?" I asked with a raised brow.
"What do you want." It was more of a statement than a question.
"Peace." My smile grew.
"Quite being coy! If you know Null Magic then we are as good as dead! So, what the fuck do you want?" He snarled while slamming his fist into the counter.
"Your here for the vampire, right? Why is that?" I asked him as my smile dropped.
"Grrr... Her name is Lady Veronica Ver Lantis the Second. Daughter of the Magister Lantis house from up north. We are here to collect a bounty on her head." He growled in defiance before answering.
"Well, I have one rule that I'm pretty strick on." I said, leaning closer to the man. "No blood will be spilt in my tavern unless I spill it. Leave. If your found on my property again with murderous intentions again, I'll kill you myself." I threatened, staring into his very soul.
There was a moment of silence as he searched for any lies in my eyes. With a click of his tongue, he wave to the other two assassins and left the Tavern. Hannah walked out from the back after the door closed.
"Do you wish for me to dispose of them, My Lord?" She asked.
"No. I've given them a chance. If they appear again with murderous intentions, kill them. Otherwise, leave them be. Good night, Hannah." I shook my head and instructed. I bid farewell with a light wave.
"Very well. Good Night, My Lord." Hannah curtsied as I walked up the stairs.
Lu jumped onto my shoulder and I made my way to my room. Entering the starewell to the third floor, I was met with the covered figure of the vampire woman. Her squinted eyes glance me over before falling on Lu. She raised a brow in surprise before looking me into my eyes.
"Why did you stop them? Also, why didn't you kill them?" Her heavy northern accent was filled with trepidation.
"Any who rent a room are under my care until they leave and because I don't want to stain my floors with blood, even if Hannah could clean it up. Knowing her, she probably could." I shrugged, chuckling my last words.
"That is very... neutral of you..." It was obvious by her tone that she was confused.
"I just want a quite life." I shrugged again, walking passed her and up the last half of the stairs.
"Wait! Was... was the really Null Magic?" She called out and asked.
"Conjure a spell." I said, turning back to her.
Her brows furrowed but she conjured a fireball nonetheless. With a simple wave of my hand, the fireball flicked and shimmered before fizzling into nothing but a puff of smoke.
"Good Night, Lady Lantis." I chuckled and headed to my room.
After a quick shower, I plopped into bed. Lu cuddled up on my chest, dropping any of her illusions and falling asleep within moments with me.
*****
Veronica stood miffed by William's actions. Null magic had been lost to the ages. If anyone was capable of using such magic, it was only the elitis of the world and very few of them at that. Yet, a 'simple tavern owner' knows how to use such magic. He was truly an enigma of his own. In fact, the moment she saw the waitresses eyes, she had been watching him closely. Even acting drunk to study him more. Veronica shook her head before walking downstairs. The waitress, Hannah, was standing behind the bar and watching her get closer with a small knowing smile. Veronica sat in front of the woman.
"Hello Lady Lantis." Hannah greeted.
"Yes, hello..." Veronica nodded, curiously eyeing the woman.
"Is there something you need?" Hannah asked wait a raised eyebrow.
"Do... Do you think William will help get me to Featherburgs safely?" Veronica asked with hesitation.
Suddenly, Hannah's expression dropped. Her eyes were filled with a coldness that seemed to freeze everything in sight. The head of a snake poke out of Hannah's collar and started at Veronica with squinted eyes. Veronica stiffened at the sight of the diamond shaped head of the snake with awe. Any northerner knew what a Soul Serpent was and how deadly they were. Even as young as it was, it could kill a lot of people. Despite its low ranking, it could kill S-Rank or even SS-Rank beings with its venom.
"Why are you going to Featherburgs?" Hannah asked, her tone like a sharp edge.
"To visit my cousins, The Magister House Lyriss, in search of refuge from the Civil War currently ravaging the northern lands. If all goes well, I can say with them till the Civil War comes to an end." Veronica answer, feeling there was even more to this tavern duo.
"I do not speak for My Lord, as this is a matter you need to ask him, but I don't believe he will help you. He doesn't really like Featherburgs." Hannah said dryly.
"I see... well, Good Night then." Veronica said with a dejected tone before getting up and leaving.
"Good Night." Hannah replied softly.
*****
When I woke up, I stretched out of bed and was greeted by Hannah and her sweet smile like every morning. Her shadow extended and wash over me before receding moments later. I was dressed in my bartenders outfit and ready to tackle another day. Hannah left and I walked over to the cup of coffee sitting at the small table in my room. As I woke up, I enjoyed the cup of coffee with satisfaction. Once finished, I made my way downstairs.
To my surprise, I had company for breakfast. Migard had asked if they could dine with me and I agreed, thankful for the company. However, it quickly descended into awkward silence and Veronica seemed to have a question but was hesitant to ask.
"Is everything alright? Is there something wrong with the food?" I asked her in concern.
"Huh? Oh, no. The food is perfect." She jolted in shock and quickly answered.
"That answers one question but not the other." I commented with a raised eyebrow.
"I... I would like to ask you for help." Veronica hesitated but spoke nonetheless.
"What are you doing?" Migard gave her a confused yet stern look.
"Sir Migard, I know the importance of this mission but please, just trust me." Veronica pleaded.
"What exactly do you need help with?" I interrupted.
"Well, two things. The first is to help escort me to Featherburgs gates. I'm heading there to seek refuge with my cousins. However, I'm not entirely sure they will help me. They might even turn out to be an enemy. So, my second request is that if they turn out to be the ladder, I wish to hire you to keep me safe." Veronica's words brought a frown to my lips.
"Who exactly are your cousins?" I asked her.
"Magister House Lyriss." She answered, her eyes filled with hope.
"Hannah, would mind going with them and making sure they are safe. If it turns out to be unsafe for her, bring her back?" I asked the Dark Maid standing behind me.
"If that is what you will, then I will abide, My Lord." She lightly bowed her head.
"Very well, make sure to take Rolu with you." I nodded before going back to my meal with a light frown.
There was moment of silence but soon the others began talking to each other. We everyone had finished eating, they packed up and Hannah escorted them with the carriage and centaurs. Left alone in my tavern, I sighed and did my daily draw.
{Pulling 1 Random Draw.....}
{Congratulations! You have gained a Summon! Aerial, SS-Rank Dark Maid.}
My jaw dropped as the familiar glyph appeared on the floor but it have many different little details. With a shimmer of darkness, it pooled upward into the figure of a person. The darkness gave way to a stunning women that looked similar to Hannah. The same vertical purple eyes with slit pupils, beaming with the same loyalty that bordered obsession but seemed even more intense. Long shiny black hair that reached the small of her back. The bangs of her hair covered the left eye but one could see the glimmer of purple here or there. Her figure was smaller than Hannah's, her chest being a cup size smaller and it was hard to tell what her ass was like due to the skirt.
"Greetings, Lord Nero." She curtsied to me.
"Um.. *gulp* Hello, Aerial." I nodded back, gulping nervously at the sight of the beauty.
"Is there a task you wish to bestow to me, My Lord?" She asked, standing up elegantly.
"Um... Are you as good as a cook as Hannah?" I asked her hesitantly.
"Big Sis Hannah is also under your care?" She suddenly beamed with emotion.
"Wait... Hannah is your older sister?" I tilted my head to the side.
"Yes, My Lord." She nodded.
"Well, to asnwer your question, she is. Currently, she is completing a task I gave her and probably won't be back till tomorrow at latest. Now, how good are you at cooking?" I shrugged to her.
"Big Sis personally mentored me on cooking." She beamed.
"Good, your on kitchen duty then." I smiled to her.
She curtsied once more and left to the kitchen. I walked behind the bar and stood there. After an hour, Lu showed up and started walking around as if looking for something. I watched her with a raised brow. Suddenly, a mouse skittered out in fear but Lu pounced on it. There was a light crack with a sqeak and before I knew it, Lu had swallowed the little rodent. I chuckled dryly, learning why I haven't had a pest problem yet. The bell at the door chimed as it opened and 4 people walked in. I squinted my eyes in suspicion as the 3 assassins from last night walked in. Behind them, there was someone I knew of but never met.
"Lady Gillian Lyriss. What pleasure it is to have a young Magister scion in my tavern." I greeted with a cold tone.