Elrand turned around and froze at the sight of the towering figure behind him. The big man was massive, easily six feet tall, and his presence commanded authority.
He was towering, standing even taller than the doorway itself, making him an imposing and formidable figure. The man's sheer size and height filled the room, causing Elrand's heart rate to spike in response.
The big man had quietly entered the room, his tall frame filling the doorway. Elrand's heart rate quickened as the man continued into the room.
"Is it funny to defy my orders?'" the man thundered, his voice booming through the room.
"Do you think I'm joking? You're the leader, Cassidy, yet you allow this behavior? You should be disciplining them, not encouraging their disobedience"
"Cassidy's eyes widened as the big man's menacing presence loomed over her. She quickly snapped into a serious expression and bowed down to him, her body trembling with fear.
" I-I'm so sorry, sir!" she stuttering, her voice shaking with terror.
" I promise this will never happen again, sir Lockhart. I'll make sure of it" Her body was tense, fully submissive to his authority as she waited for his response.
Before the big man could respond, Elrand stepped in, cutting Cassidy off.
" No, sir,'" he said firmly. "This is not her fault. I'll take whatever punishment you see fit."
Cassidy looked at him in surprise, touched by his loyalty. "Elrand, no, it's alright," she protested, but he shook his head, determined to take responsibility for the team's actions.
" I'll take care of it,'" he said, with a firm tone of certainty.
The big man watched the exchange between Cassidy and Elrand, his expression stern but contemplative. After a moment, he spoke up, his voice booming through the room.
"I see. You're really loyal to your leader, aren't you, Elrand?"
Elrand simply nodded, his gaze steady and determined.
"Yes, sir," he replied, his voice firm. "Cassidy is a great leader, and I trust her completely. I would never let her face the consequences alone."
The big man regarded Elrand for a moment, his eyebrow raised slightly.
"You really believe in her, don't you?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Elrand simply nodded in affirmation.
"Absolutely," he replied. "Cassidy has never led us astray, and she always has our best interests at heart. I have complete faith in her abilities as a leader."
The big man nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
"That kind of loyalty is rare these days," he said, a note of approval in his tone. "But you cannot always shield her from the consequences of her actions. She is the leader, and it is her responsibility to ensure her team follows orders and behaves appropriately."
Elrand nodded in agreement.
"I understand, sir," he said, his expression serious. "But I still think this situation was not completely her fault. Some of the team acted on their own accord and she tried to stop them."
The big man considered Elrand's words for a moment before replying.
"I see," he said, his tone thoughtful. "While it may be true that some of the team acted on their own accord, it is still Cassidy's responsibility to ensure that they follow orders and behave accordingly. She is their leader, after all."
He then looked at Cassidy, who was nervously watching the conversation unfold.
"Cassidy," he said, his tone firm, "you understand that you are responsible for your team's behavior, correct?"
Cassidy nodded, her expression serious.
"Yes, sir," she said, her voice steady. "I understand that it is my responsibility as the leader to ensure that my team follows orders and behaves appropriately, and this situation is no exception."
"Good," the big man said, his tone slightly relenting.
"You understand the severity of the situation and the importance of your role as a leader. Remember this experience and ensure that your team does not repeat this kind of behavior in the future."
The big man then nodded, his stern expression softening slightly.
"You're lucky," he said, looking at the team. "You won't have to engage in battle, as the situation has been taken care of by one of the transcenden. But that doesn't excuse your actions. You still need to be disciplined for your disobedience."
"what do you mean by that sir" Cassidy said as she was wondering what was happening.
Lockhart shuddered as the memory of the gruesome scene filled his mind.
"It looks like a half-transcendent or higher entity dealt with the situation," he said, his voice strained. "It's quite disgusting - the cultist looks like it was ripped apart by a hungry beast, leaving flesh and bones scattered everywhere."
Lockhart couldn't help but feel repulsed at the sight of the cultist torn apart by some unknown beast.
'Damn transcendent,' he muttered to himself, 'can't even control themselves. Such a mess.' The hatred in his voice was clear.
Cassidy looked at the big man, her expression serious.
"Sir," she said, her voice steady, " Is it the people of Avelin or another association
"We've contacted all the other associations," said Lockhart firmly, "but none of them claim responsibility for this mess. It appears to be the work of a 'Loner', but we need to be careful. We don't know what their motives are, so make sure you all keep your guard up."
"Alright," said Lockhart. "That's all for now. Everyone, you are dismissed. Except for Elrand, I need to speak with you privately."
The other team members nodded and began to file out of the room. Elrand hung back, waiting until everyone else had left before turning to face Lockhart.
Lockhart looked at Elrand for a moment, his expression serious.
"The situation with the cultist has been resolved, but I need to talk to you about something else," he said, gesturing for Elrand to sit down.
Elrand obediently sat down, his eyes fixed on Lockhart, waiting for him to speak.
Lockhart leaned forward, his expression stern.
"Elrand, this is an order," he said, his tone firm and commanding. "You will not engage in any reckless pursuit of revenge. Your responsibilities to the association are paramount, and we have already decided on compensation for your losses."
"And if you feel the need to grieve, then you have been granted leave," he continued, his voice leaving no room for argument. "Do not let your emotions cloud your judgement and lead you to do anything foolish."
Elrand nodded, his expression a mixture of chastisement and resignation.
"Yes, sir," he replied softly. "I understand. I'll focus on my responsibilities to the association and will use my leave if I need it."
There was a brief moment of silence as Lockhart watched him intently, gauging his emotional state.
Lockhart nodded in acknowledgment, his tone softening slightly.
"Good," he said, watching Elrand closely. "I'm glad you understand. Your loyalty and dedication to the association are valuable, and I don't want to see you jeopardize that with reckless behavior."
"You are dismissed," Lockhart said, waving a hand to indicate that the conversation was over. "Take care of yourself, Elrand. And if you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."
Elrand nodded once more, then stood up from his chair.
"Thank you, sir," he said quietly, before turning and walking out of the room.
" As for your punishment, I will decide that later," he continued, his voice stern. "But for now, you are dismissed. You may go
"Yes, sir," he replied softly.
As the night deepened, the sky darkened further, and the air grew slightly colder. The sound of crickets and other night creatures echoed in the distance, adding to the sense of isolation. The stars glittered brightly above and the gentle flicker of the campfire cast dancing shadows on the faces of the group.
The campfire crackled and hissed as the flames slowly consumed the dry wood. The fire cast a warm, flickering light on the surrounding area, illuminating the faces of the people gathered nearby. The smoke from the fire danced in the air, creating swirling patterns before eventually dissipating into the night sky. The burning wood released a comforting scent, and the heat from the flames provided a warm, cozy atmosphere for those sitting around the campfire.
The night was still and calm, they gathered around the comforting light of and the group sat in comfortable silence.
Ruell leaned towards Matt who was sitting beside him and whispered,
"Hey, Matt, can I ask you something?"
Matt turned to look at Ruell and responded, "Yeah, what's up?"
Ruell paused for a moment before continuing,
"I was just wondering, why are you lighting a campfire when we have a two-story house right here?"
Matt shrugged and replied, "Cassidy asked me to do it, so I'm just following her lead."
Ruell's expression shifted to puzzled and curiosity.
Ruell suddenly broke the silence with a sly grin. "You know what? I've got an idea to boost the mood for tonight," he announced.
Cassidy raised an eyebrow. "Oh, this should be good."
Ruell pulled out a box of beer with a flourish. "Ta-dah!" he said, winking at her.
Cassidy was taken aback for a moment, then broke into a grin. "You sly dog! You are the best."
Matt looked at Ruell incredulously. "When the hell did you even pack that?"
As Matt looked at Ruell in disbelief, Ruell chuckled and retorted, "Oh, come on, didn't you know I always come prepared?"
Matt crossed his arms. "Seriously? You carried that thing the whole way?"
Ruell raised an eyebrow, a smirk on his face. "Of course. A good adventure isn't complete without a bit of liquid courage."
"Elrand bring the glass! Lets enjoy ourselves tonight!"
The team continued their light-hearted banter, passing around the box of beer. The warm glow of the campfire cast dancing shadows across their faces. Suddenly, a voice interrupted the easy chatter.
"Ahem, excuse me, is there room for one more here?"" Lockhart said, joining the circle around the campfire.
The team looked up, surprised to see him. "Well, well, look who decided to join us," Cassidy said, a sly grin on her face.
Lockhart chuckled. "Yes, well, Thought I'd join in the fun."
Ruell chuckled, raising his bottle in a mock toast. "Never thought we'd see the day you actually join us for a drink, Mr. Serious," Ruell said, causing a wave of laughter to ripple around the fire.
Lockhart chuckled sheepishly. "Well, I suppose even I have my moments of weakness."
Cassidy chimed in, swirling the beer in his bottle. "You know, it's like they say, 'all work and no play makes Lockhart a dull boy."
Elrand couldn't help but be surprised. He was used to Lockhart as a stern and authoritative figure, and witnessing this softer, more relaxed side was a bit unexpected.
He leaned over to Cassidy, his voice lowered, and asked, "Is Lockhart always like this?"
Cassidy chuckled, her eyes still fixed on Lockhart. "No, not quite," she replied in a hushed tone. "This is a rare sight."
Just then, Lockhart's eyes flicked towards them, and he seemed to have noticed their exchange. Elrand straightened instinctively, feeling slightly caught.
"Is there a problem?" Lockhart inquired, sensing the slight discomfort on Elrand's face.
Elrand quickly shook his head, trying to maintain his composure.
"No, no, not at all," he said, forcing a smile.
But Lockhart wasn't easily fooled. He arched an eyebrow, eyeing Elrand critically. "You seem a bit on edge," he observed.
Elrand, still feeling a bit uneasy about Lockhart's unexpected presence, tried to keep up with the rest of the group.
As Elrand sat quietly, sipping on his beer, Lockhart noticed his discomfort and approached him.
"Hey Elrand, not enjoying yourself?" he asked, a friendly smile on his face.
Elrand looked up, surprised by Lockhart's casual tone.
"Uh, sir, I'm just trying to relax a little," he replied, feeling a bit awkward.
Lockhart chuckled, then poured some more beer into Elrand's glass. "Come on, loosen up a bit," he said. "You're too tense."
As Elrand held his glass politely and respectably, Lockhart poured more beer into it without any regard for formalities.
"Here, have some more," he said, refilling Elrand's glass to the brim. "You gotta enjoy yourself a little sometimes, you know."
Cassidy, in a drunken state, spoke up.
"Yeah, Elrand, lighten up a bit," she said with a slurred voice, swaying slightly. "You always so serious. Live a little!"
"Alright, alright," he said, a small grin creeping onto his face. "I guess I could have a bit more."
" And you, Lockhart," As Cassidy spoke, slurring her words, she asked Lockhart, in a completely tipsy manner,
"Dude, how the heck did you get so tall? Were you like, fed some kind of magic potion when you were a kid, or something?" She hiccupped and giggled, struggling to stay upright.
As Cassidy blurted out her drunken question about Lockhart's height, Elrand quickly noticed that the tone was far from respectful. He quickly moved to cover her mouth, afraid of the potential consequences.
"Uh, Cassidy, maybe we should tone it down a little," he said, his voice a mixture of concern and embarrassment.
Lockhart chuckled at Cassidy's question, clearly amused by her drunken state. "Oh, that's simple," he said, his tone light and joking. "I never skipped breakfast."
Elrand's eyes widened in surprise at Lockhart's response, not expecting him to take the question so lightly. The entire team laughed at the unexpected answer, and even Elrand found himself smiling slightly.
As the team continued to laugh and banter by the campfire, Cassidy looked up at Lockhart, her expression still a bit hazy from the alcohol.
"Breakfast, huh? You mean I just need to eat a lot of breakfast to get tall like you?"
The other team members snickered at her question, but Lockhart just smiled and replied,
"Well, I guess you could say that. Breakfast is pretty important, after all."
Cassidy pouted, clearly unsatisfied with the answer. "I don't think that's how it works..." she muttered, taking another swig of her drink.
As the team continued to laugh and joke around the campfire, the alcohol clearly having an effect on them, Cassidy suddenly blurted out a surprising confession.
"You know what, the real reason I joined this association was because of you" she said, her words slightly slurred while pointing her finger toward Lockhart
The team looked at her in surprise, caught off guard by her sudden admission. even Lockhart raised his eyebrows, clearly not expecting to be the subject of such a revelation.
Lockhart looked at Cassidy, clearly taken aback by her revelation. "Wait, what do you mean you joined the association because of me?"
Cassidy looked up at Lockhart, her eyes dreamy and her words slurring from the alcohol. Cassidy hiccupped and giggled, clearly feeling the effects of the alcohol.
"You know, sir," she said, giggling. "The reason I submitted to this association instead of other is because of you.
Cassidy continued, her expression becoming more and more infatuated.
"And it's not just your looks," she added. "There're the rumors about you, sir - a middle-aged man who has accomplished various achievements and dedicating your soul to protect normal human. And those piercing blue eyes, broad shoulders, and strong build don't help at all."
She giggled again, obviously swooning over him.
She let out a long sigh, clearly smitten with his appearance. "Every girl in our department is going crazy about you, sir."
Lockhart chuckled at Cassidy's infatuated words, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Well, I'm flattered," he said, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. " I didn't know I've got a secret admirer on the team,"
"But just so you know, I ain't gonna be changing your salary just because you can't keep your focus on the mission. In fact, I might just have to cut it in half to keep you from drooling all over me."
Cassidy's jaw dropped, her eyes widening in shock.
"You can't be serious, sir! You can't just cut my salary in half because of this," she protested, her voice filled with disbelief.
Lockhart leaned back in his chair, a mischievous grin on his face.
"Well, I can, and I will," he said, feigning a stern tone. "If you're gonna be drooling over me all the time instead of paying attention to the mission, then you're not worth the full salary."
And with that, Cassidy huffed and crossed her arms in annoyance.
"You're being stingy, sir," she said, pouting. "It's not fair that you're taking away my salary just because you're a charming, good-looking man."
Lockhart chuckled at Cassidy's comment, his eyes sparkling with amusement. " Well let's decide that as your punisment for now"
Cassidy dramatically threw her arms up in the air, feigning despair. "Oh, the humanity! How will I ever survive on half my salary? I may have to resort to selling my body on the black market or something," she wailed.
The team burst into laughter at her over-the-top antics, including Lockhart who chuckled at her melodramatic display.
As Cassidy continued to bemoan her "poverty" with exaggerated expressions, Lockhart's expression finally turned serious.
"Alright, that's enough, you drama queen," he said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "It's already midnight, and We're heading back to the quater tomorrow. So everyone, head to bed and get some rest."
The pale sunlight streamed through the windows, casting a soft glow over the room.
Birds are starting to chirp, their cheerful songs filling the air. The sky gradually lightens, and the sun begins to make its ascent, bathing the world in a warm, golden hue.
Elrand stirred in his bed as his sheets were tangled around his legs, and his breath came slow and steady. Suddenly, his peaceful slumber was shattered as the door to his room saw burst open with a thud.
"Bang!!…"
Cassidy barged into the room, still in her wrinkled pajamas and Her hair was thrown up in a messy bun, with stray strands escaping and framing her face.
Cassidy stood in the doorway, her hair wildly disheveled and a look of panic on her face.
"W-what's going on?" Elrand mumbled, rubbing his bleary eyes and attempting to untangle himself from the sheets.
"Elrand, wake up!" she said, her voice cracking with worry. "Please tell me I didn't do or say anything embarrassing last night! I can't remember a thing!"
Elrand looked at Cassidy, his expression smug. "Oh, you mean last night when you confessed that you joined the association because of Lockhart's looks and charm?" he teased.
Cassidy's eyes widened in horror. "I did what?!" she exclaimed, blushing furiously. "Oh my god, please tell me I didn't say that out loud..."
Elrand chuckled at her reaction, still looking rather smug. "Yep, you did. You were gushing over Lockhart's looks and charm, saying how irresistible he was. I could see the hearts in your eyes," he teased.
He propped himself up on one elbow, a sly smile on his face. "Can't blame you, though. I mean, that man is like a damn model. If I were into guys, I'd be swooning too."
Elrand muttered under his breath, just loud enough for Cassidy to hear. "Though Lockhart can't even compare to Auns..."
Cassidy's ears perked up, her curiosity piqued by the mystery name. "Wait, who's Auns?" she asked, her gaze fixed on Elrand.
Elrand quickly realized his mistake, trying to backtrack. "Oh, um, nothing. I was trying to say that Lockhart couldn't compare to me," he said, a nervous chuckle escaping his lips.
But it was too late. Cassidy's eyes widened as she picked up on his slip-up.
"Wait, you just mentioned someone named Auns, didn't you? And now you're trying to backtrack?" she asked, her curiosity growing.
"No way. You must have heard it wrong," Elrand said, shaking his head.
Elrand gave a scoff and rolled his eyes at Cassidy's reaction.
"Pffft, Lockhart's beauty's got nothing on me," he said with exaggerated confidence. "I mean, have you seen this face?" He puffed out his chest in pride, a cocky grin spreading across his face.
He gestured to himself, striking a comical pose.
"I could model for the cover of any magazine, I swear. Lockhart's just... well, he's not even in the same league."
Cassidy couldn't help but scoff at Elrand's boast.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm sure you're just as handsome as Lockhart," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "But seriously, that man is like a damn Greek god. Have you seen those eyes, that jaw line-"
Elrand cut her off, feigning jealousy. "Hey, hey, watch it! I'm the one you're supposed to be drooling over here, remember?"
Cassidy laughed incredulously.
"Oh please, Elrand, don't be so dramatic. You may have your own charms, but you're no Lockhart," she said, still eyeing him skeptically.
But she wasn't ready to let go of the topic of Auns.
"But come on, who is this Auns guy you mentioned? Can't be anyone more handsome than Lockhart, surely."
Elrand's heart skipped a beat, and he started to fidget nervously.
FUCK! I am screwed. Did I really just slip up and say it out loud? Why did I have to go and do that? I've never been so stupid before" Elrand thought in remorse and denial.
"Oh, um... I must have mis-spoken. Yeah, that's it. Definitely didn't mean to say 'Auns,'" he stuttered, his face reddening.
Cassidy chuckled as she saw Elrand break into a sweat.
"Hahhaha…Geez, dude, relax! I was just messing with you, can't you take a joke?" Cassidy said in teasing and playful manner again.
Desperate to change the subject, he quickly said, "Anyway, let's just get ready! We should head to downstair. Everyone's probably waiting down there, and we don't want to be late..."
"Alright, let's hurry up and get ready," she said, glancing at the clock. "We don't want to keep sir Lockhart waiting. He's probably downstairs already."
Cassidy marched toward the door, ready to leave. But just as Elrand allowed himself a moment of relief, she suddenly spun on her heel and turned back around.
With a mischievous gleam in her eye, she said, "Oh, and Elrand, one more thing."
A small sly grin tugged at the corners of her lips. "Although, now that I think of it, someone named Auns seems pretty intriguing too..." she teased, enjoying getting under his skin.
Elrand's heart skipped a beat as Cassidy teased him. He tried to act nonchalant, but his unease was palpable.
He forced a laugh and tried to jokingly respond, "Oh, great. Now you're interested in this mysterious Auns guy. Should I be worried?"
Cassidy chuckled at Elrand's uneasiness. "Oh, don't worry," she said with a smirk. "I'm just messing with you. You're the only one who has my attention, obviously."
Elrand let out a sigh of relief, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. "Okay, okay, I get it. You're just messing with me."
He feigned annoyance and rolled his eyes. "Can you please stop scaring me like that? I thought you were actually interested in this Auns guy for a second."
Cassidy burst out laughing, enjoying teasing him. "Oh, come on, Elrand. You're not seriously jealous of a guy named Auns, are you?"
She ruffled his hair affectionately. "Trust me, you're the only one for me, big dummy."
Elrand couldn't help but crack a smile as he jokingly protested. "Hey, don't call me a dummy. And I'm not jealous, I just... don't want anyone else stealing your attention, that's all."
He crossed his arms and feigned annoyance, but secretly, he was loving every moment of her playful taunting.
Cassidy giggled at Elrand's pretend annoyance. "Oh, is someone feeling a little possessive?" she teased, poking his chest.
She continued to playfully poke fun at him, fully enjoying his reaction. "You know, it's kind of cute when you get jealous like this. Makes me feel wanted."
Elrand couldn't maintain his mock annoyance any longer and burst out laughing at her antics. "Okay, fine, you caught me. I guess I do get a little possessive when it comes to you," he admitted, grinning.
He gave her a playful nudge with his elbow. "But hey, can you blame me? You're irresistible, after all."
Cassidy chuckled at Elrand's compliment. "Flattery will get you everywhere, you know that?"
She stepped closer to him, a smirk playing on her lips. "And just for the record, I'm not interested in some mystery guy named Auns. You're the only one I want."
As Cassidy winked and walked out of the room, Elrand couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and butterflies in his stomach. He let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding and chuckled to himself.
"That woman is going to be the death of me," he mumbled to himself, shaking his head in amusement.
Meanwhile, Cassidy walked down the stairs, a victorious grin on her face.
To be continue…
~ Interaction Time ~
Commen on your thought
Do you think Elrand and Cassidy make a good match as a couple?
a) Yes. They have such a good chemistry together
b) No. cause Cassidy has a tendency to be a bit overly flirtatious at times.
Do you guys realise that Cassidy literally doesn't bath yet - just imagine the smell coming from her mouth when she were flirting with Elrand.