"What the fuck was that? Huh, Liora?" Shadow shouted through his teeth, he had to keep his voice low, lest he attracts the unwanted attention of others.
They weren't in the bar anymore, they stood outside, Adventurers came and left without distinction, some bothered to look in their direction, but others didn't give them the time of day.
"I don't know what you're talking about". Liora replied stubbornly, she folded her arms and looked away from Shadow as though in a rebellious phase.
He pulled her by the arm and pinned her to a wall.
"No, I'm not buying your shit this time around. Why did you say that? You're supposed to go back to your damned Father. Back to your life as an aristocrat, that was the damn deal".
It took all of Shadow's self-control to not lose his shit and keep his calm.
"I've made my choice" she replied. She wouldn't budge, it felt as though she had made her decision from the onset and Shadow couldn't do anything about it.
He could abandon her, but that would risk his entire plan, he felt at the silver plaque pinned to his inner garment.
"Damn it!" He punched at the wall just beside her head, underneath his fists, cracks spread out on the wall in all directions leaving a shallow crevice in the wall.
Liora yelped and jumped back in shock, she held her hands to lips as she quivered in terror. She had never managed to get him this mad before. All she had done were just mere taunts, but this.
She began second guessing if she had done the right thing, maybe going back to her life wouldn't be such a back idea.
She looked up at Shadow and saw him looking up at thin air, his lips mumbled something as though he could see something. But she couldn't see anything.
A certain guilt grilled her heart. Perhaps she had gone too far with him, he had taken her on an adventure and that should be enough for her, she shouldn't want more. She should go back to her life.
But…
Liora bit her lip in frustration.
"Shit!"
"Not now!" Shadow landed another punch at the wall, Liora was shocked beyond comparison, the wall gave way under the strength of his attacks. She never thought he was that strong to begin with.
She stood up and looked at him apologetically, although he seemed angry at something else entirely.
"Hey you there!" A voice called out to them.
"Yeah, the both of you!" A gaudy man walked towards them, they swung his blade on his shoulder and walked brimming with confidence.
At this point, Shadow was looking at his feet, trying his best to control his rage. Liora still wasn't sure what this was all about. But she was certain it was more than just her.
"Hey I'm talking to you" the man reached out and grabbed Shadow by the shoulder.
"Uuhhm, I doubt that's a good idea…" Liora warned him.
"Huh? What's a weak bitch like you gotta say to me, huhh???" He scowled at her.
Liora sighed and took a step back, "Men" she shrugged her shoulders. She felt something was about to happen and in no way was she going to interfere.
"Oi!" Shadow mumbled.
"Your hands…".
"Huhhh? Now you're talking to me? What kind of shit do you have to be one to break down the wall, huhhh? Are you tryna show off or something, huhhh?" The man shouted.
"I'm not in a good mood. Your hand!" Shadow repeated.
The man felt slightly insulted. He held Shadow even tighter by the shoulder and pulled him sideways so he could see his face properly.
"Huhhh? You're just a kid?" He laughed.
"What the hell is the guild doing, huh? Giving a quest to a bunch of kids like you?"
"Hmmm. But this is good, let me have a good look at your quest, maybe I could help you finish it and keep the rewards for myself huhhh?" He grinned wickedly.
Shadow made a slight movement.
"Boy, don't ignore me when I'm talking to…" The man stopped, his voice caught in his throat, his eyes glancing over to Shadow's shoulder. The same shoulder that he previously held.
The man's eyes widened in shock as his entire arm fell to the ground, blood leaked from his forearm profusely pouring on his clothes while the ground happily lapped up the blood, drinking it until only a red stain painted the sand beneath him.
"Aahh"
"Aaahhhhh. What have you done, you bastard!" The man screamed, dropping his sword and holding his forearm with his other hand.
"Come here, you prick. You deserve to die, I'll kill you, I'll kill you Damn it! I'll rip your cock out and shove it down your throat so deep you'll choke on it".
"I'll… I'll…" The man picked up his weapon, in a rage and swung after Shadow. He grinned at his did, it was an attack to the head after all.
He could see the attack connect… His blade missed and lurched to the ground.
The man's blade landed on the ground sending shocks through his body as he stumbled, suddenly unbalanced.
"The hell… Where are you… Uuurgh" the man looked down at his torso. The tip of a dagger was protruding from him. He felt the presence of a man right behind him.
"Get yourself fixed up. And mind your damn business". With that, Shadow planted his feet at the back of the man and matched him. Sending him rolling through the mud.
Shadow looked at Liora for a moment, then sighed. The message still popped up before him. He didn't want to read it again, but he hoped, that maybe it would change.
[NOTICE.]
[PARTY HAS BEEN FORMED.]
[TWO MORE MEMBERS ARE NEEDED TO FULLY FORM A PARTY.]
[LIORA DRAVEN - MAGE.]
[TWO MORE MEMBERS REMAIN.]
[QUEST.]
[COMPLETE THE MISSION GIVEN BY THE GUILD AND BECOME AN ADVENTURER.]
[GOODLUCK.]
Shadow sighed. It was still the same damn thing. By this point, other adventures had gathered around.
He walked over to Liora who still had her mouth covered with her hands. "Let's go".