Redrick sat down facing miss lamia with the table in between them. Belle poured some tea for both of them, gave them their cup and walked to her desk in front of the window.
"Well lets get started with making a contract shall we. I'll be writing it so I need both of your demands."
Belle looked at miss Serpentine while pointing her quill towards the young lady.
"So we start with you miss, what is your request"
Miss Lamia took a sip of her tea and put it down as elegantly as royalty.
"As the sole survivor of the serpentine familly, it is my duty to restore it to its former glory. The last atack on our city caused its complete devastation. So what I need now is two things, Money and strength. And strength is what I am here for".
Serpentine used to be the biggest port city in New bellum, It was also the city that got attacked the most during the war. It was also the resting place for the late king, he lost his life while fighting for his people.
It was the place where Mister Goldfield and most of his kids had died.
"We all know that the cease fire we have right now is not going to last. I want to protect my city, or what's left of it."
Lamia sighed. "my gift is quite strong and it took me to E rank easily, but it is also quite taxing so what I need is improvement in my sword play, and that is where I need you."
Lamia pointed at Redrick. "Misses Belle here vouched for you swordmanship. She also said that you deserve a higher rank but that she can't move you because of your unknow gift."
"Well I cant say that I am a sword master but I am not a pushover" Redrick interrupted.
"That would suffice. I would like to spar with you until I am confident of my sword skills. After the training I want you to join me in green valley dungeon. You only need to be there as my backup." Liama said while looking at Redrick
"Okay miss, that would mean that sir Redrick has to train with you until you are confident and than join you in a dungeon dive. Am I right?" Belle asked.
" yes that's right"
Belle wrote somthing down on a paper and than looked back at Lamia.
"What is the compensation you are willing to give to Mister Goldfield?"
"I am willing to pay for all food and travel expenses while I am training with Mister Goldfield. All the loot we aquire at the dungeon dive will be divided, Mister Goldfield gets 30 percent of the loot and I will take 70 percent."
Lamia sighed. "I know it's not a lot. Because of my financial situation I can't give you any money. What I can give you is a promise that our house will grant you any wish we can provide. I hope that you can forgive me for the lack of propper compensation, a promise of a fallen house doesn't mean..."
"You don't have to apologise miss, your compensation sounds fair, my only problem is why you would be fine with an F rank like me. A proper sword master could help you a lot more". Redrick replied.
"Well that's true, but it would cost me a lot more and they would focus more on gifts than on the sword itself." Lamia paused for a bit, took a sip of her tea and continued.
"Most sword masters have a gift that boosts their swordmanship, so their style is normally build around that. I want to learn swordmanship without the help of my gift, so you are both skill wise and financial wise a good choice."
Lamia stopped talking for a bit and looked down at her tea, than before Redrick could reply she continued.
"I also met your siblings and your dad. They talked a lot about you and their life here in Runric. What stuck with me the most is how they talked about how you perceived things. They said that whenever they got stuck on somthing, you would always ask a question that made them realise how to fix it."
Lamia started giggling. " they also said that you were quite an airhead and that you weren't the best combat wise. But that has changed if i can believe Belle."
Lamia's giggle would make most man melt, but the man in the room wasn't completely sold yet. 'Why am I feeling uncomfortable at the moment' was what he thought.
Redrick started getting red. He knew exactly who of the ten would talk about him like that.
"I believe that Caitlin talked a bit to much" Redrick said as neutral as he could, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"Hahaha she knew you the best lad, take it like a champ" Belle said while trying to contain her laughter.
"Caitlin was indeed the one who talked the most out of everyone, I will always be thankfull for her company." Lamia said while looking through the window in the back.
Lamia looked a bit sad, most man would have instantly comforted her but Redrick was a bit slow in that field. He was still thinking of what Caitlin could have told the beatiful noble.
Belle interrupted with a cough.
"Okay the reward is clear. Redrick, do you have any demands?"
Redrick thought for a bit before he replied.
"The only demand I want to add is that both of us can stop the contract whenever we want, it has to be confirmed with you first. There would be no compensation after that. The food and travel expenses would suffice at that point."
"That sounds fair" Lamia replied.
Belle wrote a few more things on a paper and than gave it to Lamia
"Miss Serpentine, here is the contract. Read it first and when you finish you can write you signature here. Mister Redrick will do the same afterwards".
Both of them had read the contract and agreed with the demands. They both signed and gave it back to Belle.
"Okay that's it than, the deal has been sealed" the guild master said while putting a stamp on the contract.
"I'll send you guys a smaller version with all the demands on it tomorrow."
Redrick and Lamia both nodded and thanked Belle for her time.
Belle stayed in her office to finish some other paperwork.
The other two just walked out the door. They already talked about where to meet for the training tomorrow. So there was not much to talk about anymore.
Redrick was just about to say goodbye when Lamia suddenly spoke.
"Could I see their graves Mister Goldfield?"
This took Redrick by suprise. He was the only one to come pay respect as far as he was aware of. So her asking to see their graves was a bit comforting.
But he still had some touble with being near the graves.He didn't want to go all out like yesterday and most certainly not with someone there with him.
"That's okay miss, I am glad that someone comes to pay respect to them. I went there yesterday so I won't be joining you. but I will show you the way."
"Ah that will be more than enough, thank you".
The sun was starting to set when they reached the church. They didn't talk a lot except for normal small talk. The conversation were nice and the silence felt surprisingly warm to Redrick.
"Well if you follow this path you will reach their graves. Be carefully that you dont fall, the path is filled with gravel and it can really ruin your knees."
Lamia smiled
"It sounds like you have some experience Mister Goldfield"
"I was a clumsy kid" he replied while his face turnt a bit red.
"Are you joining me for dinner, I can make something for both of us?"
Lamia looked a bit suprised.
"That's a kind offer Mister Goldfield but I have to decline, I already have some plans tonight. I'll pay my respects here and leave for my appointment afterwards."
Redrick felt a bit disappointed. 'You just got to know her idiot, why are you feeling like this?'
"Ah I see. Well good luck at your appointment. I will see you here tomorrow morning?"
"Yes I'll be here at sunrise. See you tomorrow"
Lamia walked down the gravel path while Redrick enterd the church. After sitting down for a minute to gather his thoughts, he started cooking.
*scratch* *bonk * scratch*
Redrick looked up towards the door. He was sure that somthing was standing behind jt
He took a kitchen knife while slowely walking towards the noice.
*bonk* *scratch* *bonk*
Now at the door redrick slowely opend it to see what was making the noice.
He didn't see anything until somthing jumped towards him in matter of seconds.
Redrick fell backwards on the ground out of shock.
The only thing he saw was black.