– Day 7 –

Bonding

Katharine and I get a carriage back to the manor to find Emily, Bella and Risk standing around a number of crates outside. I can already guess that Amelia, Katharine’s mother, is the reason for this.

I did tell her I wouldn’t be staying more than a night and without Alexander around, it seems the Lady of the house no longer has the desire to tolerate my presence so she’s thrown everything of mine out the door.

Rather juvenile if you ask me, but she is a stuck up bitch–

“What is going on here?”

Katharine doesn’t realise this it seems.

“Heya Master. We got kicked out after Samuel dropped off your goods from the alchemy store.”

“I guessed tha–”

“Mother threw you out! You’re our guest–”

“Don’t worry about it Katharine; the fault is mine. I did tell her I would only stay a day and it’s been more than one since I arrived”

“Barely! Father would not stand for his guest to be treated so and neither will I!”

“Katharine, honestly, it’s fine. Can I ask you to arrange for these crates to be sent to the house in town though?”

She clenches her fists before shaking her head slightly.

“…Fine... If you say so. I’ll get Helen to have them delivered for you.”

I’m pretty confident I heard her mutter ‘Father will hear about this Mother’ under her breath.

While Katharine heads off inside the manor to find Helen, I greet Risk and Bella.

From what I had heard of Bella, I was expecting some muscle bound woman but she couldn’t be further from it. She’s a slender bronzed five-foot-six with long silver and red hair tied in a bun. Wide brown eyes give a dominating, yet clearly hungover stare. She has a massive two-handed sword hooked onto her back that I can see no logistical way she could lift off and two daggers, one on each hip. Speaking of hips, she’s not wearing much in the form of clothing. The daggers are fastened with leather straps around her bare thighs. She has a beige cloth tank top that doesn’t cover her toned belly and a beige cloth cut skirt like ‘thing’ that covers her butt and front, leaving her hips totally exposed. I can see the mobility benefits of such an outfit but not the practical side. From her expression alone though, you can already tell she’s nursing a hangover.

“Aburi Draconis, this is Bella.”

“ugh”

She greets me in an exaggerated and low tone.

“Please excuse her, she’s… not a morning person.”

It’s late in the afternoon; I want to retort with ‘no shit’ but resist.

“So it seems, but I have a feeling that will change shortly.”

“Oh?”

“Katharine has to go to the garrison for a number of hours, so I can’t think of a better opportunity for a team bonding session.”

“bonding…session?”

“Food and drinks in the bar opposite our new home–”

Bella clearly approves of the idea, her posture improves, and eyes are sparkling.

“Master!? Ya mean ya purchased it?”

“Nope, it was gifted to me. It’s being repaired and outfitted at the moment but should be ready to move into tonight.”

“How the heck did ya manage that?”

“With a bit of politics. I believe I will owe someone a favour at some point, but for now, it’s on the premise of proving I’m a master alchemist--”

“Ah Master, speaking of alchemy. Samuel left this letter for you.”

That name again. Who’s this ‘Samuel’?

I open the letter and read it.

It seems Samuel is the alchemy shop’s owner, the place where I beat Devan at his own game with an antidote for [Alrist Poison]. The letter is mainly an apology of sorts for Devan’s behaviour, but something at the end has my attention.

Samuel mentions he has received a rare formula from an adventurer who visited a dungeon in another kingdom to the far west. The tonic is said to aid essence absorption, an EXP tonic if you like, but all his attempts to create it have failed. He believes his skill at refining the ingredients is the problem and is willing to give me the formula if I agree to split profits from its sale 50/50. Naturally I’m going to accept this offer, but for now, it can wait as Emily looks somewhat concerned. I was pretty deep in thought so it must have seemed like bad news.

“Sorry, it’s nothing bad. Just a business opportunity and a good one at that”

I pat her on the head.

Katharine’s returned with Helen in tow.

“Apologies for the wait, Helen will see these dropped off for you along with the deed when it arrives. Have you decided what to do next?”

“Yes, we’re going to head into the city and have a few drinks where we ate yesterday.”

“Ah, that sounds good. Perhaps I’ll join you if your still there after I’m done at the garrison.”

“Please do, we'll make a night of it.”

We leave Katharine and head into the city by ourselves. Bella and Risk ate before coming to the manor, so they aren’t hungry. Unfortunately, as expected of the vile Lady Amelia, it turns out Emily wasn’t fed so getting her a meal is crucial. I keep draining her blood after all, so a decent meaty feed is needed to help her recover the blood I’m stealing. She’s my only source of blood while in the Capital, and if I’m not careful, I may, accidentally, end up kill her…which would be bad..

We arrive at the restaurant in the centre of the city and head inside. The slave from yesterday recognises me and sits us near the bar.

While Emily is wolfing away, her food and Bella is drinking her third ale. Risk and I are chatting about ourselves.

It turns out that Risk was once a noble from another Kingdom, but he failed to become the family heir to carry his father's title. As such, he was being forced to wed a much older and foul woman of another family to keep his noble status and name. As the date of their union got closer, he decided that he would rather die a warriors death than see himself tied her. So he abandoned his family to join the Adventurers Guild.

After a few years at it, he came to realised he would make far more money as a mercenary, so he switched guilds and the legend of ‘Risk the Hunter’ was born. Taking on insane tasks, completing them in record time and with brutal efficiency. I get the sense he is someone who underplays his accomplishments, and he isn’t one to boast or exaggerate claims. I get the feeling that he has no enemies either if you get my drift.

When the conversation turns to me, I tell him the merchant tale and the fight with the ogre. He seemed sceptical during the merchant story but looked convinced by the end of the ogre part. I wonder why the ogre part is more believable?

“That’s quite a feat, killing a Beth Ogre.”

“Beth?”

“From your description, that’s the type of Ogre you fought. There are six types of Ogres in this kingdom and Beth are one of the strongest. Sure they don’t know any magic, but they aren’t stupid and have the strength of twenty men. You got lucky though; Beth’s normally hunt in packs of four or five.”

Five!? I can feel my blood turning cold at the thought of facing five of them.

“I guess that explains why you want to train. There’s nothing like facing death to show you what you're made of”

He raises his mug.

“To future close encounters!”

…Heh, I guess he’s right. This is only the beginning of my new life.

“Cheers!”

A couple of drinks after that, Risk heads off to the men’s room. Bella, who’s coming back from the bar with another three drinks decides to take his seat beside me…

Did no one tell you it’s rude to stare? If you want to ask something just ask… Aargh fine--

“Is something wrong?”

“Er no…Not wrong but… You want me to train you?”

“Is there something wrong with that?”

“…No but…I’m a woman. Wouldn’t you prefer Risk teach you?”

She’s the last person I would expect to have an inferiority complex; or maybe–

“I heard you have the best technique and are the better trainer. Woman or not, the better teacher is who I should learn from.”

“Ha, so be it, but my training’s harsh. I won’t hold back just because you're the employer–”

“That’s how I want it. Part of the reason we’re here this evening is to remove the employer vibe and to bond.”

“…You’re rather strange, but I guess I’m not one to talk…”

She lifts one mug, chugs it back and slams it on the table

*burrrp* “…Has Risk told you about me yet?”

“What about you in particular?”

“Heh, the bit about me being broken.”

“No, Edward mentioned it, but I’m not going to pry. If you feel like talking, I’ll listen”

She cocks her head with an awry smile.

"Thanks.. It won’t get in the way of why you hired me but don’t expect me to be much use protecting you in a fight--”

“With Risk though, I don’t think any of us will need to worry about fights.”

“Ha! You’re probably right about that…”

I don’t know what’s happened to this woman, but a part of her has definitely broken down. I said I wouldn’t pry, but I can certainly guess from observing her behaviour while drinking.

She has a bracelet which looks actually to be a necklace wrapped twice around her left arm. Now and then, she just stares at it for minutes before picking up the next mug and chugging it. My best guess is that she fell for someone and couldn’t protect them so she can’t fight anymore, at least not at her full potential. I’m okay with this and can understand it somewhat too.

“…”

Some time has past…quite a bit actually as it’s dark outside and the bar is completely full of people. I’ve 'tried' all thirteen ales at the bar, and I am definitely hammered! Risk joined me in this endeavour and is currently teaching me the lyrics to something similar to ‘Hey Macarena’ while trying to get the whole bar to join in.

[Ditia Language acquired]

Oh, which is in another language I might add. Bella is passed out at the bar, but I’m not surprised considering she managed to knock back twenty-eight ales; the slender miss can drink. Emily is beside her which is surprising considering she only drank three; the lady can’t drink.

Katharine arrived around ale number nine and gave me the keys to the house but left shortly afterward. It seems she’s not good with drunk people even though she does drink, it seems never to this extent. I have a feeling tomorrow morning is not going to be fun, but for a bonding exercise, I couldn’t have asked for more!

HP: ?? / 330 MP: ?? / 670

Hunger: ??% Thirst: ??%

Blood State: Drunk

That’s helpful. Thanks menu system. Gah, I need to sleep.

Risk princess carries Bella, and I do the same with Emily. We hop skip and jump across to the road to the building singing that song which I have no idea what it means and head inside. I’m too tired and drunk to really look around, but I stop Risk as he was about to lay Bella down on the floor and tell him to find a bed upstairs for her. Luckily the house seems to have six bedrooms that all have been furnished so we place the girls each in their own room and take one each for ourselves.

So soft. Much sleep.

Inventory: 40 / 99

– Silver King Coin x18 –

– Copper King Coin x47 –

– Purple Coin Chest (198x Gold King Coins) –