I was planning to add on more but I felt like this was a good place to end it for this chapter. It's much shorter than the last one but I'll make a longer one tomorrow. I didn't mean to post the vote now thread but I accidentally hit post, my bad for those who voted. Comments, opinions, reviews, etc. Enjoy!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The trip back to the village wasn't that bad. Kazuo, being the large man that he his, gave me a nice piggy back ride all the way there. Of course it was, in its own way, embarrassing but I didn't mind too much because my back would've killed me. That guy can really talk though, while carrying me there he told lots, and I mean lots, of stories. There's probably enough there to make some kind of saga.

Avie had a laughing fit seeing me being carried like a child by Kazuo. That really prompted the others to join in, even Norman was having a hard time stifling a laugh. I don't know how it was that funny but I guess the mood was really good, everyone was quite relaxed when they learned that we were okay.

"It only takes one person to change the mood." is what my master once said, after I accidentally sent a knife flying his way. His buddies that he was playing cards with were cool about it but he wasn't. That whole day was pretty calm until I missed, what he said was true though, his anger absolutely changed the mood.

When we got back to the village it was noon. I was put into the town's tavern which, by the way, was not destroyed. Lucky me! Although I do have a certain love for books and being by myself at times, I really enjoy the sounds of life happening. Blue hair sat down in the tavern too but at a different table. The look on her face was very enjoyable to watch when people came to thank her.

"Ah-hahaha. It was no problem." she'd say.

Obviously I had my share of people coming up to thank me as well, but she got most of the men, not that I'm complaining. Avie seemed to live it up with her attention, she even started an arm wrestling contest.

"It'll pass the time until the feast!" she said.

Everybody participated, even the ones who had yet to have their voices start changing. The drinks in the tavern were selling faster than knives in the shop I'd go and visit.

*CLINK*

The sound of glass hitting each other, a sound that would make any wife faint if she heard it enough. Despite her size, Avie was able to take on many of the able bodied men. Whenever she put one down the tavern would erupt with surprise and cheers.

"I bet ten coppers on the missy."

"I'll buy everyone here drinks if she can be my cousin."

"Hah! You're on!"

Ten coppers were exchanged that day. Avie finally lost, but Kazuo came in to show the man the difference in strength between someone who uses a bow and someone who uses a sword. Soon enough, the time started to pass and night came.

--------

Everyone's gathered around the fire in the middle of the village. Following the setting of the sun the village elder finished the preparations for the feast. Unlike what the village had seemed like before, it's now full of smiling faces, apparently the giants and hell hounds took a lot of their food. When they were slain, Aethel and the others brought it back.

I'm sitting at the edge of the table, I don't really want to get too much attention on me, It seems like blue hair feels the same way, she's sitting opposite of me keeping her eyes down.

"TO THE HEROS!" a man yells. Probably the village elder's son.

Everyone starts tearing into the food, much like starving wolves would. They've been under attack from the giants but they shouldn't have been this hungry, parties are just an excuse to get fat. I scope some food onto my plate and leave the table, deciding to go to a quieter place.

A few people notice me leave and put on a slightly disappointed face, Avie went around telling people that I took a direct hit from a giant and survived, they must've wanted to ask me about it. If they did I don't know how I'd reply, maybe an, I was lucky?

I walk by some of the kids who are away from the fire and playing, one comes up to me, eyes gleaming. I prepare myself to answer any of his questions.

"Are giants scwary?" the little boy asks.

"Mmmhm. But you don't have to worry about them anymore, we took care of them for you." I say.

"T-tanks mhister." he says, and runs back to the other children.

They wave at me as I take my food to a quieter place.

I sit at the porch of the tavern. The fire and the silhouettes of the people can still be seen from here, their voices carry across but it comes off as the jumbled words of a crowd. Footsteps approach me, I eat without looking up, that is, until the person lets out a surprised little squeal.

"Ah! S-sorry about that mister, I didn't see you there." the person slightly inclines their head. Her long blue hair immediately gives her away.

"So you came to find a quieter place too?"

"Eh? Bla-R-Rainen?"

What was she going to say? I totally caught that!

"Hey."

"H-hi. Sorry for disturbing you, I'll find somewhere else to eat." she turns on her heel.

"It's not my spot or anything, you can sit here too."

She doesn't move one inch nor say a single word. It soon becomes a contest of who'll break the silence first, like a staring contest between a hunter and a deer, first one to move loses. Keep calm, keep cool and they'll give in, is what my master told me once. We'd been dealing with some merchants and he would match their gazes and wouldn't budge, they finally gave up and we got a discount on a bundle of knives. So, like her, I don't move and I don't say anything.

"O-okay." she takes it like it's an order. Turning around just as quickly as she did before she sits down next to me. We're separated by a space of three feet.

I knew she'd break first, kukuku. I return to eating my meal, I can hear her chew her food, the quiet squishing of the meat as her teeth come down on them. Her body is slightly facing away from mine, her face is lowered making it easier to quickly diminish the stuffs on the flat plate.

"Don't choke." I jokingly say as I nudge her with my hand.

*Cough Cough Cough*

She goes into a coughing fit, whoops. I didn't expect her to actually get it stuck in her throat, best not to surprise people when they're eating.

"My bad, are you okay?"

"Ye*Cough* I'm *Cough* okay *Cough*."

Wow, that made me feel really bad.

"Sorry."

*Cough Cough* "It's alright."

"I didn't mean to make you start choking." I say as I grit my teeth and inhale through them.

"I know." she grabs a piece of bread and eats it carefully. I might have made too big of an effect.

My plate is basically empty so I have nothing to do right now and I don't want to leave because of that incident, it'll leave a bad impression.

"...You don't have to worry about it." she says. "You saved me earlier."

The giant attack huh. I just reacted in the way I thought was best.

"But you also saved me." I respond, we've already said our thanks.

"Yeah, but if it wasn't for me you wouldn't have gotten hurt."

I put the plate down and turn my body to her.

"Look here." my voice is firm. "We're partners. There's no need for us to keep thanking each other for saving the other, it's the natural thing to do, partners or not."

"...Got it." she glances at me. "Then... you, you, were pretty cool when you jumped to block for me."

At her genuine compliment I can only smile bashfully.

"Hehe, you think so?" is this what my master meant by inflated ego?

She nods rapidly, looking away from me.

"Haha. Is that so?" I hold out my hand. "Let's start again. I'm Rainen, I look forward to working with you."

She moves her's to meet mine.

"Likewise, I'm Ellar."

We give it one good shake and I squeeze her hand.

"Ah!" she jumps a little.

I'm really looking forward to it, Ellar.