Chapter 13: Debt Collectors Arc - Bell Mord and Syr Aiz

Arden carried three books in his arms. The afternoon sun illuminating his auburn-hair, his blackish uniform buttoned up. Walking down the brick road, with unsteady gaze and steps, he looked at the civilian crowded with his usual vacant eyes.

His steps carried him to where the Inn of Cher is. As he was about to enter the Inn two horses neigh sounded out behind his back, looking at the source of that sound, he saw a silver haired man wearing a black poncho and under was probably light armor and a blonde haired woman with a cold gaze, wearing the same thing.

“Halt there! I shall speak to you now, in the honor of Mord!”

Hearing this man talk, Arden turned around. He continued striding along the road. The two horses followed him behind the back door of the Inn.

“I said stop! Do you not hear what I said, or do you wish to ignore a noble!”

“Hey Ser Syr, how has it been?”

“You dare talk to my partner!”

“Hello Arden, it has been a while since I saw you. Three years wasn’t it?”

“Indeed, it has been three years.”

“Oy, listen to what I am saying!”

Arden casually talked with the blond haired lady. She was making a slight smile, while Arden was just focusing his eyes on her, completely ignoring the silver haired man that has been yapping on him.

“Why come to Mesh?”

“We have things to do...in fact, we might need your help.”

“I see.”

Arden nodded his head. He turned to the silver haired man who went silent.

“Done already?”

The Silver Haired man looked dully at Arden.

“Of course I am done. I was trying to practice my noble talk but it seems I suck at it.”

“Give up.”

“Gah,”

“You should listen to Lady Syr, you dumb Bell.”

“Shut up Arden...”

Bell Mord—a friend of Arden and Susan—the foolish minor noble that used to hang around with the two of them. He was someone that didn’t do anything until meeting Syr that is. Syr of Aiz—a noble that came from the House of Aiz. She was supposed to attend Mesh Academy but was pulled out due to circumstances. She is a saber-wielding swordswoman that can use the wind to attack.

Three years ago her family wanted to marry her to anyone who could beat her. It was only for ‘nobles’ but Bell Mord, who fell in love with the princess of the House of Aiz took on the challenge. In his first three tries, he lost badly.

He didn’t stop challenging her. Syr at the time didn’t hold back. She didn’t want to marry anyone and was someone with wanderlust. Bell Mord who fell in love also didn’t want to lose so he begged Arden to teach him some moves he can use with his Artes Magic, a magic that allows him to use his bolt magic and true perception. Arden obviously could not refuse someone’s help so he taught Bell Mord some few things.

After learning some of the moves, Bell Mord challenged Syr Aiz for a total of twenty tries. His stubbornness somehow got through and he somehow woman. Of course, Arden and Susan know that she rather have Bell Mord as her husband than the creepy nobles who was ten years older than her.

Her family liked the valor Bell Mord shown so they allowed them to marry without changing their names.

“Still it is quite weird that you never change your last names.”

“Well having our last names intact would allow us to get glory for both families.”

“Are your families doing well?”

“Yes, in fact, we are now in favor with the Bank of Brewrael. I and Syr are now working for them.”

“No wonder you two are covering your armor with ponchos.”

“Well idiotic bandits would probably think they can rob someone from the Bank of Brewrael. I and Syr could take them down a peg so we rather dress up like this.”

“I see.”

Arden looked at the sigil on their light armor. It was a cross with a coin on the center. The sign of the only bank in the continent of old, a rather powerful company that is the only neutral faction in the continent that has both Demi's and human working together for the sake of one thing: Gold.

Working for them means that one would become neutral. Of course, that is why they are rather feared and respected. Their collectors are people with great skill. No one dares to mess with a collector from the bank simply because their collectors can defend themselves and once they get the face of their enemy. They will have a great bounty put in their heads.

Arden remembered that the only reason why his foster father disappeared and settled down in Mesh was that of him having one of the old crones in his favor. The Bank Brewrael has quite an influence so his foster father made use of that.

“To think that I would have friends working for the Bank of Brewrael, I must be really lucky or unlucky.”

Arden said. He never really liked the bank of Brewrael. They were funders of war that usually finances an enemy kingdom of a kingdom if they can’t be paid. Whether it is the continent of old that is in constant war with the demi’s or the eastern continent and even the western continent could not escape from their grasp.

“Well lucky you Arden, do you wish to know why are we here?”

Syr spoke with a voice that is calm as water. Arden guessed that she should be the negotiator while Bell would look after her as her muscle.

“Do you guys need help?”

“Yes, we are looking for someone that has been hiding in the Mesh City.”

“And we need your help to look for this person.”

“So this person is in debt to the Bank of Brewrael then?”

“Obviously, we wouldn’t be here if they weren’t.”

Syr nodded, Arden folder his arms while looking at the two mounting their horses.

“Why not get inside first? We have a spare room for ‘merchants’ like you in the Inn. We can the details inside.”

“As you wish then.”

With that, the two dismounted their horses and tied it on one of the poles at the back of the Inn. Cher’s Inn is quite large so they can accommodate horses and carriages. After tying their horses they followed Arden inside the Inn.

Arden spoke with Ehren for the two to have the room. They weren’t lacking gold so they paid and went to the room led by Arden. While walking them to their room Susan saw the three. She immediately greeted Syr who she befriended with. The four of them went to the room to discuss.

“How has it been Syr?”

“I am fine Susan...what about you? Is Arden still giving your troubles?”

“Yes, he is.”

Susan looked icily at Arden. Arden raises his hands in surrender as he sits on the floor with Bell Mord. He was crossing his arms and was looking at the floor.

“What’s up with you?”

“Nothing, three years and this place has become rather large. Susan also got a lot more beautiful.”

“Should I tell your wife about the latter?”

“Hey now, it is just that this place just got a lot bigger and Susan got even more beautiful. But you...you still have that dumb look on your face. You didn’t seem to change.”

“Well, what were you expecting?”

“That you would be a lot better, and hopefully you somehow changed that stupid dream of yours.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Looks like it, I pity Susan.”

Bell Mord said sighing. Arden glances at his friend’s face. They have been playing along with Bell when they were young. He has gone a lot of changes and even married Syr. But Arden, despite the years has passed was still the same.

“I can’t help it.”

“We know.”

Bell Mord replied. He then turned to the two girls sitting on the bed, talking quite well without reserve. The talk between the two went on for a while. Arden and Bell Mord talk about some things but was mostly just making small talk.

“Oh, by the way, I heard that the Mage Killer made news here?”

“Oh, that...”

Arden smiled wearing. Bell tilted his head.

“Was it that bad?”

“Who knows? You know that the noble knights are quite secretive. They probably hid some information.”

“I can see them doing that.”

Bell Mord tilted his head back staring at the ceiling.

Susan who was talking to Syr looked at the two on the floor.

“By the way what’s with the sudden visit?”

“Ah”

“Ah”

Hearing Susan, Bell and Syr said simultaneously. They look at Arden as if they were trying to make him say something. Arden looked at them back.

“Having the sigil of the bank Brewrael on your light armors means your work for them. And typically those who work for the Bank of Brewrael are collectors, meaning that there is someone in debt. I doubt that Arden has any debts so I am guessing that it is a person. And you two need Arden’s help?”

“That sums it up.”

“I see, Arden, try not to get hurt. I don’t want to stay here and get a headache so I shall be leaving for now.”

Susan stood up and walked out of the room. She knows that there was no stopping Arden once he was asked for help. Despite being almost killed, Arden did not change at all. He was even more obsessed with helping that Susan has to start thinking that there was no hope for him.

“What’s up with that?”

“Something happened.”

Syr asked while Arden replied while scratching his cheeks.

“I see, well let’s start about what help we want from you.”

“So what do you want?”

Arden adjusted himself properly. The three were facing in a triangle-like shape and the mood in the air changed. The true faces of the tree got revealed. Bell’s expression went blank while Syr turns icy cold.

“We are chasing a man named Tuyon of Losabis.”

“What did he do?”

“Owed ten thousand gold coins. Adding to that he killed a collector by stabbing the collector in the back, taking forty thousand worth of gold with him.”

“So what you want with the guy?”

“Have the debt he owed repaid, gold coins solve everything for the Bank of Brewrael as compensation.”

“Do you want this man dead?”

“Personally we don’t care whether the man is dead or not. What we want from him is the money.”

Syr said with her arms crossed.

“So you want him alive. What would you do this man?”

“If he can’t pay his dues then he would work in the mines owned by the Bank of Brewrael until he can pay it off. He will be guarded along with the others.”

“I see...”

Arden wasn’t fazed by that. He knew that most those who get in debt became slaves. That is why some rather steal or starve rather than become a slave. There is a huge slave bay south of the western plains. While the Eastern Tall lands have their own dispute with the Merchant Nation of Galzea, a nation where most merchants gather.

“So what do you really want me to do?”

“You are a student of the Mesh Academy. You can easily enter without any commotion. We entering the academy while flaunting our sigils would only make that fool wary.”

“So you want me to catch this man and take them to you?”

“Yes, but it wouldn’t be easy. He is hiding under a skinned mask.”

“So he has another face?”

“Yes, he took on a face and we don’t know what he looked at.”

“I see...and you expect me to find him?”

“We know you have your ways, Arden.”

Syr pressed on.

“Bell has told me that you many ideas in your head. Your father was also a peculiar one. So we know that you might be able to help.”

“I see...”

Arden pondered. Bell Mord taps his knees and said.

“But we won’t force you.”

“Don’t worry I will accept.”

Arden replied.

“Are you sure? This man is dangerous.”

“Don’t worry about that.”

“But...”

“Syr...”

Bell said.

“What?”

“Arden can probably take care of him. He is a far better fighter than us if we don’t use magic.”

“Ah...I forgot about that. You taught him some of the moves right?”

“I did. So no need to worry, I accept.”

Syr looked at Arden who accepted their request easily. Unlike Bell, she has less knowledge about Arden. Most of the time when they are together she would talk to Susan while Bell and Arden would do their thing. He wasn’t really close to Arden so there are times she would miss out.

“I see...we will compensate you for this trouble.”

“Even if you don’t I will still help.”

Arden said. Bell looked at his friend Arden. There was a feeling of remorse in his heart. Not because he was feeling guilty about making help them. But because even though they have changed, even Susan, Arden was still the same, hopeless as ever.