Chapter 70: Gracious Punishment

*knock**knock*

Matthew: “Come in.”

At his word Belle enter the room, a stack of papers in hand. Matthew stopped writing and stared at the rather large stack of papers

Belle: “Master Matthew, a few messages came for you?”

Matthew: “That is a lot more than a few, do you mind reading them out to me?”

Belle sat the pile down and reached for the first on. Removing the seal, she looked over the content.

Matthew: “Has it slowed down?”

Belle: “Yes, only a few adventurers come in this time of night, only those who had a special request.”

Matthew: “I see, well; if you need to get back, don’t hesitate to stop.”

Matthew continued filling out the papers on his desk, whilst Belle looked over the letters. Recently a lot of work had been showing up on his desk. With the upcoming tournament being such a rare event, almost every adventurer from his guild was attending with so many quests that were being left undone. If they hadn’t already accepted, it was a good chance there would be at least two to three weeks before anyone even looks at a quest that would take more than a day to complete. He thought about forbidding anyone in his guild from joining, but the backlash from such a decree was holding him back and by now it was far too late.

Belle: “Oh, its seems the prince will be in town to view the tournament. He’s requesting Gaunt Silverein as an escort during his stay.”

Matthew: “Not him again, when will he be arriving?”

Belle: “It’s says within the next two days.”

Matthew: “That fast?...all we need right now is that hot head and the brat to start trouble. Okay send Gaunt the request, more importantly, not so subtly let the Therian in town know, that the prince is coming, so they can prepare.”

Belle: “You mean warn them that he’s coming and to steer clear of him at all cost, for he is a notorious Therian hater and disgusting individual.”

Matthew: “How do you spit such venom with such a calm expression?”

Matthew smiled wryly, Belle just continued to the next letter in the pile.

Belle: “Lily and Charis are finished with their errands and will be arriving shortly.”

Matthew: “That was rather quick; I wonder did they even find anything.”

Bell put a hand to her chin.

Belle: “Does it really matter?...we found what you were looking for, or rather the answer found us, would be more accurate.”

Matthew: “Yes it was god-send that Nathan ended up here. I do hope they aren’t too upset when they return.”

Matthew shivered when he thought of how the two girls would react upon returning. If they had just waited a week more, the journey they were sent on would not have happened. When Origin’s power was first released, Matthew sent them off to the other guilds, to see if either of them had any idea on what actually happened.

Belle: “Lily will forgive you soon enough, however I doubt Charis, will be pleased with having to exert unnecessary energy.”

Matthew: “Yes, I am well aware of his laid-back disposition, it’s what I’m most afraid of.”

Belle snickered at Matthew, while she continued on to the next few letters. Nothing of importance, a few invites to parties that Matthew quickly disregarded. The all-so-familiar death threat that he’d received from ex-communicated adventurers, which Belle would glance over and quickly dispose of.

Matthew: “By the way, when the two return, how about you take a well deserved vacation?”

Belle: “Vacation?”

Matthew: “I mean, you basically run this place all by yourself, you must be exhausted. I wouldn’t be against some time-off.”

For the last month Belle had been attending to the Guild by herself. Besides the financial and official aspect, which Matthew takes care of, and the cook in the waiting area, the everyday accommodation for the adventurers was provided by her.

Belle: “Thank you for the offer, but there is no need.”

Matthew: “Are you sure?”

Belle: “Quite sure, I am neither tired nor burdened by the current arrangement. Besides, do you believe those two will be all that interested in working, once they find that their trip was a fool’s errand?”

Matthew: “N-No I guess not.”

Matthew grimaced at the thought, while Belle continued organizing the mail. Half through the pile, Belle came across a peculiar letter. A green wax seal, with a bird shape she’d never seen before. A wax seal was only used by royalty or by government officials. Matthew, noticing Belle stopped moving, looked up from his work. When he saw the wax sealed letter, he frowned.

Matthew: “Belle I’ll take that one, *sigh* so it’s finally come.”

Belle: “Master is everything all right?”

Matthew: “Will see.”

Belle handed Matthew the letter, who promptly opened. Belle continued with going through the stack, glancing at Matthew every so often. His facial expression was changing and becoming much more irritated as he finished. He rubbed at his temples, already agonizing over the future.

Matthew: “Belle.”

Belle: “What is it Master Matthew?”

Matthew: “We need to prepare for some guests.”

Belle: “Guests?”

Matthew: “The leaders of both Midheim and Hyborne guilds, will be visiting.”

Belle blinked in surprise, it was unheard of for the guild leaders to meet, unless of course it was a situation that was far beyond the power of any one guild leader to handle. The only other time she could rightly remember, was in the case of the “Quest Killer”. If they were meeting, in Loegrey, then something terrible must have recently happened or Matthew himself has done something.

Belle: “What exactly has happened?”

Matthew turned to Belle, the only other person who be able to understand the situation at hand.

Matthew: “Effective immediately, they won’t get a full explanation as to why the Lycanian asked for a Confidentiality Agreement and why I allowed it.”

_

_

Nathan walked down the path towards Loegrey, it was dark out, but small lanterns were placed on the road leading out of the city. Since he could see in the dark, rather the lanterns were there or not didn’t really matter. After gathering up what was left of the treasure and digging his way out of the cave, he headed back.

Sari and her family were attempting to dig him out when he emerged, but he didn’t thank them. He did notice that all the women were nowhere to be found, not even their scents. In the time it took him and Iris to dig themselves out, they had moved the women away.

Sari and her family attempted to say something, but he was barely listening to them. He didn’t care anymore, he didn’t say anything, nor did he look their way. He just left; there was nothing else for him. He didn’t want to be thanked by them or hear what they had to say as it would just make him angrier, so he just walked away, Iris following behind him.

Iris: “Master, I’m sorry things didn’t turn out the way you wanted.”

Nathan: “It’s nothing you have to be sorry for, its sucks, but things happen.”

Nathan sighed heavily as he entered the gates to Loegrey. He was still getting looks from everyone, but he’d come to accept it. With the walk, his attitude had cooled off enough to think logically about what had just transpired and came to a conclusion.

Nathan: “Actually Iris, I want to apologize to you.”

Iris: “Huh, whatever for?”

Nathan: “Back then, when I was closing in on that mother and child, for a moment I couldn’t move my body, that was you, right?”

Iris eyes widened, she didn’t believe he had noticed, she immediately bowed her head.

Iris: “Master, I’m sorry -”

Nathan patted Iris on the head.

Nathan: “Thank you Iris.”

Iris: “Huh?

Nathan: “To be honest, if you hadn’t stopped me then, I don’t know what I would have done. Most likely I would have probably hurt everyone there regardless of there circumstances and regretting it soon after. I bet you didn’t want to see me hurt someone who didn’t deserve it?”

Iris didn’t say anything in response; to tell the truth, she sympathized with them. She felt that what they did, though rash, was justified. They didn’t deserve to be hurt for wanting revenge on someone, who had done such atrocious things to them for so long.

At the same time, she understood the frustration Nathan must have felt, when his goals he’d worked towards were ripped from him the moment he turned his back.

Nathan: “Well in all honesty, if I had been in their position, logic wouldn’t matter, as long as I could get my revenge. I’d just take it in an instant. And that fool, he just wouldn’t shut up, not even to save his on life.”

Iris: “What?”

Nathan: “Well yeah, Koshige was saying something like he provoked them with something. If that idiot would have kept his mouth shut, he’d probably be still alive. So, in a way, it’s kinda not their fault, after all he did to them, seeing him so vulnerable, can’t say I don’t get why they took the opportunity. So yeah, thanks for stopping me back then.”

Iris: “But, I turned my powers on you.”

Nathan: “Yeah so, you’ve done that before.”

Iris: “Those times were different; it’s just, just-”

Nathan scratched his head, she was taking using her powers on him really hard. The other times were always only for disciplinary purposes, so it was a little different, but not to the point where Nathan was hurt an anyway.

Nathan: “I’ll just have to get up bright n’ early and do some more quests, I still have one day before the dungeon opens. And you’ll be helping me all day, as punishment for hurting me of course.”

Iris: “Punishment?”

Nathan: “What? You thought hurting your master will come without consequences? Certainly not. You’ll be worked mercilessly the entire day without break nor gratitude, you have no right to refuse.”

Nathan smiled down to her, letting her know that it was okay and that she did nothing wrong. Iris who just wiped her face and smiled back.

Iris: “Of course, I will accept this punishment and complete it without fail.”

Nathan: “Good, now let’s get the hell out of here, the stares around us, have changed from wonder to “What the hell is wrong with that guy.”

Iris: “Huh?”

Iris looked around and sure enough they were getting some awkward stares. Iris can’t be seen, so from a bystanders’ perspective, Nathan’s motions and the conversation they were having, looked like he was crazy.

Iris: “Yes, let’s hurry on.”

Nathan: “Alright…lets head over to the guild, then, we’ll go back to Ramol’s. Anais is probably still guarding him; I wonder how much they were able to sell.”

Iris: “Actually Master, about that-”

???????: “You there, halt.”

Nathan: “You talking to me?”

Nathan turned to find several people walking toward them. Each donning armor with a weird bird creature flying through a sun, across the front. Slowly, but surely, the men surrounded Nathan. Nathan didn’t flinch. His Threat Detection didn’t go off so that must mean they didn’t want trouble.

???????: “Yes, we like to ask you a few questions.”

Nathan: “Who are you?”

???????: “I’m am captain Bernard Syms, of the Trinity Guards, Loegrey Branch.”

Bernard’s features were hidden from sight, due to the armor, except his red beard and mustache. He was big man, towering over Nathan like a tree.

Nathan: “Okay, what’s this about?”

Bernard: “We got a complaint saying ‘a Lycanian’ was creating a scene in the middle of the street as by making strange movements while talking to herself?”

Nathan: “Aheheheheh.”

Nathan laughed awkwardly, it seems Iris and his chat, stood out much more then he realized.

Nathan: “Sorry about that, I was just leaving.”

Bernard: “Actually, we like to speak to you on another matter, if you could just follow us then we could talk in private.”

Nathan looked Bernard up and down, he was sure it wasn’t a good idea to go with him.

Nathan: “No that’s okay, I’m fine talking here.”

Guard: “Hey, I don’ think you understand-”

Bernard: “Silence.”

Bernard quickly stopped his subordinate form causing a scene. While gathering information, he had come to learn that Nathan had made several visits to the guild. It wouldn’t be a stretch to assume he was an Adventurer and was currently returning from a quest. Harassing a guild member wasn’t a good idea, especially with so many eyes watching.

Bernard: “That’s fine.”

If he were just another rogue, taking him into custody would be simple enough, but on the off-chance he was to take a guild member into custody for no apparent reason, things could become complicated.

Bernard: “Are you acquainted with one, Ramol Anood, the merchant?”

Nathan: “………..I am.”

Bernard: “Through the course of this week, he was found trying to sell high grade weaponry. Weaponry that no mere merchant, of his stature, could obtain. Sources say that you are the source for said weaponry, is this correct?”

Nathan: “Yes, that’s right.”

Bernard: “I see, so where exactly did you acquire such a large amount?”

Nathan thought [of course], it was only natural someone would wonder where he got those weapons from at some point. Nathan noticed a lot of ears around, probably wanting to know where he got the weapons. Bernard must have noticed as well, he moved his hand and several of his subordinates began to disperse those unwanted ears, however it didn’t matter if he did or didn’t.

Nathan: “None of your business.”

Bernard: “Excuse me!?”

Nathan: “None of your business.”

Bernard looked surprised at Nathan’s answer, he was sure she would try to weasel her way out. This could be considered suspicious behavior, but Nathan just out right refused. Nathan wasn’t going to tell anyone where he got the weapons.

Nathan: “I don’t have to tell you anything.”

Bernard couldn’t refute that, there was no crime being committed, none that had been reported and there had been no reports of theft and as far as it went the Lycanian had no reason to tell us. As it was quite frustrating however, he wasn’t quite done.

Guard: “Come now, you expect us to believe you acquired the weaponry, without a criminal act?”

Nathan: “Are you accusing me of something?”

Bernard turned to his subordinate, causing him to back down again.

Nathan: “Have you received any report of theft?...I didn’t think so. If you had, you would have been a lot more forceful.”

Bernard glared down at Nathan, who in turn glared right back.

Bernard: “I understand.”

Bernard took a step towards Nathan, trying to intimidate Nathan, but Nathan didn’t feel intimidated; nor did he back down.

Bernard: “Please refrain from any disturbances in the future. Next time our conversation will be a lot less pleasant.”

Nathan: “Hah? Now your threatening me?”

Bernard: “No threats here miss, just a fair warning. I am the Captain of the Guard. I do only what is right for Loegrey and its ‘Citizens’.

Bernard emphasized the word ‘citizens’, wanting Nathan to understand, that if he messed up even once; he would be on him.

Bernard: “It is getting late; I’ll leave it at that. Please be safe on your walk home. Move out.”

Bernard said nothing else and turned to leave, his men soon falling in behind him. Soon they hadn’t gotten far from Nathan and one of his subordinates spoke up.

Subordinate: “What should would do now sir; she didn’t budge even a bit. I have never seen a Therian be so blatantly disrespectful.”

Bernard: “When we return, send a message out to the other districts, have them keep a close eye on that woman.”

Once the guards were out of sight, Nathan turned back and headed down the street.

Iris: “Master, the guild is this way.”

Nathan: “We’ll do that tomorrow, I just don’t feel like it now.”

Nathan turned down a street with Iris flying over and sitting on his shoulder as they their way back to Ramol’s to call it a night