The gentle shimr of the church's glyph-lit halls slowly faded behind them as Kivas and Samael stepped back into the more grounded rhythm of the bastion's outer walkways.
The light was dimr now, slanting sideways through the floating lanterns that lined the roads. Warm hues spilled over cobbled paths and the soft-spoken hum of distant conversation echoed in intervals.
Several of the priests, including Lyenar, gave small nods as the two passed the entrance of the church, their expressions bearing a quiet formality.
Kivas turned and waved with a bright smile.
"Thanks for everything! We'll be back tomorrow!"
Lyenar inclined her head with a slow gesture of farewell, her scar catching the light slightly as her robe whispered across the stone. "May your faith enlighten your path."
"Co back again, you two!"
"Don't be afraid to join the daily prayer!"
And so did the other priests that joined along after the eting with Goliath.
Kivas adjusted the loose fold of her scar and glanced up at Samael. "We've still got a few hours. You tired?"
"I do not tire in any aningful way," Samael replied, her tone a notch drier than usual.
"Sa. Let's go kill ti."
Rather than venture into unfamiliar areas, Kivas instinctively turned toward the scent trail of sizzling spice and iron-rich sweetness that lingered in her mory.
It wasn't long before the familiar crooked roof and dancing lanterns of Charishe's restaurant ca into view.
The Tall-eared Workers were still out, one of them balanced precariously on a stool while scrubbing what appeared to be a lanternfish-shaped grill pan with a comically oversized brush.
The mont they stepped into the outdoor seating ring, Charishe's voice rang out from behind the counter.
"Well, well, if it isn't my favorite newbies! What brings the soulmate duo back here so soon? Miss already?"
"We didn't want to wander too far," Kivas replied, sliding into one of the curved seats. "Also, your place has a good ambiance and view of the street."
Samael took the seat beside her, silent as usual but not dismissive. One of the Tall-eared Workers appeared almost instantly with two mugs of chilled root-brew.
Charishe bead. "I'm honored. Most people only co here for the food."
"I'm pretty sure you're putting addictive stuff in it," Kivas snickered.
"Only addictive if you have taste."
They sat for a few monts in comfortable quiet. Behind them, the restaurant bustled as small orders were passed across counters and sizzling trays were handed off to workers with exaggerated fox-like ears that twitched every ti soone shouted an order.
Maybe now was the right ti for Kivas to get curious about the senior Void Hunter that she t a few monts ago.
Samael saw what Kivas was about to say and gestured a hand, "Go for it."
Kivas nodded. "Hey, Charishe. You ever heard of soone nad Azulus?"
"Azulus? That na rings a bell." Charishe's brow lifted, lips quirking. "Short? Looks young? Giant mouse ears?"
Kivas nodded, chuckling at how synchronized their impressions were. "That's her. We're going on our first expedition with her soon. As a much more senior-senior locale of Solvish Keep, anything that we can note about?
Samael silently watched Charishe's expression as it shifted from amused recognition to contemplative curiosity.
"I rember seeing her for the first ti about a year ago," Charishe said. "She's not a local, though. Not exactly. She cos and goes. I only see her maybe once every month. Sotis two."
"So, she just disappears and appear from ti to ti?"
"Disappears, reappears, and always wields a different oversized weapon each ti. Never the sa one twice. Still always too big for her." Charishe chuckled. "I find that fact amusing."
"Is it safe for us to take her request?" Kivas asked, genuine concern touching her tone now.
Charishe leaned on the table, resting her chin on one hand. "Honestly? I'm not sure what to say. I've barely talked to her. She's friendly enough, but there's a weird distance." Then she lowered her voice and leaned closer, the edges of her grin sharpening. "But I have heard rumors."
Kivas leaned in as well, elbow propped on the table. "Now we're talking."
"There's been whispers," Charishe began, "that Azulus has been an F-grade for a very long ti. Way longer than you'd expect. Years, maybe. Yet everyone who's ever gone on an expedition with her cos back with drastically different opinions."
"How different are we talking?"
"Polarized. So say she's absurdly strong. Could probably jump grades if she wanted. Others say she's borderline incompetent, and the only reason she survives is because she's carried or lucky. It never settles. Always swings back and forth.
"So say that she is shy, so say that she is nice, so say that she is mischievous. One ti, she went on a quite risky expedition with ten other Void Hunters of her grade. The expedition returned with only four people alive to tell the tale.
"The survivor ntioned how Azulus barely does anything to contribute until at the last monts where she appeared to fight like an A grade Void Hunter with thousands and beyond average attribute stats, multiple advanced classes, and hundreds of skills."
"That's bizarre," Kivas muttered.
"There's even a theory," Charishe added in a whisper, "that she's not even a normal hunter. So think she's a direct agent from Karasu Association. Sent here to monitor things, but under deep cover."
Samael sipped from her cup without shifting her posture. "She's extrely cautious," she said after a mont. "That's what I noticed."
"I'm not saying she's dangerous." Charishe retracted with a smug. "Just aware of sothing she doesn't share."
The mood at the table shifted slightly as the quiet stretched. Eventually, Charishe leaned back and clapped her hands together lightly.
"Well, no use chewing the worry-grass over a mission that hasn't even started. Let's change gears. You two ever thought of staying here for a bit longer?"
Kivas blinked. "You an like, properly staying? Not just crashing the inn?"
"We haven't even tried the inn yet," Samael quipped.
"Yeah. Setting roots, even if it's shallow. I'm saying this because you two look like fun people to keep around. So of the locals here even already agreed with that statent." Charishe gave a double finger-guns. "We have keen eyes and judgent when it cos to personality and potential, you know?"
Kivas looked at Samael, then back to Charishe. "I guess... maybe? We haven't really talked about that."
Samael offered her own thought, "Solvish Keep is well-structured. Not too large to create class divisions, not too small to collapse under pressure. Its collective governance makes it stable, and the Association influence keeps its systems responsive.
"There isn't much to complain about either. Helping around the activity of the bastion alone seems like a feasible way to keep oneself maintained."
"I was going to say that," Charishe pointed out with a mock pout. "Stealing my lines, scary dragon-winged lady."
"She is a scary one, alright," Kivas teasingly smiled.
"I gave you two too much leeway in conversation."
"Well, if you two ever decide, I can talk to the people at the builder camp and the Solvish Guild," Charishe continued. "They'll cut you a fair deal for land. Being a noble helps too, Kivas."
"Does the Solvish Chapter act as the town council or sothing?" Kivas asked.
"Kinda?" Charishe waved a hand vaguely. "It's more like a joint system. The Solvish Keep runs on overlapping managent. Builders, traders, guild folks, even the inn staff, all play a role. The Chapter just helps hold it all together."
"So there's no one in charge?"
"Correct," Charishe confird. "We just... make it work."
Kivas exhaled and leaned back, thoughtful. "That's honestly amazing."
They lingered for a while longer, discussing odd nu ideas, strange visitor stories, and the occasional local superstition.
Charishe eventually introduced them to a few of her regulars—an eyeless bark-skin courier, a glass-jawed artifact hunter, and a veteran nad Thassel who claid he once suplexed a boulder back into orbit. Most of the introductions ended with mild laughter or exchange of food tips.
It was certainly a good place to hang out with how open the custors were with its chef. Kivas also connected with this world more than a re tell-a-tale that Samael dumped ti to ti.
Then the sky above the bastion shifted hue. One of the floating markers above the central pillar rang softly, indicating the passage of another hour.
Charishe pointed toward the shifting sky. "That's your cue."
"Alright," Kivas stood, straightened her outfit, and stretched her arms. "Ti to et the senior rodent. Thank you for the ti everyone!"
"Good luck on your first expedition!"
"Break a leg, masked lady!"
The two of them already appeared to be quite the topic the mont they entered Solvish Keep, so it was easy enough to converse as the locals were already likely to have heard of the gossip beforehand.
"That's quite the fun ti," Kivas grinned a teasing shine under a half-lidded gaze. "What do you think, Samael? How's the experience on your side?"
"I find it not uncomfortable," Samael rely answered with a faint smile on her face. "I prefer my ti being alone with you, if you want my honest opinion."
"Y-you really know how to tease a maiden, huh."
"It won't be for long."
"What."
"Nothing."
"You can't just retract that! I have good mories!"
At the sa place where they once t the rodent girl for the first ti, Azulus stood waiting. But she wasn't alone anymore.
Three new individuals had arrived and stood beside her, each bearing the posture of soone who had signed a pact with danger.
Reviews
All reviews (0)