The sun was about to set as I glanced at the inn's windows. The lake was visible to these curtains. And yet, amidst the chaos, I neatly found it peaceful here.
After our mighty conversation with Plasma, there was a knock on the door. It was a gentle knock, a polite manner that can mean only one thing. Natalie Haro
I opened the door as usual. There, I saw Natalie, standing in and was geared up, she wore a set of lightweight armor on the go, just in case of protecting Cassius. I invited Natalie politely through my room, I set up a cup of tea and began our conversation.
"U-Umm, Roxy"
Natalie stuttered a bit, but still talked calmly as she could. I silently waited for her to continue. Natalie hesitated for a few seconds, but then she found her courage again and glared sharply at me.
"Th-Thank you, Thank you for saving me back then."
Natalie had finally managed to put her feelings into words. Her expression, her tone, and even her voice made it sound like she was trying to pick a fight, but it was clear from her gaze that her attitude was sincere.
I tilted my head in confusion. I tried to figure out what I was being thanked for and came to the conclusion that it must have been saving her from Alta's breath. Though that was mostly just a side effect of the face I'd had to protect them. It took me a second to even think of it since back then they hadn't even registered in my mind, nor had I really been conscious of the fact I'd protected them too.
Natalie noticed that I seemed to be thinking the wrong thing, and hurriedly added to her statement.
"Umm, thanks for saving me earlier too, but… I was talking about that time in Castle Libra, when you saved me from that bandit, and then killed all the guards for all of us."
Natalie recalled everything about the Castle Libra raid, it was gruesome. I realized that she didn't thank me for doing that heroic act of hers. So it is her opportunity to thank me for saving her life.
"Oh. You mean that time you were about to get your skull split open… I forgot that it was you, Natalie."
"Umm, could you please not describe it so graphically? It's a kind of traumatic experience for me."
Natalie covered her head, memories of that day coming back to her. I stared at her expressionly, my head still tilted to one side.
"And?"
"Ah, Umm… well, you see…"
Natalie started stammering again, but then she took a deep breath to compose herself.
"I won't waste this life you saved! Maybe you don't really think anything of it, Roxy, but I'll still treasure this life you gave me!"
It was the same thing she'd felt when she'd first resolved to stand back up again. It was only because of me, who'd been redeemed as the vice-leader of the guild, had given my life for them that everyone else was still alive, but Natalie's feeling hadn't changed.
I'd still risked everything to save them. I'd put my life on the line for the sake of his members. I wasn't going to waste that life I'd saved. Even though she was so weak, she couldn't even compare to mid-level beasts. Even if the events of the Castle Libra raid still gave her nightmare's. Even if she couldn't be any more useful in the battle to come. Even then, she'd keep trying.
My response was just two simple words.
"I see." Then, I slipped a tea in advance
Natalie couldn't even tell if I'd accepted her thanks, or if her resolve had meant anything to me. She simply stood there dumbly, unsure of what to do. Eventually, she turned around and began leaving my room.
I felt stares from both sides. One from my brother and one from the guild. After how harsh my life had been since coming here, they were overjoyed to see this kind of warmth around me for once. They were also proud of how I'd done something that had left a positive impact on so many people.
I scratched my head awkwardly and looked over my shoulder to say one last thing to Natalie.
"Hey, Natalie."
"Y-Yes?"
She hadn't been expecting me to say anything more and was so surprised that she jumped a few inches into the air. Natalie sits at the same chair again and returns.
"You got guts. I could tell even back then." I said calmly
Despite having nearly been cut literally two seconds ago, Natalie had still rushed to save the rest of her guild without a second thought. And even now, despite the trauma she'd suffered, she still kept fighting. I really meant it when I said she had guts.
"U-Umm…"
Natalie stammered, unsure how to respond. She couldn't figure out where I was trying to go with my words. However, my next sentence cleared up."
"A girl like you won't die easily."
As I said that. Natalie stared silently at me.
"Well, probably not, anyway." I added, ruining the moment
To a bystander, my words probably seemed frivolous. However, to Natalie they meant far more. They served to wipe away the bad thoughts that had been gathering in the corners of her mind.
"Thanks, Roxy."
Natalie's voice was barely more than a whisper, quiet enough to be carried away by the wind. She smiled at me and took a small sip of my tea. Then, suddenly, there was another knock on the door.
I shouted "come in…" loudly, then the door opened. Revealing Cassius at the doorstep. Without hesitation, I invited him through my room. Enjoying our simple tea party.
"Cassius, come in!"
Cassius decided to take a tea break with us. He sat beside Natalie, and sipped a hot tea between his lips. I can tell that he is satisfied because this tea was high-quality, produced and harvested directly at the Rebelbub Plains. His expression says otherwise.
"Oh my, this tea is a luxury. Where did you get that tea, Eirene?"
"It is the famous Rebelbub tea. It is harvested thoroughly from this land. How'd you expect to taste this kind of tea?"
"I wouldn't judge, this is the best tea I've tasted in my entire life."
In an instant, Cassius took one of the teabags that was placed at the wooden table, because of its sensing aroma, I couldn't compare both the taste of blood and that tea. While Cassius was savaging the tea. I replied calmly
"So Cassius, what idea brings you here?"
"Oh, I just wanted to tell you about my family history. I know you're curious about my connection with my mother. Feel free to ask any questions."
The reason Cassius came to my room is to start a bit of talking. He reminded me about the locket I've found in the mountains. Ever since I returned the locket back to Cassius, I immediately knew their family background, but I've known little to no avail.
"Tell me Cassius, who is your father?"
"Well, I was the third son of the Calico Family, my father's name was Roman Calico, he was a proud and nobleman. I've known little information about him since he was busy managing his work. Because of that, he was replaced by the ruler of Town Allure itself. Lord Phillip Morris, he stood as a father figure of mine. He'd watched me grow up until I assessed myself to be older. He motivated me to become an adventurer, or so he thought."
Cassius' father was one of the seven royal families. Meaning Cassius was among them, the Calico Family stood at the top of the food chain, it is one of the noblemen that deserved to be protected. Wealth, Fame and Freedom resides in these families.
"Anyways, what about your mother? Snow Flower?"
"Yes, my mother was the head of the Flower family. She was the former ruler of Town Allure and the owner of a large business in Caria City… I met my mother a few times in my life. Ever since then, I was always close to Lord Phillip, who was my only known father figure in my life. Even though we're not blood related, we formed ourselves as a family."
After Cassius finished talking about both of his parents. Natalie joins in and begins asking Cassius further questions.
"Snow Flower? Cassius, are you related to White Flower?"
"Yes, how did you know her? Natalie?"
Upon hearing Cassius' response, we were shocked about his answer. He has a strong connection to the Flower Family since he was tied to their blood. And what is fascinating is that both of his parents are connected by the royal families. Making him more of a noble. There Cassius continued
"Natalie, do you mean White Flower, she was my older half-sister from the Flower Family."
"Huh? Half-sister?"
"Indeed, since White and I came from different fathers, we both originated from the same mother's. Even better, these two families that inherited both my parents were all formed by royal blood. Tell me, Natalie, how did you know my sister very well?"
Natalie gulped in excitement, she cleared her throat and began explaining about Lady White's background.
"Cassius, Lady White was one of our leaders in the guild. She took control of our guild all by herself. I didn't know that both of you are siblings."
"Umm, technically half-siblings."
"Exactly, White confirmed herself that she didn't have siblings. She is an only child. She didn't mention any of her brothers."
Seeing Cassius appearance is no different from White, its hair color was wrong, both of its eyes and facial features were not the same. Even though they were considered half-siblings, their appearance was more of a false advertisement.
"I've been inherited by my father's traits, I'm not look like White, and I've said a million times, she is my half-sister."
"Wait, since White's an adventurer, why are you not?"
"Because we're in different families. The Flower Family's goal is to become a powerful adventurer, while my family's goal is to become a nobleman."
Over a minute of talking. A knock on a door appeared, the noise instantly silenced and instead of a calm and polite knock, a loud and hard knock echoed through the room. I decided to open it out.
As I opened the door. I saw my brother alongside his party, waiting at my doorstep. They looked like they were about to puke, and yet, sweat beads formed on Elias's face. I decided to ask my brother.
"Brother, what happened?"
Elias sighed, then stopped and continued.
"Monsters! Monsters were approaching the gates. We need to go there ASAP."
"What?"
"Eirene, there's no time, we need to go there."
Then, Elias locked both eyes at Natalie and immediately tasked my guildmates.
"You! Natalie! Protect Cassius with all of your might! Don't let a single scratch from the boy get to him."
"Roger that, Elias!"
After he tasked Natalie to protect Cassius from the monsters, we left the inn quickly. Alta has also decided to join because of its formidable power. Then we arrived outside of the inn.
Elias deployed one of his summons in the ground. He raised his hand up and chanted that specific spell.
"Shadow Horse… activate."
Elias summoned a majestic horse out of thin air, it was no time to admire its beauty, we need to get quick fast.
So the five of us hopped on the horse and rode straight to the dark walls that Elias had created.