CHAPTER 12:Warm company.

"Hey, long time no see." Raymond smiled awkwardly.

"Can I sit here?"Chaol asked cheerfully.

Raymond moved reluctantly, to offer a place to sit as per Chaol's request.

" Ah! Hello!I'm Chaol. Ray's childhood friend"Chaol greeted Canute with a bright smile.

"It's a pleasure to meet your acquaintance," Canute replied shaking hands with him.

"l-likewise." He stuttered.

"Chaol's a commoner so he isn't easy with formal speeches," Raymond reassured.

"Oh, I see."

"Thanks for understanding. So Ray what are you doing here? How are your days in knighthood?", Chaol asked putting his arm around Raymond's neck.

" Damn yeah, it is difficult to handle those troops," he replied blankly.

"I see. I remember those days when we used to train up in the mountains. Every day you'd slip away from the mansion and kept me waiting for you." He chuckled.

"Yeah? By the way, what are you doing here? Aren't you busy experimenting all-day long?"

Raymond sarcastically raised a question.

"What do you mean? Can't I visit my own brother?"

"Brother?"

"Yes, this is my big brother's inn. That dude over the counter is my big bro. And the waitress working with him is his fiance."

The fork slipped away from Raymond's hand and fell on the floor.

Clink*clank*

"You weren't flirting with her?"Raymond asked shocked.

" What!?"Both Canute and Chaol choked on the food.

Cough*cough*

"What made you say that?" Chaol asked gulping down a glass full of water.

"Well, you used to do a lot when we were younger. And you were always beaten to pulp."

"Ahaha!well I used to. But had I flirted with Lily, Aron would've ended my life." He smiled awkwardly scratching his head.

"Besides, I have got more things to do. You should worry about yourself. Your mother is trying her best to find you a suitable bride. Or so I heard. Sadly she hasn't succeeded in finding one for you." Chaol sniffed acting dramatically like a tragic heroine.

"Where did you hear that from? Stop sticking your nose in others, private matters."Raymond flushed in embarrassment.

"I swear to great divinity, these two are feathers of one wing." Canute was put into a dilemma after witnessing the useless trash of his eyes.

He sighed heavily drinking water from his glass.

"Are you perhaps a new recruit?" Chaol asked Canute.

"No, I'm not?" Canute said shaking his head.

"He is here to help us find a solution to our problems." Raymond cut in.

"Are you a mage from the main tower?" Canute asked.

"Unfortunately. I am a mage working in the sub tower near the city walls." Chaol responded.

"This will put us to ease. Could you please guide us to the sub towers around the city?" Canute requested.

"Yeah, we need to investigate the towers around the city. You know the best around the city don't you think?" Raymond smiled.

"Sure I'll do anything for a friend of mine. Ray's friends are my friends."

"We ARE NOT FRIENDS!" Both of them said out loud in unison frightening guts out of poor Chaol.