A Dull Blade's Shine Pt. VII

We approached a modest, but well-built cottage home that had a small clearing out from the surrounding wheatfields.

There was a man waiting outside, but he wasn't looking at us- instead it looked like he was looking out at the wheatfields, lost in thought.

Maev spoke up, catching his attention.

"Verdin!" She shouted from roughly fifteen yards away, the demon looked back and saw us two approaching.

But as he did, right away I could tell there was something 'off' about him.

His face had a kind of 'distant' look to it as we approached, was he still deep in thought or something?

"Ah, evenin' Maev." The demon tipped his straw hat, he had noticeably darkened, tan skin.

"What brings you 'round? Mm, who's this?" He shifted his gaze to me, but it still looked like he wasn't 'there'.

"Ah, this is Kai, he is a visiting guest's servant helping us on an errand." She explained.

"S'that so."

"And for that errand actually- we're here to ask you to rewrite your report that you had made." She motioned to me to bring out the blank sheet.

"Report? What report missy?" He asked, he seemed genuinely confused.

"The report, Mister Verdin? The one you had sent to us just earlier this week for the season's crop yield." Maev raised an eyebrow.

"S'that so." He replied, his confused look persisted.

"Are you fine, Mister Verdin?" Maev asked.

But Verdin didn't respond- instead he turned his back around and looked at the wheat fields.

"V-Verdin?" Maev looked a little weirded out, and I was with her on that- what the heck was going on with this guy?

"Hmm? Ah, if it ain't Maev and'- Who's this feller?"

???

What the-

"You seem a bit familiar, mister." He said as he pointed a crooked finger at me.

"Maev, is he okay?" I asked as he kept his finger pointed at me.

"I-I, I don't know- he never acts like this." Maev started to look a little scared.

"V-Verdin, I've brought a parcel from your son, Corso- Guild master Gohorn sends his regards.."

"S'that so." He said, his jaw looked a little slacked as he talked.

"Yes, would you like me to give it to you now? Also, how is Miss Frila doing?"

"Fine." He replied.

"O-Okay." Maev gave me a worried side-eye.

"Give it here, don't be shy missy." He pointed to the parcel that she had in her hand- prompting her to hand it over to him.

But I stopped her just short of taking a step further, putting a hand on herr shoulder.

"Maev, give me it, I'll give it to him." I whispered to her.

"B-But...-" She looked at me hesitantly.

"I know what's in it, trust me, I won't get you in trouble." I eyed the parcel in her hands.

"...Okay, p-please." She gave me the parcel, entrusting it to me.

And as I guessed it-

It rattled with the sound of coins.

Verdin didn't move from where he stood, he still kept his hand extended outward- his eyes mindlessly glazed over as he patiently waited for the parcel to reach his hand.

It was creepy, too creepy- it felt somewhat familiar however, with how he kept looking staring off like that, with his empty eyes.

I slowly walked over to him, from what I could tell as I felt it- the parcel had a fair bit of coins within, there was also likely some written notes within too.

I got to the awaiting Verdin, and I handed him the parcel- a clean foot between his palm and me.

"C'mere, I'm waitin'." He said, he kept his friendly tone but everything else about him remained ominous- I felt itchy just being near him.

He didn't approach me; it was just his extended arm- even though all he had to do was move a bit forward to grab it.

What was he waiting for? Did he want me to get close? I didn't get it.

Well, whatever he was going to do- I had better make sure to keep an eye on Maev.

She was my ticket back; it'd be difficult to explain to the Head maid as to why she was missing if something happened to her.

I took the final step forward and placed the parcel directly into Verdin's open palm.

He grabbed it.

"Ah, Corso, it's good to hear from him, heh." He said happily, as he read the name listed on the parcel; he looked normal now, his eyes not as dull as they were prior.

"Thank you for giving it, friend." He stuck his hand out to me, this was the first time I've seen someone offer me a handshake in the world.

Maybe that's just how demons are? Or maybe he's a little weird- well no harm in shaking his hand.

"My pleas-"

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He smiled at me, his eyes empty once-more, with his previous joy now all gone from them as he calmly shook my hand.

"-ure..." I felt a little too stunned to properly speak as he finally let go of my hand, his smile still present; but I let go of his firm grip without much effort.

"I'll write your report, just let me-"

"I think it's okay, we'll talk to you tomorrow- as well, it's getting a little late now." I said, taking a few steps away from him.

"S'that so." He blankly said, as he limply held onto the parcel in his hand.

I didn't respond as I walked back to Maev, I grabbed her wrist.

"We need to leave." I said, as I dragged her away from the strange demon, still absently gazing off into space from where he stood.

...

It was sunset, the sky was a pouring purple and orange now.

"What happened! Why'd you whisk me away like that." Maev asked, she looked a little flustered.

"Never mind the report, we have to leave this place, now." Is what I told her as we briskly walked down the path that we had used to get to the homestead, back to the main road.

"Never mind the report? But Madam Lorica-"

"Trust me, there's something bigger going on here than just a report- we should get back to the manor before it gets dark."

I still had the blank documents on me as we headed further out back to the road, this whole thing was making me feel nauseous- can this body even throw up if any food I eat ends up becoming mana?

"Bigger?" Maev asked, she tried tugging away at my grip, but I wasn't letting go- I needed her to stay safe.

"When was the last time you saw that man, Verdin?" I asked.

"Roughly three weeks ago as he had visited the manor for business relating to Lord Saleos." She gave up her relent as she let me drag her along, she matched my pace now.

"Has he always been like that?"

"N-No, he's usually a very friendly and direct man, but how he was acting now was strange."

We had finally returned back to the main road, all around us now was just miles and miles of red wheat, the homestead a speck in the distance.

I let go of her wrist, finally allowing her to catch her breath. If it was up to me, I would've just carried her in a full sprint back to Rezabel- but I don't want to go revealing what I can do meanwhile I don't know where the Royalists are hiding.

Especially so nowhere near the town proper.

"What happened there? Tell me, I won't follow you any further if you don't." Maev demanded as she crossed her arms at me.

"Erh, well-"

I don't know if I can tell her that he had attempted to kill me repeatedly with just a handshake. Would she even buy it?

"He just didn't seem right when I saw him up close, as if something was very off about him."

"I concluded that whatever it was, it wasn't good- and that we should just go, and further bother him." Is what I said.

"Kai, I have a hard time believing that." Maev understandably rebutted.

"That does not explain your sudden dash to run us on out of there! I was very startled with your panicked look." I was panicked!? Was that out of reflex or did my emotions slip through?

"Look- just believe me." I begged.

"I'll tell Lorica that something happened that had caused me to not get the reports done- well, one report that is; supposedly the other is complete." I shrugged.

But Maev was still disgruntled at me, she looked annoyed.

"If you come back with nothing to show, I will be disciplined, Kai."

"I'm your guide, and Madam Lorica will have my head for it!" She cried.

"I, I er-"

"Gah! I'm tired of this, this whole thing- and it's already this late!!" She cried out to the sinking sunset.

"I have to get back to help with the banquet! I'm sorry Kai, but I'll be running on ahead!!" She said as she began to pick up a jog heading back to Rezabel.

"Wait! What're you doing, we can go back together!!" I called out to her, I kept a slow jog behind her.

"Please don't! You must get these reports done in time, go back to Verdin or I'll never hear the end of it!!!" She yelled as she picked up her pace, she was surprisingly pretty fast.

I slowed down my jog as I witnessed Maev maintain a good sprint heading towards Rezabel, was this a skill she had honed being a main at the manor?

If I wanted to, I could just reach her easily enough-

but she was right about the report.

Not for her sake however,

but for mine.

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