Chapter 4: Mercy for the Greedy Herald

Another dark morning rolls in. The attic was peaceful and very dark. Aine got up and began waving her arms around to try and locate the kerosene lamp. After a few minutes of rubbing her hands on almost everything in the room, she touched something slippery, almost like glass.

Sure enough, it was the kerosene lamp. She turned one of the knobs, and it emitted a beautiful yellow glow. She grabbed the lamp by the top and walked out of the room. The clock struck 9.

Paxton's room door was left open, and without him in sight, it looks like he has already left.

Aine felt particularly uneasy this morning. The face of that damned pervert has been printed on her mind. Other than that, it feels like she's forgetting something, like a task, but she can't seem to put her finger on what exactly. "Well, if you forgot about it, that means it wasn't important," she thought.

She headed for the ladder that leads to the attic; she went down it and proceeded to remember that the entrance was blocked off last night due to complications with Paxton and Mr. Fabble. Nonetheless, she continued to walk down the stairs.

What sounded like a huge ruckus last night is now left without proof. Nothing was broken, and nothing was in the way.

Aine walked down the stairs to see the shop bustling with customers. Mr. Fabble was behind the counter, working the checkout.

"Oh, Aine, you're awake," said Paxton.

Aine looked to the back and saw Paxton loading crates into a cart.

"Like yesterday?" asked Aine.

"Yeah... I've got to earn some cash," answered Paxton.

"Cash..." said Aine while thinking.

It seems Aine has been reminded of something important: she has no income.

"The guild," she said.

"The guild?" asked Paxton.

"Oh, nothig, I was just talking to myself," answered Aine.

She was meant to get to the guild yesterday to find a way to earn fickens.

"I was meant to go to the guild yesterday," said Aine to Paxton.

"Oh, really? But that whole thing happened, right?" said Paxton.

Aine stood there, scratching her head. "You can go," said Paxton.

Aine smiled, walked back up the stairs, and gathered all her stuff. Paxton then followed her and handed her a sling bag.

"Hey, this is for you. You're going to need this."

"Thank you."

"Keep it safe, will you? It's quite a valuable one," said Paxton as he smiled warmly.

Aine put in all her stuff, including her bag of fickens. She walked down the stairs again with Paxton. When she walked out, Mr. Fabble greeted her.

"Ah, Aine, going off, I see?"

"Yes, Mr. Fabble, I still have something that I want to do."

"Well, if you ever need shelter, come by anytime."

"Thank you, Mr. Fabble; I'll keep that in mind."

And so Aine walked out of the store, not before overhearing a conversation between two housewives.

"Did you hear what happened to the Captain?" Asked one of them.

"Yeah, he was killed by being pelted by rocks, right? I was there," replied the other one.

"He deserved it, honestly; I can't imagine what he must have done to all those girls."

Aine stopped for a second and began processing the information. "He's dead?" Thought Aine. Aine felt a sense of relief knowing that the Captain had been killed; she wouldn't have to worry about her safety anymore.

Aine continued walking down the road. She even found the same clothing store she got her dress from. When she walked around the corner, a blockade had been formed.

The blockade was created in the same street where the Captain appeared yesterday. Aine looked around, confused. A blockade guard approached Aine.

"Excuse me, miss, you look confused. Can I help you?" Asked the Guard.

Aine began stuttering; the wounds of yesterday had come nowhere close to healing. She was falling into a panic attack before she snapped herself out.

"Oh, uh, yeah, yeah, w-what's this roadblock?" Asked Aine.

"There was an unfortunate incident yesterday, so we're closing off this street for the time being," answered the Guard.

That unfortunate incident involved Aine almost being publicly shamed, so yes, it was unfortunate for her. Nonetheless, Aine wants to reach the guild, but this is the only way she knows that leads there.

"So, how can I reach the guild? This is the only way there I know," asked Aine.

"Ah, I see. You can take that road over there, walk down it, and take a left; you'll find the guild there," answered the Guard.

Aine thanked the Guard and got on with walking down the road he recommended. It was a cramped alleyway that could barely fit an adult. She walked and walked until she found a left turn.

She took a left, just like the Guard said, and soon emerged out of the alleyway and back on the main road. This road was quite crowded; the blockade must have redirected the people here.

Candles perched atop lamp posts lit the busy street. Aine walked towards a road sign by a humble well. It says that the guild is right here.

Aine followed the sign and walked to a less crowded street. Stalls were open by the side of the road, selling everything from produce to potions to weapons.

Aine realized that Moon Village was not at all a village but more of a town, a bustling town at that. She continued walking down the street as she did until the regularly dressed townspeople were replaced with armored adventurers. She knows she's close to the guild now.

Soon, a massive brown building will be visible right near a bridge. The bridge crossed over a tiny river and then led to a wooden fence gate. Outside the gate was an area not illuminated by any lights. There is only one lamp post every couple meters that shows a dirt path.

When Aine entered the building, she saw people conversing and drinking there-it was a tavern. A jazz vocalist, softly performing in a building corner, lifted everyone's spirits. Behind her, there was a jazz ensemble.

Aine walked towards what seemed to be a reception desk. She feels like people were eyeing her; a judgmental look was cast upon her. Maybe her dress didn't fit the dress code of an adventurer.

A young lady with cat ears greeted Aine. She only looked slightly older than Aine, and she was also wearing a similar dress. She had white hair and white cat ears. Her dress is green and black in color, and she wears tight black pantyhose with black short-heeled flat shoes.

"Welcome to the Guild; how may I be of assistance?" said the Receptionist.

"Oh, I'm Aine, and I'm trying to find a job."

"A job? Most certainly! Other than providing aid to adventurers, we also provide job opportunities for the commoners."

"That's great; uh, is there a list?"

"Just look at the bulletin board at the right; we have job requests there."

"Thank you very much!"

"You are most welcome! If there is any trouble, you should direct all your questions to me," said the Receptionist as she curtsied.

Aine walked towards the bulletin board. It was covered with request papers, there were so many options. And so, Aine began searching for the right job request.

Minutes pass, and she still hasn't found the perfect request yet. As she continued to search, the door of the Guild slammed open. Aine was startled.

A man wearing crimson-red armor walks into the tavern,and the whole crowd goes silent. His hands are muscular,and he carries a huge greatsword on his back. Aine thinks he looks like a huge douchebag.

He slammed the reception desk and began shouting.

"Hey Yuki, pay up!" ordered the douchebag.

"Look, just because you're one of Deimos' heralds doesn't mean you can use me as you will," replied the receptionist.

"You know I like my taxes, and I want mine," Said the douchebag as he reached his hand out to touch one of the receptionist's cat ears.

"I'm protected by the Guild's association; no touching me; we don't side with Deimos, and we don't owe you a thing."

The man had a malicious smirk on his face, and it felt all too familiar to Aine. The crowd looked disgusted at the man, but he looked so helpless in the situation. It's like they want to stop him, but they can't.

Aine looks at the man with both fear and rage. Fear because of what the traumatic man did to her and Rage from her desire to get revenge. The man looked back at Aine.

Aine stared back at her.

"Who is this midget?" he said to Aine.

Aine crumpled both her hands and slowly moved back. He laughed. As he walked closer and closer to Aine, she got backed up against a wall. Aine's palms began to get sweaty.

"Maybe I can use you to make the guild pay me," he said.

"Stop it, you dumb herald! If you lay a finger on her, the guild will need to have a word with you," exclaimed the Receptionist.

He paused for a second before saying, "Are you forgetting the favor Deimos gave the guild?" He said this and proceeded to walk closer to Aine. The crowd gasped.

Aine began to cry as her fears began to fuel her. A loud, heavenly-sounding bell resounded throughout the entire guild as the man was ready to reach out and touch him, and then everyone in the guild experienced a bright blue light flashing.

Aine opened her eyes to see her right hand completely extended toward the man with a crumpled hand. A mysterious blue glow radiated from her right hand, with light blue smoke dispersing. It continues to fade away slowly as Aine looks around the room.

The man grunted and then screamed in pain. Aine looked at him to see his left arm completely decapitated from his body, with blue burn marks plastered on the wall behind him.

"What are you?" He asked.

Aine looked at the receptionist, who was covering her mouth in shock. The herald dropped to the ground and began limping from the pain. He was shouting at the top of his lungs from the pain.

Aine looked at the man with perplexity; she had no idea what had just happened. Aine looked at the crowd, which began to fear her. The man attempted to stand up; he looked at Aine with an enraged look.

He charged at Aine, and she guarded her head to hopefully brace the impact, but before he could reach her, he froze for a few seconds with glowing blue eyes before kneeling down in front of her.

"I'm so sorry; please forgive me!" He begged as he marveled under Aine's feet.

The crowd looked confused as one of the heralds begged for forgiveness from someone unassuming.

The man began crying and begging; he even started kissing Aine's shoes.

"Okay, okay, that's enough," said Aine awkwardly.

"Oh, no, no, no, I don't deserve to look at you; I am too unholy," he replied while crying.

"Please, just get up; come on," Aine said.

Slowly but surely, he started to stand, but with a forward-curving body posture.

"Look, okay, let's end this here; I'll cover the cost of the medical bill for your arm," Aine said.

"Oh no, please don't!" he exclaimed. "I deserved this; you corrected my path and gave me mercy."

The crowd was even more confused now, and some were just flat-out shocked.

"I don't think you understand the meaning of mercy," said Aine.

"Oh, but I do! It's what you've just graciously given me!" He said.

Aine looked back at the bulletin board, took a request, and said, "Receptionist, I'm taking this one. I'm sorry about the damage I caused. I'll find a way to pay for it."

Aine walked out of the guild and walked to where her job is. The request is for her to work in the farm section of the village and help harvest some crops. And so she walked to the village farm.

But before that, she sat on a bench by the street to collect her thoughts. She did something with her hand; it glowed blue, and when it became dim, his hand was gone. How in hell does that happen?

There was also that bell; she feels like she's heard that bell before. That heavenly-sounding bell sounded all too familiar to her.

She sat on that chair for a while before someone stood before her. She looked up, and it was the herald.

"Lady Aine! Thank God I found you!" He said.

"Please, can we just let this go? I'm really sorry."

"Oh no, don't worry about me; like I said, you gave me mercy."

"Look, what do you want?"

The herald looked hesitant, but ultimately he asked.

"Please allow me to be of service to you!" He shouted.

Everyone looked at him, and Aine was now the center of attention.

"What?" Aine said it in utter confusion.

"Please, let me be your servant; you don't even have to pay me!"

"No, I can't; you're a herald."

The Herald appeared dejected, like a motherless dog that has just been left behind.

"I understand, and for you, I shall be the best herald this world has ever seen! If that is your wish for me, then I shall fulfill it!" He said.

Aine stayed silent, but with a slight smile.

"I also already paid the guild for your damages, considering us even then," he said.

"Are you really okay with that?" Asked Aine,

"It's the least I could do," he said.

He smiled; it almost looked like his personality had changed.