Hostile Eyes

Hostile Eyes

(Chapter 5)

*

[<<]

He grasps her wrist but she doesn't even turn back to look at him when he asks her to wait. That's because her eyes started tearing up sooner than she anticipated. She tells him that they could talk later so he lets her go. He stays frozen in thought for a while. Valentina's words thaw him out.

"Don't tell me she's the one you were talking about earlier."

"…You just said don't tell me."

"It was verbal irony. I don't need to know that anyway but what's the big deal?"

"She asked me first."

"Asked you what?"

"She had about twenty ideas for the name of our Raid Unit."

"I see. That must be a disaster. I'm sorry. I know I tend to talk a lot when I'm not supposed to."

"Let's just forget about it for now and go inside, shall we?"

[>]

They find themselves on the interior side of the guild hall. (Note that I'm only giving a better description to compensate for the lack in Chapter 1 (^_^).) After moving a bit through the doorway, it opens up into a grand hall. It looks quite old but you can see little attempts at refurbishment. Right overhead the doorway is a reindeers head. A bit to the left and right are the back sides of U-shaped stairs which gives the entryway a bit of a zigzag. There's also a red carpet straight from the door, all the way to the wooden reception counter where the Guild Girl sits.

Forgot to mention that the U-shaped stairs give way to the upper deck. The middle of the upper deck is open so you could view the floor below, just like a theater. There are a few pillars supporting the building that also pass through the upper deck just at the middle opening. All the tables are round, wooden tables that are clamped to the floor but the chairs are movable. There's a massive chandelier hanging up in the middle. It's black so it doesn't attract unnecessary attention during the day. The main part of the Guild hall seems to be cut off from the rest. The only to get to the hinder-quarters is to go through the Reception. However, the hall shouldn't sound so big; it's quite small compared to others.

They make their way to the reception. Eyes slowly start to fall on them. She breaks the silence between them to avoid feeling odd.

"What're those two places up ahead?" she asks, pointing forward.

"Can't you read the signs?"

"They're barely visible. I assume it's YOUR handwriting?" she asks rhetorically a she folds her arms.

"Do you really want me to answer that?"

"Answer the first one instead."

"Alright…"

To the right of the Reception is the bar. It has shelves with a wide assortment of drinks: non-alcoholic to intoxicating. The bartender and waitress' name is Alice. She's a light blonde. The left side is the armory. The Guild Blacksmith Erin, normally aids the black haired Rex. Rex doesn't beat weapons like Erin. He actually buys weapon parts which he either assembles to make new weapons or uses them to customize other people's Raid Gear.

You might probably be wondering what the difference between a Raid Gear and a weapon is. A Raid Gear is the just the Primary Arm taken on a Raid. Of course, the Primary Arm is the one with the mana crystal. But, there are instances where you are disarmed and you might need some extra arms to defend yourself until you can retrieve your Primary. That's when you'll need an ordinary weapon; your Secondary Arm.

"Makes sense."

"Are you done talking?" Anika asks. She does have a tall stool behind the counter but she prefers to stand out of courtesy.

"Sorry, my bad!" he exclaims.

"How may I help you?"

Valentina takes over from there. "I found somewhere."

"Alright. I'll be right back… On second thought, could you help me?" she asks as she points to the young Harmonie. She withdraws the lock on the Reception barricade to let him through. He follows her through the hall way.

"How do you know what she wants?" he asks.

"She made all of her luggage distinct. Here, open the door and let me show you." she says as she hands him the key when they stop in front of a door to the left. He wonders why she gave him the key when she could have just opened it herself but he soon understands.

The instant he inserts it and tries to turn it, it gives him a terrible shock that makes his legs feel like jelly. "OWW!" he shouts. "What the hell was that for?"

"Just so you could let her know that her items are safe," she says as she opens the door. It's a large cargo room that is lined with a very visible mana field. "Why don't you touch the walls as well?"

"Have you lost your mind? I can barely walk straight."

They walk a bit further into the room that's full of all sorts of cargo that has been given to them for safe-keeping. It seems like each person was supposed to have a whole shelf all to him or herself but when he asked her where Valentina's stuff were, she pointed out three.

"How does she have three?"

"She paid for them... As I was saying earlier; she put her valuable items in trunks; black for money and red for other metallic items or jewels."

"What do you mean by black for money? One whole shelf is black!"

"That's the point. As for the suitcases, she gave me red for her first night if you can remember, brown for when she finds a good place and black for when she purchases a property."

"… but I see a white trunk... Is it on mine?"

"The white trunk seems to be items with high sentimental value. She asked me to place it separately in case of any emergency.

"… Are the black ones safe here?"

"They'll have to be moved to the vault."

"Shouldn't I help you since I'm already here?"

"It's not humanly possible to lift them alone. Dad will help me with them. Just take a brown suitcase. I'll take one too."

They soon get back to where Valentina was supposed to be but she seems to have left. Guillelmus spots her but decides to wait for her at the Reception.

[Valentina]

Apparently, Valentina found Paz with her Unit at the same table and decided to pay them a visit. First of all, she says thanks to Tamar for her help. She then apologizes to Paz for the last time.

"Whenever something like that happens, just forget about it," she says with quite the attitude. "Coming back to apologize just makes one recall the incident."

"That's not my way."

"The word that I detest most in this world—it's sorry." are Paz's strong remarks, imbued with sees of rancor.

"Then I REGRET what I said the last time. If you could find it in your heart to forgive me." That makes Tamar laugh.

"Alright cupcake. She's not gonna say anything but you're forgiven. I think I see your partner waiting back there so you should get going." says Tamar as she crosses her legs

"Alright, see you later!"

Just as she starts to move to move toward the Reception, a guy approaches her.

"Hey there?"

"Hello. We met?" she asks as he tilts her head out of curiosity.

"No we haven't. You looking for a Unit? Not that I think a pretty girl such as yourself is into this kinda thing."

"I actually do and I am" she says enthusiastically.

"Really? Which Unit is that?"

"Boundless."

"Haven't heard of it before. Who else is in it?"

"…" she remembers that she doesn't remember his name AGAIN. "Guy…guy… the guy over there."

"You've gotta be kidding me."

"I'm serious."

"You might as well just put your head in a guillotine."

"Can't say I haven't embarked on that adventure before." she says concealing her anger. What sort of jerk goes round badmouthing others? Well there's also the fact that maybe he's being considerate but she WILL defend her partner.

"Are you nuts? What do you see in that- that loser?"

"Watch it! I'll have you know that as far as I'm concerned he looks much cooler than SOMEONE right now."

"Cooler? *Ngh* You probably bought that jacket for him. Good luck with that. Hope that the leech sucks you dry."

"Hope you don't die." she says somewhat sarcastically.

She quickly makes her way back now.

[Guillelmus]

"What was that about?" he asks.

"It was nothing. Let's just get going. Lady Anika."

"Oh. No. you can just call me Anika. Anything else?"

"E-Erin?"

"Yes?"

"He'll be working on something for me so please take care of it."

"My pleasure."

"Bye then!" both of them exclaim.

"Remember to tell her how secure it is," she says with a wink.

The two of them are soon out of sight. They arrive at Laura's after a while. She was actually waiting outside, expecting them. They take the things into Little Laura's room; or should I say the room she would've occupied when she got older.

"Isn't this?" Guillelmus starts.

"Yes it is. But it's hers now."

"Is there any reason for this drastic decision?"

"We always shared my bed so this place was never used."

"I see. Well, since she has to get things organized, I guess I'm done here."

"Won't you wait for supper?"

"I'm sure that mom must've already started making some right now. I'll have to pass."

"Alright."

"Safe journey!" Valentina exclaims.

[>]

The sun starts to set. Guillelmus arrives at the doorstep of the nun's house. It's not like the other houses. It's more like a mini tudor house with a gray stone façade and a crucifix in front. The door goes under the crucifix. He knocks on the door and waits a bit. An old nun comes out and he quickly asks her where if Eris was home. She tells him that she came around earlier in the morning. She halts him as he's about to leave.

"What I see isn't desirable. You should hide your jewels from hostile eyes." What makes it sound ominous is the fact that she went blind a year ago. He clearly knew what this meant. Danger is lingering around and he had to identify the direction from whence it will come before he can take pre-emptive measures. He decides to go home.

The nun's isn't far from home but he takes a detour. He tries to figure out where she could be. "It doesn't hurt to try," he says to himself. He goes to Erin's.

"Has Eris been here?"

"Nope. She said she was gonna go and look for you earlier. Why, something the matter?"

"… Don't worry about it. I just wanted to see her."

"… Bro… You've been keeping me waiting."

"… It's not time yet. I need to do something first. I will."

"I trust you."

They seal it with a handshake and the young Harmonie departs. He decides to retrace the same path and finds himself in luck. He sees her and calls out "Eris!" but she seems not to hear it. He gets pulled into an alleyway. It looks like some thugs; three of them. Has his luck run out after a mere second? One muffles his mouth and the other two stand before him.

"Hey there pretty boy. Got a few questions for you."

Elmus immediately tries to shake free and flips the one restraining him over and into his mates. He quickly assumes a martial stance. He barks, "Stay back! But they don't heed his warning. He throws himself at one of them but they quickly bring him down to his knees. They put his arm in a submission behind his back and he starts to grovel.

"*Groveling*"

"Won't you put up I fight? We know you're one of the Tyrants. This can't be it." The thug says as he raises Elmus head by his hair.

"Haven't you heard that I can't use mana? *gahn* we fight with weapons, not with our fists. Let me go!"

"Are you ready to answer our questions now?"

"Alright," he says groveling.

"How'd you end up with this jacket?"

"I bought it."

"YOU LIAR!"

"Wait don't! *URGH!* Hear me out first! I met a guy at the town square who said he needed to get rid of it real quick. It didn't cost me much! *AAH!* DARN IT!"

"… Trash like you doesn't deserve to wear this."

They forcefully take it off and give him a little beating. He continues to grovel on the floor for a while.

[Thugs]

"Don't tell me that you actually believed him."

"Don't be paranoid. I can tell a loser when I see one."

"I still think we should've pressed him a bit more though. Like maybe description of something."

"… There is no need. You can't trust a rat. We just need to report this to HQ. Nobody can defeat the Dark Alley."

[Mom]

He knocks on the door several times. She opens the door; ready to shower him with kisses until she sees his state. She hurriedly helps him to get seated and dresses his bloody eyebrow.

"Son what happened?" she asks worriedly. Which mother wouldn't worry after seeing her baby all beat up? Her hands don't help her out much but she tries her best.

"Just some common thugs. I only broke a rib. I should be fine."

[Valentina]

Valentina and Ms. Laura have their dinner. They have a short chat as well.

"How long will I be able to stay here?" Valentina asks.

"As long as you need to. I really don't mind. Like I said before, I really just need some company. Maybe we could even be friends."

"… If I may ask, how do you manage to look so young?"

"It has just been this way."

"What line of work are you in?" she asks as she takes a bite.

"I bake. I work at the confectionary at the town square. I even forgot to inform them about what has transpired."

"Then what do you say about me escorting you tomorrow. After all, we've gotta be best buddies so that you can share your beauty secrets with me."

"I'd be delighted."

[Elmus]

Young Harmonie tucks himself in bed. He embraces Amitha like he always does. The braziers go out.

"{Elmus. I feel like something's wrong with your breathing.}"

"{Yeah, the Dark Alley knuckleheads fell for the bait,}" he says adjusting the pillow.

"{Are you hurt?}"

"{Just a bit. I barely defended myself so blocking that kick to the rib would've been suspicious. We were right. The leaders of the outposts wear that jacket.}"

"{They shouldn't get to know what we did. If they see you again, find a way to make it look like they ran away with the dough. We have the advantage. If we play our cards right…}"

"{I'll consider it. The real situation is: I have located a pair of hostile eyes. I have to tread carefully or the game will be over before it even begins.}

-----------End of Chapter 5--------------

Chapter 6 Teaser

It's always calm before the storm. The only one who emerges from the torrent is the victor and the rest drown in the abyss. A week shall pass.

To be continued…