Chapter 14: Magic and Secrets

**Blanc's Perspective**

Our journey through the bustling town, with Lily as my companion, was akin to a spectacle of theatrics. Clad in my blue and white mage attire, I blended seamlessly with the crowd of adventurers, avoiding any undue attention.

Nevertheless, Lily managed to pierce through my bubble of silence, always so attuned to my thoughts. "You've been quite quiet, Lady Blanc. Is something on your mind?" She asked, her knowing smile revealing she already suspected my thoughts.

"You're parading around in that... outfit. Aren't you uncomfortable?" I probed. Her revealing choice of attire, barely appropriate for public display, left little to the imagination. The lustful glances she garnered were hard to ignore.

Her laugh rang out, light and unbothered. "Oh, not at all. But these do tend to be a bit much to handle at times. Perhaps you could help me out, Lady Blanc?" She provocatively gestured at her body, a teasing sparkle in her eyes.

I tried to reason with myself, her attire did seem to offer an aerodynamic advantage, but her blatant show-offish behavior was too hard to swallow. "You..." My tongue clicked against my palate, frustration mounting.

Catching onto my annoyance, she quickly backtracked, "Oh, pardon me, Lady Blanc. It seems I'm barking up the wrong tree here." Her jest was clearly aimed at my own less provocative attire.

"Haah…, whatever." Choosing to ignore her, I steeled myself against her antics. It was easier when Tatiana or the Tyrant Queen were around. But with them absent, it was a challenge to keep my cool around Lily, and not freeze the entire town in a fit of anger.

Breaking the tension, Lily looked down at me, a genuine compliment slipping through her lips. "You know, Lady Blanc, you look adorable in that witch's outfit. I've always wondered why you chose it."

"Because it's fitting," I said, "I'm a mage in this world, this attire helps me fit the part. Saves me the trouble of explaining my abilities to every passerby."

Her eyebrows arched in surprise, "Even though you loathe the concept of magic?"

"Not exactly," I confessed, "In my world, people still hold faith in magic or the black arts, even though science fails to validate it."

"Interesting. Despite psychic abilities pioneering technological advancements in your world, people still cling onto the idea of magic." Her curiosity piqued, she hung onto my every word.

Indeed, she was not to be taken lightly. I had to tread cautiously, her power could potentially counteract mine.

"The universe doesn't always conform to our understanding. Inexplicable phenomena occur – people fall ill, some are born into better circumstances than others. Everything can't be rationalized. In such cases, faith or hope in magic provides solace." I explained, contemplating on the mystery of it all.

Magic was no different. The promise of miracles, the hope for the impossible, these concepts were as elusive as magic itself. Death, afterlife, all these unexplainable phenomena were but fragments of a larger magical picture.

That includes Tatiana. Despite her perception of good and evil, her belief in the value of everything was almost... magical. Perhaps, I was the one yearning for a miracle from her.

As these thoughts whirled around in my head, we made our way to the information centre that Lily recomended.

"But you detested the outfit initially, didn't you? It wasn't until Tatiana insisted it'd suit you, that you decided to wear it." She pointed out my initial aversion towards my current attire.

"...If the leader's decision is beneficial for our cause, I see no reason to oppose it." I defended myself, trying to shake off her teasing.

Her laughter echoed around us, "Ehehe…, you're right, there really was no other choice." She agreed, her eyes glinting with mischief.

This was not a grand marketplace nor a town square, but a rather grimy bar. Around the building, a motley crew of drunkards littered the streets, their loud guffaws slicing through the midday stillness. The stench of stale beer hung in the air, filling my nostrils and making me grimace in distaste.

"Is this... a bar?" I questioned, a sour note creeping into my voice. The thought of entering such a place was almost repellent. This was hardly the information hub I'd envisioned.

Lily responded nonchalantly, "Since this town lacks any substantial governing body or prominent figures, our options are limited."

Though reluctant, I understood her logic. In this remote town, newspapers were scarce, and rumours were more plentiful than facts. A bar was indeed a likely place to find people willing to share what they knew. However, entering this repugnant place would be a task in itself.

Bracing myself, I followed Lily into the bar, the door creaking ominously on its hinges as we stepped into the dimly lit interior. The barkeeper, a burly man with an eye patch, gave us a cursory nod of welcome.

In response to the barkeeper's inquiring glance, I leaned on the bar and announced, "I'm looking for information about this world." My voice echoed in the bar, hopefully reaching the ears of anyone who could help.

The barkeeper raised an eyebrow, clearly puzzled by my vague request. I could see Lily suppressing a smirk out of the corner of my eye.

A drunken patron staggered towards us, an empty cup in his hand. "Master, give me another one," he slurred, reaching out towards me.

My hand instinctively moved to cast my ice, ready to freeze him solid if his hand so much as grazed my outfit.

Lily was quicker. She grabbed his arm, her voice cold as ice, "It would be wise to keep your hand to yourself."

Suddenly, a man in his thirties stepped in, delivering a swift punch that sent the drunkard sprawling over the bar counter. "Sorry about that, big sis," he said, effortlessly hauling the unconscious man off the counter, "It seems my friend has been bothering you. Let me handle this."

His intervention was a welcome respite in the otherwise chaotic bar. The other patrons seemed to respect him, as their aggressive postures relaxed considerably.

Feeling the tension ebb away, I gestured for Lily to stand down.

As the man threw the drunkard out of the bar, I observed him closely. His confident demeanor and ability to handle the situation impressed me. Perhaps, this man could be of some use.

Followed by that strange man, we took a seat at a secluded table near a window, away from the clamor of the bar. I felt slightly more at ease, but I couldn't let my guard down completely.

"Thank you, Lily," I acknowledged, taking the seat she had carefully wiped clean. Though I usually detested the dirt and chaos of such places, I found myself strangely grateful for Lily's presence, which offered some semblance of order amidst the chaos.

"So what can I do for you, your highness?" Fin inquired, addressing me with respect, though the title made my skin crawl.

I responded with a slight frown, "How about an introduction for starting?"

Fin obliged, sharing his identity as an information broker without hesitation. His rugged appearance matched his occupation, but there was something intriguing about him.

"But more than about me, I'm more interested in learning about you, milady," Fin said, his gaze never leaving me.

Though I was used to people staring at me, I found myself growing irritated with his prying eyes. My irritation dissipated only when Lily stood protectively behind me.

"I'm just a traveller, Blanc, a starter one at that," I curtly replied, deliberately withholding any personal information.

Fin nodded thoughtfully, his curiosity still evident. "A traveller, you say? Interesting. You and your companion don't look like ordinary folk."

Lily's tension flared up once again, ready to defend me at the slightest provocation. I couldn't help but appreciate her unwavering loyalty, even though I would never admit it.

"So we're the ones that are not normal? You would be wise to choose your words carefully when addressing Lady Blanc," Lily warned, her voice firm and unwavering.

Fin quickly raised his hands in surrender, attempting to defuse the situation. "Wait! Wait! That wasn't my intention. It's just you seem more like royalty than a peasant."

My distaste for the word 'royalty' only intensified. I despised my status, but Lily's presence provided some comfort, allowing me to endure such encounters with the outside world.

"Enough of this banter," I interrupted, growing impatient with the small talk. "Tell me what I want to know now."

Fin nodded, sensing my impatience. Finally, we could get to the heart of the matter, and I could extract the information I sought.

-Chapter 14 End-