World: MSS - Loading...

Clover walked through the halls of Jared Akka Xalud's mansion.

One of his many mansions.

Since Lock's victory against Jared Akka Xalud's second-in-command, the gears of fate had begun to move once more. What had seemed like the stale rotting driftwood floating on the ocean became a full-on galleon, moving with intent and purpose. Jared Akka Xalud stayed true to his word, sparing all the non-humans that weren't part of the main adventuring force. However, he never rescinded his invitation into the Akka Xalud mansion either.

As a result, all the members of the main adventuring force had been invited to stay as guests in the man's mansion. Zenom had accepted.

How could he not?

Right after the duel from yesterday, Lock had collapsed. There was no one else who'd dare go against the War Prince's words, even if it was a little fishy.

'The funny thing is that he seemed genuinely welcoming of Lock.' Clover chewed on the bottom of her lip, feeling the skin peel away easily. A habit that she'd picked up.

Zenom and Cecilia accepted Jared's offer which meant that all the Priests were to go with them. With Lock unconscious and heavily wounded, his party had no choice but to follow. Suspicious and wary, but they carried their fallen victorious leader to Jared's mansion. Escorted by the Akka Xalud Knights.

So here they all were.

"Clover, what is the rush?" L'teya asked from behind her.

"We need to talk with Lock." Clover answered her, picking up her pace.

"I'm pretty sure the barbarian meant, why so eager to meet your former lover?" Maria said dryly.

Clover stopped, peering over her shoulder. "...Shouldn't you be catching up with the War Prince? Aren't you family?"

"Former War Prince." Maria corrected, "By the time I was old enough to start participating in Turinan Politics, he was already an up-and-coming general in the North." Then she shrugged, "The Great Houses are large and there are hundreds of families. Practically strangers." She paused, thinking. "Unless you need something, I imagine."

"...Big words coming… from someone who got kicked out…." Scarlet murmured.

"I didn't get kicked out," Maria bristled then uncharacteristically sighed. "But I must admit, I might as well have. I doubt anyone even cares about the fact that I'm here, including Jared Akka Xalud himself."

There was an underlying tone of wistfulness that Clover didn't fail to pick up. She opened her mouth to say something then shook her head, thinking better of it. The less she knew about Maria Akka Xalud and her story, the better.

'Keep your distance. Don't get too close.' She told herself.

Clover resumed walking.

"So, why… are we checking… up on Lock?" Scarlet asked.

"When we got here, Cecilia immediately left." Clover answered, "No doubt on an errand by Zenom, to check on the status of the nearest Church Branch."

"...So… why?"

"Because Lock's wounds were heavy. He was practically disemboweled, not to mention that the Knight's [Aura] seemed to be infused with some delayed regeneration debilitating effects. I doubt anyone but Cecilia could heal his wounds." Clover muttered.

"Or you." Maria said.

"Which is precisely the reason why I'm heading over there." Clover answered.

Lety clapped Clover on the back. "Ahaha! Finally coming around? Us three were friends. It's not good to fight for too long!"

Clover didn't bother correcting Lety. It didn't matter. Because she wasn't even visiting Lock for the sake of healing him. The true reason for her visit had to remain secret.

They didn't have to search long. All the adventurers were in the same wing, or rather the same building. Jared Akka Xalud had given out an entire mansion for the adventurers. Clover thought back to the size of the estate. She'd asked Lety to keep a close eye on how big it could be, but the barbarian couldn't be sure. If they ever chose to leave by themselves, the estate was large enough so that one could easily get lost.

"I'm here to see Lock." Clover said.

The armored knight looked up at her. Clover knew her, though they'd never spoken.

Aurora Candrian Vetilian. Lock's Shielder.

"...Mr. Lock is resting." Aurora said.

Though they were indoors, the knight was fully armored. The huge tower shield as well as her lance were leaned against the wall, within easy reach. The female shielder was ready for trouble.

Next to her were two familiar faces. Skaris and Kyrian.

"Hasss been awhile, Clover Weinport. L'teya."

No one ever called her Weinport and it was jarring to hear her family name from the lizard beastman's mouth.

It had been a very long time since she thought of her parents last.

"Ha! Skaris Deepeater." Lety greeted easily. "You've grown strong."

Skaris smiled but didn't answer. Instead his gaze snapped back to Clover, watching her every move.

Clover shook her head, clearing herself of those thoughts. She focused on the topic at hand. "His wounds were severe. I'm here to check up on him."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Kyrian and Aurora shared a look.

Clover narrowed her eyes. Lock's teammates were adopting some of his habits. Namely, blatant unwarranted suspicion towards everyone that wasn't one of them.

"That… would be difficult, Clover." Kyrian ventured.

Clover felt a scowl coming on but fought it back. She smiled at the mage, trying to keep the venom out of her face. "Funny, how the last time we met, we were in the exact opposite shoes. Though my memory might be incorrect due to the occasional flashes of lightning. Tell me, did you and Lock ever discuss that poor witch doctor boy whom you killed?"

The blood drained out of the handsome mage's face. "...That was a long time ago." He finally said.

"I'm sure that some of the scars on Lock's body are from that time. What was that man's name? Do you recall, Lety?"

"...Clover." Lety warned.

But there was something sickeningly satisfying about twisting the metaphorical dagger in Kyrian's gut. Clover had never liked the mage. He had been one of the slave hunters in Akka Xalud's employ, high up enough to work directly with Jason Akka Xalud himself. She remembered meeting Jason, the empty eyes and heart nothing but a ball of cruelty and ambition. She also remembered a feeling she'd long buried –how she hated the fact that as soon as Kyrian had outlived his usefulness for Jason Akka Xalud, he'd went straight to wagging his tail for Lock.

"I guess it's true." Clover ignored Lety's warning, taking a step forward. "Old dogs can't learn new tricks. Always sticking to someone stronger, hoping that they could cover your hypocrisy. You-"

"That's enough, Ms. Weinport." Aurora cut in.

Clover's face turned to Aurora. The silver-haired woman's gaze was still. Calm, even. But Clover hadn't missed the note of iron beneath the surface. Whatever Clover did next, it would be under Aurora's subtle threat that she wouldn't stand idly by.

"...Ms. Vetilian." Clover said in the same tone.

"Mr. Lock is still unconscious and we do have… a healer with him at the moment." Aurora muttered.

Clover narrowed her eyes. "I do not know of a healer who could treat wounds of that extent in the Church members that are with us. None of the other party has healers either."

It was one of the first lessons that the real world taught her. It was very rare for a party to have a Healer, especially one unaffiliated with any religious organizations. For her people, the Beastman, they were non-existent. Except herself and the two other Kaguras, only one of whom she'd met in person during her travels. For the elves, dwarves and human; healers were basically hired out on a mercenary basis to parties.

And as far as she knew, Lock's party didn't have a healer.

…Which could've been he-

'Stop thinking. Just obey.' Clover sighed, "I'm here to help him."

"...That's not my call, Ms. Weinport." Aurora shook her head. "As far as I know, Mr. Lock does not trust you."

And that hit her in the gut like a sledgehammer.

How dare they? How dare they?

How dare they presume to know the relationship between her and Lock?

They weren't there when they fought their ways out of the Dokkaebi tunnels. They weren't there when L'teya, Lock and herself fought the other slaves for food and bedding. They were there, being sent out into the Samak Desert, day after day –less of them returning each time. Aurora wasn't there when Lock suddenly began to disappear, coming back with strange new fighting techniques. Kyrian had basically been an enemy back then. Skaris had been a rival, always looking to undermine Lety's position in the hierarchy of the slaves.

Her breathing came in short bursts, coming quicker.

Yes, she and Lock were enemies. But she'd helped out Lock so many times that they didn't know about. She'd saved him from the Scavenger's Hideout. She'd healed his face, keeping the secret that Lock had been the one to burn down the boats, possibly causing a fallout between the adventurers and the church. Most of all, she had been on the receiving side of Oung's anger, everytime Lock did something stupid.

Even if she and Lock were enemies, she was Lock's enemy and he was hers.

And they dared to gatekeep her from seeing his face?

"Ms. Weinport, stop." Aurora said.

Clover belatedly realized small motes of pinkish green mana had been floating around her.

She took a breath, calming herself. Then counted backwards from ten. It must've looked silly to everyone, having her eyes closed and forcing herself to calm down like that. But no one interfered.

"It's important that I see him." Clover said at last.

"Ms. Weinport, I said-"

Skaris got up from his chair.

And immediately, Maria Akka Xalud and L'teya, Fourth Daughter of Agda went into battle-mode.

Maria's battle greaves sprung out of her ring, covering the martial artist's hands in wicked sharp claws and spikes. L'teya took a step back, holding an obsidian hand axe in each hand. Maria took position in front of Clover while L'teya stood ready for the beastman in front of them.

Skaris was nearly seven-feet-tall, an imposing figure. But gone was the lanky arms and legs from their times as a slave. He wasn't bulky, no, far from it. Whipcord muscle lined his biceps and thighs. He had been springy before but if one were to compare, his muscles had grown from thin wires to steel springs. Still, that wasn't the reason why Maria and L'teya reacted with such forthcoming worry.

It was the fact that right now, Skaris was the de-facto most dangerous adventurer in the entire expedition.

This had nothing to do with how one might fare in a fight, though that was a big part of it too. It was the fact that Skaris was probably the only adventurer whose Cores and Racial Trait could synergize to that extent. Flames upon Flames upon Flames. He had never shown his true power during Monster Hunts, he hadn't needed to. During those times, just a bit of his flames and monsters were burned to a crisp.

But Skaris had finally shown his power during the last exchange with Kariyo. He had shown off his new [Legendary] Spear: Strange Antler.

And Skaris was quite mad.

…Some people actually theorized that Skaris was stronger than Lock.

Which Clover agreed with. Lock's Cores were all based around prolonging combat; absorbing blessings upon blessings upon blessings. But Skaris? The man in front of her?

He preferred to disintegrate at the speed of thought.

After last night, Skaris was someone no one wanted to mess with. No one.

To think that before, Arione's intel told them that Skaris had been the weakest member of their party.

Skaris just stood there, his hulking figure casting a long shadow that covered them.

"You heard our ssssshielder." He said quietly. "Return when Lock isssss awake. You both know what he isssss like, Clover Weinport and L'teya, Daughter of Adga."

A flicker of flames entered his pupils. "But if you inssssisst, I will be glad to entertain you."

"Oh boy," Maria said, underlying tension breaking the false calm in her voice. "I do not want to face off against this big boy in this closed off corridor."

A hint from the Akka Xalud Scion to Clover: That in a closed-off hallway like this, it wouldn't even be a battle.

Just slaughter.

"Clover… let's…. Return." Scarlet muttered.

The teenage elven mage had been silent till now, staying in the back. Really, taking everyone's consciousness off of himself. Had he expected that this interaction between the two parties might end up like this? With the threat of violence lurking just around the corner?

Clover ground her teeth. "...Then when he wakes, please come find me."

"We will let him know that you came, Ms. Weinport." Aurora answered.

Clover turned on her heels, leaving.

"...Maybe… we should… come back… with master…" Scarlet said, looking over his shoulder at Skaris.

"The blessings of Oungs," Clover muttered, "Legends say that Walkers who choose the path of flames can live in fire, breathe fire and eat fire." She shook her head. "Arione would be crippled against that lizard. Half his magic relies on flames."

Though the Mage would be able to simply overpower them through sheer mana.

…Then again, there was Lock.

She'd seen him shrug off Arione's magic without so much as blinking.

"...I don't like it… we were… just trying to help…"

Clover thought of Lock's party.

Baran's report from the Fracture didn't have them this strong. They'd been relatively normal. Just another nameless adventuring party who'd grabbed a lucky break.

But now?

"...Strong." Lety said.

Clover didn't miss the envy in Lety's words.

She turned the corner, feeling shame beginning to descend from the ceiling like a mucky cloud. It clung to her, causing heat to creep into her cheeks and tears to begin stinging at her eyes. She had half expected to be turned away. But not because they forced her, but because she didn't want to break open their doors. But this was different.

She had no choice but to turn away.

How dare they.

How dare they.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.