Faithful Encounter

Blake took Mama Mia's advice gingerly, scarfing down the meal as fast as he could swallow, knowing his absence would soon be discovered if he lingered too long outside the mansion. He hurriedly thanked Mama Mia and pushed forward the mostly empty bowl as he leaped from his bar stool, making for the exit. Mama Mia called out to him as he was leaving.

"If you need a bite to eat, remember, we're not going anywhere."

Blake looked back with a grateful smile and nodded at her offer, silently promising himself to celebrate his return with a hot meal, but for now, he had to go. As Blake ran through the door to the streets below, he could see Anya waving in his peripheral vision. He heard her make a similar offer as he became lost in the tide of night goers that filled the street.

"Come back again! Iw'll be swure to swerve something gwood!" Her cat kin tongue lacing her words with a thick accent.

Blake waved behind him as he surged forward into the tide, determined to conquer the dungeon tonight. His dream was in sight and he ran full speed towards the looming tower in the distance, weaving through the people walking the night's street, with a gleam in his eye that shimmered in the lantern light. He kept running through the crowds of people with his eyes fixed on the distant figure that grew closer with each step. His gaze flicked back and forth to the tower, as though the place of all his fantasies would disappear. He kept running through the amber streets until he collided with what felt like a brick wall.

Blake fell to the ground, disoriented from the sudden stop, he rubbed his forehead and blinked, trying to see what object he ran into. He looked up at the towering object with unfocused eyes, as he tried to distinguish what the object was from its silhouette. The object moved forward suddenly, a large arm appeared as a voice asked.

"You ok kid?"

Blake's eyes focused and the hulking figure of Ottar filled his view, his towering frame raked chills down his spine. His heart jolted as adrenaline began pumping heavily through his veins, dilating his pupils, and tensing his muscles, readying him to run if the need arose. Ottar crouched, he was taller than Blake, even when he was kneeling, and offered his hand once more. Blake carefully gripped his hand as he was swiftly pulled to his feet.

Blake had to look up to meet Ottar's eyes, even more so when Ottar stood straight. He held Blake's sharp gaze with an indifferent one as he asked.

"Are you going to the dungeon kid?" Motioning to the daggers on his hips.

Blake nodded, not trusting his voice to tremor as spoke, Ottar nodded once before commenting as he stood up and started walking away.

"Be careful kid, you don't seem that experienced. Don't endanger yourself for riches and fame, know your limits and stick to them."

Before Ottar left, he looked back at Blake; he could swear he saw the ghost of a smirk skimming the surface of his unchanging expression as he delivered his parting words.

"Someone will be disappointed if you were to die…."

Blake had no time to question his cryptic warning before Ottar disappeared into the crowd, his towering figure somehow lost to the flow of people walking about. Blake quickly jumped up and dusted himself off, looking left to right as his eyes darted quickly around. Ottar faded into the crowd, as though he was a ghost, disappearing into thin air. His hammering heart drowned out the sound of the crowds, even drowning out the pounding that came as his feet struck the ground. The beating's tempo only increased, the pounding sounding in his ear only quickened as he continued to run. He went faster and faster until suddenly, he stopped.

Because Blake stood at the base of the dungeon, with only a few adventures scattered around him, entering or exiting the dungeon. The momentous splendor one might experience when first seeing the tower was all but lost as his mind wandered back to Ottar's words, did he recognize Blake, did he know who Blake was? These questions made his mind race and his heart pound. He walked mindlessly forward mulling over his thoughts.

"Hey kid, what are you doing?"

A voice in front of Blake broke him from his trance, he looked up to see a couple grizzled adventure's staring at him. He was flustered as he fumbled an explanation.

"I'm...an...a.. I'm going into the dungeon."

The older of the pair chuckled as he said.

"Look kid, the dungeon isn't a place to play around in. Just go home and maybe your parents will let you become an adventurer when you're older." The other adventure snickered as they watched Blake with subdued grins.

Blake's ears heated as embarrassment and rage flared in his chest. He exclaimed defensively.

"I...I am an adventurer!"

The older adventurer's grin widened as he played along.

"Oh yeah, then where's your guild card?"

Blake looked down, embarrassed.

"I….haven't registered yet."

The pair chuckled again, finding the exchange interesting. He continued stating.

"I'm sorry kid, all real adventures need a guild card. Now go back home before your parents realize you're gone."

Blake was flustered and upset with their responses, he racked his brain for something that he could use.

"I have my familia crest!"

The older adventurer's face turned serious and his partner's chuckle faded into a mute silence as they waited for Blake to confirm his words. Blake unfastened the leather straps on his leather plates and chest and lifted up his shirt, turning around so the pair could see. Several heavy seconds were followed by sharp snorts and a laughing fit by the two.

"You had us going for a second kid, but next time you try and forge a familia crest, use one that actually exists." Blake dropped his shirt and spun around quickly in disbelief, meeting the wide grins and laughing eyes of the two adventurers.

"What do you mean…" Blake asked with confusion.

The adventure made light of his question with a subdued grin, then answered him with a tone meant for a small child, which his outward appearance would fit.

"That crest is the Athena Familia's…...she, and her familia were wiped out years ago…. Did you copy it from an old tome or something?"

Images of the empty rooms in the manor flashed through his mind, how they looked like the static frames of painting, perpetual in its depiction of the past. The feeling of unease that flooded him every time he looked inside of one of those rooms, someone once owned them, sleeping in them....lived in them. Cold sweat beaded down Blake's back, and the adventurer's words were lost on him.

"Go home until you can join a real familia kid, don't try and sneak in here without a guild card either."

Blake stared blankly at the ground and muttered something in response as he left.

"Yeah, ok…"

Blake started back for Athena's mansion, his heart burdened by this new knowledge. How he hadn't realized what happened sooner baffled him, all the signs were there. The seemingly living, empty rooms, Athena's drinking problem, all of them pointed back towards this. Blake's silhouette faded from view as he walked back towards his home. The adventurers watched him until they couldn't see his figure anymore.

"Was that the boy?"

The voice startled the pair, sending their weapons tumbling to the ground, the older adventurer hissed with agitation as they both scrambled to recover their weapons.

"Do you have to do that every time! How is a man your size so quiet?!"

His answer remained unanswered as Ottar's hulking silhouette formed in the shadow's edge. He said nothing, awaiting an answer.

The man just sighed as he said "Yes, I can confirm he is. He had Athena's crest, so there's no doubt."

A rare grin shadowed Ottar's lips as he said.

"Good, get someone one to tail him. Make sure they're discreet."

The pair nodded and Ottar disappeared as quickly as he appeared.

"He never ceases to terrify me, go tail that kid."

The younger adventurer nodded and ran off to follow Blake.