Grasping Straws

Toru weaved between the snow-painted roads of Nornenhiem.

His feet were wrapped in the same dynamic sandals he took to [Grand Void]. Needless to say, they were in rough shape. However, he didn't mind this. A thick coat of callouses protected his feet from the unwelcoming street.

Both he and Chieko made a full recovery days before schedule, so the freckles on his cheeks spread with elation. His body was a feather, followed by the frosted wind of winter.

"What kind of name is [The Heavenly Donkey] anyway?" Chieko shouted from behind.

Toru grimaced, slowing to a walk. Even though they were running into few people, there was no telling who had connections. Isobe taught him to be wary of everyone. Even himself. The man played some pretty unforgivable pranks on him to embellish this point...

"C-can you please save the t-talking for when we arrive?"

"Id rather not." She pouted, tapping his forehead lightly with a clenched fist. "Isn't it good manners to at least explain what kind of-"

"I-It's a tavern, I told you already."

Toru refused to react to Chieko's eccentricity, so they continued in awkward silence.

Their relationship strengthened after being stuck in the same room for days on end. Toru was there when she woke up from her coma. He was there when she grieved the death of her comrades. He even held her hand a few nights when he couldn't sleep, something he'd never admit to her.

"You werent kidding, huh?" Chieko mumbled, staring at the tavern's sign. "What a terrible name..."

Ka'Ching!

A heavy set of wooden doors squealed open, ringing a bell on the other side. Toru followed Chieko, who pressed her butt against his midsection after shouldering past him.

'That girl...' He blushed.

The inside of [The Heavenly Donkey] was immaculately clean. Sturdy tables and chairs sat in neat rows, cast in the yellowish light of candles, windows, and glow-runes. On the far-side of the tavern, a bar stretched from one side to the other, filled with artisan bottles reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors on the ceiling.

"Hello!" Came a cheery voice from inside. "Oh my, I think I've seen you before!"

Toru couldn't believe his eyes. It was that stunning elf girl he'd seen after meeting up with Neto!! Her creamy hair was tied in a protective kerchief, and she held a well-worn duster. Over her cute uniform, smudged overalls took a protective stance. She was the only employee at the tavern.

'What was her name again? Tessa?'

"I-Its good to- I mean, I-It's nice to meet you, Tessa. I'm N-Neto's comrade, Toru, and this is my... a trustworthy friend. Chieko."

Yep, he turned into a full-blown radish.

"Wow, you remember by name as well?" She beamed at him. "Is Neto coming?"

Her eyes changed focus to Chieko, who quickly hid her smouldering jealousy with a cough.

This happened whenever Toru brought up another girl, or when the Nurses at [Raincloud] came to check on them. He pretended not to notice.

"N-Neto is... well,"

He didn't know how to respond. In fact, his suspicions about that boy being alive were probably incorrect, but, one way or the other, he had to find out.

Tessa Narrowed her eyes, sensing something was amiss.

"Neto is missing." he finally admitted.

"Oh, my..." Tessa set down her duster on a table and walked closer to the two. "Do you know what happened?"

"Y-yes," Toru began. Nervous sweat beaded down his back. "B-but would it be possible to discuss this with y-your husband later?"

This was, of course, a gamble. Tessa might be a complete stranger to the forge demon, but he had enough evidence to suggest that she was his wife!

Neto said he knew her husband, and was his friend, but also told Toru that they arrived in this city congruently.

'On top of what Peter said about Neto saving the Forge Demon, this makes the most sense.'

Unfortunately, the next words out of Tessa's mouth were:

"It's impossible. My husband is clearing a problematic wild spawn deep in the Northern Greatwood. I dont know when he'll be back."

'So, she really was his husband.'

"However," she continued, "I might be able to help you. Does Neto's disappearance have something to do with the actions of a certain church?"

The hair on Toru's neck stood up. Tessa smiled, reading the boy's expression.

"I hit the nail on the head, right?"

Gulp.

'Fen... What should I do?'

{You shouldn't be asking me such a silly question. I've granted you my scent for this very reason!}

It was true that he'd recently leveled up and received the skill- [Scent], but Toru wanted to double check if he could trust It's indicator, which marked Cheiko as: {Trustworthy Friend}, and Tessa as: {Friendly Stranger}.

Well, she'd already figured him out, more or less. He might as well tell her the truth.

"A church, yes. When we fought the-"

Before he could say one more word, Tessa covered his mouth with one palm Her apple-scented hand felt like cold silk against his flaring cheeks.

Chieko's stare pierced Toru's neck with killing intent.

'How is this my fault?'

What's more, that gesture wasn't one of a simple tavern hostess... He'd lived with Isobe long enough to gauge strength from fluidity of movement. She was a top ranker, no doubt.

"Say no more."

Immediately, Tessa's aura changed from worried to cold and calculated. It was as if she became a different person, even with the goofy cleaning-attire adorning her.

"We should talk about this in privacy, follow me."

Toru looked around and saw no one but himself, Tessa, and Chieko. Wasn't this already private?

As Tessa led Toru to the back of the tavern, his [Scent] updated her to: 'useful ally'.

"Wait... That stuff was true!!" Chieko snapped out of some inner rumination and followed followed them close behind.