His name...

"It's you,' I exclaimed with the sensation of something dipping deep within my stomach. Images of causality pierced my mind like cold steel pausing my breath as his scarlet eyes carrying a tinge of silver filled my mind, along with the image of a snake eating its tail engrained upon his back.

"Why don't we stop here, Vincent," said the hooded figure through the shadows of his thick fur coat.

"Lord Eryth,' Vincent said, finally giving 'name' to the hooded stranger. His blade fell, and he smiled, placed an arm over his chest, and bowed. "Do forgive me. Did I disturb you?"

'I would suspect you disturbed everyone in the Adventure Guild." Eryth calmly said, lifting his hands to his hood; he lowered it, revealing a dark-headed young man with a chiseled jaw and eyes that sparkled a golden light, far different from what I foresaw.

He was handsome, very-very handsome. And yet… sad.

My head bowed as I hurriedly placed my contacts back on, I pushed past a few limits in this battle, but it was fun! I hope I can battle vincent again. Hehe, next time, I'll force him to teach me more.

"How is it you can smile covered in blood?" Eryth asked, focusing on his beautiful eyes that burned bright than any sun.

"Your smiling too," I pointed out as he touched his lips, a look of shock visible.

"So it would seem." His eyes lingered over me for a few seconds and passed to Vincent. "I see this is the reason for missing the meeting."

"Shit! Forgive me; I completely forgot. Once I saw this little lass, I was enthralled. As you seem to have been." He teased, and my cheeks suddenly heated up.

"Hey, stop saying weird things! I'm right here." I complained, gods; I hate compliments. They always make me confused about how to respond. Do I say thank you? Do I just stand there? What am I supposed to say?

"Silence, my cruel Black Rose." He said with a smile that made me want to wipe away that grin with my fist.

My lips grew crooked as he chuckled, lifting his index finger; as a pool of ether began to gather, he chanted a single word, " recovery." and a gentle node of stary light filled my eyes. Hundreds of thousands sprung out from nothing shimming in white holy light.

Feeling the headache I knew all too well approaching from my earlier reckless actions now receded back into oblivion alongside some of my wounds, my eyes widened. Slowly, the nodes of holy embers faded, and I stood utterly new.

Even my clothing, stained with blood, seemed to have returned to factory settings.

"Do it again!" I hurriedly asked, hoping to copy it!

"So you can steal my arcane spell? No, thank you,' He rebutted, but I could hear his teasing tone.

Bastard.

Snorting, I turned my head, " Well, whatever, thank you."

"Your very welcome, Izalith Snow."

I looked at Eryth and nodded.

"Now, Vincent, if you are done. Get her an adventure card and boarding? She looks homeless."

'HEY! "

"So you have a home?"

"Umm, well—" Cheeks burnings, I pursed my lips, looking the other way, " No, but—"

"So you reject having a home? The guild does charge you if this makes you feel better, but as a member, you get sixty percent off and must pay two silver a week. However, according to the bylaws, as a new member with your particular potential, we usually give you the first year free. Isn't that right, Vincent?"

"I'll take your word on that. You did, after all, write the bylaws,' Vincent exclaimed in a heave of laughter, " I've yet to go over them."

"Really? You were the one who approved them."

"I was elected to lead no to re—"

"E-R-Y-T-H!!!!!"

Covering my ear as the sudden roar, the smile on Eryth lips slipped away as he sighed, " Fucking CeCe. Why is she here? What did she do now?"

Watching as a beautiful woman with long silky black hair, large emerald eyes, and dressed in a ridiculously skimpy outfit rush from behind Eryth, wrapping her arms around him and crying, I turned to Vincent, who sighed.

"What happened now?" Eryth asked, although he sounded exhausted doing so.

"My boyfriend found out about my five other boyfriends! He broke up with me!" Came the tearful response.

"..." What?

Cece's wet eyes seemed to tear up as she pursed her lips, " We even went all the way the other day, cold bastard."

"Azazel's Blade, upon the Nine Hells. Cece, how are you mad? If even distraught? You didn't even like him." Eryth moaned, trying to wiggle out of her grip.

"You're my brother-in-law. You suppose to comfort me. And say there's more fish in the sea!" Cece shamelessly spouted, somehow not mentioning the five other men in her possession. "Come be a good—" She paused, turning to me as her eyes glowed. " Oh my. What do we have here?"

Cece unhooked her arms from around Eryth and practically lunged at me at a scary speed, far faster than any human could, and stopped inches from me, 'What lovely eyes you have. Have you finally let go of my sister?" She asked, but the question didn't seem directed at me; instead, Eryth's eyes seemed to sadden even more.

His silence had given her her answer.

"Well, if you're not claiming her, I will, my name is Charlotte Le Fey, but everyone calls me Cece. What's your name?"

"Izalilth," I hesitantly replied, as my mind could only think of the five men she held.

Five! Not three, but five! Jesus, she could definitely match Crowe. I'd seen him with--

"Do not be fooled by Lady Cece's rather shameless actions. Her ploy to ruin her reputation is all but known by the noble families," Vincent softly informed.

"Yup, I'm just waiting for my family to disown me." she claimed, as my eyes widened in shock," Although it has been fun. I learned so much! I could teach you. I don't think I've ever had a woman before. Or a virgin before."

My heart began to race as I backed away, a little disturbed and intrigued by this shameless woman.

"You're insane!"

"But I'm cute, so it's Ok. Now, tell me, why is it you didn't look at me with disapproval like everyone else?"

Huh? "What do you mean?"

"You didn't cringe in disgust like others but seemed only surprised.

"Aw-well, if you've not figured it out yet, I'm from another world where people don't care about such things. Shit, some might even call you a queen based on your behavior. It's a bit odd, having five men for sure, but not unheard of." I explained, thinking back to my world.

The statistics showed that divorce rates are at sixty percent last I looked, so I wasn't surprised to hear someone like Cece has five men. It's a shit show over there.

In a world where the chances of someone cheating on you are so high, you can't trust anyone these days. Shit, even mother had to take a shotgun to father's head. I've no idea how he survived but survive, he did. Father didn't even seem mad, oddly enough, as they carried on without care days later.

"Really, but surely it bothers you?"

"Not really. I don't care."

"So you're not disgusted?"

"Did you wash your hands?"

She nodded.

"Are you pregnant? Or carry some disease?"

"I only do butt stuff."

"..."

"..."

"..."

"Can I go now? I think I've heard enough. I'm done," I remarked.