Arc 2, Chapter 9: Ms Popular

The calm dawn light reflected into the room, a low-lying mist fogged up the windows. Jotou muttered and moved her head like she was readjusting a pillow.

The scent of sea dandelions filled her senses; her eyes waxed open, everything a tad blurry. The red of her hair coming into view as Jotou tried to wake up. 'She smells… beautiful…' Jotou couldn't contain the thought.

'Like delicate petals on the sea; a sweet and just a little salty smell, mixing to give an intoxicating aroma…' Jotou pondered while her eyes opened. 'Hmm… This is nice. I could stay like this for- Asobi?' "Asobi!?" Jotou opened her mouth.

She noticed the elf in front of her as Jotou startled herself awake; Hotaru's eyes popped open as well in the sudden movement.

The magician sat on the coffee table, swinging her legs whilst observing the two of them. "Why are you watching us?" Jotou rubbed her eyes.

Asobi tilted her head, "I didn't want to wake you two! You were smiling; I didn't want to ruin the good dreams you were having!"

"Asobi… Good Morning," Hotaru tried to wake up, only to realize her arms had wrapped around Jotou overnight; she immediately recoiled them as her ears pricked up.

"Morning! What's for breakfast?" Asobi had both hands under her chin, wand in her grasp.

"Morning… Uh, whatever we got I guess?" her legs having curled up on the sofa, Jotou pushed the blanket aside to get up.

Hotaru steadied her vision, now fully awake and aware of what happened and what Asobi saw… Her tail that was at her front wagged uncontrollably; Jotou withdrew herself in response.

"Sorry!" Hotaru grabbed her tail and shoved it behind her.

"It's, it's fine," Jotou tried to. 'Act casual, act casual, nothing that big happened, hell, calm yourself down.'

A door opened from the hallway, her hair in a mess and still a bit of saliva on her face. She groaned, stretching out her arms, "What's with all the noise?" Fumeko grumbled.

"Oh, Jotou and Hotaru were sleeping together," Asobi informed.

"They, WHAT!?" Fumeko's eyes ejected awake, "Was that why I heard you yelling Hotaru last night?" Fumeko's face scrunched.

"It's not like that!!!" Hotaru and Jotou synced, waving their hands to clarify.

"Hm? You two were sleeping on the sofa smiling; what's wrong with that?" Asobi questioned.

"How- What happened?" Fumeko was struck with confusion.

Hotaru sat up and cleared her throat, "We couldn't sleep last night so Jotou and I were talking and I guess we fell asleep…"

Fumeko eyed the sofa, "With a blanket ready?" her eyes glazed over.

"She was cold so, she had a blanket," Jotou shrugged.

"Uh huh…" Fumeko doubted, before shaking her head and heading for the bathroom. Hotaru and Jotou shared a guilty glance for a second.

_

"In terms of breakfast," Hotaru unveiled the paper bag and dropped a loaf on the counter, "We need to buy groceries…"

"Nghhhhhh!" Fumeko whined whilst sat on the arm of the sofa before she fell backwards into the cushions.

"I can cook certain things; as long as I have a recipe," Jotou sat at the counter, looking at the one loaf of bread.

Asobi brought a knife over, tongue stuck out as she cut out a slice of bread, the upper part thicker and the bottom as thin as paper. She placed it on one of the plates they had.

"This bread is so brown and bland, watch as I make this dish great and grand!" she flourished her wand as light circled the slice, turning it into a slice of hot pizza, cheese still oozing.

Fumeko jumped up, "Did it work!?" she ran across, her eyes enchanted by the beautiful work of art that was the slice.

Asobi grabbed it by the crust and bit into it with a smile, "Yum!"

Fumeko's eyes glimmered and leg shook, Jotou and Hotaru seeming to be intrigued. "It worked!?" Fumeko exclaimed.

"It still tastes exactly like bread!" Asobi nodded.

Fumeko "…Why did I expect anything? I know they're illusions," she scolded and grumbled to herself.

"It's just for today, don't worry. We'll buy some groceries, get some breakfast and head to the guild. See if there's any news and any more velatos commissions; I'd rather keep our funds high even if it's just one platinum," Hotaru plotted a bit cheerier.

_

Groceries in hand, the four of them walked towards the guild from the Bargain District. Jotou couldn't help but notice eyes watching her everywhere she went.

"You might want to look at this," Hotaru rolled open the freshly printed newspaper, showing it to Jotou, Asobi poking her head in to see whilst Fumeko peered in between, mouth filled with cupcake.

The front page titled 'The Thundering Blade of Kria!' above an artist's drawing of her in Hotaru's dress, shaking hands with the mayor, with further details written below. "The mayor in full support of the Thundering Blade…" Jotou read.

"This is unbelievable; the nerve," Hotaru rolled up the paper. For now, the public seemed to only take a few passing glances, but how long till it got worse was anyone's guess.

"I know; They left us out!" Fumeko replied.

"I'm sure that's what Hotaru's concerned about…"

"You have to be careful Jotou! Fans can get, crazy," Asobi advised, whispering the last word.

"Then I'll just have to step up and protect her," Fumeko strode up, hooked Jotou by the arm and pulled her forward, "Aru, you can safely do whatever else you need to, don't worry about her," Fumeko smirked.

Jotou knitted her brows, "We're all going to the guild…"

Fumeko put a finger in the air, "The guild will have more people that know you, right? All the more reason to protect you."

"I don't think Jotou needs protection, but whatever I suppose," Hotaru shrugged. Fumeko's eyes narrowed, hastening her steps towards the guild.

They opened the guild doors, only to be hit by the waft of concrete and construction. Not too many hosted themselves here any longer; still quite a few that slept on the ground and stayed though.

Most of upstairs was covered by tarps and their view of that was quickly invaded by two hulking forms stepping in front. The members of the guild seemed to glance to the blonde who walked in.

"Hey there," the man on their left, short black hair and a sleeveless white t-shirt. Gruff in tone, chiselled to the jaw and large sword behind his back.

"Manners!" the man on the right who was almost exactly alike the other, slapped him on the back of the head, "Greetings, Thundering Blade."

Jotou gave a dumbfounded look, "Uh, hi… and you two are…?" More people seemed to be getting closer to the party of four.

"No autographs, beat it!" Fumeko, like a chihuahua to wolves, shouted.

The two men chuckled, "We're, your bodyguards!" they both said.

"Bodyguards?" Hotaru questioned.

"Just in the guild. I'm Synop and he's Sinop," …the right one said.

"Moren Mataya personally asked us to keep unwanted attention away from you," Sinop informed.

"Do I really need it?" Jotou inquired before noticing the crowd beginning to form right at the entrance, their voices now coming forward in questions.

However, before any of them could speak, the two bodyguards turned around, "Step aside." "Give the lady some space," pushed forward keeping a huddle around the party.

"Apparently you do," Hotaru played along.

The four of them flanked by the two till they reached the front desk. Synop and Sinop turned and stood guard with their arms crossed, keeping people away with glares.

"Ms Howllett and party, what can I do for you?" the clerk asked.

"Is there any velatos commissions you can give us?" Jotou queried.

The clerk frowned, "Unfortunately, no. After the, tragedy, the Maleficos Ordinate has been prudent and critical in the Velatos Case.

Moren Mataya has personally been going around putting an end to the ones that do come up; the rest taken down by the Lexokodac who have a direct line of information from the guild."

"How many velatos came out yesterday night?" Fumeko enquired.

"That's the issue," the clerk exhaled, "the velatos are now coming out in daylight…"

"What!?" all four of them queried.

"All those creepy things are out in the morning now too!?" Asobi shrilled.

"Indeed… and they've become more prevalent… Six dead, two children, two men, a young girl and one old woman," the clerk counted.

"They're coming out during the day?" Fumeko talked to herself, thinking.

Jotou gulped, "Is there anything we can do?"

"Due to that information, velatos commissions are only being handed out to master level adventurers; you are the exception to this rule. If there are commissions that reach here, I will notify you; I suggest procuring a telephone."

"The exception?" Jotou questioned.

The clerk looked at each of them, "I'm… informed that Ms Kinoshita and Ms Asobi are expert level casters, while Ms Howllett despite your lack in training, your feats bump you up to an intermediate.

Ms Namora on the other hand, without proficiency in magic and with little to no known combat capabilities, has been… unranked; placing you all as an intermediate level party."

Fumeko unsheathed her dagger, "I can show you my capabilities…"

The clerk put his hands up, "No need for hostility, this is just, objectivity. Unless the reports Ms Kinoshita has been providing have been false?"

Fumeko glared over to Hotaru. "What? I didn't falsify any of them, did I? Jotou may have pulled a high level spell, but she almost died and you haven't trained at all. Neither of you have control," Hotaru defended.

"Well, if there's any information about the Velatos Case, do let us know," Jotou segued.

"Will do. Oh!" the clerk snapped his fingers, reaching under the desk. He handed an envelope with a seal; a circle with an X, where the four corners had two arrows going towards the centre each.

"The Maleficos Ordinate sends their regards. They left this here to be given to you."

"Thanks," Jotou looked at the address.

"And! I'm also to inform you that legal documents have been prepared and are ready to be administered at the eastern Krialin Station.

You will need to do some paperwork there and apparently, photos will be taken there as well?" he recalled.

"That… was fast," Jotou replied.

"I don't know the context for any of this, I'm merely relaying information I was given this morning. You are all certainly gaining popularity," he responded.

"Must be Jack, quickly pulling the strings," Hotaru smirked.