Border 5:1

'Maybe this city isn't so bad.' Audrey thought. 

Under her cloak and Illusion spell, which she actually had to focus on without her staff, she watched Crutch talking excitedly with his father. 

His father was also had a thin frame, whether it was natural or caused by the poison and coma was hard to tell, and bright blue hair though his eyes were a dark brown, unlike Crutch's own bright blue.

Crutch was nearly as tall as his dad and was easily able to pick him up with a hug. 

"I can't believe that you're such a strong young man." Butch said. "Your mother would be so proud of you Crutch."

Crutch smiled. 

"You." Butch said looking at Audrey. "You're Ren correct?"

"I am Sir." Audrey said. 

"Thank you for helping my son out." He said with a bow. "I owe you my life." 

"I seek no compensation for this." Audrey said. "In fact The numerous Gems Your son has returned and the countless others he's gifted me have far more than repaid any debt I could muster."

"I understand." Butch said. "You're very kind." 

"Thank you." Audrey said. "But there is another matter that I would like to discuss." 

"Yes?" Butch asked. 

"Your son." Audrey said. "For being fifteen, he's a stronger fighter than most I've ever met. He's prodigious with Daggers and I would like to take him on my journey as a substitute bodyguard for my son should I not be present."

"I see." Butch said. His face fell for a few seconds. "Crutch?"

"Yes Father?" Crutch asked excitedly. 

"Do you trust this man?"

"With my life!" Crutch said instantly. "He had no reason to, but he saved me from Mr. Gibble. Even after I stole his Staff and ruined it." 

"I see." Butch said. "It's been only a few days since I woke up. But it looks like I'll be waiting home alone for quite a while son."

Crutch's eyes widened.

"Are you... Are you certain Father?!" He asked. 

"Only if you are." Butch said. "It must have been a rough couple of years for you Crutch. I can't imagine how eager you are to leave this town. Now... When will you be setting off Ren?"

"In a few days after I pack our necessities." Audrey said. "Our next stop is going to be the Rabbit forges in Dreftnell."

"Aberstand to Dreftnell?" Butch asked curiously. "You must be in a hurry to get to the Anima Country."

"We're trying to get something forged for myself and my son." Audrey informed. 

"I see." Butch said. "Well... Crutch is allowed to join you on your journey. It's no longer my choice in what he does with his life. He's been forced to care for me. Thank you for allowing my son such an opportunity." 

______

"Ugh." Ralline said, falling to the ground dramatically. 

"Ugh?" Audrey asked amused. "You admitting defeat?"

"Why wont it work Audrey?" She asked miserably.

The two of them were outside as Ralline was practicing her Hydro Spike spell.

"Catch Brat." Audrey said. 

"Hu-" 

Thunk

"OW!" Ralline said grabbing her forehead as the silvery stone bounced off of it. "Why would you do that?!"

"Just hold it." Audrey said. 

Ralline shot her a glare, but scooped up the stone. 

She grimaced and instantly let go. "What the f-"

"It's a magic absorbing Gemstone." Audrey answered her. "It should suppress enough of your magic to cast the spell... For now."

Ralline picked up the stone again and held out her other hand. 

"I seek power from the veins below and above. Allow my rebellion against creation. And help me drown my target." 

A perfect sphere of water formed and Audrey smirked. 

"Hydro Spike!" Ralline said as the water shot forward like an arrow, taking a gouge out of the ground next to the Dummy. 

"Twenty Reuns say you miss the next shot." Audrey said holding up two silver coins.

"Ha you're on!" Ralline laughed holding up her hand. 

"I seek power from the veins below and above. Allow my rebellion against creation. And help me drown my target. Hydro Spike!"

A hole was blasted through the Dummy's side.

Clap clap clap clap!

Turning Audrey and Ralline looked at the Blue haired boy that entered. 

"Hello Crutch." Audrey said with a smile. "Perfect timing." 

"Hello Ms. Audrey!" Crutch said with a kind smile. "And you must be Ralline correct?"

"You're the blue haired boy that got his ass kicked by Audrey." Ralline said flatly. 

"This is Crutch." Audrey said. "He's only a little older than you are but he is the one who will keep you safe if something happens and I'm not currently able to protect you." 

"Can he even hold a sword?"

"I prefer knives actually!" Crutch smiled spinning his nice dagger in his hand. "I'm also fairly good at manipulating magic. So I can help out in lessons sometimes!"

"As a moving target maybe." Ralline grumbled. 

"Enough of that Bell." Audrey said. "Now Crutch." 

"Yes Ma'am?" Crutch asked. 

"When we're in public, as you know, I go by Ren, but Ralline here goes by Bell."

"Understood Mr. Ren. Mr. Bell."

"You don't have to call us that in private." Ralline grumbled. "Also you owe me twenty Reuns!"

"Oh right." Audrey tossed the two silver to the girl who caught them greedily. 

"Ha ha!" She said. 

"Now then." Audrey said. "Do that just a hundred more times and you might be proficient enough to use it in a fight."

"I'll get it down in ten!"

"No..." Audrey said with an amused grin. "No you wont."

Ralline scoffed. "But anyways. What's his name going to be?"

"Crutch." Audrey said.

"Huh?"

"His name will be Crutch." Audrey said. "It's not like he's wanted by the kingdom."

CAW~

Lindt landed on Audrey's head and started to peck at her. 

"Alright I'm eating this damn thing!" 

"NO!"

______

The new carriage that the three of them were ridding in, thanks to Crutch selling a few of his gems to purchase, rode smoothly down the smooth earthen rode. 

"Is this right?" Crutch asked as he ground the black roasted beans.

"Slower." Audrey said. "Or you could burn the beans."

"Yes Ma'am." Crutch said, slowing down with the mortar and pestle. 

Audrey pulled a grimoire out of her Dimensional magic. 

"Whatcha reading Ma'am?" Crutch asked.

"It's a rare type of Grimoire." Audrey said. 

"Like... magic?" Crutch asked. 

"Only the hardest type of magic to decipher!" Ralline said excited. "Father always told me you had thousands of them!"

"I do." Audrey said with a grin. "I won a bet with Mavis."

"Mavis? As in goddess of Grimoires? You've met a god?!" Crutch asked amazed.

"Plenty of them." Audrey smiled. "I-" She turned and stopped. 

Ralline and Crutch were both beside each other and looking at her expectantly. 

"WOW YOU OWN A GRIMOIRE?!" Ramone asked as they watched the twelve year old. 

"Of course I do!" Audrestine said. "I'm a mage that can learn anything and defeat anyone! No one can match my prowess with spells!"

"You talk a big game for getting captured by a ahem child of a knight." Reind said with a laugh.

"What's wrong Audrey?" Ralline said confused. 

"Oh nothing." She said with a chuckle. "Just nostalgic. Yes I've met nearly a quarter of the pantheon if you don't count the time they held my trial."

"Trial!?"

"Yeah." Audrey said. "But that's for another time." 

"Awe come on!" Ralline whined. "You can't just cut off your story! You never talk about anything Audrey!" 

"How about this." Audrey said. "You master the full cast version of Hydro spike I'll tell you about my crime against the gods."

"Deal!"

Everyone stopped as the sound of multiple pairs of hooves sounded through the air. 

Looking forward, Audrey saw a pair of Oxalo pulling a carriage. 

"Huh?" Audrey said. "They're moving away from the border? Strange." 

Audrey pulled on Lucky's reins and the horse came to a stop. 

The two Oxalo also pulled to a stop and a well dressed man stepped out. 

"Pardon me." Audrey said. "Are you a traveling merchant?" 

"Why yes I am!" The man said. "Is there something in particular you're looking for?"

"Actually just information." Audrey said. "Normally you see a merchant in a caravan? You all by yourself?"

"Unfortunately." The man said. "Dreftnell is having issues at the border. And is refusing passage to those that aren't merchant's. I'm traveling the few roads here and there and selling to those that are just waiting for the border to reopen. nearest open spot is nearly ten days by wagon."

"Do you know the exact problem the Borders having?" 

"Something to do with a Dreftnell ambassador accusing someone of attempting an assassination."

"Ambassador?" Ralline asked confused. 

"For renegotiation with the acting king." The man explained kindly. 

Ralline paused, a small dark look on her face. 

"Oh." She said, Turning and looking at the field on the other side of the carriage. 

"Thank you for the information." Audrey said. "I wish you luck in selling your wares." 

"I wish you luck in your travels."

The two Carriages parted ways and Audrey sighed. 

"What are we going to do Ma'am?" Crutch asked.

"We're gonna check out exactly what's happening."