Chapter 10— The Aftermath

Emilia stared at Vanessa, absorbing her familiar features as she scrambled from Quinn. Seeing Vanessa here only meant trouble, and Emilia knew it better than anyone else. Coming from the house of Elwes, Emilia knew when to keep her guard up. And now that Vanessa had paid them a visit, she knew better than to even smile at her. From what she knew, Vanessa was nothing but a snake...a snake that only paid people visits when she wanted something from them. So why was she here?

Quinn rubbed his head a little, as he crawled to his feet. Taking a deep breath, he stood besides Emilia, staring at Vanessa. "Vanessa huh?"

"Yes." Vanessa said. "And you must be the new kid?"

"Yes." Quinn said. "I a—"

"What do you want, Vanessa?" Emilia interrupted, clearly irritated by Vanessa's presence.

Vanessa cocked a brow, holding back the smile that threatened to frame her lips. "Nothing really. I just came to check out the new kid.... He has really sparked the interest of other students, and even some of the noble houses that were attending the Selection."

Quinn eye widened, clearly caught off guard. He wasn't expecting to hear that from her, was he? And how had he really sparked the interest of anyone? "Wait, I'm popular? On my first day?"

"You're beyond popular, sweetheart." Vanessa said. "And I was thinking that maybe, if you're interested. You could join my guild."

Emilia felt her insides twist over the thought. Exactly as she thought. Vanessa was a snake, always wanting to steal the precious treasures. She wanted to recruit him to her guild. The Iron Fang guild. But she wasn't going to let that happen, not today. Before Quinn could respond, Emilia quickly said, "I'm sorry but your offer has been declined."

"What!?" Quinn was clearly startled.

Vanessa cocked an eyebrow, her hand resting on her hip. Her head as slightly titled, finding amusement in staring down at Emilia....at her cute reaction. "Why is that?"

"Quinn is with me." She said. "He's mine."

Quinn's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Since when was I anyone's property?" he exclaimed.

Emilia's face remained stern, but a hint of a blush crept up her cheeks. "Since the moment you first saw me naked," she said, her voice low and even.

Quinn's face heated up over the memory, and he still remembered the lightning that followed afterwards. It made him to stumbled over his words. "I-it was accidental... I apologized."

Vanessa's eyes sparkled with amusement, clearly enjoying this little game of cat and mouse. But this wasn't the reason why she was here. She had come for the new student, and his potential could be a great thing in her guild. "Oh, I see. Well, I'm willing to make you an offer, Quinn. I can double the benefits you're receiving from the House of Elwes."

Emilia's eyes widened with disbelief. She had only learnt about the sponsorship this morning, how did word travel so fast to the likes of Vanessa? She demanded, "How did you know about that?"

Vanessa smirked. "Word travels faster than light, doesn't it?"

But Emilia wasn't going to yield. Her expression turned stiff. "Quinn's with me, and that's final."

Vanessa ignored her, focusing on Quinn. "How would you like to be an official member of the Iron Fang Guild? You'll be paid for your services."

'What's going on with me?' Quinn remained silent, looking at Emilia before leaning in close. He was supposed to be looking for a way to save the Demon Kingdom from collapsing, not being given offers to become a member of some guild. And above all, he hardly had any tangible experience. It stung. He whispered to her, "If I choose you, you'll have to do something for me in exchange."

Emilia's voice was barely audible. "What?"

His lips brushed against her ear, and his breath sent shivers down her spine. "You'll have to kiss me."

Emilia's face flushed, and she stumbled backward, throwing a slap at his face. He quickly dodged it by ducking, laughing softly. As he stood behind Emilia, he swung an arm across her shoulder, making her flinch. He looked at Vanessa, a grin still plastered on his face. "I'm sorry, but I'm already taken."

Vanessa's composure faltered, and she growled, "Fine." She muttered under her breath, "If you're ever interested in my offer, the door is always open."

With that, Vanessa turned on her heel and strode out of the infirmary, leaving Quinn and Emilia alone once again. Seeing this, Emilia pushed Quinn's hand over her shoulders, turning to face him. "You stupid pervert."

"I'm not a pervert, I was just looking for a way to make everything interesting you know."

"And it really helped." Emilia said. "Thanks."

Quinn kept staring at her, at her pink hair that framed her tanned skin. She was a spectacle to behold, and he couldn't help but keep staring. "So, what now?"

"Now....we wait for a nurse to release us." Emilia said. "But in the meanwhile, let's get to know one another."

"As in, a date?" Quinn asked.

Emilia clicked her tongue, clearly irritated by his humor. "You're such a pervert, and I wouldn't go out with a lowlife like you!"

*

The man stood in the middle of the street, his white armor gleaming in the sunlight. His blade, still strapped to his back, seemed to hum with anticipation. His curious eyes scanned the surrounding area, taking in the bustling street of Greenrock, the Capital of Gran'le. Women and children were rushing down the street, with vendors and merchants shouting for people to come and buy their products. It was just as normal as any other day, and it made him wonder if these people knew about the dangers that lurked behind him the Gate.

There were predators out there, and with the ongoing war against the Demons Kingdom, the chances of survival were slowly depleting. At least they had managed to retrieve Wintergreen—one of their former towns that had been once colonized for years, but the demon army.

Asami appeared beside him, her ashen hair falling down her back like a river of moonlight. Her white armor matched the man's, and her sword was strapped at her side. "It's clear," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

The man let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging in frustration. "This is so frustrating. I wish I had stayed to watch the Selection. I heard they were fighting against a Paladin... and those who win might get a chance to start their Paladin tutoring."

Asami's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

The man took another deep breath, his eyes scanning the horizon. "I don't know, and I don't care. I've never been interested in being a bloody pawn for the Bishop."

"It's not being made a pawn." Asami said.

"Well, I don't give a damn." The man said, obviously bored with the topic. "but now that you're here, I think it's high time we paid a visit to our little friend."

"You mean..." Asami was silent for a second before it finally snapped into her mind. Her insides tightened with hesitation. For the past few weeks, there have been reports of a lethal drug that was being sold across the streets. The drug, as it was believed, acted as an amplifier...but it was toxic. The side effects that followed were dire. "...I wonder where you want us to start."

"I've got a lead." The man said, scratching the back of his neck. "But it might get a little dirty. So I'll need you to be on high alert."

As they walked, the bustling commercial district gave way to a seedier part of town. The air was thick with the stench of desperation and decay. Gambling dens and seedy taverns lined the streets, their people spilling out onto the sidewalks. The atmosphere was visibly unsafe, with shady characters lurking in every alleyway.

The man led Asami through this maze of vice and corruption, his eyes scanning the crowds with clear signs of disgust. He hated people who lived here. They were nothing but criminals, people who were willing to take what didn't rightfully belong to them. Finally, they stopped in front of a door, adorned only with a small, rusty knocker in the shape of a lion's head.

The man rapped the knocker twice, and a gruff voice shouted from the other side of the door, "What's the passcode?"

The man growled, annoyed. "I'm Ares of the Imperial Army. Open this goddamn door."

The voice hesitated before responding, "We don't do business with members of the Army."

Ares' face darkened. "Don't piss me off. Just open this bloody door before I use force to enter."

The door creaked open a few seconds later, revealing a slim, young man with dark hair and an eyepatch. He eyed Ares warily, but his gaze flickered to Asami, and his expression turned curious. "We don't do business with Imperial soldiers," he repeated, his voice firm but cautious.

Ares pulled out a pouch full of coins and handed it to the young man. The youth's eyes widened as he peeked inside, and a calculating smile spread across his face. "What can I do for you?" he asked, his tone transformed from hostile to obsequious. "...do you need elixirs, potions?"

Ares' expression remained grim. "I'm looking for a certain product."

The young man's smile grew. "What kind of product?"

Ares took a deep breath before responding, his voice low and deliberate. "Catalyst."

The young man's eyes widened, and he took a step back, his smile faltering. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ares smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Sure you do."