The canteen was filled to the brim.
All around were hunters saluting each other, chucking down spirits.
Beer sloshed out of big steins.
I had to squeeze through some hunters wearing their full armor.
‘Who the hell wears shoulder spikes at a canteen?!’ A few guild waitresses moved between tables nimbly.
I tried to copy their moves, suddenly weaving way easier through the rows of tables filled with hunters and found Silvia’s group, only to be greeted by a weird scene.
Stonard was dead drunk and sleeping.
He smooched his upside down stein, dark beer dripping off his tacky hands.
Next to him though, sat Irelia.
She was cuddled up on Dana’s lap, her face longingly snuggled into the blonde’s neck who wore a pleased smile.
The young woman stroked her head, then whispered things I couldn’t hear into her ear.
While Silvia blissfully ignored them both, her eyes everywhere else and avoiding to look at the pair.
My eyes moved almost involuntarily towards Dana’s other hand though, toying under the older woman’s leather tunic.
‘Yep she’s definitely toying with her breasts..
They’re just a very loving couple, nothiiing special..
I’m definitely not squirming.’ Whatever she whispered into her ear, made Irelia blush like a maiden and she let out aroused pants.
‘I’m totally not envious, no.’ She giggled against Dana’s neck,” I’d love that~.” This woman looked like she was about to melt as she nibbled on the younger porter’s ear like she was a playful kitten.
Irelia even started exploring the young woman’s cleavage, with the other openly enjoying the submissive need displayed.
I couldn’t look away, even as I felt my face get hot.
Every move of Dana’s hands on her felt significant and pulled this mature woman in even more.
“Ah there’s Ariaaa,” Dana slurred slightly.
My arrival made Irelia jump off her lap, right back onto her own seat.
I flinched as Dana’s sharp piercing gaze fell onto me for a moment.
Her leather tunic was slightly disheveled.
I shifted my legs nervously, face hot and ears burning.
My eyes were drawn towards Dana’s sharp stare at her.
“Oh, hi Aria, didn’t see you coming back~” Irelia greeted me, not meeting my eyes or blushing face at all.
“I haven’t allowed you to leave my lap, Ireliaaa,” Dana drawled and pulled the older woman back onto her lap.
It made Irelia squeak and I bit my lip.
“Are they always like that?” I turned to Silvia as I couldn’t take any more of them making out like that.
‘I mean they’re wow you know, but my poor maidens heart.
It’s totally not like I was a virgin in my last life too and had too much gay panic to ever start something.’ “Only if she’s drunk, otherwise they keep it in their room.
Come let’s eat at the bar,” Silvia stood, despite her age she wore an ocher bandeau and low sitting leather pants.
I followed Silvia away from them, as we both were fed up with their shameless making out.
Even if it was obviously for different reasons, ‘I mean despite their age gap, it was almost too hot.’ We sat down at the bar and I ordered myself some curry rice together with thinned juice, while Silvia ordered another stein for herself.
A lanky guild waiter quickly brought everything we ordered and even laid down fried snacks for Silvia to eat.
I was glad she let me eat in silence, simply enjoying each other’s company.
The curry rice was an almost obscenely big bowl filled to the brim with a perfectly simmered salmon like fish filet on top.
My surroundings almost faded away as I reveled in the rich taste despite being very mild and I almost gasped with the sheer pleasure I felt with every bite.
It almost made me forget for a second.
Rune.
I stopped eating, simply staring at the still half full bowl and a long sigh escaped.
‘Maybe I really should’ve forced my way away from the doctors to see her one last time.
I could’ve told her how worried I’d been and how much I liked her.’ “A young hunter like you shouldn’t look that lost,” Silvia started, her voice collected and calm.
I noticed her warm gaze right at me, “at least not until you fought your first elder drake.” “I’d prefer an elder drake right now over feeling like this,” I told her, not thinking about my words at all.
Elder drakes were the most dangerous beings in existence, my parents once told me a single one could destroy a whole kingdom and in-game they were the strongest bosses you could fight.
I sighed, “it’s not about being a huntress.” “Of course it’s not,” Silvia spoke composed, “it’s a metaphor little Rookie and you really don’t want to fight an elder drake.” I turned, looking at the old woman’s profile, “why shouldn’t I want that?
She hasn’t even tried to see me before she left.
Nothing.
Nada.
We were friends for eleven years!” My fist slammed into my thigh, making the healed, and surprisingly scar-free, skin bloom bright red.
My voice grew louder, more desperate, “even for her that’s too cruel!” I remembered all the snarky comments she made when we trained together and how I always ended up treating her to licorice.
My voice broke even more, “I thought we’d start a team together!” I couldn’t tell Silvia that I only realized too late how much I liked Rune.
“Then she either wasn’t the right one,” she answered matter of factly before she continued in a serious tone, “or someone else forced her.
It’s as simple as that.” Her whole demeanor suddenly felt almost oppressive, almost as if I should let it slide.
Silvia downed her stein and went as far as letting it slam on the bar’s counter with a heavy thud.
I flinched.
“Well anyways, I don’t know if this old lady was any help, but I’ll go to our quarters now.
Don’t forget your room’s third one on the left, fifth floor and please don’t cry at the bar all night.” Silvia stood and turned back towards our earlier table.
“I’m fine, Silvia,” I said and finally noticed I had been crying, to which she grimaced.
“At least get some shut eye,” she told me and turned with a small wave.
I watched her walk back to the table where only Stonard was left.
The poor guy was still snoring away.
Dana and Irelia were gone too, it seemed and I guessed they took to their own room.
Silvia kicked his stool back, then holstered the man on her shoulder, huffing a little.
Within seconds a guild waiter arrived and scrubbed the table down.
My curry rice was cold now, but I finished it anyway as I could never waste anything this well made, but I felt empty.
Silvia’s argument was logical, sure, but Rune could’ve written me a letter or asked her family to explain, yet she did nothing.
‘And what was that about someone forcing her?
Who could even force a strong huntress like her?’ I shook my head, making my red Nordic braids fling a bit and startled a waiter who just walked past me.
I stood.
Before he could walk away, I asked him about the stairs and following his directions I soon found my room.
It was a small room, only adorned by a weapons rack.
Dana had taken care of our team’s weapons and had deposited mine in my room together with my armor after we bathed together.
Next to it was a storage box.
The same standard one you saw at camps and even at my parents home.
A true staple of this world.
I sat down on the edge of the bed.
It was at least soft and felt fluffier than the one I had at my parent’s home.
Sure, the room was small, but I wished I could show this coziness to Rune..
Silvia’s words continued stuck in my head, thoughts circling, ‘why should someone force her to leave?
Who even had the power to force hunters?
We were human monsters, trained to take down even worse monsters, hunting to defend civilization.
Hunting.
Wait.
It couldn’t be.
The hunters guild?!’ I clutched my head, ‘then guild master Shen’s explanation makes even less sense!
It was obvious Rune and I were victims, so why make her a lawbreaker.’ I almost wanted to puke.
My head was spinning and I stormed out of my room.
Sure, it was late, but I really hope Silvia would still be awake and with almost unsteady legs, I reached her room.
A sliver of light shine through a small gap in the door and I heard her saying, “I don’t care!
You overstepped this time, so I had to intervene!” The other voice was as cold as ice, “she is needed at the headquarters and thanks to Tide’s hunter killer, she gave us an option.” “That’s bullshit and you know it!” Silvia’s voice fumed.
I heard steps moving closer towards the door and hid myself behind a nearby pillar.
The door opened, and the cold undefinable voice said, “do not meddle further with guild affairs, Savior, or it’ll lead to consequences not even you or your daughter can avoid.” CREATORS’ THOUGHTS LynnAlice Phew, this chapter was something special to write for me and I hope you enjoyed it.
STAY TUNED (and please like and add to library, love you guys <3)