CHAPTER 35: A Legend
I ended up regretting my actions, I just remembered that I came to the kitchen with the goal of cooking myself a nice meal with a side of desert, I can't return to that place now that I left it with a cringe worthy speech and exit can I? Well, it is what it is.
I entered my apartment and now I wanted to confront Giala on who she really was, I have a pretty risky plan that hopefully, will prove my theory about her identity. She's not acting like her usual self right now, when she poured my cup of coffee she flashed her chest at me, not in a quick fashion but she held the same position for 6 seconds after my cup was full.
Claudio: Giala, you can rest now, go back to your room.
She didn't react pleasantly, she was obviously expecting something tonight.
Giala: If you excuse me Mister Claudio.
As soon as she reached for the door after her annoyed but respectful bow, I grabbed her by her hair suddenly and pinned her to the wall. A normal woman would be distressed by this sudden action but Giala was giggling like a child despite her youthful mature appearance.
Claudio: Who are you.
Giala: I-I don't understand Claudio why are you acting this way!
She was smiling the whole time, not a hint of fear in her voice. Quite the opposite, it was anticipation. I pressed my knee just below her nether region and pulled her hair tighter and said:
Claudio: Don't joke around with me, I know your kind.
Giala: Ah~ and what exactly do you mean by that?
Claudio: You are a woman of power, but you came to the sanctuary disguised as a mere servant, so that you could be used and abused by the residents here for your enjoyment, you asked to serve me so that you could get defiled by a krippal.
Apparently, being bent over by a krippal was the ultimate taboo in the kingdom of Volquis for some reason, you can marry your sister here, but a person who can't use magic? No no not good.
She froze for a moment but went back to her previous self.
Giala: What made you think tha-
I pressed my knee on her nether region with medium force and said:
Claudio: Just confess already-
Lyria suddenly opened the door without knocking which made me pissed off at her annoying habit.
Claudio: Can you knock woman?! I'm busy here!
She closed the door with a traumatized facial expression.
Claudio: As I was saying, confess so that I could give you a long, hard punishment.
The masochist's mask fell completely and she told me everything about her life, she was a merchant from the city of Vokras, who came here about a week ago with her wares and merchandise to escape the taxes of the queen.
I pulled away from her and sat back at the table, which left her confused, so she asked:
Giala: What do you think you're doing?
Claudio: Nothing, go back to your room.
Giala: But you promised that you would punish me!
Claudio: I mean… that is the punishment, I'm not giving you what you want.
Giala: Damn you!
Her eyes honey colored eyes glowed for a moment and I could feel the tip of my dingaling tingling a little bit.
Claudio: What ever you're doing, it's not working.
Giala: 'Damn him damn him damn him! His charm is too high!'
Giala: Don't think this is over!
She stormed out of the apartment furiously, her heels stomping the ground which was the first time I could hear her move audibly, Lyria awkwardly knocked on the door this time and entered the room.
Lyria: What happened?
Claudio: She tried to stimulate me and my penis didn't work.
Technically I didn't lie.
Lyria: Oh… I'm sorry.
Claudio: Don't be, anyways do you wanna work for me this time?
Lyria hesitated for a moment, she didn't seem to be doing good, she looked like a skeleton and her eyes filled with sadness, which made me cautious about her.
Lyria: Sure w-why not…
Claudio: You don't seem to be enthused.
Lyria: What! No no I would be happy to.
This is the most emotion that she showed me, outside of me pissing her off. Something is definitely off.
Claudio: Let's put that on hold for now, wanna walk with me to Ronald's store to buy some Minya gear? Since last time you went to him, he told you that it needed to be custom fitted.
Lyria: But aren't you tired? It's getting late, you usually read books or go to sleep at this time.
Claudio: I actually feel marvelous, the Mageia poisoning went down from 95% to 3% and I feel physically superior! Come sit and let's arm wrestle.
Lyria: What's that? Is it some kind of sex thing?
Claudio: It would be if you were a man, you are not a man are you Lyria?
Lyria: Go to hell.
Claudio: That's the spirit, get over here.
We clasped hands and I explained the game to her, she recognized it instantly, it was called something else in here, I counted to three and we began soon after. I used every technique possible as I shifted my back and angled my positioning as I pulled as hard as I can, mentally, I was winning, but when I opened my eyes I was met with Lyria's concerned expression, she wasn't straining at all.
Lyria: 'He's probably acting like he is okay… poor thing.'
Lyria didn't finish the game, she let go of my hand and caressed my cheek and said:
Lyria: It's okay Claudio, you don't have to worry about that I will protect you.
I was shocked, and after the shock went away, I was seething with rage, at least beat me woman! I swear I would get back at her later, I almost bit her thumb but refrained from making a fool of myself further.
***
We arrived at Ronald's store at a faster pace than usual, I entered the store rudely and said:
Claudio: Rev up those gems shorty! For I'm sure hungry for a minya.
Ronald: What the kasma are ya talking about krippal!
Claudio: You didn't understand the last part?
Ronald: Ye want a minya? Oh I remembered follow me and don't get lost kid.
We entered some shady looking dark room that had a huge bed with straps on, there was a huge gem buried at the center of the bed.
Ronald: Get naked kid and lay down the bed.
Claudio: The hell!? Did you take us to your sex dungeon you little freak?
Ronald: THE HELL?! HOW DID YA KNOW?!
He replied sarcastically, I started stripping down to my boxers, since Lyria wasn't my servant as of now and she was acting really suspicious, I told her to leave the room, she looked relieved, ecstatic even, as I saved her from a something that's eating away at her consciences.
Theory 1: Lyria did something bad to me when I was drunk, which made her feel guilty whenever she's around me.
Theory 2: Someone hired her already given that she's a high profiled person, and that said person is making her do things against her will.
Theory 3: She's on her period.
Theory 4: Lyria is having a midlife crisis at the ripe age of 29, I never asked her how much debt she owed to the sanctuary.
I hope it's just theory number 3, everything else is too complicated for me to care about, unless? Wait… what if she was hired to spy on me! But why? And by who? Ah whatever I'll think about it in the morning.
Ronald: Tis gonna be uncomfortable kid, bear with me.
I was now strapped up for some reason, I can't believe I let him do that, it's all because of my stupid theories, I zoned out.
The gem under my back was now glowing; the dwarf's hand was resting on my stomach before it suddenly went inside my body! I was startled and my heart was pounding out of my chest.
Ronald: Relax kid, you're not dying I'm just looking for yer core.
Claudio: This feels so fucking wronggggg!
After two minutes of otherworldly molestation, Ronald gave up and said:
Ronald: Give me a break! Where the hells yer core?!
Claudio: I DON'T HAVE A CORE!
Ronald: Don't even joke lad! Everyone has a core! If you didn't have one how are you alive then?!
Claudio: I don't have one.
Ronald undid my straps and looked straight at my face while I was laid on the bed, mentally tired from his rough hands gliding between lungs, liver and everything between, I finally faced him and said:
Claudio: I'm not from around here, I don't have a core, or those electric looking veins, nor do I have the ability to channel Mageia.
Ronald: You think I'm stupid? Everyone has a core even you wretched krippals.
Claudio: Do you have something that I can protect myself with or not? stop wasting my ti-
Ronald: Impossible! Are you an earth realmer?!
Claudio: No.
Ronald: Speak Voratrae! Tell me are you an earth realmer?!
Claudio: Perhaps.
Ronald ran out of patience and climbed on top of me with a mix of fear and excitement in his eyes.
Ronald: Answer me or I'll kill you.
Claudio: So what if I was? What is it to you.
Ronald: Please, I beg of you.
Claudio: *sigh* Yes, yes I am, don't tell anyone.
Ronald: But I don't understand, why are you so weak? You Earth-realmers usually have abilities that makes the royal court's grand mage completely baffled.
Claudio: I can't tell you anything useful, I'm just as lost as you are, I just want to live.
Ronald: You don't have anything special? Like at all? You can't fly or create exploding irons out of thin air?
Claudio: You sound like you're speaking from experience, tell me about the exploding iron bit.
It was 15 minutes of storytelling, Lyria entered the room and she listened along with me.
***
It was 75 years ago when I was a young lad, a rouge magician who could control the will of all beasts' waged war against the queen. It was an exhaustingly long, long battle. The rouge mage didn't show any signs of stopping, relentless beasts that came from places between the heavens and the oceans. Hard shelled spider like ocean beasts that can punch faster than lightning, flying lizards that breathe fire, you name it.
The queen at the time was too prideful to ask for any help, cities were being wiped out and countless people dying one by one. On an important day at the bridge of Velertaina, the last bridge that protected the ancient transportation gate, if we had lost control over it, millions upon millions would've died from starvation.
That was when the rouge mage struck us hardest with her oppressive beasts, the generals at the time were celebrating the retreat of the witch, they assumed that because she hadn't attacked in three weeks.
It was the death of us; the witch gathered enough beasts to conquer 10 cities. I was with the reinforcements that came 4 days after the relentless attack; I was allowed to participate even though I was a Halfling which indicates how bad the situation was.
Long story short, we lost, badly, It all quiet at the eastern front. It would be humorous to say that we even had a chance, the rouge witch was inhuman, that much was obvious, her rage never faded, her fury burned hotter than the sun therefor she was named Helios, none of the regular folks knew why she hated the queen this much.
When the monsters finally crossed the bridge, a legend arrived, he was wearing some sort of foreign formal wear, and he was flying faster than we could perceive on top of a flat metal.
That flat metal turned into a golem and it expanded rabidly, blocking the bridge entirely, we couldn't believe our eyes, he turned to us and said in foreign tongue:
Legend: Don't worry, cavalry's here.
We couldn't understand him, but his smile assured us that everything is going to be okay, somehow.
He flexed his hands and cracked his neck, he then put both of his hands on the ground and some sort of 8-foot cylindrical black steel formed from the ground. He covered his ears as the steel started spinning at an unprecedented speed, the golem that was protecting the bridge opened a tunnel at the middle of its body, and then.
*BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR*
Explosive projectiles came out from the front of the black steel that was spinning at dizzying speed, all we could see was that a sea of blood was forming at the bridge.
Claudio: Oh… a minigun.
Ronald: What's that? Anyways, soft skinned monsters turned into mush, but the hard shelled see monsters weren't phased at all and were advancing at terrifying speed, the Legend screamed like a little girl confusing everyone at the battle.
Legend: spiders! Crabs? Shrimp? Gigantic mantis shrimp! AHHHHHHHHHH!
The legend somehow spawned 12 of the cylindrical black steel and they were floating in the air around him, they spun so fast that the black steel turned bright red in the darkness of the night.
Legend: C.R.A.M with a twist, removing the eastern direction.
*VMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM*
The ground shook, everyone that was close to him lost their hearing and sight, the bridge was destroyed alongside everything that was in front of that bizarre attack, a whole horde that easily surpassed one hundred thousand gone, just like that.
The legend was nowhere to be found after that, some say that he died saving everyone, but that is a lie. He came to my shop 12 years later with a new hairstyle, thinking that I wouldn't be able to recognize him, I asked him about everything and he said:
Legend: Turns out, that crazy witch was an Earth-realmer just like me; the queen kidnapped her and tormented her for many years before she finally snapped, don't tell anyone though, okay?
***
Ronald: Lyria I need a couple of words with Claudio, alone now.
Lyria left the room and Ronald turned to me and said:
Ronald: Earth-realmers are executed on site Kid ya hear? Don't you ever tell anyone about your real identity, and also, you must have something up your sleeve, aint possible for an Earth-realmer to be devoid of any ability.
Claudio: Please stop rubbing it in my face, I'm not special, if I had an ability it would be super bad luck.
Ronald: Hah! Good one lad, now it's getting late get the fuck out of my store.
Claudio: You don't have anything to help me at all? Really?
Ronald: Correct, now dress up and leave.
Claudio: That earth realmer, where is he now? Can he help me?
Ronald: He's in Horokros.
Claudio: What about- hey hey don't touch me.
Ronald grabbed me by my wrists and dragged me outside his store, not giving me a chance to ask him another question. Since I didn't spend any money today, I decided to stop by a clothing shop and spoil Lyria a little bit since she is a poor, raggedy, broke, unfortunate woman, the walk back after that was silent, something is clearly eating at her conscience.
***
After entering the sanctuary, I was approached by the creepy woman known as Flora, which was a first. She usually just stalks me from a distance, she grabbed Lyria's hands, causing Lyria to be startled, and she dragged her to the side and came to meet me.
Flora: Good evening Mister Claudio, I have a proposal to you.
Claudio: I'm good.
I walked away.
Flora was shocked and got angry, revealing her true colors, she got in front of me and said:
Flora: You better listen to me, this is for your own safety, you grabbed the attention of multiple powerful people! You have to be my slave to be safe, I promise to treat you well.
Claudio: Are you fucking crazy? Whatever it's too late for this shit.
I walked away at jogging speed, I can't listen to this bimbo any longer without feeling my blood pressure rising, I knew she was crazy but not to this extent! And why did Lyria freeze like that? Is this woman tormenting her as well? And no shit, if I wasn't being protected by two guilds I wouldn't be staying in this fuckass city in the first place.
***
I wanted to sleep but couldn't, it's midnight right now, many things were bothering me but first things first, I have to check out my body right now, I know my new strength isn't just in my mind. I found an iron coat hanger in the kitchen and hooked it to the wall.
I proceeded to do a muscle up after muscle up, in my prime before I became a surgeon, I was able to do 17 muscle ups consecutively without a break, but right know? I managed to do 40! Forty fucking muscle ups, am I superhuman or what? I took a shower and headed to bed feeling refreshed and with a little bit of confidence.
***
Day 10 since entering the city
I was awoken by Bakchan who seemed to be in a better mood, for breakfast I went down to the kitchen and made me something quick that didn't taste like radioactive bat testicles. After that, I headed to the guild hoping that it's going to be an uneventful shift, after entering, I was greeted by an ecstatic Oliver.
Oliver: You have to see this shit man! Go to Vuram's office he wants to talk to you but don't laugh if you see him.
Claudio: Why would I laugh? Did I ever laugh in front of you? What'd be funny in the first place.
Oliver: Just follow me.
We arrived at Vuram's office, he told me to get in first since Vuram seems to tolerate me more than anyone else, after I knocked and opened the door, I laughed loudly, I couldn't hold it in for one second.
Vuram's face was swollen to high hell, he looked baaaad, like he fought Mohammed Ali and Mike Tyson with his hands chained and they were using brass knuckles.
Oliver: Your laugh is weird, doesn't suit you.
Claudio: HHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! Yo Vuram did you get caught stealing honey? Buzz buzz? *wheezing*
Oliver: HAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHA! I'm so happy to be alive AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA~
Vuram: If you don't stop laughing, I will rape you.
Claudio: …
Oliver: …
Vuram: That's what I thought, I fought a fight against the leader of the Wolfborne.
I replied in a sarcastic voice:
Claudio: Did you win?
Oliver: *crack*
(Oliver twisted his ring finger and broke it to suppress his laughter)
Vuram: …
Vuram: He wants to meet with you, also prepare for a trial tomorrow, you will be asked to testify against the Glacier Lions guild.
Claudio: What do I need to do exactly?
Vuram: Recount all the injuries that the adventurers sustained against Esmeralda.
Claudio: Who will be covering my shift today?
Vuram: A healing mage from the Glacier Lions guild.
Claudio: When is the trial tomorrow exactly?
Vuram: Three hours after midday.
Claudio: I see, thanks for losing I will be enjoying my vacation now.
Oliver: *crack*
(that was his pinky)
I left quickly after that last comment, I could hear Vuram's voice faintly saying:
Vuram: 58 days left Claudio, 58 days.
***
Ulfhild and Ulmar arrived at the front of the guild alongside a third bald man, all of them were riding some weird looking horses known as "Bovs", picture a horse with the head of a pitbull that has a longer snout, their eyes are oddly sentient and alert. The Bov has razor sharp teeth, their knees can bend both ways, their hooves can extend, revealing long razor sharp claws that can ignite a forest if it struck concrete.
Despite their uncanny appearance, they behave more like a mix between a horse and a dog, and if you know horses, you know how retarded they can get at times.
The bald man with rock hard rough looking scalp came to greet me saying:
Gowen: This Bov has taking a liking to ya, do ya know how to ride city boy?
Claudio: If you can do it then it's not that hard.
Gowen: Hah! Snarky bastard.
I'm familiar with normal horses, I hope the Bovs are kind enough to be patient with me.