Chapter 12:

There was a roughness about the guild that I didn’t expect. People swarmed through the doors in both directions, casting disinterested glances at the two of us in their passing; amongst the rough-and-tumble sort who found dirty work and meager living in the guild, the pair of us stood out. I half believed it was because Mirabelle was beautiful and I was clean.

The establishment workers were fairly dressed; they each wore a cool-blue uniform which complimented the interior’s decor, matching it in color. The guild members themselves, however, were not so neatly kept. I had the vague sense of attending a cosplay gathering, uncomfortable stares and unknown scents included. My nose wrinkled.

Mirabelle walked me through the steps of registering for the guild. There were benefits to be had, such as freedom of movement between guild-run cities and easy work. I held my guild card in hand, staring at it with a vague sense of romanticism. So many daydreams as a teenager, aspirations of walking around in cool armor and slaying dragons. I frowned. There was something wrong with this picture. Oh, right. I was a girl. That wasn’t in the daydreams. Well, most of them. I tried not to think about the other ones. 

“What’s next?” I asked. 

“We wait for your Gale. I approached him while you were unconscious.”

I scratched my head. “He’s not ‘mine,’ we’re just friends.”

She shot a mischievous smile, and led me to a table, a thin man seated in place already. He stood at our approach. “Are you the Saintess?” 

He wore an easy grin, and cheekily bowed. I looked him over. Red hair, bow and quiver sat against his chair. He seemed the type to take little seriously. I smiled stiffly. “I’m not a saintess.” I was getting tired of saying that. 

He shrugged and took his seat again. Mirabelle sat next to him, gesturing for me to find a place. There were four chairs surrounding the wooden table, so I took the one to her side. The man made no effort to hide his wandering gaze as it looked over the two of us. I wasn’t the only one bothered, as Mira stabbed her dagger into the table. Her cold look forced him into submission. 

Mirabelle introduced him with little enthusiasm. “This is Henry.” 

“At your pleasure,” He said. 

I hadn’t realized the strength I was gripping the table with until it was my turn to talk. “Aria.” 

They looked at me, as if waiting for more. Henry grimaced. “Oh, not another one. I thought she was bad enough.” He gave a rough point of his thumb towards Mira. 

I frowned. I didn’t know Mirabelle well, but she seemed nice enough. “What’s wrong with her?”

“Are you kidding?” He asked, “Speaking with her is like opening my Gran’s poetry shelf. I’d have to translate her words through three different bards to get the rough of it.”

…He had a point. I had to defend her though - this guy just pissed me off. “I think the way she speaks is cool.”

Mirabelle’s eyes met mine with a curious glint. She held a hand in front of her mouth, asking, “Is it?” She thought for a moment. “It doesn’t feel particularly brisk.” 

I looked at her innocent eyes. Oh no. She was completely serious. “It’s a figure of speech where I’m from. It means interesting or of positive note.”

Her cheeks blushed. “Oh…” She put a finger to her lips, thinking, before she looked up toward Henry and asked unsteadily,  “Do I truly talk that strangely?”

He shrugged. “If I answer, you’re just going to hit me again.”

Her face darkened, and Henry casually pushed his seat to the far side of the table. It did little to help. 

Henry regretfully rubbed his bruised arm. His gaze wandered to me again. “So, if you’re not a saintess, what are you? Healer, saint, trollop?”

A swinging fist caught his arm again. I gave a sweet, thanking smile to Mira before glowering at Henry. “Who’s the trollop?!”

His gaze lowered meaningfully to the Heroine’s outfit. My face blushed. Henry…you’re on my shit-list now. I wasn’t dressed like this because I wanted to be! It was for the buffs! The buffs!! 

I readjusted my skirt. “I would appreciate it,” I said, “If you stopped talking.”

Henry shrugged again, picked up a roasted chicken leg from his plate and ate it. Mira and I glanced at one another. It was going to be a long day.

We had gone through three drinks before Gale finally arrived. I had never been so happy to see him in my life. He truly was a hero - mine at least. I stood from the table and shot a dazzling smile at him. “Gale!” 

He walked to me, looking me over carefully. “Are you ok? I’m sorry I couldn’t check on you sooner, I was helping with repairs.” 

“I’m fine. Mira helped me out.”

“Mira?” 

“She helped me when I woke up!”

Henry pulled the chair back for Gale to sit next to him. “Introduce us to your boyfriend?”

The two of us flushed, and Gale hurriedly sat down. “I’m Gale.”

Henry looked between the two of us, smiling. “Now there’s a sight.”

I threw my half-eaten bread at him. This guy! Ugh, he was worse than the demons! I clicked my tongue when he caught it without looking. 

Mirabelle raised a hand threateningly, and Henry flinched. She looked towards Gale. “Let us discuss specialties. I am skilled with a spear, and I have minor proficiency in alchemic brews.”

“Henry. I specialize in tracking, shooting, and wooing ladies.” He gave an exaggerated kiss to me. A chill ran down my spine.

Gale stared at him. “Gale. I’m decent with a longsword, and I have navigation and wind magic.”

The table looked at me. “Aria. I’m proficient with healing magic and support buffs.”

“When’d you get support buffs?” Gale asked.

I smirked. “Today.”

Mirabelle looked towards me. “As expected of a saintess.” 

Both I, and Henry who was mocking me, said, “”I’m not a saintess.”” 

My face flushed, and I looked around for another piece of bread to throw at the bastard. All out. 

“Enough,” Mirabelle said, “I would leave you for the wolves were it not so that you would find your way back by daybreak.”

“Whatever. I’m takin’ a nap, I’m not fighting a demon general without rest.” 

Henry stood, grabbed a sizable block of cheese, and lumbered off. Mirabelle put a hand to her face.

“I apologize. He’s a skilled huntsman, but a poor dinner partner.” 

I smiled. “You don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault he’s an idiot.”

“No, the fault is mine,” She said, “But he does have a point. The night looms; it would be well for us to get what rest we may.”

She stood, finished her drink and gave a curtsy. “I will meet you by the city at dusk.”

Gale and I watched her walk away. I turned towards him. “If I ever meet that guy in a dark alley…”

He laughed. “I’d be handing you the shanks.”

We stood from the table. Gale lead the way, and I followed at his heels. I tried to ignore the stares from the men in the room. I had never been so aware of my current gender until then. When we exited, it was like a breath of fresh air blew into my lungs.

“Thank god, I was dying in there.” 

“Too much?”

“Felt like a girl in a card shop.”

He grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

We walked through the city next to each other, saying little, enjoying each other’s presence. We came to a park, currently occupied by those who found themselves without homes. We found a bench quietly tucked in the corner and sat down. 

“Oh! I have something for you.”

He raised an eyebrow. 

I summoned Aspis from my inventory and handed it to him. “Here.” 

He looked surprised as he held it. “A watch?” A smile played across his lips. 

I looked in surprise. A watch? I was sure it was just a bracelet when I’d bought it, but sure enough, he held in his hands a handsome watch, bearing a strap of clean brown leather. 

“It’s a shield.”

He strapped it to his wrist, and his face lit up in surprise. “So this is what you see…?”

He could see the system panel? Thank god, I wasn’t ready to explain the item. I had flashbacks to tabletop game screaming matches.

Gale held his hand out, and above his palm, a golden glyph circled by golden lines appeared in the air. I looked on in fascination. It looked less like a shield and more like a magic circle. I reached my finger out and poked it. Sturdy. It was as if the air had frozen in time, impassable. I gave it a hard knock, only to retract my aching knuckles in defeat. 

Gale’s mirth was palpable; he looked at the item strapped to his wrist as if it were coated in diamonds. He looked at me, and my heart nearly stopped. The setting sun cast an orange-golden filter over him, highlighting his features in a flattering measure. Was this the power of the golden hour…?

We sat quietly. He sat back in the bench and looked over the people before us. He opened his mouth to say something, only to close it as I looked over. “What’s up?”

He bit his lip. “Was about to say something I would regret.” 

“What? Can’t leave me hanging like that.”

He shook his head. “Later. I’ll tell you after.”

“You’re setting up death flags.”

“We already died.”

“Good point. I keep forgetting that lately.”

I relaxed, and felt my shoulder brush against his. “Do you think they have card games here?”

He looked at me. “Card games? Where’d that come from?” 

“I mentioned it earlier. Now I’m kinda craving one…”

“You always say that. I’d believe it if you didn’t quit every time I won…”

I glared at him. “Stop making meta decks!”

We looked at each other before laughing. I took a breath. The smell of soot had finally faded before the scent of the trees surrounding us. Was this peace? I hadn’t known it for so long. 

I thought of my past life. Could I have done this then? I didn’t think so. Whatever temporary joy I’d found was stained by the looming sword over my head. I glanced at Gale. My lips curled into a smile. Whatever this was, I’d protect it. Forget the hero, the heroine, forget the demon king; this was the life I wanted to live - sitting here with Gale forever, cracking jokes. 

Whoever got in the way of that… 

My eyes narrowed.