Solivar flinched slightly at the knife a few centimeters away from his face. The skeleton looked up to the Butcher who had slammed it.
"I'm sorry but I won't be able to answer that, my time is running out." Just as he said that, his beige bone began to disintegrate as if becoming inexistent. "For now… All I can tell you is to follow the Family's Blade… " It didn't take long for the skull to vanish after saying those words. Bane was left alone to ponder the happenings of the day.
He sat on the desk chair and threw his arms back with a sigh.
What is going on…He thought, though his mind had already formulated a theory. Things might be a lot more complicated than they initially seemed. The heartless crowman, the House of Fate, Gem encrusted Solivar, and his warnings. Sounds like the start of a novel if I've ever read one…He turned his gaze to the wheat-haired doll that had witnessed everything. El, I think this whole curse business might be much more than we had anticipated. Regardless I made you a promise and hell will freeze over before I let that damned curse take you from me. House of Fate, Family Blade, none of it means sh*t to me. I'll burn everything that stands in the way of me and removing that curse.
Bane took a breath to calm himself. I say that but I still shouldn't brush those things off. If there's something about the House of Fate or Family Blade on this earth then I'll find it in Gaesha's Endless Library.
But isn't that placed forbidden or something? I heard it was a gamble with one's life to even step foot there. Why was that again? He tapped his fingers on the wooden table in front of him a few times before the corresponding information came to mind. Monsters! Everything surrounding the city was flooded with unnatural creatures, it resembled a worse Eastern Meriany.
Do I really have a choice? I haven't had a lead since Master Niph died and this might be the only one I get for a long time. If it's really that serious, I still have the 22 Katas, I doubt there's a monster strong enough to handle something like Wheel of Fortune or Swindl.
Feeling more confident than nervous, Bane decided that he would leave Eastern Meriany in three days' time. He still had a few matters to take care of in the village.
I hope that girl claimed the bounty for the Kitil. Had I gone to claim it there's a decent chance I'd be arrested on the spot. I really like this village and wouldn't want to have to kill its inhabitants. Other than the occasional rude drunkard, of course.
Bane chuckled to himself before cleaning up and stepping back into the shadows with a "Daknes". His solitude was starting to humorously chip away at his sanity.
Yah… Humorously…
…
Bane stepped out of the shadows in front of the Golden Geri bar. Even after changing clothes, he still hid as his ruby eyes would be a dead giveaway as to who he was. The Butcher deftly made his way to the counter and ordered a glass of water. This was a code for "I need to talk to you".
The bartender nodded and left for the second floor, using the excuse that he had forgotten to bring down the water barrels. Bane nodded and only joined him after an irregular amount of time had passed.
"Yes, you wished to speak with me?" The bartender asked as he noticed the figure from before entering view. He had yet to make the connection between the visitor and Bane Marius.
Seeing as he had not spoken on his first visit, Bane didn't feel compelled to hide his voice.
"I need to see a certain server of yours, I have business with her."
The bartender was slightly taken aback "Server? Not street girl?" He asked.
The visitor nodded, still making a visible effort to hide their face.
"Uh, I'm sorry sir but we don't offer that kind of service with servers" He explained, his face lighting up as if he had understood something.
"No, no, nothing like that," the stranger said while shaking his head, "I only wish to talk to her about a matter we had previously discussed."
"Oh, if that's so then I must inform you that we only have one female server present, but I'm not sure if she's who you're looking for. She should be in room 12, last on to the right." He said, pointing to the end of the hall.
Bane nodded and went to room 12. Once he opened the door, he heard a somewhat familiar voice.
"Yes boss, I'll start i a-" Her words were cut short upon seeing that it wasn't her boss. "W-who are you?" She asked, the fear obvious in her voice.
She wasn't sure if his revealing of his blood red eyes had helped to alleviate her fear or make it worse. Her unexpected guest was none other than Bane Marius, the Inhumane Butcher.
"Hey." He said softly, his ruby eyes digging into Mellie's. "Did you claim the bounty?"
She was unable to form words and could only nod. She searched in a secret compartment behind her bed and took out ten one devis bills. Bane checked the authenticity of the bills before turning back to her. "What's your weekly salary?" He asked.
Mellie hesitated before finally letting out "3 deniel…"
"Alright, here." He handed her four devis. Before she could be shocked or refuse, he disappeared into the shadows.
Mellie didn't know how to feel. This was now the second time this monster had been kind to her. What was his motive? Mellie wasn't rich in any way, nor was her family name particularly important. Then, what w-A thought came to mind.
M-maybe he….She didn't finish the thought, she was unsure if it scared or intrigued her.