Astra Fracta

chapter 18:

When we were walking trying to find Leora, Tiva spoke up, “Hey, I feel something is weird.” I looked at her, confused, “What weird? I don't feel anything.” “N-No, I don't mean like someone is watching us,” Tiva said, her tone became a bit uneasy. Her ears flicked nervously. I looked at her, not convinced by her words, “You're just overthinking, Tiva, there's nothing wrong.” “Okay fine, but don't forget, if something really happens, it will be your own fault, Ariri.” “Nothing will go wrong, and don't call me that.” “Fine, Ariri~,” she said teasingly. “Let's continue, we shouldn't waste our time overthinking about things that won't even happen,” I said, quite annoyed, “We have the whole day, Ariri, and don't be that tense. Fine, as you wish. But still, the uneasiness in me didn't go away yet, but trust me, Ariri, something is out of its place, my guts are always right.” I looked at her, sighing as I continued walking. I still could feel that damn maniac behind me, wanting to beat the hell out of me. We walked, continuing our way to find the Forge, or Leora.

“They're not here either!” Leora slammed the door of Tiva's room open, as she pinched the bridge of her nose, as she groaned loudly. She opened my room expecting me to be there, but there's no sign of me or Tiva, “Where did those two go?! I told them they shouldn't wander around too far away,” she said, anger creeping into her voice. She thought to herself, what if they did something stupid? Or they're in danger? “God help me…” she stomped her foot into the floor annoyingly, “Those two idiots are just too stupid.” Dravin just stood there listening to every word she's saying, while he's dead silent, knowing if he spoke up, she would smack the hell out of him, “I can't sell my life for the fourth time today..” he said to himself, but he decided to speak up, “...I think it would be a good idea if we went to the forge again, I think we can find them there..” he said nervously, “Going to the forge again? Why exactly the forge? You're sounding too sure,” “Okay then, let's go to the forge.” she turned as she started walking. “Ehm… but I think it's not important to pick them up with us? We can go alone and tell them when we get back,” he said dreadfully, he's ready that Leora will throw an arrow straight to his face at any moment, but surprisingly she didn't, “I don't have any specific reason for that, but better for you to seal that mouth before I smack you,” she gave him a side eye as she walked, “Fine, miss…” he said quietly, as he followed Leora like a scolded bunny.

“WHERE'S THE DAMN FORGEEEEEEEE!” Tiva screamed, I looked at her, finding all of that just too dramatic, “there’s no need to be all worked up because we can't find the forge,” I said quietly, as she looked at me, “Easy for you to say, we're literally searching for HOURS for the DAMN forge..” she said, she's throwing a tantrum like a five-year-old toddler. “I've lived years in Luneth, not years… but my WHOLE LIFE in Luneth… and I can't find the damn… forge…” she looked up at the sky, her mouth wide open, “Close your mouth, you're looking like an i***t,” I said nonchalantly, “How are you too nonchalant? You're too serious and cold for your own good..” Tiva groaned. Her ears are flat against her head, her tail swaying back and forth.

Tiva watched me as I approached a random woman who sells flowers, “and now, approaching random people,” she sighed, as she followed me. “Excuse me, miss, I'm looking for the nearest forge around here, do you know any forge near here?” the woman looked at me, “Do you want me to give you directions or lead you there?” she smiled at us softly, “just say where it is,” I said coldly, “You're being too rude, you know…” Tiva murmured. “There are too many forges here, but the most famous one, and it might be the forge you're seeking, it's the blacksmith Garrick. His forge is in the next street, just turn right and after that left, you will see a forge there. If you didn't find it, come to me once again and I will lead you there,” the woman said sweetly, with a smile. “What's your name?? You sound too friendly, that man is being too rude and cold,” Tiva said with a big grin on her face, her tone full of amusement. I looked at Tiva. I really wanted to throw that damn girl to the next galaxy for saying the most stupid and embarrassing things in the whole world.

The woman chuckled softly, “My name is Cassandra, it's a pleasure to meet both of you.” She smiled at them, “If you want anything else, I'm always here to help,” she bowed politely for us, as we left to find the forge.

As we walked, “She said left and after that right? Or the opposite?” Tiva said to me, confused. I continued walking ignoring her, “Don't ignore me, you ungrateful potato.” As we reached the forge. The blacksmith Garrick welcomed us, “Welcome back, my little fellows, want anything?” Garrick said brightly. “Hey, I already can feel the sunbeam radiating from you, you seem too happy today,” Tiva said, pointing at Garrick, I spoke up, “Do you know where Leora is?” “Miss Leora? Hmm. She said she will go to Colette, the owner of the main library in Luneth,” I sighed, “I bet she's searching for us, and we're searching for her, what a maze we're in..” Garrick spoke up with his usual bright tone, “Don't let your hopes down that fast, little boy, you'll find her, of course. And she will smack the hell out of you two,” “Yeah, she will not just smack us, she will kill us,” I said, a hint of amusement in my voice. Tiva continues speaking up in the background, “Don't ignore me! I'm talking, you know!” she continued yelling behind us, and we just ignored her.

Suddenly the door of the forge slammed open, “Here you are…” Leora said, I can feel the deadly aura coming out from her. “Leora… we can explain… heh… heh…” Tiva said, her voice was strained, I looked between Leora and the wall back and forth, I stood there quietly, I'm thinking should I flee out of the window or… run away from the door? No, the door will be too risky, she will catch me easily… I looked around, there's no window… we'll be fried chicken too soon.

“I don't have time to scold both of you now. Let's go to Miss Colette, and after that I will scold both of you properly,” Leora said firmly, “follow me both of you, and Dravin, you're still coming with me,” Dravin groaned, he can't spend more time with this woman, he risked his soul for five times today, he knows one day he will die under her hands. “Who's that?” Tiva said, looking at Dravin, “I don't know your type were ginger men, or I don't know if you have a type at all,” “Shut up, he's helping us,” she glared at Tiva, “chill, chill, there's no need to kill me that early, I'm still too young,” I looked between Leora, Tiva, and the ginger man quietly, “And you.” she said directly to me, I flinched slightly, “Okay, ma’am…” Tiva giggled teasingly, “ohohohoh~ how funny~ you're afraid of her~?” “Shut up,” Leora said roughly, “Okay, ma’am,” Tiva said, her ear flicking nervously as she stood quietly beside me, our heads down.

“Let's go, we don't have the whole day to talk nonsense,” Leora said, as the three of us nodded as we followed Leora quietly, like scolded kids.

“This gang is frying me, they're getting along well with each other,” Garrick said to himself, as he worked on a sword, as he frowned slightly, “something feels off…” Garrick thought as he stopped working on the sword, “argh, it's just overflowing thoughts, push it off Garrick, there's no need to be overworked over some passing thoughts in your head,” as he continued working on the sword, he can't push the feeling of uneasiness inside him. He continued working, convincing himself it's just overthinking, nothing more.

“Good job, Rook,” they said, a smirk that wasn’t quite one. As the crow landed on their shoulder, “This thing will do its job. They will not wander in Luneth and do what they please,” the person chuckled. They turned around, their gaze landing on Noel, “We have new people here. They’re blocking our way. New people. New wandering rats,” Noel said, his tone as hard as stone, his eyes wandering around for a second as they landed directly on the person, “The Count Magnus Valemont, Xuan Zhao, and Druselle are making us achieve Nytherion demands, especially after Magnus took the governance. And this new man’s arrival in Luneth, I feel he will be a big hurdle for us. Any ideas, Miss Myrelia?”. He looked at her, waiting for her to speak up. “Oh Noel, talking about the new rat in Luneth, he has such amazing buried power. If we use him properly, he’ll be a good weapon.” She spun the ink pen in her hand back and forth as she looked down at the map of Aerenreach. “That bullshit isn’t important now. What we need is to kill Magnus Valemont, to make Luneth fall, and the most important part is not to let Xuan Zhao get involved in the situation. The last information I got from Silas said that he’s in Orvanya. We need to move fast, but carefully.”

Myrelia hummed, “Good, but we need to put up a plan first. Rook, put an arcane tracker on him, we can know their next moves easily, and it will be both useful and funny. That man will be an obedient object under our hands~,” she said, as she chuckled melodically. “Stop chuckling around and putting trackers everywhere like a damn game, let’s put up a plan for this chaos, and Silas will give us the information, and that crow, give it another useful job instead of putting trackers everywhere.” he said roughly before leaving, “Just wait, Veylon Vyx, you’re dealing with Luneth enemies… how stupid~” she laughed, as she looked where Noel left, as she said with a filthy tone, “Everyone will see that Magnus is just one of Vyx’s loyal dogs.”

End of chapter 18.