RFC-Mini Arc 4: Night Life-12 (Patreon)

Maxine describes the small space as an attached tavern but I think that’s too generous for a counter and two lines. One line seems to be queuing up for food, the other for drinks, judging by the people squeezing by with their orders in hand.

I spot Alana and Maxine in line for drinks and make my way toward them, ignoring several curses and slapping away one adventurous hand. “I never expected to see a Guiness waiting amongst the common masses.”

“It would be uncouth to march to the front of the line,” Maxine says. “I’ve made enough of a spectacle for one night. Truly, this place has lost the last of its middling charm.”

“I was thinking the same thing. I’ll check with the others but I’m ready to go. Who knows if the next nuisances will quake in fear of Alana and her terrifying jewelry.”

“Hey, they didn’t quake,” she protests. “And there’s no need to leave too soon.”

“Are you saying that because you are actually enjoying this place or because you don’t want to go to the next destination?”

She maintains a blank expression for all of a second before it collapses. “You’re serious about going to the red-light district, aren’t you?”

“Most assuredly. You don’t have to come you know. I can have Gajin take you home.”

“No…no, I’ll come.”

“You don’t sound sure.”

“I’m sure, Lou,” she says slowly. “Just like I’m sure that I’m getting tired of waiting. Saints, I didn’t used to be this impatient.”

“Got too used to me spoiling you, huh?”

“Excuse me? Since when do you spoil me?”

“…really?”

“…fine. Leave it there because it’s not because of you. This line is moving abysmally slow.” She sticks her neck out to view those ahead of us and scowls. “Weren’t you planning on going to Howie’s?”

“Afterwards.” Having another destination in mind was supposed to be my chain, ensuring I don’t lose my senses while in the company of women trained to entrap the unwary. “We can change that. Would unquestionably be better than anything this dump is serving.”

“Ah, but that means we will be spending another carriage ride in discomfort, honored sister,” Cloud speaks up.

“I’ve got a plan for that.”

“Saints save me,” Alana grumbles.

I flash her a smug smile. “Maxine? You fine with leaving?”

“I would be glad to.”

“Great.” We leave the line, squeezing past the bodies on our way toward the door. Before we make it, there’s a commotion at the entrance. Hubert pushes through the crowd. His big eyes search the room before landing on Cloud. He hurries over. “Um, I need your help!”

“Calm down, treat.” Cloud pushes to the front of our group and grabs him by the arm. “What is wrong?”

“My friends are fighting with a noble at the front!”

“Are they winning or losing?” I ask with a chuckle. It dies from the look my friends give me. “I mean, we should hurry and stop them. Yeah.”

“Yeah, Lou, we should,” Alana says drily. She hurries past and we follow after her, Cloud hanging onto Hickory as we make haste for the exit. Geneva, go explain the situation to Kierra and the others. Bell, with me.

[As you wish, my summoner.]

A shadow blurs through the air toward me. Beside me, Cloud stiffens but I leisurely snatch the shape from the air. Bell’s tail whips back and forth like an excited hound. “Coo!”

“The creature is fast,” Cloud says warily.

“You have no idea.”

Halfway to the door, I pick up the sounds of a fight, which is mainly a lot of cursing and the meaty sounds of bare-knuckle brawling. Huey gets nervous and breaks away from Cloud, running through the door.

“Oh, your boy’s got some backbone.” It sounds like a mess outside.

“I have excellent taste, honored sister,” Cloud purrs before also speeding up, leaving the building right behind Horhay. I don’t bother hurrying, as I’m not hearing any death rattles.

Outside, six men are fighting in the middle of the road. Aidan is in the thick of it, fighting off four men. He throws an impressive punch, snapping one of the men’s head to the side, before he is grabbed by two. Before they can take him down, Jude grabs one of them with an arm over his throat, yanking him off, which gives Aidan the chance to tackle the second. I recognize two of the faces as the goons used by Maxine’s not-so-charming pursuer, the blonde lord standing off to the side of the brawl.

“I have to help,” Hayhay says as Aidan catches a foot to the chin, but Cloud stops him from rushing off.

“Honored sister?”

“One question. Who started it?”

“Him! He ambushed us after we left the dance, claiming that we got in his way for something.”

“Ah. Alright. I suppose you want us to slap him around for you.”

“No! We have to stop them! The guards are ignoring this but if Lord Thornton gets hurt, they’re going to get involved and our guild leader is going to skin us alive.” Oi, you’re quaking in your boots because someone’s going to tell your boss on you?

“I don’t think you need to be worried about that. Your friends aren’t exactly winning.”

“That’s because they’re not—”

He breaks off as the ground trembles. Around the brawlers, the road ripples, rising and falling. The four goons stumble back and forth as they struggle to keep their balance. Jude doesn’t have the problem as the caster, the ground solid beneath him. Aidan wobbles before he manages to latch onto his friend, wiping his bloody nose with the back of a hand.

“The city is not going to be happy with them destroying the road,” Maxine says.

The goons strike back. I can feel the wind shift as one of the goon’s gazes lights up with channeled mana. Jude is knocked off his feet and his spell comes to a halt. Another casts a spell and the ground ripples again, evening out, easing the way for the other two to get to their feet.

Aidan is ready for them. Two bands of metal slide from beneath his shirt. I watch with some awe as the belt-like sheets thin out before throwing themselves at the men, restraining them.

“Saints be damned, he can use metal magic.” A derivative of the earth affinity. The difference between throwing a ball of dirt and reshaping a band of what I think is steel is a horrific number of variables. Not to mention it’s far more mana intensive, as the mana needed to shape metal is significantly higher than what it takes to shape loose dirt.

“He can’t do that again,” Alana mumbles. She’s right. He doesn’t look good, his features pulled into a grimace as sweat beads on his brow. He’s panting for breath but is staring down the remaining two goons with a glare.

“His comrade is returning.” Cloud draws our attention to Jude as he gets back to his feet. His shirt is torn along the front and there’s a deep gash on his chest, but he doesn’t seem impaired. With a snarl, he rips apart the shirt, the tatters falling to the ground as his eyes light with channeled mana again. He glares at the blonde lord, who returns the look with one of disdain.

Along the edges of the conflict, several city guards move closer, waiting.

“Ms. Cloud!” Harry says, eyes frantic. “I know my request is quite forward but please!”

“No need to become anxious.” She pats him on the head before going forward.

“Here, Bell.” I put the imp on the ground. “Make sure nothing happens to her.”

“Coo!” [As you wish, Master Lou.] She scampers after Cloud, the two of them diving into the midst of the fray. The combatants are caught off guard as Cloud slams into one of the two remaining goons. The fighting from before looks like an argument between children in the face of her swift brutality; she punches the closest man in the face and immediately follows up with another punch, snapping his head back. He falls and she’s on him, grabbing his head and slamming it into the ground until he stops moving.

His friend tries to help him but Bell moves between his legs, tripping him. She leaps onto his back and wraps her tail around his throat, choking him.

Aidan is stunned but his friend isn’t. With the guards handled, Jude turns to Sebas, whose gaze lights up in preparation. The surrounding guards move forward but Cloud is faster. In a flash, she is in front of him, hands flexing. “The fight is over,” she growls. “Make a move and you go down as well.”

“As expected, you stick up from one of your own,” Jude sneers. Balls of earth rise from the ground and break apart into a hundred tiny pebbles. Cloud raises her arms as they’re launched toward her, the tiny rocks shredding her clothes and slicing her skin like a so many tiny blades. Not deeply. A girl who wrestles monsters can take far more than a few thrown stones.

The onslaught ends and she dashes forward, lashing out. Jude blocks the blow, kicking out at her. The ground rises as she moves back, compromising her balance…for a moment. She turns the stumble into a back flip, landing on her fours before throwing herself at him, sweeping his legs out from underneath him.

“Kierra would be impressed,” I muse as the two of them grapple. It’s a contest of pure strength and despite his impressive muscles, Cloud is winning. Through pure endurance. They both get in good blows but Cloud is taking them with a smile while Jude is bleeding and cursing.

Aidan looks confused about whether or not to join in when a “Coo!” makes him look down. His brows furrow as he stares down at my adorable imp, still strangling a man with her tail.

“That’s our cue,” I say, walking forward.

Time to play peacemaker.