"Fei, I feel better. You don't need to keep making me food!" Lucian exclaimed while waving his hands in a pleading manner. "How much copper do we have? We can just head somewhere if we have enough!" 'I can't keep this up! SHE IS NEVER COOKING FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES!' Internally he sobbed, for the past four weeks, he's only had bland tasting, or just horrendous combinations of food.
"..." Fei gave him a downcasted look. His fearful eyes caused her arm to lower in defeat. "Okay…" Was the only word she could say.
"Come on, sit down, please."
She followed his words and sat next to him.
"How much do we have left? It might not be much, but I can cook something for us." Lucian offered as his lips transformed into a smile. 'Finally…'
"Two…" She mumbled.
"Two…" Following in her footsteps, he also mumbled. With a clap of his hands, he continued. "Two, alright. I don't know if we'll be gaining much from the request, but let's head to the guild after we eat. We can hand in our ids after we get paid."
His words caused Fei's ears to perk up. "W-Why do we need to hand in our ids? We never, never had t-to do that before."
"Ah… W-Well…"
"L-L-Lucian, what are you, you talking about?"
Lucian let out a long, deep sigh alongside scratching his head. "I'm planning on quitting…" His tone of voice sounded disheartened, and filled with multitudes of emotions. "It's caused a lot of issues for you…"
"What are you talking about?! I thought being an adventurer was your dream!"
"It is, it still is…"
"Then why are you quitting?"
"Because of you, you don't seem to be enjoying it! I don't want to drag you along, doing things you dislike or don't feel like doing!"
"..."
"And… I don't want to-" Lucian sucked in a large amount of air, and in a low breath rambled on. "I don't want to lose someone else, or whatever they went… We couldn't-" Unconsciously he tightened his fists. "We couldn't find Aiko… I want to know where she is." His voice rattled. "But, I don't want to know what happened to her… I want to know if she's okay, but I also-"
"..."
"I just… We're done with adventuring-"
"We aren't…" Fei mumbled under her breath. "Please, don't give up on your dream because of me…" I-I don't want that… I don't want to hold you back… "A-Aiko… I think- She's okay…" Please believe me… Despite her heart aching, in both sorrow and anger, she kept going. "Lucian-"
"Fei, we're done with adventuring."
"Lucian…"
"WE are, did you even want to become one in the first place?"
"..."
"You didn't,,,"
"I-I did…" Fei quietly said, whilst shaking her head. Contrarily, her ear flicked. That was all Lucian needed, he clasped his hands together while glaring at the ground.
'I really just forced her to come.' He mentally face palmed. 'How stupid can I be?'
"Please-"
"Fei, can you just- Tell me how you feel about this? Don't lie, I can tell when you're lying."
"I-I-I wanted to…" Fei responded moments later.
Seeing her reaction, and the same ear flick Lucian covered his face. 'Why do you have to be like this?' His thoughts moved his head to eye Fei. "We're done adventuring."
"I told you I wanted to-"
"Yeah, but you didn't mean it! Do you know how easy it is to spot you lying?!"
"I-" Fei's lips quivered, yet that became transparent to Lucian. His booming voice caused her ears to flatten, and everything around her to freeze.
"I want you to be honest, not lie to me. I now know I dragged you into becoming one…"
"..."
"Please, Fei, just tell me now. Do you still want-"
"I don't know… I don't know what I want to do- I don't want to be abandoned… But I-I don't want you to quit on what you dreamed of!" Fei cried out, tears of crystals rolled down her cheeks.
BANG BANG BANG
Three loud booms came from their front door. Lucian shook his head, but kept his eyes on her. His mouth swung open and closed. He had many things to say, but nothing came out. His thoughts came so loud, that even the second round fell on deaf ears.
Next, three more came but louder. As a result Fei flinched, covering her ears as fast as she could.
"Great." Lucian grumbled before standing up. Thus, he walked to their bedroom door. One last look at her came. 'It'll be fine.' "Who the hell is knocking on the door this loud, at this time in the morning?" Deja vu welled up in his chest, could it be another Adventurers' Guild employee? "Can you be any louder?"
"Ah! Good morning Sir!"
"...What do you need?" Lucian inquired, eyeing the young man in front of him. 'Another guild employee, what is with them and being obnoxious?' Internal complaints popped up.
"I was informed that uh…" He pulled a letter up to his eyes. "Miss, Lerong? Lived in this home? May I talk to her?"
"Lirong, and she's busy right now."
"Oh… Ahem, anyways- Can you hand her this letter, Mister?"
"Lucian, and yes I can."
"Thanks, oh and the Guild Master wanted me to hand you this!" The man held his hand out. "It's your payment from the raid."
As soon as Lucian took the payment, the man left in a sprint. From his calculations, in his palm there were twelve coins. His only explanation most of it came from the other two.
'That solves that issue.' He hurriedly went back to their room. Fei was now up right, she avoided his gaze once inside. She finally gave him her attention when he waved the message he was given.
What do they want with me? Her attention drew towards the message. A blood red splash stuck to the message.
"It's probably a summons, when we were still there I heard some of the healers talking about you transforming… Never took you as someone who'd cause trouble."
"..."
Her mouth opened in a bit of surprise. Written down were commands for her to go meet Noelle at the guild. Am I in trouble? This conclusion immediately crawled in her mind. Could it be true what Lucian joked around with?
"Here lemme see… That's it? 'To Miss Lirong, please make way to the Adventurers' Guild, I would like to speak with you.' You really caused that much trouble, huh?"
"..."
"Fei? Don't ignore me- Hey, wait up!"
She continued, ignoring Lucian's pleas. Slamming both their bedroom and front door, even he couldn't catch up with her. His hand lowered, in defeat. With gritted teeth he collapsed to the ground.
Why does he have to do this?!
Why?! I don't care if I have to continue adventuring!
Her pace slowed down once on the dirt road. Her mind raced, as she wandered aimlessly. Nearly an hour passed outside her own world, those she passed watched her pathetically.
Unconsciously she stopped at a random stall. Unaware that the stallkeeper watched every movement.
"Hey, Half Ear, are you going to buy something? I'll charge you if you just keep staring at my products." The stallkeeper said whilst tapping the basket Fei was staring a hole into. "Oi, Half Ear, are you deaf?"
"N-No… So-Sorry…"
"Tch, just hurry it up."
Quickly, Fei picked a few tomatoes, paid and left the stall. Just as she decided to head home, a voice called out.
"Oh, hey! It's Little Fei!" Bronya's voice resounded from behind Fei. "How are ya doing? It's been a bit!"
"U-Um… I-"
"Not too well I'd assume? You look like a mess!"
"I-I Have to… Ge- Get going." Fei turned her back to Bronya. Instantly, she appeared before her eyes.
With arms crossed just under her chest, Bronya leaned in. "Little Fei, come with Rothie and I, we're going to grab a bite to eat." Fei took a few steps back, hesitation was written all over her. "And don't worry, we'll get something for Little Lucian."
I have to get back… I don't want to go.
"Long Ears, Long Ear, does not want to go."
"Shut it ya big oaf, I can see that! But if you use your brain, there's something bothering her." Bronya pointed out with a roll of her eyes. "C'mon, we can talk once we get there- Or on our way there."
"I-I have to get going… Lucian's waiting for me."
'Did she and that kid get into a fight? This is so unlike her, if we don't factor in her angry side…' Bronya thought, she raised her fingers to her chin, seemingly in a deep thought. Fei looked a mixture of emotions, her eyebrows furrowed; mouth carved into a frown, filled with anxiety. "Did you and Little Lucian get into some spat?" Her thoughts sprinted out of her mouth.
"..." Even lower, did that frown go.
For the next few moments, it was a standstill. Bronya squinted at Fei, trying to gauge why and what happened. If they were together nearly one hundred percent of the time, she's alone, so why? All thoughts ran off the track when Fei spoke up.
"C-Can… Can you please help- I, I don't know what to do." Her voice, so quiet it was nigh inaudible. "I ne, need help… " She lowered her head, alongside a break in her voice. "...P-Please…"
Bronya and Roth made eye contact. Is she feeling alright? In such a short time, this is the first she asked for help. Awkwardly the former cleared her throat. "What do you need help with?"
"L-Lucian… He's going to quit being an adv-adventurer– I, I don't.. I don't know what to do, or say…"
"Hm? That kid's really thinking of quitting?" Bronya muttered. "He just got paid a hefty amount for a newbie. If you or I made that amount early on we'd be jumping in joy, right Rothie?"
"H-He won't listen, listen…"
"Allright, I got what ya mean, Little Fei." She strolled up to her, gave a pat on the back and continued. "Ya don't need to worry alright? Let me talk to him, but don't let 'that' stinky old man do it– It'll only make it worse."
"Long Ears."
"Hehe, alright. Little Fei, lead the way please." Bronya said. A warm smile carved itself onto her face. Within just a second, Fei shrugged her grip, in a speed neither of them had seen from her, sprinted towards home.
Fei's stamina quickly diminished. Yet, she kept going, going. Her lungs expanded, deflated with each breath fire coursed through them. Her companions followed at a light pace, concern overwhelmed their looks.
After she rested at her front door for quite some time. Next, they went inside. Lucian sat on the ground, next to the bedroom door. His head rested on his knee. He raised his head to the sounds of footsteps entering.
"Good morning, Little Lucian…" Bronya said with a smile. "How were your four weeks of rest?"
"What do you want?"
"Oh nothing~" She hummed to a low tune, looking towards Fei. "Other than a little worried Fox asked me a favor."
"I'm deadset on my decision."
"Hm? Despite her wanting you not to?" Bronya asked whilst crouching to his eye level. "Fei doesn't want you to quit-"
"I want to quit, I dragged her into becoming one."
"Is that really what you want to do?"
"Yes."
"I have a hard time believing that." Bronya tilted her head. "If that's really what you wanted to do, why do you have such a regretful look on your silly little face."
"..."
"Ah~ I see now…" Her smile contorted into a smirk. "Mind if I ask you a little something?"
"What are you even getting at?" Lucian muttered. He watched as she raised, lowered her shoulders subsequently standing up. Nothing she was saying resonated inside of him, nor was her plan as transparent.
Impatiently, he watched her tap her foot against the ground. What is she really getting at? And why is she acting like she knows?
"Little Fei, do you still want to be an adventurer? It's okay if you say yes or no."
"I-I-I don't know, know…"
"That's not an answer that I'm looking for, but I'll accept it… Now, Little Lucian… Do you still want to be one?"
"Seriously, what the hell are you even getting at?"
"Wow~ you do have a vulgar mouth. Ahem, fine, fine I'll get to what I want to say. Your main goal for adventuring wasn't the money you can make."
"Eh?"
"It's pretty obvious, if that was your main goal." Bronya raised a finger, in succession with each point she versed. His reaction with Fei and her not wanting to. Most adventurers who had demi-humans as companions would drop them after one request. Roth who was leaning against a wall, arms crossed nodded in confirmation.
Her second reasoning, and her last one, came quickly. His immediate back out despite being paid a hefty sum. Any sane, money hungry adventurers would drool all over it. With each point, he turned his head further.
Lastly, she brought out a question. What else caused his reasoning to quit? One name caused her body to seize. "Aiko." Next, she touched her chin.
"It's true, that adventuring was a dream of mine… But, I couldn't find where Aiko was- That was my main reason to go on that request. Hell, even if I did almost die I'd still go." Lucian explained without making eye contact. "I don't want to continue going if I can't see her again, and if Fei really doesn't want to do this." His words caused Fei to lower her head. It all makes sense, but a temptation to speak out got stuck in her throat.
Bronya mimicked her, instead a loss of words got stuck in her mind. Suddenly, Roth turned his head to look at Lucian.
"Long ear over here, doesn't want you to quit."
"Mhm, give it more thought and think it through Little Lucian. Take her feelings into account too."
"...I'll think about it." Lucian said. His hands balled into fists. A thought popped into his mind, did Bronya manage to trick Fei into wanting to continue? He wouldn't put it past her, she is hard to track.
"Oh, why don't we talk more about it over food? Rothie and I will treat you two again."
"Buying us food won't convince me."
Bronya waved his comment off. "I'm not~ we haven't eaten anything yet today, and we do have a special 'treat'" She said with quotations. "For you two."