Infighting

Natalia had never been out in the dungeon town before. Most of her escapades into the dungeon were brief excursions; dungeon towns only formed in raids and deep delves, and even then she always remained within the confines of her tent. The first thing she noticed was the smell of roasting food. It was a strange scent to her; she was more accustomed to the almost sanitized meals she was served three times a day. The flavors were always subtle, light on the palate, and only lightly seasoned. Here, her senses were assaulted by the fragrant scent of exotic spices, by the rabble of merchants peddling their wares and adventurers recounting their near death battles. The crowds parted way for the two of them. She noted that they were getting stares. The Blade Princess, and the High Priestess, two S rank adventurers, known not only for their strength, but their ethereal beauty.

“Blade Princess,” Adventurers nodded in near worship.

“Hello. Good evening,” She responded automatically.

Liandra often stopped and began speaking to strangers. Sometimes she would comment on a merchant’s hat, asking them about it. Sometimes she would linger near an adventurer’s camp, asking them about their days. Occasionally she would heal a wound that was caught during the delve. Each time, Natalia lingered on the edge, like a lost child. Besides polite greetings, she had nothing to say to anyone.

“Why are we out here? It’s loud,” Natalia complained just as Liandra said goodbye to another group of adventurers.

“For a bit of perspective,” Liandra answered. “Every single person here has hopes and dreams they want to accomplish, and they’re doing their very best to make those dreams come true. Sometimes, it’s simply earning coin. But adventurers, I find, dream much bigger than that.”

“I see,” Natalia sighed. “I still don’t see the point of forcing yourself to live this life, spending days on end inside this gods’ forsaken dungeon. They can’t dream if they’re killed.”

“Natalia…” Liandra let out a long sigh. “You…”

A sound echoed out, like a wooden stick hitting a rock. The two turned to find Leo in the distance. He had a wooden bo staff over his shoulder, and was kneeling down over a fallen adventurer.

“Dammit Leo!” Will roared, shooting to his feet.

“Infighting?” Natalia questioned.

Leo swung, striking a heavy blow on Will’s side. The adventurer shrugged in pain, falling to his knees, before getting up again.

“What you gonna do huh? F ranker?” Leo cackled. “You can’t do anything. You three don’t belong here. I know what you’re thinking. You three figured you can make the money you owe us back by tagging along and looting the leftovers, huh? Well too bad! I’m not going to let you have anything.”

“We have a right to be here!” Will roared. Alan and Mina readied themselves for a longer fight, taking position behind him.

“Well, looks like I’m gonna have to beat your asses and drag you out of this dungeon myself,” Leo growled before swinging his bo staff at Will.

Will blocked the attack, the staff cracking against bone. He pushed forward, intent on headbutting Leo, but the cat beast man dodged, landing a powerful kick into Will’s abdomen, causing Liandra to gasp in shock.

“We need to stop them!” She cried.

“If he knows what’s good for him, he’d stay down,” Natalia responded coldly. “He’s obviously outmatched.”

Will forced himself to his feet, though his knees still shook violently. He lifted his fists, spitting out some blood as he readied to throw himself at Leo.

“Idiot,” Natalia clicked her tongue.

“Amazing,” an unknown voice echoed in Natalia’s head.

“What?” She turned to Liandra, thinking she said something. There was only a resolute look on her face as began to walk towards the fight. Natalia sighed.

Leo swung his bo staff, ready to knock Will unconscious. Natalia easily closed the distance in half a second, intercepting the attacking, yanking the staff from Leo’s hands, shoving him back with a kick, before delivering a heavy blow with the stolen staff directly to Leo’s stomach. Leo collapsed, vomiting into the mud from the sheer impact of the blow.

“You’re making the High Priestess upset,” Natalia stated. “Enough fighting.”

“Blade Princess…” Leo coughed violently.

“Are you alright?” Liandra rushed to the injured Will.

“My brother will hear about this…” Leo wheezed, trying to keep himself from vomiting again putting a hand over his mouth.

“Sure, sure. I’ll hear his complaints all day if I have to.” Natalia waved her hand. “Oh, your staff.” Natalia dropped the weapon right into Leo’s vomit.

He retrieved it before scurrying away.

“Will!” Alan and Mina approached their friend.

“Greater healing,” Liandra cast.

Will’s wounds healed instantly, the blood leaking from his nose evaporating away.

“Wow, I’d never been healed like that before,” Will shook his head in amazement. “I don’t even feel tired anymore! Thank you!”

“You’re very welcome, adventurer,” Liandra’s smile beamed.

“High…” Mina shook, eyes alit in panic and awe. “Lady High Priestess! I am unworthy to be in your presence!” She gasped, bowing down at Liandra’s feet.

“Oh please, don’t do that!” Liandra blushed. “Please stand young priestess!”

“I’m only a part-timer, but I mustn’t! It’s improper,” Mina whimpered, still on her knees.

“And the Blade Princess,” Alan noted, bowing in respect.

“Ah yes. Very nice to meet you all,” Natalia gave her practiced response with a smile.

“That’s the fakest smile I’ve ever seen,” Will noted.

“Huh?” Natalia felt a nerve crack somewhere. “That isn’t a very nice thing to say to the person who just saved you.” She closed her eyes. “Besides, that wasn’t very smart, you shouldn’t have picked a fight with someone stronger than you.”

“I never let myself lose if I don’t have to,” Will stated, glaring at Natalia.

“That’s stupid,” the words left Natalia’s mouth before she could reign them in.

“Easy for you to say, you don't know what it’s like for adventurers like us,” Will shot back.

“Oh, I see,” Natalia’s smile widened as she tried with all her might to keep her eyes closed.

“Now, Now,” Liandra got between the two of them. “No fighting please.”

“Are you guys alright?” Ren, Anissa, and Dan approached the group. “Lady Crestfall, High Priestess?”

The three newcomers fell to their knees in reverence.

“Wait! Please don’t!” Liandra was visibly red at this point. She really hated the reverence that came with her position.

Natalia, meanwhile, was indifferent to them, save for Will. That weakling was getting on her nerves.

“What do you have cooking there, that smells good!” Liandra pointed, trying to take attention away from herself.

“Ah, my lady High Priestess and Blade Princess,” The plump dwarf merchant himself approached. “It’s nothing too special, and certainly wouldn’t be worthy of you two fine ladies, but you are welcome to it anyway!”

“That’s sounds wonderful, doesn’t it, Natalia?” Liandra turned to her.

“I don’t think…” Natalia was interrupted by the sound of her rumbling stomach. The thick smell of cooking food that was prevalent throughout the dungeon town had stirred her appetite.

Before she knew it, Liandra had dragged Natalia over to the merchant’s wagon. He had a stew brewing on an open fire. It smells of mushrooms and meat. It made Natalia’s mouth water.

“Fresh cave mushrooms, and some aged pork I brought from the mountain home,” The dwarf whistled as he stirred the pot. “Smells like home. Nothing but the best for my special guests tonight.”

“Smells amazing,” Liandra commented, a drip of saliva dripping from the side of her mouth in a manner unbecoming of the High Priestess. She wiped it away with a handkerchief.

“You’re crazy man,” Ren laughed, placing an arm on Will. “You don’t stand down, do you?”

“I’m surprised you haven’t gotten yourself killed,” Anissa added, taking a seat opposite of Will.

“I don’t like losing fights.” Will answered.

“He’s always been like this,” Mina sighed.

“Yeah, since we were kids,” Alan said.

“Seems you have quite the reputation, mister Will,” Liandra laughed.

“Ah, do I?” Will scratched his head.

“A true adventurer’s spirit if I ever did see one,” Liandra said with a warm smile. “It’s why I like coming and talking to you all.”

“But you’re an adventurer too, High Priestess,” Mina said. “An S rank one at that.”

“I don’t know if I’d say that,” Liandra sighed. “I never entered the dungeon until about three years ago, and even then I don’t really fight like you all. What you all accomplish is amazing, putting yourself on the line for your dreams.”

“It’s why we’re here,” Will grinned.

Natalia rolled her eyes. She was just here for Liandra. And maybe some of that stew.

“And the Blade Princess too, you’re pretty amazing,” Mina beamed.

“Ah, thank you,” she smiled at the unexpected compliment. Will gave her a look. Her expression soured.

“You don’t remember, but this is the second time you’ve saved us!” Mina stated.

“Ah I see. Well, that’s just my job I suppose,” Natalia replied.

“Oh, that reminds me. Do you have a dream you want to accomplish, Mister Will?” Liandra asked.

“Go on, tell her,” Alan said, leaning back against a rock cropping. “He’s always going on and on about it.”

“Yeah, way too much,” Mina laughed along.

“Oh, I'm curious,” Anissa bounced. “What’s our would be hero doing in this dungeon anyway? What’s it all for?”

Natalia turned her gaze away from the stew, curious to his answer.

“I…” Will flustered, his face slightly red. “My dream is to cross the Great Ocean, and become an S rank adventurer without a skill, just like Ricard the Skill-less.”

Natalia wasn’t sure what it was. If it was the loud atmosphere, or the fact that she was in a somewhat bad mood, or the fact that Shisa wasn’t there to rein her in. All the years she had spent hiding her true feelings, all the training she did to keep her composure in becoming polite and demure, seemed to shatter at what she thought was the stupidest thing she had ever heard coming out of that man’s mouth. And when it shattered, she began to laugh.

“That’s ridiculous!” She gasped for air, nearly falling off the stool she was sitting on. “There’s no way a no skill could ever reach the ocean!”

“Natalia!” Liandra scolded. She had a pained expression, Natalia had never seen it on her face before. It was a look of sheer disappointment.

“What do you know!” Will shot up, face red with rage. “You’re born with a silver spoon, and get a skill that does all your fight for you!”

“Excuse me?” Natalia stood up, placing a hand to her chest in offense. “How dare you talk to me like that! Didn’t I save your life twice?”

“I didn’t need your help!” Will waltzed forward till he was face to face with her. He towered over the shorter girl, but it did little to intimidate her.

“Guys, calm down,” Ren said, trying to cool their heads. The two didn’t listen.

“My skill gave me a bad premonition, I guess this is it,” Dan, the priest, finally spoke up after being silent all evening. “Strange how these things play out.”

“Will!” Mina tried to grab his arm. “She’s the Blade Princess, you really, really shouldn’t be talking to her like that.”

“Hell no!” Will yanked his arm from Mina. “I’m tired of you so-called adventurers thinking they're so much different from us. You go through your motions, and then go home to your fancy manors, while we have to fight for our lives, and not even have a roof to go back to!”

“And you have quite the nerve to think that it isn’t difficult for us!” Natalia pushed him like a child in the school yard, causing him to stumble back. “If it bothers you so much, just quit! No one’s making you be an adventurer. There’s no real reason to keep doing this if it’s so bad!”

“Natalia!” Liandra hugged her from behind, trying in vain to pull her away.

“See, you don’t get it! This is all a game to you! You don’t even care about being an adventurer!” Will yelled back.

The rest of them sat where they were watching in concern, like watching two barking dogs. No one else tried anything to separate them. Even the merchant was shocked, holding his mixing ladle, unsure of what to do.

“A game?!” Natalia grinded her teeth. “I’ll show you a game! Let’s go right now!”

“Fine!” Will answered.

“The soup is almost ready…” the Merchant sighed.

“A duel,” Natalia stated. “You and me. Winner takes all.”

“Natalia,” Liandra tried to reason with her, but she was already in motion.

The two readied themselves for a battle. A battle of their own ideals.