Chapter 11:

Caleb

I Found my Pathetic Self Transported to Another World after Having my First Love Confession Rejected. Will I be Able to Find the Life I Want to Have here??


“What do you mean nobody survived? That guy seems pretty alive!”, said Alex.

The bound prisoner wiggled around and made muffled noise to strengthen the argument.

“See?”, said Alex and pointed to the man.

“Trust me don’t do it.”

“But we can’t just leave him here!”

“We should… argh.. fine… do what you want, I don’t care… but don’t tell me I didn’t warn you!”

Violet turned around and went to Rudy with the cart. Alex watched her confused. Then he shrugged and turned to the bound man. With a quick pull his face was free and a tug later his mouth too.

“Oh, thank the gods! Finally, a face not derived from the most horrible of nightmares! Ouch!”

A small flame shot over Alex shoulder and hit the ropes around the bound man’s hand. It quickly burned him free but also left visible burn marks on his wrists.

“Hey, you burned my hands, you crazy fire witch!”, the man shouted in protest.

“Tsk… I aimed for your face!”, said Violet while clicking her tongue.

The man quickly stood up and loosened the ropes around his feet. Then he was free.

“Ah, good to be a free man again! You have my thanks, my friend. How do I may call my savior?”, said the man while bowing theatrically.

“I’m Alex…”, said Alex cautiously.

“Alex! Let me thank you again! You saved none other than the Magnificent Caleb… or as the ladies like to call me, Caleb the Untiring… but you can call me just Caleb.”

“Okay… just Caleb.”

“Oh, my Savior is not only chivalrous but also humorous? It must be my lucky day!”

Caleb bowed again deep and had a grin on his face that could easily make a girl swoon. He then looked over Alex shoulder and his expression changed. It went sour.

“Or at least it was… here comes the way less chivalrous and completely unhumorous creature…”, said Caleb as Violet pulled close with the cart.

“Caleb the Untiring? Caleb the two-pump-chump would be more fitting…”, said Violet annoyed.

“That’s defamation my dear and you know it! Quite well in fact.”

Caleb winked.

“Biggest mistake of my life…”

“That’s why you made it twice?”

Caleb grinned triumphantly. Violet looked really annoyed.

“I thought I will give you another chance… maybe it wasn’t your day… well minute… But alas, some things you can’t change… pity, huh?”

They both stared menacingly into each other’s eyes for a few moments. Then both chuckled.

“I guess it’s good to see you’re still alive, Caleb…”, said Violet.

“Glad to see you alive and fire spewing as ever too, Violet.”, said Caleb and bowed briefly.

“Hop on, if you want a ride into the next town.”

“Well I can’t say no to that…”

Caleb grabbed a rucksack, a lute, and a short sword. After that he hopped on the cart.

“What’s with you? You wanna run, or hop on?”, said Violet to the still confused looking Alex.

He shook off his confusion and sat himself besides Violet.

“Strange horse you have there.”, said Caleb as Rudy began pulling the cart.

“That’s Rudy, a dire boar.”, said Violet and Rudy squeaked proudly.

“I see… birds of a feather, huh?”, exclaimed Caleb chuckling but went silent as he saw the fiery eyes of Violet.

He held his hands defensively up.

“You two know each other?”, asked Alex curious.

“Yeah we… crossed path once…”, said Violet.

“Twice!”, interjected Caleb.

“…twice…sadly…”, sighed Violet.

“Ouch! Is that way to talk about an old friend?”

“Acquaintance at best… barely remember it!”

“Oh, I bet the town of Budan still remembers that night clearly. She’s a bit of a screamer, you know Alex? What was it again? Oh yeah! Caleb, please ca-…. Woah! Woah! Okay! I’ll stop!”

Caleb’s reminiscing was cut short by the enormous fireball growing in Violet’s hand.

“Especially prickly today, huh? Is it that time of the month? Or is it…? Ah I see… that’s how the cookie crumbles! You don’t want your past escapades to be known by your new lover, huh?”, said Caleb while looking from Alex to Violet.

“We... eh… we are not… like that…”, said Alex, slightly turning red.

“Oh good… Just as a friendly advice between two men… this one is crazy!”, whispered Caleb quietly into his ears.

“I can hear you…”, said Violet without looking at him.

“I mean it’s true what they say about crazy but just be warned… nearly got it burned off the last time…”

“Shut up! That was your fault for trying to enter somewhere you are not supposed to!”, interjected Violet furiously.

“Okay! I’ll stop… don’t want to end up as ashes…”, said Caleb and sat back down between the luggage.

“So, if you are not lovers, what is your story then? What brings you on the road? Thought you’re still learning under your grandpa in Werden?”, he said after a while.

“I did and now I’m travelling the world to hone my magic skills and find adventures… And Alex here is a friend with a big axe… good to have someone like that on the road.”, explained Violet briefly.

Caleb watched Alex averting his eyes and looking down.

“A friend with a big axe, huh… well it’s true that it’s good to have someone like that… could have used someone like that myself… glad you came this way.”, he said thinking to himself.

“What brings you here? What were you doing?”, asked Alex.

“Well as I am the Magnificent Caleb, I travel the world to bring joy to the people with my songs and stories, as well as pleasure to the ladies with my other talents.”, said Caleb.

“More like a bum, hopping from bed to bed and then fleeing the occasional horned husband.”, interjected Violet again.

“Bard! Not Bum! You Witch! Well, whatever… Yeah, I travel the world in search of Inspiration and Adventure. Sometimes I find myself in perilous situation like the one you found me just now, but there are always some good people out there willing to lend a hand! Even if they travel with demonic companions…”

“Better be nice to this demonic companion, or she will change her mind, and you can walk the rest of the way.”

That ended the conversation and the group went silent. Half an hour later they exited the woods and a small village was in sight.

“Ah, the lovely village of Bled! Gentleman and… other thing… How about getting a good cold beer? I think it’s high time for that, after this adventurous day, huh?”, said Caled with a fat grin.

“You pay.”, countered Violet.

Soon after they had parked the cart in front of a pub called The Thirsty Maiden and lead Rudy into the stables. After that they went into the bar and a few moments later three mugs of beer were in front of them.

“Well… To an unexpected reunion and a new acquaintance!”, said Caleb and held his beer out.

Violet and Alex clinked their mugs together with him and then drank. The first beer was emptied in the matter of a few swigs. Caleb quickly ordered fresh ones. He flashed the waitress a sultry smile and look as she brought the drinks, which made her hide her face while giggling. With a satisfied expression he turned back to Alex and Violet. She just shook her head and grabbed the fresh beer.

“So… now that we have something to drink… what’s the real deal between you two?”, asked Caleb, watching Violet wiping beer foam off her lip.

“Already told you… He is a good friend with a axe and we plan to go on adventure together.”, said Violet without looking at him.

“Yeah right… and I’m betrothed to the fifth princess of Leiwand. Now what is the real connection between you two? And what is up with that bracelet? You two are wearing the same one…”

“Why are you perceptive in these things…”, sighed Violet.

She played a bit with a strand of her hair and then turned to Alex.

“I know I will hate myself for saying or suggesting this… but… I think he could be of help… I hate to admit… but he has a talent for these things…”, she started.

Alex nodded and they both told him about their deal, but not about Alex coming from another world.

“So, let me get this straight… For keeping you company and safe on your adventure you agreed to be his wing woman and help him find a woman?”, asked Caleb after Violet told him.

She nodded.

“And you were never with a woman? Really? Never? Not even once?”, Caleb asked turning to Alex.

He nodded and took a sip of beer while averting his eyes.

“Woah shit… that’s… eh… rare?”, said Caleb stunned.

“Have you thought about getting… professional … help?”, he ask curious.

“He wants there to be love and not only pleasure.”, answered Violet.

Alex seemed to be searching for something deep in his mug.

“What about you? You’re a woman… last time I checked at least…”, suggested Caleb non-chalant.

“I’m still a woman, thank you for wondering… Same reason… So now we are on a journey together. Me to hone my Magic and have adventures… He to find love…”

“Sounds like the beginning of a story… a real cheesy one…”

All three chuckled and took a sip.

“Well… It must have been fate who brought us together! As a thank you for saving me, I will offer my help in your noble and romantic quest. I have yet to find a woman heart I can’t woo, so I think I can offer some advice.”, said Caleb with a wry smile.

“And what does our great wooer of women hearts have to suggest?”, said Violet slightly annoyed.

“Well first thing is, we have to get him talking with women. And I already know how! You see the group of girls on the table in corner? The young blond one has been glancing over here for a while now.”

“Bet she is just looking at you…”, said Alex.

“Nah… When they look at me, they have another expression.”, said Caleb and pointed to the bar lady.

She was staring holes into him, while biting her lips. Her eyes were practically undressing him in her mind.

“See?”, said Caleb and gave the bar lady a smile.

She went beet red.

“Back to the blonde one… In a few moments she will go to the bar to get new drinks. That is the moment when you will also go there and order something. Just go beside her, take a seat at the bar and start a conversation.”, explained Caleb his plan.

“What should I talk about?”, asked Alex a bit scared.

“Doesn’t really matter. Ask her her name and what she likes to do or something. Just get her talking about herself… women love that shit...”, answered Caleb and ignored the look from Violet angry eyes.

“There! Let’s go!”

As Caleb predicted, the blonde woman stood up and went to the bar. Alex stood up and hesitantly went up to her.

“How do you know, she’s gonna get new drinks?”, asked Violet confused.

“I just know these things.”, said Caleb confidently.

The two watched Alex ordering a drink and taking a seat at the bar. The women look at him for a bit and then took a seat to. Their drinks came and they talked.

“Oh? It seems to work… I really hate to admit it, but you really seem to have a talent for this…”, said Violet surprised.

Caleb watched a bit longer and then clicked his tongue.

“This one’s a bust, huh… “, he murmured.

“What do you mean? They are still talking?”, said Violet confused.

“Just look… you’ll see…”

Alex continued to talk a bit with the woman, she even smiled a bit. A black-haired woman stood up from the table of the women’s group and went to the bar as well. She whispered something in the ear of the blonde one and grabbed some of the drinks. The blonde one grabbed the other drinks, gave Alex a faint smile and followed the black haired one back to their table. Alex sat confused for a few moments and then came back to Caleb and Violet.

“What happened?”, she asked

“Well, everything went like Caleb said. I sat beside her and started talking to her. Her name is Elyra, she is the daughter of the baker here. She likes sweet things like cookies and muffins, and she occasionally crochets small toy animals. Her favorite color is blue, and she likes to go barefoot over a meadow when the grass is still wet with morning dew. “, answered Alex.

“Strangely detailed information you got out of her… nice… but what happened then? It seemed to go well.”, asked Violet further.

“I don’t know. Her friend suddenly came, said something to her and she went away…”

“Don’t worry that happens… you just didn’t get the approval of her friend… You can hook one of them, but if one of her girlfriends don’t approve, you have no chance of landing the catch… that’s the problem with women when they hunt in a herd… that’s why it’s important to separate them before you pounce. Or you can get the approval of all her friends, but that can prove impossible … because it sometimes one of them doesn’t approve of anyone just because nobody is coming on to her. Fickle creatures these women…”, explained Caleb confidently.

Both looked at Violet.

“What say you to this conundrum, oh creature belonging to the womanly coven?”, asked Caleb.

“Don’t look at me… this herd thing is not my style…”, said Violet.

“Oh yeah, I forgot! You don’t hunt you just sprea-…Ouch!”

Caleb was cut off by a timed and impactful collision of her feet to his knee. At that moment, two seemingly drunk men walked beside their table. One of them noticed Violet. Some of her hair got loose throughout the day and lay now playfully around her face and over her neck.

“Oh, what brings such a fiery babe into this dump of a village? Why are you wearing men’s clothing? Bet you would look mighty fine in a dress or better yet naked… haaaahaaahaa.”, one of the drunk men said, fighting to hold his balance.

Violet just made a shooing gesture without looking at him.

“Oh, a feisty one? I like that… How about you ditch those two and have some fun with some real men?”, said the other drunk one and both laughed.

“Come, we will show you a good time.”

One of the two reached out and tried to grab Violet by the shoulder, but Caleb grabbed his wrist before he could reach.

“Gentlemen! Let’s remain civil. The lady here is really tired from traveling. Same goes for us two. We had to fight through a horde of goblins on our way here. My good friend here even decapitated three with one swing so many were there! So, I’m sure you understand, if we just want to drink our beer in peace… right…Gentlemen?”, he said.

The one that Caleb grabbed by the wrist wanted to say something, but the other one nudged his shoulder and pointed to Alex. Both looked at him and saw that he had already his hand on the axe that leaned against the wall beside him. They grumbled something incomprehensible and walked off.

“And that’s a good example on how not to approach women… thank you Caleb… didn’t know there is a good guy after all in you”, said Violet after they had gone.

“Don’t thank me… I just didn’t want to get kicked out so late at night, just because two drunk guys lost their head…”, said Caleb.

Alex arm relaxed and he let go of the axe. Violet looked at him and smiled.

“How about we call it a day… enough adventure and women for the day…”, said Caleb.

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