Chapter 17

“It’s your favorite person Ava!”

Beso approached the Guild’s desk while Ava was sorting through finished requests. She raised her eyes to him, and closing her eyes to hide the growing irritation in her, opened them and offered a smile to Beso as he leaned against the desk.

“Got any quests for someone of my caliber?”

“I’m afraid there are no D rank quests available currently?”

“Really? I suppose it does take a while for quests to reach this place, with it being in the middle of nowhere. Well find a quests I can do then, oh and avoid meddlesome quests like herb gathering and the like.”

Ava’s eyebrows twitched and gently moving the documents under the desk spoke up again.

“No quests come to mind worth your caliber Beso.”

Beso leaned off the counter his brows arching seeing Ava didn’t even bother to look.

“Normally you’d look through a few documents and find something Ava. I know you don’t mind going out of your way for your favorite Adventurer.”

Ava’s mouth twitched slightly but she swallowed down the words that almost came out, though a soft mumble escaped.

“Well my quota has been reached so…”

“Pardon?”

“Oh nothing, I checked the quests recently and I’m afraid there really is nothing, but if you something on the board you can take something there. I must return to reviewing these documents so should you grab a quest feel free to check back with me.

Beso walked through the Bazaar his two minions walking alongside him, the lanky one spoke up first motioning back towards the Guild.

“Nothing but boring quests…also did Ava seem more…distant than before.”

“Guess she’s having a bad day,” Beso said. “That’s no excuse of course to not treat the best Adventurer with anything less than stellar service…but since I’m courting her I’ll let it go.”

“You’re courting her?”

The black clad minion spoke up elicting a sideways glare form Beso, he turned his head going silent. His taller companion spoke up to redirect Beso’s anger.

“That money was what was going to pay for our visited to the East District today…can’t we take ‘protection’ money today.”

“We already collected some yesterday,” Beso said. “It takes time to build up so even if we…”

Beso came to a stop causing the other two to stop.

“Wait a minute…isn’t there that one stall at the edge of the Bazaar. I ignored it since it’s out of the way…but he doens’t have our protection right.”

“The old elf? We haven’t but Isn’t he-”

Beso kept walking interrupting the dark garbed henchman.

“Doesn’t matter who he is. If he’s not paying he’s not getting protection.”

Beso approached Venilis stand, the old elf didn’t look up at him, he only continued counting the coins he had dropping them into his pouch.

“Hey old man, we’re here too.”

“One moment youngun, stand is closed I’m finishing up counting. Hard to multitask at my age.”

Beso opened his mouth to say something further, but the old man started humming to himself as he counted, very loudly.

Beso tapped his finger impatiently waiting until Venilis dropped the last coin in the pouch, and tying it looked up at him.

“How may I help you?”

“Finally…old man we’re here to offer a protection service we-”

“I’m not interested, though I appreciate the offer.”

Beso’s eye twitched and raising his hand he slammed it into the stand causing it to shake slightly, fire formed on his fingertips singing part of the stand. Venilis eyes focused on his as the flame wielding warrior narrowed his eyes at him.

“I don’t think you understand…you’d be paying for protection…from anything that could destroy your stand. I can tell you it’s a worthwhile investment.”

Venilis raised his hand and folding them rested them on the stand, right in front of Beso’s flaming fingertips.

“Young man…you were worthless when you came to this town and you’re even more worthless now…no decent merchant would invest in you.”

Belik finished explaining what had happened to Naro, it wasn’t hard to imagine what followed, the remains of the stand told the rest of the story. Venilis stood hands behind his back, eyeing his burnt stand. Naro didn’t see the coin pouch on his waist, his hands closing into fists.

“The guards came seeing the fire…so Beso couldn’t do anything further. Part of our funds go to the guards pockets…they can’t ignore a crime done to us if they’re nearby. Beso knew that and walked away…for now,” Belik said looking back at Venilis. “He’ll come back though…when the guards aren’t around.”

“Let him, I’m not scared of his ilk,” Venilis said.

Naro looked away from the group, he let out a shaky breath before walking over to Venilis and tapping him on the shoulder.

“I’m glad you’re all right. I’ll be back in a moment.”

“...Naro where are you going,” Venilis said turning towards him.

“Just to take care of something, won’t be long.”

Beso had gone too far this time, Naro couldn’t remember the last time he had felt this much rage towards another person, no he had never felt this much hatred towards someone. Everywhere Beso went he just made things more complicated, made things worse. He didn’t face any consequences for his actions, well that was going to change right now.

Naro had gone out of his way to avoid Beso as much as he could, if there was any mana signature he knew by heart, it was his. His mana carried a murkyness to it that truly spoke to his character, he could feel it’s traces even now.

For some reason Beso’s mana led him to the Old District, just as he questioned why the man was here, he felt Beso’s mana suddenly close in.

Ducking behind a building, he peered behind it to see Beso turn the corner tossing a familiar coin pouch in his hand.

Naro’s body tensed and he leaned forward to confront the man, but for some reason his legs wouldn’t move.

Looking down he noticed they were trembling, the sight of it made his heart fall into his stomach and he looked back at Beso.

His eyes went to the man who was easily taller than he was, stronger than he was, had a weapon and magic that didn’t require getting close.

Realistically if Beso fought back, he had no means of defending himself, and it was only now, his head cooling that he realized how foolish this whole matter was.

Every ounce of his rage become cowardice the moment he remembered the difference between them. He tried to push those thoughts away, tried to remind himself why he was here…but all he saw was his body in that classroom, bleeding out as Kasia stared down at him.

His breath caught in his throat as he was reminded of a very simple fact.

He was terrified of dying again.

He hadn’t magically gotten over that moment, every moment up until this was him just trying to survive. His eyes always following the guards swords worried they’d one day pull them on him, not wanting to speak his mind to keep from getting cut down for even having an opinion.

Nothing lied forward but a sorry end, his magic could only be used up close and it was three against one, he couldn’t handle Beso, what if his minions got involved.

Naro slowly moved away from the corner, he realized he needed to think this through, there had to be way to pin the fire on Beso, or figure out some other way to make him pay Venilis back.

Rushing forward like this wasn’t going to do anything but end what life he had lived until this point, and there was no reincarnation for him this time, old age was the only option in this world.

“Why are we here? You know I hate it here.”

Beso’s voice filled the area as he spoke up, looking at the hidden faced minion.

“I got a surprise for you boss,” the minion said. “You see while watching the river, I picked up the smell of bread, not the stale kind either, almost fresh. I followed it…and I found that Beastkin brat.”

Naro gripped his chest his fingernails carving into the wood behind him as he silently prayed to whoever was listening for this not to be real.

“I know where that filthy animal lives…and get this, he has a sister he’s taking food too. He seems to care a lot about her…if we head there and grab her…I’m sure he’ll listen to anything we tell him. I almost went in myself…but I felt you’d want to get a bit of revenge.

Beso reached up and rubbed the side of his face, grinning he slapped the minion on their back causing them to stumble forward.

“Good job! Just for that you get second pick when we head to the East District. Speaking of…female Beastkin sell for a lot don’t they…let’s make the brat suffer than get some extra money in my pocket.”

Naro was reminded once again what he had been told before. The gods weren’t going to listen to him, not one bound to most hated of their patheon…and she had no interest in helping him.

“Let’s head there right-”

“Beso!”

The trio turned as a voice called to them, Naro walked out from behind the building, his fists trembling at his sides.

“I won’t let you anywhere near them.”