Tour Around Town: Part 2

I spent several minutes trying to clean myself up. I commanded Yoki to turn back into the scarf and dried my face with it. It then absorbed the water and blood and was dry again.

“What is that thing?” she asked.

“My familiar. Yoki, the slime.”

“You’re a beast tamer?”

“I am. But not a very good one.”

An uneasy silence settled between us.

“You hit like a girl,” she said to break the silence.

I laughed. “I know, it was embarrassing. I was expecting you to hit me like that, but you hit like a man.”

“Thanks, I guess,” she said around a weary smile. “I didn’t mean to make a joke about your arm, by the way. I just meant, you know the normal insult. Like I don’t need both arms to beat you up.”

“A part of me realized that, but I also believed you were being cruel.” I sighed. “Still, you should be ashamed for attacking a cripple,” I said in mock disapproval.

“You hit a girl after tying her up!”

“A girl who is taller, older, and was close to killing me!”

“Are you that fragile?!”

“A bit.” We laughed tiredly. “I probably should have told you that I’ve been cursed.”

She turned to him. “Wait, really?”

“It’s the reason I’ve never left home for most of my life. And the reason I had to know if that Witch really did kill all those kids with a curse. A person capable of such a thing shouldn’t be defended by people who don’t really know.”

She kept her mouth shut and looked back at the stream.

“Okay, I’ll admit that you might be justified in your skepticism about witches. I’m just sick of everyone in town dragging her legacy through the mud.” She hugged her legs. “I’m well aware of the Witches’ Circle and the cruelty they are capable of. But innocent women had to suffer at the hands of paranoid idiots who probably never dealt with witches like you have.”

“It’s fine. I understand.”

We fell quiet, the sound of the stream filling the silence.

“What is your curse, if you don’t mind me asking?”

I considered whether to be entirely honest. “Before I become an adult, my life ends.” I sighed. “The arm and the burns aren’t part of it, but that’s as much as I can say. Victor has forbidden me from saying too much.”

“I see. Well I’m sorry about making fun of your awkwardness. I’m sure you’re trying your best.”

“No, I was being too awkward around you. The closest I’ve had to an experience with a girl my age was my brother’s fiancée. She was very pretty and it made it hard for me to speak with her.”

“So you don’t think I’m pretty?”

“Wh-what?!”

“Never mind!” She giggled. I frowned before chuckling with her.

“Are you able to tell me why you’re traveling with Victor?”

“He’s taking me to the capital.”

“Wow, that’s quite a distance from here!”

I bit my tongue. I was supposed to hide my identity so Captain Nemo wouldn’t hear about Victor’s drastic detour to the mountains. If Poppy had known where they had entered the town from, it would be apparent that they were heading away from the Capital.

I doubted Poppy would say anything, but Victor made it clear that even the most insignificant interactions could cascade into significant consequences. It was already pushing it that I had a missing arm and visible burns to be identified by.

“Why are you heading to the capital?”

Being with Victor, I was instilled with one of the golden rules of lying, which was to always sprinkle in the truth.

“To break my curse. Although it’s not a guarantee, they’re going to try. So you can see why we can’t really delay here.”

This caused Poppy to tense.

I decided to go for it. “Victor suspects that you might know more about the witch than you let on. And from your reaction there, it’s pretty evident that you do.”

“You’re kind of bad at this,” Poppy said. “If you suspect someone, you don’t go telling them to their face.”

I cringed, and Poppy sighed. “You’re lucky that I’m bad at being deceitful. I personally know the witch.”

I sat up and looked at her. “You used to know Alyssa?”

She shook her head. “Not before arriving in Galebrook.”

“Wait, earlier you made it clear that you didn’t want anyone to kill her. So you believe her to still be alive?”

“You know what, you’re actually pretty sharp. If you stopped saying stupid stuff and timed your accusations correctly, you might make a good detective.”

“And if you weren’t so crass, you would be great at flattery.”

She smiled at me before looking around for something. I followed her gaze and found no one.

“She is dead. But I’ve been talking with her.”

“You can interact with her?!”

She nodded. “It started when I first visited the tree, before all of this happened. I heard about the tree from Kegan and I decided to read there just like Alyssa used to do. He thought it might be nice for someone to provide her company.” She looked back on the memory. “One day I fell asleep while reading, then she appeared before me.”

“In a dream?”

She nodded. “Her appearance was exactly as Kegan had described, and we talked for what felt like hours. I awoke and thought it was just a dream. That’s when she spoke to me again, and I didn’t need to dream to hear her voice.”

“Can you hear her now?”

She opened her mouth to speak then paused. Just as I was going to speak, she continued. “I can. I have always been able to since that day.”

“Well tell her I said hi.”

“I can’t now. I have to be near the tree to hear her voice.”

“Where her body is.”

“Right.”

“So that means she allows you to approach her?”

She nodded. “That’s how she was able to instruct me about the letters.” She watched as my eyes widened. “I had a feeling you were going to ask eventually, so I may as well just tell you that I was the one who wrote them.”

“Does that mean you know the Mayor’s crime?”

She furrowed her brows. “I do. And that man is guilty. There is no doubt about that.”

I frowned. “So why don’t you just get the town to make him confess?”

“I can’t. I promised Alyssa that we will make him confess of his own accord.”

“But what about the residents?”

“Oh, many of them are just as guilty, and part of her revenge is to make them hate the Mayor.”

“Can I know what he has done?”

“I also promised her that I can’t tell anyone. Even her lover.”

“Kegan?” Enderan asked.

Poppy’s expression was somber.

“So that’s why he was the one to bury her.”

She nodded. “The tree was special to the both of them. As a priest they couldn’t be intimate in public. And after she died, he secretly buried her there without anyone’s knowledge.” Her eyes turned downward. “He tears himself apart for being out of town when she was taken. So please don’t hold it against him when you talk about helping the town.”

I felt sorry for the man.

“I won’t.” I sighed. “But still, we have to do something. It’s apparent that Alyssa has killed many innocent people, and the Slayers who came to save them.”

“So you have to kill her?”

“No. I would prefer to avoid doing that. You say you can talk with her. Either we convince her to leave other people out of her vengeance, or at the very least come to a compromise.” I straightened my back. “I want to be a hero.”

“I couldn’t tell by the way you treated me.” She pouted.

“And I’m sorry about that!” “But it’s true! If the mayor is guilty, then I want to give Alyssa the chance for justice. Even though she has killed innocent people, I want to put her soul to rest.” “But it’s true! If the mayor is guilty, then I want to give Alyssa the chance to get justice. Even though she has killed many innocent people, I want to put her soul to rest at least.”

“I doubt she would let you talk with her.”

“But can you try? We’ll plead our case before her if we have to. And if she is the one in the right, then we may just help her.”

She thought to herself. “Fine. In two nights time, if the Mayor doesn’t say anything we’ll go and see her.”

“Awesome!”

“Awesome?”

“Oh, it’s a word that Victor uses. It just means something that’s awe-inspiring.”

“Awesome.” She smiled. “That’s a pretty fitting word. I like it.”

“Again, I’m sorry that we got off on the wrong foot,” I said as I stood up. I held out my hand.

Poppy took it happily. “I’m sorry too. For being a bitch.”

“That you were.”

She wound up a punch and caused me to flinch. I stared at her then we laughed.

-

“Those two are sure taking their time.” Victor said, looking out at the setting sun.

“Do you think they are okay? Perhaps something happened to them.” The Mayor seemed too panicked.

Having returned from his talk with Kegan, Victor found the mayor agitated.

“I’m sure they’re fine.”

“What do you know!” he shouted. The drastic change in his tone took Victor aback.

“Caleb is a capable fighter, not a traveling deviant stealing kisses from maidens, if that’s what you’re worried about.” He didn’t match the mayor’s intensity but still spoke with defiant airs.

Then, they heard the door open, and Enderan and Poppy came in.

“You’re back!” The Mayor paused, and Victor was surprised by their appearance. Enderan’s clothes were covered in blood and dirt, and Poppy’s once tidy and well cared for appearance was disheveled and dirty. Their faces seemed to be swollen in places and their eyes somewhat puffy.

“Are you alright?!”

“We’re great!”

“Yeah, we had a great time! She really knows how to throw a punch!” Enderan exclaimed. They began laughing as if sharing a joke between friends.

Victor and the Mayor gave each other a bewildered look before tending to them. That’s when they learned about their fight.

- - -

Caleb and Victor went off to the Slayer’s guild to find lodgings and Poppy waved them off.

“So, you seemed to really hit it off with him.”

“I did. Why do you care?”

“I’m just worried. Victor is a gentleman but that boy rubs me the wrong way.”

“You know, I used to think so before as well, but Caleb is a good kid.”

“And that’s all he is to you?”

“He’s just a friend I barely know.”

“Yet, he’s already your friend.” He raised an eyebrow. “You need to be more wary around strangers. I shouldn’t have let Victor convince me to send you away with him.”

“Well it’s too late for that now!” She exclaimed. “I feel like they’re good people.”

He scoffed. “That’s my problem. Even if they don’t mean any harm, you can never truly know what sick intentions someone has for you.”

She gave him a loud and boisterous laugh.

“This is not funny!”

“You are a hypocrite.”

“Me?! I just want what’s best for you!” He stopped then slouched in his chair. He sighed. “Forgive me. It’s this damn witch’s curse over the town. “It’s getting to both of us.”

Seeing his tired and sorry state, Poppy also let go of her animosity. There was a time not long ago that she loved Perren with all of her heart.

Poppy also wanted to believe in Alyssa, but during their last talks, she has been acting more aggressive and spiteful. It also didn’t help that the memories she had shown and the accusations towards the mayor couldn’t be verified as true.

She might need to consult Victor about that tomorrow. “I’m sorry. You might be right. I’ve been getting too upset as of late.”

“By Caleb’s appearance, I would say that’s an understatement.” She had a genuine laugh at that and Perren smiled at her.

She remembered how easy life had been before Alyssa. He was a great father, and showed her more affection than anyone in the world thus far. Even if he had a hand in Alyssa’s death, he surely had time to grieve and reflect. It was wrong to demand more from a person, after they had admitted their guilt and sought redemption.

Hadn’t Kegan believed in the Redeemer at one point?

Poppy was there to witness Perren’s confession. Genuine tears were shed and he bellowed with all his heart. Alyssa was asking too much of him. In fact, she might only be settled with his death.

Perren and Poppy chatted some more before noticing how late it was.

“It’s getting past my bedtime, I’m going to turn in for the night.”

“Of course, you need your beauty sleep.”

“Exactly. Good night.”

“Wait, before you go to bed, can I get a hug?”

She paused.

“Too soon? We had been fighting for a while, and I feel like I’m losing you.”

She wanted to go to sleep, but a pang of guilt prevented her from doing so. She missed their old relationship, but Alyssa had tarnished it.

So she would use this as an opportunity to observe. With a flicker of resignation, she walked over and hugged him.

It was a brief and light hug.

She began to tear up. It really had been a long time since they were in amiable company with one another.

As she pulled away, Perren brought her closer. He inhaled the scent of her hair as his hands caressed her back, trailing lower.

The hair on the back of her neck bristled and her heart froze.

He breathed out. “I love you.”

“I love you too, Father.”

He paused before pulling himself back, holding her at arm’s length and smiling at her. “Good night, Poppy.”