Arc 2 Part 1
Vil and Pearluna found themselves in the guard captain’s office with the naiad landlord sitting at the desk in front of them. The guard captain was standing to the side watching in silence. Pearluna also had her hat’s enchanted shadow off since they are inside.
“Well,” the naiad began. “Let’s start with names. I’m Reef Tenant. Earlier you met my wife, Aiya Tenant.”
Vil took the greeting in stride. “I’m Vil, a blacksmith.”
“Pearluna, a witch.” The vampire followed up. The guard captain’s eyebrows raised at her name.
Reef nodded towards both. “With professions like yours, I imagine that the need of a forge and space for magical work.” The landlord was in thought. “Do you both mind living in the outskirts of town?
“Not at all.” Vil stated. “The extra outdoor space can be used for testing our creations.”
“Your creations. What sort of business are you doing?” Reef asked.
“We are going to create enchanted items and I am going to be smelting ore into ingots for the mining guild nearby.” Vil elaborated.
Reef turned to Pearluna. “And you are satisfied with the arrangement?”
Pearluna nodded. “I am.”
“That’s good to hear.” Reef started writing on some paper. “Would you two be opposed to living in the same building?”
The pair both shook their heads. “Just as long as we get separate bedrooms.” The witch said.
The naiad smiled. It appeared that he had a place in mind for the pair as he continued to write. “You’re in luck. An older blacksmith just moved back home to his family a while ago. I can take you to it right now if you both would like to see it.”
“That sounds perfect.” Vil stood up. “Let’s go.” As he started to turn towards the exit the guard captain spoke up.
“A moment.” He addressed the blacksmith and the landlord. “Reef could you and Vil wait outside of the building? I’d like to talk to our resident witch.”
Vil frowned. “Is there something wrong?”
“Don’t worry she’s not in trouble.” The captain assured. “It’s just because Mariana is near the Vampire borders we have to go through some formalities.”
“It’s fine Vil.” Pearluna smiled softly to him. “It won’t be long.”
The naiad walked up to Vil. “Come on, there should still be some refreshments downstairs with the others.”
At that Vil conceded and turned to follow Reef out.
After the door shut the remaining two occupants waited for the sounds footsteps leave. The witch stared at the human captain. “There are no formalities for vampires to go through in Mariana. What is really going on here?”
The captain met her stare. “I want to ask. Is your full name Pearluna Dogma?”
The witch nodded. “It is. Is there a problem?”
The captain ran a hand through his dark blue hair. “No, I’m one of the few still in Mariana that knows of the story about your mother and father.”
Pearluna smiled. “I appreciate that they still have fans of their story. But you didn’t want to talk to me about my parents, did you.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Sadly no.” The captain replied. “Your brother was here a few days ago. He asked me to lookout for you since he knew you were coming. Before you ask, I don’t know how he knew.”
“I can think of how he did.” Pearluna leaned back. “I would like to not be given special treatment. How many others know about me?”
“Me, the governor, and a few others in high places here.” The captain folded his hands on his desk. “If you want your presence kept quiet, I can tell them all to keep your identity to themselves for the sake of privacy.”
“I would like that.” The witch bowed politely. “Thank you for your consideration.”
The guard captain nodded. “Of course. Also, does Vil know?”
The witch shook her head. “No. I will tell him eventually. I don’t want him to treat me differently from how he has now.”
“What if he finds out you are the daughter of a Count on his own?” The captain challenged.
The vampire looked uncertain. Vil might confront her aggressively or just treat her like royalty while not telling her he knows. “I’ll handle it if the possibility happens.” She opened her bag and pulled out a heartfuit juice vial and started to drink it.
“Alright then.” The captain relaxed in his chair. “Just so you know. The house Reef is going to show you is not far from the guard house. If you need anything a good holler will reach us from there.” Pearluna was about to open her mouth. “Don’t worry. I’m not going to have increased patrols near your future home. The proximity to the Guardhouse should satisfy your brother.”
“He will always demand more for my protection.” Pearluna put the empty vial back into her bag. “He’s only doing this because Mariana is close to the border. Try to not let him push you around so much if he comes by again.” She stood up and bowed. “It was a pleasure talking to you.”
As she started to leave, Pearluna heard the captain mutter. “It’s good to see family concerned for each other.”
<Scene Change>
Pearluna exited the guardhouse to see Vil and Reef watching the nine tailed woman fire an arrow from her bow. The arrow landed right next to Reef’s last shot. As the crowd clapped, she handed the bow to a guard. As she stepped away the guard took up position to start firing next.
As Pearluna approached her friend and the landlord, the kitsune woman also approached at the same time. As her tails were gently swaying, she bowed to Vil and Pearluna. “It is good to see you both again.”
Reef turned to the witch and blacksmith. “I mentioned her earlier but let me introduce her properly. This is my wife Aiya Tenant. Now that everyone is here, let us show the both of you your potential new home.”
With that the naiad and kitsune led the pair away from the guardhouse to along the main road. It was becoming the afternoon as the four walked on. Eventually they stopped at a house.
‘The captain was right. This wasn’t very far from the guardhouse.’ Pearluna thought as she and Vil viewed their potential home.
The house itself looked rundown from the outside. It was two stories and there was a covered walkway leading to a single story building. The group made their way up the smooth stone pathway up to the front door and stopped.
“Alright.” Reef put his hand on the door as he turned to the pair. “It is a little rundown inside but, I can have people clean it up if you choose to live here.”
The pair nodded. The door then was opened to reveal the inside of the house. The first thing they noticed was that the wooden floor was elevated from some space after the front door. “This square of flooring is for shoes. There is another right before the walkway.” Reef stated.
Pearluna and Aiya saw Vil’s confused face. “It’s traditional to not wear shoes in people’s homes in these lands.” The vampire told the lone human of the group.
“Oh my.” Aiya smiled. “I didn’t realize you were from that far away.”
Vil replied. “Pearluna has done a good job explaining things to me so far.” He turned to Reef. “Please continue.”
As the house was worn and dirty inside, Reef did not prompt the group to take off their shoes as they stepped up into the living room. Reef started. “Here across from the fireplace would be a couch flanked by a chair on each side with a table in the middle. As you can see the furniture is broken or gone.”
“I can see what you are conveying.” Vil stepped around where the furniture was. The picture of what the room was supposed to be was painted in his head. A comforting warm fire while relaxing in the presence of company on the couch sounded ideal.
They moved further into the back to find the kitchen. There was no wall hiding it from the living room. “Here you have your basic amenities for the kitchen. Sink, stove, oven, and storage.” Reef walked up to the sink and turned it on. “Pluming still works as you can see. Now lets go upstairs.”
As the group walked back through the living room to the stairs Aiya then pointed out a door. “Before we miss it, that door leads to the downstairs bathroom.”
As they walked up the wooden stairs creaked from the weight. At the top there was a hall with one door on the right and two on the left. Reef lead the group to the door on the right.
Inside was a large bed with an open closet and other furniture. “This is the master bedroom.” He then pointed to the closed door at the end of the room. “Over there is the master bathroom.”
“So we just found Pearluna’s room.” Vil then got the mentioned witch leaning on him.
“Aww you’re too sweet.” She said playfully.
Vil gently pushed her off. “You need more privacy than I do.” He gestured to the bathroom door. “Don’t want me to accidentally see you in your full glory.” He teased.
The pair found an individual foxtail patting them on the shoulder. “Okay, that’s enough you two.” Aiya softly spoke to bring them back on track of the tour.
“Thank you honey.” The naiad proceeded to lead them back into the hall to the left side.
Opening the door revealed a smaller bedroom with a single sized bed. The furniture inside was smaller as well. “Here is the guest bedroom. Obviously smaller than the master bedroom, but it has what you would need.”
They all went back into the hall. “And finally the last door is to another bathroom. I’m not going to open it because of the smell just in case. Now let’s go to the walkway to the forge.”
As the group were on the covered walkway, Vil saw that it gave shade even with the sun touching the afternoon horizon. “Looks like you won’t have to wear you hat all the time here.” He commented to Pearluna.
“Huh you’re right.” The witch smiled at the prospect. She liked her hat but when it came to being in a place to call home she prefers to not have to wear cloths for outdoors.
When they entered the forge building, things were cluttered but in an organized fashion. “Now the last smith left some tools around, I’ll leave it to you to see what you want kept or thrown out.” Reef looked at Vil.
Vil was already walking around the interior identifying what he saw. “Anvil still looks good to be used. Tongs need to be cleaned. Ah the forge itself.” He approached the forge that took up the space in one corner.
He looked it over. “There some cracks that could leak heat and smoke here and here.” He pointed at the top part of the forge. “Easy fix though.” He then turned his head to see a tall pipe looking object.
“Now this is a quench tank. It’s big enough for to make a curved sword, even fit great swords.” The rest of the group stood back and watched as Vil was making his way around.
“He’s more into this than I thought.” Pearluna commented.
“It’s like me being a seamstress.” Aiya looked at the vampire. “You have to be interested in every detail of a trade to perform well at it. Are you not the same with your magic?”
“Your not wrong. I guess when at the academy it was more about academic knowledge than what you and Vil do.” Pearluna replied.
As Vil finished his round of the building he came back to the group. “Everything that I did not have with me is here.”
Reef lead the group back outside of the house. “So are you two satisfied with it?”
Vil and Pearluna smiled at each other then back at Reef. “We like it.” They said at the same time.
“Wonderful!” The naiad clapped his hands together. “I’ll have the necessary paperwork for you both to sign tomorrow. I’ll also get some workers to cleaner her up. Vil would you like to meet with the Mining Guild representatives tomorrow as well?”
Vil extended a hand. “That would be perfect. But will this be enough payment?” He pulled out the sack of money that he got from the King of Jus Terin.
“That is more than enough. We can separate out the payment tomorrow.” Reef pushed the sack back to Vil.
Aiya then spoke up. “There is a nice inn you both can stay at for the night. I can take you both there if you’d like.”
Pearluna looked at the kitsune. “We are in your care. Please lead on.”
The rest of the day was uneventful for Vil and Pearluna. When Aiya lead them to the inn, she bid them good night as they paid for two rooms. Vil felt that it was long overdue for Pearluna at least to get some privacy. Pearluna teased him a bit about it saying. “Admit it, you will miss stroking my soft hair.”
Vil gave the vampire the satisfaction by acknowledging that he did like the touch of her silk like hair. After their little exchange, the two of them went into their rooms for the night.
