The Foul Play
Eren overlooked the hole once more before walking away.
'I can't believe I couldn't deal him the final blow. Will I spare this next enemy I face? What then?'
He couldn't stop his thoughts from spiraling back to these questions.
As he kept walking forward he had heard a familiar voice.
"Eren! Eren! Where are you?! Ah!"
It was Elise. She quickened her pace as soon as their eyes met.
"Elise."
"Found you!"
Before Eren could speak again, Elise jumped on him ending in a hug.
"E-Elise...Wha-'
"I had felt this huge gust of wind filled with aura flow past me! It was all like Swoosh! Anyway, I wanted to see if you finished the fight and-"
"Please. One question at a time, Elise. Also could you not jump at me at random. Even I can get surprised."
Elise quickly separated herself from Eren as she let go.
"Sorry, it's just your cloak was gone...You looked so handsome."
Elise started to press both of her pointer fingers together as she mumbled out those words.
She tried to look over at Eren's expression now that she could read it without obstruction.
She could see the same face he showed her when he revealed his identity to her. His face looked perfect to her if someone were to ask her about his looks. But it also looked sad and lonely.
She could see in his eyes that he was looking at something not in front of them but something which was far away and out of reach. She didn't like that look for it reminded her of someone she once knew.
Quickly Elise thought to say something to break the empty silence that had crept between them since they last said something.
"Well anyway, let us get going! There's still more mercs for us to beat, right?"
With that, Elise remembered the feeling she had felt when near the forest earlier during Eren's fight against Morris.
"Ah! Eren I forgot to tell you! There was someone else near-"
She was caught upon feeling the aura of someone coming closer towards them.
Elise quickly got in front of Eren.
"I'll intercept them! This time I'll handle the enemy, Eren!"
'Yes, I have to show him I can handle enemies myself!'
Elise got into a fighting stance as she awaited the arrival of the unknown figure approaching them.
The sound of slow clapping rang out as a figure appeared before the two as if he were congratulating the two on a job well done. He seemed to have been grinning from ear to ear.
"Who are you, another cretin from that band of mercenaries?! Come to pick up your fallen comrade, is that it?"
Elise was more than ready to leap at this new threat. She would have done so too if...If the mysterious assailant were still there.
"Huh?! Where'd he go? Eren please stay behind me, if anything were to happen to you I'd--Wha?"
"Ah, yes. Very good, very good indeed! Now I see why you'd ask him to stay behind you, the view is quite the sight!"
Directly right behind her, the strange man from before was now right behind Elise.
"H-how did you--"
Elise shuddered at the realization of how fast this guy was.
'Impossible. His speed...'
"Don't worry about me, I'm just checking out the goods before we get going."
The strange man spoke out from behind Elise as he ogled at her body. He gently stroked his chin as he said this.
"Why, you?! Die!"
As she said that, she started to bat away the strange man with her fist. Her fists seemed to glow dimly as she had laced them with her own aura.
"Oh dang! Aura control, huh? I knew there was more than just raw strength behind these attacks! Are those silver...threads? This is getting interesting! Kahahaha!"
As he jumped away, a bone-chilling laugh rang out from deep within him.
He was enjoying this.
"Enough. Both of you."
Both of them stopped straight in their tracks. As if frozen in time, they both halted their steps but the animosity coming from Elise was still there directed at the man across from her. Him sneering right back at her in turn.
"Nicolaus. Please don't antagonize our allies especially our first one."
The flat sounding order felt abrasive towards the young man as it went from one ear and out the other. The man looked as if he were going to reply with a snide retort.
But he did not.
"You're right, man. What was I thinking? At such an important time, too. I'll make it up to you later, alright?"
It was the opposite of a snide retort. Instead, it was a reply to full acquiescence. Of full agreement.
"No. You will make it up to me now by introducing yourself to our new member. Same to you, Elise. Introduce yourself to him as well."
"Wha- But this bastard had the gall to gaze upon my body, with those lecherous eyes at that! I should rip them out with my fine threads!"
Elise was getting red in the face as she boiled with anger.
But she felt a cold sensation wash over her body. As she turned around towards the direction it was coming from, she saw Eren's eyes glazed over giving her an icy glare.
Although that look making someone feel cold should be impossible.
'No, that is just the sheer strength of my future husband. The gap between us just keeps increasing...'
Elise soon calmed herself down and turned away from Eren as she realized her mistake in conduct.
"Please forgive me, Eren. I let my anger envelop me as I centered in on his actions."
Elise bowed deeply towards Eren.
"No, please forgive me. You were already insulted and I made it seem like you were the one most at fault...And you."
Eren turned towards the white-haired man.
"Make sure you give an appropriate apology after your introduction."
The white-haired man pushed up his glasses with his index finger before shrugging his shoulders.
"Aye, aye Cap'n!"
He gingerly made his way in front of Elise, smiling coyly all the while.
"Let's get this meeting underway, yeah? I'm Nicolaus Van Barrister. But you and everyone else can just call me Nick as that old name of mine has long since been discarded. Also, don't you forget your place in this little team of ours, I was here first, princess! Oh and another thing--"
"Nick! Aren't you forgetting something?"
The one who called out to Nick in that tone was none other than Eren.
Fine~ I don't want him trying to give me another order this soon after reuniting again, do I?
"Your right, your majesty~ One apology coming right up! Hehe." He said so as he genuflected albeit half-heartedly.
"Wait...Your majesty? What's that all about?"
Elise tilted her head at the mention of the phrase with a puzzled look on her face.
"Tch. Nick, you've spoken too much today."
Eren sent Nick another glare as the air around them seemed to have chilled suddenly.
Again, the air chilled. Even one's bones would be frozen solid under that icy glare.
'Guess he's mad for real this time! Better make things right before he actually does something I'd regret. Ehehe~'
"Anyways! Elise, was it? I am dreadfully sorry about the way I acted earlier~ I just get these nasty headaches. Yeah, that's it! Won't happen again! So forget about anything that's been said. Just nonsense that's what all that was. Just us poking fun, right Eren~"
Nick gingerly turned towards Eren who only looked at him stone-faced as ever.
"Yes, it is as you say. Now Nick, please don't joke around so much. You never know what rumors may come about."
"But there's no one here."
Elise continued to think about what Nick had blurted out.
'They were just joking about that "Your majesty" crap, right? Well if it was just a little joke then I guess it has nothing to do with me. He is of noble descent but he's only of a Branch line. Nothing like the real thing.'
'But if it was just that, a joke, then why did Eren look so uncomfortable about it. Not to mention that strong wind from earlier coupled with those cold spots...somethings not right here. '
'What are they hiding from me? I'll have to get to the bottom of this later. For now... '
"Ah, that's right! I haven't formally introduced myself yet. I am Elise, the matriarch of the clan that resides deep in the old ruins to the South of here. I hope you improve your character from now on. Oh and try something else and I'll send you flying into the next town over, you got that!"
Nick just snickered back.
"You hear that Leader, she's hoping I can improve~ I'll dedicate my next session to you, my love~ Gahahahaha"
'That guy really irks me. I can never understand whether what he says is just common drivel or...Ugh!'
Elise clenched her teeth tightly as she stroked both of her temples.
"Ugh! Eren, are you sure he's not an enemy?! I want to stomp his snake face in right now!"
"Calm down, Elise. He just enjoys testing people. It seems in this case, Nick is trying to test your patience. He wants to see what kind of person you are. If you can handle petty taunts from enemies, for instance."
"Don't tell the greenhorn about all of my tricks and hobbies~ Besides, I don't do this just for fun! Well...maybe a little. Kuhahaha!"
Elise had a look of shock on her face as she understood the ramifications of what Eren had told her.
"Wait so if that was all just a test then...Then that means--"
"It means you just failed my test. One out of many, mind you. Should've seen the look on your face, too! Kahahaha! You sure we should bring a loose cannon like her with us, Boss?"
"Don't worry. She's more than a capable fighter and I think her temper aside she could be an ally we could trust. Until then, I will l-"
"Leave it up to me, right? I got it, I got it. You hear that, girlie! Hey!"
Elise didn't hear Nick's loud call. She was too preoccupied with what she just learned.
'So, this was all just a test.'
Those words seemed to carry a deeper meaning for Elise.
'One to see if I'd be good enough against an enemy who relied on his words to stir up their opponent's emotions. To see if I were trustworthy maybe?'
That word had cut deep in her mind more than any other. Trust.
'I failed. I failed to gain Eren's trust.'
Over and over, she repeated these lines.
She blocked out any other thoughts but those that were filled with hatred and derision. All aimed at herself. She could not hear anything else or anyone else for that matter.
Nick started to get annoyed as he waited for a reply.
"Hey, girl I was talking to you--"
"Stop. She needs time to think. Think about what to do next. We all do. You can't force someone to just open themselves up for review. Neither can you expect someone to readily accept another's help, especially from someone you've just met..."
"You're also talking about yourself, right? Well, your situation is a little different in a major way though~"
Nick said this as he stroked his chin, seemingly as if he were lost in thought.
Paying him no heed, Eren bean to walk ahead and onto the path which led back to the City. His back slowly retreating into the forest's brush before disappearing altogether.
Upon noticing this, Elise followed after him, disappearing into the brush as well.
Nick sighed as the two seemed to disappear from his sight.
'You both have a lot of baggage your carrying, huh? Guess I'll see this through to the end. That's what one would do in situations like this, right? I was never one for understanding other people's emotions~'
'Beats living as a "dead" man…'
"Wait! What am I doing getting lost in thought here? You guys better not die to some petty mercenaries, okay?!"
Nick raced down the path after the pair, soon disappearing into the woods as well.
"Boss! Boss! Let me through, I have to see the boss!"
Screaming these words out was a man in plain clothing. He was nondescript as were his plainclothes now soaked in sweat which set him apart from the two men in front of him.
He was being stopped by two iron armored men before a large building that stood in the City's center. In his arms was a book with a hole punctured in its middle.
"No one can see the Boss but his second-in-command Morris! And I don't see him anywhere with a peasant like you."
One of the guards proceeded to punch the man to the ground in one hit.
"Now get lost before I kill you, you fool!"
"But wait, I know Morris! I work under him! See! This is his book! He doesn't go anywhere without it!"
It was true. Everyone in the Brass Bulls knew Morris would never go be seen without it. Always looking through its pages as if there was something new to find.
"Hmm. That is true but that doesn't explain why you have it. Who are you supposed to be? Make it quick!"
The man nervously got back to his feet now covered in gravel and dust from the fall.
"My name is Louis, Sirs! I along with Siev started working under Morris a few months ago! Now please let me see him! An unforeseen situation has taken place beyond his predictions!"
"Alright, I think a recall someone by the name Louis working under Morris but whats's that about something being beyond the Boss' predictions! The Boss is never wrong! Everything always goes his way, you traitorous little punk!"
The guard picked up Louis by his collar, lifting him off the ground. He struggled to break free but couldn't as he still dangled in midair as his feet struggled to touch the ground.
"Wait wait wait! I wasn't trying to betray the Boss! I just thought that the plan might've gone bad is all! Honest!"
"Hey, maybe we should just let the fool live. He looks mighty obedient now that's for sure!"
"Not a chance! I need something to relieve this month's stress out on!"
The guard then wrapped his hands around Louis' throat before being interrupted by a sound coming from behind him.
The sound of heavy creaking followed by the opening of the large wooden doors behind the guards soon was heard by the men.
"Wha-what's the meaning of this?"
"Let him through. Our master would like to see this man."
The one who opened the doors was an old man. He looked to be in his sixties. His face was calm but looked stern. He had broad shoulders and seemed to be in a fit shape that belied his old age.
He was wearing what looked to be a butler's uniform which seemed to add to his charm.
For that is who he was. This was the head butler who took care of the Brass Bulls estate and living quarters.
"But he looks suspicious and he even was talking crap about the Boss! I say I'm in my right to take care of this little nuisance, right?" He looked over at the other guard who nodded in agreement towards his sentiment.
The butler didn't even say a word as he stepped closer to the guard.
"What are you going to do, old man? Dust me?! Ahahaha!!" Both guards broke out into uproarious laughter as the old man stood in front of them.
The only one who wasn't laughing was Louis who was still being held in the knight's arms. He just happened to look at the butler who he thought looked strange.
The butler's face had darkened and a sense of calm could be felt being emitted from him.
"Hey, why don't you go back inside before we kill you, too! What's an old man like you doing in service of the Boss anyway, huh? I'm sure he wouldn't miss one butler, right? Grab him for me, I guess I'll kill him, too! Ahahaha!"
The other immediately went to grab the old man from behind as the first guard continued to choke Louis once again.
The guard then thrust his arms from under the butler's arms before clasping his hands behind the old man's head.
"You won't be able to break out of this even if you wanted to! So, just stay put until my friend here is finished with that guy over there."
"The sheer foolishness of the current youth. I'll give you one warning to unhand me for I know you are seeming to be ignorant of your superiors in this world."
The guard couldn't understand why the old man still could speak to him in such a calm, assuring tone. It was jarring, to say the least.
"Hah? You speak well for such an old man with one foot in the grave already! You're just a butler! That is what is foolish. I'll make sure we right that on the gravestone we'll leave with your corpse! If you get one, that is!"
The old man still as calm as ever said only a few words in response.
"So, that is your answer. I see..."
The man briefly paused before making up his mind.
"What is that supposed to mean? The ramblings of a dead m- Guh!" The guard was soon interrupted as the butler had backed his head into his nose.
This caused the guard to let go of the butler and hold his hands over his nose in shock.
"My nose! You bastard butler...I'll kill you myself!"
The guard rushed towards the butler who didn't move an inch.
"That is what I had hoped you would do."
The guard brought up his hand now balled into a fist to strike at him from above.
The old man reached for his vest pocket as he slightly lowered his body as the guard came into his reach.
"Such a predictable outcome."
With that, he stabbed the approaching guard in his throat with a small knife that he had pulled from his pocket. Blood spurted from where the knife had entered his neck.
"Grrk...!"
The guard stopped in his tracks as he fell on his back, the knife still lodged in his throat. The guard, now laying on his back, started to grab at the knife.
The old man realizing what he was trying to do replied as such.
"I wouldn't pull that out if I were you. You would only delay the inevitable."
He didn't listen to the old man for he was only focused on the knife in his throat. As he started to pull it out, he was hit with excruciating pain as more blood started to escape from his wound. The taste of blood was just as discomforting to him. He could also feel himself becoming numb as the heat left his body.
He tried to pull the knife out one last time before finally succumbing to his wound.
"Fool. He only sped up his death. But that saves me time. Besides, I don't want to dirty my clothing any further than I have to. Now, for the other one."
The other guard seemed to be preoccupied with toying with Louis.
"This is what happens to any idiot who comes waltzing up to the Boss' manor without an invitation. Might as well throw in giving me more work as another offense. Hahaha!! After you will be that butler bastard if he isn't already taken out by old age first!"
The guard looked over to look for the other guard so that they can laugh together but he was shocked to find him lying down on the ground.
"Hey, what the hell happened to you!"
But the other guard wasn't the one to answer him. It was the butler.
"The same fate that will soon befall you."
"Hah?!"
A few objects sped towards the guard. He had managed to block a few in time but felt a burning sensation in his arm.
In his arm in three different points were what looked to be small kitchen knives each with a small floral engraving on them.
The guard soon let out a high-pitched scream which belied his masculine appearance.
"It seems I'm not as good as I used to be. Old age is certainly a curse..."
The guard couldn't place where the familiar voice was coming from. He could only cower from where he stood.
'Wait, is this about the fool I was about to kill. Then if I let him go, they'll let me live, right?'
The guard could only think to do that. He had no weapon to fight with as the manor's guards weren't given any.
He started to think about her idiotic that decision was now.
He moved away from Louis's now unconscious body to show he was willing to let him live.
"If you want him, I had left him alive! He's definitely still alive! I'll even spare that butler, too! If you let me live, that is!"
The guard stood nervously as he started to sweat heavily.
" A life for a life. A fitting offer. Alright then, I accept your terms."
The old man appeared before the guard as if out of thin air.
The guard was confused as he began to realize the disembodied voice belonged to the butler from earlier.
"Huh?! It was you who attacked me, old man?! The one who did this to me?!"
The butler paid him no mind as he walked over to Louis and held a hand over his mouth. He could feel his warm breath as it hit his hand. It seemed he was alive though he was severely injured.
"It seems you were telling the truth. I'll then be leaving you with your life intact." The old butler had hoisted the body of the unconscious Louis over his shoulder and was about ready to go when he heard the guard call him from behind.
"You had forgotten something...old man!!" The guard had run from behind and had directed a small knife at the old man from behind.
"Did you think I was going to let you tell the Boss what I had done! There wasn't a chance in hell, old man!" The knife plunged its way into the old man, killing him instantly.
Or at least that would have been the case had the old man been slower.
The old man leaned his upper body to the side evading the guard's attack. In the same motion, he pulled another knife from his vest pocket and stabbed it into the back of the guard's head in one swift blow.
He died almost instantaneously.
'To think I was going to show a bit of mercy towards a youth like yourself. So much potential wasted.'
The butler, whilst still holding Louis, entered the manor as the door closed behind him.
"It seems an assassin's work is never done."
