All the eyes in the room were on Kuro. Although, this time it wasn't his black hair that was the subject of their stares and whispers. The adventurer's strike moved at a snail's pace compared to Kuro's as his fist cracked directly into his sternum. The leather armor he wore offered no protection as he dropped to the floor and left him gasping for air.
From the corner of his eye he noticed two people leave the still crowd and join into the fray. There was no time to think and the aggression in their eyes was enough for Kuro. If they entered his range they were the next target, whoever was closest would taste the ground next. One of them knelt by their comrade and ignited a magical yellow light of healing while the other charged in at Kuro swinging wild. In response, Kuro went to meet his attacker head on. His hands shot up into a triangular guard and caught his opponent's arm in his palm once his fist was within reach. The force of the attacker's punch turned Kuro's body enough to clear the way to strike the neck with the inside of his palm. His opponent choked before Kuro switched hands to follow up another strike with the outside of his other palm while pulling him in with his other hand. The attacker dropped to the ground letting Kuro kick the metal plate on his chest to push him further away.
"Let’s show him who he’s messing with," the adventurer coughed.
The two aggressors drew their weapons and made them surge with magic. Kuro gulped down as he readied himself to move.
"Catch!" Milly yelled to Kuro.
The black staff spun in the air before landing in Kuro's palm. It twirled on his arm as he spun around with the pole to point it at them ready for what came next. Milly jumped in behind him and pulled out her device. A quick jerk it to reveal her bow nocking an arrow in one motion. A foreboding silence in the room ushered more observers to watch the two sides square off.
"THAT’S ENOUGH!" A woman yelled as she pulled the crowd apart.
Her silver hair shined with the ornate armor that came to rest between the two sides. She stared at them with the green eyes that matched the imperial symbol on the cape draped over her shoulder.
"That’s Noelle! Oh they're in for it"
"Captain Noelle…"
"Of course they sent in the strongest here…"
Noelle cleared her throat to hush the crowd, "Causing trouble again Lord Caius?"
"Not at all, I was just testing the newbie's combat ability. You know just as well as I do that we can't have any more of them disappear," Caius deflected striking a sarcastic pose.
"Quite so, but surely there are more appropriate places to do your greetings." Noelle retorted.
The two adventurers sheathed their weapons. They waited until a soldier accompanying Noelle brought life back to their companions' eyes. He was greeted by a disappointed look by their ringleader and made him pound the ground with his fist. Caius led his troop toward the exit, but not before he placed a hand on Kuro's shoulder.
Caius squeezed painfully until he saw Kuro give the slightest whince, "You watch your back out there, Goddess knows this is a dangerous occupation."
No retorts left his lips, Kuro didn't want to give any more excuse for him to paint a larger target on his back much less Milly’s. He had beaten him enough to know that this incident would probably not be the last. Still, a bit of joy grew in his heart that he protected his new friend.
"Alright you lot, go about your business! Nothing more to see here!" Captain Noelle ordered.
With all the excitement gone, the onlookers dispersed. Captain Noelle let out a long sigh and approached the trouble makers.
"Reports said the hero was on his way here, but I didn't expect for you to arrive so soon Sir Shiro," Noelle greeted with a bow.
Disappointment washed over Kuro. It was the first time he heard of the hero’s name and yet every syllable stung in his ears.
"I'm not the hero… just another adventurer looking to do good," Kuro admitted without eye contact.
"Hmm… you do match the description, black hair and traveling with a female adventurer," Noelle examined.
"My name is Kuro and this is Mi…"
His eyes were met with his partner in another nervous sweat pulling her peach duck hat over her head. She adjusted it to pull a shadow over her eyes.
"Mia, a new adventurer I’m recommending with the guild."
"So you're really not him?" Noelle postured inquisitively. "Still, it was brave of you to stand up to Lord Caius, if not foolish."
"Lord Caius?" Kuro asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Ah, Lord Caius is the son of the local lord and a decently ranked adventurer,” Captain Noelle answered with huff. “He’s a hard one to pin down and I’ve arrested him more times than I can count.”
Captain Noelle put her hands on her head and ruffled her hair out of the memories of frustration, “Public intoxication, disorderly conduct, noise violations, property destruction, and loitering to name a few. Each time he gets out after a night in jail!”
“So, it sounds like you’re telling me to avoid him,” Kuro responded scratching his head.
“I’m advising you to stay where guards can easily reach you or make yourself scarce.”
“Don’t worry, we’re out of here as soon as we have our commissions at the smith finished,” Milly interrupted, placing her hand on the shoulder Kuro didn’t get squeezed.
With a nod, Noelle made her way to the exit leading her troop. Milly’s eyes followed Noelle until the sight of her disappeared into the crowd before taking her hat off. It was then she noticed that Kuro’s eyes did the same and she puffed her cheeks.
“What? Did you think she was cute?” Milly asked with a stomp.
“Well, she was beautiful…” Kuro answered.
“SHAAAAA!” hissed Milly.
She let out a flurry of cat-like punches for Kuro to easily deflect. In comparison to Caius and his goons they were softer and slower.
“Excuse me,” the receptionist interrupted.
The two of them stopped and gave their attention to the girl presenting a card with a big “F” across it. She held it delicately waiting for Milly to take it.
“Thank you for saving me, he just wouldn’t leave me alone,” she said with a smile.
Kuro’s cheeks went hot and he let out a small chuckle, “Don’t worry about it.”
“You’re welcome!” Milly yelled as she snatched the card. “We should get going, right Kuro?”
A simple nod was all Kuro could muster as she grabbed him by the arm and led him out of the building. She pulled him out of the guild back to the market place where the aromas of freshly grilled meats trailed in the air. Not a word had been spoken and Kuro had to break the silence.
“So where did the staff come from? With all that happened in the woods I thought I lost it,” Kuro opened with.
Milly extended her hand and beckoned the stick from Kuro. Once in her hands, she began to shimmy side to side shooting her hands out and switching with each move as she danced with the weapon. It shrunk with every jab to the left and to the right. Kuro’s eyes went wide open and dazed from what he just witnessed.
“I don’t have to do that dance do I?” Kuro questioned seriously.
‘No,” Milly answered as she passed it back.
“Oh thank the Goddess,” Kuro sighed in relief.
“What do you mean!?”
“It wouldn’t be practical in combat,” Kuro chuckled. “So how do I make it change sizes?”
“You just think about the size and it does it. You can make it so small you can carry it in your ear, but that’s gross.”
“Wait a sec, isn’t this some sort of magical item?”
“Not at all, it just does what it does, so it doesn’t count… I guess?”
Milly placed the pin sized staff in Kuro’s hand and gave a proud grin. With a single thought it grew back to the staff he was familiar with and then the next brought it back to pocket sized.
“That’s really neat,” Kuro thought.
A newfound appreciation grew within Kuro while tucked it in his pocket giving it two pats as it settled in. A weapon that could easily be stored and drawn was the dream of any adventurer. He resolved to never be as careless again with it.
Although, this moment was the perfect timing for Milly to slip away back into the distraction that was the town square. Kuro found her at a stand selling dubious plants. She stared deeply at a pot labeled “mandrake”. She passed the merchant a few coins before walking off with the pot and gave the leaves at the top a great yank. The roots revealed a human-like face and looked at her dead in the eye.
“Let go,” the plant said deeply.
The smile Milly wore was replaced with confusion and a little bit of disappointment.
“I thought it was supposed to scream, I was looking forward to it,” Milly frowned.
“I guess it’s up to the personality of the plant,” Kuro joked.
As easily as she pulled it out she shoved it back into its pot. The two walked together in the market until a familiar feeling began to set in.
“You know what’s weird Milly?” asked Kuro with his hands in his pockets. “I’m actually kind of hungry again.”
Milly adjusted her glasses with her knuckles and gave Kuro a serious look, “I could go for something sweet. Also, you can tell me how you knocked those guys out earlier.”
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