"The Guild" S.2 E.1 "Familiars"
Taljic was lost in the peaceful darkness and silence between waking and dreaming. This was one of his favorite feelings in the entire world. He enjoyed being alone in this way even if his mind was riddled with hundreds of thoughts. He felt warm and comfortable but suddenly felt a ticklish sensation. He opened his eyes briefly and then closed them again as the sensation stopped. He began to fall asleep once more when the sensation started again...something was tickling his nose and he heard faint whispering. He lay still for a moment before grabbing whatever was tickling him. He opened his eyes to see Chern with a surprised look in her bright green eyes and a feather in her hand.
"..." Taljic didn't know how to react so he simply let go of her wrist and lowered his head.
"Geeeeze!" Shouted Chern's posh spirit. "No reason to be so cranky, I was just having a little fun..." She pouted.
Taljic looked around with a puzzled look on his face. Chern's posh spirit giggled and bit her knuckle. "You fell asleep in that chair last night...I guess you had a bit too much." She nodded at a few empty bottles on the table in front of him and giggled again. "You're kind of cute when you first wake up." Suddenly her head cocked to the side, her eyes turned black and an expression of pure hatred appeared on her face.
"Shut up!" Shouted Chern's angry spirit, touching her temple. She stared daggers at Taljic who's eyes were wide with surprise. "You're not my type and don't get any funny ideas."
"I would never...I....are you alright Serah Chern?" He stood slightly wobbly and looked at her apprehensively.
"I..I'm fine...I'm going outside.." Chern's eyes faded back to their normal blue and she slowly walked out of the tavern.
Taljic slumped back down into his chair and ran his finger around the rim of one of the empty bottles before him...it made a ringing noise and he set up another bottle.
"Hey Peppa." He called to the bartender.
"Yeeees?" Peppa replied in a sing-song tone.
"Might I borrow a spoon?"
"Why certainly sir." Peppa washed a spoon and brought it over to Taljic who clinked it on the side of one of the bottles. It made a pleasant ringing noise.
"Got yourself a little instrument there honey?" Asked Peppa. "Maybe you could preform on Friday nights, bring me in a few more patrons." He slapped Taljic on the back which gained him a look of mild anger. "Sorry.." He went back to washing dishes at the bar.
Taljic began setting up even more bottles which all had different amounts of liquid still in them. They each offered a different, pleasing sound. Soon he had lost himself in song and closed his eyes allowing himself to be enveloped in the sound for a few moments.
Suddenly there was a firm grip on his shoulders and he felt himself flying through the air and being slammed roughly against the wall. When he opened his eyes Noretaku was looking down, her teeth were barred, her face inches from his face both hands grasped on his collar. He didn't know what to think.
"N...Noretaku?"
"I swear to the Makers...you clink that spoon..one...more...time...I..WILL...END...YOU!"
"W..what...I don't understand why..." He saw Chern standing in the doorway of the tavern. She made the motion of someone taking a drink and then stumbling and holding her head. He understood.
"Of course....Princess Noretaku...I understand." He said flatly. He grabbed her hands gently and loosened her fingers. She let go and backed away. Noretaku shook her head.
"I apologize Ser Taljic....alcohol and I...don't mix well..." She said sounding defeated.
"Perhaps we could all use some fresh air?" Suggested Taljic.
"Yes!" Cheered Noretaku perking up a bit. "That sounds like a good idea...we do have a big day ahead of us tomorrow anyway...ah but first...I smell Peppa's famous scrambled eggs."
The three friends laughed and sat down to a large breakfast of quail eggs, biscuits, jam and sausage. They each made sure do drink a bit of coffee to perk themselves up. Afterward they set out for a stroll.
Noretaku, Chern and Taljic were all very quiet as they walked down the dusty, dirt road that lead from the tavern. It wasn't that they didn't have anything to say. Taljic and the Princess were simply too busy trying to remember all of the events of the night before. Chern was too busy trying to quiet her spirits who didn't want to let her live down her wild, drunk antics such as dancing with a fellow drunk patron of the tavern.
Finally Noretaku broke the silence, subconsciously speaking in her silky, "Princley" voice. She always spoke like this when she was thinking deeply about something.
"So..." She said bringing a hand to her chin. "What exactly happened last night?"
"You don't remember?" Said Chern's black eyed spirit. Chern had taken to calling her "Abyssma" for she seemed so empty..yet observant as if she could see into your very soul. "My...you humans are such strange little things..."
"Just answer the questions fallen." Demanded Taljic in a flat voice. He despised fallen but especially Abyssma.
"Hmm....the tainted one wishes to be rid of me." Abyssma said in a matter-of-fact tone. "Very well." Chern turned to Taljic.
"Must you upset her so Taljic?"
"It is not a "her" it is....a fallen..."
"...I'd hoped to at least get a few answers before you two got at it again...." Sighed Noretaku. "Chern, perhaps you can...coax mistress "Abyssma" back into our company?" She glanced at Taljic. "Ser Taljic will play nice." She raised an eyebrow at him and he nodded though the look on his face showed he was unhappy with this.
"She won't talk to me....she's...moody...I'm sorry." Said Chern shrugging her shoulders.
"I know what happened last night!" Cried the cheery voice of "Mania," Chern's posh spirit.
"Care to enlighten us friend Mania?" Asked Noretaku.
"Yes, care to?" Grumbled Taljic.
"I can't believe you've forgotten..." She reached out and slapped Taljic's arm playfully and then giggled.
"What do you mean?" Said Taljic
"We slow danced in the middle of the dance floor...it was quite lovely and-"
"WHAT?!" Chern and Taljic said yelled in unison.
"Well...okay...okay...you were kind of like a rag doll....and I held you up and pretended we were dancing." Mania blushed and turned away.
"Damn it.......DAMN IT!" Yelled Taljic. He walked off.
"Where are you going?!" Called Noretaku.
"Hunting!" He called back.
"Taljic, I didn't know!" Called Chern, embarrassed.
"Let him go." Said Princess Noretaku in a soft voice. "Maybe he'll catch a deer for our journey."
Later that day Chern was visiting the princess in her room.
"Your hair is shiny and smooth for a "Prince" milady." Said Chern brushing the Princess's hair.
"I am still a girl even though I had to pose as a boy....why are we doing this again?" Asked Noretaku, fidgeting.
"Girl's like to brush and braid each other's hair...I like to fight and get dirty just like boys do but even I enjoy this."
"I'm sorry...it's just going to take some time to get used to all of this...feminine behavior."
"Don't worry sweetheart, we'll teach you." Said Mania giggling.
"Shut up!" Chern snapped. "I'm still furious at you for behaving the way you did last night."
Mania was silent.
"I have to ask..." Said the princess bashfully.
"No...."
"But I didn't even"
"I do not like Taljic...not that way anyway...he's like a brother in a way, he reminds me of the recruits I stayed with before we went to the Castle for training."
"Stayed with?" Asked Noretaku. "You mean after-"
"After your Father raided the town I lived in...after he killed....well, I found some men that were looking for a roommate...they were recruits waiting for word from the castle...I disguised myself and a while later we were all living in that house...drinking and telling stories of happier times...we'd go hunting...fishing...we'd even fight...they taught me a lot."
"You miss them don't you?"
"Yes...and that's why it was nice having Taljic around...until now...Mania likes him....in that way."
"Ahem...Chern?" Taljic said. He was standing in the doorway.
"How long have you been standing there?" Asked Noretaku.
"Long enough...Chern, I'm sorry for getting so upset...I don't handle...feelings....well...I'm glad to be your friend and that you see me as a brother of sorts..."
"You heard that..." Chern slapped her forehead with her palm.
"It's nice to have a brother in arms again....sister....um."
"Haha brother in arms, like it!" Said Chern.
"Well, I'm glad that's settled!" Said Noretaku. "...and as for Mania...it will pass..." She sighed.
"You say that as if it's a horrible thing." Said Chern.
"Horrible...no...." Noretaku put a hand to her chin and a thoughtful look appeared on her face. "I had many infatuations while in the castle..a new Knight....a kitchen servant...a soldier...they all passed...well..all but one but he's....you know."
"That's alright milady, we understand." Said Taljic bowing his head in memory of Hempnode.
"Well, we should finish preparing for the road ahead." Noretaku stood. "Have you tracked down the location of this scholar you spoke of?"
"Well...I've found a general location...based on rumors....I used them to triangulate and I'm pretty sure..." He walked over to a map on Noretaku's wall and pointed to a section of it before tracing a circle with his finger. "that he is in this general area.
The girls sighed. "We have a lot of work cut out for us don't we?" Said Chern.
"I tried using my powers...but it won't talk to me..." Said Taljic
"Abyssma has been more quiet than usual today too..." Chern said.
"Perhaps they are worried the scholar will teach us something they don't want us to know..."Said Noretaku. "We leave at dawn."
The other two nodded and exited the room. Mania piped up.
"Aren't all the kitchen servants girls?"
"Shut up you." Said Chern as they walked down the hall to prepare for the trip ahead.
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