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There’s that elf girl again. Is all Kabru can think of as he watches the golden-haired woman stomp behind the two tall-men he had been keeping an eye on. The Touden siblings had found their way back to the top level after what seemed to be a pretty harsh battle. They seemed to have been some form of coin bug swarm from the small slashes on all of their clothing. The wounds underneath had already healed but it seemed the elf hadn't used her power yet to fix their clothing. The halfling Kabru had learned was a bit notorious in the dungeon and had already sat down with a pint in hand, scanning the room while the others sat down hastily.
The girl Touden was obviously their healer, everyone was especially doting on her as they grabbed food, the elf quickly put a glass of water in front of her which she muttered a “thank you” downing half the glass in one swig.
It annoyed him, to say the least. The people that those two were with seemed to always change constantly, probably whoever was cheapest at the time. But that elf girl… she always seemed to stay with them. Kabrus's hand fidgeted on the side of his glass, rubbing against the smooth surface at a pondering pace.
“Kabru, you’re staring.” Rin nudges his shoulder seeming to knock him out of his thoughtful stare.
“How powerful do you think that elf girl is?” He looks at her, barely acknowledging that she is looking out for him. She frowned a bit at the question, taking a sip of her drink.
“I can't quite tell, she seems young for an elf. So in that way shes less experienced than it would be to go against someone like a canary.” She sighs, “I hope it never comes to us having to fight anything but monsters while we’re here. But I also understand your feelings about those two tall-men. That girl seems to be much more powerful than she sets on. Maybe that she’s even aware of. It makes sense to me that she is their healer, it probably makes the male Touden feel safe to be as reckless as he pleases.” Her face crumpled, he understood that she didn't feel any kind emotions toward group captains that would put their teams in extreme harm's way.
“Hmmmm I’d have to agree with Rin. The girl Touden seems to be more of a problem than that elf is aware of. She however seems to have a great deal of mana to work with. What she lacks in the field she makes up for in practice that she gained in school.” Holm pitches in. “I’ve seen her heal and revive so we can't completely rule her out as a threat if worse comes to worse.”
Kabru rubs his chin with his hand as he thinks of what should come next. They had been resting on the first level for a couple of days now and it seemed like everyone had an ample amount of rest. At the same time, it was unlikely that he would be able to get more information on the Toudens if they did leave tonight.
“Perhaps it would be best to follow them? I dont want to give up an opportunity like this. We dont know when we might have something like this again.” Kabru points out, his team almost shoulder to shoulder around their table as he talks.
“I still dont get it,” Kuro pipes in, “Why do these tall-men worry you so much Kabru? To the point where you’re thinking about delaying going back into the dungeon to keep an eye on them.”
“Yeah, I wanna know too. It’s not like there isn't enough treasure to go around. Especially on the lower floors.” Mickbell bites into a roll of bread and pats at one of Kuros's ears.
“With the way the dungeon is growing, it's only a matter of time before those levels are completely stripped. Remember all those people that left when that castle was finally stripped of all of its gold?” Kabru tries to reason more and more with his gut feeling against the other party.
“I guess that makes sense. Kinda sad we never got to see that castle with all its gold still on it.” Mickbell sighs.
“What does this have to do with these people though? Everybodys trying to get a bit of treasure. That's why we’re here!” Holm chuckles.
Kabru couldn't say anything to them. He couldn't just tell them all that it was just a feeling for him. The way they acted was unlike any other party he had come across and it sent shivers down his spine and red flags waving in his head.
He couldn't tell them that he had this sinking feeling that they weren't here for the reasons that the rest of them. He had locked eyes with the captain, he was used to seeing some type of hunger in tall-mens eyes. Usually for things such as wealth or women but in his eyes he saw hunger that he couldn't place. And that scared him, scared him so bad he can't help but keep an eye on them.
He wanted to know it all, wanted to go up to that tall-man and scream “Why are you here? What do you plan to gain from this place?”
“Abru- Kabru!” Rin shakes his shoulder. “You’re staring off again.” She has a sad smile on her face. She always seemed to be able to read into his thoughts in a way the others couldn't. Sometimes he really appreciated it.
“Anyways, does anyone want another round or should we find someplace for camp tonight? Perhaps the next level down?” Rin asks the group.
The party decides it's about time they turned in for the night. As the rest of the party gets up Rin turns her attention back to Kabru.
“I only say this, if you were to find a way for me to observe her fighting I might get an idea of her skillset. Not saying we should stalk them or anything, just something I could do for you.” She smiles and gets up to meet the rest of the party towards the front of the tavern.
Kabru starts walking up to join them when he feels a faint hand on his shoulder. He turns to lock eyes with the elf girl, her eyebrows furrowed and a deep frown set in her face.
“Hey, can I ask you something?” She sounded like she was trying to be polite but was more annoyed than anything else. He looks over at the rest of her party to see them all not paying attention to her in the slightest. A faint conversation… or better yet argument was being held by the mal tall-man and the halfoot.
“Yeah, that's exactly it.” She points a finger in his face. “Why are you staring at my party so much? Are you planning on robbing us? Because I’ll tell you right now man you’re not gonna find much.”
Kabru was so shocked he hears a scoff leave his mouth before he can set it back down his throat.
“Oh, I didn't mean that. I was just… shocked is all.” Kabru takes a step back and starts to put his hands up between the two of them. He’d honestly try and avoid as many bar fights as he could and not be the whispering news of the top level for a couple of days.
“Yeah, I dont really care what you mean. What are you doing?” Her face has gotten a noticeable shade of red and Kabru realizes that there's no way to escape from this without giving a good reason. And then it hit him.
“Can we duel?” He watches the anger drain from her face as a dumbfounded scrunch of confusion takes its place.
“Wha?? Why?” She grabs both of his shoulders and shakes him back and forth. “Why would you wanna duel someone? Let alone a magic user are you crazy?”
Kabru holds his stance as he tries to calm down the frantic elf. “I-...” He pauses for a second, looking again at her party still in their own bubble. “ I errrr. I want to get stronger. And for now, I just need someone to test against. I can't ask anyone in my party to fight me since they’ll go easy on me since I’m their captain ahaha.” He smiles at her, hoping that she’ll take the bait. “Also I’ll give you two gold coins for your time.”
“Really? Thats why? How stupid but…” She turns her head to see everyone in her group eating and keeping relatively to themself for the most part. “I guess I have time. Let me get my staff.”
He feels like he has everything sorted out now until he feels another hand on his shoulder. He finds out this hand is owned by Rin.
“Why are you still in here? Everyone's been looking for you.” Her eyes looked worried.
“Great news Rin. You might be able to observe that elf girl today. I challenged her to a duel.” Kabru smiles.
“YOU WHAT?? Kabru whyyyyy? I don’t mean to be rude but you’re gonna get mauled. We dont even know what she’s capable of.” Rin puts her fingers to her mouth, obviously in a small form of shock over his underthinking on requesting a mage for a duel.
“Okay, I’m ready. Oh, my name is Marcille by the way.” She says as she looks at Rin. “Your party member?”
Kabru nods, “Yes, that's Rin and I’m Kabru. Thank you for taking this opportunity for me.”
“It's no big deal,” She walks towards the exit and pushes open the wooden door. “I dont exactly understand why you want to duel a mage but I guess it's like spell practices back at school.” Kabru side-eyes Rin as she nods at him, another thing to keep a mental note on. “But a couple extra gold coins could really help us out right now.” Marcille sighs.
“Ah, a bit of party financial trouble?” Rin asks.
“Yeah, nothing unheard of. Just hard when your captain is so new to it all. It wipes you out after a while.” She sighs.
“Have you known your captain for long?” Kabru asks, he might just get more info out of her than he expected.
“Nah not him. His sister and I went to school together though! She’s so talented and is so humble about it all.”
“You might want to keep an eye on them.” Kabru blurts out, “Sorry… I mean-”
“What?” Marcille stopped in her tracks, they had found their way to a wide area, only dirt and some stone making their homes this far away from the motels and taverns.
“I’m just saying… you see it too right? The look in their eyes, they’re dangerous.”
“You should have just kept your mouth shut Kabru.” Rin sighed with her hand to her head as she shook it side to side.
“Why do you think my friends are dangerous? They wouldn't hurt anyone.” Marcille grips her staff.
“I’m just saying. This dungeon… the power can get to people's heads and the last thing I want is it in the wrong hands.” Kabru tries to make his thoughts sound more reasonable.
Her anger seems to diminish. “Whatever, just get ready for our duel.” She moves her staff in front of her in one long practiced motion.
“Okay.” Is all Kabru says, motioning to Rin to back up and pay attention.
“Ready?” Rin says, “Three… Two… One… GO!”
Kabru quickly grabs at the hilt of his sword and everything goes dark. He feels himself fall to the ground face first and then complete darkness surrounds his mind.
“Kabruuuuuuu. C'mon Kabru get up get up! It’s morning!” Mickbell pokes at his cheek.
“Hey, you were supposed to let him wake up naturally. It takes a lot for a body to be revived.” Rin shoos away the halfling. She looks back at Kabru. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine. I’m taking it that I didn't last very long. Did you gather anything?” He pushes the sheets off his legs.
“Yes and not even a little. It seemed almost instantaneous. I didn't even see her move.”
“That whole party is dangerous Rin, at least we know that much.”
“Yeah, and now we're out four gold and still nothing to show for it.”
Kabru turns back to her, “FOUR GOLD??? I promised her two.”
“She insisted on getting paid to revive you too. Probably why you dont feel as many side effects.”
“Ugh well..” Kabru looks around the stone room. “ Maybe we should just head back down to the lower levels.”
…..
“So where did you run off to Marcille?” Chilchuck questions, a mug of ale in hand.
“Nowhere important anyways.” She tosses the four gold coins on the table. “I just got us some food money.”
The whole party cheered and hugged her as they talked over a list of ingredients for their next meal.