CHAPTER 402: ARC 6, CHAPTER 18: WENSTETER VILLAGE

A few lamp lighters were going about the village, lighting up the streetlamps of black metal. The dirt path expanded even more till it was cobble. A very low stone wall flanked around a gap—the entryway for the village it seemed.

The wooden post that had grown white mushrooms hung a sign that swayed, "Wensteter Village," Hotaru read. Dusk was upon them as farmers drove small carts with a single steed.

Fields of yet to mature wheat sprouted dark greens going pale. The five walked further in where white squarish buildings with timber frames and thatch roofs resided.

Children covered in dirt, sweat and random grasses and weeds that stuck to their clothes were running, clearly to not get in trouble for missing curfew. With the day coming to an end, mirth and life seemed to spring by the evening.

Florists and bakers were beginning to close and yet taverns lit up their lamps signalling the people to get into line. Various names shouted out back and forth—a conversation was always happening wherever they traipsed.

They would give a side-eye or examine the adventurers walking into their midst, but they paid no mind really. "Too bad you charred those slimes, their cores could’ve been sold," Hotaru remarked as they walked towards the nearest inn.

Jotou silently side-eyed her while walking upfront. Cramming through the door they entered the weathered interior.

It was not rundown, but ’rustic’ was a charming way to put it, what with the mushrooms on the wooden girders and the limited space and selections of alcohol on the wall.

Two scantily dressed barmaids were quick on their feet, trays in their hands with a sundry of containers ranging from glass jars to wooden mugs. Ten or so tables were fully occupied and others were by the bar.

"How much for a room and how much space?" Hotaru placed her elbow on the tavern keepers’ small desk.

A man with a few stains on his sleeveless shirt yawned, bald on top and a curling moustache he had. "Depends how much ye wanna stuff in the same room lass," he gruffly replied.

"You can get your own room, I’d like one to myself," Jotou crossed her arms and examined the shelves of booze.

Hotaru pursed her lips tight.

"I’m gonna be straight with ye, we got not many rooms. We’re a small li’l village, adventurers come and go. Think there’s already a few here in town, ye can go ask the pub around the corner, though Henry’s only got two rooms I think."

The wolf-girl sighed, "How many rooms do you have?"

"Three as long as ye put the coin on the table first," the keep told.

"How much?"

"Eight silver for the lot," he smiled with all his yellowed teeth.

Hotaru squinted, "Nearly twenty-seven copper per. Bit much for a ’small li’l village’ don’t you think? Or is it an outsider mark up?" she raised a brow.

Jotou dug through her jacket and placed a gold piece on the desk, interrupting the redhead. "Keep the change," Jotou put her hand out for the keys.

The tavern keep smiled wryly and slammed his calloused hands over the coin, "Now that’s a deal well made!" His comment was directed towards the wolf-woman as he placed all three keys in Jotou’s palm.

Hotaru scoffed.

Jotou put two other keys on the desk towards the others, keeping one for herself. She hung the key’s ring off her finger and walked towards the stairs present.

"There’s only three rooms Jotou, you’re not even going to share it?" the redhead voiced.

"I don’t care. If anyone wants to share a room with me, feel free; Hotaru figure something else out," Jotou simply continued without looking back. ’I’m not in the damn mood to deal with her, she’s been at it since morning.’

Hotaru glared at the back of the blonde’s head while she strode up and away from the stuffy bar...

_

"Duff!" A wooden mug slammed onto the bar, completely empty. Hotaru wiped her lips and audibly exhaled.

"Best use of your time?"

Hotaru’s ears pricked and heard through the jumble of voices and the bard song that was being played. To her right was a short brunette who sat up on the barstool. "Whatt do you want?"

"Hardly anything from you," Fumeko tightened her lips.

Hotaru sniffled in her slightly stuff nose and sat up with a slight groan escaping. "Restore Inhibition," she placed three fingers against her temple as water formed and seeped into her skin. Her head bobbed from one side to the other, "Figured out the room situation?"

"I need your opinion on it, Jotou can stay alone anyway, one person has to," Fumeko replied.

Hotaru slumped her head onto her hand, "I don’t want to room with Asobi either."

The brunette furrowed her brows, "Alright... You’re left with me or Tiff."

Hotaru puffed out a dry chuckle, "I’d much rather deal with you."

"How gracious of you," Fumeko snarked. "Guess that leaves Asobi on her own."

"Tiffany?"

"Don’t know, she said she was fine staying with you or Jotou. I don’t think she’s quite ready to stay with me and I don’t know why she doesn’t wanna stay with Sobi, but I decided not to pry. Who the hell knows what those two got up to last night."

"Well, good luck to Tiffany," Hotaru ordered another beer with a finger. "Can you believe her? She really shouldn’t throw that kind of money in places like this. She’s setting herself up to be robbed in the night, or worse," she griped.

Fumeko adjusted her headband, "I don’t think she has much to worry about. If her guard’s down and she has her money close," she shrugged.

"I swear, that girl," Hotaru shook her head as the next mug of beer was presented in front of her.

"Yeah, I’m not here to be you and Jotou’s therapist. Only you two can deal with that and let’s hope that comes soon," Fumeko frowned.

The redhead sunk her face into the mug.

"Anything else you wanna moan about?"

Hotaru lifted her head, "You’re probably focused more on the case."

"Yeah probably," Fumeko’s eyes glazed over.

"I know," Hotaru closed her eyes tightly. "News will have a harder time reaching us all the way out here. We might not know if anything happens up there until days later. The guild would be the best place for news, but even then there’ll be a delay."

Fumeko faced away quietly.

Hotaru pouted, "You’re probably worried about your family... I’m sorry."

"Not particularly."

"Hm?"

Fumeko turned to face her with crossed arms, "I made the decision to come here because there was nothing I could do there. What exactly’s changed to make me worry more?

Truth is, I don’t know what’s happening there—what’s the point of being paranoid about it? What I can do, is figure out what’s happening at that castle. Jotou seems to be on the task too. You on the other hand are getting drunk."

"I got tipsy at best," Hotaru argued. She sighed, "Alright. I know this is important, especially to you. I’ll keep it together," she nodded a few times.

Fumeko jerked her brows up and down. "Besides, my dad’s the greatest detective in Burnetrout. He’s dealt with the cult much longer than I have and got the leader once. If anyone could do it again."

"Best of luck to the ones in Dolpool," Hotaru raised her mug. "How was the village?"

"Not much to see, not much to do. Standard village I’d say."

"It has its hidden charms I’m sure."

"Keep looking then."

_

It was no palace bedroom, but it would do for the night. Jotou folded up her yellow coat and slipped a couple of fingers into her hair tie before there was a knock on the door. "Who is it?" Jotou approached.

"Who am I? One such as I go by many a title-"

The door opened, "Tiffany, I got it. You’re staying with me?"

Tiffany shut her lips and nodded.

"Come on in, this place’s a five star hotel," Jotou left the door open.

Tiffany entered the crummy room with barely enough room for two beds and a wardrobe. A rug was laid in front of the only window that had mildew in the corners.

One lone lantern hung out of it, swaying in the night outside while an oil lamp hung inside the room. Jotou lit the wick in an oil lamp with a spark of her fingers and shut the glass, giving more light to the room as she set it on the single nightstand.

Jotou in her white and black garments leftover, sat on the bed, "Shut the door would you?"

Tiffany wordlessly shut the door and kept her hands together in front of her.

Jotou continued to undo her ponytail, then shook her head to fan her hair out. She tilted her chin to one side, "What’s the matter? Afraid of me or something?" she smirked.

"Hmph! Nay, Stella Vespertillio fears not a beautiful maiden gold of hair, no matter the brilliance of the heaven’s potency thou wields," she proclaimed, standing tall.

Jotou smirked a little more cattily, "Hm~ I know me and Hotaru’s little fight’s obvious at this point, but I’m not interested in your nightly endeavours Ms Vespertillio~"

Tiffany blushed till her mouth was stuck open a tad, "Uh, n-no, that wasn’t what I w-was insinuating-"

Jotou giggled, sparks in her eyes. "I’m kidding silly, calm down," she stuck her tongue out and gave a wink.

"Apologies..." Tiffany avoided eye contact and placed her backpack down in the room.

"Well? You’re gonna sleep standing over there? I don’t bite; maybe some shocks, that’s about it though."

"S-stop teasing me," she said sternly.

"Stop being teasable."

"I d-didn’t realize you were this bloody bitchy," Tiffany remarked.

Jotou’s eyes bubbled, but then she giggled a little louder. "I’ll try not to take that to heart."

"It wasn’t meant to be taken to heart," Tiffany sombrely replied.

"Maybe you’d know me better if you didn’t stick to Fumeko all the time or hide behind her."

"I don’t hide behind her, I don’t need some shield."

"Sure..." ’Like that persona isn’t some shield.’ "If you were so scared of me, why didn’t you stay with one of the others?"

"Tch, I’m not scared of you," her brows furrowed.

Jotou pondered, "You obviously don’t wanna stay with Meko for now. Knowing Hotaru, she may not stay with Sobi, am I right?"

"Yeah, you’re right," Tiffany tried to gauge where the blonde was going with this.

"So, why me over Asobi?"

"There’s not really a reason to it so stop looking."

"Both of you are pretty extravagant, but the thing is, Asobi’s more genuine while you have to try a lot. And I think you’re afraid of that," Jotou glanced in her direction.

"Afraid of what it says about you; enough so that you’d rather stay with me than have to be with Asobi and confront yourself about it. Have I got that right~?"

"What are you trying to fucking say?" Tiffany snapped back. "That I’m crazy, is that it?" she glared.

"Oh come now Tiffany, we’re all a little crazy, you’re just as sane as I am," Jotou did not give much of a reaction besides her smile. "Sorry," Jotou said softer. "I just haven’t seen much of this side of you."

"I was warned about you... And I just got into the room too."

Jotou could not help but smile brighter at that. "I promise it won’t last the whole night, I’m tired from walking anyway."

Tiffany took a few steps cautiously into the room, "I’m tired too." She sat on the other bed and looked down at her dirty shoes; she pouted.

"Here," Jotou reached her hand out.

"What?"

"Your shoes, not your hand."

"Are you often a tease?" Tiffany pouted like an angry puppy as she handed the nicely crafted shoe.

"Sometimes," Jotou examined the little sequences and intricate designs that were stained by dirt. "Depends on the occasion or the person. Sometimes it’s cause I think they’re pretty; sometimes I’m just having fun. Which category d’you think you’re in~?"

"..." Tiffany’s eye glazed over.

"Bold response is bold," Jotou sparked her hand and the shoe with. ’Just gotta control the voltage...’ Within seconds, Jotou slapped Tiffany’s shoe a few times and all the dried up dirt fell off like dust. She handed it back with a smile.

"Thank you..." Tiffany coyishly handed her other shoe to Jotou.

"Haven’t done this on a normal shoe before. Thought it might accidentally catch on fire," she did the same with the other.

"These are incredibly expensive, why would you even attempt that!?"

"Why would you wear unenchanted expensive shoes through a trek?"

"I- I concede..." Tiffany took her other shoe back.

"Hm~" Jotou took off her own boots and started doing the same. "What’s with that stutter by the way? Have you had it for a long time?"

"I think so. I don’t stutter all the time, I can’t really explain it," Tiffany’s eye shied away.

"I might have a theory, but I’ll spare you my paranoia. Anyway, you can talk to me in your dramatic way if you so desire—I understand it."

"I am curious how you understand it. You must be a big fan of plays or the Krian language," Tiffany enquired.

"I know it from tv shows and video games and stuff. I like that sort of speaking, I think it’s fun."

"P-pardon?"

"Never mind," Jotou chuckled to herself. ’That’s a whole other conversation.’ "What’s your favourite play?" her eyes waned.

"Oh, that’d be Le Veuf. Tis a romantic tale of finding the most grandiose of loves. The suspense and drama keeps every scene thrilling and the actor playing Lady Pembrook, the lead, does amazing!" there was a smile on both her lips and in her eye.

"Maybe I’ll catch it sometime then," Jotou replied beaming. "Listen, I’d like to stay up late and talk about plays all night, but I am actually tired and we have to get up early. We’ll continue this conversation later, deal?"

Tiffany got back into reality, "I accept."

"Good. You’re not gonna sleep with all those things on, are you?" Jotou folded her legs onto the bed.

"No, I’ll get into something more comfortable..."

"Right, sorry. Don’t let me being a guy bother you, I’ll shut my eyes and look away. Unless you want me to leave the room?"

"I’m sorry?" Tiffany furrowed her brows. "Was there some transfigurationist involved with your beauty? They certainly did a fantastic job."

Jotou closed her eyes, "No, it’s a different, complicated story; I kinda died? It’s a whole thing, don’t worry about it for now, I’ll explain it later. Would you like me to leave the room so you can change?" ’I thought Meko would’ve mentioned that about me by now...’

"Tis fine... Just look away?"

"Deal," Jotou fell on the bed and rolled over to face the wall. She shut her eyes, trying to get some sleep on the very stiff mattress...

"It’s to complete the look."

"Hm?" Jotou responded to the voice.

"The shoes... It’s to complete my outfit."

Jotou gave a mild laugh before drifting into a slumber.