Scroll 47: Dodging an Arrow
The wind coming from the east was fresh, carrying a faint scent of smoke as it brushed against Alaster’s face. Sitting comfortably on the porch, he found the sun's warmth to be a welcome contrast. With his eyes closed, he kept the parchment deed resting in his hand.
«How pleasant, especially being far away from the oppressive stenches of Sibar,» he thought. «I don't know how Arya puts up with those smells... those heavy perfumes people use to hide the fact that they don't bathe. Honestly, though, I don't blame them. Stripping down and dumping buckets of water over your head outdoors after hauling them from a well...»
Alaster cut his thoughts short.
«Listen to me, complaining like a spoiled city boy just because I don't have a shower... I have magic and knowledge from another world. If I'm not making things comfortable, it's just because I'm being lazy,» he muttered, opening his eyes and readying himself to take a bath and explore his new home.
As he stood up from the wooden chair, something caught his eye.
About twenty meters away, parked on the dirt road outside the property, was a carriage similar to the one Liena had lent them. It was a common covered wagon used for cargo or passengers. Standing behind it was the striking figure of a woman in a bright red dress and delicate leather boots—an outfit completely out of place in a rural countryside.
Alaster recognized her instantly.
"Denderatrix..." the elf muttered under his breath.
«What is she doing here?» he wondered.
Watching her drag a massive suitcase—the picture of a city woman wrestling with country terrain—his instincts flared. The image of a level 81 catastrophic mage struggling to haul heavy luggage felt like a threat in itself. A smooth leg showed through the high slit of her long skirt as she pulled a leather trunk that looked big enough to hold an entire room.
Alaster stared in disbelief at her efforts.
"Goodness..." Detrix sighed, letting out a frustrated breath. "I should have packed lighter."
She turned back to the carriage just as an older man climbed down from the driver's seat.
"Miss, is this where you wanted to go?" the driver asked, scratching the back of his neck nervously while holding his hat with his free hand.
The mage let go of the suitcase, its wooden wheels jammed on the rough dirt road.
"Yes, I'm fine. I can manage that elf on my own," she said, waving a delicate hand to reassure him.
Detrix took a few wobbly steps toward the carriage to retrieve her staff—a shaft of dark wood banded with metal that ran up to a fist-sized gem at the top. With her free hand, she grabbed a small pouch, slung it over her shoulder, and planted the staff in the dirt to root through her belongings.
"Here you go, good man. Keep the change," she said with a warm smile, holding the coin pouch in both hands.
The man looked down at his hand. A shiny gold coin rested in his palm. His eyes widened, shifting from the coin to the beautiful mage.
"Thank you!" he called out, turning to leave.
"Have a wonderful day, sir," the mage said, glancing back at her luggage.
The leather reins snapped, and the carriage rolled away, leaving Denderatrix standing with her staff and heavy trunk. She bent over, unhooked a strap on the luggage, and unzipped it slightly before standing back up. Taking her staff, she slid the long magical focus straight into the suitcase.
Alaster watched with curiosity as he walked down the stone steps from the porch. The long staff dropped inside without resistance until it vanished almost completely—a bizarre sight, considering the weapon was as tall as the glamorous mage herself.
Detrix winced at the sharp sound of breaking glass.
"Oh no, the plates! The dishes Grandma gave me! You were right, Grandma, they didn't last at all..." she muttered mournfully.
She glanced around, placing one hand over her chest while letting the other hang dramatically in the air, striking a vulnerable pose.
"I think it was this way... That sweet girl with the wavy hair said so. Nope, I'm completely lost," she murmured in a silky tone, right until she spotted Alaster in the distance. "Al! Over here, a lady in distress!"
Alaster was already walking down the gentle slope toward the road. The sun was beating down, yet she didn't seem to sweat or show any fatigue.
"Al, darling, I'm so glad you're here! I thought I was lost," Denderatrix said, resting a hand on her hip.
Alaster offered a wry smile.
"I wasn't expecting you," he said, reaching for the suitcase. He grabbed the handle she had been yanking on moments earlier—it was heavy as lead. "Detrix... did you pack your entire house in here?" he joked.
The mage looked at him with exaggerated concern as they started walking toward the cottage.
"No, Al handsome, just a few essentials. I even left most of the food sacks behind."
She held out her hand, counting on her fingers as she listed her belongings while walking beside him.
"Just five sacks of food, my bed, a few necessary furniture pieces like a full-length mirror, my clothes, my best shoes... A girl never knows when she'll be invited to a formal gala."
«I can guarantee you we aren't going to any galas in this town,» Alaster thought, but kept it to himself. Interrupting her ramblings about why she needed two makeup chests, he asked:
"You still haven't told me what brought you all the way out here."
As they reached the porch steps, she finally answered:
"Well, I ran into Liena and she mentioned you were out on a mission. So I told myself: 'Self, you should go visit Alaster.' And to be frank, I was a bit worried because your magic education is terribly incomplete."
Alaster glanced at her glossy blue lips and raised an eyebrow.
"Terribly incomplete?"
"Yes," she said, softening her voice and stepping closer. "You don't even know how to cast a basic barrier spell. If something happened to you and I did nothing..."
She shook her head and placed both hands on his chest, looking up at him with puppy-dog eyes. While Alaster doubted the complete sincerity of the act, there was no denying her charm.
«It really does feel good when someone worries about you, especially a gorgeous girl,» the elf thought. He quickly cut off that dangerous line of thought before it strayed into his situation with Jinneth... or Mila. «I'm clearing things up with Jinneth as soon as I get back to Sibar after the second mission.»
Alaster smiled at the mage and offered:
"Thanks for taking the trouble. Shall we go inside?"
"Yes, let's!" Detrix said, gliding up the porch steps effortlessly. "I'm exhausted, you have no idea..."
She pushed the heavy door open, coming face-to-face with Remis, who was opening it from the inside at the exact same moment.
"Al, aren't you going to eat? We got some soup from the townspeople—" Remis cut herself off, staring at the woman trying to enter.
"Remis, Denderatrix. Detrix is a friend, and Remis is my party member and leader for this mission," Alaster introduced them without delay.
Remis glanced back and forth between Alaster and Denderatrix before extending a hand with a polite smile.
"Nice to meet you."
Detrix stepped forward without warning, pulling her into a tight hug that pressed her chest directly into Remis's face.
"Oh my! Alaster, your party leader is lovely!" the mage exclaimed with a pout. "I always have to work with sweaty warriors and cold girls. Oh, how do you get your hair like this? Look at mine."
The mage picked up a lock of her dark hair and held it out to Remis. The party leader stood frozen, darting her eyes toward Alaster as she tried to mask her shock. She took in Denderatrix: tall, provocatively dressed with a plunging neckline, speaking in a smooth, alluring tone, and overly affectionate.
"Y... yeah, looks like you have a few split ends."
Detrix let out a dramatic sigh.
"I can't believe what the road dust does to my hair."
"Your hair looks so shiny and perfect, though," the mage added, looking at Remis.
The leader smiled, feeling a brief touch of pride.
"Oh, that's because I found an alchemist in Sibar. He makes an incredible hair tonic."
Denderatrix's eyes lit up.
"What? When? Where do I get it? How does it work?" she asked eagerly.
Alaster stood on the side, completely bypassed. «How did we go from discussing her reason for visiting to a seminar on magical hair conditioner?»
He watched the blonde lead Detrix upstairs by the hand. Halfway up, Remis paused and turned around.
"Oh, Al... could you help us with some hot water? We pulled water from the well out back, but it's pretty cold."
Alaster glanced at Denderatrix and replied:
"Detrix is a mage—a much better one than me. Heating up some water shouldn't be an issue for her."
Detrix smiled.
"I wouldn't say better, but heating water is no trouble at all."
Remis beamed.
"Awesome, let me show you the products I brought!" she said, pulling the mage up the stairs.
Denderatrix turned back to wave at Alaster.
"I'll come back for my luggage later!"
Alaster, who had already set the heavy trunk beside the front door, walked into the living room to inspect the property. The house featured polished mahogany floors and pine walls treated with a clear sealant. A few simple landscape paintings with muted colors hung on the walls alongside wooden furniture and a sofa, where Tagard was sound asleep.
«What a tough life for a single guy,» Alaster thought, watching the carefree warrior snore loudly. «He's probably dreaming about slaughtering goblins and being a hero—literally what I just did. Meanwhile, here I am stressing over whether my girlfriend is actually my girlfriend... I'm overthinking this. She pampers me, takes care of me, and worries about me. What more could I ask for?»
He walked toward the back of the house, passing through a doorway into a kitchen equipped with wood stoves, large windows, and an exhaust hood for smoke. Fresh-looking wooden and metal utensils hung on nails along the walls, with wooden plates and cups stacked neatly on a nearby shelf.
«This place has everything required to live comfortably. They really went all out. I'll make sure to thank Norde and Cladis properly once the mission is over.»
He headed straight for the back door. Stepping outside, he surveyed the backyard. A wide porch stretched along the rear of the house. Off to the right sat two small structures: a latrine and a barn.
Walking across the overgrown field, Alaster approached the barn. The land had clearly been used for crops once, but now held only weeds.
Rounding the building, he discovered a small storage shed behind it filled with farming tools—shovels, rakes, and hand implements. Tucked beside them was a massive wooden tub at least two meters wide.
«Jackpot,» the mage thought. Just when he wanted a bath, the solution presented itself.
Within minutes, Alaster had positioned the large wooden tub inside the barn, thoroughly scrubbed with soap, and filled it to the brim with gushing streams of hot water.
«Man, I feel like I haven't had a proper bath since that cat-girl stuffed me into that fish-smelling barrel.»
Holding his hands over the tub, he quickly filled the container—a wide barrel crafted from thick wooden staves.
"All set," he smiled.
Stripping off his long leather coat, boots, and clothes, he slid into the water in an instant. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as the hot water soothed his muscles, tense from hours of balancing in a wagon along the bumpy road.
"Wow, this is amazing."
The elf stretched his legs comfortably, dipping his head under the surface. When he emerged and opened his eyes, Elise was standing a short distance away, staring at him wide-eyed.
"A... Al!"
The girl scanned him up and down, her face turning bright red.
"Elise, um... if you'll excuse me, I'm taking a bath," Alaster said.
"Y... yeah, I'm back," she managed, covering her face with her hands—or trying to. Her fingers were spread wide, leaving two clear gaps where her eyes gleamed.
Alaster narrowed his eyes. «She's not even blinking. This girl has zero intention of leaving.»
He stepped out of the tub, shaking himself dry quickly and splashing water toward her.
Elise turned around abruptly, suddenly snapped back to reality. «Al is way too handsome!» she thought frantically.
"I... I'm sorry..."
Alaster glanced at her, then noticed a clay bottle sitting on a rickety box serving as a side table.
"Hey, Elise, since you're standing right there, could you hand me that bottle?" he asked, amused as she jumped.
"B... but you're too far away! I'll have to turn around or I'll trip walking backward!"
Alaster chuckled.
"It's fine."
Glancing sideways at the clay bottle, she took a quick step over and grabbed it with a trembling hand. She pressed it against her chest, her heart racing at the sound of splashing water behind her.
"What are you doing? Hand it over, Elise," the elf said.
The girl turned around with her eyes squeezed shut. Opening one timidly, she caught the elf looking at her. Her gaze drifted down his toned chest, past his defined abs, down to his waist... and hit instant disappointment.
"A towel... A towel..." the girl whimpered in despair.
Alaster snatched the bottle from her hands, turning back toward the far end of the barn as he spoke:
"Well, yeah. The house is full of girls. I'm not an exhibitionist running around naked."
A surge of pure frustration erupted in her chest.
"You... you idiot!"
The mage turned back with a smirk.
A moment later, Elise burst into the house. Berona and Remis looked up as she stormed into the room, the door slamming hard against the wall.
"What happened?" Remis asked, staring at the dripping-wet archer.
"That dumb elf soaked me! Where are my things? There's going to be one less elf in the world today... Where is my bow?!"
Berona burst out laughing while Remis pressed:
"What actually happened?"
"He drenched me completely! Look at my clothes!" The girl's skirt was literally dripping onto the floor.
Denderatrix placed a hand near her lips.
"Oh dear, you look like a drowned chick. Dry off before you catch a cold."
Elise spotted her bow lying on the bed beside her gear—several beds had been arranged in the room for them. She snatched up the bow and pulled the string tight.
"You've cast your last water spell, elf. They're weeping for you tonight, Alaster," the girl muttered, marching toward the door.
Berona raised an eyebrow.
"Wait, why did he splash you? With what water?"
The girl paused, muttering under her breath:
"With... the water he was bathing in..." she whispered so softly nobody heard.
"Huh? What did you say?" Remis asked.
"It doesn't matter! He played with my expectations!"
Both Remis and Berona frowned.
"What?" Berona asked.
"Girls," Detrix chimed in with a smirk, "I think I get the full picture."
The party leader and the thief looked at the mage inquisitively.
"And who are you?" Elise asked, completely ignored by Detrix, who simply continued:
"The girl walked in on handsome Al taking a bath, but after all that build-up... it turns out he had underwear on. No, wait—a towel."
Elise stared at her, her eyes wide as saucers.
"Are you a psychic?!"
Denderatrix smiled and raised her arm to point. As she did, everyone noticed she was holding a pair of lorgnette glasses on an elegant stick. Following where she pointed, they looked right out the window—which offered a direct view into the barn.