Scroll 56: Girls Make No Sense
The elven mage couldn’t simply hand over the papers right then and there, as they were safely stowed inside his dimensional inventory.
“Truth is, I need some rest,” the black-haired elf said.
Deinderatrix chimed in right away:
“Al, my handsome, gorgeous darling, we can talk later.”
Alaster, who was already turning to leave after shaking Norde’s hand, froze in his tracks.
“Uh... yeah, sure. After a bath and all that, we can talk in the yard. Is something wrong?”
He caught a serious tone from her, which was pretty unusual.
“Nothing wrong,” the mage replied.
Alaster studied her expression, which was completely missing her trademark cheeky glint.
“Is this about the Mastery?”
Deinderatrix rolled her eyes.
“Look, Al dear, I tried everything to stop you—I even tried manipulating you, and it didn’t work. Honey, at this point, I’ve given up on that whole thing.”
Alaster was caught off guard.
«Wow, she actually admitted to trying to manipulate me without even batting an eye... I don’t get how she has enough charisma to make that sound completely fine.» He almost applauded her mentally for her skills.
“Alright then. Bye, Cledis, Norde. We’ll talk later.”
The elf started walking off. Cledis looked over at the mage.
“Good luck,” the curly-haired blonde told her.
Norde looked between them while scratching his head, utterly missing the subtext.
The moment Alaster stepped inside, he heard the sheer volume of noise a group of girls could make in the living room. Remis, Berona, Elise, and Pina were locked in an insanely intense debate about what they’d do with the payout he was giving them for their days on the quest.
“I already told you,” Elise said. “I want to rent a nice room at an inn. I’m sick of sleeping in the Adventurers’ Square.”
Berona snorted.
“Didn’t you say the sky was your roof and sleeping in a tent was your first big adventure when you got to Sibar?” the thief teased with a laugh.
Elise huffed, and Pina burst into giggles at the comment.
“And I wasn’t lying!” the blonde girl protested, pumping a clenched fist in front of her. “But after sleeping on the ground for so long, I hate it now!”
Remis joined the chorus of laughter that erupted. Hers was the loudest, Berona had a villainous ring to her chuckle, and Elise had a messy laugh; amidst it all, Pina’s soft murmurs of laughter sounded like the timid chirping of a little bird.
Alaster decided those conversations were none of his business and headed up the stairs. The laughter faded, replaced by the silence of his room.
Once inside, he slid the bolt shut and walked over to the table serving as a small desk. Charging his ring slightly, he opened a spatial rift and pulled out all the documents he had swiped from Istis’s camp, along with the chest of gold and silver coins. Opening it to gaze at the roughly one hundred coins inside, he thought:
«Even though Feralt gave me spellbooks worth way more than this, having cash on hand is definitely better. As for what I’ll do with it... I should think that through more carefully. But right now, setting the gold aside, I have to decide whether to accept that Mastery. The level-cap hold doesn’t really bother me; with how I clear out monsters in huge waves, it shouldn’t be a problem. But I have to do it alone. I can’t keep hiding my spatial abilities while fighting alongside others.»
Facing the orcs on his own had made him realize he was exponentially stronger by himself—or at least when he didn’t have to hide his powers.
He arranged the scrolls into a stack on the table and realized he had taken way more papers than he originally thought.
«Alright, I’ve got them organized for Detrix.» He tied them with a piece of twine and set them aside. «Time for another bath.»
Ten minutes later, he joined the rest in the living room, wearing a fresh linen shirt, brown trousers, and low boots. Syrus was sitting on a sofa beside Elise and Berona. Remis and Pina were relaxing on the other couch. Between them sat a low, rustic table with teacups and a teapot Alaster didn’t recognize.
«Did someone bring that in?» he wondered.
He walked over and plopped down next to Pina, the only open spot left aside from the dining table, which was further away. Tagard sat alone in a single armchair. On the other side was an identical one occupied by Deinderatrix, comfortably lounging with her feet up on the furniture, her strappy sandals kicked to the side, and a massive book resting on her lap. She seemed to alternate her attention between reading and the chatter around her.
The rest of the girls were dressed similarly, but the one who caught him off guard the most was Berona: she was wearing a pair of black shorts identical to the ones Jinneth used to wear, paired with a light blouse that completely clashed with her usual modest outfit and the cloak she never seemed to take off, even to sleep. Short skirts and low necklines were everywhere; slender legs filled his line of sight wherever he looked. He felt a little... uncomfortable? Or maybe a little too comfortable?
Syrus seemed like a fish in water in this ocean of estrogen. On the other hand, Tagard—wearing short pants that showcased a pair of hairy legs Alaster privately deemed a hazard to the scenery—stared in every direction except at the girls, his face slightly flushed.
«No way... This guy acts so tough and yet here he is. Now that I think about it, I’ve never seen him talk to women without being an idiot unless it’s business on the battlefield.»
His thoughts were cut short when Elise called out to him, likely for the third time.
“Al! Al!” the archer said.
Alaster turned to look at her. The girl, wearing a white skirt with a subtle blue trim near the hem, sat with her legs crossed, a single-strap sandal dangling off her foot, practically ready to drop. She swung her foot impatiently while leaning slightly forward, giving the elf a prime view down the neckline of her pink blouse. He caught her bright eyes and her face framed by damp hair.
“I’m asking what you’re going to do next, you’re not even listening to me,” she protested, pouting.
Alaster smiled.
“Sorry, Elise. I’m staying for a few days to rest, practice a spell, and check out the surroundings. In a few days I’m heading to the port—I have another quest there.”
“Hunting pirates?” Deinderatrix cut in, lowering her spellbook. “Al, pirates are extremely dangerous, handsome Al. Even for a mage. They’re deceitful and ruthless.”
The mage seemed genuinely concerned. Elise puffed out her cheeks.
“Al, don’t go. Just cancel that quest.”
“Those pirates poisoned a magistrate in charge of dock security,” Remis added. “They’re bad news.”
Alaster smiled, touched by their worry.
“Don’t worry, I’m just going to conjure up some ice to supply a ship or two—nothing crazy. Honestly, I was told these quests were super easy. And seeing how easily we cleared out that golem, I’m pretty sure it’s just an F-rank job.”
“Ah, so you’re just filling up the hold of some fishing boat with ice,” Berona noted.
“I don’t know,” the elf replied, shrugging. “There aren’t many details, but based on the name, I don’t think it’s a fishing boat.”
In the few minutes they’d been talking, the room had grown almost completely dark. Alaster stood up from the couch, walked over to the table, and picked up a lamp. He materialized a tiny flame at his fingertip and lit it. As he turned back around, he saw Deinderatrix looking up toward the ceiling. The room brightened as the mage muttered a spell, lighting ten candles in a chandelier overhead.
“Let's go,” Alaster told Detrix.
The woman slid off the armchair and slipped into her sandals. The elf took the lead, holding the back door open for her—it was practically second nature at this point.
«She said this wasn’t about the Mastery, so what does she want to talk about? Magic? Must be that.»
He felt the cool night air. It wasn’t completely dark yet, and the table they’d left outside was still there alongside a few chairs.
“Should we take a seat?” he asked.
“No need,” she said, stepping closer with her eyes glued to the ground.
«What’s this? Why is she suddenly acting as shy as Pina?»
Deinderatrix stepped so close he could smell the floral scent of her damp hair.
“Alaster...” The woman’s serious tone made his blood run cold.
The lamp in his left hand swayed slightly.
“Y... yeah?” he replied.
“You know I like you... I’ve thought about it a lot these past few weeks. From the first time I saw you, I felt this—something I hadn’t felt for anyone in years. When I found out you’d left, I thought it was because of the guard. I...” Her voice broke slightly. “I thought you weren’t coming back, until I talked to Lieny. She told me you were here, so I came. Of course I came because I was worried, but... I also wanted to see if what I felt was still there. And it’s not just still there...”
Deinderatrix looked up, meeting his eyes directly.
“I’m sorry, Alaster. Being just a friend isn’t enough for me.”
She blurted it all out almost without breathing, her gaze intense, her face flushed, and her arms tightly crossed under her bust. The elf heard her swallow hard right after her speech.
«A confession right now?» Alaster thought, taking in Detrix’s vulnerable posture. «Did this woman really travel all through goblin territory just to tell me this? She’s definitely bold.»
He couldn’t help admiring the mage’s stunning figure less than a yard away. The warm orange glow of the lamp cast a gorgeous light over her fine features and smooth skin. She could drive any man wild, but Alaster was no longer that simple. His mind was filled with Jinneth’s smiles, her gentle warmth, and their mutual promise of affection and respect.
«I honestly don’t even know if I have a girlfriend at this point...» he thought, shaking his head mentally. «Until I talk to her, I have to assume I do.»
“You’re very beautiful, Deinderatrix. Truly. But I can’t return your feelings the way you want.”
The mage’s features tightened slightly, but she didn’t cry or complain.
“I have a girlfriend,” the elf continued.
The mage’s eyebrows shot up, her eyes instantly sparking with curiosity.
“Who?” she asked immediately.
Alaster blinked at the sudden shift in energy.
“Uh... Jinneth. Do you remember her?”
The mage looked off to the side, pressing a finger to her lips thoughtfully. Her face lit up a second later.
“The cute girl from the inn! I remember now, she went with us to the horned-rabbit clearing!” She grinned broadly.
Alaster thought: «Why is she so happy? Didn’t I just reject her? I don’t understand women in this world.»
Detrix turned around with a burst of energy.
“Well, handsome Al, I’m getting back to my book.”
The elf blinked several times.
«Holy crap! She’s either insanely mature or there’s some cultural thing I’m totally missing... Was she joking? But she looked dead serious.»
Suddenly, she turned back:
“Hey, Al, don’t activate that Mastery. It’s a waste of time.”
Alaster sighed.
“Yeah, yeah, I heard you.”
The woman smirked and shrugged.
“A girl’s gotta try,” she smiled, turning to leave.
“Hey, Detrix,” he stopped her. “We’re still friends, right? We’re good?”
The mage turned one last time and dropped a line that left him dead in his tracks:
“Of course. We’re still friends... for now.”
“Glad to hear it,” Alaster said, adding as she stepped inside, “Enjoy your spellbook.”
“Don’t stay out too long, it’s starting to get chilly,” the mage called back, disappearing behind the door.
In his mind, the elf replayed her words: “We’re still friends... for now.” What the hell was that supposed to mean? People in this world were far too weird, especially the women.
Two hours later, Alaster was standing in the middle of his room dressed in his linen shirt, black trousers, high boots, and gloves. With a wave of his hand, a tiny glowing hexagon appeared in front of him. Then another, and another. He focused, weaving them into a structured barrier.
Crack!
The structure shattered like glass, its fragments dissolving before touching the floor.
“Tsk,” he clicked his tongue in frustration. “And here I thought I had it down. This shield spell is surprisingly tricky.”
He walked over to the bed, picked up the book, and flipped through a few pages.
“Right... I swapped two symbols. Inverted them.”
He took his stance again, took a deep breath, visualized the barrier, and rapidly ran through all three thousand-plus symbols, constructing several magical arrays. In a way, this felt ridiculously like coding—except the compiler was the world itself.
In an instant, the hexagons materialized and snapped together. This time, it held firm.
“Now I just need to move it...”
He let out a sigh as he tried to shift the shield behind his back, only for it to drag at a crawl. Dissolving the spell, he walked back to the book to check the movement array linked to his consciousness.
“Another symbol error,” he muttered.
Knock, knock.
A sound came from the door. He grabbed a long black coat off the chair.
“Coming!” he called out.
Syrus’s muffled voice echoed from the other side:
“Hurry up before the girls start asking questions.”
When he stepped out, the tank looked nervous—a stark contrast to Tagard’s stoic composure.
“Man, Syrus, lose the face. You look... guilty of something.”
The tank cleared his throat.
“It’s just that my wife is really strict about the places I frequent... and she and Elise know each other.”
“You’re going out with an elf,” Tagard laughed. “You think they’re gonna suspect us of chasing working girls?”
Alaster raised an eyebrow.
“I thought we were just grabbing a drink...”
“Yeah, Al. A drink and some action. I’m married, so I don’t need any of that,” Syrus said, stepping forward.
“I don’t even want to think about girls right now,” the elf replied.
Tagard sighed impatiently.
“You guys act like boring old men. What’s wrong with getting a few girls drunk, making them promises, and giving them some love?”
“There are so many things wrong with that sentence I don’t even know where to start, man,” Alaster shot back as they headed down the stairs.
“Are you two really planning to just sit there, drink, and listen to music?”
“Yep,” Alaster and Syrus said in unison.
“Worst wingmen ever,” Tagard grumbled.
“Pipe down,” Syrus muttered as they crossed the living room.
The girls were sitting on the floor playing cards on a pile of cushions pulled from the sofas. Alaster caught a passing glimpse of Remis’s long, bare legs in a pair of revealing pajamas. Everyone was there except Deinderatrix; Cledis had taken her spot instead.
“Any idea where Deinderatrix is?” Alaster asked.
The girls turned to look at him.
“Where are you going?” Elise asked immediately, setting her cup down on the table.
“Going to do stuff. Guy stuff, you know—drinking rum, spitting on the floor, the usual,” he joked.
Pina giggled, but the rest gave him weird looks.
“Seriously, Al, don’t joke around,” Remis said, pushing herself up onto her knees.
Alaster swallowed quietly at Remis’s provocative attire. Berona sat beside her in casual loungewear.
“We’re just going out for a drink to unwind,” Syrus stepped in. “We’ll be back before midnight.”
“Or maybe tomorrow,” Tagard added.
Alaster felt the girls’ cold glares lock onto them, especially Elise’s.
“N... no, we won’t be back that late,” he said quickly.
The girls nodded.
“You’re a grown elf, you don’t need permission,” Elise said, though her tone sounded a bit forced.
“It’s true, Al, we trust you,” Berona added, looking straight at Tagard.
The warrior seemed to shrink a bit under her gaze.
“And Detrix?” Alaster asked again.
“She said she’d be down in a bit, she’s in her room.”
The mage looked over at Cledis and smiled.
“And Norde?”
“At home, sleeping. I came over with the girls when Elise invited me.”
“I know it’s your house, Al...” Elise started to say.
“We’re all friends here,” the elf raised a hand. “Just... don’t break anything. This place cost me a lot of money.”
The girls burst into laughter. Elise stood up, walked over, and grabbed the elf by the arm.
“I can come too!”
“Don’t you have to entertain the girls? Besides, we’re just going to drink and complain about life.”
“You’re going to see dancers, aren’t you?” Cledis asked.
Syrus’s eyes went wide for a split second, but Tagard subtly stepped in front of him.
“Dancers? What dancers?” Alaster asked, putting on his best innocent elven face. “Tagard, have you heard anything about dancers?”
“Nope. Heard about illegal chicken races, but nothing about dancers,” the warrior replied smoothly. “We’re heading out, Alaster.”
Tagard dragged the visibly guilty tank out the door. The elf watched them leave, then turned back to the girls, who were calmly sipping their tea.
“So are there actually dancers?” Berona whispered to Cledis.
“Yes,” she replied. “They wear fringe skirts and are practically naked. They take a lot of money from men.”
Berona looked at the elf in shock. Alaster smiled; they acted like jealous sisters. He took two steps forward and collapsed across Elise and Pina’s legs, using the younger girl’s lap as a pillow.
“I’ll stay if you pamper me,” he said, opening his mouth. On the table were strawberries, grapes, and cookies.
Pina picked up a strawberry to feed him, but Elise’s hand stopped her.
“What are you doing? Can’t you see he’s messing with us?”
Pina’s sweet face crumpled into an annoyed scowl, and Elise pouted.
“Get off!” Elise pushed the elf’s legs aside, standing up and pulling his hands to drag him up.
Pina grabbed him by the shoulder with her tiny hands, though she couldn’t budge him at all. Cledis came over to help pull him up by his shoulders.
“Get out, you idiot!” Berona laughed, giving him shoves.
“Go on, get out of here with your scandalous dancers!” Remis teased, giving him a gentle push.
Pina, genuinely indignant that she’d almost fed him fruit, searched her mental vault for the absolute worst insult she knew—the creature that disgusted her most in the whole world:
“Get out, you bat! You’re a bat! Bat!” the girl shrieked, squeezing her eyes shut.
A second later, Alaster was pushed out the front door by a flurry of slender arms and delicate hands. He caught his balance, laughing.
“Alright, alright, you threw me out. I’m free now,” he told his companions.
Syrus laughed while Tagard just shook his head.
“Right then,” the elf said, adjusting his collar and shirt. He gave himself a couple of quick pats and checked that the coins were secure on his belt. “All set.”