34 Necklace (1/2)

”I thought we had already discussed everything… and why do I have a feeling you already planned this all out?” he said entering the room again, while the three were already casually taking seats inside his room.

”I thought it would be wise to discuss this more privately. We did use the time to get here to gather more information, or at least what Eileen could tell us, and some of the aspects uncovered deserve more attention.” said Therese, putting her swords down and leaning them to the table.

Riou looked at Eileen briefly, she seemed a bit embarrassed underneath the unchanging facade. He turned back to Therese. ”So?” he was trying to understand where she was going with that.

”So we have some questions that we'd like to address with you now that we have some time.” added Therese.

Riou pondered for a moment, 'I think there's no harm in that… is there? Of course, I can always answer as I see fit.'

”Well, let's hear it. I can't promise I will be able to answer it properly though.” said the boy getting more comfortable at the chair as well.

Therese nodded in agreement and clearly intending to go first. ”Who was your master?” she questioned. Clearly master and disciple relationships are very strong between the Beast clans. Riou understood why she'd ask that first.

”Hmm, how can I answer that in a way you can understand.” said the boy pondering a good answer. ”I think I can say that I didn't have just one.”

”Was it like in the academy? Where the students have many masters throughout the week?” added Therese.

Riou pondered for a moment, 'In a sense… it's not all wrong. I can do things I could only do in games. Everything I learnt came from different moments and different stories, aside from the scientific knowledge of my world that were indeed given by classes and books.'

Riou nodded partially convinced, ”Yeah, I think that's a good comparison.”

Therese's eyes went down, as if expecting a better answer, a name, a place, something to which she could relate to. Unfortunately the boy gave none.

Leona continued, ”Where are you from?” in an attempt to fill the gap and place him amongst the lands they knew.

Riou again had to analyze how to proper answer that question. ”Far away; too far actually. Far enough for its name to mean nothing in your tongue.”

Leona nodded. It was no secret that there were lands spread across the sea, but few knew their names or cultures, since it was very dangerous to sail. Little contact have been made so far, it made sense for her.

Next was Eileen. Riou was already expecting a question from the princess. From what he knew of the princess, she'd probably ask how he had got there, since his previous answer might bring doubt, as it differed from the version heard from Bhalrom.

Eileen seemed serious and struggling with what to ask. After a brief moment, she finally spoke, ”Your friends seemed nice. Is there anything we should know about them?”

Riou seemed surprised but complied nonetheless.

”No, they are normal mercenaries and a couple of noble sons and daughters aspiring to be adventurers. They are not that bad once you get past the first impression… The talkative one is a thief called Viki. Be aware around her, or she will rob you blind, if you are not careful,” explained Riou.

A moment of silence enveloped the room. As the topic had strayed far from its course, Therese quickly steered the conversation back to what she wanted to know.

”Back when you left Allard, we were just a couple hours behind, and despite our efforts and speed, we didn't find you along the way. How did you do it?”

Leona and Eileen curiosity were immediately pricked as well.

Riou went with logic. ”Well, maybe we went on a similar pace, so we did not meet in time?”

Therese shook her head. ”We also know you reached Brigantium much earlier. We confirmed it when we found the room you stayed in.”

He widened his eyes with surprise.

”How? How can you be so sure?” questioned the boy.

”We found your scent on the room you stayed, and the tavern owner confirmed the person staying in it had just left when we arrived,” continued Therese, cornering the boy.

”Well, I was probably just going a bit faster than you guys, so in the long distance it showed as I gained more time ahead.” It was not a lie, but still, he realized that if he told them the whole truth, it could get even more problematic than it already was.

The three didn't like the answer, but before anyone could say anything further, Therese added, ”Were you involved in the fight?”

Riou scratched his head. 'What do I say now?'

”Before you answer, keep in mind that we spoke to Viktor,” added Therese, prying the boy to get a response. She watched him with great attention.

The boy seemed to have been taken by surprise. He knew they were there, but until now he doubted if he was identified or not.

”Oh yeah? Was he there? What did he say?” questioned the boy in an attempt to dismiss any claim.

Therese was serious, as if interrogating a suspect she knew was to blame for his crimes.

”He said you were the mage,” she said while looking briefly with stern eyes to Eileen, before she even thought of defending him.

'Crap,' thought the boy. 'So he did recognize me… damn,' Riou thought, but something was not right. The image of the mercenary leader came to his mind, as another thought took his head.

'Wait a second… That sarcastic fight addict would never say a straight up answer, not even for the famous Lioness,' as if a switch was turned on his head he realized.

Riou shook his head. ”You shouldn't bother with what he says. He just likes to mess with you,” said the boy, relaxing in his chair, calling out the bluff. ”I was in the city, but I was tired. When I woke up, there was a commotion, and everything was already underway. I didn't even see the fight.”

Therese didn't look very convinced.

Riou smiled to himself. 'I knew it, that bastard. Even if he knew it was me, he still would not give a straight up answer.'

”Extend your arm,” said Therese out of the blue. Riou didn't understand. ”What you going to do now?” he said with a hint of distrust.

”Use your mana to protect your arm. I will squeeze it a bit to feel your mana ability level,” said the Lioness, extending her hand, waiting for the boy's arm.

Riou looked at her sideways. ”It's just a simple test right?” With a bit of apprehension, he complied. 'Maybe she wants to be sure, so I just have to do poorly in this test, and she will be convinced... so I just have to go slowly… and let her do her thing.'

Therese grabbed his forearm with her right hand.

Once again, her eyes immediately flared at the same moment her hand touched the boy, and the vertical pupils could be seen in her golden eyes. Eileen looked surprised, as it was the first time seeing such a change on Therese.

'Will this happen every time?' the boy thought at the seeing the Lioness like that again.

Instantly his sense of danger triggered as he felt Therese's intense flow of mana. He instinctively replied in kind and involved his arm muscles and bones at a cellular level for protection.

The boy could see her hand strained by the strength she was applying on his arm, but all he could feel was as if a leaf was gently resting on it. Clearly his understanding of anatomy was much larger than the Lioness, with much less mana he not only could match her but overcome her strength as well.

'Shit, I overdid it…' he slowly thought as he adjusted his mana on the arm to the point he could feel her grip and pressure of her fingers. He kept on balancing it as she varied the intensity. Riou matched her in every sudden change after a few moments of delay, he deliberately delayed the response in an attempt to fake his inaptitude and convince the Lioness.

After a while, her hand began to show signs of fatigue, as her fingers began to release his arm. When her hand finally released him completely, she nodded as if talking to herself.

”Very good, very good indeed,” she said as her eyes returned to normal.

'Good, she is not that impressed. Finally a test I didn't mess up,' he complimented himself mentally.

Leona showed much interest on the results and seemed eager to hear from Therese. Eileen as well waited with curiosity.

Therese was silently pondering the results she had obtained for a few moments, while everyone waited for her to speak.

”The better weapons, I take you know how to make them because, in your land, they are somewhat common?” said Therese, snapping out of her trance and changing the topic once again to everyone's disappointment.

Riou was expecting an answer for the test, but clearly it was normal results, so he thought it wasn't necessary.

”Well, steel weapons, or as you call it, living metal are indeed very common. But the other ones, the better ones are just theoretical because the elements needed do not actually exist there… but I have a strong impression that they do here in this lands,” explained the boy.

Therese nodded, understanding the concept. The living metal as well was just a legend here. If it was common from where he came from, who knows how those weapons could perform. Therese nodded with hope of a weapon strong enough to match the clan leaders.

”The weapon you mentioned before, the one that you need to beat… is it made of living metal?” questioned Riou.

Therese leaned back on her chair. ”Until today I'd definitely had said yes to that question… but now knowing there might be even stronger ones out there, I'm not so certain anymore because no weapon, no matter which one, has survived more than 1 strike against his.”

Riou nodded. It indeed sounded like it was a strong possibility because steel weapons could not cut pure iron or copper weapons that easily.

Suddenly another question from Therese while he was absorbed in his thoughts. Therese seemed a bit different than her usual self, she was calmer and talking slower than she was used to. Perhaps the test was taking its toll on her, thought the boy unsure to the real motive.

”In Syldis' Tavern and even now, you promptly agreed to help a stranger like myself. We have no relation, nor do you have any obligation to do it… and with such an impossible request as to forge something that might not exist, yet you never once requested any kind of reward. Why?”

Riou sighed and looked at the Lioness. Her golden eyes truly awaited eagerly for an answer. Leona and Eileen as well seemed curious, but not nearly as bothered by it as Therese.

He couldn't hold back a smile. ”Now, well, I'd just feel bad to ask for something when I'm not even sure if I can do it.”

Therese nodded and added, ”I understand, but still no one does anything without a reward in mind, and even if we succeed on the task, I would not be able to accept it without a proper reward… so please name your price.”

The boy sighed and thought for a while… 'How much could this work be worth? If I can get my hands on the metal, it should be fairly easy… heat for the melting point will not be a problem. I can always use magic to help with molding and sharpening, so it's not that really hard actually… but how much would it actually be worth?”

Riou looked at the Lioness. ”What do you say we do it this way; if I can indeed make better swords, and you think they are what you expected of them, then you repay me as you see fit. I believe your honor would not allow you to trick me, am I right?” Riou smiled wryly towards the Lioness. ”How does that sound?”

Therese thought for a moment, she nodded once and smiled. ”I agree, I will repay you based on the weapons,” she answered gladly.

”It's a deal then… as for back in the Tavern, Syldis put a good word about you. She said you were good old friends. That's the only reason I accepted to help you back then, because she asked me to”

Therese smiled once again and nodded to the remark. She seemed very pleased to hear that.

The conversation extended for a while more, a bit more friendlier manner, many subjects were brought up about his homeland and himself, but Riou's responses were mostly vague, as he himself wasn't able to explain in a way they could understand. He seemed to be deliberately elusive on some subjects, but still, they noticed his effort to make it in a way they could somewhat understand something.

It was getting really late when Therese stood up quickly followed by Leona. ”This was a very useful conversation. I've got a better understanding of your situation.” She bowed, giving her good night, and as she began to walk towards the door, she advised, ”From tomorrow onward I'd recommend you to start to think on how to conceal your presence… there are things in these mountains that will be drawn to it.”

Riou nodded. ”I will see what I can do about it, but how can I know if it is working?”

”Wild beasts will stay put or even attack the caravan and not flee from it” Added Therese smiling.

”How do you do it?” Questioned Riou

”It's just a matter of suppressing yourself and conceal your presence from the surroundings” Explained the Lioness as it was a simple task.

Riou squinted his eyes ”That was not helpful at all” Therese smiled and nodded her head once leaving the room.

Once She and her disciple were outside, Leona walked beside Therese. ”How did he fare?” questioned the wolf curiously, clearly wanting to know about the test.

”I can't say for sure,” bluntly answered the Lioness.

Leona looked puzzled toward her master, who continued after they entered the room.

”I put in a lot of power right from the start,” She paused for a moment. ”and he looked like he didn't even feel it… a moment later, I noticed he was already precisely matching my power” said Therese.

Leona found it hard to believe, as her expression showed.

Therese nodded. ”I even tried to change it around… make it difficult for him to do so, but he quickly caught up, again and again, just a moment after me.”

Leona stopped walking and looked down for a moment. ”That would mean he has a skill similar to…”

”My master,” completed Therese.

”With such physical mana manipulation, is it possible he was also the mage in Brigantium?” questioned Leona.

”He is no Elf… so for a human he is already far too young to be this proficient in mana manipulation alone… and a Mage able to use spells as powerful as used in the fight in Brigantium should be very old with many decades of study.” She paused for a moment, raising her head and looking at Leona.

”But on the other hand, his aura is far too great for just what he showed us so far,” pondered Therese for a moment.

Leona nodded. ”Why do you think he tries to hide his skill? Even deny it sometimes?”

Therese smiled and looked up as if remembering her past. ”My Master is not too different herself… she used to often say to me when I was younger in the Beast Plains: act weak when strong. Be subtle and ever mysterious.”

”But what does that mean?” asked Leona, puzzled.

Therese smiled. ”That's for you to figure out.”

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Eileen remained in Riou's room for a bit longer.

She stood up and began to walk towards the window, speaking with him. ”It feels like a lifetime had passed since we used to train and talk in the castle's training halls.”

Riou smiled. ”I bet it has been though these past weeks. I can tell you've become even stronger than before.”

She walked towards the window, looking around the room.

She leaned on the window wall and turned towards Riou and continued, ”I learnt a lot from Therese and Leona, but I feel I still have a long way to go, so I need to improve quickly if I want to keep up with them.”

Riou smiled wryly. ”Therese is a better teacher right?” said the boy thinking that her training methods were probably very harsh, and very effective when compared to his attempt at teaching.

Eileen smiled and nodded.

She looked outside, as the cold breeze caressed her hair. ”It's strange, I can't picture you losing, to me or anyone else.” She smiled brightly turning towards the boy. ”Well, maybe against Therese. I can't see her losing either.”

Riou laughed. ”I wouldn't even spar with her. She would get all serious and try to kill me.”

Eileen laughed as well at the precise depiction of Therese. She really didn't know how to go easy.

'She has grown,' thought Riou. The cold expression he remembered was completely gone.

”You look happy. I'm glad you are enjoying yourself,” said the boy looking at the princess at the window.

She smiled and nodded, agreeing with him. ”Yeah, it has been hard, but it is really fun to travel with them.” She then walked towards him.