I could not stop smiling, my chest full of warmth. Clarissa and I walked down the packed streets of Arbigold, her arms wrapped almost possessively around my right arm, one of her small hands in mine, as we made our way towards our first destination. Thankfully, this was close to a place I had already been a few times already.
There was a building right next to the Adventurer's Guild that had an indoor and outdoor range where you could practice fighting techniques, spar with people, and shoot at targets from a distance with whatever you had to use. Magic, bows and arrows, throwing weapons, etc. According to Martin, it was activated owned by the Adventurer's Guild, but anyone could use it for a fee. That being said, members got to use it for free, and I could also bring people with me, and it wouldn't cost us anything.
"I actually haven't had a chance to practice my magic in a while. I don't really like the idea of hurting people... but I will defend myself if I have to." Clarissa said, and I tightened my grip with the hand that held hers.
"There's nothing wrong with that. You are kind, Clarissa, and I don't think there's anything wrong with not delighting in causing others pain... even if some deserve it." I said, my voice low, before I added, "Just leave that to me. I'll defend you for as long as you'll let me."
Her grip around my arm tightened as she leaned her head into my arm.
"You're so sweet, Eli. Thank you." She said, and I smiled as we kept walking.
"You know, if I knew we were going to do this, I would have probably worn something else. Granted, I can use my magic to keep myself cool so I don't sweat, but my clothes might get a little dirty." She said, and I chuckled as I reached over with my other hand and rubbed her head.
Despite not being a Beastkin, who seemed to absolutely love headpats, but apparently so did Clarissa, and I heard her groan happily as I ran my hand over her soft mane of black hair.
"Don't worry about that. I can use my power to keep dirt and grime off of us. I've been getting a lot better at using it, so I'm pretty sure I can create a layer of my energy just over your skin, rather than a bubble." I said, and my words caused her to giggle softly, the sound like music to my ears.
"Of course you can." She said, rubbing her cheek against my arm, "You truly are ridiculous, you know that right?"
I chuckled.
"Is that a bad thing?" I asked, and she immediately shook her head against me.
"No. Not at all. I feel safe when I'm with you. You're not just strong, but you're a good man Eli, and you treat everyone so well. Other people might not see it that way, given what you can do, and what I've personally seen." She said, pausing as she gathered her thoughts, "But I know who you are, and I know you'd never do anything like that to anyone who doesn't deserve it. And people like Delvin... and well... Renard... they deserved it. I stopped seeing that man as my father a long time ago... and what happened was something that needed to be done."
I truly respected this woman for what she stood for. I felt bad in a way, but only because I truly cared about Clarissa. That being said, even if it was her father, I'd never feel bad about killing that disgusting piece of shit. Despite that, she didn't treat me any differently, and simply saw him as another rabid dog that had to be put down. Despite all of this, though, I didn't want this day to be spent on dark topics like this. I wanted today to be a good day for us, filled with smiles and good old fashioned quality time. And as it would so happen, we had just arrived at our destination. We stopped in front of the doors, and I turned her so she was looking up at me.
"Clarissa, I absolutely adore you. I would never even think of hurting you, Cici, or anyone else that I care about. I only do what needs to be done so other people can live better lives." I said, and she turned to smile up at me, her cheeks red, "But enough of that for now. This is going to be a good day, and I will do my best to make sure it is a day filled with smiles and laughter. I just want to do what I can to make you happy."
I saw the smallest gathering of moisture in the corners of her eyes, before she smiled. She seemed to gain some more courage just then, because she stood on her tiptoes, and leaned her face close to mine. I leaned down, and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. Her lips were so soft, and so sweet. They reminded me of Cici's lips, although my kitten definitely could be aggressive when she wanted to be. This woman right here though? I don't think she could even if she wanted to be.
"I... feel like that gets better every time we do it." She said, her cheeks flushed, but her soft smile conveying her happiness.
"Oh? Is that true?" I asked, before leaning back in and stealing another kiss. A cute little sigh escaped her as we extended this kiss by several more seconds, before we broke apart again. She breathed out a small shakey breath.
"Yeah...I think so." She said, and I couldn't help but laugh at how red her face was.
"Well, we'll have to keep testing the limits to that, won't we?" I asked, and face darkened, but her little smile told me that she thought that was a grand idea.
As we stood there, I decided to take a quick peek over at the Guild, and I grimaced a bit as I saw people putting up a brand new front door on the building. The old one was still off to the side, or rather, the hundreds of small pieces were, as well as many pieces scattered around the street.
"Oops... I'll have to stop in and pay Phillander for the damages." I muttered, and Clarissa followed my gaze, and let out a small laugh.
"You know, you can just open doors like everyone else, right?" She said, and I snorted.
"Yeah... I just kinda lose my cool when you're all in danger." I said, and Clarissa squeezed my arm.
"I was kidding, Eli. I personally like how much you care about us. How you don't let anything stand in your way when it comes to Cici and the rest of us. It's part of why I feel so safe when you're around." She said, and I smiled, leaned down, and kissed the top of her head.
"If any of you need me, I'll always be there." I said, her cheeks dusky, but her smile widening, "Now, come on, let's go and break some shit."
Clarissa laughed merrily as we opened the doors, and stepped inside of the building. The front room of the building was rather small, but there were multiple hallways to the left and right of it that I assumed led to the various training areas here. There was even a sign next to one of the left hallways that read "Adventurer's Guild," which told me that the buildings were connected.
We made our way to the front counter, and behind it stood a a woman that looked roughly in her early 30s standing behind it. As we approached, she gave us a friendly smile.
"Hello! Welcome sir and young miss. What brings you in here today?" She asked us with a kindly voice, and I returned her exuberance.
"Hello ma'am." I said, nodding my head in respect, and she smiled more genuinely at us, "We were hoping to blast some stuff with magic."
The woman laughed good naturedly, amusment dancing in her eyes, "Well, you've certainly come to the right place. Will you both be together? Would you like indoors or outdoors? Also, are you already a member of the guild?"
"Yes, we will be together." I said, and then looked at Clarissa, "I was thinking outside, but what do you think?"
Clarissa smiled warmly at me as I asked, and she didn't even hesitate to answer.
"I'd like outside too. It's a nice day." She said, and then whispered, "Plus, I really don't think you should be using any of your magic inside of any buildings."
I chuckled, before turning back to the woman, "Outdoors please. And yes, I am a member of the Guild."
I then pulled my amulet out of my storage so fast it looked like slight of hand. I liked wearing it, but it didn't really go well with my outfit I had on. The woman held out her hand, so I just reached over, and placed it in her palm. She smiled as she took it, and it was then that I noticed she had one of those small Framework tablets behind the counter. She held the amulet to the tablet, and after a moment, she smiled as she leaned in closer.
"Okay, let me get you...." She said, but trailed off as she looked at the screen, before her eyes snapped up to me, "Elias Crosse..."
"Yes... is something wrong? Is everything... hey, what's wrong?" I said, but I became concerned when I saw tears falling down her face.
"Ma'am? Did we do something wrong? Are you all right?" Clarissa asked, concern in her voice as well.
She looked at me then, and the smile she gave me was one filled with pure gratitude.
"Of course I am okay... You're the reason my daughter is safe, and back home with me." She said, her voice cracking as she tried to wipe away her tears, "I was told I might get to meet you and thank you properly... Gods I'm a mess. I'm sorry, I didn't think it would be so soon."
My heart felt for her. Her daughter was one of the women Delvin had abducted.
"Hey, hey, don't be sorry. You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that. Is she doing okay?" I asked, and she gave me a weak smile, rubbing at her eyes.
"Yes, and no. She wakes up screaming most nights... but I'm always right there beside her when she does. I think... or I hope that in time, she will be okay... I hope..." She said, before her tears began again, "She always wanted to be an Adventurer. I started working here to support her, and I truly have come to enjoy my job. My girl was doing so good in the group she was in... that is, until that man came along."
Her face then took on an anger that only a mother could make.
"My daughter is a beauty, and I guess that disgusting man decided that he wanted her. And she's such a sweet girl that... she just went with him, so he wouldn't harrass her party. That was about a month ago, and I hadn't heard or seen her since then. I tried asking him, but he would just laugh at me and tell me that she was fine, but that I couldn't see her anymore. I tried getting help, but no one would do anything. I didn't know what to do... I reported it to the guards so many times, but they said they couldn't do anything if she went willingly, and that it was her choice whether she came home or not... but they were just scared! Everyone abandoned my daughter and refused to do anything... and even now that she's home, she's broken, and she won't even leave the house..."
I was getting angry at the now dead man all over again, but that wouldn't help anything right now. Clarissa trembled against me, her eyes filling with tears as she listened to this woman's heartbreaking story.
"Ma'am." I said, trying my best to keep it together myself, and then the woman looked at me, "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry. You are right. People were too scared to do anything, because of his and his party's power. No one did anything about him... and it's unacceptable. If I would have come to this city sooner..."
I still had what Cici told me in my mind, but it was still hard to accept. The injustice of it all warmed with the logic of the situation. No one really could do anything about it. Just then, I was surprised when the woman reached over, and clasped both of her hands around the one I had resting on the counter.
"You've done enough, Mr. Crosse. More than enough. You saved not just my daughter, but many daughters, many wives, many siblings. So many people's loved ones are now safe at home with their families... so... for them, and for my little girl... thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."
I just lowered my head, and fought to keep the moisture from falling down my face. I didn't really sink in at first, but now? I had saved so many innocent women from a terrible fate, and now I was seeing and hearing the results of my actions. I couldn't save them all, but at least the ones I did save were back where they belonged with the people that loved them. Just like with the Beastkin, and with the people of Bergast... I had made a difference.
"Darling? Are you all right?" Cici asked, and I smiled despite myself.
This woman, this amazing woman, had felt my emotions, and checked on me immediately. God I fucking love her.
"Yes... I'm fine. I just didn't expect this." I said, and then quickly relayed what had just happened.
"Oh Eli... my sweet, sweet Eli. You've done such a good thing for so many people, just like you have before. It's okay to feel good about that. I'm so proud of you, and it makes me the happiest woman in the world to call you my husband. Even though you're not that comfortable with it, try to accept their praise darling, because your deserve it. Just... do what you do best, and be yourself." She said, and her words caused a tear to slip free that I had been holding.
"I'll try... for you... I'll do my best. You have no idea how grateful I am to have you in my life... every day I am so thankful. I love you, kitten." I said, and I got a mental image of her smiling with tear filled eyes.
"I love you too, darling." She said, and then I got the feeling of mischievousness, "Now, talk to this woman, and then get back to wooing our little Baroness."
I smiled, and chuckled inwardly, as I was not going to laugh outloud at a moment like this.
"Yes dear." I replied, and I could tell she smirked from where she was, before her presence receeded to the back of mind, still there for whenever I needed her.
That quick mental conversation only took a few seconds at most, so I quickly brought myself back to the situation at hand.
"Ma'am, what's your name?" I asked, and then woman looked at me with wet eyes. I could have just inspected her, but I liked doing things my way in moments like this.
"My name is Liandra." She said, and I gave her my best smile.
"Liandra, you are very welcome. I am glad I was able to help you, and your daughter. It makes me happy that she's back home with her mother where she belongs, and I can tell how much you care about her. And please, if you ever need anything else, just ask me, and I'll see what I can do." I said, and that seemed to be the right thing to say, because even though more tears fell from her eyes, she smiled warmly at me.
"I'm so glad a man like you came to this city... thank you so much Mr. Crosse." She said, her earnest gratitude warming my heart.
"I want to extend that to myself as well... I'm not as strong as Eli, but I try to help people however I can." Clarissa said, and the woman smiled down at her.
"What a kind woman you are." Liandra asked, and then looked at me, "Is she your wife? I swear I heard around the Guild that your wife was a pretty Beastkin woman?" She asked, and Clarissa blushed, and I just chuckled.
"Yes, my wife is a beautiful Cat woman, and she's wonderful." I said, and then looked down at Clarissa, her cheeks still on fire, "I guess you could say that Clarissa is my girlfriend." I said, and then looked down at her, "If that's okay?"
I swore I could actually feel the heat coming off of Clarissa's face.
"I... well... I mean... you are courting me so... um... I guess... I am." She stammered, and I couldn't help but laugh. She was just too damn cute.
"Oh... I see?" She said, although it really sounded like she didn't.
"My wife is fine with it. Pretty insistant, actually." I said, and just shrugged. If I was going to have multiple lovers, I was just gonna own it.
The woman just nodded slowly, seemingly already past the emotional roller-coaster we just went on. She looked at us for several seconds, before she just laughed.
"Well, if any man deserves that kind of affection, it's a great man like you." She said, her words actually making me blush a bit for once.
She smiled as she grabbed my amulet and handed it back to me, and then she stepped around the counter.
"I feel much better now... better than I have in a while. Truly, thank you again. Now, that being said, I still have a job to do though, so if you will both please follow me." She said, smiling more brightly this time as she headed towards the right most hallway, and gestured for us to follow her.
I took Clarissa by the hand, and even though she was still red in the face, she looked like she just struck gold with how big her smile was. That definitely helped ease many of the lingering negativity going through my head. What happened wasn't a bad thing, and ultimately, I felt really good that I was able to help her and her daughter. Now, I just wanted to enjoy my time with Clarissa, and I also really wanted to blow some shit up.