"I'm telling you, kid, you'd best state your intentions sooner rather than later."
Vedda clapped Luke on the shoulder, his tone that of a man who knew the score. A guy who transitioned from adventurer to merchant always had stories to tell.
"I know, I just need a little preparation."
Bang!
The instant Luke finished speaking, he was slammed face-first onto the ground.
Madawc tried to straighten the iron bar in his hand again, but it snapped in half with a groan of protest.
"So wishy-washy, like a weakling."
Madawc casually tossed the two pieces of the iron bar onto the ground. He grabbed Luke by the ankle and strode toward Olarac. He had realized Luke's disappearance shortly after returning to the training ground from the Elder Sanctuary, so he came straight here to find the troublesome young man.
Madawc's only hint of kindness was probably his desire to "help others achieve success"—but only in the way a Barbarian would go about it.
"Madawc, aren't you afraid Rakkis will hear that comment?"
A mischievous smile, nearly a smirk, appeared on Vedda's face.
"One bottle of Bul-Kathos's prized reserve!" Madawc shot Vedda the middle finger.
"Two! At least two bottles!" Vedda was delighted. His own reserves were running low; after all, his death had been sudden, leaving him no time to hoard enough collectibles.
"Get lost! Am I afraid of Rakkis? Don't make me laugh!" Madawc retracted his finger, tacitly agreeing to Vedda's terms. He wasn't afraid of Rakkis seeking him out, but he was afraid of her tossing him into the sky like a training dummy. That would be utterly humiliating.
Now that the Ancestors were dead, they no longer possessed their full power, nor would they undergo any further change. If they couldn't win, they simply couldn't win, and the gap between him and Rakkis was enormous. Every Barbarian who possessed a Legendary Set had a massive advantage over others, such as Bul-Kathos, Volusk, and Rakkis!
"Madawc, you shouldn't be meddling in other people's business." Olarac said, his voice deep and rumbling.
"The kid can't have his lady-love die before he even gets a chance to confess." Madawc expressed his lack of optimism for Jessica without reservation.
Jessica's eyes, watching Luke playing dead on the ground, crinkled with amusement.
Luke managed to lift his head with some effort—Madawc still held his ankle.
"Um, I just…"
"Shut up! Stop with your stammering! You fool!" Madawc threw Luke onto the snow right in front of Jessica, the robust body sending up a spray of flakes.
"Your name is Luke? Luke… what?" Jessica asked with a smile.
"Luke Cage. Hello, Jessica!" Luke had already learned Jessica Jones's name from Vedda. He lifted his head and replied awkwardly.
"You like me?" Jessica squatted down, looking Luke directly in the eyes.
"Yes, I…"
"But you don't even know what I've done, Luke." As Jessica said this, she recalled a painful past memory, and a trace of anguish flashed in her eyes. But her voice remained calm. Since arriving on the Sacred Mountain, she seemed to have gained some courage to face her past.
"I never talk about the past, Jessica."
Luke wasn't a complete idiot. He was inherently a kind and righteous person, possessing the vital quality of empathy for the suffering of others. While he carried the scent of the streets, that was no issue on Mount Arreat. Sometimes, the Barbarians' own style of conduct was rougher than any street punk.
"Alright, Luke, I remember you. When I get back from the Rift, you can buy me a drink." Jessica stood up, her voice trembling slightly.
To face imminent death without fear, one would already have to be a true warrior, not someone like her, still mired in her own suffering. Thankfully, it wasn't too late to change.
Jessica's appearance was easily categorized as attractive; by no means was she plain. Yet, it was this face, coupled with her superhuman strength, that had brought her a nightmare.
She had originally given up all hope for romance.
"What are you all doing?"
Rumlow strolled up next to Vedda nearby. Since Talic hadn't urged him to hurry up and fetch Luke, the matter couldn't have been all that urgent. Even if Luke was heading into a Rift, they wouldn't go without any preparation. So, Talic's instruction to call Luke was probably just to discuss the precautions for the team Greater Rift.
When Rumlow arrived at Luke and Madawc's training area, he had only seen Madawc's back, so he had leisurely followed behind him. He arrived just in time for quite a show.
"Nothing much. Little Luke seems to have found a sweetheart, and Madawc lent a hand. We all know Madawc loves playing matchmaker." Vedda tried hard to look serious, but the smile at the corner of his mouth was uncontrollable.
Rumlow looked at Luke, who was still sprawled on the ground, feeling somewhat confused. That didn't seem to be the conventional definition of "playing matchmaker."
"So, did it work out?" Rumlow quietly asked Vedda beside him. It was hard to suppress the urge to gossip about such things.
"It looks decent; at least he got a chance." Vedda shook his head and pulled Rumlow back as he was about to step forward. "Kid, let Luke cool off for a bit. That girl is going into Olarac's Rift tomorrow."
Vedda's words informed Rumlow of the situation. Although the Ancestors weren't particularly fond of Jessica, who seemed likely to die, they still discussed the basic circumstances. Jessica wasn't exactly popular among the Ancestors; the constant aura of sin she exuded didn't make any of them want to approach her. However, their dislike of sin wasn't enough to make them shun Olarac over it.
There was nothing new on the Sacred Mountain, and the Ancestors' prolonged existence made them perfectly clear about human affairs. They would eventually talk about it during their downtime. Stuck on the Sacred Mountain with nothing to do, the Ancestors either chatted or brawled to relieve the boredom.
"I suppose this love story might end before it even begins."
Rumlow took the hand axe from his waist. He turned and walked away. The axe was on loan from Talic; otherwise, he wouldn't even have a practice weapon. Since he had some materials on hand, asking Haedrig to forge something for him wouldn't take too long.
"Ancestor Vedda, please tell Luke to find me at Haedrig's forge after this is over." Rumlow adjusted his shoulder and spoke to Vedda in a formal tone.
"Talic's heir might be a lot better than that slow-witted fool, I see." Vedda no longer paid attention to Rumlow's movements, muttering to himself.
His voice wasn't quiet at all, which made Madawc's expression darken.
(End of Chapter)
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