The tension in the room slowly dissolved after Morrigan's declaration. The guards stepped forward, unlocking the restraints around Grub's wrists. The cold metal cuffs slipped off with a dull clink, and Grub let out a long sigh as he stared down at his now free hands.
Flexing his fingers slowly, Grub stretched his arms out and rolled his shoulders as he let out a long breath
He couldn't help but be glad he was free. At least… for now. He had passed the first stage and Morrigan had let him live. But even as that thought settled in his mind, something else lingered beneath it. A feeling he couldn't shake.
She knows more than she's letting on…
Morrigan didn't strike him as someone who made decisions lightly. The way she watched him, the way she spoke—it didn't feel like guesswork, but before he could dwell on it any further, something suddenly collided with him.
A soft and warm form pressed against him suddenly. Grub stiffened slightly as Luthiel wrapped her arms around him in a sudden hug, pressing into his chest without hesitation.
As he blinked a couple times, he was still unsure how to react.
Luthiel pulled back and titled her head to look up at him, her bright yellow eyes shining as she began speaking rapidly, her tone cheerful and full of energy.
Grub stared at her with a lost expression. Not a single word that she spoke was understood by him. It seems the effect Morrigan had used earlier was gone. Grub raised a hand slightly and shook his head, trying to signal that he didn't understand. Luthiel paused, her expression falling into a small frown as she glanced back toward Morrigan, who was now being helped down from her seat.
The old woman shuffled over, clearly annoyed.
"I suppose leaving your dumbass in the village without understanding a damn thing would be a problem, huh, cutie?"
She clicked her tongue and reached into her coat, digging around for a moment before pulling out a small pin and without ceremony, she tossed it to him.
"Look," she said bluntly, "I imbued that with the same trick I used earlier. Wear it, and you'll understand people.Its as simple as that."
Grub caught the pin and examined it briefly before attaching it to his coat. Almost as soon as he did, the world shifted around him. The sounds he heard were now clarified. Words that once felt foreign now made sense, slipping into his understanding as though they had always been familiar.
He exhaled slowly as a wash of relief came first. Then a faint annoyance crept in as well.
It had taken him weeks to even begin understanding the Lacerts. Now there was suddenly a way to do it in an instant and without effort. It almost felt like he'd wasted his time.
Grub sighed quietly and pushed the thought aside.
No point dwelling on it.
Morrigan ignored Grub and turned to Luthiel.
"Stay safe, little one," she said, her tone slightly softer now. "Show this idiot around. And if anything goes wrong—"
She waved her hand lazily.
"You know where to find me."
With that, she turned and began walking away, muttering under her breath about how annoying the entire trial had been.
Luthiel watched her go, letting out a small, amused giggle before turning back to Grub.
"Come on," she said brightly. "I have to show you around, you know."
With that, Luthiel turned and began walking away as Grub slowly walked after her.
***
The moment they stepped outside, the atmosphere changed completely. The village felt calm and at peace. It was nothing like the tension-filled chamber they had just left. Or anything like that like the Lacert military settlement.
Luthiel suddenly turned around and stepped in front of him, smiling warmly as she held out her soft, rounded, mitten-shaped hand.
"Let's properly introduce ourselves," she said. "Hello, my name is Luthiel Prague. I am an inhabitant of this village, and by order of Morrigan, I will be showing you around."
Grub stared at her hand for a moment, lost in thought. Then, after a brief pause, he sighed and reached out, taking it.
"I'm Grub."
That was all he said before he released her hand and looked past her, his gaze drifting across the village. From the steps of what he now realized was some kind of courthouse, he could see most of the surrounding area.
It was a little strange and didn't quite make sense.
The buildings were modest, well-kept, and arranged neatly. People moved about freely, talking, laughing, living.
It felt safe. Too safe.
Why would the Lacerts attack a place like this…?
They had spoken of a weapon. One that was dangerous and probably worth fearing. But nothing here suggested that. If anything, it felt like the opposite. Which only made it more suspicious to him.
Luthiel tilted her head slightly, watching him.
"…Mister Grub?"
There was no response.
"…Are you ignoring me on purpose?"
Grub blinked, snapping out of his thoughts before letting out a small sigh. "We should get moving."
Luthiel nodded, accepting that without question, and began walking down the street again. Grub followed closely behind.
***
As they walked, Luthiel pointed out various buildings, happily explaining each one.
"That's the library," she said, gesturing toward a large, sturdy structure lined with tall windows. Grub's eyes lingered on it as she spoke
A library. That would be useful.Not just for understanding the language properly without relying on the pin—but for learning how to read and write it as well.
More importantly, it could provide a lot of needed information. About the creatures, people, and the history of this whole world. Everything I need.
He memorized its location immediately.
Luthiel continued, eventually stopping in front of a restaurant. Through the windows, Grub could see people gathered around tables, eating various dishes, talking loudly and laughing.
"Let's grab something to eat," she said, turning back to him with a small smile. "You must be starving, right?"
She hesitated slightly. "And… I'm sorry for knocking you out earlier. I don't think I properly apologized."
Before he could respond, she stepped inside. Grub stood there for a moment, then followed.
***
The inside was lively. It was warm on skin and filled with noise.
Different species sat together at tables—some humanoid, some not—eating and talking as if it were completely normal. Grub couldn't help but notice all sorts of strange characters. Bird-like figures. Scaled ones. Others he couldn't even categorize. It was all so strange.
And for the first time in a while—He felt out of place.
Then again—
I'm probably the weird one here.
Luthiel approached the counter.
"Pardon me miss," she said politely. "May we have a table for two?"
The woman behind the counter—another bird-like humanoid—smiled and nodded, guiding them to a small table. Grub sat down across from Luthiel, his expression returning to its usual blank state as he watched her quietly.
She blinked for a moment as she looked into his eyes. Then tilted her head.
"…Mister Grub? What's the matter?"
Grub thought for a moment before speaking.
"What's your deal?"
She blinked again in surprise.
"You knocked me out. Then you defended me at the trial." His eyes narrowed slightly. "And now you're being… nice."
"Why?"
Luthiel stared at him for a moment, then smiled softly, sunlight from the nearby window reflecting gently in her golden eyes.
"Well," she said, "I'd like to apologize again for knocking you out. We've had a lot of intruders lately, so we're on high alert. I didn't really think it through." She bowed her head slightly. "Please accept my apology."
Then as she straightened out, she continued.
"As for helping you…" She paused, thinking.
"I don't really have a deep reason," she admitted with a small laugh. "I guess… it's because you're the strangest person in the village now." She smiled wider. "That used to be my title."
Finally, a small giggle escaped her. "So I felt like helping a fellow weirdo."
After finishing, She looked at him, waiting for a response.
Grub just stared at her, blank and unmoving.
Luthiel's smile faltered slightly.
"…Right."
She laughed awkwardly and quickly picked up the menu, hiding part of her face behind it. Grub continued watching her.
He was studying her and trying to understand how she worked. While also trying to predict when she would change again.
Luthiel shifted slightly in her seat, clearly growing uncomfortable under his stare before lowering the menu just enough to peek at him.
"…You're staring really hard, Mister Grub." She chuckled nervously "Anyway—what would you like to eat?"
Grub looked at the menu. Then back at her.
"I can't read this."
Luthiel gasped. "Oh."
After a short back-and-forth, she ended up ordering for both of them—Mrkatt stew and Timall steak. Grub waited quietly as she talked. About the village and random things. Her voice carried a light, easy energy as she spoke.
Eventually, the food arrived. They ate as Luthiel talked.
Then left after Luthiel paid as Grub had not a single cent of this town's currency
***
As the day went on, Luthiel continued showing him around, pointing out more places, explaining bits and pieces of the village as they walked. Time passed faster than he expected and before long, and the sun began to set.
The sky dimmed into soft shades of orange and purple.
Luthiel led him to a small inn.
"This is where you'll be staying," she said.
Grub nodded quietly. He didn't bother inspecting the room or even looking around. The moment he stepped inside, he dropped onto the bed. Exhaustion hitting him all at once.
Luthiel followed him inside quietly.
And then—She changed again.
Her hair shifted, bangs falling over her eyes as streaks of blue returned. Her expression softened into something quieter and distant.
She scooted a chair beside his bed and sat beside him and placed her hands gently over his ribs. A faint glow spread from her palms. A warm and steady feeling as she healed his wounds.
Grub didn't move or speak. He simply lay there, feeling the slow easing of pain as she worked. Eventually, the glow faded and Luthiel let out a small breath and without a word, she left the room.
The door closed softly behind her. Grub lay there in silence. As he stared at the ceiling. Lost in his own mind.
And slowly—sleep took him. Leaving only one lingering thought behind.
What happens next…