Chapter 371: Potential Allies (1/2)

Ilea finished eating too, exchanging some stories about the north with them. She decided not to mention Elfie and his crew yet, not before she talked to them about this new group of Cerithil Hunters.

She sat back and smiled, crossing her arms. “So, you’re a dragon or what was that?”

The elf laughed, showing his sharp teeth now that he wasn’t wearing his helmet anymore. “Perhaps one day… one day I’ll be one of them.” He looked up with longing red eyes.

Ben laughed. “Keep dreaming. Shapeshifting is all you’ll ever get.”

“Possibilities are unlimited.” Isalthar commented, drinking from a beautiful white porcelain cup.

Ilea thought it was tea, the smell at least reminded her of herbs.

“We’re talking about dragons.” Ben said, rolling his eyes. “There are limits. He’s a fighter, he’s not going to be as old as you are.”

“I sadly have to agree there.” Feyrair sighed.

“So you’re shapeshifting into one? How did you get the class?” Ilea asked with interest. “Did you meet one? Fight one?”

Feyrair laughed. “That, dear human, is not something I would tell to someone who couldn’t defeat me.”

“I defeated you though.” Ilea said, squinting her eyes.

“Who couldn’t defeat me at least twice.” The elf changed the requirements.

“You’re going to raise that once I slap you around again, aren’t you.” She commented.

“He is.” Ben said.

“I’ll go check with my associates then but if you’re staying for a while, I’d love to train some resistances and have more bouts. I think it’d be beneficial for all of us.” Ilea said and got up. Her Heat Resistance hadn’t leveled in a while and just a couple attacks from Feyrair were enough.

She wanted to know what the story behind his classes were, that dude packed a punch she wouldn’t expect from anyone below three hundred.

Ilea thought he was perhaps stronger even than Maro and that guy had been a king, studying for ages and out there fighting dangerous monsters. If anyone had a good class it was him. The white fire reminds me of that noble. What was his class called again?

She didn’t remember but she knew it had been powerful for someone at level one hundred.

“You do not intend to give us the goods we need right now?” Isalthar asked.

Ilea looked at him and smiled. “You do not trust me?”

“Would thou trust an elf on their word?” He asked.

She shrugged. “Probably. But I know I’m too trusting.”

“Your words prove the truth inherent.” Isalthar replied. “Go then, human, Guardian. I have decided to trust you.” He said.

Ilea bowed lightly and smirked. “I’ll be back in a couple hours hopefully.”

Ben raised a mug to her.

Feyrair showed his teeth and hissed, an approving challenge. Or something like that.

Ilea was still learning her hisses.

The last elf hovered, empty plate in hand before he bowed, a warm smile on his face.

“Hope you liked it.” She said and spread her wings, shooting off into the tunnel she had come from.

Ah fuck, I’m not going to find back, am I?

Using her magic perception and Sentinel Huntress, she could reverse engineer the path she had come from. An extended ashen limb cut lightly into the walls from time to time, marking the way for her latter return.

The first city officials and guards were already present in the smuggler’s den. Heavily armed soldiers with massive metal shields led squads of rogues as they dismantled the hidden traps one by one.

Ilea glanced at them and got a couple scared looks.

The guards reassured each other, many having seen her before in her ashen armor.

She didn’t find Dale but was directed by a waiting guard whose job it was to inform her about his whereabouts.

“Miss… Shadow.” The man called out when he saw her exiting out into the warehouse.

Ilea landed next to him, her wings snugly folding on her back. “Yes?”

“Captain Dale informed me to inform you about where he is.” The man stuttered out and got a small piece of paper from his pocked. “With the girl, he said. I hope you know what that means.” He laughed awkwardly, sweat forming on his hands.

“I think I do, thanks.” She replied and spread her wings once more, flying up and blinking through the ceiling before she headed towards the house Walter and Vin were staying at.

She landed a couple minutes away and ran the rest on foot, blinking into the stairwell before she slowed down.

A knock on the door notified the others waiting behind.

“Come in.” Dale said. He had glanced her way even before she arrived.

“You didn’t want to join the search?” She asked, looking at the captain.

Walter was there too, as were Vin and Kevan. Another man too, one of the survivors she had freed. An officer.

Vin rushed her, tackle hugging Ilea as the air was pushed out of her lungs. Like running into a tree.

“I’m Eli by the way.” The man said and chuckled at the sight. Olive skin, black short hair and brown eyes. He had several noticeable scars on his neck and right cheek. A rapier was fastened to his belt.

“One of the missing ones. Good to see not all of you died.” Ilea said and patted Vin’s back.

The girl was in tears, hugging her with all the strength she had. “You came back… you did it…,”

“I did, I did.” Ilea replied. “Kevan, you’re still here too.”

The man grumbled. “They didn’t let me look through the hideout. Because I’m not an official. Even though I saved his ass.”

“I thanked you.” Dale said. “We will inform you if there is anything related to you.”

“You heard that fucker, Nolan. He said they tried to set me up. I want to know who did it.” Kevan hissed.

“Yes, yes.” Dale said. “Your foraging went well?” He asked, glancing at Ilea with a glint in his eye.

“It did.” She said simply.

Wonder if Mauro’s ring holds any evidence in regards to Kevan. The ring was safely in her bracelet, just like the rest of the loot she had taken from the Gray Company. She had worn it on her finger, unclaimed until she killed the man.

The fight with Feyrair forced her to either claim or store it. The latter was faster and actually worked. Likely because nobody had a claim on it anymore.

“Will you talk to Alistair? I could report to him too. We will be covered in paperwork for the next week either way.” Dale suggested.

She sighed and nodded. “I’d appreciate that. Let him know the pay for the job can go to Walter.”

“What?” Walter asked, stepping away from the wall he had been leaning on.

“I have a proposal for you. We’ll talk about it later.” Ilea said and smirked.

“What did she plan this time?” The sorcerer grumbled and stepped back again, exchanging a knowing glance with Dale.

“Don’t act like I didn’t see that.” Ilea said but that was exactly what they did.

Vin finally let go and walked back to Eli. Her young age really showed then, a stark contrast to the young rogue from before,clutching her knife behind her back.

“Eli, can you get in contact with Alistair. I could get you three a house somewhere in Riverwatch. And you could stop taking dangerous missions.” Ilea suggested.