Chapter 619: Bird food (1/2)

Chapter 619 Bird food

Kyrian steeled himself before he knocked on the door.

“Come in,” Claire’s voice resounded. She smiled at him when he entered. “I thought you had forgotten about me.”

He froze up for a second, looking at the painting girl sitting near the office window. He scratched the back of his head and focused back on Claire. “Apologies. I was busy with training.”

“Taken a liking to the Sentinels. I could’ve expected as much. Trian already offered you a position?” Claire asked. “Ah what am I talking about, go talk to Cless. She missed you.”

Kyrian remained where he stood, watching the girl paint for a moment before he smiled. “She’s grown.”

“She has. Quite talented that one. Snarky and annoying too, because she knows. I’m just glad she paints so much,” Claire said.

He hesitated. “She missed me?”

“Of course she did. You took care of her after all. Painted you plenty too, in addition to the times I asked her to,” Claire said.

Kyrian smiled and sat down on one of the armchairs. “I don’t want to disturb her. Is it alright if I wait for her to finish?”

Claire smiled. “It will take some time. But I don’t mind, no.”

“Thank you,” Kyrian said. “And no, Trian didn’t offer a position yet. He told me I could ask once I’m ready.”

“I’ve got plenty of jobs too, mostly in case you want to take a break from fighting. I assume you’re staying with the Sentinels? Ilea owns plenty of nicer houses, one I kept empty for your return,” Claire said.

“I’m flattered. But the room I have in the headquarters is perfectly fine,” Kyrian said. “Luxurious even.”

He had lived in an entire keep for the past years but it was company he lacked, not space.

Claire nodded lightly. “Fair enough. Can I ask a few questions in regards to your adventures?”

He gestured for her to continue.

“You didn’t happen to come across large amounts of gold you’d need someone to manage?” she asked.

Kyrian sighed. “No. I think whoever built the keeps left in an orderly manner. Few valuables. Even very little rotten food.”

“Either that or they didn’t have any use for such items in the first place,” Claire said. “But with your level as it is, and your potential adventures, just know that I’m happy to manage whatever you come across. I’ll invest it in a manner according to your wishes. Another thing, I know you, but things have changed somewhat since we went on Shadow missions together.”

“A bit of an understatement,” Kyrian said with a smile.

“Exactly. You are known to be a Shadow, or a Sentinel. If neither had been the case before, now it is. Your actions will somewhat reflect back onto Ravenhall. So if you’re planning to start any wars, execute nobility, topple governments, I implore you to talk to me first,” Claire said.

Kyrian looked at her and started laughing. He wiped away a few tears before he cleared his throat. “I’m sorry that Ilea scarred you so.”

Claire looked at him with a deadpan expression before she rubbed her eyes. “I haven’t slept in a while.”

“I’m not offended, don’t worry. I’ll make sure to consider the political and economic impacts of my actions, and I will consult you or others before taking drastic actions. But I don’t plan to do anything like that for now,” he said, scratching his chin.

“Don’t scare me like that. You almost sound like you will,” Claire said. “Please, not another one.”

“I understand that Lilith’s actions have helped cement Ravenhall as the independent power it is today, but that’s not what you’re talking about. I just don’t know yet where exactly I want to go, what I want to do. It will take some time and I don’t want to give you a promise I may not be able to keep,” Kyrian said.

“Good. Would you agree to meet the other council members at least? Some you know already,” Claire said.

“I don’t know if I want to make decisions of that magnitude,” Kyrian said.

“I didn’t suggest you join the government. But you might be more powerful than even the Elders of the Shadow’s Hand. Can we count on you in an emergency?” Claire asked.

“For you, always,” Kyrian said immediately.

“I’m sorry,” Claire said, rubbing her eyes again before she summoned herself a bottle of water and a glass. “I’m focusing too much on your power. I know.”

“I’m aware of the position you’re in,” Kyrian said. “Don’t worry.”

Claire downed her water and stood up. “No. Come on, I’ll take a break. Are you hungry?”

“I don’t need much food anymore,” Kyrian said.

“You didn’t answer the question,” Claire said.

“I could eat, sure,” Kyrian said.

“Good. Remember the Golden Drake?” she asked and walked over to Cless, a few enchantments flickering away. “Girlie, you didn’t eat lunch yet, right?”

Cless turned her head, her gaze moving past Claire as if she didn’t exist, her eyes settling on Kyrian before she blinked a few times. Her brush fell to the floor as she rushed the man, hugging him as she giggle cried.

Kyrian awkwardly patted her back, leaning down a little to reach her. “Hello Cless, it’s okay.”

Claire smiled as she crossed her arms, putting the brush back near the canvas, taking a glance at the work in progress before she walked over.

“I know you kept an eye on me,” Kyrian said. “Thank you.”

The cries intensified, the girl looking up with tears streaming down her face before she started laughing. “I knew you’d come back!”

“Thanks for believing in me,” Kyrian said, lifting the girl up before he placed her on his shoulders, eliciting a giggle.

Cless pointed towards the door like he was some kind of horse.

“What?” Kyrian asked, seeing Claire’s stare.

She shook her head and chuckled. “Nothing. Come on, I think Keyla just changed up the menu again.”

________________________

Ilea sat on a mountain of corpses. Well not a mountain, a mound maybe.

Purple lightning sent splatters of blood and bits of flesh upward, the valley of death flowing red with blood and bones.

She didn’t need Monster Hunter anymore, the stench and flesh attracting plenty of beasts. The lower level Bluetails got injured by the storms but many still braced the danger for some more or less fresh meat it turned out. They also had some way of telling when the lightning would strike near them. Not so much when they had an Ilea sized ashen maniac grappling them with deadly intent but the birds were too stupid to understand as much.

“Your isle makes it difficult to find Bluetails to hunt,” Feyrair said, landing nearby. He caught a flying chunk of meat and started eating.

“Plenty of birds on the other isles,” Ilea said, watching the few creatures eat the remains of their own kind. Two screeched at each other, apparently not satisfied with the heaps of corpses to choose from. They were all below level seven hundred, hardly worth the effort with how well she knew their species by now.

“Not an option,” Feyrair said.

“Too far away in case Neiphato gets into trouble?” she asked. “Don’t hiss at me, I know you care about him.”

“So what if I do?” Feyrair asked.

“Hey, you’re the one judging yourself, I’m all for it,” Ilea said. “But I promise you I’ll protect him if he gets into trouble. He has my mark.”

“Until you get distracted by a four mark and dive back into the ocean. It wasn’t wise, Ilea,” he said.

“Wasn’t wise… coming from the elf who faced a dragon,” she murmured.

He looked at the sky, his right arm scorched when a bolt of lightning came down on him. “A glorious day that was. Also not wise.”

“See, both our endeavors were worth it in the end. And I told you I won’t go there again, not for some time,” she said.

“Good. We’re land creatures, maybe sky creatures. But not made for water,” he said.

Ilea watched another two Bluetails land in the distance, their size and movements suggesting they were just as inexperienced as the others. “From an evolutionary standpoint, I think you’re wrong. But I get where you’re coming from.”

“Did you evolve to gain aquatic abilities or water magic? Didn’t think so,” Feyrair retorted.

Makes sense in context I guess, Ilea thought, not about to consider the formation of this realm and its species when there were Leviathans in the water and dragons in the skies.

“You killed a lot of them,” he said.

“Useful for a while,” Ilea replied.

“Now you’re waiting for more Mature ones?” he asked.

She stood up with a smile on her face, stretching as she was struck by arcane lightning, the strike energizing her. “Speak of the devil.”

“That one? Are you sure?” he asked.

“Maybe, look at the talon length. Ah but its wings are not large enough. Still, close enough,” she said and vanished.

[Northern Bluetail – lvl ???] - [Hungry/Male]

_______________________

“I’ll think about it,” Kyrian said.

“I’m sure you’d do well as a teacher, but just as much as a squad leader, or a solitary Hunter,” Trian said.

Kyrian smiled, drinking from his tea. “I don’t think I’ll hunt alone again, for quite some time.”

“The others will feel inadequate next to you,” Trian said.

“Then they better catch up quickly,” Kyrian said.

The man smiled. “I’m sure they will. Sure you want to go back to those isles? Now that you’ve been here for a few weeks?”

“I’ve stayed too long already. I’m sure Ilea is getting bored of just fighting Bluetails. Plus, I have some unfinished business on those isles. And a promise to keep,” he said.

Trian sighed. “Very well. I’ll make sure the Vrayar are fed and healthy.”

“Thank you.”

“I bet Cless wasn’t happy when you told her,” Trian said.