16 Chapter 16 - Ah, Shit. (1/2)

They emerged into a church, an old nun with a broom peering up across pews filled with dust and webs.

”Hello?” She called out, managing to stare right through a demon, an alien, and a gigantic wolf. Kenji wondered why this situation sounded so much like the beginning of a joke.

”Just here to pray, miss,” Kenji called out, grasping the alien's hand before she could do anything. With piercing purple eyes she stared at him sharp as a razer and flickered Kenji's hand away.

”Are you...blind, miss?” Kenji said, stalking closer and smiling brightly just in case. Personally, if such company had appeared before him, he'd pretend there was nothing wrong either. Still, he wanted to get close enough to stop her from ringing that gigantic bronze bell in the corner in case she was pretending, even if it looked cracked and unused.

”Afraid so. We're closed you know, no alms being handed out today. Not unless you can eat dust,” old lady chuckled, Kenji joining her with Arthur's own bright laughter. Behind him the large wolf guffed a hoarse giggle, Hena having to punch it in the side to make it stop.

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”Oh, did you hear that?” The little woman said clutching her broom.

Having a soft spot for defenceless old ladies, Kenji took her hands in his own.

”A bit of dust fell from the rafters, how about I escort you somewhere safe. Until the priest can arrive and look at the damage,” he said, pulling her away and into a side room. The little room had an equally little bed, table, single chair and half-filled wine bottle. Kenji poured her a granny sized class.

”Thank you kindly, young man. Who are you, if I might ask?”

”Just a traveller ma'am. Here to help a little, then move on.”

”So you'll be heading to the adventurer guild then will you?” the old lady sounded concerned, even as Kenji pushed the class into her hands and steered her into a seat.

”I might, why? Worried a monster might bite off one of my fingers?” Knowing it was wrong, Kenji rose his middle finger just to check and made a funny face. Yet her milky white eyes continued to stare into nothingness, and Kenji was left feeling mildly ashamed.

”I'm worried one of the other adventurers might stick a knife in your back,” the old lady said as she downed her wine in one gulp. ”I'd join the Golden Goose if I were you, their leader has both a spine and a heart open to good. Unlike the Headless Hunters, no sir, that lot doesn't touch anything without the intention of making at least a few silvers,” leaning closer, she whispered low, ”and I've heard terrible rumours. That they take more than the regulated contracts, practically mercenaries in how they act!”

Kenji stared, dumbstruck, as the woman muttered a prayer and a burning eye appeared in her forehead.

”Thank goodness, to think the old Blessing of [Sight] still works even at this age. Praise the Everseeing, my boy” she waited until he had done so, Arthur's mind quite pleased by the opportunity. ”Wow, you really are a good looking one, aren't you?” She added, pinching Arthur's cheek.

”I must be going, thank you for your time. Sorry to have come on the wrong day,” Kenji pulled away to the door. Halting as the woman raised a golden coin.

”You should be more careful, newcomer. Tariak is not a town for the weak hearted. Better keep your purse strings closed, eh?” she flipped him back the coin, Kenji finally taking a moment to even realise Arthur's armour had a hidden compartment for coinage at all.

”I'll do that. You can call me Kenji by the way, it was a pleasure meeting you.”

With that, Kenji slipped away to meet the others.

”So. We need to go before the nun comes back- where is Hena?” Kenji peered around, finding only a big wolf and alien in his current retinue. There was the distinct lack of a sulphuric smell, dark horns and death threats that he had become so used to over the last half an hour.

”She left. Said they would track her, told us to...trust you,” grumbled the wolf. Kenji pulled his cheeks up and forced a nod.

”Yeah, protect you. Just make sure to tell me if she comes back right?” Because she would, most likely with others of the 18 in tow. To 'harvest' the heroes like Kenji had made up. With the high probability of these two becomings [A] grade heroes with some serious personality changes, that was a certainty.

Clapping his hands together, Kenji tried to ignore the aliens stare.