17 Chapter 16: Human Again (1/2)
Luca lay sprawled out on the bed in the Guild's Guest quarters. Loudly snoring in dreamless sleep. Even nightmares couldn't penetrate the alcoholic induced slumber.
For a few hours, at least, everything was fine as Luca rested until finally, the door to the room opened wide and loud. Letting in the light of the morning sun to shine upon his face and wake him. As the air rushed into the otherwise musty room, a commanding female voice shouted out, ”Alright. Luca, you've had more than enough sleep. You need to wake up, get washed up, get geared up, and move out to meet up with the rest of the team.
At the sound of the female voice, Luca grudgingly stirred as he felt the initial onset of what would be his first hangover, struggling as he did to open his eyes, his entire body betraying him and not wanting to move. What's wrong with me? Luca thought groggily in confusion, not really sure about what was going on. His vision was still heavy with sleep and stilted from the hangover. All Luca could really remember was staying up most of the night talking with Dominic over drinks and then being escorted to the guest room before passing out.
Ignoring the voice, Luca closed his eyes, embracing the pillow. This was the first time in days, weeks, months, he wasn't really sure that he had slept in a bed. Luca planned on enjoying every moment of it.
”Maybe you didn't hear me the first time.” Said the woman much louder than before and full of fury as Lucas shifted his head to check the disturbance, still laying on his belly. It was the only way he'd managed to fall asleep with his wings.
With quick and even strides, she walked over with heavy footsteps to the front of the bed and grabbed on to the base of the mattress. She looked directly at him as Luca started to freak out as she lifted it into the air without any effort. With a look of disgust, she flipped the mattress, and with it him, out on to the floor. ”You need to get up, get showered, and get downstairs. I'll give you an extra five minutes so you can make sure you wash up. Consider this your protip. Shower, you stink.”
Completely pissed off, Luca tried to rapidly roll over and pick himself up to lash out at the woman but was stopped, recoiling in pain. The wings on his back were sending shooting signals of pain everywhere in his body. Luca tried to roll over on to his back but stopped, recoiling in pain. The wings on his back, sending signals of pain everywhere. His body from aggravated and sensitive nerve endings.
A shadow passed over him, and Luca realized the woman was bent over standing almost on top of him, her hand clutching the base of one of his wings. Gods, I never thought those would be some kind of stupid pressure point. ”Could you let go?” Luca asked, trying to be polite now that he knew he was dealing with someone who could harm him. ”That really hurts. Who are you anyway?”
Luca couldn't see her expression, but he could imagine the angry scowl on her face. ”You're new here and don't know how things work. So this will be your one freebie. I'm Tatiana, they call me the Spark Sword. I'm your new team leader. You may remember me as the one who offered to teach you how to fight. As your team leader, when I say do something, you do it. That's how the chain works. I don't care who thinks your hot shit. You answer to me.”
”Uh, ok. If that's how it needs to be, I don't actually want trouble. I did choose to be on your team,” Muttered Luca as he slowly picked himself up from the floor. Standing up, expecting a rush of pain to his head and not feeling it, Luca said a silent thanks for the magic of the place already erasing the hangover he had woken up with.
In a sudden moment of embarrassment, Luca realized to his horror that he was almost naked except for the pair of tattered boxers he was wearing. In a panic, he reached down and covered himself with a blanket
”Jesus Christ, grow up. What are you? A kid? How old are you?” Reprimanded Tatiana as she tossed some clothes at Luca. ”You don't need to worry. You haven't got anything I haven't seen before. I don't have time to worry about your delicate sensibilities. This is your new uniform. I've made a few modifications so you can wear them. You'll be wearing the same thing that everyone else does on the team when we roll out. You've got ten minutes and don't even think about skipping that shower. I could smell you from the hall.”
Luca looked around, unsure of where the shower was or how to proceed. In irritation, Tatiana grabbed him by the arm and shoved him towards the door near the back of the room where the shower was. ”It's right there. I'll see you downstairs in ten. If I have to come and get you, you'll have hell to pay. You've already pissed me off” Without saying another word, she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Luca more confused than anything.
Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please clickfor visiting.
Knowing better than to waste time, Luca started the shower, enjoying the hot water rolling over his face as he took a bar of soap and vigorously scrubbed at his skin. It made his stomach cringe when he saw a steady stream of black, brown, and red roll off of him, the collected filth and grime from the last few days. Filth he hadn't even been aware of. I needed this badly. But I didn't notice the dirt on me. Do I have some kind of glamour on? It was a question he pushed aside for another time. For now, he was just thankful for the hot water and soap.
Luca leaned forward, bracing himself against the wall of the shower as he let himself enjoy the water and zoned out. For how long, he wasn't sure, and in a moment of panic, Luca realized he had lost track of time. Losing track of time. Luca had a moment of panic, not knowing how much time had elapsed. Now is not the time to make a bad impression. I need these people. Why do I do this to myself? He thought as he turned off the water and rushed out of the shower, not bothering to dry himself as he put on the uniform Tatiana had left for him.
He was pleasantly surprised by how well it fit him and how comfortable it felt. Black cargo pants with leather reinforcement on the bony prominences, a grey Henley, and a crimson overcoat with inlaid metal fibers for protection. The end of the overcoat had a hood he could pull down towards his eyes to obscure his identity and offer additional protection by acting as a helmet.
Both the henley and the crimson overcoat had two measured elastic slits that easily let him slip his wings through. A minor enchantment seemed to on them because Luca felt the material comfortable cinch down tight once the wings were through. When the entire set was on, he felt a brief surge of power as it inlaid an additional effect on his body, a slight arcane glow.