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Chapter Nine: The Calm

Our plans to stay in Caprii during the races had been put on hold due to the rain; it looked as though it would last for a while. I spent most of my time with Seht; the mundane everyday life was surprisingly comforting to me, simply going about boring daily chores whilst chatting with him; both of us casually in the nude or sometimes clothed when it was colder. Tahl and Logan made frequent visits as well, though thankfully Mathias didn't drop by.

What Virgil had said so many weeks ago about us Vermians being destructive or aggressive when bored were certainly true. During the periods of heavier rain Seht and Logan taught me the steps to a few traditional dances coupled with a few visits to a library just around the corner, thankfully the books were mostly in Grout; one of the more widespread languages, especially around Volthume and Aldoran; I knew Grout well.

During the sparse hours of lighter rainfall over the week I was with Bastille, he insisted on doing training exercises during various types of weather. So we spared once a day or so in a training yard opposite the Palace grounds. Even the rain felt different now, its coolness was pleasant, refreshing and absent of the cold bite it usually came with. Back in Aldoran the rain had always been heavy, diluted with sand and dirt, yet cold nonetheless; this was the first time in my life I'd seen proper rain.

Bastille and I circled each other, me with my two plain daggers and Bastille with shield and steel halberd in hand. Well what I thought was a halberd at least, it was smaller than any I'd seen and the blade was odd, circular like a ring with a spear point at the top. Every hour of practice I grew stronger and lighter on my feet but I still had yet to so much as stagger Bastille. He no longer held back as he did the week prior; he always opened with the same motions though. The opening attack was always a straight jab; wether sword or pole arm.

"So I take it Mathias is still in a foul mood?" I said as I side stepped, just narrowly avoiding the spear point of the halberd.

"Just ignore it" Bastille replied pulling his arm back and shoulder charging me with his shield. I met it head on this time, claws gripping the edges of the metal tightly as I dug my feet into the sand and growled.

"I would if he stopped giving me the death stare every time he sees me" I snapped back as Bastille kicked out at my leg. For the past few days Mathias had become rather aggressive toward me, talking behind my back, snarling foul names at me. I stepped to the side once again, shouldering his shield as my tail wrapped around his ankle and yanked back as hard as possible. With a shove to his shield he toppled over onto his back with a dull thud, I raised my own foot, seeking to bring it down atop his shield in order to pin him.

"Mathias has always been a jealous and envious one" He said rolling out from under me as my foot slammed down on the sand. In one fell move his legs and tail swept me off mine and planted my ass in the dirt just as he always did. I felt the butt of his Halberd shaft press sharply into my throat as he knelt there in victory once again.

"Getting better, a lot better" he commented with a smirk before helping me up. I gave out a sigh, letting the light rain wash me off.

"I'll beat you one day Bastille..." I replied, I was getting better; but looking around I began to wonder about testing myself against others. Bastille was currently the only sparring partner I had, unfortunately the only people close by were Neil, Mathias and Izzy most surprisingly. I waved to her with a smile, she waved back and I copped yet another look of disgust from Mathias and Neil as well this time.

My ears flicked the last few drops of water from my hide as we all retired to a small bar just down the street. It was a small building but it was cosy enough to shelter from the rain, which had begun to bucket down once again. Bastille, Izzy and I all shared a table whilst Neil and Mathias disappeared off somewhere else.

"What are you doing out here Izzy, you should be back aboard the Zeppelin" Bastille said questioningly. The mottled Vermian smiled cheekily as a waitress stopped at our table, serving tray in hand and loaded with empty pitchers and flagons.

"Pick your poison, Scale kin" she said, Bastille ordered some spiced Ale for the three of us before the waitress was called away by some other patrons.

"I asked Master Virgil if I could visit my parents while we were here in Caprii" she replied, stretching her arms back over her head with a yawn.

"I thought Humans weren't allowed within the United Advent Sovereignty's borders?" I questioned with a confused look which only ushered snickers and amused looks from Bastille and Izzy.

"Kaiber, Izzy was born Vermian, well hatched, not all of us are 'changed' like you. Besides, humans are allowed in Siricuse, they just need the right documentation" Bastille stated, my ears slapped against the back of my neck as I sat there feeling like an idiot. With the rain and Virgil being occupied by a flirtatious Queen; I hadn't had any tutoring over the last four to five days. I sighed; my head slumping into my arms upon the table, the week was only half over and boredom was clawing at me like a bratty child.

Izzy and Bastille quickly descended into chit chat, but I zoned out, the claws of my fingers scratched at the wooden table, idly stabbing at flies, watching the other patrons; one in particular had me intrigued. Some tall man shrouded in a longshore men's coat topped with a heavy dull red hood. He'd just arrived and now sat in the far back corner, I could feel this cold stare upon me and it was unsettling.

"I thought you and your parents were on, less than good terms with each other?" I heard Bastille ask, I wasn't paying much attention though. Our drinks were brought over at that moment two, three wide steel tankards of spicy smelling Ale.

"There still family, I was worried about them, what with all these attacks" Izzy replied with a worried tone of voice. I began to think about my own family, did they even know I was still alive? Did they even care? I quickly took up one of the tankards and proceeded to guzzle as much as I could to drown out those thoughts.

"Tahl and Logan were lucky they didn't get injured at that Library bombing" Bastille casually commented, causing me to nearly choke on my drink.

"Tahl was in the library during the attack! Why didn't anyone tell me?" I exclaimed, suddenly feeling worried myself. I hadn't really thought of Tahl much lately over the past few days. My head had been filled with thoughts of Seht instead; shame now mixed with my worry and my head slumped yet again.

"I would have thought Tahl had told you, aren't you two close?" Izzy asked, taking a few mouthfuls from her own drink.

"Well with Mathias trying to turn Tahl against Kaiber, he's been... distant" Bastille interjected, mumbling under his breath. Now there was anger, Mathias had been getting on my nerves ever since the start of the week.

"Mathias needs to grow the fuck up!" I growled, claws digging into the table, I was actually surprised to hear myself growling like an animal.

"I'm tired of his stupid little vendetta against me just because I'm getting along with one of his ex-partners, besides who ever said I liked Tahl in the first place" I added as I slumped back in the chair with crossed arms.

"Well since you've been absent lately, Tahl's kind of...moved on" Bastille said after a long awkward pause, his tone was softer than it'd ever been before; I only had to look him in the eye.

"...Tahl deserves someone stronger than me, someone with experience" I replied, feeling defeated; I let out a huff through my nose as I downed what was left of my drink.

"And you boys think us girls are hard to understand" Izzy commented with a snarky tone and a warm smile, it got a big of a chuckle out of the two of us before Bastille put on a serious expression.

"Us men are very complex creatures, thank you very much" he said, the three of us burst out laughing a moment later.

I didn't know if it was the Ale or not but I felt warmer, perhaps it was just the heat from the taverns fireplace. The afternoon wore on, with round after round of various Ales and eventually a hearty meal too, something called a 'Pie'. I was more than happy to dig into it, finding it rather tasty as a few dock workers broke out some instruments and flooded the bar with music and cheer. Then inevitably the gambling games were broken out, Liar's dice, bobstones and matchsticks along with card games and darts. I found myself best at darts, winning without even trying as I'd never played before.

But with all the cheer, song and drink there was still that unsettling feeling coming from the lone man sitting in the very back. He hadn't moved since he'd arrived, he hadn't ordered any drink or food either. I did my best to ignore the cold stare that came from under his darkened hood but it was always present no matter how much I drank. Another thing to surprise me was how well I could hold my liquor; Izzy was already drunk, singing merrily along with the workers and longshore men. Bastille was even a little uncoordinated after just three tankards yet here I was on my fifth barely feeling buzzed.

I had no idea what time of night it was, the cheer had died off somewhat but the bar was still festive nonetheless. People were mostly gathered around a Velkenfolk bard, a queerly dressed squirrel who was telling jokes and stories. I was listening lazily from my table, Bastille and Izzy had gone back to the Zeppelin; both singing poorly as they stumbled up the street together.

I was close to leaving for the night myself, already imagining the delightful comforts of Seht's bed. I tilted my head back and downed the last mouthful of my tankard; I sat there for a moment or two before I stood, the room swaying slightly.

I left a few coins behind on the table before I made for the door, slow and sleepy; the door swung open before I reached it. I paused on the spot as a group of Black Church Inquisitors entered; one of them scanned the room quickly, his eyes landing on me only a moment before stepping aside to let me leave.

I was no more than a single foot outside the door when my ears bolted upright. There was a voice, cold, empty, chanting almost like a whisper but I could hear it as clear as day. The cold night time air began to burn, sizzling like the heat of a furnace; I could feel it all down my back.

At once the chanting stopped and was replaced by a deafening boom; shredded splinters of wood flew past me as I was thrown to the floor. Smoke stung my nose, stinging pain assaulted the back of my body and my ears began to ring. Coughing and groaning I rolled over, the tavern no longer existed, it was simply a roaring ball of fire. The whole front of the building was blown clear open and through the flames and smoke all I could see was that man.

He sat right at the back, the hood and coat he had wore now burnt and tattered; I couldn't see a face however, just the glint of something obscured the hood.