Chapter 26: The Wants and Needs

Heavy fast footsteps awoken the redhead mage, with the constant bumping of her head on something solid, she was confused to where she was. She felt dizzy, the last thing she remembered was Lance reprimanding her in an alleyway.

'Wait, Lance?'

Serene tried to concentrate to remember what happened and why she fainted but the constant moving made her even dizzier and it bothered her. It's like she's riding on a raging horse.

She groaned.

Lance noticed her movement and immediately stopped moving, "hey."

He was panting and tired but he tried to say it in a gentle manner to soothe her with one word, not knowing what to do with the lady he holds in his arms.

That one word snapped Serene back to reality, she looked up to meet Lance's worried eyes. Her face was hot with embarrassment, it dawned on her. The reason why she's dizzy and why it seems like she's riding a horse, Lance is carrying her.

"I—" she stammered, shaking her head vigorously, "this is?"

"Hey, hey. You just woke up."

Serene bit her lower lips, tears threatened to escape.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK!"

Her screamed pierced through the ears of those who are nearby but Lance's was damaged more than it causes the onlookers. She had to get down and escape from him, she could not handle the embarrassment she's feeling. Letting her commander carry her around the village. If she can, she would slap herself but she knew that's not what she should be prioritizing.

"No, no, no, no!"

She slaps Lance's face nonstop and continues screaming.

"Put me down, put me down! PUT ME DOWN!"

Lance blinked his eyes, he tried to check if he could still hear after all the ruckus Serene created and decided to settle her down. Still wailing, causing the people to come closer and murmur to one another, he just wants to cover her face and force him to stop. But he's afraid she'll faint again.

"Settle down, will you?" he yelled.

"I was holding you because you fainted."

He deliberately made his voice louder to clear his own name, they might think he's harassing her.

Serene lowered her head, she didn't want to meet his eyes. Although she can't remember what happened before she fainted, she had an idea that it has something to do with her past.

"Serene," he wanted her to know he's there for her.

Stubborn as she is, she let out a sigh before turning her back on Lance and walked away from him. She can't share her life to others, what she's been through is bad enough to let others know about it. Why would she burden them with her heartaches and receive pity when they won't ever mean any of it?

Her own self is enough.

A strong grip wrapped around her arm, she looked back and the expression Lance wore on his face was new. He seemed worried yet confused at the same time.

'If you keep this up, I can't take it.'

Serene tried to free her arm from him but he won't let her.

"Don't fight it."

She was dumbstruck.

She let Lance drag her away and the two entered a pub that's surprisingly open at this time in the morning.

"What do you want?" Serene gritted her teeth when they were seated. Oh, how she wanted to chug a mug of beer right now but she knew it is now what she wanted. She had to escape Lance and be alone to gather her thoughts and tuck down the hem of her traumas; again, wearing the mask of lively Serene.

"I don't know what happened," he started. Serene made her thoughts known, grimacing with his words, "and I don't know if you would trust me enough to tell your story."

She froze.

"You must have been through a lot," the bartender placed the beer in front of them, "you must want to leave right now and be alone."

Lance placed his arm on the counter and rested his head on his hand, looking at Serene.

"I would understand if you hate me for dragging you here," he chuckled before placing a hand on her shoulder, "but I just want you to know, we may not get along well most of the time. I am still your commander. You can still trust me."

She frowned.

"You can think of me as your trustworthy friend."

Lance retreated his hand and shifted in his seat, "let's at least have this one drink and somehow clear your thoughts."

Now, it is her turn to look at him and watch him drink his beer.

"As if you'll let me hear your thoughts," she joked.

Lance smacked his lips and placed back the empty mug on the counter, taking hers. He can sense Serene smiling to herself.

"I was deemed the bastard of the Vancouv manor," he turned to her before drinking another beer.

She raised an eyebrow.

"I woke up one day and was blamed for my sister's bruises and wounds," he smiled bitterly, "I miss her."

"Surely you can't lay a hand on your sister," she seemed curious.

"Of course," he chuckled, "I love her."

"Who could have done that?"

He shrugged, "not sure."

She glanced at the side, not knowing what to say.

"But it probably is for the best," he stood and took some coppers from his pouch, "I wouldn't be the team's commander if I was not kicked out."

Serene watched Lance walk to the door.

"Come on, they're probably worried."

When the two returned, Thenea had been fussing over Serene when she saw a scratch on her elbow. It was when she fainted after having flashbacks of her traumatic experience as a child. She would have pressed had Verin not covered her mouth and told her to quietly follow Lance so they could rest.

"Here we are."

Lance proudly presented a rundown inn at the back of the village. The street itself is quiet and abandoned, they can hear the gush of the wind passing behind them.

They felt their hairs standing up.

"Here—" Verin sweats.

"Yes, it might seem a little old but I've toured the premise. It works quite well."

Thenea's eye twitched, "quite well?"

Lance nodded, "they have hot baths, wonderful menu. And spacious rooms to house us during our stay here."

"Can we not look around? See if we can find something that works better?" Thenea suggested quietly.

"And where might that be?" their commander asked.

"Well, we happened to pass by some inns looking for shops to eat at. There are lots of them near the village's marketplace as well."

"And?"

Serene's eyes sparkled, "they all look promising!"

As the two ladies daydreamed of a superb royal experience, Lance crashed their fantasy.

"And expensive."

Thunder strikes at the cloud of flowers, jades, and teacups of their dream.

"Come on," Serene started to whine, "The guild will pay us back."

Lance sighed as Thenea let out a forced laugh.

"Why?"

"The guild only reimburses a certain amount, Serene." Verin cleared his throat, "the excess is taken from our pay."

Serene's eyes started moving in all directions trying to process the words her teammates had told her. She wanted to laugh it out and make sure it was a joke. But the look on their faces suggests otherwise, they are dead serious.

She tried to recall the times she accepted a mission and stayed at an expensive inn.

Indeed, she was paid less than promised. But she did not ask, thinking they are taking some for the times they supported her before she received high ranking missions.

She gasped, "no way."

Thenea nodded and tapped the redhead's back, "yes, I know. It is indeed shocking."

"My money," tears started rolling down her cheeks.

"Yes, yes." Thenea kept nodding and ushered the taller lady inside the inn, following the two men.

Meanwhile, Lithea was just observing them discussing with loud voices. Viv, who is beside her all the time, kept watching the clouds dancing in the sky.

"Welcome," a young lady in a simple white kimono over a navy blue dress with a white belt to complete the look.

"Hi, I was here earlier," Lance said as he made a move towards the lady. "I spoke with someone else – a guy – regarding your rooms and services."

The lady nodded, smile not fading.

"Yes, that seems to be father."

"Hi, we would like to get six rooms!"

Serene intentionally bumped on Lance and blocked his way. She now faces the lady attending them.

She does not seem to believe Serene and looks at Lance for approval. It was him who was doing to negotiation with her father after all.

Hearing this, Lance's ears perked. He sighed and held Serene's head and pushed her out of his way, "sorry about that."

Serene growled.

He whipped his head to the redhead, "we are not getting each person a room."

Those who were present inside the inn, the staff, all stopped what they're doing and tried to see what the commotion was about. Because of the appearance, the inn had not been doing well. They are not sure why the owner, Mr. Taka wouldn't renovate the place. The ghost seeker kids are the only ones willing to come pay to stay.

Although they serve excellent service, because of how old the inn looks, they had to lower their price. The only time their inn is filled is during the Crimson Festival.

The Crimson Festival is celebrated throughout the Kingdom. This is a festival of ghosts, mythical creatures, and the wild beasts. But the real reason this festival was established was to offer Azazel an entertainment during his stay in the kingdom. It is done to please him and let him spare the people living peacefully.

After the demon's defeat, it has become a festival with no worries. Remembering those who have fallen and fought off the vile one.

Nowadays, Crimson Festival has been offered to the first generation ruby ranks. But since people cannot forget the real reason, people would sometimes go around with horrifying masks.

The festival is done for three days. The first day is for Azazel, the second day is for the fallen soldiers and adventurers, and the final day is for the first ruby ranks. But somehow, people tend to forget how Azazel was defeated and only come to celebrate the sweet freedom of the kingdom.

"Why not?" she had her hands on her hips.

"You are not wasting my money, woman."

Serene frowned, "we'll place money."

Lance sighed, "It is only you who want to have your own room."

She looked around and saw their faces, they looked uninterested.

"Girls?" she tried to catch their eye.

"This will be a good opportunity to observe each other for teamwork." Lithea said and walked next to Lance, "we will take two rooms that would fit all of us, please."

Lance took a step to the side and let her do the negotiation.

"Will the view matter?"

"No."

"Yes!"

The person in charge blinked her eyes and looked at Serene and then back to Lance, "um."

Lance glared at the mage before giving his attention back to the lady and smiled, "it will not matter."

"Of course," the lady said and gave them their keys, "let me bring you to your rooms."

Lance nodded at her before glancing back at the team, "come on."

As they were led down the hall, Lithea secretly took two paper bags with bread she purchased back at the pastry shop before they started eating. She did promise Verin to bring them something to munch on.

With the sun high in the sky, she's sure their stomachs are grumbling.

 Verin who's walking behind the others with Lithea a little bit behind him, suddenly felt a light tap on his shoulder blade.

"Hmm?"

"Here," her quiet voice seemed even quieter, he thought she's trying to keep whatever she's doing a secret.

Lithea brought her hands in front of him and he looked down, he was surprised to see two nicely wrapped bread on her palms.

"What is this?" he smiled as he took one and munch on it.

"You have not had anything yet, I presumed you were hungry," she looked at Lance, "and him too."

He too looked at the direction she's looking at, "yes, I suppose he's hungry."

Verin frowned as he took the other bread and hid it to give it to his friend later once they were settled down.

"He did not have any dinner last night, yes?"

Verin sighed, "Yes. He only ate a little."

He knew too well why Lance was chosen to be their commander. Even though he's younger than him, and how his personality seems unfit for the role, the guild could not turn a blind eye on his selfless trait: making sure those around him are well provided and taken care of, even though it would mean for him to have less.

He had scolded and talked Lance about it countless times before, but the noble-born was too adamant of his actions.

"That's just how it is," are his exact words.

"I like him," Lithea muttered as she walked a little faster, leaving Verin behind.

He was too surprised to react but once her words seeped deeper in his mind and understood what she meant, he shrugged and smiled.

'She's starting to fit in.'