30: Stalkers?

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Javauni Samuels

*******************

I arrive at Ozy's shop at noon to greet him and tell him about my trip.

I am going alone since I decided to leave Azur with Mia again.

I find the alchemist in a strange situation.

He is sitting on the ground in front of his shop, polishing what appears to be a botafumeiro the size of his head, from which comes a chain that ends in a sword-like hilt.

"Hi" I say, looking at him with a frown, trying to think of the reason he's sitting on the floor.

"Just look who's back! How was your trip, kid?" he says, looking at me with a smile, without getting up.

"Good. I came to tell you about it, and to thank you for your recommendations. The numbing poison and night vision potions made a fight much easier for us. In which it was a relief to have the antidotes on hand, although in the end, we didn't need them." I say, sitting on the ground next to him "the energy potions were also very appreciated by my companions during the walk"

"I'm glad they served you well" he says, still smiling "after all, a potion that is not used for its purpose is just a liquid with dye"

Accustomed to his strange but wise comments about alchemy, I ignore him and begin to recount my journey.

When I finish my story, Ozy invites me to lunch and I accept gratefully…

I will never repeat the experience again! Ozy will have many strengths, but cooking is obviously not one of them.

After saying goodbye to him, I go back to my house to pick up Azur and go to the labyrinth for a while.

I had agreed with my companions not to go until Agustin finishes forging his shield, but I'm looking forward to fighting again a bit. And, frankly, I don't think anything bad could happen if I go to the first floors, right?

****

I went to the 9th floor, but it was not what I expected.

Skeletons are no longer a challenge for Azur and me, but I've also found that it is much more boring to fight without my teammates making comments during and between fights.

After a few hours in the labyrinth, I went out to queue at the guild to sell the things I got.

It took me a few minutes to queue, as the 'newbies' queue is quite long, but it can't be helped.

When I finish delivering the items to the receptionist I ask her "excuse me, I have a question, how much longer do I need to raise my adventurer rank? I've been in the rookie rank for a month, but I think you can see that in your records, right? "

"Actually, the day before yesterday you rose in rank, both you and your companions are now of veteran rank" she says checking a document, after having given me the payment for the objects that I gave her "My partner did not tell you that same day, because we had to process the materials that were brought to us first. It was something that I would have announced to you now at the end of our transaction, even if you hadn't asked. Could you do me a favor and communicate it to your fellow group members?"

"Yes, thank you very much" I say, and start to leave, but the receptionist holds me back by grabbing my arm.

"please wait" she says frowning, looking at the register "here it says that someone has been looking for you here for a few days"

"Oh? That's weird" I say, tense.

"yes, it is…" she says confused "According to this, a girl with brown hair, about your age, and a dark-haired boy, a few years older; have been looking for you. They don't know your name, but the description of the members of your group, including the drake that you carry on your shoulders"

"Could you tell me their names?" I ask, confused, wondering who those two people that were looking for me are.

"I'm sorry, but just as I didn't reveal your name to the girl who was looking for you, I can't reveal it to you either... It's the guild policy" she says, in a professional tone.

"Could you at least tell me what time or so they usually come looking for me?" I say, thinking I'd better try to figure this out, whatever it is before I go back to the labyrinth with my friends.

"Yes, I can do it," she says more animatedly and, checking her record, tells me the time.

******

It's late morning, the time the receptionist told me that my stalkers usually come.

I slowly approach the guild and peek through the door to take a look.

I see them.

They are in the place where the receptionist informed me that they are usually located to look for me.

They are a short girl, with long brown hair, dressed in jeans and a shirt, but with a leather protector on her chest; and a tall dark-haired boy that must be almost as tall as Agustín, with full armor, a tear-shaped shield on his back and a sword at his belt. The armor is completely black, as well as the shield and the sword.

I ask Azure what it thinks through the link, and it sends me a feeling of confidence in response. I guess nothing can make my partner uncomfortable... Nothing except the sea.

I enter the guild and head straight towards my stalkers "hello" I say, gruffly, as I approach.

The girl, who was looking in the direction of another door, jumps and, recognizing me, replies "hi, I've been looking for you for a long time"

"That's what they told me" I say cautiously "may I know the reason?"

"Yes, but first let's introduce ourselves" she says, and, taking a step forward, she holds out her hand for me to shake "my name is Vin, and my friend back here" points to her partner "is Elend. He's mute, so don't be offended if you ask him something and he doesn't answer you"

"ok" I say, and shake her hand "my name is Xelean" I let her hand go and say, as I reach for the drake's head on my shoulders "my mate is called Azur. So, why were you looking for me?"

"because of Azur" she says and, seeing how I take a step back in response to her comment, she corrects herself "I mean, I want to see how you fight along with him. It happens that I also have an affinity with spiritual magic and, knowing that Sofia is the most famous mage from the capital that has that affinity, I went to her for advice. Unfortunately, her advice wasn't of much help for my goals... She taught me how to summon my bonded spirit, but she also told me it wasn't something I could use in a fight. You see, I, for reasons that don't concern you, want to be able to defend myself and fight. But I'm only good at magic, and though my affinities are rare, they aren't good for combat... That's why, when Sofia told me that there was a magician with the same affinity as I who ventured into the labyrinth, I wanted to meet you"

"So, if I understood it right, do you want to enter the labyrinth with me and see how I fight?" I say, with a raised eyebrow. That she has heard about me through Sofia is reassuring, but the situation is still very strange.

"Yes. I'm not really good at fighting, that's why my friend is with me. As you can see, he's prepared to fight" she says, pointing from her friend's chest, on which he has a dark metal breastplate, to his feet, covered by boots protected by a metal of the same color. "I could heal you if you were injured, that's the only thing I which I can contribute to the group"

"ok" I say, thinking that I'll be able to take advantage of the experience bonus, even if I'm not with my friends "but I think you should get some more protection before we go. That protector on your chest is fine, but I don't think it's enough. Is it the first time you come to the labyrinth?"

"Yes, but don't worry. As I said before, I can heal most wounds" she says, with a bitter smile "my second affinity is with holy magic. Besides, I brought Elend with me for a reason, he is better than any protection in what you could think"

The boy, in response to this last comment, beats his chest with his gloved fist, while giving his friend a smile.

I assess them with my eyes, thinking about the possibility that it is a trap.

But, after feeling the confidence that emanates from Azur, I decide to put aside my caution and we prepare to enter the labyrinth.

If they try to betray us, I guess we can deal with them… or at least escape.