The Azure Knight

Chapter 15

"Alexei!"

A man approached him when he was half sleeping on the bar.

"Ah... Keichi."

"It's not usual to see you here."

"Yeah." Alexei yawned. His face was really awful as the result from didn't sleep all night.

"Give me something good to satisfy my thirsty."

Alexei handed him a glass full of water with ice cubes in it.

"Seriously?"

"It's not good to get drunk when it's still in the middle of the day. Besides, your wife will beat me up if she finds out."

Keichi chuckled. "Chisa won't find out. She is still in the capital city."

"She didn't go home with you yesterday?"

"No. We met Selwyn there. He is currently looking for the silver foot. So, Chisa ended up joining him. They'll be home today before the night."

"Oh." Alexei gave him a beer. "My treat."

"Wow, thanks. You should do it more often. By the way, what happened to you? You seem in a mess. Wait, don't tell me. Vysenna-san must have been scolded you."

Alexei snorted. "You know me too well."

"What are you doing this time?" Keichi said.

Alexei's face turned pale and he shivered when he remembered about what happened earlier. He rubbed his arms to get rid the goosebumps. "Ugh don't remind me about it. Master was really scary! I was just teasing Seraphine, then Master came out of nowhere and dragged me down from my bed."

"Oh, I see." Keichi spat out his drink when he was realizing something. "What?! From your bed? What are you doing to her?!"

Alexei sighed. "It's a long story."

"Never mind. I'll just ask Sera herself. Hey, Se..."

Alexei moved faster to gag his mouth. "Shh... don't mention it to her or she will go berserk again."

Keichi struggled for a while, but he raised his hands as a sign that he surrendered. After that, Alexei let go of his hand. "I was just teasing her, I swear. I didn't do anything else."

"Okay. I give up. I will not ask about it. Let's change the topic. What will you do with the stuff that I brought to you yesterday?"

"It's just for some experiments."

"Did you trying to make fireworks? Was it go well?"

"You could say so. Maybe I'll try to sell it." He laughed.

Keichi laughed too. "Split the money with me."

"Hell no. I'll save it to drink as much as I want at the red house. Jeez... the wine there is the best."

"Why not simply buy it? The fireworks."

"Are you kidding me? I don't have much money to buy real fireworks."

"Hmm, you're right. Fireworks are very expensive. My ears melt when I heard the merchant told the price to me. Nah... I need to go now. Thanks for the drink."

Alexei nodded. "You'll come tonight?"

"Of course. Bye then." He waved his hand while turned his back.

Alexei only watched the man walked away and approached by Sera.

"Kei-san, you're leaving already? That's good. A married man like you should go work instead of drunk in the middle of the day."

He burst into laughter. "Seraphine, you remind me of someone I know."

"Eh?"

"It's nice to see you, but I still have a job to do. Bye."

Sera gazed at Keichi's back as he walked out from the building like if it will help her to understand what he means.

"Sera, come here."

The voice made her turned around. It was Ayaka who called her.

"Yes?"

"Could you help me to buy some herbs? I was making medicines when I realized that I don't have some of this ingredients."

"Okay. I can go to the market and come back here soon."

"You can't find it here. You should go to Roselake city. If you hurry, you could back before the sun set."

"Hey Ayaka-san, do you think this stupid girl is able to go there by herself?" Alexei said.

Sera puffed her cheek when she heard it. He always underestimated her ability.

"I can! Ayaka-san, tell me where I could buy it."

"There's a store called Herbs & Potions. It's a pretty famous store. So you should be able to find it easily."

"Okay. I'll go now."

Sera turned her back and walked out confidently, leaving those two behind her. Once she was out, Alexei rested his chin on his left hand and talked to his senior. "Ayaka-san. Are you do this on purpose?"

"Of course! How could you know? I didn't know that you are actually smarter than your looks, Alexei." She said sarcastically in a sweet voice.

His face turned to wry. "You've gotta be kidding me."

"It's Vysenna-san's order. I don't agree too at first." She frowned. "But she was sure that Sera will be okay. There are no dangerous monsters in that forest. Besides, she could fight medium-sized monsters by herself."

"It's not only about monsters. That girl has no sense of direction."

"What?!" She aghast.

"Isn't Master already know about it?"

***

'Where is it? It's been two hours since I walked. I think I'm getting further into the forest than the city.'

Sera continued her travel with her head down. She limped as the result of walking too long without got some rest.

'It would be fun if I'm walking with somebody now. I should have been forced Alexei to come with me earlier.' She interrupted her own mind. "Ugh, I must be crazy to think about it."

She tapped her cheeks a few times. "Get yourself together, Sera." She said to her own self. "You can do this alone. You don't need anybody to help, especially that idiot."

The friction between the bushes made her wary. Sera pull out a dagger from its pouch around her waist and ready to face some monsters. But she waited nervously for something she shouldn't worry at all. It was only a rabbit that went out from the bushes, followed by many rabbits after it. The scenery made her confused. She let down her guard.

"Is there a rabbit party around here?" Sera mumbled.

Suddenly, a creature as big as a lion came out from the bushes. Its fur was short and all black. It has evil green eyes, horns on its head, and its two front leg has long claws. The monster shifted its gaze from the rabbits to her. Apparently, it just got a prey that looked more delicious than those tiny rabbits.

'Crap!'