A Gathering of Guardians: The Prologue (Etrian Odyssey Nexus Fanfiction)

Chapter 14

AN: Felt like doing a chapter from Axel's POV now :3

-

Chapter 14:

As Highland Count entered his room to get himself settled and likely take a look around at his new surroundings, Axel stood out in the middle of the hallway. He rolled his shoulder and stretched contently as the Phaedron guild paired up and picked their rooms.

They seemed like a good group of guys. Friendly, easy going, some of them excitable, others more reserved. Like a regular guild of close friends and family.

Guild leader Roxbury certainly seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. The guy reminded him of Jhon, in a way. Polite, considerate, probably a bit too trusting. But definitely friendly. This Roxbury, however, seemed to have a hidden vulnerability to him. Now, Axel didn't have Lynus' empathetic abilities, but he knew a wounded soul when he saw one. And it raised his protective heckles.

And from what Lynus had told him, Roxbury wasn't the only vulnerable soul amongst this guild. There was at least six of them, Lynus had admitted.

After a brief conversation, they collectively decided to keep a close eye on them. Maybe a little bit more than usual?

Though, Axel felt that Zesiro guy seemed rather intimidated by him. He was outwardly polite, but it was definitely fake. It was a cautious kind of politeness, as if he was ensuring that he didn't get on Axel's bad side. It kinda indicated to Axel that the guy had been through some shit and was pretty skilled in judging a person's strength.

Definitely tempted to try to get him to lighten up. But he probably better not.

Not yet at least. Shiki might get to him first. Never know what the future held.

The door to the room that Roxbury disappeared in opened and the said brown-haired man appeared. "Axel, thanks for waiting," he said with a polite sense of gratitude in his voice.

Before Axel could respond, another door opened sharply and a rather short but bubbly blond-haired guy rushed out. "These rooms are awesome. Bigger than the ones at the inn."

Axel turned to give Blayden a half smile, subconsciously looking at him through one eye. "Not bad, right? What Villard lacks in consideration he makes up for in comfort. There's a lot of rooms to see in this place. Other than the bedrooms, nothing's off limits. So, go nuts."

Blayden grinned widely at that just another young man, likely the same age, walked out of the room at a more leisurely pace. "Right, let's go, Baldur," he said as he snared the other guy the wrist and immediately began to pull him along with him, right past his brother as he stepped out of his room also.

"Don't pull me!" the guy, Baldur, yelled as he was suddenly pulled in the opposite direction he had been facing. Though his words were sharp, he didn't actually do anything else to protest. Didn't even attempt to pull his hand back, to resist in anyway.

Axel arched an eyebrow as he watched them disappear down the hall. "...Flighty, tsundere prince?" he asked as he turned his attention back to Roxbury.

Roxbury gave a short chuckle. "Hm. He's gotten a lot better, honestly."

Bryce watched as the two rush down the hall and uttered a rather exasperated sigh. It felt like an act, though. The guy appeared brash by appearance. Maybe even terse and, for a lack of a better word; cantankerous. But Axel got the sense that the guy was simply the older, big brother type that appeared grumpy by first appearance, but completely and utterly protective.

"I guess we'll go and keep an eye on them," Bryce uttered.

Roxbury nodded his head, a small smile on his lips. "You're not in the labyrinth right now."