2-37 Crimson Steel

“What’s wrong?” asked Lyra, peeking at Erin’s forlorn gaze as they walked side by side among the streets littered with offhand stalls. Lyra and Erin knew all of these stall owners to a certain degree as they were all part of the merchant caravans. The pair didn’t know their names but nods were exchanged when they passed them by.

“Nothing,” Erin answered, a smile quickly replacing her glum expression.

“You can’t hide it from me, Erin. That’s not a look that says nothing.”

“It’s nothing, Lyra. I’m just thinking.”

“Of what?”

Erin hesitated on a response.

“We bought the tools and some potions. We even got our weapons whetted. Surely it’s none of that, no? So tell me, what’s wrong, Erin?”

“It’s a little… arrogant. I wish to say no more.”

A grin formed on Lyra’s lips. “Now you got me way too curious. I’m not going to relent until you tell me.” She grabbed Erin’s hand and gently pulled her closer.

“I-It’s just that… I… I feel so useless.”

“You, useless? Surely you jest, Erin.”

“I am not. There’s a huge threat out there. I was always the one people turn to look for help. Although at times, it does feel quite bothersome, I quite like that feeling. Being needed, doing good, helping people. But now… I’m not needed. I can’t even help if I want to. I’ll just be dragging the effort down. What’s more, I left that duty to a band of zealots, who might or might not use this opportunity to bolster their influence. The more I think of it, the more I ask myself; was it the right thing to do?”

“Erin, you’re not the Sword Saint anymore. It’s okay to feel this way. No one blames you. You did more than anyone in your position ever could already. Besides, we’re just adventurers, not soldiers. By default, this isn’t our responsibility. People pay taxes for a reason.”

“I know, Lyra. I understand. I am just not used to this… being helpless. It’s a lot of adjustment.”

“Then take your time, Erin,” Lyra rested her head on Erin’s shoulder. “You don’t want to leave any regrets in this life too, do you?”

A genuine smile bloomed on Erin’s expression. “I suppose not,” she said and pulled Lyra closed by wrapping her arm around Lyra’s waist.

Gasps came from the people around them. Since Erin did not use Twilight Veil, their display of affection attracted much attention. Using Twilight Veil was exhausting and she wanted to spend pleasant moments like this with Lyra in her real appearance. Erin had expected to be swarmed by questions from the townsfolk but she had none of those. The people kept their distance and from the looks on their faces, their curiosity was on the verge of bursting. From the exchanges she managed to pick up on the streets, the reason none had dared to approach them with such questions was thanks to Hegan, Joshua, and Iris. The word around town was how overly personal questions would raise the ire of the Fox-kin, which was the truth for most parts. This fact had spread even to the Gold District, causing the nobles to rein in their attempts to induct Erin into their political struggle.

While Erin still wasn’t fully trusting of Iris, she was glad to have connections in high places. If it wasn’t for Iris and the other merchants, walking the streets alongside Lyra in this manner was only a pipe dream.

They had bought everything they came to the market for and with all the time they had to spare for the day, they spent it together by strolling through the town, decorated with festivities of the harvest season and from the merchant caravans. Since Quinteburgh had larger space to spare, there were even performances by the side of the streets. The pair even came across the Blackwood siblings guarding a stage which Crom was on, giving off a pitch of their products to the townsfolk. Since Siv and her brother were on duty, Erin and Lyra only exchanged simple greetings before moving on.

Though stalls of many varieties were aplenty, none of it did catch Erin’s attention. The liquor stalls were certainly the exceptions but remembering a certain night, Erin ultimately restrained herself from even looking at the liquor stalls. The call of temptation was great but becoming drunk was no different than her being under the influence of Lust Deviant. Jewellery was another aspect of interest but neither Erin nor Lyra had the gold to spare on such luxuries. They weren’t as expensive as the ones meant for nobles but they were nevertheless a luxury.

The streets led them to a turn where a chapel stood lonely in the shades of overgrown trees and vegetation. The chapel wasn’t abandoned but it didn’t look like it had many visitors. The emblem embedded above the entrance was something Erin had seen before. She had seen it only once, on the necklace of a certain father, but the peculiarity of that design was ingrained in her mind. What she had thought to be a plump snake chasing its own tail in a circular path, turned out to actually be a dragon. A dragon chasing its own tail. It was a religion that worships a Dragon God or something akin to that notion.

“Is that a chapel?” Lyra asked upon noticing the lonely little building.

“It is, or at least I think so. See that symbol above the entrance?” Erin pointed.

Lyra squinted her eyes. “Looks familiar...”

“You remember the father who saved us an earful from that zealous paladin? The necklace he was wearing bears that symbol.”

“You remembered about that?”

“In my old world, a creature chasing its own tail tends to have some significant meaning. An omen for most times.”

“But that’s a dragon. A Faith of a Dragon God… Do you think Aedan would know anything about it?”

Erin chuckled. “If it’s him, I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t know.”

The chuckle spread to Lyra. “That is true. He sure knows a lot… Say,”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think he can take on the horde? If it’s him, surely he will protect the town, right?”

“He has to. I’ll come for him if he doesn’t.”

Lyra scoffed at herself. “Never thought I would be relieved of the fact that he existed.”

“Everyone has their merits,” Erin muttered.

As they were about to continue their stroll, “Lady Erinthea!” a youthful yet gruff voice caught the two.

Erin was the first to turn to the voice. She wasn’t surprised as she had long picked up the youth’s scent. She was disappointed at herself for her lapse of focus in not noticing the youth’s approach.

“Oh...” Lyra muttered at the sight of the youth, a boy of dark skin with small horns protruding from his forehead. “Cynric Red Steel?”

The Augur boy nodded with a broad smile while casting a sparkling gaze at Erin.

“Crimson-steel,” Erin corrected her.

“Whatever. Why did you call out to her?” Lyra asked. Neither her eyes nor tone were warm towards Cynric who had interrupted her romantic moment with Erin.

“I begged your forgiveness, Miss Lyra. I just wished to express my gratitude towards my savior here, Lady Erinthea.”

Lyra gritted her teeth with indignance. The boy spoke words that were normally laced with arrogance and vanity but he was sincere, which only voided Lyra of any reason for her to turn him away.

Erin had met Cynric just days before but she was in disguise. Judging from Cynric’s words and reaction, Erin was convinced Cynric didn’t notice. Even if he did, it wouldn’t be a problem now.

“Here, Lady Erinthea. I hope you can accept this gratitude of mine,” Cynric said as he took out a clothed chunk from the sack he was carrying on his back. The clothed chunk was a little bigger than the average man’s palm.

“This is?”

“Crimson Steel ore, milady,” Cynric answered.

Lyra gasped in disbelief. “W-where did you get this?” She blinked with a dazed expression at the Augur.

“From my homeland.”

“You brought something like this with you?”

“We youngblood carry this with us as we embark on our pilgrimage of growth. As a charm of fortune. It also serves as a contingency in the events we ran dry of money.”

“The slavers didn’t take it from you?”

“They did but one of the merchants was kind enough to have it return to me. I believe his name was Joshua. I was certain he would take it as compensation for the troubles I have given him and his peers. As the one who saved me in my gravest moments, I see no other object in my possession to be befitting as compensation for you.”

Erin sighed. “Cynric, I appreciate the gesture but… isn’t this too much of a payment? I don’t know how much it costs but—”

“It is the pride of my clan and it’s no exaggeration when I say they also represent our lives. We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the rich ore veins my clan possessed. You saved my life, Lady Erinthea. You deserve this. An eye for an eye, as humans tend to say. A life for a life. Please accept this, milady.”

Erin was still hesitating on receiving such a grand item as a reward. Even though she was still only considering taking it, her mind was already thinking of having a sword forged of Crimson Steel. Also, the nosy glances were ever-increasing the more they stood around and banter.

“Just take it, Erin,” Lyra urged with her arms folded.

Had the token of gratitude being something more humble, Erin wouldn’t have any problems accepting it. She could tell Cynric had no hidden intentions but it was still a tough decision to accept what was essentially hundreds of gold.

Nevertheless, rejecting Cynric’s gift would be the same as saying his life wasn’t worth a chunk of his people’s pride. Erin understood this very well. She had rejected many tokens of gratitude in her past life. She didn’t care if their pride was wounded. She just didn’t want unnecessary trouble. Due to this fact, she was only widening the rift between her and the others. This was a mistake she had no intention of repeating.

“I accept your gratitude, Cynric Crimson-steel.” Erin took the clothed item and put it in a sack and slung it over her shoulder. “If you will allow me, I shall have this ore smelted and forged into a sword. Your people’s name shall be engraved on the grove of the blade.”

“I will be extremely honored, Lady Erinthea. The pride of my clan to be wielded by a Fae for good. This is already a great accomplishment for me as a youngblood of an Augur.”

“You don’t believe I would wield your steel for unsavory things?”

“If you were that kind of person, you would have demanded my people’s steel as compensation. Yet, you leave me in capable hands and never look back expecting compensation.”

“I can assure you I’m not as charitable as you made me out to be.”

“I disagree, milady. You are by far the most graceful, benevolent, and beautiful person I have the honor to be acquainted with. You shouldn’t be humbling yourself too much.”

Erin tried to reply but she ended up stammering. She was once again flustered by the Augur’s words. She had been complimented by many men thus far for her beauty but the Augur’s praise was different. Many men had praised her while their eyes assessed her body. Some had only given her obligatory compliments due to her being a Fae. Cynric was the only one who praised her beauty without straying his gaze from hers.

“Milady,” Cynric uttered. His voice was soft and his gaze was resolute.

Erin felt a strange sense of unease looking at him.

“If I may be so bold, I—”

“Alright alright,” Lyra cut in between the two. She cast a smile at Cynric but the smile did not reach her eyes. “You did what you came here for, Cynric. Now if you would excuse us, Erin and I were taking our lovely stroll before you oh-so abruptly interrupted us. Good morning,” Lyra said and dragged Erin away as she walked briskly down the street.

Erin uttered a silent apology to the Augur.

Lyra walked a few good meters away from Cynric before pulling Erin along into a narrow alley. There, she finally released her grasp on Erin’s wrist.

“Lyra, that was just—”

Lyra stopped Erin with a palm held up. “Stop right there, Erin.” Her palm turned into a finger pointing at Erin. “What was that look?”

“What look?”

“You were tinged red on the cheeks, Erin. I have never seen you red in the cheeks in the face of a man’s compliment.”

“I thought we already talked about this?”

“We did, but that was about women. How would you feel if I told you I slept with a man?”

Erin shook. The image of Lyra in bed with a man caused a vein to pop on her forehead.

Lyra cast her gaze down. “I know I wasn’t clear about it. I’m fine with other women but if it’s a man… I don’t think I can accept that, Erin.”

“Neither can I, Lyra. But Cynric is just a boy.” Immediately after she said that, Erin regretted it.

Lyra frowned. “Are you into soft boys?”

“Soft boys?” Erin scoffed. “I do not have that sort of disposition, Lyra. I think...?” Erin muttered her last words in her heart with uncertainty.

“E-Erin, I think I may have underestimated your boldness in your exploration of your orientation.”

“Lyra, you are not listening. I am not attracted to whatever kind of boys you’re thinking of. You—” Erin paused. She narrowed her gaze at Lyra who was squirming with her legs clasped together. “Are you in heat?”

“Can you blame me, Erin? All that talk about this manner of subject… I can’t help but think about us… what we always do in bed… You made me want to have you right here and now.”

Erin had been holding back all this time. But now, seeing such a Lyra who was flushed in the face, Erin felt all chains on her lust were snapped by such a sight. She dropped everything she was carrying and pinned Lyra on the wall with her hands trapped under hers.

“E-Erin? W-we’re still outside, you know.”

“You have done it now, Lyra,” Erin said and silenced Lyra’s objection with a deep and passionate kiss.